1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 26–30 APRIL 1944 ]
ply carrying. 186th Inf continues W from Humboldt
Bay sector to Nefaar, some elements moving overland
and others across Lake Sentani. In Aitape area,
active patrolling is conducted along coast and inland.
Co G, 127th Inf, occupies Ali I. Balance of an RAAF
wing arrives at Tadji airfield.
26 April
NEW GUINEA—Elements of Aus 5th Div occupy
Alexishafen. In Hollandia area 21st Inf, against
negligible opposition, overruns Hollandia airdrome;
makes patrol contact with Humboldt Bay force between
Weversdorp and the airdrome. Supply situation
improves as clearing weather permits airdrops.
186th Inf easily secures Cyclops and Sentani airdromes.
Junction of patrols of 21st and 186th Regts
closes pincers on enemy in Hollandia area. In Aitape
area, 1st Bn of 127th Inf arrives.
ETO—5 naval assault forces for Normandy invasion
complete assembly. One, Force U, conducts
rehearsal exercise (TIGER), during which it suffers
heavy damage from German E-boat attacks. Rehearsals
are conducted by the other TF’s in early
May.
27 April
NEW GUINEA—Gen MacArthur sets target date
for next offensive, Wakde-Sarmi, as 15 May. Plans
are being made for invasion of Biak in early June.
In Hollandia area, Cyclops airdrome is ready for
limited use. Elements of 186th Inf reconnoiter two
islands in Lake Sentani as well as N shore of the
lake. 162d Inf seizes Cape Soeadja, at NW limits of
Humboldt Bay.
CBI—Final arrangements are made for drive
on Myitkyina by Marauders and for offensive across
the Salween by Y–Force. Gen Merrill, who has recovered
from his illness, will lead the Marauders.
Chiang Kai-shek arranges details for assault across
the Salween with Gen Wei Li-huang by telephone.
Gen Wei has replaced Gen Chen Cheng as Ch commander
of Yunnan forces.
11 Army Group: In Br Fourteenth Army area,
4 Corps is desperately resisting enemy efforts to
break through to Imphal before the monsoon rains
begin. Japanese hold 6 miles of trail from Imphal to
Silchar. Ind 17th Div has moved S from concentration
area N of Imphal and, together with elements
of Ind 20th Div, is attempting to halt enemy’s
advance.
ITALY—AAI: In Br Eighth Army area, Pol 2
Corps takes command of M. Cassino sector from 13
Corps.
FRANCE—U.S. Eighth Air Force joins in air offensive
against transportation, striking at Blainville
and Châlons-sur-Marne.
[ 189 ]
28 April
U.S.—Secretary of Navy Frank Knox dies.
NEW GUINEA—First organized resistance in
Aitape sector is met by outpost of 3d Bn, 163d Inf, at
Kamti village. Some 200 Japanese are estimated to be
in this region. TF, known as Nyaparake Force, consisting
of Co C of 127th Inf reinf by elements of Co
D, embarks for Nyaparake village, about 17 miles E
of Nigia R, to intercept westward movement of
enemy from Wewak. Landing near Dandriwad R
mouth, about 8 miles E of Nyaparake, the force begins
patrolling without detecting many Japanese.
CBI—As Japanese offensive in Honan gathers
momentum, U.S. Fourteenth Air Force begins attacks
on Yellow R bridges. Chinese-American Composite
Wing is disposed to guard B–29 fields at
Cheng-tu; besides this task and that of knocking
out bridges across Yellow R, the force is to neutralize
RR yards at Cheng-hsien and Kaifeng.
In NCAC area of Burma, END RUN Force opens
drive on Myitkyina. K Force leads off, moving by
indirect route that crosses Kumon Range toward
Ritpong. Ch 38th Div, by frontal and flanking
moves, is, slowly forcing enemy back toward Wala.
29 April
NEW GUINEA—ALAMO Force orders RCT 163,
upon relief in Aitape area, to begin staging for
Wakde-Sarmi operation.
BURMA—In NCAC area, Brig Gen Frank Dorn
establishes Field Hq, Y-FOS, which is to accompany
Gen Wei Li-huang’s hq.
11 Army Group: In Br Fourteenth Army area,
16th LRP Brig of Ind 3d Div is being flown out of
Burma for rest.
MEDITERRANEAN—Ground, naval, and air outline
plans for ANVIL are presented to Supreme Allied
Commander, Mediterranean Theater.
30 April
CAROLINE Is.—TF 58, while returning from
Hollandia operation, begins 2-day air attack on Truk.
Atoll.
NEW GUINEA—163d Inf withdraws outpost at
Kamti village.
CBI—In NCAC area, H Force of TF END RUN
starts forward behind K Force toward Myitkyina.
Ch 22d Div, apparently having received permission
from Chiang Kai-shek, begins aggressive action.
11 Army Group: In 4 Corps sector of Br Fourteenth
Army, Ind 5th and 23d Divs are driving N
toward Ukhrul, 5th on W. Ind 30th Div, less elements
on Tiddim Road, contains enemy in front of
Palel.