1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 21–22 JUNE 1944 ]
placed in corps reserve. 2d Bn, 105th Inf, reverts
to 27th Div.
BATTLE OF THE PHILIPPINE SEA—In final phase
of this major sea action, planes from TF 58 attack
strong Japanese naval force well W of Saipan and
sink 2 carriers, 2 DD’s, and 1 tanker; severely damage
3 carriers, 1 BB, 3 cruisers, 1 DD, and 3 tankers.
16 U.S. planes are destroyed by enemy; 73 others
are lost because they cannot locate carriers in darkness
or because they run out of fuel. Subsequent efforts
to overtake the enemy fleet are unsuccessful.
21 June
FRANCE—21 Army Group: In U.S. First Army’s
VII Corps area, while 9th and 79th Divs patrol
and reorganize for final assault on Cherbourg, 4th
Div closes along the city’s main defenses to right—
Hill 178—NW edge of Bois du Coudray–Hill 158.
22d Inf gets bn on Hill 158, cutting lateral road
between Cherbourg and St Pierre-Eglise. At night,
Gen Collins issues ultimatum to the German garrison
commander, Maj Gen Karl-Wilhelm von Schlieben
to surrender by 0900 22d.
USSR-FINLAND—Soviet forces of Karelian
Front begin offensive on both sides of Lake Onega.
FRANTIC—U.S. Eighth Air Force begins shuttle
raids between Br and Soviet bases. 114 B–17’s and
70 P–51’s, after bombing oil targets at Ruhland,
S of Berlin, land at Soviet bases. Enemy discovers
the base at Poltava and makes highly destructive
attack on it by light of flares, night 21–22, causing
heavy damage to aircraft and stores of ammunition
and gasoline.
ITALY—AAI: In Pol 2 Corps area, advance
elements reach Chienti R line, behind which enemy
is prepared to make a stand, and establish small
bridgehead.
In U.S. Fifth Army area, IV Corps commits 1st
Armd Div, reinf by 361st Inf of 91st Div, to right
of 36th Div in sector previously held by TF Ramey,
since IV Corps zone is widening and resistance is
increasing. 36th Div continues slowly along Highway
I. FEC is held up by determined opposition
along Orcia R line.
In Br Eighth Army area, 13 Corps battles outlying
positions of enemy’s Trasimeno line. 78th
Div takes Sanfatucchio after hard fighting but is
unable to progress against hamlet of Vaiano.
S African 6th Armd Div reaches heights leading to
Chiusi but cannot break into the town. 13 Corps
commander decides to commit reserves—4th Div
and Cdn 1st Armd Brig—and continue advance on
3-div front; orders 4th Div to relieve 78th Div of
positions below Vaiano on night 22–23 and be prepared
to relieve rest of 78th, which is scheduled to
leave the theater at end of June.
[ 215 ]
SWPA—TF CYCLONE Is. formally organized to
take Noemfoor. Gen Patrick sets up temporary CP
at Finschhafen.
NEW GUINEA—Owi airfield is put into use by
fighters of Fifth Air Force. On Biak, 1st Bn of
162d Inf continues attack on West Caves without
avail, although tanks and flame throwers are used.
Japanese efforts to withdraw from the position
through 186th Inf lines to NW are frustrated. 186th
Inf probes enemy position, called the Teardrop, just
NW of Hill 320. 3d Bn, 163d Inf, which was to have
driven into the Teardrop from NW and N in conjunction
with 186th Inf’s pressure from S and SW,
is too far N to reach it. In Wakde-Sarmi area, after
probing to locate strongpoints, 3d Bn of 20th Inf
renews attack toward Lone Tree Hill but meets such
heavy fire from well-organized positions that it
pulls back to E bank of Snaky R. Arty and mortar
fire are placed on Lone Tree Hill, night 21–22.
SAIPAN—Marine action is confined to patrolling.
Gen Holland Smith, preparing to make main attack
on N and being informed that only 300–500 Japanese
remain on Nafutan Pt, orders most of 27th Div
to assemble in corps reserve and places its arty under
control of XXIV Corps Arty; directs single infantry
bn and platoon of tanks to continue clearing
S Saipan and protect the airfield. Gen Ralph Smith
requests use of RCT 105 and Gen Holland Smith
agrees, but orders to this effect do not reach 27th
Div until 22d. Meanwhile, 27th Div continues assault
on Nafutan Pt, replacing 2d Bn of 165th Inf
with 2d Bn of 105th on left of line. Day’s action gains
little ground. 3d Bn, 105th, reduces cave strongpoint
while continuing E along S coast and at end of day
is only a short distance from troops moving down
from N. At 2000, before receiving word that 105th
Inf may be retained, Gen Ralph Smith orders RCT
105 to conduct holding action facing Nafutan Pt and
to relieve RCT 165 units by 0630 22d; upon reorganization
of lines, not later than 1100 22d, to
continue offensive. Gen Holland Smith orders 27th
Div to reconnoiter northward toward Marines.
22 June
FRANCE—21 Army Group: In U.S. First Army
area, VII Corps, receiving no reply to ultimatum
begins final assault on Cherbourg fortress. Intense
air preparation, beginning at 1240, does more to
demoralize enemy than to damage his positions.
VII Corps attack opens at 1400. On left flank, 9th
Div presses NE toward Cherbourg with 60th Inf on
left and 47th on right; 60th quickly takes Acqueville
but is halted at edge of Flottemanville fortifications;
47th gets forward elements to slopes of Hill 171,
just W of Bois du Mont du Roc. In center, 79th Div
attacks with 3 regts: while 315th is clearing Hardin-