80 Years Ago, Thursday, 2 November, 1944

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Japanese aircraft bomb U.S. airstrip and planes on the ground at Tacloban, Leyte.

            USAAF B‑24s and P‑38s (13th Air Force) attack Japanese reinforcement convoy (TA Operation, Second Phase) unloading reinforcements at Ormoc Bay, sinking army cargo ship Noto Maru, 10°30'N, 125°00'E. The rest of the convoy, however, returns safely to Manila.

            Submarine Barbero (SS‑317), despite presence of escort vessel, sinks Japanese army cargo ship Kuramazan Maru in Makassar Strait, 04°30'S, 118°20'E.

            Submarine Pomfret (SS‑391) attacks Japanese convoy between Formosa and Luzon, sinking transport Hamburg Maru damaging transport Atlas Maru in Luzon Channel, 20°20'N, 121°30'E.

            British submarine HMS Tantalus attacks Japanese Singapore‑to‑Manila convoy SIMA‑04 one day after its departure, sinking cargo ship Hachijin Maru and damaging submarine chaser Ch 1 about 225 miles east of Singapore, 00°48'N,107°43'E.

            British submarine HMS Terrapin sinks netlayer Kumano Maru in Strait of Malacca, 01°30'N, 103°00'E.

            Japanese army cargo ship No.2 Tateyama Maru is sunk by aircraft, 13°16'N, 99°46'E.

INDIAN OCEAN—German submarine U‑181 torpedoes and sinks U.S. tanker Fort Lee at 27°35'S, 83°11'E; of the 26‑man Armed Guard, at least ten perish in the loss of the ship (see 7, 9 and 16 November 1944).

 

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—Eighth AF is ordered to increase size of 406th Bomb squadron (Night Leaflet), as liberation of Europe and conquest of Germany accelerate. About 1,100 heavy bombers in 5 separate forces attack synthetic oil plant at Merseburg/Leuna, Castrop‑Rauxel, Sterkrade, and Bielefeld/ Schildesche railroad and marshalling yard, along with several targets of opportunity. Opposition is heavy with an estimated 500 fighters attacking, mainly against the Merseburg/Leuna force claiming 40 heavy bombers. The 17 escorting Fighter Groups lose 28 planes. Total of over 160 fighters are claimed destroyed.

NINTH AF—147 bombers of 9th Bomb Division attack rail bridges at Mayen, Euskirchen, Bullay, Konz‑Karthaus, and Trier. Fighters fly escort to 9th Bomb Division and Eighth AF, attack bridges, fly armed reconnaissance and night patrol, and provide support for ground forces in frontline areas.

TWELFTH AF—Clouds over Po Valley prevent medium bomber operations. XXII Tactical Air Command aircraft are also grounded due to unserviceable fields and bad weather over Italian battle areas.

FIFTEENTH AF—Bad weather curtails operations. 5 B‑17’s bomb Moosbierbaum oil refinery, while 2 others hit an airfield north of the city and bomb Klagenfurt. 6 P‑38’s fly weather reconnaissance missions. All other operations are cancelled.

TENTH AF—Tenth AF moves from New Delhi to Myitkyina. 80‑plus P‑47’s hit variety of targets. The fighter bombers bomb bridge at Ho‑hko, support ground forces at Myothit, bomb supply dumps at Namdaungmawn personnel and supply areas at Naungletgyi and Mawtaung, knock out bridge at Meza, hit nearby railroad cars, attack airfields at Nawnghkio and Sinlanzu and strike boats and boxcars south of Katha. 8 B‑25’s knock out 2 bridges at Tangon and Tantabin. A single B‑25 bombs Indaw. Transports fly 268 sorties to forward areas.

FOURTEENTH AF—100‑plus P‑40’s, P‑51’s, and P‑38’s on armed reconnaissance over southwestern and southeastern China and northern Indochina attack targets of opportunity in Lungling and Mangshih area, knock out bridge at Dara and hit Nantingshun and Pinglo towns. The fighter bombers also damage 4 factories at Kweilin, hit tanks and troop concentrations north of town, attack targets of opportunity near Pinglo, Tahsu and east of Yungfu, and airfield, barracks, town area, and trains at Gia Lam.

FEAF—B‑24’s over Ormoc Bay attack Japanese convoy, claiming 1 transport sunk and another damaged. P‑38’s hit smaller shipping in Ormoc Bay, strafe vehicles from Ormoc to Valencia, and bomb San Enrique. B‑25’s pound Matina, Libby, Davao and Likanan airfields. During 2/3 Nov B‑24’s bomb Makassar, concentrating on wharf area.

TWENTIETH AF—17 Marianas‑based B‑29’s bomb sub pens on Dublon Island.

SEVENTH AF—11 Saipan‑based B‑24’s bomb Chichi Jima. 3 from Guam, on armed reconnaissance, hit Marcus.

ELEVENTH AF—4 B‑24’s bomb Suribachi and Onnekotan. 4 B‑25’s on a photo and offensive sweep bomb targets at Torishima Is and Hayakegawa setting fire to 15 buildings, including a cannery.

 

US ARMY

WESTERN EUROPE—21 Army Group: Field Marshal Montgomery orders extensive regrouping after Schelde Estuary and southwest Holland are cleared in preparation for offensive by British Second Army to destroy enemy bridgehead west of the Maas as prerequisite for Rhineland battle.

            In Canadian First Army’s 2 Corps area, 157th Brigade of British 52d Division relieves Canadian 2d Division forces at Walcheren causeway, where enemy continues to resist tenaciously; to ease pressure, elements of 156th Brigade cross Slooe Channel about 2 miles south of the causeway after nightfall; Flushing is cleared of enemy. British 1 Corps attacks across the Mark late in day after heavy artillery preparation. 49th and U.S. 104th Divisions establish bridgeheads, 104th in Standdaarbuiten area and 49th to west. 104th, with 413th and 415th Regiments in assault, clears village of Standdaarbuiten.

            In British Second Army’s 8 Corps area, Combat Command A of U.S. 7th Armored Division begins limited attacks to clear enemy from Canal du Nord. 53d Division makes patrol contact with U.S. XIX Corps near Maeseyck.

            12th Army Group: In U.S. First Army’s V Corps area, 28th Division, after hour‑long artillery preparation, begins drive on Schmidt: 2d Battalion, 112th Infantry, with tank support, seizes Vossenack ridge, but main effort by rest of regiment to drive south east from Richelskaul toward Kommerscheidt and Schmidt is stopped at once; 109th Infantry gets elements to woods line overlooking Huertgen on north flank, but 110th is unable to advance on south flank.

            In U.S. Third Army area, Gen Bradley, while visiting Army hq, asks if Third Army can begin offensive alone, since First Army cannot attack until British release 2 U.S. divisions; he is told that Third Army can attack on 24‑hour notice. Third Army offensive will begin when weather conditions permit softening of enemy; in the event of poor weather conditions, XII Corps will attack on 8 November.

            In XX Corps area, 10th Armored Division enters line in Fort Driant sector.

            6th Army Group: In U.S. Seventh Army’s XV Corps area, elements of VI Corps begin relieving French 2d Armored Division in south east part of XV Corps sector, but French retain positions along the Blette for some days to come. In VI Corps area, 100th Division begins relief of 45th Division, 399th Infantry replacing 179th in line. Pushing northward northwest of St Dié, 15th Infantry of 3d Division takes Nompatelize without opposition, but enemy still holds La Salle, to south.

            In French 1st Army area, Gen de Lattre is charged with conduct of Operation INDEPENDENCE.

ITALY—AAI: U.S. Fifth Army issues instructions, confirming verbal orders of 30 October, for future operations during current winter lull, calling for consolidation of the Bologna salient and limited action on its flanks. In British 13 Corps area, on right flank, command of 26th Armored Brigade’s sector on Highway 67 passes to Polish 2 Corps and intercorps boundary is adjusted accordingly. Indian 8th Division’s zone is broadened to include Mont delle Valle area, previously held by 1st Division.

            In British Eighth Army area, 5 Corps remains in place because of tenuous communication lines. 128th Brigade, 46th Division, relieves Indian 10th Division, which withdraws to reserve.

YUGOSLAVIA—Partisans seize Dalmatian port of Zara.

BURMA—11 Army Group: In British Fourteenth Army’s 33 Corps area, Indian 5th Division reduces enemy strongpoint, known as Vital Corner, below Tiddim, with assistance of air and artillery bombardment.

LEYTE—U.S. Sixth Army: With clearance of entire Leyte Valley, army completes second phase of battle for Leyte. In X Corps area, 1st Cavalry and 24th Infantry Division forces converge on undefended Carigara, near north entrance to Ormoc Valley, and make contact. In XXIV Corps area, 382d Infantry of 96th Division relieves 3d and 1st Battalions of 17th Infantry, 7th Division, in vicinity of Dagami and engages enemy west of Dagami. Company G of 32d Infantry, 7th Division, reaches Baybay, on west coast, at 2200. Main body of 32d Infantry is alerted for move to Abuyog.

PALAUS—As weather conditions improve, 323d Infantry of 81st Division opens attack to complete reduction of Umurbrogol Pocket on Peleliu but makes little headway.

US MARINE CORPS