Air Operations, CBIBURMA
Air Operations, Central PacificDuring the night, VII Bomber Command B-24s attack Wake Island. [Air Operations, East Indies
Air Operations, EuropeRAF BOMBER COMMANDDaylight Ops:
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Air Operations, Japan4 28th Composite Bomb Group B-24s employ radar to attack the Suribachi airfield in the Kurile Islands. [Britain, Home FrontGerman cross-Channel guns carry out a furious bombardment of Dover. A shell strikes a hostel killing 49. [CBIThe Japanese 11th Army captures the Tanchuck airfield after the US 14th Air Force abandons it. [Eastern FrontThe Central Front stabilizes along the line of the Narew and Vistula Rivers. The Russians have advanced 604 km since June 23 and virtually annihilated 25 divisions of German Army Group Center. CENTRAL SECTORFollowing a bitter, 3-day battle, 2,000 Polish fighters are forced to surrender in Mokotow. Elements of the Polish Mokotow detachment attempt to escape through the sewers to the city center but the Germans kill most of them, just 600 managing to escape. Komorowski knows the end is near but continues to resist the German attacks. [Greece, PoliticsAt Caserta in Italy an agreement is concluded between the exile Greek government and the various guerilla leaders in which the guerillas undertake to obey the orders of the government. The government delegates military authority to the British Gen Ronald Scobie who has been appointed by Gen Maitland Wilson who has supervised the talks. [ItalyUS 5th ArmyIn the IV Corps area, TF 92 begins to advance along the Serchio valley north of Pescia. Continuing along Highway 6620 on the right flank, elements of the South African 6th Armored Division reach the slopes of Monte Gatta. The division halts the advance of the 24th Guards Brigade up Highway 66 northwest of Pistoia but continues up Highway 64 with the 12th Motorized Brigade. In the II Corps area, the 34th Division meets strong opposition in the Bruscoli-Gambellate Creek area. The 91st Division, with the capture of Monte Freddi, is ready to attack Monte Oggioli. The 85th Division again attacks unsuccessfully toward Torre Poggioli, employing the 1st Battalions of the 338th and 339th Regiments. The 2nd Battalion of the 338th tries in vain to take Sambuco, but the 3rd Battalion, 339th, seizes Montarello. The 88th Division takes Monte Pratolungo on the left, pushes toward Castel del Rio in the center, and on the right takes Monte del Puntale. The 1st Armored Division, less CCB, is gradually being committed to protect the exposed right flank of the corps. In the British XIII Corps area, the 1st Division continues a futile frontal assault on Monte Gamberaldi and at night begins moving elements toward Monte Toncone in an effort to outflank the enemy. The Indian 8th Division suspends its attack on Monte di Castelnuovo. On the right flank of the corps, the 6th Armored Division's 61st Brigade drives along Route 67 to Bucconi without opposition. British 8th ArmyIn the V Corps area, the Indian 4th Division establishes a bridgehead across the Uso in the vicinity of Cornacchiara but meets firm resistance from the heights beyond when trying to expand the bridgehead. The 46th Division crosses additional elements over the Uso and secures Canonica. The 56th Division advances along Highway 9 from San Arcangelo to positions about halfway to Savignano. In the Canadian I Corps area, the Canadian 5th Armored Division enlarges its bridgehead across the Uso. A brigade of the New Zealand 2nd Division reaches the Uso in the coastal sector. The Greek 3rd Mountain Brigade Group is attached to the New Zealand 2nd Division and takes up positions on the right flank. During a meeting at Gen Wilson's headquarters at Caserta, Italy, final arrangements are made for the orderly reoccupation of Greece. Gen Scobie is to control all guerrilla forces operating within Greece. Security battalions--political police formed to eliminate the ELAS bands--are outlawed. [Pacific
PalausPELELIUAfter repelling three furious Japanese counterattacks, the Marines reach the point at which the western and eastern roads meet, at the foot of Mount Amiangal in the north of the island. A special unit attacks the Japanese positions toward the south with flame-throwers and tanks, blocking up the pill-boxes with earth and stones and directing flames through the slots. By evening the important Hill 120 is in American hands. The Japanese are by now cut off in a number of pockets on Mount Umurbrogol and 'Bloody Hill', in the center of the island, and Mount Amiangal in the north. ANGAURThe US 322nd Infantry succeeds in making a small penetration into the northern part of the Lake Salome basin. [Southwest PacificA new version of the MUSKETEER plan is prepared. The original plan was to land on Mindoro as soon as possible after the Leyte landings. The Mindoro operation is scheduled for December 5. MacArthur wants to attack Luzon as soon as possible after the Leyte operation is assured of success. The Joing Chiefs of Staff are uncertain which direction to follow after Leyte--continue to Luzon or by pass Luzon for Formosa. The X Corps commander, Lt-Gen Simon B. Buckner, who is responsible for the land forces for Operation CAUSEWAY (the invasion of Formosa) assesses that there are insufficient service and support troops in-theater to make the invasion successful. [Western FrontThe Allied attack in Belgium and Holland continue. Turnhout, in north Belgium midway between Antwerp and Eindhoven, and Oss, west of Grave, are both taken as the advance of XXX Corps to the Rhine is consolidated. This has been a considerable achievement even though the prize of the bridge at Arnhem has not been won.[WE] [Images from September 26, 1944
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