Operation FORAGER
The first elements of the Saipan invasion force depart their
training areas in Hawaii. (see USMC below)
The troops will not land until 15 June, after three weeks at sea and a
3700 mile transit. The vast distance meant that the FORAGER troops
deployed two weeks ahead of their counterparts in England for OVERLORD and
landed a week later. The logistics build
up, moving supplies and equipment to the staging areas had started many months
ahead of that.
USN
Pacific
Submarine Flying Fish (SS-229) attacks Japanese
convoy, sinking guardboat Daito Maru and merchant cargo ship Osaka
Maru north of Palau, 11°14'N, 135°12'E.
Mediterranean
Destroyer Kendrick (DD-612) shells German positions
in the Ardea, Italy, area; enemy shore battery fire improved but inflicts no
damage.
AAF
Eighth AF
859 B-17’s and B-24’s operating in 4 forces bomb marshalling
yards at Mulhouse, Troyes, Tonnerre, Belfort, Sarreguemines, Thionville, Metz,
Blainville-sur-l’Eau, Liege, Brussels, Alost, and Charleroi; airfields at Esseyles-Nancy
and Bretigny-sur-Orge; and coastal batteries at Fecamp and
Saint-Valery-en-Caux. 2 heavy bombers are downed by AA fire and 2 are lost to
unknown causes.
Ninth AF
Over 225 medium bombers attack bridges near Liege and airfields
at Lille/ Nord and Monchy-Breton. About 250 P-47’s dive-bomb various targets in
NW Europe.
Twelfth AF
Twelfth AF has most active day to date against enemy forces
in Italy. Some medium bombers continue to pound bridges in NC Italy, damaging
several bridges and viaducts, while others join fighter bombers and light
bombers in close support of ground troops in battle area and behind enemy
lines. Motor transport N and S of Rome and N of Anzio is hit hard by the air
attacks. US Fifth Army achieves a solid front with junction of VI Corps (Anzio
force) and II Corps (advancing along W coast) during the morning near Borgo
Grappa.
Fifteenth AF
340-plus B-17’s and B-24’s attack marshalling yards at Lyon,
Carnoules, Amberieu-en-Buguey, and Givors, while another 250-plus heavy bombers
hit Porto Marghera oil stores, Monfalcone harbor and shipping, and Piacenza A/F
and dispersal area. P-38’s and P-51’s fly more than 200 sorties in support.
SE Europe
German paratroops attack Marshal Tito’s HQ in Bosnia, but
Tito and Maj Randolph Churchill escape to the mountains.
Tenth AF
28 P-38’s sweep over Mandalay area. 12 of them hit about 10
railroad cars near Shwebo, leaving them burning. In the Chindwin area 20 A-31’s
attack a bivouac and score hits on Manipur R bridge at Tonzang. B-24’s hit targets
in Katha area, 6 of them bombing Indaw and 4 bombing Naba rail junction area.
Fifth AF
B-24’s attack shipping at Halmahera and hit Mokmer and targets
in Wakde area. 90-plus fighter bombers, A-20’s, B- 25’s, and B-24’s pound
numerous targets in Wewak area.
Thirteenth AF
3 B-24’s bomb Rabaul, Lakunai, and Rapopo. 8 P-38’s hit
Vulcan Crater barge hideout. 12 B-25’s, clouded out of Vunakanau, hit Talili
Bay supply area. 15 B-25’s, 32 P-39’s, and P-40’s, and 25 Navy dive bombers hit
supply areas at Porton. 4 other P-40’s hit trucks at Monoitu Mission. 16 P-39’s
attack several targets of opportunity, including Cape Lalahan radar station.
Seventh AF
B-25’s flying out of Engebi bomb Ponape.
Eleventh AF
1 Shemya-based B-24 flies reconnaissance and bombing mission
in the C Kurils. Another B-24 aborts due to equipment failure.
USA
NEW GUINEA—Command of TF TORNADO (Wakde-Sarmi) passes from
Gen Doe, 41st Div ADC, to Brig Gen Edwin D. Patrick. HQ, RCT 158, replaces HQ,
RCT 163, as TORNADO HQ. Gen Doe is to head assault force for Biak operation. TF
HURRICANE leaves Humboldt Bay for Biak in evening. Continuing W toward Sarmi,
with 1st Bn in the lead, 158th Inf takes Maffin No. 1 against scattered
opposition. 1st and 2d Bns cross Tirfoam and press W toward next objective,
Lone Tree Hill, against strong resistance.
CBI—In NCAC area of Burma, Ind 3d Div columns begin
withdrawal, some elements up Bhamo–Myitkyina road and others toward Mogaung, abandoning
roadblock (BLACKPOOL) on railway near Namkwin. This is a matter of some concern
to Gen Stilwell, who wants blocking of enemy on S continued. Outflanking enemy,
elements of Ch 38th Div block Kamaing road at Seton, evoking strong enemy
reaction.
On Salween front, Ch 88th Div is ordered to join 87th and
New 28th Divs (71st Army) in drive on Lung-ling, leaving Ch 2d Army responsible
for operations in Pingka–Hsiangta–Mangshih area. 2d Army orders 76th Div to
bypass Pingka, leaving 226th Regt to besiege the valley. 226th maintains thin
line before Pingka until Japanese yield the valley in late September. Japanese
are finally forced from defensive positions at E end of Tatangtzu Pass and fall
back 8 miles to another line of defense.
ITALY—AAI: U.S; Fifth Army achieves a solid front with
junction of VI and II Corps during morning. Brett Force (1st Bn of 36th Engrs,
TD’s, and reconnaissance elements of Br 1st Div) makes contact with 91st Cav
Rcn Sq of II Corps below Borgo Grappa. Opening of Highway 7 permits supplies to
move northward for assault on Rome. VI Corps overruns Cisterna, Cori, and M.
Arrestino as enemy opposition collapses. Supporting aircraft take extremely heavy
toll of German vehicles fleeing toward Velletri and Valmontone. Over 2,600
prisoners are taken by noon. 1st Armd Div makes little progress toward Velletri
but cuts Giulianello–Velletri road just W of Giulianello. 34th Div ( - 133d
Inf) takes up positions behind 1st Armd Div. In center, 3d Div seizes Cisterna
and Cori 3d Regt, 1st SSF, attacks through 133d Inf on right flank of VI Corps and
secures M. Arrestino. II Corps is informed of impending relief by IV Corps;
maintains current positions while waiting for FEC to come up abreast it to
right. 339th Inf, 85th Div, crosses Amaseno R into hills W of Priverno. FEC
overcomes organized resistance within its sector, at S. Giovanni Incarico on
right and Vallecorsa on left. 3d Algerian Div takes former and Mtn Corps,
latter. 1st Motorized Div is withdrawn as FEC reserve.
Br Eighth Army also makes rapid progress as enemy begins
general withdrawal. Cdn 1 Corps expands bridgehead across the Melfa and passes
infantry through armor to exploit toward the Liri. 13 Corps begins forward
movement, taking Aquino without opposition and reaching the Melfa, where bridgehead
is established. Pol 2 Corps secures rest of Piedimonte as Germans withdraw.
FRANCE—U.S. Eighth Air Force joins in air offensive against
coastal batteries, attacking Fecamp and St Valery.
USMC
LSTs carrying assault elements of the 2d and 4th Mar Divs
depart Pearl Harbor.
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