02 . LTjg George H. Bush shot down while bombing Cichi Jima.
15 . Invasion of Peleliu, Palaus - 15Sep44-13Oct
17 . A Bridge Too Far - 17-26Sep
23 . Landing on undefended Ulithi Atoll, Carolines. Will supplant Eniwetok as foremost advanced base.
OCTOBER '44
The Palau operation is just completing. Carriers and submarines attack Formosa and Luzon to weaken Philippine defenses for coming invasion.
Special Air Task Force (STAG 1) operations throughout month in SW Pacific with TDR drones with mixed results
1 . Minesweeping continues in Ulithi lagoon.
6 . Dutch submarine Zwaardvisch sinks German submarine U-168 in Java Sea.
9 . Diversionary bombardment of Japanese installations on Marcus Island by TG
30.2.
10. TF 38 (Mitscher) consisting of four carrier groups, pounds Japanese shipping
and installations on Okinawa and other islands in the Ryukyus
11. Two task groups attack Japanese airfields and other facilities on the north coast of Luzon in preparation for operations against Formosa
12. TF 38 hurls heavy air strikes against Japanese shipping, aerodromes, and industrial plants on Formosa, regarded as the strongest and best-developed base south of the homeland proper.
13. Japanese aerial counterattacks in the wake of TF 38 strikes on Formosa
Peleliu Island, Palaus, is secured.
14. Japanese aerial counterattacks continue, inflicting damage on multiple ships.
15. Retirement of damaged ships.
16. Japanese torpedo planes attack retreating TF 28.
17. Ranger Battalion lands on islands at the entrance to Leyte Gulf
18. Two TG attack principal Japanese airfields near Manila and shipping in the harbor.
Bombardment begins against Japanese installations on Leyte.
19. Continue carrier attacks around Manila.
20. Four divisions land on Leyte, Philippines.
Japanese aerial counterattacks with horizontal bombers.
21. Leyte landings continue.
22. Japanese warships detected northwest of Borneo
23. Dace (SS-247) sinks heavy cruiser Maya, while Darter (SS-227) sinks heavy cruiser Atago
The Battle of Leyte Gulf was really three or more naval battles in an all-out
attempt to destroy the US fleet and disrupt the landing in the Philippines.
This was the last major fleet engagement in the war as the
Japanese battle and carrier fleets were destroyed and the US landings
proceeded. Japan lost 4 carriers, 3 battleships, 6 heavy and 4 light
cruisers and 11 destroyers. The US lost two light carriers and three destroyers, and light cruiser Honolulu (CL-48) was damaged and in repair thru end of the war.
24. Attacks on Jap central force in Sibuyan Sea force an apparent withdrawal.
24. Battle of Surigao Strait -- Jap southern battle forces destroyed.
25. Battle Off Cape Engano -- Jap northern decoy carrier fleet destroyed.
25. Battle of Samar -- Jap central force attacks US escort carriers and successfully
withdraws.
Technique of Kamakazi introduced at Samar; first by a few fliers who were sucessfull against CVEs.
Unites States and Great Britain resume diplomatic relations with Italy.
26. Battle for Leyte Gulf concludes as Navy carrier-based and USAAF land-based planes attack retiring Japanese ships
28. Minesweeping ended in Ulithi lagoon which will supplant Eniwetok as the
Pacific Fleet's foremost advanced base in the Pacific.
Kamakaze attacks become the rule.
29. Carrier aircraft again attacks Japanese airfields and shipping in the Manila area.
Situation
The Philippines is composed of many islands. The biggest are Luzon in the north and Mindanao
in the south. The largest islands in between are Leyte, Cebu, Bohol, Negros, Panay and
Minidoro.
Iwo Jima in the Bonins is half way between B-29 bases in the
Marianas and targets in
Japan. 2,251 damaged planes land there: with possibly twenty thousand lives saved.
Iwo is the bloodiest Marine battle of the war with 24,391 killed in the 36 day
battle.
Okinawa in the Rykuyas island group 350 miles off the south coast
of Japan and bounds the East China Sea. Its capture cuts off the Philippines and Formosa from Japan and is
required as a giant airfield for the invasion of Kyushu in the Fall.
Japan consists of four home islands with a population and
land area similar to Italy.
Japan is part of an island chain extending from the Kamchatka peninsula
of Siberia on the Bearing Sea, southwest down the Kurils, Japan proper, the Ryukyus, Formosa, thru
the Philippines and on to the East Indies.
The Japanese north island is Hokkaido, the main island
is Honshu with an appendage that is almost another island called Chugoku, a smaller island of Shikoku
which forms the Inland Sea with Chugoku, and the southern island of Kyushu.
Korea is 140 miles northwest of Chugoku and with Manchuria, they bound the Sea of Japan. On the western side of Korea is the Yellow Sea.
Ryukyus (Okinawa) are islands south of Japan towards Formosa.
Formosa is another 330 miles further on and with the Philippines bound the South China Sea. The Sakishima Islands are towards Japan.
Other islands of naval interest to the middle war period.
The Gilbert Islands (Tarawa, Makin) and in the central
Pacific had been taken in late 1943 to puncture the Japanese defensive parameter.
The Marshalls (Kwajalein) were taken soon after, January 1944, followed by
Eniwetok in February.
The big step to the western Pacific island chain of the Marianas
(Saipan, Tinian, Roto, Guam) were taken that summer 1944 and isolate major enemy bases Truk and Rabaul.
The western Carolinas (Palau, Ulithi, Yap) had been taken in the fall 1944 completing
the sweep through the central Pacific and laying open the Philippines.
There were at least four areas of naval activity.
Philippines in support of MacArthur's ground troops, October 1944, and the Battle of Leyte Gulf.
Indo-China, Formosa, and South China Sea to protect the flanks and disrupt supplies to Japan
The Bonins (Iwo Jima, Feb'45) as a rescue base for B-29's, escort fighter base, and, later, bomber bases.
Ryukyus ( Okinawa, April'45) preparatory for invading Kyushu, the Japanese home islands in the fall; From Iwo Jima and Okinawa central Japan and Korea could be reached to disrupt airfield, industry, shipping and the link with the Imperial Army in Manchuria.
The Kurils, islands north of Japan, were given harassment from Alaska late in the war
NOVEMBER '44
US troops advance in Leyte, the Philippines, and Borneo.
Siapan and Tinian airbases are being prepared.
Nov . American and British submarines sink several Japanese ships
every day. A Japanese submarine is sunk about every other day from all causes.
05 . Carrier strikes on Luzon, targeting Japanese aircraft, airfields, and shipping. IJN Nachi (CA) sunk
07.
President Roosevelt wins an unprecedented fourth term in the White House,
10. Ammunition ship Mount Hood (AE-11) is destroyed by accidental ammunition explosion in Seeadler Harbor, Manus, Admiralty Islands.
Mount Hood has an estimated 3,000 tons of explosives on board. Every ship in the harbor, including two CVE, is damaged and many craft sunk.
12. Six US troop ships and freighters damaged by kamikazes off Leyte.
13. Three carrier task groups target Manila harbor sinking Japanese CL, four DD, ten freighters and oilers.
14. Three carrier task groups continue, sinking six freighters and oilers and many escort ships.
CVE Shinyo sunk by Spadefish (SS-411).
20. Oiler Mississinewa (AO-59) is sunk by kaiten off Ulithi, fired by Japanese submarine I-47 or I-36. 21. Two CL and nine DD from Alaska bombard Japanese naval air installations on Matsuwa Island, Kurils.
22. Carrier aircraft bomb Japanese air facilities on Yap, Carolines.
Japanese planes raid U.S. air facility at Morotai, destroying 15 bombers and damaging 31.
24. First USAAF B-29 raid on Tokyo from Saipan; 110 planes .
25. Planes from two task groups attack convoy on west coast of Philippines sink CA Kumano, six landing ships, damage more,
Kamikazes damage carriers Essex (CV-9), Intrepid (CV-11) and Hancock (CV-19), and Cabot (CVL-28).
29. Colorado (BB-45) and light cruisers St. Louis (CL-49) and Montpelier (CL-57) damaged by kamikazes.
Archerfish (SS-311) sinks Japanese supercarrier Shinano 160 NM SE of Cape Muroto, Japan.
1945. Iwo Jima supports bombing of Japanese industry.
Okinawa taken as a base for the invasion of Japan in the Fall.
Kamikazes show increasing resistance as the home islands are approached.
The remaining Japanese fleet is destroyed in the shipyards.
Dec'44 ,
Jan'45 , Feb , March ,
April , May , June ,
July , Aug , Sept , Oct - Dec , 1946
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