1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 3 MAY1945 ]
nese remnants in Arakan sector. In 4 Corps area,
Ind 17th Div completes capture of Pegu.
CHINA—5th Div, Ch 94th Army, makes contact
with enemy at entrance to Wuyang Valley.
LUZON—In U.S. Sixth Army’s I Corps area, 33d
Div is ordered to relieve 37th Div elements in Baguio
area on 5th so 37th, less RCT 145, can concentrate
to exploit expected breakthrough in Balete Pass-
Santa Fe-Imugan area. 25th Div is to take Santa Fe,
at junction of Highway 5 and Villa Verde Trail,
after opening Balete Pass. 32d Div will continue E
along Villa Verde Trail. 161st Inf, 25th Div, gains
positions on Kembu Plateau as battle for this feature
continues. Region E of Highway 5 at head of draw
2,000 yards S of Balete Pass is now clear. In XI Corps
area, 145th Inf completes mop up of Mt Pacawagan.
After arty preparation, 152d Inf of 38th
Div attacks to edge of Woodpecker Ridge. In XIV
Corps area, 2d and 3d Bns of RCT 158 effect junction
at Mabatobato, opening all of Route 27. 1st Bn,
which has moved from Anayan to Pili, gains patrol
contact with 5th Cav, 1st Cav Div, at San Agustin.
Japanese forces in the Bicols are now located at Mt
Isarog, NE of Anayan; 158th Inf and 5th Cav patrols
probe this area actively for about the next 2 weeks.
S PHILIPPINES—In U.S. Eighth Army’s X Corps
area, RCT 108 is detached from 40th Div for amphibious
operations at Macajalar Bay, Mindanao.
19th Inf, 24th Div, is still stubbornly opposed as it
attempts to force Davao River but succeeds in establishing
small bridgehead. While 1st Bn, 21st Inf,
pushes on toward Mintal, 2d Bn, in conjunction
with elements of 34th Inf, clears most of Libby airfield.
On Sayre Highway, 1st Bn of 124th Inf, 31st
Div, takes the lead, advancing rapidly. On Negros,
1st Bn of 164th Inf, Americal Div, crosses Ocoy R
in Negros Oriental and drives through Badiang; Co
C pushes on toward Ticala along Ticala Valley and
Co B drives up ridge toward Odlumon. Forward
movement halts when Japanese cut supply line. 2d
Bn is patrolling extensively. For the next few days,
185th Inf of 40th Div consolidates positions on
Virgne Ridge in Negros Occidental and patrols.
OKINAWA—In U.S. Tenth Army’s XXIV
Corps area, 1st Mar Div attacks S on W flank of
corps toward Asa R with 2 regts abreast, 1st Marines
on right and 5th Marines on left. Gains are negligible
and exceedingly costly since enemy has excellent
observation of this area and puts up accurate
fire. 307th Inf, 77th Div, continues futile efforts to
take Maeda Escarpment. In 7th Div zone, 1st Bn
of 17th Inf tries in vain to gain knob of Kochi Ridge.
184th Inf gains and later loses Gaja Ridge. Japanese
commanders decide to mount a major counteroffensive
on the 4th.
3 May
[ 529 ]
WESTERN EUROPE—21 Army Group: Field
Marshal Montgomery refuses offer of German delegation
to surrender all German forces in the north,
including those opposing the Red Army.
In Br Second Army area, 12 Corps receives surrender
of Hamburg. 7th Armd Div crosses the Elbe
to help 53d Div occupy the city. 8 Corps pursues
enemy toward Kiel Canal. In U.S. XVIII Corps
(A/B) area, 7th Armd Div concludes offensive
operations of corps, driving N along left flank to the
Baltic W of Kluetz unopposed. Contact is established
with Soviet forces.
12th Army Group: In U.S. First Army’s V Corps
area, 2d Div closes in corps zone and continues relief
of 97th Div (V Corps) and 90th Div (XII Corps).
In U.S. Third Army’s XII Corps area, 11th Armd
Div continues SE toward Linz, its final objective.
CCA advances SE to Gramastetten and Rottenegg.
CCB follows CCA across river at Neufelden and
drives E on div left flank to Zwettl, cutting main
N–S road to Linz. 328th Inf, 26th Div, continues
SE on right flank of corps but is slowed by friendly
armor just ahead; at 2200 is attached to 11th Armd
Div. 101st Inf continues to screen right flank of 26th
Div. 104th remains in place. 5th Div patrols aggressively.
359th Inf, 80th Div, receives surrender of Vseruby;
357th establishes outpost line across Czechoslovakian
border on div right flank. 4th
Armd Div closes in assembly area near Regen. XX
Corps is directed to veer from SE to E and establish
contact with Soviet forces as soon as possible. 65th
Div gets most of its forces across the Inn and prepares
to cross rest at Neuhaus when bridge is completed.
261st Inf completes capture of Passau and
clears Schaerding, on the Inn; pushes rapidly SE
toward Linz , leading elements reaching Waizenkirchen.
Elements of 260th mop up in woods between
Sandbach and Passau. CCB, 13th Armd Div,
withdraws its small bridgehead at Neuoetting. 71st
Div crosses bulk of its forces into Austria over
Ering and Egglfing dams, which are opened to
heavy traffic during day, and expands bridgehead,
forward elements of 66th Inf reaching Ried. 80th
Div overtakes 13th Armd Div at Braunau. 43d Sq,
3d Cav Gp, extends screen along corps right flank
to the Inn. III Corps completes movement into assembly
areas and with minimum forces mops up N
of the Inn.
6th Army Group: In U.S. Seventh Army’s XV
Corps area, 3d Div, with 7th Inf in assault, speeds
toward Salzburg. In XXI Corps area, CCR of 12th
Armd Div continues S along the Inn toward Innsbruck,
crossing Austrian border and reaching positions
near Reisach. CCV, Fr 2d Armd Div, is
directed to drive on Berchtesgaden, rather than fol-