http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1944/may44/10may44.htm#
Chinese attack across the Salween
Wednesday, May 10, 1944 www.onwar.com
In China... Chinese forces cross the Salween River, near the Burmese border, on a broad front.
In New Guinea... Japanese forces continue to skirmish with American forces on the beachheads around Hollandia.
In Occupied France... The French resistance organization (FFI - Free French Forces of the Interior) claims a membership of 175,000.
In Washington... J.V. Forrestal is designated the new Secretary of the Navy. He replaces Knox, who died on April 28th.
http://www.etherit.co.uk/month/thismonth/10.htm
May 10th, 1944 (WEDNESDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: Frigate HMS Loch Insh launched.
Sloop HMS Peacock commissioned.
ROMANIA: Constanza: KptLt. Helmut Rosenbaum, commander of the 30th U-Flotilla based in the Black Sea, is killed in an air crash. He is promoted posthumously to KKpt.
ALGERIA: Algiers: The Free French estimate that there are 175,000 resistance fighters in France.
CANADA:
Frigate HMCS Jonquiere commissioned.
Corvette HMCS Sudbury completed forecastle extension refit Vancouver.
Corvette HMCS Shediac arrived Esquimalt from Halifax.
U.S.A.: James V. Forrestal becomes US Secretary of the Navy to succeed the late Colonel W Franklin Knox.
Commander and Chief, Pacific Fleet/Pacific Ocean Areas, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, issued the first
orders to plan the assault on the Palau Islands of Peleliu and Angaur. Peleliu would become the primary target of the operation
code-named Stalemate II. Commanders and forces were assigned as follows:
— Vice Admiral Theodore S. Wilkinson commanded the Third Amphibious Force.
— Major General Roy S. Geiger commanded the III Amphibious Corps comprised of ground troops from the 1st Marine
Division (Peleliu) and the Army’s 81st Infantry Division (Angaur).
— Major General William H. Rupertus commanded the 1st Marine Division. Under his command were 1st Marines
commander Colonel Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller, 5th Marines commander Colonel Harold D. Harris, 7th Marines commander
Colonel Herman H. Hanneken and 11th Marines commander Colonel William H. Harrison.
— Major General Paul J. Mueller, commanded the 81st Infantry Division.
Escort carrier USS Admiralty Islands launched.
Minesweeper USS Barrier commissioned.
Destroyer escort USS Le Ray Wilson commissioned.