Wednesday, November 6, 2024

80 Years Ago, Saturday, 28 October 1944

US NAVY

PACIFIC—TG 38.4 (Rear Admiral Ralph E. Davison) bomb Japanese shipping near Cebu, damaging landing ship T.101 off Ormoc, Leyte, 11°00'N, 123°00'E.

            Destroyer escort Dempsey (DE‑26), assisted by tank landing craft LCT‑406, sinks a Japanese torpedo-carrying craft off the main unloading beach, Peleliu. U.S. freighter United Victory is damaged by gunfire from Japanese surface craft; there are no casualties to United Victory's complement, which includes a 27-man Armed Guard.

            Destroyer Helm (DD‑388), assisted by Gridley (DD‑380) and TBF from light carrier Belleau Wood (CVL‑24), sinks Japanese submarine I‑46, 120 miles northeast of Surigao, 10°56'N, 127°13'E.

            Light cruiser Denver (CL‑58) is damaged by kamikaze off Leyte, 10°57'N, 125°02'E. During Japanese air attack on U.S. shipping in San Pedro Bay, Leyte, freighter Cape Romano is damaged by bombs exploding close aboard; bomb fragments injure two of the 26-man Armed Guard and two of the 47-man merchant complement.

            Destroyer escort Eversole (DE‑404) is torpedoed and sunk by Japanese submarine I‑45 off Leyte, 10° 18'N, 127° 37'E; I‑45, however, is in turn sunk by destroyer escort Whitehurst (DE‑634) 120 miles east-northeast of Surigao, 10°10'N,127°28'E.26

            Netlaying ship Viburnum (AN-57) is damaged by mine at Ulithi.

            Japanese transport Sumatra Maru is sunk by swimmer vehicles ("Chariots") launched from British submarine HMS Trenchant, Phuket Harbor, 07°54'N, 98°28'E.

            Japanese merchant tanker Baiei Maru is sunk by Japanese mine in Brunei Bay, 05°0825'N, 115°05'E.

MEDITERRANEAN—Destroyer Gleaves (DD‑423) bombards troop concentrations, barracks, and gun emplacements; she achieves excellent results. Enemy shore battery fire is inaccurate.

            U.S. motor torpedo boats attack northbound convoy--four F‑lighters with escorts--and sink two F‑lighters.

 

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—350‑plus B‑17’s escorted by 4 fighter groups bomb marshalling yards at Hamm and Munster.

NINTH AF—HQ 9th Bomb division transfers to Reims. 45 9th Bomb division aircraft bomb rail bridges at Sinzig, Kempenich, and Ahrweiler, and airfield at Euskirchen. Fighters escort bombers, fly sweeps and armed reconnaissance over western Germany, attack 6 bridges and 1 tunnel, and support US XIX Corps in Belgium near German border.

TWELFTH AF—Bad weather again grounds medium bombers, and restricts XXII Tactical Air Command. Fighter bombers and fighters, flying 65 sorties, attack vehicles and trains in Turin‑Milan‑Genoa area.

FIFTEENTH AF—Bad weather again limits operations. 10 B‑17’s bomb Klagenfurt aircraft factory. 6 P‑38’s fly reconnaissance missions, during early part of the night. 8 B‑17’s bomb Munich western marshalling yard. 1 bombs Erlsbach.

TENTH AF—80‑plus fighter bombers pound numerous targets including town areas, troops, railroad facilities, and a variety of targets of opportunity at Mannaun, Manoi, Sinkan, Winwa, Man Mao, Myazedi, Pinwe, Naba, Yebawgyi, and Kangon.

FOURTEENTH AF—Fighters strafe villages, troops, and horses in Menghsu‑Konghow area, pound bridges around Kaotienhsu, and hit Yangtong airfield and shipping at Hongay and Wuchou.

FEAF—B‑24’s, fighting bad weather, bomb airfield at Puerto Princesa. During 28/29 Oct, B‑24’s bomb Wilhelmina Docks area. B‑25’s and P‑38’s blast town of Amboina.

TWENTIETH AF—Marianas‑based XXI Bomber Command flies its first combat mission when 14 B‑29’s attack sub pens on Dublon Island. 4 others (1 carrying Gen Hansell, Commanding General XXI Bomber Command) abort. About a third of the bombs fall in general target area.

SEVENTH AF—B‑24’s from Saipan bomb Haha Jima while others, from Guam, hit Yap. Saipan‑based P‑47’s bomb Pagan.

ELEVENTH AF—8 B‑25’s fly cover for naval TF.

 

US ARMY

WESTERN EUROPE—Gen Eisenhower issues directive for November offensive, calling for destruction of enemy west of the Rhine, establishment of bridgeheads across the river, and drive into Germany.

            21 Army Group: In Canadian First Army’s British 1 Corps area, U.S. 104th Division takes Rijsbergen, about halfway between Zundert and Breda, and pushes toward Rosendaal–Breda highway.

            In British Second Army’s 12 Corps area, Tilburg falls to 15th Division. In 8 Corps area, U.S. 7th Armored Division begins two-pronged attack to recover Meijel, Combat Command B driving southeast along Deurne–Meijel highway and Combat Command R TF moving along Asten–Meijel road. Small gains are made against severe opposition.

            12th Army Group: In U.S. Third Army’s XX Corps area, while one company of 357th Infantry, 90th Division, makes diversionary attack north of Hotel de Ville in Maizières-lès-Metz, while 3 companies enter factory area in preparation for attack.

            6th Army Group: Issues letter of instruction for reduction of enemy west of the Rhine and capture of Strasbourg.

            In U.S. Seventh Army’s XV Corps area, enemy makes limited withdrawal, night 28–29, pulling back to line Leintrey–Blémerey.

ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army’s IV Corps area, Regimental Combat Team 6 of BEF outflank Gallicano, in Serchio Valley. II Corps, now greatly understrength after six weeks of hard fighting, is ordered in writing to halt offensive and establish defensive positions.

            In British Eighth Army’s 5 Corps area, Indian 10th Division crosses more elements over the Ronco, night 28–29, and begins attack from bridgehead south of Meldola. Canadian 1 Corps is withdrawn into reserve as 12th Lancers, under 5 Corps command, relieves Canadian 1st Division on left flank and TF known as Porter Force, under Eighth Army command, takes over coastal sector from Canadian 5th Armored Division.

BULGARIA—Signs armistice with Allies. By its terms, Bulgaria will relinquish portions of Greece and Yugoslavia acquired in 1941, make certain reparations yet to be determined, and place armed forces at the disposal of the Soviet high command.

YUGOSLAVIA—Announces capture of Split, capital of Dalmatia and Adriatic port, to Partisan forces.

BURMA—In NCAC area, 713th Regiment of Chinese 38th Division encounters patrols from enemy’s OPL along Taping River near Bhamo but routs them in order to reach the river at Myothit. 112th and 114th Regiments are to make wide enveloping maneuver in order to turn the enemy line.

LEYTE—U.S. Sixth Army: In X Corps area, 1st Battalion of 34th Infantry, 24th Division, followed by 2d Battalion, drives through Alangalang to Mainit River and dislodges enemy from steel bridges spanning it. 3d Battalion makes contacts with 79th Infantry south of Santa Fe. 1st Battalion, 79th Infantry, blocks road north of Binahaan River near Macalpe; 2d establishes perimeter at Tingib. 1st Cavalry Division regroups: 1st Squadron of 12th Cavalry moves to Castilla to relieve 24th Division of responsibility for rear areas so that latter may drive on Jaro; 2d Cavalry Brigade is ordered to advance on Carigara; 2d Squadron of 8th Cavalry is to establish base at San Miguel, secure Cavite, and patrol as far north and northwest as Barugo road, maintaining contact with 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry; 1st Squadron of 7th Cavalry, while holding positions at Santa Cruz and Babatngon, is to concentrate in Barugo–Carigara area and patrol south and southeast. Troop C of 7th Cavalry moves by water from Babatngon to Barugo and overland to Carigara, where prolonged fire fight ensues; withdraws to Barugo late in afternoon. In XXIV Corps area, 2d Battalion of 382d Infantry, 96th Division, finishes clearing Tabontabon and continues toward Kiling. 381st Infantry begins attack on east slopes of Catmon Hill at noon. 2d Battalion gets almost to Labir Hill, but 1st receives such accurate fire at foot of the hill that it pulls back to vicinity of line of departure. 2d Battalion of 32d Infantry, 7th Division, is alerted for drive on Abuyog on 29th. 3d Battalion is ordered to Guinarona. 17th Infantry makes slow progress toward Dagami. 2d Battalion, in the lead, suffers heavy casualties.

 

US MARINE CORPS

CNO directs the formation of the Marine Air Support Division.


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