1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 160 ] [ 5–7 JANUARY 1944 ]
Assault force, now expanded to 4 bns, pushes southward
without opposition to next phase line—N of
Hill 150 and Aogiri Ridge.
NEW IRELAND—Carrier-based aircraft of Adm
Frederick Sherman again attack Kavieng but find no
ships there.
NEW GUINEA—Extensive patrolling of Saidor area
is uneventful. Australians reach Cape King William,
16 miles SE of Sio.
ITALY—15th Army Group: In U.S. Fifth Army’s
Br 10 Corps area, in preparation for attack on Cedro
Hill, 138th Brig of 46th Div establishes bridgehead
across Peccia R, night 4–5, against strong opposition.
In II Corps area, 1st SSF gains positions on ridge
SE of M. Majo, overrunning Hill 775 and M.
Arcalone. Other elements of II Corps move forward
to line of departure for main offensive, overcoming
some opposition en route.
USSR—Belaya Tserkov, another enemy strongpoint
SW of Kiev, falls to Red Army. Advance
continues toward Uman.
WESTERN EUROPE—U.S. planes begin flying
supplies, under code name CARPETBAGGER, from
United Kingdom to underground patriot forces in
Western Europe. Full-scale supply missions will
come to an end in September 1944
5 January
NEW BRITAIN—ADC Group remains in place
in Cape Gloucester area, patrolling and regrouping.
NEW GUINEA—Gap between U.S. and Aus
troops is narrowed to about 60 miles as Australians
reach Kelanoa. U.S. patrols meet opposition at Cape
Iris, W of Saidor.
BURMA—Ch 38th Div makes vain attempt to
clear last strongpoint remaining between it and
Tarung R.
ITALY—15th Army Group: U.S. Fifth Army begins
final assault on Winter Line. Br 10 Corps withdraws
Peccia R bridgehead, since tanks are un-able
to cross river. M. Porchia, which dominates Cedro
Hill, is still held by enemy. In II Corps area, TF A
(6th Armd Inf, reinf) of 1st Armd Div
pushes toward M. Porchia, reaching N–S road in
front of it. 3d Bn, 135th Inf, jumping off night 4–5,
clears part of village strongpoints of S. Vittore. 1st
Bn, 135th, attacks toward La Chiaia, NW of S. Vittore,
beginning night 4–5, but is stopped by fire
from S. Giusta. In conjunction with assault of 135th
Inf, 168th Inf begins move to outflank La Chiaia
and takes Hill 425. 1st SSF confines its activity to
probing M. Majo with patrols.
USSR—Red Army forces overrun Berdichev, rail
junction SW of Kiev.
U.K.—U.S. Strategic Air Forces in Europe
(USSAFE) is established in United Kingdom, un-
der command of Gen Spaatz to co-ordinate operations
of Eighth and Fifteenth Air Forces. Official
abbreviation of this headquarters is changed on 4
February 1944 to USSTAF.
6 January
POA—COMCENPAC issues Operation Plan
No. Cen 1-44 for invasion of Marshall Is. 7th Div
FO 1 calls for occupation of Kwajalein in several
phases. Maj Gen Hubert R. Harmon takes command
of U. S. Thirteenth Air Force.
BOUGAINVILLE—Logistical situation improves
as Prov Service Command, activated on 15 December
at New Caledonia, begins operations on
Bougainville.
NEW BRITAIN—ADC Group, renewing southward
attack, clears Hill 150, S of Target Hill. Gen
Cunningham reports to Gen Krueger the presence
of enemy positions near Arawe beachhead.
NEW GUINEA—808th Aviation Engr Bn arrives
at Saidor.
CBI—Since remaining landing craft are recalled
to the Mediterranean, Adm Mountbatten cancels
PIGSTICK. Gen Sultan warns Gen Stilwell that
SEAC planners want to bypass Burma until Germany
is defeated, then mount a major offensive
beginning with invasion of Sumatra. Gen Stilwell in
his capacity of Chief of Staff, China Theater, later
decides to seed a mission (Gen Boatner, Brig Gen
Benjamin G. Ferris, Col Francis Hill, and Col
Brink) to Washington to present his views.
BURMA—Brig Gen Frank D. Merrill is assigned
command of the GALAHAD force, whose designation
is made “unit.” Chinese make another unsuccessful
attempt to reduce enemy strongpoint on Tarung R.
I TALY—15th Army Group: In U.S. Fifth
Army’s II Corps area, TF A of 1st Armd Div reaches
crest on N end of M. Porchia and holds firm against
counterattack. 135th Inf completes clearing S. Vittore
by 1700 and drives closer to La Chiaia. 168th Inf
continues outflanking movement to N, making slow
progress. 1st SSF is reinf by 2 bns of 133d Inf, 34th
Div, to temporarily continue operations as TF B.
TF B attacks toward M. Majo from M. Arcalone,
night 6–7. RCT 142 is detached from II Corps and
returns to 36th Div as reserve.
ETO—Gen Order No. I of USSAFE names
Maj Gen Frederick L. Anderson and Brig Gen
Hugh J. Knerr as deputy commanders for operations
and administration, respectively.
7 January
JAPAN—Japanese Imperial General Headquarters
authorizes Southern Army to secure positions in