MR 203(2) Sec. 21 War Department Operational Summaries - October 1943

MR 203 (-) WAR DEPARTMENT OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 654 to No. 691 Section 21 (Sept. 24 to Oct. 31 Inc.) Box 56 137 ORD Letter, 5-8-78 MR 203 (2) WAR DEPARTMENT OPERATIONAL SUMMARY Section 21 WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 691 0700 October 31 to 0700 November 1, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 203(2) TRIESTE* VENICE FUNE CREMORAT ITALY AND ADJACENT ABOLOGNA AREAS GENDA SAVONA o 20 40 60 so IDO IMPERIA SPEZIA RIMINI SCALE OF MILES PORTO MAURIZIO LEGHORN ELBA BASTIA all CORSICA TERMOLI AJACCIO MORE Grosseto BARI TARANTO SARDINIA TYRRHENIAN SEA CAGO MESSINA PALERMO CATANIA IONIAN SEA BIZERTE SICILY LICATA "PANTELLERIA MALTA BASE MAP NO. 2672 (FREE) R&A, oss 20 SEPTEMBER 1943 LITHOGRAPHED. oss DECLASSIFIES OSD Letter, 5-3-78 EUROPEAN THEATER On 30 October light bombers dropped ten tons of explosives on Cherbourg docks and the Maupertuis airfield, accurate hits being observed; moderate antiaircraft fire but no enemy aircraft were reported. That night three enemy aircraft out of seven which operated over south- ern England dropped bombs in the London area. MEDITERRANEAN 1. On the night of 29-30 October 31 British bombers dropped 58 tons of bombs squarely on the Grosseto railroad yards. The next day a heavy overcast prevented a force of 138 B-17's from bombing the Turin ball-bearing works but 26 of these aircraft dropped 78 tons of explosives on Savona and its steel works where considerable effect was noted. Seven other bombers of this mission attacked the railroad yards at Imperia, and seven more attacked Varazze and Port Maurizio but could not observe their effect. One B-17 was lost. Twenty escorted B-24's dropped sixty tons of bombs on the railroad yards and steel works at Genoa. Twenty-four B-25's heavily hit roads and railroads at Frosinone, while light and fighter bombers attacked railroads, roads and bridges, as well as enemy gun positions and troops in the battle area with more than 77 tons of explosives. P-40's scored two hits on a small freighter at Giulianova. 2. By noon 31 October the Fifth Army had reached Santa Croce -1- ABOLOGNA GENOA f SPEZIA ARIMINI LORENCE ANCONA LEGHORN PERUSH ELBA ROGETO GIUL IANOVA ERNI PESCARA CORSICA CIVITAVECCHIA TERMOLI SULN ROME Ad S TONE EOGSTA CENTRAL ITALY TEAND 0 5 IO 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 TERRACINA SA CROCE M. MASSICO CAPOA APPROXIMATE MILES MONDRAGONE SARDINIA NAPLES BASE MAP NO. 2769 (FREE) RBA, 055 REPRODUCED, 055 26 OCTOBER 1943 - 20° 2* 22" IF 24" 43º 43% 0 IP - - EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN AREA CASTELROSSO IQO . 8 BO 300 42° 1 - Dram - 4/º 1 8 THASOS Selente 00 40* à intra LEMOR CORPU - B e 39° 39" MITILENE Sera LEAGAS D - CHIOS Sayme à N° Attent a ANDRES IANTE Proper Note 0 TENOS Provide & + s 1 > a & 87" Seriphos PAROS o 37" NAMOS Celline I - o a 0ODEGANESE KYTHERA 0 PHODES I 36° Carpothos, MIDDLE EASTERN AREA Change SE* 35° 8 o to 8 CRETE* SCALE IN MILES 34° M° 20* à II" B' 14° 15* IF ET* IF DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-78 and had captured Teano, maintaining pressure on the enemy's Monti Massico position. In the upper Volturno valley local gains were recorded as our troops worked around the southwestern slopes of Monti del Matese. To the north of this hill mass the Eighth Army captured Cantalupo and made minor gains elsewhere along its front despite continuing bad weather. 3. Effective 1 November, the 15th Air Force (Strategic) is established in the North African Theater, to consist initially of the six heavy bombardment groups and two long-range fighter groups at present assigned to the 12th Air Force. It will be employed primarily against targets of the combined bomber offensive. 4. By direction of The President, General Eisenhower was noti- fied that Mr. Robert Murphy will be appointed American Political Advisor attached to his headquarters in Italy, and United States member of the Advisory Council attached to the Allied Control Commis- sion for Italy with the rank of Ambassador. 5. On 29 October, Allied light aircraft damaged a small enemy freighter south of Rhodes. The next day, B-25's hit a 500-ton vessel off Naxos with 75 mm guns, and scored possible hits on two other enemy craft south of Cos. British Beaufighters covering an Allied convoy which was attacked off Castelrosso, shot down five enemy twin-engined bombers. We lost two aircraft during these actions. Supplies were successfully dropped on Samos during the night of 30-31 October. -2- #SADITA HUKAWNG VALLEY IMPHAL BHAND* MANDAEAY MYINGYAN ANYAB* BAY PROME OF BENGAL BASSEIN RANGOON MOOLMEIN TE TAVOT BANGKOK 100 goo MILES BASE MAP NO. 2447 (FREE) RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS BRANCH 055 28 JUNE 1943 LITHOGRAPHED IN THE REPRODUCTION BR ANCH 055 SHANGRAI Wangchow Wenchow achow Amoy Swdtow CANION HONGKONG o 50 100 150 200 Pakhoi RANDI Hsi-ying 2 MILES Halphong MAP NO. 2437 (FREE) COMPILED AND DRAWN IN THE BRANCH OF RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS, oss 24 JUNE 1943 PRINTED IN THE REPRODUCTION BRANCH, oss DECLASSIFIED12 0SD Letter, 5-3-72 ASIATIC THEATER 1. On 29 and 30 October 34 light aircraft of the 10th Air Force bombed and machine-gunned the airdrome at Myitkyina with good results; one P-51 was lost. A total of 24 A-36's and six P-51's took part in other missions against enemy installations in northern Burma and in support of our ground forces engaged in road construction in the Hukawng valley. Eleven B-25's bombed Myingyan on 29 October, hitting enemy supply installations. 2. On 30 October six escorted B-25's of our 14th Air Force damaged a motor pool and barracks at Shayang. Nine P-38's bombed the docks and shipping at Kiukiang; our aircraft were attacked by some 20 new-type Japanese fighters which shot down four of our P-38's. Two of these Jap fighters were destroyed. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. During the afternoon of 29 October, 41 B-24's escorted by 78 P-38's dropped 115 tons of demolition and fragmentation bombs on the Vunakanau (Rabaul) dispersal areas; they exploded an ammunition dump, destroyed 20 (probably 25) grounded enemy aircraft, and shot down 27 (probably 40) of 50 intercepting enemy fighters; we lost one P-38 and two others crash-landed on their return. A heavy bomber probably sank one destroyer in a low-altitude attack and damaged -3- o 40 80 120 Miles (approximate) MANUS 1, KAVIENG AITAPE NEW IRELAND D WEWAK BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO MARUE RABAUL River o NUBIA HUNDUA L. bMADANG LONG La muny CAPE TALASEA BOGADJIM GLOUCESTER ©BENA BENA VITIAZ NEW BRITAIN FINSCHHAFEN STRAIT GASMATA DAE HUON GULF PSALAMAUA KEREMA GULF TROBRIANO IS. OF GONA BUNA PAPUA KAIRUKU' WOODLARK L nuyoo GOODENOUGH I, FERGUSSON I. PORT MORESBY RIGO BANARIA NORMANBY 1. 0.14 SAMARAI CAPE YORK LOUISIADE CORALSEA ARCHIPELAGO PENIN, SOLOMON ISLANDS AREA UKA TEOP BOUGAINVILLE TENEKOW SOLOMON KIETA Tonolei Hbr. KAHILI BUIN BALLALE CHOISEUL SHORTLAND ISLANDS . FAISI KAKASA TREASURY WAGINA VELLA LAVELLA Rekata Bay KOLOMBANGARA SANTA ISABEL VILA GANONGGA GIZO NEW GEORGIA I. MALAITA ARUNDEL MUNDA TUNNIBULI RENDOVA SEGI Pf. NEW GEORGIA GROUP RUSSELL FLORIDA TULAGE HENDERSON FIELD GUADALCANAL I. SCALE 25 0 25 50 75 100 STATUTE MILES RENNELL DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 another off Mundua Island. Other Allied aircraft bombed and machine- gunned enemy-held villages, installations and barges south of Madang, machine-gunned barges and buildings along the coasts of New Britain, and damaged the Kavieng, Gasmata, and Tobera (Rabaul) airdromes. One B-25 was lost. During 30 October, Allied ground patrols encountered enemy defense positions eighteen miles south of Bogadjim. The Japanese are reported to have evacuated Long Island. 2. On 29 October, eight escorted B-24's bombed and machine- gunned the Bonis airfield destroying buildings and a parked airplane; nine B-25's attacked Buka with parachute fragmentation bombs. The next day, 69 Army and Navy airplanes dropped 100 tons of demolition bombs on the Buka and Bonis runways with excellent concentrated effect; three enemy parked airplanes were probably hit. All our planes returned, one B-25 crash-landing. Allied troops on Treasury Island were bombed during the night of 28-29 October but suffered no damage; our antiaircraft fire shot down one of the enemy planes. Japanese mortar and gun positions have been captured. WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 690 0700 October 30 to 0700 October 31, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 203 (2) ABOLOGNA GENOA f SPEZIA ERIMINI LORENCE ANCONA LEGHORN PERUGI SECRET ELBA GROSSETO GIUL LANOVA TERNE PESCARA LITERSO FRANCAVILLA CORSICA CIVITAVECCHIA TERMOLI SULM ROME BOGGIA @SD Letter, 0-8-22 CENTRAL ITALY o 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 TERRACINA MT. MASSICO CAPITA APPROXIMATE MILES SARDINIA AMAPLES BASE MAP NO. 2769 (FREE) RBA, 055 26 OCTOBER 1943 REPRODUCED, 055 DECLASSIFIES OBD Letter, 5-3-78 WESTERN HEMISPHERE The Army Ground Forces have issued directives for the movement of the headquarters of the Fourth Army (Lieutenant General William H. Simpson) from San Jose, California, to the Presidio of Monterey, California, the 12th Armored Division (Major General Carlos Brewer) from the Tennessee Maneuver Area to Camp Barkeley, Texas, and the 104th Infantry Division (Major General Terry de la M. Allen) from the Oregon Maneuver Area to Camp Young, California. The 12th Armored Division has completed its maneuvers; the 104th Division is to under- go maneuver training at Camp Young. MEDITERRANEAN 1. A British convoy was attacked by enemy aircraft 35 miles off Castelrosso on 28 October, a tank landing craft being sunk. 2. On 29 October 115 B-17's escorted by 24 P-38's, prevented by weather from accomplishing their primary mission of bombing the ball-bearing factories at Turin, dropped 345 tons of bombs on Genoa where hits were obtained on railroad yards, the Ansaldo steel, electric and ordnance works, an instrument factory, a railroad and highway bridge, and on ships and small craft; one B-17 was destroyed and two P-38's are missing. Light and fighter-bombers continued their attacks on enemy positions and communications serving the battle area. Two enemy vessels were successfully attacked off Giulianova and one off Francavilla. - à = à IF 24" 1 43° 43% Soffee o - MMY - EASTERN MEDITERRAREAN AREA IQO 9 8 800 500 42° 1 A* 27" 4° Any Dram - 4P - s THANGS 00 40* 40° interes LEWNOS 4 - CORPU 0 If a D 8 38° N° MITILENE September LEUCAS D p - OHIOS 3 Patres/ 30° M° Albans ANDROS SAMOS DATE Pyrges 0 TENOS 9 & , 0 ? ! & Swiphes PAROS o 37" NAMOS 4 I D 4 DODECANESE KYTHERA PHODES * 30° CASTELROSSO MIDDLE EASTERN AREA - HERAKLION MP 35° as 0 so IQO CRETE . SCALE - 34° M R 1 II' 25" 24° à NP* IP IF MANYWET MOGAUNO SHAND* CRITTABONG* MY1NGYAN MANDAEAY ARYABR BAY PROME OF BENGAL BASSEIN RANGOON MOULMEIN YE --- TAVOY BANGKOK o IDO EDO MILES BASE MAP NO. 2447 (FREE) RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS BRANCH 055 28 JUNE 1943 LITHOGRAPHED IN THE REPRODUCTION BRANCH 055 SHANGH Hongshow Wenchow chow Amoy Swbtow HONGKONG 11. o 50 100 150 200 Pakhoi FT. BAYARD MILES RANDI Hsi-ying 4/ 2 Heiphong MAP NO. 2437 (FREE) COMPILED AND DRAWN IN THE BRANCH OF RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS, oss 24 JUNE 1943 PRINTED IN THE REPRODUCTION BRANCH, oss DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-78 3. General Eisenhower's report issued at noon, 30 October, indicates that the Fifth Army was maintaining its pressure on the enemy in front of Mt. Massico, and in the upper Volturno valley where our troops are now within nine miles of Venafro. On the right flank of the Eighth Army, the Trigno River has been swollen by rains which present an added obstacle; local advances were made in the hills northwest of Campobasso. 4. On 29 October, Leros was attacked by two enemy planes; that night supplies were successfully dropped on the island from the air; nine Allied planes again attacked the Heraklion airdrome. ASIATIC THEATER 1. On 27 October sixteen A-36's and six P-51's of the 10th Air Force made a successful attack on the airdrome and barracks area at Myitkyina, and on other enemy-held towns in the vicinity. The next day two P-51's made two direct bomb hits from roof top level on the two principal Japanese headquarters buildings in Myitkyina; 18 A-36's and 8 P-51's made three hits on a highway bridge at Mogaung, hit a railroad bridge in the vicinity, and burned build- ings at Manywet. On 29 October twelve B-24's achieved excellent effect on the dump and warehouse area at Myingyan. 2. On 29 October, 14 B-24's escorted by 14 P-38's of the 14th Air Force heavily damaged a zinc smelter near Haiphong. Two B-25's 2 HS 120 125 LSO 195 140 145 150 ISS 160 165 no 20 15 is PHILIPPINE IS. 10 10 no 5 5 BORNEO o 0 & KAVIENG CERAM, TALASEA NEW GUINEA BAY 5 5 9 POMELÀA GASHATA SOLOMON IS. TANIMBAR 1. NEW BRITAIN BURA MOA L. 10 10 B SCALE IS . - - - - ⑉ Half IS 115 180 ISS 130 135 140 148 150 155 MO E 24-30680 SOLOMON ISLANDS AREA UKA TEOP BOUGAINVILLE TENEKOW SOLOMON KIETA Tonolei Hbr, WARRIOR R. KAMILIS IANGIGA BUIN BALLALE ALLIED CHOISEUL ANDINE SHORTLAND ISLANDS a FAISI KAKASA TREASURY WAGINA VELLA LAVELLA no Rehata Bay KOLOMBANGARA SANTA ISABEL VILA GANONGGA GIZO NEW GEORGIA I. MALAITA ARUNDEL MUNDA TUNNIBULI RENDOVA SEGI PT. NEW GEORGIA GROUP RUSSELL FLORIDA TULAGE HENDERSON FIELD GUADALCANAL I. SCALE 25 0 25 50 75 100 STATUTE MILES RENNELL DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 dropped eleven 500-pound bombs on the jetty, administration building and runway at Fort Bayard. Six P-40's, reconnoitering the Yochow area, machine-gunned the airdrome at Kiukiang and harassed river shipping. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. The crew of a B-24 who have been rescued since the 26 October attack on Pomelaa report that they set fire to a medium-size transport off Pomelaa and destroyed ten intercepting fighters during an hour- long battle. The B-24 was shot down by two twin-engined fighters off Moa Island. 2. On the night of 28 October, four Allied bombers started large fires at Kavieng airdrome; Gasmata and Talasea were also bombed. On 29 October, Allied bombers and fighters demolished enemy barges in Kimbe Bay, harassed coastal villages in southwest New Britain, attacked shipping, and raided enemy installations along the northeast New Guinea coast. To the west of New Guinea, Allied planes sank a small ship in the Tanimbar Islands and another at Ceram, and made other attacks on enemy installations. Four enemy aircraft bombed Buna on the morning of 29 October, causing no damage. 3. Twenty-five enemy bombers attacked an Allied convoy north of Treasury Island on 27 October; 12 enemy bombers were destroyed. Three enemy fighters were destroyed over Kahili. 3 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 The next day, 107 US aircraft caused large fires at Ballale airfield, but met no enemy there. Ninety-four Allied planes attacked the Kara strip without encountering air opposition but one crash-landed. In a second attack on this target, 19 B-24's bombed the runway and revetment areas without loss. On 29 October, 16 Navy fighter planes machine-gunned twelve small troop-laden cargo vessels and many barges at Tonolei Harbor. 4. On 29 October enemy units north of our beachhead on Voza Choiseul Island were withdrawing north of the Warrior River. Advancing from toward Sangiga our troops encountered a strong Japanese force advancing northwest. Results of incounter not yet received 4 WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 689 0700 October 29 to 0700 October 30, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE CENTRAL EUROPE 4 THE PAERIES CHERBOURG EBENFURT FRIEDBERG WIENER NEUSTADT ZAGRED DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 WESTERN HEMISPHERE Headquarters of the X Corps (Major General Jonathan W. Anderson) has been transferred from Sherman, Texas, to Camp Maxey, Texas. The Army Ground Forces have issued directives for the movement of the Headquarters of the IV Corps (Major General Alexander McC. Patch) from the Oregon Maneuver Area to Camp Young, California, and of the 94th Infantry Division (Major General Harry J. Maloney) from the Tennessee Maneuver Area to Camp McCain, Mississippi. The Headquarters of the VIII and XV Corps (Major Generals Daniel I. Sultan and Wade H. Haislip) have been ordered from Brownwood and Camp Bowie, Texas, respectively, to the New York or Boston Ports of Embarkation for further movement overseas. EUROPEAN THEATER During 28 October, 23 escorted Allied medium and fighter bombers dropped 18 tons of high explosives on targets in the Cherbourg area. Heavy and accurate antiaircraft fire was encountered, and one B-25 is missing. MEDITERRANEAN 1. Weather continued to restrict air operations on 28 October; our dive and fighter bombers attacked enemy positions and bridges near Vairano and Venafro and the airfields near Orvieto, Sezze, Littoria and Foligno where a number of enemy parked aircraft were destroyed. Allied -1- - 20° à - ETP 24° 43* 43% Service o - NRET - EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN AREA IQO e 8 800 500 42° 42% - 200° & 41° Drame - Birwy 1 THASOS Selenike - 04 Somethrake 40° 40° LEWNOS The Larise 8 - 39° à MYTILENE Some D 0 - CHIOS I CEPHALONIA 38° 30° a AMERICA DANTE Pyrgee 1 0 , 0 PATMOS PORTOLAGO 37* PARIS o 37" / MAR 4 DODECANESE KYTHERA 36° 36° Corpettion MIDDLE EASTERN AREA Rhone 38° HERAKL ION. à B 0 to 00 CRETE SCALE is 34° M° 20* BP II* IP 24" 25* 26° L' IF 9SD Letter, 5-3-72 TRIESTER VENICE FILME CREMONA? ITALY AND ADJACENT MOLOGNA AREAS GENDA o so 40 60 80 100 SPEZIA RIMINI SCALE OF MILES LEGHORN ELBA BASTIA ail 1 CORSICA TERMOLI AJACCIO MORE LITTORIA BARI MONDRAGONE TARANTO SARDINIA TYRRHENIAN SEA CASC MESSINA PALERMO CATANIA IONIAN SEA BIZERTE SICILY LICATA RUNIS @PANTELLERIA MALTA BASE MAP NO. 2478 (FREE) R&A, oss == SEPTEMBER 1943 LITHOGRAPHED, oss SECTIFY DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-78 aircraft destroyed seven (probably ten) enemy planes; one of our A-36's is missing. 2. The British X Corps made substantial progress on 29 October, its forward elements reaching Mondragone and the outskirts of Teano. Our VI Corps pushed forward in the Pratella area. There was no substantial change on the Eighth Army front where rain and bad visibility hampered operations. 3. During 27 and 28 October Allied bombers attacked the Heraklion airfield (Crete), enemy shipping off Stampalia, as well as the Maritsa airdrome (Rhodes), where 132 quarter-ton demolition bombs caused explos- ions and a large fire. During this period German aircraft attacked Portolago Bay (Leros) and Patmos. 4. Revised details of the 24 October attack on Wiener-Neustadt have been received; although 111 B-17's and 48 B-24's succeeded in reach- ing the general area of the target a complete overcast made it impossible to find it. However, 51 half-ton bombs were dropped on the target by dead reckoning, 96 more were dropped on railroad installations at Ebenfurth, and 18 others fell on railroads and bridges at Friedsburg and on a high- way bridge west of Zagreb. Only two B-24's are still missing. 5. Since 1 October the Northwest African Air Force has flown more than 1500 sorties against targets in Yugoslavia, Albania, and Greece, their efforts being directed against enemy aircraft on the ground and rail and sea communications. During these operations more than 1000 -2- SHANGRAT Hangchow Wenchow chow Amoy Swbtow HONGKONG o (FT. BAYARD) 50 100 150 200 Pokhoi MILES HANDI Hsi-ying 2 Haiphong KWANGCHOWAN PEN. MAP NO. 2437 (FREE) COMPILED AND DRAWN IN THE BRANCH OF RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS, oss 24 JUNE 1943 PRINTED IN THE REPRODUCTION BRANCH, oss - IMPHAC MANASHIH BHAND* TANGON KINU : SHWEBO PAKOKKU MANDALAY @MOXTILA AKYAB® BAY TOUNGDO OFROME OF RENGAL BASSEIN RANGOON MOULMEIN = YE TAVOY# BANGKOK 190 200 MILES BASE MAP NO 2447 (FREE) RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS BRANCH 055 20 JUNE 1943 LITHOGRAPHED IN THE REPRODUCTION BRANCH 055 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-78 tons of bombs have been dropped on enemy communications, airdromes, and barracks; at least 103 enemy parked planes have been destroyed and an additional 40 destroyed in aerial combat. Sixteen surface vessels of various categories have been hit by our cannon-bearing B-25's since 16 October. AISIATIC THEATER 1. Sixteen B-25's of the 10th Air Force, escorted by a like number of P-51's, dropped 80 quarter-ton demolition bombs on the Shwebo-Kinu- Tangon rail line on 27 October, scoring some hits. The next day, 16 B-25's demolished buildings in the Pakokku area. Two missions totaling 26 B-24's attacked the Japanese headquarters and railroad station at Toungoo, starting several fires and causing large explosions. No enemy resistance was encountered; one B-24 was lost by accident. The 10th Air Force destroyed one enemy bomber and two (probably seven) enemy fighters during September for a loss, from all causes, of three bombers, one fighter and two photographic planes. RAF losses in the area during the same period total two bombers and four fighters. 2. 14th Air Force B-24's, on a routine ferry trip, on 28 October, dropped 70 one hundred-pound demolition bombs on Mangshih. On other missions our aircraft attacked warehouses at Yochow airdrome, burned a factory and other buildings at Kienli, and sank one freighter and probably a second off Kwangchowan Peninsula. Japanese barracks southwest of Fort Bayard were hit by three B-25's escorted by seven P-38's. This attack -3- o 40 80 120 Miles (approximate) MANUS I, 10 KAVIENG AITAPE 2 NEW IRELAND 0 WEWAK BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO Sepik MARUE RABAUL Riven 0 10 NUBIA UNEA L. UBILI bMADANG CAPE o TALASEA GLOUCESTER VITIAZ NEW BRITAIN OBENA SENA HUON INSULA STRAIT GASMATA FINSCHHAFEN CAE HUON GULF SALAMAUA KIKORI RIVER KEREMA GULF TROBRIAND IS. OF GONA o BUNA PAPUA KAIRUKU KOKODA WOODLARK L the O DARU FAP GOODENOUGH 1. FERGUSSON L PORT MORESBY RIGO BANARIA NORMANBY I. ale SAMARAI CAPE YORK LOUISIADE PENIN. CORAL SEA ARCHIPELAGO - DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 was a complete surprise, the enemy being seen to suffer many casualties; one enemy plane was destroyed on the ground. All our aircraft returned. Eight Japanese planes bombed the Kienow airdrome, 11 of 27 bombs hitting the runway. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. Three B-24's, attacking an enemy convoy of three destroyers and two small freighters west of Ubili during the evening of 26 October, set one destroyer and a freighter afire, possibly sank the other freighter and scored near misses on a second destroyer. On 27 October Allied fighter planes destroyed seven barges, damaged the dump area at Gasmata and buildings on Talasea, and machine-gunned targets of opportunity on the north coast of the Huon Peninsula. Heavy bombers destroyed a large building on Unea Island, and damaged Kavieng airdrome, and two Dutch B-25's bombed a sea truck northwest of the Tanimbar Islands. 2. During 26 October a total of 332 Allied planes, successfully attacking the airdromes on southern Bougainville, and at Buka, damaged the runways and antiaircraft positions, destroyed seven planes on the ground, killed an estimated 200 enemy working on the runway at Buka, and sank a troop-laden auxiliary; one Navy plane was lost. The next day 17 B-24's dropped 125 half-ton bombs on the Kara and Kahili runways; Allied fighters destroyed more than 33 enemy planes in combat over the area for no losses. -4- SOLOMON ISLANDS AREA ШКА TONIS TEOP BOUGAINVILLE TENEKOW SOLOMON KIETA Tomolei Hbr. KARA KAHILI, BUIN BALLALE CHOISEUL SHORTLAND ISLANDS - FAISI PARACHUTE KAKASA TREASURY LANDING WAGINA VELLA LAVELLA 19 Rekata Bay KOLOMBANGARA SANTA ISABEL YILA GANONGGA GIZO NEW GEORGIA 1. MALAITA ARUNDEL MUNDA TUNNIBULI RENDOVA SEGI PT. NEW GEORGIA GROUP RUSSELL FLORIDA TULAGE HENDERSON FIELD GUADALCANAL I. SCALE 25 o 25 50 75 100 STATUTE MILES RENNELL DECLASSIFIED @SD Letter, 5-3-72 3. Following the successful landing on Treasury Island of a New Zealand reinforced brigade on 27 October, the enemy withdrew to the north of that island. On 28 October a US Marine parachute battalion landed without opposition on the southwest coast of Choiseul. GENERAL The War Department notified the commanding generals of US Army Forces in the Central Pacific Area and Defense and Base Commands in the Western Hemisphere of decisions reached by the Joint Chiefs of Staff which, in general, reduce the categories of defense to be maintained by our forces in these areas. Detailed measures to be observed under the new categories were outlined. -5- WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 688 0700 October 28 to 0700 October 29, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 203(2) TRIESTE* WILAN VENICE FILME CREMONA ITALY AND ADJACENT ABOLOGNA AREAS GENDA o 20 40 60 80 100 SPEZIA RIMINI SCALE OF MILES LEGHORN ELBA DRIATIC BASTIA CORSICA TERMOLI AJACCIO ARONE MONTEMITRO ROSOLONE BARI GAETA MINTURNO. TARANTO SARDINIA TYRRHENIAN SEA CAGCIARI MESSINA PALERMO CATANIA IONIAN SEA BIZERTE SICILY LICATA BUNIS PANTELLERIA MALTA BASE MAP NO. 2672 (FREE) R&A, 088 18 SEPTEMBER 1943 LITHOGRAPHED. OSS DECLASSIFIES OBD Letter, 5-3-72 WESTERN HEMISPHERE The Army Ground Forces have issued directives for the movement of the 4th Infantry Division (Major General Raymond 0. Barton) from Camp Gordon Johnston, Florida, to Fort Jackson, South Carolina, upon completion of its amphibious training, and of the 81st Infantry Division (Major General Paul J. Mueller) from Camp Young, California, to Camp San Luis Obispo, California, upon completion of its maneuvers. EUROPEAN THEATER For the week ending 24 October, the 8th Air Force destroyed 14 (probably 25) enemy aircraft for a loss from all causes of nine heavy bombers and five fighters. UK-based RAF planes shot down 51 (probably 57) enemy aircraft for a loss of 124 fighters and bombers. The opera- tions of this week included the mission against Duren by the 8th Air Force and attacks against Leipzig and Kassel by the RAF. MEDITERRANEAN 1. On 27 October, in spite of continuing bad weather which seriously limited all air operations, Allied bombers successfully attacked gun positions at Gaeta Point, Spitfires provided cover for naval forces bombarding the coast in the Minturno area, and P-40's raided enemy barges off the coast of Yugoslavia. 2. At noon of 28 October minor gains were reported by the Fifth -1- - 2° 8* la IF 24" 43* 9 9 - BRET - EASTERN WEDITERRANEAN AREA KX e 8 IDO 300 42" 1 as EP / 40° of 4P - 8 THANKS deliget 00 40° 40° Interes LEMNOS The CORPU Levier - B. 19* à MYTILENE Sepres LEUGAS 0 c - CHICS DEPALONG N° 38° ANDROS ZANTE SAMOS from $ 0 TENOS V + 0 a P LEVITHA BP* Seription 0 PARCIS 12th NAMES Caline - o Road is a DODECANESE KYTHERA RHDDES * 10° CASTELROSSO Corpothes MIDDLE EASTERN AREA Khana 4 30° 35° to 0 so IDO CRETE . SCALE IN MILES 34° 14" I à n° B' i n° 28° L - SAHMAW LUNGL BHAND* NU CANAL R.R. BRIDGE CHITTARONG* & MANDALAY AMEXTRA ANYAD® BAY OPROME OF BENGAL BASSEIN RANGOON MOULMEIN TAVOY# BANGKOK 100 200 MILES BASE MAP NO 2447 (FREE) RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS BRANCH 055 20 JUNE 1943 LITHOGRAPHED IN THE REPRODUCTION BA ANCH 055 DECLASSIFIED 0SD Letter, 5-3-72 Army. On the left flank of the Eighth Army Frosolone was captured; further north Montemitro had been taken and patrols were pushing forward. Our Trigno River bridgehead was being enlarged against stiff opposition. 3. Starting from Leros an Allied raid on Levitha on the night of 23-24 October was unsuccessful. British reinforcements were landed on Leros on the nights of 25-26 and 26-27 October. On 27 October seven Allied aircraft attacked the Antimachia airdrome on Cos, destroying a German two-engined transport airplane on the ground. Harassing missions were flown against enemy shipping and shore installations. Enemy aircraft raided Samos, Leros and Castelrosso causing slight damage; an enemy airplane was destroyed by antiaircraft fire at Castelrosso. ASIATIC THEATER 1. On 25 October a mixed flight of medium and dive bombers and fighters of the 10th Air Force obtained excellent effect from an attack on an ammunition dump at Sahmaw. Twenty-two P-40's bombed and machine- gunned railroad tracks, stores and enemy-held towns in northern Burma. On 26 October the Mu Canal railroad bridge was attacked by two missions totalling 21 B-25's, excellent results being reported. 2. On 27 October, six B-24's of the 14th Air Force on a routine -2- o 40 80 120 Milles (opproximate) MANUS 9 KAVIENG AITAPE NEW o IRELAND b WEWAK BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO Sepik MARUI RABAUL River o o NUBIA LOLOBAU oMADANG CAPE TALASEA GLOUCESTER ORENA BENA VITIAZ NEW BRITAIN T.LKA FINSCHHAFEN STRAIT GASMATA DAE HUON GULF RACE PSALAMAUA KEREMA RIVER GULF TROBRIAND IS. 0 F GONA e BUNA PAPUA KAIRUKU NOKODA WOODLARK L DARU GOODENOUGH I, FERGUSSON L PORT MORESBY RIGO BANARIA NORMANBY I. SAMARAI CAPE YORK LOUISIADE CORAL SEA ARCHIPELAGO PENIN. OSD Letter. 5-3-72 ferry mission dropped sixty 250-pound demolition bombs squarely on Lungling. Two formations of eight enemy fighter aircraft each inter- cepted the B-24's and eight (probably ten) were destroyed; all our planes landed safely. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS On 27 October, Allied mortar fire forced the enemy to withdraw from positions west of Katika. Two Allied bombers attacked Gasmata on the night of 26-27 October. The next day other Allied aircraft attacked buildings on the south coast of New Britain, dump areas at Gasmata, and destroyed an ammuni- tion launch at Lolobau Island. Sixteen Allied fighters intercepted nine enemy bombers and 31 fighters over the Finschhafen area, shooting down six bombers and six fighters for a loss of one of our planes. -3- WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 687 0700 October 27 to 0700 October 28, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 203(r)o TRIESTER WILAN VENICE FILME CREMONA ITALY AND ADJACENT BOLOONA AREAS GENDA 0 20 40 60 no IDO SPEZIA RIMINI SCALE OF MILES LEGHORN ELBA BASTIA CORSICA TERMOLI AJACCIO BROME MONTEFALCONE SERVICE LISE MASSIMO BARI TERRACINA ALAMEMO TARANTO SARDINIA TYRRHENIAN SEA CASCIRRI MESSINA PALERMO CATANIA IONIAN SEA BIZERTE SICILY LICATA TUNIS PANTELLERIA MALTA BASE MAP NO. 2672 (FREE) R&A, 055 " SEPTEMBER 1943 LITHOGRAPHED, oss & BP à la IF 24° 43* 43% Serfye e à WRET - EASTERN WESITERRAREAN AREA 100 # 8 800 aoo 42° 40% a: à 2019 : Drame 1 SEDES 1 THASOS MEGALO 00 MIKRA 40° § Interes LEMNOS 4 - CORPU Lane Miles B à à MYTLENE Sepres LEUGAS D D I OHIOS Emprisa Patrent CERNALONÍA 38° 36° Attent o ANDROS DANTE Pyyer Nume TENOS C PIRAEUB 9 8 2AM FARMACO 37* Seriphone FARCS e ST* NAMOS 2 I 0 a DODECANESE KYTHERA 0 RHODES 36° 36° 4 Corpothes MIDDLE EASTERN AREA these MP CHERAKLION 55" so o so IQD CRETE SCALE - 34° 34° 20° : n° ₹ 24° EN à 87° È DECLASSIFIES OSD Letter, 5-3-72 GENERAL The War Department informed Generals MacArthur, Eisenhower, Stilwell, Devers, Harmon and Buckner that two new qualification badges for the infantry soldier are being provided as an additional means of stimulating the morale of infantry units. One badge will be based on the soldier's demonstrated capacity during his training period, the second on his actual performance in combat. MEDITERRANEAN 1. Weather prevented operations by the Strategic Air Force during the night of 25-26 October. On 26 October 35 light bombers of the Tactical Air Force attacked an enemy dump southeast of Isernia and 24 B-25's bombed Terracina. Fighter bombers flew armed reconnaissance missions over the battle area and along the Adriatic coast, destroying enemy vehicles and railroad equipment. 2. Substantial gains were made by both Armies up to noon, 27 October. The US VI Corps advanced some four miles to the northwest along the upper Volturno. The British Eighth Army improved its posi- tions, advancing to the general line S. Massimo-Molise, a gain of nearly three miles in the direction of Isernia; to the north, Allied troops reached Montefalcone overlooking the Trigno valley. 3. During the night of 25-26 October, nine Allied heavy bombers -1- NAMT KAMAING FOGAUNG TENGCHURG BHAND* PAKOKKU MANDALAY EMEXTRA ARYAN BAY PROME OF BENGAL BASSEIN RANGOON MOOLNEIN BANGKOK HIO 200 * MILBS BASE MAP NO 2447 (FREE) RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS BRANCH oss 28 JUNE 1943 LITHOGRAPHED IN THE REPRODUCTION BR ANCH oss SECTION DECLASSIFIED 0SD Letter, 5-3-72 attacked the Heraklion airdrome (Crete), scoring hits adjacent to the runway and in the dispersal areas. US B-25's, escorted by P-38's, successfully attacked the Sedes and Megalo Mikra airdromes on 26 October. That night Allied heavy bombers successfully dropped almost ten tons of supplies for the patriots in Greece, Albania and Yugoslavia. Allied medium bombers, escorted by fighters shot down one enemy plane near Stampalia. Farmaco Island is now reported to have been clear of the enemy on 24 October. Leros was subjected to a heavy bombing by 120 enemy aircraft directed at defenses and gun positions on 26 October. ASIATIC THEATER 1. During 24 October, 10th Air Force light bombers and fighters maintained their attacks against enemy installations in central and northern Burma. Supply dumps south of Kamaing and near Myitkyina were bombed and machine-gunned successfully; rolling stock at Mogaung and Namti was effectively attacked. The next day, 19 B-25's bombed Pakokku, starting huge fires and damaging storage installations there. On 26 October, 25 B-24's attacking Rangoon, sank a 350-foot freighter and bombed the central station with fair results. In addition to heavy and accurate antiaircraft fire about 20 enemy planes attempted inter- ception. Three of these were possibly destroyed; one B-24 was shot down. 2. On 26 October, 13 B-24's of the 14th Air Force escorted by -2- 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 ISO 155 160 165 20 20 15 15 PHILIPPINE IS. 10 10 5 5 BORNEO o o KAVIENG 8 RABAUL TOLOKIMA 1. GAROVE 1. BUKA 1. NEW GUINEA 5 KAHILI 5 TREASURY 1. POMELAA AROE 15 SATTELBERG SOLOMON IS. KIRIWINA I 10 10 B SCALE 15 e we 100 400 400 soo MILES 15 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 180 155 160 165 24-30680 DECLASSIFIED 0SD Letter, 5-3-72 15 fighters bombed the yards at Haiphong, securing many hits on rolling stock and other installations including a nearby highway bridge. The B-25 mission against enemy shipping at the northern end of Hainan, mentioned in yesterday's report for 26 October, sank two 250-foot tankers, a 300-foot transport and a 150-foot freighter; both planes returned. In a second attack against the same target, six B-25's scored near misses on another freighter, destroyed one (probably two) enemy planes and bombed harbor installations. One B-25 was shot down by antiaircraft fire; another is missing. Six B-24's on routine ferry- ing operations successfully bombed Tengchung. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. On 26 October, three patrol bombers successfully attacked Kavieng airdrome. Lakunai airdrome near Rabaul was again heavily damaged by 61 escorted B-24's which destroyed 21 (probably 44) air- craft on the ground and shot down 37 (probably 57) of 70 intercepting enemy fighters; one B-24 is missing. Other Allied aircraft made indi- vidual attacks against Buka airdrome, and installations on Garove and Tolokiwa Islands. To the west, Pomelaa in the Celebes was once more attacked by four B-24's which scored hits on the nickel reduction plant and destroyed one of ten intercepting fighters; two B-24's are missing. Other Allied planes harassed villages in the Aroe Islands. Our runway on Kiriwina was bombed and damaged by the enemy, -3- DECLASSIFIED 0SD Letter, 5-3-72 2. On 26 October one of our reconnaissance planes burned two small freighters northwest of Buka; another was beached following the attack. -L- WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 686 0700 October 26 to 0700 October 27, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 203(2) TRIESTE* WILLAN TURIN VENICE FILME CREMONA ITALY AND ADJACENT ABOLOGNA AREAS GENOA o 20 40 60 80 IDO SPEZIA RIMINI SCALE OF MILES P LEGHORN ELBA 1) BASTIA LAGOSTA 1. CORSICA TERMOLI AJACCIO WHOME FROSINON TORELLA 11 BARI FORMIA TARANTO SARDINIA TYRRHENIAN SEA CASE/MRI MESSINA PALERMO CATANIA IONIAN SEA BIZERTE SICILY LICATA TUNIS PANTELLERIA MALTA BASE MAP NO. 2672 (FREE) R&A, oss 28 SEPTEMBER 1943 LITHOGRAPHED, oss - 2º à II" IF 24* # 43 Soffye 0 PODGORICA - HET - EASTERN WEDITERRANEAM AREA IQO e 00 800 300 42° - 40% 28" n° - 41° 4P a THASOS Salanda Da GUERILLA FIGHTING Somethrake 40* LEMINOS 4 Thinks CORPU Lanse Value B 30° 39° MITILENE Segme D 0 - CHIOS CEPHALONÍA 38° M° Athers o ENNTE Pyrper - The D 6 , 8 THA 37* PAROS o 3P - DODECANCE KYTHERA 0 30° 34° Carpotties MIDDLE EASTERN AREA - à 35° as to 8 CRETE SCALE is MILES 34° M* 20* II* II' B* 24" à = E IP* - DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 EUROPEAN THEATER On the night of 25 October, four enemy aircraft operated over southeastern England, two reaching the London area. MEDITERRANEAN 1. Reports now indicate that only three B-24's are missing from the 24 October attack on Wiener-Neustadt. While weather hampered operations by the Strategic Air Force during the night of 24-25 October and the following day, one mission of 46 Wellingtons dropped 65 tons of bombs in the Pistoia railroad yards, causing large explosions, damaged an aircraft assembly plant, and machine-gunned aircraft on the ground. The following day another mission of 36 B-25's escorted by 32 P-38's dropped 23 tons of fragmentation bombs on the Podgorica airfield in Yugoslavia scoring hits on parked aircraft; one P-38 failed to return. A bridge northwest of Turin was hit by light bombers. Tactical Air Force operations during the night of 24-25 October and the next day included the bombing of Frosinone, Formia and other road and rail junctions serving the battle area. Other attacks damaged enemy lines of communication along the east coast, including the bridge at the mouth of the Sangro River, as well as shipping west of Lagosta Island. 2. Reporting at noon, 26 October, General Eisenhower indicates -1- *SADITS HUKAWNG VALLEY LONKIN KAMAING MANYWET MOGAGNG IMPRAL BHAND* PINTHA YE-U CRITAGONS. MANDALAY @ MEIXTILA BAY OFROME OF BENGAL BASSEIN RANGOON MODEMEIN TAVOY* BANGKOK 100 ROO WILES BASE MAP NO 2447 (FREE) RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS BRANCH oss 28 JUNE 1943 LITHOGRAPHED IN THE REPRODUCTION BRANCH 055 DECLASSIFIES 08D Letter, 5-8-72 that both of his armies maintained pressure along their fronts while reorganizing the forces in contact. The Fifth Army pushed patrols to Pietramelara as it edged forward along the Capua-Rome highway. The Eighth Army met some resistance as it crossed the upper reaches of the Biferno River, pushing patrols to Torella. 3. During the nights of 22-23 and 24-25 October, Allied planes bombed Naxos and Melos harbors, respectively. The enemy maintained his air attacks on Leros hitting that island on 24 and 25 October. Levitha Island is reported to be under German control. Fighting continues between the Germans and patriot forces in northwest Greece. German bomber strength in the Aegean area is reported to have increased. ASIATIC THEATER 1. On 23 October, 12 P-40's of the 10th Air Force put out of service a railroad bridge near Myitkyina. Elsewhere in northern and central Burma, eight P-40's demolished buildings and started fires at Lonkin; a B-25 bombed Mogaung; 11 A-36's and 6 P-51's started fires at Manywet and fired four dumps between Manywet and Kamaing; a B-25 and 6 P-40's bombed and machine-gunned installations in the Hukawing valley, obtaining excellent results. The next day 19 B-25's bombed railroad installations near Pintha and at Ye U, destroying buildings, tracks, and rolling stock. 2. On 25 October sixteen enemy airplanes bombed Tali and Siakwan -2- 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 ISO 155 160 165 20 20 15 15 PHILIPPINE IS. 10 10 na 5 5 BORNEO MANOKWARI o o ALEXISHAFEN WEWAK UNEA 1, I REIN BAY TIMIKA NEW GUINEA 5 5 BATTELBERG SONG RIVER SOLOMON IS. LANGEMAK BAY 10 10 A SCALE IS o 100 soo 400 600 seo MILES 15 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 180 188 160 165 24-30680 DECLASSIFIED @SD Letter, 5-3-72 on the Burma Road but details of the attack are lacking. Two B-25's and four fighters of the 14th Air Force, sank a small tanker and probably sank a small freighter west of Hainan Island; six fighters machine- gunned a small freighter and sank three small boats near Haiphong. On the following day another attack by two B-25's in a harbor at the northern end of Hainan resulted in the sinking of a tanker, a transport and the probable sinking of another tanker. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. On 24 October, nine light bombers attacked enemy positions north of Sattelberg. The next day 17 B-25's bombed dispersal bays, supply dumps and antiaircraft positions near Alexishafen, while other Allied planes hit enemy positions north of the Song River, damaged a sea truck east of Wewak, destroyed a jetty on Unea Island, and hit antiaircraft positions at Rein Bay. Three B-24's burned buildings at Manokwari; three other Allied planes started fires in the Timika area. Six enemy aircraft bombed the Langemak Bay area causing slight damage. 2. On 24 October, three damaging attacks were made on Kahili airdrome by a total of 194 planes including 124 bombers; hits were scored over the entire establishment and on parked aircraft. All our planes returned. On 25 October, 49 Navy bombers covered by 40 fighters bombed and machine-gunned the Ballale airdrome, again thoroughly covering the -3- 100 110 120 130 HO 150 NÃO 170 180 110 NO JAPAN CHINA 30 30 HAWAIIAN ISLANDS HAIPHONG FORMOSA BURMA 20 20 HAINAN MARIANAS Wake INDO-CHINA ISLANDS THAILAND PHILIPPINES Guam MARSHALL ISLANDS 10 10 Yep, CAROLINE ISLANDS BAKER 1. GILBERT & LINE + o BORNEO ISLANDS o PHOENIX ISLANDS NEW BIRMARCH KAHILI ARCHIPELAGO QUINE / UNITED ELLICE ISLANDS LALE ISLANDS so 10 SAMOA :- REBRIDES Flat ISLANDS 20 20 NEW CALEDONIA AUSTRALIA e 500 1000 STATUTE MILES AT EQUATOR 30 8 NOO no 120 130 HO iso não TO 100 TO NOO 24-28045 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 installation. The partially repaired runway was again put out of service. The enemy did not attempt interception. 3. On 23 October, a Japanese four-engined flying boat was shot down by an Army fighter 60 miles south of Baker Island. -4- WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 685 0700 October 25 to 0700 October 26, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 203(2) = 4º " 10º 1 Glosgow Capenhogen WEST COASTAL EUROPE 100 100 SCALE . VILES Hamburg ENDEN Bremen Berlin SCHIPOL Handyer ANSTERDAM The Hague London Essen Dresden Brussels COLOGNE 1.0mier Phine Frankfurt Progue & CHERBOURG Le Hard Nuramburge Soorbrucken Metz Poris Rennes Munico Orleans Dijon Nontes *Zurich Bern Botzano Geneve Lyon Milor Turin Bordeaux 2º 8 2º 4º 6º 8º 10° IF MP TRIESTE* WHILAN VENICE *FIUME CREMONA ITALY AND ADJACENT ABOLOGNA AREAS GENOA o 20 40 60 80 100 SPEZIA RIMINI SCALE OF MILES LEGHORN ELBA BASTIA CORSICA GUIDON AP TERMOLI AJACCIO IANO CASSINO SCANINA BARI APPROX. BOUNDARY MOTANARO BETWEEN AMG COMM. NAPED 2 TARANTO 1 SARDINIA TYRRHENIAN SEA MESSINA PALERMO CATANIA IONIAN SEA BIZERTE SICILY LICATA ZUNIS »PANTELLERIA MALTA BASE MAP NO. 2678 (FREE) R&A, oss 10 SEPTEMBER 1943 LITHOGRAPHED, OSS DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 EUROPEAN THEATER On the night of 23 October, about 14 enemy bombers operated over eastern England, two of them reaching the London area. The following night five enemy aircraft operated close to the east coast; one of them was destroyed. The same night, Mosquito bombers attacked Emden and made harassing raids on Cologne and five towns in the Rhine Valley. Eleven escorted B-25's attacked Schipol airdrome near Amsterdam. Heavy antiaircraft fire caused the loss of one bomber; one enemy fighter was shot down. Forty-one bombers seriously damaged a 6,500-ton ship at Cherbourg but lost five of their number to anti- aircraft fire; no enemy fighters were seen. MEDITERRANEAN 1. During the night of 23-24 October, 70 Wellingtons put 107 tons of bombs on the Guidonia airdrome causing observed damage; three of the bombers are missing. Other Allied aircraft bombed Cassino and attacked enemy highway traffic. The following day, 89 B-17's and 25 B-24's, escorted by 36 P-38's, were dispatched against Wiener-Neustadt. The target was coveréd by clouds and many of our planes were obliged to jettison their bombs; three B-17's and three B-24's failed to return. Thirty-six B-25's scored hits on the hangars and parked aircraft at the Tirana airdrome, Albania, and other Allied lighter aircraft attacked enemy- held towns and communications in the battle area; 22 (probably 27) -1- BO* in II" IF DAP $ 43% 0 EASTERN ago 80 4g* 42% TIRANA e 4/* Bine) Dram Selende Dal 40* 39° MITLER 30° OF 17* 17" * 34° MIDDLE EASTERN AREA 35° 34° à - à = B4° - 26° E7" IF DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 enemy planes were destroyed for a loss of one P-38. On the evening of 23 October, 15 to 30 German bombers attacked Naples; four were destroyed. A freighter loaded with cased gasoline was set afire and beached. 2. Continued progress was reported on the fronts of both armies during 25 October. On the west, the British X Corps, making a three- mile advance, occupied Motanaro and the commanding terrain to the north and west; on the VI Corps front the 34th Division entered Raviscanina without opposition. The Eighth Army, maintaining its drive toward Isernia, passed through Boiano. 3. On 24 October, the AMG was separated into two commands. AMG 15th Army Group will administer areas north of Salerno, Potenza and Bari; Headquarters, AMG, responsible to Allied Force Headquarters, will administer military government in Italy (including Sicily) in areas south of the boundary indicated. 4. German forces have occupied Stampalia. During 23 October, five JU-88's bombed Samos harbor without causing damage. The next day 20 enemy aircraft made three attacks on Leros; two of the raiders were shot down by antiaircraft fire. During the night of 23-24 October, three British heavy bombers hit Syros harbor damaging the docks and warehouses. The next day Allied planes damaged three enemy vessels in the Aegean with cannon and machine-gun fire. -2- BAY BENSAU BASSEIN BASE MAP NO 1447 (FREE) RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS BRANCH oss 20 JUNE 1043 LITHOGRAPHED IN THE REPRODUCTION BRANCH oss DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 ASIATIC THEATER Six B-24's of the 10th Air Force scored numerous hits on the Kanbalu railroad yards on 23 October. Two additional missions totalling 23 B-25's attacked the Meza river railroad bridge, scoring several near misses. Htawgaw was again bombed on 24 October by eight 14th Air Force B-24's without opposition. Another 14 heavy bombers, escorted by 13 fighters, hit Cobi, four miles northeast of Hanoi, also without opposi- tion. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. On 23 and 24 October the Rabaul airdromes of Rapopo, Vunakanau and Tobera were struck by two Allied air attacks involving 49 heavy and 61 medium bombers and 166 escorting fighters. In addition to damaging installations, our aircraft destroyed 123 (probably 168) enemy air- craft, 65 (probably 82) of which were caught on the ground. Two of our bombers and two of our fighters were lost. Allied planes set fire to an enemy destroyer and a barge at Rein Bay, sank four small craft, bombed buildings and a wireless station and destroyed an enemy float plane elsewhere along the coast of New Britain. A B-25 shot down an enemy reconnaissance bomber near Saidor. A B-24 damaged a 2,000-ton enemy merchant vessel northwest of Greenwich Island. A strong force of enemy dive bombers and fighters attacked -3- 115 120 128 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 20 20 15 IS PHILIPPINE IS. 10 10 5 5 BORNEO o - GREENWICH 1. I o REIN BAY RABAUL NEW GUINEA 5 5 NEW BRITAIN SA 1-0.0R FINSCHHAFEN SOLOMON IS. KARA 10 10 A SCALE 15 - - 100 400 600 soo HILES IS 115 180 125 130 135 140 145 180 155 160 165 28-30680 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 Allied shipping in the Finschhafen area; Allied fighters destroyed four (probably six) of the attacking planes, sustaining no loss themselves. 2. On 23 October, two missions totaling 84 Navy bombers and 95 Allied fighters damaged the Kara runway, dispersal area and antiaircraft positions and exploded an ammunition dump. This field is now reported as unserviceable. -4- WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 684 0700 October 24 to 0700 Octobe4 25, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 WESTERN HEMISPHERE The Army Ground Forces haveissued permanent change-of-station orders for the following divisions upon completion of maneuvers in which they are now participating: 30th Infantry Division (Major General Leland S. Hobbs), from Camp Blanding, Florida to Camp Atterbury, Indiana; 98th Infantry Division (Major General Paul L. Ransom), from Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky to Camp Rucker, Alabama; 84th Infantry Division (Brigadier General Nelson M. Walker), from Camp Howze, Texas to Camp Claiborne, Louisiana; 99th Infantry Division (Brigadier General Walter E. Lauer), from Camp Van Dorn, Mississippi to Camp Maxey, Texas; 102nd Infantry Division (Major General John B. Anderson), from Camp Maxey, Texas to Camp Swift, Texas; 91st Infantry Division (Major General William G. Livesay), from Camp White, Oregon to Camp Adair, Oregon; 96th Infantry Division (Major General James L. Bradley), from Fort Lewis, Washington to Camp White, Oregon. 103rd Infantry Division (Major General Charles C. Haffner), from Camp Claiborne, Louisiana to Camp Howze, Texas. EUROPEAN THEATER 1. On the night of 21-22 October, eight enemy aircraft operated 6º e & Hº 16º Glasgow Gepenhogen WEST COASTAL EUROPE 100 100 SCALE ⑉ VILEN Hamburg Bremen Berlin Handyer The Hogue London DORTHUND Essen KASSEL Dresden Brussels COLOGNE St.Crier Frankfurt Proguè MONTOIDIER 0, Le Nawel Nuremburge BEAUVAIS-NIVELLI ERS Soarbrucken ST. NDRE Metz DE-L EURE Paris Rennes Munico Orlegns Dijon Nontes *Zurich Bern Bolzano Genever Lyon Mitoli Turin Bordeoux 2º 0° = : 10° 12° 24-52837ABCD TRIESTE+ quare VENICE FILME CREMONA ITALY AND ADJACENT \BOLOGNA AREAS GENDA o to 40 60 so 100 SPEZIA RIMINI SCALE OF MILES FANO LEGHORN PORTO DIVITANOVA ELBA BASTIA ALBINIA 5 LAKE CORSICA PALATA BOLSENA TERMOLI AJACCIO BROME ACQUAVINA AQUINAL PINETE CASSINO OLLEDANCHISE BARI SPARANISE CAPUA TARANTO SARDINIA TYRRHENIAN SEA CAGCIARI MESSINAL PALERMO CATANIA IONIAN SEA BIZERTE SICILY LICATA CLUNIS PANTELLERIA MALTA BASE MAP NO. 2678 (FREE) RBA, oss 28 SEPTEMBER 1943 LITHOGRAPHED. 055 DECLASSIFIED 0SD Letter, 5-3-72 over England, three reaching Westminster; one of the enemy was destroyed. The following night, eight out of 20 enemy bombers which reached England attacked London and the southeast counties. The same night 443 RAF heavy bombers dropped 1,669 tons of explosives on Kassel which could be seen from the air; enemy fighter opposition was active and six were destroyed. In addition to four that crashed, 42 bombers are missing. Other smaller attacks were made on Frankfurt, Dortmund, and a Cologne power station. 2. A B-26 sweep over the Continent, with cover furnished by P-38's, P-47's, and Allied Spitfires, attacked enemy-held French airfields at Beauvais-Nivelliers, St. Andre-de-L'Eure, and Montdidier on 24 October. One fighter was lost; ten enemy aircraft were destroyed. MEDITERRANEAN 1. On the extreme left flank the enemy had broken contact by noon on 24 October; his withdrawal to the northwest was being followed up by the Fifth Army. Continuing its attacks, the Fifth Army steadily pushed its center forward along the Capua-Rome highway north of Sparanise. The Eighth Army reported gains at several points along its front; its patrols were overlooking Boiano and had passed through Colledanchise. Further north Acquaviva and Palata were captured. On the extreme north flank, troops of the Trigno bridgehead report little enemy opposition. 2. During the night of 22-23 October and the following day, 51 - à La la IF DP - 43° 43% 0 - WRET - EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN AREA 8 e IDO aoo 300 : 42% 4 4/º Birthdy Drome / AP 1 8 THASOS Serenite 04 Somethrake 40° : LEMNOS 4 The CORPU PLanise 0 - ES 39° 19° MITILDE Same D D Avita DHOS 38° 30° Allent AMEROS SANTE From , TENCE FARMACO P SYROS 37* PAROS 0 37* . DODECANESE /EYTHERA 30° 36° MIDDLE EASTERN AREA - HERAKLTON 38° 30° so 8 CRETE SCALE - MILES 34° 34° 20° BP II" or 24° 29° 26" ET* I British bombers, using 65 tons of bombs, damaged highway and railroad bridges at Porto Civitanova. 120 medium bombers and similar numbers of light and fighter bombers attacked gun positions, supported the attacks of our ground troops; they also struck at enemy communications, particularly railroad bridges, through Albinia and Fano. Airdromes at Cassino and Aquino were bombed. Thirty-one P-38's engaged enemy fighters near Lake Bolsena, destroying one (probably two); two addi- tional enemy aircraft were destroyed over the Bari area and another near Fano. 3. Cumulative casualties for the operations on the mainland are as follows: Killed Wounded Missing Eighth Army (to 21 October) 480 1816 488 Fifth Army (to 23 October) US VI Corps 929 3170 2859 British X Corps 1155 4822 2417 2564 9.808 5764 Up to 19 October the Fifth Army had taken 2365 prisoners. 4. Allied attempts to land reinforcements on Leros during the nights of 19-20 and 20-21 October were prevented by enemy aircraft. Farmaco Island is reported occupied by the enemy since 13 October. During the night of 22-23 October, Allied aircraft bombed Syros harbor and again successfully dropped supplies to the patriots operating in Yugoslavia. The next day, a total of 27 enemy bombers made five CANAL ALON MANDAL MYTNOT BAY OF BENGAL BASSEIR BASE MAP NO 2447 (FREE) RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS BRANCH 055 28 JUNE 1943 LITHDORAPHED . THE REPRODUCTION - ANCH 055 DECLASSIFIED 08D Letter, 6-3-78 attacks on Leros; no details are available. On the night of 23-24 October, three Allied heavy bombers attacked Heraklion airdrome (Crete) with unobserved results. ASIATIC THEATER 1. Twenty-three B-25's of the 10th Air Force dropped over 27 tons of bombs on the Meza River railroad bridge on 20 October; Kamaing and Mogaung were also attacked by our bombers and fighters with good results. The following day, the landing strip at Myitkyina was hit by seven of our medium bombers. Two flights of B-24's damaged the railroad yards at Myingyan; nine B-25's destroyed rolling stock and buildings at Mogaung. On 22 October, ten B-25's of the 10th Air Force dropped 12 tons of bombs which destroyed warehouses and rolling stock at Alon. Eleven other medium bombers scored hits on tracks near the Mu Canal bridge. Six B-24's scored numerous hits on the Prome railway yards. 2. On 23 October, six B-24's of the 14th Air Force on a routine ferry trip successfully bombed Htawgaw. All of our bombers returned despite interception by five enemy fighters over the target. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. During 23 October enemy attempts to regain Katika were repulsed; he has now apparently abandoned his efforts to break through to the coast in the Finschhafen area. MUSSAU 1. o 40 80 120 Miles (opproximate) MANUS L 10 KAVIENG AITAPE NEW IRELAND WEWAK BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO Sepik MARUS RABAUL River o o NUBIA CAPE HOSKINS omadang CAPE PTALASEA GLOUCESTER KATIKA ENA BENA VITIAZ NEW BRITAIN FINSCHHAFEN STRAIT GASMATA HUON GULF SALAMAUA MIXONI RIVER KEREMA GULF TROBRIANO is. OF GONA e BUNA PAPUA KAIRUKU KOKOOA WOODLARK L DARU GOODENOUGH 1. FERGUSSON L PORT MORESBY RIGO BANARIA NORMANBY 1. ale SAMARAI CAPE YORK LOUISIADE CORALSEA ARCHIPELAGO PENIN. SOLOMON ISLANDS AREA BUKA IdNIS TEOP BOUGAINVILLE TENEKOW SOLOMON KIETA KARA Tonolei Hbr. MAHICI BUIN BALLALE CHOISEUL SHORTLAND ISLANDS FAISI KAKASA TREASURY WAGINA VELLA LAVELLA Rehata Bay KOLOMBANGARA SANTA ISABEL VILA GANONGGA GIZO NEW GEORGIA I. MALAITA ARUNDEL MUNDA TUNNIBULI RENDOVA SEGI PT. NEW GEORGIA GROUP RUSSELL FLORIDA TULAGE HENDERSON FIELD GUADALCANAL I. SCALE 25 0 25 50 75 100 STATUTE MILES RENNELL DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 Attacking from low altitude, twenty-four B-25's covered by 17 P-47's, attacked two of the airdromes near Wewak, destroying eight aircraft; shipping in the vicinity was also hit, two freighters and nine barges being sunk. Of the 28 enemy fighters which intercepted, three (probably six) were destroyed; three of our fighters were lost. Other Allied bombers attacked gun emplacements, buildings and supply dumps along the northeast New Guinea coast. Other Allied aircraft successfully attacked shipping off the northern coast of New Britain, bombed supply dumps at Cape Hoskins and Gasmata and started numerous fires at the airdrome on Ambon. The enemy made ineffective air attacks on Finschhafen and Goodenough Island. 2. The Kara airfield on Bougainville, was machine-gunned on 22 October by 24 Navy fighters which possibly destroyed 16 of the 30 aircraft on the field. Other attacks by B-24's on Choiseul were made with unob- served results. The following day, one of our search planes attacked a troop-laden transport approximately 320 miles northeast of Kavieng while another attack was made on shipping at Kapingamarangi Island, approximately 450 miles northeast of Kavieng. As a result of our recent heavy attacks, the Kahili landing field is now reported as un- serviceable. WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 683 0700 October 23 to 0700 October 24, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE : 8º T 16° Glasgow Capenhogen WEST COASTAL EUROPE 100 100 SCALE IN MILES Hamburg Bremen Berlin Handwer The Hapuy London Calong Essen Dresden Brussels St.Orier Frankfurt Progue Le Nowd Nuremburge Soorbrucken EVREUX Metz FAUVILLE Paris Rennes Munich Orleans Nontes Dijon *Zurich Bern Bolzano Geneve Lyon Milch Turin Bordeoux 2º OF 4º : 1 10° HP 24-52837ABCO TRIESTE VENICE -FIUME CREMONA ITALY AND ADJACENT MOLOGNA AREAS GENOA o 20 40 40 so IDO SPEZIA RIMINI SCALE OF MILES LEGHORN ELBA BASTIA GIULIANOVA GROSSETO SAN SALVO GRVISTO CORSICA PETACCIATO TERMOLI AJACCIO BROME CASTEL BOTTACCIO UGI TO 2014 EDANCHISE BARI & SWN-ANGELO SPARANISE TARANTO SARDINIA TYRRHENIAN SEA CAGCIORI MESSINA PALERMO CATANIA IONIAN SEA BIZERTE SICILY LICATA RUNIS PANTELLERIA MALTA BASE MAP NO. 2678 (FREE) R&A, oss 11 SEPTEMBER 1943 LITHOGRAPHED, OSS DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 EUROPEAN THEATER Although adverse weather prevented heavy bomber operations on 22 October, 215 B-26's assisted by 415 P-47's and P-38's and 20 squadrons of Spitfires were dispatched on missions over northern France. Nearly 100 tons of bombs were dropped on the Evreux-Fauville airdrome. No enemy aircraft were encountered by Allied fighters; our medium bombers claimed four enemy aircraft as "probables"; two P-47's are missing. MEDITERRANEAN 1. On 23 October, there was little change on the front of the British X Corps except for the capture of Sparanise by the 56th Division. For- ward elements of our VI Corps pushed to the northwest occupying San Angelo. British Eighth Army units are now fighting on the outskirts of Colledanchise and report Lucito, Castelbottaccio, and Montenero clear of the enemy; on their north flank forward troops, driving back enemy rear guards on the night of 22 October, crossed the Trigno River west of Petacciato and are now improving their bridgehead. There were approximately 50 killed, 100 wounded, and four missing as a result of the enemy air raid on Naples on 21 October; little material damage was caused. British Wellington bombers dropped 82 tons of demolitions on tar- gets at Giulianova on the night of 21-22 October, hitting the bridge and the road and railroad junctions. The next day our medium bomber missions attacked railroad bridges near Orvieto, hit a railway bridge and its & 2° à 22" D' N° 43° 43% Solye o à NNET - EASTERN MEDITERRAREAN AREA IQO e 8 aoo 300 42° 1 - 20° ET 41° Drome - Bill) 0 s THASOS Selenite 04 40° LEMNOS a - Lerise - B 39° 10* MYTILENE Sepress Avita OHIOS Sayme 38° 30° IMTE ELEUSIS Pyrper P , 8 37* o I o GODECANESE * 36° MIDDLE EASTERN AREA Khanie If 35° o - CRETE SCALE ⑉ MILES 34° 34° 20° 21° II* B' 24* B* If ET* - o 40 80 120 Miles (approximate) MANUS L 9 KAVIENG AITAPE 2 NEW IRELAND o WEWAK BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO MARUE RABAUL River o NUBIA GAROVE 1. BORGEN BAY WIDE BAY nwor omadang CAPE PTALASEA BOGADJIM GLOUCESTER VITIAZ NEW BRITAIN ORENA BENA SATTELBBRQ FINSCHHAFEN STRAIT GASMATA DAE NUON GULF PSALAMAUA KIKOWI RIVER KEREMA GULF TROBRIAND 15. OF GONA © BUNA PAPUA KAIRUKU KOKODA WOODLARK L POARU GOODENOUGH I. FERGUSSON I. PORT MORESBY RIGO BANARIA NORMANBY I. : SAMARAI CAPE YORK LOUISIADE PENIN. CORALSEA ARCHIPELAGO DECLASSIFIED 08D Letter, 5-3-72 approaches south of Grosseto, and raided the enemy-held Eleusis air- drome at Athens. Medium, light and fighter bombers continued to support our forward units concentrating on enemy troops, motor transport, and gun positions. A possible ammunition dump south of San Salvo was destroyed. In all, three (probably four) enemy planes were destroyed in combat; one B-26, one A-36, one A-20, and one P-38 are missing. 2. On the night of 21-22 October, Halifaxes and B-24's again bombed the Maritsa airdrome and successfully dropped supplies to the patriots operating in Greece and Yugoslavia. ASIATIC THEATER On 21 October six 14th Air Force B-24's on ferry missions dropped 24 100-1b. bombs on Wankat, 140 miles southeast of Mandalay. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. The enemy evacuated his coastal position south of the Song River after Allied artillery shelling on 21 October. On 21 and 22 October, 51 P-40's fired dump areas and destroyed a bridge at Gasmata. B-25's destroyed an ammunition dump and bombed villages and trails north of Sattelberg and six planes machine-gunned motor vehicles on the Bogadjim road. B-24's bombed Garove Island, barges in Borgen Bay, installations in the Wide Bay area and, in the Celebes, scored many hits on a nickel concentrates plant and started fires on jetties at Pomelaa. SOLOMON ISLANDS AREA BUKA TONIS TEOP BOUGAINVILLE TENEKOW SOLOMON L-KIETA Tonolei Hbr. KAHILI Y/A BUIN CHOISEUL BALLALE SHORTLAND ISLANDS e FAISI KAKASA TREASURY WAGINA VELLA LAVELLA Rekata Bay KOLOMBANGARA SANTA ISABEL VILA GANONGGA GIZO NEW GEORGIA I. MALAITA ARUNDEL MUNDA TUNNIBULI RENDOVA SEGI PT. NEW GEORGIA GROUP RUSSELL FLORIDA TULAGE HENDERSON FIELD GUADALCANAL I. SCALE 25 o 25 50 75 100 STATUTE MILES RENNELL DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 On 19 October, 60 enemy planes attacked Allied surface vessels near Finschhafen, causing slight damage. Small numbers of enemy aircraft raided the Finschhafen area on 21 and 22 October, and one plane bombed Trobriand Island on 22 October. 2. On 20 October, 48 Army and Navy fighters swept Kahili, shooting down three of 20 enemy planes encountered. Reconnaissance missions on 22 October, machine-gunned enemy barges, bombed and machine-gunned a Japanese vessel off the north tip of Choiseul, and attacked a convoy west of Buka, obtaining a direct hit on a carrier. P-39's escorting Navy bombers destroyed ten enemy planes over Kahili. A total of 31 B-24's dropped 180 half-ton bombs on targets near Kahili and on the west coast of Choiseul; results were unobserved. SECRET WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 682 0700 October 22 to 0700 October 23, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE TRIESTE= MILIAN VENICE FILME CREMONA ITALY AND ADJACENT SBOLDONA AREAS GENOA o 20 40 60 so 100 SPEZIA RIMINI ZARA SCALE OF MILES LEGHORN ONVIETO ELBA ADRIATIC BASTIA TERN CORSICA ORBETELLO TERMOLI AJACCIO FURBARA ARING CAUSIN 1) CULDIAREGIA BARI PIEDIMONTE PARANTO SARDINIA TYRRHENIAN SEA CASCORI MESSINE PALERMO CAPE TENES 470 MI. W. CATANIA IONIAN SEA BIZERTE SICILY LICATA LETUNIS PANTELLERIA MALTA BASE MAP NO. 2678 (FREE) R&A, oss 20 SEPTEMBER 1943 LITHOGRAPHED. 065 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 EUROPEAN THEATER In the 14 October raid on Schweinfurt, the evaluated claims indicate that 186 (probably 213) enemy planes were destroyed. MEDITERRANEAN 1. During the night of 20-21 October, British heavy bombers made a destructive attack on the Furbara airdrome setting 12 parked aircraft on fire. The next day, three escorted heavy bomber missions, dropping nearly 300 tons of bombs, damaged the highway near Terni, severely damaged rail and highway bridges across the Albinia River and hit the Orvieto railroad bridges. Two escorted B-26 missions each of 36 planes dropped over 130 tons of bombs on two bridges north of Rome; other medium and light bombers attacked buildings and railroad instal- lations at Cassino and Orbetello, while P-38's hit the yards at Skoplje, Yugoslavia. P-40's, while attacking shipping off the Yugoslavian coast, destroyed five enemy bombers south of Zara. Light bombers flew armed reconnaissance and harassing missions over the battle area. Naples harbor was attacked by 12 to 15 enemy aircraft, while an additional 25 to 30 were over the Naples-Volturno area. Twenty-five enemy aircraft attacked a convoy off Cape Tenes, sinking two merchant vessels; six enemy planes were destroyed. On 22 October the enemy withdrew west of the Trigno River; elements of the British Eighth Army, after repulsing a counterattack northwest of Larino the previous night, were advancing across the Biferno - BO* à à 17 24° 1 43* 43th 0 MILT - EASTERN MEDITERRAREAN AREA XXX . 00 200 300 42° SKOPLJE - 42% - EM 41° Dram new Bird 0 8 THASOS Solonike 04 Somethroke 40* LEMNOS e 0 I Lanier at 39* à MITILENE Services D I CHICS Sepres CERNALONGA à à Altham a ANDROS Eyrges - . 9 TENCS BAIDARO , 2 PATMOS PARKI PSO 37* PAROS o E" NAMOS d / o DODECANESE KYTHERA 30° 34° Carsettes MIDDLE EASTERN AREA 38° 35° a CRETE SCALE 19 MILES M° à 20* à 22° à 24" 15" IF ET* IF 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 20 20 15 15 PHILIPPINE IS. 10 10 5 5 BORNEO o o NEW BRITAIN NEW IRELAND 5 NEW GUINEA BOGADJIM 5 BY WAREO SOLOMON IS. SATTELBERG 10 10 HANSIS I SCALE 15 e IDO see 400 600 soo MILES 15 115 180 125 130 135 140 145 180 155 160 165 24-30680 SECRET DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 River. In the Matese region the enemy still controls the pass north- west of Guardiaregia. Some progress was made against enemy rear guards in the Piedimonte area by the US VI Corps. No substantial change was reported on the front of the British X Corps which repulsed enemy counterattacks in the coastal area. 2. In the Dodecanese, the islands of Arki, Patmos, Lipso, and Gaidaro are reported ungarrisoned as of 13 October. Enemy planes bombed Leros during the nights of 20 and 21 October. ASIATIC THEATER P-40's of the 14th Air Force dropped four 500-pound bombs on the barracks area at Kunlong (central Burma) on 21 October. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. Allied patrols were active in the mountains north of the Ramu River, on 21 October. Forty seven B-24's dropping 221 tons of explosives destroyed all the buildings at Sattelberg and left only a few standing in the nearby village of Wareo. Other Allied planes damaged a cruiser off New Ireland, bombed dump areas, barges and other targets on New Britain, demolished two villages, destroyed two bridges, attacked enemy troops in the Bogadjim area, and started large fires at Hansisi, Timor. 2. On 21 October 33 Army and Navy planes obtained excellent results in an attack on Kakasa, Choiseul Island. Twelve medium bombers SOLOMON ISLANDS AREA UKA EGNIS TEOP BOUGAINVILLE TENEKOW SOLOMON KIETA KARA Tonolei Hbr. KAHILI BUIN BALLALE CHOISEUL SHORTLAND ISLANDS FAISI KAKASA TREASURY WAGINA VELLA LAVELLA Rekata Bay KOLOMBANGARA SANTA ISABEL VILA GANONGGA GIZO NEW GEORGIA 1. MALAITA ARUNDEL MUNDA TUNNIBULI RENDOVA SEGI PT. NEW GEORGIA GROUP RUSSELL FLORIDA TULAG HENDERSON FIELD GUADALCANAL I. SCALE 25 0 25 50 75 100 STATUTE MILES RENNELL + DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 escorted by 36 Allied fighters bombed Kara, Bougainville, starting numerous fires on the runway and destroying several buildings. ECRET WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 681 0700 October 21 to 0700 October 22, 1943 COPY FOR 8 THE WHITE HOUSE 6º Kº Mº 16º Glosgow Gapenhogen WEST COASTAL EUROPE 100 100 SCALE IN MILES Hamburg ENDEN Bremen Berlin Hander The Nagus G)LZE-RIVEN London BRAUVEILER WOENSDRECHT Essen Dresden Brussels COLOGNE X Orier DUNER Frankfurt Proguè DIEPPE Le Howe Nuremburge Soorbrucken Metz Peris Rennes Munico Orleons Dijon Nontes *Zurich Bern Bolzano Genera Lyon Million Turin Bordeaux of : 0° 10° 12° 24-5283748C0 DECLASSIFIED 08D Letter, 5-3-72 EUROPEAN THEATER 1. 8th Air Force aircraft which bombed Duren and the Gilze- Rijen and Woensdrecht airdromes in Holland with 298 tons of high explosives on 20 October totaled 213 B-17's and 417 P-47's and P-38's; approximately 185 airborne enemy fighters were encountered. The anti- aircraft fire over the Ruhr, though light, was undoubtedly radar- directed. Seventy B-24's were dispatched on a diversionary feint in the Dieppe area and achieved their object satisfactorily. 2. For the week ending 17 October, US aircraft based in the United Kingdom destroyed 198 (probably 226) enemy planes; the major portion of our losses which totaled 60 B-17's and three P-47's was incurred in the successful attack against Schweinfurt on 14 October. The RAF destroyed during the same period 11 (probably 12) enemy aircraft for a loss of seven. 3. The RAF concentrated the attacks of 358 heavy bombers against Leipzig during the night of 20-21 October, 16 of which failed to return. Harassing raids by Mosquito bombers were flown against Berlin, Emden and Brauweiler, and five attacked the power station at Cologne. Enemy bombers operated over the English southeast coast that night, ten penetrating to London; one was shot down by a Mosquito. MEDITERRANEAN 1. US heavy and medium bomber missions attacked important enemy- # 20° is is 13" 24° BELORADE NISH 0" 43% o - - - EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN AREA IQO 0 8 100 B 42° as 42% a - à Draw / 4/* Bire() 4/* a s THASOS Salanite 04 40* LEWNOS RS 0 - Larise 0 Miss B 39° 39" MITILENE Sone D I CHOS 38° 30° Allena o o DANTE Pyrgee 1 , STROS or 37* 4 PAROS o 17" ANTIMACHIA 0 DODEGANESE XTTHERA MARKTSAC È 36° 4 MIDDLE EASTERN AREA Khania se* 35" - . so 8 CRETE SCALE is MILES - à 34" 20* BP* - or 24° If 26° E?" IF n-mail TRIESTE* WHILTANT VENICE FUNE CREMONA ITALY AND ADJACENT ABOLOGNA AREAS GENOA ZARA 0 20 40 60 no IDO SPEZIA RIMINI SCALE OF MILES ANCONA LEGHORN ELBA BASTIA PETACCIATO CORSICA CERVERTER1 TERMOLI AJACCIO CASALE- AROMO MARCIGLIANA CASE CAMPOCHIARO PONTINE 11 MARSHES BARI GAETA DRAGONIA CANCELLO ROCCAROHAMA TARANTO SARDINIA TYRRHENIAN SEA CAGCIERI MESSINA PALERMO CATANIA IONIAN SEA BIZERTE SICILY LICATA HUNIS PANTELLERIA MALTA BASE MAP NO. 2672 (FREE) R&A, oss 28 SEPTEMBER 1943 LITHOGRAPHED, oss DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 held airfields and railroad bridges on 20 October. A total of 112 heavy and 106 medium bombers, escorted by 105 P-38's, dropped 440 tons of bombs covering the Casale, Marcigliana, and Cerverteri airdromes and destroying 15 enemy planes on the ground; three railroad bridges north of Rome were severely damaged. Thirty-six other escorted B-26's pounded the freight yard at Nish, Yugoslavia, with 48 tons of bombs obtaining excellent coverage, cutting the line to Belgrade and Sofia in many places, hitting repair installations and buildings, and leaving the main roundhouse in flames. Allied fighters and fighter-bombers flew supporting missions over the battle area and dropped 97 tons of bombs in attacks on key road and rail centers, Cassino and Gaeta; three coastal vessels off Zara also were hit. 2. There was no appreciable change on the front of the British X Corps on 21 October; an enemy counterattack northwest of Cancello was repulsed. Our VI Corps pushed northwest of Roccaromana and Dragoni and advanced two miles northwest of Alife. The British Eighth Army occupied Campochiaro and reached the mouth of the Trigno River north- west of Petacciato. Aerial photographs indicate that the Germans are flooding the Pontine Marshes, southeast of Rome. 3. During the night of 19-20 October, two B-24's and five British bombers dropped 15 tons of demolitions on the Maritsa airdrome on Rhodes; Allied planes raided Melos, Syros and Cos harbors, and the Antimachia airdrome and dropped supplies for patriot forces in Yugoslavia and Greece. The next day eight B-25's and six British UNAHO BAY OF BENGAL MASSEIN INF MILES BASE MAP NO 2447 (FREE) RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS BRANCH 055 20 JUNE 1943 LITHOGRAPHED IN THE REPRODUCTION BA ANCH 055 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 Beaufighters severely damaged three enemy ships off Cos. One enemy bomber attacked Samos. ASIATIC THEATER 10th Air Force B-25's hit Myitkyina airdrome on 18 October with 25 tons of demolition bombs; 11 B-24's attacking the Heho airdrome with more than 12 tons of demolition and fragmentation bombs were intercepted by seven enemy planes, one (probably two) of which were shot down for the loss of one B-24. The next day, enemy airfield and railroad instal- lations at Kawlin and Wuntho were successfully attacked by 12 of our medium bombers. A Japanese formation of approximately 24 twin-engined bombers escorted by 18 single-engined fighters attacked Chittagong on 21 October, doing little damage. British planes intercepting the enemy flight probably shot down three of the bombers and one of the fighters for a loss of three. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. Two attacks by enemy troops south of the Song River on 20 October were repulsed; Allied forces, counterattacking, advanced to high ground south of the river. Allied planes bombed and machine-gunned enemy installations along the northeast coast of New Guinea destroying six float planes and attacking a merchant vessel in that area; farther west, three SOLOMON ISLANDS AREA BUKA TEOP BOUGAINVILLE TENEKOW SOLOMON KIETA Tomolei Hbr. KARA KAHILI's BUIN BALLALE CHOISEUL SHORTLAND ISLANDS o FAISI KAKASA TREASURY WAGINA VELLA LAVELLA Rehala Bay KOLOMBANGARA SANTA ISABEL YILA GANONGGA GIZO NEW GEORGIA I. MALAITA ARUNDEL MUNDA TUNNIBULI RENDOVA SEGI pt. NEW GEORGIA GROUP RUSSELL FLORIDA TULAGI HENDERSON FIELD GUADALCANAL I. SCALE 25 o 25 50 75 100 STATUTE MILES RENNELL 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 20 20 15 IS PHILIPPINE IS. 10 10 5 5 BORNEO o SORONG MANOKWARI o NEW IRELAND UNEA 5 NEW GUINEA CAPEL 5 ORFORD GASMATA FINSCHHAFEN SOLOMON IS. 10 10 B SCALE 15 o IDO 100 400 400 800 MILES 15 115 180 125 ise 135 140 145 180 155 160 165 24-30680 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-8-78 B-24's bombed enemy stores at Manokwari and sank a medium freighter- transport northeast of Sorong. Other Allied planes bombed the dump area at Gasmata and destroyed 17 barges off the western tip of New Ireland. A B-24 bombed a village on Unea Island and destroyed three (probably five) of twenty-two fighters attempting interception. Installations near Finschhafen were damaged during an attack by 30 enemy aircraft. 2. Four B-34's started fires visible 20 miles in a successful attack against Ballale on 19 October. A similar mission on the Kara landing field was followed by 44 Navy planes and eight P-40's which scored hits on runways, antiaircraft positions and buildings. Still later, two Navy bombers destroyed five planes on the runway there. Twenty-four B-24's covered by 14 P-38's started five large fires at Kahili shooting down six of some 25 to 35 Japanese planes attempting interception over Tonolei. A B-24 on reconnaissance is believed to have sunk a destroyer northeast of Cape Orford with four near misses which caused a large cloud of smoke or steam over the vessel. One B-34 and two P-38's are missing from these operations. The next day B-34's bombed and machine-gunned Kakasa village and islands and barges in the Choiseul area. WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 680 0700 October 20 to 0700 October 21, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE U T & Mº N° Glasgow Capenhagen WEST COASTAL EUROPE 100 9 - SCALE Homburg Breman Berlin IJMUIDEN Hander The Hapug GILZER EN London Calang Essen Dresden Brussels Orfer OUREN Frankfurt Progue Le Hard Nuremburge Soorbrucken Metz Paris Rennes Orleans Dijon Nontes *Zurich Barn Botrano Genner Lyon Million Turin Bordeoux 8 : : 10° MP TRIESTE* WHILAN VENICE FILME CREMONA ITALY AND ADJACENT FOLOGNA AREAS GENDA 0 20 40 40 80 100 SPEZIA RIMINI SCALE OF MILES LEGHORN CUPRA MARITTIMA ELBA BASTIA VITERBO CORSICA TARQUINIA TERMOLI AJACCIO BROME CAMPOBASTO PIEDIONTI BARI FORMICOLA TARANTO SARDINIA TYRRHENIAN SEA CASCIORI MESSINA PALERMO CATANIA IONIAN SEA BIZERTE SICILY LICATA TUNIS PANTELLERIA MALTA BASE MAP NO. 2672 (FREE) R&A, css 28 SEPTEMBER 1943 LITHOGRAPHED, oss DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 EUROPEAN THEATER 1. On 19 October British aircraft attacked the enemy liner Strasbourg and several smaller vessels off Ijmuiden, Many hits were scored on the liner, one armed tug was set afire, and a trawler damaged. One of the aircraft failed to return. That night two enemy airplanes out of five which crossed the coast bombed London. 2. On 20 October, the 8th Air Force bombed the non-ferrous metal plant at Duren, in western Germany, and the Gilze-Rijen airfield in Holland. Our B-17's were escorted on these missions by Allied Spitfires. Eleven enemy planes were destroyed; eight bombers are missing. MEDITERRANEAN 1. During the night of 18-19 October, Allied aircraft carried out armed reconnaissances and attacked enemy communications serving the battle area. The next day, 191 Allied fighters and fighter- bombers dropped 125 tons of bombs on Boiano and on gun and troop concentrations south and west of the town; other Allied aircraft concentrated heavy attacks on enemy communications. Eleven B-24's dropped 33 2000-pound bombs along Italian coastal roads on the Adriatic destroying one highway and three railroad bridges, and twelve B-25's wrecked the railroad bridge north of Cupra Marittima. Allied fighters destroyed 14 planes in attacks on Viterbo and Tarquinia airdromes. - E* in 1 17" 24° 43* 434 Sefjer o à NMT - EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN AREA KGO 9 8 800 300 : II 1 40% à MP 41° and " 1 8 THASCE Service 04 40* LEMINOS Thinken 0 B 39° 30° MYTILENE Sepres D - CHIOS 38° à ANDROR EMITE Pyrgee 0 JENOS 4) P SYROS & o ANTIMACHIA RARITSA DODECANESE KYTHERA - M* 36° CALATO HERAKLION MIDDLE EASTERN AREA Allhanie 38° 30° e - 8 CRETE -MALE ⑉ MILES - PEDIADA KASTELLI- 34° 14" 20* BP E2* à 24" à 26" ET* IF DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 2. On 20 October the Allied advance beyond the lower Volturno passed Formicola while further upstream Alife and Piedimonte were captured. On the Eighth Army front resistance stiffened but three more villages west of Campobasso were captured. 3. Elements of our 1st Infantry Division have left Sicily for European Theater of Operations. 4. During the night of 17-18 October, Allied bombers attacked the Heraklion and Pediada Kastelli airdromes (Crete), Maritsa and Calato airdromes (Rhodes) and Syros Harbor. Supplies were dropped for Yugoslavia patriot forces. The next day, Allied planes attacked enemy landing barges near Cos and bombed Antimachia airdrome. Twelve JU-88's attacked Castelrosso; three (probably four) JU-88's were destroyed. On the night of 18-19 October, five British bombers attacked shipping in the Aegean Sea, setting fire to a freighter. Allied planes again attacked Antimachia and Heraklion airdromes. Supplies were dropped on Leros and in Greece and Yugoslavia. One enemy bomber attacked Leros. The next day, Allied planes attacked a convoy in the Aegean, destroying an armed trawler, damaging other small craft, and destroy- ing 12 enemy patrol bombers. Other Allied planes scored hits on two small vessels and on the Quay at Syros Harbor. Two attacks by small numbers of JU-88's on Leros were reported, but details are lacking. MANDAEAYI BAY RPROME OF BENGAL BASSEIN RANGOON MILES BASE MAP NO 2447 (FREE) RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS BRANCH 055 28 JUNE 1943 LITHOGRAPHED IN THE REPRODUCTION BA ANCH 055 115 120 128 130 135 140 145 ISO ISS 160 165 20 20 IS 15 PHILIPPINE IS. 10 10 5 5 BORNEO o o TELIATA PT. NEW GUINEA 5 5 BOGADJIN FINSCHHAFEN SOLOMON IS. TRANGAN 1. I FUILORO 10 10 B SCALE 15 o IDO 200 400 see soo MILES 15 115 180 125 130 135 140 145 180 158 160 165 24-30680 ASIATIC THEATER On 18 October, planes of the 14th Air Force on routine ferry trips bombed Lukou where heavy fighting is reported. Clouds prevented observation of results. Japanese forces occupied the towns of Kuyung and Ku Tung Kai, west of the Salween River, on 19 October. Japanese troops also are reported to have crossed the Salween River at Kunlong and are advancing up the Nam Ting Valley. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS On 19 October, an attempt by a small group of the enemy to reach the coast south of the Song River cost him 200 casualties. Four B-25's attacked villages and bridges along the Bogadjim road and a B-24 dropped bombs on enemy installations at Teliata Point. Four Allied planes machine-gunned a troop-laden barge and damaged a runway on Trangan Island, and others scored hits on the dispersal area at Fuiloro airdrome and damaged the village. Fourteen enemy aircraft ineffectively attacked the Finschhafen area. WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 679 0700 October 19 to 0700 October 20, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE : 4º F F 6º MP 16° Glasgow Capenhogen WEST COASTAL EUROPE 100 8 SCALE . MILES Hamburg ERGEN Bremen Berlin Hander The DUTSBURG London Ca/prio P Essen Dresden Brussels DUSSELDORF in st.Omier STOLBERG Frankfurt Proguè Le Howd Nuremburge Soorbrucken Metz Poris Rennes Munico Orleans Dijon Nontes *Zurich Bern Bolzano Genno Lyon Turin Bordeoux 2. OF : 4º 6º 6° 10° 12º Mº DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 WESTERN HEMISPHERE The Desert Training Center is redesignated the California- Arizona Maneuver Area, with headquarters at Camp Young, California. EUROPEAN THEATER A total of 1450 Allied fighters and bombers were despatched from England during 18 October; although nearly all were recalled because of adverse weather conditions, the fighters claimed four (probably seven) enemy planes destroyed for a loss of five. One B-24 was shot down when attacked by ten to fifteen enemy fighters. That night 360 RAF bombers attacked Hanover under cloudy conditions which prevented assessment of results; they met fairly active night fighter and moderately heavy antiaircraft opposition. Eighteen bombers are missing. Small Mosquito missions attacked Berlin, Duisburg, Emden, Stolberg and Dusseldorf. Ten enemy bombers attacked London. MEDITERRANEAN 1. British aircraft attacked road traffic along the east coast of Italy during the night of 17-18 October. The next day, 36 B-25's and 70 P-38's damaged railroad installations and equipment at Skoplje, Yugoslavia meeting no enemy fighter opposition; hits were noted in the repair shops, storage yards and on rolling stock. One P-38 failed to TRIESTE* VENICE *FIUME CREMONA ITALY AND ADJACENT SBOLOGNA AREAS GENDA o RO 40 so 80 IDO SPEZIA RIMINI SCALE OF MILES BZ MACERATA LEGHORN ELBA BASTIA will GROSSETO PETACCIATO CORSICA TERMOLI AJACCIO ANDME MONTECH FONE IRCHISE BARI PIETRAMELARA TARANTO SARDINIA TYRRHENIAN SEA CAGO MESSINAS PALERMO CATANIA IONIAN SEA BIZERTE SICILY LICATA "PANTELLERIA MALTA BASE MAP NO. 2672 (FREE) R&A, oss 28 SEPTEMBER 1943 LITHOGRAPHED. oss DECLASSIFIES 0SD Letter, 5-3-72 return. Other Allied aircraft attacked the enemy positions at Anchise and Boiano and his lines of communication serving the battle area. A-36's bombing enemy landing grounds at Grosseto, Arezzo and Macerata destroyed 19 planes on the ground and three (probably four) in aerial combat for a loss of one A-36. No enemy aircraft were encountered over the battle area. 2. On 19 October patrols of the British X Corps pushed forward beyond the lower Volturno. Our VI Corps made further progress as its flanking movement toward the northwest gained ground in the direction of Pietramelara and Piedimonte. The British Eighth Army met some resistance in the Montecilfone and Campobasso areas but captured Petacciato. 3. To assist our labor procurement program, Marshal Badoglio has directed that Italian prisoners of war under Allied jurisdiction aid our efforts to liberate their country from German domination in every way short of actual combat. 4. Enemy aircraft in the Aegean area concentrated their attacks against Allied naval forces during 17 October, also bombing and machine- gunning the island of Castelrosso. ASIATIC THEATER Delayed reports of 10th Air Force operations for 8 to 18 October include successful bombings by our B-24's of the enemy barracks area SAHMA CHITTAGONG* KGAING AKYAB® BAY PROM OF HEMZADA BENGAL STATE BANGOON MOULMEIN YE TAVOYA BANGKOX 60 o 100 100 MILES BASE MAP NO 2447 (FREE) RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS BRANCH oss 28 JUNE 1943 LITHOGRAPHED IN THE REPRODUCTION BR ANCH 058 o 40 eo 120 Miles (approximate) MANUS L 10 KAVIENG AITAPE NEW IRELAND b WEWAK BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO Sepik MARUE RABAUL River e o NUBIA nwey oMADANG CAPE TALASEA GLOUCESTER OBENA BENA VITIAZ NEW BRITAIN VIHUOR STRAIT GASMATA PENINSULA FINSCHHAFEN CAE HUON GULF PSALAMAUA KIKORE RIVER KEREMA GULF TROBRIAND 15. OF GONA e BUNA PAPUA KAIRUKU ODA WOODLARK 1. D DARU GOODENOUGH 1. FERGUSSON I. PORT MORESBY RIGO BANARIA NORMANBY 1. ale SAMARAI CAPE YORK LOUISIADE PENIN. CORAL SEA ARCHIPELAGO DECLASSIFIER OSD Letter, 5-8-78 at Lashio, the tin mines at Kanbauk, the Meza bridge where three of the five northeast approach spans were knocked out, and on the railroad yards at Sagaing, Toungoo, Prome, Henzada, Naba and Rangoon. Other bombers and fighters attacked enemy-held villages, airfields and focal communication points along the railroads and the Irrawaddy River, in addition reporting excellent results in a strike on the sugar mills at Sahmaw. During this period a total of 90 B-24, 174 B-25, 15 A-36, 14 P-51 and 38 P-40 sorties were flown; more than 370 tons of demoli- tions, incendiary and fragmentation bombs dropped. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. In addition to the successful Rabaul mission reported yesterday on 18 October Allied aircraft successfully attacked airdromes elsewhere in New Britain as well as enemy installations on the shore of Huon Peninsula; three B-24's failed to return from these missions. One enemy parked airplane was destroyed. 2. Navy aircraft shot down 14 of some 30 to 40 Japanese planes encountered over Ballale without loss, on 17 October; three other enemy airplanes were shot down over Fauro. On 18 October 72 Army and Navy bombers, covered by 56 Allied fighter planes while attacking Ballale, dropped more than 100 tons of demolition bombs and scored numerous hits on the runway and in the revetment and dispersal areas. Kakasa was attacked on 19 October by a search plane and a SOLOMON ISLANDS AREA BUKA DONIS TEOP BOUGAINVILLE TENEKOW SOLOMON KIETA Tonolei Hbr. KAHILI BUIN BALLALE FAURO CHOISEUL SHORTLAND ISLANDS # FAISI KAKASA TREASURY WAGINA VELLA LAVELLA à Rekata Bay KOLOMBANGARA SANTA ISABEL VILA GANONGGA GIZO NEW GEORGIA I. MALAITA ARUNDEL MUNDA TUNNIBULI RENDOVA SEGI PT. NEW GEORGIA GROUP RUSSELL FLORIDA TULAGE HENDERSON FIELD GUADALCANAL I. SCALE 25 o 25 50 75 100 STATUTE MILES RENNELL STORE DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 Navy mission of 18 dive-bombers and 11 Navy fighters covered by 14 P-39's. All our planes returned safely. Naval aircraft shot down eight enemy aircraft near Kahili. WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 678 0700 October 18 to 0700 October 19, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE TRIESTE* WMLAN VENICE FILME CREMONA ITALY AND ADJACENT POLOGNA AREAS GENDA 0 20 40 60 60 100 SPEZIA RIMINI SCALE OF MILES LEGHORN ELBA A BASTIA MONTECILFONE CORSICA CASALE- TERMOLI AJACCIO MARCIGLIANA BROME AMPOBASSO BARI ROCCAROHANO CAPUM TARANTO SARDINIA TYRRHENIAN SEA CASLINRI MESSINA PALERMO CATANIA IONIAN SEA BIZERTE SICILY LICATA EUNIS PANTELLERIA MALTA BASE MAP NO. 2672 (FREE) R&A, oss 26 SEPTEMBER 1943 LITHOGRAPHED. oss DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 MEDITERRANEAN 1. Bombing in inclement weather during the night of 16-17 October and the following day, Allied aircraft attacked Alife and the Casale airfield near Rome; British and US fighter planes attacked railroads and highways along the Adriatic coast, and enemy troops and gun positions in the battle area. Two British heavy bombers and one Spitfire were lost. 2. Substantial gains were made during 18 October by the center of the Fifth Army; the British X Corps pushed northwestward five miles beyond Capua and our VI Corps advanced to the line Roccaromana-Gioia. Elements of the British Eighth Army met stiff resistance five miles west of Campobasso; at the north end of the line Monteciflione was captured and patrols were operating three miles to the west without contact. 3. The capacity of the port of Naples is now reported to be 5,000 tons per day. 4. During the night of 16-17 October, Allied heavy bombers attacked the Maritsa airdrome (Rhodes), hitting the hangars and dis- persal areas. The next day, Allied planes carried out anti-shipping sweeps in the Aegean; two enemy planes bombed Portolago Bay, Leros. MUSSAU 1. o 40 80 120 Milles (opproximete) MANUS 10 KAVIENG AITAPE NEW IRELAND b WEWAK BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO Than MARUI RABAUL River o NUBIA GAROVE 1. num bMADANG CAPE PTALASEA GLOUCESTER DUMPO VITIAZ NEW BRITAIN OBENA BENA FINSCHHAFEN STRAIT GASMATA HUON GULF SALAMAUA KEREMA RIVER GULF TROBRIANO 15. OF GONA o BUNA PAPUA KAIRUKU ORO BAY WOODLARK L DARU GOODENOUGH I. FERGUSSON L PORT MORESBY RIGO BANARIA NORMANBY L ale SAMARAI CAPE YORK LOUISIADE CORALSEA ARCHIPELAGO PENIN. 115 120 128 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 20 20 15 15 PHILIPPINE IS. 10 10 5 5 HALMAHERA a BORNEO o o @ B NEW GUINEA 5 AMBON SOLOMON IS. 10 10 ₫ SCALE 15 o 100 see 400 600 soo MILES is 115 180 125 130 155 140 145 180 155 160 165 24-30680 SECTIFY DECLASSIFIED USD Letter, 5-8-72 ASIATIC THEATER On 17 October, four fighter planes of the 14th Air Force carried out a successful bombing mission against Lukou in northern Burma. Two P-40's were lost. Nine Japanese planes bombed Lungmoon, and another force of nine bombed Kuekuk (both north of Hongkong); no damage was reported. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. Fifteen additional parked aircraft were destroyed in the Wewak area on 16 October by eight B-25's which also shot down four fighters attempting interception. That night Allied bombers caused large fires along the waterfront at Ambon. On 17 October our B-24's damaged a freighter-transport north- west of Mussau Island, sank a submarine chaser northwest of Rabaul and bombed hostile positions on Garove Island. Six of our B-24's started fires at Ternate, Halmahera. Approximately 35 enemy fighter planes approaching Oro Bay from the northeast were intercepted by 45 US fighters which knocked down 24 (probably 30) of the enemy planes for a loss of four. During the morning of 17 October, enemy troops moved eastward along the Song River, reaching a point two miles from the coast where three barges landed troops south of the river mouth. Allied troops defeated these forces and are mopping up the area. SOLOMON ISLANDS AREA BUKA ONIS TEOP BOUGAINVILLE TENEKOW KIETA SOLOMON EMPRESS AUGUSTA Tomolei Hbr. BAY KAMILI BUIN BALLALE CHOISEUL SHORTLAND ISLANDS e FAISI KAKASA TREASURY WAGINA VELLA LAVELLA Rekata Bay KOLOMBANGARA SANTA ISABEL VILA GANONGGA GIZO NEW GEORGIA I. MALAITA ARUNDEL MUNDA TUNNIBULI RENDOVA SEGI PT. NEW GEORGIA GROUP RUSSELL FLORIDA TULAGE HENDERSON FIELO GUADALCANAL I. SCALE 25 0 25 50 75 100 STATUTE MILES RENNELL DECLASSIFIES OSD Letter, 5-8-72 On 18 October 54 B-25's, slipping under a low cloud cover to raid Rabaul, sank one destroyer, one gunboat, and one, possibly two, 6,000-ton merchant vessels. Another gunboat was set afire, 36 enemy planes were destroyed on the ground, fuel fires were started on the enemy airfields and antiaircraft positions silenced. Twenty-four (probably 30) of some 40 to 60 enemy fighters which intercepted our aircraft after the raid were shot down for a loss of three B-25's. 2. Individual planes on reconnaissance missions machine-gunned enemy barges off Bougainville and near Empress Augusta Bay on 17 October; an enemy convoy of a destroyer, one freighter and one crowded transport 80 miles east-northeast of Mussau Island was attacked by one of our search planes which scored a direct hit on the troopship leaving it smoking heavily and settling by the bow. Our aircraft returned safely. WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 677 3852 0700 October 17 to 0700 October 18, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE TRIESTE+ NAME VENICE -FIUME DREMONAT ITALY AND ADJACENT SBOLOGNA AREAS GENOA o RO 40 60 so 100 SPEZIA RIMINI SCALE OF MILES ANCONA LEGHORN ELBA BASTIA PESCARA FRANCAVILLA CORSICA TERMOLI AJACCIO MARCIGLIANA CISTERNA VAIRANCY BARI SPARANISE CAPUA TARANTO SARDINIA TYRRHENIAN SEA CASCOLLI MESSINA PALERMO CATANIA IONIAN SEA BIZERTE SICILY LICATA BUNIS "PANTELLERIA MALTA BASE MAP NO. 2672 (FREE) RBA, oss 28 SEPTEMBER 1943 LITHOGRAPHED, 053 OSD DECLASSIFIES Letter, 5-8-72 EUROPEAN THEATER 1. Reconnaissance photographs made late on 16 October show that all ball-bearing plants at Schweinfurt were either completely destroyed or very severely damaged; the railroad yards and rolling stock suffered heavy damage. 2. Headquarters of the 9th Air Force closed in Cairo and opened in England on 15 October. MEDITERRANEAN 1. During the night of 15-16 October British bombers attacked rail- road installations between Francavilla and Pescara, as well as the Cisterna and Marcigliana airdromes, near Rome, where 12 parked aircraft were burned. The next day 36 escorted B-25's pounded the railroad yards at Ancona; medium and light bombers, attacking communications north of Capua, hit roads and buildings at Vairano and Sparanise, and the railroad at Venafro. Gun positions and road movements along the entire front were the targets for our fighter-bombers. Six of some 35 enemy fighters over the Volturno area were destroyed by Allied fighters, which also continued their attacks on the enemy railroad on the eastern coast. P-38's damaged a merchant vessel in the harbor at Levkas, Greece. 2. On 17 October September the Fifth Army had crossed the Volturno River along its entire length despite violent counterattacks. Liberi, surrounded by our forces the previous day, was captured. To the northeast the British Eighth Army pushed forward west of Montagano against stiffening enemy resistance. - 20° à IF IF 24° i 1 43° 43% Seriez o à MSET - EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN AREA YUGOSLAVIA IÇO e 8 aoo 500 42° I : 42% - ETP* 411 Bitwy Drome ALBANIA 1 THASCE Selenite Da 40* 40° I GREECE LEMNOS - CORPU Leries B 39* LEVKAS 39" MITILENE I D - CHICS CEPALONSA se* M° Athens o AMERICO IMITE SANCE Fyrger Marks . TENOS & + D PORTOLAGO DAY & 37* PARIS o 37° I $ 0 DODECANCE KYTHERA a M* SE* MARITSA Carpothes MIDDLE EASTERN AREA If 35° - e to 8 CRETE SCALE ⑉ MILES 34° MP IV : n° ₹ 24" à 28* E?" b. CHITTAGONG MANDALAY AKYAB BAY FROM OF BENGAL ASSEIN RANGOON MOULMEIN YE TAVOY BANGKOK 50 0 100 ROO MILES BASE MAP NO 2447 (FREE) RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS BRANCH 088 28 JUNE 1943 LITHOGRAPHED IN THE REPRODUCTION BRANCH 055 DECLASSIFIES OSD Letter, 6-8-78 3. Allied heavy bombers dropped 21 tons of explosives on the Maritsa airdrome during the night of 15-16 October with unobserved results. The next day our B-25's damaged enemy shipping in the Calino area with bombs and cannon fire. Leros was attacked five times by a total of 46 twin-engined German bombers; Portolago Bay was temporarily put out of service. During the nights of 15-16 October and 16-17 October, 27 tons of supplies were dropped for the patriot forces in Greece, Albania, and Yugoslavia. 4. On 16 October eight Italian Air Force planes performed an escort mission over Levkas Channel. 5. In the Aegean area General Eisenhower's aircraft have destroyed 128 enemy airplanes in the air and on the ground since 4 October; this is in addition to results achieved by the RAF assigned to that area. ASIATIC THEATER 1. A delayed report of 10th Air Force operations for 6 October lists successful attacks by 13 B-25's on buildings at Kalewa, by 12 B-25's on tracks, rolling stock, buildings and barracks at Monywa, and by 9 B-25's on railroad installations at Segyi, Ye-u and Budalin. 2. B-24's of the 14th Air Force bombed an airdrome at Haiphong on 16 October and laid three mines in the ship channel near that port. All planes returned safely. 115 120 128 130 135 140 145 ISO 165 160 165 20 20 15 15 PHILIPPINE IS. or 10 5 5 D BORNEO o o WEWAK CAPE GLOUCESTER LONG 5 NEW GUINEA BUKA 5 a. KAHILI NADZAB HUON PEN. SOLOMON IS. BALLALE DRO BAY 10 10 52 SCALE 15 0 100 see 400 400 800 MILES 15 115 180 185 130 155 140 145 180 155 160 165 24-30680 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-78 PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. In the 15 October defeat of the enemy air raid over Oro Bay 26 (probably 31) dive bombers and 20 (probably 26) fighters are now believed to have been destroyed. 2. Enemy aircraft bombed our installations in the Nadzab area early on 15 October but caused slight damage. Twenty-three escorted B-25's, unable to find a reported enemy convoy in the Long Island area, heavily attacked airdromes and installations near Wewak; other bombers attacked targets on the north coast of Huon Peninsula and in the New Britain area. In several aerial engagements which resulted, 40 (probably 53) enemy aircraft were shot down and at least 12 others were destroyed on the ground. Our losses were two B-25's and one P-38. 3. Five B-25's dropped parachute fragmentation clusters on Buka on 16 October, causing fires and explosions; six B-25's dropping the same type bombs from tree-top altitude on Ballale report excellent results. Despite adverse weather eight heavy bombers of a large B-24 mission against an airfield near Kahili reached the target area, dropped 16 tons of bombs and reported a large explosion. 4. General Harmon has reported the following battle casualties for the South Pacific area for the period 1 July to 30 September 1943 (covering operations in the Central Solomons): Killed Missing Wounded Total Ground Forces 923 11 3,350 4,284 Air Corps 85 166 76 327 Total 1008 177 3,426 4,611 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 5. An enemy single-engined float-plane appeared off Oahu during the night of 16-17 October. WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 676 0700 October 16 to 0700 October 17, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE TRIESTE* your VENICE FILME CREMORAT ITALY AND ADJACENT ABOLOGNA AREAS GENOA 0 20 40 60 so 100 RIMINI SPEZIA SCALE OF MILES LEGHORN ELBA BASTIA CORSICA LARINO TERMOLI AJACCIO WOME CAB TELLINO MONTAGANO ARANELLO VATRAI BARI FORMICOLA CAPUA TARANTO SARDINIA TYRRHENIAN SEA MESSINA PALERMO CATANIA IONIAN SEA BIZERTE SICILY LICATA BUNIS "PANTELLERIA MALTA BASE MAP NO. 2678 (FREE) R&A, oss 18 SEPTEMBER 1943 LITHOGRAPHED, OSS DECLASSIFIES OSD Letter, 5-8-78 EUROPEAN THEATER 1. On 16 October 198 fighters of the 8th Air Force swept. the Lowlands area without meeting the enemy. 2. A revised report of the 8th Air Force claims and losses for the week ending 10 October, in which occurred the attacks on Frankfurt, Bremen, Vegesack, Marienburg, Gdynia, Munster and Coesfeld, places the number of enemy aircraft destroyed at 610 (probably 710); the majority were fighters or light bombers. Our own losses from all causes totalled 105 heavy bombers and six P-47's. 3. Crews returning from the 14 October Schweinfurt raid report that smoke screens were used to cover Stuttgart, Karlsruhe, Frankfurt, Ludwigshafen, Nuremberg, Mannheim, and Schweinfurt. MEDITERRANEAN 1. During the night of 14-15 October British Wellingtons heavily bombed railroad and canal bridges at Talamone. The next day 36 B-25's escorted by P-38's showered fragmentation bombs on two enemy airfields at Salonika causing explosions and fires in the hangar areas. British bombers attacked road junctions near Venefro and Vairano. Our fighter bombers again harassed rail traffic along the eastern Italian coast. A marked increase was noted in the enemy air activity, especially over the Fifth Army front. 2. On the front of the Fifth Army on 16 October, the British X - ID* à à ET 24° 43+ 43% o à MET - EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN AREA 8 . 8 800 300 42° 1 as EF 41° Drame information 4P ALBANIA 1 THASOS Selenite 04 40° LEMINOS Think COMPU PLanise 0 B 39° 39° MYTILENE Servi - OHIOS à 30° ENTE Pyrges P 8 & ) 8 a 37* 4 o si DODECANESE XYTHERA MI 34° MIDDLE EASTERN AREA 35° so o 80 CRETE SCALE in MILES 34° 34° 20° B* II' B* 14" 11" 26° 17" IF N-UNRKI DECLASSIFIES OSD Letter, 5-8-78 Corps crossed the Volturno River on both sides of Capua and the US VI Corps continued its advance northwestwards to the outskirts of Formicola. Along the Eighth Army front local gains were made except on the extreme north flank; patrols crossed the Biferno River north- west of Larino and advanced elements captured Castellino, Montagano, and Baranello. The enemy's non-metallic land mines were causing us diffi- culties. 3. Cumulative casualties: Fifth Army Killed Wounded Missing US VI Corps 660 2547 2632 (to 12 October) British X Corps 978 4407 2071 (to 11 October) Eighth Army 459 1662 459 General Eisenhower reports that Infantry losses account for 70 per cent of the battle casualties of all Arms in his theater. 4. Naxos and Paros were reported to have come under German control on 12 October. During 14 and 15 October Leros received three attacks by German aircraft. ASIATIC THEATER Japanese fighters destroyed two Air Transport Command planes over northern Burma on 13 October. Air transport operations between India and China continue under coordinated plans for protection by both the 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 20 20 IS 15 PHILIPPINE IS. 10 10 no 5 5 BORNEO o o 8 & BOELA RABAUL GASHATA CERAM NEW GUINEA 5 5 BUKA DUMPUS 6 KAHILI HUON PEN. SOLOMON IS. OROI BAY 10 10 B SCALE 15 o 100 soo 400 400 soo MILES 15 115 180 125 130 155 140 145 180 108 160 165 24-30680 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 10th and 14th Air Forces. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. On 15 October 20 enemy dive-bombers and 45 escorting fighters attacked Allied installations at Oro Bay causing slight damage; our intercepting P-38's and P-40's destroyed 16 (probably 18) of the dive- bombers and 15 (probably 21) of the enemy fighters. Other Allied air action included the destruction of two enemy fighters off Gasmata by patrolling P-38's, the harassing of targets on the Huon peninsula by 38 B-25's and six B-26's, attacks by P-39's and Australian planes against enemy positions north of Dumpu, and the successful bombing of Boela in Ceram by three B-24's. Reconnaissance missions over Rabaul report a total of two heavy cruisers, one light cruiser, nine destroyers, seven submarines and 138,000 tons of merchant shipping in the harbor. 2. Twenty-one escorted B-24's attacked Kahili on 15 October scoring bomb hits on personnel and supply areas; four of the escorting planes destroyed six of some 10 to 15 Japanese aircraft encountered. All our planes returned safely. Later five B-25's caused large explosions and fires in the revetment area at Buka. WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 675 0700 October 15 to 0700 October 16, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 WESTERN HEMISPHERE Eight Japanese medium bombers attacked Attu Island on 14 October but caused no damage. EUROPEAN THEATER Our B-17's attacking Schweinfurt on 14 October were subjected to new and precisely executed aerial defense tactics which the Germans apparently have been practicing for some time. During the first phase a screen of single-engined fighters pressed home a frontal attack with 20 mm. cannon and machine-gun fire. These were closely followed by waves of twin-engined fighters which from long range discharged a barrage of rockets from under the wings; these rockets were apparently armed with proximity fuses. In a second phase the single-engined fighters, refueled in the interim, attacked from all directions so to engage all of our gunners, while the twin-engined rocket-carriers reformed and, attacking princi- pally from the front and rear, concentrated their efforts on one combat wing until all rockets were expended. Rocket damage to individual aircraft was neither excessively severe nor, in most cases, mortal. It did, however, cause many planes to fall out of formation leading to the third phase, in which stragglers were picked off by the concentrated gun fire of all enemy aircraft. More than 700 attacks were made on our formations. General Eaker believes that this challenge can be met by increased TRIESTE* VENICE +FIUME CREMONA ITALY AND ADJACENT SBOLDGNA AREAS GENDA 0 20 40 60 80 100 SPEZIA RIMINI SCALE OF MILES LEGHORN ELBA BASTIA GIULIANOVA ORGETI CORSICA TERMOLI AJACCIO MORRONE CAMPOBASSO VINCHLATURO BARI GRAZZANISE TARANTO SARDINIA TYRRHENIAN SEA CAGCIERI MESSINA PALERMO CATANIA IONIAN SEA BIZERTE SICILY LICATA JUNIS @PANTELLERIA MALTA BASE MAP NO. 2672 (FREE) R&A, 055 28 SEPTEMBER 1943 LITHOGRAPHED, oss DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 long range fighter coverage within the capabilities of our P-47, P-38, and P-51 types; by multiple heavy bomber attacks against widely dis- persed targets; by augmented operations against enemy Air Force establish- ments; and by taking advantage of cloud cover. MEDITERRANEAN 1. During the night of 13-14 October British Wellingtons bombed railroad yards at Orbetello. The following day 34 B-17's dropped 102 tons of bombs on the Terni yards, causing large explosions which are believed to have been ammunition or oil tanks; two enemy fighters were shot down for a loss of one B-17. Other heavy bombers attacked railroad and highway bridges at Giulianova along the Adriatic coast. Enemy communications in the battle area were attacked by our fighter-bombers. Thirty-six B-25's escorted by 46 P-38's started fires and scored hits among grounded aircraft at Argos airdrome in Greece. 2. On the right flank of the Fifth Army our troops continued to improve their positions beyond the Volturno on 15 October. Our 34th and 3rd Infantry Divisions each had three bridges in operation; all infantry elements of the 3rd Division are across the river. On the left the British were crossing against stubborn resistance and were building another bridge near Grazzanise. The enemy continued to resist strongly on the left of the Eighth Army but yielded Vinchiaturo, Campobasso, and Morrone in the center. CHITTAGONG MANDA AKYAB BAY PROM OF BENGAL ASSEIN BANGOON MOULMEIN YE TAVOY BANDROX 60 o 100 100 MILES BASE MAP NO. 2447 (FREE) RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS BRANCH 058 28 JUNE 1943 LITHOGRAPHED IN THE REPRODUCTION BRANCH 055 115 120 128 130 135 140 145 ISO ISS 160 165 20 20 15 IS PHILIPPINE IS. 10 10 5 5 BORNEO o o ALEXISHAFEN NEW BRITAIN 5 NEW GUINEA 5 LANGGOER TAIOF 1. SOLOMON IS. ORO BAY + 180 SELARU 1. TIMOR 10 BUNA VELLA 10 LAVELLA A SCALE 15 o IDO soo 400 600 800 MILES IS 115 120 ISS 180 135 140 145 180 155 160 165 24-30680 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 ASIATIC THEATER 1. Four B-25's of the 14th Air Force which attacked the Amoy area on 14 October set fire to two cargo vessels, an oil dump and warehouses, and machine-gunned the Amoy airdrome. 2. In northern Burma Japanese forces operating in the Tengchung area have defeated a Chinese force of three battalions on the west of the Salween River placing the enemy in a position to threaten the eastern end of the Burma Road from the north. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. During the night of 11-12 October, enemy planes ineffectively attacked Allied positions on northwest Vella Lavella. On 14 October, a B-24 scored a direct hit on a barge ten miles west of Taiof Island. 2. On 13 October, Allied planes attacked an airfield, enemy stores, and antiaircraft positions in New Britain. The following day, 24 B-25's bombed and machine-gunned villages and barges in the New Britain area, and 28 B-25's destroyed two grounded aircraft and supplies at Alexishafen. Other Allied bombers attacked the village and airdrome at Langgoer, targets on Selaru Island, and caused fires and explosions at enemy stations in Timor. Twelve enemy aircraft bombed the Buna- Oro Bay areas during the night causing minor damage. WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 674 0700 October 14 to 0700 October 15, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE TRIESTE* EMIL/ANT VENICE *FILME CREMONA ITALY AND ADJACENT ABOLOGMA AREAS GENOA o 20 40 60 80 IOO SPEZIA RIMINI SCALE OF MILES LEGHORN a ELBA PESCARA BASTIA CORSICA TERMOLI AJACCIO BRONG CIVITAVECCHIA AMP4 380 OCHIATURO BARI SESSA AURUNCA TARANTO SARDINIA TYRRHENIAN SEA CAGCINRI MESSINA PALERMO CATANIA IONIAN SEA BIZERTE SICILY LICATA EUNIS @PANTELLERIA MALTA BASE MAP NO. 2672 (FREE) R&A, oss 28 SEPTEMBER 1943 LITHOGRAPHED. OSS DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-78 WESTERN HEMISPHERE 1. Ten Japanese bombers attacked our installations near Massacre Bay, Attu Island, on 13 October without causing damage. 2. Effective 1 November the Alaska Defense Command will be separated from the Western Defense Command, redesignated as the Alaskan Department, with headquarters at Fort Richardson, and established as a separate theater of operations. 3. Lieutenant General William H. Simpson assumed command of the Fourth Army, effective 13 October 1943. EUROPEAN THEATER 295 8th Air Force B-17's, supported by 159 P-47's to the limit of their range, attacked the ball and roller-bearing factories at Schweinfurt in southwestern Germany on 14 October. Unprecedentedly strong enemy opposition was encountered and 99 German fighters (probably 125) were shot down; 60 of our bombers and two fighters with 595 crew members are missing. MEDITERRANEAN 1. Important targets at Civitavecchia, including the cement and chemical works and railroad yards were hit by British bombers on the night of 12-13 October; other Allied aircraft harassed enemy movements along the coastal roads and hit an ammunition dump. The next day 23 B-26's heavily damaged Alife, 36 B-25's effectively bombed the road IF N° à h IF 24° 4P 43% D-D Sofye 0 à MET - EASTERN WEDITERRANEAN AREA KW 9 8 800 300 42° 42% à à TIRANA & 4/* Bires) Drame 1 s THASOS Salanita 2 04 Sometime 40* LEMNOS 8 - 000FV Larras 0 - B n° 39° MYTILENE D o CHICS CEPHALONIA M° " Athers ENTE Pyrgee 0 , ? & o 37" # $ Males D 22 DODECANTEE MARITSA- ATTHEM PHONES M° KATTAVIA 36° MIDDLE EASTERN AREA 38° MP to e a @ CRETE -SCALE ⑉ WILES GAVDOS 1. 34° 34° 20° E È ES* 24° à 26" É IF DECLASSIFIES OSD Letter, 5-3-72 junction at Sessa Aurunca, and other attacks were made on enemy troops and communications in support of our ground forces. Escorted B-25's, attacking Tirana in Albania, scored hits on hangars and dispersal areas and destroyed 14 of 34 enemy planes on the ground. 2. On the Fifth Army front on 14 October our VI Corps widened its bridgeheads across the Volturno against strong enemy resistance in the form of continuous counterattacks by tanks, infantry and artillery. Enemy artillery prevented our bridging of the river. The enemy was withdrawing along the Eighth Army front except in the Campobasso-Vinchiaturo area where resistance was being offered. 3. On the night of 12-13 October Allied heavy bombers attacked Kattavia and Maritsa airdromes (Rhodes). The following day other Allied planes bombed targets on Gavdos Island. Six German medium bombers attacked Leros; no details of this raid have been received. ASIATIC THEATER Two 14th Air Force B-25's were successful in a surprise attack on enemy shipping in the Foochow-Amoy areas on 13 October; one 290-foot freighter was sunk, a near miss scored on another, and smaller craft were sunk or damaged. Our bombers returned. B-24's on routine ferry missions bombed Myitkyina; a Chinese National transport airplane is missing, possibly as the result of enemy attack. DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-78 PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. On 12 October our P-47's shot down an enemy bomber over Wewak. Other Allied aircraft damaged two small ships in the Timor area. Allied forces captured the hills overlooking Sattelberg on 13 October. 2. Two reconnaissance B-25's, bombing two large enemy freighters south of Buka Passage from masthead height on the night of 11-12 October, scored damaging hits on both. WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 673 0700 October 13 to 0700 October 14, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-8-78 0-98 TRIESTE* WILAN VENICE FILME CREMONA ITALY AND ADJACENT ABOLOGNA AREAS GENOA o 20 40 60 so 100 SPEZIA RIMINI SCALE OF MILES BENEDETTO LEGHORN ELBA DRIATIC BASTIA PESCARA VASTO CORSICA TERMOLI AJACCIO BROMO ERCEMAGGIORE BARI CAPUA TARANTO SARDINIA TYRRHENIAN SEA CAGCINRI MESSINAL PALERMO CATANIA IONIAN SEA BIZERTE SICILY LICATA BUNIS %PANTELLERIA MALTA BASE MAP NO. 2672 (FREE) R&A, oss 28 SEPTEMBER 1943 LITHOGRAPHED, oss SECRET DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-78 WESTERN HEMISPHERE A third magnetic mine has been reported off Cristobal; two were exploded by minesweeping operations, the other is being shipped to the Naval Bureau of Ordnance for examination. EUROPEAN THEATER For the week ending 10 October, the 8th Air Force destroyed 288 (probably 337) enemy aircraft with a loss from all causes of 96 B-17's, nine B-24's, and six P-47's. Corresponding RAF figures are 32 (probably 37) enemy aircraft destroyed for a loss of 113 planes. MEDITERRANEAN 1. While weather prevented the Strategic Air Force from operating during the night of 11-12 October and the following day, our light bombers and fighters harassed gun positions and enemy lines of commu- nications in the Vasto and Pescara areas on 12 October, destroying an entire train. Aerial reconnaissance reports all bridges between Pescara and Benedetto have been blown up. 2. On the night of 12-13 October and the following day elements of the US VI Corps forced crossings over the Volturno river on a broad front. Efforts of the British X Corps to cross near Capua were checked, but on its extreme west flank the operation was successful at the mouth - 20° D* IF IF 24° 1 43* 43M 0 NET - EASTERN WEDITERRAREAN AREA 8 . 8 800 no 42° 40% IF 217* 4/º Bowy Drew 4/° 1 THASOS Sevente 00 I 40* 1 LEMINOS CORPLE Lanier 8 19° 19" WYTHLENE S D I If 30° a EMITE Fyrger 0 o 8 D , ? cos HARBOR 37* 4 o 37° I $ o DODECANTSE 0 M* HARITSA 36° AIRFIELD MIDDLE EASTERN AREA Khana 35° 35° - 8 CRETE is 34° 34° 1 80* : 11" B* 24° IS* If EP* 19" - DECLASSIFIEB OSD Letter, 5-3-78 of the river. A squadron of tanks moved by sea landed north of the mouth to support this effort. Elements of the British Eighth Army captured Cercemaggiore and pushed forward to Campobasso. 3. During the night of 11-12 October, Allied heavy bombers dropped some 20 tons of explosives and incendiaries on the Maritsa airfield (Rhodes). The following day Leros suffered its 68th air raid since 27 September, during which time eight (probably nine) enemy aircraft have been destroyed. Allied forces there are being supplied by para- chute. During the night of 12-13 October, British bombers damaged a 5,000-ton merchant vessel off Cos; Cos Harbor was also bombed. 4. General Eisenhower reports that at Naples all cranes and port structures were demolished and all barges and tugs were sunk. Emergency lighting for the port was furnished from the power plant of a captured Italian submarine. The city aqueduct, cut in seven places, was expected to be in operation on 12 October by which time limited electric power should also have become available. The telephone exchange was completely demolished. 5. Italy declared war on Germany on 13 October. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. On 12 October, Army and Navy bombers attacked grounded vessels off Cape Gloucester and Garove Island. Other attacks by Allied planes 115 120 128 130 ISS 140 145 150 ISS 160 165 20 20 is 15 PHILIPPINE IS. 10 10 5 5 BORNEO o o WEWAK CAPE GAROVE 1. GLOUCESTER 5 NEW GUINEA >RABAUL 5 SOLOMON IS. BUNA DILLI 10 WOODLARK 1. I 10 KOEPANG ( PENFOEI g SCALE IS o 100 100 400 600 ase MILES IS 115 180 125 130 135 140 145 180 155 160 145 28-30680 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 started fires at Koepang, Dilli, and Penfoei. Three enemy aircraft ineffectively bombed the Buna area. 2. On 13 October all available aircraft in the Southwest Pacific Area, using airfields made possible by our recent occupation of Woodlark and neighboring islands, concentrated in a mid-day attack on Rabaul. Fighters accompanied our bombers. Our medium bombers raked the air- dromes while heavier craft attacked shipping in the harbor. Complete surprise was achieved, 100 enemy aircraft being destroyed on the ground; 26 of the 40 enemy fighters which attempted interception were destroyed. Five of our planes are missing. General MacArthur estimates that 60% of the enemy's accumulated air strength at this base was lost. This operation, together with the recent attacks on enemy concentrations at Wewak, gives the Allies mastery of the air over the Solomons Sea and adjacent waters. In addition, the 350 tons of bombs which were used sank or destroyed three destroyers, three merchant ships of 5,000 to 7,000 tons, 43 small cargo vessels, and 70 harbor craft; a submarine, submarine tender, a destroyer tender, and a 7,000-ton cargo ship were severely damaged. On shore, wharves and many installations were wrecked, and fuel and ammunition dumps demolished. WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 672 0700 October 12 to 0700 October 13, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 0-8-TR, TRIESTE* VENICE FRIME CREMONA" ITALY AND ADJACENT SBOLOGNA AREAS GENGA 0 20 40 60 80 100 SPEZIA RIMINI SCALE OF MILES LEGHORN ELBA ADRIATIC BASTIA CORSICA PETACCIATO TERMOLI AJACC LAR LNO is. ELIA RCENAGO ORE BARI TARANTO SARDINIA TYRRHENIAN SEA MESSINA PALERMO CATANIA IONIAN SEA BIZERTE SICILY LICATA JUNIS @PANTELLERIA MALTA BASE MAP NO. 2672 (FREE) R&A, 055 20 SEPTEMBER 1943 LITHOGRAPHED, oss LL DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 MEDITERRANEAN 1. During the night of 10-11 October Allied aircraft attacked enemy rail and highway communications serving the Rome-Volturno River region. The following day, although weather hampered air operations, our fighters damaged enemy rail and highway traffic near the Adriatic coast. 2. No change was reported on the front of the Fifth Army for 12 October; the Canadians on the left of the Eighth Army, flanking the enemy positions beyond the Calore and Volturno rivers, pushed patrols to S. Elia and Cercemaggiore. Further north the enemy resisted vigor- ously, holding the Biferno river line northwest of Larino as well as Petacciato. 3. On 11 October 36 B-25's, escorted by 48 P-38's dropped 25 tons of fragmentation bombs on Garitza (Corfu) airfield. Strong enemy air activity was directed on Leros. 4. General Eisenhower reports that in our Fifth Army, from the landing at Salerno until 7 October, the US VI Corps had 565 killed, 2330 wounded and 2536 missing; during the same period the British X Corps had 982 killed, 4060 wounded, and 2230 missing. From 3 September, when the British Eighth Army landed in Calabria until 6 October, it had 253 killed, 1014 wounded and 535 missing; in addition, the Canadians list 51 killed, 157 wounded, and two missing. Up to 1 October our VI Corps had captured 456 German prisoners and 79 reported as "unclassified", DECLASSIFIED 0SD Letter, 5-3-72 and until 28 September the X Corps had captured 1003 Germans. Up to 5 October, the Eighth Army in Italy had captured 217 Germans, 28 Yugoslavs, and 74 other prisoners reported as "unclassified". Up to 1 October 63,217 tons of supplies, 13,205 vehicles including guns and trailers, and 92,306 personnel had been landed for our VI Corps; during the same period 66,141 tons of supplies, 19,516 vehicles and 101, 413 personnel had been landed for the X Corps. ASIATIC THEATER Headquarters of the 10th Air Force is moving from New Delhi to Barrackpore in the Calcutta area. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. On 11 October, the enemy was reported to be suffering heavy casualties in his counterattacks in the Sattelberg area. In the Ramu valley Allied units drove the enemy from positions in the hills north of Dumpu. Four P-47's shot down eight (probably ten) fighters from a formation of 33 enemy fighters and 12 bombers southeast of Wewak. Single Allied aircraft scored a hit on a large vessel in a convoy east of Cape Saint George and attacked Garove and Mundua Islands. Small flights of Allied planes bombed Manokwari, Bira, Fak Fak (where a small tanker was destroyed), Ambon, and targets on Timor. The enemy made three light, ineffective air raids on Lae. 2. 24 B-24's escorted by Army and Navy fighters attacked supply 115 120 125 lav 195 140 145 150 155 160 165 20 20 15 IS PHILIPPINE IS. 10 10 no 5 5 BORNEO MANOKWARI o o 8 WEWAR BIRA GAROVE CAPE ST. GEORGE MUNDUA 5 AMBON FAK FAK NEW GUINEA 5 KAHILI DUMPU SATTELBERG SOLOMON IS. OEMA 1. 10 10 TIMOR B SCALE 15 o 100 100 400 400 800 MILES IS 115 180 125 130 135 140 145 180 ISS 160 165 24-30680 DECLASSIFIED OBD Letter, 5-3-72 areas, installations and personnel at Kahili on 11 October, starting numerous fires and exploded a fuel dump; fifteen of the 23 Jap planes which attacked our mission were shot down and we lost two B-24's. Another mission of 30 Navy bombers escorted by 55 Allied fighters attacked gun positions and buildings in the same area. A search plane, escorted by 35 Allied fighters, was intercepted over Oema Island by ten enemy fighters; our escorting planes shot down six Japanese fighters and we lost one P-38. WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 671 0700 October 11 to 0700 October 12, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE DECLASSIFIED DSD Latter, 5-3-72 WESTERN HEMISPHERE 1. The Army Ground Forces have issued a directive for the movement of the 97th Infantry Division (Major General Louis A. Craig, commanding), from Camp Swift, Texas, to the Louisiana maneuver area; it will not return to Camp Swift. 2. Two magnetic mines discovered eight miles off the Cristobal breakwater on 9 October indicate the presence of a German mine-laying submarine in the Panama Canal area. The harbor has been closed to outgoing traffic pending the completion of minesweeping operations. EUROPEAN THEATER In the 10 October attack on Munster and Coesfeld 276 of our B-17's participated as two task forces. The first force experienced the most violent and concentrated fighter attacks yet encountered, 200 to 250 enemy fighters being battled during a 45 minute period when it had out- flown its fighter support. The enemy's defense followed a definite plan. Their fighters attacked from every angle and destroyed ten of our bombers; 19 others were destroyed by antiaircraft fire or from unreported causes. The second task force arriving 15 minutes later found very meager fighter opposition as our P-47 fighters had sufficient additional gasoline capacity to accompany the bombers throughout and furnished continuous fighter protection; it sustained no aircraft losses. MEDITERRANEAN 1. On 10 October the US 45th Division captured Pontelandolfo DECLASSIFIED PSD Letter, 0-8-78 TRIESTE* WMLAN' VENICE -FIUME OREMONA ITALY AND ADJACENT ABOLOGNA AREAS GENOA 9 20 40 60 no 100 SPEZIA RIMINI SCALE OF MILES LEGHORN ELBA BASTIA CORSICA TERMOLI AJACCIO AROME IELSI VAIRANO CAMPOLATTARO BARI MINTURNO PONTEL NDOLFO CAPUA TARANTO SARDINIA TYRRHENIAN SEA CAGCIERI MESSINA PALERMO CATANIA IONIAN SEA BIZERTE SICILY LICATA TUNIS PANTELLERIA MALTA BASE MAP NO. 2672 (FREE) RBA, oss : SEPTEMBER 1943 LITHOGRAPHED, OSS DECLASSIFIED DED Letter, 5-3-72 after repulsing a vigorous counterattack against Campolattaro. During 11 October minor gains were made on the right of the Fifth Army; the Eighth Army maintained close contact with the enemy, no substantial changes being reported except in the center where the Canadian Division pushed through Ielsi. There has been a general stiffening of resistance and their use of stronger rear guards suggests that the Germans may intend to attempt a protracted delay along the present front. 2. During the night of 9-10 October and the following day our light and medium bombers attacked Vairano, Minturno and other choke- points of the enemy communications in the battle area as well as gun positions, particularly those north of Capua. On 10 October 55 B-17's attacked the Tatoi and Araxos airdrome in Greece with nearly 200 tons of bombs; 21 dispersed aircraft were destroyed on the ground and four enemy fighters were shot down in aerial combat. Two B-17's have not returned. Thirty-nine B-24's dropped more than 47 tons of bombs on the Heraklion airdrome (Crete) and 49 tons on Calato airfield (Rhodes) on 10 October. US fighter aircraft attacked the dispersal areas on Antimachia airfield (Cos). Our P-38's scored a hit on a 550-foot vessel in Corfu harbor. Leros suffered heavy damage from enemy air attacks that same day. ASIATIC THEATER On 9 October four B-25's of the 14th Air Force sank a 150-foot CHITTAGONG* AKYAB BAY PROM OF BENGAL ASSEIN/ BANGOON MOULMEIN YE TAVOY BANOROK 50 o 100 100 MILES BASE MAP NO. 2447 (FREE) RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS BRANCH 058 20 JUNE 1943 LITHOGRAPHED IN THE REPRODUCTION BRANCH 058 SHANGHAI Hangchow Changiu Ning-pd Klukiong CHUNGKING Non-thiong Wenchow CHANGSHA Foochow Amoy Swetow CANTON KWANGAO HONGKONG 0 50 100 150 200 Pakhoi RANO Hsi-ying w MILES Halphong MAP NO. 2437 (FREE) COMPILED AND DRAWN IN THE BRANCH OF RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS, oss 24 JUNE 1943 PRINTED IN THE REPRODUCTION BRANCH, 059 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 ISS 160 165 20 20 15 15 PHILIPPINE IS. 10 10 no 5 5 BORNEO o o LOLOBAU 1. CAPE GLOUCESTER LANGGOER NEW GUINEA BUKA 1. 5 5 a DUMPO SATTELBERG SOLOMON IS. DOBODURA SAUMLAKKI KIRIWINA 1. 10 10 g SCALE IS o IDO see 400 600 soo MILES 15 115 180 125 130 135 140 145 180 155 160 165 24-30680 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-8-78 tanker off Amoy and severely damaged a 200-foot freighter. One B-25 crashed while machine-gunning Kwangao. Eight P-40's bombed buildings at Tingka. The next day 20 B-24's escorted by 18 P-40's dropped over 47 tons of bombs on the dock and warehouse areas at Haiphong, securing observed effect. P-40's exploded a munitions dump at Tengchung, and destroyed stores at Lungling. Two P-40's failed to return. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. Enemy resistance continued on 10 October in both the Sattelberg area and north of Dumpu in the Ramu Valley where he was constructing defense works. Twenty Allied light aircraft bombed and machine-gunned the Sattelberg area. Other light and medium bombers damaged the Japanese airdrome at Langgoer as well as Saumlakki. B-24's bombed supply dumps at Cape Gloucester and burned a convoyed transport off Buka. Four fuel barges were also set afire near Lolobau by Australian fighter aircraft. Our antiaircraft guns destroyed one, possibly three, of the enemy planes attacking Dobodura the night of 9-10 October. Other enemy aircraft caused slight damage at Kiriwina the same night. 2. The Jap radar installation on Poporang Island was burned and antiaircraft positions silenced by a machine-gun attack by 24 Army and Navy fighter aircraft on 9 October. The next day Allied bombers and fighters attacked barges and other targets along the west coast of Choiseul. DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-78 : Patrols on Kolombangara have reached Tuki Point in the north without encountering the enemy. A strong patrol has been dispatched to Gizo Island to investigate a report that it has been evacuated. WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 670 0700 October 10 to 0700 October 11, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 6º & 14º 4º Glosgow Gopenhagen WEST COASTAL EUROPE IDO 9 8 SCALE IN MILES ANKLAM Hamburg Bremen Berlin ENSCHEDE Hander MUNSTER The Hague London COESFELD Lajoria Essen Dresden Brussels Orier Frankfurt Proguè a. Le Howre Nuremburge Soorbrucken Metz Paris Rennes Munich Orieans Nontes Dijon *Zurich Barn Bolzono General Lyon Million Turin Bordeaux 2º or " 6º 60 10° 12° TRIESTE. SMILANT VENICE FILME CREMONA ITALY AND ADJACENT ABOLOGMA AREAS GENOA o RO 40 60 80 IDO SPEZIA RIMINI SCALE OF MILES LEGHORN ELBA 1, BASTIA MONTENERO CORSICA 17 TERMOLI AJACCIO BROME FORM VICCIA BARI PIGNATARO we ELPAGANO PASTORANO TARANTO SARDINIA TYRRHENIAN SEA CASCIARI MESSINA PALERMO CATANIA IONIAN SEA BIZERTE SICILY LICATA @TUNIS PANTELLERIA MALTA BASE MAP NO. 2672 (FREE) R&A, oss 28 SEPTEMBER 1943 LITHOGRAPHED. oss DECLASSIFIEB QSD Letter, 5-3-72 EUROPEAN THEATER 1. Photographs of our 9 October targets in eastern Germany show that the fighter plane factory at Marienburg was destroyed, that our bombs were excellently concentrated on the factory at Anklam, and that tremendous damage was done to the Gdynia harbor where several ships and a drydock were set afire and a large burning liner was being towed away from the dock. 2. Strong formations of our B-17's escorted by P-47 fighters bombed the important railroad junction at Munster and railroad installations at Coesfeld, both in Germany, and the enemy-held airfield at Enschede, Holland, on 10 October. The B-17's destroyed 81 enemy fighters and the P-47's destroyed 21 more; missing are 30 bombers and two fighters. MEDITERRANEAN 1. Little forward movement was reported for 10 October on the flanks of the Allied line but the Canadians in the center pushed forward to Riccia and Castelpagano. Allied patrols mined the road between Montenero and Palata. 2. On 8 October, 10-P-38's patrolling over Crete and Leros, shot down a German medium bomber. During the night of 8-9 October, 61 British Wellingtons bombed Isernia, Formia, and targets of opportunity in Italy. The following day, 12 medium bombers attacked gun positions at Pastorano, road - 20° à IF IF 24° 43° 43M Selye o NET - EASTERN WEDITERMAREAN AREA IQD 0 00 100 aoo 42° - - 40% 200° 41° Birw) *Drame / 4P SEDES 0 8 THASOS 04 Somethrake 40* LEMNOS 0 Laries Mine à ,Segean B WYTHLENE 19* D Anta ELEUSIS CHICS Septes 10° 30° Altern D ARGOS Pyrges 1 , TENOS 9 , 8 3 o $ MARITSA DODECANESE KYTHERA 36° 36° CALATO Corporation MIDDLE EASTERN AREA Khania MP " HERAKL10N 35° - CRETE SCALE - MILES - 34° 34° 20* III - II* % 24° ! 26° ET" IF n-maio 8 DECLASSIFIED O&D Letter, 5-3-72 junctions at Pignataro, Palato and other focal points on enemy high- ways. Our heavy and medium bombers heavily attacked Sedes, Eleusis, Argos, and Larissa airdromes in Greece during the day. Many fires were started among grounded aircraft, and five (probably seven) enemy planes were destroyed in air combat. P-38's on convoy duty destroyed 16 (probably 19) enemy bombers in the Aegean area and another enemy airplane in the Adriatic; two of our fighters were lost. On the'night of 9-10 October 21 B-24's bombed barracks and the dispersal area at Heraklion airdrome (Crete); eight B-24's attacked Calato airfield (Rhodes) and another force of eight B-24's hit the dispersal area at Maritsa airdrome on the same island. Other Allied planes attacked enemy shipping in the Cos-Calinos-Leros area, and set fire to a medium-sized freighter. 3. The 100th Infantry Battalion (Separate), formed of Americans of Japanese origin, which left Hawaii in June, 1942, and trained in the US at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin, has seen action in Italy with our 34th Division and has acquitted itself creditably under fire; it suffered casualties in its first contact with the enemy. Its sick rate is very low because of the men's desire to stay with their unit. Because of their good behavior and high courage the men of this battalion are accepted with confidence and friendliness by all ranks of our forces. ASIATIC THEATER On 8 October, three B-24's of the 14th Air Force on routine ferry operations dropped 15 one-hundred pound bombs on headquarters 115 120 128 130 195 140 145 180 155 160 165 20 20 15 15 PHILIPPINE IS. 10 IO M 5 5 D BORNEO o o MUSSAU 1. RAMU R. ( DUMPU CAPE HOSKINS NEW GUINEA 5 RABAUL 5 MACASSAR SATELBERG SOLOMON IS. TSO SELARU 10 DOBODURA 10 A SCALE IS o 100 100 400 600 soo MILES 15 115 180 185 130 155 140 148 180 155 160 ISS 24-30680 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 and warehouse areas at Tengchung. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. On the night of 8-9 October, enemy patrols were reported to be five miles north of Dumpu, in the Ramu River valley. Eleven B-24's dropped 25 tons of bombs on oil installations, warehouses and wharves at Macassar, causing many fires. The following day, 21 Allied bombers attacked Satelberg, destroying buildings and exploding two probable ammunition dumps. Other Allied planes destroyed barges and bombed the Cape Hoskins air- field in the New Britain area, bombed a heavy cruiser in a convoy north of Mussau Island, and attacked the landing strip and supply points and destroyed three Jap planes at Selaru (Tanimbars). 2. Besides light naval craft, a total of 99,000 tons of merchant shipping was observed in Rabaul harbor. 3. During the night of 8-9 October Japanese planes raided Dobodura, no details were reported. 4. Since June 15, 217 Japanese barges have been destroyed in the Southwest Pacific area. 5. Japanese resistance on Vella Lavella was overcome on 8 October. On southern Kolombangara, no enemy has been contacted between Surumoni Cove and Hunda Cove. Our small craft have circumnavigated the island without enemy reaction. Eight damaged planes and much abandoned 20' 40' 157° 20' 40' 158' 40' NEW GEORGIA GROUP 4d VELLA LAVELLA I. BAGA le KOLOMBANGARA SURUMONI COVE 6 8° GANONGGA H. & 8° VILA GIZO 1. HUNDA COVE ARENDEL NEW / WANAWANA 20 GEORGIA 20 BUKA RENDOVA VANGUNU 1. 40 TETIPARI I. GATUKAI 0 SOLOMON ISLANDS o 15 30 45 e - 17 9° SCALE IN MILES SCALE IN MILES 24-37832ABC 20' 40' 158° DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 equipment, weapons and ammunition were found at Vila. On 9 October a B-24 scored four probable quarter-ton bomb hits on an enemy vessel northwest of Buka. WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 669 0700 October 9 to 0700 October 10, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE /28° /200 1140 100 120 140 1100 1100 68° ARCTIC OCEAN D N A ICELAND 14° o 100 200 300 400 500 J SCALE IN MILES N R A NORWAY SWEDEN N - ." S & 56° 60° 0 O # C E A N OCEAN 8 a 0.00 GDYNIA 8 DANZIG 0 MARIENBURG HANOVER WOENSDRECHT A T L 48° A N T 52° I ENGLAND ANKLAM 0 BREMEN GERMANY Y G MORLAIX FRANCE E F 44° 24-43059ABCD DECLASSIFIES OSD Letter, 5-3-72 WESTERN HEMISPHERE The Army Ground Forces have issued directives for the movement of the 85th Infantry Division (Major General John B. Coulter, commanding) from Fort Dix, New Jersey, to the Hampton Roads Port of Embarkation for further movement overseas. EUROPEAN THEATER 8 During the night of 8-9 October 119 RAF heavy bombers, continuing the Allied attack on Bremen, reported fires still burning. The fact that only three of the British planes on this mission were lost is attributed to the severity of our air battle during the afternoon and indicative of the value of such a cooperative effort. Another raid by 496 RAF aircraft on Hanover that night, on the other hand, cost the British 28 bombers. On 9 October our heavy bombers made their deepest penetration into Germany, attacking aircraft plants at Anklam and Marienburg, also bombing the submarine construction works at Danzig and port facilities at Gdynia. Good bombing results were reported. Although our P-47's provided with- drawal support, our bombers, while unescorted, engaged in many combats with enemy fighters, preliminary reports listing 91 enemy planes de- stroyed; 29 of our bombers have not returned. Medium bombers of our 8th Air Force, escorted by Allied fighters, attacked the enemy airfield at Woensdrecht, Holland; British and Dutch B-25's raided the airdrome at Morlaix. All these planes returned safely. TRIESTE* WILLAN VENICE FILME OREMONA ITALY AND ADJACENT ABOLOGNA AREAS GENOA o 20 40 60 80 IDO SPEZIA RIMINI SCALE OF MILES LEGHORN ELBA BASTIA PALATA CORSICA GUGL IONESI TERMOLI AJACCIO MROME GCHIA VALFORTORE BART MINTURNO GAMPORATTARO ALEMENO TARANTO SARDINIA TYRRHENIAN SEA MESSINA PALERMO CATANIA IONIAN SEA BIZERTE SICILY LICATA PUNIS PANTELLERIA MALTA BASE MAP NO. 2678 (FREE) RBA, oss 11 SEPTEMBER 1943 LITHOGRAPHED, oss b 20° 2º 12" IF 14" 43° 4) Seriez o NET - EASTERN WEDITERRAREAN AREA 8 . 8 800 300 42° 42% 2" 41° Bird) Prom I a 8 THASCO Salanike 00 60° LEMNOS RS 0 I COMPU 0 B. 39* à MYTILENE o P a ELEUSIS - CHICS Supress 36° 30° Allans o Pyrper 1 , $ 8 or 37+ o 37" - DODECANEBE KYTHEM 30° 36° g HERAKLION MIDDLE EASTERN AREA Khenie 38° M* e e a CRETE* SCALE IN sur- PEDIADA KASTELLI 34° 34° 20* El* II" IN HP 85° 26° ET* IF N-UNRKI BECLASSIFIES BRD Letter, 5-3-72 NORTH AFRICAN THEATER One B-25 mission bombed a bridge southeast of Minturno on 8 October. Fighter-bombers destroyed some 20 enemy motor vehicles and also attacked enemy installations in the Palata area. Inclement weather prevented other activity by our air forces. On 9 October, the British Eighth Army made minor gains with the 78th Division pushing west to capture Guglionesi and Larino; the 8 Canadians occupied Colletorto and crossed the Fortore River to capture Macchia Valfortore. On their left, the US 45th Division made corres- ponding gains to capture Campolattaro. MIDDLE EAST-CENTRAL AFRICAN THEATER On 7 and 8 October, the Heraklion airdrome in Crete was attacked by two missions of Allied heavy bombers which dropped some 77 tons of explosives with good effect; 16 B-24's hit the Pediada Kastelli field 8 on that island with 42 tons. Forty-eight B-25's, escorted by 24 P-38's, heavily attacked the Eleusis airdrome in Greece, particularly the hangar area. Six enemy planes were destroyed on the ground. Five, probably six, of 20 to 22 enemy planes intercepting this mission were destroyed and two of our fighters were lost. ASIATIC THEATER On 8 October, nine B-24's of the 14th Air Force, escorted by 20 fighters, released 12 tons of bombs on the Gia Lam airdrome near Hanoi, French Indo-China; hits were observed in the barracks areas and all o 40 80 120 Miles (approximate) MANUS L 9 KAVIENG AITAPE NEW IRELAND b WEWAK BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO MARUI RABAUL River o NUBIA may oMADANG CAPE TALASEA GLOUCESTER OBENA BENA VITIAZ NEW BRITAIN STRAIT GASMATA FINSCHHAFEN HUON GULF "Ki PSALAMAUA KIKORI RIVER KEREMA GULF TROBRIAND IS. OF GONA to BUNA PAPUA KAIRUKU ОКОДА WOODL ARK L DARU GOODENOUGH I. PORT MORESBY FERGUSSON I. RIGO BANARIA NORMANBY I. ale SAMARAI CAPE YORK LOUISIADE PENIN. CORAL SEA ARCHIPELAGO DECLASSIFIES OSD Letter, 5-8-78 planes returned safely. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER 1. Enemy bombers and fighters ineffectively raided Allied positions in the Song River area near Finschhafen during the night of 7-8 October. Antiaircraft installations in New Britain and enemy shipping in the Bismarck area were targets for Allied air missions on 8 October; a 10,000- 8 ton transport was damaged by near misses. 2. On 8 October, four B-25's, escorted by eight New Zealand P-40's, maintained attacks on the Japanese barges off Choiseul. Two enemy bombers were destroyed during the day, one by a search plane, the other by our P-38 patrol. 8 WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 668 0700 October 8 to 0700 October 9, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE US T. Nº Glosgow Capenhogen WEST COASTAL EUROPE 100 100 MILES Hamburg VEGESXOK Bremen EMOEN Berlin Hunder The Hapve London Delping Essen Dresden Brussels St.Orier AIX-LA-CHAPELLE Frankfurt Propuè 0, Le Hard Nuremburge Soorbrucken Metz Paris STUTTGART Rannes Munico Orleans Dijon FRIEDR CHSHAFEN Nontes *Zunich Bern Bolzano Geneve Lyeri Milloh Turin Bordeoux 0° Sº 10º 12° 24-32837ABCB WESTERN HEMISPHERE The Army Ground Forces have issued directives for the movement of the 88th Infantry Division (Major General John E. Sloan, commanding) from Fort Sam Houston, Texas, to the Hampton Roads Port of Embarkation for further movement overseas. EUROPEAN THEATER During the night of 7-8 October, 342 RAF heavy bombers attacked the Stuttgart area; heavy clouds prevented accurate observation of results. Other RAF planes attacked the Friedrichshafen light metal casting works, and targets at Munich, Emden and Aix-la-Chapelle. A mission of 59 bombers laid mines in enemy waters. In these operations nine bombers were lost. On the same night fifty-seven enemy bombers came over England in three missions causing damage and casualties over southern England; fourteen of the bombers reached London. Four of the raiders were destroyed. The following day, 415 of our B-17's and B-24's, escorted by P-47's, attacked an aircraft factory, submarine and destroyer building- yards and port facilities at Bremen, and submarine building-yards at Vegesack. Strong opposition from enemy fighters was encountered, our bombers destroying 130 (probably 180) and our fighters 12 (probably 14); we lost 30 bombers and three fighters. NORTH AFRICAN THEATER 1. It has been determined that in the October 6 raid on Venezia- TRIESTER WILLANT VENICE FUME MESTRE CREMONA ITALY AND ADJACENT MOLOGNA AREAS GENDA o to 40 60 80 100 SPEZIA RIMINI SCALE OF MILES LEGHORN + ELBA BASTIA CORSICA TERMOLI AJACCIO BARI GRAZZANISE TÁRANTO SARDINIA TYRRHENIAN SEA CASCHORI MESSINA PALERMO CATANIA IONIAN SEA BIZERTE SICILY LICATA UNIT "PANTELLERIA MALTA BASE MAP NO. 2672 (FREE) R&A, oss " SEPTEMBER 1943 LITHOGRAPHED. 085 - or à la IF 24° 43° 9 Seles o I il EASTERN WEDITERRAREAN AREA IDO . 8 800 & 42° 1 Aº. " r Bital Dram - - THASOS Salanita 00 I 40° YANNINA NORTH LEMNOS 1 Lerise Home B. à " MITALINE - Improve 38° 30° Altern (yrpes 4) È DUDECAMBRE 0 MARITSA * 34" 38° 35° CRETE 1 1 . PEDIADA KASTELLI 34° 14" 20" : 11" EXP 24° II" If ET* à Mestre our heavy bombers destroyed thirteen enemy fighters. 2. In spite of adverse weather on 7 October, our fighter-bombers, patrolling the battle area, danaged enemy vehicles west of Termoli and destroyed five enemy aircraft for a loss of four of our own number. Three missions were flown by our bombers against the Yannina North airdrome in northwestern Greece. 24 US B-24's dropped 53 tons of bombs accurately on the Pediada Kastelli airdrome in Crete and eleven others put 24 tons on Maritsa airdrome (Rhodes). Allied fighter planes, including US P-38's, shot down six German medium bombers while providing cover for Allied shipping in the Aegean, but lost one British Beaufighter. Enemy bombers attacked Leros seven times during the day. 3. Early on 7 October a German convoy, apparently bound for Leros and consisting of four merchantmen, six landing-craft and escorting vessels, was completely destroyed by naval action off Stampalia. 4. Light artillery and small arms fire from north of the Volturno and Calore Rivers held up our advance in this area on 8 October; minor gains were made at various points along the front. Grazzanise was occu- pied by the Fifth Army. 5. The four berths operating in the port of Naples on 7 October enabled 1,250 tons per day to be moved. By 12 October additional berths will be available and will increase the capacity to 2,750 tons per day; o 40 80 120 Miles (approximate) MANUS L 10 KAVIENG AITAPE NEW IRELAND 0 WEWAK BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO Sepik MARUI RABAUL River o NUBIA UNEA 1. ROOKE L. many bMADANG CAPE TALASEA GLOUCESTER S10 OBENA BENA VITIAZ NEW BRITAIN FINSCHHAFEN STRAIT GASMATA LAE SONG R. HUON GULF SALAMAUA KIKORI WAU RIVER KEREMA GULF TROBRIAND IS. OF GONA 9 9 BUNA PAPUA KAIRUKU e KOKODA WOODLARK L PDARU GOODENOUGH I FERGUSSON I. PORT MORESBY RIGO BANARIA NORMANBY 1. SAMARAI CAPE YORK LOUISIADE PENIN. CORAL SEA ARCHIPELAGO SOLOMON ISLANDS AREA BUKA BONIS TEOP BOUGAINVILLE TENEKOW SOLOMON KIETA Tonolei Hbr. KAMILI BUIN BALLALE CHOISEUL SHORTLAND ISLANDS FAISI KAKASA TREASURY TIMBALA BAY WAGINA VELLA LAVELLA à Rekata Bay KOLOMBANGARA SANTA ISABEL VILA GANONGGA GIZO NEW GEORGIA I. MALAITA ARUNDEL MUNDA TUNNIBULI RENDOVA SEGI Pf. NEW GEORGIA GROUP RUSSELL FLORIDA TULAGE HENDERSON FIELD GUADALCANAL I. SCALE 25 o 25 50 75 100 STATUTE MILES RENNELL DECLASSIFIES OSD Letter, 5-8-78 at that time 134 amphibian 22-ton trucks will be in operation to increase this capacity by about 670 tons daily. MIDDLE EAST-CENTRAL AFRICAN THEATER General Connolly reports that during September 197,430 long tons were delivered to the Soviet Government; 7,660 trucks were assembled for the Soviets during this period. ASIATIC THEATER Four B-25's of the 14th Air Force scored three hits on a ship off the Amoy coast on 7 October leaving the vessel burning and listing. Nine B-24's escorted by 22 fighters bombed the cement plant at Haiphong; photo- graphs show heavy damage. This mission was attacked by 12 Japanese fighters, four (probably five) of which were shot down without loss. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. During the night of 6-7 October, four Australian flying boats started fires along the water front at Ambon. The following day, Allied planes attacked the Cape Gloucester airdrome, buildings on Rooke and Unea Islands, and other targets in the New Britain area, and bombed Sio, in northeastern New Guinea. Weather hampered air activities during 8 October. Five Japanese bombers, escorted by five fighter planes, caused some damage and casualties to our troops along the Song River on 6 October; a similar attack the next day was ineffective. On 8 October DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72, enemy air attacks on Goodenough and Woodlark Islands caused slight damage. 2. On 7 October a force of 24 B-25's, escorted by 14 P-38's, dropped 735 parachute fragmentation bombs on Kahili airfield, obtaining excellent results on parked aircraft. The entire area was heavily machine- gunned and several antiaircraft guns were silenced. Two bombers and one fighter were lost. Army and Navy fighter planes continued their attacks on barges southwest of Choiseul. WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 667 0700 October 7 to 0700 October 8, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE TRIESTE WILLAN HESTRE VENICE FILME CREMONA ITALY AND ADJACENT ABOLOGNA AREAS GENDA o to 40 60 so 100 SPEZIA RIMINI SCALE OF MILES LEGHORN ELBA 1, BASTIA GROSSETO CORSICA TERMOLI AJACCIO MOME VOL TURARA @NEVENTO BARI *PONT CAPUA TARANTO SARDINIA TYRRHENIAN SEA CAGCIERI MESSINA PALERMO CATANIA IONIAN SEA BIZERTE SICILY LICATA TUNIS PANTELLERIA MALTA BASE MAP NO. 2678 (FREE) R&A, oss = SEPTEMBER 1943 LITHOGRAPHED. oss SECTION DECLASSIFIED GBD Letter, 5-3-72 NORTH AFRICAN THEATER 1. On the west flank the enemy has withdrawn to the north bank of the Volturno and Calore Rivers as far inland as Ponte, some eight miles northwest of Benevento; Allied troops occupied Capua on 6 October. The Canadians have also maintained their advance, reaching the Fortore River. Additional reinforcements landed during the night of 5-6 October strengthened the Allied bridgehead at Termoli; fighting on the north flank of the British Eighth Army continued throughout the next two days, the final repulse of a series of enemy counterattacks on 7 October materially improving the situation in this region. 2. At Grosseto airdrome Wellington bombers dropped 82 tons of high explosives on the night of 5-6 October. They hit dispersed enemy aircraft, hangars, and an oil dump; 11 to 15 enemy planes were seen burn- ing on the ground. The next day our B-17's used 126 tons of bombs on the enemy railroad yards at Mestre, northwest of Venice, causing con- siderable damage to rolling stock, the engine shops, the chemical plant, and nearby industrial buildings. Some 25 to 30 enemy fighters inter- cepted and destroyed two of our bombers; claims of enemy aircraft shot down have not yet been determined. Our medium bombers dropped more than 250 tons of explosives on enemy lines of communication serving the battle area; three of our planes are missing and three others crash- landed. Allied light bombers and fighters continued to concentrate on enemy motor transportation, and patrolled the Naples and Termoli areas; - NO* à 22" IF (4* 43" 43% Serfye 0 SINET - EASTERN WEDITERRAREAN AREA IQO . 8 800 - 42° 42% - è à & any - 41° 1 1 THASOS Salenita P4 Somethroke 40" LEMNOS Thinks compu PLanise 9 R 39° 30° MYTILENE Segne 0 - CHICS 38° 30° Athers ARAXOS DANTE Pyrges 9 *) , SYROS 37* 37" $ MARITSA DODECANEBE KYTHERA 30° 14* MIDDLE EASTERN AREA Rhenie MP 35° # so 00 CRETE -MACE - MILES -- PEDIADA KASTELLI 34° 3. 20* BP : 8 24" ES* E?" II - SHANGHA Hongchow Wenchow DHARGSHA bchow Amoy Swetow HONGKONG o 50 100 150 200 Pakhoi MILES RANO Hsi-ying 2 Halphong MAP NO. 2437 (FREE) COMPILED AND DRAWN IN THE BRANCH OF RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS, oss 24 JUNE 1943 PRINTED IN THE REPRODUCTION BRANCH, OSS MUSSAU 1. o 40 80 120 Miles (opproximate) MANUS L 10 KAVIENG AITAPE NEW IRELAND o WEWAK BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO MARIA RABAUL River 10 NUBIA nway omadang CAPE PTALASEA GLOUCESTER NEW GUINEA DUMPU OBENA BENA VITIAZ NEW BRITAIN FINSCHHAFEN STRAIT GASMATA MUON GULF SALAMAUA KIKORI RIVER KEREMA GULF TROBRIAND IS. OF GONA © BUNA PAPUA KAIRUKU o KOKODA WOODL ARK 1. DARU GOODENOUGH L PORT MORESBY FERGUSSON I. RIGO BANARIA NORMANBY 1. SAMARAI CAPE YORK LOUISIADE CORAL SEA ARCHIPELAGO PENIN. DECLASSIFIED DSD Letter, 5-3-72 they also attacked the Araxos airdrome in Greece where six of twenty enemy aircraft on the ground were claimed destroyed. Bad weather hampered air activity during 7 October. MIDDLE EAST-CENTRAL AFRICAN THEATER On the night of 5-6 October, Allied aircraft damaged the Maritsa and Calato airfields (Rhodes), the Pediada Kastelli airdrome in Crete and the harbor of Syros. At noon the next day some 52 enemy bombers attacked Leros; one (probably three) were destroyed by antiaircraft fire. ASIATIC THEATER Escorted B-25's of the 14th Air Force severely damaged enemy storage facilities at Shihhweiyao on 5 October; all planes returned safely. Seven P-40's destroyed two bombers and probably a fighter of 48 Japanese aircraft intercepted east of the Chinese airfield at Suichwan on 7 October. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. Allied patrols, operating north and west of Dumpu on 6 October, reported no contact with the enemy. Northwest of Finschhafen the Japanese, withdrawing to the west, were leaving much equipment and many dead. Attacks by our aircraft on enemy barge traffic along the New Britain and New Guinea coasts were maintained, and a B-24 left a small cargo vessel in flames north of Mussau Island. SECRET 20' 40' 157° 20' 40' 158° TIMBALA BAY 40 NEW GEORGIA GROUP 40 VELLA LAVELLA I. BAGA K KOLOMBANGARA 8° GANONGGA a. 8° GIZO 1. VILA ARENDEL WANAWANA 20 GEORGIA 20 RENDOVA CHOISEUL 1. VANGUNU I. 40 TETIPARI 1. GATUKAI SOLOMON ISLANDS o 15 30 45 if E IF I 5 9° SCALE IN MILES SCALE IN MILES 24-37832ABC 20' 40' 158° 2. Our 25th Division occupied Vila on 6 October without opposition. A New Zealand Combat Team, advancing 600 yards in the Timbala Bay section on Vella Lavella, caused heavy enemy casualties. Allied reconnaissance aircraft machine-gunned barges and storage points on western Choiseul, and destroyed a Japanese medium bomber northeast of the island. WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 666 0700 October 6 to 0700 October 7, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE DECLASSIFIED 089 Letter, 5-3-72 TRIESTER WILAN VENICE FILME CREMONA ITALY AND ADJACENT FROLOGNA AREAS GENOA o 20 40 60 so IDO SPEZIA RIMINI SCALE OF MILES LEGHORN a ELBA 1) BASTIA s SERNIA CORSICA TERMOLI AJACCIO AROME BARI FORMIA MIGNANO TARANTO SARDINIA TYRRHENIAN SEA CAGCIERI MESSINA PALERMO CATANIA IONIAN SEA BIZERTE SICILY LICATA RUNIS PANTELLERIA MALTA BASE MAP NO. 2672 (FREE) R&A, oss 28 SEPTEMBER 1943 LITHOGRAPHED, oss DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 WESTERN HEMISPHERE The Army Ground Forces have issued directives for the movements of the 9th Armored Division (Major General John W. Leonard, commanding) from Camp Young, California, to Camp Polk, Louisiana, and the 11th Armored Division (Major General Edward H. Brooks, commanding) from Camp Barkeley, Texas, to Camp Young, California. EUROPEAN THEATER PARTICIPATED 1. On 4 October, carrier-borne aircraft from the USS Ranger carried IN out a successful attack on enemy shipping near Bodo, Norway. Preliminary reports indicate nine merchant ships, including an 8,000-ton oil tanker, and two small cargo vessels were damaged; three aircraft were lost in this attack. Later in the day two enemy aircraft were shot down while shadowing our fleet. 2. 8th Air Force planes destroyed 72 (probably 100) enemy air- craft during the week ending 3 October for a loss from all causes of seven B-17's, one B-26, and one P-47. UK-based RAF planes accounted for 55 (probably 60) more for a loss of 105 of their aircraft. NORTH AFRICAN THEATER 1. German planes made a low-level attack on an Allied convoy off Cape Tenes, Algeria, on 4 October, probably employing rocket- propelled glider bombs. One ship was sunk and three others damaged. SECRET - 20° of 22° IF 24* 43º 43th Selye o à NET - EASTERN WESTERMAREAN AREA IQ0 e B aoo 300 42° T 42% - è Dram / 4° BND 4º 0 S THASOS I 04 Samethrake 40° 40° LEWNOS 0 Thinks CORPU Larias - B 19* 39° MYTILENE I ELEUSIS D TO - IRFIELD CHIOS - DEPNALOMIA 30° 38° Allans ARGOS 0 ZANTE Pyrgea AIRFIELD - 0 FEMOS & & , 8 a ? 37* o S7* NAMOS 1 $ - a DODECANESE KYTHERA 0 36° 36° Corpothos MIDDLE EASTERN AREA. MP à o so IDO CRETE SCALE 18 MILES MP 34° 20* BI* II" EN 24" 05° N° 17" IF SECTION DECLASSIFIES OSD Letter, 5-8-72 2. During the night of 4-5 October, 50 Wellingtons bombed the Formia road junction. The following day, 124 B-17's dropped more than 367 tons of bombs on the Bologna railway yards, leaving the target well covered and setting fire to an oil storage depot; of 25 to 30 enemy aircraft encountered, eight (probably 13) were destroyed for a loss of one B-17. The enemy's lines of communication were attacked in the Formia, Isernia and Mignano areas by 110 medium bombers; fighter bombers destroyed 56 motor vehicles in the Isernia area and damaged 30 others, as well as two trains. In a successful attack on the Argos airfield, Greece, 47 B-25's escorted by 39 P-38's scored hits on parked aircraft and started several fires; one P-38 is missing. 3. On 5 October units on the north flank of the British Eighth Army, counterattacked by enemy infantry and armor in the Biferno River valley, south of Termoli, fell back to protect their artillery positions. MIDDLE EAST-CENTRAL AFRICAN THEATER Forty-eight US B-24's dropped over 60 tons of explosives and incendiaries on the Eleusis airdrome near Athens, on 5 October, hitting the dispersal areas, hangars and runways. Six (probably seven) of 30 to 35 intercepting enemy fighters were destroyed; three B-24's were shot down. Three enemy bombing attacks on Lero were reported during the day. SHAMPS SHWEBO CHITTAGONG YWATAUNG SUGA CNG MANDALAY THEDAY EMERICA ROYAN AKYAB BAY PROME OF INSE IN BENGAL WASSEIN RANGOON MOULMEIN YE TAVOY BANOKOK 50 0 100 200 MILES BASE MAP NO. 2447 (FREE) RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS BRANCH oss 28 JUNE 1943 LITHOGRAPHED IN THE REPRODUCTION BRANCH oss o 40 80 120 Miles (opproximote) MANUS I, 10 KAVIENG AITAPE NEW IRELAND 0 WEWAK BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO Sepik MARUI RABAUL River o o NUBIA BOGADJIM ASTROLABE BAY nwed bMADANG CAPE TALASEA GLOUCESTER VITIAZ NEW DUMPU BRITAIN OBENA BENA HUON PENIN STRAIT GASMATA FINSCHHAFEN OLAE HUON GULF SALAMAUA KIKORI RIVER KEREMA GULF TROBRIAND 15. OF GONA o BUNA PAPUA KAIRUKU KOKODA WOODL ARK 1. THE D DARU SAP RANOE GOODENOUGH 1. FERGUSSON I. PORT MORESBY RIGO BANARIA NORMANBY I. -14 SAMARAI CAPE YORK LOUISIADE PENIN. CORALSEA ARCHIPELAGO DECLASSIFIED 08D Letter, 5-3-72 ASIATIC THEATER 1. On 3 October, 12 B-25's of the 10th Air Force dropped 15 tons of bombs on the Ywataung and Sagaing railroad yards and on warehouses at, Myingyan. The Shwebo railroad yards were also attacked by 10 B-25's with excellent results. The following day, 22 B-24's bombed a dredger, docks and wharves at Insein and Rangoon. On 5 October, 10 B-25's bombed the railroad yards at Meiktila and a large building northeast of Thedaw. 2. On 5 October, three waves of enemy planes, totalling approximately 50, were intercepted approaching Kweilin airfield; one (probably three) of the enemy fighters were destroyed. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. In the Ramu River Valley Allied forces occupied Dumpu and Wampun (six miles to the east), on 5 October. An enemy counterattack northwest of Finschhafen was repulsed. Eleven B-25's bombed and machine- gunned targets along the northern coast of the Huon Peninsula; our heavy and medium bombers destroyed two large warehouses, attacked coastal villages and stores and damaged a bridge in the Bogadjim region. Other Allied planes shot down an enemy reconnaissance bomber over Astrolabe Bay, bombed a jetty and buildings at Kokas and started fires at Bira on the north coast of MacCluer Gulf (western New Guinea). Six enemy planes bombed Kiriwina (Trobriand Is.) causing some casualties and slight damage. SOLOMON ISLANDS AREA BUKA ONIS TEOP BOUGAINVILLE TENEKOW SOLOMON KIETA Tonolei Hbr. KAHILI BUIN BALLALE CHOISEUL SHORTLAND ISLANDS o FAISI KAKASA TREASURY WAGINA VELLA LAVELLA à Rehata Bay KOLOMBANGARA SANTA ISABEL VILAESTANMORE GANONGGA GIZO NEW GEORGIA I. MALAITA ARUNDEL MUNDA TUNNIBULI RENDOVA SEGI PT. NEW GEORGIA GROUP RUSSELL FLORIDA TULAGI HENDERSON FIELD GUADALCANAL I, SCALE 25 0 25 50 75 100 STATUTE MILES RENNELL DECLASSIFIED 08D better, 5-3-72 2. Twenty-three escorted B-24's, on 4 October, dropped 650 frag- mentation clusters on Kahili airfield on Bougainville Island, destroying an unspecified number of planes on the ground. Of 20 to 30 attacking Japanese planes, nine were destroyed. The next day P-39's destroyed 17 barges off the west coast of Choiseul Island. One Japanese plane was shot down over Choiseul Island, and another was shot down northeast of Santa Isabel Island. Patrols on Kolombangara reported the Vila and Stanmore areas completely evacuated. WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 665 0700 October 5 to 0700 October 6, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 9 = Mº MP Glosgow Capenhogen WEST COASTAL EUROPE 100 100 SOALE MA Hamburg Bremen Berlin Hander The Nape London Ce/prig Essen Dresden Brussels St.Orier WIESBAOEN Frankfurt Progue 0, LA Horrd Nuremburge CODE SHAFEN Searbrucken Metz Paris Rennes Munico Orleans Dijon Nontes *Zurich Barn, Bolzano Lyon Milch Turin OF 10° MP BOLZANO TRIESTE. MIAMI VENICE FILME CREMONA ITALY AND ADJACENT SBOLOGNA AREAS GENOA to 40 so so 100 SPEZIA RIMINI to SCALE OF MILES PISA LEGHORN B A 4 ELBA BASTIA all CORSICA SERNIA TERMOLI AJACCIO WOME HIGHEN CELENZA 8 MARCO BARI TERRACINA R INVENTO AVERSA MONTESARCHIO MADDALONI FARANTO AIROLA SARDINIA TYRRHENIAN SEA CASC MESSINA PALERMO CATANIA IONIAN SEA BIZERTE SICILY LICATA BUNIS @PANTELLERIA MALTA BASE MAP NO. 2678 (FREE) R&A DSS 20 SEPTEMBER 1943 LITHOGRAPHED, OSS DECLASSIFIER OSD Letter, 5-8-72 EUROPEAN THEATER The British followed up the 8th Air Force attack on Frankfurt with another heavy raid by 409 RAF bombers on the night of 4-5 October, while 66 others bombed Ludwigshafen. From these operations 12 RAF planes are missing. Three B-17's, dispatched in conjunction with the RAF raid on Frankfurt, dropped leaflets and bombs on Wiesbaden; one B-17 failed to return. 1 NORTH AFRICAN THEATER During the night of 3-4 October and the following day, Allied medium bombers and fighters hit two vessels at Bastia in Corsica and destroyed six grounded airplanes and started large fires at the Argos airdrome in Greece. Others over Italy attacked an overpass at Mignano, the road junction at Terracina and railroad installations at Isernia. Formations of some 60 B-17's bombed the yards at Pisa and the railroad bridge at Bolzano; four (probably eight) intercepting enemy planes were destroyed. Our fighters and fighter-bombers patrolled the battle areas attacking enemy communications. One of ten enemy planes operating over the Termoli area was destroyed, and French P-39's, on convoy escort near Oran, shot down three of 14 enemy bombers encountered for a loss of one P-39. On the east, the Canadian Division of the British XIII Corps pushed beyond Castelnuovo to Celenza on 4 October. Additional troops were landed at Termoli. one à ail a - AND - ... all of at * - spa - CRETE 5 0 - « - MIDDLE EASTERN AREA HERAKLION AIRFIELD « - 0 D $ a +25 a is t ( AIRFIELD add JUNE ARGOS - - + somo - TATOI AIRFIELD a I INSTILLAR - R + B - aun I D SONWERT à - 00 REVENUES SOSVIAL - " I INVE -19 - - de DOE OOB 8 6 DDI VIST - - - - - - at 41 is all - o 40 80 120 Milles (approximate) MANUS I, 10 KAVIENG AITAPE e NEW IRELAND b WEWAK BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO Sepik MARUI RABAUL River 0 o NUBIA GAROVE 1. nuod MADANG CAPE PTALASEA GLOUCESTER KAIGUL IN VITIAZ NEW BRITAIN OBENA SENA STRAIT GASMATA FINSCHHAFEN HUON GULF PSALAMAUA KIKOWS KEREMA RIVER GULF TROBRIANO IS. OF GONA D BUNA PAPUA KAIRUKU KOKODA WOODL ARK L DARU GOODENOUGH 1. FERGUSSON L PORT MORESBY RIGO BANARIA NORMANBY I. ale SAMARAI CAPE YORK LOUISIADE PENIN. CORAL SEA ARCHIPELAGO 9r DECLASSIFIED DSD Letter, 5-3-72 The Fifth Army made substantial gains on 4 and 5 October. Units of the US VI Corps captured Montesarchio, Airola and advanced northwest of Benevento. Leading elements of the British X Corps were at Aversa with patrols covering the Volturno River at its mouth. MIDDLE EAST-CENTRAL AFRICAN THEATER Communications with the island of Cos ceased on 4 October. Forty-four B-24's bombed Tatoi (Menidi) airfield near Athens on 4 October, scoring hits on the runway, dispersal areas, and adminis- trative buildings and setting fire to 12 grounded airplanes. Three German medium bombers attacked Leros harbor; no details were reported. ASIATIC THEATER Eighteen Japanese bombers attacked our field at Kweilin on 4 October but caused no damage. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. On 4 October, Allied patrols made contact with the enemy several miles north of Finschhafen. Australian forces 50 miles south of Madang have occupied Kaigulin, and are in contact with the enemy there. Allied planes over New Britain successfully bombed a dump and camp area, bombed and machine-gunned villages and set fire to a barge. Our planes also forced a small vessel to run aground, machine- gunned barges and destroyed buildings in the nearby Garove Island area. An Australian Catalina bombed the waterfront area at Pomelaa, in the SOLOMON ISLANDS AREA BUKA DIONIS TEOP BOUGAINVILLE TENEKOW SOLOMON KIETA Tonolei Hbr. KAHILI BUIN BALLALE CHOISEUL SHORTLAND ISLANDS e FAISI KAKASA TREASURY WAGINA VELLA LAVELLA Rehala Bay KOLOMBANGARA SANTA ISABEL BARAKOMA VILA GANONGGA GIZO NEW GEORGIA I. MALAITA ARUNDEL MUNDA TUNNIBULI RENDOVA SEGI Pf. NEW GEORGIA GROUP RUSSELL FLORIDA TULAGE HENDERSON FIELD GUADALCANAL I. SCALE 25 o 25 50 75 100 STATUTE MILES RENNELL + DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 Celebes. 2. During the night of 2-3 October, the Munda landing strip on New Georgia, and the north Barakoma strip on Vella Lavella were sub- jected to enemy air attacks; no damage or casualties were reported. On 3 October, seven Navy fighters engaged between 40 and 50 Japanese planes over Vella Lavella Island, destroying six for a loss of one Navy fighter. Other fighters and bombers attacked barges and barge coves in the Kolombangara-Choiseul area. Ground patrols operating on southern Kolombangara report that the enemy has evacuated the Vila Plantation area. In northwest- ern Vella Lavella, Allied forces have dispersed enemy machine gun positions, our artillery concentrating on successive enemy points with excellent results. 3. General Harmon reports that during the month of September, Allied air forces in his area destroyed 162 enemy planes in combat for a loss of 41 of their own; our planes also sank two destroyers, two cargo ships, and destroyed 39 barges. WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 664 0700 October 4 to 0700 October 5, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 50 45 40 35 25 300 400 15 20 100 - 200 SCALE IN MILES o 15 o HANOVER KASSEL FRANKFURT HEIDELBERG COLOGNE SAARBRUCKEN 10 D 10 HANAU 5 5 I AIX-LA-CHAPELLE o ST. DIZIER 0538 DO 1 o d 5 5 10 / 15 IO 50 45 40 35 24-33868 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 TRIESTER EMILANT VENICE FUNE OREMONA ITALY AND ADJACENT BOLOGNA AREAS GENDA o 20 40 60 80 100 SPEZIA RIMINI SCALE OF MILES LEGHORN to ELBA BASTIA are CORSICA TERMOLI AJACCIO CIVITAVECCHIA BAN BARTOLOMEO BARLETTA BARI SAN CROCE MONTECALVO TARANTO TORRE ANNUNZIATA SARDINIA TYRRHENIAN SEA CAGLING MESSINAS PALERMO CATANIA IONIAN SEA BIZERTE SICILY LICATA UNIS "PANTELLERIA MALTA BASE MAP NO. 2672 (FREE) R&A, oss 20 SEPTEMBER 1943 LITHOGRAPHED. oss DECLASSIFIED @SD Letter, 5-3-72 EUROPEAN THEATER Factories making airplane parts at Frankfurt, the city itself, Saarbrucken, Heidelberg, Hanau and the enemy airfield at St. Dizier were attacked on 4 October by 322 B-17's; 38 B-24's flew their initial battle mission as a diversion in the direction of the Dutch coast. 555 tons of explosives and 290 tons of incendiaries were dropped; subsequent reconnaissance reported Frankfurt to be burning. Excellent fighter support to the extent of their range was furnished by 245 P-47's and several squadrons of Spitfires. Strong fighter opposition was encountered; 75 (probably 100) enemy aircraft were destroyed in combat for a loss of 16 of our heavy bombers. During the night of 3-4 October 540 RAF heavy bombers successfully attacked Kassel, encountering considerable antiaircraft fire and some night fighters. Twenty-four RAF aircraft are missing. Minor raids were made on Hanover, Cologne and Aix-la-Chapelle. NORTH AFRICAN THEATER 1. On the night of 2-3 October a British brigade landed at Termoli and by the next morning had captured that port, repulsed a counterattack and made contact with other elements of the British XIII Corps advanc- ing on the south. S. Bartolomeo was occupied, the enemy withdrawal continuing to San Croce. The US 45th Division pushed north of Montecalvo. Elsewhere the Fifth Army made small gains along its entire front. & IF à II" IF 24" - 43° 43% Serfyer o à NET - EASTERN WEDITERRANEAN AREA 8 e 8 800 300 42° | 1 42% - from - è 236° ET* 41° Drame / Bind - 0 s THASOS Salanika 2 on 40" 40° LEMNOS 4 Thinks CORPU Larias 0 Holder B. 39° 39° NYTILENE Some D - OHIOS 38* à Allent o I DANTE Pyrges 1 0 TENOS 1 ? & Ratemate PAROS o ST* 4 (d) D DODECANESE KYTHERA 0 I Xº 34° HERAKLION AIRFIELD MIDDLE EASTERN AREA Khana IF à to o so 8 CRETE SCALE IN MILES - 34° 34° 20* : II" è : 25" 06* E7" If DEOLASSIFIED 03D Letter, 5-8-78 2. Bastia has been taken by the Allies; the last of the German force on Corsica is embarking 12 miles to the north. 3. On 3 October, our medium and fighter-bombers heavily attacked roads and bridges north of Naples, dropping more than 130 tons of bombs. Five, probably nine, enery planes were destroyed in combat for a loss of three B-25's and three P-38's. That night three of our planes were lost in an attack on the Civitavecchia railroad yards. 4. Casualties of the Fifth Army as reported on 3 October were: British X Corps--killed 976, wounded 4005, missing 2227; US VI Corps-- killed 511, wounded 5428, missing 2368. 5. Five berths are now available for the use of our ships in Barletta harbor; the port of Naples sustained less damage than was anticipated. Torre Annunziata port facilities were operating on 3 October. MIDDLE EAST-CENTRAL AFRICAN THEATER During 3 October approximately 2,000 Germans including paratroopers and tank units landed on Cos Island, bringing their total strength to about 3,000. They probably captured the Antimachia airfield and the town of Cos. British reinforcements have landed; Italian troops are also opposing the Germans. Beaufighters scored numerous cannon strikes on enemy shipping off Cos during the day and destroyed two of three intercepting enemy aircraft; five Beaufighters are missing. That night CHITTAGONG* MANDABAT SAGATH AKYAB - BAY PROM OF BENGAL ASSEIN BANGOON MOULMEIN YE TAVOY BANSKOK 50 o 100 200 MILES BASE MAP NO. 2447 (FREE) RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS BRANCH oss 20 JUNE 1943 LITHOGRAPHED IN THE REPRODUCTION BR ANCH 085 DECLASSIFIES 08D Letter, 5-8-78' British bombers effectively attacked the Heraklion airdrome in Crete. ASIATIC THEATER 1. On 3 October, a 10th Air Force mission of 26 B-24's successfully attacked targets in the Rangoon area, hitting a freighter and the rail- road. Two intercepting enemy planes were destroyed. Ten B-25's bombed the Sagaing railroad junction, destroying rolling stock and starting fires in nearby stores. Our P-LO's harassed railroad facilities at Namti and attacked other towns in northern Burma. 2. 14th Air Force fighter planes attacked Kiukiang, in the Lake Tungting area, on 3 October, scoring hits on the docks and damaging a gunboat. Tengchung was bombed by B-24's on routine ferry trips. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. Weather interfered with air operations on 3 October in the Southwest Pacific area. One B-24 destroyed an antiaircraft position at Cape Gloucester airdrome. In the northwestern area, flying boats, unable to attack Ambon, bombed various points in the islands closer to Australia. Two Dutch B-25's raided enemy-held villages in the Wissel Lake area of western New Guinea. 2. During the nights of 1 and 2 October, our destroyers sank or badly damaged at least 40 enemy barges attempting to evacuate enemy troops from the north end of Kolombangara Island. On 3 October, Allied DECLASSIFIER OSD Letter, 6-8-78 forces captured Japanese machine gun positions in northwestern Vella Lavella. Forty-three Army and Navy bombers effectively attacked enemy positions in western Kolombangara Island. WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 663 0700 October 3 to 0700 October 4, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 55 50 45 15 15 O & OI 10 EMDEN AMSTEBDAM-SCHIPOL VOENSORECHT 08 5 50 100 150 200 o SCALE IN MILES BEAUVAIS-TILLE 5' HAAMSTEDE (o PARIS o o ST. OMER o o O 8 ID 5 50 45 24-33868 DECLASSIFIER ORD Letter, 5-3-78 EUROPEAN THEATER Further reports of the bombing of Emden on 2 October state that the 8th Air Force dispatched 691 airplanes across the Channel. Included in this force were 373 heavy bombers, 72 medium bombers and 246 fighters; in nine minutes 352 B-17's dropped 1,011 tons of bombs including 204 tons of incendiaries on the target area. Completely overcast weather prevented accurate observation of results. Our aircraft shot down 19 (probably 27) enemy interceptors for a loss of two B-17's. The remaining 21 heavy bombers flew a diversionary mission over the Antwerp area without dropping bombs. The 2 October B-26 mission to St. Omer, consisted of 72 escorted bombers; their attack was relatively ineffective on account of the weather. On 3 October, 8th Air Force medium bombers, escorted by Allied fighters, attacked airfields at Woensdrecht, Haamstede and Amsterdam- Schipol in Holland and at Beauvais-Tillé, France. The fighter escort' claims 14 enemy fighters destroyed for a loss of two of their own number. Additional sweeps over northern France and Belgium were made by US P-47's. NORTH AFRICAN THEATER During the night of 1-2 October, 30 British Wellingtons dropped 52 tons of bombs on the Grazzanise area in addition to the Formia mission reported yesterday; four of the bombers are missing. SHANGHAI Hongchow Changlu Ning -p.d. Kiskieng Yo-yang CHUNGKING Non-ch'ong Wenchow CHANGSHA K LENOW Frochow Amoy Swdiow CAN HONGKONG o 50 100 150 200 Pakhoi RANOI " Hai-ying 2 MILES Halphong MAP NO. 2437 (FREE) COMPILED AND DRAWN IN THE BRANCH OF RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS, oss 24 JUNE 1943 PRINTED IN THE REPRODUCTION BRANCH, oss ALON CHITTAGONG MONYWA MANDA THNIZ AKYAS BAY RAMREE 1. PROM OF BENGAL ASSEIN RANGOON MOULMEIN YE - TAVOYO BANSKOX so 0 100 200 MILES BASE MAP NO. 2447 (FREE) RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS BRANCH oss 28 JUNE 1943 LITHOGRAPHED IN THE REPRODUCTION BR ANCH 055 - 20° is à 23° 24" - 43° 43% Selye o - MILT I EASTERN WEDITERRANEAN AREA 8 # 8 ano 300 42° 1 e E" 41° Dram / and 1 THASOS Salanita I 04 40* 40° LEMNOS Publicie CORPU Larise 0 abide B 39* 39° MYTILENE Some D P 0 Auto CHIOS Segree CEPHALONIA 38° N° Altens o AMEROS DANTE Pyrper - 0 & , 8 a e 37+ PAROS o SP* I a 0 KYTHERA 36° 36° MIDDLE EASTERN AREA 38° 35° o to 8 CRETE* SCALE IN MILES - 34° M* 20* : 22" 23° 24° à 26° ET* IF n-unsio TRIESTE* WILAN VENICE FILME CREMORA ITALY AND ADJACENT ABOLOGNA AREAS GENOA 0 20 40 60 80 100 SPEZIA RIMINI SCALE OF MILES LEGHORN + ELBA BASTIA s CORSICA TERMOLI AJACCIO BROWN CASTELNUOVA BARI GRAZZANISE ENEVENTO AFRAGOLA TARANTO SARDINIA TYRRHENIAN SEA MESSINA PALERMO CATANIA IONIAN SEA BIZERTE SICILY LICATA MUNIS *PANTELLERIA MALTA BASE MAP NO. 2672 (FREE) R&A, oss 28 SEPTEMBER 1943 LITHOGRAPHED, CSS DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 The following day our aircraft harassed traffic behind the enemy's lines. Eight Allied fighters intercepted nine enemy aircraft and destroyed three. During the rainy afternoon of 2 October US patrols entered Benevento, and other elements of the Fifth Army occupied Nola and Afragola. Further east the British 78th and the Canadian 1st Divisions made minor gains north and south of Castelnuovo which was still held by the enemy. The enemy withdrawal continues. MIDDLE EAST-CENTRAL AFRICAN THEATER A German landing on Cos Island during the night of 2-3 October included troops and tanks. Heavy fighting is reported with the enemy having local air advantage. ASIATIC THEATER 1. 10th Air Force operations for 1 October included an attack by ten B-24's on buildings and boat landings at the Bassein jetties (another B-24 bombed Kyaukpyu on Ramree Island) and two heavy raids by a total of 23 B-25's on the Thazi railroad junction; hits were scored on yards, rolling stock and nearby barracks. Ten P-40's bombed and machine-gunned Namtu. The following day, 20 medium bombers dropped 21 tons of explosives on Monywa and Alon scoring hits on warehouses. 2. On 2 October, five P-40's of the 14th Air Force attacked shipping at Kiukiang. Six Japanese aircraft put 20 bombs on our SOLOMON ISLANDS AREA CAPE HENPAN UKA BONIS TEOP BOUGAINVILLE TENEKOW SOLOMON KIETA Tonolei Hbr. KAHILI BUIN BALLALE CHOISEUL SHORTLAND ISLANDS e FAISI KAKASA TREASURY WAGINA JAVA VELLA LAVELLA Rekata Bay KOLOMBANGARA SANTA ISABEL VILA GANONGGA GIZO NEW GEORGIA I. MALAITA ARUNDEL MUNDA TUNNIBULI RENDOVA SEGI Pt. NEW GEORGIA GROUP RUSSELL FLORIDA TULAGE HENDERSON FIELD GUADALCANAL I. SCALE 25 0 25 50 75 100 STATUTE MILES RENNELL MUSSAU 1. o 40 80 120 Miles (approximate) MANUS L 9 KAVIENG AITAPE NEW IRELAND D WEWAK BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO MARUI RABAUL River o NUBIA GAROVE 1. CAPE HENPAN ROOKE 1. many MADANG CAPE TALASEA GLOUCESTER VINCKE PT DUMPU VITIAZ NEW BRITAIN ©BENA BENA STRAIT GASMATA FINSCHHAFEN HUON GULF PSALAMAUA KIKONI KEREMA RIVER GULF TROBRIAND IS. GONA OF o BUNA PAPUA KAIRUKU KOKODA WOODL ARK L DARU GOODENOUGH I. - FERGUSSON I, PORT MORESBY RIGO BANARIA NORMANBY I, 0.14 SAMARAI LOUISIADE CAPE YORK ARCHIPELAGO PENIN. CORALSEA DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 airfields at Kienow (northwest of Foochow). PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. On 2 October Allied patrols moving up the Ramu valley were approaching Dumpu; this, together with the successful occupation of Finschhafen, insures our control of Huon Gulf and outflanks all enemy centers between Finschhafen and Madang. At noon Ambon was attacked by 12 B-24's which caused heavy damage. Nine B-24's machine-gunned a village near Talasea, New Britain, and B-24's on individual missions bombed Garove and Rooke Islands and secured a direct hit on a vessel, probably a destroyer, west of Cape Henpan. 2. On 28 September, the enemy dropped rations by parachute near Java on the northeast coast of Vella Lavella. On 2 October, after an artillery preparation, our forces made a small advance against enemy positions on northwest Vella Lavella. WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 662 0700 October 2 to 0700 October 3, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 55 50 45 15 15 8 10 10 ENDEN 80 5 50 Ю0 150 200 . SCALE IN MILES 9 o o o . ST. OMER o o o 8 DD 5 50 45 24-33868 DECLASSIFIED 0SD Letter, 5-8-78 TRIESTE. VENICE FILME CREMONA" ITALY AND ADJACENT SBOLOGNA AREAS GENOA 0 10 40 60 so 100 SPEZIA RIMINI SCALE OF MILES LEGHORN ELBA BASTIA air OLETTA CORSICA TERMOLI AJACCED CHIENT I SERRACAPRIOLA BARI FORMIA AFRAGOLA TARANTO en SARDINIA TYRRHENIAN SEA - MESSINA PALERMO DATANIA IONIAN SEA BIZERTE SICILY LICATA TUNIS @PANTELLERIA MALTA BASE MAP NO. 2672 (FREE) R&A, oss 20 SEPTEMBER 1943 LITHOGRAPHED, oss DECLASSIFIES QSD Letter, 5-8-72 EUROPEAN THEATER B-17's of the 8th Air Force and escorting P-47's returned to Germany on 2 October to bomb Emden; during this mission a total of 19 enemy fighters were destroyed. Our escorted B-26's bombed the St. Omer-Longuenesse airdrome in France. From these operations two of our heavy bombers are missing. NORTH AFRICAN THEATER The advance of the Allied forces in the Naples area on 1 October, carried them on to Afragola. In the east, Allied armored units have driven the enemy from the Serracapriola-Chieuti area; the new positions of our forward elements in that vicinity have not been re- ported. In Corsica the enemy was driven from Oletta on 30 September; Allied forces were reported four miles northwest of Bastia on 1 October. A delayed air report for 30 September states that French Spitfires based in Corsica shot down two German six-motored transport airplanes, and four other enemy aircraft. Weather greatly handicapped air missions during the night of 30 September and the next day. However, 37 British bombers dropped 60 tons of explosives on roads near Formia, medium bombers of our Tactical Air Force attacked bridges and railroad yards near Benevento, and fighter bombers destroyed or damaged some 70 motor vehicles. Eight B-17's bombed a road at Leghorn and a barge convoy off Corsica. I $ 20° in à IF 24° 43+ 43% Sefre o à NIET - EASTERN WEDITERRAREAN AREA 8 . 8 800 R 42° - VALES T 42% I a Drom information 4/º Bills) 4P a 8 THASCS Salenita 2 04 Somethrate 40* 40° LEMNOS CORPU D Lerrise 0 voice 02 39° " MYTLENE Sepres LEUGAR 0 - CHIOS CEPHALONÍA 3 SI* Allen AMDROS ENITE Pyrps SYROS 1 P TENOS 9 & 52 P & SIPHNOS & Bertahes PMIDS o 37* NAMES 4 ANTIPAROS MORGOS 105 o SIKINOS 1 DODECANESE KYTHERA THIRA ANAF 0 RHODES * 36° Carpathes MIDDLE EASTERN AREA Rhenie MP 35° a 0 so ao CRETE SOLLE IN MILES is M° 20* à II* or 24° 25" 28" EP* IF REGLASSIFIER 060 Lotter, 5-8-72 Still incomplete reports on the heavy bomber missions against Germany and Austria on that day list three B-17's and 23 B-24's as destroyed or missing. Our B-17's claim eight (probably 13) enemy aircraft destroyed; our B-24 claims have not yet been received. MIDDLE EAST-CENTRAL AFRICAN THEATER In the Aegean Sea, the islands of Nakos, Paros, Antiparos, Tinos, Sikinos, Amorgos, Ios, Anaf, Thira and Siphnos were reported free of Germans on 27 September. However, the enemy is reported to have visited some of these islands during 22-23 September. On the latter date Siros appeared to be garrisoned by Germans. ASIATIC THEATER On 1 October, 21 B-24's of the 14th Air Force escorted by a like number of fighters successfully hit the power plant, docks and ware- houses at Haiphong with 50 tons of explosives; in addition they shot down 30, probably 42, enemy airplanes, the greater part of those attempting interception. Our loss was three P-40's. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS On 1 October, Allied forces had advanced to within one-half mile west of Finschhafen after inflicting heavy casualties. Our forces moving along the north shore of Huon Gulf had reached the south shore of Langemak Bay. MUSSAU 1. o 40 80 120 Miles (opproximate) MANUS I. MANOKWARI 9 KAVIENG AITAPE NEW IRELAND o WEWAK BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO MARUE RABAUL River o NUBIA GAROVE 1. UNEA I omadang CAPE TALASEA GLOUCESTER VITIAZ NEW BRITAIN OBENA BENA STRAIT GASMATA FINSCHHAFEN LANGEMAK BAY HUON GULF SALAMAUA KIKONY KEREMA RIVER GULF TROBRIAND 15. GONA OF o BUNA PAPUA KAIRUKU KOKODA WOODLARK L DARU GOODENOUGH I. FERGUSSON L PORT MORESBY RIGO BANARIA NORMANBY I. mis SAMARAI a CAPE YORK LOUISIADE PENIN. CORAL SEA ARCHIPELAGO DECLASSIFIED ORD Letter, 5-3-72 Allied aircraft bombed and machine-gunned enemy installations in the Finschhafen area. B-24's damaged float planes near Mussau Island, attacked buildings on Garove and Unea Islands, and bombed supply dumps at Cape Gloucester. Other Allied planes machine-gunned barges in northeast New Britain, and a radio station at Manokwari. A late communique states that, following a heavy air preparation, our ground forces took enemy positions in the Finschhafen area by assault, Finschhafen itself falling, on 2 October, to troops of the 9th Australian Division. All organized enemy resistance has been overcome and the entire area is in our hands. On 30 September, 16 B-24's, escorted by 27 fighters, dropped 18 tons of bombs on the bivouac and supply areas northeast of the Kahili strip. Of the 30 to 40 enemy planes which intercepted, four were destroyed; one P-38 was shot down. Other B-24's damaged the runway and the supply and bivouac area at Vila. Enemy aircraft were active over the southern Solomons. WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 661 0700 October 1 to 0700 October 2, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 15 10 5 o 5 10 15 20 25 0 50 50 GUNDELF INGEN WIENER NEUSTADT 45 45 0 40 40 DPS : o 100 % 200 300 400 35 35 . SCALE IN MILES Ю 5 o 5 10 15 24-33069 03D DECLASSIFIED Letter, 5-8-72 TRIESTE- quan VENICE FRIME CREMONA ITALY AND ADJACENT ABOLOGNA AREAS GENOA 20 40 60 80 100 RIMINI SPEZIA SCALE OF MILES LEGHORN ADRIATIC ELBA BASTIA CORSICA TERMOLI AJACCIO MONE CASTELNUOVO SERRACAPRIOLA BARI FORMIA BENEVENTO STATE MONTENILETTO OTTAIANO TARANTO PALMA SARDINIA TYRRHENIAN SEA MESSINA PALERMO CATANIA IONIAN SEA DIZERTE SICILY LICATA TUNIS "PANTELLERIA MALTA BASE MAP NO. 2672 (FREE) R&A, 095 10 SEPTEMBER 1943 LITHOGRAPHED, oss DECLASSIFIED 08D Letter, 5-8-78 NORTH AFRICAN THEATER Allied forces entered Naples on 1 October, following evacuation of the city by the enemy. British and American forces are policing the city. In the west, our forces also captured Ottaiano and pushed forward through the hilly country beyond Palma and Montemiletto. In the eastern sector, Allied units reached Castelnuovo and captured Serra Capriola. During the night of 29-30 September, 44 British Wellingtons dropped 74 tons of bombs on the mole at Formia and on road junctions in the vicinity. The following day, our medium and fighter bombers carried out 139 sorties over roads and bridges north and northwest of Naples. A mission of 71 B-25's bombed the town of Benevento and nearby road junctions. Fighter aircraft carried out armed reconnaissance over Castelnuovo and Isernia and flew patrol missions between Corsica and Elba. On 1 October, 91 B-24's in a round-trip of 1800 miles from their northwest African bases attacked a factory at Wiener Neustadt which produces frames for Messerschmitt fighters. Clouds prevented complete observation but some target hits were noted. A group of B-17's bombed Gundelfingen, and three B-17's bombed warehouses at Bologna. Preliminary reports indicate that at least ten of our planes were lost from these missions. CHITTAGONG MANDAEAT KOKKU AKYAB BAY PROME OF BENGAL WASSEIN RANGOON MOULMEIN YE TAVOY BANCKOK 50 0 100 200 MILES ..... JEREE\ RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS BRANCH 055 AMPM ass 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 20 20 15 15 PHILIPPINE IS. 10 10 M 5 5 BORNEO SORONG o o 8 MCCLUER GULF GAROVE 1. ROOKE I BUKA 1. I BOELA NEW GUINEA 5 BOUGAINVILLE ST. 5 MARAWAGA KAKASA ARKHAM finschhafen SOLOMON IS. VALLEY CAPE CRETIN HUON OULF CHOISEUL 10 10 TIMOR A SCALE 15 0 100 100 400 600 800 MILES is 115 120 125 130 155 140 145 180 155 160 165 28-30680 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-8-78 ASIATIC THEATER 1. B-25's of the 10th Air Force attacked Pakokku, on 30 September, scoring hits and starting fires in the target area, and also bombed targets of opportunity in the Hukawng Valley. 2. On 29 September, nine B-24's of the 14th Air Force bombed Myitkyina and Sadon, scoring hits on buildings. The following day, two B-25's machine-gunned shipping in the South China Sea. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. On 30 September, Allied forces continued to advance on Finschhafen from the west; our patrols along the north shore of Huon Gulf were approaching Cape Cretin. In the upper Markham River valley, our forward elements were seven miles northwest of Marawasa. While the enemy bombed our positions in the Finschhafen area without effect, our heavy bombers destroyed buildings on Rooke Island, set fire to an enemy freighter west of Buka, and bombed enemy targets on Garove Island. An enemy reconnaissance bomber was shot down east of Finschhafen. In other attacks, three B-24's bombed an enemy freighter in McCluer Gulf, a jetty at Sorong and warehouses at Boela; two Dutch B-25's started small fires on Timor. 2. Later reports on our 29 September attack on the eleven-ship convoy in Bougainville Strait list one enemy vessel sunk and damage to two other large ships and a possible destroyer. PUBLICATION AND MICROFILM COPYING RESTRICTIONS Reel duplication of the whole or of any part of this film is prohibited. In lieu of transcripts, however, enlarged photocopies of selected items contained on these reels may be made in order to facilitate research.