1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 146 ] [ 11–15 NOVEMBER 1943 ]
11 November
BOUGAINVILLE—Additional elements of 21st
Marines arrive. Marines now hold junction of Mission
and Numa Numa Trails, having killed an
estimated 550 Japanese during drive up Mission
Trail. In order to secure airfield site, Gen Geiger
orders 3d Mar Div to drive E and 37th Div, W.
NEW BRITAIN—Powerful air offensive against
Rabaul continues. Carrier planes of TF 38 and
others of Adm Montgomery’s force, as well as landbased
RAAF and Fifth Air Force planes, attack with
good effect. Japanese planes locate Adm Montgomery’s
group and attack it vigorously but ineffectively.
CBI—Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek replies
to Gen Stilwell’s memo of 5 November at conference
of Chinese National Military Council at
Chungking. While agreeing to Br and Ch attack on
Burma, he wants to hold Chinese back until British
are attacking Kalewa. Replacements and supplies
for Y-Force are to be provided.
11 Army Group: In Br Fourteenth Army’s 4
Corps area, Japanese seize Haka.
I TALY—15th Army Group: In U.S. Fifth
Army’s VI Corps area, 45th Div commits 157th Inf
between 180th and 179th for drive on Acquafondata.
2d Bn, 509th Para Inf, to which 1st Ranger Bn is
attached, clears saddle of M. S. Croce.
USSR—Russians improve positions W of Kiev,
seizing foothold across Teterev R, but are under
pressure in Fastov area, SW of Kiev, where Germans
are taking the initiative. Soviet Center Front
forces attack northward toward Rechitsa, W of
Gomel.
12 November
POA—Southern Attack Force for GALVANIC
completes rehearsal off New Hebrides.
TREASURY IS.—8th Brig Gp, NZ 3d Div, completes
elimination of small enemy garrison on Mono.
For 205 Japanese dead counted, 40 New Zealanders
and 12 Americans have lost their lives.
NEW BRITAIN—Japanese withdraw their carrier
aircraft from Rabaul. Rabaul no longer presents a
serious threat to Allied forces.
LEROS—Axis force invades Leros by air and sea.
ITALY—15th Army Group: In U.S. Fifth Army’s
Br 10 Corps area, 56th Div, exhausted by prolonged
fighting, is to be withdrawn from M. Camino. In
VI Corps area, 157th Inf of 45th Div makes limited
progress toward Acquafondata but is threatened by
enemy on Hills 769 and 640. 133d Inf, 34th Div,
is pinched out by 135th Inf on right and 179th Inf
on left; 135th Inf makes contact with 504th Para
Inf, which has pushed past Fornelli to Colli and is
maintaining contact with Br Eighth Army.
USSR—Continuing to advance W of Kiev,
Soviet forces take Zhitomir, important rail center.
13 November
POA—Southern Attack Force for GALVANIC
departs from New Hebrides. Preinvasion air operations
against Gilberts are begun. B–24’s from
Funafuti bomb Tarawa without interception but
meet unusually heavy AA fire.
BOUGAINVILLE—Gen Geiger becomes responsible
to Adm Halsey as Adm Wilkinson relinquishes
command. 21st Marines begins attack for junction
of Numa Numa Trail with East–West Trail to
ensure safety of airfield site. 129th Inf of 37th Div
arrives.
NEW BRITAIN—U.S. Fifth Air Force begins preinvasion
bombardment of targets in W New Britain.
CBI—Col Francis G. Brink is given responsibility
for training of GALAHAD forces, a task previously
held by Lt Col Charles N. Hunter. In late
December the GALAHAD Force is activated as 5307th
Regt (Prov).
ITALY—15th Army Group: In U.S. Fifth Army’s
VI Corps area, 157th Inf of 45th Div scales Hill 640
but is forced off. Hills 640 and 769 must be cleared
before advance on Acquafondata can be continued.
USSR—Red Army intensifies pressure against
enemy in Dnieper bend.
14 November
BOUGAINVILLE—After delay to await air strike,
replenishment of water supply, and repair of communications;
21st Marines, supported by 5 tanks,
renews battle for trail junction and takes it. Perimeter
defense is established. 148th Inf reverts to
37th Div from attachment to 3d Mar Div.
CBI—Movement orders are issued to aviation
engineers and dump truck companies required to
build airfields in India in preparation for arrival
of B–29’s.
ITALY—15th Army Group: In U.S. Fifth Army’s
Br 10 Corps area, 56th Div withdraws as planned
from slopes of M. Camino, night 14–15.
USSR—Germans launch counteroffensive
aimed at recapture of Zhitomir.
15 November
BOUGAINVILLE—Beachhead perimeter is expanded
to inland defense line Dog.
CBI—Gen Wheeler is made principal administrative
officer of SEAC. Similar post for Gen
Auchinleck’s India Command is given to Gen Sir
Alan Brooke. Maj Gen William E. R. Covell succeeds
Gen Wheeler as commander of SOS CBI.
BURMA—On N Burma front, Ch 38th Div is
moving reinforcements forward for 112th Regt.
114th Regt arrives at front and is followed in early
December by 113th. In 11 Army Group’s Four-