80 Years Ago Sunday 4 June 1944

Today was heard a command not heard since the days of sail, “Away Boarders!”  U-505, the objectivw of that order, can now be seen at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.

USN

Pacific

Japanese horizontal bombers attack Allied cruiser and destroyer forces TF 74 and TF 75 (Rear Admiral Victor A.C. Crutchley, RN) off Biak, New Guinea, damaging light cruisers Nashville (CL-43), 01°05'S, 136°05'E, and Phoenix (CL-46), 01°00'S, 136°00'E.

Submarine Flier (SS-250) sinks Japanese troopship Hakusan Maru about 375 miles southwest of Chichi Jima, Bonins,22°45'N, 136°50'E.

Submarine Golet (SS-361) sinks Japanese guardboat No.10 Shinko Maru east of Japan, 35°47'N, 154°54'E.

Coordinated submarine attack group, TG 17.12, makes contact with Japanese convoy 3530 (see 29 May). Two of the group's three boats, Shark (SS-314) and Pintado (SS-387), will obtain favorable attack positions; the third, Pilotfish (SS-386), will not. Shark sinks army transport Katsukawa Maru about 475 miles northwest of Saipan, 19°45'N,138°15'E (see 5 June).

USAAF B-24s sink Japanese landing ship T.128, 110 miles northeast of Morotai, 04°09'N, 129°45'E.

USAAF A-20s bomb Manokwari, New Guinea, and Japanese shipping in Geelvink Bay, sinking auxiliary submarine chaser No.2 Hakusan Maru and guardboats Shimane Maru, No.3 Tokyo Maru, and Gongen Maru.

Atlantic

TG 22.3 (Captain Daniel V. Gallery), a hunter-killer group comprising escort carrier Guadalcanal (CVE-60) and destroyer escorts Pillsbury (DE-133), Pope (DE-134), Flaherty (DE-135), Chatelain (DE-149), and Jenks (DE-665), forces German submarine U-505 to the surface 150 miles off the coast of Rio de Oro, Africa. Lieutenant (j.g.) Albert L. David leads a boarding party from Pillsbury (which is damaged in collision with the out-of-control U-boat during salvage operations) that saves the ship despite the dangers posed by scuttling charges. He later assists more well-equipped salvage parties that make the captured U-boat seaworthy for the tow to Trinidad. For his "gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty," David is awarded the Medal of Honor.

AAF

Eighth AF

In the first mission of the day the escort is to be divided between Pas de Calais (COVER) area and the Normandy assault (NEPTUNE ) area. However, D-Day is postponed 24 hrs and the NEPTUNE force is cancelled. 231 Heavy Bombers attack 7 targets in Pas de Calais area. In the second mission 283 aircraft bomb 8 coastal def positions in same area. Third mission of the day consists of attacks by 400 Heavy Bombers on 10 targets including airfields, railway junctions and bridges. No bombers are lost on any of the missions.

Ninth AF

Over 300 B-26’s and A-20’s bomb highway bridges and coastal batteries in France. Almost 200 P-47’s and P-51’s dive-bomb bridges, railroad junction, rolling stock and targets of opportunity in France.

Twelfth AF

Medium Bombers hit railroad bridges in NC Italy. Fighter Bombers concentrate on motor transport on roads N of Rome over which enemy is retreating as US Fifth Army columns converge on the city amidst enthusiastic welcome by the populace. A record number of over 600 motor transport are claimed destroyed and almost as many more damaged by Twelfth AF and RAF units of MATAF.

Fifteenth AF

More than 650 B-17’s and B-24’s attack comm in NW Italy and on both sides of Franco-Italian frontier, hitting marshalling yard and repair works at Turin, marshalling yards at Genoa and Novi Ligure, bridges at Gad and Orelle, and viaducts at Recco and Antheor. Fighters fly over 200 sorties in support of the Heavy Bombers.

Tenth AF

20-plus P-40’s hit Myitkyina area while 19 others hit various points in N Burma, including Haka, Kamaing, Kamasaing, Tagwin, and Bilumyo. B-25’s continue ammo lift to Imphal.

Fourteenth AF

P-40’s bomb arty positions and targets of opportunity in Watien area of Salween battle front. Others bomb railroad targets of opportunity in NE Indochina.

Fifth AF

A-20’s bomb town and harbor at Manokwari and shipping to the E in Geelvink Bay. B-24’s bomb Namber and Borokoe airfields while fighters battle enemy airplanes in general area. B-24’s bomb area near Orai R mouth while A-20’s hit Wewak and Fighter Bombers pound Hansa Bay coast.

Thirteenth AF

Bad weather again prevents strikes against Rabaul area. P-39’s flying a total of 55 sorties, blast truck park near Komai, strafe huts at Doure, and attack pier at Tunuru. 8 P-38’s weathered out of Rabaul strike Tonolai supply area. A lone B-25 bombs Kahili.

Seventh AF

During the night B-24’s, staging through Eniwetok, hit Truk. B-25’s from Engebi follow with daylight raid on Ponape.

Eleventh AF

2 B-24’s fly uneventful recon over Shimushiru. Fuel shortage and equipment failure prevent flying to Matsuwa (secondary). Later, a B-25 and 2 P-38’s fly a guardship cover mission.

USA

SWPA—GHQ begins preparations for seizure of Noemfoor I., between Biak and Manokwari. The island, containing 3 airdromes, can be used as a staging area and also as base from which to cover sea lanes W of Biak.

NEW GUINEA—On Biak, 186th Inf of TF HURRICANE halts westward drive because of possible enemy attack and spends rest of day in uneventful patrolling. In Ibdi area, 162d Inf makes limited progress in clearing trail leading inland and ridge lines extending from it. In Hollandia–Aitape area, Japanese, after preparatory bombardment, counterattack Herrick Force of TF PERSECUTION in Yakamul area, forcing elements on far side of stream to retire. Bailey Force is ordered to relieve Herrick Force and starts N toward Yakamul, bypassing enemy block on trail.

CBI—On Salween front, Chinese silence enemy fire on heights commanding Huei-jen Bridge. 88th and 87th Divs, Ch 71st Army, are converging on Lung-ling, 88th from Pingka and 87th along Burma Road. Elements of Ch New 28th Div take Lameng; others are containing Sung Shan garrison.

ITALY—AAI: U.S. Fifth Army columns, some motorized, converge on Rome against rear-guard opposition and are enthusiastically welcomed by the populace. Elements of 88th Rcn Tr of II Corps are the first to enter but cannot deepen penetration. Gen Clark designates garrison of the Eternal City: 3d Div, less one regt that will remain in the city as Fifth Army reserve; Br 1st Bn, the Duke of Wellington’s Regt; 1 composite bn of FEC. 3d Div is to command the garrison forces. In VI Corps area, 1st Armd Div takes Albano and drives up Highway 7 into Rome while 36th Div, to E, advances into E suburbs. 45th and 34th Div task forces secure crossing sites below Rome. In II Corps area, 1st SSF and 88th Div columns, making main effort, 1st SSF along Highway 6 and 88th Div along Via Prenestina, are delayed W of Centocelle for about 9 hours but push on through to city. 1st SSF fans out within Rome to take Tiber bridges N of Ponte Margherita. 88th Div TF’s, based on 1st Bns of 351st and 350th Regts, drive through the city and seize Ponte Milvio and Ponte del Duca d’Aosta. On left flank of II Corps, one 85th Div force drives through Frascati and along Via Tuscolana to Rome, taking Ponte Cavour there; another cuts Highway 7. FEC completes relief of 3d Div on right flank of II Corps. Forward elements of 3d Algerian Div reach Aniene R at Lunghezza. 1st Motorized Div is committed to right.

Br Eighth Army regroups in order to place 2 fresh armd divs, Br 6th and S African 6th, in van of pursuit that 13 Corps is to lead. 13 Corps takes command of S African 6th Armd Div from Cdn 1 Corps. Cdn 1 Corps is withdrawn into reserve.

U.K.—At SHAEF, Gen Eisenhower postpones D Day 24 hours, to 6 June, because of unfavorable weather forecasts.