1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

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arty land on Insoemanai I., and find it free of
Japanese.
CBI—In surprise attack in NCAC area, H
Marauder Force seizes Myitkyina airstrip. While
the strip is being taken by 150th Regt of Ch 50th
Div, 1st Marauder Bn seizes Pamati, site of Irrawaddy
ferry. In response to request for reinforcements
in order to begin assault on Myitkyina itself,
elements of Ch 89th Regt are flown in from Ledo.
M and K Forces are moving toward Myitkyina to
assist H Force. Ind 3d Div ( — ) is transferred from
control of Br Fourteenth Army to Gen Stilwell’s
command. 23d Brig remains attached to Br forces.
16th Brig has been flown out for rehabilitation.
Squadron of American Dakotas is ordered diverted
from Troop Carrier Command to Fourteenth Air
Force to supply Yunnan Force. Bombers of Strategic
Air Force are used to replace the Dakotas temporarily.
On Yunnan front, Ch force securing Huei-jen
Bridge area gets forward elements to Hongmoshu
village, well behind Japanese and only 24 air miles
from Teng-chung, but Japanese later recover the
village.
ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army’s II Corps
area, 85th Div continues pursuit of enemy through
Formia corridor, 338th Inf entering Formia where
enemy is still resisting; 337th Inf, after strong arty
concentration on M. Campese, drives to Maranola.
351st Inf, 88th Div, with 3d Bn in the lead, attempts
to take M. Grande, W of Itri–Pico road, but is halted
by heavy fire and tanks. 350th Inf ( — ), moving
forward in 2 convoys to Trivio, advances on foot
through Maranola to positions S of 351st Inf. In
FEC area, one column of Mtn Corps is clearing
region W and NW of M. Revole as far as Itri–Pico
road; a second reaches positions S of M. del Lago.
3d Algerian Div enters Esperia, which is undefended,
but meets strong opposition while continuing
pursuit toward S. Oliva; elements begin ascent
of M. Oro, key position overlooking Hitler Line.
1st Motorized Div, continuing NW along S bank of
the Liri, is halted by fire from M. Oro and extensive
mine fields.
Br Eighth Army begins general offensive. Cdn 1
Corps drives W on left flank of army toward Hitler
Line. 13 Corps and Pol 2 Corps, in concerted attacks
to isolate Cassino, make substantial progress, but
Germans are keeping an escape route open and
withdrawing Cassino garrison through it. 13 Corps
cuts Highway 6; Pol 2 Corps recovers Phantom
Ridge and captures Colle S. Angelo.
18 May
ADMIRALTY Is.—Campaign is officially terminated
by CG Sixth Army. Air and naval bases
have been developed. Japanese casualties during
operation total 3,280 killed and 75 captured as
against U.S. casualties of 326 killed, 1,189 wounded,
and 4 missing.
NEW GUINEA—After preparatory bombardment,
163d Inf lands 3 cos of 1st Bn and Co F of 2d
on S coast of Insoemoar I., main island of Wakde
group and site of Wakde airfield; despite opposition
from mutually supporting pillboxes and bunkers,
clears most of airfield and island. Enemy retains NE
end of the island and counterattacks unsuccessfully,
night 18–19. On mainland, 3d Bn, 163d Inf, begins
westward advance across Tor R, establishing small
bridgehead.
BURMA—In NCAC area, Marauders begin
assault on town of Myitkyina while elements of
89th Regt, Ch 30th Div, defend Myitkyina airfield.
1st Bn overruns Zigyun, S of Myitkyina. 150th
Regt, Ch 50th Div, attacks from N, seizing RR
station.
ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army area, 36th
Div begins movement to Anzio beachhead. In II
Corps area, 338th Inf of 85th Div mops up Formia
and pushes N to M. di Mola and W to M. Conca
against rear-guard resistance, while 337th, swinging
SW, reaches Highway 7 between Formia and Itri
and thereby protects flank of 338th. 339th Inf moves
forward along Highway 7, night 18–19. In 88th Div
sector, 351st Inf remains in place under intense fire
that abates with arrival of supporting arty; 349th
reverts to control of 88th Div. FEC meets strong
resistance as it attacks toward Pico. While one Mtn
Corps column continues to clear left flank, another
reaches heights commanding S. Oliva. 3d Algerian
Div reduces opposition on M. Oro feature in conjunction
with 1st Motorized Div to right and drives
enemy from Monticello and S. Oliva. 1st Motorized
Div continues along S bank of the Liri to Forma
Quesa Creek.
Br Eighth Army completes reduction of Gustav
Line in Liri Valley with capture of Cassino. Cdn 1
Corps continues toward Hitler Line at Pontecorvo.
In 13 Corps area, Cassino, now in ruins, falls to 4th
Div. Detachment of 78th Div thrusts to outskirts of
Aquino, key position in Hitler Line. In Pol 2 Corps
area, 3d Carpathian Div takes Cassino Monastery.
19 May
[ 18–19 MAY 1944 ]
NEW GUINEA—Organized resistance on Insoemoar
I., rapidly disintegrates, and Japanese remnants
are compressed into small pocket at NE tip. Engineers
begin to repair airdrome. Prov Groupment
on Isoemanai is disbanded; its components return
to mainland or to Wakde. Cos E and I land on Liki
and Niroemoar and find them undefended. Fifth
Air Force establishes radar detachments on the