US NAVY
UNITED STATES—Office of Deputy Commander in Chief U.S. Fleet and
Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Vice Admiral Richard S. Edwards) is
established.
PACIFIC—Special Air Task Force (STAG 1) drone operations
continue with two separate attacks on Japanese positions on Bougainville. In
the first, four TDRs are launched against antiaircraft gun positions on Ballale
and Poporang Islands; one lands in the midst of them, a second detonates within
100 feet of the southwest end of Ballale runway; two explode on Poporang in the
general area of the target. In the second, four TDRs (two allocated to each
target) are launched against antiaircraft positions on Kangu Hill, two miles
south of Kahili airdrome, and the Pororeri River bridge north of Kangu Hill;
the first two TDRs hit the lower slope of Kangu Hill but one does not explode;
one TDR crashes (perhaps hit by antiaircraft fire) while the second cannot find
the target, and explodes north of Kangu Hill.
Destroyer Bailey
(DD‑492) is damaged by strafing off Palau, 06°59'N, 134°13'E.
During
minesweeping operations in Ulithi lagoon with TU 33.13.1, motor minesweeper YMS‑385
is sunk by Japanese mine in Zowariyau Channel, 09°52'N, 139°37'E.
Submarine Cabrilla
(SS‑288) sinks Japanese tanker Kyokuho Maru, and merchant tanker Zuiyo
Maru in South China Sea, west of Luzon, 16°15'N, 119°43'E.
Submarine Hammerhead
(SS‑364) sinks Japanese ore carriers Kokusei Maru and Hiyori Maru
and cargo ship Higane Maru north of Borneo, 06°30'N, 116°11'E.
Submarine Snapper
(SS‑185) sinks Japanese coastal minelayer Ajiro and transport Seian
Maru northwest of the Bonins, 28°11'N, 139°30'E.
Submarine Trepang
(SS‑412) sinks Japanese supply ship Takunan Maru north of
Ogasawara-gunto, 25°30'N,142°30'E.
Auxiliary
minesweeper Kaiyo Maru is sunk by mine off Tsingtao, China.
MEDITERRANEAN—Destroyer Gleaves (DD‑423) shells
German gun positions in Ventimiglia, Italy, area and encounters intense shore
battery fire; destroyer Benson (DD‑421) shells enemy gun emplacement and
then destroys two Italian motor torpedo boats (MAS).
Destroyer Forrest
(DD‑461) is damaged in collision with tank landing ship LST‑550 off
Southern France, 43°20'N,05°20'E.
US ARMY AIR FORCE
NINTH AF—XXIX Tactical Air Command (Provisional) locates advance
HQ at Arlon. Weather prevents bomber operations. A few fighters fly armed
reconnaissance over Eastern France and wide areas of Western Germany and patrol
battle areas. Night patrols are flown over Eastern France and Luxembourg.
TWELFTH AF—B‑25’s and B‑26’s attack bridges, fuel dumps,
factory, and barracks in Central and Western Po Valley, including 3 attacks on
Piacenza while XII Fighter Command’s light bombers hit fuel dump and bivouacs
and fighter bombers blast guns and communications in mountainous battle areas
between Florence and Bologna.
FIFTEENTH AF—5th Photo group, reconnaissance, with
component units, is assigned to Fifteenth AF, completing the full establishment
of 21 heavy bomber groups, 7 fighter groups, and 1 reconnaissance group, as
authorized in War Department Directive of 23 Oct 43. Weather permits only photo
and weather reconnaissance missions.
TENTH AF—34 P‑47’s bomb Thetkegyin while 20 others hit
railroad targets throughout Northern Burma railroad corridor and troop
concentrations at Ponlon. 4 P‑47’s bomb Shwegugale while 6 others hit Lungling
and sweep Burma Road in the area.
FOURTEENTH AF—18 B‑25’s bomb Tien Ho and White Cloud
airfields, town of Wuchou, and targets of opportunity in Samshui and Canton
areas. 100‑plus P‑40’s and P‑51’s on armed reconnaissance throughout China
areas South of the Yangtze hit variety of targets of opportunity, concentrating
on communications targets and troops in Mangshih and Hsinganhsien areas.
FEAF—B‑24’s bomb Langoan while B‑25’s hit Lembeh Island,
Menado, and Bolaangoeki port. B‑24’s bomb Taka while P‑38’s hit Amahai,
Kairatoe, and shipping off Amboina. B‑25’s and P‑38’s on shipping sweeps off
Halmahera Island destroy several barges and luggers. A‑20’s and P‑38’s attack
Urarom airfield and Fak Fak supply dumps, while P‑40’s hit Doom Island and
targets of opportunity in Windissi, Idorra, and MacCluer Gulf. P‑47’s and A‑20’s
hit Doeroa, Langgoer, and Faan airfields.
SEVENTH AF—B‑24’s from Saipan strike airfield on Iwo Jima.
B‑25’s from Makin bomb Nauru while B‑24’s, staging through Eniwetok, hit Truk.
US ARMY
WESTERN EUROPE—21 Army Group: In Canadian First Army’s 2
Corps area, mop-up of Calais is completed during morning. In British Island
Corps area, Canadian 2d Division begins drive West across Antwerp–Turnhout
Canal toward Beveland Peninsula through North suburbs of Antwerp. 49th Division
is engaging enemy North of St Leonard. Polish armor crosses Dutch frontier on
right flank of corps.
In British
Second Army area, Germans make another strong but futile attempt to reach
Nijmegen bridges, pushing South from Arnhem.
12th Army Group:
In U.S. Ninth Army area, XXIX Tactical Air Command of U.S. Ninth Air Force,
which is to support Ninth Army, is detached from IX Tactical Air Command and
becomes an independent body. VIII Corps, consisting of 2d and 8th Divisions and
supporting units, prepares to take over sector of V Corps, First Army. U.S.
First Army spends most of its time during October encircling and reducing
Aachen, from which drive on Cologne is to begin. In XIX Corps area, two-pronged
attack to clear Peel Marshes continues to gain little ground. Main offensive of
corps, attack on West Wall between Aachen and Geilenkirchen, cannot be
undertaken as planned on this date because of poor weather conditions.
In U.S.
Third Army’s XX Corps area, elements of 83d Division (Company C of 329th
Infantry) reach outskirts of Grevenmacher, on West bank of the Moselle North of
Remich. In XII Corps area, 35th Division is clearing enemy from Forêt de
Grémecey, thrusting to edge of woods at some points. Combat Command R of 6th
Armored Division moves South from Pettoncourt and clears Chambrey, where it is
relieved by 137th Infantry, and Combat Command A moves around West edge of the
forest through Jallaucourt to seize Lemoncourt–Fresnes ridge, which it turns
over to 134th Infantry. This about ends battle of Forêt de Grémecey. On North
flank of corps, 80th Division begins limited attacks to improve positions West
of Seille River; CO of 318th Infantry attempts unsuccessfully to take farm
strongpoint that controls Pont Mousson–Nomeny road.
6th Army Group:
In U.S. Seventh Army’s XV Corps area, 79th Division commits 314th Regiment in
Forêt de Parroy: moving forward from Croismare, 314th gradually pinches out
313th and continues attack to right of 315th. Progress within the forest is
still very slow. Elements of French 2d Armored Division, in conjunction with
attack of 45th Division (VI Corps), cut Rambervillers–Baccarat road.
ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army’s IV Corps area, troops of
South African 6th Armored Division on M. Catarelto are forced to give ground
under strong enemy counterattacks. TF 45 and Regimental Combat Team 6 of BEF
are joined under operational command of Maj Gen Enrice Gaspar Dutra, Brazilian
Minister of War. II Corps begins offensive toward Bologna at 0600 after
artillery preparation. Enemy resists stubbornly from improvised strongpoints.
On left flank of the 34th Division, 168th Infantry drive down Sambro Valley
until stopped by strongpoint on Hill 789; 133d attempts to take M. del Gallete
but is halted short of crest and cannot clear village of Cedrecchia. 91st
Division attacks toward Loiano with 363d Infantry on left and 362d on right but
is soon held up in Monghidoro area. 339th Infantry, 85th Division, heading for
M. Bibele, takes La Martina and begins clearing ridge to East; on right, 337th
Infantry dears the ridge as far as Spedaletto. 88th Division, although still
heavily engaged on right flank at M. Battaglia, attacks with 349th Infantry to
protect right flank of 85th Division in region East of Sillaro R, taking
Belvedere. In British 13 Corps area, work continues on Palazzuolo–Marradi road
in 1st Division zone. 19th Brigade, Indian 8th Division, begins assault on M.
Cavallara.
In British
Eighth Army area, Gen McCreery, formerly 10 Corps commander, takes command of
Eighth Army, relieving Gen Sir Oliver Leese, who will head Allied Land Forces
in Asia. In 5 Corps area, Indian 4th Division, whose scheduled relief by Indian
10th Division must be delayed because of flooding conditions, advances left
flank of corps toward the Fiumicino, pushing toward South. Martino and taking
Montecchio without opposition. Activity on rest of corps front comes to a
standstill along the Fiumicino. In Canadian 1 Corps area, stalemate continues
along the Fiumicino. Plans to attack are made and canceled from time to time
because of rain.
GREECE—From Kithira Island., British Advance Coastal Forces
base and 9th Commandos move by sea to Poros Bay to reconnoiter, leaving
elements of Greek Sacred Regiment on Kithira. Greek Naval Port parties land on
Mytilene (Lesbos), Lemnos, and Levita.
US MARINE CORPS
