Posted on 10/28/2014 4:18:30 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
Stephen E. Ambrose, Band of Brothers
During the winter it is most important that increased travel facilities should be given to the public, especially the London public, while suffering from the black-out. Could you let me have a report on bus queues, which, as far as I can see, seem to be getting longer, and make me your proposals for alleviating conditions.
Winston S. Churchill, Triumph and Tragedy
#1 - “You Always Hurt the One You Love” – Mills Brothers
#2 - “I’ll Walk Alone” – Dinah Shore
#3 - “Swinging on a Star” – Bing Crosby
#4– “Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral” - Bing Crosby
#5 – “Is You Is or Is You Ain’t (Ma’ Baby)” – Bing Crosby, with the Andrews Sisters
#6 - “Together” – Dick Haymes and Helen Forrest
#7 - “I’ll Walk Alone” – Mary Martin
#8 – “Till Then” – Mills Brothers
#9 – “I’ll Walk Alone” – Martha Tilton
#10 - “The Trolley Song” – Pied Pipers
http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1944/oct44/28oct44.htm#
Bulgaria, USSR sign armistice
Saturday, October 28, 1944 www.onwar.com
Bulgaria signs the armistice in Moscow [photo at link]
In Moscow... The USSR-Bulgaria armistice is signed. There are provisions for the integration of Bulgarian troops into the Soviet command system. This has already been established in practice.
On the Western Front... Allied forces attack the German paratroop forces who advanced the previous day. Troops of the British 2nd Army capture Tilburg, southwest of Arnhem.
In the Philippines... On Leyte, attacks by US 24th Corps around Dagami make slow progress and suffer heavy losses. To the north, the US 1st Cavalry Division (part of US 10th Corps) encounters heavy resistance near Carigara and is held up. At sea, carrier groups under the command of Admiral Davison and Admiral Bogan conduct air strikes.
http://www.etherit.co.uk/month/9/28.htm
October 28th, 1944 (SATURDAY)
NORTH SEA: U-1060 (Type VIIF) Not a combat vessel but a torpedo transport (operating mainly to the Norwegian bases) is sunk in the North Sea south of Bronnøysund, at position 65.24N, 12.00E by rockets and depth charges from aircraft of the British carrier HMS Implacable, a British Halifax T aircraft (Sqn 502) and from a Czechoslovakian Liberator aircraft (Sqn 311/H). 12 dead, 43 survivors.
WESTERN EUROPE: Forty six USAAF Ninth Air Force B—26 Marauders bomb rail bridges at Sinzig, Kempenich, and Ahrweiler, and airfield at Euskirchen, Germany; fighters escort the bombers, fly sweeps and armed reconnaissance over western Germany, attack six bridges and a tunnel, and support US XIX Corps in Belgium near the German border.
FRANCE: Near St. Die, Staff Sergeant Lucian Adams, U.S. Army, 30th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division, braves the concentrated fire of German machine guns in a lone assault armed with a borrowed BAR, he kills 9 Germans, eliminates three machine gun nests and clears woods of the enemy. (MOH) (Drew Philip Halevy)
General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force, issues a directive for a November offensive, calling for the destruction of the Germans west of the Rhine, establishment of bridgeheads across the river, and a drive into Germany.
In the U.S. Third Army’s XX Corps area, one company of the 357th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division, makes a diversionary attack north of Hôtel de Ville in Maizières-lès-Metz, while three companies enter the factory area in preparation for an attack.
The U.S. Sixth Army Group issues a letter of instruction for the reduction of Germans west of the Rhine and the capture of Strasbourg. In the U.S. Seventh Army’s XV Corps area, the Germans make a limited withdrawal, during the night of 28/29 October, pulling back to the line Leintrey-Blemerey.
During the night of 28/29 October, the USAAF Eighth Air Force flies Mission 692: three B-17 Flying Fortresses and six B-24 Liberators drop leaflets over the country.
BELGIUM: A German V-1 “buzz bomb” lands in Antwerp killing 71 persons and destroying 40 homes. Antwerp suffered the most from the V-1 and V-2 missiles.
NETHERLANDS: West of Venlo, the Allies counterattack and regain ground captured by German Parachute troops.
In the Canadian First Army’s British I Corps area, the U.S. 104th Infantry Division takes Rijsbergen, about halfway between Zundert and Breda, and pushes toward the Roosendaal-Breda highway.
In the British Second Army’s XII Corps area, Tilburg falls to Dempsey’s 15th Division. In the VIII Corps area, the U.S. 7th Armored Division begins a two-pronged attack to recover Meijel, Combat Command B driving southeast along the Deurn-Meijel highway and Combat Command R task force moving along the Asten-Meijel road. Small gains are made against severe opposition.
During the day, RAF Bomber Command sends 277 aircraft, 155 Halifaxes, 86 Lancasters and 36 Mosquitos, to carry out raids on gun positions at five places on the rim of the newly flooded island of Walcheren: 71 hit Westkapelle, 68 bomb Domberg, 49 attack Flushing, 38 hit Oostkapelle and 35 bomb Dishoek. Most of the bombing appears to be successful. A Halifax and a Lancaster are lost.
GERMANY: The USAAF Eighth Air Force flies Mission 691: 382 B-17 Flying Fortresses and 217 fighters are dispatched on PFF attacks on marshalling yards (M/Ys) in Germany; three bombers and two fighters are lost. The targets are the Hamm M/Y hit by 185 B-17s and the M/Y at Munster bombed by 177 B-17s. One B-17 hits a target of opportunity.
Nineteen USAAF Fifteenth Air Force B-17s bomb the marshalling yard at Munich.
During the day, RAF Bomber Command dispatches 733 aircraft to bomb Cologne; 623 bomb the city with the loss of six aircraft. The bombing took place in two separate waves and the local report confirms that enormous damage is caused. The districts of Mülheim and Zollstock, northeast and southwest of the centre respectively, become the centre of the two raids and are both devastated. Much damage is caused to power stations, railways and harbour installations on the Rhine.
During the night of 28/29 October, 30 RAF Bomber Command Mosquitos bomb a chemical plant in Cologne, four hit Karlsruhe and three attack Rheine.
U-2345 launched.
U-2540 and U-4702 laid down.
EAST PRUSSIA: The Soviet advance into the Goldap area is brought to a standstill by the tenacious resistance of 4.Armee.
AUSTRIA: Bad weather again limits operations by the USAAF Fifteenth Air Force: 11 B-17 Flying Fortresses bomb two targets: ten B-17s hit an aircraft factory at Klagenfurt and one bombs Erlasback.
NORWAY: During the night of 28/29 October, RAF Bomber Command sends 237 Lancasters and seven Mosquitos to attack the U-boat pens at Bergen. Clear conditions are forecast for the target area, although there are some doubts about this. Unfortunately the area is found to be cloud-covered. The Master Bomber tries to bring the force down below 5,000 feet (1 524 meters) but clouds are still encountered and he orders the raid to be abandoned after only 51 Lancasters have bombed. Three Lancasters are lost. Meanwhile, ten Lancasters lay mines off Oslo without loss.
BULGARIA: The government signs an armistice with the Allies. By its terms, Bulgaria will relinquish portions of Greece and Yugoslavia acquired in 1941, make certain
reparations yet to be determined, and place their armed forces at the disposal of the Soviet high command.
U.S.S.R.: MOSCOW: The USSR-Bulgaria armistice is signed. Bulgarian troops will now operate under Soviet command. Text
YUGOSLAVIA: The partisans announce the capture of Split, capital of Dalmatia and Adriatic port, to Partisan forces.
ITALY: In the U.S. Fifth Army’s IV Corps area, Regimental Combat Team 6 of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force outflanks Gallicano, in the Serchio Valley. The II Corps, now greatly understrength after six weeks of hard fighting, is ordered in writing to halt offensive and establish defensive positions.
In the British Eighth Army’s V Corps area, the Indian 10th Division crosses more elements over the Ronco River during the night of 28/29 October and begins an attack from the bridgehead south of Meldola.
Bad weather again grounds USAAF Twelfth Air Force medium bombers, and restricts the XXII Tactical Air Command; fighter-bombers and fighters, flying 65 sorties, attack vehicles and trains in the Turin-Milan-Genoa area.
CHINA: USAAF Fourteenth Air Force fighters strafe villages, troops, and horses in the Menghsu-Konghow area, pound bridges around Kaotienhsu, and hit Yangtong Airfield and Wuchou.
BURMA: Chinese forces capture Myothit.
In the Northern Combat Area Command (NCAC) area, the Chinese 38th Division encounters patrols from Japanese outpost line along the Taping River near Bhamo but routs them in order to reach the river at Myothit. Two regiments are to make wide enveloping maneuver in order to turn the Japanese line.
Over 80 USAAF Tenth Air Force fighter-bombers attack numerous targets including town areas, troops, railroad facilities, and a variety of targets of opportunity at Mannaun, Manoi, Sinkan, Winwa, Man Mao, Myazedi, Pinwe, Naba, Yebawgyi, and Kangon.
FRENCH INDOCHINA: USAAF Fourteenth Air Force fighters strafe shipping at Hongay.
THAILAND: A Japanese transport is sunk and another heavily damaged by two human torpedoes (Mk.II “Terry Chariots”), LXXIX and LXXX, launched from the British submarine HMS/M Trenchant (P 331), in Phuket Harbor. The two Chariots are scuttled.
COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: Admirals Davison and Bogan relieve Admiral Sherman with their task groups of US TF 38 in air ops over Luzon. Today and tomorrow they will destroy almost 100 Japanese aircraft for a loss of 15 US aircraft. The carrier USS Intrepid is hit during a Kamikaze attack.
Near Dagami, Leyte, Philippine Islands the US attacks make slow progress with heavy losses. On the north end of Leyte, the US 1st Cavalry Division is held up by fierce Japanese resistance near Carigara.
In the X Corps area on Leyte, the 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division drives through Alangalang to the Mainit River and dislodges the Japanese from steel bridges spanning it. The 19th Infantry Regiment, blocks a road north of the Binahaan River near Macalpe and establishes a perimeter at Tingib. The 2d Cavalry Brigade is ordered to advance on Carigara; the 8th Cavalry Regiment is to establish a base at San Miguel, secure Cavite, and patrol as far north and northwest as Barugo road; the 7th Cavalry Regiment, while holding positions at Santa Cruz and Babatngon, is to concentrate in the Barugo-Carigara area and patrol south and southeast. A troop of the 7th Cavalry Regiment moves by water from Babatngon to Barugo and overland to Carigara, where a prolonged fire fight ensues and withdraws to Barugo late in the afternoon. In the XXIV Corps area, the 382d Infantry Regiment, 96th Infantry Division, finishes clearing Tabontabon and continues toward Kiling. The 381st Infantry Regiment begins an attack on the eastern slopes of Catmon Hill at 1200 hours. A battalion gets almost to Labir Hill, but another battalion receives such accurate fire at the foot of the hill that it pulls back to the vicinity of the line of departure. The 17th Infantry Regiment makes slow progress toward Dagami with the lead battalion suffering heavy casualties.
USAAF Far East Air Forces (FEAF) B-24 Liberators, fighting bad weather, bomb Puerto Princesa Airfield on Palawan Island.
EAST INDIES: USAAF Far East Air Forces (FEAF) B-25 Mitchells and P-38 Lightnings attack town of Amboina on Ceram Island.. During the night of 28/29 October, B-24 Liberators bomb the Wilhelmina Docks area on Celebes Island.
BONIN ISLANDS: USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24 Liberators from Saipan Island bomb Haha Jima.
CAROLINE ISLANDS: USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24 Liberators from Guam Island, bomb Yap Island.
Fourteen B-29 Superfortresses of the USAAF Twentieth Air Force’s XXI Bomber Command based in the Mariana Islands fly their first combat mission, actually an operational training exercise, against submarine pens on Dublon Island, Truk Atoll; four others, one carrying Brigadier General Haywood S Hansell, Jr, Commanding General XXI Bomber Command, abort; about a third of the bombs fall in the general target area.
PACIFIC OCEAN: Task Group 38.4 (Rear Admiral Ralph E. Davison) bombs Japanese shipping near Cebu, damaging a landing ship off Ormoc, Leyte.
USN destroyer USS Helm (DD-388), assisted by destroyer USS Gridley (DD-380) and a TBM Avenger of Torpedo Squadron Twenty One (VT-21) in the small aircraft carrier USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24), sinks Japanese submarine I-46, about 129 nautical miles (239 kilometers) east of Tacloban, Leyte, Philippine Islands, in position 10.56N, 127.13E.
USN destroyer escort USS Eversole (DE-404) is torpedoed and sunk by Japanese submarine HIJMS I-45 about 162 nautical miles (300 kilometers) east-southeast of Tacloban, Leyte, Philippine Islands, in position 10.18N, 127.37E. Eversole is ordered abandoned, and after the men are all in the water, the submarine sand opened fire, then
dived once more. Five minutes later, there is a tremendous underwater explosion which killed or wounded all of the sailors in the water. Two other escorts rescue 139 wounded survivors. HIJMSI-45 is in turn sunk by destroyer escort USS Whitehurst (DE-634) about 157 nautical miles (290 kilometers) east-southeast of Tacloban in position 10.10N, 127.28E.
CANADA: Minesweeper HMCS Fort Frances commissioned.
U.S.A.: The top songs on the popular record charts today are: “I’ll Walk Alone” by Dinah Shore; “Dance with the Dolly” by The Russ Morgan Orchestra (vocal: Al Jennings); “The Trolley Song” by Judy Garland; and “Smoke on the Water” by Red Foley.
Destroyer minelayers USS Aaron Ward and J William Ditter commissioned.
Frigate USS Abilene commissioned.
ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-1226 (Type IXC/40) is lost in the Atlantic, possibly because of a Schnorkel defect. Position not known. 56 dead (all hands lost). (Alex Gordon)
U-242 sank SS Rigel.
Three versions of “I’ll Walk Alone” in the top ten. That’s just boring!
Canada Ping!
Contrary to today's stories, Leyte is going to be a tough, slow operation. The good news is we will kill a lot of Japanese in taking the island.
Ambassador Grow obviously moved in circles where there were worldly and intelligent Japanese to think they would try to sue for peace without unconditional surrender before their country is destroyed. He doesn't know the extent to which the Army's thinking still dominates the government despite Tojo's ouster.
Did you notice the story about Lt. Richardson? He was in Commander Bulkeley's PT Squadron 3 but lost his boat after they had expended all torpedoes. He was stranded in the Philippines but has been fighting for the last two years with the guerrillas. What a sight American troops coming ashore must have been! Bulkeley and his squadron were the model for the movie "They Were Expendable" starring Robert Montgomery as "Cmdr. Brickley."The commander of Richardson's boat, Lt. Cmdr. Kelly, was the model for the John Wayne character, Rusty Ryan.
And our Cpt. Winters is bored as Battalion XO. Army battalions do not have chiefs of staff so the XO usually functions as the commander's chief of staff. I'm sure it didn't have nearly the excitement of commanding Easy Company.
The campaign will nearly kill my father as well.
Bulkeley and his squadron were the model for the movie "They Were Expendable" starring Robert Montgomery as "Cmdr. Brickley."
I was sorely disappointed when I learned, a couple years ago, that "They Were Expendable" was not released until December 1945. Meaning we will miss Bosley Crowther's review.
FYI,
“The MG42 Machine Gun Was Hitler’s Buzz Saw - Fearsome weapon cut apart Allied units at up to 1,800 rounds per minute”
https://medium.com/war-is-boring/the-mg42-machine-gun-was-hitlers-buzz-saw-aaebfde958e4
we rule the sea to Tokyo
only a matter of time now
http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/2070/They-Were-Expendable/notes.html
How amazing that such a country as America was raised up by God for such a time as this - able to defeat two mighty, aggressive, despotic regimes at opposite sides of the world and on either side of us.
How can I help but be proud of this wonderful country that truly liberated the world from man’s oppression and inhumanity.
I’m grateful and thank God every day that I live in such a blessed and wonderful country.
Wendell Fertig
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendell_Fertig
Fascinating story. The guy promoted himself from LTC to BG. He said, the locals wouldn't fight for just a LTC.
From the article: This self-promotion to "brigadier general" did not endear him to General MacArthur or his staff,[25] but MacArthur did send logistical support to Fertig throughout 1943 and 1944.[26]
Interesting comments by Ambassadoe Grew. He’s right; a rational government would conclude that the war has clearly been lost and it’s time to cut a deal. But then again, a rational Japanese government wouldn’t have picked a fight with the United States to begin with.
Grew probably knew Japan and the Japanese better than anyone, and he was completely wrong on this occasion. Maybe there really something “inscrutable” to westerners about the Asian psyche. But then again, the Nazi Germans were in the same boat and made the same decision.
Hey, ya do what ya gotta do.
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