1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

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flank Americans; open strong attacks against 2d
Bn. 3d Bn holding force at Lagang Ga withstands
organized enemy attack. 1st Prov Tank Gp, finding
that Japanese have withdrawn, advances about 3
miles SE from Ngam Ga to Tsamat Ga, near Maingkwan.
ITALY—ACMF: Enemy forces facing VI Corps
of U.S. Fifth Army are ordered to hold present positions
and organize them for defense. Lull ensues.
GERMANY—Eighth Air Force delivers the first
U.S. bomber attack on Berlin.
5 March
SWPA—Gen MacArthur, hoping to isolate
Japanese forces in New Guinea and prevent buildup
of enemy air strength in W New Guinea, proposes
to JCS that Hansa Bay operation be canceled
in favor of invasion of Hollandia during April;
recommends that operations against Kavieng, New
Ireland, be undertaken as planned on 1 April.
NEW GUINEA—126th Inf ( — 2d Bn), 32d Div,
and supporting units land without opposition at
Yalau Plantation, about 30 miles W of Saidor. Aus
forces have broken out of Ramu Valley. Enemy is
retreating toward Madang.
LOS NEGROS—Gen Swift arrives and takes command
of TF BREWER. 2d Sq of 7th Cav begins attack
N across skidway upon relief in line by 2d Sq of
5th Cav.
CBI—In NCAC area, 66th Regt of Ch 22d Div
outflanks and captures Maingkwan. 2d Bn, U.S.
5307th Prov Unit, maintains roadblock N of
Walawbum under enemy attack until ordered to
replenish supplies at Wesu Ga and then joins 3d Bn
below Walawbum. 3d Bn continues blocking mission,
but I & R Platoon is forced back across river.
GALAHAD makes contract with 1st Prov Tank Gp
moving southward about midnight and arranges
to guide it to GALAHAD lines. Adm Mountbatten
asks Gen Giffard, CG 11 Army Group, for details
of reinforcement program for central front, where
enemy is expected to begin offensive operations.
In Br Fourteenth Army area, Gen Wingate’s
Special Force of long-range penetration brigs
(largely from Br 70th Div but called Ind 3d Div
and popularly known as Chindits) begin dropping
from air on Japanese lines of communications in
central Burma. U.S. engineer personnel drop first,
followed by 77th and 111th Brigs. No. 1 Air Commando,
USAAF, under Col Cochran, Chindits’ own
air force, flies Chindits in and drops them on airstrip
called BROADWAY, about 50 miles NE of Indaw.
Another projected dropping site, PICCADILLY, some
20 miles S of BROADWAY, cannot be used since enemy
has blocked it. 15 Corps begins offensive toward
Maungdaw–Buthidaung road and Naaf R mouth.
[ 5–7 MARCH 1944 ]
USSR—Red Army opens drive in the Ukraine
to destroy enemy in Dnieper bend.
6 March
BOUGAINVILLE—XIV Corps patrols discover
large numbers of Japanese near Hill 700, highest
ground of Empress Augusta Bay beachhead, indicating
an imminent counterattack. By this time perimeter
is well organized, but enemy retains control of
some hills commanding it.
NEW BRITAIN—In shore-to-shore operation,
Combat Team A (reinf 5th Marines, 1st Mar Div)
lands about midway up W coast of Willaumez
Peninsula, in vicinity of Volupai, for drive on
Talasea, though scheduled air preparation is withheld
because of unfavorable weather conditions.
Swampy terrain and elaborate enemy defenses make
progress difficult, but beachhead is expanded to
depth of about 2,000 yards.
LOS NEGROS—12th Cav arrives to reinforce
beachhead and joins in action at once against retreating
enemy. Bridgehead is expanded to include
Salami and Porlaka.
BURMA—Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek orders
Gen Stilwell to halt Chinese offensive temporarily
because of Japanese offensive on Arakan front. 3d
Bn, U.S. 5307th Prov Unit, repels determined attack
across river and kills some 400 Japanese. Arrival of
1st Prov Tank Gp and junction between forward
elements of Ch 38th Div and GALAHAD forces at
Kasan Ga ends Japanese hopes of victory. Commanders
of 1st Prov Tank Gp and GALAHAD arrange
for co-ordinated assault on Walawbum on 7th.
Japanese abandon Walawbum area.
7 March
LOS NEGROS—Elements of 5th Cav take Papitalai.
12th Cav is securing E shore of Seeadler Harbor;
2d Sq crosses to Papitalai Mission and secures
beachhead. B–25 makes successful forced landing on
Momote airfield.
BURMA—In NCAC area, Merrill decides to
withdraw GALAHAD force S to block Kamaing Road
since Ch troops are now in Walawbum area. 113th
Regt, Ch 38th Div, its rear and right flank protected
by 112th, closes in Walawbum area and reestablishes
roadblock vacated by GALAHAD. CO of
1st Prov Tank Gp, after unsuccessfully attempting
to persuade 113th Regt to join in frontal attack on
Walawbum, finds 64th Regt, Ch 22d Div, agreeable
to suggestion that they move S together and block
Kamaing Road near Walawbum. Two blocks are
established—one and two miles W of the Nambyu
Stream. Tank forces intercept enemy forces on the
march and disperse them.