Air Operations, Carolines

28 11th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s based in the Marshall Islands attack the Truk Atoll.

Air Operations, CBI

• 9 10th Air Force P-47s attack Japanese Army positions at Myothit.

• 4 308th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack shipping in the Formosa Strait.
• 30 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack targets at and near Chuanhsien, Lingling, and Taohsien.
• 14th Air Force fighter-bombers mount nearly 115 effective sorties against numerous targets across east-central China.
• 8 10th Air Force B-25s attack dumps and other installations at and around Chefang.
• 18 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s transport fuel from India to Liuchow.

Air Operations, East Indies

• Despite bad weather, FEAF B-24s are able to mount individual and small attacks against targets, including four airfields on Amboina and Ceram.
• B-25s attack the Langoan airfield on Celebes.

Air Operations, Europe

• 74 aircraft including 34 Lancasters, 30 Halifaxes and 10 Mosquitos of Nos. 6 and 8 Groups, attempt to bomb a coastal battery at Domberg on the island of Walcheren, but the Master Bomber abandons the raid after 8 Mosquitos had attempted to mark the target in poor weather conditions.
• There are no losses.
• 7 RCM sorties are flow without a loss.

• 206 Lancasters and 7 Mosquitos of No. 5 Group are sent to Bremerhaven. This is another successful No. 5 Group method raid and Bremerhaven, which had not been seriously bombed by the RAF before, requires only this one knock-out blow by the comparatively small force of aircraft carrying fewer than 900 tons of bombs. The center of the town, the port area and the suburb of Geestemünde are gutted by fire as 420,000 incendiaries are dropped. 2,670 buildings are destroyed and 369 seriously damaged.
• No. 100 Group's RCM Operations successfully keep German night fighters away from the force and only 1 Lancaster and 1 Mosquito are lost.

• 33 Mosquitos are sent to Berlin and 6 to Rheine, 4 Lancasters lay mines in the Weser River, and there are 67 Mosquito patrols and 30 RCM sorties.
• There are no losses.

Air Operations, New Guinea

V Fighter Command fighter-bombers attack Manokwari, the airfield there, and anti-aircraft batteries at Moemi.

Air Operations, Philippines

• 27 22nd and 43rd Heavy Bomb group B-24s attack Japanese Army barracks at Davao, Mindanao.
• 23 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack oil stores at Sasa, Mindanao.

Eastern Front

The German defenses at Tartu collapses. As the 2nd Shock, 42nd and 67th Armies advance the Narva Group begins to abandon its increasingly exposed positions. The 8th and 59th Armies press along the Estonian coast, harrying the Narva Group.

Estonia

As the German army is leaving Talinn, Estonian civilians rise up and proclaim an independent government. The Estonians, under Otto Tief, battle the retreating Germans until the 21st when Russian armor sweeps through the city.

Morotai

On the south coast, east of Gila peninsula, surveying begins for the construction of an airfield able to accommodate heavy bombers. The Pitoe airfield only takes fighters.

Occupied Rumania

Ion Antonescu is arrested by the Russians.

Palaus

On Peleliu the Marines, with perhaps inadequate preparation, try to extend their attacks on Mount Umurgrobol but they are thrown back by the Japanese and suffer heavy losses.

The American force makes a confident advance inland toward the center of Angaur. Although the Japanese infiltrations cause some problems, they are too heavily outnumbered to do much more.

Poland

In the only major attempt to drop supplies allowed by the Soviets 1,284 containers are dropped to the AK in Warsaw by a force of B-17 bombers, but only 228 fall in Polish held territory. Stalin refuses further missions of this kind. The Soviet air force also stops airlifts to the Polish garrison in Warsaw, but they are resumed 3 days later.

Western Front

The British XXX Corps links up with the 101st Airborne Div at Eindhoven and Veghel. These attacks continue, meeting gradually increasing resistance. To the north both the other airborne divs in the MARKET GARDEN operation are fighting fiercely to maintain their position. German units counterattack around Arnhem. Allied reinforcements are late in arriving. The 5th Panzer Army counterattacks to eliminate the US bridgeheads over the Moselle but are rebuffed with the loss of 50 tanks.

Images from September 18, 1944

Sherman Tanks Advancing through Cheering Crowds in Valkenswaard, 18 September 1944

Men of HQ Troop of 1st Airlanding Brigade Reconnaissance Squadron at Wolfheze on the outskirts of Arnhem, 18 September 1944. The man on the left is manning a PIAT

Recon Squadron near Arnhem

Low over the Market-Garden drop-zones littered with gliders the 491st drop their supply bundles by parachute

Dropping Supplies

The people of Eindhoven line the streets of the town to watch armoured vehicles of British XXX Corps pass through. The 101st (US) Airborne Division had captured the town on the previous day.

Eindhoven 17 - 18 September 1944

Troops Dug In Holding Brigade Headquarters, Arnhem, 18 September 1944

101st Troopers Salvage Equipment from a Wrecked Glider, 18 September 1944

British Paratroopers with German Prisoner in Arnhem, 18 September 1944

Cornwall's Light Infantry, 43rd Division, the Netherlands, 18 September 1944. DUKW and Universal carriers of 5th Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, 43rd Division, Holland, 18 September 1944

Cornwall's Light Infantry in the Netherlands

A German infantry battalion on alert as they search the suburbs of Arnhem for Allied troops.

German Soldiers Searching for Allied Troops

German SS Polizei in position in the woods outside Arnhem ready to repulse Allied Airborne troops. The SS IX and X Panzer Divisions of the II SS Panzer Korps were as Dutch Intelligence had reported, refitting and regrouping to the north and east of Arnhem and proved a formidable opponent despite the surprise of the airborne landings

SS Troops Ready to Repulse Allies Troops

Members of the Dutch Underground Share Intelligence with 101st Troopser, 18 September 1944

Irish Guards Group, Guards Armoured Division, Aalst, 18 September 44