USN
Pacific
Naval Base, Biak Island, Schoeten Islands, is established.
F6Fs from TF 58 (Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher), 16 from
each carrier and 12 from each small carrier, accompanied by a TBF or SB2C from
each task group (the latter to lead the fighters in and out), blankets Japanese
airfields in the Marianas. This move, which achieves complete surprise, also
assures control of the air over the Marianas. Combat air patrol F6Fs from TF 58
begin to intercept and down Japanese planes in the vicinity of TF 58. F6Fs also
damage Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser No.8 Shonan Maru and cargo
vessel Keiyo Maru (see 13 June).14
Submarine Barb (SS-220) sinks Japanese merchant
fishing vessels Chihaya Maru and Toten Maru in Sea of Okhotsk, east
of Karafuto, 46°50'N, 144°05'E.
Submarine Redfin (SS-272), despite presence of escort
vessel, sinks Japanese tanker Asanagi Maru west of Jolo,06°02'N,
120°50'E.
Atlantic
U.S. battleships off Normandy provide gunfire support to
U.S. Army forces ten miles inland at Carentan, France.
Off the invasion beaches, German torpedo boats S 130, S
144, S 146, S 150 and S 167 launch torpedo attacks on U.S. invasion
shipping, sinking Landing Ship Tank LST-496 and tug Partridge (ATO-138),
49°30'N, 00°50'N and damaging Landing Ship Tank LST-538, 49°48'N,
00°31'W. German motor torpedo boat S 138 torpedoes and damages destroyer
Nelson (DD-623), 49°31'N, 00°50'W; Landing Craft Infantry LCI-219 is
sunk by aircraft.
Aircraft (VC 95) from escort carrier Croatan (CVE-25)
teams with destroyer escorts Frost (DE-144), Huse (DE-145),and Inch
(DE-146) sink German submarine U-490 midway between Flores Island
and Flemish Cap, 42°47'N,40°08'W.
AAF
Eighth AF
Weather prevents operations against priority targets in
Germany 90 the Heavy Bombers attack bridges on the Loire, bridges and airfields
on Brest Peninsula and near Paris, and coastal defenses in Pas de Calais area.
Of 1,043 Heavy Bombers airborne, over 400 abort or fail to bomb due to clouds
and absence or malfunction of Pathfinders. 640 Heavy Bombers bomb targets,
including 10 airfields and landing grounds, several bridges, and various Targets
of opportunity. 3 Heavy Bombers are lost. VIII FC supports Heavy Bombers over
NW France and Ninth AF Medium Bombers attack Paris area. Fighter Bombers attack
over 60 targets, including railroad yards, sidings, junctions, bridges, trains,
airfields, convoys, an oil tanker, a power station, and warehouses. Fighters
destroy 5 aircraft. VIII FC loses 8 fighters.
Ninth AF
129 B-26’s and A-20’s bomb rail and road bridges and
intersections, rail lines, oil tanks, arty, and town areas, in morning
operations. Bad weather prevents afternoon operations. 10 fighter groups fly
escort and strafe and bomb bridges, railroads, gun emplacements, rail and road
traffic, and marshalling yards in support of Allied ground troops in France.
Twelfth AF
Weather cancels all Light Bomber and Medium Bomber
operations. Fighter Bombers and fighters, operating on a reduced scale, hit
vehicles, roads, and bridges N of battleline which US Fifth Army’s VI Corps has
extended 65 mi N of Rome.
Fifteenth AF
126 B-17’s and 60 P-51’s depart Russian shuttle bases for
Italy to complete the first FRANTIC operation. On the way 121 B-17’s bomb airfield
at Focsani; 1 B-17 is lost. 540-plus other B-17’s and B-24’s attack oil
installations at Constanta and Giurgiu (both raids having fighter escorts) oil
refinery and marshalling yard at Smederovo. The Heavy Bombers and fighters
claim total of 50 airplanes destroyed during the day’s missions.
Tenth AF
30 B-25’s continue flying ammo to Imphal area. 55 A-36’s,
P-51’s, and P-40’s attack targets at Myitkyina, Mogaung, Indawgyi Lake, and
Padaung.
Fourteenth AF
In China’s Tungting Lake area 80-plus P-40’s, P-51’s, and
P-38’s pound towns of Lanchi and Anking, hit cavalry compound at Kintsing,
attack Japanese HQ, positions, and river traffic N of Changsha, destroy or
damage several boats, barges, and sampans at Changsha, and strafe numerous targets
of opportunity throughout the entire region. In Yellow R area, 27 B-25’s and
P-40’s pound barracks, fortifications, tank concentration, several armored
vehicles, and cavalry forces at Iching and Lingroupao. 3 B-25’s on sea sweep in
S China Sea claim 1 600ft freighter sunk.
Fifth AF
B-24’s bomb Sorido airfield and surrounding areas as US
carrier forces attack Saipan, Tinian and Guam. B-25’s, A-20’s, and P-47’s
continue to saturate Wewak-Hansa Bay coastline with bombs. Other B-24’s bomb
Dublon and Peleliu airfield.
Thirteenth AF
130-plus B-25’s, P-38’s P-39’s, and Navy dive bombers pound
AA positions S and SW of Rapopo. P-39’s fly 44 sorties against occupied areas
at Komai, Kakaura, and Quaga, AA guns at Kangu Hill, and plantations at Arigua
and Tsirogei.
Seventh AF
B-24’s from Eniwetok hit Truk during 11/12 Jun. B-25’s
follow with raid against Ponape during the morning.
USA
FRANCE—21 Army Group: In U.S. First Army’s VII Corps area,
4th Div’s TF Barber continues futile efforts to break through Azeville gap to
Quinéville ridge in coastal sector; 12th Inf gains its objective— W end of
Montebourg–Quinéville ridge—but pulls back behind Montebourg–St Floxel road
since its flanks are exposed; 8th Inf digs in along Le Ham– Montebourg road
when enemy fire prevents forward movement to the RR. 82d A/B Div’s 505th Para Inf,
making main effort with 2d Bn of 325th Gli Inf, thrusts into Le Ham under heavy
fire and finds Le Ham deserted. 90th Div continues to make slow progress W of
the Merderet, but partly surrounds Pont l’Abbé. 101st A/B Div presses in slowly
on Carentan against unabated opposition: On right, 3d Bn of 502d Para Inf,
after crossing the Madeleine R and clearing enemy strong points, is joined by 1st
Bn; determined counterattacks are repelled and 2d Bn, 502d Para Inf, takes over
line, night 11–12. While main body of 327th Gli Inf conducts holding action
along canal on left, elements move in to outskirts of Carentan along Bassin
Flot. Destructive fire is placed on Carentan during night 11–12, and Germans
quietly abandon the town. In V Corps area, elements of 2d Armd Div (3d Bn, 41st
Armd Inf Regt) are committed to strengthen bridgehead at Auville-sur-le-Vey,
since VII Corps’ 101st A/B is fully occupied with battle for Carentan. V Corps front
is quiet except at tip of Fôret de Cerisy, where elements of 2d Div reduce
strong point at Haute Littée crossroads.
In Br Second Army’s 30 Corps area, 7th Armd Div breaks into
Tilly-sur-Seulle but is forced out by enemy.
USSR-FINLAND—Continuing offensive against Mannerheim Line,
Soviet forces drive wedge 15 miles deep on 30-mile front in Finnish positions.
FRANTIC—U.S. Fifteenth Air Force planes attack Focsani
airfield while returning to Italy from their first shuttle bombing mission
between there and USSR.
ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army area, IV Corps (Gen
Crittenberger) takes command of VI Corps sector and of 36th Div. VI Corps,
which is to participate in Operation ANVIL under U.S. Seventh Army, has driven
nearly 65 miles N of Rome with little difficulty, but there are indications
that rear-guard opposition will soon increase. In FEC area, Montefiascone falls
to 1st Motorized Div. 3d Algerian Inf Div secures Valentano.
In Br Eighth Army’s 13 Corps area, S African 6th Armd Div is
unable to break through enemy delaying line below Bagnoregio. In 10 Corps area,
Br 6th Armd Div crosses Galantina R, from which enemy has departed, and takes
Cantalupo.
CHINA—Japanese attack in strength across Liuyang R and meet
little opposition from Chinese of IX War Area.
NEW GUINEA—U.S. 6th Div commander, Maj Gen Franklin C.
Sibert, his hq, 20th Inf, and miscellaneous units of 6th Div arrive at Toem. On
Biak, TF HURRICANE opens assault with 2 regts abreast to clear region N and W
of Mokmer airfield. 186th Inf, on left along coast, easily reaches first phase
line, about 1,350 yards beyond W end of runway. 162d Inf gets left flank to
first phase line but is halted a little short of line of departure, extending inland
from coast at Monoebaboe, on right. Japanese laborers bring news of Japanese
West Caves strong point, some 1,000 yards NW of 3d Bn, 162d Inf. Elements of TF
HURRICANE probing toward East Caves are recalled to Mokmer airdrome. Japanese in
Parai Defile finally yield to pressure from E and W.
MARIANAS—As invasion convoy, after rendezvousing off the
Marshalls, sails for Saipan, carrier planes of TF 58 begin preinvasion
softening of the Marianas, a day ahead of schedule, with fighter sweep in
afternoon that gains control of the air. Enemy losses through destruction or
serious damage are estimated to be from 147 to 215 planes. Of 225 U.S. aircraft
launched, only 12 are lost.
USMC
Carrier planes of TF 58 begin preinvasion softening of
Marianas. Northern Attack Force departs Eniwetok for Saipan.
No comments:
Post a Comment