1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 8–9 JUNE 1944 ]
On Salween front, Ch 88th Div of 71st Army
reaches East Gate of Lung-ling. Ch 87th Div, moving
along Burma Road, is approaching the city.
NEW GUINEA—On Biak, 186th Inf, assisted by
arty and aircraft, drives quickly across Mokmer airfield
to beach without opposition, but Japanese then
subject entire area to intense fire. Supply of 186th
Inf by sea is begun under fire. 162d Inf begins
movement by sea of bulk of its troops in coastal
sector to Mokmer airdrome via Parai in order to
exert pressure against Parai Defile from Was well as
E and open it to coastal traffic. Limited effort is
being made against Ibdi Pocket area. Enemy’s East
Caves position, E of Mokmer airfield, is being
neutralized by fire. In Hollandia–Aitape area, 2d
Bn joins 1st Bn of 158th Inf, TF TORNADO, in Tor R
bridgehead. Both patrol uneventfully toward Maffin
No. 1. In TF PERSECUTION’S sector, Japanese become
active about 1,300 yards W of Afua on Afua–Palauru
supply line. Gap exists in outer defense line along
the Driniumor, where regrouping is conducted. 1st
Bn, 128th Inf, replaces 1st Bn, 126th, in N part of
line.
U.S.—Gen Marshall rejects request, made by
Gen Stilwell at instigation of Chiang Kai-shek and
Gen Chennault, that B–29 stocks be used by Fourteenth
Air Force in the event of an emergency in
China.
8 June
FRANCE—21 Army Group: Contact is established
between U.S. First and Br Second Armies
near Port-en-Bessin.
In U.S. First Army area, VII Corps begins all-out.
drive on Cherbourg with 4 refits—505th Para Inf
(82d A/B Div) and 8th Inf (4th Div) on W and
4th Div’s 12th and 22d Regts on E. Enemy again
halts assault of 22d Inf at edge of Azeville–Crisbecq
fortifications; 12th Inf fights bitterly for Edmondeville.
On W, attack reaches general line from
Montebourg highway through Magneville to the
Merderet. 82d A/B Div remains under strong enemy
pressure along the Merderet. On VII Corps S flank,
101st A/B Div opens battle for Carentan in effort
to effect speedy junction with V Corps: 506th Inf
( — ), strongly reinf, forces enemy from St. Cômedu-Mont;
div then regroups along the Douve with
orders to cross in vicinity of Brévands. V Corps
secures D Day objectives. 116th Inf of 29th Div and
Rangers succeed in relieving hard-pressed units of
2d Ranger Bn on Pointe du Hoe and push on to
Grandcamp; 175th Inf continues rapid drive on
Isigny and takes it with ease, night 8–9; 115th drives
S to the Aure through Longueville. In 1st Div sector,
Formigny falls to elements of 18th Inf from
Engranville; 26th Inf, making main effort to trap
enemy between U.S. and Br bridgeheads, overruns
[ 205 ]
Tour-en-Bessin and, night 8–9, Ste Anne; 16th attempts
to block enemy escape from Port-en-Bessin,
but enemy retains escape corridor and withdraws
bulk of his forces through it, night 8–9.
In Br Second Army’s 30 Corps area, Port-en-
Bessin falls to 47th Royal Mar Cdo early in day.
50th Div compresses enemy’s escape corridor in
conjunction with U.S. V Corps, taking Sully and
château at Fosse Soucy, but pulls back under enemy
pressure.
ITALY—AAI: Br 5 Corps, holding Adriatic
coastal sector, finds that enemy is withdrawing and
moves forward.
In U.S. Fifth Army’s VI Corps area, 133d Inf,
leading 34th Div’s pursuit up Highway 1, encounters
delaying opposition S of Tarquinia. II Corps,
to speed advance, commits 2 TF’s ahead of 85th
and 88th Divs—TF Howze on left and TF Ellis
(91st Cav Rcn Sq, reinf) on right. Forward elements
get to within 6 miles of Viterbo before corps is
halted in order to give S African 6th Armd Div right
of way. Shift of interarmy boundary to left greatly
narrows zone of 88th Div.
In Br Eighth Army’s 13 Corps area, S African
6th Armd Div makes rapid progress toward Orvieto
on left flank. E of the Tiber, Br 6th Armd Div
encounters enemy positions extending W from
Monte Maggiore and is held up at Passo Corese;
puts infantry in the lead, night 8–9.
CBI—On Salween front, Ch 88th Div of 71st
Army penetrates outer defenses of Lung-ling. Ch
87th Div reaches North Gate of the city and blocks
Japanese supply route at Manio Bridge, on Tengchung-Lung-ling
road.
NEW GUINEA—Seventh Fleet PT boats begin
operating from Mios Woendi. On Biak, 186th Inf
of TF HURRICANE improves and consolidates positions
in Mokmer airdrome area. 2d Bn of 162d Inf
meets heavy fire as it advances E to rejoin parent unit
and halts on ridge N of East Caves. 162d Inf completes
movement of bulk of its 1st and 3d Bns to
Parai. Japanese continue to resist stubbornly in Parai
Defile despite pressure from W and E by elements
of 163d, 186th, and 162d Regts. Elements of 162d
Inf pushing W from Parai toward Mokmer airfield
are strongly opposed but reach positions near
Mokmer village. In Hollandia–Aitape area, 1st and
2d Bns of 158th Inf, TF TORNADO, with tank support,
attack W after brief arty preparation. Considerable
resistance develops, but attack progresses to
within 1,500 yards of the Tirfoam.
9 June
FRANCE—21 Army Group: In U.S. First Army’s
VII Corps area, 4th Div makes significant progress
at some points as it continues drive on Cherbourg: