MR 203(2) Sec. 22 War Department Operational Summaries - November 1943

DECLASSIFIED 08D Letter, 5-3-72 1170 203(2) WAR DEPARTMENT OPERATIONAL SUMMARY 22 NOVEMBER 1943 NOVEMBER 1943 520.22 203 (2) WAR DEPARTMENT OPERATIONAL SUMMARY Map Room Box 57 WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 721 0700 November 30 to 0700 December 1, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 203(2) CENTRAL EUROPE SOL INGEN provide SARAJEVO MOSTAR " 14 : " 30 " 14 14 " NO 48 VIIPURE so . so IGO I - $0.00 HELSINK APPROXIMATE MILES 40 TALLINN ©VOLOGOA Late Person NOVGOROO 18 : YAROSLAVL ORIGA OKALININ VELIKIE LUKI 14 - MOSCOW g VITEBSK SMOLERSK WILNO 14 - OMINSK MOBILEY e BRYANSK OREL ZHLOBIN . " PAREST *COMEL se LITOVSK OKURSK 9 KOROSTEN KIEV so so o 0 o LWOW / OSME / & DNYEPROPETROVSK o " CERNAUTI / : OSTALIN The ROSTOV MARIUPOL 0 ONIKOLAEV MELITOPOL DOESSAO 48 PEREXOP, 45 e BRASOV RERCH o o BUCHAREST .. : RECEPT scame Denote BLACK SEA 14 : " 10 " 14 14 se 40 SECRET DECLASSIFIED 08D Letter, 5-3-78 WESTERN HEMISRHERE Major General William E. Shedd has been designated to relieve Major General Henry C. Pratt in command of the Antilles Department effective on or about I December. General Shedd was previously Deputy Commander of the Panama Canal Department. EUROPEAN THEATER 1. On 30 November 385 heavy bombers of the 8th Air Force, covered by US and Allied fighters, were dispatched against Solingen, a production center of steel alloys and alloy component parts for German aircraft, which has previously escaped concentrated bomber attacks.] Weather was very unfavorable and the target was obscured by clouds) enemy fighter reaction was moderate in the target area One (probably three) enemy aircraft were destroyedy two D17's and five fighters are missing. 2. [on 30 November Red forces maintained their pressure along the eastern front but lost Korosten in the Kiev salient. Northwest of Gomel they brought Zhlobin under artillery fire ] MEDITERRANEAN 1. Allied bombers damaged Poscare harber and railroad junction as S. Rome { well as Ciampino airdrome during the night of 20 29 November. The follow- On 29 november ing day US heavy and medium bombers attacked the railroad yards and airdrome at Grosseto and lines of communication along both coasts of Italy. -1- SECRET BOLOGNA GENOA SPEZIT RIMINI f / LORENCE ANCONA LEGHORN PERVS ELBA GALTO ERNI PESCARA FOSSACESIA CORSICA OMAGNOL I CIVITAVECCHIA TERMOLI SULK NOME SOGGTA CENTRAL ITALY o 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 60 90 100 TERRACINA CAPT APPROXIMATE MILES SARDINIA WAPLES BASE MAP NO. 2769 (FREE) RBA, oss 26 OCTOBER 1943 REPRODUCED, 055 RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS BRANCH oss BASE MAP NO 2447 (FREE) 28 JUNE 1943 LITHOGRAPHED IN THE REPRODUCTION BRANCH 055 SECRET DECLASSIFIED 08D Letter, 5-3-72 In the Lanciano area a total of 474 sorties were flown in support of the Eighth Army.] Sixty three a 2518 scored háte on BUT explosives factory and barracks at Sarajovo, and 25 Spitfires machine gunned the Mostar airdrome and enemy communications along the Dalmatian coast. 2. 2.[B By noon of 30 November our VI Corps had made a local advance of about two miles up the slopes of the hill mass northeast of Cassino. Overcoming fierce resistance the right flank of the Eighth Army penetrated deeply into the main portion of the enemy's winter line and now holds the important ridge between Fescacesia and Romagnold from which the Germans dominating had dominated the Sangro Valley 3. [An An Allied convoy was attacked by 15 presumbly German bombers operating 70 miles from Crete northwest of Benghazi at dusk on 29 November; no damage resulted The enemy planes were later intercepted logo Allied aircraft which probably destroyed one of them ASIATIC THEATER 1. Forty three B 24's and of the 10th Air Force dropped. [medium bowbers and 12 fighters attacked 169 half ten bombo on the wharves and other targets at Rangoon with excellent results on 28 November later .amall numbers of our D 24 also attacked Akyab and Kyaukpyu. Enemy fighten resistance was degged, four (probably six) enemy planos being destroyed; NO sustained no loss. 2. On 29 November, Chinese Air Force planes shot down four of 21 -2- SHANGMAI Hangchow Mag-p Kiskin TUNGTI NG Nonichosy CHANGTER Wenchow CHANGSHA Fochow Amoy Swetow CANTON Matdo HONGKONG o 50 100 150 200 Pokhoi MILES HAND Hsi-ying 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 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 20 20 15 15 PHILIPPINE IS. 10 10 w 5 5 a BORNEO o o MANOKWARI NABIRE UNEA NEW GUINEA 5 as 5 KALUENG D CAPE GL OUCESTER WARED BONGA SOLOMON IS. 10 10 U 4. SCALE 15 o 100 100 400 600 800 MILES 15 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 180 155 160 165 24-30680 BOUGAINVILLE ISLAND BUKA I. 10 o 10 20 30 Buka Passage MILES BO AIRFIEL BONIS Banin Boy ToloRb Matchin / Teop I. Boy NUMA NUMA KIAKABA 5 C. MABIRI Anewa Boy Bakowari L. KIETA Reboine C. TOROKINA Boy. EMPRESS AUGUSTA BAY MUTUPINA PT. + Buin Ballole L SHORTLAND @Faisi 1. Alu 1. MONO 1. STIRLING I 24-59722ABCO DECLASSIFIED OBD Letter, 5-3-72 Japanese bombers and fighters encountered over the Tungting Lake region; four Chinese P-40's were lost, 14th Air Force fighters damaged several boats and inflicted many casualties on the enemy in the Tungting Lake region: they also dropped ammunition and food to Chinese forces at Changteh Two B-25'a armed with 75 mm cannon heavily damaged warehouses, a radio station and the airdrome at Swatow, and fuel tanks and lighthouses long the China coast; both bombers returned. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. On 30 November Allied ground troops reached Bonga and the mouth of the Kalueng River without opposition. West of Bonga, our forces are advancing on Wareo. Allied planes dropped 46 tons of bombs on supply points at Cape Gloucester. Our heavy bombers on reconnaissance missions attacked enemy installations on Unea Island, bhe town and harbor at Manokwari and the airdrome at Nabire. One enemy reconnaissance airplane was shot down in the New Britain area. 2. In Empress Augusta Bay an American battalion which had landed between the Reini and Saua Rivers during the night of 28-29 November was withdrawn during the following night after heavy pressure by superior Japanese forces. In the Torokina sector our ground forces made a slight advance. Our troops have started to construct a bomber strip on Stirling Island. -3- SECRET SECRET DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 4. Our troops have begun the construction of the fighter airfield on Makin Island. -4- IMPORTS WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 720 0700 November 29 to 0700 November 30, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 20 3(2) SECRET DECLASSIFIED 0SD Letter, 5-3-72 GENERAL IN further response to a general War Department inquiry, General Eisenhower states that informal agreements are in effect between the American and British forces in his theater whereby service personnel of either nation may arrest and hold in custody members of the other's armed forces alleged to bè guilty of desertion, absence without leave, or other serious offense punishable under existing laws. An additional informal agreement between the Allies and the French authorizes their civilian police to arrest any members of the Allied forces for offenses that would warrant their arrest as civilians) anyone thus arrested by the French civ- ilian police to be delivered immediately to the appropriate military authority. In the Southwest Pacific Area, General MacArthur's reply indicates that no formal agreements for control of military personnel have been made between the American and Australian forces. Flagrant traffic viola- tions by Australian Army vehicles are reported in writing by American Military Police to Australian Commanders and vice versa. Informal agree- ments exist locally between Australian and US Forces for exchange of information and the temporary detention of personnel involved in flagrant cases of breach of peace, disorderly conduct or other offenses reflecting discredit. EUROPEAN THEATER 1. Small numbers of Allied aircraft harassed the Krupp blast furnaces -1- SECRET 6º F 0° 4º 6º 8º 10° 12° 14º 16º Glasgow Gopenhogen WEST COASTAL EUROPE 100 0 100 SCALE IN MILES Hamburg Bremen Berlin Handwr The Hopue London Leipzing Essen Dresden MOORGELLE Brussels St Orfer CHIEVRES Frankfurt Progue 50° CHERBOURG Le Howe Nuremburge Soorbrucken Metz BREST (Peris Rennes Munico Orleons Dijon Nontes *Zurich Bern Bolzano Genevo TRIESTE Lyon Million Turin Bordeoux 2. 0° 2º 4º 6º : 10° 12º Mº 24-52837ABCO ABOLOGNA GENOA SPEZI ARIMINI f f di / LORENCE ANCONA LEGHORN PERMI ELBA ERNI PESCARA EOSSACESIA CORSICA 24 GROGNA CIVITAVECCHIA TERMOLI ASULM FURBARA ROME BOGOTA CENTRAL ITALY o 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 TERRACINA APPROXIMATE MILES SARDINIA WAPLES BASE MAP NO. 2769 (FREE) RSA, 055 REPRODUCED, 055 26 OCTOBER 1943 SECRET DECLASSIFIED 08D Letter, 5-3-72 and steel works at Essen and laid see mines off Brest, Le Havre, and Cherbourg during the night of 28 29 November. Strong formations of 8th Air Force B-17's, assorted by P-47's and P=38's, attacked Bremen on 29 November for the second time in four days. Enemy fighter reaction was strongs 35 enemy planes were destroyed at a cost of 13 of our Flying Fortresses. Escorted B-26's bombed the enemy airfield at Chievres, Allied Typhoon bombers attacked air instal- lations at Moorseele and shipping off Brest, and Mosquito planes machine- gunned railway targets in northwest Germany; ten additional enemy aircraft were destroyed. Eighteen Allied fighters are reported missing from the days 5 operations. 2. No important change was reported from the Russian front on 29 November except for the encirclement of a Soviet force in the vicinity of Korosten and unsuccessful attempts by Soviet divisions to relieve it. > During the night of 27-28 November Allied light bombers carried out armed reconnaissance over the battle areas, bombed and machine-gunned vehicles near Furbara, and Nt road and rail junctions in the Civitavecchia area. The next day escorted B-24's damaged a viaduct and tunnels north of Trieste. Medium bombers attacked military supplies, warehouses, barracks, shipping and railroad yards along the Dalmatian coast. Enemy motor vehicles north of Rome were the targets for our dive-bombers. A total of 351 bomber 27-28 nov and fighter-bomber sorties were carried out, ^ against targets in front of -2- SECRET MANDAMAY MEMI ASPOSE BAY - SOF F LENGAL BASSEIN RANSOON MOVEMEN 100 RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS BRANCH 055 BASE MAP NO 2447 (FREE) LITHOGRAPHED . THE REPRODUCTION BRANCH 055 20 JUNE 1943 SHANGHA angehow Wenchow bchow Amoy Swdtow CAN HONGKONG o 50 100 150 200 Pakhoi RANDI GULF Hai-ying 2 MILES OF Halphong TONGKING MAP NO. 2437 (FREE) COMPILED AND DRAWN IN THE BRANCH OF RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS, 055 24 JUNE 1943 PRINTED IN THE REPRODUCTION BRANCH, oss DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-8-72 the Eighth Army; Spitfires maintained a continuous cover over the battle area. 2. By noon of 29 November the Eighth Army forces had captured Mozza- grogna. Armored and mobile forces operating in strength on the ridge running southwest from Fossacesia are clearing it of the energy. There was little of importance along the remainder of the battle line except for our occupation of a hill in the VI Corps sector. 3. The bulk of the Allied garrison on Castelrosso was withdrawn by destroyers and small craft to Cyprus during the might of 27-25 November. A snall detachment remaining on the Island WILL endeavor to prevent minor enemy landings and may maintain an advanced base for motor torpedo boats and raiding parties. ASIATIC THEATER [Fighter aircraft of the 14th Air Force operated in three separate areas on 28 November. One mission, supporting Chinese ground forces, attacked Japanese-held villages and artillery installations on the west bank of the Salween River near Litsao Ho. To the east ammunition was dropped to Chinese troops surrounded at Changteh; while in Indo-China Luang Prabang was attacked by fighters which continued on to the Ninh Plateau, machine- gunning a radio station and firing the barracks and building urone there -251s on sea sweeps over the Oulf of Tongleing attacked and sank a 175- foot cosstwise I E planes returned safely. -3- SECRET o 40 80 120 Miles (approximate) MANUS I. 6 KAVIENG AITAPE NEW IRELAND a WEWAK (BORAM) BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO Sepik River MARUS RABAUL LO o NUBIA nubai MADANG CAPE TALASEA GLOUCESTER KJARI S10 VITIAZ NEW BRITAIN OBENA BENA KALASA BONGA STRAIT GASMATA GUSIKA FINSCHHAFEN ¿LAE HUON GULF SALAMAUA KIKORI WAU RIVER KEREMA KIRIWINA GULF TROBRIAND is) OF GONA 0 e BUNA PAPUA KAIRUKU KOKODA WOODL ARK L THE DARU SAPT RANOE GOODENOUGH I, FERGUSSON I. PORT MORESBY o RIGO e BANARIA NORMANBY I. ala SAMARAI CAPE YORK LOUISIADE PENIN. CORALSE ARCHIPELAGO BOUGAINVILLE ISLAND BUKA 1. 10 o 10 20 30 Buka Possage MILES BO. AIRFIEL BONIS Banin Boy ToloRb L Matchin Teop L Bay NUMA NUMA KIAKABA of c. MABIRI Anewa Bay Bakawari L KIETA Reboine c. TOROKINA Boy EMPRESS Jaba AUGUSTA BAY MUTUPINA PT. + Boliole L SHORTLAND Faisi 1. Alu 1. MONO I. 24-59722ABCD INT - 179 E 178 ITS 17% - IN ISLANDS GLBERT MARSHALL AND GILBERT ISLANDS TARAWA BETIO SCALE OF MLES NAURU SILBERT I # # - HIT - : E m ITS 174 - - - DECLASSIFIES OSD Letter, 5-3-72 PACIFIC AND SOUTHNEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. 3-25's rticipating in the Wewak attack on 27 November hit a on 28 november freighter transport. The next day 48 B-24's escorted by P47's bombed the supply and camp areas at Wewak and Boram while 64 other bombers end four fighters attacked targets along the New Guinea coast at Madang, Kiari, Sio, Bonga, and Kalasa Australian Catalinas operating to time weet started fires along the waterfront and in the barracke area nb Ambon. Enemy aircraft were active in the Finschhafen area and an enery reconnaissance bomber was shot down by an Australian Spitfire over Kiriwina in the Trobriand Islands. On 29 November Allied forces occupied Gusika and cleared an energy strong point on the trail southwest of the village. A mission of 38 medium bombers, covered by P-47'0, attacked the dump area at Cape Gloucester. Five a Ph bombed Manckwari, western New Guinea: 2. Allied troops, landing between the Reini and Saua Rivers on Bougainville during the night of 27-28 November encountered Japanese forces in superior numbers. On 29 November Navy bombers attacked targets in the Jaba River area in support of our ground forces. Other Army and Navy bombers started fires and destroyed buildings in the Empress Augusta Bay region, and caused considerable damage in bombing and machine-gunning attacks on northeastern Bougainville Island. 3. On 28 November 13 B-24's attacked Nauru, starting fires in the target area. All planes returned safely. US fighter planes are now operating from Petio (Tarawa). -4- WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 719 0700 November 28 to 0700 November 29, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 203(2) 6° of IO° MP ⑈ Glasgow Copenhagen WEST COASTAL EUROPE à R 100 100 SCALE IN MILES Hamburg FRISIAN S Bremen Berlin Handver The Hague London Essen Dresden Brussels St. Orier Frankfurt Proguè 0, Le Howels Nuremburge Soarbrucken Metz STUTTGART Paris Rennes Munich Orleans Dijon Nontes *Zurich Bern Bolzano Genevo Lyon Milla Turin Bordeoux 2º 0º 2º 4º : : 10ª 12º Mº 24-32837ABCD " " 14 " so M 14 14 18 40 48 VIIPURE so a se - no 40 HELSINK) APPROXIMATE WILES so OLENINGRAD TALLINN o VOLOGOA Late Prizen NOVGOROD se : YAROSLAVL ÓRIGA OKALININ VELIKIE LUKI 54 o " + MOSCOW e VISEBSK SMOLENSK WILNO 14 14 OMINSK MOSILEV o Berezina BRYANSK OREL o ZHLOBIN 11- OBREST *COMEL = LITOVSK Upet River KURSK 9 o KOROSTEN CKIEV so = o o o LWOW / / « DNYEPROPETROVSK 0 : " CERNAUTI 1 ©STALIN SERIVOI ROV ROSTOV MARIUPOL e NIKOLAEV ©MELITOPO 00ESSAC " PEREKOP : o BRASOV KERCH . - o BUCHAREST 14 : giver commo Denobe BLACK SEA : 14 : 10 " 14 14 14 40 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-8-72 WESTERN HEMISPHERE The Army Ground Forces have issued orders for the constitution and activation of the Headquarters, XXI Corps, at Camp Polk, Louisiana. EUROPEAN THEATER 1. During the night of 26-27 November, 373 RAF airplanes dropped 791 tono of high explosives and 640 bone incendiaries on Berlin, while 154 others dropped more than 400 tono explosives and incendiaries on Stuttgart. Forty of these planes are missing or crash-landed on their return. 7.7 Other missions included Mosquito patrols over enemy-held territory and sea mining off the Frisian Islande. Of several enemy planes over southern England the same night, one destroyed ten houses and caused 34 casualties in the London area. 2. Small enemy gains in the Korosten area were matched by similar Soviet advances in the lower reaches of time Pripet. The enemy continues to evacuate the Gomel salient under pressure of the Soviets, who have crossed the Berezina and reached a point 13 miles from the German- held town of Zhlobin. MEDITERRANEAN attacked 1. During the night of 26-27 November, 24 Wellingtons occred several bite on railroad bridge south of Grosseto. Nine A 20's carried out armed reconnaiseance against enemy motor vehicles in the battle area. The -1- BOLOGNA GENOA SPEZIA full / RIMINI Cer (BENIK LORENCE ANCONA LEGHORN PORTO CIVITANOVA PERVO ELBA OROGSETO ERNE PESCARA CORSICA ASOUI CIVITAVECCHIA TERMOLI SULN ROME EDGGIA CENTRAL ITALY o 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 TERRACINA CAPU APPROXIMATE MILES SARDINIA MAPLES BASE MAP NO. 2769 (FREE) RBA, oss REPRODUCED, oss 26 OCTOBER 1943 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-8-72 next following day - B-17's attacked bridges and railroad yards at Rimini and Grizzana and scored probable hits on the Reno River railroad northment bridge Z Bologra] Of some 30 to 50 enemy aircreft encountered during the attack on Rimini seven (probably ten) were destroyed for - loss of two B-17's. Other strategic missions were flown against Ancona, Porto Civitanova and Sibenik. A total of 469 bombars and fighter bombero carried out successful attacks against enemy defensive positions Legoiano Gasoli areas, and on in the from 8th and any 24/P 40's attacked enemy installations on the Fifth Army front. 2. [on the night of 27 November the British Eighth Army, with strong aerial support, began its attack in strength from - Sangro River bridge- heads against the enemy defenses and main positions overlooking the Sangro River Valley. The enemy is resisting fiercely, launching repeated counter- attacks and using flame-throwers. No report of the detailed progress of the attack has been received. There were no important changes elsewhere along the line. 3 Casualties of the Fifth Army as of 27 November were: Killed Wounded Missing Totals American 1,768 6,958 2,655 11,381 British $,455 6,147 2,661 10,263 Total 3,223 13,105 5,316 21,644 The Fifth Army has taken 3,584 prisoners of war. Casualties of the British Eighth Army to 19 November were: Killed Wounded Missing Total 864 3,357 1,047 5,868 The Eighth Army as of the same date had captured 832 prisoners. -2- - N° à IF 17 24* 1 43º 43% Sofye o - - - EASTERN WEDITERRANEAN AREA 100 e 00 800 300 42° 42% de N° - 2P 41° alw) Drom / 4/* Marmers 0 8 THASOS Salanika 2 / 00 40° 40° I LEMNOS 4 - - CORPU Lanier 0 9 S 39° o " MYTILENE Squal LEUGAS D CHICS Sayme Patros/ CONALOMA à 30° D ANDROS I ZANTE type Refe D TENOS D 0 20 P Lense 17* Seriptos PAROS e SP* MAXOS b 4 / Males o DODECANESE - KYTHERA o RENDES * 34° 4 Corpetion MIDDLE EASTERN AREA #here 39° I 35° so # to IQ0 CRETE SCALE is MILES 34° 34° 20* EV* 12" or N° If IF E7" IF - MANDALA MEXTILA ARYXD® BAY PROME OF NGAL INSEIN BASSEIN RANGOON MOUCHEIN EDO BASE MAP NO. 2447 (FREE) RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS BRANCH 055 28 JUNE 1943 LITHOGRAPHED IN THE REPRODUCTION BRANCH 055 SHANGHO Hangchow M Wenchow bchow Alhoy Swetow CANTON HONGKONG o 50 100 150 200 Pakhol RANOI Hsi-ying MILES 74/ 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 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 4. Enemy positions on the southern tip of Simi were successfully raided during the night of 25-26 November by an Allied special boat squadron. ASTATIC THEATER 1. On 26 November 10th Air Force fighter bombers in 38 sorties attacked enemy-held towns in northern Burna in support of our ground troops in the area. On 27 november North day, two heavy attacks by 03 and 06 B-24's respectively, area were made on Rangoon and Insein. A total of 35 enemy aircraft inter- cepted these missions; our bombers claim ten (probably 12) enemy planes. Three of - B-24's are still unaccounted for 2. [Fighters B 05 and of hombers the 14th Air Force, oscorted 11 attacked the Kiangling airdrome, near Shasi, on 26 November, sooring numerous hits on the airdrome and and targets in - Changteh area, other P-40's set fire to a 70 foot power boat and machine-gunned sealler supply boatoy some of which were apparently Londed with rice. The following day - 0.05% on a shipping sweep in the south China Sea they sank a 350-foot destroyer, started and fires on a 250-foot freighter and scored near misses on e 600 foot freighter. Another mission of Laso B 0-2518 251 bombed warehouses and docks at Swatow; explosions were observed PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1, On 26 Novembery 12 P=39's engaged 17 Jap fighters north of -3- 115 120 128 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 20 20 15 15 PHILIPPINE IS. 10 10 MILT I 5 5 D BORNEO o o s WEWAK C. POMAS GAROVE NEW GUINEA -$10 5 TIMIKA 5 o 4. FINSCHHAFEN SOLOMON IS. 10 10 B SCALE 15 o 100 100 400 600 800 MILES 15 + 115 120 125 130 135 140 148 180 155 160 165 24-30680 BOUGAINVILLE ISLAND CAROLA HBR BUKA 1. 10 o 10 20 30 Buka Passage MILES BO, AIRFIED BONIS Banin Boy Tolokb Matchin 3 Teop I. Boy NUMA NUMA KIAKABA 5 C. MABIRI Anewa Boy 1 Bakawari 1. KIETA Reboine C. TOROKINA Bay EMPRESS AUGUSTA BAY MUTUPINA PT. + Buin Bollole L SHORTLAND Foisi L Alu 1. MONO I. 24-59722ABCD DEALASSIFIED OBD Letter, D-B-72 Finschhafen. Our fighters destroyed six (probably 13) enemy planes; we lost one P-39. The following day Allied ground forces, supported by tanks, cleared the enemy from the coastal road two miles north of the [ou 17 November Song River: + mission of 45 B-25's destroyed five airplanes on the ground, sank six barges, and hit antiaircraft positions, camps and bivouac areas in the vicinity of Wewak; two B 2510 were lost. A B-24 scored an especially weat Rabaul I effective hit on a Jap light cruiser off Dones: Five Australian planes started large fires in the vicinity of Timáka. 2. On 27 November, 19 B-24's bombed and machine-gunned the Bonis airfield and targets of opportunity on Bougainville. A mission of 87 Navy bombers, escorted by eight Army fighters, hit targets in the lower Empress Augusta Bay region, destroying buildings, exploding an ammunition dump and starting a large fire in a bivouac area Other Allied planes destroyed buildings and damaged a pier at Carola Harber and severely damaged the Buka runway. It is estimated that over 1000 Japs have been killed by infantry and artillery fire In the Torokina sector since 19 November. 28 November our medium bombers and fighters made minor attacks at various points on Bougainville Island. 3. Bight B-24's hit Mili (Marshall Is.) on the night of 27 November, ] accurately dropping ten tone of bombe on the barget. -4- WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 718 0700 November 27 to 0700 November 28, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 203(2) CENTRAL EUROPE a THE PAERGES FRISIAN 18 :: 14 : " : 14 14 14 18 40 = VIIPURE 48 e NO HMO - RRR HELSINK) APPROXIMATE WILES = CLENTINGRAD TALLINN © VOLOGDA Late Pelpos NOVSOROD se " YAROSLAVL ÓRIGA OKALININ VELIKIE LUKI : 14 o o MOSCOW o VITEBSK SMOLERSK WILNO : 14 OMINSK MOBILEV o BRYANSK OREL o COMEL = " POREST LITOVSK * KURSK o KIEV so so o o LWOW CHERKASSY OSME signature DNYEPROPETROVSK o = 48 CERNAUTI / OSTALIN ORNIVOI Atre ROSTOV MARIUPOL o NIKOLAEV - DOESSAO : " PEREXOP, 0 BRASOV KERCH e o BUCHAREST :: 144 : niver BLACK . SEA Denobe " " 18 " : 14 " 18 40 BOLOGNA GENOA & SPEZIA > 3 ARIMINI LORENCE ANCONA LEGHORN, PERUGI ELBA OROGGETO ERNI PESCARA CORSICA CIVITAVECCHIA TERMOLI SULM ROME STELNJOV EDGGIA CASSINO CENTRAL ITALY o 5 IO 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 TERRACINA CAP APPROXIMATE MILES SARDINIA WAPLES BASE MAP NO. 2769 (FREE) R&A, oss 26 OCTOBER 1943 REPRODUCED, 055 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 EUROPEAN THEATER 1. During the night of 25-26 November, 212 Allied bombers dropped 574 tons of explosives and incendiaries on Frankfurt; 12 of the Allied planes did not return. Three Mosquitoes harassed Berlin and other RAF bombers mined the waters off the north and west coasts of France and the Frisian Islands. 2. Heavy fighting continues in the Kiev salient, no change being reported. Soviet pressure is reported in the Gomel area, where the enemy withdrawal continues, in the Big Bend of the Dnepr and at Cherkassy. MEDITERRANEAN 7: 1 Allied air operations over Italy were stepped up on 26 November. In To the north - total of 78 bombers and 32 fighters damaged railway installations and the viaduct at Recco; the railroad yards, shops and a bridge at Rimini; railroad yards and docks at Ancona and bridges elsewhere along the coast.] Twenty-one missions of 249 sorties were flown in close support of the Eighth Anity in the Sangro River area, and large numbers of other Allied planes attacked enemy defended positions, gun positions, troop concentrations, lines of communication, towns and other targets of opportunity in the battle area. Allied fighter-bombers attacked Civitavecchia harbor, obtaining two hits on freighters. Fighter planes attacked lines of communication in Albania. Two (probably three) enemy planes were reported destroyed during the day and eight of ours failed -1- - 20° à à 19" 24° y 43° 43% Sofge o - WHET - EASTERN WEDITERRANEAN AREA IDO 9 00 200 300 42° 1 as IF 27" 4/º *Drame - 4P Marmont 0 THASOS Salanika Belige 00 Somethrake 40° 40* intro LEMNOS - Public CORPU Lane 0 - B 39* 39° WITILENE Serve LEVGAS D - CHIOS Sayme Patros/ GENALONÍA 38° 30° Attent ANDROS SAMOS DANTE Pyrper haris 0 TENOS & $ o , 03 2AD & a P Lansa 37* - Service PAROS o SP NAMOS Caline 1 I - NISIRO o - 4 DODECANISE PISCOP KYTHERA 0 PHOSES 30° 36° Carpothes MIDDLE EASTERN AREA 25° M* 50 0 so 8 CRETE SCALE IN MILES i 34° 20* : II* B' 24" 15" 26° 17" IF <<< @SADITA HUKAVNG VALLE SUMPRAL IMPHAE CHITTAGONG* MANDALAY TEA AFTER BAY SPRONE OF ENGAL MINGAL ADON BASSEIN RANGOON EDO MILER RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS BRANCH 055 BASE MAP NO. 2447 (FREE) LITHOGRAPHED IN THE REPRODUCTION BRANCH 055 20 JUNE 1943 DECLASSIFIED 0SD Letter, 5-3-72 to return. 2. During the 24-hour period ending at noon on 27 November, light forces on the extreme right flank of the Fifth Army advanced a mile to occupy Castelnuovo. Elsewhere along the front only patrol and artillery activity was reported. 3. [The The 55 attack Rohna on an Allied which convey was by sunh about in 30 enemy courry Iff Bongie Algeria at dusk on 26 November the sinking of the SS Rohna, dusk 26 now was reported comying 1792.45 troops. reported carrying 1792 US treeps. Preliminary reports indicate that due to darkness, the initial bomb damage, and heavy seas, the casualties are estimated to be half the personnel aboard. ] 4. Allied troops raided Nisiro on 24 November, destroying small shipping and a telegraph station and capturing secret documents and codes; Piscopi was also attacked and the telegraph communications to Cos and Nisiro cut. ASIATIC THEATER 1. 10th Air Force planes bombed and machine-gunned specified targets in support of Allied ground forces in the Hukawng Valley region of northern Burma on 24 November. The next day, in previously unreported sorties, they damaged the Mingaladon airdrome near Rangoon, and attacked towns, lines of communication and other targets of opportunity in northern Burma. -2- SHANGHAI Hangchow Ming-pd MT Wenchow SHA bchow Amoy Swdtow CANTON TSAI SU I HONGKONG 0 50 100 150 200 Pakhol MILES RANOI Hal-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 o 40 80 120 Miles (approximate) MANUS L 6 KAVIENG AITAPE NEW e IRELAND o WEWAK BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO Sepik River o MARUI RABAUL o NUBIA nuny oMADANG CAPE PTALASEA GLOUCESTER SAIDOR S10 VITIAZ NEW BRITAIN OBENA BENA INDENHAFEN PLANT. BONGA FINSCHHAFEN STRAIT GASMATA SATTELBERG CAE HUON GULF PSALAMAUA KIKORI WAU KEREMA RIVER GULF TROBRIANO IS. GONA OF © BUNA PAPUA KAIRUKU KOKODA WOODLARK L THE DARU SAP RANGE GOODENOUGH I. FERGUSSON I. PORT MORESBY RIGO BANARIA NORMANBY I. min SAMARAI CAPE YORK LOUISIADE PENIN. CORAL SEA ARCHIPELAGO DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 2. Fighters and fighter bombers of the 14th Air Force bombed and machine-gunned the railroad yards near Can Duong on 26 November, hitting the tracks, buildings and power plant. Two Be25's left a 200-foot freighter burning and sinking near Tsai Su Island. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS [ Ten enemy bombers and 15 fighters, attacking Allied installations in the Finschhafen area during the morning of 26 November caused slight damage and some casualties. Australian bombers started large fires among the shore installations at Rabaul during the night of 26-27 November. - 5-24's covered During 26 November by Australian P-40's hit ground targets ai Lindenhafen Plantation with excellent results while our medium bombers and fighter planes bombed and machine-gunned enemy installations at Madang and Sio and destroyed two enemy fighters northwest of Saidor. Allied forces, driving north from Finschhafen and supported by tanks, have captured commanding ground southwest of Bonga. -3- WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 717 0700 November 26 to 07000 November 27, 1943 COPY FOR of THE WHITE HOUSE 03(2) CENTRAL EUROPE 300 0 THE PAERGES SHETLAND IS PAS OR CALAYS ST. OMER CHERSOURG BRITTANY ORLEANS KLAGENFURT P F r DECLASSIFIED 0SD Letter, 5-8-72 WESTERN HEMISPHERE The Army Ground Forces have issued directives for the movement of the 5th Armored Division (Major General Lunsford E. Oliver) from Pine Camp, New York, to Indiantown Gap Military Reservation, Pennsyl- vania, for further movement overseas, and the 83rd Infantry Division, (Major General Frank W. Milburn) from Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky, to Camp Young, California, for maneuver training. The 90th Infantry Division (Major General Henry Terrell, Jr.) will move to Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky, for permanent change of station upon completion of its maneuver training at Camp Young, California. EUROPEAN THEATER 1. On 24 November AEAF Mosquitoes, bombing from 50-foot altitude, damaged power stations in Brittany; Typhoon bombers damaged four mine sweepers off the north Brittany coast. That night six Mosquito bombers raided Berlin; one plane is missing. Other planes attacked a train southwest of Orleans and shipping in the Calais area. 2. Increasing the tempo of our attacks against enemy installations 343 fighters operated over the Pas de Calais area on 25 November. Some of them functioned for the first time as dive-bombers, attacking air- dromes at St. Omer; in a second, high altitude, attack a B-24 led the formation in order to perform the bomb-aiming operation and the fighter bombers released their loads at its signal. -1- " 14 14 " 30 M 14 14 se 40 ** VIIPURI NO . so 100 ao - HELSINK) APPROXIMATE MILES 40 CLENINGRAD TALLINN © VOLOGDA Lave Pelson NOVSOROO " se YAROSLAVL ÓRIGA OKALININ VELIKIE LUKI " 54 o o MOSCOW e VISEBSK SMOLENSK WILNO 14 14 QUINSK MODILEY o Berezing BRYANSK OREL o ZHLOA GOMEL " " PAREST LITOVSK PINSK OKURSK 9 o KIEV 10 so 0 o LWOW / *SMECA* / < ONYEPROPETROVSK o : 48 CERNAUTI OSTALIN live ROSTOV MARIUPOL o ONIKOLAEV ©MELITOPO OQESSAO : " PEREKOP e BRASOV KERCH e o BUCHAREST .. : giver CONSTANTA Denute BLACK SEA " 14 " 10 : 14 " 14 40 DECLASSIFIED Everyon theorie OSD Letter, 5-3-72 3. The largest force of US heavy bombers to be employed in a daylight attack on the continent bombed port of Bremen and operated over northern France with fighter escort, on 26 November; 56 enemy fighters were destroyed. In addition, medium, light and fighter bombers attacked airfields and other military objectives in the Pas de Salais and Cherbourg areas; five more energy planes were shot down by the fighters ascorting these missions Twenty-nine of our heavy bombers and five fighters have not returned from these operations. 4. The Germane have evacuated a point nine miles from Comel on the railroad to Minsky they still hold the east bank of the Berezina River in this area. [0 On 26 November, despite heavy resistance, the Soviets pressed progressed toward Zhlobin in - endeavor to close the enemy's avenue of escape from the Gomel pocket. Along the railroad to Pinsk Red forces are now 75 miles west of Gomel MEDITERRANEAN 1. Due to icing conditions 17 Wellingtons are missing from unsuccessful attempt to bomb Turin on the night of 24-25 November; the next day a B-24 was lost on an unsuccessful mission against the aircraft factory at Klagenfurt. However, more than 180 light bombers attacked enemy batteries in Eighth Army zone, concentrating on the Lanciano area while 83 fighter sorties were flown over the battle area and against enemy communications in Yugoslavia. At dusk 26 November 30 enemy aircraft attacked one of our fast -2- BOLOGNA GENOA f SPEZIA PRIMINI FLORENCE ANCONA LEGHORN PERUSI ELBA OROSSETO ERNE PESCARA ANCIANO CORSICA CIVITAVECCHIA TERMOLI SULM ROME EOGGIA CENTRAL ITALY o 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 TERRACINA CAPUA APPROXIMATE MILES SARDINIA MAPLES BASE MAP NO. 2769 (FREE) R & A, OSS REPRODUCED, oss 26 OCTOBER 1943 DECLASSIFIES 0SD Letter, 5-8-72 convoys in the Mediterranean; Eight of these planos were shot down by our fighter escorty one British freighter was hit but details of the damage are not available. 2. [At noon 26 November no change was reported along - front of the Fifth Army although enery counterattacks were repulsed at the entrance to the Cassino Prosinone corridor and some clashes occurred on the north- east slopes of Monti della Mobern On the extreme right, despite a 2}}-foot rise in the Sangro River, the Eighth Army extended its bridgehead by an advance of about one mile along two-mile front. 3. The War Department has informed General Bisenhower of the request from the Cardinal Secretary of State (transmitted has requested through the Apostelic Delegate in Washington) that the governments of Germany, Great Britain, and the US order all their planes to refrain from flying over Vatican City further that these governments give assurance that these orders have been duly imparted to compotent military authorities. ASIATIC THEATER 1. 10th Air Force operations for 25 November were seriously hampered by adverse weather. Of 56 heavy bombers dispatched, only about half succeeded in bombing primary or alternate targets; however, Akyab and two airdromes in southern Burma were attacked with results ranging from good to poor. Two enemy planes were shot down in combat; our losses were two B-24's which crashed on their take-off. -3- 081 Del 001 08 GREENWICH FORMOSA VIONI SHINCHIKU HANSHOW TUNGTING LAKE CHINA OF OR ALASKA 00 0 sol) 091 8 091 OST go 001 8 o 40 80 120 Miles (approximate) MANUS I, 10 KAVIENG AITAPE NEW IRELAND o WEWAK BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO Sepik MARUI RABAUL River o to NUBIA GAROVE I nural oMADANG CAPE TALASEA GLOUCESTER OBENA BENA VITIAZ NEW BRITAIN WAREO SATTELBERG FINSCHHAFEN STRAIT GASMATA LAE HUON GULF PSALAMAUA KIKORI WAU N3MO KEREMA RIVER GULF TROBRIANO IS. OF GONA o BUNA PAPUA KAIRUKU KOKODA WOODLARK I. TAT DARU SAF RANOE GOODENOUGH L FERGUSSON I. PORT MORESBY RIGO BANARIA NORMANBY I. SAMARAI CAPE YORK LOUISIADE PENIN. CORAL SEA ARCHIPÉLAGO DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-8-78 2. Fourteen escorted B-25's attacked the Shinchiku airdrome in Formosa on 25 November, scoring hits on the airfield, destroying 13 (probably 15) enemy planes on the ground and 24 in the ensuing air combat; all our planes returned. Sixteen other fighter planes of the 14th Air Force destroyed more than 20 small enemy boats in sweeps over the Hanshow and Tungting Lake areas; one fighter did not return. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. Allied troops have captured Sattelberg and four villages in the area beyond. The enemy's losses in this action were severe in personnel and materiel; his remaining forces are in retreat to the north along the Wareo trail. 2. A Catalina scored two hits on a heavy cruiser northwest of Rabaul on 24 November; B-24's damaged a destroyer or light cruiser and attacked another northeast of Garove Island. The following day, US and Allied aircraft attacked the enemy along the northeast New Guinea coast, and shot down one enemy reconnaissance airplane near Wewak. Four B-24's bombed the barracks and float-plane base at Halong (Ambon). Photographs reveal that on 24 November, one light cruiser, 9 destroyers, 97,000 tons of shipping including two tankers, and 20 float planes were at Rabaul. Eighty-five airplanes were counted at Lakunai field. ] 3. A mission of 23 B-24's attacked supply dumps on Buka and Chabai on 24 November, starting fires. The following day a B-24 damaged aircraft, -4- INT - T ITS E 178 - 174 178 - ITT TAROA MAKIN GLBERT MARSHALL AND GILBERT ISLANDS TARAWA SCALE OF WLES DILBERT I - - -- - # - - E E 179 174 m (78 - BOUGAINVILLE ISLAND BUKA I. 10 o 10 20 30 Buka Passage MILES BU. AIRFIEL BONIS Banin Boy ToloRb CHABAI Matchin Teop L Boy NUMA NUMA KIAKABA 5 C. MABIRI Anewa Bay Bakawari L KIETA Reboine C. TOROKINA Bay EMPRESS AUGUSTA BAY MUTUPINA PT. + Ballale L SHORTLAND Faisi L Alu 1. MONO I. 24-59722ABCD DECLASSIFIED 08D Letter, 5-8-78 silenced antiaircraft positions and destroyed a radio station on Greenwich Island. I 27 Leavy 3th and Air medium Force B-24's hombers and three B-25's attacked the enemy airfield at Buka on 26 November with excellent results, all planes returning safely. Other Allied aircraft bombed Buka and Bonis airfields and reported the probable sinking of an enemy submarine off the northern tip of Buka Island. Our troops in the northeast sector of the Empress Augusta Bay area advanced 800 yards against stiff resistance from emplaced machine-guns, mortars and artillery; casualties were heavy on both sides 4. Twenty B-24's bombed Taroa in the Maloelap Atoll on 24 November damaging enemy installations and probably sinking a cargo vessel; one B-24 is missing. Preliminary casualty reports for operations on Makin indicated that 63 were killed in action and 119 wounded. Two Japanese and 103 Koreans have been captured. -5- WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 716 0700 November 25 to 0700 November 26, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 203(v) CENTRAL EUROPE - 300 $ THE PRERCES SHETLAND & TEXEL ANTHEOR TOULON : " " " so H 34 14 14 40 48 VIIPURI se o 2 - ISO sold HELSINK) APPROXIMATE WILES : 2 CLENINGRAD TALLINN e VOLOGDA Loke Peipos NOVGOROD - : 9 YAROSLAVL BRIGA okalinin VELIKIE LUMI 14 14 . . MOSCOW e VITEBSK SMOLERSH WILNO 14 -184 : OMINSK MOSILEY e BRYANSK OREL 10 PEREST *SOMEL 11 LITOVSK * KURSK 8 0 OKIEV i so so o LWOW / OSMELA / w ONYEPROPETROVSK e 48 CERNAUTI w / 48 OSTALIN OWNIVOI Roo ROSTOV MARIUPOL o ONMOLAEV MELITOPOL DOESSAO : " PEREXOP o BRASOV KERCH o BUCHAREST :: " miver MGS MAC Danage BLACK SEA " 14 : 10 " 14 14 18 40 DECLASSIFIED 0SD Letter, 5-3-72 WESTERN HEMISPHERE On 24 November a US bomber probably damaged a 740-ton enemy submaribe detected by radar 125 miles northeast of Cristobal. EUROPEAN THEATER 1. On 23 November British aircraft attacked an enemy convoy off Texel hitting a large tanker, setting fire to a mine-sweeper and an armed trawler, and seriously damaging two other armed trawlers and a mine-sweeper. Two intercepting enemy planes were destroyed; four Beaufighters were lost by antiaircraft Are. In the renewed attack which was made on Berlin that night 292 RAF bombers dropped 642 tons of high explosives and 571 tons of incendiaries through complete overcast. Nine large fires forming a circle approximately nine miles in diameter were observed after the attack. Moderate antiaircraft but active fighter resistance were encountered. Twenty-four bombers were lost. Mosquitoes attacked a power station at Cologne. 2. Heavy fighting continued on 25 November at various points along the eastern front. The enemy evacuated Gomel. MEDITERRANEAN attached 1. A force of 105 B-17's escorted by P 30's dropped 315 tons of hombs on the Toulon submarine base on 24 November severely damaging - 1 - BOLOGNA GENOA f SPEZIA ARIMINI LORENCE ANCONA LEGHORN PERUSH ELBA GROSSETO ERNI PESCARA CORSICA FOSSACESIA CIVITAVECCHIA TERMOLI SULM ROME INDENA EQGGIA CENTRAL ITALY MADDALENA 0510 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 TERRACINA CAPUA APPROXIMATE MILES SARDINIA WAPLES BASE MAP NO. 2769 (FREE) R&A, oss 26 OCTOBER 1943 REPRODUCED, 055 HUKAWN VALLEY SUNPRADUM IMPIA NAMMA BHAND MANDALAY ANYABI BAY OPROME OF ENGAL BASSEIN RANGOON WOULMEIN BANGKOS 200 MILES BASE MAP NO 2447 (FREE) RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS BRANCH oss 20 JUNE 1943 LITHOGRAPHED ⑉ THE REPRODUCTION BRANCH 055 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-8-72 the arsenal, shipping, dry docks, buildings and the basin areas, Fifteen B-17's bombed the Antheor viaduct and destroyed one enemy plane in combat; one B-17 was lost. Seventeen B-24's escorted by 32 P-38's attacked the Sofia railroad yards; four (probably six) enemy planes were destroyed for a loss of two B-24's and one P-38. Allied medium and light aircraft attacked the Civitavecchia docks and enemy defense positions and communications in the Fossacesia and Cassino areas. Twenty-five enemy airplanes attacked Maddalena city, sinking a motor torpedo boat. 2. No change was reported in the forward positions of the Fifth Army for the 24-hour period ending 25 November. On the Eighth Army front slight gains were made southwest of Alfadena; Castel di Sangro is now firmly in Allied hands while Rosello is reported clear of the enemy. The flooded condition of the Sangro continued to hamper our communications. ASIATIC THEATER 1. The 10th Air Force carried out sweeps in support of Allied ground forces in the Sumprabum and Hukawng Valley regions of northern Burma on 22 November, hitting lines of communication and starting numerous fires. The next day our light bombers hit the warehouse district and the rice mill at Namma, starting many fires. Other light - 2 - SHANGHAI OUR JAP Mongchow Changlu VE JAP Ning DIVS. Kiukiang 6-yang TWO JAP DIVS. CHUNGKING HANSHOW Non-chigag Wenchow CHANGSHA rochow Amoy Swdtow CANTON HONGKONG LINES OF CONTACT AND ENEMY STRENGTHS ARE APPROXIMATE ONLY o 50 100 150 200 Pakhoi PANDI Hal-ying MILES 2 Helphong MAP NO. 2437 (FREE) COMPILED AND DRAWN IN THE BRANCH OF RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS, oss 24 JUNE 1943 PRINTED IN THE REPRODUCTION BRANCH, oss 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 20 20 15 15 PHILIPPINE IS. at 10 10 5 5 D BORNEO HALMAHERA o o 8 HOLLANDIA CAROLA HBR. AMBON NEW GUINEA a BUKA 5 5 0 w $10 BONIS INSCHHAREN MATCHIN KAHILI BAY GASMATA SOLOMON IS. EMPRESS Y AUGUSTA BAY 10 10 If SCALE IS o 100 200 400 400 800 MILES 15 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 180 155 160 165 24-30680 DECLASSIFIED OBD Letter, 5-3-72 bombers again supported Allied ground forces in northern Burma. 2. Two B-25's of the 14th Air Force probably sank a 375-foot freighter in the harbor of Amoy on 24 November. Other B-25's and P-40's started numerous fires in Hanshow, and machine-gunned small boats and enemy personnel in the area, inflicting some 200 casualties. Nine Jap planes made two raids in the area northwest of Changsha. No damage was reported. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. Three RAAF Catalinas started fires on the waterfront at Ambon on the night of 23-24 November. The next day 96 bombers and fighters again attacked targets in the Gasmata area. Other large forces of Allied bombers and fighters destroyed a village near Sio and again attacked shipping at Halmahera where an enemy fighter was destroyed and a freighter was damaged. Nine Jap bombers and 20 fighters ineffectively attacked Allied positions in the Finschhafen area, The enemy is showing increased activity at his airport at Hollandia. 2. On 24 November 142 bombers and fighters attacked the Matchin Bay area destroying several warehouses, buildings and a supply dump, and setting fire to an oil dump and buildings. Twenty B-25's scored numerous hits on the runway and started several fires at Kahili. Army - 3 - DECLASSIFIED OBD Letter, 5-8-72 and Navy planes bombed and machine-gunned enemy installations and sank nine barges in the Empress Augusta Bay area. At Carola Harbor, Buka Island, our planes left an enemy schooner sinking. The enemy energetically repairs his airdromes after our attacks; the two fields at Buka appeared to be serviceable again on 24 November. WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 715 0700 November 24 to 0700, November 25, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 203(2) CENTRAL EUROPE « - 300 400 THE PAERGES SOGNE FJORD FRISIAN 156 LEVERKUSEN SCILLIES r " 14 " " so " 14 14 11 40 = VIIPURI so @ N - - ... HELSINK) APPROXIMATE WILLS 40 ILEMINERAD TALLINN o VOLOGOA Late Pelpos INOVGORCO : se YAROSLAVI ORIGA OKALININ VELIKIE LUMI 14 14 o D MOSCOW e SMOLERSK WILNO $ 14 14 OMINSK MODILEV e BRYANSK OREL e 900MEL 18 " PAREST LITOVSK * KURSK 8- KOROSTEN CHERNYAKOV CKIEV so so BRUSILOV e LWOW / OSHED* / INTEPROPETROVSK e 48 CERNAUTI <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< of : OSTALIN ORRIVOI HOW ROSTOV MARIUPOL e NIKOLAEV MELITOPOL ODESSAC -- 45 PEREKOP o BRASOV o BUCHAREST ** ** niver CONTACTO BLACK - SEA Denuge 14 " " 10 : 14 14 18 40 - DECLASSIFIES OSD Letter, 5-8-78 EUROPEAN THEATER 1. British Beaufighters equipped with cannon scored many hits on a convoy of seven ships northwest of Sogne Fjord, Norway, on 22 November. [ In the raid on Berlin benet night of 637 British planes dropped 2342 tons of the 22 now high explosives and incendiaries; 26 British planes are missing and three others crashed on their return. Mosquito bombers attacked Cologne and the Leverkusen chemical works. Other Allied planes laid sea mines in the vicinity of the Frisian Islands. On 21 November two glider bombs were dropped on an Allied ship 600 miles southwest of the Scillies and both were shot down by long- range antiaircraft fire. [ 2. On 24 November heavy fighting continued on the eastern front. In the Kiev salient the heavy German counterattacks in the Chernyakov and Brusilov areas slowed down, but the enemy's advance threatened the Soviet hold on Korosten. .] MEDITERRANEAN 1. Forty-eight Wellington bombers attacked the airdrome and railroad junction at Ciampino during the night of 22-23 November, destroying a hangar and scoring hits among dispersed aircraft. Bad weather restricted operations the next day to attacks by light aircraft on enemy communica- tions along the Albanian coast. L Bad mather continues to Ramper an and grand operations in staty -1- OLOGNA GENOA full SPEZIA RRIMINI FLORENCE ANCONA LEGHORN ELBA OROSSETO ERNI PESCARA FOSSACESIA CORSICA so CIVITAVECCHIA TERMOLI SULM ROME CIAMPINO ZIONE EOGGIA CENTRAL ITALY o 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 TERRACINA CAPUA APPROXIMATE MILES SARDINIA WAPLES BASE MAP NO. 2769 (FREE) R & A, 055 26 OCTOBER 1943 REPRODUCED, 055 DECLASSIFIED 08D Letter, 5-3-78 [Tanlon a submarine base was allacked 24 nov by (with good effect african strong an formation of heavy howbers z northpeat 2. During the 24-hour period ending at noon 24 November no change in forward positions was reported by the Fifth Army. On the left flank of the Eighth Army Pizzone was reported clear of the enemy; Allied troops continued to exploit their gains north of the Sangro River, directing their attacks on the road center east of Casoli and maintaining their bridgehead south of Fossacesia. 3. General Eisenhower reports that US and British forces on the west coast of Italy discharged 68,175 tons of supplies, 2,264 vehicles, and 35,373 personnel during the week ending 11 November. 70 per cent was landed at Naples, the remainder at Salerno, Castellammare and Torre Annunziata. Corresponding figures for the east coast are 31,613 tons of supplies, 2,202 vehicles, and 17,948 personnel; most of the personnel and vehicles were landed at Taranto while Brindisi handled two-thirds of the supplies. 4. The War Department notified General Disenhower that two battalions of 240 mm howitzers will be shipped in late December to the North African theater in order to provide heavy field artillery for use against highly organized position defenses. This howitzer, of which there are six in each battalion, is a new model of a caliber used in the last war and fires a 360 pound projectile to a maximum range of 25,000 yards. It is our most powerful field artillery weapon. This is the first shipment of these howitzers to any of our theaters of operation. ] -2- SHANGHAI Hangchow 1-shang Changlu Ning-pd Kiukiong YOCHOW (Yo-yang) CHUNGKING HANSHOW Non-ch'ong TUNGTING LAKE Wenchow CHANGSHA Heng-yong Kweiyong Frochow Amoy Swetow CANTON HONGKONG 0 50 100 150 200 Pakhoi MILES PANO Hsi-ying w Halphong MAP NO. 2437 (FREE) COMPILED AND DRAWN IN THE BRANCH OF RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS, 055 24 JUNE 1943 PRINTED IN THE REPRODUCTION BRANCH, oss 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 20 20 15 is PHILIPPINE IS. 10 IO M 5 5 D HALMAHERA BORNEO o o NEW GUINEA BONIS 5 5 SAIDOR SONG R TOROKINA SATTELBERG F INSCHHAFEN EJS EMPRESS. SOLOMON IS. AUGUSTA 190 BAY 10 10 I SCALE o 100 100 400 600 see MILES IS 15 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 180 155 160 165 24-30680 DECLASSIFIED 08D Letter, 5-3-72 5. German troops landed on Samos on 22 November. Approximately 200 British and 3,700 Greek and Italian troops had been evacuated from Samos by midnight 23 November. ASIATIC THEATER 1. Fighters of the 14th Air Force carried out sweeps in support of Chinese ground troops in the Tungting Lake area on 22 and 23 November, destroying landing barges and inflicting some 150 casualties on the Japanese near Hanshow. At Yochow our B-25's scored hits on warehouses, buildings, ammunition dumps, and oil storage areas. 2. Brigadier General William E. R. Covell assumed command of the SOS, China-Burma-India Theater of Operations on 15 November, vice Major General Raymond A. Wheeler, who has been reassigned as Chief Administrative Officer, Southeast Asia Command. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. Our forces are now four hundred yards from Sattelberg. US medium and dive-bombers harassed the enemy north and west of that settle- ment on 23 November. North of Saidor our P-39's shot down two (probably four) Japanese fighters for the loss of one P-39. Five B-24's successfully attacked shipping at Halmahera sinking an 8,000-ton freighter-transport. Enemy air attacks on Finschhafen and on the Sisi area during the period caused no damage. -3- - - 147 - 170 E m E - 175 IN - if ISLANDS MILI MAKIN KUMA GALBERT MARSHALL AND GILBERT ISLANDS BITITU ISLANDS APAMAMA SCALE OF MLES BILDERT ISLANDS 197 - - - - - - 187 - - " E E ITS 174 178 178 117 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-8-78 2. Enemy air attacks in the Torokina area caused some damage on 23 November. The next day, a Japanese shore battery shelled one of our landing ships which was unloading and killed three men. Allied air activity on 24 November included attacks on enemy installations south of Empress Augusta Bay and the dropping of 192 quarter- ton bombs on Bonis by 16 B-24's. Troops of the US 37th Division are now occupying part of the beachhead at Empress Augusta Bay. 3. Eleven B-24's from Canton Island attacked enemy installations at Mili on 23 November (local time). Two (probably four) of 12 inter- cepting enemy fighters were destroyed; all our planes returned. 27th Division units on Butaritari (Makin Atoll), supported by light and medium tanks, attacked eastward early the morning of 23 November (local time). At noon, one company was landed in the rear of the enemy positions and dug in. Contact was established shortly thereafter, and resistance became sporadic. Troops landed on Kuma Island, east of Butaritari without opposition. Enemy resistance ceased on Bititu Island (Tarawa Atoll) at 1330 (local time) 24 November and the situation on Apamama was reported as satisfactory. -4- WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 714 0700 November 23 to 0700 November 24, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 203(2) CENTRAL EUROPE 300 THE PAERGES ST. SHER BERCK SUR MER PAS DE CALAIS TOULON " " " " 10 " 14 14 14 40 " VIRPURI so e so IDO no --- 40 HELSINK APPROXIMATE MILES : OLENINGRAD TALLINN ©VOLOGDA Love Pelpos NOVGOROO 18 10 e YAROSLAVL BRIGA OKALININ VELIKIE LUKI 14 o = o MOSCOW ©VIMBSK SMOLERSK WILNO 14 14 OMINSK MOBILEV e o BRYANSK OREL e " DREST GROWEL " LITOVSK * KURSK KIEV 1 so so BRUSILOV e o LWOW / OSHECA / REMENCHUG ONYEPROPETROVSK o : 48 CERNAUTI OSTALIN ORRIVOI for ROSTOV MARIUPOL o ONIKOLAEV MELITOPOL DOESSAO " PEREKOP : 0 BRASOV KERCH e HOMELY o BUCHAREST " " niver Denope BLACK SEA 14 " : : " 14 " " 40 DECLASSIFIEB OSD Letter, 5-8-78 EUROPEAN THEATER 1. On 23 November US B-26's attacked enemy airfields at St. Omer and Berck-Sur-Mer while Allied aircraft bombed other targets in the Pas de Calais area; there was no enemy fighter opposition. Two B-26's are missing. 2. In response to a War Department inquiry, General Devers reports that agreements are in effect in the UK between British and American forces authorizing British naval and military personnel to arrest and hand over to American authorities any member of our forces alleged to be guilty of offenses punishable under the law of the United States. US military officers may arrest only definitely identified members of our forces. Our personnel may not enter private dwellings or vehicles for this purpose without the cooperation of British civil police, or semi- public places such as hotels without the invitation or consent of the management, except in the case of a disorder involving members of the US armed forces. 3. South and southwest of Kremenchug the enemy has abandoned several towns, thus permitting the union of Soviet troops which have been fighting northwest and southeast of that city. In the Kiev salient enemy attacks have forced the Red forces back to the vicinity of Brusilov in the face of increasing resistance Lil -1- BOLOGNA GENOA fi SPEZO RIMINI LORGHGEN ANCONA LEGHORN PERVICE POLICIES ELBA GROSSETO ERNI PESCARA LANCIANO CORSICA CIVITAVECCHIA TERMOLI SULM ROME EOGGIA CENTRAL ITALY o 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 TERRACINA CAPCA APPROXIMATE MILES SARDINIA WAPLES BASE MAP NO. 2769 (FREE) R&A, oss 26 OCTOBER 1943 REPRODUCED, 055 DECLASSIFIED @&D Letter, 5-8-72 MEDITERRANKAN 1. [ On 22 November 73 B-26's and 31 P-38's made an effective attacked on the railroad center and airdromos at Foligno while 22 B-26's scored > hits on the railroad bridge at Cecina. Fighter bombers damaged the and chemical works and central exploded ammunicion staly] stores at Civitavecchia, and flew in other harassing missions in coastal areas. More than 100 medium and light bombers concentrated on enemy gun and troop positions in the battle area south of Lanciano. Four groups of escorted US B-17's were prevented by bad weather from bombing the Toulon submarine base: three B-17's are missing from the attempt. 2. The noon 23 November report indicates that Fifth Army patrols met resistance at the south side of the entrance to the Cassino-Frosinone corridor. Units on the left flank of the British Eighth Army registered a further advance of some two miles around the north shoulder of Monti della Meta, reaching the outskirts of Barrea. On its right flank other units crossed the Sangro River capturing the high ground near Altino some two miles beyond the stream; another bridgehead nearer the sea was strengthened. ASIATIC THEATER 1. An additional report for 20 November states that nine escorted B-25's of the 10th Air Force attacked enemy installations along the east bank of the Chindwin River in the vicinity of Kalewa (central Burma). -2- SHANGRAI wongshow Wenchow how Amoy Swdlow HONGKONG 0 50 100 150 200 Pakhoi HANDI 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 MUSSAU I o 40 80 120 Miles (approximate) MANUS I, 6 KAVIENG AITAPE NEW P IRELAND o WEWAK BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO Sepik River o MARUI RABAUL o NUBIA UNEA I number oMADANG CAPE TALASEA GLOUCESTER VITIAZ NEW BRITAIN OBENA BENA FINSCHHAFEN STRAIT GASMATA GLAE HUON GULF SALAMAUA KIKORI WAU 10AHO KEREMA RIVER GULF TROBRIAND IS. OF GONA e BUNA PAPUA KAIRUKU KOKODA WOODLARK I. THE ODARU SAP RANDE GOODENOUGH 1. FERGUSSON I. PORT MORESBY RIGO BANARIA NORMANBY 1. ale SAMARAI CAPE YORK LOUISIADE PENIN. CORAL SEA ARCHIPELAGO 115 120 128 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 20 20 15 15 PHILIPPINE IS. 10 10 5 5 BORNEO o o & AMBON MOLANA BUKA NEW GUINEA 5 5 9 CHABAI EMPRESS TUGUSTA BAY BOUGAINVILLE KAHILI SOLOMON IS. 10 10 B SCALE 15 . - - - - see HLE IS 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 ISO 155 ISO E 24-30680 DECLASSIFIES 080 Letter, 5-8-78 2. The 14th Air Force carried out at least 35 fighter sorties on 21 November attacking many small river boats in the Changteh area west of Tungting Lake in support of Chinese ground forces. All aircraft returned. The enemy is reported to be increasing his pressure against Hankow. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. In three attacks a total of 84 medium and heavy bombers escorted by 35 P-38's hammered enemy camp areas and supply dumps at Gasmata on 22 November; there was no enemy fighter opposition but one B-25 was lost to antiaircraft fire. Twenty-two B-24's attacked the Cape Gloucester runway, damaging five parked aircraft Other Allied bombers attacked buildings on Unea Island and enemy installations north of Finschhafen. A B-24 on reconnaissance damaged and probably sank a 7,000-ton freighter- transport north of Mussau Island. Three RAAF Catalinas damaged the water- front and barracks areas at Ambon and dropped bombs on Molana Island nearby. Thirteen Japanese bombers attacked Finschhafen, causing no damage. 2. It has been further reported for 22 November that eight P-40's shot down without loss five of a group of 30 to 40 Jap fighters inter- cepted over Bougainville Island and that 92 other Allied planes heavily attacked Kahili. There was no interception and all our aircraft returned. -3- DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-8-78 [ on 25 November The day 29 escorted Allied bombers struck Chabai with good effect; one B-25 was lost. A search plane probably destroyed a Japanese submarine 100 miles west of Buka. In the northeast sector of the Empress Augusta Bay area 104 Japs were killed while attacking our positions. Japanese artillery has caused slight damage and casualties; the enemy air effort has been ineffective. I.I 203(2) -4- WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 713 0700 November 22 to 0700 November 23, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 203(2) STATE DECLASSIFIED OBD Letter, 5-3-72 GENERAL The War Department has instructed its senior commanders abroad to obtain War Department approval before releasing control over, or abandon- ing,any airfields in foreign territory which were constructed in whole or in substantial part with American funds and which are of particular significance because of their facilities, location or particular suit- ability for post-war purposes. This procedure conforms to the agreement with the State Department whereby such steps as are best suited to protect our national interests may be taken. WESTERN HEMISPHERE The Army Ground Forces have issued orders for the constitution and activation of the Headquarters, XVI Corps, at Fort Riley, Kansas. This brings the total of US corps headquarters to 20, including one armored corps. EUROPEAN THEATER 1. Fourteen (probably 21) enemy planes were destroyed in combat by the 8th Air Force during the week ending 21 November for the loss of 11 heavy bombers. Our major operations during this period consisted of the attacks on the molybdenum mines at Knaben, the power station at Rjuken, the Luftwaffe repair base at Kjeller, and on industrial targets in the Ruhr Valley. -1- BOLOGNA GENOA f SPEZO RIMINI STBENIK FANO LORENCE ANCONA LEGHORN LORETO PORTO CIVITANOVA PERUS PEDASO ELBA GROGGETO GIULIANOVA PESCARA ERNI FOSSACESIA CORSICA CIVITAVECCHIA TERMOLI SULN HOME ZZONE POZY CENTRAL ITALY o 5 10 20 30 40 so 60 70 80 90 100 TERRACINA GAETA CARD APPROXIMATE MILES SARDINIA WAPLES R&A, oss BASE MAP NO. 2769 (FREE) REPRODUCED, oss 26 OCTOBER 1943 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 2. On the night of 20-21 November four out of ten enemy aircraft over southeastern counties reached the London area where some bombs were dropped. The next day enemy aircraft using glider bombs, damaged two Allied ships about 650 miles west of Brest. 3. There was heavy fighting at several points on the eastern front during 22 November but significant changes were reported only in the Rechitsa-Gomel region where Soviet troops made some gains. MEDITERRANEAN 1. During the night of 20-21 November Allied aircraft bombed the railway yards at Porto Civitanova, attacked targets near Pedaso and Giulianova, and machine-gunned the Loreto airfield. The next day 48 US medium bombers scored hits on the docks at Civitavecchia, 30 others damaged a bridge at Fano, and 22 more covered the Chiusi railroad yards. Light aircraft continued their attacks in the battle area, particularly near Fossacesia and Gaeta, and harassed shipping in the port of Sibenik. 2. Bad weather continued and no change was reported on the Fifth continued Army front, on 22 November 8 its lef the Eighth Army had advanced about a mile westward north of Pizzone; vigorous patrol minetome were performed beyond the Sangro River in the S. Angelo area. At Sr Angelo an energy counterattack was repulsed. Near the Adriatic two bridges have been completed over the Sangro, one of which will support DAGE tanks; the enemy -2- (MPVAC SHAND# CHITTAGOND* MANDABAY ANYAD* KYAUKPYU B A Y . PROME CHARGE OF AMPANG BENGAL WASSEIN RANGOON MOVEMEIN TE TAYO 100 100 MILES BASE MAP NO 2447 (FREE) RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS BRANCH 055 20 JUNE 1943 LITHOGRAPHED IN THE REPRODUCTION BA ANCH 055 SHANGHAI Hangchow Ning-pt Wenchow bchow Amoy Swetow CANTON HONGHAI BAY HONGKONG o 50 100 150 200 Pakhoi MILES RANOI Hsi-ying FORT BAYARD 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 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 appears to have no positions remaining south of the river 3. General Eisenhower has again reported favorably on the superior battle conduct of the 100th Infantry Battalion (Separate). This unit, formed - Americans of Japanese origin participated in the recent seizure of the heights northeast of Pozzili and the crossing of the Volturno River, advancing through hostile fire and minefields with courage and skill. Two members of the battalion are being recommended for gallantry awards. The good physical condition and the excellence of the scouting and patrolling of this unit are specifically praised. 4. Thirteen Allied bombers attacked the Heraklion airdrome (Crete) during the night of 21-22 November, some damage being observed. ASIATIC THEATER 1. On 10 November nine B-24's of the 10th Air Force successfully attacked the Chiengmai and Lampang airfields, reporting many hits on the runways and the probable destruction of eleven enemy aircraft on the ground. Five other B-24's which failed to reach the same target area, attacked Prome; one hit Akyab and another bombed Kyaukpyu. All bombers returned. 2. 14th Air Force fighter planes, again catching Japanese cavalry troops attempting to cross the Ling Ho River near Shihmen on 20 November, inflicted many casualties. Boats on the river and a town to the north were also machine-gunned. -3- 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 ISO 155 160 165 20 20 15 15 PHILIPPINE IS. 10 10 5 5 BORNEO NAURU I o o MANOKWARI NEW HANOVER 5 NEW GUINEA SUKA BONIS 5 SATTELBERG KIETA TABEREANE RING RING SOLOMON IS. GASMATA PLANT. BOUGAINVILLE EMPRESS AUGUSTA 10 BAY 10 A SCALE 15 o 100 100 400 400 800 MILES 15 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 180 155 160 165 24-30680 DECLASSIFIED OBD Letter, 5-3-72 On 21 November B-25's demolished the airfield administration building and barracks at Fort Bayard and probably sank a 200-foot vessel in Honghai Bay. Fighter planes, supporting Chinese ground operations in the Tungting Lake region, shot up more than 150 troop-laden small boats and enemy troops along the river in the vicinity of Changteh. All our planes returned. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. Allied ground forces advanced to within 800 yards of Sattelberg on 21 November. Nineteen B-24's, escorted by Australian P-40's, bombed the enemy supply areas at Ring Ring Plantation and Gasmata. Other Allied aircraft attacked enemy shipping off New Britain and harassed the enemy- held northeast New Guinea coast. A B-24 set fire to an 8,000-ton enemy transport northwest of New Hanover, shooting down one of eight enemy planes encountered. Allied bombers sank a 4,500-ton freighter-transport at Manokwari, and a 2,000-ton vessel at Taberfane where the waterfront was also attacked; in these missions six enemy planes attempting inter- ception were destroyed; one B-24 and one B-25 were lost. [97,000 tons of merchant shipping were reported at Rabaul on 20 November 4 2. Escorted bombers from South Pacific air forces attacked targets in southern Bougainville, machine-gunned Kieta, and attacked the airfield -4- 178 ITS 178 ! 199 ISLANDS MAKIN 1. GLBCHT MARSHALL AND GILBERT ISLANDS TARAWA ISLANDO APAMAMA NAURU 1. I bonool OCEAN 1. SCALE OF MLES RILBERT BLANCE - - ⑉ - - - - - -- in E IFN 174 ITS 178 - -DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 at Bonis during 21 November. Thirty B-24's bombed the runway at Nauru / and a reconnaissance plane bombed a warehouse and pier on Ocean Island there was no interception and all our planes returned. That night enemy bombers dropped bombs on Puruata Island in Empress Augusta Bay and caused some damage. On 22 November escorted medium bombers heavily attacked the Buka airfield, starting several fires and scoring many hits on the runway; our P-38's machine-gunned the northwestern Bougainville area. In the Empress Augusta Bay area the Allied perimeter is now approximately 9,000 yards wide and 7,000 yards deep; the entire airfield site is in our hands 3. On 22 November units of our 27th Division continued to advance eastwards on Butaritari Island (Makin Atoll). A late message indicates that the island is entirely under our control. Our naval and aerial units maintained a violent bombardment of Tarawa in order to reduce enemy resistance delaying the landing of heavy equipment and supplies for the Marines. The situation of Marine units which landed on Apamama was reported as satisfactory. -5- WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 712 0700 November 21 to 0700 November 22, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE Nate:- Penciled brachets and writing used for news to Settant E.LH, 11/22/13. appearing herein was that partion of summary CENTRAL EUROPE 300 THE PAERDES SHETLAND et FRISIAN IS RUHR VALLEY TEVERKUSEN PADÚA FERRARA r : :- : : 10 as 14 14 14 40 " OVIIPURI 10 9 so IDO ISO HELSINK APPROXIMATE MILES 40 CLENINGRAD TALLINN ©VOLOGDA Lake Person NOVGOROD : se YAROSLAVI ORIGA OKALININ VELIKIE LUMI se 14 o o MOSCOW e VITERSK a SMOLENSK WILNO 54 14 OMINSK MOGILEV e BRYANSK OREL 0 se se POREST LITOVSK RECHITSA * KURSK & KOROSTEN 0 (KIEV so so o LWOW FASTOV CHERKASSY U.S. KREMENCHUG / DNYEPROPETROVSK o ** CERNAUTI - - .. ©STALIN KRIVOI ROS ROSTOV MARIUPOL e NIKOLAEV MELITOPOL 00ESSAC : " PEREKOP Am o BRASOV KENCH o o BUCHAREST : : giver Denvice BLACK SEA 1 I " " " 10 : 14 11 se 40 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 EUROPEAN THEATER a energed 1. A force of 214 RAF heavy bombers attacked Leverkusen during the night of 19-20 November; heavy clouds prevented assessment of the results. Eight bombers were lost, chiefly to antiaircraft fire; no enemy night fighters were seen. The same night other Allied aircraft mined the waters off the north and west coasts of France and in the vicinity of the Frisian Islands, and harassed enemy industrial targets in the Ruhr. Four enemy bombers apparently returned with the RAF force, one dropping two bombs in the London area without an alert. 2. In the Big Bend of the Dnepr large-scale Soviet attacks met with some success southwest Dnopi opigiosrovek on 21 November, but north east eastrof Krivoi of Roa of Krivoi Rog very heavy fighting was inconclusive. The Soviets widened the northern shoulder of their Kremenchug salient and were shelling Cherkassy from their bridgehead to the northwest. [In the Kiev salient the Soviets held against very heavy enemy counterattacks along the Korosten-Fastov front, and improved their positions northwest of Rechit MEDITERRANEAN 1. Mosquitoes machine-gunned enemy trains at Padua and west of Ferrara during the night of 19-20 November. L Bad weather prohibited most air activity on 20 November and ad air and ground 2. Unfavorable weather continued to hamper operations on 21 November -1- -BOLOGNA GENOA F SPEZIX RIMINI LORENCE ANCONA LEGHORN PERMI ELBA OROGGETO ERNI PESCARA CORSICA ANO CIVITAVECCHIA TERMOLI SUL ROME EDG61A CENTRAL ITALY o 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 60 90 100 TERRACINA CAPUA APPROXIMATE MILES SARDINIA WAPLES BASE MAP NO. 2769 (FREE) R&A, oss REPRODUCED, 055 26 OCTOBER 1943 HUKAWNG VALLE CHITTAGONG* ANYAD! BAY PROME OF BENGAL so o MILES BASE MAP NO 1447 (FREE) RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS BRANCH 059 28 JUNE 1943 LITHOGRAPHED IN THE REPRODUCTION BR ANCH 055 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 the Sangro was at flood level. The Eighth Army reported a westward advance of one mile by its left flank. On 21 November slight gains were reported north and west of Perano while to the north Eighth Army patrols clashed with the enemy beyond the Sangro. 3. The following casualties to date for operations on the main- land were reported on 21 November: Killed Wounded Missing Total US II and VI Corps 1,613 6,361 2,685 10,659 British X Corps 1,443 6,093 2,644 10,180 Totals 3,056 12,454 5,329 20,839 us examation for the first time sheed British X larps casualties 2129 Prisoners have been captured by US forces. ASIATIC THEATER Light bombers of the 10th Air Force supporting ground operations, on 19 November, bombed an enemy force massing for a river crossing in the Hukawng Valley. It is believed that many casualties were inflicted. Other bombers and fighters scored hits on warehouse and barracks areas at Namtingand demolished a railroad bridge at Namkwin. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. Heavy ground fighting was reported east and south of Sattelberg on 20 November. Fifty B-24's covered by 23 Australian P-40's successfully bombed enemy supply and bivouac installations in the Ring Ring Plantation -2- 115 120 128 130 135 140 145 ISO 155 160 165 20 20 15 15 PHILIPPINE IS. 10 10 no 5 5 D BORNEO o o SORONG 8 HANSA BAY RABAUL NEW GUINEA WALD 5 5 BAY GUSAP SATTELBERG RING RING PLANTATION* SOLOMON IS. LANGEMAK BAY 10 10 B SCALE 15 e 100 soo 400 600 soo MILES 15 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 180 155 160 145 24-30680 SOLOMON ISLANDS AREA BUKA CHABAI BONIS TEOP BOUGAINVILLE TENEKOW KIETA SOLOMON TOROKINA KARA Tonolei Hbr. KAHILF BUIN BALLALE CHOISEUL SHORTLAND ISLANDS FAISI KAKASA TREASURY WAGINA VELLA LAVELLA à Rekata Bay KOLOMBANGARA SANTA ISABEL YILA GANONGGA GIZO NEW GEORGIA I. 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 area. Other 5th Air Force planes bombed and machine-gunned shipping, antiaircraft positions and the jetty area at Hansa Bay (where one B-25 was lost by antiaircraft fire), attacked enemy stores and camp area at Wald Bay and demolished buildings in villages north and west of Sattelberg. A Catalina on night reconnaissance scored two hits on, and probably destroyed, a large cargo vessel northwest of Rabaul, and other Catalinas damaged the Sorong waterfront. Single enemy aircraft bombed Langemak Bay and Gusap during the morning without causing damage. 2. US planes in the South Pacific bombed and machine-gunned Japanese concentrations and supply lines on the southwest and northeast coasts of Bougainville on 20 November. Fighter aircraft performed escort missions, attacked ground targets in the Chabai area, and shot down an enemy bomber west of Torokina. All of our planes returned. Japanese aircraft caused some casualties and materiel damage. On 21 November three B-25's machine-gunned Kieta. Our air patrols shot down, without loss to themselves, an entire enemy force of seven fighters encountered over Bougainville. 3. On 19 November 12 B-24's attacked Makin, starting fires in the target area. Two of our planes were lost. Nineteen B-24's dropped 21 tons of bombs on targets on Tarawa late that afternoon with excellent results; all our planes returned. T 4. Two battalion combat teams of the 165th Infantry, (27th made the Division), heavily reinforced, landed on the western end of Butaritari -3- 100 no 120 130 140 150 NO ETO 180 TO NIO JAPAN CHINA 30 30 HAWAIIAN ISLANDS FORMOSA BURMA 20 20 HAINAN D MARIANAS Wake INDO-CHINA ISLANDS THAILAND PHILIPPINES Guam MARSHALL ISLANDS 2 to Yep. CAROLINE ISLANDS BUTARITARI-MAKIN DRIVER ns GILBERT TARAWA LINE o BORNEO ISLANDS o PHOENIX ISLANDS BISMARCK NEW GUINEA ARCHIPELAGO IW ELLICE ISLANDS / UNITED / ISLANDS 2 10 SAMOA 10 : HEBRIDES FIJI ISLANDS 20 20 NEW CALEDONIA AUSTRALIA o 500 1000 STATUTE MILES AT EQUATOR 30 30 100 no 120 130 140 150 noo TTO 100 170 IGO 24-28045 DECLASSIFIED OED Letter, 5-3-72 (scuthwestern island of the Vakin Aball) at 0830 on 21 November (local time) against light opposition. The third combat team of the regiment, supported by the 193rd Tank Battalion, landed on northern beaches at 1043 in the face of heavy machine-gun fire which was reduced by the tanks. These units, after forcing a junction, control the western end of the island, which includes all important facilities. Natives reported 900 Japanese to be on the island. The 27th Division to commanded by Major General Ralph 0. Smith. It is is interesting new to note that the 16 5th mg was formerly Marines the landed Fighting do Tarawa 69th at 0930 21 york. on November. Strong enemy resistance was encountered. -4- to WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 711 0700 November 20 to 0700 November 21, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 205(2) " 14 14 : 30 " 34 14 14 40 41 VIIPURI 10 e so 00 de 4082 HELSINK) APPROXIMATE WILES 40 OLENTINGRAD TALLINN © VOLOGDA Loss Pelson NOVGOROO se 18 YAROSLAVL ÓRIGA OKALININ VELIKIE LUKI 14 54 o - MOSCOW a VITEBSK SMOLERSH WILNO 14 14 ©MINSK MOGILEV e o BRYANSK OREL 0 SOMEL " se PAREST LITOVSK * KURSK OVRUCH CHERNIGOV 0 KOROSTEN OKIEV no so o o e LWOW FASTOV / / & INTEPROPETROVSK o ** CERNAUTI of 45 OSTALIN ORANGOI ROG ROSTOV MARIUPOL o ONIKOLAEV MELITOPOL ODESSAÇ " 48 PEREKOP o BRASOV KERCH INEVASTOPOLI, BUCHAREST : " River BLACK SEA Desube :- " : so 11 14 14 11 40 BOLOGNA GENOA SPEZIA / E RIMINI LORENGE ANCONA LEGHORN PERMS ELBA MOSSETO ERNI PESCARA CORSICA CIVITAVECCHIA TERMOLI SUL ORNARECCIO ROME EDGGIA CENTRAL ITALY o 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 TERRACINA CAPUA APPROXIMATE MILES SARDINIA INAPLES BASE MAP NO. 2769 (FREE) RBA, oss 26 OCTOBER 1943 REPRODUCED, oss DECLASSIFIED 08D Letter, 5-3-72 Third Army EUROPEAN THEATER Camp Polk, La 1. The War Department has directed the Commanding General, Army Ground Forces, to move the headquarters of the XIX Corps to the Second Army European Theater of Operations in January 1944, and that of the XX Camp Campbell Ky. Corps to the same theater in March 1944. 2. On 20 November the enemy made some gains on a 90-mile front between Korosten and Fastov. Red forces improved their positions along the Chernigov-Ovruch railroad. MEDITERRANEAN 1. During the night of 18-19 November Allied bombers attacked enemy communications in front of the Eighth Army. The next day under poor weather conditions 20 A-36's successfully attacked a bridge near Cassino. Our light aircraft concentrated on targets in the battle area and on enemy traffic in central Italy and in the region of Split and Metkovic. Two enemy planes were destroyed; three P-38's are missing. 2. There was exceptionally adverse weather on the Italian front during 19 and 20 November. The Fifth Army maintained its patrolling activities and reported that the enemy is engaged in heavy mining operations and the construction of defenses on its front. Eighth Army patrols advanced to Castel di Sangro, Ateleta and Castiglione; on its right it captured Archi. Tornareccio was reported clear of the enemy again. - 1 - - 20° 1. la ES* 24" SPLIT METKOVIC 43° 43% BE I o - WHEY - EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN AREA CASTELROSSO 8 a 00 200 300 42° 1 42% se my 2" 4/* Prom - r 47 D THASOS a DO I 40° 40° LOROS 4 I CORN Lene 0 - of 29° 19° MYTILINE Septe LEMCAN D I CHIOS Sayone - à ANDRES SAMOS ZENTE Dryne 0 TENCE all 8 o & 0 20m to P Lense 17+ PAROS o 17" I 4 . I Malica 0 1 DODECANESE - 4 XYTHERA 6 PRIOCES 36° 36° a Carpothes MIDDLE EASTERN AREA - - I 35° so 0 to 8 CRETE . SCALE IN WILER à 34° 80° : ER* D' 24° à EP* 29° - BASE MAP NO 2447 (FREE) RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS BRANCH 058 28 JUNE 1943 LITHOGRAPHED IN THE REPRODUCTION BR ANCH oss SHANGHAI ngchow Wenchow rochow TSAO TAO Amoy MANAO I Swdtow HONGKONG INAMPANG 1. o 50 100 150 200 Pakhol PANDI 7st Hsi-ying 2 MILES Haiphong HAINAN ST KIUNGSHAN HBR MAP NO. 2437 (FREE) COMPILED AND DRAWN IN THE BRANCH OF RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS, oss 24 JUNE 1943 PRINTED IN THE REPRODUCTION BRANCH, oss 3. German aircraft attacked Castelrosso and a British naval unit nearby on 19 November; the British garrison numbers 1550, with rein- forcements enroute. General Royce reported on 20 November that all British personnel have been evacuated from Samos. ASIATIC THEATER 1. 10th Air Force bombers and fighters heavily attacked Mogaung and nearby villages on 18 November, damaged rolling stock and bridges on the railroad southwest of Mogaung, and bombed the Mogaung River crossing at Kamaing. More than 100 sorties were made during the day. 2. On 19 November ten B-25's of the 14th Air Force flew anti- shipping missions from the Hainan Straits to Tsao Tao Island, hitting two freighters and smaller vessels in Kiungshan Harbor, another freighter east of Swatow, and sinking a freighter near Tsao Tao and a gunboat at Nanao Island. The docks at Swatow were machine-gunned. Our fighter aircraft attacked targets along the Burma Road. On 20 November B-25's on sea sweeps off Nampang Island shot down a Japanese transport plane and bombed warehouses and barracks on the Island starting many large fires. Other B-25's, with fighter escort, supported Chinese troops in the Lake Tungting area by bombing Japanese installations at Tzeli. All of our planes returned safely. - 2 - 0 40 80 120 Miles (approximate) MANUS L 9 KAVIENG AITAPE NEW IRELAND o WEWAK BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO Sepik MARUE RABAUL River o o NUBIA REIN BAY name bMADANG CAPE PTALASEA GLOUCESTER VITIAZ NEW BRITAIN OBENA BENA SATTELBERG FINSCHHAFEN STRAIT GASMATA ¿CAE HUON GULF PSALAMAUA KIKORI WAU ONEN KEREMA RIVER GULF TROBRIAND is. GONA OF o 9 BUNA PAPUA KAIRUKU KOKODA WOODL ARK L THE 0 DARU SANT RANOE GOODENOUGH I, FERGUSSON I, PORT MORESBY RIGO BANARIA NORMANBY L SAMARAI CAPE YORK LOUISIADE PENIN, CORALSEA ARCHIPELAGO SOLOMON ISLANDS AREA BUKA I BUKA BONIS TEOP MATCHIN BAY BOUGAINVILLE TENEKOW PURUAT A I SOLOMON KIETA TOROKINA EMPRESS KARA Tonolei Hbr. AUGUSTA BAY KAHILLA BUIN CHOISEUL BALLALE SHORTLAND ISLANDS 6 FAISI KAKASA TREASURY WAGINA à 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 TULAGE HENDERSON FIELD GUADALCANAL I. SCALE 25 0 25 so 75 100 STATUTE MILES RENNELL DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-8-72 PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. 5th Air Force medium and light bombers concentrated on targets in the Finschhafen-Sattelberg area on 19 November. Nine B-25's covered by 11 P-38's attacked antiaircraft positions and shipping near Rein Bay. Allied fighters, intercepting enemy planes over the Finschhafen area, forced them to jettison their bomb loads. In the advance on Sattelberg, tanks supporting our ground troops knocked out enemy artillery positions; enemy counterattacks were repulsed. 2. In the Solomons one enemy plane was shot down off Treasury Island and three were destroyed near Torokina on 19 November while attacking Allied vessels. B-24's bombed targets at Kara and Buka, destroying grounded aircraft, and Navy planes blasted Kahili. Other aircraft bombed Ballale and enemy positions at Matchin Bay. Army and Navy bombers covered by P-38's attacked the Bonis airfield the next day, hitting the runway and buildings; three B-25's harassed enemy-held villages on the east coast of Bougainville. The runways at Ballale, Kara, Bonis, Kahili, and Buka are now unserviceable. 3. In ground action on Bougainville patrol skirmishes were reported in the eastern sector during 19 November. Japanese aircraft bombing Allied positions on Puruata Island caused some casualties. - 3 - WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 710 0700 November 19 to 0700 November 20, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 203(2) CENTRAL EUROPE - THE PAERGES SHETLAND IL TEXEL ESSEN DUISBURG BOCHUM AACHEN BONN MANNHEIM LUDVIGSHAFEN j r 9 L Is DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 WESTERN HEMISPHERE The Army Ground Forces have issued directives for the movement of the 4th Armored Division (Major General J. S. Wood) from Camp Bowie, Texas, to an eastern port of embarkation for further movement overseas. EUROPEAN THEATER 1. Eighty-three British heavy bombers attacked targets at Mannheim and Ludwigshafen during the night of 17-18 November, one plane did not return. Harassing missions were carried out against Bonn, Berlin, the furnaces and rolling mills at Duisburg, and the furnaces and armament works at Bochum. The following night, 377 RAF Lancasters dropped 1521 tons of high explosives on Berlin through a thick overcast; several large explosions were seen. Nine bombers are missing. Another force of 295 RAF heavy bombers hit Mannheim and Ludwigshafen. Twenty-three heavy bombers failed to return. During extensive harassing raids, lighter RAF aircraft struck at Frankfurt, Aachen and the steel and arma- ment works at Essen. Wellingtons laid mines off the west coast of France and in the vicinity of Texel. Three German aircraft operating over southeastern counties caused a little damage. 2. On 19 November, 167 B-17's of the 8th Air Force, escorted by 328 P-47's, attacked industrial targets in the Ruhr Valley. Heavy clouds prevented observation of results. No enemy fighter opposition was encountered and all of our planes returned. -1- *BOLOGNA GENOA f SPEZO RIMINI SLORENCE ANCONA LEGHORN PERUGI ELBA OROGSETO TERNI PESCARA CORSICA NO CIVITAVECCHIA TERMOLI SULM P.O. ROME GNO asi CASSIN EDGGIA ROCCHETTS CENTRAL ITALY o 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 TERRACINA CAPUA APPROXIMATE MILES SARDINIA WAPLES BASE MAP NO. 2769 (FREE) RSA, oss 26 OCTOBER 1943 REPRODUCED, oss : " " " so se 14 14 18 40 42 OVIIPURI so e so 100 no SCHOOL " HELSINK APPROXIMATE MILES 40 OLENINGRAD TALLINN ©VOLOGDA Lake Peipos NOVGOROO se " of YAROSLAVL ÓRIGA OKALININ VELIKIE LUKI se 16 o MOSCOW e VITEBSK SMOLERSK WILNO 14 54 OMINSK MOD/LEV o BRYANSK OREL o RECHITSA se PAREST ROMEL " LITOVSK *KURSK OVRUCH of 0 KIEV NO so o LWOW ZHITOMIR o 0 CHERKASSY if & INTEPROPETROVSK e 48 CERNAUTI & & : OSTALIN ORRIVOI ROG ROSTOV MARIUPOL 0 GNIROLAEV ©MELITOPO 00ESSAC .. PEREKOP 48 o BRASOV RERCH o o BUCHAREST " : giver Desuge BLACK SEA 14 " " 10 " 14 14 14 40 DECLASSIFIED 08D Letter, 5-3-72 3. The US 9th Air Force (Major General Lewis H. Brereton) will pass to the operational command of the Air Commander, Allied Expedition- ary Air Force, on 15 December 1943. The Allied Expeditionary Air Force has been created to provide direct air support for Allied Continental ground operations based on the UK. 4. Red forces forced the Dnepr above Cherkassy on 19 November and are fighting their way toward the town. In the Kiev salient the enemy retook Zhitomir but the Reds captured the rail junction of Ovruch in their first reported use of paratroops in this campaign. Violent fight- ing improved the Soviet positions in the Rechitsa area. Weather and road conditions are deteriorating on the southern and central fronts; to the north heavy rains and mud have stopped operations. MEDITERRANEAN 1. Allied aircraft attacked enemy motor transport in the Ascoli- Aquila area during the night of 17-18 November. The next day, 50 escorted B-17's attacked Eleusis airdrome at Athens, 36 escorted B-25's damaged the Larissa airfield, and 24 B-26's bombed the Grosseto railroad yards with good effect. Light aircraft attacked enemy positions and communi- cations in Italy, and set fire to a 300-foot vessel in the Krka River, north of Split, Yugoslavia. 2. Weather continued to hamper Fifth Army operations on 19 November. Vigorous patrol activity was maintained along the front especially at the -2- IF 20° à h IF (4° - 43° 43th Selyer o - MILT SOMISS EASTERN WEDITERRANEAN AREA IQO . 8 200 300 : 1 a ET* 2911 41° Drome / 4P Marmons 1 J THASOS Salanika 00 40* 40° Interes LEMNOS 4 - CORPU 9 contage 0 - B 19° 39" WYTILENE Serve LEUGAS D CHICS Sayme Purn/ DEPALONA ELEUSIS 30° N° Attens 0 a ANDROS SAMOS ZANTE Pyrper TENOS & & 0 LAYR ON 8 2D b or Lerse 37* - Service FARCS o 17" WAIDS Coller * - Mates 0 Diempele a DODECANESE KYTHERA o PHOCES 30° 34° or Corpother MIDDLE EASTERN AREA - 30° 35° 50 o to IÇO CRETE SCALE IN MILES M° M° 20* BP à 1 : 15" 24" 17" IF SHANGHA angehow Wenchow how Amoy Swotow HONGKONG 0 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 @SADITA IMPHAC CHITTAGONDA MANDABAY INENTIA ARYAD* PYINHANA YWA TAUNG BAY OPRONE OF ENGAL WASSEIN RANGOON MOULMEIN 100 200 MILES RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS BRANCH 055 BASE MAP NO. 2447 (FREE) LITHOGRAPHED IN THE REPRODUCTION BRANCH 055 20 JUNE 1043 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 entrance to the Cassino-Frosinone corridor; on its right flank the Fifth Army occupied Rocchetta. The Eighth Army pushed patrols to San Pietro; at the north end of the line it captured Perano despite stiff resistance and inflicted casualties on the enemy beyond the Sangro River. 3. The War Department has informed General Eisenhower that an Engineer Mine Detection Company, consisting of four officers, 104 enlisted men and 72 dogs, will be shipped to his theater in March. Dogs have proved to be of use in detecting plastic mines to which electro-magnetic detectors are insensitive. 4. In the Middle East Allied aircraft successfully dropped supplies on Samos during the night of 18-19 November and mined the harbor at Naxos and Lavrion. Heavy bombers flew diversionary missions for the mining operations, attacking Candia and Kalkis; one B-24 is missing. Under pressure of heavy air attacks Allied forces have begun to evacuate Samos. ASIATIC THEATER 1. On 17 November, B-25's of the 10th Air Force escorted by P-51's bombed bridges in central Burma. The following day a total of 47 B-24's blanketed the railroad yards at Pyinmana with bomb bursts, hit nearby buildings and put six half-ton bombs into the landing ground at Ywataung. 2. 14th Air Force fighters caught more Japanese cavalry at the Shihmen crossing on 18 November, killing 30 to 40 horses and 50 to 60 men. -3- 100 110 120 130 140 150 NO 170 180 170 NO JAPAN CHINA 30 30 HAWAIIAN ISLANDS FORMOSA BURMA 20 20 HAINAN MARIANAS Wake INDO-CHINA ISLANDS THAILAND PHILIPPINES Guan to MARSHALL ISLANDS 2 Yep MALOELAP CAROLINE ISLANDS MILI TARAWA SUMATRA GILBERT LINE o BORNEO ISLANDS o KAVIENG PHOENIX ISLANDS o BISMARCK NEW GUINE ARCHIPELAGO BOUGAINVILLE LOWOR ELLICE ISLANDS BALI SATTELBERG KIETA ISLANDS SURABAYA FUNAFUTI 10 so SAMOA 10 HEBRIDES FIJI ISLANDS 20 20 NEW CALEDONIA AUSTRALIA o 500 1000 STATUTE MILES AT EQUATOR 30 30 100 110 120 130 140 150 seo TTO 180 110 100 24-28045 DECLASSIFIED OBD Letter, 5-3-72 Other fighter missions in support of Chinese ground troops machine- gunned the west bank of the Salween in the Lungling area and started fires in two nearby villages. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. Allied ground forces continued their advance on Sattelberg on 18 November. Although bad weather hampered full-scale air operations, 29 of our medium bombers attacked enemy camps, supply and ammunition dumps in the Sattelberg area with excellent results; other Allied planes damaged villages and enemy installations along the southwest New Guinea coast. In a 2600-mile round trip 24 B-24's set fire to the Tjepoe oil refinery (70 miles west of Surabaya), and bombed Surabaya airdrome and another in Bali. 2. Three B-25's attacked the Kieta area on 17 November destroying buildings. Japanese planes bombed our positions on the island on 18 November, causing some casualties. 3. Three B-24's bombed and machine-gunned the enemy airfield on Tarawa at noon on 17 November against little opposition. At sunset nine B-24's again raided Maloelap; one of our bombers, damaged by enemy fighters, cracked up on its return. Nine B-24's based on Funafuti attacked barracks, runways, and oil dumps on Mili. -4-