80 Years Ago, Friday, 3 November, 1944

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Japanese aircraft attack air facilities on Saipan and Tinian as part of a series of strikes on this area from which heavy bombing missions against their home islands are launched.

            Japanese planes raid U.S. shipping and airfield facilities at Tacloban, Leyte; U.S. freighter Matthew P. Deady is crashed by kamikaze that is engaged with intense antiaircraft fire from the Armed Guard; the explosion of the crashing suicide plane starts a fire in the cargo that threatens the ship. Although firefighting efforts are successful, two Armed Guard sailors (of the 27‑man detachment) and 26 troops (of the 300 on board) perish in the attack.

            Light cruiser Reno (CL‑96) is damaged by Japanese submarine I‑41 off Leyte, 13°46'N, 131°27'E.28

            Submarine Cero (SS‑225) lands men and supplies on east coast of Luzon.

            Submarine Gurnard (SS‑254) attacks Japanese convoy in the South China Sea, and sinks merchant cargo ship Taimei Maru about 275 miles west of Labuan, Borneo, 05°48'N, 111°12'E.

            Submarine Pintado (SS‑387) attacks small detachment of Japanese warships and sinks destroyer Akikaze 160 miles west of Lingayen Gulf, 16°50'N, 117°29'E.

            Submarine Pomfret (SS‑391) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Hamburg Maru in Bashi Channel, 20°19'N, 121°30'E. Transport Atlas Maru, torpedoed by Pomfret the previous day, is beached, a total loss, off Sabtang Island, 20°18'N,121°51'E.

            Japanese merchant cargo ship Shino Maru is sunk by aircraft off Palau.

MEDITERRANEAN—Destroyer Woolsey (DD‑437) shells German troop concentrations near Franco‑Italian border.

 

US ARMY AIR FORCE

NINTH AF—140‑plus medium bombers and light bombers hit rail overpass at Kaiserslautern, and rail bridges at Neuwied‑Irlich, Bad Munster am Stein, Morscheid and Konz‑Karthaus. Fighters fly armed reconnaissance, ground forces cover, attack railroads, bridge, and observation posts in western Germany, and escort 9th Bomb Division.

TWELFTH AF—Heavy clouds over most of northern Italy begin to disperse. Medium bombers are still grounded but fighter bombers manage to fly 8 sorties against gun positions in mountains south of Bologna.

FIFTEENTH AF—46 B‑17’s and B‑24’s (in an operation adapted to bad weather and flying without escort) bomb Vienna southern ordnance depot, Moosbierbaum oil refinery, Munich western marshalling yard, Klagenfurt aircraft factory, towns of Innsbruck and Graz, and rail line south east of Graz. The heavy bombers attack individually, depending on cloud cover for protection. Over 30 other heavy bombers abort due to clearing weather.

TENTH AF—12 B‑25’s, supported by 18 P‑47’s, hit Nawnghkio airfield. A single medium bomber attacks targets of opportunity between Myitkyina and Lashio. 90‑plus fighter bombers attack bridges, enemy forces, town areas and numerous targets of opportunity at Kawngmu, Namhai, Tonlon, Ho‑hko, Hinlong, Namhsum, Hkusan, Hkawngwa, Wingkang, Namhkam, and south of Mansi.

TENTH AF—transports fly 240‑plus sorties to forward areas.

FOURTEENTH AF—69 P‑40’s, P‑51’s, and P‑38’s on armed reconnaissance over eastern Burma, southwestern and southeastern China, and northern Indochina hit targets of opportunity in Lungling area, damage railroad bridge south of Lashio, hit town of Mangshih and destroy nearby warehouse. The fighter bombers hit town areas and docks at Takhing and Tengyun, attack troops in Mosun area, destroy 2 Japanese fighters near Amoy, hit trains at Hongay, and bomb areas on Hainan Island.

FEAF—B‑25’s bomb Alicante airfield. P‑40’s hit highway and oil dump north of Ormoc. A‑20’s and B‑25’s bomb Babo airfield. During 3/4 Nov harassing strikes are flown at airfields in Central Philippine Islands, on northeastern peninsula of Celebes, and on Halmahera.

TWENTIETH AF—49 B‑29’s, operating from rear bases in Calcutta area, bomb Malagon railroad yards. Almost as many others hit alternate targets.

SEVENTH AF—14 B‑24’s from Guam pound shipping at Chichi Jima and Haha Jima. 34 P‑47’s from Saipan bomb and strafe Pagan. B‑24’s from Saipan continue armed reconnaissance and snooper missions over Marcus and Iwo Jima.

 

US ARMY

WESTERN EUROPE—21 Army Group: In Canadian First Army’s 2 Corps area, Canadian 3d Division finishes clearing Breskens Pocket. Some 12,500 prisoners have been taken during the operation. Substantial progress is made by British 52d Division, reinforced by 4th Special Service Brigade, on Walcheren Island. Assault forces from Westkapelle join with those from Flushing. Positions in east Walcheren are extended. In British 1 Corps area, German delaying line along the Mark collapses as 49th Division and U.S. 104th Division expand bridgeheads, but many strongpoints remain. Polish 1st Armored Division establishes bridgehead near Zevenbergen on right flank of corps; Canadian 4th Armored Division, on left flank, improves positions in Steenbergen area.

            In British Second Army’s 8 Corps area, Combat Command A of U.S. 7th Armored Division continues to clear northwest bank of Canal du Nord, overrunning villages of Horik and Ospel.

            12th Army Group: In U.S. First Army’s V Corps area, 112th Infantry of 28th Division crosses Kall River and takes Kommerscheidt and Schmidt, but 110th and 109th Regiments make little or no progress on flanks. Schmidt is on MSR of enemy in Lammersdorf Corridor.

            In U.S. Third Army area, XX and XII Corps issue orders for offensive. XX Corps is to eliminate the Metz garrison, secure crossing of the Sarre in Saarburg area, and, upon order, continue offensive toward northeast. XII Corps, attacking between 5 and 8 November, is to seize Faulquemont, secure Rhine bridgehead between Oppenheim and Mannheim, and, tentatively, push to Darmstadt area. In XX Corps zone, 3d Cavalry Group moves forward at night to eliminate small enemy pocket west of the Moselle at Berg‑sur‑Moselle.

            6th Army Group: In French 1st Army’s 2d Corps area, 3d Algerian Division, in limited attack toward Gerardmer, arouses strong opposition.

ITALY—AAI: U.S. Fifth Army is assigned 366th Infantry, a separate regiment, but the unit does not arrive at Leghorn until 91st.

            In British Eighth Army’s 5 Corps area, local attack by 4th Division brings such sharp enemy reaction that it is decided to attack in strength when weather conditions improve. Positions across the Ronco are gradually strengthened during the next few days in preparation for renewing offensive.

INDIA‑BURMA—On Salween front, Chinese Hon 1st Division recovers Lung‑ling, scene of hard fighting for some months.

            In NCAC area, Chinese 22d Division reaches the Irrawaddy in vicinity of Shwegu without opposition and prepares to cross.

LEYTE—Japanese reinforcements moving up Ormoc Valley are hit with good effect by aircraft. U.S. Sixth Army: Issues order for converging drive on Ormoc by X and XXIV Corps. In X Corps area, 34th Infantry of 24th Division takes Capoocan with ease and continues toward Pinamopoan until held up by enemy strongpoint. In XXIV Corps area, 1st Battalion of 382d Infantry, 96th Division, attacks west of Dagami toward ridge, later called Bloody Ridge, moving through rice paddy, but is so heavily opposed that it withdraws after nightfall. One 2d Battalion column advances to Patok and another moves up to reinforce 1st Battalion. 1st Battalion withstands strong counterattack, night 3–4.

 

US MARINE CORPS