Posted on 12/18/2014 4:24:50 AM PST by Homer_J_Simpson
Major General H.W. Blakeley, USA, Ret., 32d Infantry Division in World War II
On 18 December, the 126TH Infantry was established on a line that ran east of Highway 2. In front of them, units of the 1st Japanese Division held three main positions that formed a line about 800 yards wide and ran from east to west across Highway 2. The first enemy position was atop a north-south ridge along the east side of Highway 2, from which the Japanese could roll hand grenades down onto the road. The second enemy position was on another north-south ridge about 200 yards further east. The third enemy position was a knoll even further to the east.
The 126TH Infantry commenced their assault (after heavy supporting fires from mortars and tanks) at 1010 on a 2 battalion front, 1ST Battalion on the right and 2D Battalion on the left. The 1ST Battalion objective was the ridge on the east side of the road. After some heavy fighting, during which both sides made liberal use of machine guns, grenades and bayonets, the 1ST Battalion was able to advance the 200 yards to the crest of the ridge by about 1230. Although the fight didn't end then and it was 1800 by the time 1ST Battalion had full control of the top of the ridge.
The 2D Battalion, 126TH Infantry, objective was the strong enemy position on the knoll. The dense vegetation allowed them to advance to within 30 yards of the knoll before the Japanese spotted them and opened fire. The 2D Battalion, supported by machine guns and mortars, was able to seize the knoll after 5 hours of bitter combat. Both the 1ST and 2D Battalions established defensive positions for the night, within 50 yards of the Japanese front line. During the day, “The 3D Battalion of the 126TH Infantry moved south along the road and closed the gap between the 126TH and 127TH Infantry Regiments. (Cannon 341)”
In case anyone hasn’t said it, Homer J, thank you for this series of posts. The look back in time is fascinating!
Stephen E. Ambrose, Band of Brothers
Your report on penicillin, showing that we are only to get about one-tenth of the expected output this year, is very disappointing. It is discouraging to find that, although this is a British discovery, the Americans are already so far ahead of us, not only in output but in technique. I hope you are satisfied that we have the right people in charge and that labour and material difficulties are being tackled early enough and energetically enough.
Pray let me have a realistic estimate of 1945 production.
Winston S. Churchill, Triumph and Tragedy
Editorials – 16-18
Germany Strikes Back
The Tax Freeze
An Award Well Earned
Funds for Small Business
Pictures from Vught
Best of Christmas Giving
Our Planes Can Take It
The Ell
Topics of the Times
The onwar.com chronology seems to be out of action today. I will check for it later.
http://www.etherit.co.uk/month/11/18.htm
December 18th, 1944 (MONDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: Submarine HMS Turpin commissioned.
Submarine HMS Scorcher launched.
During the night of 18/19 December, the USAAF Eighth Air Force flies Mission 755: four B-17 Flying Fortresses and nine B-24 Liberators are sent to drop leaflets in France, Germany and the Netherlands.
One hundred sixty USAAF Ninth Air Force A-26 Invaders, A-20 Havocs, and B-26 Marauders hit defended positions at Harperscheid, Hellenthal, Blumenthal, Dreiborn, and Herhahn; fighters fly sweeps and armed reconnaissance over western Germany (claiming over 40 German airplanes downed plus hitting numerous ground targets) and support the U.S. 2d, 4th, 28th, and 106th Infantry Divisions west of Butgenbach and west of Trier; southeast of Clervaux, Luxembourg; and southeast of Saint-Vith, Belgium; and the XII Corps at Niedergailbach. The IX Tactical Air Command hits Panzer units spearheading the Bulge.
FRANCE: Mittelwihr: Technical Sergeant Bernard Bell of the United States Army, Company I, 142d Infantry, 36th Infantry Division, leads a squad of troops to clear a German held schoolhouse then holds it against a heavy enemy counter-strike. MOH.
BELGIUM: Huy: The Americans who turned up to guard the bridge over the Meuse at Huy, south-west of Liege, was unusually well-informed. American reinforcements moving up to the front were regaled with hair-raising stories of massive German Panzer forces wreaking havoc among the Allies.
It was some time before this talkative “American” was identified as an English-speaking German commando in GI uniform, driving a captured Jeep. Hitler had told SS Lt-Col Otto Skorzeny to train men to pose as GIs and infiltrate them behind American lines to spread panic and confusion and sabotage communications. The first wave succeeded, forcing the Americans to introduce time-consuming identity checks and trick questions about comics, the name of Roosevelt”> Roosevelt’s dog or baseball scores.
Three major organizations from outside US VIII Corps are on the move to corps headquarters in Bastogne in the Ardennes. Late in the day CCB, 10th Armored Division arrives in Bastogne and is directed by the corps commander, Major General Troy Middleton, to establish road blocks at three locations east of Bastogne. The teams sent to these locations will slow the advance of the Germans but at a high cost. The 82nd Airborne Division and the 101st Airborne Division are on the road toward Bastogne. (Jay Stone)
In U.S. First Army’s V Corps area, the Corps’ mission, on its smaller front, is to stabilize the line Monschau (Germany)-Butgenbach-Malmedy-Stavelot. Corps holds firmly at Butgenbach and Elsenborn ridge but the Germans continue to move west through the gap south of Butgenbach. Regimental Combat Team 26 reverts to the 1st Infantry Division, which joins in action to keep the Germans from Malmedy, combing the woods near Eupen and organizing the perimeter defense of Waimes. The 99th Infantry Division is attached to 2d Infantry Division. The Germans now hold Honsfeld and Buellingen and push into Stavelot. The 30th Infantry Division recovers most of Stavelot northwest of the Amblève River and organizes defense positions in the Malmdy-Stavelot area; blunts enemy spearheads at Stoumont and Habiemont. In the VIII Corps area, the 106th Infantry Division’s encircled 422d and 423d Infantry Regiments try in vain to break out toward Schonberg. The 7th Armored Division is too heavil y engaged at St Vith to assist with eastward push. The Germans occupy Recht and cut the St Vith-Vielsaim road at Poteau but Combat Command A recovers Poteau. The 14th Cavalry Group (Mechanized), which falls back to Petit Thier, is transferred from the 106th Infantry Division to the 7th Armored Division control. The 28th Infantry Division is unable to stop the Germans in its zone and becomes completely disorganized. The Germans get almost to Houffalize and Bastogne; smash through roadblocks of Combat Command R, 9th Armored Division, on the Bastogne-St Vith road.
NETHERLANDS: In the British Second Army area, VIII Corps extends southward to the line Meeuwen-Maeseyck.
LUXEMBOURG: Troops of 4th Infantry Division and 10th Armored Division remaining south of the breakthrough are placed under Third Army command. Combat Command B, 10th Armored, remains with VIII Corps to help defend Bastogne, Belgium; Combat Command A attacks north and east through the 4th Infantry Division to the Berdorf and Echternach areas. The 4th Infantry Division mops up infiltrators beyond Osweiler and Dickweiler and repels thrust from Dickweiler.
FRANCE: In the U.S. Seventh Army’s VI Corps area, elements of 45th Infantry Division attack across the Lauter River into Budenthal but are isolated there.
In the French First Army area, II Corps overruns Ammerschwihr.
GERMANY: US aircraft attack German tactical and communications targets, including Cologne, Koblenz, Kaiserslautern, Bonn and Mainz.
At 1320 a 451st/727 Sq. B-24G #42-78436 commanded 2lt. Walter D. Holland goes MIA (missing in acyion) about twenty kilometres from where the 485th encountered SAMs yesterday. Also this afternoon a B-17 of the 2nd Bomb Group reports that they are under attack by Rheintochter SAMs over Wiener Neustadt. (John D. Bybee)
The USAAF Eighth Air Force flies Mission 754: 985 bombers and 773 fighters are dispatched to hit rail and tactical targets in Germany using PFF; 4 fighters are lost. One hundred seventy B-17 Flying Fortresses bomb the marshalling yard (M/Y) at Mainz; 102 hit the Lutzel M/Y at Koblenz; 74 attack the M/Y at Kaiserslautern; and 32 bomb the Kalk M/Y at Cologne. Twenty four other B-17s hits targets of opportunity. Escort is provided by 260 P-51 Mustangs.
USAAF Fifteenth Air Force bomber attack three synthetic oil refineries: 169 bomb the Deschowitz refinery at Odertal with the loss of two bombers; 87 bomb the I.G. Garben North refinery at Blechhammer and 61 bomb the I.G. Garben South refinery at Blechhammer with the loss of two aircraft.
During the night of 18/19 December, Mosquitos of RAF Bomber Command attack two cities: 39 bomb Nurnburg and 14 hit Munster. Meanwhile, ten Lancasters lay mines in Danzig Bay.
14th Armored Division, VI US Corps, 7th Army began assault on Siegfried line by blasting out Dragon Teeth with TNT, bypassing Maginot line emplacements. Germans responded with heavy firing.
Allied commanders met the day before to plan action for stopping Ardennes counter Attacks. Patton promised he could move his 3rd Army by December 22nd.
7th US Army was ordered to spread out to cover Patton’s 3rd Army pivot and his move North, orders included statement that if unsuspected attack was delivered by unaccounted for German Divisions at Ardennes to pull back to Vosges Mountains for defence.
In U.S. First Army’s VII Corps area, the 83d and 9th Infantry Divisions finish clearing their respective zones. The Corps extends southward because of Ardennes breakthrough to take over part of the V Corps zone, new boundary running from the Eupen area to the Roer River near Dedenborn. With boundary change, the 8th and 78th Infantry Divisions and attachments pass to corps control in current positions. The Corps releases Combat Command A of the 3d Armored Division and the 9th Infantry Division, less Regimental Combat Teams 47 and 60, to V Corps, 104th Infantry Division takes responsibility for the 9th Infantry Division zone as well as its own and is reinforced by Regimental Combat Team 6o. The 78th Infantry Division, reinforced by the 2d Ranger Battalion and 102d Cavalry Group (Mechanized), is to hold the road center north of the Konzen and Paustenbach knoll.
In U.S. Third Army’s XX Corps area, the 90th Infantry Division, attacking cautiously with two battalions, clears most of Dillingen against surprisingly light resistance. The 5th Infantry Division takes charge of the Saarlautern bridgehead, and attacks at once, gaining ground. The 95th Infantry Division, less 378th Infantry Regiment, which continues to be responsible for the Ensdorf area, is withdrawn from combat. In the XII Corps area, the 2d Battalion, 320th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division, takes Nieder Gailbach in hard fighting. The 87th Infantry Division breaks off attack upon order.
In the U.S. Ninth Army’s XIII Corps area, 84th Infantry Division attacks for its last objective, Wurm and Muellendorf, and takes both with ease.
A Memory of a Seventh Army Veteran: the 14th Armored Division, U.S. VI Corps, Seventh Army began an assault on the Siegfried line by blasting out Dragon Teeth with TNT while bypassing Maginot line emplacements. The Germans respond with heavy firing. Many individual fox holes were 100 yards (91 meters) apart. (Joe Brott)
U-3027 launched.
U-2333, U-3516 commissioned.
AUSTRIA: USAAF Fifteenth Air Force bombers hit eight targets: 102 bomb the Florisdorf oil refinery in Vienna with the loss of one aircraft; 28 bomb the Main marshalling yard at Graz; and 19 other aircraft hit targets of opportunity in six cities.
CZECHOSLOVAKIA: Fourteen USAAF Fifteenth Air Force bombers attack the railroad at Ostrava Moravaska and five others hit three targets of opportunity.
POLAND:
Forty nine USAAF Fifteenth Air Force B-24 Liberators bomb the I.G. Farben oil refinery at Oswiecim with the loss of two aircraft.
During the night of 18/19 December, RAF Bomber Command dispatches 236 Lancasters to attack the Gdynia on the Baltic coast: 187 bomb the port area with the loss of three aircraft and 40 bomb the heavy cruiser Lutzow with the loss of one aircraft. The cruiser is not damaged but the dockyard and a floating dock are wrecked.
Off Gdynia, RAF bombers hit the German liner Schleswig-Holstein, which burns out, and sink eight other ships.
HUNGARY: Soviet Army forces reach the Hungarian-Czechoslovak border on the 70-mile (113 kilometer) front north of Miskoic and are crossing it.
Thirty three USAAF Fifteenth Air Force B-24 Liberators aircraft bomb the marshalling yard at Sopron while two others hit targets of opportunity.
U.S.S.R.: Black Sea Fleet: (Sergey Anisimov)(69)Submarine loss. “L-25” (uncompleted hull) - sunk under tow, supposedly on mine, West to cape Pitsunda.
ITALY: A freight train carrying hundreds of civilians, who had jumped on board because no other transport is available, stalls in a tunnel near Salerno. Toxic fumes from the engine fill the tunnel and a total of 426 people die from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Benito Mussolini, head of the Italian Socialist Republic (RSI), has moved his office to Milan. German Ambassador to the RSI Rudolph Rahn, had suggested he move to Merano on the Brenner Pass, but Mussolini chose Milano due in part to his wish to distance himself from German authority.
Weather again curtails operations. The USAAF Twelfth Air Force’s XXII Tactical Air Command sends fighters and fighter-bombers to hit communications in the eastern Po River Valley, scoring particular success against lines in the northern part of the Valley in the Padua region, and support U.S. Fifth Army operations in the battle area south of Bologna.
YUGOSLAVIA: Sixty six RAF Bombers of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group bomb tactical targets at Matesevo.
CHINA: Thirty three USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-24 Liberators bomb barracks and administrative buildings at Hankow. Twenty three B-25 Mitchells hit Wuchang, seven bomb barracks and damage a bridge at Siaokan Airfield while six others attack storage buildings at Kunlong;. One hundred forty nine P-40s and P-51 Mustangs support the Hankow, Siaokan, and Wuchang raids and claim 42 Japanese aircraft downed and destroyed on the ground. Twenty P-51s and P-38 Lightnings follow the B-25 strike on Kunlong with napalm attacks, causing considerable damage while 28 other P-40s and P-51s attack various targets of opportunity around Hochih, Nanning and Mengmao.
USAAF Tenth Air Force P-47 Thunderbolts destroy a bypass bridges at Hinlong.
The USAAF Twentieth Air Force’s XX Bomber Command flies Mission 21: 94 B-29 Superfortresses, flying out of the Chengtu area, are dispatched to drop incendiaries on the docks at Hankow in the first mass firebomb attack by B-29s; the strike is made in conjunction with 200 aircraft of the Fourteenth Air Force; 84 bomb the primary target and five others hit alternate targets; they claim 1-3-10 Japanese aircraft.
BURMA: Seventeen USAAF Tenth Air Force P-47 Thunderbolts destroy bypass bridges at Wingkang. Twelve B-25 Mitchells knock out two railroad bridges at Wetlet and damage another at Saye and 11 P-47s hit the airfield at Nawnghkio while 12 others sweep airfields at Anisakan, Hsumhsai, and Nawnghkio. Nine fighter-bombers provide close support to ground forces in Namhkam and 17 P-47s attack personnel and supply areas at Man Ton and Hseing-hkai. Two hundred ninety two transports fly men and supplies to forward bases and battle areas.
USAAF Fourteenth Air Force fighter bombers attack Wanling.
JAPAN: The USAAF Twentieth Air Force’s XXI Bomber Command flies Mission 13: 89 B-29 Superfortresses flying out of the Mariana Islands are sent to hit the Mitsubishi aircraft plant at Nagoya; 63 hit the primary target and ten bomb last resort targets and targets of opportunity. They claim 5-11-12 Japanese aircraft; four B-29s are lost.
VOLCANO ISLANDS: During the night of 18/19 December, four USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24 Liberators from Guam and Saipan fly snooper strikes over Iwo Jima.
EAST INDIES: In the Netherlands East Indies, USAAF Far East Air Forces fighter-bombers attack targets of opportunity in the Tarakan Island, Borneo, area, strafe seaplane facilities at Sanga Sanga, Borneo, and bomb Haroekoe Airfield on Haroekoe Island off Ambon Island.
FRENCH INDOCHINA: USAAF Fourteenth Air Force fighter-bombers attack Sang Song and Phu Lang Thuong.
COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: A typhoon capsizes three destroyers and damages three carriers, 11 destroyers and four escort carriers of US naval TF 38, drowning 757 out of 831 sailors and sweeping 150 aircraft off the decks of carriers. TF 38 has completed attacks on Luzon, and is returning to Ulithi to refuel.
Destroyer USS Hull capsized in a typhoon, east of the Philippines. 7 officers and 55 men survived the sinking, 8 crewmembers were lost. She received 10 battle stars for her WWII service.
Destroyer USS Monaghan lost in the infamous typhoon east of the Philippines. Only six of her crew was ever found by the destroyer USS Brown. All six were put onboard the hospital ship USS Solace at Christmas Eve. They had been in the water for 4 days. All were in fair shape considering the experience. Before her loss, USS Monaghan received 12 Battle Stars for her services.
By early morning, escort carrier USS Altamaha had been hit by a raging typhoon while performing transfer operations in the Philippine Sea. By 0900, the escort carrier was labouring heavily and rolling as much as 25 to 30 degrees to either side. An hour later, visibility dropped to zero, and the vessel abandoned all effort to keep station. Almost one-half of the aircraft on board Altamaha broke loose and plunged overboard. The ship also experienced problems with flooding in the forward elevator pit. Many ships, including the Altamaha were heavily damaged, and some even sunk. No personnel were lost aboard the Altamaha.
In the U.S. Sixth Army’s X Corps area on Leyte Island, the 126th Infantry Regiment, 32d Infantry Division, works slowly forward south of Limon and closes the gap between it and 127th Infantry Regiment. The 12th Cavalry Regiment (Infantry), 1st Cavalry Division, patrols and prepares to drive on Lonoy and Kananga. In the XXIV Corps area, the 307th Infantry Regiment, 77th Infantry Division, takes Valencia and its airstrip without opposition. The 306th Infantry Regiment overtakes the 307th at Valencia and makes patrol contact with the 305th Infantry Regiment. The 305th blocks off the road to Dolores. The southern part of the Ormoc Valley from Ormoc to Valencia is now clear of Japanese.
On Leyte Island, USAAF Far East Air Forces fighter-bombers destroy a bridge on the Palompon-Cananga road and attack Calatagan Airfield on Cebu Island; B-25 Mitchells hit San Roque Airfield on Mindanao Island; and fighter-bombers attack Tanao harbor on Panay Island.
CAROLINE ISLANDS: Six USAAF Seventh Air Force Guam- based B-24 Liberators fly armed photo reconnaissance over Moen, Param, and Eten Islands and bomb Dublon Island, all in Truk Atoll. After photographing the airfields on the three islands, the B-24 Liberators return by way of Woleai and Puluwat Atolls, and Namonuito Island and photograph all three.
SOLOMON ISLANDS: On Bougainville, “Arty Hill” as it was known, is captured by the Queensland 9th Battalion, 7th Brigade, and is a major Japanese position on the Numa Numa Trail leading across Bougainville.
CANADA:
Corvette HMCS Strathroy arrived Saint John, New Brunswick with Convoy HF-47 and completed fitting out.
Frigate HMCS Buckingham departed Halifax for workups in Bermuda.
U.S.A.: Washington: Douglas MacArthur is promoted to the rank of General of the Army.
The U.S. Supreme Court rules that the U.S. Army’s removal of Japanese-Americans from the West Coast early in 1942 was constitutional at the time it was carried out, but that citizens must be permitted to return to their homes when their loyalty to U.S. is established. The tribunal acted in two cases. It upheld the constitutionality of the removal program by a 6 to 3 decision, and was unanimous in holding that loyal citizens should be released. The ruling came one day after the War Department announced that loyal citizens of Japanese ancestry would be permitted to return to their former homes after 33 months of enforced absence in relocation centres.
Submarine USS Manta commissioned.
ATLANTIC OCEAN: Frigates HMCS Ribble and Montreal rescued 44 of 53 crewmembers of U.1209 OLtzS Ewald Hülsenbeck CO scuttled in the Channel off Scilly Isles, 49-57N, 005-47W, subsequent to hitting Wolf Rock. Both frigates contended their attacks were cause, but this was denied by RN Admiralty findings. Montreal and Ribble were members of Escort Group 26. They had attacked several asdic contacts but these produced no results and the contacts were classified as wrecks, of which there were many in the area. When the survivors were found and recovered a short time later the two ships were quick to claim that their attacks were the cause of a sinking. Actually, U-1209 had been scuttled after hitting Wolf Rock subsequent to her successful efforts to evade her pursuers. OLtzS Hülsenbeck was among those lost.
U-486 sank SS Silverlaurel in Convoy BTC-10.
http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1944/dec44/18dec44.htm#
TF38 caught in typhoon
Monday, December 18, 1944 www.onwar.com
In the Philippine Sea... US Task Force 38 is caught in a typhoon while retiring to refuel and replenish. Three destroyers are sunk and 3 fleet carriers, 4 escort carriers and 11 destroyers sustain damage.
Over Japan... US B-29 Superfortress bombers raid Nagoya (nominally the Mitsubishi aircraft assembly works).
Over Occupied China... Some 200 US 14th Air Force planes, and 84 B-29 bombers, attack the Japanese supply base at Hankow causing fires that burn for three days.
Over Occupied Poland... An RAF nighttime attack sinks the Schleswig-Holstein and 8 other ships at Gotenhafen (Gdynia).
In Liberated Greece... British troops begin an offensive against the rebellious Communist forces and capture on of the ELAS strong points on the Piraeus road.
German troops fighting in the Ardennes.
The soldier in the foreground is equipped with the Heer's new StG-44, the world's first assault rifle:
A German machine gunner marching through the Ardennes in December 1944:
German troops advancing past abandoned American equipment:
Belgian civilians killed by SS units during the offensive:
Scene of Malmedy massacre:
British Sherman "Firefly" tank in Namur on the Meuse River, December 1944: 
It looks so cold.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_Skorzeny
The SS man in charge of putting those Germans in American uniforms Otto Skorzeny has quite a resume.
On page 3, “Airborne French Agents of Reich are Captured.”
It was just starting to get cold. My feet hurt just thinking about these kids.
Mr. niteowl77
“Nip tanks?”
Yep. The Nips didn’t have any Kraut tanks.
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