US NAVY
PACIFIC—Command designated Minecraft, Pacific Fleet (Rear
Admiral Alexander Sharp) is established; Rear Admiral Sharp breaks his flag in
minelayer Terror (CM‑5).
TG 30.3
(Rear Admiral Laurance T. DuBose) is formed to cover the retirement of the
crippled heavy cruiser Canberra (CA‑70) and light cruiser Houston (CL‑81);
an augmented TG 38.1 (Vice Admiral John S. McCain) provides cover while TG 38.2
(Rear Admiral Gerald F. Bogan) and TG 38.3 (Rear Admiral Frederick C. Sherman)
take up position to waylay Japanese fleet units that might try to attack the
damaged ships. TG 38.4 (Rear Admiral Ralph E. Davison), meanwhile, attacks
Japanese installations near Manila, drawing an enemy aerial response that
damages carrier Franklin (CV‑13), 16°29'N, 123°57'E.
Sweep Unit
(Captain Robley W. Clark) arrives off Ngulu Atoll, Western Carolines. Light
minelayer Montgomery (DM‑17) destroys Japanese radio and weather
station, and, accompanied by five motor minesweepers (YMS), enters the lagoon
to begin minesweeping operations which will continue daily until 23 October.
Special
Air Task Force (STAG 1) operations continue in Southwest Pacific as four TDRs
are launched against Matupi Bridge, as part of coordinated attack by other
Green Island-based PBJs (VMB 423), F4Us (VMF 218 and VMF 222) and SBDs (VMSB
244 and VMSB 341) against Simpson Harbor Rabaul. Poor picture reception and
pilot error results in none of the TDRs hitting their targets.
USAAF P‑38
sinks Japanese auxiliary sailing vessel No.5 Yamato Maru off Bochi
archipelago, 01°10'N, 128°21'E.
Dutch
submarine Zwaardvisch sinks Japanese oceanographic research vessel No.2
Kaiyo Maru off Surabaya, Java,06°30'S, 111°35'E.
MEDITERRANEAN—Minesweeping test is conducted in Bay de
Ciotat, France, using blimp; the blimp proved very satisfactory, using
loudhailer, VHF radio, and smoke flares to direct attention to mines.
US ARMY AIR FORCE
EIGHTH AF—More than 1,000 heavy bombers attack 9
marshalling yards and gas unit plant in and around general area of Cologne,
along with several other targets including oil facilities at Reisholz and
Monheim. 3 fighter groups give general area support while 12 groups provide
close escort. 2 P‑47 groups attack communications in Hannover and Munster‑Kassel
areas.
NINTH AF—Weather prevents bomber operations. Fighters fly
rail cutting missions and support elements of US First, Third, Seventh, and
Ninth Armies in Eastern France and Western Germany.
TWELFTH AF—B‑25’s bomb bridges in Western Po Valley. B‑26’s
hit bridges in the Eastern part of the Valley, and have excellent success
bombing a railway fill at Ossenigo, trapping over 300 railway cars North of the
target. Fighters and fighter bombers concentrate efforts toward support of
ground forces along wide front in the mountains South of Bologna.
FIFTEENTH AF—Bad weather limits operations to weather
reconnaissance missions.
TENTH AF—About 40 P‑47’s attack positions in Mohnyin area
and at Man Naung, supply concentrations at Kyungyi, railroad targets in Mawhun
area, ammo stores at Manwing, and buildings near Muse. 12 B‑25’s hit town of
Onbauk, storage facilities at Indaw, and vicinity of Thabeikkyin. Transport
operations in CBI continue on large scale.
FOURTEENTH AF—28 B‑24’s, 33 P‑51’s, and 18 P‑40’s pound
White Cloud airfield and shipping in Hong Kong area. 2 B‑24’s bomb Amoy. 6
fighter bombers hit targets of opportunity near Mangshih and Taj ungchiang.
FEAF—A‑20’s again pound airfields and oil storage on Ceram.
P‑38’s carry out shipping sweep over Flores area and on Halmahera bomb Pitoe
and Kaoe areas. P‑38’s bomb Amahai airfield while bombers on armed
reconnaissance hit nearby targets of opportunity. P‑47’s attack Sagan airfield.
SEVENTH AF—27 B‑24’s from Saipan strike fuel storage, AA
positions, and installations at airfield on Iwo Jima. 1 other heavy bomber
bombs airfield at Pagan. 2 B‑24’s from the Marshalls bomb Wake on 15/16 Oct.
ELEVENTH AF—4 B‑25’s on armed reconnaissance over Paramushiru
turn back when flight drifts off course. 1 B‑24 strafes a freighter off
Shimushiru.
US ARMY
WESTERN EUROPE—21 Army Group: Is strengthened by attachment
of U.S. 104th Division from Ninth Army. Division is to join British Island
Corps under Canadian First Army in action to open port of Antwerp.
12th Army Group:
In U.S. Ninth Army area, VIII Corps is reinforced by newly arrived 9th Armored
Division.
In U.S.
First Army’s XIX Corps area, 116th Infantry of 29th Division and supporting
tanks from 2d Armored Division continue efforts to close Aachen gap with
frontal attacks but by this time have gained only 1,000 yards. New plan of
attack to speed line-up with VII Corps is formulated. In VII Corps area, 3d
Battalion of 26th Infantry, 1st Division, gains most of Observatory Hill, North
of Aachen, but Germans counterattack sharply and recover positions in North
part; since 16th Infantry line near Eilendorf is under strong enemy pressure,
1st Division is ordered to suspend Aachen offensive temporarily. 9th Division’s
drive on Schmidt ends far short of objective; both sides have suffered heavy
casualties;
39th Infantry recovers all ground lost recently and still
holds Wittscheidt and Germeter. V Corps releases Combat Command B, 5th Armored
Division, which moves to VII Corps area as First Army reserve.
6th Army Group:
In U.S. Seventh Army’s XV Corps, area 313th Infantry of 79th Division tries in
vain to dislodge enemy from hill mass East of Forêt de Parroy. VI Corps opens
drive on Bruyères from North, West and South. 179th Infantry, 45th Division,
begins clearing woods North of the town in effort to cut Bruyères–Brouvelieures
road. 36th Division attacks on West with attached 442d Infantry (Nisei), which
includes 100th Battalion, recently arrived from Italy, and on South with 143d
Infantry along road from Fays. 3d Division begins secret move North in
preparation for drive on St. Dié.
FINLAND—Soviet forces of Karelian Front clear enemy from
port of Petsamo.
ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army area, South African 6th
Armored Division comes up abreast II Corps to right; with occupation of heights
North East of Grizzana, gains control of lateral Highway 6424. In II Corps’ 1st
Armored Division sector, enemy continues to defend Monterumici, although this
position is being outflanked. 34th Division, less 135th Infantry, prepares to
attack in new zone. 91st Division consolidates positions North of Livergnano.
85th Division holds line astride Idice River beyond Mont delle Formiche and
Monterenzio hill mass. 88th Division extends its left flank northward beyond
Hill 369 to positions abreast 85th Division while regrouping and consolidating
on right flank. British 13 Corps, ordered to take responsibility for Gesso
ridge from II Corps, begins relief of U.S. 88th Division there with 78th
Division.
In British
Eighth Army area, 5 Corps takes Mont delle Vacche and Mont Burratini without
opposition but is halted short of Mont Reale and Mont Romano. In Canadian 1
Corps area, Gambettola falls to New Zealand 2d Division without a fight.
GREECE—After delay while mines are being cleared, Gen
Scobie’s Force 140 (British 3 Corps and Greek troops) arrives off Piraeus in
evening and goes ashore. Gen Scobie, upon landing, sets up his hq in Athens and
orders retreating enemy pursued by land and harassed by air.
SEAC—Adm Mountbatten leaves Kandy (Ceylon) for Cairo to
meet Prime Minister Churchill.
CBI—NCAC opens offensive to clear North Burma and open supply route to China (CAPITAL), pushing southward from Myitkyina toward line Katha–Shwegu–Bhamo almost unopposed. British 36th Division, which has been moving South in Burma Railway corridor during the monsoon season, continues drive with 29th Brigade from Namma area and is followed by Chinese 50th Division. In center, Chinese 22d Division moves South East from Kamaing area in region between the RR corridor and Myitkyina–Bhamo road in effort to secure bridgehead over the Irrawaddy at Shwegu. Chinese 38th Division attacks on East flank to secure Bhamo–Mansi area, with 113th Regiment leading. In addition to Chinese New Sixth and New First Armies, NCAC now has under its command Chinese 1st Separate Regiment, U.S. 475th Infantry (containing GALAHAD survivors) and U.S. 124th Cavalry (Texas National Guard), which is to be combined into 5332d Brigade (Prov), later called TF MARS, with strength of about a division.
ANGAUR—First plane lands on airfield.
P.I.—Task group of TF 38 attacks Luzon airfields.
US MARINE CORPS
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