1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

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battle continues, but is unable to break through to
summit. 339th, to right, is still held up by strong
opposition on M. Veruca. To left of 85th Div, 91st
Div’s 363d and 361st Regts cannot gain crest of M.
Monticelli; continuing toward Futa Pass, 362d Inf
makes limited progress up Highway 65 to positions
near Montecarelli. 34th Div is still stalled near
Torricella Hill on left but on right takes M. Frassino.
In Br 13 Corps area, 1st Div completes capture of
Poggio Prefetto. Ind 8th Div takes Le Scalette and
M. Stelleto. 6th Armd Div gains hold on slopes of
M. Peschiena.
Br Eighth Army drives quickly toward next delaying
line, called Rimini Line, which extends from
fortified S. Fortunato, guarding Highway 16 and
Rimini, SW to Ceriano ridge. In 5 Corps area, Ind
4th Div clears left flank of corps as far as the Conca.
Montescudo falls to 46th Div. 1st Armd Div crosses
the Marano in Vecciano area on right flank of corps.
Cdn 1 Corps advances steadily toward Rimini with
Br 4th Div on left and Cdn 1st Div on right. While
Br 4th Div clears S. Patrignano ridge, which
dominates the Marano, Cdn 1st Div gets forward
elements to S. Martino in M. I’Abate, commanded
by S. Fortunato, where confused and bitter fighting
ensues.
CBI—Gen Stilwell, arriving in Chungking
from Kweilin, confers with Chiang Kai-shek, who
proposes to withdraw the Salween forces unless Ch
troops at Myitkyina attack toward Bhamo within a
week. News of this is sent by Gen Stilwell to Gen
Marshall, who is attending OCTAGON Conference,
and results in alteration of strategy.
11 Army Group: In Br Fourteenth Army’s 33
Corps area, Ind 5th Div, advancing down Tiddim
road, establishes bridgehead across the Manipur near
Tuitum. Crossing is facilitated by advance brig that
has crossed earlier at Shuganu and has moved S.
MOROTAI—In preparation for landings on
Morotai, Fifth Air Force planes from land bases and
naval aircraft from fast and escort carriers of Third
and Seventh Fleets complete program of neutralizing
enemy bases within range of target, begun by
land-based planes at beginning of September, with
strikes on Halmahera, Batjan I. (S of Halmahera),
and Celebes. Halmahera is also subjected to naval
gunfire bombardment. Adm Barbey of VII Amphib
Force heads naval forces as commander of attack
force (TF 77). After 2 hours of preliminary naval
shelling of Morotai, TF TRADEWIND (Gen Hall, CG
XI Corps, ALAMO) begins landing on SW coast at
0830 without opposition. 155th and 167th Regts,
31st Div, land on beach at head of Gila Peninsula,
while 124th Inf, 31st Div, lands on adjacent beach
to S at W side of the peninsula. Forces from both
beaches push inland about 2,000 yards to D Day objectives,
taking Pitoe Drôme and clearing Gila
[ 16 SEPTEMBER 1944 ]
Peninsula. Gen Persons, commander of 31st Div and
TRADEWIND Assault Force, establishes CP ashore.
Enemy opposition ashore is negligible, but extremely
unfavorable conditions offshore hamper initial phase
of landings.
PALAUS—After preparatory bombardment by
Western Fire Support Group and aircraft from carriers,
III (Mar) Amphib Corps (Gen Geiger) begins
landing 1st Mar Div on SW shore of Peleliu I., about
0830, 1st Marines on left, 5th Marines in center, and
7th Marines on right. Japanese fire, at first light, increases
as marines move inland and is particularly
heavy on flanks. 5th Marines partially surrounds
airfield and drives salient to center of it, well ahead
of flanking forces. By end of day beachhead perimeter
measures about 2,800 yards from N to S but is
only 400–700 yards deep, except for salient in center.
As a diversion for Peleliu landings, elements of
Angaur Attack Group (Rear Adm William H. P.
Blandy), standing offshore, feint landings at
Babelthuap.
U.S.—JCS decide to invade central rather than
S Philippines and advance target date for invasion of
Leyte from 20 December to 20 October. Projected
operations against Yap, Talaud, and Mindanao are
canceled.
16 September
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES—Second Quebec
Conference (OCTAGON) ends, British and American
conferees having approved, for planning purposes,
timing and direction of war to defeat Japan and
considered the matter of occupying Germany upon
its defeat. The Pacific war is to culminate in 1945
with invasion of Japan—Kyushu in October and
Tokyo Plain (Honshu) in December.
WESTERN EUROPE—Hitler presents plan for
Ardennes counteroffensive to his commanders.
21 Army Group: In Cdn First Army’s 2 Corps
area, Cdn 4th Armd Div works eastward toward
Ghent–Terneuzen Canal from Balgerhoek bridgehead.
Pol 1st Armd Div, on right flank of corps,
makes limited progress northward toward Hulst.
In Br Second Army’s 12 Corps area, 7th Armd
Div relieves 53d Div at Antwerp. In 30 Corps area,
50th Div relieves Gds Armd Div at Escaut bridgehead.
43d Div concentrates NE of Diest.
12th Army Group: In U.S. Ninth Army area, 83d
Div, screening former Third Army sector along the
Loire, accepts surrender of German Group Elster,
about 20,000 strong, which has been cut off by
junction of Third and Seventh Armies. In VIII
Corps area, 6th Armd Div ( — CCB) is transferred
to Third Army, 94th Div completing its relief and
taking over its sector. Fort Montbarey falls to 29th
Div, opening way to Brest proper from W: while
116th Inf advances toward Recouvrance, 175th