80 Years Ago, Thursday, 19 October 1944

US NAVY

PACIFIC—TG 38.1 (Vice Admiral John S. McCain) and TG 38.4 (Rear Admiral Ralph E. Davison) continue attacks on principal Japanese airfields near Manila and shipping in the harbor. Navy carrier-based planes sink army cargo ship Belgium Maru and merchant cargo ships Jogu Maru and Toshikawa Maru, 14°35'N, 120°55'E, and Kurugane Maru and Tsukubasan Maru, damage oiler Ondo (damaged by Bluefish in November 1943), and damage cargo ship Urado Maruso severely that that ship is run aground. TG 38.1 and TG 38.4 then proceed south to provide direct support for the landings at Leyte.

            Off Leyte, mine damages destroyer Ross (DD‑563), 10°17'N, 125°40'E; shore battery damages destroyer Aulick (DD‑569), 11°13'N, 125°02'E.

            Seventh Fleet aircraft sink Japanese ships Kosei Maru, Kafuku Maru, Koei Maru, No.8 Kanekichi Maru, No.11 Akita Maru, and No.18 Taigyo Maru at Cebu.

            Submarine Narwhal (SS‑167) lands men and supplies on southwest coast of Negros, P.I.

            Special Air Task Force (STAG 1) operations continue in Southwest Pacific in two flights (one TDR each) conducted this date against Japanese gun positions west of Ballale. In the first, one drone misses its target during its run; in the second, the drone drops part of its ordnance (the two four-100-pound bomb clusters) on the target before it crashes.

            Destroyer escort Gilligan (DE‑508) bombards Mille Atoll.

            USAAF B-24 sinks Japanese weather ship Shonan Maru in northern waters of Makassar Strait.

 

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—More than 900 heavy bombers attack Gustavsburg diesel engine and armored vehicle plant, Mainz marshalling yard, artillery tractor plant at Mannheim, and several nearby towns and targets of opportunity. 15 fighter groups fly escort.

NINTH AF—Weather prevents bomber operations. Fighters attack tank concentration east of Luneville, strafe targets northwest of Kaiserslautern, fly reconnaissance in western Germany, and provide cover for US Third and Seventh Army forces in eastern France.

TWELFTH AF—XII AF redesignates XII Fighter Command as XXII Tactical Air Command following a reorganization period during which the XXII Tactical Air Command was temporarily referred to as ‘X’Tactical Air Command and ‘X‑Ray’Tactical Air Command, to distinguish it from XII Fighter Command HQ around which it was formed. B‑26’s attack Mantua causeway, railway fill at Ossenigo, and bridges at Calcinato and Peschiera del Garda. Fighter attack northwest of Mantua accounts for 2 medium bombers lost and 1 missing. At least 2 of the attacking fighters are destroyed. B‑25’s attack bridges in Milan area at Lonate Pozzolo, Cameri, and Magenta. Fighter bombers of XXII Tactical Air Command hit targets in support of ground forces, concentrating on Monte Grande area, and attack rail lines and bridges north of battle zone. On 18/19 Oct light bombers hit targets of opportunity during armed reconnaissance in Genoa and Bologna areas.

FIFTEENTH AF—Bad weather restricts operations to reconnaissance missions.

TENTH AF—10 P‑47’s blast approaches to 2 bridges in Mawlu are and 15 support ground forces in Mohnyin area, hitting village of Nyaunggaing and damaging nearby bridge and pounding railroad station at Kadu.

FOURTEENTH AF—More than 100 P‑51’s and P‑40’s on armed reconnaissance over southern China hit numerous targets of opportunity from Tungting Lake area to Luichow Peninsula. The fighter bombers concentrate on rivercraft, troop compounds, and building areas.

FEAF—B‑24’s hit Parepare. Fighter bombers hit Amboina and Boela airfield and shipping from Zamboanga south in Sulu-Mindanao area, pound Cebu airfield, hit nearby shipping, and strafe Miti, Djailolo, and Hate Tabako. A‑20’s and fighter bombers blast airfields at Urarom, Sagan, and Babo.

SEVENTH AF—B‑24’s on armed reconnaissance from Saipan bomb bridge, pier, and town area at Yap.

ELEVENTH AF—A B‑24 bombs Kurabu Cape.

 

US ARMY

WESTERN EUROPE—21 Army Group: In Canadian First Army’s 2 Corps area, newly arrived 52d Division enters action, taking over Canadian 3d Division’s bridgehead north of Leopold Canal and continuing reduction of Breskens Pocket. Junction is made between Leopold Canal and Savojaards Plaat bridgehead forces.

            12th Army Group: In U.S. First Army’s VII Corps area, German resistance at Aachen is diminishing rapidly; efforts to break encirclement from outside the city cease and the garrison is told to fight to the finish. 26th Infantry, 1st Division, continues to clear the city and takes Salvator Hill. TF Hogan, 3d Armored Division, seizes Lousberg heights and is given task of cutting Aachen–Laurensberg highway.

            6th Army Group: In U.S. Seventh Army’s VI Corps area, 36th Division completes capture of Bruyères. 3d Division-less 30th Infantry, which remains in Le Tholy area-closes in assembly area behind 45th Division in preparation for drive on St Dié.

ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army area, elements of 6th South African Armored Division gain positions on slopes of Mont Salvaro, though elements to right are still short of Mont Alcino, southeast of Mont Salvaro. In II Corps area, since 34th Division has been unable to break through in center of corps front, main effort is shifted to right flank toward Mont Grande and Mont Cerere. After reaching favorable positions for attack and saturation bombardment of Mont Grande area by aircraft and artillery, 88th Division attacks in evening, taking Mont Cerere with ease and reaching crest of Mont Grande by dawn of 20th, 24 hours ahead of schedule. 85th Division assists 88th and gains lower slopes of Mont Fano. 34th Division, still short of Mont Belmonte and to rear of 85th Division, pauses to regroup. Positions of 91st Infantry and 1st Armored Divisions on left flank of corps are virtually unchanged. In British 13 Corps area, 78th Division attacks toward Mont Spadura and Mont dell’Acqua Saluta with 38th and 36th Brigades, respectively, taking latter and gaining precarious hold on Mont Spadura. 21st Brigade, Indian 8th Division, clears Mont Pianoreno. 77th Brigade gets elements to top on Mont Casalino, but they are driven off. 1st Division’s 66th Brigade gains firm hold on Mont Ceco and pushes toward Mont delle Valle.

            In British Eighth Army’s Polish 2 Corps area, 5th Kresowa Division finds Civitella di Romagna undefended.

            In 5 Corps area, 46th Division closes in on Cesena; elements push into south part of the city in vain effort to take bridge. 4th Division takes command of 46th Division sector, but elements of 46th Division remain in south part of Cesena. Indian 10th Division moves rest of 20th Brigade across the Savio to Falcino area; establishes another small bridgehead across the Savio with elements of 25th Brigade from Roversano, night 19–20. Canadian 1 Corps releases Greek 3d Mountain Brigade to Eighth Army control. Rapid progress is made all along front except in coastal region. While Canadian 1st Division is closing in on Cesano, New Zealand 2d Division reaches road extending northeast from there.

BURMA—In NCAC area, 29th Brigade of British 26th Division takes Mohnyin, where enemy has abandoned large supplies of stores and ammunition.

P.I.—Leyte assault convoy moves safely to Leyte under protection of Seventh Fleet. Underwater demolition teams complete reconnaissance of assault areas. Preinvasion bombardment continues.

 

US MARINE CORPS