MR 203(2) Sec. 24 War Department Operational Summaries - January 1944

JANUARY, 1944 MR 203(2) Sec.24 -- WAR DEPARTMENT OPERATIONAL SUMMARY JANUARY, 1944 MR 203(2) Sec. 24 -- WAR DEPARTMENT OPERATIONAL SUMMARY ell OSD Letter, 5-3-72 L. CIMISSYING WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 783 0700 January 31 to 0700 February 1, 1944 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 203(2) CENTRAL EUROPE THE PAERGES HANGVER BRUNSWICK GILZE-RIJEN MANIAGO AVIANO UDINE WILLORBA 17 If 150 DECLASSIFIED 08D Letter, 5-3-72 GENERAL The War Department requested senior overseas commanders to warn personnel under their jurisdictions of the dangers of unauthorized discussion or speculation concerning secret military plans, operations, weapons and equipment and urged that the release of such information be limited to that personally approved by them. This action parallels a request from the US Office of Censorship to all US news agencies to avoid discussion of these subjects. EUROPEAN THEATER Small numbers of RAF Mosquitoes continued their harassing attacks on enemy targets in the Ruhr and along the Channel coast during the night of 29-30 January. In the previously reported raid against Brunswick on 30 January, a total of 699 B-17's and B-24's, escorted by 633 fighters, attacked the target with 1620 tons of high explosives and incendiaries. Forty-one B-24's hit their secondary target, Hanover, with 117 tons. More than 300 enemy fighters were encountered and 91 (probably 125) were shot down for the loss of 20 bombers and four fighters. B-24's escorted by P-47's attacked military objectives in the Pas de Calais area during 31 January without incident. Other P-47's, sup- ported by P-38's, bombed the enemy airfield at Gilze-Rijen. Aggressive fighter opposition was encountered and 13 enemy planes were destroyed. - 1 - +BOLOGNA GENDA SPEZIA RIMINI FLORENCE ANCONA LEGHORN PERUGIA ELBA GROSSETO TERNI PESCARA VISERBO TO: CORSICA CIVITAVECCHIA" TERMOLI *SULMONA . ROME CAMPOLEONE CISTERNA AVRO FOGGIA VILLA BORGHESE CENTRAL ITALY ASSINO ANZIO o 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 TERRACINA CAPUA APPROXIMATE MILES SARDINIA MAPLES BASE MAP NO. 2769 (FREE) R BA, oss 26 OCTOBER 1943 REPRODUCED, oss DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 MEDITERRANEAN 1. During 30 January a total of 215 escorted B-17's and B-24's dropped 292 tons of bombs on enemy airfields at Villorba, Maniago, Udine and Aviano in northeastern Italy. Seventy-six enemy planes were destroyed on the ground and 62 (probably 77) shot down in aerial combat for the loss 76 62 of five heavy bombers and one fighter. Sixty P-47's sweeping the Villorba 36 area prior to the attack of our heavy bombers destroyed 36 of some 50 174 enemy planes encountered for the loss of one P-47. Our tactical aircraft attacked road junctions and communication lines controlling traffic to Rome and the battle areas, patrolled the beachhead, and furnished general support to the ground forces. 2. Our Anzio beachhead expanded slowly on 31 January. On the left British infantry and US armored units advanced near Campoleone Station. On the right our forces attacked toward Cisterna, encountering opposition from enemy armor and self-propelled guns. The Fifth Army Command Post opened at Villa Borghese on 30 January. The enemy counterattacked in the Garigliano sector. To the north, units of the US II Corps overran enemy defenses south of Cairo and, by evening, occupied that town. Elements of the Eighth Army attacked toward Tollo. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. There was no report of ground action received from our forces on New Britain on 30 January. Two enemy air raids at Arawe during the - 2 - MANUS L- NEW KAVIENG HANOVER AITAPE NEW WEWAK RELAND MARIENBURGO BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO MARUL R. HANSA BAY Sepik ONUBIA BILAU BAY RABAUL Part ALEXISHAFEN DMADANG CAPE GLOUCESTER TALASEA DARMOINA AIDOR IMBE 0510 NEW BRITAIN ARAWE o GASMATA PFINSCHHAFEN LAE SALAMAUA KEREMA GULF TROBRIAND OF QUNA is. Yor KAIRUKUO PAPUA WOODLARK I. ©DARU GOODENOUGH L FERGUSSON L PORT MORESBY BANIARA NORMANSY L CORAL SEA SAMARAI 20 0 40 80 120 160 MILES 150° 150° 160° NS* 170° 175° Wake Island CENTRAL PACIFIC 18 50 o 50 100 150 200 250 Pokaokku Atoll SCALE OF MILES Bikor Atoll Eniwetok Atoll Bikini Atoll Rongerik Atoll Utirik Atoll Ailinginoe Atoll 06 s Rongelap Atoll Taka Atoll Wotho Atoll Ailuk Atoll & 10 Ujelang Atoll 4 < ROI Likiep Atoll Wotje Atoll Ujoe Atolf Olol Is Murilo Is Erikub Atoll Maloelap Atoll Kwajolein Atoll TAROA AGT Afoir Holl Is Nomu Atoll S Oroluk 1. Truk Is. < Majuro Atoll Senyavin Is 0 Ailinglapalap Atoll Arno Atoll Pingelop Is. Jaluit Atoll Mili Atoll EMIDJ Ngatik I. Kusaie I. S Satawan Is Namorik Atoll Nomoi Is. 1 Ebon Atoll Nukuoro is Mokin Is G < Apaiang Torowa I. Kapingamarangi Is. Maiana 1. Apamama 1. Kuria Nauru L Nonuti 1. "Ocean I. s Tapiteueo Onotoo KAVIENG Tomorio I. 150° 155° 160* 165° 170* 178° 08D DECLASSIFIED Le 5-3-72 morning were ineffective. In New Guinea Allied units west of Sio were approaching the Timbe River; Australian troops operating in the Ramu Valley occupied a village eight miles northwest of Daumoina and continued to advance toward the northeast. In south central New Guinea an attack by eight barge loads of Japanese on an Allied Eilanden River post was re- pulsed; enemy planes attacked Allied positions there during the afternoon. Escorted B-25's sank two small freighters, six barges and one lugger and left a sea truck burning in attacks on shipping at Hansa and Bilau Bays; also bombed were enemy bivouac and supply areas at Alexishafen. 2. Twenty P-39's machine-gunned a village in southeastern Bougainville on 29 January. The next day three missions totaling 18 B-24's, 26 B-25's and 34 light bombers, covered by 117 fighters, attacked airfields and shipping at Rabaul. One enemy freighter was sunk and a destroyer and two freighters left burning; 23 (probably 29) enemy planes were shot down in combat for the loss of four Allied air- craft. A US assault force composed of one rifle and one tank company, supported by artillery and mortar fire, attacked across the Torokina River on the morning of 30 January; although heavy resistance was en- countered the objective was taken in less than two hours. Our positions on the east bank of the river are being consolidated. 3. On 28 January six South Pacific bombers hit Nauru with unob- served results. Thirty dive and fighter bombers attacked Emidj on 30 January while 18 B-25's bombed three small islands on the eastern fringe - 3 - **** - 20* 22" 24° 26° à 30° 32" 34° eningred EASTERN FRONT fallm 50 o so IOO ISO aod SCALE OF MILES AKE PEIPUS sex 15" Pakes Niga 5 Velitie Labil 15" Monther Kaunes oStelp Densig Sex 54" Bryansk / à 12" Via Kursik Bresine dier so- BELAYA 50° Cregow TSERKOY Less Berdysher DNEPROPETROVSK KIROVOGRAD 1 Cermout // 48" Budepest Nikelsev 44° Complexis Denver NONE 20° 28* 24° 28" - 17 34° DECLASSIFIED 0SD Letter, 5-3-72 of Maloelap Atoll and sank a small ship off Wotje. That night bombers attacked Roi, Kwajalein, Wotje, Jaluit, and Mili. EASTERN FRONT On 31 January the Soviet advance southwest of Leningrad continued, Red forces reaching the Luga River. On the central front Soviet attacks between the Pripet and Berezina made slight progress while to the south strong pressure southeast of Belaya Tserkov and northwest of Kirovograd forced the Germans to withdraw slowly. A strong Soviet offensive was launched southwest of Dnepropetrovsk, but German counterattacks prevented gains. At Kerch strong fighting continued with the Soviets making slow, but gradual, progress. - 4 - WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 782 0700 January 30 to 0700 January 31, 1944 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 203(2) VERONA BOLOGNA GENOA / SPEZIA RIMINI FLORENCE ANCONA LEGHORN PERUGI FOUTONO, SAN BENEDETTO ELBA GROSSETO TERN PESCARA VITERBO 1 BUSS CORSICA CIVITAVECCHIA TERMOLI SULMONA ROME CISTER TEREK FOODIA CENTRAL ITALY ANZIO CAI LEARNE o 5 10 20 30 40 so 60 70 80 90 100 TERRACINA CARD APPROXIMATE MILES SARDINIA SAMPLES BASE MAP NO. 2769 (FREE) R BA, 055 26 OCTOBER 1943 REPRODUCED, 059 DECLASSIFIEB OSD Letter, 5-3-72 EUROPEAN THEATER RAF planes returned to Berlin during the night 28-29 January, 673 British heavy bombers and ten Mosquitoes attacking the German capitol during the early morning hours. Forty-two heavy bombers are missing and six others crash-landed on their return trip. The 8th Air Force target for 30 January was the aircraft plant at Brunswick. More than 1,500 aircraft, 830 of which were heavy bombers, were dispatched on this mission, the details of which have not yet been received. MEDITERRANEAN 1. During the night of 28-29 January, British aircraft attacked the railroad yards at Foligno and Verona and motor transportation south of Rome; one bomber failed to return. On the following day five missions totalling 174 US heavy bombers dropped 453 tons of explosives on key rail centers in northern Italy controlling southbound traffic. During the day 167 medium bombers dropped 297 tons of bombs on rail-. road bridges north of Rome and rail and harbor installations at San Benedetto. Lighter aircraft hit an explosives factory at Bussi, bombed motor transport in the battle area, attacked communications south of Rome and supported our ground forces. In these operations three enemy planes were destroyed for the loss of three B-26's. - 1 - DECLASSIFIED 0SD Letter, 5-3-72 2. The Allied forces in the Anzio beachhead reported active patrolling and slow progress on the left during 30 January. An enemy counterattack was repulsed by US forces southwest of Cisterna. Our positions were subjected to a. heavy enemy air raid on the previous evening. Along the Carigliano, Allied units made further progress in the rough terrain north of Minturno and northeast of Castelforte, ad- vancing approximately one mile in both areas. US troops captured several more hills northwest of Cassino and assisted French troops in retaking high ground east of Terelle. Twenty-three US tanks have been moved west of the Rapido. On the Eighth Army front vigorous patrol activity was reported. 3. Latest casualty figures follow: Fifth Army (27 January) Killed Wounded Missing Totals US 3,243 14,196 4,116 21,555 British 2,221 10,732 3,743 16,696 French 717 3,944 192 4,853 Eighth Army (28 January) 2,984 10,634 1,951 15,569 Grand Totals 9,165 39,506 10,002 58,673 Prisoners of war captured by components of the Fifth Army are as follows: US 3,812 British 2,413 French 616 Total 6,841 Prisoners of war, captured by the British Eighth Army total 3,092. - 2 - RKUNMING CHITTAGONG MANDAI YEN AKYAB BAY PROME OF BENGAL BASSEIN, RANGOON MOULMEIN YE TAVOYO APPROXIMATE LINE OF CONTACT BANGKOK 50 o 100 200 MILES RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS BRANCH 059 BASE MAP NO 2447 (FREE) LITHOGRAPHED IN THE REPRODUCTION BRANCH 055 20 JUNE 1943 MANUS L. NEW KAVIENG HANOVER AITAPE NEW WEWAK IRELAND MARIENBURGO BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO MAROL Sepik ONUBIA BOGIA TRABAUL Mr. OBERA ALEXISHAFEN OMADANG GAPE YAWI R. GLOUCESTER TALASEA SAG SAG SAIDOR . NATAMO Rd KIARI $3.0 NEW BRITAIN ARAWE GASMATA FINSCHHAFEN LAE SALAMAUA KEREMA GULF TROBRIAND OF OBUNA 15. Yy KAIRUKUO PAPUA WOODLARK I. QUARU GOODENOUGH L ERGUSSON L PORT MORESBY BANIARA NORMANDY L CORAL SEA SAMARAI 20 o 40 80 120 160 MILES DECLASSIFIEB OSD Letter, 5-3-72 ASIATIC THEATER Eleven escorted B-24's of the 10th Air Force bombed oil refinery installations at Yenangyaung on 29 January; the target areas were well covered and several fires were started. RAF heavy bombers attacked the railroad yards at Rangoon on 28 January; other aircraft hit enemy positions near Mualhem the next day. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. US patrols southwest of Cape Gloucester encountered opposition east of Sag Sag on 29 January. In New Guinea the Allied advance met strong resistance on the high ground north of Kankiryo. Patrols from our Saidor beachhead advanced eastward without gaining contact; to the west they reported the enemy in a defensive position on the Yawi River. Kiari was occupied and Allied forces patrolled to the west. Two squadrons of B-25's successfully raided Bogia village. Allied light bombers and fighters supported our New Britain operations by attacks against enemy positions east of the Natamo River and installa- tions east and west of our Arawe bridgehead. Sixteen P-40's dive-bombed enemy positions in the Ramu Valley. 2. Reconnaissance elements from our Torokina beachhead patrolled east of House Kiape on 28 January. Sixty escorted US bombers hit one of the Rabaul satellite airdromes destroying at least 20 aircraft on the ground; 30 (probably 42) airborne fighters also were destroyed for a loss of five of our fighters. Later that day 23 escorted B-25's made a. - 3 - BOUGAINVILLE ISLAND BUKA I. 10 0 10 20 30 Buka Passage MILES BU AIRFIEL BONIS Banin Boy ToloRb 1. Matchin / Teop 1. Boy NUMA NUMA KIAKABA 0 C. MABIRI HOUSE K Anewo Boy Bokowari L KIETA Reboine C. TOROKINA Boy EMPRESS AUGUSTA BAY MUTUPINA PT. + Buio BEACHHEAD - Baljale L SHORTLAND Faisi I. Alu 1. MONO I. 24-59722ABCD 16" 18" 20* EF 24° 26° 30° 30° Laningred EASTERN FRONT SEP Tajime CHUDOVO 50 00 50 and LAKE SCALE OF MILES PEIPUS NOVGOBOD Sex 18" The Sex Validie Lei 14" Monder Non Kounge oStelp > Dentig Oraho 54" and Bryansk o, / 52° Kursi Bresine to so* Crossw SHRPETOVKA 48° 48" Budopest Nikolees com Bytherest 44° 4 20° E 24° 25° 28" 10* 32° MP DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 low-level attack on Tobera, destroying one enemy plane on the runway, starting many small fires in the revetment areas and silencing gun positions. Nineteen escorted B-24's and 40 Navy bombers again struck at Rabaul airfields the following day destroying a number of planes on the ground and seven (probably nine) in the air without loss. Eight bombers escorted by 60 fighters scored hits on gun positions at Tobera, destroyed five planes on the ground, demolished buildings and shot down 17 (probably 21) of 30 to 50 intercepting enemy fighters for the loss of two US planes. 3. US aircraft attacked Taroa in the Marshalls on 29 January hitting beach positions and buildings near the service apron, and de- stroying two (probably three) of eight enemy planes which followed this mission for 100 miles on its return. Later that day seven B-25's attacked the same target hitting barracks, hangars and damaging 11 aircraft on the ground. One B-25 went down over the target. EASTERN FRONT Southwest of Leningrad the Soviets made substantial gains on 30 January in their effort to block the corridor north of Lake Peipus and are now about ten miles east of Kingisepp on the Luga River. West of Chudovo the Germans were withdrawing to their next delaying position. On the southern front the Soviets launched new attacks against Shepetovka. House-to-house fighting is reported in Kerch. - 4 WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 781 0700 January 29 to 0700 January 30, 1944 mal COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 203(2) CENTRAL EUROPE 4 THE PAERGES SHETLAND IL KATPEGAT - HELIGOLAND TEXEL I AACHEN DIEPPE BRITTANY Person AVIANO FERRARA P b 17" in 150 DECLASSIFIES OSD Letter, 5-3-72 WESTERN HEMISPHERE Directives have been issued for the movement of the 91st Infantry Division (Major General William G. Livesay, Commanding) from Camp Adair, Oregon, to the Hampton Roads Port of Embarkation for further movement overseas on or about 1 March 1944. EUROPEAN THEATER On the night of 27-28 January, 433 RAF heavy bombers raided Berlin through a heavy overcast with unreported results; six Mosquito bombers made a follow-up attack an hour later. More than 100 other heavy bombers made a diversionary attack on the submarine base at Heligoland and success- fully laid a total of 329 mines in the Texel, Kattegat and Heligoland areas. Thirty-four aircraft are missing from these operations. Other Mosquito bombers made nuisance raids on Aachen, Dieppe and operated over other points in Germany, Holland and Denmark. A striking force of more than 1500 Allied planes including some 800 US B-17's and B-24's dropped 1800 tons of bombs on communication and industrial targets at Frankfurt on 29 January. Allied planes shot down 102 enemy fighters for a loss of 31 bombers and 13 fighters. Allied escorted medium and light bombers attacked military objectives in north- ern France. Fighter planes attacked airfields in Brittany and enemy shipping in the channel. - 1 - "BOLOGNA GENOA SPEZIA RIMINI FLORENCE ANCONA LEGHORN ARREZO PORTO CIVITANOVA PERUGIA ELBA GROSSETO ORVIETO TERNI PESCARA VITERBO ORTE CORSICA ORSOGNA POPOL CIVITAVECCHIA TERMOLI SULMONA ROME 2 *CISTERNA TERELLE FOGGIA ANZIO CENTRAL ITALY CASTELFORTE o 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 TERRACINA CAPUA APPROXIMATE MILES SARDINIA NAPLES BASE MAP NO. 2769 (FREE) R & A, OSS 26 OCTOBER 1943 REPRODUCED, 055 DECLASSIFIED my ORD Letter, 5-3-78 MEDITERRANEAN 1. During the night of 27-28 January, 38 heavy bombers of the Strategic Air Force attacked Arezzo and Porto Civitanova; two failed to return. The following day two escorted heavy bomber missions, total- ling 140 B-17's, successfully attacked the airdrome at Aviano and the railroad yards at Verona. At Aviano our aircraft shot down 14 of some 30 intercepting enemy fighters without loss. Fifty-four B-24's scored hits on the railroad yards and town of Ferrara. In attacks against Orvieto 90 B-26's successfully destroyed a bridge north of the town, while 72 B-25's scored hits on the Orte and Terni railroad yards. Light bombers and fighters attacked enemy communications and positions between Rome and the Garigliano and maintained air cover over the battle areas destroy- ing at least 21 enemy aircraft during these operations. 2. No important changes were reported by our Anzio beachhead forces during 29 January. North of the Carigliano River British units captured high ground northeast of Castelforte. French troops repulsed four enemy counterattacks along their front, and continued their attack toward Terelle. Both sides engaged in strong patrolling on the Eighth Army front; the enemy unsuccessfully attempted to infiltrate our line in the vicinity of Orsogna. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. During the night of 27-28 January, Australian flying boats successfully bombed an airfield near Ambon. The next day 14 escorted - 2 - MANUS NEW KAVIENG HANOVER ALTAPE WEWAK NEW IRELAND MARIENBURGO BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO MARGI. Sepik & BOGIA RABAUL CARE CROISILLES ALEXISHAFEN OMADANG BORGEN BAY CAPE DOGADJIN GLOUGESTER TALASEA NATAMO Rx CAPE HOSKINS SAIDOR asid NEW BRITAIN o ARAWE KAIAFITO o GASMATA PFINSCHHAFEN LAE SALAMAUA KEREMA GULF TROBRIAND OF OBUNA 15. YY KAIRUKUO PAPUA WOODLARK I. ©DARU GOODENOUGH L FERGUSSON L PORT MORESBY BANIARA NORMANDY L CORAL SEA SAMARAI 20 o 40 so 120 160 MILES DECLASSIFIES OSD Letter, 5-3-72 medium bombers in a sweep from Bogia harbor to Cape Croisilles destroyed three bridges, several barges, and many buildings and machine-gunned antiaircraft positions. Light bombers and fighters attacked troop concentrations, shipping and enemy installations from Borgen Bay to Cape Hoskins. 2. Allied patrols on Cape Gloucester encountered strong resistance after crossing the Natamo River. Active patrolling was continued by our forces in northeastern New Guinea. 3. On 27 January, 19 escorted B-25's hit the runway and revetments at Lakunai and destroyed 23 (probably 29) enemy planes for the loss of six fighters. Two squadrons of B-24's, escorted by 56 Navy fighters, bombed a supply and concentration area near Rabaul; some 30 Jap planes refused combat with our fighters. Early the following morning a search plane, in an attack on a 12-ship convoy south of Kavieng, left two ships burning. EASTERN FRONT On 29 January the Soviets extended their front about nine miles southwest of Leningrad to within thirty miles of the Luga River, the strongest natural German position east of the Estonian frontier. Chudovo, southeast of Leningrad, also fell to the Soviets clearing the important direct rail line to Moscow. On the central front the Soviets forced the enemy to evacuate Novosokolniki. - 3 - 30° 32° Laningred EASTERN FRONT Tallim 50 0 50 8 60 and CHUDOVO SCALE OF MILES 18" Palice Rigs Bex NOVOSOKOL NY K.I Valitie Laki 14" Monito Puber Kaunes others Dencig Drank Sign 54" Bryonsk o. of Wirson 12" Karah Breater / die Box 50° Crogge Lack VININTSAS 4 B Budspest Nibolaev 48 Kind Beigrode Services Busharest 44° 4 10° II" % 26° - SO* N° ser SECRET DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 On the southern front the Germans despite Soviet counterattacks made new advances east of Vinnitsa but were forced out of Smela. Heavy fighting continued at Kerch. - 4 - 0 WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 780 0700 January 28 to 0700 January 29, 1944 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE CENTRAL EUROPE 8 300 THE PAERGES MONTPELLIER SALON ISTRES r h F BOLOGNA GENOA SPEZIA RIMINI FLORENCE ANCONA LEGHORN PERUGN ELBA GROSSETO TERNI PESCARA VITERBO CORSICA CIVITAVECCHIA TERMOLI SULMONA ROME CAMPOLEONE MONTE EDGGIA ANZIO CENTRAL ITALY EN o 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 TERRACINA CAPITAL APPROXIMATE MILES SARDINIA MAPLES BASE MAP NO. 2769 (FREE) RBA, oss 26 OCTOBER 1943 REPRODUCED, oss DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 EUROPEAN THEATER Allied aircraft, including B-24's escorted by P-47's, attacked military targets in the Pas de Calais and other areas of northern France during 28 January. Enemy opposition was weak and all our planes returned safely. MEDITERRANEAN 1. The tempo of the Allied air offensive in the Mediterranean increased during 27 January with improving weather; 1472 heavy, medium, light and fighter sorties were flown. 144 escorted B-17's and B-24's of the Strategic Air Force dropped 479 tons of bombs on the Montpellier, Istres, and Salon airfields in southeastern France with good results. B-25 missions totalling 234 planes attacked road and rail communications north and south of Rome while our lighter bombers hit bridges, rail in- stallations and motor transportation in the rear of the battle area and shipping off the Yugoslavian coast. Allied fighters furnished day and night protection to the Anzio beachhead. During this period some 50 enemy planes were destroyed for the loss of three heavy bombers, three medium bombers and eight fighter planes. 2. The Allied units in the Anzio area continued to expand their beachhead during 28 January. On the Garigliano front the British X Corps was occupied mainly in regrouping its forces; some progress, however, was reported by a new attack designed to clear the enemy from the area northeast of Castelforte. Our II Corps, continuing the assault on -1- LORENGAU MANUS NEW KAVIENG HANOVER CHALTAPE NEW WEWAK RELAND MARIENBURGO BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO MARUE Sepik LAKUNAI CANUBIA BOGIA RABAUL My ALEXISHAFEN OMADANG CAPE GLOUCESTER TALASEA AIDORRA I COAST SIO NEW BRITAIN ARAWE o GASMATA FINSCHHAFEN LAE SALAMAUA KEREMA GULF TROBRIAND OF ABUMA IS. KAIRUKUO PAPUA WOODLARK I. GOARU GOODENOUGH L FERGUSSON L PORT MORESBY BANIARA NORMANDY L CORALSEA SAMARAI to o 40 80 IRO 160 MILES DECLASSIFIES OSD Letter, 5-3-72 Cassino, was encountering thick mine fields and heavy artillery and mortar fire. Fierce fighting continued south of Belmonte. There was active patrolling by both sides on the Eighth Army front. ASIATIC THEATER Seven escorted B-25's of the 10th Air Force bombed a Japanese camp on the Arakan coast during 26 January and 15 B-24's attacked grounded enemy aircraft in the same area. RAF planes operated against enemy railroad and shipping facilities in central Burma and also raided enemy positions on the Arakan coast. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. 5th Air Force missions during 27 January included a heavy attack by 41 escorted B-24's which destroyed buildings and hit antiaircraft positions and supply dumps in the Lorengau area, a sweep by two squadrons of B-25's escorted by P-47's against the enemy dump and bivouac areas near Bogia and raids by lighter aircraft along the New Guinea coast. Seven B-24's operating to the west attacked targets at Dilli, Timor. There was little ground activity reported during the period; our forces advancing west along the Rai coast have reached Kiari. 2. Nineteen South Pacific B-24's attacked the Lakunai runway and revetment area during the night of 25-26 January; one bomber was lost and another crash-landed. At noon the next day Allied bombers and - 2 - 150° 155° 160° 165° 170* ITS* Woke Island CENTRAL PACIFIC 15° 50 o 50 100 150 200 250 Pokaokku Atoll 9 SCALE OF MILES 4 Bikor Atoll Eniwetok Atoll Bikini Atoll Rongerik Atoll Utirik Atoll D Ailinginoe Atoll Rongelap Atoll Toko Atoll Wotho Atoll Ailuk Atoll & 10° Ujelang Atoll 4 < Likiep Atoll Wotje Atoll Olol Is. Ujoe Atoll Erikub Atoll Murilo Is. Moloelop Atoll TAROA I Kwajolein Atoll Qur Atoll Holl Is Nomu Atoll s Oroluk 1. Truk Is. ( Majuro Atoll Senyavin Is Ailinglopolap Atoll & Arno Atoll Pingelop Is Jaluit Atoll EMIDJ Mili Atoll Ngatik I. Kusaie 1. S Satowan Is Namorik Atoll Nomoi Is Ebon Atoll Nukuoro Is Makin Is G < Apaiang Torawa I. Kapingamarangi Is Maiana L Apamama I. Kuria L Nauru L Nonuti 1. Ocean I. Tapiteuea Onotoa KAVIENG /Tamaria L 160° 150° 60* 165° 170° 178° 18" 20° 26* 30° Leningred EASTERN FRONT Tajim CHODOVO 50 0 50 100 00 and SCALE OF WILES ATETSKAYA ANOVGOROS à 18" DNO Pake The Sex Valitie Labi 56° Monder - Mation Kounde other 9 Densig 54+ 54° Bryanak H - à without 52" Breat Lifore Fund Breaton I die 50+ 50° Cressw Less VINNITGA $ /// Budspest 44° 44 Beigrode 44° Complexis Desree 20° III" % à IF 50° 32° S4° SECRE DECLASSIFIED my OSD Letter, 5-3-72 fighters returned to the Rabaul area attacking targets at Lakunai and hitting a nearby cargo vessel; 22 (probably 30) of 40 to 60 intercepting planes were shot down for the loss of three Allied aircraft. Search planes attacking a convoy northwest of Kavieng that day hit a destroyer and a gunboat. 3. Central Pacific reconnaissance aircraft attacked a convoy east of Eniwetok on 25 January sinking an escort and probably sinking & medium tanker. The next day nine B-25's bombed Taroa from low altitudes, hitting the radio station, storehouses and hangars and starting large fires. Eleven (probably 12) of 20 intercepting Japanese planes were destroyed. Energy fighters followed our returning B-25's until ambushed, as planned, by 12 Makin-based P-40's which shot down six (probably 11) more. All our planes returned. Nine B-25's bombed Emidj from low altitudes; re- sults were unobserved. EASTERN FRONT On 28 January the Soviet advance south of Leningrad entirely cleared German forces from the direct rail line to Moscow except at Chudovo, Southwest of Novgorod another Red drive out the Batetskaya-Dno railroad nine miles south of Batetskaya. Slight gains were made by the energy on the southern front where strong German attacks east of Vinnitsa continued in the face of Soviet counterattacks. Heavy fighting continued at Kerch. - 3 - WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 779 0700 January 27 to 0700 January 28, 1944 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 203(2) *BOLOGNA GENOA full SPEZIA RIMINI FLORENCE ANCONA LEGHORN PERUGH ELBA GROSSETO TERNI PESCARA VITERBO CORSICA CIVITAVECCHIA TERMOLI SULMONA ROME CAMPOLEONE N TERELLE FOOGIA NO CENTRAL ITALY ANZIO o 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 60 90 100 TERRACINA CAFE APPROXIMATE MILES SARDINIA AMAPLES BASE MAP NO. 2769 (FREE) R&A, oss 26 OCTOBER 1943 REPRODUCED, 055 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 1. On 25 January 141 Allied medium, light and fighter bombers attacked targets in northern France. These were followed that night by 57 heavy bombers which hit the same area; 14 RAF Mosquitoes raided Aachen. 2. For the week ending 23 January US aircraft based in the UK shot down 14 (probably 18) enemy planes. Six US heavy bombers, one medium bomber, and one fighter were lost from all causes. Our prin- cipal activities during this period were attacks on military objectives in the Pas de Calais area. MEDI TERRANEAN 1. Bad weather forced the cancellation of heavy and medium bomber missions for 26 January; Allied light bombers and fighters supported ground operations and attacked key communication points behind the battle fronts. Three (probably four) enemy planes were destroyed during the day for the loss of three Allied fighters. 1.1 2. During 27 January our units in the Anzio beachhead reached their objectives in the Campoleone area where they are in contact with enemy forces. US parachute troops, operating on the right, repulsed elements of the Hermann Goering Panzer Division, inflicting heavy losses on the enemy. The beachhead has been extended consider- ably to the east of the Mussolini Canal. - 1 - EXUMMING CHANge CHITTAGONG MANDALAX MAUNGDAW -KENTUNG AKYAS® BAY PROME OF BENGAL BASSEIN RANGOON MOULMEIN YE APPROXIMATE LINE OF CONTACT TAVOY BANGKOK 50 o 100 200 MILES BASE MAP NO. 2447 (FREE) RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS BRANCH 055 28 JUNE 1943 LITHOGRAPHED - THE REPRODUCTION BRANCH 055 LORENGAU MOMOTE MANUS L NEW KAVIENG HANOVER WAITAPE WEWAK NEW RELAND MARIENBURGO BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO MARGA Sepik e O NUBIA PRABAUL MP ALEXISHAFEN MADANG CAPE BOGADJIMO GLOUCESTER TALASEA SAIDOR NATAMO ANKIRYO lesio NEW BRITAIN o ARAWE KRIAFITO o GASMATA DFINSCHHAFEN LAE SALAMAUA KEREMA GULF ROBRIAND OF OBUMA 15. KAIRUKUO PAPUA WOODLARK 1. ©DARU - GOODENOUGH L ERGUSSON L PORT MORESBY BANIARA NORMANDY L CORAL SEA SAMARAI 20 o 40 80 120 ISO MILES DECLASSIFIED OSD Lo.ter, 5-3-78 Forward units of the II Corps in the Cassino area were 500 yards west of the Rapido, encountering strong enemy resistance, while to the north French troops were pushing towards Terelle after having sustained furious German counterattacks late on 26 January. ASIATIC THEATER 1. Five Chinese-American B-25's sank a mine-sweeper and two 200-foot freighters off the east China coast on 25 January. The following day sixteen P-40's of the 14th Air Force bombed and machine- gunned the airdrome and the barracks area at Kengtung. Japanese planes dropped bombs on the runway at Kienow in eastern China and machine-gunned Namyung, 2. Forty-five escorted British dive-bombers over southwest Burma attacked enemy positions near Maungdaw on 25 January, reporting 50 miles northwest of Akyab concentrations in the target area. Twolve fighters attacked similar targets near Mawlaik, one de missing. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. [ Allied planes made additional successful attacks in the Alexishafen-Madang area on 25 January. The following day 40 B-24's hit Lorengay and the Momoto airdrome destroying buildings, and leaving anfield on manus Island the runway unserviceable. Medium and light bombers attacked the Alexishafen-Madang area, destroying four enemy planes on the ground. Light bombers and fighters raided troops and supplies along the New - 2 - 150" 150° 160* 165° ITO* 175° Wake Island CENTRAL PACIFIC 15° 50 o 50 100 50 200 250 Pokaakku Atoll SCALE OF MILES 4 Bikar Atoll - Eniwetok Atoll Bikini Atoll Rongerik Atoll Utirik Atoll Ailinginge Atoll Rongelap Atoll Toko Atoll Wotho Atoll Ailuk Atoll 8 10 Ujelang Atoll 4 OF ( Likiep Atoll Wotje Atoll Olol Is. Ujoe Atoll ( Murilo Is Erikub Atoll Maloelop Atoll Kwajalein Atoll TAROA 1. QAur Atoll Hall Is Namu Atoll Oroluk 1. Truk Is. ( Majuro Atoll Senyavin Is 0 Allinglapalap Atoll N Arno Atoll Pingelop Is. Jaluit Atoll Mili Atoll 0: Ngotik I. Kusaie 1. S Satawan Is Namorik Atoll Nomoi Is 59 Ebon Atoll Nukuoro Is Makin Is G < Apaiang - Torowo 1. Kapingamarangi is. Maiana L : Apamama I. Kuria Nouru 1. Nonuti 1. Ocean I. Topiteueo Onotoa KAVIENG Tamario I. ISO* ISS* 160° 168° 170° È SECRET DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 Guinea coast and supported our New Britain operations with attacks on troop concentrations east of Natamo and small shipping along the coast. Our Cape Gloucester patrols encountered a strong enemy position 1,500 yards south of Natamo. In New Guinea Allied forward units captured the high ground one mile north of the Kankiryo saddle and ambushed an enemy patrol southwest of Saidor. At Sio Allied forward elements have reached the Kwama River. 2. On 25 January eight Japanese planes unsuccessfully bombed our front line positions in the Torokina area; one enemy plane was shot down by our antiaircraft fire. The following day a South Pacific search plane hit an enemy ship northwest of Kavieng. 3. On the night of 24 January a Navy search plane destroyed three of five intercepting enemy planes near Ailinglapalap. The following day 18 B-24's from the Central Pacific Area hit Kwajalein reporting good results. Nine B-25's in a low-level attack on Taroa started fires and destroyed one grounded plane and one (probably four) of 30 to 35 air- borne enemy planes without loss. Mili was attacked by 35 Army planes with 14 tons of bombs. EASTERN FRONT [I The Soviet forces advancing south of Leningrad on 27 January captured Volosovo and Tosno. Along the southern control front fierce German attacks were reported north of Novesokolniki and north of the Bug, the latter drive aimed at removing the Red threat to the Odessa-Warsaw - 3 - 16° IF 20* III 24° If 29" 30° N° 34° 36° EASTERN FRONT VOLOSOTO PTOSNO Talline CHUDOVO 50 o to 100 60 tod SCALE OF MILES Bex 58° Wige Sex NOVOSOKOLNI Valible Labi Month 4 Kounes oSteip P Denzig Oren Sex 54° alifia Bryanak o / N° the 52" L/lover Breated Kies 50° 50° Crosse Lack Berdyshev KIROVOGRAD 4 4/8" M Budepest Nikelses 46° Susherest 44° Complexis 4 give 11" - 24" 15" 18" 30° M* 34° - SECRET DECLASSIFIES OSD Letter, 5-3-72 rail line and to check Soviet pressure against the shoulder of the salient west of Kirovograd. Kerch remained in German hands - 4 - WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 778 0700 January 26 to 0700 January 27, 1944 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 203(2) CENTRAL EUROPE THE PAERGES SHETLAND IS AERUWARDEN GILZE RIVEN DUBROVNIK P. BOLOGNA GENOA SPEZIA RIMINI FLORENCE ANCONA LEGHORN PERUGIA ELBA GROSSETO AMELIA TERNI PESCARA VITERBO RIETI CORSICA TOLLO POPOLI CIVITAVECCHIA TERMOLI SULMONA ROME VALMONTONE CAMPOLEONE DISTERN CEPRANO FOGGIA CENTRAL ITALY SEINO ANZIO LITTOR 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 26 OCTOBER 1943 REPRODUCED, 055 DECLASSIFIES OSD Letter, 5-3-72 EUROPEAN THEATER Our P-47's operated over western Europe in strength during 25 January; 14 dive-bombers, covered by 35 others, attacked the Gilze- Rijen airdrome and 48 others dive-bombed the Leeuwarden field. There was no enemy ground or air opposition and all planes returned. MEDITERRANEAN 1. On the night of 24-25 January approximately 25 enemy aircraft attacked our shipping at Anzio and Naples, sinking one British hospital ship and damaging another together with naval units and a Liberty ship. Finding their primary targets cloud-covered, Strategic Air Force B-17's bombed rail bridges along the Italian east coast on 25 January. Seventy three 25 bombed bridges and roads, in the vicinity acter aircraft of Ceprano and Valmontone and 37 B 261s hit the railroad yards and ware- houses at Rioti and Senso. Other aircraft, including fighter bombers and Tollo, Popoli, targets of opportunity in fighters, central attacked Italy Amelia, and around Rome and along the Eighth Army Front, and damaged shipping and motor transportation in the Dubrovnik area of Yugoslavia. 488 patrols were flown over the Anzio beachhead area. At least seven enemy air- craft were destroyed in these operations which cost us three fighter aircraft 2. Our Anzio beachhead forces continued to press inland on 26 January without major contact with the enemy although resistance was - 1 - MOMOTE LORENGAU MANUS NEW 9 HANOVER KAVIENG ALTAPE WEWAK NEW RELAND HANSA BAY MARIENBURGD BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO MAROL Sepik R GINUBIA RABAUL TOBERA GRAGAT 1. ALEXISHAFEN OMADANG CAPE GLOUGESTER TALASEA NATAMO CAPE GAUFFRE SAIDOR ANKIRYO asio NEW UMT INGALU BRITAIN / ARAWE KAIAPITO o GASMATA OFINSCHHAFEN LAE SALAMAUA KEREMA GULF TROBRIAND OF BUNA 15. KAIRUKUO PAPUA WOODLARK I. ©DARU GOODENOUGH L FERGUSSON L PORT MORESBY BANIARA NORMANBY L CORAL SEA SAMARAI 20 o 40 so 120 160 MILES DECLASSIFIED DSI Le t.r. 5-3-72 developing, particularly on the east flank. Forward elements reached the outskirts of Campoleone and Cisterna on the main railroad; patrols also have reached Littoria without contact. The enemy is believed to be assembling a mobile counterattack force equivalent to a three-division corps to contest our landing. Fighting has abated on the Garigliano front but in the Cassino area strong resistance is being offered to an Allied bridgehead estab- lished north of that town Further north French troops report the enemy to have abandoned am impor tant hill on the west bank of the Rapido. ASIATIC THEATER On 24 January enemy counterattacks were repulsed southeast of Maungdaw in southwest Burma; the RAF made a 48-plane attack on positions in that area. Other aircraft on offensive reconnaissance missions destroyed or damaged river craft and railroad rolling stock. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. Allied patrols at Arawe cleared the area 5,000 yards in front of the main line of resistance on 25 January; Umtingalu and the airfield are free of the enemy. Near Cape Gloucester our ground forces met resistance two miles east of Natamo. In this area our artillery sank an enemy barge off Cape Gauffre where two enemy barges were reported to have landed reinforcements on the previous evening. Natives report the enemy to be moving eastward. In New Guinea our patrols are working down - 2 - 150° ISS* 160* 165° 170° 175° Wake Island CENTRAL PACIFIC If 50 o 50 100 ISO 200 250 Pokaakku Atoll SCALE OF MILES Bikor Atoll Eniwetok Atoll Bikini Atoll Rongerik Atoll Utirik Atoll Ailinginoe Atoll Rongelap Atoll Toko Atoll Wotho Atoll Ailuk Atoll 8 Ujelang Atoll 4 < Likiep Atoll Wotje Atoll Ujae Atoll Olol Is Erikub Atoll Murilo Is. Maloelap Atoll TAROA Kwajolein Atoll Qur Atoll Holl Is Namu Atoll S Oroluk 1. < Truk Is. Mojuro Atoll 4 Senyavin Is. 0 Ailinglapalap Atoll N Arno Atoll Pingelap Is. Jaluit Atoll Mili Atoll Ngatik I. Kusaie 1. S Sotowan Is Namorik Atoll Nomoi Is Ebon Atoll Nukuoro Is Makin Is. G < Apaiang L E Torawa 1. Kapingamarangi Is. Maiana 1. Apamama 1. Kuria I. Nauru L Nonuti 1. "Ocean I. a Tapiteueo Onotoa KAVIENG /Tamaria I. 150° 80° 168° 170° È 150° DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 the Mintjim Valley and maintaining contact one mile north of Kankiryo. Forty-nine B-24's started fires in the dump areas at Hansa Bay; 39 B-25's bombed and machine-gunned the Momote airfield and Lorengau area, where grounded enemy aircraft were destroyed and gun positions, barges, jetties and buildings were damaged; 18 others hit supply installations and villages on Gragat Island. Three bombers are missing. 2. On 24 January, 18 Navy planes covered by Allied fighters returning to Rabaul sank five freighters and a tanker and damaged a tanker and a freighter. Twenty-four (probably 28) enemy planes were destroyed for the loss of one Navy fighter. Four B-25's raided Tobera airfield, Rabaul. 3. Seventeen tons of bombs were dropped on Mili on 24 January by 43 Army planes which also strafed storage and gun positions. In the evening B-25's started large fires in the barracks and hangar areas at Wotje and scored hits on Taroa. Thirty Zeros intercepted over Taroa using aerial bombs; two (probably three) were destroyed for a loss of one B-25. That night B-24's started fires at Taroa, and raided Mili and Wotje. EASTERN FRONT Late reports from the eastern front indicate that the force of major Soviet drives has diminished but the Red Army continues to main- tain pressure south of Leningrad and at Kerch where fierce fighting - 3 - è 18* 20° 22" 14* 26* 30° M* Coningrad EASTERN FRONT 50 o 50 IDO 8 aod SCALE OF MILES Bex 18" Palson à Valitie Labi o 14" Monder Kounge other > Dening -- B4+ 14° Bryanak o, of No- 58° brief Literse Kersi Breates Mine dier so Cregaw 50° Less Berdysher y NN I UMAN € B 48° Budspest Niksises 48 44° mm. Breach Beigrade" Busharest 44° 14" Constants) A 20" 28" 24" à 18" 30° SE* 34° - SECRET DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 by Red infantry and - is gradually expanding the Soviet beachhead. Southeast of Vinnitsa and north of Uman, German counterattacks have blunted the Soviet salients extending towards the Bug River. - 4 - WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 777 0700 January 25 to 0700 January 26, 1944 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 203(2) CENTRAL EUROPE THE FAIRGES SHETLAND IS PAS DE CALAIS ESCHWEILER MARTGOR VRATTSA SCOPLJE - 14" 18° 20° 24° 26° n° 30° 32° KRASNOGVARDELON Laningrad EASTERN FRONT i Yajim TOSNO 50 o 50 00 no and CHUCOVO SCALE OF WILES BATETSKAYA NOVGORGD Sex 56° / Will Sex Velihie Labi se* - Date Source 2 Densig Drsho o Bex 54° - Bryonsk BOBRUISK H are WERER 52" Liferse Kursk Bresise Rier to 50° Crogge Bentysher $ / 4 Cereevel # 48° 44° DAR to Butherest 44° Complexie h 10" II" % 26" 28" NO* M* 14° DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 EUROPEAN THEATER 1. 8th Air Force missions totalling 8411 B-17's and B-24's escorted by 678 P-38's, P-47's and P-51's were dispatched to attack Frankfurt on 24 January. Weather closing in on their bases, the planes were ordered to return. During the return flight 142 tons of high explosives and incendiaries were dropped on an unidentified industrial plant near Eschweiler. In aerial encounters during the day 21 (probably 26) enemy planes were destroyed; two B-17's and nine fighters are missing. 175 9th Air Force B-26's escorted by 12 squadrens of RAF Spitfires bombed targets in the Pas de Calais area without incident. 2. 2.[An An unseasonable thaw, which set in along the entire Russian front on 25 January, has made the movement of heavy materiel difficult. South of Leningrad the Soviets captured Krasnogvardeisk and cut the railroad on both sides of the town. Between Tosno and Chudovo the railread was practically all in Seviet hands although these towns had not been taken. West of Novgorod the Red Army advanced to within eight miles of the Batetskya Leningrad railroad. Little progress was made on the central front where the Soviets were encountering stiff German resistance in their attempt to penetrate toward Bobruisk. At Kerch Soviet pressure on the northeast and south made the fall of the city appear imminent. ] - 1 - BOLOGNA GENOA SPEZIA. RIMINI FLORENCE ANCONA LEGHORN PERUGIA ELBA GROSSETO TERNI PESCARA VITERBO CORSICA CIVITAVECCHIA TERMOLI SULMONA ROME CASSAN EDGGIA CENTRAL ITALY ANZIO TURN o 5 IO 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 TERRACINA GAETA APPROXIMATE MILES SARDINIA ANAPLES BASE MAP NO. 2769 (FREE) R&A, 055 REPRODUCED, oss 26 OCTOBER 1943 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 MEDITERRANEAN 1. During the night of 23-24 January, 18 British planes attacked the aircraft factory at Maribor, three others bombing rail installations at Ancona; two of the British aircraft failed to return. Next day 100 escorted 15th Air Force B-17's and B-24's bombed the railroad yards and town areas at Vrattsa and Skoplje, dropping 1,072 quarter-ton bombs with observed effect. Six (probably eight) enemy planes were destroyed in aerial combat over the two cities; nine bombers and two P-38's failed to return. All medium bember missione were cancelled because of the R1 weather which also hampered the efforts of our light bomber and fighter aircraft to support ground operations 1 Three (probably four) enemy planes were shot down in the Ansio area for a loss of three Allied fighters. Eight other Allied fighter planes, intercepting more than 28 enemy air craft attacking our shipping off Gaetay destroyed three German bombers without loss. 2. I During 25 January the expanding VI Corps bridgehead reached the Moletta River on the left and a point two miles west of Littoria on the east; here it was three miles from the Appian Way. Along the Garigliano X Corpspatrols made a one-mile advance north of Minturno; our II Corps renewed its attacks over the Rapido in the Cassino area encountering heavy mine fields. Late press reports indicate that the enemy may have withdrawn west of Cassino. ] - 2 - LORENGAU MANUS 1 NEW HANOVER KAVIENG AITAPE WEWAK NEW IRELAND MARIENBURGO BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO MARUE Sepik 2. HANSA BAY GINUBIA RABAUL ALEXISHAFEN OMADANG C. HOSKINS MINTJIM R. CAPE PREASURED GLOUCESTER TALASEA NATAMO BAIDOR PAIPA DOUNPS asio NEW BRITAIN o ARAWE RAIAPITO o GASMATA DFINSCHHAFEN LAE SALAMAUA SAUD KEREMA GULF TROBRIAND OF BUNA 15. Yr KAIRUKUO PAPUA WOODLARK I. ©DARU GOODENOUGH L FERGUSSON L PORT MORESBY BANIARA NORMANBY L CORAL SEA SAMARAI to o 40 60 120 160 MILES DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 ASIATIC THEATER 1. 10th Air Force planes attacked communication lines in northern Burma on 22 January. The following day 19 B-24's attacked shipping at Mergui, on the Andaman Sea, while lighter aircraft damaged bridges, motor transport, rolling stock and other targets in central Burma. The RAF supplemented these operations with attacks against rail and river- borne traffic in central and southern Burma. 2. Five China-based B-25's sank three small freighters and two small cargo-passenger ships and damaged other small craft in the Formosa Strait on 24 January. Two B-25's sank a 300-foot freighter in the South China Sea. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. On 23 January our Cape Glougester patrol killed forty Japanese near Natamo, destroying machine guns and capturing quantities of ammunition and supplies; the enery retreated to the east. Above the Ramu Valley our forces captured enemy positions near Paipa, four miles down the Mintjim Valley. Patrolling continued without contact at Saidor; at Sio our patrols cleaned out small, enemy groups. Thirty-three B-24's hit airdromes and supply areas near Wewak destroying four parked aircraft. Twenty-three B-25's started fires in : supply areas and hit small shipping near Hansa Bay. In an attack on airdromes and shipping at Lorengau, 38 escorted B-25's destroyed seven (probably ten) grounded aircraft, sank three and damaged two large seatrucks, - 3 - 150° 155° 160* NS* 170* 175° Wake Island CENTRAL PACIFIC 19" 50 o 50 IDO ISO 200 250 Pokookku Atoll SCALE OF MILES 4 Bikar Atoll . Eniwetok Atoll Bikini Atoll Rongerik Atoll Utirik Atoll Ailinginoe Atoll Rongelap Atoll Taka Atoll Wotho Atoll Alluk Atoll & 10 Ujelang Atoll 4 10° < Likiep Atoll Wotje Atoll Ujae Atoll < Olol Is Erikub Atoll 00 Murilo Is a . Maloelap Atoll Kwajalein Atoll TAROA QAur Atoll Hall Is Namu Atoll S Oroluk 1. Truk Is. < Majuro Atoll Senyavin Is. a Allinglapalap Atoll N Arno Atoll Pingelap Is. Jaluit Atoll Mili Atoll Ngatik I. Kusaie 1. S Sotowan Is Nomorik Atoll Nomoi Is. Ebon Atoll Nukuoro Is. Makin Is G < Apaiang L Torawa 1. # Kapingamarangi is. Maiana 1. Apamama I. Kuria 1. Nauru 1. Nonuti L Ocean I. Tapiteueo Onotoa KAVIENG Tamaria I. 150° ISS* 160° 168° 170* 178° 0 DECLASSIFIES OSD Letter, 5-3-72 and destroyed smaller craft. Escorted RAAF, planes struck effectively at the dump areas at Cape Hoskins. To the west six B-24's bombed villages in the Tanimbars. 2. The advance Command Post of the Sixth Army was open at Finschhafen on 10 January. 3. Sixty-three Navy planes escorted by 80 Allied fighters in a surprise attack on Lakunai airdrome and Rabaul harbor on 23 January, destroyed or damaged 17 gun positions and eight enemy planes on the ground, started large fuel fires and shot down 32 (probably 46) enemy planes. Three of our fighter planes were lost. Later in the day 48 Allied fighters returned to Rabaul, encountered 60 enemy planes, and added 14 (probably 15) of them to our day's score. 4. On 23 January, 24 Central Pacific B-24's dropped 48 tons of bombs on Wotje. Twenty-one B-25's bombed and machine-gunned Taroa; three (probably five) enemy planés were destroyed. A search plane probably sank an 8,000-ton cargo vessel off Kwajalein. - 4 - WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 776 0700 January 24 to 0700 January 25, 1944 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 203(v) CENTRAL EUROPE PAERGES MAGDEBURG 16° 20" 26° 30° M* Reningred KRASNOGVARUE SK EASTERN FRONT NARVA 50 o so 8 ISO and SCALE OF MILES NOVGORGD 5ax 14" Palice ORIGO Bex Velitie Labi 54° Moscher 1 Kounge obtein > Dening Sex : Miller Bryansk o of à when n - is breat Kara Breates : for Cregge 50° Bentyshev El o 48° B Butspest Niksises Services Burtherest 44° Complete 4 80° IF S4° 26° If 30° N° MP SECRET DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 WESTERN HEMISPHERE Five US planes attacked targets on Paramushiro and Shimushu during the early morning hours of 23 January; all aircraft returned. EUROPEAN THEATER 1. A delayed report covering operations for the night of 21-22 January gives details of the attack against Magdeburg in which 524 British bombers dropped 2,226 tons of high explosives and incendiaries in 33 minutes. Fifty-nine bombers were lost. Ten Mosquitoes and 94 heavy bombers attacked military objectives along the Channel coast; other Mosquitoes flew nuisance missions over the Ruhr. Ninety-two German planes made two raids over England, 27 penetrating to the London area and dropping their bombs. Casualties reported included 28 killed, 97 seriously injured; ten (probably 13) of the raiders were shot down During the night of 23-24 January Mosquitoes again operated over the Ruhr area while other British heavy bombers mined sea lanes off the north coast of France. 2. South of Leningrad Soviet forces cut the Krasnogvardeisk-Narva railroad line 14 miles west of Krasnogvardeisk on 24 January. The Red Army also made minor gains southeast of Leningrad and west and southwest of Novgorod. Kerch is being attacked by the Soviets from the north and south. 1 - 1 - - EP is II" 23° 24° $ 43* 43% o - WHET - EASTERN WEDITERKAREAN AREA IDO . 8 830 as 42° . NO.ES 42% de à N° - 27" 291 " Drew - Bitw) 4P 1 0 THASOS Salanike 2 Cally DO 40* 40° I LEMINOS, ₽ - I CORPU PLanter - R 36° 19" WITTLEND September LEUGAS e DHIOS I CEPHALONER 30° 30° I o AMEROS PIRAEUS 1 ZENTE Pyrges $ Tiposit D TIMOS all D D D a P Lerse 37" - Seriptor I di 17" NAICE I I o I D DODECANESE EYTHERA 0 PRICOES 30° 36° MIDDLE EASTERN AREA 0 à I 19° so 0 2 400 CRETE E SCALE IN MILES 34° MP BD* : 12" E 24° 15° 04° È to - (BOLOGNA, GENOA full SPEZIA RIMINI FLORENCE ANCONA LEGHORN PORTO CIVITANOVA PERUGIA ELBA GROSSETO TERNE PESCARA RIETI VITERBO - CORSICA CIVITAVECCHIA AVE ZZANO, TERMOLI *SULMONA ROME ONANN EDGGIA ANZ TO SINO CENTRAL ITALY PONTECO NETTUNO o 5 IO 20 30 40 50 60 70 60 90 100 TERRACINA CAPITAL APPROXIMATE MILES SARDINIA MAPLES BASE MAP NO. 2769 (FREE) RBA, oss 26 OCTOBER 1943 REPRODUCED, oss DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-78 MEDITERRANEAN 1. During the night of 22-23 January, 12 Allied heavy bombers attacked Piraews Harbor. On the following day Allied aireraft attacked shipping along the southern coast of Greece and in Cos Harbor. One plane is missing, another crashed. 2. During 23 January 202 B-17's and B-24's of the Strategic Air Force attacked enemy communication centers throughout Italy with observed effect at Pontecorvo where the railroad bridge was destroyed, at Porto Civitanova, and Rioti where the warehouse, railroad yard, and town areas were well covered. Medium and light bombers supplemented these operations with especially successful attacks in the Averseno and Sulmona areas. Targets along the Yugoslavion coast and and enemy positions in front of the Ri ghth and Fifth Armies were also hit. Strong patrols were maintained over the battle fronts by our fighters. 3. Forward elements of the Allied ground forces had gained their initial objectives in the Anzio beachhead by noon of 24 January, pushing inland to a depth of some seven miles; they were four miles from the Appian Way. Wreck clearance well at any w which is open to L5Ts. The port of thrifo is open to The Germans began to counterattack in this area during 23 January but no major results have been reported. nary South insert of a Cassino heavy fighting continued along the Fifth Army front, the British X Corps making small advances. Operations in this area have been hindered by the enemy's opening the San Giovanni dam which road movements in hartle area. no pervalment Quercast eventher Rampered air observation detected with Rev. D LORENGAU MANUS - NEW HANOVER KAVIENG AITAPE BORAM WEWAK NEW IRELAND MARIENBURGD BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO MAROL Sepik & GINUBIA RABAUL Party ALEXISHAFEN OMADANG CAPE GLOUCESTER TALASEA KANK RYO SAIDOR NATAMO PT 0510 NEW BRITAIN ARAWE MAIAPITO o GASMATA PFINSCHHAFEN LAE SALAMAUA KEREMA GULF OF TROBRIAND GBUNA Yr 15. KAIRUKUO PAPUA ODARU WOODLARK I. GOODENOUGH L PORT MORESBY FERGUSSON L BANIARA HORMANDY L CORAL SEA SAMARAI RO o 40 80 120 160 MILES DECLASSIFIES OSD Letter, 5-3-72 has increased the flow of the Garigliano. Only patrolling was reported on the Eighth Army front. ASIATIC THEATER 1. Nine B-25's, 16 B-24's, and 16 escorting P-38's from the 10th Air Force heavily damaged the engine sheds, railway station and enemy camp area at Prome, in southern Burma, on 22 January. 2. Continued progress was reported for 23 January by Allied ground forces along the Arakan coast and in the Hukawng Valley. 3. Nine China-based B-25's escorted by 28 P-40's bombed an airfield near Hong Kong on 23 January. Building areas were hit and several fires were started; one enemy plane was shot down and two P-40's crash-landed. Other B-25's left one (probably two) 400-foot freighters and a 400-foot tanker sinking in the Formosa Strait. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. Our units at Cape Gloucester encountered well-prepared enemy positions at Natamo Point on 22 and 23 January Only patrol activity was reported at Arawe where two enemy air raids during the morning of 23 January caused a few casualties. In New Guinea Allied patrols were active southeast and south- west of Saidor and the Australians in the Ramu Valley occupied the Kankiryo area, capturing a number of Japanese field guns. - 3 - 150° 155° 160° 165° 170° 175° Wake Island CENTRAL PACIFIC 10 50 0 50 00 ISO 200 250 Pokaakku Atoll SCALE OF MILES 4 Bikor Atoll Eniwetok Atoll Bikini Atoll Rongerik Atoll D Utirik Atoll Ailinginoe Atoll Rongelap Atoll Toko Atoll Wotho Atoll Ailuk Atoll & 10° Ujelong Atoll 4 ( Likiep Atoll Wotje Atoll Olol Is Ujoe Atoll < R01 Murilo Is Erikub Atoll Maloelop Atoll Kwajalein Atoll Hall Is QAur Atoll Namu Atoll S Truk Is. Oroluk 1. ( Majuro Atoll Senyavin Is. :0 Ailinglopalop Atoll N Arno Atoll Pingelop is Jaluit Atoll Mili Atoll EMIDJ Ngatik 1. Kusaie I. Sotowan Is Namorik Atoll Nomoi Is e Ebon Atoll Nukuoro Is. Makin Is G < Apaiang I. E Torawa 1. Kapingamarangi Is Maiano - Apamama I. Kuria 1. Nauru 1. Nonuti 1. Ocean 1. Topiteueo Onotoa KAVIENG /Tamoria 1. 150° 199° 160° 170° 178° DECLASSIFIED OSD Lettor, 5-3-72 Escorted B-24's of the 5th Air Force destroyed gun positions at the Boram airfield and shot down 33 (probably 45) of 50 intercepting enemy fighters; five Allied fighters are missing. Reconnaissance B-24's damaged a freighter east of Lorengau. During the day Allied light air- craft bombed and machine-gunned enemy positions near Natamo Point, along the Rai coast and near Yaula. 2. In the South Pacific air attack on the Lakunai airfield at Rabaul on 22 January reported yesterday, 92 fighters escorting our bombers destroyed 18 (probably 20) enemy planes. Five Allied fighters and one B-25 were lost. In a later attack 38 B-24's and six B-25's struck the town area at Rabaul with incendiary and high explosive bombs and fragmentation clusters, all planes returning safely. 3. In the Central Pacific Area twelve B-25's bombed Maloelap on 22 January, starting fires and destroying two of 25 intercepting enemy planes; we lost three B-25's but the crew of one was rescued. A formation of ten B-24's started fires at Roi Island destroying one (probably four) enemy interceptors in combat. Other heavy and medium bombers attacked the barracks area and buildings at Emidj and Mili and damaged the sea- plane hangar and runways at Wotje, probably sinking a medium cargo vessel there. - 4 - WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 775 0700 January 23 to 0700 January 24, 1944 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 203(i) CENTRAL EUROPE 300 THE PAEROES GILZE-RIJEN PAS DE CALARO MAUPERTUS 20* 26° 19" SO* 32° Sep MGI EASTERN FRONT TOSNA 8 o so 100 60 200 KRASNOGVARDE SK SCALE OF MILES Sex 158° Palson Thise Sex Validie Lebi 56° Months Tabek Kounce information ostels , e Sex 54° Miller Bryanak I Winson 52° MOZYR Karsh Breates dies 50* 50° Cregaw Lacè € Carnouti // 48° Budspest Nikeleev # 44° 20° II* 24" 26" IF 17 38° DECLASSIFIES OSD Letter, 5-3-78 WESTERN HEMISPHERE Navy Five US planes bombed targets at Paramushiro during the night of 21-22 January. EUROPEAN THEATER 1. Strong formations of escorted US B-26's and RAF and RCAE fighter bombers attacked military objectives in the Pas de Calais area and the Maupertus airdrome on 23 January. Preliminary claims are five enemy planes destroyed for one B-26 and one fighter missing. P-47's hit the airfield at Gilze-Rijen without opposition and without loss. Russia 2. During 23 January Soviet forces closed in on the two important railroad junctions of Krasnogvardeisk and Tosna, south of Leningrad, and were within nine miles of the direct Moscow-Leningrad railroad. West and southwest of Mozyr the Red Army using horse cavalry made considerable progress in the Pripet Marshes. [At the extreme southern end of the line, Soviet forces made a new landing south of Kerch. acternise no significant MEDITERRANEAN change.] 1. During 22 January 205 B-17's) and B-24's damaged the railroad installations at Pontedera, Arezzo, Aesi, and Terni, possibly blocked the Terracina road defile, hit the town and bridge at Pontecorvo, and destroyed a bridge at Frascati. Medium bomber missions concentrated on the enemy lines of communication hitting key points near Velletri, - 1 - *BOLOGNA GENOA ZARA SPEZIA RIMINI PONTEDER FLORENCE ANCONA LEGHORN AREIZO PERUGIA ELBA GROSSETO TERNI PESCARA VITERBO CORSICA POPULI CIVITAVECCHIA TERMOLI SULMONA ROME FRASCAT I VALMONTONI VELLETRA 1,001 LEFERRA (PROSANO) MRC RANO EDGGIA CENTRAL ITALY ANZIO PONTECOAVD SINO CA TELFART o 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 60 90 100 TERRACINA MIN URNO CAPITA APPROXIMATE MILES SARDINIA WAPLES BASE MAP NO. 2769 (FREE) RBA, 055 26 OCTOBER 1943 REPRODUCED, 055 DECLASSIFIES OSD Letter, 5-3-78 Colleferro, Ceprano and Arce. Light bombers and fighters operated over the battle areas in large numbers, also hitting targets at Frosinone and Popoli and sinking a 1,500-ton freighter and hitting a 5,000-ton ship north of Zara. Fifteen (probably 16) enemy planes were shot down during the day for a loss of two heavy bombers, four mediums, three lights and seven fighters. 2 Our VI Corps continued to build up its beachhead in the Anzio area during 23 January, meeting but slight opposition. The 3d US Division had landed practically all of its combat elements; a large proportion of the British 1st Division are also ashore. The beachhead is about five miles deep and thirteen miles wide. On the Garigliano front aggressive German counterattacks have developed in the Minturno-Castelforte area, the enemy pushing our front line back almost to the river from Castelforte eastwards. Further north the enemy drove our forces back across the Rapido causing us heavy losses, and regained some ground in the Monti San Croce area. The German 90th Division and elements of their 29th Division, both of which were formerly near Rome, have been identified on the Garigliano front. 2 3. Latest casualty figures follow: add Fifth Army (19 January) Killed Wounded Missing Totals Cor. M US 3,024 12,591 3,725 19,340 British 1,783 8,521 3,018 13,322 estimate French 1569 3,163 148 3,880 $,376 24,275 6,891 36,542 map, Eighth Army (18 January) 2,960 1,819 15,019 note new 10,240 - 2 - SHANGHM I-ch'ong Hangchow Chenglu Ning-pd Kiskiong Yo-yong CHUNGKING Non-chieng Wenchow CHANGSHA Heng-yong Kweiyong Foochow Kuei-tin Amoy lychou SHEKTAN Swatow SHEKLUNG CANTON Mocoo HONGKONG APPROXIMATE LINE OF CONTACT Mon/Goy o 50 100 15 200 Pakhoi MILES HANOI Hsi-ying Halphong MAP NO. 2437 (FREE) COMPILED AND DRAWN IN THE BRANCH OF RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS, oss 24 JUNE 1943 LITHOGRAPHED IN THE REPRODUCTION BRANCH, oss LORENGAU MANUS NEW KAVIENG HANOVER AITAPE WEWAK NEW IRELAND BORPOP MARIENBURGO BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO MARUL Sepik 2 o NUBIA PRABAUL LAKUNA Pare ALEXISHAFEN OMADANG CAPE GLOUCESTER TALASEA BODAGUIMO PMINTJIM RIVER SAIDOR esio NEW BRITAIN ARAWE KALAPITO o GASMATA PFINSCHHAFEN LAE SALAMAUA KEREMA GULF TROBRIAND OF BUNA 15. Yr KAIRUKUG PAPUA WOODLARK I. ©DARU GOODENOUGH L FERGUSSON L PORT MORESBY BANIARA NORMANDY L CORAL SEA SAMARAI 20 0 40 80 120 160 MILES DECLASSIFIEB OSD Letter, 5-3-72 Prisoners of war captured by components of the Fifth Army are as follows: US 3,465 British 1,814 French 472 5,751 Prisoners of war captured by the British Eighth Army total 3,079. ASIATIC THEATER Five P-51's and 18 P-40's of the 14th Air Force machine-gunned the new Japanese airfield at Nanchang on 21 January; 12 P-38's destroyed bridges at Shektan and Sheklung. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. Australian troops advancing in the Rami Valley captured positions commanding the trail between Faria and Mintim River valleys on 22 January; enemy troops abandoning their positions fled to the north. There were two enemy air raids at Arawe during the morning of 21 January. Only patrol activity was reported at Arawe, Cape Gloucester, Sio and Saidor. 5th Air Force planes sank a freighter-transport and a cargo vessel at Lorengau, damaged a merchant vessel west of New Hanover, and machine-gunned a freighter east of Wewak. Enemy barges, supply dumps, bridges and villages along the New Britain and New Guinea coasts were also attacked. - 3 - BOUGAINVILLE ISLAND BUKA 1. 10 o 10 20 30 Buka Passage MILES BU AIRFIS BONIS Banin Boy ToloRb Matchin a Teop 1. Boy NUMA NUMA KIAKABA c. MABIRI Anewa Bay Bakawari L KIETA Reboine C. TOROKINA Boy EMPRESS AUGUSTA BAY MUTUPINA PT. + Ballale L SHORTLAND Faisi I. Alu 1. MONO 1. 24-59722ABCD 150° 155° 160° 165° 170° 175° Woke Island CENTRAL PACIFIC IP 50 o 50 100 50 200 250 Pokaokku Atoll SCALE OF MILES M , Bikor Atoll Eniwetok Atoll Bikini Atoll Rongerik Atoll Utirik Atoll Ailinginae Atoll Rongelop Atoll Take Atoll Wotho Atoll Alluk Atoll & 10° Ujelang Atoll 4 10° < Likiep Atoll Wotje Atoll ROI Olol Is Ujae Atoll Murilo Is Erikub Atoll Maloelap Atoll Kwajalein Atoll Holl Is QAur Atoll Namu Atoll S Truk Is. Oroluk 1. < Majuro Atoll Senyavin Is. 4 0 Ailinglapalop Atoll N Arno Atoll Pingelap Is. Jaluit Atoll Mili Atoll D* Ngotik 1. Kusaie 1. S Satawan Is Namorik Atoll Nomoi Is Ebon Atoll Nukuoro is Mokin Is G < Apaiang 3. Torawa 1. Kapingamarangi Is Maiana L : Apamama I. Kuria I. Nauru I. Nonuti L Ocean L Tapiteuea Onotoa KAVIENG (Tamaria I. ISO* ISS* 160° 165° 170* 178° DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 2. Estimates of Japanese Army and Navy combat aircraft in the South- west Pacific Area totalled 1,019 as of 20 January; this is an increase of about 100 over previous reports 3. 13th Air Force B-24's hit the runway, revetment area, and anti- aircraft positions at Borpop on 21 January, with practically all bombs hitting in the target area. Other aircraft bombed the Buka, Kara and Kahili airfields. The next day 27 B-25's started large fires in an attack on the Lakunai airfield at Rabaul; one of our planes was shot down by antiaircraft fire. 4. Operations by our air forces in the Central Pacific on 21 January included the bombing of Roi and Kwajalein by 15 B-24's, a low-altitude attack on Mili by nine B-25's, and a raid against enemy installations at Jaluit by 23 A-34's and И P-40's. Reconnaissance planes machine-gunned small enemy shipping pear Ailinglapalap and Maloelap. - 4 - WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 774 0700 January 22 to 0700 January 23, 1944 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 203(2) CENTRAL EUROPE - soo 400 THE PAERGES SHETLAND 15. FRISIAN is. HANOVER DUSSELDORF FIUME provide ISTRES SALON - F 16" 18" 20* son M* M EASTERN FRONT KRASHOGVARDSSK HGA R 0 50 8 8 and SCALE OF MILES Sex I Willige Sex Velitie Leti 56° Months Kounes oblig > Dontig Bex 54° Bryanak a H à willings 52" Kursh Bresiev Riev So 50° Cresse 48° Carrout // Budepest 4d* 44° Butherest -- Constants Denier 20" If % à IF 30° 38° 34° - DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 WESTERN HEMISPHERE Five US aircraft attacked targets in the Paramushiro area during the night of 19-20 January; the following night six others repeated the attacks. All our planes returned. EUROPEAN THEATER 1. On the night of 20-21 January 639 RAF planes dropped 2,533 tons of high explosives and incendiaries, including 392 two-ton bombs, on Berlin; 35 British planes are missing. Mosquitoes made small attacks on Kiel, Hanover and the Dusseldorf area; 141 mines were laid by Allied planes off the Frisian Islands and the northwest coast of France. 2. In the Leningrad area the Red Army made a limited advance to within five miles of the railroad junction of Krasnogvardeisk on 22 January and, to the east, cleared the rail line from Leningrad to Moscow via Mga. On all sectors to the south fighting abated noticeably during the day. MEDITERRANEAN 1. During the night of 20-21 January 43 British bombers destroyed a bridge and damaged the railway at Cecina. Light and medium bombers attacked enemy communications between Rome and the Fifth Army battle area. On the following day 170 escorted heavy bombers attacked the airfields at Istres 16 Tube and Salon and the railroad yards and bridges at Rimini, Porto Civitanova and Pontedera. A total of 841 B-26, B-25, - 1 - BOLOGNA GENOA SPEZIA RIMINI PONTEDERA FLORENCE ANCONA LEGHORN PORTO CIVITANOVA CECINA PERUGIA FOL (NO) ELBA GROSSETO TERNI PESCARA VITERBO ( ORVIETO CORSICA CIVITAVECCHIA AVEZZANO TERMOLI SULMONA ROME ATINA M. S. CROCE FOOGIA CASSINOT CENTRAL ITALY ANZIO o 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 TERRACINA CAPUA APPROXIMATE MILES SARDINIA NAPLES BASE MAP NO. 2769 (FREE) RBA, 055 REPRODUCED, OSS 26 OCTOBER 1943 DECLASSIFIED 0SD Letter, 5-3-72 A-20, P-40, A-36, and Spitfire sorties were flown by the Tactical Air Force against communications and targets in the battle area in Italy and shipping along the Dalmatian coast. Included in these sorties were attacks by B-26's which blocked traffic over bridges near Orvieto; four B-26's were lost. The Avezzano and Foligno railroad yards were hit by B-25's and Atina was heavily attacked by light bombers. Anti-shipping sweeps along the Yugoslavian coast resulted in effective hits on three schooners and a 2,000-ton merchant vessel. That night 43 Wellingtons bombed the Fiume torpedo works with excellent results and without loss. 2. The Allied landing near Anzio on 22 January, supported by heavy naval gunfire and assisted by a diversionary naval bombardment and dummy landing at Civitavecchia, achieved surprise and was successfully effected; a follow-up convoy has already sailed. In the Fifth Army sector several enemy counterattacks near the coast were repulsed. By noon the equivalent of four infantry battalions of our 36th Division had reached the west bank of the Rapido; four footbridges were in operation. To the north there was fierce fighting at Monti S. Croce where the attack of the French Corps continued. Only patrol activity was reported on the front of the Eighth Army. 3. The strength of the Persian Gulf Command on 31 December was reported as follows: Army Air Forces Army Service Forces Total 477 28,988 29,465 - 2 - KUNMING CHITTAGONG SAGAANG MANDABAY (MYINGY UTH UNG AKYAS® BAY PROME OF NATTALIN BENGAL ASSEIN RANGOON MOULMEIN YE TAVOYS BANGKOK APPROX. LINE OF CONTACT 50 o 100 100 MILES RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS BRANCH oss BASE MAP NO. 1447 (FREE) 20 JUNE 1943 LITHOGRAPHED ⑉ THE REPRODUCTION BR ANCH 085 LORENGAU MANUS L NEW HANOVER AVIENG AITAPE WEWAK NEW RELAND MARIENBURG BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO MARUL Sepik R VUNAKANAU GNUBIA RABAUL ALEXISHAFEN OMADANG C. HOSKINS CAPE GLOUGESTER TALASEA GAUSS PT SAIDOR NATAMO 0510 NEW BRITAIN o ARAWE RAIAPITO o GASMATA DFINSCHHAFEN LAE SALAMAUA NAUD KEREMA GULF TROBRIAND OF BUNA 15. Yr KAIRUKUO PAPUA WOODLARK I. ODARU GOODENOUGH L FERGUSSON L PORT MORESBY BANIARA NORMANDY L CORAL SEA SAMARAI 20 o 40 60 120 160 MILES DECLASSIFIES OBD Letter, 5-3-72 ASIATIC THEATER 1. On 19 and 20 January fighter bombers of the 10th Air Force attacked roads, enemy-held towns and supply installations in northern Burma while our medium bombers scored a direct hit on the Nattalin rail bridge. During 19, 20 and 21 January RAF aircraft intercepted 35 enemy planes over the Arakan coast, shooting down six (probably 15) for a loss of two Spitfires, and bombed Bangkok, Akyab, Sagaing, Myingyan and other targets in Burma. On 21 January the British gained ground four miles to the west of Buthidaung and occupied a village two miles to the north, repulsing two counterattacks. 2. Four P-40's of the 14th Air Force crashed while on offensive reconnaissance missions on 20 January; two of the pilots were saved. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. Allied patrols on Cape Cloucester reached Natamo without opposition. The main enemy body in the Saidor area was reported near Gauss Point. Allied ground troops in the Ramu Valley, again strongly supported by our 5th Air Force, were advancing up the Faria River to the water- shed. B-24's sank a 7,000-ton tanker east of Wewak and a 3,000-ton on Manus /sland. freighter southeast of Lorengau and destroyed the control tower at 1 - 3 - BOUGAINVILLE ISLAND BUKA 1. 10 o 10 20 30 Buka Passage MILES BU AIRRIE BONIS Banin Boy ToloRh I. Matchin Teop 1. Bay NUMA NUMA KIAKABA 0 C. MABIRI Anewo Bay Bokawari L KIETA Reboine c. TOROKINA Boy EMPRESS AUGUSTA BAY MUTUPINA PT. + Baljale L SHORTLAND Foisi 1. Alu 1. MONO I. STIRLING 24-59722ABCD 150° 155° 160° NS* 170° 175° Wake Island CENTRAL PACIFIC 19" so o 50 100 ISO 200 250 Pokookku Atoll , SCALE OF MILES 4 Bikor Atoll . Eniwetok Atoll Bikini Atoll Rongerik Atoll Utirik Atoll Ailinginoe Atoll Rongelap Atoll Tako Atoll Wotho Atoll Ailuk Atoll 8 10 Ujelong Atoll 4 10° < Likiep Atoll Wotje Atoll Olol Is. Ujoe Atoll < Murilo Is. Erikub Atoll Moloelap Atoll Kwajalein Atoll QAur Atoll Hall Is Namu Atoll S Oroluk I, Truk Is. ( Majuro Atoll 4 Senyavin Is 0 Ailinglapalap Atoll & N Arno Atoll Pingelap Is Joluit Atoll Mili Atoll Ngatik I. Kusaie 1. S Satawan Is Nomorik Atoll Nomoi Is 1 Ebon Atoll Nukuoro Is. Makin Is G - < Apaiang e Tarowo L Kopingamarangi Is. Moiano L Apamama I. Kuria L Nauru 1. Nonuti 1. Ocean L a Tapiteueo Onotoa KAVIENG Tamaria 1. 150° 159° 80° 168* 170* 178* DECLASSIFIES OCD Letter, 5-3-78 new Britain. Cape Hoskins, Medium, light and fighter bombers attacked enemy in- stallations along the New Britain and New Guinea coasts and 22 P-40's dive-bombed enemy positions north of Dumpu with excellent results. old 2. During the afternoon of 19 January, Navy dive bombers attacked enemy targets near the Torokina perimeter and a bridge east of Mutupina Point. The next day 18 escorted low-flying B-25's dropped parachute fragmentation bombs on the Vunakanau airdrome near Rabaul, starting fires northwest of the runway, exploding a fuel dump, and hitting gun positions; 15 (probably 16) enemy planes were shot down for the loss of two B-25's and one P-38, B-24's bombed targets in southern Bougain- ville with unobserved results. Japanese planes attacked our positions on Stirling Island and at Torokina, causing some damage and casualties. 3. During 20 January 13 B-24's attacked targets at Wotje and 12 B-34's hit others at Jaluit; results were unobserved. One B-24 and one B-34 were lost. Reconnaissance planes hit a 4,000-ton freighter west of Maloelap and left a small cargo vessel ablaze off Ailinglapalap. many - 4 - WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 773 0700 January 21 to 0700 January 22, 1944 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 203(2) (2) CENTRAL EUROPE . e 200 300 THE PAERGES SHETLAND a BRUNSWICK OSCHERSLEBEN HALBERSTADT PAS DE CALAIS P - DECLASSIFIES OSD Letter, 5-3-72 WESTERN HEMISPHERE The Southern Defense Command is constituted as a separate command with headquarters at Fort Sam Houston, effective 25 January; at that time Lieutenant General Courtney H. Hodges, Commanding General of the Third Army, will relinquish command of the Southern Defense Command to Major General Henry C. Pratt. EUROPEAN THEATER 1. During the week ending 16 January the 8th Air Force destroyed 272 (probably 341) enemy aircraft for a loss of 63 heavy bombers and seven fighters. Principal missions flown during this period were attacks against the Pas de Calais area and Oschersleben, Halberstadt, and Brunswick. 2. On 19 January Mosquito bombers on offensive patrols destroyed one and damaged two German flying boats at the Stavanger (Norway) sea- plane base and shot down an unidentified enemy plane in this same area. 3. During 21 January strong forces of Allied aircraft, including formations of US B-17's, B-24's, and medium bombers, attacked military objectives in the Pas de Calais area. Nineteen enemy aircraft were destroyed; six heavy bombers and two light bombers and three fighter aircraft are missing. 4. During 21 January the Red Army captured Mga in the Leningrad - 1 - " 14 " " so " 14 14 10 40 " VILPURI so o NO 100 do . 0.00 -- so HELSINK APPROXIMATE MILES = ENTIGRAD MGA TALLINN o VOLOGDA Lete Pelove NOVGOROO " " YAROSLAVL ÓRIGA ORALININ VELIKIE LUKI se se MOSCOW WITEBSK SMOLERSK WILNO e 14 54 *MINSK MOBILEV . BRYANSK OREL ©GOMEL " " PBREST LITOVSK MOZYR OKURSK 9 = : SHEPETOVKA CKIEV so so "av. SLAVUTA o e LWOW / TWICE / is $5 ONYEPROPETROVSK o CERNAUTI For = 48 ©STALIN ORRIVOL NOR, ROSTOV MARIUPOL e ONIKOLAEV ©MELITOPO DOESSA = : PEREKOP e BRASOV KERCH o BUCHAREST " 44 never Denute " " " 10 " 14 : 14 40 - *BOLOGNA GENOA SPEZIA RIMINI FLORENCE ANCONA LEGHORN PERUGI ELBA GROSSETO TERNI PESCARA VITERBO CORSICA POPOLI CIVITAVECCHIA CARSOL TERMOLI SULMONA ROME CASSINO FOGGIA CENTRAL ITALY ANZIO PONTECORVO CASTELFORTE MINTURNO o 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 TERRACINA TRIMONSUOL I CAPUA APPROXIMATE MILES SARDINIA NAPLES BASE MAP NO. 2769 (FREE) R&A, oss 26 OCTOBER 1943 REPRODUCED, 055 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 area and, renewing their pressure on the central front, made small gains north of Mozyr. A German attack north of Shepetovka was held to no gain by Soviet counterattacks. MEDITERRANEAN 1. On the night of 19-20 January and the following day, 197 escorted B-17's and B-24's dropped 422 tons of bombs on three large airdromes in the Rome area. The enemy offered only weak aerial defense. Three missions totaling 129 medium bombers scored direct hits on railway installations at Carsoli, possibly destroyed a railway bridge at Ponte- corvo and cratered the railway yards at Viterbo. Light and fighter bombers totaling 162 attacked the Popoli railway station while other Allied aircraft bombed coastal shipping, and targets of opportunity in the battle area. During the period four (probably six) enemy planes were destroyed for the loss of one B-17, one B-26 and one P-38. 2. Elements of the Fifth Army in an amphibious flanking movement landed deep behind the main battle line near Anzio early on the morning of 22 January. This amphibious assault was coordinated with heavy pressure along the entire front of the Fifth Army. Units of the X Corps repulsed counterattacks against Castelforte and Minturno and pushed westward capturing Trimonsuoli. To the north our II Corps forced cros- sings of the Rapido south of Cassino. All boats were lost and foot- bridges blown out after parts of two battalions from the 36th Division - 2 - we MPI SHINGRYIN KUNMING CHITTAGONG MONY MY S GYA AKYAS® BAY PROME OF BENGAL RANGOON MOULMEIN YE TAVOYO DON MAUNG BANGKOK APPROX. LINE OF CONTACT 50 o 100 ROO MILES RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS BRANCH 055 BASE MAP NO 2447 (FREE) 28 JUNE 1943 LITHOGRAPHED IN THE REPRODUCTION BR ANCH 055 SECRETITY DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 were across. On the Eighth Army front no significant changes were reported. ASIATIC THEATER 1. On 18 January eighteen enemy fighters intercepted a 10th Air Force aerial resupply mission southeast of Sumprabum; three of our transports are missing and one (probably three) enemy planes were des- troyed. Four P-40's encountering six Japanese bombers and 18 to 24 fighters over the Fort Hertz area destroyed one of the enemy fighter planes without loss. The next day 15 B-24's were dispatched to bomb the Bangkok railroad station and nearby Don Maung marshalling yards; details of this attack have not been reported. RAF operations for 18 and 19 January included attacks against Wuntho railroad station, the Mandalay railroad yards (where extensive fires were started), Myingyan, Monywa, and enemy concentrations and installations along the western Burmese border. 2. 14th Air Force B-24's on a sea sweep off the southeast China coast bombed a 350-foot passenger freighter and a 225-foot tanker on 20 January; both vessels burned and sank. 3. On 8 January the Ledo Road was negotiable in dry weather as far as Shingbwiyang, 116 miles from its origin; 61 miles have been paved. - 3 - MANUS L NEW HANOVER KAVIENG AITAPE WEWAK NEW RELAND MARIENBURGO BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO MARUL Sepik 2 HANSA BAY NUBIA RABAUL ALEXISHAFEN OMADANG CAPE GLOUCESTER TALASEA SAIDOR KANKI 0510 NEW BRITAIN ARAWE EALAPITO o GASMATA PFINSCHHAFEN LAE SALAMAUA MAUD KEREMA GULF TROBRIANO OF BUNA IS. Yy KAIRUKUG PAPUA WOODLARK 1. GDARU - GOODENOUGH L ERGUSSON L PORT MORESBY BANIARA NORMANDY L CORALSEA SAMARAI 20 o 40 60 120 160 MILES DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. Patrol activity continued at Sio on 20 January. Our troops at Saidor contacted enemy forces 11 miles to the southwest. In the Ramu Valley contact has been gained with the enemy two miles east of Kankiryo. Our operations there were supported by 93 Allied aircraft which thoroughly bombed and machine-gunned enemy positions. Escorted medium bombers in a surprise attack on Hansa Bay sank 20 barges, damaged two grounded fighters and numerous trucks and silenced gun positions. Allied light bombers and fighters attacked coastal villages and barge hideouts along the New Britain and New Guinea coasts. In a previously unreported mission on 19 January, 14 B-24's attacked enemy installations near Ambon, destroying five (probably six) of 15 intercepting planes; two B-24's are missing. 2. Six South Pacific B-24's bombed targets at Rabaul on 20 January. 3. Seventeen B-25's bombed installations on Mili from minimum altitudes during the morning of 19 January, damaging planes on the ground and starting fires; two of our bombers were shot down. Nine P-40's machine-gunned enemy shipping at Jaluit probably sinking a small sailing vessel and leaving a small corvette ablaze. - 4 - WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 772 0700 January 20 to 0700 January 21, 1944 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 203(v) .. " : " so " 14 34 10 40 48 VIPURI so o so 100 ISO so HELSINK) APPROXIMATE MILES = NINGRAD PALLINN e VOLOGDA LUGA Late Prizen NOVGOROD -11 : se YAROSLAVL BRIGA «KALININ VELIKIE LUKI 11 se MOSCOW NTEBSK SMOLERSK WILNO : " OMINSK MOBILEV o * B. - BRYANSK OREL é o e 8 PGOMEL 11 H DGREST - LITOVSK N KURSK 1 4a e 1 a. o OKIEV --- = so 0 LWOW / dayita // BS KHRISTINQVKA DNYEPROPETROVSK o : 48 CERNAUTI 1 OSTALIN ORRIVOI deg ROSTOV MARIUPOL e ONIKOLAEV ©MELITOPOL ODESSA .. PEREXOP, : o BRASOV KERCHO BUCHAREST : " Rever Denote " " " so : 14 " 18 40 requirement BOLOGNA GENOA SPEZIA RIMINI FLORENCE ANCONA LEGHORN PERUGN ELBA GROSSETO TERNI PESCARA RIETI VITERBO CHIETI SAN VALENT INO CORSICA popoli CIVITAVECCHIA TERMOLI *SULMONA ROME COLLEFERRO ALFADENA CASS LNO SAN ELIA FOGGIA CENTRAL ITALY CASTELFORTE N-INTURNO o 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 TERRACINA CAPUA APPROXIMATE MILES SARDINIA MAPLES BASE MAP NO. 2769 (FREE) RBA, oss 26 OCTOBER 1943 REPRODUCED, oss DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 EUROPEAN THEATER Novgorod fell to the Soviets on 20 January and Red forces extended their salient westward along the railroad to Luga. Elsewhere the front was quiet except north of Khristinovka where the Germans launched strong attacks, possibly with the objective of disrupting Soviet preparations for offensive action against the German salient in the upper Dnepr Bend. MEDITERRANEAN 1. During the night of 18-19 January and the following day light bombers carried out effective missions against lines of communication in the vicinity of Chieti, San Valentino, Popoli, Sulmona and Colleferro. Three missions totalling 186 escorted heavy bombers attacked airdromes near Perugia, Iesi and Rome, and 65 B-25's bombed the Rieti airfield. The usual air activity was maintained in the battle area. 2. After heavy fighting British forces cleared Minturno on 20 January. The enemy continued to offer strong resistance north and north- west of that town and in the vicinity of Castelforte. Further north a British attempt to cross the Garigliano failed due to the swift current. French troops, however, occupied high ground north of S. Elia. In the Eighth Army sector an enemy raid against Alfadena was repulsed. 3. During the nights of 18 and 19 January, RAF planes dropped per- sonnel and supplies in Yugoslavia and Albania. - 1 - SHANGHAI I'ch'ong Hangchow Chengtu Ning-po Kishion Yo-yong CHUNGKING unling Lake Non-chieng Wenchow CHANGSHA Heng-yong Kweiyong Foochow Kanni-tin Amoy Lig-chou Swatow CANTON Mocoo HONGKONG Mon/Gay 0 50 100 15 200 Pakhol CAMPHA PORT MILES HANOI Hsi-ying - - APPROXIMATE LINE OF CONTACT Halphong MAP NO. 2437 (FREE) COMPILED AND DRAWN IN THE BRANCH OF RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS, oss 24 JUNE 1943 LITHOGRAPHED IN THE REPRODUCTION BRANCH, oss IKA CHITTAGONG AGAING MANDAMAY AKYAB BAY PROM OF BENGAL PASSEIN RANGOON MOULMEIN YE TAVOY BANGKOK APPROX. LINE OF CONTACT 50 o 100 200 MILES BASE MAP NO 2447 (FREE) RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS BRANCH oss 28 JUNE 1943 LITHOGRAPHED IN THE REPRODUCTION BR ANCH oss DECLASSIFIES OSD Lotter, 5-3-72 ASIATIC THEATER 1. 14th Air Force medium bombers attacked the railroad yards and docks at Campha Port, on 18 January, destroying two buildings. The next day escorted B-25's attacked the Japanese barracks at Mon Cay. All of our planes returned safely from these missions. Two enemy planes machine-gunned a town southeast of Nanking. 2. Between 16 and 18 January inclusive, 10th Air Force bombers and fighters made two attacks on the Myitkyina airdrome and one against the airdrome at Meiktila. Other US aircraft attacked enemy troops and stores near Myitkyina and Mogaung, hit rolling stock and warehouses at Sahmaw and supported ground operations in the Hukawng Valley. During the same period units of the RAF bombed rail facilities at Rangoon and Mandalay, attacked Sagaing, Mogaung, and enemy positions along the Arakan coast. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. On 19 January 65 B-25's and RAAF dive-bombers struck at enemy positions in the Ramu Valley while 48 B-24's silenced antiaircraft guns and destroyed grounded aircraft at Wewak. Fighters machine-gunned troops and barges along the Rai coast and off New Britain. Night Catalinas sank a 3,000-ton freighter north of Hansa Bay and a 5,000-ton ammunition ship and a 2,000-ton vessel off Manus Island. 2. A total of 109 Allied bombers and fighters from the South Pacific - 2 - MANUS L- NEW HANOVER KAVIENG AITAPE WEWAK NEW RELAND HANSA BAY MARIENBURGO BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO MARUL Sepi ONUBIA TRABAUL LAKUNA Marr ALEXISHAFEN OMADANG CAPE QUALIMO GLOUGESTER TALASEA RAI COAST ATOOR 0510 NEW BRITAIN - ARAWE o GASMATA FINSCHHAFEN LAE SALAMAUA KEREMA GULF TROBRIAND OF BUNA 15. Yr KAIRUKUO PAPUA WOODLARK I. GDARU - GOODENOUGH L FERGUSSON L PORT MORESBY BANIARA HORMANDY L CORAL SEA SAMARAI 20 o 40 so 120 160 MILES 150° 155° 160* NO* 170° 178* Wake Island CENTRAL PACIFIC If 50 o 50 100 I50 200 250 Pokaakku Atoll e SCALE OF MILES Bikar Atoll Eniwetok Atoll Bikini Atoll Rongerik Atoil Utirik Atoll Ailinginoe Atoll Rongelap Atoll Tako Atoll Wotho Atoll Ailuk Atoll & 10° Ujelang Atoll 4 10° Likiep Atoll Wotje Atoll Olol Is Ujae Atoll ( Murilo Is. Erikub Atoll Moloelap Atoll Kwajalein Atoll Holl Is QAur Atoll Namu Atoll S Truk Is. Oroluk I. < Majuro Atoll Senyavin Is 0 Ailinglapalap Atoll N Arno Atoll Pingelop Is. Jaluit Atoll Mili Atoll Ngatik I. Kusole I JABOR Satawan Is S Namorik Atoll Nomoi Is. Ebon Atoll Nukuoro Is Makin Is G < Apaiang Tarawa Kapingamorangi Is. Maiana L Apamama I. Kuria I. Nauru L Nonuti 1. Ocean 1. Tapiteueo Onotoa KAVIENG Tamaria 1. 150* 188° 160° I 170° 178" DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 Area attacked two Rabaul airdromes on 18 January, destroying one enemy plane on the ground and 20 (probably 21) in aerial combat; one P-38 was lost and one B-25 is missing. A search plane destroyed buildings and huts on northeast New Ireland, and a B-24 hit a village in the Shortland Islands. On the following day four B-24's bombed Lakunai air- drome at Rabaul. 3. On 17 January a mission of 18 Allied planes from the Central Pacific Area bombed harbor facilities at Kusaie. Nine B-25's hit the runway, a warehouse and radio towers at Mili. That evening Japanese planes were unsuccessful in an attempt to raid Tarawa, their bombs dropping harmlessly in the lagoon. Twenty-five Army dive-bombers escorted by eight P-40's attacked fuel installations at Jabor in the Jaluit Atoll the next day. Antiaircraft fire was intense and we lost two dive-bombers; the crew of one was rescued. In a low altitude attack 12 B-25's bombed gun positions, barracks, radio towers and runways at Mili. 4. The 6th Division (Major General Franklin C. Sibert) began its movement from Hawaii to the Southwest Pacific Area on 19 January. - 3 - THE WHITE HOUSE COPY FOR 0700 January 19 to 0700 January 20, 1944 No. 771 DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY WAR DEPARTMENT :: 14 :- :. 10 " 54 14 11 40 " VILPURI so o so 00 iso 40 HELSINK APPROXIMATE WILLS 2 ENINGRAO KRASNOGVAROEISK MILLINN © VOLOGDA LUGA Late Perpos DE " YAROSLAVL ORIGA «KALININ VELIKIE LUKI : se . MOSCOW ITEBSK SMOLERSK WILNO 14 : OMINEK MONILEV at à - BRYANSK OREL 0 ALL en and 11- PBREST if 90MEL = n LITOVSK 1 es Mill * KURSK en e % B 0 o MYR - a @ da CKIEV se : o LWOW / / / DNYEPROPETROVSK CERNAUTI 2 : 48 ©STALIN OKRIVOI ROG ROSTOV MARIUPOL o ONIKOLAEV ©MELITOPO ODESSA : : PEREKOP o BRASOV KERCH o BUCHAREST " : NEVER Desaps 14 " " so 11 14 14 14 40 *BOLOGNA GENOA SPEZIA *RIMINI PISTOIA PONTASSIEVE PISA FLORENCE PONTEDERA CERTALDO ANCONA LEGHORN POGG BONS F PERUGIA ELBA GROSSETO TERNE PESCARA VITERBO - MONTALTO DI CASTRO CORSICA CIVITAVECCHIA TERMOLI *SULMONA ROME CASSINO FOGGIA CENTRAL ITALY CASTELPORTE MINTURNO o 5 IO 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 TERRACINA CAPUA APPROXIMATE MILES SARDINIA NAPLES BASE MAP NO. 2769 (FREE) R&A, oss 26 OCTOBER 1943 REPRODUCED, oss DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-78 EUROPEAN THEATER The Soviets made important advances south and southwest of Leningrad on 19 January, forcing the Germans back 12 miles to the south on a 25- mile front and placing the Soviets only eight miles north of the rail junction of Krasnogvardeisk. This advance is important as a successful 11 penetration of very strong German defenses. North and south of Novgorod the Soviets made fairly important gains, cutting all rail lines out of Novgorod except the one leading west to Luga. MEDITERRANEAN 1. During the night of 17-18 January, 24 RAF heavy bombers attacked the Pisa railroad yards while light bombers attacked towns and roads in front of the Fifth Aray. The next day a total of 203 escorted B-17's and B-24's dropped 603 tons of bombs on the railway yards at Pisa, Certaldo, Pistoia, Poggibonsi and Pontedera and the airfield at Pistoia; no enemy aircraft were encountered and only one B-24 was reported outstanding from these missions. Fifty-six B-25's bombed the Terni viaduct scoring hits on. the northeast end; one B-25 was destroyed by antiaircraft fire. Twenty- three B-26's scored hits on the Montalto di Castro bridge. Fighter bombers attacked enemy shipping off the Dalmatian and western Italian coasts, supported ground operations and flow numerous missions against enemy communications in front of the Fifth Army. During the night of 18-19 January, 42 RAF heavy bombers hit the Pontassieve railroad yards; two of these bombers are missing. - 1 - LORENGAU MANUS L NEW HANOVER CAVIENG AITAPE WEWAK NEW RELAND MARIENBURGO HANSA BAY BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO MARUL SIMPSON HBR. Sepik o R GINUBIA RABAUL CAPE POMAS ALEXISHAFEN OMADANG CAPE GLOUGESTER TALASEA YAULA o SAIDOR HILL 660 DUMPU SIO NEW BRITAIN GAL ARAWE SAIAPITO o GASMATA DFINSCHHAFEN LAE SALAMAUA KEREMA GULF OF TROBRIAND BUNA 15. KAIRUKUO PAPUA ©DARU WOODLARK 1. GOODENOUGH L PORT MORESBY FERGUSSON L BANIARA NORMANDY L CORALSEA SAMARAI 20 o 40 80 120 160 MILES DECLASSIFIED DSD Letter, 5-3-72 2. Allied divisions on the left of the Fifth Army front attacked during the night of 17-18 January, crossing the southern reaches of the Garigliano in several places. Heavy resistance was encountered, espec- ially on the left where the enemy twice counterattacked with tanks. By noon of 19 January, Allied columns, having driven the Germans from the floor of the valley, were probing to the west north of Minturno and north toward Castelforte. Aggressive patrolling was maintained else- where on the Fifth and Eighth Army fronts. 3. During the week ending 6 January our west coast ports in Italy discharged 81,494 tons of stores, 2,987 vehicles, and 27,436 personnel. Bari, Brindisi and other east coast ports discharged 69,782 tons of stores, 2,708 vehicles, and 6,518 personnel. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. An attack on our Hill 660 positions before dawn on 16 January was unsuccessful; 126 Japanese were killed. On 18 January a new outpost line was formed at Arawe, the energy pockets of resistance in the area being cleaned out. Light enemy air raids were reported at Cape Gloucester and Araws. Patrolling and mopping up operations continued at Sio. During 17 and 18 January, single B-24's scored hits,or effective near misses, on a 1,500-ton freighter east of Lorengau, a 2,000-ton freighter off Cape Pomas, a merchant vessel north of Wewak, and a tanker in convoy west of New Hanover. Fifty-two B-24's bombed energy gun posi- tions in the Hansa Bay area, and four operating to the west destroyed - 2 - Short DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter. 5-3-78 buildings on Banda south of Ambon. Fifty-four US B-25's supported ground forces operating in the Ramu Valley and bombed Yaula and Gali to the north. Four Dutch B-25's attacked the enemy airfield at Laha on Ambon. In the principal fighter activity during the period, P-47's and P-38's engaged enemy fighters over the Wewak area, shooting down eight Japanese planes for the loss of three P-38's. 2. During the night of 16-17 January a reconnaissance B-24 from the South Pacific Area scored three direct hits on an enemy ship north- west of Kavieng. 112 Navy bombers and Allied fighters attacked ship- ping in Simpson Harbor during the next afternoon sinking three large freighters and leaving five more badly damaged. In the ensuing aerial combat 18 (probably 33) of more than 100 enemy planes were shot down; we lost ten fighters and three bombers from all causes. 3. A search plane hit a small freighter northwest of Kwajalein on 17 January and probably destroyed one of four enemy fighters inter- cepting. - 3 - WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 770 0700 January 18 to 0700 January 19, 1944 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 203(L) " " = " se 38 34 14 18 40 " VIIPURI 10 o so 100 - HELSINK) APPROXIMATE WILES = so LENINGRAD TALLINN VOLOGDA Late Peipre INOVGOROD " se LAKE ILMEN YAROSLAVL BRIGA OKALININ VELIKIE LUKI : ⑉ - MOSCOW SITEBSK SMOLERSK WILNO 14 14 [MINSK MOBILEV BRYANSK OREL 4 se ©GOMEL = FOREST R LITOVSK RECHITSA * KURSK 9. # 0 o NOVOGRAD-VOLYNSK SHEPETOYHA SLAVUIA OKIEV i so so 0 LWOW / device El / KIROVOGRAD ONYEPROPETROVSK o " ** CERNAUTI & OSTALIN OKRIVOI the ROSTOV MARIUPOS o ONIKOLAEV ©MELITOPO DOESSA : " PEREXOP, e BRASOV REDICIO o BUCHAREST : 44 giver - Denupe 14 14 " so : 14 11 18 : *BOLOGNA GENOA SPEZIA RIMINI PRATO PONTASSIEVE SIBENIK FLORENCE ANCONA LEGHORN CHIARAVALLE AREZZO PERUGIA ELBA GROSSETO TERNI PESCARA VITERBO ORTE ORTONA CORSICA CIVITAVECCHIA TERMOLI SULMONA PENNADONO ROME FOGGIA CASSINO S. ELIA CENTRAL ITALY o 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 TERRACINA CAPUA APPROXIMATE MILES SARDINIA NAPLES RBA, 055 BASE MAP NO. 2769 (FREE) REPRODUCED, 055 26 OCTOBER 1943 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 EUROPEAN THEATER Heavy Soviet action continued in the north during 18 January while mild weather in the south retarded operations. Northeast of Kerch Soviets attempted to extend their bridgehead but no change has occurred since communications were established with the landing party to the west. Only local action took place northwest of Kirovograd. Southwest of Novograd-Volynsk the Soviets captured Slavuta, 12 miles northwest of Shepetovka which is a fairly important railroad junction; they also attempted to advance southeast of Vitebsk. South and southwest of Leningrad and north of Lake Ilmen the Soviets are attempting to break through the German defenses, but no substantial progress has yet been made. 1. Forty-two Allied bombers attacked the airfield at Villorba, north of Venice, during the night of 16-17 January. The next day 127 escorted US heavy bombers hit the railroad yards at Prato, Pontassieve and Aresso, reporting excellent results. There was no air opposition other than from one P-38 operated by the enemy) one of our P-38's failed to return. Medium bombers attacked rail communications at Chiaravalle, Viterbo, Terni and Orte; good concentrations were reported on all targets. Fighter bombers hit enemy lines of communication, attacked defended positions in the battle area, and harassed shipping and installations along the Adristic coasts, scoring & direct hit on a 600-ton merchant -1- YEN CHITTAGONG* MANDAYAYI HAUNGDAW AKYAB BAY PYLAMA PROME OF BENGAL ASSEIN RANGOON MOULMEIN YE TAVOY@ BANGKOK APPROX. LINE OF CONTACT so o 100 100 MILES RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS BRANCH oss BASE MAP NO 2447 (FREE) LITHOGRAPHED IN THE REPRODUCTION BR ANCH 055 28 JUNE 1943. SEGR DECLASSIFIES USD Letter, 5-3-72 vessel which exploded in Sibenik harbor. 2. By noon of 18 January Allied troops, capturing S. Elia, advanced 1} miles to the southwest; close contact was maintained along the entire right of the Fifth Army. Eighth Army patrols reported Pennadomo unoccu- pied. Along the Adriatic Allied troops reached their limited objectives northwest of Ortona and were later withdrawn. The enemy is now on his Garigliano-Rapido defense line from the sea to Cassino. ASIATIC THEATER 1. Allied ground forces captured two enemy-held villages in the Hukawng Valley southeast of Ningbyen on 15 January. The following day slight advances were reported in the hills northeast of Maungdaw; enemy counterattacks were repulsed in the area to the southeast. RAF bombers attacked the railroad yards at Pyinmana on 15 January reporting good results and the following day 45 escorted light bombers attacked enemy positions in the Buthidaung area. 2. US Army Forces in the China-Burma-India Theater as of 31 December totaled 94,292, as follows: Ground Forces Combat 2,958 Service 7,203 10,161 Air Forces Combat 14,007 Service 29,480 43,487 Service Forces 40,644 Grand Total 94,292 -2- 150° ISS* 160° 165° 170* 175° Woke Island CENTRAL PACIFIC 15% 50 o 50 100 150 200 250 Pokaakku Atoll SCALE OF MILES . Bikor Atoll Eniwetok Atoll Bikini Atoll Rongerik Atoll Utirik Atoll Ailinginge Atoll Rongelap Atoll Toko Atoll Wotho Atoll Ailuk Atoll & 10° Ujelang Atoll 4 4 < Likiep Atoll Wotje Atoll Olol Is. Ujae Atoll ( Murilo Is. Erikub Atoll Maloelap Atoll Kwajalein Atoll QAur Atoll Holl Is Namu Atoll s Oroluk 1. Truk is. < Majuro Atoll Senyovin Is 0 Ailinglapalap Atoll & N Arno Atoll Pingelap Is Jaluit Atoll Mili Atoll Ngotik I. Kusaie 1. S Sotowan Is Namorik Atoll Nomoi Is Ebon Atoll Nukuoro Is. Mokin Is G < Apaiong - Torowa I. Kapingamarangi is. Maiano 1. Apamama I. Kuria 1. Nouru 1. Nonuti 1. Ocean L Tapiteueo Onotoa KAVIENG Tomorio 1. 150° 158° 160° 169" 170* 178° MANUS NEW HANOVER KAVIENG ALTAPE WEWAK NEW RELAND MARIENBURGO BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO MARGE Sepik o R NUBIA RABAUL Mare ALEXISHAFEN OMADANG ERIMA CAPE REGASTING GLOUCESTER TALASEA o SAIDOR you 0510 NEW BRITAIN ARAWE KAIAPITO GASMATA OFINSCHHAFEN LAE SALAMAUA KEREMA GULF OF TROBRIAND You OBUNA 15. KAIRUKUO PAPUA ©DARU WOODLARK I. - GOODENOUGH L PORT MORESBY FERGUSSON L BANIARA NORMANDY L CORAL SEA SAMARAI 20 0 40 80 120 160 MILES DECLASSIFIED USD Letter, 5-3-72 PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. On 17 January our ground forces at Arawe, supported by tanks, drove the enemy back for a thousand yards reaching the enemy artillery positions and capturing 28 machine guns. No changes were reported in other areas. Thirty escorted Allied medium bombers bombed an enemy camp area east of Gasmata. Other medium bombers made a pre-dawn attack on Nubia; they were followed by heavy bombers which also hit the Erima Plantation. Allied dive bombers and fighters supporting ground forces attacked enemy positions in the upper Ramu Valley. Allied fighter bombers attacked enemy shipping and supply areas near the Tanimbar Islands. Enemy planes made light raids against our Arawe and Cape Gloucester positions during the early morning of 17 January; there were some casualties in the latter locality. 2. Japanese planes made a total of five attacks on our instal- lations at Tarawa and Makin during the night of 15-16 January, causing some casualties; one of the raiders was shot down. Makin-based fighters destroyed two Japanese bombers circling the enemy landing field at Mili at dawn of 16 January. More than 40 Army `planes bombed and machine-gunned targets on Mili at noon; two P-38's were lost. A reconnaissance plane destroyed a small cargo vessel at Likiep and left another sinking at Jaluit. -3- DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 GENERAL Effective at 2359 January 18, 1944, the railroads were returned to private control by order of the Secretary of War. -4- WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 769 0700 January 17 to 0700 January 18, 1944 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 203(2) " " : " » " 34 34 10 40 48 VIIPURI so 0 so - - of HELSINK APPROXIMATE WILES so CLENINGRAD TALLINN e VOLOGDA Late Perpos NOVGOROD se : YAROSLAVL ORIGA OKALININ VELICE LUKI 54 NOVOSOMOLNIK1 o 14 e MOSCOW TEBSK SMOLENSK o WILNO 14 14 *MINSK MOBILEV e via. - f & - - alt. BRYANSK R A OREL A alt. e du de att. É PAREST de. € - - - GOMEL " LITOVSK 12 ex < de - e KURSK de de n 42 % DE de H - SARNY The o 1 9am di - - ( de E - KIEV so so o o LWOW / / ONYEPROPETROVSK e 48 CERNAUTI & of : OSTALIN OKRIVOI who ROSTOV MARIUPOL o NIKOLAEV PMELITOPO OQESSA " PEREXOP, : o BRASOV KERON e o BUCHAREST : : REVER Denope 14 = " 10 " 14 " 14 40 - CENTRAL EUROPE 8 8 300 400 THE PACKGES SHETLAND KLAGENFURT 080PPO VILLORBA , DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 EUROPEAN THEATER 1. During the night of 15-16 January ten enemy planes operated over southeast England dropping a small number of bombs. One enemy plane was shot down. 2. Red Army forces made minor gains south of Sarny and north of Novosokolniki during 17 January. MEDITERRANEAN 1. 15th Air Force missions, totaling 181 B-17's and B-24's, carried out successful attacks on the Messerschmitt aircraft factory and rail- road yards at Klagenfurt, the Osoppo and Villorba airfields, and the town and harbor area at Zara on 16 January; 12 (probably 16) enemy fighters were destroyed in aerial combat over Osoppo and Klagenfurt for a loss of two B-24's and five P-38's. US medium bombers of the Mediterranean Allied Air Force pounded the Terni railroad yards while 239 light and fighter bombers attacked antiaircraft positions, machine-gun nests and slit trenches in the Chieti area. Other fighter bombers scored direct hits on two merchant vessels off Sibenik. 2. A flash report states that 102 heavy bombers attacked the railroad yards at Prato and Pontassieve on 17 January. 3. Lieutenant General Ira C. Eaker assumed command of the Mediterranean Allied Air Force on 17 January. -1- BOLOGNA GENOA ZARA SPEZIA *RIMINI PRATO PONTASSIEVE SIBENIK FLORENCE ANCONA LEGHORN PERUGIA ELBA GROSSETO TERNI PESCARA VITERBO CHIETI ORTONA ORSOGNA CORSICA CIVITAVECCHIA" TERMOLI SULMONA ROME VALVOR FOGGIA CASSING CENTRAL ITALY S. ELIA o 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 TERRACINA CAPUA APPROXIMATE MILES SARDINIA NAPLES BASE MAP NO. 2769 (FREE) R&A, oss 26 OCTOBER 1943 REPRODUCED, 055 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 4. On 17 January French troops of the Fifth Army, capturing Valvori, pushed patrols to S. Elia and the Rapido River. In the Eighth Army sector, Canadian infantry, supported by artillery and tanks, launched a limited objective attack northwest of Ortona. Fierce enemy resistance was encountered and fighting was continuing at last report. The Headquarters Fifteenth Army Group has been redesignated Headquarters Allied Central Mediterranean Force (short title: Hq. ACMF). ASIATIC THEATER P-40's of the 14th Air Force bombed and machine-gunned targets at Pingka (northern Burma) on 16 January. Seventeen unescorted Jap bombers hit Kukong (north of Hongkong); the extent of the damage is unknown. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. There was little change in the ground situation in the South- west Pacific Area on 16 January; extensive patrol activity was reported by our forces at Sio and Arawe. On Cape Cloucester the Marines are con- tinuing to consolidate their positions on Hill 660. Night Catalinas attacking two convoys northwest of New Hanover bombed three large cargo vessels; a 10,000-ton vessel, hit twice amid- ships, was destroyed, and two others of 6,000 and 8,000 tons were left in flames. Thirty-seven B-24's and B-25's supporting our ground forces at Arawe attacked enemy defense positions to the west with excellent -2- MANUS L NEW HANOVER KAVIENG ALTAPE WEWAK NEW RELAND MARIENBURGO BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO MARUA EAST Sepik 2. GNUBIA CAPE RABAUL Page ALEXISHAFEN OMADANG CAPE DOSABUING 94 OUCESTER TALASEA SAIDOR HILL 660 a CUMPO sio NEW BRITAIN ARAWE RAIAFITO o GASMATA OFINSCHHAFEN LAE SALAMAUA MAUD KEREMA GULF ROBRIAND OF BUNA 15. KAIRUKUO PAPUA WOODLARK 1. ©DARU - GOODENOUGH L PORT MORESBY ERGUSSON L BANIARA NORMANDY L CORAL SEA SAMARAI 20 o 40 so 120 160 MILES DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 results. More than 100 B-25's, A-20's, P-39's and P-40's bombed and machine-gunned enemy troops and installations along the northeast New Guinea coast destroying bridges, huts, buildings, barges and transporta- tion facilities; three (probably five) enemy planes were destroyed for the loss of one B-25. To the west seven B-24's bonbed enery shipping at Ambon; a large unidentified energy vessel was left smoking and three (probably four) of eight intercepting enemy planes were shot down. Missions of 30 enemy planes each were reported over Madang and Saidor. In aerial combat over the latter town our P-40's shot down 19 (probably 21) enemy planes without loss. 2. Twenty-four escorted South Pacific B-25's dropped fragmentation clusters on East Cape Plantation on 15 January. The next day Allied planes attacked enemy positions on Bougainville. 3. Nine Tarawa-based B-25's damaged buildings, an oil dump, the runway, hangars and grounded aircraft at Malcelap on 16 January. Our formation was intercepted by some 40 to, 50 fighter planes. Two enemy planes were probably destroyed and one B-25 was lost. -3- WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 768 0700 January 16 to 0700 January 17, 1944 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 203(2) CENTRAL EUROPE 8 THE FRISIAN 15. Statts BRUNSWICK MAGDEBURG SIBENIK b : " " : 10 ⑉ 14 14 se 40 " VIIPURI se e se DEI - so HELSINK) APPROXIMATE MILES 2 ALENINGRAD ...... TALLINN ovologda Lore Palpus ANOVGOROO se " LAKE DNO ILMEN YAROSLAVL BRISA OKALININ VELIKIE LUKI se NOVOSOKOLNIKI o 14 o MOSCOW UTEBSK SMOLERSK WILNO 54 14 OMINSK MOBILEV - BRYANSK OREL o se PEREST 90MEL " LITOVSK + OKURSK e 0 OKIEV 10 so e LWOW VINNITSAR / / KIROVOGRAD DNYEPROPETROVSK e 48 & : CERNAUTI OSTALIN ORRIVOI PRO ROSTOV MARIUPOL o ONIKOLAEV ©MELITOPO DOESSA : - PERIXOP e BRASOV 0 BUCHAREST : " giver MO MMJ Denope " " " 10 " 14 14 si 40 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 EUROPEAN THEATER 1. During the night of 14-15 January 435 RAF heavy bombers dropped 2206 tons of high explosives and incendiaries on Brunswick. Four enemy planes were destroyed; 38 RAF bombers are missing. Other Allied planes attacked military objectives in France and laid mines off the French coast and Frisian Islands; Mosquito bombers carried out small attacks against Berlin and Magdeburg and flew patrols over enery airfields in northwest Germany and Holland. 2. There was little substantial change on the Aussian front during 16 January. The Germans continued their strong counterattacks near Vinnitsa and northwest of Kirovograd. A Red advance of five miles on a ten-mile front has cut the Dno-Novosokolniki rail line fifteen miles north of the latter town. German counterattacks north of Lake Ilmen prevented further Soviet progress in that sector. To the north Soviet attacks continued south and southwest of Leningrad. MEDITERRANEAN 1. On 15 January Allied heavy bombers attacked railroad yards at Prato, Certaldo, Poggibonsi, Arezzo, and Civitavecchia, and railroad bridges at Porto Civitanova and Orvieto; no enemy air opposition was encountered. Bridges north and south of Orvieto were attacked by 95 B-26's. Sixty-four B-25's cut the railroad line north of the Foligno junction, hitting the power station and other installations as well. -1- *BOLOGNA GENOA SPEZIA RIMINI PRATO FLORENCE CERTA LOO ANCONA LEGHORN POGGIBONS) AREZZO PORTO CIVITANOVA PERUGIA FOLIGNO ELBA GROSSETO ORVIETO TERNI PESCARA VITERBO - CORSICA 5, VALENTINO CIVITAVECCHIA TERMOLI SULMONA ROME S. EL/IA RAPIDO Rx ALLEROTONDA FOGGIA A CASSINO 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) RBA, oss 26 OCTOBER 1943 REPRODUCED, oss DECLASSIFIES OSD Letter, 5-3-72 Fighter bombers attacked the railhead and supply dump at San Valentino, with good results. Numerous fighter bombers attacked enery positions on the Fifth Army front. A mission of 24 P-40's set a 300-foot merchant vessel afire at Sibenik. 2. The Fifth Army pincer intensified its threat to Cassino during 16 January; US troops pushed forward to the eastern bank of the Rapido River less than four miles south of Cassino while to the north French Colonial troops, capturing Vallerotonda, occupied the hills to the south- west overlooking S. Elia. Minor advances were made along the Adriatic coast in the Eighth Army sector. 3. Latest casualty figures follow: Fifth Army (13 January) Killed Wounded Missing Totals US 2,933 12,346 3,446 18,725 British 1,766 8,412 2,993 12,171 French 380 2,444 114 2,938 Total 5,079 23,202 6,553 34,834 Eighth Army (12 January) 2,624 9,636 2,243 14,503 Prisoners of war captured by components of the Fifth Army are as follows: US 3,440 British 1,787 French 270 5,497 Prisoners of war captured by the Eighth Army total 3,069. 4. During the night of 14-15 January RAF planes mined the approaches to Rhodes harbor and dropped supplies in Albania and Greece. The following -2- SHANGHAI River ch'ong Hangchow Chengfu Yongize Ning-po Kiukian Yo-yong CHUNGKING Tuning Lake Non-ch'ang Wenchow CHANGSHA Heng-yong Kweiyong Foochow Karei-tin Amoy Lig-chou Swatow NANPENG 15. CANTON Mocoo HONGKONG Mon/Gay 0 50 100 15 200 Pokhoi CAMPHA MILES HANOI Hai-ying *HON GAY APPROXIMATE LINE OF CONTACT Halphong MAP NO. 2437 (FREE) COMPILED AND DRAWN IN THE BRANCH OF RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS, oss 24 JUNE 1943 LITHOGRAPHED IN THE REPRODUCTION BRANCH, OSS CHITTAGONG MANDALAY AUNGO AKYAB BAY PROME OF BENGAL ASSEIN RANGOON MOULMEIN YE@ TAVOY BANGKOK APPROX. LINE OF CONTACT 50 o 100 200 MILES RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS BRANCH 055 BASE MAP NO. 2447 (FREE) LITHOGRAPHED IN THE REPRODUCTION BR ANCH 055 28 JUNE 1943 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 day Allied bonbers and fighters carried out anti-shipping sweeps over the Aegean Sea damaging several small vessels. ASIATIC THEATER 1. A formation of 36 RAF planes raided enemy positions southeast of Maungdaw on 14 January. The next day British fighter aircraft shot down 15 (probably 20) energy planes over the Arakan coastal region for the loss of one Spitfire. One B-25 and four P-40's of the 10th Air Force hit rolling stock at Pinwe. 2. Two B-25's of the 14th Air Force destroyed the main building of the Hon Gay power plant in French Indo-China, sank a 200-foot gunboat in a nearby cove and destroyed a coal-grading building at Campha, on 15 January. Another mission of two B-25's seriously damaged the lighthouse and destroyed several other buildings at Nanpeng Island and sank a 125- foot wooden ship off Swatow. PACIFIC AND SOUTHNEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. Allied ground forces on Cape Gloucester captured Hill 660 on 14 January. Our casualties in this area to date are 228 dead and 694 wounded; Japanese dead total 3,100. Our aircraft operating over the Ruon Peninsula reported an Allied patrol passing Vincke Point. Small missions of Allied light bombers and fightors machine- gunned energy personnel and targets of opportunity in sweeps over the -3- MANUS Le NEW HANOVER KAVIENG AITAPE WEWAK NEW RELAND MARIENBURGO BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO MAROL Sepik R. OLNUBIA ULIGAN SIMPSON HBR RABAUL Mare ALEXISHAFEN MADANG CAPE GLOUGESTER TALASEA VINCKE PT. SAIDOR DAUMOINA 0510 HILL 660 JACQUINOT BAY ODUMPU NEW BRITAIN GUSAP HUON KALAPITO ARAWE PENINSULA o GASMATA ©FINSCHHAFEN NAOZAB o LAE OSALAMAUA WAVE KEREMA GULF TROBRIANO OF BUNA 15. KAIRUKUS PAPUA WOODLARK I. GDARU GOODENOUGH L. FERGUSSON L - PORT MORESBY BANIARA NORMANBY L CORAL SEA SAMARAI 20 o 40 80 120 160 MILES 150° 155° 160° 165° 170° ITS* Woke Island CENTRAL PACIFIC IS 50 o 50 100 ISO 200 250 Pokaokku Atoll SCALE OF MILES 4 Bikor Atoll Eniwetok Atoll Bikini Atoll Rongerik Atoll Utirik Atoll Ailinginoe Atoll Rongelap Atoll Toko Atoll Wotho Atoll Ailuk Atoll 8 Ujelang Atoll 4 < R01 Likiep Atoll Wotje Atoll Oiol Is. Ujae Atoll NAMUR Murilo Is. Erikub Átoll Moloelop Atoll Kwajalein Atoll Holl Is QAur Atoll Namu Atoll S Truk Is. Oroluk I. ( Majuro Atoll Senyavin Is. 0 Ailinglapalop Atoll N Arno Atoll Pingelop Is. Jaluit Atoll Mili Atoll Sotowan Is 0° Ngatik I. Kusaie 1. S Namorik Atoll Nomoi Is Ebon Atoll Nukuoro Is. Mokin Is. G < Apaiang - Tarawa 1. Kapingamarangi Is Maiana L Apamama I. Kuria 1. Nouru L Nonuti I. "Ocean I. Tapiteueo Onotoo KAVIENG Tamaria L 150° ISS* 160° 168* 170° ITS* DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 northeast coast of New Guinea on 14 January. The following day two B-25's machine-gunned villages and destroyed a bridge in the vicinity of Jacquinot Bay. Twenty-four 8-24's destroyed buildings and bombed gun positions and supply areas at Uligan and 10 B-25's heavily machine-gunned a number of villages in the same area and also destroyed two bridges north of Madang. A mission of 12 P-47's machine-gunned the runway at Alexishafen where two bombers were left burning and small dumps set afire. Other medium bombers and fighters attacked enemy-held villages south of Daumoina in the Ramo Valley. Japanese planes raided Arawe and Saidor and the Gusap and Nadzab airfields; two (probably three) of the enemy planes were destroyed. 2. At noon on 14 January 125 South Pacific bonbers and fighters attacked enemy shipping in Simpson Harbor, New Britain, scoring hits on seven cargo vessels and a possible light cruiser. Twenty-nine (probably 45) of some 60 intercepting enemy planes were shot down; we lost eight fighters and one bomber, but four of the pilots were rescued. Twenty- seven B-24's and B-25's also attacked the airdroses at Rabaul as well 6.8 other targets in that area and in the northern Solomons. 3. Three B-25's sank a medium cargo vessel at Notje on 14 January. The next morning 12 B-24's attacked Roi and Namur Islands in the Kwajalein Atoll, causing mary fires and explosions. All our planes returned. -|- WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 767 0700 January 15 to 0700 January 16, 1944 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 203(-) CENTRAL EUROPE THE PAERGES PAS DE CALATS SIBENIK MOSTAR DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 EUROPEAN THEATER 1. 506 heavy bombers of the 8th Air Force dropped 1500 tons of bombs on rocket launching sites in the Pas de Calais area on 14 January. A force of 646 P-47's, P-38's, and P-51's provided escort. 167 B-26's of our 9th Air Force, escorted by RAF Spitfires, dropped an additional 276 tons on enemy installations in this area. In these operations 26 (probably 30) enemy planes were destroyed by US aircraft; our losses were five bombers and three fighters. 2. Revised information on the heavy attacks by our escorted B-17's and B-24's against the German aircraft assembly factories during 11 January indicates that 153 (probably 206) enemy aircraft were destroyed for a loss of 60 heavy bombers and five fighters. 3. On 31 December US Army Forces in the European Theater were disposed as follows: Great Britain Northern Ireland Iceland Base Command Air Forces Air Forces Air Forces Combat 105,894 Combat 1,229 Combat 2,395 Service 174,387 Service 5,141 Service 2,807 Ground Forces Ground Forces Ground Forces Combat 170,032 Combat 59,755 Combat 9,009 Service 37,285 Service 1,367 Service 4,837 Service Forces Service Forces 211,624 8,568 Total 699,222 76,060 19,048 Grand total: 794,330. - 1 - : 14 : " se 34 14 14 se 40 " VIIPURI so e so IDO no 40 HELSINK APPROXIMATE MILES 2 RAN B.CH LENINGRAD TALLINN NARVA o VOLOGDA Lake Peipas NOVGOROD se " YAROSLAVL ORIGA OKALININ VELIKIE LUKI se 14 MOSCOW VITEBSK SMOLERSK WILNO 14 : OMINSK MODILEV BRYANSK OREL e, = PREST ©SOMEL " LITOVSK * KURSK 9 KIEV so 10 e LWOW / DEMECA / / DNVEPROPETROVSK o : : CERNAUTI - OSTALIN ORRIVOI o RV ROSTOV MARIUPOL o GNIKOLAEV ©MELITOPO OQESSA : PEREKOP : e BRASOV o BUCHAREST 44 = miver Denube " " " so : " 14 18 40 <80\OGNA GENOA SPEZIA ERIMINI FLORENCE ANCONA LEGHORN PERUGE ELBA GROSSETO TERNI LORETO PESCARA VITERBO CORSICA CIVITAVECCHIA TERMOLI SULMONA ROME M TROCCHI O ROITO EDGGIA ANZIO CORVO QUAFONOATA CENTRAL ITALY o 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 TERRACINA CAPITAL APPROXIMATE MILES SARDINIA AMAPLES BASE MAP NO. 2769 (FREE) R & A, OSS REPRODUCED, oss 26 OCTOBER 1943 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 4. The most important development on the eastern front during 15 January was the opening by the Red Army of new attacks in the north where the front has been relatively quiet for more than a year. These attacks, in the Oranienbaum area and east of Novgorod, probably have for their aims cutting German rail communications and preventing enemy troops in this area from reinforcing the southern front. MEDITERRANEAN 1. More than 200 US heavy bombers attacked Mostar on 14 January, reporting excellent coverage of the town and airdrome. Fifty-one medium bombers hit Pontecorvo town and railroad bridge. Lighter planes attacked tank repair shops at Loreto, the docks at Anzio, and towns, lines of communication, transportation facilities, and enemy positions in the battle area, Five missions of fighter planes dispatched against shipping in the Sibenik area set fire to two large ships. 2. During 15 January French troops of the Fifth Army advanced over two miles following their occupation of Acquafondata and Cardito. To the south US troops attacked enemy strong points on the slopes of M. Trocchio and at last reports were making progress despite violent enemy resistance. On the Eighth Army front successful patrol activity was continued. 3. US Army Forces in the Middle East-Central African Theater as of 31 December, 1943, totaled 15,805 as follows: - 2 - ENGCHUNG LONGCING CHITTAGONG MANDALRY AKYAB® BAY SPROME OF BENGAL JASSEN RANGOON MOULMEIN YE TAVOY BANGKOK APPROXIMATE LINE OF CONTACT 50 o 100 goo MILES BASE MAP NO 2447 (FREE) RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS BRANCH 055 28 JUNE 1943 LITHOGRAPHED IN THE REPRODUCTION BRANCH 055 SHANGH&I Hangchow Chengre Ning-po Kigkiang yo-yong Tuating Non-chang enchow CHANGSHA Heng-yong *Kweiyong eachow Amoy Liw chou Swatow CANTON Mocoo HONGKONG ST. JOHN I Mon/Cay APPROXIMATE LINE OF CONTACT o so 100 15 200 Pakhol MILES HANOI Hai-ying WEICHOW I Helphong MAP NO. 2437 (FREE) COMPILED AND DRAWN IN THE BRANCH OF RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS, oss 24 JUNE 1943 LITHOGRAPHED IN THE REPRODUCTION BRANCH, oss DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 Ground Forces Combat 855 Service 337 1,192 Air Forces Service 3,538 Service Forces 11,075 Grand Total 15,805 ASIATIC THEATER 1. A British patrol entered Sumprabum on the night of 11-12 January. One B-25 of the 10th Air Force escorted by four fighter planes attacked the runway and supply area at Myitkyina on 13 January. Fighter planes attacked enemy troop concentrations, installations and dump areas in north central Burma. RAF aircraft carried out their usual harassing missions on 13 and 14 January. 2. Six fighter planes of the 14th Air Force attacked enemy pack trains in the Lungling-Tengchung area on 13 January. On the following day small numbers of heavy and medium bombers destroyed buildings on Weichow Island and damaged a gunboat and another vessel in the vicinity of St. John's Island. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. During 14 January 44 B-24's and B-25's attacked enemy targets near Alexishafen starting large fires and possibly exploding an ammunition - 3 - MANUS NEW HANOVER KAVIENG AITAPE WEWAK NEW IRELAND MARIENBURGO BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO MAROJ Sepik 2 CANUBIA RABAUL ALEXISHAFEN OMADANG CAPE CALEK SLOUCERIER TALASEA SAIDOR SIO NEW BRITAIN ARAWE o GASMATA FINSCHHAFEN LAE SALAMAUA KEREMA GULF OF TROBRIANO BURA Yr 15. KAIRUKUO PAPUA WOODLARK 1. GDARU - GOODENOUGH L PORT MORESBY ERGUSSON L BANIARA NORMANDY L CORAL SEA SAMARAI 20 0 40 80 IRO 160 MILES 150° 100° 160* 41° IFO* 179° Woke Island CENTRAL PACIFIC 18" 50 0 50 100 150 200 250 Pokaokku Atoll SCALE OF MILES Bikor Atoll Eniwetok Atoll Bikini Atoll Rongerik Atoll Utirik Atoll Ailinginoe Atoll Rongelap Atoll Toko Atoll Wotho Atoll Alluk Atoll 8 Ujelang Atoll 4 Likiep Atoll Wotje Atoll Olol Is. Ujoe Atoll Murilo Is Erikub Atoll Maloelop Atoll Kwajalein Atoll Hall Is QAur Atoll Namu Atoll Truk Is. Oroluk 1. s Majuro Atoll Senyavin Is. 0 Ailinglopalap Atoll N Arno Atoll Pingelop Is. Jaluit Atoll Mili Atoll Ngatik I. Kusaie I. Satawan Is S Nomorik Atoll Nomoi Is. Ebon Atoll Nukuoro is Makin Is G < Apaiang E Tarawa I. Kapingamarangi is. Maiana I. Apamama I. Kuria L Nauru 1. . Nonuti I. Ocean I. a Tapiteuea Onotoo KAVIENG ¡Tamaria 1. 180° IMP 60° 168* 170° ITS* DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 dump, while medium and light bombers and fighter planes hit enemy-held villages in New Britain and along the northeast New Guinea coast. Australian Beaufighters harassed enemy shipping off the north coast of Timor destroying a 1200-ton freighter and damaging a 500-ton vessel. Our Marines net stiff resistance from the enemy entrenched on Hill 660 during 14 January. On Huon Peninsula our patrols reached Sio without encountering resistance; many enemy dead were found and much ammunition and equipment was captured along the coast. Our troops at Saidor contacted small enemy groups near Calek. 2. US medium and heavy bombers from the South Pacific Area attacked three airdromes near Rabaul on 13 January; fighter planes machine-gunned Tinputs (Bougainville). 3. Forty-one planes from Apamana attacked enemy installations at Mill during the afternoon of 12 January; 37 planes repeated the attack the next morning starting fires in the barracks area. Nine Tarawa-based B-25's bombed and machine-gunned enemy installations at Wotje at dusk on 13 January hitting several small vessels. - 4 - WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 766 0700 January 14 to 0700 January 15, 1944 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE : 14 : " so " 34 14 11 40 " VIIPURI so e 10 - ISO 40 HELSINK) APPROXIMATE WILES so TALLINN © VOLOGDA Lote Pripase NOVGOROO " : o YAROSLAVL BRIGA OKALININ VELIKIE LUXI se 14 - MOSCOW TEBSK SMOLENSK WILNO 14 14 6 OMINSK MOBILEV e BRYANSK OREL si 2 " PAREST *DOMEL " LITOVSK MOZYR * KURSK § SARNY * - CKIEV so so o o o LWOW / CENTA / ONYEPROPETROVSK o " CERNAUTI - / : ©STALIN OKRIVOI mus ROSTOV MARIUPOL e ONIKOLAEV MELITOPOL DOESSA 48 PEREKOP 48 o BRASOV REMOVE BUCHAREST " : River Denobe 14 " " 10 " 14 " 18 40 <BOLOGNA GENOA SPEZIA RIMINI FLORENCE ANCONA LEGHORN PERUGH ELBA GROSSETO TERNI PESCARA ORETO FRANCAVILLA VITERBO MIGL ANICO CORSICA CIVITAVECCHIA TERMOLI SULMORA ROME ERRO LEROTONO FDGGIA PILE CENTRAL ITALY o 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 TERRACINA C P / APPROXIMATE MILES SARDINIA AMAPLES BASE MAP NO. 2769 (FREE) R & A , OSS 26 OCTOBER 1943 REPRODUCED, 055 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 EUROPEAN THEATER 1. Allied fighters flew patrol missions over northern France on 13 January destroying eight enemy aircraft for the loss of one plane. That night RAF Mosquitoes attacked targets in the Ruhr, encountering heavy flak; one plane did not return. 2. On 14 January the city of Mozyr was taken by Soviet forces which advanced to & point 19 miles west of the city. A small gain was made southwest of Sarny. MEDITERRANEAN 1. Allied aircraft attacked Miglianico, Francavilla, Perugia and targets of opportunity during the night of 12-13 January. The next day a total of 241 escorted heavy and medium bonbers attacked the Guidonia, Centocelle and Ciampino airdromes near Rome, reporting excellent results; at least 15 enemy planes were destroyed for a loss of two medium bombers and three fighters. Sixty-four B-24's attacked the Perugia airdrose with unobserved results. Light and fighter bonbers almost completely destroyed the enemy tank repair shops at Loreto, harassed targets in the entire battle area, and scored hits on enery shipping near Sibenik. 2. The 3rd Algerian Division pushed forward 13 miles on 14 January, capturing M. Ferro and M. Pile, two hills commanding Vallerotonda from the east and southeast. Only patrol activity was reported on the Eighth Army front. -1- OGAUNS ALEMYO CHITTAGONG* VAM, MARDALAY MAUNGDAW AKYAB BAY PROME OF LETPADAS MOKPAL BENGAL BASSEIN MINGALADON RANGOON MOULMEIN YE TAVOYS BANGKOK APPROXIMATE LINE OF CONTACT - 50 o 100 200 MILES BASE MAP NO 2447 (FREE) RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS BRANCH 055 20 JUNE 1943 LITHOGRAPHED IN THE REPRODUCTION BR ANCH 055 MANUS NEW HANOVER AVIENG AITAPE WEWAK NEW RELAND MARIENBURGO BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO MARUL Sepik o R. G. NUBIA RABAUL Mare LALEXISHAFEN OMADANG CAPE BOUADJINO GLOUGESTER TALASEA NATAMO SAIDOR BORGEN BAY 0.0.JMPU 0310 NEW NAMBARIWA BRITAIN 0 ARAWE RAJAPITO GASMATA DFINSCHHAFEN LAE SALAMAUA HAUD KEREMA GULF TROBRIAND OF BUNA 15. Yor KAIRUKUS PAPUA WOODLARK 1. GDARU THANK GOODENOUGH L FERGUSSON L. PORT MORESBY BANIARA HORMANDY L CORALSEA SAMARAI 20 o 40 so 120 150 MILES 24-RESTIAN DECLASSIFIES OSD Letter, 5-3-72 ASIATIC THEATER 1. Medium bombers of the 10th Air Force hit the Mokpalin ferry crossing during the night of 10-11 January; the following day similar missions bombed the railroad yards at Letpadan and troop concentrations near llogaung. RAF aircraft bombed a suall bridge near Falam on 11 January and attacked energy positions east of Maungdaw, Mingaladon, troop concentrations near Kalemyo, and other targets on the following day. 2. 14th Air Force medium bombers attacked four ships near Ft. Bayard (southeast China) on 13 January; one of the ships blew up and the others were damaged. Later these planes attacked a radio station and other installations near the town. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. During the night of 12-13 January and the following day 5th Air Force B-24's operating in the northwest hit the refinery area at Balikpapan (Borneo), the Vacassar dock area and other targets in the Gelebes, and shipping along the southwestern New Guinea coast. To the east 28 8-24's attacked the Alexishafen area while medium bombers scored hits on energy installations along the coast to the north. Allied light aircraft bombed and machine-gunned targets from Arawe to Gasrata. The Marines on Cape Gloucester resumed their attacks towards Natamo on Borgen Bay. On: Huon Peninsula Allied patrols captured Nambariwa. -2- DECLASSIFIED DSD Letter, 5-3-72 2. US Army Forces in the Southwest Pacific Area as of 31 December 1943 totaled 305,889, as follows: Ground Forces Combat 111,827 Service 2,298 Total 114,125 Air Forces Combat 35,550 Service 38,650 Total 74,200 Service Forces 117,564 Grand Total 305,889 -3- WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 765 0700 January 13 to 0700 January 14, 1944 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 203(2) : 14 " " se : 34 34 se 40 42 DVILPURE so e so 100 no 40 HELSINK] APPROXIMATE MILES : OLENINGRAD TALLINN e VOLOGDA Lake Perpos NOVGOROO 18 se YAROSLAVL BRIGA OKALININ VELIKIE LUKI 54 e 14 MOSCOW e STEBSK SMOLERSK o WILNO 14 14 * OMINSK MODILEV e + 4b 4 e BRYANSK 4 #: 9 - OREL o = 4 € a è ©GOMEL " PREST se 41 LITOVSK MOZYR # . à * KURSK e @ di e o 9 SARNT 1 e 4 KIEV so so o LWOW VINNITSA / OSBECA / s DNYEPROPETROVSK o 48 " CERNAUTI / OSTALIN KRIVOI ROSTOV MARIUPOL 0 ONIKOLAEV MELITOPOL DOESSA PEREXOP : 48 o BRASOV o BUCHAREST : " giver Denobe " ⑉ " 10 " 14 11 18 40 IF NO° à à IF 24° 43+ 43% DO I 0 EASTERN MÉDITERNAREAN AREA § , 8 800 to 42° 47 è - Prom / 41* 4P 1 8 THASOS Service 00 40* 40° LEMON 0 - CORFU Lense 0 Move B 0 39° à MYTILENE Same LEUGAR/ D d - CHIOS I DEPRALONÍA 38° à Attens o ANDROS DANTE PIRAEUS SAMOS Organ I P TENOS AVBION 6 a , SYROS ? IM FAROS é 37" NAME , - 0 1 DODECANESE 0 moon 36° 34° D MIDDLE EASTERN AREA 10° - W so e so 8 CRETE SCALE 34° M BO* BI* È B* 24" à 28° E7" - DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 WESTERN HEWISPHERE Directives have been issued for the movement of the Headquarters, XI Corps, (Major General Charles P. Hall) from Fort Riley, Kansas, to the San Francisco Port of Embarkation for shipment to the Southwest Pacific Area. EUROPEAN THEATER During 13 January Soviet pressure increased south of Sarny where Red Army forces are now 17 miles beyond the town. Southeast of Vinnitsa the Soviets were kept on the defensive by strong and continuing German counterattacks. Northeast of Krivoi Rog there was fierce fighting. The forces which landed at Kerch 10 January maintained their foothold despite continuing German counterattacks. The envelopment of Mozyr is proceeding from the north and south and its fall is expected. MEDITERRANEAN 1. During the night of 11-12 January, 16 RAF heavy bombers started several fires in the harbor at Piraeus. Other RAF bombers mined the harbors of Lavrion, Syros and Rhodes, and dropped supplies in Greece and Tugoslavia. On 12 January 84 B-25's hit bridges and a railroad junction near Isoletta. Medium bombers attacked Giulianova and other points along the Adriatic coast. Our fighter aircraft swept antiaircraft positions and traffic in the Rome area and attacked the Teramo railroad yards. -1- "BOLOGNA GENOA / SPEZIAL RIMINI SLORENCES ANCONA LEGHORN PERUGE GIUL IANOVA ELBA GROSSETO TERNI PESCARA VITERBO CORSICA CIVITAVECCHIA ONTEROSSI TERMOLI SULMONA ROME CAS FDOGIA PNO CENTRAL ITALY VA o 5 IO 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 TERRACINA CARDA APPROXIMATE MILES SARDINIA LAWAPLES BASE MAP NO. 2769 (FREE) R&A, 055 26 OCTOBER 1943 REPRODUCED, 055 CAPE MATANALEM MANUS L- NEW HANOVER KAVIENG AITAPE WEWAK NEW RELAND MARIENBURGO BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO MARUL Sepi ONUBIA RABAUL ALEXISHAFEN CAPE OMADANG CAPE IRIS CAPE ST.GEORGE GLOUCESTER TALASEA BAIDOR SIO NEW BRITAIN ARAWE o GASMATA PFINSCHHAFEN LAE SALAMAUA KEREMA GULF TROBRIANO OF BUNA 15. You KAIRUKUO PAPUA WOODLARK I, GOARU GOODENOUGH L ERGUSSON L PORT MORESBY BANIARA NORMANDY L CORAL SEA SAMARAI 20 o 40 so 120 160 MILES DECLASSIFIED 08D Letter, 5-3-72 Light bombers and fighters attacked enemy positions in the battle area and flew patrols over the Dalmatian coast. During this period nine (probably 12) enemy aircraft were destroyed; we lost eight air- planes. 2. By noon of 13 January the Fifth Amy had materially improved its positions in the mountain mass east and northeast of Cassino. A battalion of our 34th Division captured Cervaro during the afternoon of 12 January, successfully repulsing a German counterattack against the town that night; in violent fighting French Colonial troops pushed forward to occupy the crest of Monna Casale and gained vantage points on neighboring hills. The Eighth Army pushed a patrol to Fonterossi. PACIFIC AND SOUTHNEST PACIFIC THEATERS 1. A patrol from our forces at Arawe successfully raided enemy positions on 12 January. On Huon Peninsula Allied units, encountering no opposition, have reached a point six miles southeast of Sio. Allied air activity included attacks on Alexishafen by 50 B-25's and 18 B-24's and an attack on enery supply areas west of Cape Iris. Six Havy Catalinas started large fires in the docks and ware- house area at Ambon. 2. Army and Navy planes attacked enemy targets in Bougainville and nearby islands during 10, 11, and 12 January. On 11 January 28 P-38's, covering an attack by Navy bombers -2- 150° 155° 160° 165° 170° È Wake Island CENTRAL PACIFIC 18" 50 o 50 100 ISO 200 250 Pokookku Atoll , SCALE OF MILES 4 Bikar Atoll Eniwetok Atoll Bikini Atoll Rongerik Atoll Utirik Atoll Ailinginoe Atoll Rongelap Atoll Toko Atoll Wotho Atoll Ailuk Atoll & 109 Ujelong Atoll 4 10° < Likiep Atoll Wotje Atoll Olol Is. Ujoe Atoll Erikub Atoll Bo Murilo Is Maloelap Atoll TAROA I Kwajolein Atoll Hall Is QAur Atoll Namu Atoll s Truk Is. Oroluk I. < Majuro Atoll Senyovin Is. 4 0 Ailinglopalap Atoll & N Arno Atoll Pingelap Is Jaluit Atoll Mili Atoll Ngatik I. Kusaie I. S Satowan Is Namorik Atoll Nomoi Is Ebon Atoll Nukuoro Is. Mokin Is G < Apaiang Torowo I. Kapingamarangi is Maiana L Apamama I. Kuria L & Nauru L Nonuti I. Ocean I. s Tapiteuea Onotoa KAVIENG Tamoria 1. 150° 158° 160° 168° 170* (78* DECLASSIFIES OSD Letter. 5-3-72 on Cape St. George, destroyed ten (probably 14) enemy planes in aerial combat. Thirty-two of our heavy and medium bombers attacked the Rabaul airdrome on 12 January, destroying twelve (probably 15) enemy planes. Aerial bombs bursting ahead of our heavy bomber formations slightly damaged two B-24's. There was some fighting along the perimeter of our beachhead at Empress Augusta Bay. During the night of 12-13 January Japanese planes made three raids against our positions on Stirling Island, killing five men and wounding 52 others, and bombed our airfield at Munda causing slight damage. 3. On 11 January 16 B-24's dropped 31 tons of bombs on Taroa with excellent results while five other B-24's attacked their alternate target, Mili. During that night 12 enemy planes raided Tarawa and others attacked Makin and Apamama; some damage and casualties resulted at Tarawa. The following day Navy B-24's sank two and damaged four small cargo vessels off Kwajalein. Ground installations on the island were also heavily hit. -3- WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 764 0700 January 12 to 0700 January 13, 1944 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 203(2) CENTRAL EUROPE 400 THE PAERDES SHETLAND e BRUNSWICK 05RABRUCK OSCHERSLEBEN SOLINGEN HALBERSTADT KREFELD COBLENZ Kindline There 1 - " 14 " " so " 34 34 14 40 " VIIPURI so . N - - 40% HELSINK APPROXIMATE WILLS 40 QUENINGRAD TALLINN e VOLOGDA Lete Person NOVGOROO se -11 YAROSLAVL BRIGA «KALININ VELIKIE LUKI : 14 MOSCOW ITEBSK SMOLERSK WILNO -114 14 $ 4) OMINSK MONILEV o * $ 19 el BRYANSK é OREL e 9 + 4 - 45 @ é se PEREST *GOWEL : LITOVSK 6 4 MOZYR 6 * KURSK é SARNY e é 4 6 * CKIEV -180 so BELAYA TSERKOY LWOW VINNITSA / USVECA / DATE KIROVOGRAD DNYEPROPETROVSK o : 48 CERNAUTI OSTALIN STRIVOI Nos ROSTOV MARIUPOL o ONIKOLAEV ©MELITOPO DOESSA 44 PEREXOP " e BRASOV have o BUCHAREST " ** niver Denope 14 " " 10 " 14 " 18 48 requirement DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 EUROPEAN THEATER 1. Despite extremely unfavorable weather on 11 January, 697 heavy bombers of our 8th Air Force were dispatched against the fighter assembly plants of Focke-Wulf at Oschersleben, Junkers at Halberstadt, and Messerschmitt at Brunswick; Osnabruck, Halle-Nord (Berlin) and many other targets of opportunity were also heavily bombed. Results were generally reported as excellent; most of the factories at Oschersleben and Brunswick were probably destroyed as was LO percent of the target at Halberstadt. Fighter support was provided by 642 P-38's, P-47's and P-51's. Enemy air opposition was intense; 59 of our heavy bombers are still outstanding and at least eleven fighters were lost. Our preliminary claims list between 40 and 60 enemy aircraft destroyed. On the last occasion when 60 of our heavy bombers failed to return, (after the 14 October mission against Schweinfurt) only 295 bombers were dispatched. 2. RAF Mosquito hombers and Allied Expeditionary Air Force planes, operating in small numbers during the night of 10-11 January and the following day, raided Berlin, Enden, Solingen, Cologne, Coblens, and Krefeld, and harassed enemy-held airdromes in the Low Countries. 3. The Soviets who captured Sarry on 10 January have extended their gains 15 miles north of the city. Southeast of Vinnitsa, where they are making their most serious threat against the Odessa-Lvov rail- road, the Germans struck back on 12 January with strong counterattacks. -1- & 2° if à 27" 24° 43° 434 late - 1 I EASTERN MEDITERRAREAN AREA * 9 B 900 300 48° 1 - 2" Drame - ⑆ ᵒ 4P 1 J THE Sciente 00 40* 47° LEMINOS, N 4 I CORPU Laries Whine B È MITILENE 39° LEUCAS 9 CHIOS CERNALORÍA à à I ANDRES - TRAITE PIRAEUS Fyr 0 bale & & 8 P 17+ PARCS o 17" I DODECANESE 0 PHONES 36° 36° Corpolhos MIDDLE EASTERN AREA Allenie 30° - 8 e 50 8 CRETE 7 35° -SCALE IN 34° 34° NO* El" - % BP à à EP" 29" BOLOGNA GENOA / SPEZIAL RIMINI FLORENCE ANCONA LEGHORN LOOWARA TABRA PERUGE PIOMBINO ELBA GROSSETO TERNI PESCARA VITERBO : CORSICA CIVITAVECCHIA TERMOLI SULMONA ROME CASSIN FOOGIA CENTRAL ITALY 0 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 TERRACINA CAPUA APPROXIMATE MILES SARDINIA AMAPLES BASE MAP NO. 2769 (FREE) RBA, 055 26 OCTOBER 1943 REPRODUCED, 059 DECLASSIFIEB OSD Letter, 5-3-72 Soviet pressure is being exerted against the Belaya Tserkov-Kirovograd salient. Northeast of Krivoi Rog, the Red Armies continued their attacks; the stubborn enemy resistance here is significant in view of their serious situation southeast of Vinnitsa. Near Mozyr the Soviets have launched attacks to the west making some progress. MEDITERRANEAN 1. During the night of 10-11 January, two B-24's mined Kalkis harbor. Forty-two Wellingtons dropped 73 tons of bombs on Sofia. Other RAF planes dropped personnel and supplies in Yugoslavia and Greece. Three B-26's blew up a blast furnace at Piombino. The following day 72 B-17's, - escorted by 15 P-38's, bombed Piraeus harbor well covering the target despite bad weather. Eight (probably 11) enemy planes were destroyed; eight B-17's and two P-38's did not return. A formation of 47 B-25's attacked railroad yards at Falconara and the rail junction at Fabriano. Light and fighter bombers attacked lines of communication, gun positions, and towns in the battle area. 2. The French Corps started an attack northeast of Cassino on 12 January; progress is reported. A Polish Carpathian Division has arrived at Taranto. Fifteenth Army Group Headquarters will move from San Spirito to Casserta, effective 18 January. 3. The SS Daniel Webster, torpedoed on 10 January, while in convoy from Gibraltar to Naples, was beached at Oran. It carried 10,531 measure- ment tons of cargo, consisting chiefly of supplies for the Army and the -2- KUNMING LOILAY CHAND* WRITE CHITTAGONG MANDALAY MAUNGDAW BUTH1 AKYAS BAY PROME OF BENGAL WASSEIN RANGOON MARTABAN MOULMEIN YE TAVOY@ DON HAUNG BANGKOK HENAM ESTUARY APPROXIMATE LINE OF CONTACT - 50 0 100 200 MILES BASE MAP NO 2447 (FREE) RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS BRANCH 055 28 JUNE 1943 LITHOGRAPHED IN THE REPRODUCTION BRANCH 055 STARTS DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter. 5-3-72 Allied Military Government. No casualties were reported. 4. During the week ending 30 December our west coast ports in Italy discharged 89,977 tons of stores, 4,397 vehicles, and 22,056 personnel. Brindisi, Bari and other east coast ports discharged 53,340 tons of supplies, 1,992 vehicles and 8,716 personnel. The gasoline pipeline between Manfredonia and Foggia delivered 536,000 imperial gallons to the Foggia airfields during a five-day period. ASIATIC THEATER 1. General Stratemeyer reports that his light bombers hit a bridge and exploded an ammunition warehouse at Loilaw, on 9 January. The fol- lowing day similar missions attacked a Japanese bivouae area north of Kamaing, and 15 P-40's damaged railroad tracks near Namti. Seven B-24's mined the Menam and Rangoon Estuaries and other B-24's bombed the Bangkok railroad yards, the Don Maung airdrose and the docks at Akyab. On the 11th our dive bombers and fighters continued their operations in northern Burma. RAF missions during 9, 10 and 11 January included attacks on railroad facilities and towns in central Burma, enemy positions near Katha and Fort White and the bombing and mining of the Moulmein-Martaban area. On 11 January Allied troops were one mile south of Maungdaw where they encountered enemy resistance. Severe fighting was also reported four miles south of Buthidaung. -3- SHANGHAI Hongchow Changiu Ning-ne Kiskiens Yo-yong GHANGKING Tanting LORD Nan 06/07/19 fenchow CHANGSHA Heng-yong Kweiyeng Foochow SU LORWAN Amoy bychour Swalow CANTON Mocon HONGKONG APPROXIMATE LINE OF CONTACT MontGeye o so 100 15 200 Pakhoi MILES HANO Hsi-ying Heiphong MAP NO 2437 (FREE) COMPILED AND DRAWN IN THE BRANCH OF RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS, oss 24 JUNE 1943 LITHOGRAPHED IN THE REPRODUCTION BRANCH, OSS MANUS NEW HANOVER KAVIENG AITAPE WEWAK NEW IRELAND MARIENBURGO BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO MARUI Sepik R NUBIA PRABAUL Phone ALEXISHAFEN CAPE OMADANG CAPE ST. GEORGE GLOUCESTER TALASEA SAIDOR BORGEN BAY 0% NEW GNEISENAU BRITAIN POINT ARAWE o NORTH GASMATA DFINSCHHAFEN LAE SALAMAUA KEREMA GULF TROBRIANO OF OBUMA 15. KAIRUKUO PAPUA WOODLARK I. ©DARU GOODEROUGH L FERGUSSON & PORT MORESBY BAMIARA HORMANDY L CORAL SEA SAMARAI 20 o 40 80 IRO 160 MILES SECRET DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter. 5-3-78 2. Escorted B-25's of the 14th Air Force destroyed five small craft, set fire to three tankers and attacked two gun boats on the Yangtze River near Kiukiang, on 10 January. Fighter planes damaged railroad instal- lations and rolling stock in the Teian area. At least one enemy plane was destroyed for a loss of two of ours. That night and the following day a total of 17 enemy bombers raided Suichwan causing slight damage to the airfield; three enemy bombers were destroyed. On 11 January, two B-24's mined Hongkong harbor. Nine B-24's carried out a high-level attack against Takao (Formosa), and two others laid mines in the harbor. PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATERS. 1. During 11 January our Cape Gloucester forces continued their drive toward Borgen Bay. On Huon Peninsula our patrols pushed to the vicinity of Gneisenau Point. PT boats destroyed five troop-laden enemy barges moving westwards along the coast in the region to the east of Saidor. Allied transport aircraft landed at Saidor during the day. Allied aircraft continued their heavy attacks on Alexishafen and other points along the northeast New Guinea coast. One B-24 bombed a gun position on Christmas Island (southwest of Java). 2. Forty-eight Army and Navy planes from the South Pacific Area bombed airdromes at Rabaul and gun positions on Cape St. George, on 10 January; no enemy interception was encountered. -4- I DECLASSIFIED 080 Letter, 5-3-72 3. On 31 December US Army Forces in the Central Pacific area were disposed as follows: Hawaii 176,738 Canton 3,543 Christmas 1,510 Fanning 252 Baker 1,110 Palmyra 849 Funafuti 3,466 Apanama 749 Makin 5,426 Tarawa 1,126 194,769 or this total, 163,151 are ground troops and 31,618 belong to the Air Forces. 4. Nine B-25's attacked installations and shipping at Maloelap on 11 January, sinking a 150-foot sloop, probably sinking a 5,000-ton cargo ship and damaging a light cruiser or destroyer. -5- 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.