US NAVY
INTERNATIONAL—Second Quebec Conference (OCTAGON) attended
by President Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Churchill ends. Combined
Chiefs of Staff approve Admiral Halsey's recommendation to advance the invasion
of Leyte from 20December to 20 October.
PACIFIC—Marine Air Wings, Pacific is redesignated Aircraft,
Fleet Marine Force, Pacific (Major General Francis P. Mulcahy USMC) with
headquarters at Ewa, Oahu.
Motor
torpedo boat operations begin from Morotai, N.E.I., to maintain patrols, break
up the movement of Japanese troops in barges, and prevent seaborne
counterattacks from Halmahera. Two Morotai-based boats, PT-489 and PT-363
transit 60 miles of mined waters and then run an 11-mile gauntlet of coast
defense batteries to rescue Ensing Harold A. Thompson, a downed F6Fpilot from
escort carrier Santee (CVE-29), in Wasilla Bay, Halmahera; under fire
for two and a half hours, both boats receive superficial shrapnel damage in the
successful operation that snatches the aviator out of danger. Lieutenant Arthur
M. Preston (Commander, MTBRon 33), commanding the operation, will receive the
Medal of Honor.
Mine
damages destroyer Wadleigh (DD-689) off eastern entrance to Kossol
Passage, Palau, 07°51'N, 134°39'E.
U.S.
submarines operate against Japanese shipping south of Formosa: Picuda (SS-382)
sinks army cargo ship Tokushima Maru in Bashi Channel, 21°27'N,
121°35'E; Redfish (SS-395) sinks fleet tanker No.2 Ogura Maru,21°24'N,
121°14'E.
Submarine Sea
Devil (SS-400) sinks Japanese submarine I-364 off Yokosuka, Japan,
34°30'N, 145°23'E.
Submarine Shad
(SS-235) unsuccessfully attacks Japanese cargo ship Hakozaki Maru, 34°30'N,
138°25'E.
Aircraft
sink army cargo ship Imaharu Maru, 05°08'N, 121°14'E; and mine sinks cargo
vessel Imaji Maru, 05°08'N, 115°05'E.
MEDITERRANEAN—U.S. motor torpedo boats engage German
explosive control boat and four drones off Cap Martin.
ATLANTIC—Salvage vessel Escape (ARS-6) brings
damaged U.S. freighter George Ade into Hampton Roads; the ship is
repaired and returns to active service.
US ARMY AIR FORCE
EIGHTH AF—7 fighter groups, 4 carrying bombs, strafe
Hannover-Bremen-Osnabruck areas and bomb Ahlhorn airfield and Mannheim-Kaiserslautern
area.
NINTH AF—HQ Ninth AF begins reorganization of IX Bomber
Command as 9th Bomb Division, implementing the redesignation of 30 Aug.
150-plus medium bombers and light bombers attack Bath dike and Arnemuiden road
and rail embankment. Fighters escort bombers, fly sweeps, and armed reconnaissance
over Rastatt and Haguenau, and support US Third Army’s XII and XV Corps in
repelling counterattacks in NE France.
TWELFTH AF—Medium bombers attack fuel and supply dumps and
defensive positions in Bologna and Rimini areas while fighter bombers and fighters
bomb and strafe rail and road targets N of battle areas in the N Apennine Mts
as US Fifth Army forces struggle to break through strong enemy defenses in
hills N of Prato, along main Monte Altuzzo ridge, on Monte Veruca, Monte
Monticelli, and other mountain positions.
FIFTEENTH AF—Bad weather cancels bombing operations. 2
P-38’s fly weather reconnaissance and 54 B-24’s fly supplies to S France.
TENTH AF—19 B-24’s haul fuel to Liuchow. In spite of bad
weather, 4 P-47’s sweep Lungling-Wanling-Loiwing road and 5 damage bridge
approach at Manyut.
FOURTEENTH AF—20 B-24’s bomb Hengyang. 12 B-25’s bomb
Kutkai. 28 B-25’s hit targets in China, including Yuangshaho ferry, Pakmushih,
Chuanhsien, and Lengshuitang. 130-plus P-40’s and P-51’s on armed reconnaissance
hit targets of opportunity in Mangshih and Lungling area and from N of Tangyang
and along the Yangtze R southward including areas around Changsha, Kiyang,
Samshui, Chuanhsien, Lingling, and Kwongning.
FEAF—B-24’s bomb Kendari air depot and Ambesia airfield
while B-25’s attack large warehouse at Gorontalo. B- 25’s and B-24’s pound
Namlea, Liang, Haroekoe, Kairatoe, Laha, and Kamarian. Fighter bombers hit
Manokwari, Sagan, Moemi, and Waren airstrips.
SEVENTH AF—17 Saipan-based B-24’s bomb Iwo Jima. 3 others
on training and armed reconnaissance missions bomb Pagan and Marcus. P-47’s
pound enemy positions on Pagan. B-24’s in the Marshalls bomb Emidj.
ELEVENTH AF—3 B-24’s bomb Kataoka naval base. 4 B-25’s
abort a shipping sweep due to weather and mechanical difficulties.
US ARMY
WESTERN
EUROPE—Hitler presents plan for Ardennes counteroffensive to his commanders.
21 Army Group: In Canadian First
Army’s 2 Corps area, Canadian 4th Armored Division works eastward toward Ghent–Terneuzen
Canal from Balgerhoek bridgehead. Polish 1st Armored Division, on right flank
of corps, makes limited progress northward toward Hulst.
In British Second Army’s 12 Corps
area, 7th Armored Division relieves 53d Division at Antwerp. In 30 Corps area, 50th
Division relieves Guards Armored Division at Escaut bridgehead. 43d Division concentrates
NE of Diest.
12th Army Group: In U.S. Ninth Army
area, 83d Division, screening former Third Army sector along the Loire, accepts
surrender of German Group Elster, about 20,000 strong, which has been
cut off by junction of Third and Seventh Armies. In VIII Corps area, 6th Armored
Division ( — Combat Command B) is transferred to Third Army, 94th Division completing
its relief and taking over its sector. Fort Montbarey falls to 29th Division,
opening way to Brest proper from W: while 116th Infantry advances toward
Recouvrance, 175th drives into Brest via tunnel beneath stone wall, and 115th
advances toward submarine pens. 2d Division continues to press in from N.
In U.S. First Army’s XIX Corps area,
TF Stokes (Lt Col William M. Stokes, Jr.), consisting of 99th Infantry
Battalion, tank Battalion of 2d Armored Division, and supporting units, starts
N across 9-mile gap that has developed between British and American forces
because of diverging drives, crossing Willems Vaart Canal N of Maastricht.
Meerssen bridgehead of Combat Command B, 2d Armored Division, is under heavy
fire; Combat Command A crosses into 30th Division’s bridgehead at Valkenburg,
also under fire. 30th Division renews attack toward West Wall N of Aachen from
De Geul bridgeheads with 119th Infantry on left and 120th on right, elements of
120th reaching positions within 3 miles of German border. In VII Corps area,
stubborn defense of Stolberg corridor nullifies corps’ attacks. Combat Command
B, 3d Armored Division, tries in vain to clear Weissenberg Hill; Combat Command
A is unable to advance on N suburbs of Stolberg. To bridge 4-mile gap between
the two combat commands, TF Hogan (Lt Col Samuel Hogan commanding small tank
force and attached 1st Battalion, 26th Inf) is formed and overruns Buesbach.
47th Infantry, 9th Division, takes Vicht and Schevenhuette, the latter 10 miles
inside Germany and the deepest penetration so far; 39th Infantry continues to
batter at West Wall near Lammersdorf and reduces strongpoint that has been
delaying it for 3 days; 60th Infantry, assisted by tanks, clears Hoefen on
Hoefen–Alzen ridge. In V Corps area, 12th Infantry of 4th Division makes fruitless
and costly efforts to push NE for the next few days; 8th Infantry enters center
of line and drives down E slopes of the Schnee Eifel hampered more by terrain
than enemy; 22d Infantry is still unable to take Brandscheid but gains hill on
outskirts, and elements of regt take important hill on Bleialf– Pruem highway
about midway between Meisert and Sellerich. In 28th Division sector, 1st Battalion
of 110th Infantry makes narrow penetration into West Wall, seizing lofty
Losenseifen Hill as well as Spielmannsholz Hill, within a few thousand yards of
objective, Uttfeld. 5th Armored Division ( — ), awaiting arrival of arty,
remains in place on S flank of corps; 1st Battalion of 112 Infantry, moving
through Stockem, secures small bridgehead across the Pruem at Wettlingen and holds
it against strong counterattack; Combat Command B crosses into Wallendorf
bridgehead to expand it but can make little headway. At 2040, Gen Gerow, CG V Corps,
halts offensive, since operations are too costly to pursue at this time.
In U.S. Third Army’s XX Corps area,
limited objective attacks of 90th Division W of Metz are costly and almost
fruitless. Combat Command R, 7th Armored Division, begins attack to break out
of Arnaville bridgehead along Lorry–Sillegny road but is soon stopped; Combat
Command B crosses into the bridgehead early in morning and joins in attack at
1400, pushing toward Marieulles. 5th Division regroups within the bridgehead:
2d Infantry relieves Combat Command B on right flank and Combat Command B moves
to Vittonville; 11th Infantry crosses another Battalion into bridgehead and
defends N f lank; 10th Infantry, in center, patrols toward Fey. Hitler,
revoking a previous order, calls for reinforcement of Metz salient in order to
prevent encirclement of Metz. In XII Corps area, 80th Division, assisted by air
and arty, decisively defeats another major counterattack against Dieulouard bridgehead;
1st Battalion, 318th Infantry, returning to bridgehead from E, surprises enemy
and captures Ste Geneviève; 319th Infantry moves into bridgehead, and its 1st Battalion
recovers Atton and reaches isolated troops on Mousson Hill. Retreating Germans
are pursued as far as Lesménils. After this action, 80th Division mops up and
reorganizes for drive to E. In Nancy sector, 35th Division’s 134th Infantry pushes
NE of Nancy to heights N of Essey-lès-Nancy; 137th forces Meurthe R and
Rhine–Marne Canal and drives to within 2 miles of Nancy; 320th, to which 2d Battalion
reverts from attachment to Combat Command B of 4th Armored Division, takes
Buissoncourt. Germans withdraw from Lunéville as Combat Command R, 4th Armored
Division, moves into NW part of the city and 42d Squadron of 2d Cavalry Group enters
from SE. In XV Corps area, additional elements of 106th Cavalry Group cross the
Moselle and begin to reconnoiter eastward toward Mortagne R. French 2d Armored
Division’s Combat Command V Moselle bridgehead at Châtel undergoes determined
counterattack by strong armored force; enemy is checked after reinforcements
are moved up to the French. In order to avoid a major engagement, French
withdraw the bridgehead.
6th Army Group: In U.S. Seventh Army’s
VI Corps area, 36th Division takes Luxeuil and 3d Division takes Lure against
light opposition.
ESTONIA-LATVIA—Soviet
forces of Leningrad and Baltic Fronts open offensive about this time toward
Baltic Sea, pressing toward Tallinn, Valga, and Riga.
BULGARIA—Soviet
forces of Third Ukrainian Front, pushing W to block enemy withdrawal from Yugoslavia,
enter Sofia, capital of Bulgaria.
GREECE—British
9th Commandos lands without opposition on Kithira I., off S coast of
Peloponnesus, to reconnoiter in preparation for landing of Force 140. Advance
Coastal Forces Base is established on Kithira.
ITALY—AAI:
In U.S. Fifth Army’s IV Corps area, while TF 45 regroups, Regimental Combat
Team 6 of BEF seizes Massarosa, N of Lake Massaciuccioli, and takes over that
portion of 1st Armored Division front previously held by 2d Battalion, 370th
Inf. 1st Armored Division is ordered to begin reconnaissance in force to block
enemy withdrawal. Enemy continues to put up strong apposition on right flank of
corps, but S African 6th Armored Division gains Alto Hill and M. Pozzo del
Bagno. In II Corps area, 338th Infantry of 85th Division reaches positions near
crest of M. Altuzzo, night 16–17, where it is delayed by friendly shelling;
339th Infantry is committed on extreme right, passing through elements of British
13 Corps on slopes of M. Pratone. 91st Division’s 363d and 361st Regiments are
unable to break through enemy defenses on Monticelli, W of Il Giogo Pass; 362d Infantry
continues costly efforts to reach Futa Pass, elements reaching anti-tank ditch below
S. Lucia. 34th Division advances N from M. Frassino on right but is still held up
on left in vicinity of Torricella Hill. British Eighth Army issues instructions
for pursuit beyond Rimini Line, 5 Corps along Highway 9 toward Bologna and
Canadian 1 Corps along Highway 16 toward Ravenna and Ferrara. Forward progress is
sharply checked as 5 Corps and Canadian 1 Corps reach enemy’s Rimini Line. In 5
Corps area, 46th Division is unable to advance from Montescudo. 56th Division joins
1st Armored Division in battle for Mulazzano– La Tomba ridge N of the Marano.
During night 16–17, British 4th Division of Canadian 1 Corps crosses into corps
zone and by artificial moonlight provided by searchlights clears Cerasolo
ridge. In Canadian 1 Corps area, Cdn. 1st Division attempts in vain to drive
enemy from S. Martino on M. (Abate; on right flank, attached Greek 3d Mountain
Brigade begins struggle to clear Rimini airfield.
CBI—At
conference between Gens Hurley, Sultan, and Stilwell and T. V. Soong, role of a
field commander is discussed. Gen Stilwell finds that his conception is greatly
different from that Soong believes Chiang Kai-shek holds. President Roosevelt, in
message to Chiang Kai-shek, protests the proposed withdrawal of Y–Force across
the Salween. Gen Stilwell reports to JCS and others that Japanese successes
against U.S. Fourteenth Air Force bases in China might prevent air support from
China of operations against Formosa and the Philippines. This influences
planners in favor of occupation of Luzon rather than Formosa.
MOROTAI—31st
Division expands perimeter of beachhead around Pitoe Drome to distance of over 7,000
yards, E to W, and about 5,000 yards N to S. Gen Hall establishes CP ashore. Regimental
Combat Team 125 of 32d Division, reserve force, lands and relieves elements of 124th
Infantry still on Gila Peninsula. Enemy begins series of small and largely
ineffective air raids.
PALAUS—5th
Marines, assisted by 1st Marines to left, takes most of Peleliu airfield
against heavy fire from heights to N, while 7th Marines clears S tip of island
except for 2 small promontories. Perimeter is extended to over 3,000 yards in
length, N to S, and to maximum depth of about 2,000 yards. Gen Rupertus, 1st
Marine Division CG, takes command ashore. Orders are issued to land on Angaur
on 17 September.
US MARINE CORPS
At OCTAGON Conference in Quebec, CCS establish a new
schedule of Pacific operations. Kyushu to be invaded in October and Honshu in
December 1945.
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