1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 138 ] [ 28 SEPTEMBER–3 OCTOBER 1943 ]
cort bombers all the way to target in Germany for
first time.
28 September
Solomon Is.—Japanese begin withdrawing
from Kolombangara after nightfall.
ITALY—15th Army Group: U.S. Fifth Army is
now ready for assault on Naples by Br 10 Corps and
on Avellino by VI Corps. Br 10 Corps forces enemy
back through passes leading to Naples. 23d Armd
Brig advances to Castellammare. Rangers seize Sala.
131st Brig, 7th Armd Div, overruns Nocera.
29 September
C HINA—Gen Stilwell issues “Program for
China,” in which he recommends that 60 Nationalist
divs be re–formed.
ITALY—Marshal Badoglio and Gen Eisenhower
sign complete instrument of Italian surrender on
board HMS Nelson, off Malta.
15th Army Group: Gen Alexander issues instructions
for future operations, to be conducted in 2
phases: (1) capture of Naples and airfields to N
and Foggia airfields, while advancing to general line
Sessa Aurunca–Venafro–Isernia–Castropignano–Biferno
R–Termoli; (2) advance to general line Civitavecchia–Terni–Visso–S.
Benedetto del Tronto.
U.S. Fifth Army directs VI Corps, upon capture
of Avellino, to shift to left along general line Avellino–Montemarano–Teora.
Br 10 Corps units seize
bridge at Scafati. This is the only bridge now standing
across the Sarno. Rcn units are pursuing retreating
enemy. In VI Corps area, 3d Div units converge
on Avellino and open attack on it, night 29–30.
USSR—Soviet troops occupy Kremenchug and
E bank of the Dnieper in that area; continue to close
in on Kiev to NW.
30 September
ITALY—15th Army Group: In U.S. Fifth Army
area, Br 10 Corps has surrounded M. Vesuvius. In
VI Corps area, Avellino falls to 3d Div during
morning.
1 October
Solomon Is.—Adm Halsey informs Gen Mac-
Arthur of his decision to invade Bougainville at
Empress Augusta Bay on 1 November and is promised
maximum air assistance from SWPA.
NEW GUINEA—Aus 9th Div commits another
bn to assault on Finschhafen, making 3 in all.
ITALY—15th Army Group: In U.S. Fifth Army’s
Br 10 Corps area, King’s Dragoon Gds enter Naples
during morning without opposition. This excellent
port, although damaged by bombing, can be quickly
restored to use.
In Br Eighth Army area, 13 Corps occupies Foggia
airfields and drives northward toward line Termol–
i Vinchiaturo in order to safeguard the fields, 78th
Div along main coastal road and Cdn 1st Div along
inland route leading into mountains. Gargano
Peninsula is clear of enemy.
USSR—During first week of the month, 3
Soviet army groups apply strong pressure against
enemy’s line along Dnieper bend and succeed in
establishing small bridgeheads in vicinity of Kiev,
Kremenchug, and Dniepropetrovsk.
AUSTRIA—In third attack from the Mediterranean
in behalf of Combined Bomber Offensive,
heavy bombers of XII BC and 3 on loan from
Eighth Air Force drop 187 tons of bombs on Wiener
Neustadt. Others are prevented from attacking
Augsburg (Bavaria) by overcast but hit alternate
targets in Germany and Italy. The Eighth Air Force
B–24’s return to England after this attack.
2 October
POA—27th Div, previously authorized to plan
for invasion of Nauru, is notified that its mission
will be to capture Makin Atoll in the Gilberts.
Solomon Is.—Japanese complete withdrawal
from Kolombangara, night 2–3. Efforts of U.S.
naval forces to interfere are largely ineffective and
some 9,400 Japanese escape safely.
NEW GUINEA—Troops of Aus 9th Div seize
village and harbor of Finschhafen and make contact
with Aus 22d Brig, which has moved forward from
Lae. Japanese retain Sattelberg and Wareo, both of
which command Finschhafen area and must be
cleared.
ITALY—15th Army Group: In U.S. Fifth Army’s
Br to Corps area, U.S. 82d A/B Div move, into
Naples to police it while advance is being continued
to the Volturno, a natural barrier covering Naples.
In VI Corps area, while 3d Div drives northward
toward the Volturno on left flank of corps, 34th and
45th Divs, 45th on right, are moving along separate
routes toward Benevento, important road junction.
To hasten advance along Adriatic coast in Br
Eighth Army area, 2d Special Service Brig (commandos)
of 13 Corps lands, night 2–3, near Termoli
and secures the town and port; soon joins 78th Div,
which, moving N along coast, secures bridgehead
across the Biferno.
3 October
AEGEAN—Axis forces invade Kos I.
ITALY—15th Army Group: In U.S. Fifth Army’s
VI Corps area, 133d Inf of 34th Div takes Benevento
and establishes bridgehead across Calore R. 34th