This day in the war in Europe 65 years ago

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68,898
ATLANTIC OCEAN: The German “Milch Cow” submarine U-1062 left Bergen, Norway, on 3 January 1944 with 39 torpedoes to supply the Monsun boats in the Far East. The boat made it to Penang, Malaysia, on 19 April. U-1062 unloaded the torpedoes and left Penang for Europe on 6 July but is intercepted by a USN escort carrier group, consisting of the escort aircraft carrier USS Mission Bay (CVE-59) and destroyer escorts, in the central Atlantic today. TBM-3 Avengers of Composite Squadron Thirty Six (VC-36) in USS Mission Bay drop sonobuoys and destroyer escort USS Fessenden (DE-142) homes in on sonobuoy indications and sinks her with depth charges about 685 nautical miles (1 268 kilometers) west-southwest of the Portugese Capre Verde Islands in position 11.36N 34.44W. All 55 hands on the U-boat are lost. The U-boat was on her third patrol.

BELGIUM: The Canadian First Army continues its attack north and west of Antwerp.
RAF Bomber Command sends 74 Halifaxes to deliver fuel to Melsbroek Airfield in Brussels.

FRANCE: In the Canadian First Army’s II Corps area, the Canadian 3d Division resumes their attack on Calais after the armistice ends at 1200 hours. Organized resistance ceases by the evening and mopping up is begun. In the British I Corps area, the Polish 1st Armoured Division takes Merxplas, northwest of Turnhout.
In the U.S. Third Army’s XII Corps area: In a desperate attempt to recover Fort de Grémecey, the Germans make a strong attack against both flanks of the 35th Infantry Division’s perimeter, breaching lines of 134th and 137th Infantry Regiments within the forest. So grave is the situation that the corps commander, at about 1420 hours, orders the 35th Infantry Division to fall back behind the Seille River after dark, but Lieutenant General George S. Patton, Commanding General Third Army, directs a counterattack by the 6th Armored Division to restore the situation. The 35th Division committing its last reserves, manages to hang on and Germans begin a planned withdrawal.
In The U.S. Seventh Army’s XV Corps area, the 79th Infantry Division continues to meet strong opposition in Fort de Parroy area. Elements of the French 2d Armoured Division assist the U.S. 45th Infantry Division of the VI Corps in their attack on Rambervillers.
8th AF: One hundred sixteen USAAF Eighth Air Force B-24 Liberators fly a TRUCKIN' mission carrying fuel from the U.K. to France.

GERMANY:
8th AF: The USAAF Eighth Air Force in England flies Mission 655: 834 bombers and 629 fighters, in three forces, are dispatched to make pathfinder force attacks on marshalling yards and airfields in western Germany; eight bombers are lost.
(1) 257 B-17s hit Bielefeld marshalling yard; four B-17s are lost; escort is provided by 240 P-47s and P-51s.
(2) 206 B-24s bomb the marshalling yard at Hamm; 12 hit targets of opportunity at Munster; a B-24 is lost; escort is provided by 170 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s.
(3) 35 B-17s attack the marshalling yard at Munster and 14 Handorf Airfield at Munster; 239 bomb targets of opportunity at Munster; three B-17s are lost; escort is provided by 177 P-47s and P-51s.
RAF: RAF Bomber Command Missions:
- During the day, 139 aircraft, 108 Halifaxes, 21 Lancasters and ten Mosquitos, attempt to attack the Holton synthetic oil plant at Sterkrade but the target is cloud-covered and only 24 aircraft attacked the main target; 103 aircraft bomb the general town area of Sterkrade. One Halifax lost.
- During the day, 136 aircraft, 101 Halifaxes, 25 Lancasters and ten Mosquitos, encounter similar conditions at Bottrop in their attempt to bomb the Welheim synthetic oil refinery. Only four aircraft attempt to bomb the oil plant; the remainder of the force bombed the estimated positions of various Ruhr cities. No aircraft lost.
- During the night of 30 September/1 October, 45 of 46 Mosquitos dispatched bomb Hamburg.

ITALY: In the U.S. Fifth Army’s IV Corps area, Regimental Combat Team 6 of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force (BEF) advances its right flank to Fornoli, at the junction of the Serchio River and Lima Creek. In the U.S. II Corps area, the 351st Infantry Regiment of the 88th Infantry Division seizes Mont Cappello after hard fighting but other troops on Mont Battaglia are almost driven off by further German attacks. The Corps is now ready for drive on the Po Valley and Bologna, although wearied by recent fighting and hampered by heavy rains. In the British XIII Corps area, the Indian 8th Division, reaches San Adriano, on the road to Faenza.
In the British Eighth Army’s V Corps area, the Indian 4th Division clears the Germans from Tribola while the British 46th Division takes Montalbano and patrols as far as the Fiumicino River. The V Corps begins a general attack during the night of 30 September/1 October. The Indian 4th Division takes Mont Reggiano and Borghi before dawn, but the British 46th Division in the center and the 56th Division on the right are unable to force the Fiumicino River.
12th AF: USAAF Twelfth Air Force B-25s bomb road and railroad bridges in the Po Valley at Piacenza, Voghera, Sesto Calende, Lonate Pozzolo, Galliate, Cittadella, Borgoforte, and Tortona; B-26s hit fuel dumps at Cremona, and bridges at Padua, Turbigo, and San Nazzaro; XII Fighter Command fighters hit motor transport, rail lines, roads, bridges, and rolling stock in the Po Valley.
RAF: During the night of 30 September/1 October, 41 heavy bombers of RAF No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group bomb the pontoon bridge at San Benedetto.

NETHERLANDS: A group of Dutch resistance fighters ambush four German soldiers near the small Dutch village of Putten The attack goes wrong and three of the soldiers escape to raise the alarm, the fourth being kept hostage. The German commander of the area, General Heinz Helmuth von Wuhlisch, orders all inhabitants arrested and the village burned down. Thirty nine are arrested immediately and lined up on the square. Hoping to save the 39 men, the resistance group release the hostage, Lieutenant Eggert. It makes no difference, all the other men in the village are rounded up and together with the 39 men on the square, forced to board a train bound for the Reich. In all, 589 men from the village are transported to Germany for forced labour. Only 49 are alive at the end of the war. Luckily, of the 600 or so houses in Putten, “only” 87 were burned down.
9th AF: B-26 Marauders bomb the Arnhem road bridge with poor results.

POLAND: Germans recapture Zoliborz district of Warsaw.

YUGOSLAVIA: Troops of the Soviet Third Ukrainian Front, having secured the Iron Gate, the Turnu-Severin- Orsova area in Romania, where the Danube River passes through the Transylvanian Alps, cross the Danube in force and push toward Belgrade.

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MEDITERRANEAN:British Commandos land at Poros. Greek troops land at Mitilini, Lemnos and Levita.

HQ 5th Photographic Reconnaissance Group and the 15th, 23d and 32d Photographic Reconnaissance Squadrons are assigned to HQ Fifteenth AF, completing the full establishment of 21 heavy bomber groups, 7 fighter groups, and 1 reconnaissance group, as authorized in the War Department directive of 23 Oct 43. Weather permits only photo and weather reconnaissance missions.

In Italy, the US 2nd Corps (part of US 5th Army) attacks northward in the direction of Bologna. General McCreery takes over command of the British 8th Army, in Italy. The former commander, General Leese, is assigned to command Allied Land Forces, Southeast Asia.

In Italy, B-25s and B-26s attack bridges, fuel dumps, factory, and barracks in C and W Po Valley, including 3 attacks on Piacenza while XII Fighter Command's A-20s hit a fuel dump and bivouacs and fighter-bombers blast guns and communications in the mountainous battle areas between Florence and Bologna; the 416th Night Fighter Squadron, 62d Fighter Wing, moves from Rosignano to Pisa with Mosquitos.

WESTERN FRONT:2 RAF Liberators and 1 Wellington on signals investigation patrols, 6 Hudsons on Resistance operations, 73 Halifaxes on petrol-carrying flights. No aircraft lost.

The 2nd Canadian Infantry Division begins an advance north of Antwerp, Belgium, to close the eastern end of the South Beveland isthmus.

In France, HQ 50th Troop Carrier Wing moves from Exeter, England to Le Mans; the 99th and 301st Troop Carrier Squadrons, 441st Troop Carrier Group, move from Villeneuve/Vertus to
St Marceau with C-47s.

US Eighth Air Force Mission 657: 9 of 10 B-17s drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and Belgium during the night.

In France, HQ XXIX Tactical Air Command (Provisional) locates advance HQ at Arlon; weather prevents bomber operations; a few fighters fly armed reconnaissance over E France and wide
areas of W Germany and patrol the battle areas; night patrols are flown over E France and Luxembourg; HQ 36th Fighter Group moves from Athis to Juvincourt; HQ 371st Fighter Group and the 406th Fighter Squadron move from Perthes to Dole/Tavaux with P-47s; the 553d Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 386th Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from Great Dunmow, England to Beaumont-sur-Oise with B-26s; the 573d, 574th and 575th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), 391st Bombardment Group (Medium), move from Matching, England to
Roye/Amy with B-26s. In Belgium, HQ 84th Fighter Wing moves from Vermand, France to Arlon; HQ 404th Fighter Group and the 506th, 507th and 508th Fighter Squadrons move from Juvincourt, France to St-Trond with P-47s; HQ 474th Fighter Group moves from Peronne, France to Florennes; the 125th Liaison Squadron, Ninth Air Force (attached to Ninth Army), moves from Rennes, France to Arlon with L-5s. In Luxembourg, HQ 363d Tactical
Reconnaissance Group moves from Le Mans, France to Luxembourg City.
In Belgium, during Oct 44, HQ IX Fighter Command moves from Charleroi to
Verviers.

German army and naval units defending the fortress of Calais behind Allied lines surrender to British forces.


GERMANY:48 RAF Mosquitos to Brunswick, 8 each to Heilbronn and Krefeld and 6 each to Dortmund and Koblenz, 2 RCM sorties. No aircraft lost.

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WESTERN FRONT: British bombers drop leaflets on Walcheren island, warning of imminent flooding from breaching walls. 3 RAF Liberators and 2 Wellingtons on signals investigation patrols, 8 Hudsons on Resistance operations, 71 Halifaxes on petrol-carrying flights. No aircraft lost. 34 RAF Mosquitos to Brunswick, 7 to Pforzheim and 4 each to Dortmund and Frankfurt, 3 RCM sorties, 39 Mosquito patrols, 1 aircraft on a Resistance operation. No aircraft lost.

The US 1st Army (part of US 12th Army Group) launches an offensive against the German-held Siegfried Line between Aachen, to the south, and Geilenkirchen, to the north.

US Eighth Air Force Mission 660: 2 B-17s, escorted by 15 P-51s, drop leaflets on Dutch island during the day.

US Eighth Air Force Mission 661: 5 B-24s and 3 B-17s drop leaflets in the Netherlands, France and Germany during the night.

US Ninth Air Force HQ XXIX Tactical Air Command (Provisional) goes into operation along with the US Ninth Army (this new Tactical Air Command is formed from elements of the IX and XIX Tactical Air Commands).

US Ninth Air Force fighters fly armed reconnaissance (and later night patrol) over Belgium, E France, and W Germany and support the US First, Third, and Seventh Armies in E France and W Germany.

In Belgium, HQ IX Tactical Air Command moves advanced HQ from Janoulx to to Verviers maintaining the close association with the US First Army;

HQ 368th Fighter Group and the 395th, 396th and 397th Fighter Squadrons move from Laon, France to Chievres with P-47s; the 428th, 429th and 430th Fighter Squadrons, 474th Fighter Group, move from Peronne, France to Florennes.

In France, HQ 386th Bombardment Group (Medium) and the 552d, 554th and 555th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium) move from Great Dunmow, England to Beaumont-sur-Oise with B-26s. In Luxembourg, the 161st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Group, moves from Montrevil, France to Sandwieler with F-6s.

GERMANY: 2 US Eighth Air Force missions are flown: Mission 658: 887 B-17s and 549 fighters are dispatched to make PFF attacks on industrial targets at Cologne and Kassel, Germany; 2 B-17s are lost: 305 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Bettenhausen ordnance depot at Kassel (129); targets of opportunity are Kassel (143), Fritzlar Airfield (12) and other (1); 1 B-17 is damaged beyond repair and 89 damaged; 5 airmen are WIA. Escort is provided by 228 P-47s and P-51s without loss.

458 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Henschel motor vehicle plant at Kassel (384); targets of opportunity are Wiesbaden (31), Gesecke (9) and other (17); 2 B-17s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 144 damaged; 16 airmen are KIA, 1 WIA and 20 MIA. Escort is provided by 219 P-47s and P-51s without loss.

110 of 124 B-17s hit the Ford motor vehicle plant at Cologne; 1 B-17 is damaged beyond repair and 36 damaged. Escort is provided by 53 P-47s and P-51s without loss.

US Eighth Air Force Mission 659: 308 B-24s are dispatched to make a PFF attack on the marshalling yard at Hamm (266); targets of opportunity are Handorf Airfield (29) and Munster (1); 2 B-24s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 144 damaged; 1 airman is KIA and 18 MIA. Escort is provided by 212 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA), 2 damaged beyond repair and 1 damaged; 1 pilot is KIA.

US Ninth Air Force 9th Bombardment Division strikes the industrial area of Ubach and defended positions at Herbach.

EASTERN FRONT: The Warsaw uprising, led by the Polish Home Army (AK), comes to an end. An estimated 200,000 Poles have died in the fighting. Most of central Warsaw is in ruins.

MEDITERRANEAN: US Fifteenth Air Force: Unfavorable weather again cancels bombing missions and limits operations to weather reconnaissance. The
885th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), Fifteenth AF (attached to Mediterranean Allied Air Forces), begins a movement from Maison Blanche, Algeria to Brindisi, Italy with B-24s (the squadron transports supplies to partisans and drops leaflets in the MTO).

US Twelfth Air Force: In Italy, weather grounds medium bombers and restricts fighters to reconnaissance and patrols; during the night of 1/2 Oct A-20s bomb targets of opportunity in the Po Valley; HQ 27th Fighter Group and the 522d, 523d and 524th Fighter Squadrons move from Loyettes, France to Tarquinia with P-47s.

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WESTERN FRONT: North of Aachen, elements of US 1st Army (part of US 12th Army Group) break through the German forces holding the Siegfried Line. The allies begin a 60-hour truce at Dunkirk to allow the evacuation of civilians. The US Third Army resumes its attack on Fort Driant, Metz for the next 10 days.

252 RAF Lancasters and 7 Mosquitos commenced the attack on the sea walls of Walcheren island. Coastal gun batteries at Walcheren dominated the approaches to the port of Antwerp, whose facilities could handle 40,000 tons per day of much needed supplies when ships could safely use the approaches. The intention was to flood the island, most of which was reclaimed polder below sea level. The flooding would submerge some of the gun batteries and also hamper the German defence against eventual ground attack. The target for this first raid was the sea wall at Westkapelle, the most western point of Walcheren. The main bombing force was composed of 8 waves, each of 30 Lancasters, with marking provided by Oboe Mosquitos and Pathfinder Lancasters, with the whole operation being controlled by a Master Bomber. The attack went well and a great mass of high-explosive bombs, mainly 1,000- and 500-pounders but with some 4,000-pounders, forced a gap during the fifth wave of the attack. Later waves widened the breach until the sea was pouring in through a gap estimated to be 100 yards wide. 8 Lancasters of No 617 Squadron which were standing by were not needed and carried their valuable Tallboy bombs back to England. No aircraft were lost from this successful operation.

German V-2 rocket launches against London are resumed.

US Ninth Air Force fighters fly armed reconnaissance over W Germany, hit railroads W of the Rhine River, and support the US Third Army in the Metz, France area. The IX Air Defense Command continues night patrols.

In Belgium, HQ 70th Fighter Wing moves from Marchais, France to Liege; HQ 303d Fighter Wing moves from Vermand, France to Arlon.

In France, HQ 98th Combat Bombardment Wing (Medium) moves from Chartres to Laon/Athies; the 23d Fighter Squadron, 36th Fighter Group, moves from Athis to Juvincourt with P-47s; and the 405th Fighter Squadron, 371st Fighter Group, moves from Perthes to Dole/Tavaux with P-47s.

GERMANY: The Me 262 jet fighter squadron 'Kommando Nowotny' becomes operational. A total of 40 jets are deployed at a base near Osnabruck but during the first half of October no fewer than 10 will be either destroyed or damaged.

43 RAF Mosquitos to Kassel, 6 each to Aschaffenburg and Pforzheim, 5 to Münster and 4 to Kamen, 1 RCM sortie, 19 Intruder patrols. No aircraft lost.

US Eighth Air Force: 2 missions are flown: Mission 662: 1,065 bombers and 753 fighters make PFF and visual attacks against airfields and industrial targets in Geramny; 3 bombers and 4 fighters are lost: 1. 380 B-17s are dispatched to hit Giebelstadt Airfield (49); targets of opportunity are Nurnberg (256), Ludwigshafen (13), Ulm (11) and others (24); 130 B-17s are damaged; 2 airmen are WIA. Escort is provided by 260 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 2-0-0 aircraft on the ground; 4 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA0 and 1 is damaged beyond repair. 228 B-17s are dispatched to hit motor vehicle facotry at Nurnberg (19; 10 others hit Ottingen Airfield; 3 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 63 damaged; 2 airmen are KIA, 4 WIA and 28 MIA. Escort is proivded by 227 P-47s and P-51s; 1 P-51 is damaged beyond repair. 119 B-17s are dispatched to hit the oil refinery at Wesseling (87); targets of opportunity are Cologne (26) and 1 other; 1 B-17 is damaged beyond repair and 51 damaged. Escort5 is provided by 24 of 24 P-47s. 338 B-24s are dispatched to hit Gaggenau (139) and Lachen/Speyerdorf (111) visually; secondary targets hit are Offenburg marshalling yard (19) and Pforzheim Airfield (19); targets of opportunity are Speyer Airfield (30) and Lachen (2); 1 B-24 is damaged beyond repair and 38 damaged; 2 airmen are WIA. Escort is provided by 188 P-38s and P-47s. For the defenders, JG 76 losses include 2 pilots missing and 2 wounded, 2 victories being credited to the French Spitfire pilot Capt. Mangin.

US Ninth Air Force: 220+ B-26s and A-20s sent to bomb targets at Durena and Aldenhoven, Germany, and Arnhem, the Netherlands are recalled because of weather.

EASTERN FRONT: In the Baltic, Soviet forces seize the Hiiuma Island off the coast of Estonia.

A Soviet aircraft attacked 'U-711' in the Arctic Sea, but the U-boat crew was able to drive it off.

MEDITERRANEAN: "A" Flight of the 121st Liaison Squadron, AAF, MTO, moves from Lyons to Vittel, France with L-4s and L-5s (squadron is based at Pomigliano, Italy).

In Italy, US Twelfth Air Force medium bombers continue to pound road and rail bridges and fuel dumps in the Po Valley; A-20s, fighter-bombers, and fighters of the XII Fighter Command hit fuel dumps, rail lines, and transportation in the Valley and support US Fifth Army forces in the battle areas in the N Apennines S and SW of Bologna and N of the Arno River Valley; the 4th Troop Carrier Squadron, 62d Troop Carrier Group, moves from Galera Airfield to Malignano Airfield with C-47s.

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WESTERN FRONT: German forces counterattack elements of US 1st Army (part of US 12th Army Group) that have broken through the Siegfried Line defenses. The American forces hold the attack.

HMCS 'Chebogue' (K 317) (T/A/LtCdr M.F. Oliver, RCNR) was hit by a Gnat from 'U-1227', while escorting the convoy ONS-33 as part of the Escort Group C-1. The badly damaged frigate was taken in tow by HMCS 'Chambly' (K 116) (T/Lt S.D. Taylor, RCNR) and escorted by HMCS 'Arnprior' (K 494) (T/Lt S.D. Thorn, RCNVR) and HMS 'Ribble' (K 525) (T/A/LtCdr A.B. Taylor, RCNR) to Port Talbot where she was declared a total loss. Broken up in February 1948.

German U-boats had been forced out of the Biscay ports following the Allied liberation of France and Bergen was one of several Norwegian ports now being used as the forward operating bases for the U-boats. The pens at Bergen were being enlarged with an influx of German technicians and a large labour force. 93 Halifaxes and 47 Lancasters of RAF Nos 6 and 8 Groups were dispatched to attack Bergen, most of the aircraft being allocated to the pens but 14 Halifaxes and 6 Lancasters were ordered to bomb individual U-boats known to be moored in the harbour. 12 Mosquitos of RAF No 100 Group acted as a long-range fighter escort. The raid appeared to be successful and only 1 Lancaster was lost. 7 bombs hit the U-boat pens, causing little structural damage because of the thickness of the concrete roof, but the electrical-wiring system in the pens was completely put out of action. Nearby ship-repair yards were seriously damaged. 3 U-boats were damaged by the bombing but they did not sink. 3 other small ships were hit; two of them sank and the third the German auxiliary 'Schwabenland', had to be put in dry dock for repair.

6 RAF Mosquitos to Pforzheim and 5 to Heilbronn, 4 RCM sorties, 36 Mosquito patrols, 47 Lancasters and 31 Halifaxes minelaying off Oslo and in the Kattegat, 15 aircraft on Resistance operations. 4 aircraft were lost - 1 Mosquito from the Heilbronn raid and 2 Lancasters and 1 Halifax from the minelaying operations.

US Eighth Air Force Mission 664: 5 B-24s and 4 B-17s drop leaflets in the Low Countries, France and Germany during the night.

US Ninth Air Force Bombers drop leaflets in the Metz and Saint-Die, France and Saarburg, Germany areas; fighters support the US First and Third Armies in W Germany and E France, escort B-26s, and fly armed reconnaissance in forward areas, attacking rail and military targets. In Belgium, HQ 365th Fighter Group and the 386th, 387th and 388th Fighter Squadrons move from Juvincourt, France to Chievres with P-47s.


EASTERN FRONT: Soviet troops of 3rd Ukrainian Front capture Pancevo on the north bank of the Danube River, east of Belgrade, Yugoslavia. Other Soviet troops reach Vladimirovac and link up with partisan forces nearby.

MEDITERRANEAN: In Greece, Allied forces land on the Peloponese near Patras. Other forces occupy Greek islands in the Aegean Sea.

In Italy, around 400 other heavy bombers, attack the rail line in the Trento-Mezzaselva area covering 50+ miles (80+ km) of the Brenner route, Aviano Airfield, Avisio viaduct, and railroad and road bridges at Pinzano al Tagliamento, Pordenone, Latisana, Casarsa della Delizia, Mezzocorona, Ora, and San Dona di Piave. In Greece, 39 P-51s strafe Tatoi, Kalamaki, and Eleusis Airfields. Other P-51s escort Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force (MATAF) C-47s and fly reconnaissance.

In Italy, weather restricts US Twelfth Air Force medium bombers to attacks on 2 bridges at Bistagno and Villafranca d'Asti; fighter- bombers closely support ground forces fighting in the Loiano-Quinzanod'Oglio- Sassoleone areas, and hit communications N of the battle areas; HQ 47th Bombardment Group (Light) and the 84th, 85th and 86th Bombardment Squadrons (Light) move from Follonica to Rosignano Airfield with A-20s; HQ 79th Fighter Group and the 86th and 87th Fighter Squadrons move from Southern France to Iesi with P-47s.

GERMANY:327 US Fifteenth Air Force B-17s and B-24s, with fighter escort, bomb the Munich W, Germany marshalling yard.

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WESTERN FRONT: (US Eighth Air Force): General Order 507 implements the decision of 15 Sep to assign staff officers of HQ VIII Fighter Command to HQ Eighth AF to represent units in administrative functions, thus eliminating the administrative and operational control from HQ VIII Fighter Command and placing it under HQ Eighth AF; this is necessitated by the transfer of fighter groups to Bombardment Divisions.

(IX Troop Carrier Command): HQ 442d Troop Carrier Group and the 303d and 304th Troop Carrier Squadrons move from Weston Zoyland, England to Bonnetable and Peray, France respectfully, with C-47s.

(US Ninth Air Force): 330+ B-26s and A-20s dispatched against targets in Arnhem, the Netherlands and Aldenhoven and Duren, Germany are recalled; fighters hit pillboxes along the Westwall, support ground forces of the XV Corps in France, fly armed reconnaissance in the Prum, Bonn, Koblenz, Trier and Landau, Germany areas, hit targets along the Rhine-Marne Canal, and during the night of 5/6 Oct fly patrol in Belgium, E France, and W Germany. In Belgium, the 493d Fighter Squadron, 48th Fighter Group, moves from Cambrai/Niergnies, France to St Trond with P-47s. In France, the 22d Fighter Squadron, 36th Fighter Group, moves from Athis to Juvincourt with P-47s.

The Canadians enter Holland. Allied forces cross the Belgian-Dutch border north of Antwerp. During the night (October 5-6), an attempted German raid off the coast of the Scheldt, using mini-submarines results in a loss of 36 of the attacking boats.

GERMANY: 2 US Eighth Air Force missions are flown: Mission 665: 1,090 bombers and 733 fighters are dispatched to hit industrial targets, airfields and railways in W Germany; 9 bombers and 5 fighters are lost: 1. 348 B-17s dispatched hit targets of opportunity at Cologne (24, Brechten (27), Dortmund (14) and Coblenz (11) using GH and H2X; 3 B-17s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 156 damaged; 1 airman is KIA and 16 MIA. Escort is provided by 181 of 193 P-51s; 3 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA). 2. 360 B-24s are dispatched to hit Lippstadt Airfield (175), Rheine marshalling yard (107) and Paderborn Airfield (2 visually; targets of opportunity hit are Herford marshalling yard ( and Lipperode Airfield (2); 1 B-24 is damaged beyond repair and 7 damaged. Escort is provided by 260 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 1-0-0 aircraft in the air and 15-0-7 on the ground; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA) and 3 P-47s and 1 P-51 damaged. 3. 382 B-17s are dispatched to hit Munster/Loddenheide Airfield (235) and Munster/Handorf Airfield (6 using PFF means; targets of opportunity hit are the Rheine marshalling yard (10) and other (2); 6 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 190 damaged; 6 airmen are WIA and 55 MIA. Escort is provided by 234 P-47s and P-51s without loss. Mission 666: 8 of 10 bombers drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and Germany during the night.

227 RAF Lancasters and 1 Mosquito of No 5 Group attempted to bomb Wilhelmshaven through 10/10ths cloud. Marking and bombing were all based on H2S and the raid appeared to be scattered. 18 Lancasters did not join in the main attack but bombed a group of ships seen through a break in the cloud over the sea. Wilhelmshaven's diary only states that 12 people died. 1 Lancaster lost.

5 RCM sorties, 5 aircraft on Resistance operations. No losses.

531 RAF Lancasters and 20 Mosquitos of Nos 1, 3 and 8 Groups on the first major RAF raid to Saarbrücken since September 1942. 3 Lancasters lost. The raid was made at the request of the American Third Army which was advancing in this direction; the intention was to cut the railways and block supply routes generally through the town. The bombing was accurate and severe damage was caused in the main town area north of the River Saar, the area through which the main railway lines ran. Damage was particularly severe in the Altstadt and Malstatt districts.

20 RAF Mosquitos to Berlin and 26 to 5 other German targets, 36 RCM sorties, 47 Mosquito patrols, 10 Halifaxes minelaying off Heligoland and 9 Mosquitos of No 8 Group minelaying in the Kiel Canal. No aircraft lost.


MEDITERRANEAN: Allied forces occupy Patras.

(US Twelfth Air Force): In Italy during the night of 4/5 Oct A-20s bomb targets of opportunity in the battle area in the mountains S of Bologna and N of the Arno River Valley; during the day weather grounds medium bomber wings and the XII Fighter Command; the 8th Troop Carrier Squadron, 62d Troop Carrier Group, moves from Galera Airfield to Malignano Airfield with C-47s; the 85th Fighter Squadron, 79th Fighter Group, moves from Southern France to Iesi with P-47s.

EASTERN FRONT: In the Baltic, Soviet forces land on Saaremaa Island. German forces withdraw, under pressure, toward the Syrve peninsula. Meanwhile, Soviet forces continue their advance in the Baltic states. German Army Group North is under pressure by Soviet forces approaching Riga.

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BELGIUM: In the Canadian First Army area, II Corps opens an assault on the Breskens Pocket, while the Canadian 3d Division forces the Leopold Canal north of Maldegem and establishes a small bridgehead against stubborn resistance.

ESTONIA: Soviet forces of the Leningrad Front land on Oesel (Saarema) Island, off the coast of Estonia, and begin clearing the island.

FRANCE: In the U.S. Third Army's XX Corps area, heavy German fire fails to dislodge the Americans from the slag pile to the northwest of Metz. Task Force Warnock, which is strengthened by elements of 3d Battalion, 2d Infantry Regiment, and the 7th Combat Engineer Battalion, prepares to renew the attack on Fort Driant tomorrow.
In the U.S. Seventh Army's VI Corps area, the 3d Infantry Division continues the battle for Vagney and clears the Germans from positions astride the Tendon-Le Tholy road.
In the French First Army's II Corps area, German counterattacks prevent French forces from progressing against the heights north of the Moselle River and isolate forward elements.

9th AF: WESTERN EUROPE: Three hundred plus USAAF Ninth Air Force B-26s and A-20s hit marshalling yards, barracks, and ammunition dump at Hengelo, the Netherlands and Duren, Germany and bridges at Arnhem, the Netherlands and Aldenhoven, Germany; in Germany, fighters fly armed reconnaissance in the Dusseldorf, Aachen, Trier, Dieuze, and Koblenz areas, sweeps and patrols in forward areas, attack railroads in the Dorsel area, and support the First, Third, and Seventh Armies' forces in eastern France and western Germany.

GERMANY: In the U.S. First Army's XIX Corps area, Lieutenant General Charles Corlett, Commanding General of the corps, issues orders late in the day, as the corps' West Wall bridgehead is being firmly established, halting further advance until link-up has been made with VII Corps.
The 2d Armored Division, instead of driving east to secure crossings of the the Roer River is to maintain their current positions on the north flank of the bridgehead while assisting the 30th Infantry Division to push southeast. Combat Command B, 2d Armored Division, is stopped by the Germans on the left flank less than 1,000 yards from Geilenkirchen; on the right, they take the villages of Beggendorf and Waurichen, the latter northeast of Uebach.
Combat Command A joins the 117th Infantry Regiment in an attack to the southeast that receives close air support and overruns the crossroads hamlet about halfway between Uebach and Alsdorf; a Combat Command A column thrusts east almost to Baesweiler.
Task Force Cox of the 119th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division, undergoes a counterattack that overruns four pillboxes before it is checked; these are later recovered. The Germans are again aided by massed artillery fire, but after a day's action offer less resistance. In the VII Corps area, 39th and 60th Infantry Regiments of the 9th Infantry Division attack at 1130 hours after preparatory bombardment, in the Huertgen Forest toward Schmidt against tenacious opposition.

8th AF: During the day, the USAAF Eighth Air Force dispatches 1,271 B-17s and B-24s and 784 fighters to hit industrial targets in northern Germany; with one exception, all attacks are visual; 19 bombers and four fighters are lost: 163 hit Stargard Airfield, 146 bomb a power plant at Stralsund, 140 attack the Spandau aircraft engine factory in Berlin, 137 bomb the Spandau ordnance depot in Berlin, 129 hit the Rhenania oil refinery at Hamburg, 89 each bomb the Glinde ordnance depot at Hamburg and the Tegel-Altmarkisches armored vehicle factory in Berlin, 79 bomb the Klockner aircraft engine factory at Hamburg, 73
bomb the Focke Wolfe Fw 190 assembly plant at Neubrandenburg, 54 hit the Me 262 assembly plant at Wenzendorf, 36 hit the Luftwaffe training school at Stargard, 31 attack Stade Airfield, 12 bomb the Heer armored training school at Stettin, three each bomb Nordholz Airfield and miscellaneous targets and one each attack targets of opportunity at Breme rvord and Ottesberg.
During the night of 6/7 October, six B-24s and four B-17s drop leaflets over Germany. The escort fighters claim 19-1-8 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 30-0-14 on the ground.

RAF: During the day, RAF Bomber Command sends 320 aircraft, 254 Halifaxes, 46 Lancasters and 20 Mosquitos, to attack the Holten synthetic oil plant at Sterkrade and the Buer synthetic oil plant at Gelsenkirchen; 145 bomb the former and 147 hit the latter. Both raids take place in clear conditions and the bombing ias considered to be accurate. Nine aircraft are lost, four Halifaxes and two Lancasters at Gelsenkirchen and three Halifaxes at Sterkrade.
During the night of 6/7 October, RAF Bomber Command dispatches 523 aircraft, 248 Halifaxes, 247 Lancasters and 28 Mosquitos, to bomb Dortmund; 483 aircraft bomb the city. No. 6 (RCAF) Group provides 293 aircraft 248 Halifaxes and 45 Lancasters, the greatest effort by the Canadian group in the war. This raid opens a phase which some works refer to as "The Second Battle of the Ruhr." Five aircraft, two Canadian Halifaxes, two Lancasters and a Mosquito, are lost, less than 1 per cent of the force raiding this Ruhr target on a clear night. The Pathfinder marking and the bombing were both accurate and severe damage is caused, particularly to the industrial and transportation areas of the city, although residential areas also suffered badly.
The second major raid of the night is against Bremen. A total of 253 aircraft, 246 Lancasters and seven Mosquitos carry out the last of 32 major Bomber Command raids on Bremen during the war; 246 aircraft bomb the city with the loss of five Lancasters. The raid, based on the No 5 Group marking method, is an outstanding success. Severe damage is caused to the AG Weser shipyard, the two Focke-Wulf factories, the Siemens Schuckert electrical works and other important war industries. The "transport network" is described as being seriously disrupted.
(It is interesting to note the increased efficiency and hence destructive power of Bomber Command at this time. Bremen, with its shipyards and aircraft factories, had been the target for many carefully planned Bomber Command raids earlier in the war and is the target for one of the much publicized 1942 1,000-bomber raids. Now this raid by no more than a quarter of the total strength of Bomber Command, hardly mentioned in the history books, has finished off Bremen and this city need not be attacked by Bomber Command again.)
Other raids during the night consisted of 20 Mosquitos bombing Berlin, ten hitting Ludwigshafen and two attacking Saarbruecken. Mining missions for the night were ten aircraft laying mines in the Heligoland Bight and five in the Weser River.

15th AF: GREECE: Thirty five USAAF Fifteenth Air Force P-38s strafe airfields at Sedhes, Megalo Mikra, Megara, Eleusis, and Tatoi while 55 P-51s strafe Kalamaki airfield.

HUNGARY: The Soviet Army launches an offensive near Arad.

ITALY: In the U.S. Fifth Army area, the South African 6th Armoured Division takes Mt. Vigese in a surprise attack under cover of a heavy mist, and pushes on toward Mt. Stanco. In the IV Corps area, Task Force 92 begins a protracted struggle in the coastal sector for Mt. Cauala.
In the II Corps area, the 168th Infantry Regiment of the 34th Infantry Div finishes clearing the left flank of corps, the Germans having withdrawn from Hill 747; the 133d Infantry Regiment, faced with difficult supply problems, presses toward the Monterumici hill mass.
In the 91st Infantry Division zone, the 362d Infantry Regiment attacks the German delaying line based on Mt. Castellari. The 85th Infantry Division continues their attack with the 338th and 337th Regiments; the 338th pushes toward Castelnuovo di Bisano and La Villa. The 88th Infantry Division continues their efforts to take Hill 587. In the British XIII Corps area, the 3d Brigade of the 1st Division, attacking in the evening, gains a precarious hold on slopes of Mt. Ceco.
In the British Eighth Army area, V Corps postpones their general assault across the Fiumicino River for 24 hours. The 20th Brigade, Indian 10th Division, makes a preliminary attack toward Mt. Farneto, the dominating feature northwest of Sogliano, pushing through Strigara and gaining the crest before dawn of 7 October.

NETHERLANDS: In the British Second Army area, attacks by the Canadian II Corps begin south of the Scheldt between the Leopold canal and the river near Breskens. Due to flooded conditions the going is slow. The costly effort to clear the Peel Marshes comes to an end as the U.S. 7th Armored Division breaks off the attack; the division has gained less than 2 miles in this operation and is still within the British zone.
During the night of 6/7 October, four RAF Bomber Command aircraft lay mines off Texel Island.

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15th AF: AUSTRIA: USAAF Fifteenth Air Force B-17s and B-24s attack three targets in Vienna: 251 hit the Winterhafen oil storage facility, 88 hit Lobau oil refinery, and 24 bomb the Schwechat synthetic oil (benzine) facility; 15 aircraft are lost. One other bomber hits a target of opportunity.

FINLAND: The German 20.Gebirgsarmee (Generaloberst Lothar Rendulic) retreats in the face of strong Soviet attacks on the Carelian front.
The Finnish Army starts an attack aimed to encircle and destroy the German troops in the town of Kemi, northern Finland.

FRANCE: In the U.S. Third Army's XX Corps area, the Germans strongly counterattack Company F of the 327th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Divsion, on the slag pile northwest of Maizia-res-les-Metz. While the Germans are thus engaged, Companies E and G bypass the slag pile and push into the town, clearing the northern half and gaining a foothold in the factory area. The Germans move up reinforcements at night. Task Force Warnock, employing the 1st Battalion, 10th Infantry Regiment, 5th Infantry Division, attacks to expand positions at Fort Driant, making limited progress at great cost; two platoons are cut off and destroyed.
In the U.S. Seventh Army's VI Corps area, Vagney falls to 7th Infantry Regiment of the 3d Infantry Division.

GERMANY: In the U.S. First Army's XIX Corps area, the 30th Infantry Division, assisted by Combat Command of the 2d Armored Divsion, makes substantial gains and takes about 1,000 prisoners: The 117th Infantry Regiment thrusts to Aldsdorf; Combat Command A reaches Baesweiler; the 119th Infantry Regiment, assisted by an air strike on Merkstein, reaches positions across the Wurm River from Kerkrade. This puts the 30th Infantry Division within about 3 miles of Wuerselen, where contact with the VII Corps is expected to be made.
In the VII Corps area, the 9th Infantry Division continues their attack in the Huertgen Forest toward Schmidt. Forward elements reach the edge of woods near Aermeter and Richelskaul, but the main body is held up far behind.
In the V Corps area, the 28th and 4th Infantry Divisions advance to the line of departure for the West Wall offensive.
In U.S. Third Army's XX Corps area, the 3d Battalion of the 329th Infantry Regiment, 83d Infantry Division, takes Echternach, on the west bank of the Sauer River, after nearly a week of fighting.

8th AF: Mission 669: 1,422 B-17s and B-24s and 900 fighters are dispatched to hit oil installations and armored vehicle plants in Germany; with one exception, bombing is visual; 40 bombers and 11 fighters are lost; the escorting fighters claim 37-0-4 aircraft in the air and 1-0-1 on the ground.
Targets: 153 hit the Henschel armored vehicle plant at Kassel, 141 hit the synthetic oil facility at Politz, 129 bomb the Zellerfeld explosive factory at Clausthal, 115 bomb the I. G. Farben synthetic oil refinery at Merseberg, 91 bomb the synthetic oil refinery at Lutzkendorf, 87 attack the Braunkohle synthetic oil refinery at Bohlen, 67 hit the Altenbauna aircraft engine factory at Kassel, 63 bomb the Buchau/Krupp armored vehicle factory at Magdeburg, 59 each bomb the Schwartzhelde synthetic oil refinery at Ruhland and the ordnance depot at Bielefeld, 47 hit the aviation repair facility at Zwickau while 35 bomb the motor vehicle factory at Zwickau, 30 hit the Friedrichstrasse industrial area in Dresden, 27 bomb the Nordhausen Airfield, 25 attack Schneeburg, 24 bomb the Freiburg marshalling yard, 13 each bomb Wurzen and an oil refinery at Rositz, 12 each bomb Roszla and marshalling yards at Altenburg and Gera, ten each attacked Munster Airfield and the Steinfort marshalling yard at Bergen, and six aircraft attacks individual targets.

During the day, RAF Bomber Command dispatches 351 aircraft, 251 Halifaxes, 90 Lancasters and ten Mosquitos, to bomb the small German town of Kleve which, together with Emmerich, stands on the approach routes by which German units could threaten the vulnerable Allied right flank near Nijmegen which had been left exposed by the failure of Operation Market Garden; 339 bomb the target with the loss of two Halifaxes.
Visibility was clear and the center and north of the town were heavily bombed, although some crews bombed too early and their loads actually fell in the Netherlands near Nijmegen. A second mission consisting of 340 Lancasters and ten Mosquitos carries out an even more accurate attack on Emmerich; 341 aircraft hit the target with the loss of three Lancasters.

Another target was the Kembs Dam. This was another No 617 Squadron special operation. The Kembs Dam on the Rhine, just north of Basle, held back a vast quantity of water and it was feared that the Germans would release this to flood the Rhine valley near Mulhouse, a few miles north, should the American and French troops in that area attempt an advance.
The Squadron was asked to destroy the lock gates of the dam. Thirteen Lancasters were dispatched. Seven aircraft were to bomb from 8,000 feet and draw the flak, while the other six would come in below 1,000 feet and attempt to place their Tallboys, with delayed fuses, alongside the gates.
USAAF Eighth Air Force P-51s would attempt to suppress flak positions during the attack. The operation went according to plan with 12 Lancasters attacking the target. The gates were destroyed but two Lancasters from the low force were shot down by flak.
Radio listening stations in England hear the German controllers plotting the supposed force "vigorously," but few night fighters are scrambled. Mosquito Intruders and Serrate aircraft, which are part of the No 100 Group force, then fly on towards Bremen and claime a Me 110 destroyed and a Ju 88 damaged.

15th AF: HUNGARY: USAAF Fifteenth Air Force B-17s and B-24s attack ten targets: 157 bomb the Ersekujvar marshalling yard at Nove Zamky, 104 hit the marshalling yard at Komarom, 66 attack Gyor Airfield, 19 bomb the marshalling yard at Szombathely, seven hit the marshalling yard at Zalaegerszeg, three attacked the marshalling yard at Kormend, two bombed the railroad at Celldomolk and six aircraft bomb five targets of opportunity.

ITALY: In the U.S. Fifth Army area, the South African 6th Armoured Division gets two companies of Frontier Force Rifles to the crest of Mt. Stanco, where they are out of communication with the main body and are forced back to Prada. In the IV Corps area, Task Force 92 tries in vain to reinforce troops driving on Mt. Cauala with tanks and tank destroyers, but the weapons are unable to cross swollen streams. In the II Corps area, the 133d Infantry Regiment of the 34th Infantry Division continues toward the Monterumici hill mass.
An attack by 362d Infantry Regiment, 91st Infantry Division, on Mt. Castellari fails.
The 338th Infantry Regiment, 85th Infantry Division, takes Castelnuovo di Bisano but is still short of La Villa; the 337th Infantry Regiment is unable to advance from Hill 566. The 349th Infantry Regiment, 88th Infantry Division, continues to their attack on Hill 587 and seizes the ridge below Il Falchetto Hill. In the British XIII Corps area, the 3d Brigade of the 1st Division maintains a weak hold on the slopes of Mt. Ceco. The 19th Brigade, Indian 8th Division, clears Mt. Cavallara.
In the British Eighth Army area, V Corps opens an attack across the Fiumicino River in the evening with a heavy volume of artillery support. The assault is preceded by light and fighter bomber strikes on German positions. The Indian 10th Division and the 46th Division make the attack while the 56th Division simulates an attack in the Savignano area.
The 20th Brigade, Indian 10th Division, under heavy German pressure on Mt. Farneto, is unable to gain the initiative, but the 25th Brigade secures positions on the ridge between Roncofreddo and St. Lorenzo.
The128th Brigade of the 46th Division seizes Montilgallo and pushes west toward Longiano and south toward St. Lorenzo.
12th AF: Weather again grounds the medium bombers but USAAF Twelfth Air Force fighter-bombers hit guns and troop concentrations in the battle area, which extends over a wide front south of Bologna in the region of Monte Stanco, Monte Cauala, Monte Castellaro, and Monte Ceei, and communications to the north.

LUXEMBOURG: In the U.S. Third Army"s XX Corps area, Wormeldange is captured by the 331st Infantry Regiment, 83d Infantry Division, and the region west of the Moselle River area is cleared.

NETHERLANDS: In the Canadian First Army"s II Corps area, the corps is now responsible for the first phase of operation to open Antwerp, Belgium, port, clearing Zuid Beveland as well as the Breskens Pocket south of the Schelde. The Canadian 3d Division gets reinforcements to north bank of Leopold Canal against strong resistance that prevents bridging.
RAF: During the day, RAF Bomber Command sends 121 Lancasters and two Mosquitos to continue the attack on Walcheren Island and the sea walls which were breached near Flushing; 122 aircraft hit the target without loss.

WESTERN EUROPE: HQ USAAF Ninth Air Force cancels previous instructions against bombing bridges and opens an attack on all bridges on the U.S. front, except those over the Rhine River. Three hundred plus B-26s and A-20s strike bridges at Arnhem, the Netherlands, and in Germany, bridges at Bullay and Dillingen, a supply depot at Euskirchen, and marshalling yard and warehouse at Hengelo and Trier; and fighters fly bomber escort, sweeps and armed reconnaissance in the forward areas, hitting railroads, barges, and troop concentrations, and support ground forces in eastern France and western Germany.

15th AF: YUGOSLAVIA; One USAAF Fifteenth Air Force bomber attacks the marshalling yard at Pec.

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ATLANTIC OCEAN: The Canadian minesweeper HMCS Mulgrave (J 313) strikes a mine in the English Channel off Le Havre, France, and is heavily damaged. She is beached and later refloated and towed back to Portsmouth, England, but is never repaired.

FINLAND: Fighting in both Kemi and Tornio comes to an end today as the Germans withdraw, leaving behind two encircled battalions. Some Germans manage to reach their own lines in groups and individually, but the rest are taken POWs. Kemi and Tornio are not the last areas held by the Germans in Finland -- there still are lots of stiff fighting to do. The last German forces didn't leave the Finnish territory until late April 1945.

FRANCE: In U.S. Third Army's XX Corps area, the 2d Battalion, 357th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division, fights from house to house within Metz for some time to come without clearing the rest of the town. Confused and bitter fighting continues at Fort Driant without much change in positions. In XII Corps area, after an hour of preparatory bombardment, corps begins a concerted drive toward the Seille River at 0615 hours.
The 6th Armored Division, making the main effort, takes Moivron, where it is relieved by the 80th Infantry Division; in conjunction with the 80th Infantry Division, they envelop and take Jeandelincourt, clear Bois de Chenicourt, though the Germans retain the town of Chenicourt, and seize Arraye-et-Han.
To the left, 80th Infantry Division's 318th Infantry Regiment takes Manoncourt; the 319th Infantry seizes, Mt Toulon, and Sivry; and the 317th Infantry clears Mt St Jean.
The 35th Infantry Division closes up the Seille River on its left flank, taking Ajoncourt and Fossieux; USAAF Ninth Air Force P-47s assist with attacks on the heights between Moivron and Jeandelincourt.
In U.S. Seventh Army's VI Corps area, the 7th Infantry Regiment of the 3d Infantry Division moves from Vagney northeast to Sapois.
In the French First Army's II Corps area, the 3d Algerian Division gains the crest of Longegoutte heights after several days of bitter fighting.

9th AF: WESTERN EUROPE: A revision and elaboration (from 28 September-8 October) of the USAAF Ninth Air Force interdiction program against railroads connected with the Rhine River results in the issuance of a new interdiction program; it includes rail lines further to the east and requires attacks by all four Tactical Air Commands of the Ninth Air Force, plus aid from the British Second Tactical Air Force.
Meanwhile, 300+ Ninth Air Force B-26s and A-20s, with fighter escort, hit strong points and bridges over wide areas of eastern France and western Germany; and fighters support ground forces of the US VII, XV, XIX, and XX Corps in eastern France and western Germany, and attack airfields, railroads, and numerous military targets in forward areas.

GERMANY: In U.S. First Army's XIX Corps area, the 30th Infantry Division's hopes of making a speedy junction with the VII Corps at Wuerselen arc soon dashed by German opposition on the east flank. The 119th Infantry Regiment, following the Wurm River valley southward, gets 1.5 miles beyond Herzogenrath; the 120th Infantry, whose relief at Kerkrade has been completed by the 29th Infantry Division, is committed between the 119th and 117th Infantry Regiments and takes two hamlets; the 117th Infantry, upon reaching the railroad west of Mariadorf, is counterattacked strongly by fresh German forces from Mariadorf, part of whom push to Alsdorf, where they are halted. Both sides suffer heavy losses and the 117th Infantry pulls back to the edge of Alsdorf.
Combat Command A, 2d Armored Division, seizes Oidtweiler, northeast of Alsdorf. In the VII Corps area, the 1st Infantry Division begins an attack to encircle Aachen in conjunction with XIX Corps: while the 18th Infantry Regiment pushes northward through Verlautenheide, the 26th Infantry is getting into position to drive through the heart of the city from east; the 16th Infantry holds a defensive line near Eilendorf.
Tanks and tank destroyers arrive by nightfall to help the assault regiments of the 9th Infantry Division to break out of the Huertgen Forest toward Schmidt. In the V Corps area, the 28th Infantry Division encounters outlying positions of the German's West Wall defenses.

GREECE: British forces from Araxos have reconnoitered along the north coast of the Peloponnesus to Corinth, which is free of Germans; elements of 9 Commando are in Nauplia, on the Gulf of Nauplia south of Corinth.

ITALY: In the U.S. Fifth Army's IV Corps area, Task Force 92 reaches the slopes of Mt. Cauala but is forced back by German fire.
In the II Corps area, the 34th Infantry Division continues their attack on the Monterumici hill mass, the 135th Infantry Regiment working slowly forward from the and the 133d from west. The 362d Infantry Regiment, 91st Infantry Division, gets elements to the crest of Mt. Castellari, during the night of 8/9 October; the 361st Infantry Regiment makes substantial progress to the east, clearing the villages east of Mt. Castellari, cutting Highway 65 at La Fortuna, and pushing to the edge of the Livergnano escarpment, a feature strongly favored by nature for defense.
The 338th Infantry Regiment, 85th Infantry Division, forces the Germans back to Mt. delle Formiche; the 337th Infantry is still unable to progress appreciably from Hill 566. The 349th Infantry Regiment, 88th Infantry Division, upon reaching crest of Hill 587, finds it undefended and elements seize II Faichetto Hill. In the British XIII Corps area, the 3d Brigade of the 1st Division gains the summit of Mt. Ceco, but the Germans retains the heights nearby. On the right flank of the corps, the 6th Armoured Division thrusts along Highway 67 to the edge of Portico but cannot force an entrance; elements probe toward Tredozio.
In the British Eighth Army's V Corps area, since the 20th Brigade of the Indian 10th Division is still held up on Mt. Farneto, the 10th Brigade is committed to outflank the Germans, some elements pressing toward Montecodruzzo on the left and others taking St. Paola on the right. The Indian 25th Brigade takes St. Lorenzo and drives toward Roncofreddo. The 46th Division is working toward Longiano.

12th AF: Bad weather forces USAAF heavy and medium bombers to cancel missions; XII Fighter Command fighters are airborne to support ground forces over the battle area and abort all missions.

UNITED STATES: Wendell Lewis Willkie, the Republican candidate in the 1940 Presidential election, dies in New York City of complications from an August heart attack. He is 50-years-old.

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FRANCE: In the U.S. Third Army's XX Corps area, it is decided to break off costly action against Fort Driant. Indecisive fighting continues within Metz. In XII Corps area, Combat Command A of the 6th Armored Division, attacking through Combat Command B attempts to take the final objective of the division, a plateau west of Latricourt; elements clear the woods southwest of Latricourt but the column to right comes under heavy fire from Chenicourt and cannot reach Latricourt. The Germans retain Latricourt and from time to time mount small, ineffective counterattacks. German force breaks into Fossieux, where it is engaged by the 35th Infantry Division. Corps front is largely quiet for rest of month and early days of November. Regrouping and rotation of front-line troops is thus possible.
In the U.S. Seventh Army's XV Corps area, the 79th Infantry Division makes all-out effort to clear the rest of Foret de Parroy, gaining the main road junction in center and thereby making the German positions untenable. The Germans withdraw from the forest after nightfall.
In the French 1st Army's II Corps area, the 3d Algerian Division forces the Moselotte River in the Thiafosse-Saulxures region and takes the village of Trougemont.

GERMANY: In the U.S. First Army's XIX Corps area, the 119th Infantry Regiment of the 30th Infantry Division drives through Bardenberg to North Wuerselen; the 120th is kept from Euchen and Beck, villages astride road to Bardenbcrg, by a German force crossing its front en route to Bardenberg; the 117th clears Schaufenberg and tries unsuccessfully to reach Mariadorf, then is authorized to go on the defensive in the Alsdorf-Schaufenberg region.
At night, a German force reaches Bardenberg and routs the small holding force of the 119th Infantry, isolating the main body of that regiment in North Wuerselen; 119th Infantry Regiment reserves attempt to regain Bardenberg from the north but are stopped at the village.
In VII Corps area, the 1st Infantry Division continues operations against Aachen. The 9th Infantry Division attacks to break out of Huertgen Forest; assisted by tanks, the forward battalion of the 60th Infantry Regiment emerges in the Richelskaul area and two platoons of the 39th Infantry Regiment at Wittscheidt. In the V Corps area, a planned attack on West Wall is postponed until 11 October.
The Soviet Army reaches the Baltic coast, encircling Memel, the northernmost city in Germany.

8th AF: The USAAF Eighth Air Force flies Mission 670: 1,110 B-17s and B-24s and 878 fighters are dispatched to make pathfinder force attacks on industrial targets in southern and central Germany; one B-24 is lost:
- B-17 targets: (1) 329 B-17 hit the secondary target, ball bearing plants at Schweinfurt; one other hit a target of opportunity; escort is provided by 338 P-51 Mustangs. (2) 211 bomb the marshalling yard at Mainz and 148 hit the aircraft engine plant at Gustavsburg; escort is provided by 202 Ninth Air Force P-38s and P-47s.
- B-24 targets: 360 bomb the Moselhit marshalling yard at Koblenz and hits a target of opportunity; one B-24 is lost. Escort is provided by 271 P-51 Mustangs which claim 1-0-0 aircraft in the air and 1-0-0 on the ground. Captain Ken L. Gilbert landed the 93d Bombardment Group (Heavy) B-24 "Missouri Sue," completing his 75th combat mission. He flew two consecutive combat tours in a six-month period, beginning his first tour on 12 April 44 and completing it on 12 July 44. This is an Eighth Air Force record that is believed to be unsurpassed in WW II.
RAF: During the night of 9/10 October, RAF Bomber Command dispatches 435 aircraft, 375 Halifaxes, 40 Lancasters and 20 Mosquitos, to bomb Bochum; 404 actually bomb the target with the loss of five aircraft, four Halifaxes and a Lancaster.. This raid is not successful. The target area is covered by cloud and the bombing is scattered. In a second mission, 46 Mosquitos bomb Wilhelmshaven without loss; other targets hit during the night by Mosquitos are four aircraft bombing Saarbrucken , three to Krefeld and three to Lohausen Airfield at Dusseldorf.

GREECE: Aircraft of the RAF's No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group attack three airfields in the Athens area during the night of 9/10 October without loss: ten bomb Kalamaki Airfield, six hit Tatoi Airfield and three attack Eleusis Airfield.

ITALY: In the U.S. Fifth Army IV Corps area, Task Force 92 pushes to the top of Mt. Cauala without opposition but later in the day is forced to withdraw. The next two days are devoted to preparations for another assault. Regimental Combat Team 6 of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force, pushing northward along the Serchio River, halts near Barga to avoid a possible German counterattack. In II Corps area, 34th Infantry Division continues to make slow progress against the Monterumici hill mass.
The 91st Infantry Division repels a counterattack from Livergnano, mops up, and prepares for a co-ordinated effort against the formidable Livergnano escarpment: Company K of the 361st Infantry Regiment reconnoiters to the edge of Livergnano, where it is cut off from the main body; Companies E and G move to positions above Bigallo and are pinned down.
The 338th Infantry Regiment, 85th Infantry Division, now well ahead of 337th, prepares to attack Mt. delle Formiche in conjunction with attack of the 91st Infantry Division; 1st Battalion outflanks La Villa.
The 337th Infantry Regiment prepares for a full-scale effort against Hill 578, the peak of Monterenzio hill mass. The 349th Infantry Regiment, 88th Infantry Division, begins clearing ridge leading to Mt. delle Tombe; the 351st Infantry Regiment reaches the edge of Gesso. In the British XIII Corps area, the 78th Division, reinforced, takes responsibility for Mt. Battaglia and Mt. Cappello, on the left flank of the corps; the 1st Guards Brigade, 6th Armoured Division, remains on Mt. Battaglia.
In the British Eighth Army area, X Corps, upon regrouping in connection with the arrival of 1st Armoured Division headquarters, pursues retreating Germans northward along Highway 71; reconnaissance elements find Mt. Castello and Mercato Saraceno clear. In the V Corps area, hard fighting develops at St. Paola as the Germans make an unsuccessful attempt to recover it.
15th and 12th AF: Weather again grounds the USAAF heavy and medium bombers. USAAF Twelfth Air Force fighter-bombers, and fighters hit roads, rail crossing, transport and other targets in the Bologna and Sabbioso areas.

NETHERLANDS: In the Canadian First Army area, II Corps continues clearing the Breskens Pocket. An amphibious assault force of the Canadian 3rd Division lands at the east end of the pocket, taking the Germans by surprise and establishing a bridgehead; other elements of the division expand the holdings north of the Leopold Canal in the Maldegem area.
The 4th Armoured Division exerts pressure on German positions at the east end of the canal. The Germans continue a vigorous defense of the Zuid Beveland causeway, holding the 2d Division to slight gains in the Woensdrecht area.

UNITED STATES: The Dumbarton Oaks Conference consisting of representatives from the United States, the British Commonwealth, and the Soviet Union, which began meeting in Washington, D.C. on 21 August, concludes.
The purpose of the conference is to plan for the establishment of the United Nations. The objective of the UN is to replace the League of Nations with a more effective organization to preserve world peace and security. The UN proposal is officially unveiled today.

U.S.S.R.: British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden arrive in Moscow to discuss the political future of Eastern Europe. The London based, exiled Polish government is present for some of the discussions. They achieve no concessions. Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin insists that Bulgaria and Rumania are part of a Soviet sphere of influence, while Greece is in the British sphere. In Hungary and Yugoslavia influence is to be divided. This conference will last through 20 October.

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BALTIC: U-2331 (Type XXIII) sank near Hela, Poland, at approximate position 54.00N, 18.00E, in an accident. Four of the 19 crewmen survive. The boat is raised and towed to Gotenhafen, further details unknown.

FINLAND: In retaliation for Finland's "ase and unhonourable acts, "German Colonel-General Lothar Rendulic, commander of the 20th Mountain Army, orders that all state owned buildings at Rovaniemi, the largest city of Finnish Lappland, be destroyed. This results in almost complete destruction of the center of the city. Even if the Germans cause widespread destruction in some parts of northern Finland, it has to be stressed that the civilian population (what is left of it after evacuations to Sweden) is spared. After the Finnish invasion of Tornio some hostages are taken, but they are not maltreated and are soon released.

FRANCE: In the U.S. Third Army area's XII Corps area, the 35th Infantry Division captures Fossieux.
In the French First Army area, the II Corps expands the Moselotte bridgehead to Planois, on the east-west road to La Bresse. Hopes of a quick lateral thrust to secure that communications center are dashed when II Corps is asked to extend northward to the line Fougerolles-Remiremont-Le Tholy-Gerardmer, effective on 14 October, to relieve the southern flank units of U.S. Seventh Army. No further effort is made at this time to extend holdings along north bank of the Moselotte River.

GERMANY: In the U.S. First Army's XIX Corps area, after further efforts to clear Bardenberg, a reserve battalion of the 119th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division, withdraws at night to permit the shelling of the Germans there; the 120th Infantry Regiment seizes the Birk crossroads, which controls the road to Bardenberg, thus jeopardizing German forces at Bardenberg; the 30th Infantry Division claims 20 German tanks during fighting yesterday and today.
In the VII Corps area, so favorable do the prospects of closing the Aachen gap appear that 1st Infantry Division delivers an ultimatum calling for surrender of the city within 24 hours; the ultimatum states, "Surrender or retreat within 24 hours or the city will be blasted to bits."
In the Huertgen Forest, the Germans overrun the two forward platoons of the 39th Infantry Regiment of 9th Infantry Division in the Wittscheidt area early in day; the 39th
Infantry Regiment later recovers lost ground and takes Germeter without opposition; the 60th Infantry Regiment units re-enter the woods and seize a road junction almost 1 mile southwest of Richelskaul.
RAF: During the night of 10/11 October, RAF Bomber Command sends Mosquitos to hit six targets: 47 bomb Cologne, six bomb the marshalling yard (M/Y) at Pforzheim, five each bomb Duisburg and the M/Y at Aschaffenburg, two bomb Lohausen Airfield at Dusseldorf, and one bombs the city of Aschaffenburg .

ITALY: In the U.S. Fifth Army area, the South African 6th Armoured Division makes another futile attempt to take Mt. Stanco, getting almost to the crest before being driven back. The II Corps opens the third phase of an offensive toward Bologna. The 34th Infantry Division tries in vain to outflank the Monterumici hill mass. In the 91st Infantry Division zone, the 361st Infantry Regiment makes it's main effort against the Livergnano escarpment without appreciable gains. Efforts to relieve Company K in Livergnano fail; most of the company is captured by the Germans. The 2d Battalion of the 338th Infantry Regiment, 85th Infantry Division attacks lofty Mt. delle Formiche but, although strongly supported by air and artillery, is stopped short of the crest; The 337th, reinforced by the 1st Battalion of the 338th, makes some progress toward Hill 578 of Monterenzio hill mass.
In the British XIII Corps area, the Indian 8th Division gains positions near top of Mt. Casalino.
In the British Eighth Army’s V Corps area, German opposition along the Fiumicino River collapses with the capture of Spaccato by the Indian 10th Division. The 46th Division takes Longiano and La Crocetta. The Canadian I Corps regroups for a drive across the Fiumicino River. Reconnaissance elements of the 1st Division cross at Savignano di Romagna without opposition; bridging is begun at the crossing site.

12th AF: USAAF Twelfth Air Force medium bombers are again grounded due to weather; fighter-bombers, though also hampered by weather, manage to closely support ground forces, particularly at Monte delle Formiche and attack communications north of the battle area in the Northern Apennines.
15th AF: One hundred thirty five USAAF Fifteenth Air Forces B-17s and B-24s attack five transportation targets: 68 bomb the marshalling yard (M/Y) at Mestre, 33 attack the M/Y at Treviso, 31 hit the railroad bridge at Nervesa, 30 hit the railroad bridge at Piave Ponte di Piave, and one hits a target of opportunity. About 90 fighters provide support in the Treviso area. Over 350+ other B-17s and B-24s are forced to abort the mission because of weather.
RAF: During the night of 10/11 October, 33 RAF bombers of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group attack the East marshalling yard at Verona.

LITHUANIA: The Soviet Army's First Baltic Front reaches the Baltic Sea near Memel and cuts off 26 German divisions in northern Lithuania and Latvia. German Chancellor Adolf Hitler refuses to evacuate the beleaguered army, which remains isolated until war's end.

NETHERLANDS: First Lieutenant Charles "Chuck" Yeager, 363d Fighter Squadron, 357th Fighter Group, USAAF Eighth Air Force, downs five Bf 109s (bringing his total to 6.5) near Assen at about 1100 hours. Yeager ends the war with 11.5 kills.

POLAND: Eight hundred Gypsy children, including more than 100 boys between 9 and 14 years old, are gassed at Auschwitz.

YUGOSLAVIA: Forces of the Soviet Third Ukrainian Front cut the Nis-Belgrade railroad at Velika Plana.

[Njaco]

MEDITERRANEAN: The 1st Canadian Infantry Division returns to active duty in Italy. The 5th Canadian Armoured Division in Italy is put into reserve. The US 91st Division of US 2nd Corps (part of US 5th Army) encounters heavy German resistance at Livergnano. Forces of the British 8th Army capture Lorenzo.

In Italy, despite bad weather US Twelfth Air Force medium bombers attack bridges and supply dumps in the Po Valley; fighter- bombers and fighters closely support ground forces in the Apennine Mountains between Florence and Bologna where fierce fighting rages on Monte delle Formiche, Livergnano escarpment, Monte delle Tombe, Gesso ridge, and Monte Battaglia; also hit are communications behind the battle area and as far W and N as Genoa, Turin, and Savona; the detachments of the 16th and 35th Troop Carrier Squadrons, 64th Troop Carrier Group, operating from Istres, France returns to base at Ciampino with C-47s.

GERMANY: German Colonel Baron Alexis von Roenne is executed by Nazi authorities for treason. He was the head of German intelligence, and had convinced Adolf Hitler that the Allied landing would be in the Pas de Calais.

46 RAF Mosquitos to Berlin, 8 to Wiesbaden and 4 to Heilbronn. 1 aircraft lost from the Berlin raid.

US Eighth Air Force: 2 missions are flown. Mission 672: 135 B-17s are dispatched to bomb the Wesseling synthetic oil plant (57); 73 others hit the secondary, the Koblenz marshalling yard; 4 B-17s are lost and 61 damaged; 3 airmen are KIA, 6 WIA and 38 MIA. Escort is provided by 135 of 139 P-47s; 1 P-47 is lost. Mission 673: 9 aircraft drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and Germany during the night.

WESTERN FRONT: In the Scheldt estuary, Canadian 1st Army forces cut the causeway between the mainland and Beveland and Walcheren. The Canadian Highland Light Infantry reaches the village of Biervliet, Holland. German forces had vacated the town, heading south. Around Aachen, elements of US 19th Corps (part of US 1st Army) capture Bardenburg. Around Metz, forces of US 3rd Army capture Parroy after clear the nearby Foret de Parroy.

160 RAF Lancasters and 20 Mosquitos of Nos 1 and 8 Groups attacked the Fort Frederik Hendrik battery position at Breskens, on the south bank of the Scheldt, and 115 Lancasters of No 5 Group attacked guns near Flushing on the north bank. Both attacks started well but more than half of the Breskens force had to abandon the raid because their target was covered by smoke and dust. Two large explosions were seen at Flushing. 1 Lancaster lost from the Breskens raid.

61 RAF Lancasters and 2 Mosquitos of No 5 Group attempted to breach the sea walls at Veere on the northern coast of Walcheren Island but were not successful. No aircraft lost.

US Ninth Air Force: In France, 99 B-26s and A-20s, with fighter escort, sent to bomb the Camp-de-Bitche military camp are recalled when Pathfinder equipment malfunctions and weather prevents visual bombing. In Germany, fighters fly armed reconnaissance, cut rail lines in the Aachen- Rhine area, and support the US VII and XIX Corps in the Aachen area, and US XII, XV, and XX Corps in the Metz-Saarlautern area. In Luxembourg, the 160th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Group, moves from Montrevil, France to Sandweiler with F-6s.

EASTERN FRONT: In Hungary, troops of the Soviet 2nd Ukrainian Front cross the Tisza River around Szeged and capture the town. To the east, there is heavy fighting around Debrecen and Cluj is captured during the day.

In Austria, about 180 US Fifteenth Air Force B-17s and B-24s, with fighter escort, bomb Vienna S ordnance depot, Graz motor works, S and SW areas of Vienna, the towns of Hirtenberg and Enzesfeld, the marshalling yard at Zeltweg, the Dravograd, Yugoslavia railroad bridge on the Yugoslav-Hungarian boundary, and in Italy, railroad and highway bridges at Cesara, and Trieste harbor; 250+ heavy bombers fail to complete missions because of bad weather; 18 P-51s strafe targets in the Bratislava, Czechoslovakia and Budapest, Hungary areas, including supply dumps, and trains and destroy 17 airplanes at Esztergom landing ground, Hungary; 37 other P-51s strafe Prostejov Airfield, Czechoslovakia and targets of opportunity in the surrounding area, destroying nearly 30 aircraft and trucks, locomotives, and railroad cars.

[Njaco]

GERMANY: US Eighth Air Force: 2 missions are flown. Mission 674: 552 bombers and 514 fighters are dispatched to hit targets in Germany; they claim 18-3-1 aircraft; 3 bombers and 5 fighters are lost: 1. Weather prevents the 290 B-24s dispatched to hit the primaries at Vechta, Achmer, Rheine and Varrelbusch; PFF means were used to hit the secondary, the marshalling yard at Osnabruck (267); 5 others hit Diepholz Airfield, a target of opportunity; 2 B-24s are lost and 67 damaged; 19 airmen are MIA. Escort is provided by 210 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 1-1-0 aircraft in the air. 2. 262 B-17s are dispatched to aviation industries at Bremen (267) bombing visually; 1 other hits a target of opportunity; 1 B-17 is lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 59 damaged. 7 airmen are KIA, 1 WIA and 9 MIA. Escort is provided by 273 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 17-2-1 aircraft; 5 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA). Mission 675: 8 aircraft are dispatched to drop leaflets in the Netherlands, France and Germany during the night; 2 B-24s are lost.

Adolf Hitler orders that London be the sole British target of V-2 rockets.

111 RAF Halifaxes and 26 Lancasters of Nos 6 and 8 Groups attacked the oil plant at Wanne-Eickel. A direct hit on a storage tank early in the raid produced dense cloud and smoke which hindered later bombing. A German report says that the refinery itself was not seriously damaged but that the GAVEG chemical factory was destroyed; it is possible that the bombers were aiming at the wrong target.

86 RAF Lancasters and 10 Mosquitos of Nos 1 and 8 Groups attacked a gun battery near Breskens and destroyed 2 of the 4 gun positions. No aircraft lost.

Mosquitos went to bomb the following targets: Hamburg, 52 aircraft; Düsseldorf and Wiesbaden, 6 aircraft each; Koblenz, 4 aircraft; Schweinfurt, 2 aircraft. 1 aircraft lost from the Hamburg raid.

The jets of Kommando Nowotny are scrambled from Achmer with the new 'long-nose' Fw 190Ds of JG 54's “Wurger Staffel”, flying cover. Six Focke-Wulfs are shot down but Oblt. Bley and Lt. Lennartz each claim a USAAF P-51 with their Me 262s. Upon returning to base, the machines of both pilots are damaged in forced landings, reducing the number of available fighters.

WESTERN FRONT: US Ninth Air Force: HQ Ninth AF is delegated administrative (in addition to operational) control over HQ XII Tactical Air Command hitherto assumed by US Strategic Air Forces in Europe (USSTAF). Advanced HQ XIX Tactical Air Command arrives at Nancy, France, following the advance of the US Third Army. Almost 250 B-26s and A-20s bomb Camp-de-Bitche, France military camp, rail bridges at Grevenbroich and Ahrweiler, Germany, city areas of Langerwehe and Aldenhoven, Germany, and Venraij, the Netherlands, and various targets of opportunity; escorting fighters also fly armed reconnaissance and rail cutting in the Dusseldorf and Aachen, Germany and Belfort, France areas, and support the VIII, XII, XV, and XX Corps in E France and W Germany. In France, the 14th Liaison Squadron, XIX Tactical Air Command (attached to Third Army), moves from Gussainville to Nancy with L-5s; the 365th, 366th and 367th Fighter Squadrons, 358th Fighter Group, based at Vitry-le-Francois, begins operating from St Dizier with P-47s; the 586th and 587th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), 394th Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from Bricy to Cambrai/Niergnies with B-26s.

The Canadian 8th Brigade crosses the Scheldt, landing south-east of Hoofdplaat, then advances south to create a land route for a supply line.

MEDITERRANEAN: US Fifteenth Air Force:Around 700 B-17s and B-24s, with fighter support, pound ammunition and fuel dumps and depots, bivouac area, barracks, vehicle repair shop, munitions factory and targets of opportunity in the Bologna, Italy area (Operation PANCAKE) supporting the US Fifth Army offensive in that sector. 160 P-51s strafe the mainline railroad and Danube River traffic in the Vienna, Austria-Gyor, Hungary-Budapest, Hungary areas and strafe Seregelyes Airfield, Hungary, disrupting traffic and destroying many enemy airplanes.

US Twelfth Air Force: In Italy, medium bombers, supporting the US Fifth Army, attack communications, supply dumps, and bivouac and barracks areas S of Bologna; fighter-bombers and XII Fighter Command fighters, mainly in support of the US Fifth Army, blast supply dumps, gun positions, troop concentrations, and communications in the high country S of of Bologna while the Desert Air Force (DAF) gives similar support to the British Eighth Army in the Rimini area.

In Greece Allied paratroops land at Athens airfield. Other British forces land on Corfu. German forces evacuate the Piraeus.

EASTERN FRONT: In Hungary, Oradea is captured by Soviet forces of 2nd Ukrainian Front. The battle for Debrecen continues. South of Szeged, Yugoslavian partisans and Soviet forces capture Subotica in a joint attack.

[Njaco]

WESTERN FRONT: The Canadian North Novas take Hoofdplatt, after two days fighting with heavy casualties. Elements of British 8th Corps (part of British 2nd Army) launch attacks toward Venlo from Nymegen. Around Aachen, US 1st Division of US 19th Corps (part of US 1st Army) enters the city from the east and is engaged in street fighting.

The first German V1 and V2 attacks land on the port of Antwerp.

(US Ninth Air Force): 9th Bombardment Division bombers hit bridges at Saarlouis, France, Roermond and Venlo, the Netherlands, and Euskirchen and Mayen, Germany, plus several targets of opportunity. Escorting fighters also fly armed reconnaissance over the areas of Metz, France and extensively over W Germany, attacking railroads and other targets, and support the US First, Third, and Seventh Armies. In France, HQ 323d Bombardment Group (Medium) and the 453d, 454th, 455th and 456th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium) move from Chartres to Laon/Athies with B-26s; the 425th Night Fighter Squadron, XIX Tactical Air Command, moves from Coulommiers to Prosnes with P-61s.

French Forces of the Interior become part of the regular French army.

MEDITERRANEAN: To the west, forces of US 5th Army continue fighting south of Bologna. In the east, the British 46th Division, part of British 5th Corps (part of British 8th Army), captures Carpineta.

In Greece, Advance elements of a joint British-Greek force land at Piraeus. British forces occupy Athens and the island of Corfu in the Adriatic.

(US Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, weather cancels all medium bomber operations except for attacks on 4 targets (bridges and supply dumps) in the battle area S of Bologna; fighter-bombers support US Fifth Army operations more successfully in the area, hitting gun emplacements, troop concentrations, supply dumps, bridges, and vehicles; the 23d Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 5th Photographic Reconnaissance Group [attached to 3d Photographic Group (Reconnaissance)] moves from Valence, France to Malignano with F-5s.

EASTERN FRONT: In Latvia, elements of the Soviet 2nd and 3rd Baltic Fronts break through the German defensive positions around Riga, the capital city. During the day, Soviet forces reach the outskirts of the city. German troops evacuate Riga and form what was to become known as the Kurland pocket.

(US Fifteenth Air Force):650+ fighter escorted B-17s and B-24s bomb oil refineries at Blechhammer, Germany and Vienna/Floridsdorf, Austria; motor works, locomotive shops, and marshalling yard at Vienna and Graz, Austria; Banhida, Szekesfehervar and Papa, Hungary; and Hranice and Mezirici, Czechoslovakia; some of the escorting fighters strafe railroads, roads, and an airfield in the areas of Balaton Lake, Hungary; Neusiedler Lake and Vienna, Austria; and Prostejov, Czechoslovakia; other fighters strafe roads, railroads, and Danube River traffic in the Vienna-Gyor, Hungary- Budapest, Hungary areas.

GERMANY: 57 RAF Mosquitos to Cologne and 4 to Stuttgart. No aircraft lost. A report from Cologne shows that bombs were scattered across the city, causing mostly minor damage.

Two more Me 262s of Kommando Nowotny are destroyed, again decreasing the available machines at Achmer. Because of this and recent losses, Major Nowotny imposes a two week ban on operational flying until Messerschmitt representatives can evaluate the problems of the fighter jet.

[Njaco]

WESTERN FRONT: Lead elements of Canadian 2nd Corps (part of Canadian 1st Army) link up with the landing forces at Breskens.

(US Ninth Air Force): Bad weather grounds the A-20s and B-26s; fighters escort a leaflet mission, fly sweeps and rail cutting operations, armed reconnaissance over E France and W Germany, and support the US Third Army.

MEDITERRANEAN: In Greece Allied forces occupy Athens and the Piraeus. Further British forces land on Corfu. The British 3rd Corps is about to land at Piraeus. 55 P-38s escort MATAF C-47s carrying airborne forces to Megara Airfield, Greece.

(US Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, bad weather cancels all medium bomber operations; 100+ fighters and fighter-bombers pound troop concentrations, gun positions, supplies, bridges, roads, and rail lines S, of Bologna where hard fighting is taking place in the Monterumici, Livergnano, and Gesso ridge areas.

EASTERN FRONT: (US Fifteenth Air Force):317 B-17s and B-24s hampered by bad weather, bomb oil refineries at Blechhammer and Odertal, Germany, and several targets of opportunity including marshalling yards at Bratislava and Nove Zamky, Czechoslovakia, and in Hungary, Komarom and the Nove Zamky railroad bridges, Borzavar industrial area, and Ugod military garrison; escorting fighters strafe airfields, rail and road traffic and other targets of opportunity in the target areas; 52 B-24s bomb a railroad bridge and marshalling yard at Maribor, Yugoslavia; 54 P-51s on a strafing mission in the Balaton Lake area of Hungary attack airfields at Szekesfehervar and Seregelyes.

GERMANY: Feldmarschall Erwin Rommel is visited at home by Nazi government representatives. He is suspected of complicity in the July 20th plot to assassinate Hitler. Rommel is given the choice of a People's Court trial, or taking poison. Feldmarschall Rommel commits suicide to save his family from disgrace. His death is publicly announced as resulting from wounds.

OPERATION HURRICANE. This raid was part of a special operation which has received little mention in the history books. On 13 October, Sir Arthur Harris received the directive for Operation Hurricane: 'In order to demonstrate to the enemy in Germany generally the overwhelming superiority of the Allied Air Forces in this theatre ... the intention is to apply within the shortest practical period the maximum effort of the Royal Air Force Bomber Command and the VIIIth United States Bomber Command against objectives in the densely populated Ruhr.' Bomber Command had probably been forewarned of the directive because it was able to mount the first part of the operation soon after first light on 14 October. No heavy bombers had flown on operations for 48 hours and 1,013 aircraft - 519 Lancasters, 474 Halifaxes and 20 Mosquitos - were dispatched to Duisburg with RAF fighters providing an escort. 957 bombers dropped 3,574 tons of high explosive and 820 tons of incendiaries on Duisburg. 14 aircraft were lost - 13 Lancasters and 1 Halifax; it is probable that the Lancasters provided the early waves of the raid and drew the attention of the German flak before the flak positions were overwhelmed by the bombing. For their part in Operation Hurricane, the American Eighth Air Force dispatched 1,251 heavy bombers escorted by 749 fighters. More than 1,000 of the American heavies bombed targets in the Cologne area. American casualties were 5 heavy bombers and 1 fighter. No Luftwaffe aircraft were seen.

During the night, Bomber Command continued Operation Hurricane by dispatching 1,005 aircraft - 498 Lancasters, 468 Halifaxes, 39 Mosquitos - to attack Duisburg again in 2 forces 2 hours apart. 941 aircraft dropped 4,040 tons of high explosive and 500 tons of incendiaries during the night. 5 Lancasters and 2 Halifaxes were lost. Nearly 9,000 tons of bombs had thus fallen on Duisburg in less than 48 hours. Local reports are difficult to obtain. The Duisburg Stadtarchiv does not have the important Endbericht - the final report. Small comments are available: 'Heavy casualties must be expected.' 'Very serious property damage. A large number of people buried.' 'Thyssen Mines III and IV: About 8 days loss of production.' 'Duisburg-Hamborn: All mines and coke ovens lay silent.' Not only could Bomber Command dispatch more than 2,000 sorties to Duisburg in less than 24 hours, but there was still effort to spare for No 5 Group to attack Brunswick with 233 Lancasters and 7 Mosquitos. The various diversions and fighter support operations laid on by Bomber Command were so successful that only 1 Lancaster was lost from this raid. Bomber Command had attempted to destroy Brunswick 4 times so far in 1944 and No 5 Group finally achieved that aim on this night, using their own marking methods. It was Brunswick's worst raid of the war and the old centre was completely destroyed. A local report says 'the whole town, even the smaller districts, was particularly hard hit'. It was estimated by the local officials that 1,000 bombers had carried out the raid. Total effort for the 24 hours: 2,589 sorties, 24 aircraft (0.9 per cent) lost. Total tonnage of bombs dropped in 24 hours: approximately 10,050 tons. These record totals would never be exceeded in the war.

141 RAF training aircraft on a diversionary sweep to Heligoland, 20 Mosquitos to Hamburg, 16 to Berlin, 8 to Mannheim and 2 to Düsseldorf, 132 aircraft of 100 Group on RCM, Serrate and Intruder flights (no sub-totals are available), 8 aircraft on Resistance operations. 1 Halifax was lost on the diversionary sweep - it was seen to dive into the sea in flames - and 1 Mosquito was lost from the Berlin raid.

(US Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown. Mission 676: 211 bombers and 258 fighters make GH attacks on 2 targets in Germany: 1 fighter is lost: 1. 90 of 94 B-17s hit a marshalling yard at Saarbrucken; 8 B-17s are damaged. Escort is provided by 105 of 107 P-51s; 1 P-51 is damaged beyond repair. 2. 117 of 117 B-24s hit Kaiserslautern; 8 B-24s are damaged. Escort is provided by 148 of 151 P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA). Mission 677: 1,040 bombers and 491 fighters are dispatched to make PFF attacks on Cologne, Germany; 5 bombers are lost: 1. 434 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Gereon marshalling yard (326); 1 hits a target of opportunity; 2 B-17s are lost and 93 damaged; 3 airmen are WIA and 20 MIA. Escort is provided by 141 of 153 P-51s; 1 P-51 is damaged beyond repair. 2. 318 B-24s are dispatched to hit the Gremberg (127) and Eifelter (121) marshalling yards; 9 others hit Euskirchen; 3 B-24s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 137 damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 2 WIA and 20 MIA. Escort is provided by 177 of 184 P-47s and P-51s without loss. 3. 314 of 379 B-17s hit the secondary target, the Gereon marshalling yard; 1 other hits a target of opportunity; 2 B-17s are damaged beyond repair and 123 damaged; 1 airman is KIA and 3 WIA. Escort is provided by 151 of 154 P-47s and P-51s without loss.

NORTH AMERICA: In the St. Lawrence seaway off Pointe-des-Monts, Quebec, Canada, German submarine 'U-1223' torpedoes Canadian frigate HMCS 'Magog'. The ship survives, but does not re-enter active service.