80 Years Ago, Tuesday, 17 October 1944

US NAVY

PACIFIC—TG 38.4 (Rear Admiral Ralph E. Davison) attacks Japanese installations at Legaspi and Clark Field, Luzon

            Naval force (Rear Admiral Arthur D. Struble) lands army troops (6th Ranger Battalion) on Suluan and Dinagat Islands at the entrance to Leyte Gulf to destroy Japanese installations that could provide early warning of U.S. forces entering the gulf. Unfortunately, the Suluan Island unit transmits a warning, prompting Admiral Toyoda Soemu, Commander in Chief Combined Fleet, to order operation SHO-1 for defending the Philippines against American invasion and bringing about a decisive battle (see 23-25 October).

            Submarine Narwhal (SS‑167) lands supplies on northwest coast of Tawi Tawi, P.I.

            Motor minesweeper YMS‑70 sinks in storm off Leyte, 10°56'N, 125°12'E.

            During the third day of sweeping operations in Ngulu Atoll, Western Carolines, light minelayer Montgomery (DM‑17) is damaged by Japanese mine while anchoring, 10°56'N, 125°12'E.

            Special Air Task Force (STAG 1) operations continue in Southwest Pacific as four TDRs are launched against Japanese installations near East Rabaul. One of the four hits the objective; a second hits a target of opportunity; a third is lost due to the failure of a tube in the drone receiver; a fourth may have been shot down (light and inaccurate antiaircraft fire is noted).

            Dutch submarine Zwaardvisch sinks Japanese minelayer Itsukushima and damages minelayer/netlayer Wakatake, off Bawean Island, N.E.I., 05°26'S, 113°48'E. Submarine chaser Ch 26 carries out determined counterattack, but Zwaardvisch escapes.

            British carrier-based planes sink Japanese collier Ishikari Maru off Nicobar.

 

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—More than 1,200 heavy bombers attack 5 marshalling yards and 2 targets of opportunity at Cologne. 15 fighter groups give support.

NINTH AF—All Rhine rail and road bridges are cleared for attack. 2 days later Advance HQ prescribes bridges as having priority on target list second only to rail lines. 35 medium bombers hit rail bridge at Euskirchen. Fighters escort medium bombers, fly armed reconnaissance in Strasbourg‑Colmar‑Mulhouse area, attack railroads in Allendorf an der Lahn Gemunden area, and marshalling yard at Dielkirchen.

TWELFTH AF—Weather cancels all medium bomber operations and limits fighter bombers to limited sorties in the battle area south of Bologna, hitting roads, rail lines and bridges. A‑20’s during 16/17 Oct on armed reconnaissance over Po Valley bomb targets of opportunity and cause explosions on Northern edge of Ravenna.

FIFTEENTH AF—330‑plus heavy bombers attack Blechhammer, southern oil refinery and industrial area of Vienna, plus alternate targets and targets of opportunity including marshalling yards at Banhida, Nagykanizsa, Szombathely, Strass, Graz, and Maribor, railroad bridge at Maribor, rail line at Furstenfeld, and targets of opportunity scattered throughout the Balkans. P‑51’s escort a C‑47 picking up personnel at Valjevo airfield, a B‑17 carrying a photo crew to Rumania (to photograph Ploesti), and several C‑47’s transporting personnel to Araxos airfield.

TENTH AF—15 P‑47’s bomb supply area near Naba, hit Japanese HQ and supply area near Mawhun, and blast supply base and permanent camp at Myazedi. 8 B‑25’s bomb Nawnghkio airfield and 3 attack bridges near Kawlin and Thityabin. Approach to the latter bridge is damaged. Transports fly almost 300 sorties to various points in CBI.

FOURTEENTH AF—15 B‑25’s, 12 P‑40’s, and 10 P‑51’s pound supply depot at Tien Ho airfield. 2 B‑24’s bomb supply depot at Victoria Harbor. 44 P‑51’s and P‑40’s on armed reconnaissance attack rivercraft, troop concentrations, villages, and other targets of opportunity around Kweiping, Tengyun, Mangshih, Tajungchiang, Wuchou, and Dosing. Runway at Tanchuk airfield suffers considerable damage.

FEAF—Fighter bombers and B‑25’s hit airfields, shipping and scattered targets of opportunity in the Halmahera area. In Ceram-Amboina-Boeroe area A‑20’s, B‑25’s, and fighter bombers continue to pound airfields and oil facilities. In the principal strike of the day almost 60 B‑24’s hit oil installations, barracks, and shore targets on Ilang and Northern Davao Bay areas.

THIRTEENTH AF—XIII Bomber Command moves from Wakde to Morotai.

TWENTIETH AF—10 B‑29’s, flying out of Chengtu, bomb Einansho air depot. 14 others bomb alternate targets.

SEVENTH AF—11 B‑24’s from Saipan hit shipping off Haha Jima and town of Okimura. Later, during 17/18 Oct, 1 B‑24 bombs airfield on Iwo Jima. B‑25’s from the Gilberts hit Nauru.

ELEVENTH AF—7 B‑24’s fly cover sorties for naval TF.

 

US ARMY

WESTERN EUROPE—21 Army Group: In British Second Army’s 8 Corps area, Venray falls to 3d Division. 11th Armored Division attacks East through bridgehead of Combat Command B, U.S. 7th Armored Division; latter pushes South along East bank of canal.

            6th Army Group: In U.S. Seventh Army’s XV Corps area, 44th Division, untried in combat, closes in Lunéville area; 114th is attached to 79th Division. In VI Corps area, 45th and 36th Divisions are slowed by strong opposition as they continue to close in on Bruyères.

            In French 1st Army’s 2d Corps area, 3d Algerian Division and French 1st Armored Division make limited gains but at such high cost that Gen de Lattre calls a halt and corps goes on the defensive. Army commander decides to drive on Belfort in 1st Corps zone.

ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army’s IV Corps area, patrol of TF 92 reaches crest of Mont Cauala, night 17–18. In II Corps area, co-ordinated attack by Combat Command A, 1st Armored Division, and 135th Infantry against Monterumici hill mass makes little progress. 91st Division takes Lucca and improves positions to East. 91st Infantry and 1st Armored Divisions are alerted to expect enemy spoiling attack and take precautionary measures to insure continuance of corps offensive to East. Particularly heavy enemy fire is directed against Livergnano area. 34th Division is clearing slopes of Mont Belmonte and takes crest of Mont della Vigna. 85th Division continues forward above Monterenzio. 350th Infantry, 88th Division, presses on toward Mont Cuccoli and 349th comes up abreast. In British 13 Corps area, 21st Brigade of Indian 8th Division begins assault on Mont Pianoreno. 1st Division’s 66th Brigade attacks in Mont Ceco area.

            In British Eighth Army area, Polish 2 Corps opens offensive toward Forlì in evening, although all its forces have not yet assembled. 5th Kresowa Division leads off, pushing toward Galeata from South. Piero in Bagno area, its right flank protected by British 1st Armored Division. 5 Corps is meeting strong opposition at Acquarola and Celincordia. 4th Division begins relief of 46th Division, night 17–18.

GREECE—Military Liaison Headquarters, Greece (until 3 October designated Allied Military Liaison Headquarters, Greece) begins arriving in Athens to distribute relief supplies.

P.I.—To insure safe passage of main Leyte invasion force into Leyte Gulf, 6th Ranger Battalion makes preliminary landings on small islands at approaches to the gulf after preparatory bombardment. Company D lands on Suluan Island., and rest of 6th Ranger Battalion, less Company B, lands on Dinagat Island. Neither landing is opposed, and channel light is set up on Dinagat. Landing of Company B on Homonhon Island., is postponed because of rough sea. Mine sweeping is begun off Leyte. Leyte convoys of III and VII Amphibious Forces make visual contact. Elements of TF 38 continue to neutralize Luzon.

 

US MARINE CORPS