This Day In The War, In The Pacific

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1942
ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: The Japanese decide to abandon Attu and move the troops to Kiska. The Americans are unaware of this, and never know they could have taken the island without a shot. Kiska, however, is being turned into a fortress, with underground bunkers, flak guns, and midget submarine pens.
Three USAAF Eleventh Air Force B-17's hit the Japanese-held Kiska Island submarine base; results are not observed; and a weather reconnaissance flight is made over Attu Island.

D'ENTRECASTEAUX ISLANDS: Organized resistance against Australian troops on Goodenough Island ceases; 250 Japanese are withdrawn to Rabaul, New Britain Island, Bismarck Archipelago, by destroyers after nightfall.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI)): The 11th Bombardment Squadron, 341st BG (Medium), based at Kunming with B-25s, sends a detachment to operate from Nanning.

NEW GUINEA: In Papua New Guinea, the Australian 16th Brigade, 7th Division, continues to drive the Japanese back along the Kokoda Track but meets heavy resistance at Eora Creek. Meanwhile, after an exhausting overland journey, the head of the U.S. 2d Battalion, 126th Infantry Regiment, 32d Infantry Division, reaches Jaure. From there the force is to move to the Buna area via Natunga and Bofu, with the antitank and Cannon Companies protecting its rear and harassing the Japanese in the Wairopi area. In Northeast New Guinea, USAAF Fifth Air Force B-25's hit Lae Airfield.

PACIFIC OCEAN: At 1245 hours, two U.S. naval aircraft carrier forces, comprised of USS Enterprise and Hornet, rendezvous about 288 nautical miles NE of Vila, Efate Island, New Hebrides Islands, and come under command of Rear Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid, commander of Task Force 16.
USN submarine USS Nautilus sinks a Japanese cargo ship about 45 nautical miles ENE of Aomori, Honshu, Japan, in position 41.10N, 141.38E.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: On Guadalcanal, a Japanese column is observed east of the Matanikau River on the foothills of Mt Austen in the afternoon and bombarded by artillery and aircraft with unobserved results. Shortly after midnight 24/25 October, a regiment of the main Japanese assault force attacks the southern flank of the Lunga perimeter, where 1st Battalion of the 7th Marine Regiment is thinly spread along a 2,800-yard front, the 2d Battalion having been withdrawn to plug a gap between the Lunga perimeter and the forward positions along the Matanikau River. Marines, assisted by fire of adjacent troops, the 2d Battalion of the 164th Infantry Regiment, and reinforced during night by the 3d Battalion of the 164th Infantry Regiment, hold against repeated attacks, and the Japanese retire during the morning of 25 October.
USMC and USAAF fighters at Henderson Field, Guadalcanal Island, continue to inflict damaging losses upon the Japanese naval air force; Japanese ground forces, attacking aggressively, are again repulsed by defenses around Henderson area.

UNITED STATES: Over 8,000 Japanese American prisoners are working to save the beet and potato crop harvest in various western states.
Spike Jones and his City Slickers' record of "Der Fuehrer's Face" with vocal by Carl Grayson makes it to the Billboard Pop Singles chart. The song is from the Walt Disney animated short "In Nutzi Land.." This is the first of his records to make the charts and it stays there for ten weeks and rises to Number 3.

1943
CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 8 B-24's bomb Htawgaw, Burma while on a ferry flight over the Hump.

FRENCH INDOCHINA; Fourteen USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-24 Liberators and 13 P-40s attack a barracks area at Co Bi, Vietnam.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): 36 B-25's, along with 24 Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) P-40's and 4 USN F4U's, in 1 force, and 20 AAF fighter and 70+ USN fighters and dive bombers in another force, pound Kahili Airfield.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): At least 45 bombers are destroyed on the ground at Vunakanau, Rapopo and Tobera airstrips during attacks by 50+ B-25's; the B-25's and 50+ escorting P-38's claim 40+ Japanese airplanes shot down. Lost is B-25C 41-30376 is lost. A-20's hit enemy positions in the Lae area and B-24's carry out a light attack on Manokwari.

PACIFIC OCEAN: At 0100 hours, USS Silversides sinks two cargo ships and an armed tanker about 339 nautical miles NNE of Wewak, Northeast New Guinea, in position 02.00 N, 144.46E.
In the Solomon Sea, USMC land-based aircraft sink Japanese destroyer HIJMS Mochizuki about 95 nautical miles SSW of Rabaul, New Britain Island, Bismarck Archipelago, in position 05.42S, 151.40E.

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.

1945

 

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1938
AUSTRALIA: The British government appoints the Duke of Kent as the new Governor-General of Australia. This appointment reflects the growing interdependence between Britain and the Dominions in light of the worsening international situation.

CHINA: The Japanese seizure of Hankou (Hankow) forces the Chinese government and army to withdraw west, up the Yangtze River. The Nationalist Chinese government set up a new capital in Chongqing (Chungking).
Japanese control over Chinese territory south of Hankou becomes increasing rigid and several Western powers protest against the Japanese violation of their treaty rights.

1942
BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: Thirteen USAAF Fifth Air Force B-17's bomb shipping at Rabaul, New Britain Island.

CHINA: Twelve B-25s and seven P-40s of the USAAF Tenth Air Force's China Air Task Force (CATF), hit Kowloon Docks at Hong Kong; 21 aircraft intercept and a B-25 and a P-40 are shot down; this marks the first loss of a CATF B-25 in combat; the Japanese interceptors are virtually annihilated; during the night of 25/26 October, six B-25s, on the first CATF night strike, continue bombing Hong Kong, hitting the North Point power plant which provides electricity for the shipyards; three other B-25s bomb the secondary target, the Canton warehouse area, causing several large explosions and fires.

INDIA AIR TASK FORCE (IATF): In India, Japanese aircraft attack airfields connected with the the India-China air transport route, heavily bombing Dinjan and Chabua fields and scoring hits also at Mohanbari and Sookerating;10 US aircraft are destroyed and 17 badly damaged; 9 Japanese aircraft are downed. The 492d Bombardment Squadron, 7th BG (Heavy),arrives at Karchi, India from the US with B-24s; and the 493d Bombardment Squadron is activated at Karachi and assigned to the 7th BG (the 492d and 493d will fly their first mission on 24 and 26 Jan 43 respectively).

NEW GUINEA: In Papua New Guinea, USAAF Fifth Air Force A-20 Havocs bomb and strafe the Isurava-Kokoda Track, the west bank of the Kumusi River, and the area north of Asisi as Australian ground forces push toward Kokoda in the Owen Stanley Range.
HQ 38th BG (Medium) and the 405th Bombardment Squadron move from Townsville to Port Moresby with B-25s. The 93d Bombardment Squadron, 19th BG (Heavy), begins a movement from Mareeba to the US.

PACIFIC OCEAN: USN submarines are active off Japan:
- At 1100 hours, USS Nautilus sinks a sampan about 201 nautical miles ESE of Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan, in position 41.45N, 145.32E.
- USS Whale lays mines off Honshu, Japan, at the entrance to Inland Sea and later sinks an armed tanker about 68 nautical miles SSE of Tokushima, Shikoku, Japan, in approximate position 33.00N, 135.00E.

CORAL SEA: In the Coral Sea during the afternoon, a USAAF B-17 on a sea-search mission sights a powerful Japanese Task Force northwest of Santa Cruz Island, Solomon Islands, heading for Guadalcanal. With the Japanese Army bogged down in the jungles of Guadalcanal for the past several days, the Japanese Navy must take action or return for fuel.
Their aircraft carriers HIJMS Shokaku, Zuikaku, Zhiho and Junyo, with supporting ships, are steaming northeast of Guadalcanal. The USN has the aircraft carriers USS Hornet and Enterprise with escorts. The Japanese have 199 operational aircraft with the U.S. carriers showing 133 operational aircraft. With both sides receiving assistance from land based aircraft, they have spotted both sides carriers. The Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands will occur tomorrow.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: The Japanese Army on Guadalcanal finally reach the Marine Defensive Line, south of Henderson Field in force, between 0000 and 0100 hours. The battle first involves the 1st Battalion 7th Marine Regiment and the machine guns of Sergeant John Basilone keep the Japanese off balance. Basilone is later awarded the Medal of Honor for action this night. As the battle progressed, Lieutenant Colonel Lewis (Chesty) Puller, Commanding Officer 1st Battalion, brings in his reserves, platoons of the Army's 3d Battalion, 164th Infantry Regiment. By 0200 hours, the entire 3d Battalion is ordered to the line. The soldiers are placed with Marines rather than as a unit. The attack continues until dawn with the center of the line pulling back and absorbing the attack. Isolated small groups of Japanese have gotten through the line.
Marine patrols find 67 during the day; 300 more Japanese have fallen in front of the Marine Lines. Artillery and mortars have claimed uncounted soldiers in the jungle and woods beyond the perimeter.
The daylight occupies the Americans with four air strikes, between 1420 and 1515 hours, from Rabaul, New Britain Island, Bismarck Archipelago, and naval bombardments. The first is from a cruiser, five destroyers and a minelayer. The Japanese move in and sink the tug USS Seminole and patrol craft YP-284 which are unloading aviation gasoline, howitzers, and marines about 3.5 miles E of Lunga Point. Three Japanese destroyers take the two ships under fire and sink both of them. Shortly after beginning the Japanese bombardment, a Marine battery hits a gun mount on the destroyer HIJMS Akatsuki which retires under a smoke screen. During this retirement the Cactus Air Force has four F4F Wildcats of Marine Fighting Squadron VMF-121 strafe them.
The second Japanese bombardment fleet is spotted by the Cactus Air Force and five SBDs of Scouting Squadron VS-71 attack at 1300 hours. Light cruiser HIJMS Yura is struck with a 1,000 pound and a 500 pound bomb and destroyer HIJMS Akizuki suffers a near miss. Two more attacks from the Cactus Air Force do no damage. Then an attack from five SBDs of VS-71, four USAAF P-39s with bombs and three F4Fs, followed immediately by an attack from six USAAF B-17's finishes off light cruiser HIJMS Yura and damage another destroyer.
The Japanese raid, at 1500 hours hits the Henderson Field graveyard of wrecked aircraft. Losses include ten "Zeke" fighters, two "Betty" bombers and two F4Fs. The Wildcat pilots are rescued. Today will become known as Dugout Sunday on Guadalcanal. At 1930 hours, Japanese artillery begins firing on Marine positions near the coast on the west side of the perimeter. Between 2000 and 2400 hours, the Japanese column fights the jungle to reach their attack positions. The Marines of the 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment and soldiers of the 3d Battalion, 164th Infantry Regiment sort out their units and settle in their sector, south of Henderson Field. At 2000 hours, Japanese artillery fire hits this sector for about an hour and this is followed by three hours of small actions against the American line with groups of 30 to 200 Japanese attacking piecemeal.

1943
CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 2 B-25's and 4 P-40's attack shipping in the Gulf of Tonkin, claiming a 150-ft (45.7 m) tanker sunk and 200-ft (61 m) freighter damaged.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): The 372d Bombardment Squadron, 307th BG (Heavy), based on Espirtu Santo in the New Hebrides, begins operating from Guadalcanal with B-24's.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): 60+ B-24's bomb the Rabaul area destroying 20+ airplanes on the round. Of the 60-70 fighters which intercept, the B-24's claim 30+ shot down. Lost is B-24D 42-72800. A-20's hit positions near Lae and B-24's carry out a light strike against Manokwari.

FRENCH INDOCHINA: Six USAAF Fourteenth Air Force P-40s strafe shipping at Haiphong, Vietnam, claiming three small boats sunk and damaging six larger boats.

HAWAIIAN ISLANDS: Vice Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, commander of the Central Pacific Force, issues an operation plan, which is subsequently modified somewhat, outlining the organization and tasks of Operation GALVANIC, the invasion of the Gilbert Islands

NEW GUINEA: In Northeast New Guinea, the Japanese begin withdrawing toward Sattelberg in the coastal sector north of Finschhafen, suspending attacks on the Australian 9th Division.

PACIFIC OCEAN: In the Gulf of Tonkin off the east coast Vietnam, French Indochina, two USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells and four P-40s attack shipping claiming a 150 foot tanker sunk and a 200 foot freighter damaged.

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 exploded 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.

1945

 

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1940
UNITED STATES: Secretary of State Cordell Hull urges America to prepare to discourage and repel any assault on her security stating, "To have peace, we must have security. To have security, we must be strong. . . . Essential to effective national defense are constant and skillful use of political and economic measures, possession of' military weapons, and continuous exercise of wisdom and of high moral qualities. We must have planes and tanks and ships and guns. We must have trained men. We must hold to the ideal of a world in which the rights of all nations are respected and each respects the rights of all; in which principles of law and order and justice and fair-dealing prevail. Above all, we must be a united people–united in purpose, and in effort to create impregnable defense. Thus can we maintain our inheritance. "

1942
CHINA: B-25's of the USAAF Tenth Air Force's China Air Task Force move to western China to carry out the neutralization of Lashio, Burma, where the Japanese have aircraft they are using against the Dinjan, India area; P-40s continue to hit the Hong Kong-Canton area, using dive-bombing tactics for first time in the area.

INDIA: The Japanese again bit airfields in Assam connected with the India-China air transport route, concentrating on Sookerating. A freight depot, containing food and medical supplies for China, is destroyed but no U.S. aircraft are lost. Due to a lack of warning, no fighters intercept the attacking force.

NEW GUINEA: In Northeast New Guinea, USAAF Fifth Air Force B-25's attack Salamaua and Lae Aerodromes. In Papua New Guinea, an A-20, escorted by P-40s, bomb and strafe trails in the Missima-Kaile-Deniki area.

NEW HEBRIDES ISLANDS: The 21,936 ton U.S. liner SS President Coolidge, chartered for use as a troop transport, blunders into a U.S. minefield off Espiritu Santo at 0930 hours and strikes two mines; the ship is beached to facilitate salvage, but slips into deep water and sinks. Four of the 5,050 Army troops are lost in the accident, as is one of the 290-man merchant complement. There are no casualties among the 51-man Armed Guard.

PACIFIC OCEAN: Battle of Santa Cruz Islands occurs as Task Force 16 (Rear Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid) and TF 17 (Rear Admiral George D. Murray) engage a numerically superior Japanese force (Vice Admiral Nagumo Chuichi). Although the Japanese achieve a tactical victory, the failure of their simultaneous land offensive on Guadalcanal means that they cannot exploit it to its fullest. The dwindling number of Japanese carrier planes cannot eliminate Henderson Field, while fuel shortages compel the Combined Fleet to retire on Truk Island in the Caroline Islands.
Americans control the skies above the sea routes to Guadalcanal. The victory, however, does not come cheaply in this, the fourth major carrier battle of 1942, for the USN aircraft carrier USS Enterprise is damaged by planes from Japanese aircraft carriers HIJMS Junyo and Shokaku; aircraft carrier USS Hornet is damaged by planes from HIJMS Junyo, Shokaku, and Zuikaku; battleship USS South Dakota and light cruiser USS San Juan are damaged by planes from HIJMS Junyo; destroyer USS Smith is damaged by a crashing carrier attack plane; during the operation of fighting the fires on USS Hornet and taking off her survivors, destroyer USS Hughes is damaged in a collision with the doomed carrier (as well as by friendly fire earlier in the action).
The attempt to scuttle the irreparably damaged USS Hornet, by gunfire and torpedoes from destroyers USS Mustin and Anderson fails; destroyer Porter is accidentally torpedoed by a battle damaged and a ditched TBF of Torpedo Squadron VT 10, and, deemed beyond salvage, is scuttled by destroyer USS Shaw. SBDs of Scouting Squadron VS 10 in USS Enterprise damage aircraft carrier HIJMS Zuiho; SBDs of Bombing Squadron VB8 and VS8 in USS Hornet damage carrier HIJMS Shokaku and destroyer HIJMS Terutsuki; TBF Avengers of VT6 in USS Hornet damage heavy cruiser HIJMS Chikuma.

JAPAN: At 0900 hours, USN submarine USS S-31 sinks an armed transport off the east coast off Paramushiru Island, Kurile Islands.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: Shortly after midnight, the main attack against the Lunga Perimeter begins again on Guadalcanal. The front manned by the 3rd Battalion, 164th Infantry Regiment is under heavy attack by the Japanese 16th Infantry Regiment. 37mm canister fire from two guns of Weapons Company 7th Marine Regiment stops the attack cold. Some survivors succeed in infiltrating the defense lines and are hunted down. This attack, like last night, is short the right wing which is still lost in the jungle. It has turned to the east (right) due to reports of US forces and is not in position. The reports are false.
Near the coast, just east of the mouth of the Matinakau River, Colonel Oka finally reaches a position to attack. This attack falls on the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment. The Japanese are heard approaching late last night. At 0300 hours the attack begins. The mortar fire of the battalion and machine gun fire from Sergeant Mitchell Paige (MOH) of the 2-7 hold off the Japanese regimental sized attack until 0500 hours. The Japanese 3rd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, finally scales the steep slope and replaces Company F from the crest of the ridge.
Seventeen men under Major Conoley attack at 0540 hours. They eject the Japanese from the hill. This unit is drawn from communication specialists, cooks, bandsmen, and several riflemen. They receive assistance from Sergeant Paige, Company G, 7th Marine Regiment and Company C, 5th Marine Regiment. At 0800 hours, Lieutenant General Hyakutake Seikichi, Commanding General of the 17th Army, stops the attack. During the last five day, U.S. casualties are 86 killed in action and 192 wounded in action; the Japanese lose 1,553 troops south of Henderson Field and 800 near the Matinakau River.
The number of U.S. operational aircraft on Guadalcanal is now 29.

1943
FRENCH INDOCHINA: (Fourteenth Air Force): 13 B-24's and 15 P-40's pound railroad yards at Haiphong, French Indochina. In China,

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): Kahili Airfield is hit twice during the day by B-24's, B-25's, P-38's, P-40's, P-39's, and USN fighters and dive bombers. The airfield on Buka is strafed by P-38's and then bombed and strafed by B-25's and P-38's. P-39's and P-40's join USN fighters and dive bombers in a strike on Kara Airfield.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): B-24's fly a small raid against Pombelaa on Celebes ; fighters shoot down 2 B-24's; US gunners claim 11 aircraft downed. Lost is B-24D "Fyrtle Myrtle" 42-40485. B-25's hit targets in Tanimbar in the Moluccas.

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: Forty six Australian (P-40) Kittyhawks hit Gasmata Airfield on New Britain Island.

BURMA: A USAAF Tenth Air Force B-25 strike against a railroad bridge on the Ye-u branch line over the Mu River between Ywataung and Monywa fails to damage the structure. This raid marks the final assault of the year on this bridge.
(Tenth Air Force): The 71st Liaison Squadron, US Army Forces, CBI, transfers from Ramgarh to Ledo, India with L-4's and L-5's.

EAST INDIES: Eleven USAAF B-24 Liberators bomb the Pomalaa nickel mines on Celebes Island.

CHINA: 2 B-25's attack several vessels at Kiungshan, claiming 4 sunk or badly damaged; later 6 more B-25's hit shipping nearby, claiming 1 freighter sunk; the airfield at Kiungshan is strafed by 1 of the B-25's. The 21st Photographic Squadron, Fourteenth Air Force, based at Kunming with F-4's and F-5's, sends a fight to operate from Suichwan, China.

EAST INDIES: USAAF Fifth Air Force B-24s fly a small raid against Pombelaa Island off Celebes Island with the loss of two aircraft; USAAF gunners claim 11 Japanese fighters. B-25s hit targets in Tanimbar Island about 300 nautical miles north of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.

FRENCH INDOCHINA: Thirteen USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-24 Liberators and 15 P-40s attack railroad yards at Haiphong, Vietnam.

NEW GUINEA: In North East New Guinea, the Japanese begin withdrawing units around Finschhafen towards Sattelberg.

PACIFIC OCEAN: In the South China Sea, two USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells sink a Japanese transport, two army cargo vessels, and a merchant cargo ship about 15 nautical miles west of Haikou, Hainan Island, China in position 20.05N, 110.05E. Meanwhile, six USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-25s sink a Japanese transport about 60 nautical miles east of Haikou, Hainan Island, in position 20.05N, 11.25E.

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.

1945

 

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1937
JAPAN: The government declines to attend the Brussels Conference on the Sino-Japanese dispute stating, "The action of Japan in China is one of self-defense which she has been compelled to take in the face of China's violent anti-Japanese policy and practices, exemplified particularly in her provocative acts in appealing to force of aims. Consequently Japan's action lies, as has been declared already by the Imperial government, outside the purview of the Nine Power Treaty . . . an attempt to seek a solution at a gathering of so many powers . . . would only serve to complicate the situation still further and to place serious obstacles in the path of a just and proper solution."

1941
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS: U.S. military officials in the Philippines send the following radio message to Washington, D.C.: "General southward movement of Japanese shipping in western Pacific is reported by British sources two aircraft carriers have been operating among mandated islands, of which Kaga repeat Kaga still present following planes reported based there: Palau repeat Palau, eight flying boats, Saipan repeat Saipan eight fighters, six heavy bombers; Truk repeat Truk, six fighters, six heavy bombers: Jalu repeat Jalu, eight flying boats, twelve flight planes; Wotje repeat Wotje, eight flying boats."

UNITED STATES: President Franklin D. Roosevelt speaks of German designs on South America and all religions stating, "This map makes clear the Nazi design not only against South America but against the United States itself. . . . All of us Americans, of all opinions, are faced with the choice between the kind of world we want to live in and the kind of world which Hitler and his hordes would impose upon us."

1942

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: Six USAAF Eleventh Air Force B-24's flying an attack on the Japanese-held Kiska Island submarine base turn back due to weather; a weather aircraft flies reconnaissance over Gareloi, Segula, Kiska, and Attu Islands.

D'ENTRECASTEAUX ISLANDS: USAAF Fifth Air Force P-39's escort Australian Hudsons in a strike against small craft at Ferguson Island.

INDIA: British General Archibald Wavell, Commander in Chief India, and U.S. Lieutenant General Joseph Stilwell, Commander in Chief US China-Burma- India Theater of Operations, Chief of Staff to Chinese Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek and Commander in Chief Northern Area Combat Command (NCAC), agree that Stilwell shall conduct an offensive in the Hukawng Valley of northern Burma and occupy the area Myitkyina-Bhamo and make contact with Chinese forces from Yunnan. The Americans are to be
responsible for construction of the Ledo Road to Myitkyina; the road is eventually to link with Burma Road.

NEW GUINEA: Australian troops are held up on the Kokoda Track. Engineers work to repair the bridges over Eora Creek which are washed away by heavy rains overnight.
USAAF Fifth Air Force A-20s hit trails in southeast Papua New Guinea, around Alola, Isurava, and Abuari.

PACIFIC OCEAN: The abandoned aircraft carrier USS Hornet, damaged by bombs and torpedoes and attempted scuttling yesterday, is sunk by Japanese destroyers HIJMS Akigumo and Makigumo at 0135 hours, about 398 nautical miles east of Henderson Field, Guadalcanal Island, Solomon Islands, in position 08.38S, 166.43E. The USN now has only four aircraft carriers in commission.
At 2200 hours in the South China Sea, the USN submarine USS Tautog sinks a Japanese transport/cargo ship about 124 nautical miles ESE of Saigon, French Indochina, in position 10.20N, 108.43E.

UNITED STATES: The Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics (AAFSAT) is established at Orlando, Florida, tasked with testing and demonstrating tactical unit organization, equipment and techniques; training of select USAAF, Army and Navy personnel in air tactics and doctrine; and training of air intelligence officers and air inspectors.

1943
CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 6 B-24's bomb the city of Tungling, China and claim 8 intercepting Zekes shot down.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): B-24's pound Kahili and Kara Airfield; P-40's over Kahili claim 3 Zekes shot down. P-38's, P-40's, and P-39's, plus some RNZAF P-40's and P-39's, cover the landing by New Zealand troops on Stirling and Mono . The fighters claim destruction of 12 Japanese dive bombers attacking the landing force and afterwards claim 3 fighters shot down.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, P-40's and P-39's intercept an escorted Japanese bomber force dropping supplies over the Sattelberg area; the US fighters claim 12 airplanes downed. A-20's hit harbor and supply dump area at Gasmata.

PACIFIC OCEAN: In the East China Sea, USS Shad and Grayback sink a Japanese merchant cargo ship about 130 nautical miles N of Naha, Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, in position 28.20N, 128.05E. USS Shad has put two torpedoes into the 9,000 ton ship and USS Grayback administered the coup de grace.
At 1000 hours in the Philippine Sea, USS Flying Fish sinks a Japanese transport about 301 nautical miles N of Peleliu Island, Palau Islands, Caroline Islands, in position 12.02N, 134.28E.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: In preparation for the invasion of Bougainville, the 8th Brigade Group of the New Zealand 3rd Division, under Brigadier R. A. Row, lands on two islands of Treasury Islands, Stirling and Mono. Pre-invasion bombardment and covering for the landings are provided by U.S. naval vessels and aircraft of Task Group 39.3 (two light cruisers and Destroyer Squadron 23) and New Georgia-based aircraft from South Pacific Air. The small Japanese force on Mono is quickly put to flight and must be rounded up. Stirling is undefended.
During Japanese retaliatory air strikes by 25 Val and Judy dive bombers and Zero fighters at 1530 hours, destroyer USS Cony is damaged by horizontal and dive bombers 15 nautical miles N of Mono Island and tank landing ships LST-399 and LST-485 are damaged by mortar fire. USAAF P-38s and P-40 pilots shoot down ten Vals and Judys and two Zekes.
The 2d Marine Parachute Battalion begins a diversionary raid on Choiseul Island landing on the night of 27/28 October, and subsequently patrols actively to feign strength that is not present.

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.

1945

 

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1935
JAPAN: The Japanese Foreign Minister, Koki Hirota, announces his Three Point Policy: the establishment of a Japan-China- Manchukuo bloc; the suppression of anti-Japanese activities in China; and the organization of a joint Japanese-Chinese front against Communism. The failure of this policy leads to future Japanese aggression against the Chinese.

1940
UNITED STATES: The USN Chief of Naval Operations reports that aircraft with some form of armor and fuel protection are just beginning to go into service use, and that within a year all fleet aircraft, except those assigned Patrol Wing 2 in the Territory of Hawaii, would have such protection.

1941
UNITED STATES: President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the appropriation bill passed by Congress for an additional US$6 billion (US$77 billion in 2004 dollars) in Lend-Lease aid to U.K. and the U.S.S.R.

1942
ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: Six USAAF Eleventh Air Force B-24's turn back from an attempted attack on the Japanese-held Kiska Island submarine base because of adverse weather; a B-17's bombs Attu Island with unobserved results and flies weather reconnaissance over Kiska, Amchitka, and Tanaga Islands.

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: On New Britain Island, B-17's bomb shipping in the harbor at Rabaul while B-25's hit the airfield at Gasmata.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Joint Chiefs of Staff): The 68th Fighter Squadron, 347th FG, begins moving from Tongatabu to New Caledonia.

CANADA: At Kluane Lake, Yukon Territory, Canadian Health Minister, Ian Mackenzie, and the U.S. Secretary of Alaska, Edward L. Bartlett, cut a ribbon to open the Alcan Military Highway, today known as the Alaska Highway. The 1,600 mile road, from Dawson Creek, British Columbia, to Fairbanks Alaska, is built to move supplies and munitions rapidly north in case of Japanese invasion.

NEW GUINEA: In Papua New Guinea, the 2d Battalion, 126th Infantry Regiment, U.S. 32d Infantry Division, and a portable hospital begin the difficult march from Jaure toward Natunga and Bofu, preceded by two companies, which are to secure dropping grounds.

UNITED STATES: After completing Officer Candidate School, former Hollywood actor Clark Gable is commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Forces.
Procurement of the expendable radio sonobuoy for use in antisubmarine warfare is initiated as the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Fleet, Admiral Ernest J. King, directs the Bureau of Ships to procure 1,000 sonobuoys and 100 associated receivers.

1943
CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 7 B-24's bomb Mangshih; 6 P-40's strafe a warehouse and revetments at Yoyang Airfield; 3 B-25's and 7 P-38's hit a barracks at Ft Bayard; and 2 B-25's on a shipping sweep over the S China Sea damage 2 freighters near Saint John and sink a junk W of Kwangchow Wan.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): P-40's and P-39's join USN fighters and dive bombers in attacks on Kara Airfield and the airfield on Ballale. Almost 200 aircraft are involved in the 2 strikes. Kara airfield is also pounded by 19 B-24's. The 67th Fighter Squadron, 347th Fighter Group, based on Woodlark with P-39's, begins operating form New Georgia.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): P-40's hit Gasmata. P-47's attack barges at Talasea on New Britain and strafe surrounding area. P-47's also strafe the area from Sio to Fortification Point.

Lost due to weather are P-39Q 42-19987, P-39Q 42-20031, P-39Q 41-19959. Also lost is B-24D 42-41217

NEW ZEALAND: Butter rationing is introduced in the country.

PACIFIC OCEAN: In the South China Sea, two USAAF 14th

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.

1945

 

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1940
CHINA: Japan's strategy for seizing control of southern China suffers a major setback today as its troops are forced to withdraw south into Indochina after losing Nanning, the capital of Kwangsi, China's southern border province. The loss of Nanning, a key city on the Hanoi-Peking line, counterbalances Japan's recent gain in being allowed to station troops in French Indochina. During seven months of bitter fighting for Nanning both sides suffered heavy losses.
Douglas DC-2-118B, msn 1369, registered NC14297 by the U.S. airline Pan American Airways but operated by Pan Am's associated company China National Aviation Corporation (CNAC), is shot down by Japanese aircraft near Kunming. Nine of the 14 aboard are killed.

UNITED STATES: The U.S. government conducts the first peacetime draft lottery in American history as the first troops are selected for U.S. military service. Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson drew the first number, 158.

1941
UNITED STATES: The Japanese ambassador in Washington, D.C., WAKASUGI Kaname, sends the following message to the Foreign Office in Tokyo: "U.S.-Japanese relations are now fast approaching a critical crossroad. In view of the fact that the times are indeed grave, I am waiving formality and, though it may seem very presumptuous of me, am reporting to you my views on the general attitude of the United States after coming in contact with its representatives on several occasions." The last paragraph of the message is, "The United States has expressed its interest in continuing with the talks after she has been advised of the attitude and policy of the newly formed Cabinet of Japan. I urge, therefore, that the new Cabinet establish its basic policy as speedily as possible, so that we may lay our cards on the table for them to see. I sincerely believe that would be to our best interests."
The Intelligence Branch of the War Department issues a memorandum based on "information received from the Orient" stating: "Mr. HIROTA, a presiding officer at directors' meeting of the Black Dragon Society, told of an order issued by War Minister TOJO (now premier) "to complete full preparation to meet any emergency with United States in the Pacific. All guns to be mounted in the islands of the Pacific under Japanese mandate. The full preparation to be completed in November." HIROTA and others are said to have stated: "War with United States would best begin in December or in February." "Very soon," they say, "the Cabinet will be changed. The new Cabinet would likely start war within sixty days."

1942
ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: A force of Japanese infantry, engineers, antiaircraft guns, and support units lands at Holtz Bay on Attu Island. Simultaneously, 1,100 troops from the 303rd Independent Infantry Battalion sail for Shemya Island. As they sail, USAAF Eleventh Air Force B-24 flies overhead. A USAAF Eleventh Air Force aircraft flies a special reconnaissance mission with Lieutenant General Simon B Buckner, Commanding General Alaska Defense Force, aboard. The flight covers Tanaga, Amchitka, and Japanese held Kiska Islands.

AUSTRALIA: Prime Minister John Curtin cables British Prime Minister Winston Churchill that it is of vital importance to the Australian Government to get the Australian 9th Division back.

CANADA: First traffic rolls over the 1,600 mile Alcan Military Highway from Dawson Creek, British Columbia, to Fairbanks, Territory of Alaska.

NEW GUINEA: Australian patrols find that the Japanese have abandoned their positions at Eora Creek from which they have held up the Australians for a week. The Australian troops pursue the Japanese along the Kokoda Track. In Papua New Guinea, USAAF Fifth Air Force A-20's hit the Isurava-Deniki and Abuari-Kaile trails.

PACIFIC OCEAN: In the South China Sea, USN submarine USS Grenadier lays mines in the Tonkin Gulf off Haiphong, French Indochina.
In the Coral Sea, a USN PBY-5 Catalina of Patrol Squadron VP 11 sinks Japanese submarine HIJMS I-172 about 268 nautical miles SE of Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, in position 13.01S, 162.45E. The sub is spotted on the surface and crash-dives and is underwater when two 650-pound depth charges are dropped. A large quantity of oil appeared and remained on the surface the following day. All 91 hands aboard, including Rear Admiral Okamoto Yoshisuke, Commander of the 12th Squadron of the Kure Submarine Flotilla.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: In the aftermath of recent action on Guadalcanal, the Japanese are consolidating their units west of the Lunga Perimeter. Part of this action occurs as various units struggle in over the next several days. Much of their equipment has been left behind as the Japanese again fight the jungle and hunt for food during their trek. The 1st Marine Division prepares for an offensive to drive the Japanese westward beyond the Poha River.
The 2d Marine Regiment (less 3d Battalion) is ordered to Guadalcanal from Tulagi to assist in the offensive; the 3d Battalion, which has been operating as mobile reserve in the Lunga area, is to return to Tulagi for garrison duty. The attack is to begin on 1 November after outposts have been established west of the Matanikau River and bridges have been constructed across the river.
USAAF Fifth Air Force B-17's attack shipping in the Bougainville Strait between Buin and Faisi Islands.

UNITED STATES: President Franklin D. Roosevelt offers to send an American division from the Territory of Hawaii to the Southwest Pacific Area. Roosevelt claims that the "common cause" would best be served by the retention of the Australian 9th Division in the Mid East.
- A 1943 production objective of 107,000 aircraft is given top priority by President Roosevelt in his instructions to Donald M Nelson, Chairman of the War Production Board.

1943
CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 14 B-24's and 16 P-40's pound the smelter area at Quang Yen, French Indochina. In China, 2 B-25's bomb the administration building and runway at Ft Bayard airfield; 9 P-40's on offensive reconnaissance in the Chiuchiang area strafe a 200-ft (320 m) steamer and attack a train, destroying the locomotive.

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: On New Britain Island, 37 USAAF 5th AF B-24s, escorted by 53 P-38s, bomb the Rabaul area on New Britain Island, claiming 45 Japanese airplanes destroyed on the ground and in the air. Meanwhile, P-47 Thunderbolts attack shipping in Hansa Bay and strafe the Cape Gloucester area. Australian Beauforts fly the first of many torpedo attacks against Japanese shipping in Simpson Harbor, Rabaul. During the night of 29/30 October, Australian (PBY) Catalinas begin a series of night harassment missions to Kavieng on New Ireland Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): 37 B-24's, escorted by 53 P-38's, pound Rabaul area on New Britain , claiming 45 airplanes destroyed on the ground and in the air. Lost is P-38H 42-66523. 17 B-25's hit the Madang area. P-47's attack shipping in Hansa Bay area and strafe the Cape Gloucester area. B-25's sink a vessel off Tanimbar in the Moluccas while B-24's bomb Selaroe airstrip on Tanimbar and attack the Waroe Bay area of New Guinea. The 8th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Group, transfers from Tsili Tsili to Gusap with P-47's. The 63d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 43d Bombardment Group transfers from Port Moresby to Dobodura with B-24's.

PACIFIC OCEAN: At 0200 hours in the South China Sea, the submarine USS Seawolf sinks a Japanese merchant cargo ship about 113 nautical miles E of the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong, in position 22.28N, 116.10E.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: USAAF Thirteenth Air Force and USN aircraft attack Buka Airdrome on Buka Island north of Bougainville. The four attacks are made by: (1) 40 B-25s and 22 F6Fs;
(2) nine B-25s dropping parafrag bombs;
(3) 21 B-24 Liberators;
(4) 11 B-24s and 24 fighters.
Bonis Airfield on northern Bougainville is hit by 12 USN PV-1 Venturas and a B-25.

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.

1945

 

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1940
UNITED STATES: President Franklin D. Roosevelt, fighting off a surge by his Republican opponent in the Presidential election on 5 November, promises in Boston, Massachusetts, last night, "I shall say it again and again: your boys are not going to be sent into any foreign wars." As polls show Wendell Wilkie, the Republican candidate, cutting into his lead, the President has stressed his reluctance to lead America into war. A week ago in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Roosevelt attacked the "fantastic misstatement" that he has made secret alliances. Wilkie has cut Roosevelt's lead in the polls to four points

1942
ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: A USAAF Eleventh Air Force B-24 twice flies reconnaissance over Agattu and Japanese-held Kiska Islands; there are no bombing mission as all bombers are on alert for possible naval targets.

NEW CALEDONIA: A "Glen" seaplane is launched from Japanese submarine HIJMS I-9 and reconnoiters Noumea, New Caledonia Island.

NEW GUINEA: The Australian advance up the Kokoda Trail reaches Alola. This is 10 miles from Kokoda. One Brigade will proceed directly up the track, the other will advance more easterly to Oivi.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: USMC F4F Wildcats from Guadalcanal make a dawn attack on the Rekata Bay Seaplane Base on Santa Isabella Island. The Marine pilots shoot down three "Rufe" seaplane fighters (Nakajima A6M2-N, Navy Type 2 Fighter Seaplanes) and two "Pete" biplanes (Mitsubishi F1M2, NavyType 0 Observation Seaplane) at 0515 hours.
- USAAF Fifth Air Force B-17s bomb the harbor and shipping at Buin on southern Bougainville Island.
- USN Task Group 64.2 (Rear Admiral Norman Scott), comprising light cruiser USS Atlanta and four destroyers, bombards Japanese positions at Point Cruz, Guadalcanal.

1943
CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 7 B-25's and 12 P-40's pound the motor pool and barracks at Shayang; 9 P-38's hit the Chiuchiang dock area; 2 interceptors are shot down.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: USAAF Thirteenth Air Force aircraft attack targets on Bougainville. Sixteen B-24s bomb Kara Airfield and shortly afterwards it is hit by 68 SBDs and 27 TBFs escorted by USN and AAF fighters; the airstrip and other targets at Kieta on the west coast are attacked by six B-25s, 12 P-39s and 20 USN aircraft; and the Tonolai harbor area off Kahilli in the southern part of Bougainville is hit by eight P-40s and 17 USN fighters. U.S. aircraft sink a Japanese transport near Kieta.

PACIFIC OCEAN: At 1700 hours, the submarine USS Seahorse sinks a sampan about 232 nautical miles S of Osaka, Honshu, Japan, in position 30.48N, 135.36E.

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: USAAF Fifth Air Force B-25s strafe barges in Rein Bay on New Britain Island.

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.

1945

 

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1940
PACIFIC OCEAN: In the Bass Strait, the body of water between Australia and Tasmania, the 7,766 ton German Auxiliary Cruiser HK Pinguin, Ship 33 to the Germans and Raider "H" to the British, begins laying mines along the Victorian Coast of Australia,, including the area off Apollo Bay. This field claims two ships, the British ship S.S. Cambridge and the U.S. ship MS City of Rayville.

1941
JAPAN: The Japanese High Command approves the plan submitted by Admiral YAMAMOTO Isoroku, Commander-in- Chief, Combined Fleet, calling for an aerial attack on the USN fleet at Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Territory of Hawaii. YAMAMOTO has threatened to resign if his plan is not approved.

1942
ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: A USAAF Eleventh Air Force weather and reconnaissance flight is flown over Japanese held Attu and Kiska Islands; over Kiska, the weather aircraft draws antiaircraft fire from Little Kiska Island; no other missions as all combat aircraft are alerted for a possible naval target.

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: USAAF Fifth Air Force B-17's bomb shipping at Rabaul on New Britain Island.

JAPAN: The Central Agreement between the Japanese Army and Navy, concerning the strengthening of defenses in the Aleutian Islands, Territory of Alaska, U.S., is published as Navy Directive No. 155. The objective of the operations is to increase the land forces necessary for occupying and securing the western Aleutian Islands, thereby strengthening its defenses.

NEW GUINEA: In Papua New Guinea, the Australian 2/31st Battalion on the Kododa Track arrives in Isurava early in the afternoon. Meanwhile, USAAF Fifth Air Force A-20 Havocs bomb and strafe Nauro and the area to the north while B-25 Mitchells strafe supply trucks southeast of Gona.

GUADALCANAL: On Guadalcanal Colonel Tsuji Masanobu arrives at the Japanese 17th Army headquarters at Kokombona. He has retraced the route of the Japanese 2nd Division in 2.5 days wracked with malaria. Fresh men took a week to make this hike. He describes the failed attack and current situation. They abort plans to land the 38th Division east of the Lunga perimeter.
The 1st Marine Division completes preparations for their offensive on Guadalcanal. The 5th Marine Regiment and 2d Marine Regiment (less 3d Battalion) move into attack positions along the Matanikau River. During the night of 31 October/1 November, Company E of the 5th Marine Regiment crosses the Matanikau River and outposts the west bank, and the 1st Engineer Battalion constructs three footbridges.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: USAAF Fifth Air Force B-17's bomb shipping in Buin, Bougainville- Faisi Island-Tonolai, Bougainville Island area.

1943
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, in an attempt to knock out the Japanese base from which fighters are attacking ferrying operations, P-40's carrying 1000-pound bombs fly 4 strikes against Myitkyina; following the bomb runs, the fighters strafe AA positions; the attacks cause considerable damage to the base; B-25's attack the Meza railroad bridge, scoring hits on the approaches but missing the structure; the bridge remains unusable due to damage caused by the 10 Oct strike.

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: USAAF Fifth Air Force P-40s sink a barge off the New Britain Island coast.

PACIFIC OCEAN: Admiral Richmond K. Turner, commander of Amphibious Force Pacific Fleet and the Northern Attack Force (Task Force 52), begins rehearsals for Operation GALVANIC the invasion of the Gilbert Islands, off Hawaii.
Task Force 31 units rendezvous west of Guadalcanal, then sail for Bougainville in the Solomon Islands. Japanese airfields on southern Bougainville are now unserviceable.
USN submarine sink two Japanese vessels:
- At 0600 hours, USS Gabilan sinks small patrol craft about 124 nautical miles SSW of Osaka, Honshu, Japan, in position 32.50N, 134.21E.
- At 0900 hours: USS Guitarro sinks an armed cargo ship and two cargo ships about 78 nautical miles WNW of Olongapo, Luzon, Philippine Islands, in position 15.15N, 119.56E.

USN - Lieutenant H. D. O'Neil of VF(N)-75, operating from Munda, New Georgia, flying a radar equipped F4U-2 destroyed a Betty during a night attack off Vella Lavella, the first kill by a radar-equipped night fighter of the Pacific Fleet. Major T. E. Hicks and Tech Sergeant Gleason from VMF(N)-531 provided ground-based fighter direction.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): 20+ B-25's, with fighter support bomb Kara Airfield.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): P-40's sink a barge off the New Britain coast. The 65th Troop Carrier Squadron, 54th Troop Carrier Wing, ceases operating from Tsili Tsili and returns to it's base at Nadzab, New Guinea with C-47's.

1944
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.

1945

 

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1940
AUSTRALIA: The German auxiliary minelayer Passat completes laying a mine barrage off the Australian coast in Bass Strait between the Australian mainland and Tasmania.
UNITED STATES: The War Department activates the Hawaiian Air Force at Ft. Shafter, Oahu, to provide administrative and operational control of all U.S. Army Air Corps units assigned to the U.S. Army's Hawaiian Department.

1941
JAPAN: U.S. Ambassador to Japan Joseph C. Grew warns the U.S. that Japan might "resort with dangerous and dramatic suddenness to measures which might make inevitable war with the United States." He also states that ". . . underestimating Japan's obvious preparations to implement a program in the event the alternative peace program fails, would be short-sighted. Similarly it would be short-sighted for American policy to be based upon the belief that Japanese preparations are no more than saber rattling, merely intended to give moral support to the high pressure diplomacy of Japan."

UNITED STATES: Army Intelligence prepares Intelligence Bulletin 148 for General George C. Marshall, Chief of Staff U.S. Army, stating that "recent developments in the international situation, and particularly in the Pacific, indicate the possibility of a Japanese invasion of Yunnan Province in an attempt to cut China's life-line, the Burma Road."
President Franklin D. Roosevelt places the U.S. Coast Guard under the jurisdiction of Department of the Navy for the duration of the national emergency.
The War Department reluctantly opens a secret language school under the Fourth Army at Crissey Field, the Presidio of San Francisco, with four Nisei instructors and 60 students, 58 of which are Nisei. This was the first class of the Military Intelligence Language School. Military Intelligence Service (MIS).

1942
INDIA AIR TASK FORCE (IATF): During Nov 42, the 9th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, Tenth Air Force, based at Karachi, India, with F-4s, sends a flight to operate from Kunming, China until July 1943 (first mission is 1 Dec).

HAWAII: HQ 307th Bombardment Group arrives at Hickam Field, Hawaii from the US.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Joint Chiefs of Staff): The 431st Bombardment Squadron, 11th BG (Heavy), moves from Viti Levu, Fiji , to Espiritu Santo with B-17s. During Nov, the 98th Bombardment Squadron, 11th BG (Heavy), based on Espiritu Santo, begins operating from Guadalcanal , Solomon with B-17s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): B-25's bomb the airfield and dump area at Lae. B-17's strike shipping in the Buin-Faisi, Shortland-Tonolai. Kahili Airfield is also attacked. Lost is B-17E 41-2635. Force landed at 7-Mile Drome is A-20A "Little Hellion" 40-166. A detachment of the 33d Troop Carrier Squadron, 315th Troop Carrier Group, begins operating from Cairns, Queensland, Australia with C-47s (squadron is enroute to Australia from the US).

GUADALCANAL: On Guadalcanal, the 1st Marine Division, with artillery, naval gunfire, and air support, launches an attack toward the Poha River. The 5th Marine Regiment, followed by the 2d Marine Regiment (less the 3d Battalion) in reserve, crosses footbridges over the Matanikau River at 0630 hours and drives west about 1,000 yards (914 meters) in two columns to positions short of Point Cruz, the 1st Battalion , the right flank column, meeting considerable delaying opposition along the coast. The Whaling Group (3d Battalion of the 7th Marine Regiment and scout-sniper detachment) crosses the river upstream and advances west on the inland route to protect the left flank of the 5th Marine Regiment.
To forestall expected Japanese landings in the Koli Point area, east of the Lunga perimeter, the 2d Battalion of the 7th Marine Regiment starts east toward the Metapona River. The only authenticated US bayonet charge of the campaign is conducted by Company I. By nightfall they are west of Point Cruz.
The first squadron of Marine MAG-11, Marine VMSB-132 begins arriving at Henderson Field, Guadalcanal. The squadron is equipped with SBD Dauntlesses.

BOUGAINVILLE: B-17's strike shipping in the Buin area of southern Bougainville Island. Kahili Airfield on southern Bougainville is also attacked.

1943
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): During Nov, a detachment of the 71st Liaison Squadron, US Army Forces, CBI, based at Ledo, India is sent to Kunming, China with L-4's and L-5's. During Nov, the detachment of the 530th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 311th Fighter-Bomber Group, at Kurmitola, India with A-36's returns to it's base at Dinjan, India

ALASKA: The Alaska Theater of Operations is established. The Alaska Department, U.S. Army, is reassigned from the Western Defense Command and assigned directly to the War Department.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 6 B-25's and 9 P-40's bomb the Yoyang, China railroad yards. During Nov, the 75th Fighter Squadron, 23d Fighter Group transfers from Kweilin to Hengyang, China with P-40's.

SOUTH PACIFIC (Thirteenth Air Force): US Marines land on Bougainville. This operation is aimed at eliminating the last Japanese strongholds SE of Rabaul. Allied fighters covering the operations shoot down 20+ Japanese aircraft. Naval gunfire accounts for several more. 21 B-24's bomb Kahili Airfield and Kara Airfield is attacked by 19 B-24's, 30+ P-40's and P-39's, and 70+ US Navy (USN) fighters and dive bombers. P-38's on sweep over waters NW of the Solomons claim 7 Zekes shot down. B-25's strafe barges and wharf area at Faisi. During the night of 1/2 Nov, 2 radar snooper B-24's attack a convoy W of Cape Saint George. The 64th Troop Carrier Squadron, 403d Troop Carrier Group, transfers from Espiritu Santo to Henderson Field with C-47's.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: After preparatory naval gunfire and aerial bombardment, Northern Force of Vice Admiral Theordore Wilkinson's Task Force 31 starts landing the 3d Marine Division, reinforced, of Major General Arthur Vandegrift's I Marine Amphibious Corps on Bougainville Island at about 0730 hours. The 3d and 9th Marine Regiment land abreast on the north shore of Empress Augusta Bay in the Cape Torokina area and establish a shallow beachhead despite opposition from small but determined Japanese defense force. (Most of the Japanese troops are garrisoned in the southern end of this large island where the airfields and landing beaches are.) Elements of the 2d Marine Raider Regiment (Provisional) land on Puruata Island., off Cape Torokina, and begin to clear it.
Major General Allen Turnage, Commanding General 3d Marine Division takes command ashore. Japanese air attacks delay unloading of cargo and surf damages many landing craft, but the operation is otherwise very successful. Cruiser and destroyer force of Task Force 39 (Rear Admiral Aaron S. Merrill) and carrier task force TF 38 (Rear Admiral Frederick C. Sherman) shell and bomb Japanese airfields and installations in the Buka-Bonis area. Rear Admiral Merrill's force later bombards enemy airfields on Shortland Island. U.S. and New Zealand fighters covering the operations shoot down 20+ Japanese aircraft. Naval gunfire accounts for several more.
On southern Bougainville, 21 USAAF 13th AF B-24s bomb Kahili Airfield while Kara Airfield is attacked by 19 B-24s, 30+ P-40s and P-39s, and 70+ US Navy fighters and dive bombers. P-38s on a sweep over waters northwest of the Solomons claim seven Zeros shot down. B-25s strafe barges and wharf area at Faisi Island.

PACIFIC: BATTLE OF EMPRESS AUGUSTA BAY: Vice Admiral Omori Sentaro departs Rabaul, New Britain Island, Bismarck Archipelago, to escort 1,000 Japanese Army troops to oppose the U.S. invasion at Cape Torokina on Bougainville Island. Omori's force includes heavy cruisers HIJMS Myoko and Haguro, light cruisers HIJMS Agano and Sendai, six destroyers and four
destroyer-transports.
The Japanese force is intercepted by the four radar-equipped USN light cruisers of Task Force 39, USS Cleveland, Columbia, Denver and Montpelier and eight destroyers. At 0150 hour, all four U.S. cruisers take the light cruiser HIJMS Sendai under 6-inch fire and set her afire; the cruiser is abandoned at 0200 hours and she soon sinks with most of her crew. Two Japanese destroyers collide while avoiding U.S. shell fire and at 0300 hours, the heavy cruiser HIJMS Myoko collides with another destroyer; the American destroyers sink this latter destroyer and the Japanese withdraw with the remaining Japanese forces. Japanese planes attack TF 39 during its retirement from the scene of battle, damaging light cruiser USS Montpelier.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): In the Celebes, 11 B-24's bomb Maniang and nearby Pombelaa. A lone B-24 scores hit on ship off Kavieng.

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: Japanese aircraft reinforcements, 82 Zeros, 45 Vals, 40 Kates and six reconnaissance aircraft, arrive at Rabaul, New Britain Island. There are now about 200 aircraft based at Rabaul.
A lone USAAF Fifth Air Force B-24 scores hit on ship off Kavieng, New Ireland Island. During the night of 1st November, two USAAF Thirteenth Air Force radar snooper B-24s attack a convoy west of Cape Saint George on New Ireland Island.

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.

1945

 

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1941:
JAPAN: Japanese Foreign Minister TOGO Shigenori sends the following message to the Japanese embassy in Washington, D.C.: "The Government has for a number of days since the forming of the new Cabinet been holding meetings with the Imperial headquarters. We have carefully considered a fundamental policy for improving relations between Japan and America, but we expect to reach a final decision in a meeting on the morning of the 5th and will let you know the result at once. This will be our Government's last effort to improve diplomatic relations. The situation is very grave. When we resume negotiations, the situation makes it urgent that we reach a decision at once. This is at present only for your information. When we take up these negotiations once more, we trust you will handle everything with the greatest of care."

UNITED STATES: Army Intelligence prepares the following estimate regarding the situation in the Far East:
- 1. After four years of war in China, Japan is militarily over-extended on the mainland of Asia, economically weak, and psychologically aware of the fact that her economic structure is crumbling.
- 2. For obvious reasons both Germany and China would like to embroil the United State in a large scale war with Japan. While Japan is reluctant to go to war with us, her political and economic situations demand action. She has the following alternatives:
- a. Attack Siberia to neutralize the threat on her flank and rear.
- b. Occupy Thailand as a base from which to launch an offensive against Burma or Malaya.
- c. Contain or isolate the Philippine Islands and Hong Kong and seize the Netherlands East Indies.
- d. Launch a direct attack on Singapore.
- e. Make a determined effort to bring the war in China to a close by cutting China's last supply route, the Burma Road.
- f. Bide her time while disposing her forces from north to such in such a way that she will be able to seize the opportunity for successful aggression in whatever direction it presents itself.
- 3. A Japanese attack on Siberia is unlikely as long as Russian resistance in Europe continues, and as long as the Siberian forces are not materially reduced in strength. Action under b above might, and under c or d above would certainly bring Japan into armed conflict with ABD powers-a situation which Japan, at present, wishes to avoid.
- 4. A drive from Indo-China into Yunnan would probably not involve Japan with any Third Power. Although an extremely difficult operation for the Japanese, requiring elaborate preparation on their part, a successful drive into Yunnan and across the Burma Road, even if it did not cause China's early capitulation would nevertheless, be a terrific blow at her chances of holding out. It would not however, have the effect of immediately releasing any considerable Japanese force for use elsewhere, since long-drawn out mopping up operations would probably be necessary.
- 5. Because of the ruggedness of the terrain in southern Yunnan, and the almost complete lack of communications, the Chinese, if determined, could put up a very strong resistance even with the means now at their disposal. Such a defense would further deplete Japan's meager resources and immobilize her remaining reserves. (For a description of the terrain see Tab A.)
- 6. Japan's most probable line of action, therefore, will be to continue her efforts to secure a relaxation of American economic pressure while completing her plans and arranging her forces for an advance in the direction which will be most fruitful of quick results.

1942
EAST INDIES: USAAF Fifth Air Force B-26 Marauders bomb Dili on East Timor Island, Netherlands East Indies.

(POA, Seventh Air Force): The 370th, 371st, 372d and 424th Bombardment Squadrons, 307th BG (Heavy), arrive at Kipapa Field, Wheeler Field, Kahuku and Dillingham Field, Hawaii respectively from the US with B-24s (sea-search missions are flown in Nov-Dec).

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Joint Chiefs of Staff): The 68th Fighter Squadron, 347th Fighter Group, arrives on New Caledonia from Tongatabu, Tonga with P-40s (first mission is 12 Nov).

NEW GUINEA: In Papua New Guinea, the Australian 25th Brigade, which has reentered the battle for the Kokoda Track, seizes Kokoda and its airfield, greatly facilitating supply and reinforcement of Australians in this area. Piecemeal movement by night of the 128th Infantry Regiment, U.S. 32d Infantry Division, less elements still at Port Moresby, by lugger from Warngela to Pongani and Mendaropu is completed by this time and supplies are being accumulated. General Douglas MacArthur, Commander in Chief, Southwest Pacific Area, sets 15 November as the tentative date for an attack to reduce the Buna-Gona beachhead and agrees to a proposal by General Thomas Blamey, Commander in Chief Allied Land Forces Southwest Pacific and Commander in Chief Australian Military Force, that troops be transferred by air to Pongani.
- USAAF Fifth Air Force B-17s sink a Japanese army cargo ship off Buna.

NEW HEBRIDES ISLANDS: A "Glen" small seaplane is launched by a Japanese submarine and flies a reconnaissance mission over Efate Island.

PACIFIC OCEAN: In the Tonkin Gulf of the South China Sea, USN submarine USS Tambor lays mines in Hainan Strait between Hainan Island and the Chinese mainland.

BISMARK SEA: In the Bismarck Sea, USAAF Fifth Air Force B-17's attack shipping northeast of Buna, Papua New Guinea while.

SOLOMON ISLANDS:In the Solomon Sea, USAAF Fifth Air Force B-25's strike at a convoy south of New Britain Island, Bismarck Archipelago.

GUADALCANAL: On Guadalcanal, the 3d Marine Regiment envelops the Japanese on the coast at Point Cruz. The 3d Battalion joins the 1st Battalion in the coastal battle east of Point Cruz while the 2d Battalion, on the left, drives north to the coast west of Point Cruz and turns east, trapping the Japanese. The 2d Marine Regiment (less 3d Battalion) moves forward on the left of the 5th Marine Regiment to continue a westward attack. Stores, ammunition, and one Army and one Marine Corps 155 mm gun battery arrive at Lunga Point. The two batteries are the heaviest U.S. artillery to reach the island and the first capable of countering enemy fire effectively. East of the Lunga perimeter, the 2d Battalion of the 7th Marine Regiment crosses the Metapona River mouth and establishes itself near Tetere village. During the night 2/3 November, the Japanese 17th Army lands supplies and about 1,500 men east of Koli Point to supply and reinforce the Japanese already there; they are ordered to construct an airfield.

1943
CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 5 B-25's and 12 P-40's pound docks and warehouses at Shasi, China.

BURMA: The Japanese along the Tarung River are withstanding the efforts of the 112th Regiment, Chinese 38th Division, to advance; the Japanese wipe out a company of the 1st Battalion.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): 20 B-24's bomb Kahili Airfield. The 13th Troop Carrier Squadron, 403d Troop Carrier Group, transfers from Tontouta, New Caledonia to Espirtu Santo, New Hebrides with C-47's.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): In support of Allied landings on Bougainville 75 B-25's, with an escort of 70 P-38's of the 8th FG and 49th FG, attack Rabaul airfields and harbor installations; 3 destroyers and 8 merchant sunk: Italy Maru; the B-25's and P-38's claim 12 aircraft destroyed on the ground and 68 shot down; AA and air opposition is the strongest thus far encountered by the Fifth Air Force; 21 US airplanes are lost. For the bombers, 28 men listed as MIA with 7 killed in action. The fighter pilots lost 8 pilots MIA/KIA. Lost are: B-25D 41-30311 (Medal of Honor), B-25C "Tugboat Annie" 41-12998, B-25D "Notre Dame De Victoire" 41-30316, B-25D "Miss Ellen" 41-30039, P-38G 42-12848, P-38H 42-66821, P-38H 42-66843, P-38G 43-2387, P-38G 43-2203.

P-39's pound a road in the Bogadjim area and A-20's bomb and strafe communication routes near Fortification Point. The 418th Night Fighter Squadron, AAF School of Applied Tactics, arrives pat Milne Bay from the U.S. with P-38's and P-70's.

USN - Rear Admiral Merrill's Task Force 39 moves to deny the Japanese access to Empress Augusta Bay. Japanese heavy cruisers and American Cruisers engage in artillery duels. Japanese aircraft also join in the battle.

As part of "Operation Shoestring 2", Task Force 38 including USS Saratoga and USS Princeton attack Buka Airfield and Bonis Airfield, to cover the landings at Torokina. Lost areTBF Avenger 24071, TBF Avenger 06117 (rescued), TBF Avenger 24176 (rescued, one MIA). Damaged is F6F Hellcat 08984 (repaired)

USN submarines sink seven Japanese ships (six of the ships are from one convoy):
- After 0100 hours, USS Seahorse sinks an army cargo ship about 318 nautical miles SE of Kagoshima,
Kyushu Island, Japan, in position 28.20N, 135.22E.
- After 0200 hours, USS Trigger sinks an army transport about 317 nautical miles SE of Kagoshima,
Kyushu Island, Japan, in position 28.20N, 135.20E.
- After 0300 hours, USS Trigger sinks an army cargo ship about 229 nautical miles SE of Kagoshima, Kyushu Island, Japan, in position 28.49N, 134.50E.
- After 0400 hours, USS Seahorse sinks an army cargo ship about 310 nautical miles ESE of Kagoshima, Kyushu Island, Japan, in position 28.40N, 135.25E and an armed transport about 289 nautical miles SE of Kagoshima in position 28.31N, 134.50E.
- After 0900 hours, USS Halibut sinks an army cargo ship about 295 nautical miles SE of Kagoshima in
position 28.20N, 134.48E. at 28-20 N, 134-48 E.
- After 2100 hours USS Haddock sinks a merchant cargo ship about 405 nautical miles SE of Guam,
Mariana Islands, in position 09.18N, 150.09E.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: On Bougainville, the 3d Marine Division is slowly expanding the beachhead and organizing defenses. The 3d Marine Regiment, which has had hard fighting on the right flank, is exchanging places with 9th Marine Regiment. Puruata Island. is cleared by noon.

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.

1945

 

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1938
JAPAN: The Government says that the establishment of a new order is the ultimate purpose of military campaign in China stating, "This new order has for its foundation a tripartite relationship of mutual aid and coordination between Japan, Manchukuo, and China in political, economic, cultural, and other fields. Its object is to secure international justice, to perfect the joint defense against Communism, and to create a new culture and realize a close economic cohesion throughout East Asia."Premier KONOYE Fumimaro says Japan is eager to see a new order established in East Asia because ". . . China heretofore has been a victim of the rivalry between the Powers, whose imperialistic ambitions have constantly imperiled her tranquility and independence. Japan realizes the need of fundamentally rectifying such a state of affairs . . ."

1939
UNITED STATES: The U.S. Congress amends the Neutrality Act of May 1937, repealing the embargo on arms to belligerents, but also placing the sale of arms exports to belligerents on a cash-and-carry basis. This allows U.S. munitions manufacturers to sell arms to the Allies while avoiding the war debt problems which emerged during World War I and soured post-war American-Allied relations.

1940
AUSTRALIA: The German auxiliary cruiser HK Pinguin, Ship 33 or Raider "F" to the British, lays her third minefield in Spencer Gulf west of Adelaide, South Australia.

FIJI ISLANDS: Headquarters New Zealand 8 Infantry Brigade is established at Suva on Viti Levu Island.

1941
JAPAN: U.S. Ambassador to Japan Joseph C. Grew warns the U.S. that Japan might "resort with dangerous and dramatic suddenness to measures which might make inevitable war with the United States." He says, ". . . underestimating Japan's obvious preparations to implement a program in
the event the alternative peace program fails, would be short-sighted. Similarly it would be short-sighted for American policy to be based upon the belief that Japanese preparations are no more than saber rattling, merely intended to give moral support to the high pressure diplomacy of Japan."
The Combined Japanese Fleet receives Top-Secret Order No. 1: In 34 days time, Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, is to be bombed, along with Malaya, the Netherlands East Indies, and the Philippine Islands.

PACIFIC OCEAN: The evacuation of women and children from the U.S. Pacific islands of Guam, Midway and Wake begins.

1942
BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: USAAF Fifth Air Fore B-17's attack a ship south of Gasmata, New Britain Island.

CHINA: Chinese Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek agrees conditionally to plans formulated during a recent conference in India, promising 15 divisions from Yunnan, provided the Allies furnish strong sea and air forces.
Lt. General Joseph Stilwell, Commander in Chief US China-Burma-India Theater of Operations, Chief of Staff to Chiang Kai-Shek and Commander in Chief Northern Area Combat Command (NCAC) in Burma, is to command the Chinese Army in India (CAl) during Burma operations. Chiang’s promise of the Yunnan divisions leads to accelerated planning for the reorganization of Yunnan force, called Y-Force.

EAST INDIES: USAAF Fifth Air Force B-26 Marauders bomb Dili on Portugese Timor Island.

NEW GUINEA: In Northeast New Guinea, USAAF Fifth Air Force B-17's bomb the airfield and wharf at Lae.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: On Guadalcanal, the 2d Battalion 7th Marine Regiment, begins a firefight with Japanese units east of the Metapona River. Without radio contact or air or naval support, Colonel Herman Hanneken, commander of the 7th Marine Regiment, conservatively pulls back. When he is finally able to contact Major General Alexander Vandegrift, Commanding General 1st Marine Division, in the afternoon, the 1st Battalion 7th Marine Regiment, by boat, with the 2nd and 3rd Battalions 164th Infantry Regiment, are sent to reinforce. With initial assistance of the Cactus Air Force, and the artillery of the 3rd Battalion 10th Marine Regiment, they turn the tide east of the Lunga Perimeter. In the closing moments the 2d Battalion receive friendly fire from the Cactus Air Force.
General Hattori has arrived on Guadalcanal to observe and report the situation of the 17th Army to Tokyo. His initial accounts are of battalions crushed by shelling; the "actual situation is beyond imagination. " He reports that no future contribution from the 2nd Division should be counted on.

1943
CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 21 B-24's, supported by 30 fighters, pound Kowloon Docks in Hong Kong; 4 Japanese fighters are claimed shot down; 9 B-25's and 12 P-40's pound various targets in the Shihshow-Hwajung-Owchihkow area. 8 P-40's bomb runways and installations at Lashio, Burma.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): 19 B-24's attack a convoy about 150 miles SE of Mussau in the Bismarck Archipelago; the B-24's claim hits on 3 vessels.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): B-25's hit barges between Alexishafen and Bogadjim. Several are hit by intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire, B-25G 42-64850. In New Britain, B-24's fly light strikes against shipping (sinking 1 vessel) between Talasea and Cape Gloucester.

EAST INDIES: USAAF Fifth Air Force B-24s bomb Boela on the northeast coast of Ceram Island, Netherlands East Indies.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: The 3d Marine Division continues to improve beachhead positions on Bougainville. At 1800 hour local, the 3d Marine Regiment takes responsibility for the left flank and the 9th Marine Regiment for the right flank. A 3d Raider Battalion patrol moves to Torokina Island and makes a search for the Japanese, but finds none.

HAWAIIAN ISLANDS: The USN battleship USS Oklahoma (BB-37), sunk at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, is refloated. The ship enters dry dock on 28 December and is decommissioned on 1 September 1944. Oklahoma is stripped of guns and superstructure, and sold 5 December 1946 for scrap.
While being towed from Pearl Harbor to San Francisco, California, USA, on 17 May 1947, Oklahoma parts her tow line and sinks 540 nautical miles out bound from Pearl Harbor.

USN: The Northern Attack Force (Task Force 52) completes rehearsal for Operation GALVANIC (plans for operations to capture, occupy, defend and develop bases in the Gilbert Islands and Nauru).

RAAF - Lost on a strike against Palmalmal Plantation is A-20C Boston A28-29.

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.

1945

 

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1939
U.S.A.: President Roosevelt today signed the new Neutrality Act repealing the embargo on the export of arms to belligerent countries. His signature releases at least 44 million of arms ordered by Britain and France before the embargo came into effect with the declaration of war. Between 300 and 400 aircraft are said to waiting in American ports for shipment to Britain and France, and orders for at least another 2,500 have been held up.
Congress passed the Neutrality Act in 1935 and renewed it in 1936 and 1937. It was backed by isolationists who believed that America was pressurised into war against its interests in 1917 and who insist that it must remain neutral and keep out of any European conflict.
On 21 September the president went before Congress and asked it to repeal the law. The Senate responded on 28 October and the House of Representatives followed. The vote reflects a perceptible shift in American public opinion towards the Allies, due mainly to stories of Nazi atrocities.
In theory, the embargo affected all belligerents, so its lifting could allow Germany, as well as the Allies, to buy arms from American factories. In practice Britain and France control the seas, so the lifting of the embargo is being hailed as a great victory for the Allies.

1940
COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: Major General Brereton arrives on Pan American Clipper to take up his appointment as Commander, FEAF, bringing with him a draft of revised Rainbow-5 calling for defence of entire Philippine Commonwealth.

1942
ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: Japanese submarine HIJMS RO-65 is sunk in the harbor of Kiska Island, when she accidentally dives into a reef while seeking to avoid an attack. Bad weather at Umnak Island and Dutch Harbor on Unalaska Island and a flooded field at Adak Island preclude missions by the USAAF Eleventh Air Force; a new Adak Island runway permits an air alert.

EAST INDIES: USAAF Fifth Air Force B-26 Marauders bomb Japanese strongpoints at Aileu on Portugese (East) Timor Island.

FIJI ISLANDS: Japanese submarine I-31 launches a "Glen" seaplane to reconnoiter Suva.

NEW CALEDONIA: Japanese submarine HIJMS I-9 launches a "Glen" seaplane to reconnoiter Nouméa, New Caledonia Island.

NEW GUINEA: In Papua New Guinea, the Australian 16th Brigade begins an attack on Oivi and finds the Japanese prepared fora firm stand. Colonel Leif Sverdrup, the deputy to the Southwest Pacific Area Engineer Officer, by this time has cleared sites for three more airfields in the general vicinity of Dyke Ackland Bay, the most important of these at Pongani.
In Northeast New Guinea, USAAF Fifth Air Force B-17's and B-25's bomb the town and harbor of Salamaua.
In Papua New Guinea, A-20's hit troop concentrations at Oivi, where an Australian attack meets firm resistance; transports fly most of the remainder of the U.S. 128th Infantry Regiment, 32d Infantry Division, to Wanigela.

AUSTRALIA:HQ 90th BG and the 319th, 320th, 321st and 400th Bombardment Squadrons arrive at Iron Range, Queensland, Australia from Hawaii with B-24s (first mission is 13 Nov).

SOLOMON ISLANDS: Lunga perimeter command is reorganized and garrison is reinforced, two sectors are established, the commander of each being responsible to 1st Marine Division headquarters. Brigadier General William H. Rupertus, Assistant Commanding General of the division, is assigned the sector east of Lunga River and Brigadier General Edmund B. Sebree, Assistant Commanding General of the Americal Division, the western sector.
The 8th Marine Regiment, reinforced, of the 2d Marine Division debarks from a naval task force in the Lunga-Kukum area and is attached to 1st Marine Division.
The 1st Marine Division halts their westward offensive short of Kokumbona because of a Japanese threat east of perimeter. The 2d Marine Regiment (less 3d Battalion), reinforced by the 1st Battalion of the 164th Infantry Regiment, after driving 2,000 yards (1829 meters) west of Point Cruz, breaks off their attack and digs in at Point Cruz; the 5th Marine Regiment and the Whaling Group return to positions east of the Matanikau River.
East of the perimeter, Brigadier General Rupertus and Headquarters and 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, arrive in the Koli Point area to assist the 2d Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment. The 164 Infantry Regiment (less 1st Battalion) and Company B of the 8th Marine Regiment march to the west bank of the Nalimbiu River in the region south of the 7th Marine Regiment and elements start north along the river. Meanwhile, the naval task force transporting the 8th Marine Regiment lands forces at Aola Bay to establish an airfield.
The Aola Force (1st Battalion of 147th Infantry Regiment; companies C and E of the 2d Marine Raider Battalion; the 5th Defense Battalion detachment; Battery K of the 246th Field Artillery Battalion, Americal Division; and 500 naval construction troops) establishes a beachhead a little east of the Aola River without opposition.
This landing is the result of the cancellation of the landings on Ndeni Island in the Santa Cruz Islands; Rear Admiral Richmond K. Turner, commander of Amphibious Force, South Pacific Force, wants to build another airfield there.
Coastwatcher Martin Clemens and Major General Alexander Vandegrift, Commanding General 1st Marine Division, oppose this plan. Work is begun at once on an airfield, but the site is later found unsuitable. The 2d Raider Battalion is ordered to Koli Point.
USN cruisers and destroyers of Task Group 65.4 bombard Japanese positions near Koli Point, Guadalcanal.

1943
BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: On New Britain Island, USAAF Fifth Air Force P-40s bomb Jacquinot Bay Aerodrome and B-24s on armed reconnaissance claim one vessel sunk north of New Britain Island.
Vice Admiral Kurita Takeo, Commander-in-Chief Second Fleet, leads ten cruisers and ten destroyers into Rabaul, New Britain Island. These vessels seriously threaten the beachheads on Bougainville Island, Solomon Islands. Since they are sighted en route by a USN PB4Y-1 Liberator, USN Task Force 38, with land-based air cover, is ordered to mount an air strike.

BURMA: The 112th Regiment, Chinese 38th Division, digs in at their current positions in northern Burma, since all efforts to advance have been futile and costly. The 2d Battalion is still short of Sharaw Ga. By this time, the 1st Battalion, directed against Yupbang Ga, is isolated by a Japanese roadblock and must be supplied by air; the 3d Battalion is pinned down at Ngajatzup, 30 miles SW of Ningbyen.

CHINA: The Chinese-American Composite Wing enters combat on this date. It's B-25s hit Amoy and Swatow successfully bombing and strafing ground troops, supply facilities, and shipping; the B-25 crews sink a Japanese cargo ship in Swatow harbor; the ship was carrying 100,000,000 Yuan in Central Reserve Bank notes. The Chinese-American Composite Wing consisted of a medium bomber group and two fighter groups consisting of four squadron each that were attached to the USAAF Fourteenth Air Force.

PACIFIC OCEAN: USN submarine Silversides lays a minefield off New Ireland Island, Bismarck Archipelago; subsequently, a Japanese surveying ship and a transport are sunk and light cruiser HIJMS Isuzu and destroyer HIJMS Isokaze, are damaged.
USN submarines sink two Japanese ships:
- USS Tautog torpedoes and sinks a Japanese submarine chaser after 1100 hours in the Philippine Sea about 23 nautical miles NW of Koror, Koror Island, Palau Islands, Caroline Islands, in position 7.34N, 134.09E.
- USS Seawolf sinks a 3,177 ton freighter after 2200 hours in the South China Sea about 71 nautical miles SW of the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong in position 21.22N, 113.20E.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: The 2d Marine Parachute Battalion withdraws from Choiseul Island in Landing Craft Infantry vessels (LCIs).

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): 8 x F4Us escort 23 B-24's strike the airfield on Buka, dropping 184 thousand pound bombs from 19,000'. They meet no fighter opposition.

UNITED STATES: The War Department Operations Division recommends that current commitments to China be fulfilled; that a limited bomber offensive from China be mounted; and that only 30 Chinese divisions be trained and equipped, plus equipment for three additional divisions in order to start training of the ZEBRA Force (U.S. sponsored Chinese divisions in east China).

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.

1945

 

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1931
UNITED STATES: Secretary of State Henry Stimson sends a note to Japan urging a peaceful solution of the Manchurian issue in spirit of the League of Nations Council resolutions.

1940
UNITED STATES: Presidential and Congressional elections are held in the country:
- In the Presidential race, the Democratic Party candidates, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Henry Wallace, defeat the Republican candidates, Wendell L Willkie and Charles L McNary. Wilkie carries ten states, Roosevelt carries the other 38. Roosevelt wins an unprecedented third term with 54.7 percent of the popular vote and 84.6 percent of the Electoral College vote (449 versus 82). British Prime Minister Winston Churchill carefully refrains from any public comment about the election campaign. Although Wilkie spoke out in support of aid to Britain, Churchill undoubtedly prefers Roosevelt's re-election.
- In the Senate contests, the Democrats lose three seats, the Republicans gain five and independents lose two. The Democrats control the Senate with 66 of 96 seats.
- In the House of Representatives contests, the Democrats gain five seats, the Republicans lose seven and the independents gain two. The Democrats control the House with 267 of 435 seats. Former Washington Senators pitcher Walter Johnson, who won 416 games for the Senators, goes down in defeat as a Republican candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland.

1941
JAPAN: The U.S. and Japanese governments have been holding discussions about the deteriorating relations between the two countries and how they could be resolved. The discussions have not been very successful. Today, the Japanese Foreign Ministry sends the following message to their embassy in Washington, D.C.: “(Of utmost secrecy). Because of various circumstances, it is absolutely necessary that all arrangements for the signing of this agreement be completed by the 25th of this month. I realize that this is a difficult order, but under the circumstances it is an unavoidable one. Please understand this thoroughly and tackle the problem of saving the Japanese-U. S relations from falling into a chaotic condition. Do so with great determination and with unstinted effort, I beg of you. This information is to be kept strictly to yourself only.”

1942
ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: The USAAF Eleventh Air Force flies weather reconnaissance over Japanese held Kiska and Little Kiska Islands.

INDIA: A reconnaissance of the Ledo area, terminus of The Ledo Road to Myitkyina, Burma, and base from which operations in northern Burma, Operation RAVENOUS, are to start, is begun.

NEW GUINEA: In Papua New Guinea, the Australian 16th Brigade continues their attack on Oivi against determined resistance. The Australian 25th Brigade moves against Gorari from Kokoda.

Bismarck Archipelago: USAAF Fifth Air Force B-25 Mitchells unsuccessfully attack a schooner near Arawe on the western tip of New Britain Island,

GUADALCANAL: On Guadalcanal, the US Army's 164th Infantry Regiment (less 1st Battalion) crosses the flooded Nalimbiu River about 3,500 yards, east of the Lunga perimeter, and drive north along the east bank in an effort to outflank the Japanese facing the 7th Marine Regiment.
The Japanese light cruiser HIJMS Tenryu and five destroyers of the Otsu Detachment of the Tokyo Express lands part of the 228th Regiment at Cape Esperance, Guadalcanal. The Ko Detachment with ten destroyers of the Tokyo Express lands Major General Ito, commander of the 38th Infantry Group, his headquarters and with the balance of the regiment is landed at Tassafaronga. Among those evacuated is Lieutenant General Kawaguchi Kiyotake, commander of the 35th Brigade, 141 soldiers and 206 construction workers. The U.S. opposition tonight consists of motor torpedo boat PT-39 engaging destroyer HIJMS Murasame. The other three US PT boats do not detect the Express.

1943
BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: USN F6F Hellcats from Barakoma Field on Vella Lavella Island, Solomon Islands, cover Task Force 38 which launches 22 SBDs, 23 TBFs and 52 F6Fs from the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga and small aircraft carrier USS Princeton to attack the ten Japanese cruisers and ten destroyers in the harbor at Rabaul, New Britain Island. The carrier-based aircraft severely damage
four heavy cruisers, HIJMS Atago, Takao, Maya, Chikuma, and Mogami, two light cruisers, HIJMS Noshiro and Agano, and two destroyers, HIJMS Fujinami and Amagiri, at a loss of one SBD, four TBFs and five F6Fs.
The Japanese lose one "Sally" bomber and 27 Zero and Tony fighters. As Japanese aircraft fly off to search for the aircraft carriers, over 90 USAAF Fifth Air Force B-24s and fighters attack the wharf areas at Rabaul. Because of this attack, the Japanese Navy orders all surface warships at Rabaul to sail to Truk Atoll, Caroline Islands.
Captain Richard I. Bong shoots down two Zeros over Rabaul, New Britain Island. These two bring his total victories to 21.

CHINA: Lieutenant General Joseph Stilwell, commander of the U.S. China-Burma-India Theater of Operations, Chief of Staff to Chinese Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek, Commander of the Northern Area Combat Command (NCAC) in Burma and Deputy Commander in Chief of the South-East Asia Command (SEAC), submits a report to Chiang Kai-shek on SEAC planning and progress of preparations for an attack from Yunnan by the Chinese Yannan Force (Y-Force).

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): The 459th Fighter Squadron, 80th Fighter Group, transfers from Karachi to Kurmitola, India with P-38's. They will fly their first mission on 14 Nov.

NEW GUINEA: In Northeast New Guinea, USAAF Fifth Air Force B-26s and P-39s hit Bogadjim Road while B-25s attack positions northwest of Dumpu, and P-39s bomb and strafe the Madang area. P-47s over Wewak encounter a force of fighters and claim about 20 shot down.
The 67th Troop Carrier Squadron, 433d Troop Carrier Group, transfers from Port Moresby to Nadzab, New Guinea with C-47's. Lost on an armed reconnaissance mission is B-24D 42-40972.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: In the zone of the 9th Marine Regiment on Bougainville Island, the Army's 3d Ranger Battalion repels an attack by the Japanese 23rd Regiment against a block on a local trail, called
Mission Trail. Later the Rangers and the 3d Battalion of the 9th Marine Regiment drive up Mission Trail toward its junction with the Numa Numa Trail.
The Numa Numa and East-West Trails are the two main trails on Cape Torokina. There is not much of a Japanese movement on land to counter these landings because of the difficult terrain and because the Japanese feel these landings are a feint.
Six USAAF Thirteenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells hit a bivouac area at Kieta on the west coast of Bougainville Island and sink at least six barges between Kieta and Banin Harbor.

1944
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.

1945

 

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1937
JAPAN: U.S. Ambassador to Japan Joseph C. Grew sends the following message to Washington regarding Italy signing the Anti-Comintern pact: “The threat to England is very real and immediately apparent upon reflection that with the addition of Japan to the Rome-Berlin axis the life-line of the British Empire is threatened from the North Sea through the Mediterranean and beyond Singapore."

1939
JAPAN: U.S. Ambassador Joseph C. Grew gives an official protest against Japanese violations of the Open Door policy in China. In the fall of 1898, U.S. President William McKinley stated his desire for the creation of an "open door" that would allow all trading nations access to the Chinese market. In 1899, the U.S. sought a formal endorsement of the concept by circulating diplomatic notes among the major powers however, none of them would sign it and the U.S. simply announced that agreement had been reached. Only Russia and Japan voiced displeasure.

1942
NEW GUINEA: General Dougla s MacArthur, Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in the Southwest Pacific, arrives in Point Moresby, Papua New Guinea, where the Advanced Echelon of General Headquarters opens to direct operations.
The Australian 2/2nd and 2/3rd Battalions, 16th Brigade, 7th Division, continue heavy fighting against the Japanese at Oivi in Papua New Guinea.

PACIFIC OCEAN: A single USAAF Fifth Air Force B-25 attacks a Japanese destroyer off the southern tip of New Ireland Island, Bismarck Archipelago; no hits are scored.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: On Guadalcanal, the 7th Marine Regiment establishes a bridgehead on the east bank of the Nalimbiu River. The Army's 164th Infantry Regiment (less 1st Battalion) continues toward Koli Point, the 3d Battalion reaching it after nightfall. Aola Force transports complete unloading operations and withdraw.
The run of the Tokyo Express tonight is commanded by Captain Sato Torajiro. The Cactus Air Force strikes for some damage, but not enough to stop the run.

(Tenth Air Force): INDIA AIR TASK FORCE (IATF): In India, the 25th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group, based at Karachi, sends a detachment to operate from Sadiya with P-40s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): General Douglas MacArthur arrives in Point Moresby, New Guinea, where the Advanced Echelon of GHQ opens to direct operations. Force landed is DC-5 Tail Code VH-CXB near Charleville

UNITED STATES: First USN officer and enlisted women from training schools report for shore duty around the country.

1943
CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force): Advanced HQ, Seventh Air Force, is set up on Funafuti Atoll in the Ellice to provide a HQ closer to targets in the Gilbert and Marshall . VII Air Force Service Command and VII Bomber Command also establish forward echelons at Funafuti. Landing fields are being built on Baker; and Nukufetau and Nanumea to be used, along with existing fields at Canton in the Phoenix and Funafuti Atoll in the Ellice as operational bases for attacks on Tarawa and Makin; Mille; Maloelap and Jaluit Atolls in the Marshall and Nauru . These operations will mark the assumption of the offensive by the Seventh Air Force and will play a conspicuous role in the invasion and occupation of the Gilbert and Marshall

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 2 B-24's lay mines in the Rangoon River during the night of 6/7 Nov.

INDIA: The Government of India accepts the offer of U.S. troops to help operate the Bengal and Assam Railroad.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): 9 B-25's with USN fighter support hit the airfield and harbor of Buka. 1 B-25 bombs Kieta and attacks Tinputs Harbor; 7 barges and small vessels are claimed sunk; 24 B-25's with fighter support follow USN dive bombers and fighters in an attack on Kara Airfield; and 17 B-24's bomb Bonis Airfield.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): P-40's hit Gasmata. Enemy airplanes attack Nadzab, Dumpu, and Finschhafen but cause no major damage. Lost due to engine failure is P-40E "The Spoddessape" 41-25178 and B-24D "Miss Deed" 42-72814. The 17th Reconnaissance Squadron (Bombardment) and 82d Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter), 71st Reconnaissance Group, arrive at Milne Bay, New Guinea from the U.S. with B-25's and P-39's respectively. The squadrons will fly their first missions on 28 Jan 44 and 27 Nov respectively.

PACIFIC OCEAN: After 0200 hours, the USN submarine USS Haddock sinks an oiler and an armed oiler about 102 nautical miles WNW of Truk Atoll, Caroline Islands.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: On Bougainville Island, the 1st Battalion, 21st Marine Regiment, arrives to reinforce the 3d Marine Divisions beachhead. Meanwhile, Japanese troops, transported by destroyers, land near Cape Torokina.

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.

1945

 

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1931
CHINA: Chinese Communist Party member Mao Zedong announced the establishment of the Chinese Soviet Republic in Jiangxi (Kiangsi) province.

1941
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS: The following Communications Intelligence Summary is sent from Commander Edwin Layton to Admiral Husband E. Kimmel, Commander in Chief United States Fleet: "General.-Volume of intercepted traffic larger than usual. Due to the use of the general call "All Major Force Flags" on the UTU for delivery to all Combined Fleet units, affiliation of unidentified calls with forces to which attached is very difficult. Use of large number of alternate calls for major fleet forces, many of which have not yet been definitely identified or associated with known calls, renders the picture more confusing. Appearance of the prefix "JITSU" (authenticator for bona fide traffic) in several messages indicates that a communication drill is being held but without indication as to what units are participating and therefore much of the traffic is suspected of being "drill." Jaluit Radio is handling traffic direct with Yokosuka Radio probably due to congestion of Mandate circuits from the Marshalls caused by heavy concentrations in that area.
"Air.-Continued high traffic level for all classes of air activities, mainly centered in the Taiwan area, but also with all air activities in the Mandates included in headings of messages. Dispatches originated by Fourth Fleet Command included Air Forces, Base Forces, Air Stations, and all types of Mandate activities in long headings.
"Fleet.-Fourth Fleet Command remains in Truk area. There are indications that portions of the First Fleet may be moving to the Takao area but identifications are not sufficiently certain to confirm this.
"Greatest effort is being made to increase the number of identified calls to facilitate analysis of the traffic but Orange changes in methods of handling fleet traffic renders this more difficult than had been hoped."

JAPAN: The Combined Fleet Operations Order No. 2 states, "This order was issued by Commander-in- Chief, Combined Fleet, after he had received verbal notification from Chief, Naval General Staff, that 8 December had been tentatively selected as "Y" Day."

UNITED STATES: Secretary of State Cordell Hull warns the Cabinet that relations with Japan are extremely critical.

1942
ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: Six USAAF Eleventh Air Force B-24s and two B-26's attack the submarine base in Japanese-held Kiska Island Harbor, slightly damaging float fighters and a seaplane beached by a storm; a B-17 flies reconnaissance over the airfield west of Holtz Bay on Japanese-held Attu Island, and bombs the submarine base and a previously-damaged freighter in Gertrude Cove on Kiska Island.

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: USAAF Fifth Air Force B-25s attack shipping at Maklo Island off the south coast of New Britain Island.

CHINA: Lieutenant General Joseph Stilwell, Commander in Chief US CBI Theater of Operations, Chief of Staff to Chinese Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek and Commander in Chief Northern Area Combat Command (NCAC) in Burma, with the approval of Chinese Foreign Minister T. V. Soong, sends for Major General Raymond Wheeler, head of the Services of Supply, CBI Theater, to survey the Chinese supply situation in preparation for projected campaign in spring of 1943.

NEW GUINEA: USAAF Fifth Air Force A-20s bomb and strafe forces at Kakandeta in the Owen Stanley Range, Papua New Guinea while B-25's attack seaplanes at Lasonga Island. The 65th Bombardment Squadron, 43d BG (Heavy), moves from Iron Range to Mareeba with B-17s (first mission is 12 Nov).

SOLOMON ISLANDS: On Guadalcanal, the Army's 164th Infantry Regiment enveloping force completes their northward movement along the east bank of the Nalimbiu River to Koli Point and joins the 7th Marine Regiment. The combined force then moves east along coast without opposition to within a mile of the Metapona River. Seven Marine SBD Dauntlesses and three Navy TBF Avengers escorted by 21 Marine Wildcats and nine USAAF Airacobras from Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, attack a Japanese convoy, damaging destroyers HIJMS Naganami and Takanami. The 12 transports in the convoy are carrying 12,000 Japanese troops of the 38th Division for Japan's fourth attempt to take Henderson Field, Guadalcanal.

1943
CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 2 B-25's pound Amoy harbor, claiming several boats sunk. 6 P-40's attack a bridge at Hsiangyangchiao, causing only minor damage.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): In the Solomons, 8 B-25's bomb barge concentration and beach targets in Atsinima Bay. 21 B-24's pound the airfield on Buka.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: On Bougainville Island, the American beachhead undergoes its first major counterattack. Japanese destroyers from Rabaul, New
Britain Island, Bismarck Archipelago, land 475 troops between the Laruma and Koromokina Rivers early in morning. The troops attack at once in the vicinity of Koromokina lagoon and are held off by the 3d Marine Regiment, although a small outpost is cut off and must be rescued by sea.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): Aproximately 10 Japanese bombers and Ki-43 Oscar fighters of the 13th and 59th Sentai attack Nadzab. Intercepting were eight P-39Qs (40th FS) and eight P-47Ds (36th and 342nd FS). Lost were two bombers were lost including Ki-21 Sally 6323 and three Ki-43s.

25 B-24's, with an escort of 60+ P-38's, bomb Rapopo Airstrip; a large force of enemy fighters intercepts the formations and in the ensuing battle US airplanes claim 20+ fighters shot down and several more destroyed on the ground. 5 P-38's are lost: P-38H 42-66911 (pilot POW), P-38G 43-2199, P-38G 43-2386, P-38H 42-66669, P-38 of 475th FG.

9 B-25's bomb Wewak and 40+ others turn back when the fighter escort is intercepted by airplanes over Nadzab; enemy aircraft attack Nadzab and Bena Bena; 16 US aircraft are destroyed or damaged by the raids but 14 airplanes are claimed as shot down by US fighters. HQ 71st Reconnaissance Group arrives at Port Moresby from the U.S. The 529th BS (Heavy), transfers from Manbulloo to Long Strip with B-24's.

PACIFIC OCEAN: USN aircraft carrier, USS Saratoga and small aircraft carrier USS Princeton of Task Force 38, are attacked by 100 Japanese aircraft, 240 nautical miles SE of Rabaul, New Britain Island, Bismarck Archipelago, but they emerge unscathed.

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.

1945

 

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1940
AUSTRALIA: The 5,588 ton U.S. freighter SS City of Rayville is sunk, in Bass Strait 6 miles (9,7 kilometers) south of Cape Otway, Victoria, the first U.S. merchant ship to be lost in the war. (Bass Strait lies between Tasmania and the Australian mainland.) She falls victim to a mine, laid by German auxiliary cruiser Pinquin, German ship number 33 also known to the British as Raider F. It and other German ships had layed extensive minefields in major southern Australian shipping lanes. The City of Rayville is carrying 1,500 tons of lead, picked up at Port Pirie, South Australia, bound for Melbourne, Victoria. One of the 39 crewmen drowns.

JAPAN: Admiral NOMURA Kichasaburo is appointed Japanese Ambassador to the United States.

1941
UNITED STATES: The keel of the Liberty ship SS Robert E. Peary is laid at the Permanente Metals Corporation (Kaiser) No.2 Yard in Richmond, California, at 0001 hours. The 250,000 parts weighing about 7,000 tons (6 350 metric tonnes) are assembled in 4 days, 15 hours and 29 minutes and she is launched on 12 November. The ship survives the war and is scrapped in June 1963.

1942
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In the Aleutians , there is an intermittent air alert; the weather aircraft returns due to icing.

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: USAAF Fifth Air Force B-25s bomb the radio station and airfield at Gasmata on New Britain Island.

NEW GUINEA: In Papua New Guinea, USAAF Fifth Air Force A-20's hit Japanese forces in the Oivi area in the Owen Stanley Range as Australian ground forces push over the mountains toward the Gona-Buna area. USAAF transports fly the final elements of Task Force Warren (1st Battalion of 128th Infantry Regiment, U.S. 32d Infantry Division) from Port Moresby to Wanigela; from there are move forward by boat.
The 80th Fighter Squadron, 8th FG, moves from Port Moresby to Milne Bay with P-39s and P-400s. The 64th Bombardment Squadron, 43d BG (Heavy), moves from Iron Range to Mareeba with B-17s.

PACIFIC OCEAN: On her seventh war patrol, USN submarine Seawolf sinks a Japanese gunboat about 50 nautical miles SSE of Davao, Mindanao, Philippine Islands, in position 06.22N, 126.02E.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: In the action east of the Lunga perimeter, on Guadalcanal, Colonel Lewis (Chesty) Puller, Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, suffers multiple wounds. The 7th Marine Regiment and 2d Battalion of the Army's 164th Infantry Regiment, latter being attached to 7th Marine Regiment as reserve, move east along the coast to surround the Japanese now disposed astride Gavaga Creek, west of Tetere. 1st and 2d Battalions of 7th Marine Regiment take up positions on the west and east banks, respectively, of the creek.
The "Tokyo Express" has been landing reinforcements along the coast from Kokumbona to Cape Esperance during the period 28 October to date. A run of the "Express" is located too late in the day for interception by the Cactus Air Force.
During the day Admiral William F. Halsey, commander of the South Pacific Area and the South Pacific Force, lands on Guadalcanal to observe conditions for himself. Halsey is treated to a demonstration of why the Marines refer to the waters north of the island as "Sleepless Lagoon" by a shelling from the Tokyo Express.

UNITED STATES: The Bogue class auxiliary aircraft carrier (ACV) USS Card iis commissioned; the USN now has 13 ACVs in commission. The ACVs will be redesignated escort aircraft carriers (CVEs) on 15 July 1943.

1943
CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force): The 73d Fighter Squadron, 318th FG, transfers from Mokuleia Field to Bellows Field with P-47's.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 5 B-24's lay mines in the Rangoon River during the night of 8/9 Nov.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 2 B-25's bomb the Kiungshan airfield, scoring direct hits on 2 hangars; 6 P-40's attack Hsiangyangchiao bridge, causing little damage.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): On Bougainville in the Solomons , 22 B-24's bomb Bonis airfield; 6 B-25's hit targets of opportunity at the month of the Laruma River and NW of Torokina while 6 others bomb Kieta.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force):
BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: USAAF Fifth Air Force B-24s on armed reconnaissance bomb Garowe Island in the Vitu Islands.
NEW GUINEA: USAAF Fifth Air Force B-24 Liberators hit Utarom (Kaimana) Aerodrome.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: Major Gen Alexander Vandegrift, Commanding General I Marine Amphibious Corps pending arrival of Major General Roy S. Geiger, reaches Bougainville and takes command of operations there and on the Treasury Islands.
Advance elements of the 37th Infantry Division, Regimental Combat Team 148, also arrive to take over the left flank of the beachhead and are attached to 3d Marine Division. The Battle of Koromokina Lagoon ends as the 1st Battalion of the 21st Marine Regiment, after extremely effective preparatory fire, attacks and eliminates subdued remnants of the Japanese counterlanding force.
Japanese Navy aircraft, 26 "Val"s and 71 "Zeke"s attack U.S. ships off Cape Torokina, Bougainville, at 1200 hours damaging light cruiser USS Birmingham and two attack transports USS Fuller and USS President Jackson.
USAAF Thirteenth Air Force P-38s and P-40s shoot down eight "Vals" and seven "Zekes" between 1200 and 1230 hours.

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.

1945

 

[If you have anything too add, send me a pm] 5,172

1942
ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: Two USAAF Eleventh Air Force B-26's and four P-38's bomb a cargo ship in Gertrude Cove on Japanese held Kiska Island but no hits are scored; two P-38s then strafe the harbor
area. A B-17 Flying Fortress and four P-38s attack Holtz Bay on Japanese-held Attu Island and the airfield destroying eight "Rufe" seaplane fighters. Meanwhile, a B-17 flies weather reconnaissance over Attu, Kiska, and the Segula Islands.

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: USAAF Fifth Air Force B-25s score a hit on a merchant vessel off the southern tip of New Ireland Island.

NEW GUINEA: In the Olivi-Gorari area of Papua New Guinea, Australian troops again attack Japanese troops but cannot budge them.
In Papua New Guinea, USAAF Fifth Air Force A-20's hit Japanese troops at Oivi in support of an Australian offensive in the Owen Stanley Range and B-26 Marauders bomb Buna. Advance elements of the 2d Battalion, 126th Infantry Regiment, U.S. 32d Infantry Division, arrive at Natunga and the airlift of the 126th Infantry Regiment, less 2d Battalion, from Port Moresby to the forward area begins. Leading elements of 1st Battalion, are flown to Abel's field, since Pongani Field is temporarily unserviceable, and start toward Pongani on foot. The rest of the 1st Battalion (Companies D and C, less two platoons) is flown to Pongani and starts march toward Natunga.
In Northeast New Guinea, USAAF Fifth Air Force B-25s attack a schooner off Salamaua.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: On Guadalcanal, the 7th Marine Regiment, committing the 2d Battalion of the Army's 164th Infantry Regiment to its south, completes the encirclement of the Japanese along Gavaga Creek except for a small gap on the south at the creek line. They repel a spirited attempts by the Japanese to break out. During the night, most of the Japanese,under Colonel Shoji, escape between the flanks of the two regiments.
In preparation for renewing the attack on Kokumbona, the 164th Infantry Regiment units (Headquarters, Antitank Company and 3d Battalion) and Company B of the 8th Marine Regiment are withdrawn from Koli Point area to Lunga perimeter.

1943
CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force): HQ 11th Bombardment Group transfers from Hickam Field, Territory of Hawaii to Funafuti Atoll in the Ellice.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): B-25's hit the airfield on Buka. B-25's bomb Kieta and 20+ B-24's pound Kara Airfield and Kahili Airfield. P-39's join USN aircraft in strikes on Kara Airfield and Ballale Airfield.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): 40+ B-25's and A-20's, escorted by P-38's of the 475th FG and P-47's, pound the airfield at Alexishafen, destroying at least 12 enemy airplanes; US fighters claim destruction of 10-15 interceptors in combat; other fighters claim 20+ aircraft shot down over Sek Harbor, the Markham River Valley, and Lae. Lost that mission are P-38H 42-66596 also two others had a mid-air collision and both pilots and planes were lost: P-38H 42-66546 and P-38H 42-66834.

NEW BRITAIN: in the Bismarck Archipelago, B-25's bomb a fuel dump and shipping in the Rein Bay area, and P-40's bomb dumps on Gasmata. B-24's on patrol claim sinking of a destroyer near Kavieng.

BOUGAINVILLE: - The beginning of three days of bloody fighting on Bougainville as Japanese attempt to stop the American advance into the interior of the island.

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.

1945

 

As a value added service to all of you, I am going back through all of the posts and include Pacific related events prior to my start point of Pearl Harbor day.

Please be patient with this.

 

[If you have anything too add, send me a pm] 5,338

1938
UNITED STATES: Singer Kate Smith sings "God Bless America" for the very first time on her CBS radio show tonight. Composer Irving Berlin wrote the song in 1918 as a tribute by a successful immigrant to his adopted country, but never released it until Miss Smith sang it tonight. It is a fitting tribute to its composer who gave all royalties from the very popular and emotional, song to the Boy Scouts of America. The song became Kate Smith's second signature after "When the Moon Comes Over the Mountain" and the unofficial national anthem of the United States during World War II.

1940
INDIAN OCEAN: The German auxiliary cruiser (Hilfskreuzer) HK Atlantis, German ship 16 (known to the British as Raider "C") captures its 12th victim, the 8,305 ton Norwegian tanker SS Ole Jakob.

1941
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS: USN Admiral Thomas C. Hart, Commander-in- Chief Asiatic Fleet, receives permission to withdraw the river gunboats from the Yangtze River in China and Marine forces from China.

UNITED KINGDOM: Prime Minister Winston Churchill announces in a speech: "... should the United States become involved in a war with Japan, a British declaration of war will follow within the hour."

UNITED STATES: The Japanese Ambassador to the U.S., NOMURA Kichisaburo, sends the following message to the Foreign Office in Tokyo: "I sent Moore [a] to contact Senator Thomas of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and [Secretary of State Cordell] Hull. His report reads as follows: "The United States is not bluffing. If Japan invades again, the United States will fight with Japan. Psychologically the American people are ready. The Navy is prepared and ready for action." Yesterday evening, Sunday, a certain Cabinet member, discarding all quibbling, began by saying to me: "You are indeed a dear friend of mine and I tell this to you alone." Then he continued: "The American Government is receiving a number of reliable reports that Japan will be on the move soon. The American Government does not believe that your visit on Monday to the President or the coming of Mr. KURUSU Saburu will have any effect on the general situation." I took pains to explain in detail how impatient the
Japanese have grown since the freezing; how they are eager for a quick understanding; how both the Government and the people do not desire a Japanese-American war; and how we will hope for peace until the end."

1942
ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: The USAAF Eleventh Air Force flies reconnaissance over Semichi, Segula, Alaid, and Japanese-held Attu and Kiska Islands; five B-24's and a B-17's bomb Kiska Island, but they cannot bomb the Kiska submarine base and return with some bombs; two P-38 Lightnings fly local air coverage.

EAST INDIES: On Timor Island, the commander of "Sparrow Force," the Australian and Dutch troops that landed on the island in December 1941 and continued fighting a guerilla war against the Japanese, radios that the 2/2nd Independent Company, one of the two Australian units of the force, urgently needs relief.

NEW GUINEA: In Papua New Guinea, the Japanese are forced back from Oivi by Australian 16th Brigade. Japanese troops doggedly contest the Australian pursuit down the northern face of the Owen Stanley Ranges.
In the air, USAAF B-26's bomb antiaircraft positions and supply dumps along the Sanananda-Soputa trail; A-20's hit positions at Soputa as Australian ground forces push the Japanese from Oivi toward the mouth of the Kumusi River.
The 30th Bombardment Squadron, 19th BG (Heavy), begins a movement from Mareeba to the US (the squadron will convert to B-29s and return to the Pacific in Jan 45).
Lost is C-47 "Flying Dutchman" 41-18564 returning to Port Moresby.

PACIFIC OCEAN: USN high speed minesweeper USS Southard sinks Japanese submarine HIJMS I-15 about 47 nautical miles S of Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, in position 10.13S, 161.09E. All 91 crewmen are lost.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: On Guadalcanal the Japanese survivors (about 3000) that escaped from the pocket on the Metapona River, east of the Lunga perimeter are led inland by Colonel Shoji. During their trek around the Marine perimeter, they will be pursued by Colonel Evans Carlson's 2nd Marine Raider Battalion. They will reach other Japanese forces west of the perimeter after 13 days, subsisting on what edible items they can find in the jungle. The jungle, disease and the 2nd Raiders will whittle their number down to about 1300. The 7th Marine Regiment and 2d Battalion of the 164th Infantry Regiment continue the reduction of the pocket astride Gavaga Creek and they make an unsuccessful attempt to close gap in line. Westward offensive toward Kokumbona is renewed by the 2d Marine Regiment. 1st Battalion of i64th Infantry Regiment and 2d Marine Regiment (less 3d Battalion) attack west from Pt Cruz with 8th Marine Regiment protecting left rear.
Fifteen Japanese Navy "Zeke" fighters attempt a fighter sweep over Guadalcanal. There are 31 Marine F4F Wildcat fighters in the air but only two are able to intercept the Japanese; one "Zeke" is shot down.

1943
CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force): The 27th Bombardment Squadron, 30th BG (Heavy), transfers from Mokuleia Field, Territory of Hawaii to Nanumea with B-24's. They will fly their first mission on 14 Nov. The 392d Bombardment Squadron, 30th BG transfers from Barking Sands, Territory of Hawaii to Canton in the Phoenix with B-24's. They will fly their first mission on 22 Nov.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, fighters on armed reconnaissance sink 3 large motor boats in the Yoyang-Sinti area and damage or sink 15 sampans and a barge in the Hwajung-Shasi vicinity.

AUSTRALIA: General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in the South West Pacific, cancels the projected offensive against Gasmata on New Britain Island, Bismarck Archipelago.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): 20+ B-25's carry out strikes on Kara Airfield and Ballale Airfield and attack shipping between Suhane and Tarlena. The 69th Bombardment Squadron, 42d BG (Medium), transfers from Plaine Des Gaiacs to the Russells with B-25's.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force):
BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: USAAF Fifth Air Force B-24s bomb Lakunai Airfield near Rabaul on New Britain Island and hit a new landing ground on Duke of York Island located between New Britain and New Ireland Islands. During the night of 10/11 November, Australian Beauforts attack targets in the Rabaul area. Lost is B-24D 42-41210. In Northeast New Guinea, B-25s bomb Alexishafen Airfield.

EAST INDIES: USAAF B-24s bomb Surabaya on the north coast of Java, Netherlands East Indies.

ELLICE ISLANDS: During the night of 10/11 November, three Japanese bombers bomb Nanumea Airfield on Nanumea Island destroying a B-24 and killing one man.

PACIFIC OCEAN: In the Solomon Sea, the crew of the USN destroyer USS Spence spots a raft with four live Japanese on board. As Spence drew along side to attempt a rescue, the Japanese open fire with a machine-gun. Rather than face the shame of surrender the Japanese officer in charge of the raft then put his pistol in each man's mouth and blew out the back of each man's skull. He then turned the gun on himself and pulled the trigger. All four bodies fell into the water to be devoured by sharks.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: On Bougainville, Marine Major General Roy S. Geiger takes command of Allied forces on Bougainville and the Treasury Islands.

USN: Buka-Bonis strike at 0810L/10 by 55 SBDs and 34 TBFs indicate an excellent coverage of the assigne targets. The SBDs carried 1000 lb. instantaneous and the TBFs 2000 lb. 1/10 delay bombs. Photos after the strike show 7 bomb craters at Buka and 10 at Bonis on the runways. A SBD bomb hit a possible ammo dump causing large explosion and fire at the southwest end of the Buka runway. Other fires were started at both fields. A total of at least 38 hits by SBDs were made on or near AA positions in the area which appreciately lessened the volume of gun fire. A direct hit was made among a group of buildings located at the south center of the Bonis runway. AA was described as of moderate intensity and light medium and heavy caliber with very intense heavy AA from the north tip of Sohana Island. Escort of 54 fighters had no contacts nor sightings of enemy aircraft.
Marine TBFs fly their first air-ground attack mission over Bougainville. At 1015 hours, 12 TBFs each drop twelve 100-pound bombs on Japanese ground targets some of which are only 120 yards ahead of the Marine infantry. This is the first attack of its kind in the Pacific.
Lost is SBD-5 Dauntless 35931.

UNITED STATES: The motion picture "Guadalcanal Diary" premieres at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Los Angeles, California. Directed by Lewis Seiler, this war drama about the Marines fighting on Guadalcanal is based on Richard Tregaskis' book and stars Preston Foster, Lloyd Nolan, William Bendix, Richard Conte, Anthony Quinn and Richard Jaeckel. This is Jaeckel's first film.

1944
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.

1945

 

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1921
UNITED STATES: The International Conference on Naval Limitation, more commonly known as the Washington Naval Conference, opens in Washington, D.C. This disarmament effort is occasioned by the hugely expensive naval construction rivalry that exists among the U.K., Japan and the U.S.. U.S. Senator William E. Borah, Republican of Idaho, takes the lead on this matter and urges that the major Allied nations from World War I gather in an effort to slow the arms race. The proposal is not met with initial enthusiasm by the President Warren Harding administration, but it becomes a political imperative when it was portrayed as a Republican alternative to League of Nations' peace efforts. The major naval powers of France, Italy, Japan, the U.K. and the U.S. are in attendance as well as other nations with concerns about territories in the Pacific, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal and China, who are not parties to the disarmament discussions. The Soviet Union is not invited, nor are the
defeated Central Powers. In the initial session, U.S. Secretary of State Charles Hughes shocks the delegates by going beyond platitudes and offering a detailed plan for arms reduction. Labeled by some as one of the most dramatic moments in American diplomatic history, Hughes calls for the scrapping of nearly 2 million tons (1.8 million metric tonnes) of warships and a lengthy "holiday" on the construction of new ships. He is widely hailed in the press as a savior, but leaders of the other Allied governments are quietly skeptical. The conference will continue until February 1922.

1931
UNITED STATES: Secretary. of State Henry Stimson asked General Charles G. Dawes, American Ambassador to the U.K., to go to Paris, France, during the League of Nations Council meeting "inasmuch as this meeting will consider the present situation in Manchuria and questions may arise which will affect the interests or treaty obligations of the United States . . . he will be in a position to confer with the representatives of the other nations present in Paris in case such conference should seem desirable.

1940
AUSTRALIA: The Australian light cruiser HMAS Sydney (D 48) departs Fremantle, Western Australia, escorting the 6,700 ton troopship SS Zealandia en route from Sydney, New South Wales, to Singapore with almost 1000 reinforcements of the 8th Australian Division.

FIJI ISLANDS: HQ 8 New Zealand Infantry Brigade is established in Fiji.

1941
JAPAN: The Foreign Ministry in Tokyo sends the following message to the Japanese embassy in Washington, D.C.: "Judging from the progress of the conversations [with U.S. authorities] , there seem to be indications that the United States is still not fully aware of the exceedingly criticalness of the situation here. The fact remains that the date set forth in my message #736 [25 November] is absolutely immovable under present conditions. It is a definite dead-line and therefore it is essential that a settlement be reached by about that time. The session of Parliament opens on the 15th [work will start on (the following day ?)] according to the schedule. The government must have a clear picture of things to come, in presenting its case at the session. You can see, therefore, that the situation is nearing a climax, and that time is indeed becoming short."
Ten submarines , including HIJMS I-69, I-74, I-75 and others leave Yokosuka Naval Base for rendezvous at Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, then to proceed to Hawaii.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS: Major General Lewis H. Brereton, Commanding General Far East Air Force, is ordered by Lieutenant General Douglas MacArthur, Commanding General U.S. Army Forces Far East (USAFFE), to undertake a three-week, 11,500-mile survey to Rabaul, New Britain Island, Bismarck Archipelago; Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea; and Townsville Queensland, and Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, to comply with U.S. Army Chief of Staff General George C. Marshall's directive of 30 September 1941. The purpose of the trip is to establish working relations with Australian officials and to survey the trans-Pacific air ferry route from Australia to the Philippines and Java including its extension to Singapore and China. Brereton departs for Australia on 16 November.

1942
ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: Three USAAF Eleventh Air Force B-26's, three B-17's, and three B-24's are over Japanese-held Kiska Island; the B-26s make unsuccessful runs on a ship in Gertrude Cove and the B-1's and B-24s find the submarine base closed by weather.
A weather aircraft flies over Attu and Amchitka Islands.

BURMA: Nine USAAF Tenth Air Force P-40s hit Shinghbwiyang causing heavy damage.

INDIAN OCEAN: Two Japanese armed merchant cruisers, Hokoku Maru and
Aikoku Maru, attack the Indian minesweeper HMIS Bengal escorting the empty armed Dutch tanker SS Ondina about WNW of Perth, Western Australia, Australia, in position 19.45S, 092.40E. HMIS Bengal mounts one 3-inch (75mm) gun and some machine guns, SS Ondina mounts a 4-inch (10,2 cm) and several machine guns while the two Japanese armed merchant cruisers mount eight 5.5-inch (14.0 centimeter), two 3.1-inch (80 mm) and four 1-inch (25 mm) guns plus four torpedo tubes. They also carry two "Rufe" seaplanes.
One shell fired by SS Ondina hits the torpedo tubes on Hokoku Maru causing the torpedoes to explode and turning the ship into a flaming wreck and she sank.
Meanwhile, HMIS Bengal was firing at Aikoku Maru until she ran out of ammunition and steamed away leaving SS Ondina. The crew of the Ondina kept firing at the Japanese ship and in turn, was hit several times. However, a tanker has many individual tanks and she was empty so a shell in one or more tanks would not sink her.
The crew of Ondina fired their last shell and the captain ordered "Abandon Ship." Aikoku Maru approached the tanker and fired two torpedoes which struck the ship and exploded but did not sink her despite a 30-35 degree list. The Japanese then opened fire on the three lifeboats and two rafts, fired another torpedo at the tanker which missed, picked up survivors from the Hokoku Maru and then departed the area.
The tanker was still afloat and the crew reboarded her and set sail for Fremantle, Western Australia. HMIS Bengal arrived at Diego Garcia Island on 17 November while SS Ondina arrived at Fremantle on 18 November. After the failure of this engagement, the Japanese discontinue their armed merchant cruiser program.

NEW GUINEA: In Papua New Guinea, the Japanese Oivi-Gorari defenses are defeated and the Australian 16th Brigade moves forward and finds Oivi deserted. Meanwhile, the headquarters of the 126th Infantry Regiment, 32d Infantry Division, is flown to Pongani.
In the air, USAAF Fifth Air Force A-20's bomb and strafe targets in the Wairopi area.
HQ V Fighter Command arrives in Australia from the US; Brigadier General Paul B Wurtsmith is named Commanding General.

PACIFIC OCEAN: Search aircraft from Guadalcanal Island report at least 61 Japanese ships in the Buin-Tonolai in the southern area of Bougainville Island and other ships are massed at Rabaul, New Britain Island, Bismarck Archipelago.
Four Japanese submarines launch "Glen" seaplanes to fly reconnaissance over
Allied bases:
- HIJMS I-7's "Glen" flies over Vanikoro, Santa Cruz Island, Solomon Islands.
- HIJMS I-9s "Glen" overflies Espirito Santo, New Hebrides Islands.
- HIJMS I-21's "Glen" reconnoiters Noumea, New Caledonia Island.
- HIJMS I-31's "Glen" overflies Suva, Viti Levu Island, Fiji Islands.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: The U.S. advance towards Kokumbona on Guadalcanal Island continues, in spite of the orders of Lieutenant General Sano Tadayoshi, commander of the 38th Division, the 2nd Battalion, 228th Infantry Regiment, to destroy the U.S. forces west of the Matanikau River. The offensive halts shortly after 1200 hours and the units are ordered to withdraw. The troops can not be told the real reason for the withdrawal; another Japanese offensive to retake Guadalcanal is in the offing.
The American westward offensive toward Kobumbona is halted because of strong indications of an all-out Japanese attempt to recover the Lunga area. After reaching positions a little beyond those gained on 4 November, the assault force begins withdrawal across the Matanikau River east of Lunga perimeter, the 2d Battalion of the Army's 164th Infantry Regiment closes a gap on the south flank of the U.S. line. along Gavaga Creek and drives north to the beach while 7th Marine Regiment closes in from east and west.
A Naval force bringing reinforcements and supplies from the New Hebrides Islands arrives and begins unloading; when the three transports of the force are damaged by Japanese aircraft, the group retires to join naval forces approaching from New Caledonia.
Admiral William F. Halsey, Commander South Pacific Forces and South Pacific Area, orders Rear Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid, Commander, Cruisers Pacific Fleet and Commander, Task Force 61, to get aircraft carrier USS Enterprise underway and to "be prepared to strike enemy targets in Cactus [Guadalcanal] area."
At 0930 hours local, nine "Val" dive bombers escorted by 18 "Zeke" fighters from the aircraft carrier HIJMS Hiyo, attack USN ships offloading supplies and personnel at Guadalcanal. USMC Wildcat pilots shoot down five "Vals" and five "Zekes" but lose six F4Fs and four pilots. A USAAF pilot in a P-39 Airacobra shoots down a sixth "Zeke."
At 1100 hours local, 25 "Betty" bombers escorted by 26 "Zeke" fighters, bomb Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. Seventeen USMC F4F Wildcats intercept and shoot down seven "Bettys" and one "Zeke;" a USAAF P-39 Airacobra pilot shoots down an eighth "Betty." One F4F Wildcat is lost.
Fifth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses attack shipping off the south coast of Bougainville Island.

UNITED STATES: Henry J. Kaiser readies the launch of a Liberty ship in San Francisco Bay. The ship's keel was laid in Richmond at midnight 7 November and completed in 4 days, 15 hours, 26 minutes.

1943
CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force): Japanese aircraft bomb Nanumea hitting the airfield and destroying or damaging several airplanes, including 1 B-24. The 26th and 98th Bombardment Squadrons, 11th BG (Heavy), transfer from Wheeler Field and Mokuleia, Territory of Hawaii respectively to Nukufetau in the Ellice with B-24's. They will fly their first combat mission on 14 Nov. The 431st Bombardment Squadron, 11th BG, transfers from Hickam Field to Funafuti Atoll in the Ellice . They will fly their first mission on 13 Nov.

BURMA: In the British Fourteenth Army's IV Corps area, the Japanese seize Haka.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 6 B-24's bomb the Burma Road about 375 miles (600 km) W of Tungling, producing a landslide and badly damaging the road; 6 P-40's S of Yoyang knock out a gun emplacement and hit a radio station, barracks, and hostels in the area; 8 more P-40's, on armed reconnaissance in the Li-Chou-Ching-Shih area, strafe a pontoon bridge and troops, and sink a river steamer, a motorboat, and several small supply boats.
Chinese Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek replies to U.S. Lieutenant General Joseph Stilwell's memo of 5 November at a conference of Chinese National Military Council at Chungking. While agreeing to a British and Chinese attack on Burma, he wants to hold the Chinese back until the British are attacking Kalewa. Replacements and supplies for the Y-Force are to be provided.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): A few B-25's and USN F4U's strafe barges and shore installations in Matchin Bay on Bougainville.

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: Before dawn, 23 USAAF 5th AF B-24s bomb Lakunai airfield near Rabaul on New Britain Island.
During the morning, 239 aircraft from Task Force 38 (Rear Admiral Frederick
C. Sherman) and Task Group 50.3 (Rear Admiral Alfred E. Montgomery), attack
Japanese ships at Rabaul while U.S. Marine Corps F4Us provide a combat air patrol (CAP) over the ships.
TF 38 is built around the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga with Carrier Air Group 12 and small aircraft carrier USS Princeton with Light Carrier Air Group 23.
TG 50.3 is built around aircraft carriers USS Bunker Hill with Carrier Air Group 17 and USS Essex with Carrier Air Group 9 and the small aircraft carrier USS Independence with Light Carrier Air Group 22.
The carrier based aircraft sink destroyer HIJMS Suzunami and damage light cruisers HIJMS Yubari and Agano, and destroyers HIJMS Naganami, Urakaze, and Wakatsuki.
As the carrier aircraft depart, 42 USAAF 13th AF B-24s join USAAF Fifth Air Force and RAAF aircraft in an attack on shipping in Rabaul harbor. This is the Thirteenth Air Force's first strike on Rabaul.
Escorting fighters claim 17 Japanese fighters shot down while the bombers claim five. At 1315 hours, the Japanese send Betty bombers, 14 Kate torpedo bombers, 27 Val dive bombers escorted by 67 Zero fighters to attack the USN ships. USN fighters attack and the best estimate is that they shoot down two "Bettys," 14 "Kates," 17 "Vals" and eight "Zekes;" eleven U.S. aircraft are lost and the aircraft carrier USS Essex is slightly damaged.
Aboard the USS Bunker Hill: "The Japanese showed me what war was all about. They followed our planes back from the strike on Rabaul and things sure were lively for awhile. Fighting Squadron Seventeen with their F4U Corsairs flew out from some island and gave us coverage while we landed our air strike. They left to go home and ran into a flight of Japanese planes trying for our task force. Things got wild for half an hour or so. We got a few fighters in the air. They didn't hit any of our ships and we shot down a lot of their planes. The SB2C Helldiver entered combat for the first time also."

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): B-24's bomb Lakunai Airfield. P-39's strafe Bogadjim and B-25's hit the Madang.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: The battle between the US Marines and the Japanese 23rd Regiment on Bougainville ends with the Japanese pushed back. Additional elements of the 21st Marine Regiment arrive. Marines now hold the junction of the Mission and Numa Numa Trails, having killed an estimated 550 Japanese during their drive up Mission Trail. In order to secure airfield site, Gen Geiger orders 3d Marine Division to drive east and the Army 37th Infantry Division west.

UNITED STATES: The U.S. Congress passes a bill lowering the draft age to 18 and raising the upper limit to age 37

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.

1945