1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 8–11 MARCH 1944 ]
8 March
BOUGAINVILLE—Japanese arty opens up against
beachhead perimeter and Piva strips, destroying 1
B–24 and 3 fighters and damaging 19 aircraft on the
ground. Allied bombers, except for small local support
force, withdraw to New Georgia. Corps arty
counters enemy fire and is augmented by naval gunfire
and air attacks. Japanese troops, about 2 cos
strong, begin attack on Hill 700, in 37th Div zone,
night 8–9.
SWPA—41st Div begins move from Australia
to Cape Cretin, New Guinea, where it is to stage for
Hollandia.
LOS NEGROS—2d Sq, 7th Cav, secures Lombrum
Plantation. This virtually completes capture of Los
Negros. Supply vessels enter Seeadler Harbor without
drawing enemy fire.
NEW BRITAIN—5th Marines continues toward
Talasea almost unopposed, and scouts find this
objective free of enemy.
CBI—In NCAC area, Gen Stilwell orders coordinated
assault on encircled enemy in Walawbum
area, but communication difficulties prevent the
various units from complying. On W, Ch 22d Div
is fighting near Kumnyen Ford. 113th Regt, Ch
38th Div, is at Wesu Ga. 1st Prov Tank Gp, after
constructing ford across Nambyu Stream, enters
Walawbum, but lacking infantry support pulls back
to Nambyu Stream for night. Communications between
Gen Stilwell and GALAHAD are restored late
in evening and Merrill is ordered to halt.
11 Army Group: In Br Fourteenth Army area,
Japanese launch strong drive on Imphal, in 4 Corps
sector, a week before it is anticipated by SEAC,
thrusting northward toward Tiddim and Tamu.
9 March
BOUGAINVILLE—Continuing attacks on Hill 700,
Japanese drive small salient into line of 145th Inf,
37th Div, on saddle. Efforts to regain the saddle fail.
Enemy arty fire shifts to Torokina strip.
LOS NEGROS—2d Cav Brig, reinf, lands at
Salami Plantation. First echelon of Allied fighter
garrison arrives at Momote airfield.
NEW BRITAIN—Marines secure Talasea airdrome
without opposition. Rcn of Garua I., off
Talasea, is negative.
BURMA—In NCAC area, elements of Ch 22d
and 38th Divs and of 1st Prov Tank Gp enter
Walawbum after Japanese have made good their
escape. Fall of Walawbum gives Chinese virtual
control of Hukawng Valley.
USSR—Soviet forces break into Tarnopol,
where prolonged street fighting ensues.
[ 179 ]
10 March
U.S.—JCS agree on timetable for operations in
the Pacific: invasion of Hollandia on 15 April, Marianas
on 15 June, Palaus on 15 September, Mindanao
on 15 November 1944; Formosa on 15 February
1945
BOUGAINVILLE—Japanese bn begins assault on
Hill 260, in Americal Div sector, seizing South
Knob from 182d Inf and holding it against counterattack.
In co-ordinated counterattack, 145th Inf,
37th Div, narrows enemy salient on saddle of Hill
700 but cannot eliminate it.
ADMIRALTY Is.—On Los Negros additional service
elements and aircraft arrive. Allied planes begin
series of preinvasion attacks on Manus I.
BURMA—11 Army Group: In Br Fourteenth
Army area, the first Japanese reaction to landing of
Chindits in central Burma is an air attack on one
airfield—Chowringhee.
ITALY—Hq, Allied Central Mediterranean
Force is renamed Hq, Allied Armies in Italy (AAI).
USSR—Soviet forces on the offensive SW of
Smela capture Uman, German air base.
WESTERN EUROPE—U.S. Ninth Air Force,
which has thus far assisted Strategic Air Force, is
authorized to concentrate now on preinvasion operations.
11 March
BOUGAINVILLE—As indecisive fighting for Hills
100 and 260 continues, a third Japanese force (2 bns)
begins main attack toward Piva airfields, achieving
2 minor penetrations in line of 129th Inf in center
of 37th Div sector. In 145th Inf sector, envelopment
attack by elements of 148th Inf gains some ground
on saddle of Hill 700. 182d Inf, Americal Div, is
unable to regain South Knob of Hill 260.
ADMIRALTY Is.—Preliminary operations are begun
in preparation for invasion of Manus I. Patrols
find Bear Pt, on Manus proper, free of enemy but
unsuitable for arty; seize Butjo Luo, N of Manus,
where arty is to be emplaced; upon landing on Hauwei
I., also N of Manus, are ambushed by enemy
and withdraw with difficulty.
BURMA—11 Army Group: In Br Fourteenth
Army area, airdrop of Chindits (77th and 111th
Brigs) in central Burma is completed. Buthidaung
falls to Ind 7th Div, 15 Corps.
ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army area, VI
Corps issues preliminary plans for resuming offensive
in Albano road sector. Relief of Br 56th Div
by Br 5th Div of Br 10 Corps is completed.
USSR—Red Army troops pushing down
Dnieper R overrun Berislav.