1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 240 ]
ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army’s IV Corps
area, TF Ramey, consisting of elements of 1st Armd
Div with tanks and TD’s, relieves 91st Div on right
flank of corps. 91st Div is transferred to II Corps to
relieve 88th Div in place. II Corps now has command
of 3 of the army’s 4 infantry divs—88th, 91st,
and 85th.
BURMA—11 Army Group: In Br Fourteenth
Army area, 4 Corps hq is withdrawn to India and
its components on Tiddim road are transferred to
command of Hq, 33 Corps, which now has full responsibility
for forcing enemy back across the Chindwin.
Japanese are in full retreat down Tiddim road.
15 Corps, on Arakan front, has engaged in patrolling
throughout June and July despite heavy monsoon
rainfall.
NEW GUINEA—In Vogelkop area, 3d Bn of 1st
Inf, 6th Div, moves by sea to Cape Sansapor and
makes unopposed landing at 0844. Sansapor Plantation
and Village are quickly secured and defensive
positions established. Cape Sansapor is found to be
unsuitable for PT base but is to become site of radar
Warning installation. In Aitape area, 124th Inf, reinf
by 2d Bn of 169th and dubbed TED Force, begins
counterattack in North Force sector at 0800 under
direction of Col Edward M. Starr. The 4 bns cross
the Driniumor and advance in separate columns toward
Niumen Creek, which 3 of the 4 reach, the
other being halted 800 yards short by enemy rear
guards. 128th Inf protects sector previously held by
North Force. In sector of South Force, Co G of
127th Inf breaks out of encirclement near Afua and
returns to main body. From 13 July to date, South
Force has suffered almost 1,000 casualties; 260 of
them within 112th Cav; over 700 Japanese are estimated
to have been killed by South Force.
TINIAN—Marines continue S over rugged terrain
against moderate resistance. Unusually heavy
bombardment by naval vessels, aircraft, and arty
precedes attack.
GUAM—3d Mar and 77th Inf Divs begin pursuit
of enemy northward, 3d Mar on left, and reach
first phase line, extending generally from Agana on
W to Yona on E, without trouble except for skirmish
at Yona, where 77th Div meets some enemy troops.
H AWAII—81st Div begins preliminary rehearsals
for Palaus operation.
1 August
FRANCE—12th Army Group: U.S. 12th Army
Group (Gen Bradley) becomes operational and
takes command of U.S. divs engaged in France,
these being divided between U.S. First and Third
Armies. Gen Montgomery, however, is to retain
command of all ground forces through month of
August. XIX TAC of U.S. Ninth Air Force becomes
[ 1 AUGUST 1944 ]
operational with mission of supporting Third Army.
IX TAC continues to assist First Army.
U.S. Third Army (Gen Patton) becomes operational
with 4 corps under its command (VIII, XII,
XX, XV) as well as Forces Françaises de l’Interieur
(FFI). Operating on right of First Army and on
extreme right of Allied forces, Third Army is to
secure Brittany Peninsula and its valuable ports.
VIII Corps, consisting of 4th and 6th Armd Divs and
8th and 79th Inf Divs, passes from First to
Third Army command; with 4th and 6th Armd Divs
spearheading, pours through the narrow Avranches
corridor and fans out to S, SW, and W. Crossing La
Selune R at Pontaubault, 6th Armd Div swings W
into Brittany in 2 columns and reaches Pontorson–
Antrain area. 4th Armd Div drives southward to
cut off the peninsula and reaches positions near
Rennes. XV Corps (Maj Gen Wade H. Haislip),
consisting of 83d and 80th Inf and 5th Armd Divs, is
concentrating between Sée and Selune Rivers to block
enemy movement toward Avranches.
U.S. First Army, command of which passes from
Gen Bradley to Lt Gen Courtney H. Hodges, directs
all but V Corps to drive SE. V Corps is to take
heights N of Vire and remain there until pinched
out. VII Corps expands Brécey bridgehead on right
flank with 1st Div reinf by CAA of 3d Armd Div.
4th Div, reinf with CCB of 3d Armd Div, pushes
forward toward St Pois. 9th Div moves southward
on left flank of corps. XIX Corps overruns Percy
and Tessy, Percy falling to 28th Div and Tessy to
CCA, 2d Armd Div. V Corps continues southward
toward Vire on 2-div front after 5th Div is pinched
out on right flank by British. 5th Div assembles in
rear in Army reserve.
21 Army Group: In Br Second Army’s 8 Corps
area, 11th Armd Div overruns Le Bény-Bocage. To
left, Gds Armd Div is driving on Estry. 30 Corps
works forward toward Mont Pincon on right and
Villers-Bocage on left. 7th Armd Div is committed
to drive on Aunay-sur-Odon.
In Cdn First Army area, 2 Corps evokes strong
opposition as it attacks below Caen in Tilly-la-Campagne–La
Hogue area. In Br 1 Corps are, 49th Div
takes control of Sannerville–Troarn sector.
MEDITERRANEAN—AFHQ changes code word
for invasion of S France from ANVIL to DRAGOON.
Plans for the operation are largely completed by
this time. Hq of 6th Army Group (Gen Devers)
is formed at Bastia, Corsica, and will eventually take
control of the U.S. and Fr forces in S France.
EASTERN EUROPE—Pol underground forces revolt
as Soviet offensive nears Warsaw; fighting continues
throughout the next two months. First Baltic
Front pushes to Gulf of Riga at point 25 miles W
of Riga. Kaunas (Kovno), Lithuania, falls to Third