1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

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Corps area, Gambettola falls to NZ 2d Div without
a fight.
GREECE—After delay while mines are being
cleared, Gen Scobie’s Force 140 (Br 3 Corps and
Greek troops) arrives off Piraeus in evening and
goes ashore. Gen Scobie, upon landing, sets up
his hq in Athens and orders retreating enemy pursued
by land and harassed by air.
SEAC—Adm Mountbatten leaves Kandy (Ceylon)
for Cairo to meet Prime Minister Churchill.
CBI—NCAC opens offensive to clear N Burma
and open supply route to China (CAPITAL), pushing
southward from Myitkyina toward line Katha–
Shwegu–Bhamo almost unopposed. Br 36th Div,
which has been moving S in Burma Railway corridor
during the monsoon season, continues drive
with 29th Brig from Namma area and is followed
by Ch 50th Div. In center, Ch 22d Div moves SE
from Kamaing area in region between the RR corridor
and Myitkyina–Bhamo road in effort to secure
bridgehead over the Irrawaddy at Shwegu. Ch 38th
Div attacks on E flank to secure Bhamo–Mansi area,
with 113th Regt leading. In addition to Ch New
Sixth and New First Armies, NCAC now has under
its command Ch 1st Separate Regt, U.S. 475th Inf
(containing GALAHAD survivors) and U.S. 124th
Cav (Texas National Guard), which is to be combined
into 5332d Brig (Prov), later called TF MARS,
with strength of about a div.
ANGAUR—First plane lands on airfield.
P.I.—Task group of TF 38 attacks Luzon airfields.
16 October
WESTERN EUROPE—21 Army Group: Field
Marshal Montgomery halts offensive operations except
those to speed opening of Antwerp port.
In Cdn First Army’s 2 Corps area, Zuid Beveland
Isthmus is virtually sealed off with capture of Woensdrecht
by Cdn 2d Div. Cdn 3d Div continues to reduce
Breskens Pocket S of the Schelde. The pocket
is about half its original size.
In Br Second Army’s 8 Corps area, 3d Div reaches
outskirts of Venray. CCB, U.S. 7th Armd Div, establishes
bridgehead across canal on Deurne–Venray
road.
12th Army Group: In U.S. First Army area, army
closes ring about Aachen as patrols of XIX and
VII Corps establish contact on Ravels Hill at 1615.
In XIX Corps area, 116th Inf of 29th Div continues
to batter Wuerselen, 30th Div attacks southward
astride Wurm R with 119th Inf; patrol makes contact
with a patrol of 18th Inf, 1st Div, VII Corps.
120th and 117th Regts of 30th Div make limited attacks
within their respective sectors. In VII Corps
area, Germans react promptly and vigorously to
closing of Aachen gap, attempting to overrun road-
[ 16 OCTOBER 1944 ]
block on Aachen–Wuerselen highway, night 16–17.
16th Inf, 1st Div, stabilizes positions in Eilendorf
area.
6th Army Group: In U.S. Seventh Army’s VI
Corps area, 45th and 36 Divs, against firm opposition,
close in on Bruyères, column from S pushing
through Laval.
In Fr 1st Army’s 2d Corps area, 3d Algerian
Div and Fr 1st Armd Div begin attack to pierce
enemy’s winter line in the Vosges, pressing toward
heights E of the Moselotte against violent opposition.
EASTERN EUROPE—Forces of Third White Russian
Front launch offensive to break into East Prussia,
which Germans are prepared to defend.
ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army area, 6th S
African Armd Div, in conjunction with II Corps to
right, renews northward attack between the Reno
and Setta Rivers. II Corps begins final phase of attack
toward Bologna, making main effort in center;
left flank is still held up below Monterumici hill
mass. 91st Div drives N astride Highway 65: passing
through 361st Inf, 362d heads for Lucca; 361st
attacks along Highway 65 in center, elements pushing
W of Casalino to protect left flank; 363d advances
toward M. Belmonte to help 34th Div take
the feature. 34th Div attacks with 2 regts abreast:
on left, 133d drives through 91st Div on narrow
front toward M. Belmonte, target for arty and aerial
bombardment. Searchlights provide illumination for
night action. At this time the use of artificial moonlight
is still in the experimental stage. 168th Inf
of 34th Div attacks through 338th Inf of 85th Div
on broad front between Zena Creek and Idice R,
heading for M. della Vigna, N of M. delle Formiche.
E of the Idice, 85th Div’s 338th Inf attacks toward
M. Fano while 339th attacks toward ridge above
Monterenzio, taking Hill 622. 88th Div drives toward
M. Cuccoli–M. Grande ridge on right flank of
corps: 350th Inf makes no headway toward M.
Cuccoli, but 349th takes M. delle Tombe and reaches
S. Clemente. New boundary between II and Br 13
Corps, effective 2330, passes between M. delle Tombe
and M. Spadura, sharply reducing zone of 88th Div.
In Br 13 Corps area, 78th Div completes relief of
U.S. forces on Gesso ridge.
In Br Eighth Army area, 5 Corps clears M. Romano
and M. Reale, night 16–17. Elements of 20th
Brig, Ind 10th Div, establish small bridgehead across
the Savio near its confluence with the Borello on
S flank of corps. In Cdn 1 Corps area, Cdn 1st Div
advances quickly toward Cesena, elements crossing
Pisciatello R. Orders are issued for concerted attack
on Cesena by Cdn 1 and Br 5 Corps. NZ 2d
Div takes Bulgarno without opposition.
YUGOSLAVIA—Soviet and Yugoslav forces are
fighting side by side in streets of Belgrade. Nis, on
Sofia–Belgrade RR line, is now free of enemy.