US NAVY
PACIFIC—Naval Operating Base, Saipan, is established.
Heavy
cruiser New Orleans (CA-32), light cruiser Biloxi (CL-80), and
four destroyers drawn from TG 38.4, bombard Japanese installations at Iwo Jima
and Chichi Jima (the bombardment will be repeated the following day). The ships
draw no return fire and U.S. gunfire damages landing ship T.105 off the
latter place.
Submarine Narwhal
(SS-167) lands men and supplies on east coast of Luzon.
Submarine Pilotfish
(SS-386) sinks Japanese auxiliary vessel Ina Maru north-northwest of
Chichi Jima, 30°32'N,140°55'E.
Submarine Tunny (SS-282): Aerial bomb damage, Luzon Strait, 21°50'N, 119°18'E, forces termination of her patrol.
Other
Japanese casualties include merchant cargo ship Sekino Maru sunk by
aircraft in Celebes Sea, 01°06'N,122°21'E; and merchant cargo ship Tientsin
Maru sunk by mine off Woosung, China.
ATLANTIC—Coast guard cutter Northland (WPG-49)
locates German weather ship Kehdingen off Great Koldeyey Island,
Greenland, and pursues her through the ice floes. Kehdingen, however, is
scuttled by her crew to avoid capture. German submarine U-703's attack
on Northland is thwarted by ice.
MEDITERRANEAN—Mine sinks motor minesweeper YMS-21,
Toulon, 43°06'N, 05°54'E.
US ARMY AIR FORCE
EIGHTH AF—950-plus heavy bombers sent against targets in E
France and Germany are recalled because of bad weather. 1 heavy bomber bombs
railroad at Hasloch. 11 fighter groups offer support, 1 group strafing a
locomotive. A P-47 group on sweep strafes transportation targets in
Brussels-Antwerp area. 7 P-47 groups bomb and strafe rail lines in N and E
France and airfield W of Nancy claiming 5 combat victories and 5 destroyed on
the ground.
NINTH AF—IX Troop Carrier Command comes under
administrative control of USSTAF and under operational control of First Allied Airborne
Army, to increase efficiency, especially for planning, training, and
preparation of airborne operations. SHAEF now can deal directly with all
elements of an airborne force through a single unified command instead of
through various army groups and air forces (i.e. 12 and 21 Army Groups, Ninth
AF, and RAF components). Medium bombers attack fortifications in Brest area
which artillery fire had been unable to reduce. Escorting fighters fly sweeps
and armed reconnaissance in N and E France, and fly cover for 6 divisions in
Brussels, Amiens, Saint- Quentin, Cambrai, Reims, and Verdun areas.
TWELFTH AF—During 31 Aug/1 September A-20’s hit gun
positions and targets of opportunity in W Po Valley. Weather grounds B-26’s
during day but B-25’s score excellent results against road and railroad bridges
N and NE of Venice. Fighter bomber and fighters bomb and strafe roads, troop
concentrations, supply dumps, and German HQ in battle area N of Florence, and
fly armed reconnaissance from Ventimiglia along coast to La Spezia.
FIFTEENTH AF—480-plus heavy bombers attack Boara Pisani,
railroad bridges at Tesica/Moravac, Mitrovica, and Kraljevo, railroad bridges
at Szolnok, and Mezotur, marshalling yards at Szajol, Debreczen,
Berettyoujfalu, and Novi Sad, and airfield at Nish. 51 P-51’s successfully
strafe Debreczen airfield. 16 B-17’s evacuate interned US airmen from Rumania. Fighters
support bombing and evacuation missions.
TENTH AF—A few P-47’s attack Bhamo and strafe river boats
in the area.
FOURTEENTH AF—4 B-24’s claim a small freighter sunk in
Formosa Strait. 12 B-25’s bomb Kai Tek airfield and a supply depot S of Canton.
B-25’s hit road S of Nanyo, runway at Hengyang, and targets of opportunity near
Anjen. 61 P-40’s and P-51’s attack bridges, roads, shipping, airfields troops,
and other targets of opportunity at or near Yangtien, Nanyo, Hengyang, Anjen,
Changning, and Chiuchiang.
FEAF—50-plus B-24’s bomb Sasa, Matina, and Likanan airfields.
Others, failing to reach Mindanao, hit Beo. Fighter bombers hit Boela and airfield
at Amahai. A-20’s, P-40’s and B-25’s bomb runways at Babo and Urarom.
SEVENTH AF—Saipan-based P-47’s carry out rocket and
strafing strike against Pagan. A lone B-24 on armed reconnaissance bombs Yap.
Marshalls-based B-24’s bomb Truk.
ELEVENTH AF—A B-24 bombs Kashiwabara during 31 Aug/1 September.
A B-25 bombs a shack on SW coast of Paramushiru and sinks a nearby ship. 5
other B-25’s on this mission turn back due to overcast.
US ARMY
U.K.—British Chiefs of Staff propose airborne and
amphibious assault (coded DRACULA) on Rangoon.
N FRANCE—21 Army Group (Northern Group of Armies): In
Canadian First Army’s British I Corps area, 49th Division, upon crossing the
Seine, turns W toward Le Havre while 51st drives toward St Valery-en- Caux. In
2 Corps area, 2d Division takes Dieppe, and port is opened within a week. 3d Division
thrusts to Le Trèport. 4th Armored and Polish 1st Armored Divisions are driving
quickly toward the Somme, former in the lead.
In British
Second Army’s 12 Corps area, 7th Armored Division crosses the Somme near
Airaines. 53d Division, echeloned to left rear, protects left flank of corps.
30 Corps drives rapidly NE with 11th Armored and Guards Armored Divisions
spearheading. 11th Armored reaches St Polish – Arras road and Guards Armored bypasses
Arras. 50th Division is following up. 12th Army Group (Central Group of
Armies): Passes to direct command of SHAEF from command of Gen Montgomery.
In U.S.
First Army’s XIX Corps area, 2d Armored Division, followed closely by infantry,
reaches positions NW of Cambrai. V Corps speeds toward St Quentin. 4th Division,
motorized and reinforced by Combat Command A of 5th Armored Division, takes the
lead, thrusting to vicinity of Chauny. Other elements of corps improve
positions at and near Compiègne, where bridge construction is in progress. VII
Corps swerves from NE to N. Combat Command B of 3d Armored Division drives
quickly through Vervins to La Capelle; to right, Combat Command A, in
conjunction with 9th Division, reaches Etreaupont–Aubenton area. 1st Division,
on corps left flank, reaches Voyenne.
U.S. Third
Army is practically immobilized by acute shortage of gasoline. Enforced lull
permits enemy to build up behind the West Wall. In XX Corps area, Combat
Command R of 7th Armored Division advances to Etain along Verdun–Metz highway.
3d Cavalry Group, using captured gasoline, patrols eastward toward the Moselle.
In XII Corps area, Combat Command A of 4th Armored Division expands Commercy
bridgehead over the Meuse, and 80th Division crosses into it. Combat Command B crosses
the Meuse S of Commercy. 35th Division protects S flank of army. VIII Corps
continues preparations for renewing all-out assault on Brest when ammunition is
more plentiful; makes slight gains in limited attack in conjunction with aerial
bombardment. Aircraft, warships, and artillery pound Ile de Cézembre, off St
Malo, in preparation for amphibious assault by 83d Division force.
S FRANCE—(Southern Group of Armies): In U.S. Seventh Army
area, VI Corps is rapidly closing in on Lyon. 36th Division gets forward
elements to heights commanding the city. 3d Division is moving forward behind 45th
Division. 45th Division, leaving 179th Infantry to defend Meximieux, moves up E
bank of the Ain without opposition. In determined attacks supported by tanks
and self propelled guns, Germans isolate 179th Infantry within Meximieux at
great cost; FFI forces are sent to help 179th. In French Army B area, 2d Corps
continues toward Lyon in region W of the Rhône, overrunning Serrières and
Firminy.
ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army area, IV Corps begins pursuit
of enemy across the Arno. 1st Armored Division, spearheading, crosses Combat
Command A and Combat Command B, which push toward M. Pisano and Altopascio,
respectively. On coastal flank, TF 45 finishes clearing its zone S of the Arno
and crosses 100th (Nisei) Battalion over the river to E of Pisa. S African 6th Armored
Division, with task of taking M. Albano, begins to cross the Arno W of Empoli
during afternoon. In II Corps area, 88th Division, holding narrow zone along
the Arno assigned to II Corps with Regimental Combat Team 442 ( — ), also crosses
the Arno in pursuit of enemy. British 13 Corps turns Florence over to Italians.
In British
Eighth Army area, British 5 Corps and Canadian 1 Corps penetrate main defenses
of the Gothic Line on M. Gridolfo and Tomba di Pesaro, commanding Foglia I
valley. Polish 2 Corps, employing elements of 3d Carpathian Division, crosses
the Foglia for drive eastward toward the coast, but is held up by enemy on E slopes
of Pozzo Alto.
BALKANS—Allied successes on other fronts, particularly those
of Red Army, force German Army Group F to begin withdrawing from Greece
and islands of Ionian and Aegean Seas. Main withdrawal route, rail line through
Skoplje and Belgrade in Yugoslavia, is so effectively hit by U.S. Fifteenth Air
Force during first half of September that air withdrawal is begun from fields
in Athens area. All 3 fields are left unserviceable by Fifteenth Air Force attacks
during latter half of month.
NEW GUINEA—Regimental Combat Team 123 of 33d Division,
untried in combat, arrives at Maffin Bay from E New Guinea to protect 31st Division
as it stages for invasion of Morotai I.
US MARINE CORPS
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