Air Operations, CBIBURMA
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, East Indies
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, EuropeRAF BOMBER COMMANDDaylight Ops:
GERMANY:
ETO:
ITALY:
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, Formosa
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, New GuineaV Fighter Command P-47s attack the airfield at Sagan. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, PacificThe Japanese attempt to break the US build-up against the Philippines. A large air strike is launched against a carrier task force in Manila Bay, but does insignificant damage while losing 30 aircraft to US fighters and anti-aircraft fire. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, PhilippinesIn support of the impending invasion of the central Philippines at Leyte and to cover the withdrawal of crippled US warships from off Formosa, Task Group 38.4 closes on Luzon from the direction of Formosa and launches aircraft to neutralize Japanese air power in the region. Between 1015 and 1100 hours, Task Group 38.4 F6Fs and several carrier-based bomber crews down 47 Japanese fighters over Manila. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, Volcano Islands27 30th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s based at Saipan attack Iwo Jima. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Battle of the AtlanticU-777 is sunk during an RAF bombing raid on Wilhelmshaven.
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() BurmaBritish and Chinese-American forces go over to the offensive to free the north of the country and re-establish land communications between India and China. The Chinese and Americans move down from south of Myitkyina as far as the line Katha-Shwegu-Bhamo meeting little or no resistance. The British 36th Div advances in the area or Namma along the Myitkyina-Mandalay railway, supported by the Chinese 50th Div. The Chinese 22nd Div moves southeast of Kamaing toward the area between the railway and the Myitkyina-Bhamo road, with the intention of establishing a bridgehead ad Shwegu, across the Irrawaddy. The Allied command in north Burma can now call on the Chinese 1st and 6th Armies, newly formed, and 2 American regiments. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Eastern FrontIn Finland, the Russians' Karelia Front deliver the Germans from the port of Petsamo. The 2nd and 3rd Baltic Fronts take Riga. In northern Rumania the Russians capture Clug and advance westward. FINLAND AND NORWAYThe 14th Army secures the Petsamo mining region after a brief struggle with the XIX Mountain Corps. The Germans pull back into Norway, having lost more than 6,000 killed in the fighting. NORTHERN SECTORRiga falls after a bloody struggle. SOVIET COMMANDThe Stavka disbands the 3rd Baltic Front, allocating the 1st Shock and 14th Air Armies to the 2nd Baltic Front and the 61st Army to the 1st Baltic Front. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() GreeceThe British, Gen Scobie's III Corps make up of Greek units, land in force in the harbor of Piraeus and prepare to eliminate 'with bloodshed if necessary', according to Churchill's instructions, the armed wing of the Greek Communisit Party, ELAS. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() HungaryAdm Nicolaus Horthy, the Regent, already faced by a desperate situation, the whole of Transylvania is on the point of being overrun by the Russians, makes a speech on the radio in which he proposes to ask the Russians for an armistice. Under pressure from the Germans who have kidnapped his son, Horthy repudiates his message to the country, but next day he is taken off to Germany. The head of the pro-Nazi movement, Ferenc Szálasi, takes office as Prime Minister. He collaborates fully with the Germans, but enjoys no sort of following among the people. On October 21 Horthy is arrested and interned in a castle in Bavaria. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ItalyThe Polish 2nd Div takes Gambettola. American and South African units make some ground near Livergnano and Grizzana. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() PacificThe Dutch submarine Zwaardvisch sinks the Japanese oceanographic research vessel No.2 Kaiyo Maru off Surabaya, Java. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Palau IslandsThe 321st and 323rd Infantry Refiments of the 81st Infantry Division attack into the Umurbrogol Pocket after relieving the last elements of the 3rd Battalion of the 5th Marines. The 1st Marine Division is out of the fight, too depleted to be effective. It will take more that a month and a half to finish off the last Japanese defenders, who forfeit their lives dearly within the Umurbrogol Pocket. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() PhilippinesOn Luzon the carrier forces of TG 38.4 under Adm Davison send attacks against targets north of Manila. The aircraft carrier Franklin (CV-13) is hit again, this time by a Japanese high-level bomber. The attacks are repeated on the next 2 days and more heavily on the 18th, when 2 other task groups and 13 aircraft carriers take part. In the operations of the whole of TF 38 between October 10 and 15 the Japanese have lost about 370 planes and the Americans less than 100. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Southwest PacificRear-Adm Daniel E. Barbey's Task Force 78 links with the rest of his fleet carrying the 1st Cavalry Division from Manus Island. Barbey's Task Force 78 and Vice-Adm Theodore S. Wilkinson's Task Force 79, carrying XXIV Corps, are under the command of Vice-Adm Thomas C. Kinkaid, commander of the Allied Naval Forces of the Southwest Pacific Area and commander of the 7th Fleet. He also has operational contorl of Task Force 77, the battleships and cruisers that will provide fire support to the landing force; Rear-Adm Jesse B. Oldendorf commands Task Force 77. The escort carrier group (Task Force 77.4) that will provide air support to the landing forces under 7th Fleet's direct command is under Rear-Adm Thomas L. Sprague. The 3rd Fleet carriers, battleships, and cruisers, under command of Adm Halsey, will provide general support to the landing forces. [![]() ![]() ![]() Western FrontThe Canadian 1st Army, operating in the north to liberate the port of Antwerp, is reinforced by the US 104th Div, detached for the occasion from Gen William Simpson's 9th Army, 12th Army Group, engaged in Luxembourg. No change at Aachen, where the garrison is still holding out against units of the 29th Div, US XIX Corps, and the 1st Div, US VII Corps. A battalion of the 1st Div, the 3rd Battalion of the 26th Regt, succeeds in taking a good part of Observatory Hill, north of the city, but is driven out again by a swift German counterattack. The US VI Corps (7th Army) begins to mover from the northwest and the south toward Bruyères, between Epinal and St Dié. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Images from October 15, 1944
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[October 14th - October 16th] |