Monday, July 29, 2024

80 Years Ago, Friday, 7 July 1944

USN

PACIFIC–Submarine Bonefish (SS-223) sinks Japanese guard boat Ryuei Maru off Tarakan, Borneo, 02°40'N, 118°22'E.

            Submarine Flasher (SS-249), despite presence of escort vessel, sinks Japanese transport No.2 Koto Maru off Cape Varella, French Indochina, 13°08'N, 109°28'E.

            Submarine Mingo (SS-261) sinks Japanese destroyer Tamanami 150 miles west-southwest of Manila, 14°16'N,119°50'E.

            Submarine Skate (SS-305) attacks Japanese convoy in the southern Sea of Okhotsk, sinking destroyer Usugumo and damaging cargo vessel Kasado Maru about 160 miles north of Etorofu Jima, 47°43'N, 147°55'E.

            Submarine Sunfish (SS-281) attacks Japanese fishing boats en route from Matsuwa to Uruppu, sinking No.105 Hokuyo Maru, No.5 Kannon Maru, Ebisu Maru, and Kinei Maru, 47°29'E, 152°29'E.

 

AAF

EIGHTH AF–Over 1,000 Heavy Bombers attack 3 synthetic oil plants, 8 aircraft assembly plants and engine works, 2 airfields and an equipment depot, 2 marshalling yards a railway station, railway repair shops, and city of Hameln, all in Germany. 37 Heavy Bombers are lost during the day’s operations, 649 fighters escort Heavy Bombers. 42 P-38’s and 124 P-47’s make strafing attacks, destroying parked aircraft, locomotives, and rolling stock. Fighters claim 77 aircraft destroyed in aerial combat and 4 on ground. 6 fighters are lost.

NINTH AF–100-plus A-20’s and B-26’s bomb rail bridge near Tours, and targets of opportunity in Lisieux and Beuzeville areas. Over 500 fighters fly escort and area cover, carry out armed recon of comm and troop activity, and bomb railroads, rolling stock, marshalling yards, ammo dumps, and bridges in front-line areas and wide areas of W France.

TWELFTH AF–During 6/7 Jul A-20’s bomb La Spezia harbor and motor transport in the area, and resume attack on fuel supplies during the day. B-26’s and B-25’s score direct hits on railway bridges at Reggio Emilia, and over the Fratta R and possible hits on Santa Maria di Mugnano bridge and 2 other bridges in the area; they also hit Collecchio fuel dump, causing many fires and explosions. Fighter Bombers attack Ferrara airfield, town of Empoli, and rail lines, bridges, fuel and ammo dumps, motor transport, and numerous other targets in battle area as US Fifth Army forces complete clearing of Rosignano.

FIFTEENTH AF–560-plus B-24’s and B-17’s bomb 2 synthetic oil plants at Blechhammer, synthetic oil and coking plant at Odertal, and Zagreb airfield and marshalling yard. Heavy Bombers and fighter escorts claim more than 50 aircraft shot down during fierce battle with 275-300 fighters mainly in Vienna-Budapest area. 18 US aircraft are listed as destroyed and a larger number missing.

TENTH AF–20 Fighter Bombers hit targets of opportunity at Okkyin and Namkwin and strafe trucks near Myitkyina. 4 B-25’s attack bridges and railroad tracks at Hopin and Naba.

FOURTEENTH AF–In Tungting Lake area B-25’s and Fighter Bombers hit Yoyang, Siangtan, Liling, and Yungfengshih, strafe cavalry forces N of Yuhsien, hit river shipping, troops, and pontoon bridge at Siangsiang, attack compounds in Leiyang area, and bomb storage at Shihshow. 10 mi E of Ichang on the Yangtze P-40’s thoroughly blast Japanese post. B-25’s and P-51’s bomb Tien Ho and White Cloud airfields and pound town of Tsingyun.

FEAF–B-24’s and A-20’s bomb Moemi and Nabire airfields; supply dumps along Wiske R are also attacked. A few Fighter Bombers and RAAF aircraft attack barges, gun positions, and troops along coast in Wewak area. B- 24’s bomb Yap, Sorol I radio station, and runway on Woleai.

TWENTIETH AF–14 B-29’s, operating out of Chengtu during 7/8 Jul, bomb Sasebo, Omura, and Tobata (most of the planes hitting Sasebo area). 3 others attack secondary and last resort targets at Laoyao and in Hankow area.

SEVENTH AF–P-61’s carry out interceptor missions over Guam, Saipan, and Rota during 6/7 Jul.

 

USA

FRANCE—21 Army Group: In preparation for all-out assault on Caen by Br Second Army, heavy bombers of RAF BC attack in force, night 7–8, dropping 2,662 tons of bombs on military targets. In U.S. First Army’s VIII Corps area, 79th and 90th Divs continue efforts to break through enemy positions in La Haye-du-Puits–Mont Castre Forest area and repel several counterattacks. VII Corps inches forward down Carentan–Périers road against steadily increasing resistance. XIX Corps, to E of VII Corps, opens attack with 30th Div that establishes bridgehead in St Jean-de-Day area and takes that town: after preparatory bombardment, 117th Inf forces the Vire on div left at 0430 and 120th attacks across Vire–Taute Canal to W at 1345. After nightfall, CCB, 3d Armd Div, crosses into bridgehead at Airel with mission of expanding it toward St Gilles; 113th Cav Gp moves forward on 30th Div’s right flank.

ITALY—AAF: In U.S. Fifth Army’s IV Corps area, 135th Inf of 34th Div completes clearing Rosignano, but enemy is holding out just beyond the town; after heavy concentrations of fire on M. Vase, enemy counterattacks and recovers it from 3d Bn, 363d Inf. FEC gets forward elements beyond Highway 68. 4th Mtn Div takes Colle di Val d’Elsa, SW of Poggibonsi. Offensive operations of FEC later subside as preparations are made for its movement to Naples area upon relief by Br 13 Corps.

            In Br Eighth Army’s 13 Corps area, S African 6th Armd Div retains foothold on slopes of M. Lignano against strong counterthrusts. In 10 Corps area, Ind 4th Div, which has been trained recently in mountain warfare, is concentrating S of Umbertide to re-inforce corps as it continues advance on Sansepolcro.

CBI—Br 36 Div, which has moved forward to replace 77th LRP Brig, Ind 3d Div, is transferred to command of Gen Stilwell. In NCAC area, Myitkyina TF begins training on program for forces in reserve and those in contact with enemy. On Salween front, Ch 8th Army continues operations to clear Sung Shan with night attack, 7–8, by 246th Regt of 82d Div. Although peak is seized, Japanese counterattack and drive Chinese off, causing 200 casualties.

JAPAN—Small force of B–29’s attacks Kyushu I., night 7–8, most of planes concentrating on Sasebo naval targets. This is the third B–29 mission and the second against Japanese homeland.

NEW GUINEA—On Biak, co of 163d Inf attempts to move into Ibdi Pocket but finds enemy repairing old fortifications and building new ones. Bombardment of the position is resumed.

POA—Adm Nimitz orders his commanders to prepare for invasion of S Palaus (Angaur, Peleliu, Ngesebus) on 15 September and of Yap and Ulithi, NE of the Palaus, on 5 October.

SAIPAN—Japanese remnants, estimated to number about 3,000, make a last desperate counterattack, which overwhelms most of 105th Inf, on 27th Div left flank, as well as guns of 3d Bn, 10th Marines, before it is stemmed at 105th Inf CP. 106th Inf is committed to relieve 105th and recovers most of the lost ground, but stops a little short of 105th, isolated remnants of which are withdrawn by water. Meanwhile, 165th Inf clears Harakiri Gulch without serious opposition. 4th Mar Div continues to make rapid progress on right. U.S.—Gen Marshall informs Gen Stilwell of action taken by President Roosevelt and urges Stilwell to maintain friendly relations with Chiang Kai-shek.

 

USMC

 

 

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