US NAVY
PACIFIC—Battle for Leyte Gulf continues as planes from TG
38.2, TG 38.3, and TG 38.4 attack the Japanese "Center Force"(Vice
Admiral Kurita Takeo) in the Sibuyan Sea. Planes from carriers Enterprise (CV‑6),
Intrepid (CV‑11), and Franklin (CV‑13), and light carrier Cabot
(CVL‑29) sink battleship Musashi south of Luzon, 12°50'N, 122°35'E.
Aircraft from the three task groups also damage battleships Yamato and Nagato,
heavy cruiser Tone, and destroyers Kiyoshimo, Fujinami and Uranami.
TG 38.4 planes attack Japanese "Southern Force" (Vice Admiral
Nishimura Shoji and Vice Admiral Shima Kiyohide) as it proceeds through the
Sulu Sea; planes from Franklin sink destroyer Wakaba off the west
coast of Panay, 11°50'N, 121°25'E; aircraft from Enterprise and Franklin
damage battleships Fuso and Yamashiro. Japanese planes,
however, attack TG 38.3; combat air patrol and effective use of rain squalls as
cover limits the damage to light carrier Princeton (CVL‑23), hit by bomb
from dive bomber, 15°21'N, 123°31'E. In trying to save Princeton, however,
light cruiser Birmingham (CL‑62) and destroyers Morrison (DD‑560),
Gatling (DD‑671), and Irwin (DD‑794) are damaged by rolling
against the stricken carrier or by fragments from the explosion of
Princeton’s magazines when fires gain the upper hand; in addition, Morrison's
bridge is damaged by a jeep (used to tow aircraft) falling from Princeton's
flight deck. Birmingham suffers the greatest destruction because she
is alongside the carrier when the latter's magazines explode. The cruiser's
decks literally run red with blood: 229 men killed, four missing, 211 seriously
wounded and 215 with minor wounds. Ultimately, light cruiser Reno and Irwin
scuttle Princeton.
During the
aerial action that day, Commander David McCampbell, Commander Air Group 15,
flying from carrier Essex (CV‑9), again distinguishes himself in combat.
With only one wingman, McCampbell attacks what is estimated as being over 60
hostile aircraft and downs nine, breaking up the attacking formation before it
even reaches the fleet.
For his
"conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life" on
this occasion and on 19 June, McCampbell is awarded the Medal of Honor.
Elsewhere
off Leyte, Japanese planes damage destroyer Leutze (DD‑481), 10°50'N,
125°25'E; tank landing ship LST‑552, 11°11'N, 125°05'E; and infantry
landing craft LCI‑1065. Oiler Ashtabula (AO-51) is damaged by
aerial torpedo,11°03'N, 125°22'E.
U.S.
freighter Augustus Thomas, anchored in San Pedro Bay, Leyte, is attacked
by a Japanese plane. The ship's Armed Guard gunfire sets the aircraft ablaze
but the kamikaze presses home his attack, a wing striking the stack of the
nearby tug Sonoma (ATO-12) before it crashes the freighter's starboard
side. The bombs detonate in the water between the two ships, and the exploding
suicider sets Sonoma afire. There are no casualties on board Augustus
Thomas (41-manmerchant complement, 27-man Armed Guard and 480 troop
passengers), which is subsequently beached by tugs Chowanoc (ATF‑100)
and Whippoorwill (ATO-169). Sonoma subsequently sinks off Dio
Island, 10°57'N, 125°02'E.
U.S.
freighter David Dudley Field is damaged by kamikaze off Tacloban, Leyte;
there are no fatalities among the 40-man merchant complement, 30-man Armed
Guard, 50 stevedores embarked to work cargo and 10 Army passengers. After
repairs, the freighter will resume active service.
Late on 24
October, Commander Third Fleet (Admiral William F. Halsey Jr.) orders TF 38
(Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher) to proceed north to be in position to strike
the "Northern Force" (Vice Admiral Ozawa Jisaburo) on the morning of
25 October, but does not inform Commander Seventh Fleet (Vice Admiral Thomas C.
Kinkaid) of his action. Unbeknown to the Americans, remnants of the
"Center Force" transit San Bernadino Strait and head for Leyte Gulf.
Commander Seventh Fleet meanwhile makes his dispositions to meet the expected
enemy onslaught: bombardment and support group TG 77.2 (Rear Admiral Jesse B.
Oldendorf) is augmented by close covering group TG 77.3 (Rear Admiral Russell
S. Berkey).
Local
airfields, however, are not yet ready to base night reconnaissance aircraft,
and the only carrier equipped to operate such planes, light carrier Independence
(CVL‑22), is proceeding north with TF 38.
Coordinated
submarine attack group TG 17.15 (Commander Alan B. Banister), meanwhile,
operates against Japanese shipping in South China Sea west of Luzon Strait: Drum
(SS‑228) sinks merchant cargo ship Shikisan Maru, 20°27'N,118°31'E; Icefish
(SS‑367) sinks army cargo ship Tenshin Maru, 19°31'N, 118°10'E; Seadragon
(SS‑194) sinks transport Eiko Maru and cargo ship Daiten Maru, 20°31'N,
118°33'E, and merchant passenger/cargo ship Kokuryu Maru, 20°27'N,
118°31'E.
Hospital
ship Comfort (AH-6), fully illuminated in accordance with the dictates
of the Geneva Convention, is bombed22 miles southeast of Leyte.
Tank
landing ship LST‑695 is damaged by Japanese submarine I‑56 in
Philippine Sea, west of Mindanao, 08°31'N,128°34'E.
Destroyer
escort Richard Mont Rowell (DE‑403) sinks Japanese submarine I‑54, 70
miles east of Surigao, 09°45'N,126°45'E.
Submarine Besugo
(SS‑321) damages Japanese Coast Defense Vessel No.132 south of
Ashizuri Saki, Japan, 30°19'N,132°49'E.
Submarine Croaker
(SS‑246) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Mikage Maru and
passenger/cargo ship Gassan Maru southwest of Quelpart Island, 33°00'N,
125°49'E.
Submarine Darter
(SS‑227), damaged by grounding on Bombay Shoal, Palawan Passage, P.I. is
scuttled by submarines Nautilus (SS‑168) and Dace (SS‑247) to
avoid the boat's falling into enemy hands.
Submarine Kingfish
(SS‑234) sinks Japanese cargo ship Ikutagawa Maru east of Chichi
Jima, 27°08'N, 143°13'E.
Submarine Shark
(SS‑314) is sunk, probably by Japanese destroyer Harukaze, in Luzon
Strait, 20°41'N, 118°27'E.24
Submarine Snook
(SS‑279) sinks army cargo ships Arisan Maru, 20°54'N, 118°19'E, and No.1
Shinsei Maru, 20°10'N,118°17'E. Merchant tanker Kikusui Maru sinks
as the result of damage inflicted by Snook the day before,
19°46'N,118°30'E.
Submarine Tang
(SS‑306) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Ebara Maru in Formosa
Strait, 25°03'N, 119°35'E, and damages tanker Matsumoto Maru, 25°04'N,
119°35'E, but is herself sunk by the circular run of one of her own torpedoes,
25°06'N, 119°31'E.
TF 38
planes damage Japanese light cruiser Kinu and destroyer Uranami at
Manila, and sink Japanese army ore carrier Fuyukawa Maru off Luzon,
16°30'N, 120°15'E.
USAAF
aircraft sink army cargo ship Taimei Maru off Sandakan, Borneo, 05°50'N,
118°07'E.
MEDITERRANEAN—Motor torpedo boats patrolling off Monte
Grosso attack five south-bound targets, firing six torpedoes. No definite
claims are made.
Destroyer Woolsey
(DD‑437) and British destroyer HMS Fortune sink two abandoned German
explosive boats 16miles off Cap Ferrat; Woolsey and minesweeper Sway (AM‑120)
recover prisoners.
US ARMY AIR FORCE
EIGHTH AF—By this date, all Pathfinder aircraft of 482d
Bomb group (engaged in H2X and other radar training at RAF—Alconbury) have been
dispersed to heavy bomber groups within the bomb divisions, which set up their
own H2X training. Over 400 fighter bombers are dispatched to attack aircraft
and ground targets in Hannover‑Kassel area. 73 bomb flak positions at Elburg,
factory near Nienburg, and miscellaneous ground targets. Bad weather causes
other fighter bombers to jettison bombs in Channel and Zuider Zee. The fighter
bombers strafe transportation and other ground targets with good results.
NINTH AF—Bad weather cancels all operations except fighter
patrols by IX and XXIX Tactical Air Command over Western Germany. The fighters
attack rail targets.
TWELFTH AF—Weather grounds medium bombers. Over 300 XXII Tactical
Air Command fighters and fighter bombers attack targets in support of US Fifth
Army South of Bologna and hit communications and shipping in Turin‑Genoa and
Eastern Po Valley areas, destroying 14 locomotives and over 100 railroad cars.
During 23/24 Oct light bombers attack targets of opportunity in Po Valley.
FIFTEENTH AF—Weather cancels all offensive operations.
TENTH AF—From 24 Oct through 27 Oct fighter bombers and
medium bombers steadily support Allied troops on the Northern Burma front,
pounding road and rail communications, troop concentrations and supply dumps,
and sweeping airfields. The strikes include close support of British troops
advancing on the right flank of the front known as the ‘Rail Corridor’, and of
Chinese forces pushing down the left flank along the Myitkyina‑Bhamo road. CBI
is split into 2 theaters—India‑Burma and China.
FOURTEENTH AF—About 80 P‑40’s, P‑51’s, and P‑38’s on armed
reconnaissance over SE China, SW China, and Eastern Burma hit runways, storage
facilities, town areas, troops, horses, gun positions, and other targets of
opportunity around Amoy, Lohochai, Tanchuk, Sinthe, Menghsu Pingnam, Mangshih,
Chefang, and Lashio.
FEAF—B‑24’s bomb Buayoan airfield while B‑25’s on armed
reconnaissance hit small shipping and troops. B‑24’s, B‑25’s, and fighter bombers
hit Sandakan area. P‑38’s bomb Amboina reservoir areas. A‑20’s and fighter
bombers again pound Babo, Moemi, Sagan, Manokwari, Otawiri, and other Vogelkop
Peninsula area targets.
SEVENTH AF—Guam‑based B‑24’s bomb Yap while Saipan‑based P‑47’s
hit Pagan.
ELEVENTH AF—3 B‑24’s bomb Kashiwabara and Kurabu Cape. 4 B‑25’s
weather‑abort a photo mission to Paramushiru. 2 others on a shipping sweep off
Kurabu hit a freighter, which is observed listing and smoking, and strafe 2
subchasers.
US ARMY
WESTERN EUROPE—21 Army Group: In Canadian First Army’s 2
Corps area, methodical reduction of Breskens Pocket continues. Canadian 2d
Division begins drive along Beveland Isthmus, leaving containing forces at its
neck.
12th Army Group:
Front remains generally static.
6th Army Group:
In U.S. Seventh Army’s XV Corps area, 44th Division, committing 324th Infantry,
completes relief of 79th Division. In VI Corps area, 3d Division commits its
full strength to drive on St Dié as 30th Infantry, having moved North, joins in
attack to right of 7th. 179th Infantry, 45th Division, takes town of Mortagne,
on enemy side of Mortagne River.
In French
1st Army area, Gen de Lattre issues secret instructions to 1st Corps for
offensive toward Belfort, INDEPENDENCE. 1st Corps is to be strongly reinforced
for the operation. Extensive deceptive measures are taken to conceal place of
projected attack and take enemy by surprise.
ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army area, Mont Termine falls to
South African 6th Armored Division. In II Corps area, Germans regain Vedriano
and capture most of Company G, 351st Infantry, 88th Division, there. 88th and
85th Divisions continue attack on right flank of corps during night 24–25 but
make little headway. In British 13 Corps area, 78th Division consolidates
positions on Mont Spadura. 61st Brigade, 6th Armored Division, pushes toward
Mont Taverna, reaching Orsara.
In British Eighth Army’s 5 Corps area, Indian 10th Division drives quickly toward Ronco River on South flank of corps; 4th Division advances its left flank to road junction of Madonna di Cerbiano and its right, along Highway 9, to Castellaccio. Canadian 1 Corps pursues retreating enemy toward Ronco River.
CBI—Theater is split in two theaters, IndiaBurma Theater
(IBT) and China Theater (CT), to be headed respectively by Lt Gen Daniel
Island. Sultan and Maj Gen Albert C. Wedemeyer. Gen Chennault is temporarily in
charge of China Theater, pending assumption of command by Gen Wedemeyer.
BATTLE OF LEYTE GULF—Seventh Fleet units engage and destroy
Japanese naval force moving against Leyte via Surigao Strait, night 24–25.
Third Fleet elements, after crippling another Japanese naval force, moving
toward San Bernardino Strait, sails northward to attack enemy decoy force that
has been sighted, thus leaving San Bernardino Strait unguarded.
LEYTE—U.S. Sixth Army: In X Corps area, 1st Squadron of 7th
Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, moves by water to Babatngon and sets up defense
perimeter, from which patrols move along North coast. Troop C, reinforced, of
8th Cavalry, after delay because of Japanese air attack on shipping in Tacloban
harbor, which causes minor damage, sails to La Paz, Samar; establishes
beachhead and blocks road to Basey; after nightfall repels enemy thrust against
the block. Main body of 1st Squadron, 8th Cavalry, begins overland journey
northward along Highway 1 and reach Guintiguian. Control of Juanico Strait is
thus secured. In Palo area, 1st Battalion of 34th Infantry takes Hill Nan
without opposition; is passed through by 3d Battalion, which takes the next
Hill, Mike—before Hill C—also without opposition, preliminary fires having been
highly effective. 2d Battalion, 19th Infantry, continues efforts to take Hill
B, finding enemy well entrenched on a crest higher than its own. Company K,
19th Infantry, moving South along Highway 1 in effort to make contract with
XXIV Corps, takes San Joaquin, South of Palo. In XXIV Corps area, 96th
Division’s 383d Infantry, still beset by supply problems, holds current
positions and patrols to locate possible supply routes to rear. Patrol finds
enemy established at Tabontabon. 382d takes Anibung and Hindang.
In 7th
Division zone 17th Infantry clears Burauen and, after brief pause, starts
toward Dagami. 1st Battalion, 32d Infantry, turns North West toward Buri
airstrip from San Pablo airfield but is so strongly opposed that it falls back
to San Pablo with assistance of 3d Battalion.
US MARINE CORPS
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