80 Years Ago, Monday, 30 October 1944

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Carrier Franklin (CV‑13) and light carrier Belleau Wood (CVL‑24) are damaged by kamikazes, 10°20'N, 126°40'E.

            Yacht Argus (PY-14) rescues survivors of U.S. freighter John A. Johnson, which had been sunk by Japanese submarine I‑12 the previous day.

            Submarine Salmon (SS‑182) damages Japanese Coast Defense Vessel No.22 southwest of Toizaki, Kyushu, and teams with Trigger (SS‑237) to damage merchant tanker Takane Maru, 30°13'N, 132°49'E, but Salmon is damaged by depth charges dropped by the three undamaged escorting coast defense vessels and deep submergence as she evades the escorts, 30°08'N, 132°33'E, and is forced to terminate her patrol.

            USAAF P‑38s (13th Air Force) damage Japanese submarine chaser Ch 36 near Sibitu Passage, 05°27'N, 119°12'E, and sink merchant tankers Kosho Maru and No.8 Nanshin Maru off Sandakan, Borneo, 05°25'N, 119°20'E.

            USAAF aircraft sink Japanese ship Chuko Maru off Hong Kong.

            USAAF B-25s sink Japanese ship No.5 Uwa Maru off Lomblon Island, 08°25'S, 123°25'E.

MEDITERRANEAN—Destroyer Madison (DD‑425) bombards and destroys German motor convoy, southern France, and sinks floating mines offshore.

 

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—Over 600 heavy bombers supported by 15 fighter groups attack oil refineries near Hamburg and 11 other targets including marshalling yards at Hamm and Munster. Clouds cause abort of around 600 other heavy bombers.

NINTH AF—9th Bomb division bombers are recalled from mission (mainly against bridges) because of bad weather. Fighters fly patrols and armed reconnaissance over northeastern France and in western Germany around Aachen and Rhine River. XIX Tactical Air Command escorts 9th Bomb division and heavy bombers of Eighth AF.

TWELFTH AF—Weather again grounds medium bombers and limits XXII Tactical Air Command fighter bombers and fighters to 51 sorties against scattered targets in Po Valley.

FIFTEENTH AF—During 30/31 Oct 3 B‑24’s bomb Klagenfurt marshalling yard, P‑38’s fly reconnaissance missions, while bad weather cancels all other operations.

TENTH AF—10 B‑25’s knock out bridges at Namhkai, Wuntho, Thegyaung, and Nankan and damage others at Okkyin and Zawchaung. 50‑plus P‑47’s knock out Hpao Nam River bridge and strafe targets of opportunity at several locations; hit several bridges throughout northern Burma rail corridor, damaging or knocking out each target; support ground forces at Naba Station and Pinwe; and hit troop concentrations at Mansi and Man yut.

FOURTEENTH AF—13 B‑24’s lay mines in Victoria Harbor. P‑40’s bomb installations around Phu Lang Thuong and hit junks at sea.

FEAF—B‑24’s pound Bacolod airfield, while B‑25’s and fighter bombers hit San Roque airfield and barges at Zamboanga. P‑38’s hit Sandakan airfield. B‑24’s bomb Makassar wharf area while P‑40’s, over northeastern peninsula, hit various targets of opportunity. P‑38’s hit Piroe. Urarom airfield is again bombed by A‑20’s and B‑25’s.

TWENTIETH AF—8 B‑29’s from the Marianas bomb sub pens on Dublon Island, 9 others bomb 2 mi beyond target.

SEVENTH AF—8 B‑24’s on armed reconnaissance missions from Guam bomb Yap. 1 B‑24 from Saipan, during 30/31 Oct snooper mission, bombs Iwo Jima. Saipan‑based P‑47’s hit Pagan. B‑25’s from Makin strike Nauru.

ELEVENTH AF—3 B‑24’s fly armed reconnaissance over Matsuwa and Onnekotan.

 

US ARMY

WESTERN EUROPE—21 Army Group: In Canadian First Army’s 2 Corps area, Canadian 2d Division completes drive across south Beveland, reaching east end of Walcheren causeway. Canadian 3d Division is nearing end of action to reduce Breskens Pocket. In British 1 Corps area, 415th Infantry, spearheading for U.S. 104th Division, reaches the Mark and attempts to take bridge near Standdaarbuiten, but Germans blow it.

            In British Second Army area, 12 Corps makes patrol contact with 1 Corps. 7th Armored Division drives west to Oosterhout and makes contact with Polish 1st Armored Division of 1 Corps there. In 8 Corps area, enemy makes final effort to advance in Peel Marshes but is brought to a halt.

            12th Army Group: In U.S. First Army area, V Corps outlines further action to be taken by 28th Division after it seizes its first objective, line Vossenack–Schmidt.

            In U.S. Third Army’s XX Corps area, 357th Infantry of 90th Division completes capture of Maizières-lèsMetz, thus opening route to Metz from the north.

            6th Army Group: In U.S. Seventh Army’s VI Corps area, elements of 45th Division seize St Benoit, on Rambervillers–Raon-l’Etape road. 3d Division now holds broad salient west of St Dié and the Meurthe from vicinity of Nompatelize on north to Traintrux on south. In 36th Division zone, 442d Infantry at last makes contact with and relieves 1st Battalion of 141st Infantry.

ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army area, Germans begin series of counterattacks toward Palazzo that last for several days, but Combat Command B of South African 6th Armored Division holds firm. In IV Corps area, Regimental Combat Team 6 of BEF seizes Lama hill mass, north of Barga. During October corps has conducted a training program for inexperienced 1st Division, BEF, and 92d Division as the units arrived.

            In British Eighth Army’s Polish 2 Corps area, Germans withdraw from Caminata region. In 5 Corps area, 10th Division takes Meldola, from which enemy has withdrawn, but runs into strong opposition as it pushes on toward Rabbi River. 4th Division tries in vain to get patrols across the Ronco on north flank of corps.

PHILIPINE ISLANDS—AAF SWPA issues instruction for air support of the Mindoro operation by Gen Kenney’s U.S. Far East Air Force, comprising Fifth and Thirteenth Air Forces. Fifth Air Force is to be the “assault air force” but Thirteenth Air Force, RAAF, carrier based planes of U.S. Third and Seventh Fleets, and land-based planes of Seventh Fleet are also to assist as are B‑29’s of U.S. Twentieth Air Force.

LEYTE—U.S. Sixth Army: In X Corps area, 3d Battalion of 34th Infantry, 24th Division, starts toward Carigara along road from Jaro but is halted almost at once by Japanese. 2d and 1st Battalions are given supporting roles as 3d Battalion renews efforts to advance up the road without getting beyond outskirts of Jaro. Company K, 19th Infantry, makes contact with elements of XXIV Corps at Lopdak. Company C skirmishes with enemy at Rizal. Gen Krueger orders relief of 21st Infantry, 24th Division, in the quiet Panaon Strait area by a battalion of 32d Infantry. In XXIV Corps area, 2d and 3d Battalions of 383d Infantry, 96th Division, attack San Vicente from Guinarona River and find the barrio and hill of the same name undefended. 17th Infantry, 7th Division, completes capture of Dagami in morning and spends rest of day mopping up. Contact is made with X Corps units across Binahaan River north of Dagami by means of message dropped by air and with 96th Division on east by patrols, concluding current mission of 17th Infantry. 7th Division, on its beachhead line, is ordered to move elements from Abuyog to Baybay and be prepared to move to west coast.

 

US MARINE CORPS