Chronology of World War II

September 1944

Thursday, September 7


Air Operations, Carolines

  • USN carrier aircraft and surface warships from Task Group 38.1, Task Group 38.2, and Task Group 38.3 continue to bombard targets in the Palau Islands.
  • During the night, 868th Heavy Bomb Squadron SB-24s now based on Noemfoor Island attack airfields and Japanese defenses in the Palau Islands.
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Air Operations, CBI

CHINA
  • 5 308th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack shipping near Hong Kong.
  • 24 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack targets in and around Kiyang, Lingling, and Yoyang.
  • 11 B-25s attack the Tienho and White Cloud airfields at Canton.
  • 2 B-25s attack the ferry at Siangtan.
  • More than 100 14th Air Force fighter-bombers attack numerous targets across large parts of southeastern and east-central China.
  • 22 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s transport fuel from India to Kunming.
FRENCH INDOCHINA
  • 4 449th Fighter Squadron P-38s attack targets of opportunity between Hanoi and the lower Red River valley.
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Air Operations, East Indies

  • 53 V Bomber Command B-24s attack Menado, Celebes.
  • XIII Bomber Commands B-24s attack the Galela airfield on Halmahera.
  • FEAF B-25s attack Wasile Bay in the Molucca Islands.
  • V Bomber Command A-20s attack the Boela airfield on Ceram.
  • V Fighter Command P-38 dive-bombers attack the airfield on Djailolo.
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Air Operations, Europe

RAF BOMBER COMMAND
Evening Ops:
Minor Ops:
  • 41 Mosquitos are sent to Karlsruhe, 12 to Steenwijk and 6 to Emden, and 16 Stirlings are on Resistance operations.
    • There are no losses.
USAAF
ENGLAND:
  • The entire 8th Air Force and IX Bomber Command bombers are grounded by bad weather.
US 9th AIR FORCE
FRANCE:
  • 9th Air Force fighters are able to provide limited support for US Army ground forces in France and Belgium.
  • About 1400 hours, while supporting elements of the US 7th Army in southern France, 36 P-47 pilots of the 9th Air Force's 406th Fighter Group destroy an estimated 300 German Army vehicles along a 15-mile section of road. After rearming, the same P-47 pilots return to the scene and destroy approximately 200 additional vehicles.
USAAF
MTO:
  • The 12th And 15th Air Forces are grounded by bad weather.
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Air Operations, Japan

6 28th Composite Bomb Group B-25s attack fishing boats in the Kurile Islands.

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Air Operations, New Guinea

  • V Bomber Command A-20s attack the airfield at Mongosah.
  • V Fighter Command fighter-bombers attack the airfields at Manokwari and Wewak and occupied villages in the Schouten Islands.
  • A 421st Night Fighter Squadron P-61 crew downs a Ki-21 'Sally' bomber near Japen Island at 0320 hours.
  • During the night, 2 Japanese bombers attack the Owi airfield. 1 man is wounded and 5 parked aircraft are damaged.
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Burma-China

On the Salween front the Chinese 8th Army completes the mopping up of the Sung Shan zone. The battle for the capture of this important staging point on the Burma Road has cost the Chinese 7,675 dead. The Japanese garrison of 2,000 odd has been wiped out.

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Diplomatic Relations

(when?)Bulgaria declares war on Germany, as occupation by part of the 3rd Ukraine Front continues.

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Eastern Front

The Russians have penetrated into the eastern Carpathians, almost up the the Hungarian border. Hungary and Rumania begin fighting each other for control of Transylvania.

CENTRAL SECTOR

The Home Army is facing a desperate situation. Low on food and ammunition, the Poles have begun surrender talks, which so far have come to nothing.The Polish Home Army begins to negotiate surrender terms with the Germans.

The Soviet 38th Army and the 4th Ukrainian Front (combined total of 363,000 troops) begin operations to break through the Dukla Pass. The defending 1st Panzer Army resists stubbornly.

The Soviert 37th and 57th Armies occupy Bulgaria, which undergoes a pro-Soviet coup and promptly declares war on Germany.

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France, Politics

The first elements of the French provisional government arrives in Paris to begin administrating the country.

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Italy

During the night the Germans withdraw from their positions on the hills north and northeast of Florence.

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Pacific

The US submarine Paddle sinks the Japanese transport Shinyo Maru (2518t) which is carrying 750 American POWs not known by her attacker.

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United States, Planning

The JCS planners support Adm King's reasoning that Formosa should be the objective for the next offensive in the Pacific. March 1, 1945, is set as the target date for Operation CAUSEWAY.

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Western Front

In Belgium the British 2nd Army and American 1st Army units cross the Albert Canal east of Antwerp and take Ypres. The 113th Cavalry Group of the US XIX Corps crosses the canal near Hasselt. Dieppe is opened to Allied shipping. Other American formations from 1st Army, the 3rd Arm Div, have nearly reache Liège. The American VI Corps enters Besançon. The US 3rd Army secures 2 bridgeheads over the Moselle River.

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Images from September 7, 1944

British Troops Enjoy a Drink


British Troops Enjoy a Drink

Battling Snipers in Dreux


Battling Snipers in Dreux

Members of the Maquis


Battling Snipers in Dreux

Knocked-out German Tanks


Knocked-out German Tanks

M7 105-mm Howitzer Motor Carriage in Neuville


M7 105-mm Howitzer Motor Carriage in Neuville

F6F-3 Hellcat


F6F-3 Hellcat

Negotiating Safe Passage of Civilians


Negotiating Safe Passage of Civilian

Germans Shelling in Warsaw


Germans Shelling in Warsaw

[September 6th - September 8th]