1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 144 ] [ 3–5 NOVEMBER 1943 ]
damaging attack on aircraft works at Wiener Neustadt
by 112 heavy bombers. Enemy puts up strong
fighter and AA opposition.
3 November
POA—Northern Attack Force (TF 52) completes
rehearsal for GALVANIC at Hawaii.
Solomon Is.—3d Mar Div continues to improve
beachhead positions on Bougainville. At 1800,
3d Marines takes responsibility for left flank and
9th Marines for right flank. 3d Raider Bn patrol
moves to Torokina I. and makes search for enemy,
but finds none.
I TALY—15th Army Group: In U.S. Fifth
Army’s VI Corps area, 4th Ranger Bn crosses the
Volturno in 45th Div zone at 1800 to block Highway
6 NW of Mignano, but is stopped short of
objective. 45th Div continues crossing the Volturno.
Rest of 2d Bn, 180th Inf, upon crossing SE of
Presenzano at 2000, drives NW toward Rocca Pipirozzi.
After strong arty preparation, 34th Div begins
to cross the Volturno, night 3–4.
In Br Eighth Army area, 5 Corps is strongly opposed
as it attacks S. Salvo ridge.
GERMANY—In largest daylight raid to date by
U.S. Eighth Air Force, over 500 planes, led by Pathfinders,
attack Wilhelmshaven port area through
cloud.
4 November
U.S.—War Department Operations Division
recommends that current commitments to China be
fulfilled; that limited bomber offensive from China
be mounted; and that only 30 Ch divs be trained
and equipped, plus equipment for 3 additional divs
in order to start training of ZEBRA Force.
SOLOMON IS.—2d Mar Para Bn withdraws. from
Choiseul in LCI’s. Bougainville beachhead is seriously
threatened as Japanese naval force, including
heavy cruisers, arrives at Rabaul from Truk. TF
38, with land–based air cover, is ordered to strike at
Rabaul.
BURMA—112th Regt, Ch 38th Div, digs in in
current positions in N Burma, since all efforts to
advance have been futile and costly. 2d Bn is still
short of Sharaw Ga. By this time, 1st Bn, directed
against Yupbang Ga, is isolated by enemy roadblock
and must be supplied by air; 3d Bn is pinned
down at Ngajatzup, 30 miles SW of Ningbyen.
ITALY—15th Army Group: U.S. Fifth Army’s
Br ro Corps, with M. Massico and M. S. Croce hill
masses under its control, prepares for assault on M.
Camino by 56th Div. In VI Corps area, 2d Bn of
180th Inf, 45th Div, clears Rocca Pipirozzi and digs
in an ridge to NW; makes contact with 4th Ranger
Bn at Cannavinelle. 3d Bn of 179th Inf, upon crossing
the Volturno S of Venafro, attacks and captures
Venafro. 1st Bn follows 3d across the river. 34th
Div’s 133d Inf seizes S. Maria Oliveto; 168th takes
Roccaravindola.
In Br Eighth Army area, 13 Corps troops enter
Isernia without opposition. 5 Corps takes S. Salvo
ridge, enemy having made general withdrawal in
the area.
USSR—Germans are forced to yield additional
ground along the Dnieper as Soviet troops press forward
to its mouth opposite Kherson. Red Army
units open major offensive in Kiev area, pushing S
from Dnieper bridgehead and threatening the city
with encirclement.
5 November
BOUGAINVILLE—In zone of 9th Marines, 3d
Ranger Bn repels Japanese attack against block on
local trail, called Mission Trail. Later the Rangers
and 3d Bn of 9th Marines drive up Mission Trail toward
its junction with Numa Numa Trail. The
Numa Numa and East–West Trails are the two
main trails on Cape Torokina.
NEW BRITAIN—Almost 100 carrier aircraft of
TF 38 attack new enemy naval forces concentrated
at Rabaul, taking enemy by surprise; despite intense
AA fire, severely damage 5 cruisers and 2 DD’s at
cost of 10 planes lost. Later, Fifth Air Force planes
bomb wharf area as enemy aircraft are searching
in vain for TF 38. Enemy naval forces are severely
crippled and threat to Bougainville beachhead from
this source ends.
CBI—Gen Stilwell submits report to Chiang
Kai-shek on SEAC planning and progress of preparations
for attack from Yunnan by Y–Force.
ITALY—15th Army Group: U.S. Fifth Army
begins 10–day period of gruelling action against
lofty hills and mountains that form enemy’s Winter
Line. Designed as a delaying position, this line is
disposed in front of main defense belt known as
the Gustav Line. Fifth Army’s efforts to breach the
line during next 10 days are fruitless. In addition to
a tenacious enemy, Fifth Army is adversely affected
by terrain, rainy weather, and lack of reserves. In
Br 10 Corps area, 56th Div, in conjunction with
left flank elements of U.S. VI Corps, begins battle
for M. Camino–M. la Difensa–M. Maggiore hill
mass, concentrating on M. Camino. In VI Corps area,
3d Div begins outflanking attacks against positions
commanding Mignano Gap: as 7th Inf columns
press toward German M. la Difensa positions, which
hold out for next 10 days, elements of 15th are sent
northward over M. Cesima toward Cannavinelle