US NAVY
PACIFIC—TF 38 (Vice Admiral John S. McCain) begins two days
of carrier strikes on Luzon, targeting Japanese aircraft, airfields, and
shipping. TG 38.3 attacks warships and auxiliaries in Manila Bay, where planes
from carriers Lexington (CV‑16) and Essex (CV‑9), and light
carrier Langley (CVL‑27) sink heavy cruiser Nachi five nautical
miles west of Corregidor. F6Fs from TG 38.3 sink Patrol Boat No.107 [ex‑U.S.
tug Genessee (AT‑55)] off Lubang Island, 14°23'N,120°25'E. Navy carrier‑based
planes (TG 38.3 hitting targets in Manila Bay, TG 38.1 targets off Santa Cruz)
damage destroyer Akebono and escort destroyer Okinawa, landing
ship T.111, motor sailship Tanoguchi Maru and cargo ships Toyo
Maru and Showa Maru. During Japanese retaliatory air strikes,
kamikaze damages carrier Lexington (CV‑16),16°20'N, 123°59'E.
Motor
torpedo boat PT‑320 is damaged by aerial bomb off Leyte, 11°11'N,
125°05'E.
USAAF B‑29s
bomb Singapore, damaging Japanese fleet tanker Notoro while she lies in
drydock at Selatar, 01°18N,103°52'E.
Japanese
landing ship T.112 runs aground off southwest Mindoro, 12°40'N,
121°22'E.
Japanese
merchant ship No.11 Bakshu Maru is sunk by mine off Penang.
US
ARMY AIR FORCE
EIGHTH AF—More than 1,200 heavy bombers attack marshalling
yards at Frankfurt/Main, Ludwigshafen, Karlsruhe, Hanau, and Kaiserslautern,
and synthetic oil plant at Ludwigshafen, rail facilities at Landau, and 8
targets of opportunity. 15 Fighter Groups give support. 37 heavy bombers and
fighters are lost.
NINTH AF—160 medium bombers and light bombers strike ammo,
ordnance, and supply depots at Hamburg. Fighters escort bombers, fly armed
reconnaissance, attack railroads and bridges, and cover ground forces of V and
XIX Corps. IX Tactical Air Command aids US 28th Infantry Division in
withstanding counter‑attack near Kommerscheidt.
TWELFTH AF—Medium bombers, flying over 300 sorties, bomb
bridges in Brenner Pass and in the northeastern Po Valley to interdict the
Germans’ 2 main supply routes from the north. Fighters and fighter bombers hit
defenses and forces in battle areas in the northern Apennines south of Bologna
and attack communications targets to the northern as well as in battle zone.
FIFTEENTH AF—500 B‑24’s and B‑17’s bomb Vienna/Floridsdorf
oil refinery in largest operation against a single target during World War
IIsland. 10 other heavy bombers bomb about 20 scattered targets of opportunity
and 1 alternate target (Kapfenberg tank works). 139 P‑38’s and 198 P‑51’s
provide escort. 16 of the fighters strafe targets of opportunity in target
area. 42 other B‑24’s, with fighter escort, bomb troop concentrations at
Mitrovica and Podgorica.
TENTH AF—About 70 P‑47’s attack Lashlo airfield, hit gun
positions on Kyundaw Island, bomb Kanbalu marshalling yard, hit targets of
opportunity along Naba‑Wuntho railroad and on Burma Road and bomb town of
Namhpakka and Lasai area. 28 other P‑47’s maintain patrols south of Myitkyina.
Transports fly 300‑plus sorties carrying men, equipment and supplies to various
forward areas.
FOURTEENTH AF—49 P‑40’s, P‑38’s, and P‑51’s attack storage
facilities and other targets of opportunity around Mangshih, Chefang, Wanling,
and Kweihsien.
FEAF—B‑24’s and P‑40’s attack airfields and barges in the
Central Philippine Islands. B‑24’s also hit town of Bima and Waingapoe Bay
shipping at Soembawa. B‑25’s and fighter bombers strike airfields, troop
concentrations, and communications targets throughout the Halmahera area and northeastern
peninsula of Celebes. Fighter bombers and A‑20’s hit Amahai and targets of
opportunity on southern coast of Ceram. Almost 50 A‑20’s, supporting ground
forces, blast installations in Sarrni area.
TWENTIETH AF—24 Marianas‑based B‑29’s bomb 2 Iwo Jima
airfields, starting tactical operations against the island in preparation for
its invasion. 53 Calcutta‑based B‑29’s bomb Singapore naval base putting the
King George VI Graving Dock (one of the world’s best drydocks) out of operation
for 3 months, and blast other targets at the base. 7 other B‑29’s bomb
secondary target and Pangkalanbrandan refinery while 4 more hit other target.
SEVENTH AF—B‑24’s from Guam hit shipping in the Bonins and,
during armed reconnaissance mission, bomb Marcus.
ELEVENTH AF—4 B‑25’s abort an offensive sweep off Suribachi
due to intense shore fire. 4 more B‑25’s fly armed reconnaissance over Shimushu
and deck level bomb Torishima Is targets. Of 4 fighters intercepting the B‑25’s,
1 is downed. 4 B‑24’s bomb Onnekotan and Matsuwa. 3 more B‑24’s bomb Kataoka
naval base, starting fires. 7 fighters intercept and the heavy bombers down 1.
US
ARMY
WESTERN EUROPE—21 Army Group: In Canadian First Army area,
2 Corps continues to make rapid progress on Walcheren Island. British 1 Corps
gets forward elements to the Maas. U.S. 104th Division, less elements of 414th
Infantry that are to help Polish 1st Armored Division take Moerdijk, prepares
to move to Aachen. In British Second Army’s 12 Corps area, 51st Division
finishes clearing enemy from south bank of the Maas. In 8 Corps area, U.S. 7th
Armored Division approaches Meijel area from south, and 15th Division begins
drive on Meijel from north.
12th Army
Group: In U.S. First Army’s V Corps area, 28th Division withstands infantry
counterattacks against Kommerscheidt, but Germans infiltrate MSR and gain
control of Kall bridge. Steady enemy fire on Vossenack is weakening U.S.
defenders there. To help 112th Infantry in drive on Schmidt on 6th, TF River (Col
Ripple, CO of 707th Tank Battalion) is formed, containing battalion of 110th
Infantry, tanks, and tank destroyers.
In VII
Corps area, poor weather conditions prevent opening of offensive.
In U.S.
Third Army’s XX Corps area, 3d Cavalry Group, after heavy fire on enemy
positions, clears Berg and hill to north. XII Corps is ready to open offensive,
but awaits order from Gen Patton. Rain falls intermittently.
6th Army
Group: U.S. Seventh Army directive calls for reduction of enemy west of the
Rhine and capture of Strasbourg. XV Corps is to attack on D Day, taking
Sarrebourg and forcing the Saverne Gap. VI Corps, not later than D plus 2, is
to attack through Vosges passes to take Strasbourg. In VI Corps area, 45th
Division, into whose line additional elements of 100th Division are gradually
being introduced, pushes in slowly toward Raon‑l’Etape. 3d Division continues
to clear region west of the Meurthe from St Dié area northward. 36th Division
is still engaged in Forêt Domaniale de Champ.
In French
1st Army’s 2d Corps area, 3d Algerian Division, continuing limited offensive
toward Gerardmer, gains Rochesson, Menaurupt, and heights near these villages,
ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army’s IV Corps area, 1st Division
of BEF takes command of Combat Command B, 1st Armored Division, in place. Corps
zone, from west to East, is now manned by 107th AAA Group, Brazilian 1st
Division, and South African 6th Armored Division.
In British
Eighth Army area, improving weather conditions permit Allied aircraft to begin
softening up strikes in preparation for attack by 5 Corps on Forlì.
LEYTE—U.S. aircraft attack enemy forces moving up Highway
2. U.S. Sixth Army: In X Corps area, 1st Cavalry Division begins prolonged
program of patrolling in central mountains of Leyte. 21st Infantry returns to
24th Division and relieves 34th Infantry at Breakneck Ridge, west of
Pinamopoan. In XXIV Corps area, 382d Infantry of 96th Division continues attack
on Bloody Ridge after artillery preparation and, with assistance of co of
tanks, is reducing enemy positions there.
US
MARINE CORPS
Marine Corsair fighter‑bombers based in the Marshalls hit
Nauru Island in the Gilberts, setting a distance record for Corsairs with full
bomb loads.
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