1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 192 ]
12 May
NEW GUINEA—Charov outpost is withdrawn in
order to strengthen base at Nyaparake.
CBI—In NCAC area of Burma, K Force clashes
with enemy near Tingkrukawng and is soon pinned
down by superior numbers. Ch 38th Div is now able
to maintain communications between its 114th and
112th Regts; 113th is approaching West Wala and
Maran.
On Salween front, 198th Regt begins clearing
Mamien Pass. 36th Div, Ch 53d Army, which is to
clear Tatangtzu Pass, surrounds enemy outposts at
E end of it; night counterattack forces 36th Div back
to the Salween.
ITALY—AAI: Aircraft join in battle for Rome
at dawn.
In U.S. Fifth Army’s II Corps area, enemy is
resisting strongly and making determined counterattacks.
Elements of 339th Inf, 85th Div, withstand
attacks on S. Martino Hill and are passed through
by 1st Bn, 337th, which completes capture of this
feature. Co F, 339th, is isolated on M. dei Pensieri
during enemy counterattack. 338th Inf makes another
vain effort to drive up draw between S Ridge
and S. Maria Ridge but takes Solacciano. Stiff opposition
slows progress of 351st Inf, 88th Div, toward
S. Maria Infante; Co F is isolated and wiped out.
350th Inf takes Ventosa village with ease and halts
to await forward movement of French. In FEC
area, 4th Moroccan Mtn Div, reinf by regt of 3d
Algerian Div, tanks, and TD’s, clears Castelforte
on left and assists 2d Moroccan Div on right. 2d
Moroccan Div is unable to advance. 1st Motorized
Div is committed on right flank; 4th Motorized
Brig assisted by armor pushes N toward S. Andrea
but makes little headway. Mtn Corps, consisting of
1st, 3d, and 4th Groups of Tabors, 1st Moroccan
Inf of 4th Mtn Div, and 2d Bn of Algerian Arty
Regt, follows 4th Moroccan Mtn Div into Castelforte.
In Br Eighth Army’s 13 Corps area, Ind 8th Div
gains firm bridgehead on W bank of the Rapido
and puts 2 bridges across the river, but Br 4th Div
is unable to expand its small bridgehead. Pol 2
Corps, in Cassino area, seizes Phantom Ridge, NW
of the Monastery, but is forced back to line of
departure, where it remains for several days.
GERMANY—In powerful experimental blow at
oil fields in central Germany to test enemy reaction,
more than 800 heavy bombers of Eighth Air Force,
escorted by U.S. and RAF fighters, attack oil plants
at Zwickau, Merseburg–Leuna, Bruex, Leutzkendorf,
Boehlen, and other points with 1,718 tons of
bombs. Damage at Bruex, Boehlen, and Zeitz is so
severe that the plants are temporarily put out of
operation. Excellent results are also achieved at
Merseburg–Leuna. German Air Force reacts vio-
lently and 46 bombers of Eighth Air Force and 10
Allied fighters are lost. Almost 200 enemy aircraft
are claimed destroyed.
13 May
NEW GUINEA—Gen Gill decides to abandon
Marubian area.
CBI—In NCAC area of Burma, when frontal
and flanking attacks on Tingkrukawng by K Force
fail, the village is bypassed.
On Salween front, Japanese almost wipe out a
Ch bn in Mamien Pass but situation is restored after
reinforcements arrive. Japanese resistance in this
region ends. Regt of 53d Army crosses the Salween
and attacks Japanese flank, regaining positions in
Tatangtzu Pass.
ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army area, Germans,
after offering stiff resistance throughout day,
begin withdrawal to next delaying position night
13–14. In II Corps area, efforts of Co F of 339th
Inf, 85th Div, to break through enemy encirclement
fail. 2d Bn, 338th, clears Cave d’Argilla and Hill 60,
in region N of S. Martino Hill, while 1st Bn pushes
from Solacciano toward Hill 126, on S Ridge. 351st
Inf, 88th Div, continues toward S. Maria Infante.
Renewing attack on right flank of II Corps, 350th
Inf’s 1st Bn seizes M. Rotondo. FEC smashes
through Gustav Line in spectacular push. 2d Moroccan
Div overruns M. Girofano, M. Feuci, and
M. Maio in center of corps zone. Exploiting this
success, 1st Mtzd Div speeds forward on right flank
to S. Apollinare while 4th Moroccan Mtn Div, on
left flank, clears opposition about M. Ceschito, N
of road to Coreno, in skillful enveloping attack.
Over 1,000 prisoners are taken. Mtn Corps, upon
moving forward from Castelforte to positions N
of M. Rotondo, halts until opposition can be cleared
from Ceschito. Mtn Corps is organized into 3
groups. One pushes northward toward Ausonia and
the other 2 drive W toward Spigno, night 13–14.
In Br Eighth Army area, 13 Corps expands
Rapido bridgehead. Bridge is completed in sector
of 4th Div.
14 May
[ 12–14 MAY 1944 ]
NEW GUINEA—Co C, 127th Inf, withdrawing
from Marubian, finds its route cut by enemy. Japanese
also harass Co A at Ulau Mission. Since these
positions are becoming untenable, it is decided to
withdraw.
I TALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army area, II
Corps makes progress all along line against rearguard
opposition. 338th Inf, 85th Div, clears Hill
131 of S Ridge, previously an enemy strongpoint,
and outposts Formia–Ausonia road. 2d Bn, 337th