1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

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beachhead is established without ground opposition.
Japanese aircraft are very active against shipping
but do little damage. Zieta, New Georgia, falls to
27th Inf, 25th Div. On Baanga, the small American
beachhead is strengthened by 2d Bn of 169th Inf,
43d Div, which attacks through Co I after the latter
tries in vain to reach Co L. Elements of Co L
succeed in joining main body, but the co is so depleted
in strength that it is sent back to Munda.
NEW GUINEA—Japanese make first air attack
on new air base at Tsili Tsili.
BURMA—Work on Ledo Road is progressing
very slowly. From end of March to date, only 3
miles have been constructed.
MEDITERRANEAN—U.S. Fifth Army issues Outline
Plan for Operation AVALANCHE. Gen G. Castellano
of Italian Commando Supremo begins negotiations
for armistice at British Embassy in Madrid.
SICILY—Withdrawing enemy forces are being
subjected to round-the-clock air attacks.
15th Army Group: In U.S. Seventh Army area,
157th Inf of 45th Div, under Seventh Army control,
lands on N coast NW of Barcellona, night 15–16,
behind forward elements of II Corps’ 3d Div in
order to block enemy withdrawal. In II Corps area,
3d Div continues rapidly along N coast to Spadafora.
9th Div remains in Randazzo area. 1st Div halts
advance.
Br Eighth Army completes drive around M. Etna
as 78th Div clears Randazzo–Linguaglossa road and
51st Div overruns Linguaglossa. 50th Div seizes
Taormina, on road to Messina. Commandos with
tanks land, night 15–16, on E coast at Ali in effort
to cut off retreating enemy, but are too late to accomplish
the mission; start inland toward Messina.
USSR—Soviet forces driving W astride Orel–
Bryansk RR overrun Karachev. Hard fighting continues
in Kharkov sector.
16 August
SOLOMON IS.— 43d Div commander personally
directs operations on Baanga and commits 172d
Regt ( — ) as well as 169th ( — ). Arty supports attack
but progress is still slow. Enemy guns on
Baanga begin shelling Munda.
MEDITERRANEAN—At conference of commanders
at Carthage, final decisions are made for invasion
of Italy. 13 Corps of Br Eighth Army, employing
Cdn 1st and Br 5th Divs, which have been withdrawn
from Sicilian battle, is to cross Strait of Messina
to Calabrian coast between 1 and 4 September.
This operation (BAYTOWN) is to be followed on
9 September, or not more than 48 hours later, by
main assault of U.S. Fifth Army in Salerno area
(AVALANCHE).
[ 16–18 AUGUST 1943 ]
SICILY—Enemy continues withdrawal of rear
guards to Italy as rapidly as possible and offers no
organized opposition.
15th Army Group: In U.S. Seventh Army’s II
Corps area, RCT 7 of 3d Div, speeding toward Messina,
reaches Divieto in coastal sector. Strong 3d
Div patrols enter Messina, which is under fire from
Italian coast, before midnight.
17 August
ALEUTIAN IS.—Main enemy camp on Kiska is
found to be deserted. Search of the island continues.
Solomon Is.—Second echelon of Northern
Landing Force arrives at Vella Lavella and unloads
despite enemy air attacks. 43d Div troops on Baanga
are assisted by dive bombers as well as arty but make
little headway.
NEW GUINEA—Fifth Air Force begins series
of heavy air attacks on Wewak and satellite fields
at But, Dagua, and Boram in order to neutralize
them in preparation for offensive against Lae.
SICILY—15th Army Group: Sicily Campaign
ends with official entry of RCT 7, 3d Div, into
Messina at 1000. Americans are joined there a
little later by Br force from All. Fall of Sicily permits
stepped–up air operations against the next
objective, Italy.
GERMANY—315 Eighth Air Force bombers
make destructive daylight attacks on aircraft plants
at Schweinfurt and Regensburg, dropping 724 tons
of bombs. In air battles over targets, 60 U.S. bombers
are shot down, but enemy plane losses are far
heavier. RAF begins massive attacks (Operation
CROSSBOW) on German V–weapons experimental
bases with night strike (17–18) against Peenemuende,
on Baltic Sea coast, by about 570 aircraft
dropping almost 2,000 tons of bombs.
18 August
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES—CCS, at QUAD-
RANT Conference in Quebec, direct Gen Eisenhower
to send representatives to Lisbon to negotiate with
Italians for armistice.
ELLICE Is.—Implementing directive of 20 July
to establish bases from which assault on the Marshalls
can be supported, advance party lands on
Nanomea to reconnoiter and choose airfield site.
Solomon Is.—Japanese naval force bound for
Horaniu, at Kokolope Bay on NE Vella Lavella, for
purpose of establishing barge base there, is intercepted
early in morning by U.S. naval force, which
sinks 2 submarine chasers, 2 torpedo boats, and 1
barge. 43d Div commits another bn of 172d Inf to
assault on Baanga.