Replies

Beachheads Won – 2-3
Army’s Invasion Casualties Rise to 174,780 in French Zone – 3
Our Pacific Forces Keyed for Big Task (Parrott) – 4-5
Fleeing toward Foe, Halsey Tells Nimitz – 5
‘We’ll Strangle’ War Lords, Roosevelt Statement Says – 5
The Texts of Roosevelt Statements – 6
Allies Win Tiddim, Burma Fortress – 6-7
East Prussia is Hit – 8-9
Warsaw Patriots Killed, Poles Say – 9
Allies Near Venlo (Daniel, Currivan) – 10-11
3,300 Insane Flee under Nazi Shells – 11
War News Summarized – 11
Machine-Gunning the Germans, Setting Up a Field Piece and Digging In (photos) – 12-14
1,000 U.S. Bombers Hit Rhine Plants – 15
A Smooth-Talking New Yorker and His Prisoners (photo) – 15
Corregidor Trek is On (Baldwin) – 16
Dumbarton Plan Assailed by Group – 16
The Texts of the Day’s Communiques on the Fighting in Various War Zones – 17-19

http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1944/oct44/20oct44.htm#

US invasion of Philippines
Friday, October 20, 1944 www.onwar.com

In the Philippines... Elements of the US 6th Army (Krueger) land on the east coast of Leyte. The 1st Cavalry and 24th Infantry Divisions of the US 10th Corps (Sibert) come ashore to the south of Tacloban; the 96th and 7th Infantry Divisions of US 24th Corps (Hodge) land around Dulag. A total of 132,000 troops are landed during the day. Naval support is provided by the US 7th Fleet (Admiral Kinkaid). Additional naval support is provided the elements of the US 3rd Fleet (Admiral Halsey). Additional air support is provided by the US 5th Air Force. The defending Japanese 16th Division conducts a fighting withdrawal from the beachheads to prepared positions inland to await reinforcements. American forces capture Tacloban Airfield during the day but are unable to link the two beachheads. A few hours after the initial assault troops land, General MacArthur, the Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in the Southwest Pacifc, comes ashore and makes a radio broadcast to the people of the Philippines, recalling his promise to return. During the night, Japanese forces launch unsuccessful counterattacks against the beachheads.

In Japan... A carrier fleet, including 1 large carrier, 1 small carrier, 2 seaplane carriers, and 2 hybrid carrier-battleships as well as small ships, sails for the Philippines as part of Operation Sho-go. This force, the Northern Force (Admiral Ozawa) is intended to draw off the main American naval forces operating around the Philippines, to the northeast. Meanwhile, the 2nd Striking Force (Admiral Shima) sets sail with 3 cruisers and 7 destroyers.

In North Borneo... Japanese naval forces assemble for a counterattack in the Philippines as part of Operation Sho-go.

On the Western Front... The British 1st Corps (part of Canadian 1st Army) begins attacking northward from northeast of Antwerp. The US 19th Tactical Air Force breaches the dam at Dieuze, causing extensive flooding to the rear of German 1st Army, opposite US 3rd Army.

In Italy... The South African 6th Armored Division (an element of US 5th Army) repulses a German counterattack. To the east, the British 4th and 46th Divisions of British 5th Corps (part of British 8th Army) enter Cesena.

On the Eastern Front... Belgrade is capture by a joint force of Soviet forces and Yugoslavian partisans. Partisan forces also take Dubrovnik on the Adriatic coast. In Hungary, Soviet forces capture Debrecen.