This day in the war in the Pacific 65 years ago.

[syscom3]

Oct 24th 1944

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): On Paramushiru in the Kurile, 3 B-24s bomb Kashiwabara and Kurabu Cape; 4 B-25s weather-abort a photo mission to the; 2 others on a shipping sweep off Kurabu hit a freighter, which is observed listing and smoking, and strafe 2 subchasers.

(CBI): The U.S. Army China-Burma-India Theater is split into two theaters, India-Burma Theater (IBT) and China Theater (CT). The China Theater headquarters is established at Chungking Major General Albert C. Wedemeyer. Major General Claire Chennault, Commanding General USAAF Fourteenth Air Force, is temporarily in charge of China Theater, pending assumption of command by General Wedemeyer. Headquarters USAAF Fourteenth Air Force is reassigned from US Army Forces, China-Burma-India Theater to US Forces, China Theater.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): About 80 P-40s, P-51s, and P-38s on armed reconnaissance over SE China, SW China, and E Burma hit runways, storage facilities, town areas, troops, horses, gun positions, and other targets of opportunity around Amoy, Lohochai, Tanchuk, Sinthe, Menghsu, Pingnam, Mangshih and Chefang, and Lashio, Burma. HQ Fourteenth AF is reassigned from US Army Forces, CBI Theater to US Forces, China Theater.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma from 24 Oct through 27 Oct, fighter-bombers and B-25s steadily support Allied troops on the N Burma front, pounding road and rail communications, troop concentrations and supply dumps, and sweeping airfields; the strikes include close support of British troops advancing on the right flank of the front known as the "Rail Corridor," and of Chinese forces pushing down the left flank along the Myitkyina-Bhamo road.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA) AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): Guam based B-24s bomb Yap while Saipan based P-47s hit Pagan.

USN - The U. S. 3rd Fleet steams north in pursuit of a Japanese decoy squadron allowing other Japanese ships to attack US landing forces on the beach at Leyte

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s bomb Buayoan Airfield on Mindanao while B-25s on armed reconnaissance hit small shipping and troops. The following units move from New Guinea to Leyte: HQ 85th Fighter Wing from Hollandia; HQ 49th FG and the 7th and 9th Fighter Squadrons from Biak to Tacloban with P-38s. The 72d BS (Heavy), 5th BG (Heavy), moves from Noemfoor to Morotai with B-24s.

BORNEO: USAAF Far East Air Forces B-24s, B-25s, and fighter-bombers hit the Sandakan, British North Borneo area and sink a Japanese sink army cargo ship off Sandakan.

EAST INDIES: USAAF Far East Air Forces P-38s bomb the Amboina reservoir areas on Ceram Island.

NEW GUINEA: USAAF Fifth Air Force A-20s and fighter-bombers again attack Babo, Moemi, Sagan, Manokwari, Otawir Airfields and other Vogelkop Peninsula area targets in Dutch New Guinea.

PACIFIC OCEAN: The Battle for Leyte Gulf continues as planes from Task Groups 38.2, 38.3 and 38.4, sailing to the east of the Philippine Islands, attack the Japanese "Center Force" (Vice Admiral KURTIA Takeo) in the Sibuyan Sea in the central Philippine Islands. TG 38.2 scout planes find Admiral KURITA's Center Force. Planes from the aircraft carriers USS Enterprise, Intrepid, and Franklin, and small aircraft carrier USS Cabot sink battleship HIJMS Musash about 141 nautical miles SE of Manila, Luzon, in position 12.50N, 122.35E.

Rear Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorf, commander of the Bombardment and Fire Support Group, Seventh Fleet, assembles battleships from his bombardment forces to intercept NISHIMURA. These include six pre-WWII battleships, USS California, USS Maryland, USS Mississippi, USS Pennsylvania, USS Tennessee, and USS West Virginia, four heavy cruisers (one Australian), four light cruisers and 28 destroyers (one Australian). Five of the six battleships are at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941.

During the day, Japanese aircraft attack TG 38.3; combat air patrol and effective use of rain squalls as cover limits the damage to small carrier USS Princeton. Shortly before 1000 hours, a lone Japanese dive-bomber comes out of the clouds above USS Princeton and at 1,500 feet, the pilot releases his bomb and it hits between the elevators, crashes through the flight deck and hanger, then explodes. Initial fires soon expand as further explosions send black smoke rolling off the flight deck and red flames along the sides from the island to the stern.
At 1524 hours, another, much heavier explosion, possibly the bomb magazine, blew off the carrier's stern and with it the after flight deck. The light cruiser USS Birmingham, alongside to fight fires, suffers heavy damage and casualties. The cruiser's decks literally run red with blood By 1750 hours she sinks about 154 nautical miles ENE of Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands, in position 15.21N, 123.31E.
During the aerial action today, Commander David McCampbell, Commander Air Group Fifteen (CVG-15), flying from the aircraft carrier USS Essex, again distinguishes himself in combat. With only one wingman, McCampbell attacks what is estimated as being over 60 hostile aircraft and downs nine, breaking up the attacking formation before it even reaches the fleet.

USN hospital ship USS Comfort, fully illuminated in accordance with the dictates of the Geneva Convention, is bombed 22 miles SE of Leyte Island.

USN destroyer escort USS Richard M. Rowell sinks Japanese submarine HIJMS I-54 about 135 nautical miles SE of Tacloban, Leyte Island, Philippine Islands, in position 09.45N, 126.45E.
Yesterday, the USN submarine USS Darter made contact with the Japanese Center Force approaching Palawan Island and a radio message is flashed to the U.S. fleet. Just after 0000 hours today, Darter ran aground on Bombay Shoal in Palawan Passage. After attempts by the submarines USS Nautilus and Dace to float the sub failed, and all confidential material and equipment is destroyed and the entire crew taken off to Dace. When the demolition charges planted in Darter failed to destroy her, Dace fired torpedoes which exploded on the reef due to the shallow water. As Dace submerged, Darter is bombed by a Japanese plane.
Off the west coast of the Philippine Islands, coordinated submarine attack group TG 17.15 operates against Japanese shipping in South China Sea west of Luzon Strait: The target is a convoy of 17 ships sailing from Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands, to Japan. USN submarine USS Snook sinks two Army cargo ships; one of the ships is the merchant freighter SS Arisan Maru. This 6,886 ton ship is one of the unmarked "Hell Ships" transporting Allied POWs.
USS Icefish sinks an army cargo ship and USS Seadragon sinks a transport, a cargo ship and a merchant passenger/cargo ship. One of the attackers, USS Shark, is sunk, probably by Japanese destroyer HIJMS Harukaze, about 155 nautical miles SW Kao-hsiung, Formosa, in position 20.41N, 118.27E.
In other USN submarine action:
- In the East China Sea, USS Croaker sinks a an Army cargo ship and a passenger/cargo ship about 203 nautical miles SW of Pusan, Korea, in position 32.56N, 125.54E.
- In the Formosa Strait, USS Tang sinks a merchant cargo ship about 63 nautical miles SSE of Fuzhou, China, in position 25.03N, 119.35E. A tanker is also damaged but USS Tang is sunk the
circular run of one of her own torpedoes. Nine crewmen survived but are imprisoned by the Japanese.
- At 0400 hours, USS Besugo sinks a patrol frigate about 118 nautical miles SE of Miyazaki, Kyushu, Japan, in position 30.19N, 132.49E.
- At 1100 hours, USS Kingfish sinks a cargo ship about 538 nautical miles SSE of Tokyo, Honshu, Japan, in position 27.15N, 143.19E.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS: In the X Corps area on Leyte Island, the 1st Squadron of the 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, moves by water to Babatngon and sets up a defense perimeter, from which patrols move along the coast.
Troop C, reinforced, of the 8th Cavalry Regiment, after a delay because of a Japanese air attack on shipping in Tacloban harbor, witch causes minor damage, sails to La Paz, on Samar Island and establishes a beachhead and blocks the road to Basey; after nightfall they repel a Japanese thrust against the block.
The main body of the 1st Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, begins an overland journey northward along Highway1 and reaches Guintiguian. The control of Juanico Strait is thus secured. In the Palo area, the 1st Battalion of 34th Infantry Regiment takes Hill Nan without opposition and is passed through by the 3d Battalion, which takes the next Hill, Mike, before Hill C, also without opposition, preliminary fire having been highly effective. The 2d Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, continues efforts to take Hill B, finding the Japanese well entrenched on a crest higher than its own.
The 19th Infantry Regiment, moving south along Highway1 in an effort to make contract with the XXIV Corps, takes San Joaquin, south of Palo. In the XXIV Corps area, the 96th Infantry Divisions 383d Infantry Regiment, still beset by supply problems, holds their current positions and patrols to locate possible supply routes to the rear. A patrol finds the Japanese established at Tabontabon. The 382d takes Anibung and Hindang. In the 7th Infantry Division zone, the 17th Infantry Regiment clears Burauen and, after a brief pause, starts toward Dagami. The 32d Infantry Regiment, turns northwest toward Bun airstrip from San Pablo airfield but is so strongly opposed that it falls back to San Pablo with assistance of 3d Battalion.
U.S. freighter SS Augustus Thomas, anchored in San Pedro Bay, Leyte, is attacked by a Japanese plane. The ship's Armed Guard gunfire sets the aircraft ablaze but the kamikaze presses home his attack, a wing striking the stack of the nearby tug USS Sonoma before it crashes the freighter's starboard side. Sonoma subsequently sinks off Dio Island, near Dulag.

 

[syscom3]

Oct 25th 1944

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 7 P-38s and P-51s hit the Mongyu bridges and destroy the Kawnghka bridge; 4 others strafe Nawnghkio Airfield; 20+ P-51s and P-40s on armed reconnaissance attack targets of opportunity at Tengyun, Kweiping, and Ssuanghsu, and about 50 strike targets throughout the Menghsu area.

THAILAND: Six USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-25s and four P-38s damage railroad tracks at Dara bridge.

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Twentieth Air Force): 59 B-29s, flying out of Chengtu, China, bomb an aircraft plant at Omura, Kyushu , Japan; several other B-29s hit alternate targets and targets of opportunity.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA) AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 29 Saipan based B-24s bomb Iwo Jima during the morning. Later during the day 4 B-24s from Saipan and Guam, on armed reconnaissance missions, bomb Yap . 8 P-47s from Saipan bomb Pagan. HQ 11th BG moves from Kwajalein Atoll to Guam.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: 50+ B-24s, supported by P-38s and P-47s, attack naval forces in the Mindanao Sea firing small vessels and claiming a light cruiser damaged. On Celebes , B-24s bomb Ambesia Airfield and attack shipping in the Makassar-Kendari area. In the Moluccas, fighter-bombers hit barges and villages in areas of Dodinga and Wasile Bays. B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers hit Piroe and Saparoea in the Moluccas , Boela, Halong on Celebes , Amboina on Ambon , Haroekoe on Haroekoe , and N Ceram coastal targets. A-20s pound supply and fuel dumps in the Sarmi area. The 8th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Group moves from Biak to Tacloban with P-38s; and the 421st Night Fighter Squadron, V Fighter Command, moves from Owi to Tacloban, Leyte with P-38s and P-61s.
RAAF - Lost over Manokwari is P-40N A29-821.

EAST INDIES: The Australian No. 10 Group is redesignated the First Tactical Air Force RAAF. Headquarters of this new unit, which controls eight RAAF squadrons, is established on Morotai Island.
Far East Air Forces B-24s attack shipping in the Makassar-Kendari area. In the Halmahera Islands, fighter-bombers hit barges and villages in areas of Dodinga and Dodinga. B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers hit Piroe and Saparoea in the Moluccas Islands, Boela Aerodrome and Halong and Amboina on Ceram, Haroekoe on Haroekoe Island, and northern Ceram coastal targets.

NEW GUINEA: In Dutch New Guinea, USAAF Fifth Air Force A-20s attack supply and fuel dumps in the Sarmi area.

PACIFIC OCEAN: The Battle for Leyte Gulf continues:
[Note - the following three battles contain so much information, that it is beyond the scope of this thread to provide more than a minimum ammount of information.]
BATTLE OF CAPE ENGANO
BATTLE OFF SAMAR
BATTLE OF SURIGAO STRAIGHT

In addition:
Japanese air attacks continue against shipping off Leyte: U.S. freighter SS Adoniram Judson is attacked by Japanese planes off Tacloban; Armed Guard gunners claim splashing six aircraft. One bomb explodes close aboard, causing fragmentation damage and wounding two of the embarked stevedores. There are no casualties to the ship's company, 43 merchant seamen and 28 Armed Guards. Freighter SS John W. Foster, anchored in San Pedro Bay, is strafed; seven of the 27-man Armed Guard, three of 170 embarked troops, and an officer, are wounded.
Allied aircraft and submarines are active:
- At 0900 hours in the Sea of Okhotsk, USS Seal sinks a Japanese transport about 163 nautical miles WNW of Onnekotan Island in the Kurile Islands in position 50.18N, 150.50E.
- At 044 hours, USS Sterlet sinks a Japanese merchant
tanker about 91 nautical miles SSW of Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan, in position 30.15N, 129.45E.
- Around 0230 in waters in the northwest corner of the Formosa Straits, USS TANG fires her last torpedo at a transport and the crew watches in horror as the torpedo makes a circular run and striking the ship portside aft near the maneuvering room. The stern sinks immediately and rests on the bottom with the bow sticking out of the water like a buoy. Motor Machinist Mate Second Class Clayton O. Decker opens the forward ballast tanks and Tang rests upright on the bottom in 180 feet of water. This leads the way for the only instance in WWII where submariners escape from the bottom using the Momsen Lung. A total of 13 make the attempt from the forward torpedo room with only five surviving the ascent and swimming through the night. One man escapes from the flooded conning tower and three others including the captain, Commander Dick O'Kane, survive by being thrown into the water from the bridge.
- A Japanese fleet tanker Matsumoto Maru sinks as the result of damage inflicted by submarine USS Tang in Formosa Strait the day before about 62 nautical miles SSE of Fuzhou, China, in position 25.07N, 119.45E.
- British submarine HMS/M Tantivy sinks a Japanese motor sail ship in the Flores Sea in the East Indies north of Timor.
- USN F4U Corsairs sink a Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser north of the Palau Islands in the Caroline Islands.
- 50+ USAAF Far East Air Forces B-24s, supported by P-38s and P-47s, attack naval forces in the Mindanao Sea of the Philippine Islands, firing small vessels and claiming a light cruiser damaged. They actually sink merchant tankers in the South China Sea about 328 nautical miles NNW of Jesselton, British North Borneo in position 11.18N, 114.50E.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS: In the U.S. Sixth Army's area on Leyte, patrol contact is established between X and XXIV Corps at 1430 hours. In the X Corps area, on northern Leyte, Japanese aircraft attack Babatngon harbor. The 1st Squadron of the 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry
Division, during the next few days explores the coast of Carigara Bay and finds few Japanese there. In the Palo area, the 3d Battalion of 34th Infantry Regiment takes Hill C. The 2d Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, gains the crest of Hill B after Japanese defenders have followed their customary practice of retiring from it for the night. The 1st Battalion, 19th, takes Hill 85. Reduction of these heights clears the entrance into the northern Leyte Valley. 3d Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, starts toward Pastrana, reaching Castilla. In the XXIV Corps area, a patrol of the 383d Infantry Regiment, 96th Infantry Division, moves north through Tanauan and makes contact with Company K of the 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. Company K, reinforced, attacks Tabontabon but withdraws when it finds the town too strongly held to take. The 382d Infantry Regiment seizes Aslom and Kanmonhag. After preparatory bombardment, 2d and 3d Battalions of the 32d Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, preceded by tanks, continue their attack toward Buri airstrip. The 3d Battalion reaches the edge of the airfield but the 2d is halted by elaborate defenses at edge of woods to the north. The 17th Infantry Regiment, opposed from a ridge north of Burauen and east of the road to Dagami, makes limited advance while concentrating for another drive toward Dagami, clearing the eastern spur of the ridge and probing the road to barrio of Buri.
USN submarine USS Nautilus lands men and supplies on the east coast of Luzon.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 165, OCTOBER 25, 1944
October 23 (West Longitude Date) searches from carriers of the Third Fleet located two enemy forces headed eastward through the Philippine Archipelago. The first force which consisted of three or four battleships, ten cruisers and about 13 destroyers was sighted south of Mindoro and later moved eastward through the Sibuyan Sea. It was attacked repeatedly by carrier aircraft and incomplete reports indicate that all battleships were damaged by bombs, at least one was hit by a torpedo, and one cruiser was torpedoed too. A second enemy force was sighted in the Sulu Sea southwest of Negros Island which consisted of two battleships, one cruiser and four destroyers. Both battleships were damaged by bombs and the light units were severely strafed.
In the late afternoon of October 23, a third enemy force was located southeast of Formosa approaching from Japanese home waters.
During the action an October 23, a strong force of shore based aircraft attacked one of our Task Groups and succeeded in seriously damaging the USS Princeton, a light carrier. Subsequently the Princeton's magazines ex¬ploded and the ship, badly crippled, was sunk.
Her Captain and 133 other officers and 1,227 enlisted men were saved.
Casualties among her personnel were light. Approximately 150 enemy aircraft were shot down during this attack.
On October 24, the enemy forces were brought to action. Reports which are as yet incomplete indicate that severe damage has been inflicted on the enemy, that at least one of his large carriers has been sunk and that two others have been severely damaged. General action is continuing.

 

[syscom3]

Oct 26th 1944

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Of 6 B-24s which abort a naval task force cover mission after failing to find the ships, 2 bomb installations on Onnekotan.

BURMA: In the Northern Combat Area Command (NCAC) area, the Chinese 22d Division, attacking in the center of the NCAC front, reaches the old Chindit airstrip, BROADWAY, 27 miles SE of Hopin, where it remains for a few days to recover from an arduous march over the hills.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, B-24s and B-25s attack shipping off the E Luichow Peninsula; B-25s also hit river shipping from Dosing to Takhing and a Yellow River bridge; fighters attack the town of Menghsu, hit targets of opportunity around Menghsu and Kweiping, and make an armed reconnaissance attack on Hongay, French Indochina; B-25s and fighters bomb railroad yards at Hsuchang.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA) AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 8 Saipan based P-47s bomb and strafe Pagan. 15 B-25s based in the Gilberts, bomb the airfield area on Nauru.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s attack a naval force of 2 battleships, 5 aircraft carriers, and 5 destroyers W of Panay; hits are claimed on a battleship and 2 carriers; on Mindanao , P-38s hit vehicles in the Davao area and B-25s bomb Iligan. The 318th Troop Carrier Squadron (Commando), 3d Air Commando Group, arrives at Nadzab with C-47s.

EAST INDIES: On Halmahera Island, USAAF Fifth Air Force P-40s attack targets of opportunity in the Dodinga-Kaoe Bay area, Djailolo (Djailolo No.1, No.2) Aerodrome, a supply area south of Galela, and guns south of Doro.

NEW GUINEA: USAAF Fifth Air Force A-20s and B-25s bomb Utarom (Kaimana) Aerodrome in Dutch New Guinea.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: At Stirling Airfield (Coronus Strip) on Stirling Island in the Treasury Islands, In the Russell Islands, the last attack in a month long demonstration of the Interstate TDR-1 assault drone is made by Special Task Air Group (STAG-1), thereby concluding the first use of the guided missile in the Pacific. During the demonstration a total of 46 drones are expended, of which 29 reach the target areas: two attack a lighthouse on Cape St. George,
New Ireland, Bismarck Archipelago, making one hit which demolishes the structure; nine attack anti-aircraft emplacements on beached ships achieving six direct hits and two near misses; and 18 attacked other targets in the Shortland Islands and Rabaul areas making 11 hits.

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: Eighteen Australian Beauforsts attack Rabaul on New Britain Island. The targets are supply dumps near Tobera Airfield and antiaircraft positions.

CAROLINE ISLANDS: On Peleliu Island in the Palau Islands, Regimental Combat Team 323 takes control of operations against the Umurbrogol Pocket. The 321st Infantry Regiment has lost 146 killed and 469 wounded on Peleliu. Umurbrogol Pocket now averages about 600 yards from north to south; although about 475 yards wide on the north, deep salients have been driven southward into it; the Japanese retain a few caves along the east side; the southern part of the pocket is less than 350 yards wide. A period of unfavorable weather conditions begins, during which Regimental Combat Team 323 improves defenses.

PACIFIC OCEAN: The Battle for Leyte Gulf concludes as USN carrier-based and USAAF land-based planes attack retiring Japanese ships that have survived the previous days' action.
Task Force 38 planes sink light cruiser HIJMS Kinu in the Visayan Sea about 28 nautical miles ENE of Roxas, Panay Island, in position 11.46N, 123.11E and destroyer Hayashimo in the Sibuyan Sea about 62 nautical miles WNW of Roxas in position 12.05N, 121.50E.
Aircraft from the aircraft carriers USS Hornet and Wasp sink light cruiser HIJMS Noshiro in the Sulu Sea about 59 nautical miles W of Roxas in position 11.35N, 121.45E; and planes from aircraft carrier USS Hancock sink a landing ship about 38 nautical miles SSE of Roxas in position 11.00N, 123.00E.
Planes from Task Unit 77.4.2 sink destroyer HIJMS Uranami in the Sibuyan Sea about 21 nautical miles NE of Roxos in position 11.50N, 123.00 E.
USAAF Far East Air Forces B-24 s sink light cruiser HIJMS Abukuma in the Sulu Sea about 82 nautical miles S of Iloilo, Panay, in position 09.20N, 122.30E; the battleship HIJMS Haruna is damaged by near-misses.
In related action, USN cruisers and destroyers sink destroyer HIJMS Nowaki in the Philippine Sea about 68 nautical miles E of Legaspi, Luzon, in position 13.00N, 124.54E.

USN aircraft and submarines sink six Japanese ships in the South China Sea:
- At 0200 hours, USS Sea Fox sinks a cargo ship about 173 nautical miles N of Naha, Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands in position 29.05N, 127.40E.
- At 0700 hours, USS Drum sinks a transport about 64 nautical miles NW of Aparri, Luzon, Philippine Islands, in position 19.00N, 120.45E. Later, Drum sinks a passenger/cargo ship about 75 nautical miles NW of Aparri in position 19.21N, 120.50E.
- At 0700 hours, USS Icefish sinks a merchant cargo ship about 70 nautical miles NW of Aparri, Luzon, Philippine Islands, in position 19.04N, 120.36E. The sub is damaged by depth charges and is forced to terminate her patrol.
- USS Rock sinks s Japanese merchant tanker about 66 nautical miles WNW of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippine Islands, in position 10.18N, 117.47E.
- USN carrier-based aircraft sink a merchant tanker about 135 nautical miles SW of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippine Islands, in position 08.22N, 116.55E.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS: On Leyte, the U.S. Sixth Army;s X Corps area, the 24th Infantry Division, having cleared the northern approaches to Leyte Valley, attacks inland. The 34th Infantry Regiment, drives steadily along Highway 2 to Santa Fe. From Castilla, the 19th Infantry Regiment continues to the outskirts of Pastrana, where the entrance into the town is barred by a strong fortress. In the XXIV Corps area, 382d Infantry Regiment of 96th Infantry Division attempts to take Tabontabon, a Japanese supply center, but after reaching the edge of the barrio, they are forced back to the Guinarona River. Division artillery shells the barrio through the night of 26/27 October. The 383d Infantry Regiment conducts a reconnaissance in force against San Vicente Hill, the northern tip of Catmon Hill, but is forced to withdraw. The Japanese withdraw the main body of troops from Catmon Hill. The 32d Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, continue the battle for Buri Airfield through fortifications to positions around edge of the field. The 17th Infantry Regiment attacks with 1st, 2d, and 3d Battalions toward Dagami, reaching positions about 600 yards S of Guinarona.
On Mindanao Island, USAAF Far East Air Forces P-38s hit vehicles in the Davao area and B-25 Mitchells bomb Iligan.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 166, OCTOBER 26, 1944
On October 24 (West Longitude Date), the enemy carrier task force which had been sighted in the Philippine Sea on the previous afternoon approaching from Japanese home waters was attacked by a concentration of aircraft, surface ships and submarines of the Pacific Fleet during the day and the following night. Despite their support by enemy aircraft from Luzon, the following damage was inflicted with no damage to our ships involved in this action:
On October 24, a carrier task group of the Third Fleet assisted units of the Seventh Fleet in striking a force of enemy battleships, cruisers and destroyers which had sortied through San Bernardino Strait and was attacking escort carriers of the Seventh Fleet off the Leyte Gulf. Fragmentary reports available indicate that in cooperation with the aircraft from the escort carriers the following damage was inflicted on this enemy force
About midnight October 24 25, this enemy force withdrew through the San Bernardino Strait in a badly damaged condition. During the night, surface ships of the Pacific Fleet sank a cruiser of this enemy force. Pacific Fleet carrier aircraft on October 25 were continuing to attack this force during its retirement through the Sibuyan Sea.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ N0. 167, OCTOBER 26, 1944
Two groups of Eleventh Air Force Liberators hit gun positions and Installations on Onekotan Islands and Paramushiru Island in the Northern Kuriles on October 23 (West Longitude Date). Another group of Eleventh Air Force Mitchells bombed buildings on Paramushiru the same day and was intercepted by five enemy fighters. No damage was done to our aircraft. On October 24, Eleventh Air Force Mitchells bombed and left burning a 6,000 ton cargo ship south of Paramushiru. Navy search Liberators and Venturas of Fleet Air Wing Four on the same day bombed Paramushiru, Matsuwa, and Shimushu. All our planes returned.
Four grounded enemy planes were destroyed by Corsairs of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing which bombed and strafed the airfield at Yap Island on October 21. On October 22, 23, and 24 similar attacks were repeated. One of our planes was shot down on October 23 by intense antiaircraft fire.
Corsairs of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing bombed and strafed enemy held positions in the Northern Palau Islands on October 22, 23, and 24, destroying trucks and barges and setting fuel tanks and storage areas ablaze.
Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands was bombed by a single Liberator of the Seventh Air Force on October 22. On October 24, Seventh Air Force Liberators hit Iwo Jima again with approximately 58 tons of bombs. Three enemy fighters intercepted our planes but no damage was done.
Rota Island was strafed by Corsairs of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing on October 22, 23, and 24.
Antiaircraft gun positions at Nauru were bombed by Mitchells of the Seventh Air Force on October 22.
Dauntless dive bombers and Corsair fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing dropped 36 tons of bombs on Jaluit on October 22. Other enemy-held positions in the Marshall Islands were hit by neutralization raids.

 

[syscom3]

Oct 27th 1944

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 7 B-24s weather abort an attempt to fly cover for a naval task force.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, fighters bomb and strafe the town of Mengmao and nearby hill positions, river traffic, troops, and horses from Tanchuk to Tengyun, bridges NE of Hsinganhsien, the town of Kaotienhsu, troops in the Kweilin area, rail traffic W of Puchi, and airfields at Siangtan and Changsha.

CHINA: The Japanese renew their offensive to take U.S. air bases in eastern China (Operation ICHIGO), heading toward Kweilin and Liuchow.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): HQ Tenth AF is reassigned from AAF, India-Burma Sector to AAF, India-Burma Theater.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA) AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 2 B-24s on armed reconnaissance from Saipan bomb Yap. During the night of 27/28 Oct a B-24 on a snooper mission hits Iwo Jima.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: 40+ fighter-bombers, operating in 3 waves, hit shipping off Cebu and W of Mactan.

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: Australian Beauforts again attack Rabaul on New Britain Islands concentrating on targets in the northern part of town.

EAST INDIES: USAAF Far East Air Forces B-24 Liberators attack Malili and Palopo on Celebes Island.

PACIFIC OCEAN: At 0400 hours, two USN submarines sink Japanese merchant vessels. In the East China Sea, USS Burrfish sinks a cargo ship about 185 nautical miles NNE of Naha, Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, in position 29.08N, 128.45E.
In the South China Sea, USS Bergall sinks an oiler and a fleet tanker about 89 nautical miles NNE of Jesselton, British North Borneo, in position 07.17N, 116.45E.
Navy carrier-based planes sink destroyers HIJMS Fujinami and Shiranui about 29 nautical miles NNW of Roxas, Panay, Philippine Islands, in position 12.00N, 122.30E.
In the Camotes Sea, over 40 USAAF Far East Air Forces fighter-bombers, operating in three waves, hit shipping off Cebu Island and west of Mactan Island in the Philippine Islands. They sink a Japanese motor sail ship off Mactan Island.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS: In the U.S. Sixth Army's X Corps area on Leyte, the 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, advances to the Mudburon River without opposition. After night-long shelling of Pastrana, the 19th Infantry Regiment enters the town and mops up. In the XXIV Corps area, the 382d Infantry Regiment of the 96th Infantry Division again attacks Tabontabon. Two battalions push through the northwestern part of the town to positions about 1 mile to the NW, but a battalion is held up in the town and establishes a night perimeter in center of it.
The 383d Infantry Regiment patrols in the vicinity of San Vicente and San Vicente Hill in an effort to locate Japanese positions. The 32d Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, against surprisingly light resistance, clears Buri airstrip by 1130 hours. The 17th Infantry Regiment, reinforced by a platoon of engineers to repair bridges, continues a drive on Dagami, reaching positions some 2,200 yards S of the town.
Task Group 38.3 (Rear Admiral Frederick C. Sherman) and TG 38.4 (Rear Admiral Ralph E. Davison) attack Japanese ships and installations in the Visaya Islands and the northern Luzon area.
Off Leyte, battleship USS California is damaged by strafing; submarine chaser (rescue) PCER-848 is damaged by horizontal bomber; and motor torpedo boat PT-523 is damaged by dive bomber. U.S. freighter SS Benjamin Ide Wheeler is damaged by a kamikaze that crashes the ship, killing one merchant sailor and one of the 27-man Armed Guard (whose heavy gunfire damages the inbound suicider) and sets fire to the gasoline cargo; salvage ship USS Cable comes alongside and extinguishes the blaze while some of the ship's complement and passengers are transferred temporarily to nearby amphibious command ship USS Wasatch.
USN submarine USS Nautilus lands men and supplies on the east coast of Luzon.

 

[syscom3]

Oct 28th 1944

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 8 B-25s fly cover for a naval task force.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, fighters strafe villages, troops, and horses in the Menghsu-Konghow area, pound bridges around Kaotienhsu, and hit Yangtong Airfield and shipping at Hongay, French Indochina and Wuchou.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 80+ 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.

BURMA: In the Northern Combat Area Command (NCAC) area, the Chinese 38th Division encounters patrols from Japanese outpost line along the Taping River near Bhamo but routs them in order to reach the river at Myothit. Two regiments are to make wide enveloping maneuver in order to turn the Japanese line.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA) AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Saipan bomb Haha Jima while others, from Guam hit Yap. Saipan based P-47s bomb Pagan. In Hawaii, the 6th Night Fighter Squadron, VII Fighter Command, moves from John Rodgers Airport to Kipapa with P-47s and P-61s (a detachment is operating from Saipan ). HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mariana based XXI Bomber Command flies its first combat mission when 14 B-29s attack submarine pens on Dublon; 4 others, 1 carrying Brigadier General Haywood S Hansell, Jr, Commanding General XXI Bomber Command, abort; about a third of the bombs fall in the general target area.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force] FEAFHQ 475th FG moves from Biak to Dulag.

EAST INDIES: USAAF Far East Air Forces (FEAF) B-25s and P-38s attack town of Amboina on Ceram Island. During the night of 28/29 October, B-24 Liberators bomb the Wilhelmina Docks area on Celebes Island. B-25s and P-38s blast town of Amboina, Ambon. Lost is B-24D "Shack Rat" 42-40918 near Nadzab.

PACIFIC OCEAN: Task Group 38.4 (Rear Admiral Ralph E. Davison) bombs Japanese shipping near Cebu, damaging a landing ship off Ormoc, Leyte. USN destroyer USS Helm, assisted by destroyer USS Gridley and a TBM Avenger of Torpedo Squadron Twenty One in the small aircraft carrier USS Belleau Wood, sinks Japanese submarine I-46, about 129 nautical miles E of Tacloban, Leyte, Philippine Islands, in position 10.56N, 127.13E.
USN destroyer escort USS Eversole is torpedoed and sunk by Japanese submarine HIJMS I-45 about 162 nautical miles ESE of Tacloban, Leyte, Philippine Islands, in position 10.18N, 127.37E. Eversole is ordered abandoned, and after the men are all in the water, the submarine opened fire, then dived once more. Five minutes later, there is a tremendous underwater explosion which killed or wounded all of the sailors in the water.
Two other escorts rescue 139 wounded survivors. HIJMSI-45 is in turn sunk by destroyer escort USS Whitehurst about 157 nautical miles ESE of Tacloban in position 10.10N, 127.28E.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS: In the X Corps area on Leyte, the 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division drives through Alangalang to the Mainit River and dislodges the Japanese from steel bridges spanning it. The 19th Infantry Regiment, blocks a road north of the Binahaan River near Macalpe and establishes a perimeter at Tingib. The 2d Cavalry Brigade is ordered to advance on Carigara; the 8th Cavalry Regiment is to establish a base at San Miguel, secure Cavite, and patrol as far north and northwest as Barugo road; the 7th Cavalry Regiment, while holding positions at Santa Cruz and Babatngon, is to concentrate in the Barugo-Carigara area and patrol south and southeast. A troop of the 7th Cavalry Regiment moves by water from Babatngon to Barugo and overland to Carigara, where a prolonged fire fight ensues and withdraws to Barugo late in the afternoon. In the XXIV Corps area, the 382d Infantry Regiment, 96th Infantry Division, finishes clearing Tabontabon and continues toward Kiling. The 381st Infantry Regiment begins an attack on the eastern slopes of Catmon Hill at 1200 hours. A battalion gets almost to Labir Hill, but another battalion receives such accurate fire at the foot of the hill that it pulls back to the vicinity of the line of departure. The 17th Infantry Regiment makes slow progress toward Dagami with the lead battalion suffering heavy casualties.

USAAF Far East Air Forces (FEAF) B-24 Liberators, fighting bad weather, bomb Puerto Princesa Airfield on Palawan Island.

THAILAND: A Japanese transport is sunk and another heavily damaged by two human torpedoes (Mk.II "Terry Chariots"), LXXIX and LXXX, launched from the British submarine HMS/M Trenchant (P 331), in Phuket Harbor. The two Chariots are scuttled.

 

[syscom3]

Oct 29th 1944

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): On Paramushiru 4 B-25s on reconnaissance hit Tomari Cape buildings and a freighter which is left listing.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, fighters in support of Chinese ground forces blast hill positions in the Lungling and Mangshih areas; others damage a bridge at Sinshih, bomb Kweiyi and Paoching, hit railroad targets between Siaokan and Sinyang, and strafe airfields at Chingmen, Tangyang, and Ichang.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 80+ fighter-bombers again attack a wide variety of targets including troop concentrations, bridges, supply dumps, and numerous targets of opportunity at Kawlin, Wingnang, Hsenwi, Bhamo, Shwegu, Kyungon, Tugyaung, Yebyangale, Henu, and Kayin.

BURMA: On the Salween front, the Chinese Expeditionary Force, closely supported by the USAAF Fourteenth Air Force, renews an offensive, attacking toward Lung-ling with the Chinese 200th Division in the lead. The Japanese have been thinning out.
In the Northern Combat Area Command (NCAC) area, the British 36th Division, having paused briefly at Mawpin, resumes southward drive down the railroad corridor.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA) AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 19 B-24s from Saipan bomb Chichi Jima. 2 B-24s from Guam strike Yap .

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: HQ 13th AF moves from Noemfoor to Morotai . The 63d and 64th Troop Carrier Squadrons, 403d Troop Carrier Group, based on Biak begin operating from Wakde and Noemfoor respectively with C-47s

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: Twenty Australian Beauforts attack Rabaul on New Britain Island.

EAST INDIES: USAAF Far East Air Forces fighter-bombers and B-25s, operating in small forces, are active against airfields, antiaircraft positions, and targets of opportunity on Halmahera Island.

NEW GUINEA: In Dutch New Guinea, USAAF Fifth Air Force fighter- bombers hit Ransiki Aerodrome while fighter-bombers, A-20s, and B-25s bomb Utarom (Kaimana) Aerodrome and Soeli and strafe targets of opportunity throughout the Utarom-Kaimana area.

PACIFIC OCEAN: The 7,176 ton U.S. freighter SS John A. Johnson is torpedoed by Japanese submarine HIJMS I-12 about NE of Honolulu, Oahu, Territory of Hawaii, in position 29.37N, 143.43W, and is abandoned when she breaks in two. I-12 surfaces, shells the wreck, setting both halves ablaze, before bearing down on the lifeboats and rafts and firing on them with machine guns and pistols killing four of the 41 merchant sailors, the Army security officer and four of the 28-man Armed Guard.
In the Sulu Sea, a USN PB4Y-1 of Patrol Bombing Squadron One Hundred Fifteen (VPB-115) sinks a 10,006 ton Japanese tanker about 109 nautical miles ESE of Sandakan, British North Borneo, in position 05.04N, 119.47E. This is the largest enemy ship ever destroyed by a land-based aircraft in the Pacific theater.
In the Makassar Strait between Borneo and Celebes Island, a Japanese army tanker is sunk by a mine off Balikpapan, Dutch Borneo, in position 01.17S, 116.48E. The mine had been laid by an Australian aircraft.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS: In the U.S. Sixth Army's X Corps area on Leyte, the 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, takes the lead in a drive to Jaro, reaching the town at 1700 hours after having cleared opposition en route to Galotan. In the XXIV Corps area, the 381st Infantry Regiment, 96th Infantry Division, takes Labir and Catmon Hills with ease. The 17th Infantry Regiment of the 7th Infantry Division continues an attack toward Dagami and breaks into the southern part of the town.
From Burauen, the 32d Infantry Regiment moves without incident along Highway 1 to Abuyog, the 7th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop, preceding it, pushes on toward Baybay.
USN Task Group 38.2 attacks Japanese airfields in the Manila, Luzon, area and shipping in Manila Bay, damaging heavy cruiser HIJMS Nachi.
During Japanese air attacks on the fast carriers operating off Leyte, a kamikaze crashes into one of the port gun tubs of the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid killing ten men and wounding six.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 168, OCTOBER 29, 1944
Amplifying reports on the second battle of the Philippine Sea, although still subject to revision as more information is received, indicate an overwhelming victory for the Third and Seventh United States Fleets. The Japanese fleet has been decisively defeated and routed.
Movements of major Japanese fleet units northward from the Singapore area were detected on October 21 and 22 (West Longitude Date). Submarine scouts sighted the enemy force, sank two Atago Class heavy cruisers and severely damaged a third. Ships of the Third Fleet were moved into position to the eastward of the Philippines off Surigao Strait, San Bernardino Strait, and the Poillo Islands. On October 23 carrier searches discovered two strong enemy naval forces moving eastward, one through the Sibuyan Sea and the other through the Sulu Sea.
AS soon as the presence of the two enemy fleet forces in the Philippine Islands was discovered on October 23, Hellcat fighters, Avenger torpedo planes and Helldiver dive bombers from the Third Fleet carriers were launched to attack both forces. In the Sibuyan Sea, one battleship and one cruiser were severely damaged and set afire and may have sunk. Three other battleships received bombs and torpedoes; three other heavy cruisers received bombs and torpedoes; and one light cruiser was torpedoed, capsized and sank. In the Sulu Sea bomb hits were made on both battleships. Cruisers and destroyers were strafed with rockets and machine guns.
Meanwhile, to the eastward of the Philippines, enemy shore based aircraft were attacking our carriers. In the aerial battle that ensued, more than 150 enemy aircraft were shot down. Our losses, on which exact figures are not yet available, were light. In this attack, the carrier Princeton was hit by a bomb which caused a bad fire. Later the Princeton's magazine blew up and the ship was so badly damaged that she had to be sunk by our own forces.
Also on the afternoon of October 23, a land based Navy search plane discovered the presence of an enemy carrier force approximately 200 miles off Cape Engano of Northern Luzon, heading south. This force consisted of 17 warships including a large carrier, believed to be of the Zuikaku Class; three light carriers of the Chitose and Zuiho Classes; two battleships of the Ise Class with fight decks aft; a heavy cruiser of the Mogami Class; a light cruiser of the Noshiro Class; three cruisers of the Kiso Class; and six destroyers.
To meet this serious threat the Commander, Third Fleet, concentrated several of his carrier task groups and started northward at high speed for a dawn attack.
These units of the Third Fleet steamed north at full speed through the night and caught the enemy so completely by surprise on the morning of October 24 that there was no effective air opposition. Later in the forenoon enemy carrier aircraft which had been refueled ashore in the Philippines flew out to join their ships which had already met disaster. The enemy planes arrived too late to get into the fight and 21 were shot down by our combat patrols. In this action, the following destruction was inflicted upon the enemy:
The enemy force of battleships, cruisers and destroyers which had been attacked in the Sibuyan Sea had sortied through the San Bernardino Strait in spite of damage inflicted by our carrier aircraft, and had attacked units of the Seventh Fleet off Samar Island during the morning of October 24. In the ensuing battle, most of the enemy's heavy ships were badly damaged by Seventh Fleet units assisted by carrier aircraft from the Third Fleet. One cruiser of the Mogami Class was seen to sink and one destroyer was left dead in the water. The enemy force ran northwest from the scene of the action and during the early hours of darkness passed westward through the San Bernardino Strait. About 2 a.m. a straggling cruiser was sunk by gun¬fire of the Third Fleet.
Meanwhile the southern enemy force had crossed the Sulu Sea, the Mindanao Sea, had attempted to pass through the Surigao Strait, and met the Seventh Fleet in a night action October 24 25. As announced by the Commander in Chief, Southwest Pacific Area, all units of this enemy force were sunk or decisively defeated.
On October 25, carrier aircraft of the Third Fleet were launched against
the crippled and damaged enemy fleeing westward through the Sibuyan Sea. Damage done to the enemy during the retirement of the enemy forces from San Bernardino Strait by the combined efforts of the Third and Seventh Fleets and shore based aircraft of the Southwest Pacific Area included one Mogami Class cruiser sunk off Mindoro Island, one Noshiro Class cruiser sunk south of Mindoro Island, one battleship possibly sunk, and three other battleships and three other cruisers further damaged.
During the same actions the losses sustained by United States Naval forces were one light carrier (Princeton), two escort carriers, two destroyers, one destroyer escort and a few lesser craft.
The following battleships seriously damaged at Pearl Harbor took part in these actions: West Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee, California, and Pennsylvania. The new carriers Lexington, Wasp and Hornet also participated.
In all these actions, United States submarines played a highly important part and are credited with sinking and damaging several enemy warships both before and after the air and sea battles on October 23, 24 and 25.
Much of the credit for the destruction inflicted on the Japanese fleet goes to the Naval airmen who gallantly and relentlessly pressed their at¬tacks home with telling effect.

 

[syscom3]

Oct 30th 1944

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 3 B-24s fly armed reconnaissance over Matsuwa and Onnekotan .

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): 13 B-24s lay mines in Victoria Harbor, Hong Kong. The detachment of the 529th Fighter Squadron, 311th FG, operating from Hsian with P-51s, returns to base at Pungchacheng.

FRENCH INDOCHINA: USAAF Fourteenth Air Force P-40s bomb installations around Phu Lang Thuong and hit junks at sea.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 10 B-25s knock out bridges at Namhkai, Wuntho, Thegyaung, and Nankan and damage others at Okkyin and Zawchaung; 50+ P-47s knock out the Hpao Nam River bridge and strafe targets of opportunity at several locations; hit several bridges throughout the N Burma rail corridor, damaging or knocking out each target; support ground forces at Naba Station and Pinwe; and hit troop concentrations at Mansi and Manyut.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA) AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 8 B-24s on armed reconnaissance missions from Guam bomb Yap . 1 B-24 snooper from Saipan, during the night of 30/31 bombs Iwo Jima. Saipan based P-47s hit Pagan. B-25s from Makin strike Nauru.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): 8 B-29s from the Mariana bomb submarine pens on Dublon, Truk Atoll; 9 others bomb 2 miles beyond the target.

USN - The U.S. 5th Air Force and 13th Air Force together with carrier-borne aircraft of the U.S. 3rd and 7th Fleets stage massive attacks against the Phillipines in preparation for landing on Mindoro.

BORNEO: In British North Borneo, USAAF Far East Air Forces P-38s hit Sandakan Airfield and sink two Japanese merchant tankers off Sandakan.

EAST INDIES: USAAF Far East Air Forces B-24s bomb the wharf area at Makassar on the southwestern tip of Celebes Island while P-40s, over the northeastern peninsula, hit various targets of opportunity. P-38s hit Piroe on Ceram Island and B-25s sink a Japanese ship off Lomblon Island.

NEW GUINEA: Utarom (Kaimana) Aerodrome in Dutch New Guinea is again bombed by USAAF Fifth Air Force A-20s and B-25s.

PACIFIC OCEAN: US Naval Task Group 38.4 begins to withdraw from the Philippines to Ulithi Atoll, Caroline Islands, and two aircraft carriers are heavily damaged by Kamakaze attacks. The two ships of Task Group 38.4 struck by kamikazes are USS Franklin and USS Belleau Wood which are hit in the Philippine Sea about 110 nautical miles ESE of Tacloban, Leyte, Philippine Islands. Both retire to Ulithi and then to the U.S. for repairs.
The withdrawal of Task Group 38.4 to Ulithi and the escort aircraft carriers of Task Group 77.4 to Manus Island, Admiralty Islands, leaves the defense of the Leyte beachhead in the hands of several USAAF P-38 groups and a P-61 Black Widow squadron and Carrier Air Group Seven
in USS Hancock, Light Carrier Air Group Twenty Nine (CVLG-29) in USS Cabot and Night Carrier Air Group Forty One [CVLG(N)-41] in USS Independence.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS: In the U.S. Sixth Army's X Corps area on Leyte, the 3d Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, starts toward Carigara along the road from Jaro but is halted almost at once by Japanese. In the XXIV Corps area, 2d and 3d Battalions, 383d Infantry Regiment, 96th Infantry Division, attack San Vicente from the Guinarona River and find the barrio and the hill of the same name undefended. The 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, completes the capture of Dagami in the morning and spends rest of day mopping up.

USAAF Far East Air Forces B-24 Liberators bomb Bacolod Airfield on Negros Island, while on Mindanao Island, B-25 Mitchells and fighter-bombers hit San Roque Airfield and barges at Zamboanga. Army Air Forces Southwest Pacific Area issues an instruction for air support of the Mindoro operation by Lieutenant General George C. Kenney's USAAF Far East Air Forces, comprising the USAAF Fifth and Thirteenth Air Forces. Fifth Air Force is to be the "assault air force" but the Thirteenth Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, carrier- based planes of the USN Third and Seventh Fleets, and land-based planes of the Seventh Fleet are also to assist as are B-29 Superfortresses of the USAAF Twentieth Air Force.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 169, OCTOBER 30, 1944
Carrier aircraft of the Third Fleet continued to attack targets in Southern Luzon on October 28. In Manila Harbor a heavy cruiser, previously damaged was probably sunk while another cruiser was damaged. A third cruiser off Cavite was hit by two 1,000 pound bombs and severely damaged. An oil tanker was also damaged when it received a hit from a 1,000 pound bomb. Airfields in the vicinity of Manila were attacked. Twelve or more planes were destroyed on the ground and several large fires were started. Our aircraft were intercepted by a number of enemy fighters over Southern Luzon, 46 of which were shot down. One of our carrier groups was attacked
by enemy fighters and dive bombers, of which 12 were shot down. Two more enemy planes were shot down the next day over our carriers.
In the Central Philippines, search and patrol flights by carrier based aircraft of the Third Fleet on October 28 and 29 shot down 19 enemy fighters and destroyed three coastal cargo vessels near Cebu.
Corsairs of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing bombed the airfield on Yap Island on October 25. Seventh Air Force Liberators attacked the same airstrip on October 26, 27 and 28. Moderate antiaircraft fire was encountered.
Enemy barges were strafed off Babelthuap Island in the Palau Group and a radio station was hit by Corsairs of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing on October 25. Our fighters met meager antiaircraft fire.
Seventh Air Force Thunderbolts attacked targets on Pagan Island on October 25. Corsairs of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing bombed gun emplacements near the Rota Airstrip on October 25 and 27.
Five enemy barges were damaged by a single Navy search plane at Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands on October 26. Navy search Liberators bombed the airfield on October 27. Another Navy search plane destroyed a radio and weather station and left fires on Muko Jima in the Bonin Islands on October 27. Seventh Air Force Liberators started fires and bombed shipping in the Haha Jima Harbor on October 27. The next day another group of Seventh Air Force Liberators bombed the same harbor installation and shipping again.
Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two bombed objectives on Wake Island on October 24. Two sampans were strafed. Enemy antiaircraft fire was inaccurate.
Mitchell bombers of the Seventh Air Force bombed the airfield and defense installations on Nauru Island on October 26, causing large fires. Antiaircraft fire was meager. Corsairs of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing hit the airfield on Ponape during October 24. One of our planes was slightly damaged by antiaircraft fire.
Corsairs and Dauntless dive bombers of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing and Venturas of Fleet Air Wing Two continued neutralization raids in the Marshall Islands during October 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28.

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 610, OCTOBER 30, 1944
Reflecting the growing importance of minecraft in the Pacific war, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN, Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas, today announced the establishment of the command of Commander, Minecraft, Pacific Fleet.
Rear Admiral Alexander Sharp, USN, of Welcome, Charles County, Md., has been appointed to the new post.
Before coming to the Pacific area, Rear Admiral Sharp was Commander, Service Force, Atlantic Fleet. Prior to that, he commanded all battleships in the Atlantic, which included active direction of various task forces.
As commander, Minecraft, Pacific Fleet, Rear Admiral Sharp will be concerned with the establishment of policies relating to the organization, maintenance and employment of all ships in the Pacific Fleet primarily employed In mine laying, mine sweeping, net laying, net tending and degaussing.

 

[syscom3]

Oct 31st 1944 36,344

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 4 B-25s score direct hits on a cannery at Tomari Cape on Paramushiru and leave nearby buildings burning; 1 of 2 B-25s hit by AA heads for and safely lands in the USSR.

INDIA-BURMA SECTOR: The 427th Night Fighter Squadron arrives at Pandaveswar, India from Italy with P-61s (first mission is 23 Nov).

BURMA: In the British Fourteenth Army area, IV Corps headquarters returns from India and opens near Imphal with the Indian 19th Division under command about this time.
In the Northern Area Combat Command (NCAC) area, the British 36th Division, against stiffening resistance, reaches Mawlu.

CEYLON: Admiral Louis Mountbatten, Supreme Allied Commander, South East Asia Command (SEAC), having returned to Kandy from meetings with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in Cairo, Egypt, at or near this time proposes to the Combined Chiefs of Staff that:
(1) Phases 1 and 2 of Operation CAPITAL (the attack across the Chindwin River to Mandalay, Burma) be completed;
(2) That Arakan and Akyab, Burma, be cleared (Operations ROMULUS and TALON, respectively) in order to release the main body of XV Corps for use elsewhere;
(3) A forward base on the Kra Isthmus (the narrow neck of the Malay Peninsula in southwester Thailand, between the Bay of Bengal and the Gulf of Thailand) be seized in March 1945;
(4) That Rangoon, Burma, be taken after the 1945 monsoon; and
(5) That Malaya be invaded regardless of the monsoon.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 6 P-51s hit shipping targets of opportunity at Swatow and Amoy; about 70 fighters support Chinese ground forces by pounding positions in the Lungling area; 4 B-25s and 12 P-40s bomb a railroad bridge at Pengpu.
Major General Albert C. Wedemeyer assumes command of U.S. Forces, China Theater (USFCT) and Chief of Staff to Chiang Kai-shek His primary task is to conduct air operations from China, with logistical support from the India-Burma Theater.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Buram, 60+ P-47s attack occupied areas and supply areas at Namun, Bhamo, and Nakang, and railroad bridges, locomotive shelters, and rolling stock along the Kyaikthin-Naba line; 2 B-25s attack targets of opportunity from Katha to Bhamo along the Irrawaddy River.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): During the night of 31 Oct/l Nov a B-24 on a snooper mission from Saipan Island bombs Iwo Jima.

EAST INDIES: On Halmahara Island, Netherlands East Indies, USAAF East Air Forces P-47s and A-20s bomb Kairatoe Airfield and Sahoe village B-25s and P-40s hit Loloda and Soasioe. P-47s and A-20s bomb Kairatoe Airfield and Saharoe village on Celebes Island. B-25s and P-40s hit Loloda and Soasioe in the Moluccas Islands.

NEW GUINEA: In Dutch New Guinea, USAAF Fifth Air Force P-38s and A-20s, concentrating on airfields, attack Samate, Jefman and Sagan Aerodrome, and Doom Island.

PACIFIC OCEAN: USN submarines sink two Japanese vessels:
- At 1700 hours, USS Seahorse sinks a sampan about 211 nautical miles SSW of Osaka, Honshu, Japan, in position 31.19N, 134.13E.
- At 2200 hours, USS Rasher sinks a tanker in the Celebes Sea about 245 nautical miles W of Manado, Celebes Island, Netherlands East Indies, in position 01.25N, 120.46E.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS: In the U.S. Sixth Army's XXIV Corps area, the 96th Infantry Division is mopping up the Catmon Hill sector. The 32d Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, starts from Abuyog toward Baybay.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 170, OCTOBER 31, 1944
A conservative recapitulation of enemy aircraft losses during the past two months from August 30 to the present, reported by the Third and Seventh Fleets (the latter operating under General MacArthur) shows that 1,462 planes were shot down in the air and 1,132 destroyed on the ground, making a grand total of 2,594 destroyed by Pacific Fleet carrier aircraft. In addition, 252 planes were probably destroyed or damaged. Our own losses during this period were approximately 300 carrier planes, with pilot and aircrew losses considerably less because of rescue operations which saved many lives.
The enemy suffered its greatest losses during the following periods: September 9 24 in Philippines by Third Fleet, shot down, 362; destroyed on ground, 584.
October 10 16 in Nansei Shoto Islands, Philippines, and Formosa by Third Fleet, shot down, 528; destroyed on ground, 304; damaged, 59.
October 17 18 in Philippines by Third Fleet, shot down, 55; destroyed on ground, 31; damaged, 55.
October 22 27 in second battle Philippine Sea, by Third and Seventh Fleets, shot down, 392; destroyed on ground, 31; damaged, 20.
Liberators of the Seventh Air Force bombed shipping in Chichi Jima Harbor in the Bonins on October 28 (West Longitude Date). Other Liberators bombed barges at Haha Jima on the same day.
Search planes of Fleet Air Wing One carried out strafing and bombing attacks on five small cargo ships at Kita Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands. One of the ships was sunk, one was badly damaged and one was set ablaze.
On October 28 Corsair fighters of Marine Air Wing Two strafed Instal¬lations at Rota Island. Antiaircraft fire was intense. The next day Corsairs again bombed Rota, hitting the airfield; while Thunderbolts of the Seventh Air Force bombed Pagan Island.
Seventh Air Force Liberators bombed the airfield and gun positions on Yap Island on October 27 and 28. Corsair fighters of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing strafed barges at Yap on October 28. Antiaircraft fire was meager.

 

[syscom3]

Nov 1st 1944

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In the Kurile Islands, a B-24 on an armed weather mission bombs Otomari Cape.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, about 70 fighters again support Chinese ground forces in the Lungling area; 13 fighters strafe river, road, and rail traffic from Kunghsien to Loyang; the detachments of the 11th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 341st Bombardment Group (Medium), operating from Kweilin and Liuchow with B-25s, return to base at Yang Tong; the detachment of the 26th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group, operating from Nanning with P-51s, returns to base at Kunming.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 70+ fighter-bombers knock out the bridge at Panghkam, slightly damage bridges in the Wingkang and Kawnghka area, hit railroad targets of opportunity between Indaw and Naba, attack Japanese positions near Bhamo, Si-in, Hantet, and Shwegu, and bomb the towns of Loiwing and Lagaw; 9 B-25s damage bridge approaches at Hsenwi, Namhkai, and Kawnghka. The elements of the 24th Combat Mapping Squadron, 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, operating from Hsinching and Pengshan with F-7s, return to the detachment base at Changyi (squadron is based at Guskhara).

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 8 B-24s from Guam attack shipping NE of Iwo Jima. 12 B-24s escorting a US Navy photo aircraft over Iwo Jima and Haha Jima and Chichi Jima bomb airfields, a warehouse, and shipping. P-47s from Saipan strafe Pagan. During the night of 1/2 Nov a B-24 on a snooper mission from Saipan Island bombs Iwo Jima.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: The 394th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 5th BG (Heavy), moves from Noemfoor to Morotai. During Nov 44: - HQ V Bomber Command and HQ V Fighter Command move from Owi, Schouten Islands to Leyte Island, Philippine Islands.- HQ 2d Combat Cargo Group and the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Combat Cargo Squadrons arrive on Biak Island off New Guinea from the US with C-46s.

EAST INDIES: In the Netherlands East Indies, USAAF Far East Air Forces P-38s and B-25s pound Namlea Airfield on Buroe Island in the Moluccas Islands.

JAPAN: The USAAF Twentieth Air Force's XXI Bomber Command dispatches a Boeing F-13A Superfortress (photo reconnaissance B-29) from Saipan to fly a reconnaissance mission over Tokyo at 32,000 feet. This aircraft, named "Tokyo Rose," is the first U.S. aircraft to fly over Tokyo since the Doolittle raid of 18 April 1942. The crew takes over 700 photographs in 35 minutes.

NEW GUINEA: USAAF Far East Air Forces A-20s and B-25s hit Babo Airfield in Dutch New Guinea.

PACIFIC OCEAN: In Leyte Gulf at about 1341 hours local, a "Val" sinks destroyer USS Abner Read about 34 nautical miles SSE of Tacloban, Leyte, Philippine Islands in position 10.47N, 125.22E. A bomb from the raider drops down one of the destroyer's stacks and explodes in her after engine room.
The plane, in the meantime, comes down diagonally across the main deck, setting fire to the entire after section. The ship loses water pressure and this makes fire fighting efforts impossible. At 1352 hours, a tremendous internal explosion occurs, causing her to list about 10 degrees to starboard and to sink by the stern. At 1415 hours Abner Read rolls over on her starboard side and sinks stern first. Destroyers quickly came to the aid of survivors and rescued all but 22 members of the ship's crew. Japanese kamikazes and horizontal bombers damage five destroyers in Leyte Gulf, USS Anderson, Claxton, Ammen, Bush and Killen. Allied submarines sink five Japanese ships:
- At 0500 hours in the South China Sea, USS Atule attacks Japanese convoy, and sinks a transport about 233 nautical miles ESE of the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong, in position 20.09N, 117.38E.
- At 0800 hours in the Mindoro Strait, South China Sea, USS Blackfin attacks a Japanese convoy, and sinks an auxiliary vessel and a transport about 58 nautical miles WNWof San Jose, Mindoro, Philippine Islands, in position 12.54N, 120.10E.
- At 0900 hours in the Mindoro Strait, South China Sea, USS Ray sinks a merchant tanker about 58 nautical miles WNW of San Jose, Mindoro, Philippine Islands, in position 12.57N, 120.12E. The sub later lands men and supplies on west coast of Mindoro.
- In the Banda Sea, HMS/M Storm (P 233) sinks a schooner about 94 nautical miles E of Makassar, Celebes Island, Netherlands East Indies, in position 04.56S, 120.59E.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS: On Leyte Island, the Japanese land 2,000 reinforcements at Ormoc. The defenders are composed of the 35th Army commanded by Lieutenant General SUZUKI Sosaku. The original 16th Division has been reinforced by the 30th and 102nd Divisions.
In the U.S. Sixth Army's X Corps area, the 34rh Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, executes a wide flanking movement through Tuba and continues along the Jaro-Carigara road and finds that the Japanese have withdrawn hastily; by the end of day, the regiment is within 1,000 yards of Sagkanan. As plans for a concerted assault on Carigara are being made, the Japanese begin an undetected withdrawal from the town toward the hills near Limon. In the XXIV Corps area, 96th Infantry Division completes mop up of entire Catmon Hill area.Japanese Navy bombers fly two large predawn attacks, crater Tacloban Airfield and damage three cargo vessels.

USAAF Far East Air Forces B-24s bomb airfields at Cebu City on Cebu Island and Alicante on Negros Island and supply dumps at Del Monte on Mindanao Island; fighter- bombers hit Bacolod, Alicante, and Carolina Airfields on Negros Island; P-47s attack shipping and shore targets during a sweep over the Sulu Archipelago.
Major Thomas B. McGuire, Jr. shoots down a Tojo fighter over Tacloban, Leyte. This is his 25th victory.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 171, NOVEMBER 1, 1944
In the second Battle of the Philippine Sea, October 22 27 (West Longitude Date), several United States ships of the Third and Seventh Fleets (the latter operating under the command of General MacArthur) were damaged. The names of these ships will not be made public, nor will the extent and amount of damage be announced at the present time. Such information would be of value to the enemy in estimating accurately the size of our Naval forces operating in Philippine waters and what ships are available for immediate action.
Mitchell bombers of the Eleventh Air Force bombed Paramushiru in the Northern Kuriles on October 30, setting buildings afire and damaging several small craft. Antiaircraft fire was inaccurate and all planes returned.
A single Navy search plane bombed the airfield at Iwo Jima on October 29. Antiaircraft fire was not encountered.
Corsairs of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing strafed personnel areas on Rota Island on October 30. Antiaircraft fire was meager.
Seventh Air Force Liberators on October 29 dropped bombs on the airfield at Yap Island, causing fires and explosions. Corsairs of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing also bombed the airstrip and set a fuel dump ablaze.
Corsairs of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing on October 29 strafed targets on Babelthuap Island in the Northern Palau Islands and sank two barges.
Seventh Air Force Mitchells bombed the airstrip and gun installations on Nauru Island on October 30.
Enemy held positions in the Marshall Islands were bombed in neutralization raids on October 29 and 30.

 

[syscom3]

Nov 2nd 1944

ALASKA: In the Kurile Islands, 4 B-24s bomb Suribachi on Paramushiru Island and Onnekotan Island; 4 B-25s on a photo and offensive sweep bomb targets at Torishima Island and Hayakegawa setting fire to 15 buildings, including a cannery.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): 100+ P-40s, P-51s, and P-38s on armed reconnaissance over SW and SE China and N French Indochina attack targets of opportunity in the Lungling and Mangshih, China area, knock out bridge at Dara, Thailand and hit Nantingshun and Pinglo, China; in China, the fighter- bombers also damage 4 factories at Kweilin, hit tanks and troop concentrations N of town, attack targets of opportunity near Pinglo, Tahsu and E of Yungfu, and the airfield, barracks, town area, and trains at Gia Lam, French Indochina. In China, the 11th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 341st BG (Medium), moves from Yang Tong to Yangkai with B-25s; the detachment of the 491st Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 341st BG (Medium), operating from Liuchow with B-25s, returns to base at Yangkai.

10th AF: In Burma, 80+ P-47s hit a variety of targets; the fighter-bombers bomb a bridge at Ho-hko, support ground forces at Myothit, bomb supply dumps at Namdaungmawn, personnel and supply areas at Naungletgyi and Mawtaung, knock out a bridge at Meza, hit nearby railroad cars, attack airfields at Nawnghkio and Sinlanzu and strike boats and boxcars S of Katha; 8 B-25s knock out 2 bridges at Tangon and Tantabin; a single B-25 bombs Indaw; transports fly 268 sorties to forward areas;
HQ Tenth AF moves from New Delhi, India to Myitkyina. In India, the 6th Fighter Squadron (Commando), 1st Air Commando Group, based at Asansol, India with P-47s, sends a detachment to operate from Cox's Bazar; the 317th Troop Carrier Squadron (Commando), 2d Air Commando Group, arrives at Sylhet from the US with C-47s.
BURMA: In the British Fourteenth Army's XXXIII Corps area, the Indian 5th Division reduces the Japanese strongpoint, known as Vital Corner, below Tiddim, with assistance of air and artillery bombardment.

7th AF: 11 Saipan Island, Mariana Islands-based B-24s bomb Chichi Jima Island; 3 from Guam Island, on armed reconnaissance, hit Marcus Island in the North Pacific Ocean.

20th AF: 17 Mariana Islands-based B-29s bomb the submarine pens on Dublon Island, Truk Atoll, Caroline Islands.

[SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)] The 17th Reconnaissance Squadron (Bombardment), 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group, arrives at Tacloban from Biak Island with B-25s; the 432d Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Group, arrives at Dulag from Biak with P-38s. The 17th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 4th Photographic Group (Reconnaissance), arrives on Morotai Island from Guadalcanal Island, Solomon Islands with B-25s and F-5s (detachments are operating from Bougainville Island, Solomon Islands and Sansapor).

EAST INDIES: During the night of 2/3 November, USAAF Far East Air Forces B-24s bomb Makassar on Celebes Island, concentrating on the wharf area.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS: With the clearance of the entire Leyte Valle, the U.S. Sixth Army completes the second phase of the battle for Leyte Island. In the X Corps area, the 1st Cavalry and 24th Infantry Divisions forces converge on undefended Cangara, near the northern entrance to Ormoc Valley, and make contact. In the XXIV Corps area, the 382d Infantry Regiment of the 96th Infantry Division relieves the 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, in the vicinity of Dagami and engages the Japanese west of Dagami. The 32d Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, reaches Baybay, on the coast, at 2200 hours.
USAAF Far East Air Force B-24s over Ormoc Bay, Leyte Island, attack a Japanese convoy, sinking an army cargo ships; P-38s hit smaller shipping in Ormoc Bay, strafe vehicles from Ormoc to Valencia on Mindanao Island, and bomb San Enrique; on Mindanao Island. B-25s attack Matina, Libby, Davao and Likanan Airfields.
(USN) Patrol planes of the 7th Fleet attack Caldera Point Seaplane Base. Several of the Japanese seaplanes receive direct hits, others were damaged.

CAROLINE ISLANDS: As weather conditions improve in the Palau Islands, the 323d Infantry Regiment of the 81st Infantry Division opens an attack to complete the reduction of the Umurbrogol Pocket on Peleliu Island but makes little headway.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 172, NOVEMBER 2, 1944
A single enemy PT boat on the night of October 26 (west Longitude Date) attempted to attack one of our beaches on Peleliu Island in the Southern Palaus where cargo unloading was in process. A torpedo is thought to have been launched but it did no damage. There were a few personnel casualties, however, from enemy machine gun fire from the vessel. The PT boat was sunk as it tried to escape northward.
Corsairs of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing bombed and strafed shipping installations and oil storage areas on Koror Island in the Northern Palaus on October 30. A second group of Corsairs hit trucks and barges at Babelthuap Island on the same day.
The airfield at Yap Island was bombed and strafed by Corsairs of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing on October 30.
A single Navy search Liberator bombed targets on Iwo Jima through meager antiaircraft fire on October 30.
Seventh Air Force Thunderbolts strafed installations and gun positions on Pagan Island on October 31.
Neutralization raids against enemy held positions in the Marshall Islands continued on October 30.

 

[syscom3]

Nov 3rd 1944

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): 69 P-40s, P-51s, and P-38s on armed reconnaissance over E Burma, SW and SE China, and N French Indochina hit targets of opportunity in the Lungling, China area, damage a railroad bridge S of Lashio, Burma, hit the town of Mangshih, China and destroy a nearby warehouse. In China, the fighter-bombers hit the town areas and docks at Takhing and Tengyun, attack troops in the Mosun area, destroy 2 Japanese
fighters near Amoy, hit trains at Hongay, French Indochina, and bomb areas on Hainan Island.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 12 B-25s, supported by 18 P-47s, hit Nawnghkio Airfield; a single B-25 attacks targets of opportunity between Myitkyina and Lashio; 90+ fighter-bombers attack bridges, enemy forces, town areas and numerous targets of opportunity at and Hinlong, China and Kawngmu, Namhai, Tonlon, Ho-hko, Namhsum, Hkusan, Hkawngwa, Wingkang, Namhkam, and S of Mansi. Tenth AF transports fly 240+ sorties to forward areas.

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Twentieth Air Force): 49 B-29s, operating from rear bases in the Calcutta, India area, bomb the Malagon railroad yards in Burma; almost as many others hit alternate targets.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 14 B-24s from Guam pound shipping at Chichi Jima and Haha Jima. 34 P-47s from Saipan bomb and strafe Pagan. B-24s from Saipan continue armed reconnaissance and snooper missions over Marcus and Iwo Jima.

MARIANA ISLANDS: Japanese aircraft attack air facilities on Saipan and Tinian as part of a series of strikes on this area from which B-29s missions against the Japanese home islands are launched.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]; HQ 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group moves from Biak Island to Leyte Island; the 110th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group, moves from Biak to Dulag but the air echelon operates from Tacloban, Leyte Island with P-40s. A-20s and B-25s bomb Babo Airfield on New Guinea.

EAST INDIES: In the Netherlands East Indies during the night of 3/4 November, harassing strikes are flown by USAAF Far East Air Forces aircraft to airfields on the northeast peninsula of Celebes Island, and on Halmahera Island.

NEW GUINEA: USAAF Fifth Air Force A-20s and B-25s bomb Babo Airfield in Dutch New Guinea. Meanwhile in Northeast New Guinea, nine Australian Beauforts bomb targets of opportunity between Niap and Wewak.

PACIFIC OCEAN: USN submarine USS Pintado attacks a small detachment of Japanese warships and sinks destroyer HIJMS Akikaze about 243 nautical miles NW of Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands, in position 16.50N, 117.29E.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS: On Leyte, Japanese reinforcements moving up the Ormoc Valley are hit with good effect by aircraft. The U.S. Sixth Army Issues an order for a converging drive on Ormoc by the X and XXIV Corps.
In the X Corps area, 34th Infantry Regiment of 24th Infantry Division takes Capoocan with ease and continues toward Pinamopoan until held up by a Japanese strongpoint. In the XXIV Corps area, the 382d Infantry Regiment, 96th Infantry Division, attacks west of Dagami toward ridge, later called Bloody Ridge, moving through a rice paddy, but is so heavily opposed that it withdraws after nightfall. One battalion column advances to Patok and another moves up to reinforce the 1st Battalion. The 1st Battalion withstands a strong counterattack, during the night of 3/4 November.
USAAF Far East Air Force B-25s bomb Alicante Airfield on Negros Island and P-40s hit a highway and oil dump north of Ormoc on Leyte Island.
During the night of 3/4 Nov harassing strikes are flown at airfields in the central Philippine Islands.
Japanese aircraft raid U.S. shipping and airfield facilities at Tacloban, Leyte Island; U.S. freighter SS Matthew P. Deady is crashed by a kamikaze that is engaged with intense antiaircraft fire from the Armed Guard; the explosion of the crashing suicide plane starts a fire in the cargo that threatens the ship. Although firefighting efforts are successful, two Armed Guard sailors (of the 27-man detachment) and 26 troops (of the 300 on board) perish in the attack.
USN Submarine USS Cero lands men and supplies on east coast of Luzon.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 173, NOVEMBER 3, 1944
During the night of November 1 2 (West Longitude Date) nine enemy twin engine bombers, presumably from bases in the Bonins, bombed and strafed Isely Airfield on Saipan and the northern airfield in Tinian. Three of the enemy raiders were shot down, one by night fighter aircraft and two
by antiaircraft guns. Our personnel casualties were four killed and one seriously injured when one of the enemy planes was shot down and crashed on the field. Minor damage was suffered at both airfields.
An enemy reconnaissance sea plane attacked Peleliu Island on October 31 but was shot down by one of our Hellcat night fighters.
One of the Third Fleet carrier groups was attacked by enemy fighters and dive bombers on November 1, inflicting some damage to several ships and light personnel casualties. Six enemy planes were destroyed by antiaircraft fire and four others were shot down by our aircraft.
Eleventh Air Force Mitchell bombers dropped fragmentation and incendiary bombs on Paramushiru on October 31. One of our planes was attacked by five enemy fighters but is reported to have landed safely.
Seventh Air Force Army Liberators and Navy search Liberators of Fleet Air Wing One teamed up to hit enemy positions in the Volcano Islands and the Bonins on October 31. Airfields at Chichi Jima and Iwo Jima were bombed, shipping at Iwo Jima was attacked, and buildings at Haha Jima were hit. Antiaircraft fire was intense. Seventh Air Force Liberators bombed four cargo ships at Chichi Jima on November 1, scoring several direct hits. One ship was sunk, one was left burning while the other two were damaged. Seventh Air Force Liberators also bombed shipping in the harbor at Haha Jima on the same day.
Corsairs of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing set barges afire at Babel¬thuap Island in the Northern Palaus on October 31. Corsairs also bombed the airfield at Yap Island.
Corsairs of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing strafed enemy targets on Rota Island on October 31. On November 1 targets on Rota were again strafed by Corsairs while Seventh Air Force Thunderbolts launched rockets against supply dumps on Pagan Island.

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 617, NOVEMBER 3, 1944
Rear Admiral Walden L. Ainsworth, USN. of Wonalancet, N. H., has assumed command as Commander Cruisers and Commander Destroyers, Pacific Fleet, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN, Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas, announced today.
Rear Admiral Ainsworth succeeds Rear Admiral James L. Kauffman, USN, of Miami Beach, Fla., who has been assigned another sea command. Before taking over his new post, Rear Admiral Ainsworth was commander of a cruiser division.
A veteran campaigner, the flag officer has commanded numerous task forces in the Pacific since the outbreak of war. With one exception, he participated in every major naval action in the South Pacific area since December, 1942. Units under his command have engaged in most of the recent combat in the Western Pacific.

 

[syscom3]

Nov 4th 1944

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 6 B-24s strike the airfield, buildings, and offshore shipping at Suribachi and Kurabu on Paramushiru Island.

ZONE OF INTERIOR: The first report is received of a Japanese balloon SW of San Pedro, California; the US Navy recovers some apparatus, envelope, and rigging.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 34 P-40s, P-51s, and P-38s attack road traffic and other targets of opportunity in the Mangshih and Lungling areas; 4 P-38s bomb the pass near Menghsu, blocking the highway.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 17 P-47s pound Shwebo Airfield while 6 others bomb stores of guns and ammunition at Mong Yaw.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 18 Saipan Island-based B-24s bomb Iwo Jima airfields; 2 others, on shipping reconnaissance, bomb Naha Jima. 2 B-24s on armed reconnaissance from Guam Island bomb Marcus Island. 16 P-47s bomb landing strip on Pagan. The 316th Troop Carrier Squadron, VI Air Service Area Command, arrives at Kahuku AAB, Hawaii from the US with C-47s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In the Philippine Islands, B-24s pound Alicante Airfield on Negros Island; the 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, arrives at Dulag from Biak with F-5s. The detachment of the 17th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 4th Photographic Group (Reconnaissance), ceases operating from Sansapor with F-5s and returns to base on Morotai.

RAAF - Lost on a anti-shipping sweep is B-25D Mitchell A47-8.

BURMA: The British 5th Indian Division captures Kennedy Peak.

COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: US forces advance west of Dagami, Leyte.

PACIFIC OCEAN: USN Submarine Operations:
1100: USS TAUTOG sinks sub chaser at 06-10S, 155-25E.
2200: USS Seawolf sinks a civilian cargo ship at 21-00 N, 113-05 E.
1600: USS SAILFISH sinks the destroyer HARUKAZE at 20-10 N, 121-43 E, in Luzon Strait.
1900: USS RAY sinks an armed transport at 15-55 N, 119-44 E.

U.S.A.: Field Marshal Sir John Dill, the head of the British Inter-Service Mission to Washington, dies. Dill was a Corps commander (1 Corps) in the BEF and rose to be (Chief of the Imperial General Staff). He was renowned as a brilliant staff officer, but struck down by illness from the end of 1941, hence the sideline to Washington where he died.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 174, NOVEMBER 4, 1944
Corsairs of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing bombed and strafed targets on Yap Island and in the Northern Palaus on November 1 (West Longitude Date). Two small cargo ships were heavily damaged near Babelthuap, while barges and trucks were destroyed at both Babelthuap and Yap.
Seventh Air Force Thunderbolts bombed Pagan Island on November 2, destroying a twin engine bomber as it neared the airfield. Corsairs of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing strafed gun emplacements at Rota Island on the same day.
Seventh Air Force Liberators bombed the airstrip and installations at Marcus Island on November 1, repeating the attack the next day.
A single PBY of Fleet Air Wing Two bombed Nauru Island on the night of November 1 2. Antiaircraft fire was inaccurate.
Corsairs of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing continued to neutralize enemy held positions in the Marshall Islands on November 2.

 

[syscom3]

Nov 5th 1944 36,352

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 4 B-25s abort an offensive sweep off Suribachi on Paramushiru Island due to intense shore fire; 4 more B-25s fly armed reconnaissance over Shimushu Island and at deck level bomb Torishima Island targets; of 4 fighters intercepting the B-25s, 1 is downed; 4 B-24s bomb Onnekotan and Matsuwa Islands; 3 more B-24s bomb Katalka naval base on Shimushu Island, starting fires; 7 fighters intercept and the B-24s down 1.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 49 P-40s, P-38s, and P-51s attack storage facilities and other targets of opportunity around Wanling, Burma and Mangshih, Chefang, and Kweihsien; the 22d Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 341st Bombardment Group (Medium), based at Yangkai, sends a detachment to operate from Yunnani with B-25s; the 426th Night Fighter Squadron, Fourteenth AF, moves from Madhaiganj, India to Chengtu with P-61s (detachment begin operating from Kunming during the month).

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, about 70 P-47s attack Lashio Airfield, hit gun positions on Kyundaw Island, bomb the Kanbalu marshalling yard, hit targets of opportunity along the Naba-Wuntho railroad
and on the Burma Road and bomb the town of Namhpakka and the Lasai area; 28 other P-47s maintain patrols S of Myitkyina; transports fly 300+ sorties carrying men, equipment and supplies to various forward areas.

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS: 53 of 76 B-29 bombers dispatched from the Calcutta area attacked Singapore naval base putting the King George VI Dock (one of the world's best dry docks) out of operation for 3 months. Two B-29 bombers were lost and among the missing aircrew was Col. Ted S. Faulkner, the 468th BG commanding officer' in the B-29 "Lethal Lady", which went down at sea, but the search parties only managed to find some empty rafts without the survivors. Seven B-29 bombers from the 58th BW attack the Pangkalanbrandan refinery on Sumatra when they were unable to reach their primary target at Singapore.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Guam Island hit shipping in the Bonin and, during an armed reconnaissance mission, bomb Marcus.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): 24 Mariana Islands based B-29s bomb 2 Iwo Jima Island airfields, starting tactical operations against the island in preparation for the US invasion in Feb 45.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: HQ 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group arrives on Leyte Island from Biak Island. The ground echelons of the 35th and 36th Fighter Squadrons, 8th Fighter Group, move from Morotai to Dulag (air echelon continues to operate P-38s from Morotai).

EAST INDIES: In the Netherlands East Indies, USAAF Far East Air Forces B-24 s hit the town of Bima and Waingapoe Bay shipping on Soembawa Island in the Lesser Sunda Islands. B-25s and fighter-bombers strike airfields, troop concentrations, and communications targets throughout the Halmahera Island area and northeastern peninsula of Celebes Island. Fighter-bombers and A-20s hit Amahai and targets of opportunity on a small island, south of Ceram.

NEW GUINEA: In Dutch New Guinea, almost 50 Far East Air Forces A-20s, supporting ground forces, blast installations in Sarmi, New Guinea area.

PACIFIC OCEAN: A U.S. Navy patrol boat spots a Japanese Fugo balloon bomb floating on the water 66 nautical miles SW of San Pedro, California. The Navy recovers some apparatus, envelope, and rigging.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS: In the X Corps area on Leyte Island, the 1st Cavalry Division begins a prolonged program of patrolling in the central mountains. In the XXIV Corps area, the 382d Infantry Regiment of the 96th Infantry Division continues an attack on Bloody Ridge after artillery preparation and, with assistance of a company of tanks, is reducing the Japanese positions there.
USAAF Far East Air Forces B-24s and P-40s attack airfields and barges in the central Philippine Islands.
USN Task Force 38 (Vice Admiral John S. McCain) begins two days of carrier strikes on Luzon, targeting Japanese aircraft, airfields, and shipping. Task Group (TG) 38.3 attacks warships and auxiliaries in Manila Bay, where planes from the aircraft carriers USS Lexington and Essex, and small aircraft carrier USS Langley sink heavy cruiser HIJMS Nachi 5 nautical miles west of Corregidor Island. F6F Hellcats from TG 38.3 sink Patrol Boat No.107 [ex-U.S. tug USS Genessee] off Lubang Island. Navy carrier-based planes (TG 38.3 hitting targets in Manila Bay, TG 38.1 targets off Santa Cruz) damage destroyer HIJMS Akebono and escort destroyer HIJMS Okinawa, landing ship HIJMS T.111, a motor sailship and two cargo ships. During Japanese retaliatory air strikes on the aircraft carrier USS Lexington located about 202 nautical miles ENE of Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands, a flaming Japanese plane crashes near her island, destroying most of the island structure and spraying fire in all directions. Within 20 minutes major blazes are under control, and she is able to continue normal flight actions. Between 0625 and 1700 hours, carrier-based fighters shoot down 97 Japanese aircraft at sea and over Luzon, especially near Clark Field.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 175, NOVEMBER 5, 1944
Liberators of the Seventh Air Force attacked enemy shipping in Chichi Jima Harbor in the Bonin Islands on November 2 (West Longitude Date). Targets included two destroyers, one large transport, four medium transports and four small transports. Other Seventh Air Force Liberators bombed a large enemy transport at Haha Jima on November 2. Land objectives at Haha Jima were attacked by Liberators the next day.
A Navy search Liberator attacked Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands on November 2. Seventh Air Force Liberators bombed the airstrip on Iwo Jima on November 3. Two grounded enemy planes were destroyed and one probably destroyed. Six to eight Japanese fighters were seen in the air but did not attack our planes. Five Liberators were damaged by intense antiaircraft fire.
Koror Island in the Northern Palaus was heavily attacked by Seventh Air Force Liberators on November 2. Large fires were started and explosions were observed.
Thunderbolts and Liberators of the Seventh Air Force damaged the air¬field on Pagan Island in the Marianas on November 2 and 3. Corsairs of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing strafed enemy installations on Rota Island on November 3.
Yap was hit by Seventh Air Force Liberators on November 2.

 

[syscom3]

Nov 6th 1944

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In the Kurile Islands, 4 B-25s bomb Torishima Island, 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 B-25s claim 3 victories.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 16 P-40s pound the Mangshih and Lungling areas; 15 others hit buildings and other targets of opportunity at Wanling, Burma and around Chefang and Kweihsien; the detachment of the 21st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, Fourteenth AF, operating from Liuchow with F-5s, returns to base at Kunming.

CHINA: The Japanese threat to Kunming, which is besieged, is by now a matter of serious concern to the U.S. Army's China Theater headquarters.

BURMA: In the Northern Combat Area Command (NCAC) area, the 64th Regiment of the Chinese 22d Division crosses the Irrawaddy River and overcomes light opposition in Shwegugale.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): AAF, India-Burma Sector, China- Burma-India Theater is redesignated AAF, India-Burma Theater. In Burma, 70+ P-47s, sweep airfields at Anisakan, Onbauk, Shwebo, Kin, and Kawlin; destroy and damage bridges at Hinlong, China and Wingkang; bomb the town of Mawtaung and marshalling yard at Kanbalu; hit boxcars at Wuntho and Meza, boats along the Irrawaddy River from Katha to Twinnge, and attack several scattered targets of opportunity; 28 P-47s fly combat patrols S of Myitkyina; 8 B-25s bomb the military area at Namun and supply dump at Mansi; large-scale transport operations continue; the 165th Liaison Squadron (Commando), 1st Air Commando Group, moves from Tamu to Yazagyo with UC-64s and L-5s.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Saipan bomb shipping at Okimura and Higashi-minato and hit Ani Jima. During the night of 6/7 Nov a snooper mission is flown over Iwo Jima airfields; the dispersal areas and runways are bombed. Beginning on this date and continuing through 24 Dec 44, B-24s on Saipan Island fly 24 missions to lay 170 mines in several anchorages throughout the Bonin Islands.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: The 822d Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 38th BG (Medium), moves from Biak to Morotai with B-25s.

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: Twenty three Australian Beauforts attack Japanese positions in the Wide Bay area on New Britain Island.

BONIN AND VOLCANO ISLANDS: The blockading of the Nanpo Shoto region, which includes the Bonin and Volcano Islands, by mining begins as Project MIKE commences. USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24s, 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. Continuing through 24 December 1944, B-24s on Saipan fly 24 missions to lay 170 mines in several anchorages throughout the Bonin Islands.

EAST INDIES: USAAF Far East Air Forces B-24s bomb Malili on Celebes Island, Netherlands East Indies.
Australian B-25s sink a Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser off Soemba Island, Netherlands East Indies.
USN submarine USS Gurnard lays mines off western Borneo.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS: On Leyte Island, the X Corps is ordered by Lieutenant General Walter Krueger, Commanding General Sixth Army, to drive as quickly as possible down Highway 2 to secure Ormoc. The 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, probes Breakneck Ridge in preparation for an attack southward. Forward elements of the 3d Battalion are forced back to beach near Colasian by intense Japanese fire. The 1st Battalion attempts in vain to get into position to support assault on Breakneck Ridge. In XXIV Corps area, the 382d Infantry Regiment of the 96th Infantry Division clears all but isolated pockets on Bloody Ridge, despite well-prepared Japanese positions.
USAAF Far East Air Forces B-24 strike the airfields at Lahug on Cebu Island and Fabrica on Negros Island while fighter-bombers attack Palompon on Leyte Island, a bridge north of Valencia on Mindanao Island, and barges in Ormoc Bay, Leyte Island.
Carrier-based aircraft of USN Task Force 38 resumes strikes against Luzon; Task Group 38.3 planes sink a Japanese transport in Silanguin Bay while aircraft from aircraft carrier USS Ticonderoga, in TG 38.3, sink a tanker previously damaged by submarine USS Flier on 13 June 1944, in Mariveles harbor. In two days of attacks, TF 38 aircraft have destroyed an estimated 400 Japanese aircraft, mostly on the ground, with the loss of 25 USN aircraft.

UNITED STATES: Presidential and Congressional elections are held today:
- In the Presidential race, the Democratic Party candidates, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman, defeat the Republican candidates, Governor Thomas E. Dewey and John W. Bricker. Dewey carries 12 states, Roosevelt carries the other 36. Roosevelt wins an unprecedented fourth term with 53.5 percent of the popular vote and 81.4 percent of the Electoral College vote (432 versus 99).
- In the Senate contests, no seats change hands. The Democrats still control the Senate with 57 of 96 seats.
- In the House of Representatives contests, the Democrats gain 21 seats, the Republicans lose 19 and the independents lose two. The Democrats control the House with 243 of 435 seats.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 176, NOVEMBER 6, 1944
Catching the enemy apparently by surprise, carrier‑based Hellcat fighters, Avenger torpedo planes and Helldiver dive bombers of the Third Fleet bombed airfields, shipping and ground installations in Southern Luzon on November 4 (West Longitude Date). Preliminary reports show that much damage was done in Manila Harbor, and at five airfields in the vicinity.
Over Clark Field our fighters were intercepted by 80 enemy planes, of which 58 were shot down. Enemy air opposition became less effective during the remainder of the day, but an additional 25 enemy interceptors were shot down over other targets. Five more enemy planes were shot down in the vicinity of Third Fleet carriers and three more were destroyed by our night fighters over Clark Field. More than 100 planes on the ground were also destroyed during the operation. Our losses have not yet been reported.
Over Manila there was only light opposition. Shipping in the Harbor was heavily bombed, with preliminary reports showing the following results one heavy cruiser burning and left in a sinking condition from several bomb and torpedo hits. One light cruiser damaged. Three destroyers damaged. Several cargo ships damaged. One subchaser sunk (off Lubang Island).
At Clark Field, oil storage areas, shops, and hangars were bombed and set afire. At Batangas Field, Lipa Field, Lagaspi Field, and Lubang Field, ground installations were heavily damaged.
Venturas of Fleet Air Wing Four strafed targets at Tori Shima, an island east of Paramushiru in the Kuriles on November 4. Eleven aggressive enemy fighters intercepted our planes and shot one of them down. Eleventh Air Force Liberators bombed installations at Kurabu Zaki on the southern tip of Paramushiru and started several fires. Antiaircraft fire was moderate.
Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force bombed two 180 foot enemy transports at Chichi Jima in the Bonin Islands on November 4. Results were not observed. Other Liberators hit Haha Jima on the same day. Our planes were intercepted by two enemy fighters, one of which was damaged.
Catalinas of Fleet Air Wing One attacked targets on Koror Island in the Northern Palau Islands on November 3. On November 4, Corsairs of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing bombed and strafed airfields on Babelthuap Island and started fires in the Northern Palau Islands. Other Corsairs of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing strafed the airstrip on Yap Island.
Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two bombed Wake Island on November 1. Enemy defense installations and airstrips were attacked. Anti*aircraft fire damaged two Venturas, but none of our pilots or crewmen was injured. There was no enemy air opposition.
Seventh Air Force Liberators attacked air defenses and enemy shipping at Marcus Island on November 3 and 4. Two Liberators were damaged by anti*aircraft fire.
Corsairs of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing bombed Nauru on Novem*ber 4. One small explosion was observed. Enemy antiaircraft fire was intense but inaccurate. A single Catalina of Fleet Air Wing Two attacked Nauru the night of November 4.
Corsairs and Dauntless dive bombers of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing continued neutralization raids on the Marshall Islands on November 4.

 

[syscom3]

Nov 7th 1944

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 6 B-25s bomb the railroad yards at Yuncheng; 2 B-25s and 21 P-51s, P-40s, and P-38s hit targets of opportunity around Wanling, Burma and Mangshih, Chefang, and Lungling; HQ 68th Composite Wing moves from Liuchow to Luliang; the air echelon of the 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Fourteenth AF (attached to 23d Fighter Group), ceases operating from Liuchow and returns to base at Chengkung with P-51s.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 80+ P-47s hit gun positions, supply areas, and troops at Bhamo, Pintin, and in the vicinity of Myazedi, bomb airfields at Kawlin, Shwebo, and Onbauk, hit a fuel dump near
Panghkam road junction, attack railroad targets of opportunity between Indaw and Shwebo, and targets of opportunity along the Irrawaddy River between Bhamo and Katha; 28 other P-47s maintain overlapping patrols over the area S of Myitkyina; transports fly 260+ sorties to forward areas.

BURMA: In the Northern Combat Area Command (NCAC) area, Shwegu falls to the Chinese 22d Division, which is ordered to garrison it with the 64th Regiment while attacking with the 65th and 66th Regiments toward Man-tha.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Guam strike Iwo Jima and during an armed reconnaissance flight, bomb AA positions on Marcus. P-47s strafe the airfield on Pagan during the early morning and follow up with rocket and strafing runs later in the morning.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: The 89th Bombardment Squadron, 3d Bombardment Group, moves from Hollandia to Dulag with A-20s. On Celebes Island, B-25s hit Tanamon, Mapanget, and Langoan. The 4th Photographic Charting Squadron, 311th Photographic Wing (Mapping and Charting) (attached to Thirteenth AF), arrives at Hollandia from the US with F-7s (the squadron will begin mapping of the SW and W Pacific in Dec 44).

EAST INDIES: USAAF Far East Air Forces P-38s and B-25s hit Mandai Airfield on Celebes Island, and Tanamon, Mapanget, and Langoan. On Halmahera Island, B-25ls and fighter-bombers hit Galela, Miti, and Kaoe Airfields. In sweeps over Boeroe (Buroe) Island west of Ceram and Ceram Island, small groups of B-25s and P-38s hit runways and small shipping. B-24s bomb Raba Estate in the Sunda Islands.

JAPAN: Richard Sorge, a half-Russian, half-German Soviet spy, who had used the cover of a German journalist to report on Germany and Japan for the Soviet Union, is hanged by his Japanese captors. After serving in the German Army in World War I, he joined Germany's Communist Party in 1919, traveling to the USSR in 1924. His first major assignment for Soviet intelligence was in the late 1920s, when he was sent to China to organize a spy ring. Returning to Germany, he joined the Nazi Party in 1933 to perfect his cover as a loyal German. He proceeded to develop a reputation as a respected journalist working for the Frankfurter Zeitung, finally convincing his editors to send him to Tokyo as a foreign correspondent in the mid-1930s. Once in Japan, Sorge proceeded once again to create a spy ring, which included an adviser to the Japanese cabinet and an American communist, who was also working for Soviet intelligence as Sorge's interpreter. Sorge had so successfully ingratiated himse
lf with the German diplomatic community in Japan that he was allowed to work out of the German embassy, giving him access to confidential files. At the same time, he also befriended Japanese government officials, attempting to convince them not to go to war with the Soviet Union. In May 1941, Sorge reported back to Moscow that Hitler was planning an invasion of the Soviet Union, and that 170 divisions were preparing to invade on 20 June, but Stalin ignored the warning. Sorge was also able to report, in August 1941, that Japan had plans to attack targets in the South Pacific, not in the Soviet Union. This enabled Stalin to remove troops from the Manchurian border, freeing them up for when the Germans finally invaded, as there would be no "eastern front." But Sorge's brilliant spy career came to an end on 18 October 1941, when Japanese counterintelligence exposed his operation and he was arrested, along with 34 members of his ring. In 1964, he is officially declared a Hero of
the Soviet Union.

PACIFIC OCEAN: After 1700 hours, the USN submarine USS Greenling sinks a civilian tanker and an armed transport about 44 nautical miles E of Hamamatsu, Honshu, Japan, in position 34.34N, 138.35E.
USN submarine USS Albacore is sunk by a mine about 20 nautical miles E of Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan, in position 41.49N, 141.11E.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS: On Leyte, the X Corps begins a southward drive on Ormoc along Highway 2. The 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, reinforced by the 3d Battalion of the 19th Infantry Regiment, attacks toward the spur of the ridge 400 yards to its front after massed fire on the Japanese positions but cannot take it; they establish a night perimeters at the edge of Breakneck Ridge. The 19th Infantry Regiment, advances toward Hill 1525, about 2,600 yards southeast of Limon, in support of the 21st Infantry Regiment's attack, but halts far east of objective. In the XXIV Corps area, the 382d Infantry Regiment of the 96th Infantry Division, with all 3 battalions in the assault, continues their attack on Bloody Ridge, overrunning Japanese positions and killing an estimated 474 Japanese.
USAAF Far East Air Forces B-24s and fighter-bombers hit Fabrica, Alicante (Escalente) and Bacalod (Bacolod) Airfields on Negros Island, and Opon Airfield on Cebu, Island; shipping at various central Philippine Islands locations, and communications and supply targets at Tambuco, Ormoc, and Palompon on Leyte Island, Valencia on Mindanao Island, and other areas. P-38s and B-25s hit Del Monte Airfield on Mindanao Island and targets of opportunity in Macajalar Bay on Mindanao Island.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 177, NOVEMBER 7, 1944
Hellcat fighters, Avenger torpedo planes and Helldiver dive bombers of the Third Fleet on November 5, (West Longitude Date) continued attacks on Southern Luzon which had been begun the previous day. Preliminary reports show that additional heavy damage was inflicted upon the enemy's air strength, shipping and ground installations by our airmen on the second day of the operation.
In addition to the 191 planes destroyed on November 4 (as previously announced in communiqué No. 176), an additional 249 enemy aircraft were destroyed on the ground and in the air on November 5. Many others were damaged on the ground by strafing. A recapitulation of the number of enemy aircraft destroyed in the two day strike totals 440; with 113 of these having been shot down in the air and 327 destroyed on the ground. The largest con¬centrations of enemy planes were found at Nichols Field, Clark Field and Nielson Field, Lipa Field, Tarlac Field, Bamban Field and Mabalacat Field. Figures on our own losses are not yet available.
Heavy damage was inflicted upon enemy ground installations during the attack on November 5. Three oil storage areas were set ablaze at the North Clark Field; fire resulted from a tremendous explosion at the Northeast Clark Field; a railway engine and five tank cars were destroyed north of Malvar.
Shipping in Manila Harbor was again brought under aerial attack on November 5, and the following damage was inflicted on this day:
Three cargo ships sunk
One oil tanker sunk
One destroyer probably sunk
Two destroyers damaged
Two destroyer escorts damaged
One trawler damaged
Several cargo ships damaged (making a total of 14 cargo ships damaged for the two day strike)
A single Liberator of the Eleventh Army Air Force bombed three small transports off the northeast coast of Onekotan Island on November 5. Other Eleventh Air Force Liberators also bombed the island the same day. In a running battle with seven enemy fighters the Liberators shot down one plane and probably destroyed another. Two Liberators were damaged. A single Liberator also bombed Otomari, south of Onekotan. Results were unobserved. Tori Shima, a small island east of Paramushiru, was bombed and strafed by Eleventh Air Force Mitchells on the same day. All planes returned.
Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force bombed three cargo ships and a tanker at Haha Jima in the Bonins on November 5, but results were not observed. On the same day other Liberators bombed Ant Jima in the Bonins.
Corsairs and Avengers of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing on November 5 strafed and bombed Rota Island, the phosphate plant being the principal target.
Neutralization raids by Corsairs and Dauntless dive bombers of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing were continued in the Marshall Islands on November 5.

 

[syscom3]

Nov 8th 1944

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): An 8-aircraft shipping sweep is cancelled due to weather.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In S China and N French Indochina 2 B-25s hit railroad tracks at Lohochai, China and 2 others hit tracks at Duc Tho, French Indochina. 4 P-51s blast road machinery near Muse, Burma. 15 B-25s, 13 P-40s and P-51s pound storage buildings, villages, and other targets of opportunity throughout the Mangshih, China area.

BURMA: British Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, Supreme Commander South East Asia Command (SEAC), issues a directive calling for Operation ROMULUS (the Arakan part of Operation CAPITAL), to clear the Arakan coastal sector.
In the British Fourteenth Army's XXXIII Corps area, the Indian 5th Division finishes clearing the Japanese from the region south of Tiddim with the unopposed occupation of Fort White, previously a Japanese strongpoint.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 80+ P-47s support ground forces in the Mawlu area, bomb personnel, supplies, and communications facilities at Tunhong, Chaungdauk, and Kutkai, gun positions at Hsipaw, the Man Hpa town area, Kawlin Airfield and targets of opportunity along the Kawlin-Pinwe railroad; 8 B-25s knock out the Bawgyo railroad bridge. 270+ transports fly sorties to forward areas. In India, a detachment of the 5th Fighter Squadron (Commando), 1st Air Commando Group, begins operating from Fenny with P-47s; the detachment of the 6th Fighter Squadron (Commando), 1stAir Commando Group, operating from Cox's Bazar return to base at Asanol.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Saipan Island hit shipping at Chichi Jima and Haha Jima Islands. A single B-24 on a snooper mission bombs Iwo Jima during the night of 8/9. P-47s attempt a fighter sweep over Pagan but must abort because of bad weather.

BONIN AND VOLCANO ISLANDS: A USN Task Group bombards airstrips and shore batteries on Iwo Jima.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): 17 B-29s are airborne against the airfield on Iwo Jima; 6 manage to bomb through a hole in the cloud cover; others fail to bomb the target; enemy aircraft drop phosphorus bombs on the formations, damaging 1 B-29; 1 B-29 ditches, the first aircraft lost by the XXI Bomber Command on a combat mission.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: The 12th Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group, based at Sansapor begins operating from Morotai with P-38s. The 424th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 307th BG (Heavy), that has been operating from Noemfoor with B-24s, returns to base on Wakde.

EAST INDIES: On Celebes Island, Netherlands East Indies, USAAF Far East Air Forces B-25s bomb Langoan Airfield on the northeast tip of the island while P-38s on sweeps over the Kendari area on the southeast corner of the island and hit parked aircraft, shipping, the nickel mine, and other targets of opportunity. On Halmahera Island, B-25s attack Kaoe Airfield on the northeast corner of the island and Hate Tabako Airfield in the Moluccas Islands.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS: The Japanese land another division at Ormoc, Leyte Island, about this time and send it into the mountains of central Leyte.
In the U.S. X Corps area, the 24th Infantry Division's 21st Infantry Regiment, despite a raging typhoon, continues attack on Breakneck Ridge but cannot force the Japanese back. The 19th Infantry Regiment succeeds in clearing the ridge, which has been barring its advance, but is still short of Hill 1525; elements move 1,000 yards west to occupy the next ridge. The 21st Infantry Regiment drives to Hill 1525. In the XXIV Corps area, patrols of 382d Infantry Regiment, 96th Infantry Divison, locate a Japanese force about 2,600 yards west of Patok.
USAAF Far East Air Forces B-24s again hit Alicante (Escalente) Airfield in the northeastern section of Negros Island.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 178, NOVEMBER 8, 1944
Eleven enemy aircraft raided Saipan and Tinian Islands shortly after midnight on November 6 (West Longitude Date), causing no damage or per¬sonnel casualties. Three planes were shot down by antiaircraft fire while a fourth was probably destroyed.
Seventh Army Air Force Liberators dropped bombs on an airfield and revetments at Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands on November 6. A large fire resulted and two twin engine bombers on the ground were probably destroyed. A Navy search Liberator also bombed Iwo Jima on November 5.
Thunderbolts of the Seventh Army Air Force attacked Pagan Island twice on November 6, rocketing and strafing installations.
Corsairs of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing attacked enemy barges and small craft in the Northern Palau Islands on November 6.
Seventh Army Air Force Liberators bombed antiaircraft gun positions and a radio station on Marcus Island on November 6.
Navy search Venturas of Fleet Air Wing Two bombed and strafed gun positions, airstrips and ground installations on Wake Island on November 6. Large fires were started.
Neutralization raids were made over the Marshalls on November 6 by Corsairs of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing.

 

[syscom3]

Nov 9th 1944

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Eleventh AF: An 8-plane armed reconnaissance sweep and a 4-plane bombing mission are cancelled due to weather.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 8 B-25s bomb Mangshih while 10 P-38s hit targets of opportunity in the Mangshih-Chefang area; 6 B-25s bomb Kaifeng while 6 others hit sampans, storage areas, and other targets of opportunity in the Yiyang area; 160 P-40s, P-38s, and P-51s on armed reconnaissance over wide expanses of S China and N Indochina attack trucks, gun positions, river and coastal shipping, and other targets of opportunity at or near Pingnam, Kweihsien, Changsha, Yoyang, Siangtan, Lushan, Kioshan, Paoching, Hengyang, Liangshan, Liuchow, Suikai, and Weichow Island and Gia Lam and Kien An, French Indochina.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 70+ aircraft bomb concentrations and supply areas at Kutkai, Shwebo, Mawtawng, and Kunhailong, bomb the airfield at Kawlin, knock out a bridge at Ho-hko, and support ground forces and hit targets of opportunity near Chyauhkawng, Namakyaing, Sepein, Tonlon, and at other points in the same general area; 6 B-25s bomb rail yards at Kanbalu; transports continue large-scale operations, flying nearly 300 sorties to forward areas; the 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, moves from Kisselbari, India to Myitkyina with P-40s.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Guam, fly shipping reconnaissance over the Bonin Islands attacking vessels and AA positions at Haha Jima, shipping and town at Okimura and returning, strafe Iwo Jima. P-47s from Saipan strafe storage caves on Pagan. During the night of 9/10 Nov a lone B-24 from Guam Island, on a snooper mission, bombs Iwo Jima.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In the Philippine Islands, fighter-bombers attack a convoy off the W coast of Leyte Island and hit barges and shipping near Ormoc; B-24s bomb Carolina Airfield on Negros Island. B-25s attack several airfields and villages in the NE peninsula of Celebes and Halmahera Islands. A-20s strike Piroe on Ceram Island. HQ 309th Bombardment Wing moves from Noemfoor to Owi. The 70th Fighter Squadron, 18th FG, based at Sansapor begins operating from Morotai Island with P-38s. The 408th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 22d BG (Heavy), moves from Owi to Leyte with B-24s; the 431st Fighter Squadron, 475th FG, moves from Biak to Dulag with P-38s.

PHILLIPINES: 2,000 Japanese reinforcements are landed at Ormoc, Leyte, Philippine Islands. Their transport withdraws before their equipment and supplies are completely unloaded.

 

[syscom3]

Nov 10th 1944 36,585

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): 11 B-25s pound storage buildings and the town area of Wanling, Burma. In China, 130+ P-40s, P-38s, and P-51s on armed reconnaissance over S China attack river, road and rail traffic, storage, airfield and villages at or near Tingka, Chefang, Kweilin, Yoyang, Nanyo, Changsha, Paoching, Kweihsien, Yungfu, Wuchou, Siangtan, Tanchuk, Mosun, Kweiping, Yuncheng, Chenghsien, Hankow, and Chikhom.

CHINA: The Japanese take Kweilin and Liuchow from the Chinese garrisons without difficulty. The next Japanese objective is Kweiyang.

BURMA: In the Northern Combat Area Command (NAC) area, the British 36th Division comes up against the Japanese main line of resistance in the Pine area of the railroad corridor. The Chinese 38th Division successfully turns the Japanese outpost line along the Taping River in the Bhumi area and emerges onto the Bhumi plain.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 60+ P-47s again attack a variety of targets including Japanese concentrations at Bhamo, Indaw, Hkapra, and Nawngtao, the town of Naba Station, bridges at Meza and in the Kawlin area, and targets of opportunity along the Irrawaddy River and along the railroad corridor in N Burma and support ground forces S of Bhamo; transports fly 250+ sorties to forward areas; the 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, that has been operating from Tingkawk Sakan since Jun 44 with P-40s, returns to base at Myitkyina.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 27 Saipan based B-24s pound Iwo Jima. 6 B-24s from Angaur Airfield bomb Koror Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: The 19th and 33d Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 22d BG (Heavy), move from Owi to Leyte Island with B-24s; the 460th Fighter Squadron, 348th FG, moves from Noemfoor to Tacloban with P-47s; the 500th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 345th BG (Medium), moves from Mokmer to Dulag with B-25s (squadron continues operating from Biak). The 371st, 372d and 424th Bombardment Squadrons, 307th BG (Heavy), move from Wakde Island to Morotai with B-24s (squadrons are operating from Noemfoor). Lost is A-20G 43-21428.

EAST INDIES: In the Netherlands East Indies, USAAF Far East Air Forces B-25s and A-20s bomb Haroekoe Drome on Haroekoe Island off Ambon, Piroe on Ceram Island, and targets of opportunity on the south coast. B-24s attack Surabaya-bound Japanese ships off Soembawa Island, sinking three merchant ships and damaging a fourth.
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS: In the U.S. Sixth Army"s X Corps area on Leyte Island, elements of 1st Cavalry Division begin extensive patrolling of the central mountains. The 24th Infantry Division opens all-out effort to clear the Japanese from the rest of Breakneck Ridge. While the 21st Infantry Regiment continues frontal attacks, a battalion of the 34th Infantry Regiment and a battalion of the 19th Infantry Regiment attack toward the commanding ground south of Limon. From Capoocan, a battalion of the 34th moves by landing vehicles, tracked (LVTs) along the coast of Carigara Bay for 7 miles, lands, and advances inland to a ridge near Belen. In the XXIV Corps area, the 382d Infantry Regiment of the 96th Infantry Division renews an attack with two battalions and completes the occupation of Bloody Ridge and its sector without opposition.
USAAF Thirteenth Air Force B-25s, P-47s, and P-38s attack Japanese convoy (TA Operation, third phase) in Ormoc Bay hit the previous day, sinking two army cargo ships; and damaging a destroyer, a coast defense and an army cargo ship Kinka Maru. B-25 attacks drive a coast defense vessel aground in Matlang Bay, where she is scuttled and abandoned. Three nearby fast transports, however, escorted by two destroyers, are unmolested, and rescue survivors from two merchant ships. On their return voyage to Manila, the convoy rescues men from another merchant vessel, which has run aground off Bondoc Point, Luzon, earlier that day.
USAAF Far East Air Force B-24s bomb the town of Ormoc, Leyte Island.
Major Richard I. Bong shoots down an "Oscar" fighter over Ormac Bay, Leyte, brining his total victories to 34. Meanwhile, Major Thomas B. McGuire, Jr. also shoots down an "Oscar" fighter over Tacloban, Leyte. This is his 26th victory.

ADMIRALTY ISLANDS: In Seeadler Harbor on Manus Island, the USN's 13,910 ton, 459 foot long ammunition ship USS Mount Hood (AE-11) is at anchor dispensing ammunition and explosives to ships preparing for the Philippine offensive. At 0855 hours the ship explodes; she is anchored in about 19 fathoms of water and explodes with an estimated 3,800 tons of ordnance materiel on board. The initial explosion causes flame and smoke to shoot up from amidships to more than masthead height. Within seconds, the bulk of her cargo is set off with a more intense explosion. Mushrooming smoke rises to 7,000 feet, obscuring the ship and the surrounding area for a radius of approximately 500 yards. Mount Hood's former position is revealed by a trench in the ocean floor 300 feet long, 50 feet wide, and 30 to 40 feet deep. The largest pieces of metal found measured no bigger than 16 by 10 feet. The concussion and metal fragments hurled from the ship also cause casualties and damage to ships and small craft within 2,000 yards. Casualties mount to 45 known dead, 327 missing and 371 injured, including the crew of Mount Hood, of which only 18 ashore survive. The damage to other vessels requires more than 100,000 man hours to repair, while 22 small boats and landing craft are sunk, destroyed, or damaged beyond repair. A board convened to examine evidence relating to the disaster is unable to ascertain the exact cause.

PACIFIC OCEAN: USN submarine USS Greenling sinks Japanese Patrol Boat No.46 (ex-destroyer HIJMS Fuji) about 44 nautical miles ESE of Hamamatsu, Honshu, Japan, in position 34.30N, 138.34E.
The U.S. 77th Infantry Division, en route from Guam, Mariana Islands, to Manus Island, Admiralty Islands, is ordered to Leyte Island in the Philippine Islands.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 179, NOVEMBER 10, 1944
On November 6 (West Longitude Date) Mitchells of the Eleventh Army Air Force and Venturas of Fleet Air Wing Four bombed and strafed Tori Shima Island in the Northern Kuriles, and attacked nine self propelled wooden barges off the east coast of Paramushiru, two of which were seen to blow up and sink. Our aircraft were intercepted by 15 to 29 enemy fighters, three of which were shot down, one probably shot down, and one damaged. One of the Mitchells was lost. On November 8, Eleventh Army Air Force Liberators attacked Paramushiru, Matsuwa and Onekotan Islands, but results were not reported.
Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force on November 7 bombed two barges at Haha Jima in the Bonin Islands with unobserved results. At Chichi Jima, a direct hit was scored on a medium cargo ship. A Navy search Libera¬tor bombed Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands on November 8.
Corsairs of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing strafed the phosphate works and air strip at Rota Island on November 7, while Corsairs and Avengers destroyed a sugar mill on November 8. Thunderbolts of the Seventh Army Air Force strafed supply dumps and installations on Pagan Island on November 8.
Seventh Army Air Force Liberators bombed Marcus Island on November 8.

 

[syscom3]

Nov 11th 1944

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): 18 B-25s hit Phuc Yen, French Indochina, Wan Lai-Kam, Burma, and damage a bridge on the Mekong River in French Indochina. 10 B-25s bomb Kweilin Airfield in China while 4 hit Wanling, Burma. 5 B-25s and 6 P-40s attack Chingmen Airfield, China. 70+ P-40s, P-51s and P-38s over S China and N Indochina on armed reconnaissance hit targets of opportunity at several locations, concentrating on Lampang, Thailand, and the Changsha, Lingling, and Hengyang, China areas. The attack on Hengyang is so successful that the Japanese are forced to confine future operations from this field to army co-operation flights.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, nearly 90 P-47s hit troop concentrations at Chaungdauk, Nawngtao, Mankang, and in the Indaw vicinity; damage and knock out bridges at Meza and S of Kawlin, score near misses on bridges in the Hsenwi and Namhkai area; blast a radio installation near Manoi, bomb Kawlin Airfield, hit rail traffic between Shwebo and Padu, and attack targets of opportunity along the Irrawaddy River from Tigyaing to Twinnge. Transports fly 237 sorties to forward areas. The 115th Liaison Squadron, Tenth AF, arrives at Ledo, India from the US with L-1s and L-5s. A detachment of the 317th Troop Carrier Squadron (Commando), Tenth AF, begins operating from Tulihal, India with C-47s (squadron is based at Sylhet, India).

BURMA: In the Northern Combat Area Command (NCAC) area, the British 36th Division halts after futile efforts to outflank the Japanese in the Pinwe area.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): Escorted by newly arrived P-38s (some of which also escort the B-29 on Truk Atoll) 29 Guam based B-24s pound Iwo Jima airfields. 16 Saipan based P-47s hit Pagan beach defenses and storage caves.

HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): The last of the 6 preliminary training missions of the XXI Bomber Command is directed at Truk Atoll where 8 B-29s bomb Dublon Island submarine pens.
EAST INDIES: In the Netherlands East Indies, USAAF Far East Air Forces fighter-bombers and B-25s hit shipping and Namlea Airfield on Boeroe (Buroe) Island. On Celebes Island, P-38s hit Kendari Airfield and B-24s bomb the Ninring River area.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS: In the U.S. Sixth Army's X Corps area on Leyte, the 21st Infantry Regiment of the 24th Infantry Division continues the assault on Breakneck Ridge after a preparatory bombardment, the 1stt Battalion gaining the ridge that is its immediate objective but halting short of crest. The 1st Battalion of the 34th Infantry Regiment, which is out of rations, moves to Agahang, about 3,800 yards NW of Limon, and obtains food from the Filipinos.
USAAF Far East Air Forces B-24s hit Dumaguete Airfield on Negros Island while fighter-bombers hit shipping in the Palompon area of Leyte Island and targets of opportunity at Valencia on Mindanao Island.
Major Richard I. Bong shoots down two Zero fighters bringing his total victories to 36.
Aircraft from Task Group 38.1 (Rear Admiral Alfred E. Montgomery), TG 38.3 (Rear Admiral Frederick C. Sherman) and TG 38.4 (Rear Admiral Ralph E. Davison) set upon a Japanese convoy (fourth phase of TA Operation) as it enters Ormoc Bay, Leyte Island, sinking destroyers HIJMS Hamanami, Naganami, Shimakaze, and Wakatsuki; minesweeper W.30; three army cargo ships; and a merchant cargo ship.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 180, NOVEMBER 11, 1944
Carrier‑based Hellcat fighters, Avenger torpedo planes and Helldiver dive bombers of the Third Fleet attacked a 10‑ship enemy convoy just outside Ormoc Bay on November 10 (West Longitude Date), destroying or probably destroying nine ships. The convoy consisting of three large transports, one medium transport, five destroyers, and one destroyer escort, was apparently attempting to reinforce enemy positions on Leyte Island. The damage inflicted upon the enemy consisted of the following
Transport seen to explode and sink.
The three other transports seen to sink.
Two destroyers seen to sink
One destroyer escort seen to sink
One destroyer left awash, thought to have sunk.
One destroyer with bow blown off, thought to have sunk
One destroyer damaged
(These ships destroyed and damaged are in addition to the ones destroyed the previous day in the same general area by General MacArthur's land‑based aircraft and reported previously by him.)
Approximately 20 aggressive enemy fighters furnished aerial cover for the convoy attacked by the carrier‑based planes. Of these 13 were shot down and five were probably destroyed. In addition, a two‑engined reconnaissance plane and a dive bomber were shot down near our carriers. Our losses were nine planes but it is believed that most of the pilots and aircrewmen were rescued.
Catalinas of Fleet Air Wing One on the night of November 8 bombed ground installations at Koror Island in the Northern Palau Islands. Hellcats of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing harassed the Arakabesan Area on Babel*thuap in night sorties. Corsairs of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing bombed Yap Island, hitting the airstrip, hangars and small craft.

Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force on November 8 bombed anti*aircraft gun positions and harbor shipping at Haha Jima in the Bonins. Other Liberators bombed Okimura Town on Haha Jima, causing two large explosions near antiaircraft gun positions. A Navy search Liberator bombed Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands while Army Liberators strafed Kita Iwo Jima. On November 9 Seventh Army Air Force Liberators again bombed Iwo Jima, hitting the airfield. Our planes were intercepted by from three to five enemy fighters, of which one was shot down and two damaged.

Corsairs of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing strafed enemy targets on Rota Island on November 9.

A single Navy search plane on November 9 dropped bombs on the airfield and barracks at Nauru Island while Corsairs of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing continued to neutralize enemy‑held positions in the Marshall Islands.

 

[syscom3]

Nov 12th 1944

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 2 B-24s fly armed reconnaissance over Onnekotan and Matsuwa Islands.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): 8 B-25s knock out a railway bridge and damage 2 others near Thanh Hoa, French Indochina. In Burma, 4 B-25s bomb the town of Man Pwe while 4 attack Wanling. In China, 38 P-51s and P-40s hit Hengyang Airfield and attack river, rail, and road traffic, artillery pieces, pillboxes, and storage around Hengyang, Lingling, and Kweilin; 13 P-40s hit the Changsha area; 40 P-51s and P-38s hit various targets of opportunity at several other locations scattered throughout S China and N French Indochina; the 21st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, Fourteenth AF, based at Kunming, sends a flight to operate from Suichwan with F-5s (other flights are operating from Kanchow and Hanchung).

CHINA: The East China Air Task Force, formed by Major General Claire Chennault, Commanding General USAAF Fourteenth Air Force, to help Chinese troops defend east China airfields from bases west and east of Japanese-held corridor, begins arriving at Suichwan and goes into action within a week.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 16 P-47s support ground forces in the Pinwe area and near Indaw; 24 attack supplies and communications targets in the Kawlin area while 9 bomb Japanese concentrations at Indaw and Man Hkong; the town of Pegon is attacked by 11 P-47s and 20+ others and 9 B-25s hit targets of opportunity during the sweeps of the Irrawaddy River from Singu to Katha and along rail lines at several points in N Burma. 250+ transport sorties are flown to forward bases and frontline areas. HQ 2d Air Commando Group arrives at Kalaikunda, India from the US.

CEYLON: Allied Land Forces South East Asia (ALFSEA) is activated under British Lieutenant General Sir Oliver Leese. The new headquarters consists of former Headquarters, 11 Army Group, previously under General Sir George Giffard, and some U.S. officers; has control over British troops, the Northern Combat Area Command (NCAC), Chinese Army in India (CAI), and Chinese forces within the South East Asia Command (SEAC). American Lieutenant General Raymond A. Wheeler takes over Lieutenant General Joseph Stilwell's former post of Deputy Supreme Allied Commander, SEAC.

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Twentieth Air Force): The USAAF Twentieth Air Force's XX Bomber Command flies Mission 16: 96 China-based B-29s are dispatched to bomb to bomb Omura, Kyushu Island. While en route, it is learned that there is bad weather at the target due to a typhoon and the aircraft are ordered to hit a target in China. Twenty nine bombers do not get the word and bomb Omura with the loss of five aircraft.

AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 29 Saipan based B-24s with P-38 escort bomb the airfield on Iwo Jima. 11 P-47s strafe the runway and storage area on Pagan. During the night a B-24 on a snooper mission bombs Iwo Jima. B-24s from Angaur Airfield bomb Koror.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Units moving to Leyte Island, Philippine Islands: HQ 91st Photographic Wing (Reconnaissance) moves from Biak Island; HQ 345th BG (Medium) and the 498th and 499th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium) from Biak Island with B-25s (squadrons continue to operate from Biak Island). The 370th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 307th BG (Heavy), ceases operating from Noemfoor with B-24s and returns to base on Wakde.
EAST INDIES: In the Netherlands East Indies, USAAF Far East Air Forces B-24 Liberators and fighter- bombers over northeastern Celebes and Halmahera Islands attack shipping and Djailolo Aerodrome on Halmahera Island. Lost is B-25G 42-65142.

NEW GUINEA: In Dutch New Guinea, over 50 USAAF Far East Air Force B-25s blast Mapia and Asia Islands.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS: In the U.S. Sixth Army's X Corps area on Leyte Island, the 21st Infantry Regiment, the 24th Infantry Division gains the crest of Breakneck Ridge shortly after noon but is unable to advance south along Highway 2 from there. The 1st Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, after receiving its first airdrop of supplies, moves through Consuegra to Cabiranan. The 2d Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, blocks Highway 2 south of Limon and maintains the block with difficulty until 23 November.
USAAF Far East Air Force B-24s bomb Alicante (Escalente) Airfield on northeast Negros Island while on Leyte Island, fighter-bombers hit Linao barges on the west coast and shipping in Ormoc Bay and B-25s bomb Degos (Digos or Daliao or Degosu) and Matina Aerodromes on Mindanao Island.
Major Thomas B. McGuire, Jr. shoots down two "Jack" fighters over Leyte bringing his total victories to 28.