80 Years Ago, Wednesday, 18 October 1944

US NAVY

PACIFIC—TG 38.1 (Vice Admiral John S. McCain) and TG 38.4 (Rear Admiral Ralph E. Davison) attack principal Japanese airfields near Manila and shipping in the harbor, sinking passenger-cargo ship Hoeisan Maru, 14°35'N, 120°50'E, and army cargo ship Urato Maru and merchant cargo ship Tempi Maru, 14°35'N, 120°55'E. Meanwhile, TG 38.2 (Rear Admiral Gerald F. Bogan) pounds enemy shipping off northern Luzon, sinking auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 95,transports Taiho Maru and Hokurei Maru (damaged on 5 October by Cabrilla), and merchant cargo ships Hoten Maru, Terukuni Maru, and Tsingtao Maru off Camiguin, northern Luzon, 18°54'N, 121°51'E; cargo ship Shinko Marunear Babuyan Channel, 18°35'N, 121°40'E; and landing ships T.135 and T.136 and minelayer/netlayer Maeshima off northeastern Luzon, 17°46'N, 120°25'E. Cargo ship No.3 Taibi Maru may have also been lost in these attacks at this time.

            The first bombardment ships begin shelling Japanese installations on Leyte.

            Seventh Fleet aircraft, meanwhile, sink Japanese ships Daikoku Maru, No.2 Gokuku Mar, No.8 Nankai Maru, Rinkyu Maru, Yoto Maru, and Zuin Maru in the Cebu area.

            Submarine Bluegill (SS‑242) sinks Japanese army cargo ships Arabia Maru and Chinzei Maru, and merchant cargo ship Hakushika Maru in South China Sea, west-southwest of Manila, 14°06'N, 119°40'E.

            Submarine Raton (SS‑270) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Taikai Maru and army cargo ship Shiranesan Maru in South China Sea, southwest of Luzon, 12°37'N, 118°46'E. Special Air Task Force (STAG 1) operations continue in Southwest Pacific as three TDRs are launched against lighthouse on Cape St. George, New Ireland. None hit the target.

ATLANTIC—Naval Advanced Base, La Havre, France, is established.

MEDITERRANEAN—Motor torpedo boat PT‑558 is damaged in engagement with two German R-boats west of Portofino; while retiring to Leghorn, Italy, PT‑561 is damaged by heavy seas. Tank landing ship LST‑906 drags anchor and is damaged when heavy seas drive her ashore, Leghorn.

 

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—Over 450 heavy bombers hit aircraft plants at Kassel, motor plant and marshalling yard at Cologne, and chemical works at Leverkusen, along with nearby targets of opportunity. 12 fighter groups provide escort and 2 groups later strafe rail traffic between Cologne and Kassel.

NINTH AF—Weather prevents operations of all commands (including 9th Bomb division) except IX Tactical Air Command fighters which fly sweeps, rail cutting missions, and night patrols, and provide air cover for US 1st Infantry division in Aachen area.

TWELFTH AF—Most medium bomber missions are aborted because of weather, but B‑26’s effectively hit Castel San Pietro dell’Emilia warehouses and railroad bridge at Padua. Fighters and fighter bombers, operating on restricted schedule due to weather, offer effective close support to ground forces in mountains south of Bologna and hit communications targets in Bologna and Modena areas. On 17/18 Oct light bombers on armed reconnaissance bomb lights and vehicles east of Bologna.

FIFTEENTH AF—38 P‑38’s dive‑bomb Vinkovci. 41 P‑51’s escort C‑47’s to Greece.

TENTH AF—13 P‑47’s attack Mingaladon airfield, 21 support ground forces in Mohnyin area, 8 knock out 2 bridges at Wanting, and 6 hit troops near Hwemun. 6 B‑25’s damage approaches to 2 road bridges at Wuntho. 6 other B‑25’s damage approaches to 2 bridges at Namhkai and Meza. Transports again fly nearly 300 sorties to several locations in CBI.

FOURTEENTH AF—100‑plus P‑40’s and P‑51’s fly armed reconnaissance over vast areas of China south of the Yangtze River, attack town areas, troops, rivercraft, gun positions, supply facilities, airfields, and other targets of opportunity around Kweiping, Shangkaishow, Tajungchiang, Konghow, Wuchou, Shepchung, Hsinganhsien, Tengyun, Liutu, Tanchuk, and Takhing. Railroad targets at Lang Son are also attacked.

FEAF—Bad weather curtails major strike on Balikpapan. Of 120‑plus heavy bombers and fighters, only 8 B‑24’s and 8 P‑38’s reach the target. P‑38’s hit barges, small shipping, and vehicles on western coast of Mindanao. B‑24’s attack Sagan and Babo airfields. Medium bombers and fighter bombers again hit Namlea, Amboina, Liang, and nearby targets, attack targets of opportunity at Djailolo and in Wasile Bay area, and pound Urarom, Manokwari, Babo, Sagan, Otawiri, and other Vogelkop area targets.

SEVENTH AF—B‑24’s out of Saipan bomb Haha Jima while P‑47’s bomb and strafe Pagan.

ELEVENTH AF—4 B‑25’s bomb Kurabu Cape airfield and Suribachi. 8‑12 interceptors attack the B‑25’s, which claim 2 victories.

 

US ARMY

WESTERN EUROPE—At conference in Brussels, Gen Eisenhower issues plan for offensive, with tentative dates. First priority for 21 Army Group is to open Antwerp port. British Second Army is to be prepared to drive southeast between the Meuse and Rhine about 10 November to support U.S. advance across the Rhine. U.S. First Army is to cross the Rhine in Cologne area between 1 and 5 November. U.S. Ninth Army, after covering north flank of First Army while it is pushing to the Rhine, is to help First Army envelop and clear the Ruhr. U.S. Third Army will cover right flank of First Army and refrain from offensive operations until it has sufficient logistical support.

            12th Army Group: In U.S. First Army area, Maj Gen Raymond S. McLain succeeds Gen Corlett, whose health is impaired, as Commanding General XIX Corps. In VII Corps area, Germans are making strenuous efforts to break encirclement of Aachen. 1st Division, strongly reinforced, renews assault on Aachen; 26th Infantry takes Observatory Hill and is methodically clearing heart of the city. TF Hogan, 3d Armored Division, is committed to help 26th Infantry clear commanding ground overlooking the city. Battalion of 110th Infantry, 28th Division, is brought from V Corps sector to reinforce 1st Division and close gap between 26th Infantry elements within Aachen and 1106th Engineers south of the city. Although this battalion is given a defensive role, it is soon drawn into battle for the city.

            6th Army Group: In U.S. Seventh Army’s VI Corps area, 36th Division breaks into Bruyères and clears most of town.

ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army’s II Corps area, 34th Division makes limited progress on slopes of Mont della Vigna but cannot break through enemy positions on Mont Belmonte. 339th Infantry, 85th Division, reaches fork in main ridge between Idice and Sillaro Rivers north of Monterenzio. 88th Division is slowly clearing approaches to Mont Cuccoli–M. Grande ridge and bringing reserves forward. In British 13 Corps area, 6th Armored Division, turning over responsibility for right flank of corps along Highway 67 to 26th Armored Brigade Group, takes over right flank of 78th Division sector from Mont Battaglia to the Imola road and resumes command of 1st Guards Brigade, already disposed on Mont Battaglia; 61st Brigade relieves 38th Brigade of 78th Division on Mont Cappello and latter moves to Gesso ridge. 36th Brigade, 78th Division, finds Mont la Pieve undefended. 21st Brigade, Indian 8th Division, gains ground south of Mont Pianoreno, from which enemy has withdrawn.

            In British Eighth Army’s Polish 2 Corps area, 5th Kresowa Division takes Galeata without opposition. In 5 Corps area Acquarola and Celincordia fall to Indian 10th Division and 46th Division, respectively. Indian 10th Division is ordered to attack across the Savio. In Canadian 1 Corps area, New Zealand 2d Division begins crossing the Pisciatello at 2300. Canadian 1st Division takes Ponte della Pietra. Greek 3d Mountain Brigade is withdrawn from line in preparation for departure from Italy.

CZECHOSLOVAKIA—Fourth Ukrainian Front pours into east Czechoslovakia on broad front from Poland, driving through Carpathian passes.

GREECE—Greek Government returns to Athens.

CBI—Gen Stilwell is ordered to return to Washington. President Roosevelt informs Chiang Kai-shek of Stilwell’s recall, adding that while no other U.S. officer will be named to command Chinese forces, Gen Wedemeyer is available to act as the Generalissimo’s chief of staff, a proposal that is acceptable to Chiang Kai-shek.

BURMA—11 Army Group: In British Fourteenth Army’s 33 Corps area, after hard fighting on approaches to Tiddim earlier in the month, Indian 5th Division enters the town without opposition.

JAPAN—Tokyo orders major counter offensive, SHO, against forces threatening inner defense of Japan to begin upon spotting U.S. invasion force en route to Leyte, P.I. This is to affect operations not only in the Pacific but on the Asiatic mainland as well.

PALAUS—On Peleliu, 321st Infantry completes relief of 1st Marine Division elements at Umurbrogol Pocket and continues attacks to reduce it. The pocket is now about 400 yards from east to west and about 850 yards from north to south, 1st Marine Division has suffered 6,526 casualties on the island, a large portion of them at the pocket. On Angaur, enemy pocket on northwest tip of island is compressed into small zone about 100 yards long and 50 yards wide.

P.I.—Company B, 6th Ranger Battalion, lands on Homonhon Island., without opposition and sets up channel light. Underwater demolition teams begin uneventful reconnaissance of landing areas under cover of naval gunfire bombardment. Seventh Fleet protects assault convoy as it approaches Leyte and begins preinvasion bombardment. Third Fleet continues neutralization of Luzon and guards San Bernardino and Surigao Straits.

 

US MARINE CORPS

Landing on Homonhon Island.