Air Operations, Carolines

14 11th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s based in the Marshall Islands attack the Truk Atoll.

Air Operations, CBI

• 12 10th Air Force B-25s and 8 10th Air Force P-47s attack the airfield at Shwebo.
• 11 P-47s attack rail bridges between Naba and Mawlu.
• 5 P-47s attack Japanese Army ground forces near Madangyang.

• 28 308th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s, escorted by 21 14th Air Force P-40s and 29 P-51s, attack the Kowloon dock area from high altitude with 73.5 tons of bombs.
• 8 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s, escorted by 8 P-40s, attack Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbor from low altitude. The B-25 crews claim 3 freighters and 2 tankers sunk, and 5 other ships damaged.
• 3 P-51s attack the Wuchou area.
• 36 fighter-bombers attack Japanese Armytroops, towns, and bridges across a broad area of southern China.
• A 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron P-51 downs a Ki-44 'Tojo' fighter near Hong Kong during the afternoon.

Air Operations, East Indies

• FEAF B-24s attack the Makassar area on Celebes.
• B-24s, B-25s, and fighter-bombers attack airfields on Boeroe and Ceram, shipping in Binnen Bay in the Molucca Islands, and town areas at Amboina Town and Boela on Ceram.

Air Operations, Europe

• 5 Mosquitos of No. 100 Group are on Ranger patrols and 4 more are on anti-minesweeping operations off Denmark in the same area mines were dropped the previous night. 2 coastal vessels are attacke with cannon fire.
• There are no losses.

• 39 Mosquitos are sent to Colgone without a loss.

• XII Fighter Command fighter-bombers are active in support of the US 5th Army.
• During the night, XII Fighter Command A-20s attack targets of opportunit around Ravenna and in the Po River valley.

• 15th Air Force B-24s attack two tank factories and an aircraft-engine factory at Steyr, an ordnance depot and a benzol plant at Linz, and numerous targets of opportunity.
• 15th Air Force B-17s attack various marshalling yards throughout the country.

• 15th Air Force B-17s attack a synthetic-oil plant at Brux, and the Skoda arms complex at Pilsen.
• 31st Fighter Group's 309th Fighter Squadron down 9 Bf-109s during withdrawal escort from Brux.

• P-51 pilots of the 15th Air Force's 325th Fighter Group down 8 Luftwaffe fighters east of Dresden in an engagement between 1220 and 1235 hours.

Air Operations, Formosa

• 43 of 72 58th Very Heavy Bomb Wing B-29s dispatched from Chengtu, China attack the Heito airfield on Formosa and an aircraft factory at Okayama.Cologne
• More than 20 other B-29s unable to reach their primary targets on Formosa attack targets of opportunity on Formosa or in mainland China, including the airfield at Taichu, Hengyang, and port areas at Sintien, Swatow, Takao, and Toshien.Cologne

Air Operations, New Guinea

• V Bomber Command A-20s attack the airfield at Langgoer.
• V Fighter Command fighter-bombers attack the airfields at Mongosah, Sagan, and Timoeka.

Air Operations, Philippines

• In support of the impending invasion of the central Philippines at Leyte and to cover the withdrawal of crippled US warships from the Formosa area, Task Group 38.4 closes on Luzon from the direction of Formosa and launches aircraft to neutralize Japanese air power in the region.
• 15 8th Fighter Group P-38s strafe the Cagayan airfield on Luzon, 3 ships in the harbor at Cagayan, a Japanese Army cavalry troop, and motor vehicles on the Cagayan-Valencia highway.

Air Operations, Western Pacific

• Beginning with 2 P1Y 'Galaxy' bombers downed by VF-8 F6Fs at sea at 0730 and 0810 hours, respectively, Japanese aircraft locate, attempt to locate, attack, or attempt to attack the crippled Task Group 30.3 in the Luzon Strait. A morning strike by 99 Kyushu-based Japanese Navy fighters and bombers is canceled, but when a reconnaissance plane locates the cripples at 0920 hours, 107 Japanese Navy aircraft are launched from Formosa bases at about 1000 hours. Thus, between 1315 and 1500 hours, US carrier-based fighters in range of the cripples are able to down an estimated 58 aircraft of all types. Nevertheless, a crippled US heavy cruiser is damaged again by an aerial torpedo.
• Following the afternoon air action, Task Group 38.3 is positioned between Task Group 30.3 and Japanese airfields on Formosa—an effort to use the cripples as bait for more opportunities to chip away at Japanese air strength in the region. This effort comes to nothing.

Battle of the Atlantic

There are a couple of escort groups involved in an operation to prevent U-boats from getting to the Atlantic from their Norway bases. One contact is made by the British frigate Annan which is initially believed to be a whale. Further investigation into the area has U-1006 firing a T5 at the frigate which explodes off the ship's quarter. Annan illuminates the U-boat with rockets and opens fire. U-1006 returns fire and would 8 of the Annan's crew, but is eventually sunk when 2 depth charges explode under the submarine.

U-1006

Eastern Front

With the remnants of the German Army Group North cut off in northern Latvia, on the Gulf of Riga, the Soviet High Command sends the 3rd Belorussian Front to attack East Prussia. The Germans prepare to defend the soil of their fatherland.

In Yugoslavia the Russians take Nish recently evacuated by the Germans. In the sector Russian, Bulgarian and Yugoslav forces are all working together.

The Soviet 6th Guards Army assaults Skrunda and the 51st Army at Libau as the Red Army attempts to reduce the Kurland Pocket. The attacks make few gains.

The 3rd Panzer Army is attacked by the Soviet 2nd Guards, 5th and 11th Guards Armies as the Soviets attempt to reach the Niemen River. The 3rd Panzer's southern flank is pushed back 6 miles.

House-to-house fighting rages in Belgrade as Soviet and Yugoslav forces advance.[MORE]

Germany, Home Front

Bread ration is cut by 7 oz per week.

Greece

British forces land on Lemnos.

Hungary, Politics

Adm Horthy announces on national radio that he thinks Germany is on the verge of defeat, which prompts Hitler to order his arrest. An elite commando unit led by Otto Skorzeny enters Budapest and seizes Horthy. The pro-Nazi Arrow Cross regime is installed as the new government.

Italy

The South African 6th Armored Division, with support from the II Corps on the right, opens an offensive northeast of Grizzana in the area between the Reno and Setta Rivers. The II Corps begins the last stage of the attack towards Bologna, making the main effort in the center. The left flank is still held up below the Monterumici hill mass. The 91st Division drives northward astride Highway 65. Passing through the 361st Infantry, the 362nd heads for Lucca. The 361st attacks along Highway 65 in the center with elements pushing west of Casalino to protect the left flank. The 363rd advances toward Monte Belmonte to help the 34th Division take the feature. The 34th Division attacks with 2 regiments abreast. On the left the 133rd drives through the 91st Division on a narrow front toward Monte Belmonte, the target for an artillery and aerial bombardment. Searchlights provide illumination for night action. At this time the use of artificial moonlight is still in the experimental stage. The 168th Infantry of the 34th Division attacks through the 338th Infantry of the 85th Division on a broad front between Zena Creek and the Idice River, heading for Monte della Vigna, north of Monte delle Formiche. East of the Idice, the 85th Division's 338th Infantry attacks toward Monte Fano while the 339th attacks toward a ridge above Monterenzio, taking Hill 622. The 88th Division drives toward the Monte Cuccoli-Monte Grande ridge on the right flank of the corps. The 350th Infantry makes no progress toward Monte Cuccoli, but the 349th takes Monte delle Tombe and reaches San Clemente. The new boundary between the II and British XIII Corps, effective at 2330, passes between Monte delle Tombe and Monte Spadura, sharply reducing the zone of the 88th Division.

In the British XIII Corps area, the 78th Division completes the relief of the US forces on Gesso ridge.

The V Corps clears Monte Romano and Monte Reale during the night of the 16th. Elements of the 20th Brigade, Indian 10th Division, establishes a small bridgehead across the Savio near its confluence with the Borello on the southern flank of the corps.

In the Canadian I Corps area, the Canadian 1st Division advances quickly toward Cesena with elements crossing the Pisciatello River. Orders are issued for a concerted attack on Cesena by the Canadian I and the British V Corps. The New Zealand 2nd Division takes Bulgarno without opposition.

Occupied Hungary

Ferenc Szalasi, leader of the fascist 'Arrow Cross' Party, is appointed acting-Regent and 'Royal Hungarian Premier'. His followers launch a reign of terror against the 160,000 Jews in the Budapest ghetto.

Pacific

• The Japanese torpedo boat Hato is sunk by US army aircraft in the East China Sea.
• The US submarine Tilefish (SS-307) sinks the Japanese guardboat No.2 Kyowa Maru just north of Matsuwa Jima.

Palau Islands

The 321st Infantry Regiment, reinforced by units of the 323rd Regiment just arrived from Ulithi, continues its efforts to eliminate Japanese resistance in the area of Mount Umurbrogol.

Elements of the 81st Division begin clearing the atoll, which lies between Yap and the Palaus.

Philippines

Over the next 4 days preliminary air attacks and fleet movements for the US landing on Leyte take place. On this day there are attacks by land-based aircraft of 13th and 5th Air Forces from Biak, Sansapor and Morotai against targets on Mindanao. The 18 escort carriers of Adm T. F. Sprague's TG 77.4 also begin operations with attacks on Leyte, Cebu and Mindanao. Nimitz announces that in the past week US naval forces have destroyed 73 Japanese ships and 670 planes. The US light cruiser Houston receives more damage when it is hit by an aircraft torpedo.

Western Front

With the fall of Woensdrecht to the Canadian 2nd Div, the isthmus of South Beveland is virtually cut off by the Allies. In the same sector, the Canadian 3rd Div continues its attacks on the Breskens pocket now reduced to half its original size.

In southeast Holland, where the British 2nd Army is operating, the 3rd Div reaches the suburbs of Venray, half-way between Helmond and the German frontier.

The agony of Aachen goes on as bitter street fighting continues. In the afternoon the circle of Allied troops around the city is closed when patrols from the US XIX Corps and VII Corps of 1st Army link up.

In the US 7th Army sector the 45th and 36th Divs of VI Corps approach Bruyères, but are heavily engaged by the forces of the German 1st Army. On the right flank of the 7th Army, where the French 1st Army is operating under De Lattre de Tassigny, the 3rd Algerian Div and French 1st Arm Div launch an offensive to break through enemy lines in the Vosges.[WE]

Images from October 16, 1944

Damage in Cologne

Artillery Supporting the Advance on Venray

During the Fight for Venray

Torpedo Hit on the Houston

Victoria Harbor, Hong Kong

The Battle of the Scheldt

Making Safe Enemy Bombs and Mines

PzKpfw VI Tiger II Königstiger

Hong Kong Harbor

East End of the Leopold Canal

Manning a Quad-50