Air Operations, CBIBURMA
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, East IndiesFEAF B-24s attack two towns on Celebes. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, EuropeField Marshal Wolfram von Richthofen, ex-commander of the elite close-support force, Fliegerkorps VIII in France, the Balkans and Russia, and cousin of the 'Red Baron', is forced to retire from the command of Luftflotte 2 in Italy following brain surgery. RAF BOMBER COMMANDEvening Ops: Minor Ops:
ETO:
ITALY:
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Air Operations, Philippines
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Battle of the AtlanticU-1060 is caught on the surface and damaged by Firefly 'I' of 1771 NAS flying frm the British carrier Implacable during a routine anti-shipping patrol. The U-boat runs aground on the nearby island of Fleina. She is found there and attacke by Liberators 'Y' and 'H' of No 311 Squadron RAF and Halifaxes 'D' and 'T' of No 502 Squadron RAF. After the attacks, the U-boat is seen to have been blown over on her side. She was carrying 28 survivors from U-957 in addition to her own ship's company.
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() CBIMaj-Gen Albert C. Wedemeyer is names as Chiang Kai-shek's chief of staff and commander of the China theater. Lt-Gen Daniel I. Sultan, Gen Stilwell's deputy commander, commands the India-Burma theater. The new American objective is to gain some advantage from the operations in he China theater. The Allied counteroffensive in the India-Burma theater, however, shows promise despite the lack of importance to overall US objectives in the war. Gen Sultan command three Chinese divisions (the 38th, the 30th, and the 50th), the British 36th Division and the US 5332nd Brigade (Provisional), also known as the Mars Task Force. The Mars Task Force is composed of the 124th Cavalry Regiment and the reorganized and refitted Merrill's Marauders, now designated the 475th Infantry Regiment. Gen Stilwell departs from China. In his diary he writes, 'I was relieved on the arbitrarty stand and false statements of Chiang Kai-shek.' The relief of Stilwell provides Chiang with a temporary victory, but the US military leadership sours on China and on the commander of the 14th Air Force, Gen Chennault, who is seen as being too closely associated with the Generalissimo.The headquarters of 10th Air Force is reassigned to the new India-Burma theater command. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ChinaThe Japanese step up their offensive for the capture of the American air bases in eastern China. Several divisions advance on Kweilin and Liuchow. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Eastern FrontThe 4th Ukraine Front takes Uzhgorod in northeast Hungary. In the northern sector there is a new Soviet drive in Latvia. NORWAYThe 83rd Rifle Div (XXXI Rifle Corps) drives German defenders from Nautsi. CENTRAL SECTORThe fighting in East Prussia dies down as the 3rd Belorussian Front abandons its attacks. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Germany, Home FrontGoebbels makes a radio broadcast to the German people: 'Hell would yawn before us if we laid down our arms and surrendered to the mercy of our enemies. Germany is firmly determined to hold out to a successful finish.' [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ItalyThe 26th Arm Bde, British XII Corps, US 5th Army, takes Rocco San Casciano, on Highway 67. In the British 8th Army sector, units of the Polish 5th (Kresowa) Div, II Corps, retake Predappio Nuovo after losing it the previous day to a German counterattack. Other troops, from the 10th Indian Div, succeed in crossing the Ronco River during the night. The Allied advance is gradually becoming bogged down as the winter weather sets in. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Pacific
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() PhilippinesOn Leyte, in the US X Corps sector, units of the 24th Inf Div, after a night-long artillery barrage capture the village of Pastrana and begin mopping up. In the XXIV Corps sector, the 96th Div attacks Tabontabon again; one battalion penetrates into the town, but is then cut off by a sudden Japanese counterattack. The 7th Div occupies Buri airfield against slight resistance. The 17th Inf Regt continues its advance toward Dagami, getting to within a mile and a quarter of it, to the south. Tacloban airstrip on Leyte becomes operational. The 9th Fighter Sqn flies the first mission by Philippines-based US fighters since 1942. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() SpainThe Army launches a campaign against a Republican invasion force in the Pyrenees. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Western FrontThe Canadian drive against Beveland goes on. The Canadian 52nd Div?, II Corps, 1st Army, widens the bridgehead it has established on the south coast of South Beveland, near Baarland, in the direction of Oudelande. The Canadian 2nd Div reaches the Beveland Cnaal. Further east, in the British I Corps sector, the Canadian 4th Arm Div enters Bergen-op-Zoom. On the right of the front, where the Canadian 1st Army is operating, units of the 104th Div, supported by British tanks, take Zundert by storm. West of Venlo, paratroopers of the German 1st Army launch a sudden violent attack towards Asten in the sector held by the American 7th Arm Div, VIII Corps, British 2nd Army, re-taking the positions captured by the division on the Deurne and Nord Canals. The Germans reach Meijel and also break through the Allied positions at Heitrak, on the road between Deurne and Meijel, and near Nederweert, where the 7th Arm Div immediately closes the breach. Gen Jean De Lattre de Tassigny, commanding the French 1st Army, submits his plans for Operation INDEPENDENCE to his immediate superior, the American Gen Jacob Devers, Commander of the 6th Army Group. Devers agrees to them. The French action against Belfort will be carried out in co-operation with the general Allied offensive early in November. [![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Images from October 27, 1944
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[October 26th - October 28th] |