Chronology of World War II

September 1944

Tuesday, September 26


Air Operations, CBI

BURMA
  • 10th Air Force P-47s attack the Bhamo-Myothit and Pinwe-Mawlu areas.
CHINA
  • 12 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s and a small number of 14th Air Force P-40s attack Mangshih and Lungfukwan.
  • More than 50 14th Air Force P-51s and P-40s attack numerous targets across large parts of southern China.
  • 9 10th Air Force B-25s attack troops and stores at Hinlong.
  • More than 20 10th Air Force P-47s attack Tingka, Wanting, and fuel stores at Chefang.
  • 73 of 109 58th Very Heavy Bomb Wing B-29s dispatched attack steel works at Anshan through heavy cloud cover. All bombs miss the target. No B-29s are lost.
  • 19 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s transport fuel from India to several destinations in China.
  • Japanese Army ground forces capture Tanchuk and the city’s 14th Air Force airfield.
THAILAND
  • 6 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s and 4 449th Fighter Squadron P-38s attack a bridge at Dara.
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Air Operations, Central Pacific

During the night, VII Bomber Command B-24s attack Wake Island.

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Air Operations, East Indies

  • FEAF B-24s and B-25s attack the Kendari airfield on Celebes and the Liang airfield on Amboina.
  • B-25s attack Maumere Bay in the Sunda Islands.
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Air Operations, Europe

RAF BOMBER COMMAND
Daylight Ops:
  • 722 aircraft including 388 Lancasters, 289 Halifaxes and 45 Mosquitos, carry out 2 separate raids in the Calais area. 531 aircraft are sent to 4 targets at Cap Gris Nez and 191 aircraft to 3 targets near Calais. A total of 3,500 tons of bombs are dropped. Accurate and concentrated bombing is observed at all targets.
    • 2 Lancasters are lost.
Minor Ops:
  • 5 Hudsons are on Resistance operations, 74 Halifaxes are on fuel-carrying flights, and there are 2 Ranger patrols and 5 RCM sorties.
    • There are no losses.
Evening Ops:
  • 226 Lancasters and 11 Mosquitos of Nos. 1 and 5 Groups are sent to Karlsruhe. Bomber Command claims a concentrated attack with a large part of the city devastated.
    • 2 Lancasters are lost.
Minor Ops:
  • 50 Mosquitos are sent to Frankfurt and 6 to Hamburg, and there are 26 RCM sorties.
    • There are no losses.
US 8th AIR FORCE
FRANCE:
  • More than 160 8th Air Force B-24s transport fuel to France.
GERMANY:
  • 383 1st Bomb Division B-17s attack a steel pland and marshalling yard at Osnabrudk.
  • 274 2nd Bomb Division B-24s attack a marshalling yard at Hamm.
  • 381 3rd Bomb Division B-17s attack a motor-vehicle factory at Bremen.
  • 32 heavy bombers attack various targets of opportunity.
    • 9 heavy bombers and 2 VIII Fighter Command escorts are lost
  • VIII Fighter Command pilots down 30 Luftwaffe fighters over Germany between 1400 and 1650 hours.
NETHERLANDS:
  • 253 VIII Fighter Command fighters and 67 IX Fighter Command P-38s provide support for the MARKET-GARDEN airborne force.
    • 1 P-38 is lost
US 9th AIR FORCE
FRANCE:
  • XIX TAC aircraft attack fortified positions around Metz.
GERMANY:
  • 9th Air Force fighter pilots down 6 Luftwaffe fighters over Germany between 1400 and 1650 hours.
  • IX TAC aircraft cut rail lines west of the Rhine River.
US 12th AIR FORCE
ITALY:
  • 12th Air Force B-25s and B-26s attack road and rail bridges in the Po River valley.
  • XII Fighter Command fighter-bombers attack supply points and road and rail targets.
  • During the night, XII Fighter Command A-20s attack motor vehicles in the Po River valley.
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Air Operations, Japan

4 28th Composite Bomb Group B-24s employ radar to attack the Suribachi airfield in the Kurile Islands.

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Britain, Home Front

German cross-Channel guns carry out a furious bombardment of Dover. A shell strikes a hostel killing 49.

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CBI

The Japanese 11th Army captures the Tanchuck airfield after the US 14th Air Force abandons it.

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Eastern Front

The 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 SECTOR

Following 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.

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Greece, Politics

At 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.

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Italy

US 5th Army

In 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 Army

In 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.

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Pacific

  • The Japanese submarine I-175 is sunk by the US destroyer escort McCoy Reynolds (DE-440) northeast of the Palau Islands.
  • The US submarine Thresher (SS-200) sinks the Japanese merchant cargo ship Koetsu Maru (873t) in the Yellow Sea.
  • The US submarine Pargo (SS-264) sinks the Japanese minelayer Aotaka off Borneo.
  • The US freighter Elihu Thompson is damaged by mines off Noumea, New Caledonia. The fleet tug Apache (ATF-67) rescues survivors, and later beaches the ship to facilitate salvage. Of the 211 troops on board as passengers, 32 die in the explosions. There are no casualties among the 42-man crew or the 33-man Armed Guard.
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    Palaus

    PELELIU

    After 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.

    ANGAUR

    The US 322nd Infantry succeeds in making a small penetration into the northern part of the Lake Salome basin.

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    Southwest Pacific

    A 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.

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    Western Front

    The 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]

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    Images from September 26, 1944

    Universal Carriers in Deurne


    Universal Carriers in Deurne

    British Armor Passes Through Deurne


    British Armor Passes Through Deurne

    British 11th Armored Passes Through Deurne


    British Armor Passes Through Deurne

    Survivors of 1st Airborne Division


    Survivors of 1st Airborne Division

    Maj Lonsdale Accepts a Light


    Maj Lonsdale Accepts a Light

    Self-propelled Guns Pass through Deurne


    Self-propelled Guns Pass through Deurne

    Kamikaze Attack Damage


    <i>Kamikaze</i> Attack Damage

    Inspecting the Engine of a Japanese Zero


    Inspecting the Engine of a Japanese Zero

    Churchill and His Wife Clementine


    Churchill and His Wife Clementine

    Germans in the Ruins of Arnhem


    Germans in the Ruins of Arnhem

    [September 25th - September 27th]