1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

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On Salween front, Japanese send rescue column
to extricate garrison of Pingka.
MOROTAI—Work is begun on another airfield,
called Pitoe Drome, about 1,200 yards N of Wama
Drome.
PALAUS—On Peleliu, RCT 321 of 81st Div
arrives from Angaur and is attached to 1st Mar
Div. After relieving 1st Marines on left flank just
N of third phase line, N of village of Ngarekeukl,
RCT 321 reconnoiters along coast to Garekoru, near
fourth phase line, without difficulty. Efforts to make
general advance northward, however, fail because
of intense fire from center ridges. 7th Marines has
task of supporting drive of infantry. On Angaur,
322d Inf again drives into Lake Salome bowl from
S but pulls back again when forward positions become
untenable.
24 September
WESTERN EUROPE—21 Army Group: In Cdn
First Army’s Br 1 Corps area, Cdn 2d Div establishes
bridgehead across Antwerp–Turnhout Canal
S of St Leonard. Elements of 49th Div reach
Turnhout.
In Br Second Army’s 1 A/B Corps area, 2 cos of
43d Div cross the Neder Rijn in assault boats during
night 24–25 but are unable to reach British-held
perimeter at Hartestein. Pol forces on S bank lack
assault boats for crossing. Lt Gen B. G. Horrocks,
CG 30 Corps, issues and within a few hours revokes
order for 43d Div to prepare to cross at Renkum.
In 30 Corps area, other elements of 43d Div continue
to fight for Elst and Bemmel. Continuing attacks
toward Veghel, Germans cut highway NE of
village of Koevering, between St Oedenrode and
Veghel. In 8 Corps area, Deurne falls to 11th Armd
Div.
12th Army Group: In U.S. Third Army area,
Gen Patton, in accordance with order from Gen
Eisenhower, halts offensive operations for aggressive
defense, calling for limited actions, as supplies
permit, to improve defensive positions. In XX Corps
area, 5th Div begins relief of 7th Armd Div in line.
In XII Corps area, 80th Div prepares to attack to
Seille R line on 26th. CCB, 4th Armd Div, holds its
perimeter between Château-Salins and Fresnes-en-
Saulnois against determined tank-infantry attacks
that P–47’s help repulse. Heavy enemy fire continues
from Fort de Château-Salins, however. Germans
lose about 300 dead and 11 tanks in this action.
6th Army Group: In U.S. Seventh Army’s VI
Corps area, 157th Inf of 45th Div seizes Girmont;
180th continues clearing Epinal. 36th Div is pushing
NE toward St Die; 141st Inf takes St Amé, E of
Remiremont. 3d Div clears Rupt of snipers and
[ 24 SEPTEMBER 1944 ]
expands bridgehead to include La Roche and Maxonchamp.
ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army area, IV
Corps releases additional elements of 1st Armd Div
for use on II Corps front, retaining only CCB. S
African 6th Armd Div, protecting left flank of II
Corps, replaces 11th Armd Brig in line with 12th
Motorized Brig; 11th Armd Brig then pushes N
along Highway 6620 to S. Ippolito while rest of div
pursues enemy up Highways 64 and 66. In II Corps
area, 34th Div, driving toward M. Bastione with
168th and 135th Regts, gains crest of M. Coroncina
and holds it against counterattack; overruns Roncobilaccio.
91st Div, attacking with 362d and 361st
Regts toward M. Oggioli, reaches line from Covigliano
westward; during night 24–25, 363d Inf replaces
362d in line. While 337th Inf, 85th Div,
consolidates positions on M. la Fine and patrols,
338th, to left, continues slowly toward M. Canda
and gets into position for assault on it. 88th Div
runs into strong resistance at M. Acuto and undergoes
vigorous counterattacks as it continues toward
Imola. In Br 13 Corps area, 1st Div takes Palazzuolo
and Marradi, but enemy is holding out on
M. Gamberaldi. Ind 8th Div reaches Marradi–S.
Benedetto road. 6th Armd Div advances to S.
Benedetto in Alpe, on Highway 67.
In Br Eighth Army area, 5 Corps secures heights
N of the Marecchia from Montebello to Poggio
Berni to S. Arcangelo, and 46th Div, in center, establishes
bridgehead across the Uso, taking Camerano
on far bank.
GREECE—RAF personnel arrive at Araxos by
sea and together with Special Boat Sq move on to
Patras. Commander of Land Forces, Adriatic, controls
this operation.
B URMA—In NCAC area, Br 36th Div encounters
enemy in strength while probing southward
from Namma and suspends forward movement
until mid-October.
PALAUS—On Peleliu, 321st Inf attacks after air,
naval, and arty bombardment, driving through
Garekoru to fourth phase line on left. Co E, on
right, starts along east–west trail, soon called 321st
Inf Trail, through central ridge system running
from West Road S of Garekoru to East Road in
effort to pocket strong enemy forces in Umurbrogol
Mts, S part of the ridge system. Japanese counterattack
at fourth phase line causes 321st Inf to fall
back a little, but positions are largely restored. Gap
develops between infantry and 7th Marines, since
latter, to right rear, has to clear ground that 321st
Inf should have taken. On Angaur, when appeal
to enemy to surrender produces only 2 prisoners,
arty fire is placed on the pocket throughout rest of
day and ensuing night.