80 Years Ago, Monday, 6 November, 1944

US NAVY

PACIFIC—TF 38 (Vice Admiral John S. McCain) resumes strikes against Luzon; TG 38.3 planes sink Japanese transport T.139, Silanguin Bay, 14°35'N, 120°55'E. Planes from carrier Ticonderoga (CV‑14), in TG 38.3, sink tanker Marifu Maru, previously damaged by submarine Flier (SS‑250) on 13 June 1944, in Mariveles harbor, 14°26'N, 120°29'E.

            Submarines Guitarro (SS‑363), Bream (SS‑243), and Raton (SS‑270) each torpedo Japanese heavy cruiser Kumano west of Lingayen, 16°11N, 119°44'E. Kumano is towed to Santa Cruz, Luzon (see 9 November 1944). Guitarro is damaged by depth charges, 15°54'N, 119°44'E, but remains on patrol.

            Submarine Gurnard (SS‑254) lays mines off western Borneo.

            The blockading of the Nanpo Shoto region, by mining, begins as PROJECT MIKE commences. USAAF B‑24s (42d Bomb Squadron), fly from Guam and stage through Isely Field, Saipan, where the mines are loaded and fuel tanks topped off. The B‑24s lay 10 mines off Chichi Jima.

            RAAF Mitchells sink Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 118 off Soemba Island, N.E.I., 09°38'S, 120°17'E.

MEDITERRANEAN—Destroyer Plunkett (DD‑431) shells German troop concentrations and pillboxes. She carries out shore bombardment against gun emplacement south of Ventimiglia.

 

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—Over 1,000 heavy bombers in 6 forces attack 6 oil and chemical installations, a canal aqueduct and aircraft repair plant, along with 3 marshalling yards, an airfield, and several targets of opportunity in northern and northwestern Germany. 16 Fighter Groups afford close escort and later strafe ground targets in northwestern Germany and the Netherlands.

NINTH AF—Weather grounds 9th Bomb Division. Fighters, during armed reconnaissance, attack railroads and bridges. IX Tactical Air Command also supports ground forces in Schmidt area.

TWELFTH AF—Medium bombers strike electric transformers and converters, railway bridges and railway fills on the rail line through Brenner Pass. Fighter bombers and fighters again hit troops and gun positions in the battlelines south of Bologna and communications targets north of the battle area.

FIFTEENTH AF—580‑plus fighter‑escorted heavy bombers bomb Moosbierbaum oil refinery and Vienna southern ordnance depot, alternate targets of Kapfenberg steel works, Deutsch Wagram, Graz and Maribor marshalling yards, and railroad power sub station at Bolzano.

AAF, INDIA‑BURMA THEATER—AAF India‑Burma Sector, China‑Burma India Theater is redesignated AAF, India‑Burma Theater.

TENTH AF—70‑plus P‑47’s, sweep airfields at Anisakan, Onbauk, Shwebo, Kin, and Kawlin; destroy and damage bridges at Hinlong and Wingkang; bomb town of Mawtaung and marshalling yard at Kanbalu; hit boxcars at Wuntho and Meza, boats along the Irrawaddy from Katha to Twinnge. and attack several scattered targets of opportunity. 28 P‑47’s fly combat patrols south of Myitkyina. 8 B‑25’s bomb military area at Namun and supply dump at Mansi. Large‑scale transport operations continue.

FOURTEENTH AF—16 P‑40’s pound Mangshih and Lungling areas. 15 others hit buildings and other targets of opportunity at Wanling and around Chefang and Kweihsien.

FEAF—B‑24’s strike Lahug and Fabrica airfields, while fighter bombers pound Palompon, bridge north of Valencia, and barges in Ormoc Bay. B‑24’s bomb Malili.

SEVENTH AF—B‑24’s from Saipan bomb shipping at Okimura and Higashi‑minato and hit island of Ani Jima. During 6/7 Nov a snooper mission is flown over Iwo Jima airfields. Dispersal areas and runways are bombed. Beginning on this date and continuing through 24 Dec 44, B‑24’s on Saipan fly 24 missions to lay 170 mines in several anchorages throughout the Bonin Islands.

ELEVENTH AF—4 B‑25’s bomb Torishima Islands, score a hit on a large building, sink two nearby barges, and probably hit other shipping targets. About 20 fighters intercept, downing 1 B‑25. The medium bombers claim 3 victories.

 

US ARMY

WESTERN EUROPE—21 Army Group: In Canadian First Army area, 2 Corps clears Middelburg, on Walcheren Island. British 1 Corps continues to eliminate scattered strongpoints south of the Maas. Polish 1st Armored Division, assisted by elements of U.S. 104th Division, begins attack on Moerdijk, on enemy’s escape route. Main body of 104th Division starts to Aachen.

            In British Second Army area, U.S. 7th Armored Division is ordered to return to 12th Army Group in preparation for offensive. 15th Division continues limited action north of Meijel.

            12th Army Group: In U.S. First Army’s VII Corps area, 4th Division, moving from V Corps zone to Zweifall area, is ordered to release 12th Infantry, which, under command of 28th Division, V Corps, is to begin relief of elements of 28th Division at once. In V Corps area, 28th Division repels further attacks against Kommerscheidt but is forced from east end of Vossenack. Relief of 109th Infantry by 12th Infantry of 4th Division cannot be accomplished on night 6–7 as planned. Attack on Schmidt by TF River is postponed.

ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army’s IV Corps area, TF 45 assumes command of coastal sector from 107th AAA Group. In British 13 Corps area, Indian 8th Division takes Mont Monsignano without opposition.

            In British Eighth Army area, Polish 2 Corps moves forward following limited enemy withdrawal. In region west of Highway 67, 3d Carpathian Division takes Mont Chioda and Mont Pratello. 5th Kresowa Division, east of the highway, seizes Mont Testa, east of Dovadola.

INDIA‑BURMA—In NCAC area, 64th Regiment of Chinese 22d Division crosses the Irrawaddy and overcomes light opposition in Shwegugale.

CHINA—Japanese threat to Kunming, which is besieged, is by now a matter of serious concern to China Theater hq.

LEYTE—U.S. Sixth Army: X Corps is ordered by Gen Krueger to drive as quickly as possible down Highway 2 to secure Ormoc. 21st Infantry, 24th Division, probes Breakneck Ridge in preparation for attack southward. Forward elements of 3d Battalion are forced back to beach near Colasian by intense enemy fire. 1st Battalion attempts in vain to get into position to support assault on Breakneck Ridge. In XXIV Corps area, 382d Infantry of 96th Division clears all but isolated pockets on Bloody Ridge, despite well‑prepared enemy positions.

 

US MARINE CORPS