1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 130 ]
26 August
INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS—U.S. and several
other Allied nations extend recognition to French
Committee of National Liberation.
MEDITERRANEAN—15th Army Group: AVA-
LANCHE Operation Plan of 15 August is modified
somewhat to meet changes in situation. Br and U.S.
arty is in position on Sicily to support BAYTOWN.
27 August
ELLICE IS.—Rest of 2d Mar Airdrome Bn and
elements of naval construction bn arrive at Nukufetau.
SOLOMON Is.—172d Inf ( — 3d Bn), 43d Div,
lands on SE Arundel at S tip of Nauro Peninsula
without opposition. While Co A holds beachhead,
rest of the force drives N to base of the peninsula.
ITALY—15th Army Group: Br rcn party lands
at Bova Marina, on toe, and finds the area
undefended.
USSR—Sevsk, S of Bryansk, falls to Red Army.
FRANCE—U.S. Eighth Air Force flies its first
CROSSBOW mission, 187 B–17’s bombing Watten.
28 August
ELLICE IS.—Forward echelon of 7th Mar Defense
Bn and detachments from 2 naval construction
bns land on Nanomea.
29 August
Solomon Is.—Patrols of 172d Inf, 43d Div,
start up E and W coasts of Arundel without opposition.
RCT 35 of 25th Div is ordered to secure radar
site on NE Vella Lavella in Kokolope Bay region,
where patrols have observed considerable enemy
activity.
30 August
Solomon Is.—Elements of 1st Bn, 35th Inf, 25th
Div, start N up E coast of Vella Lavella toward
Kokolope Bay.
USSR—Red Army surges forward in several
sectors. Forces driving on Smolensk take Yelnya.
Others, in region W of Kursk, overrun Gluchov.
Breaking through to Sea of Azov on Mius front, Soviet
troops take Taganrog.
31 August
Solomon Is.—1st Bn of 145th Inf, 37th Div,
arrives on Vella Lavella from New Georgia and relieves
1st Bn of 35th Inf, 25th Div, of perimeter
defense mission so that it can move N to Kokolope
[ 26 AUGUST–3 SEPTEMBER 1943 ]
Bay. U.S. patrol on Arundel encounters light opposition
on E coast.
1 September
POA—Allied TF arrives on Baker I. to develop
it as a base from which future operations in the
Central Pacific can be supported. Airstrip is constructed
within a week. This brings number of
Central Pacific bases within bombing range of the
Gilberts up to 5: Funafuti, Nukufetau, and
Nanomea in Ellice Is.; Canton; Baker. U.S. carrierbased
planes make surprise attack on Marcus I.,
heavily damaging installations.
Solomon Is.—In preparation for offensive
against N Solomons, Air Command North Solomons
is formed at Espiritu Santo under Brig Gen
Field Harris, USMC. On Vella Lavella, forward elements
of 1st Bn, 35th Inf, 25th Div, driving on
Kokolope Bay, reach Orete Cove area, about 14 miles
NE of Barakoma.
NEW GUINEA—Allied air operations are intensified
in preparation for offensive against Lae. Fifth
Air Force is concentrating on airfields, supply points,
and shipping in New Guinea–New Britain area.
ITALY—Units of Royal Navy join aircraft and
arty in bombardment of Calabrian coast in preparation
for BAYTOWN.
2 September
Solomon Is.—On Arundel, final elements of
172d Inf, 43d Div—the 3d Bn—land at Nauro
Peninsula.
ITALY—As NAAF completes preinvasion attacks
in preparation for BAYTOWN, having intensified
them against Calabrian Peninsula during past week,
virtually all airfields in S Italy except Foggia and its
satellites have been neutralized. U.S. bombers, during
period 18 August to date, have flown almost
3,000 sorties against communication targets. Small
B–17 attack on Brenner Pass temporarily interdicts
the pass, the shortest route between Germany and
Italy. Allied planes open intensive preinvasion attacks
in support of AVALANCHE, pounding airfields
within range of Salerno day and night.
USSR—Red Army is moving steadily westward
toward the Dnieper on broad front from Smolensk
area on N to Sea of Azov on S. Some elements cut
Bryansk–Konotop RR; others take Sumy, between
Konotop and Kharkov; still others are pressing
toward Stalino.
3 September
Solomon Is.—172d Inf patrol, moving up W
coast of Arundel, reaches Bustling Point without
enemy interference. With beachhead defenses of
Barakoma area on Vella Lavella now firmly estab-