80 Years Ago Friday, 2 June 1944

USN

Pacific

Submarine Guitarro (SS-363), in attack on two Japanese warships carrying out an antisubmarine sweep east of Formosa, torpedoes escort vessel Awaji near Yasho Island, 22°34'N, 121°51'E.

Submarine Picuda (SS-382) attacks Japanese Moji-to-Singapore convoy, sinking escort vessel Awaji, 22°48'N,121°24'E. As the convoy takes evasive action, however, cargo vessel Arimasan Maru accidentally rams Shinshu Maru's stern, setting off depth charges stowed there and damaging Shinshu Maru.

Submarine Shark (SS-314) attacks Japanese convoy, sinking transport No.2 Chiyo Maru about 600 miles northwest of Saipan, 21°00'N, 140°20'E.

Mediterranean

Destroyer MacKenzie (DD-614) shells German guns in the Partecica de Mari area, near Anzio.

AAF

Eighth AF

Role of bombers from 2-5 Jun in preparation for invasion of Normandy on 6 Jun includes continuation of attacks against transportation and airfield targets in N France and the institution of a series of blows against coastal defenses, mainly located in Pas de Calais coastal area, to deceive the enemy as to the sector to be invaded (Operation COVER). In the first mission on 2 Jun, 776 Heavy Bombers attack targets at Boulogne-sur- Mer, Wimereux, Equihen-Plage, Hardelot Plage, Neufchatel, Dannes, Plage-Sainte-Cecile, Stella- Plage, Breck-sur Mer, and Saint-Aubin. Opposition is confined to AA fire and is generally ineffective. The second mission of 2 Jun is carried out by 300 Heavy Bombers attacking airfields and railroad facilities at or near Massy/Palaiseau, Conches, Beaumont-sur-Oise, Juvisy-sur-Orge, Acheres, Paris, Versailles/Matelots, Bretigny-sur-Orge, and Creil. 8 bombers are lost to AA fire.

Ninth AF

Special conference for ground liaison officers is held by 21 Army Group officers who present a detailed exposition of the plan for the landings in Normandy. About 350 B-26’s and A-20’s bomb NOBALL targets and coastal def batteries along Channel coast. P-38’s and P-47’s dive-bomb targets in the area, including V-weapon sites, fuel dump, railroad junctions and bridges.

Twelfth AF

Medium Bombers attack road and rail bridges from N of battle area just below Rome to areas N of Rome. Fighter Bombers continue to blast motor transport, railways, trains, command posts, roads, and bridges in battle area, having particularly good success against vehicles.

Fifteenth AF

Shuttle-bombing between Italy and USSR (Operation FRANTIC) is started. Under command of Gen Eaker, 130 B-17’s, escorted by 70 P-51’s, bomb marshalling yard at Debreczen and land in Soviet Union—the Heavy Bombers at Poltava and Mirgorod, the fighters at Piryatin. 1 Heavy Bomber is lost over target. 27 other B-17’s, forced off course en route to Oradea marshalling yard, also hit Debreczen. Nearly 400 other Heavy Bombers attack marshalling yards at Szeged, Miskolc, Szolnok, Cluj, Simeria, and Oradea. P-51’s and P-38’s provide escort.

Tenth AF

B-25’s continue to fly ammo into Imphal area. 12 B-24’s airborne against Yenangyaung fail to hit primary but unload against alternates in the area.

Fourteenth AF

80-plus P-40’s and P-51’s pound troops and vehicles at Tungcheng and Chungyang and strafe concentration of about 75 sampans on Tungting Lake.

Fifth AF

B-25’s bomb Kaukenau-Timoeka area while B-24’s bomb positions N of Mokmer airfield. B-24’s and B-25’s hit bivouacs NE of Sawar airfield and near Wiske R and bomb roads along W bank of the Orai R. B-24’s, P-39’s, and RAAF airplanes hit Wewak area. Thirteenth Air TF B-24’s bomb Dublon.

Thirteenth AF

24 B-24’s pound Nordup area. 48 P-38’s, P-39’s, and P-40’s attack Vunakanau area. 30-plus P-39’s attack airfield at Buka and supplies in Kara-Kahili area.

Seventh AF

B-25’s based at Makin strike Nauru.

Eleventh AF

2 B-24’s, finding Shimushiru overcast, bomb and photograph Matsuwa (secondary) during dawn.

USA

U.S.—CCS issue new directive to SEAC, a compromise between Br and U.S. positions. Br view that air link to China should be developed in order to support operations in the Pacific is accepted. Ground operations are to be pressed only insofar as they are of assistance to build-up of Hump tonnage. Capture of Myitkyina area of N Burma and construction of pipelines to China are to be integral parts of the main operation.

NEW GUINEA—On Biak, 186th Inf attacks W along inland plateau toward airfields; against sporadic but persistent opposition, reaches positions almost abreast those of 162d Inf in Ibdi area. 2d Bn, 162d Inf, joins 186th Inf and is attached to it. In coastal sector, 162d Inf recovers water hole, reduces roadblock, and blocks trail leading inland. Co A, 163d Inf, occupies Owi and Mios Woendi Islands. In Hollandia–Aitape area, TF PERSECUTION’s 1st Bn, 126th Inf, is formed into 2 forces: Herrick Force is to hold Yakamul; Bailey Force is to patrol southward from Yakamul along the Harech.

CBI—In NCAC area of Burma, formal siege of Myitkyina begins, with Chinese tunnelling toward enemy.

On Salween front, Ch 36th Div takes Kaitou village and surrounds Chiaotou in Shweli Valley. In China, Japanese offensive in Honan draws to a close, enemy having secured his objectives there at light cost.

ITALY—AAI: Temporarily alters inter-army boundary to permit U.S. Fifth Army greater freedom of movement.

In U.S. Fifth Army’s VI Corps area, the enemy, after stubborn defense through day, withdraws main forces, night 2–3. 45th Div makes little progress toward Albano. 168th Inf, 34th Div, takes Villa Crocetta and crosses Genaro Hill to reach RR; patrols enter Lanuvio, night 2–3. 142d and 143d Regts of 36th Div advance abreast on right flank of VI Corps, seizing hills just E of M. Cavo and hills E of Tano Hill. 141st Inf reaches Highway 7 before dawn and drives W along it until relieved by 157th Inf of 45th Div, which has moved from left flank of VI Corps to Velletri area to reinforce 36th Div. 157th continues W along the highway to positions 21/2 miles W of Velletri. RCT 361, 91st Div, closes at Velletri and is attached to 36th Div, but is not committed to action before fall of Rome. II Corps gains initial objective and enemy begins to withdraw. 85th Div, having regrouped, attacks with 339th Inf on left, 337th in center, and 338th on right. 339th, which is to finish clearing Maschio d’Ariano, takes M. Fiore. 337th seizes M. Ceraso and pushes almost to Highway 6. 1st Bn, 338th, reaches Highway 6 at S. Cesareo. 88th Div’s 351st Inf overruns S. Cesareo and cuts Highway 6; 349th captures Gardella Hill. On left flank of 3d Div, TF Howze and 7th Inf drive to Labico; 7th Inf continues toward Palestrina area. 30th Inf pushes through Valmontone, which enemy has abandoned, to positions near Cave. 15th Inf takes over from 1st SSF task of guarding right flank. 1st SSF, under II Corps control, drives down Highway 6 and gains contact with FEC east of Colle Ferro at 1530. In FEC area, Lepini Mts have been cleared of stragglers by 3d Algerian and 2d Moroccan Divs.

In Br Eighth Army area, 13 Corps seizes Alatri. U.S. Fifteenth Air Force begins shuttle bombing (coded FRANTIC) between Italy and Soviet bases. 130 bombers and 70 fighters, after attacking rail targets at Debrecen (Hungary), continue E and land at the 3 new American bases in USSR—Poltava, Morgorod, and Piryatin.