Friday, October 4, 2024

80 Years Ago, Saturday, 30 September 1944

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Nautilus (SS‑168) lands supplies and evacuates certain people from near Libertad, Panay, P.I.

            Japanese air raid on U.S. shipping off Morotai damages freighter Carl G. Barth by strafing; although 6 of the 118 passengers on board are injured, there are no casualties to either the 52‑man merchant complement or the 26‑man Armed Guard.

ATLANTIC—Destroyer escort Fessenden (DE‑142) sinks German submarine U‑1062 in mid‑Atlantic, 11°36'N, 34°44'W.

MEDITERRANEAN—U.S. motor torpedo boats make two gunnery runs on German explosive boat off San Remo, Italy.

 

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—More than 750 heavy bombers attack 3 marshalling yards and an airfield at Bielefeld, Hamm, Handorf, and Munster, Munster city area and several other targets in the area is bombed by over 200 heavy bombers. 13 fighter groups escort and 2 more fly support sweeps. Over 100 B‑24’s haul gasoline to battle areas on the Continent.

NINTH AF—14 B‑26’s bomb Arnhem road bridge. Results poor. Fighters fly sweeps over Belgium, E France, and W Germany and attack rail targets.

TWELFTH AF—B‑25’s bomb road and railroad bridges in Po Valley at Piacenza, Voghera, Sesto Calende, Lonate Pozzolo, Galliate, Cittadella, Borgoforte, and Tortona. B‑26’s hit fuel dumps at Cremona, and bridges at Padua, Turbigo, and San Nazzaro. XII FC fighters hit motor transport, rail lines, roads, bridges, and rolling stock in Po Valley.

TENTH AF—50‑plus P‑47’s hit various targets in Myothit and Bhamo areas, attack targets of opportunity at Khalayang, sweep Anisakan and Nawnghkio airfield areas, bomb Nansiaung railroad bridge, and hit targets of opportunity on or near Burma Road between Mangshih and Lashio. 11 B‑25’s knock out a span of the main bridge and damage 2 bypass bridges at Hsenwi. 18 B‑24’s haul fuel to Liuchow, Yungning, and Kunming.

FOURTEENTH AF—29 B‑24’s and 12 B‑25’s bomb Tien Ho and White Cloud airfields and Wuchou. 6 B‑25’s hit targets of opportunity S of Lungfukwan. Nearly 100 P‑40’s and P‑51’s on armed reconnaissance over wide areas of China S of the Yangtze R again hit numerous targets of opportunity, concentrating on river shipping.

FEAF—B‑24’s strike oil installations at Balikpapan. Ambesia airfield is pounded by B‑24’s while B‑25’s hit Mapanget, Langoan, and Sidate, and P‑38’s hit shipping in Wasile Bay. Other B‑25’s attack shipping in the Halmahera waters. P‑38’s hit Amahai, Kairatoe, and Haroekoe airfields and Halong seaplane base. A‑20’s and fighter bombers hit Babo, Urarom, and Fak Fak. A‑20’s and B‑25’s bomb Faan. 

 

US ARMY

WESTERN EUROPE—21 Army Group: In Canadian First Army’s 2 Corps area, 3d Division resumes attack on Calais after armistice ends at noon. Organized resistance ceases by evening and mopping up is begun. In British 1 Corps area, Polish 1st Armored Division takes Merxplas, NW of Turnhout.

            In British Second Army area, 8 Corps is on general line Weert–Meijel–Deurne–Boxmeer and thence along the Maas in Cuijk area.

            12th Army Group: In U.S. First Army’s XIX Corps area, 7th Armored Division, from positions near Oploo, attacks S in corridor W of the Maas during afternoon, pushing toward Vortum and Overloon and soon running into determined resistance; attacks to clear the corridor from S continue to make little headway. 115th Infantry, 29th Division, relieves 2d Armored Division in Gangelt–Teveren area.

            In U.S. Third Army’s XII Corps area, 4th Armored Division, after a successful sweep S of Xanrey, goes on the defensive in a quiet sector. In a desperate attempt to recover Forêt de Grémecey, Germans make strong attack against both flanks of 35th Division’s perimeter, breaching lines of 134th and 137th Regts within the forest. So grave is the situation that the corps commander, about 1420, orders 35th Division to fall back behind the Seille after dark, but Gen Patton directs counterattack by 6th Armored Division to restore situation. 35th Division, committing its last reserves, manages to hang on and enemy begins planned withdrawal.

            6th Army Group: In U.S. Seventh Army’s XV Corps area, 79th Division continues to meet strong opposition in Forêt de Parroy. Elements of French 2d Armored Division assist 45th Division of VI Corps in attack on Rambervillers.

RUMANIA-YUGOSLAVIA—Troops of Third Ukrainian Front, having secured the Iron Gate—Turnu- Severin–Orsova area, where the Danube passes through the Transylvanian Alps—cross the Danube in force and push toward Belgrade.

ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army’s IV Corps area, Regimental Combat Team 6 of BEF advances its right flank to Fornoli, at junction of Serchio R and Lima Creek. TF 92 thrusts to La Lima, at junction of Highways 66 and 12. S African 6th Armored Division, upon reaching upper slopes of M. Catarelto, is abreast II Corps. In II Corps area, 351st Infantry of 88th Division seizes M. Cappello after hard fighting. 88th Division troops on M. Battaglia are almost driven off by further enemy attacks. Corps is now ready for drive on Po Valley and Bologna, although wearied by recent fighting and hampered by heavy rains. In British 13 Corps area, 1st Division’s 3d Brigade remains on M. Toncone while Marradi–Palazzuolo road is being repaired. 17th Brigade, Indian 8th Division, reaches S. Adriano, on road to Faenza. In British Eighth Army’s 5 Corps area, Indian 4th Division clears enemy from Tribola. 46th Division takes Montalbano and patrols as far as the Fiumicino. Corps begins general attack, night 30–1. Indian 4th Division takes M. Reggiano and Borghi before dawn, but 46th Division in center and 56th on right are unable to force the Fiumicino.

MOROTAI—Wama Drôme is ready for emergency use.

PALAUS—Adm Fort, Commander of Western Attack Force, declares Peleliu, Angaur, Ngesebus, and Kongauru occupied. On Peleliu, 1st Battalion of 321st Infantry relieves 5th Marines on Amiangal Mt, which is not yet completely clear of organized resistance although marines report over 1,170 Japanese killed or captured there, far more than the 500 recently estimated to be on the mountain. 7th Marines begins attacks to reduce Umurbrogol Pocket; progress during the next few days is very slow.

 

US MARINE CORPS

Peleliu, Angaur, Ngesebus, and Kongauru declared occupied.

 

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