Air Operations, Carolines

• While also covering strikes against Mindanao airfields by the rest of Task Force 38, carrier aircraft from Task Group 38.4 begin two days of preinvasion strikes against Japanese antiaircraft and beach defenses at Peleliu and Angaur islands.
• 11th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s based in the Marshall Islands attack the Truk Atoll.
• During the night, 868th Heavy Bomb Squadron SB-24s attack airfields and Japanese defenses in the Palau Islands.

Air Operations, CBI

• 45 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack Lingling and other cities in east-central China.
• Nearly 140 14th Air Force fighter-bombers mount aggressive sweeps over the Salween River area (including eastern Burma) and southeastern and east-central China.
• 449th Fighter Squadron P-38s and 51st Fighter Group P-51s down 2 Ki-48 'Lily' bombers and 2 Ki-43 'Oscar' fighters over and near Tengchung during a mid-afternoon engagement.
• 24 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s transport fuel from India to Kunming.

Air Operations, East Indies

• 380th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack the Laha airfield on Ceram.
• FEAF B-24s attack Tomohon (Celebes), port facilities at Menado (Celebes), Wasile Bay (Moluccas), the Langoan, Mapanget and Menado airfields on Celebes, and Hate Tabako airfield.
• B-25s, A-20s, and V Fighter Command P-38s attack oil stores and the Amahai and Boela airfields on Ceram and the Namlea airfield on Boeroe. 1 B-25 and 2 A-20s are downed by ground fire over the Amahai airfield.

Air Operations, Europe

• 992 aircraft including 521 Lancasters, 426 Halifaxes and 45 Mosquitos, attack 8 different German strongpoints around Le Havre. Each target is marked separately by Pathfinders and then accurately bombed. There are no losses.

• 24 aircraft are on Resistance operations and there are 8 RCM sorties. There are no losses.

• 47 Mosquitos are sent to Berlin, 2 Lancasters lay mines of Texel, and there are 24 Mosquito patrols and 11 RCM sorties. There are no losses.

Air Operations, New Guinea

V Bomber Command A-20s and V Fighter Command fighter-bombers attack the airfields at Manokwari, Moemi, Nabire, Ransiki, Sagan, and Samate.

Air Operations, Philippines

• Carrier aircraft from Task Force 38 continue to attack targets on Mindanao in support of the upcoming invasion of the Palau Islands.
• Carrier-based F6Fs down 3 Ki-46 'Dinah' reconnaissance planes, 1 J1N 'Irving' fighter, and 1 D3A 'Val' dive bomber over Mindanao between 0730 and 0845 hours.

Air Operations, Volcano Islands

30th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s based at Saipan attack Iwo Jima and shipping off Iwo Jima.

Diplomatic Relations

The Russo-Finnish Armistice is signed in Moscow ending their 3-year war. The Finns agree to pay reparations but get the borders restored to the 1940 positions.

Eastern Front

The 1st Belorussian Front attacks German forces in Praga, outside Warsaw. Warsaw's mayor appeals for immediate Allied aid. Stalin approves the use of Russian airfields for British and US planes to drop supplies to the Polish forces in Warsaw.

The 47th Army launches a fierce attack into the Warsaw suburb of Praga but is held in the strong German defenses. The 1st Panzer Army is holding off the Soviet 38th Army near Krosno.

The 38th Army fights its way into Krosno but is unable to press any farther due to the arrival of German reinforcements.

India, Home Front

The Commission of Inquiry into the Fort Stikine disaster publishes its findings. It concludes there was a faulty loading of the ship, negligence by the captain and uncoordinated emergency services.

Italy

The Allied offensive to reduce the 'Gothic' Line continues. In the US 5th Army sector the Allies cross the Serchio River at Vecchiano, capture Villa Basilica and cross the Sieve. But in the east, units of the German 10th Army keep up their powerful resistance on the summits of the Gemmano and Coriano hills.

Palau Islands

Aircraft from a fast US carrier task force under Rear-Adm Ralph E. Davison carry out a heavy raid, repeated the next day, against Japanese defenses on the islands of Peleliu and Angaur, in preparation for the invasion.

Western Front

Gen Eisenhower decides to postpone the operation to liberate the port of Antwerp. Eisenhower accepts Montgomery's proposal that an airborne operation should be mounted to take the bridges over a series of canals and rivers in Holland, namely at Arnhem, Grave and Eindhoven. This operation will be known as MARKET GARDEN and is designed to allow a rapid advance into Germany. It is based on the assumption that the Germans have only light forces in the relevant areas and will not be able to prevent the advance of ground forces to link up with the paratroops. The operation will begin on September 17.

After a heavy air raid in which Allied bombers dropped 5,000 tons of bombs and a shelling by the battleship Warspite and the monitor Erebus, in preparation for an Allied assault, the British 49th and 50th Divisions launch a general offensive against Le Havre, and succeeds in piercing German defenses. The Canadians of II Corps occupy Ostend. Troops from US 1st Army enter Luxembourg.

The French II Corps enters Dijon. At Sombernon the 1st Div mades contact with the French 2nd Arm Div, XV Corps, 3rd Army.

Images from September 10, 1944

Crews of Churchill tanks watch the RAF bombing the defenses of Le Havre, 10 September 1944

Bombing the Defenses of Le Havre

Germans struggled to understand the war situation from Nazi dominated news media. They were well aware of the widespread destruction from Allied air raids

Aware of Destruction from Allied Air Raids

German Picture of Air Raid Casualties

After the capture of Brussels and Antwerp, British Second Army’s headlong advance was halted as German resistance stiffened. In early September XXX Corps, with Guards Armoured Division in the lead, battled to cross the Albert and the Meuse-Escaut canals and reach the Belgian-Dutch border. This Cromwell was knocked out during fierce fighting to take the village of Hechtel.

A Knocked-out Cromwell Tank of 2nd Welsh Guards, 10 September 1944

Infantrymen in full field equipment advancing toward the Gothic Line on 10 September 1944

Advancing toward the Gothic Line

A Sherman Firefly tank and infantry of 11th Armoured Division during the advance in Belgium, 10 September 1944

Advancing in Belgium

Polish civilian woman killed during German air raid 10 Moniuszko Street, Warsaw September 1944

Civilian Woman Killed during Air Raid

Motor transport in northern Apennines