70 Years Ago Today: Saturday, September 23,1944 ** Selected Highlights ** European Theater The 8th Air Force sends a force of 586 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s to bomb and strafe flak positions and other ground targets in two landing zones in the Nijmegen area, of the Netherlands, immediately preceding the arrival of the remainder of the US 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions and the Polish 1st Brigade. During the night, the RAF sends 378 Lancasters, 154 Halifaxes, and 17 Mosquitos to Neuss. European Theater, Western Europe In the British Second Army area, clearing weather conditions permit the last of the US 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions and rest of the Polish 1st Brigade to be brought into Holland. General Dempsey orders that the fly-in of the British 52nd Division be held up. In the I Airborne Corps area, aircraft and artillery of XXX Corps help the 1st Airborne Division maintain the bridgehead at Hartestein, near Arnhem. During the night, about 250 Polish paratroopers cross with supplies for the 1st Airborne Division. In US Third Army’s XX Corps area, the 7th Armored Division drops its plans for crossing the Seille River, upon receiving orders to join XIX Corps of First Army. In the XII Corps area, the 80th Division extends eastward in the center and on the right as the Germans withdraw, but the enemy retains the hill mass east of Serrières. In the French 1st Army area, General de Lattre revises his plan of attack as a result of General Truscott’s decision to make the main effort with the US Seventh Army, while French forces provide flank protection. Eastern Europe Red Army troops reach Gulf of Riga at Paernu, Estonia. Mediterranean Theater The 15th Air Force dispatches 147 B-17s, escorted by a group of 290 P-38s and P-51s, to bomb the Brux, Czechoslovakia, synthetic oil refinery and the marshalling yard at Wels, Austria. Mediterranean Theater, Italian Campaign In the US Fifth Army’s II Corps area, the 34th Division, with the capture of Montepiano by the 133rd Infantry, is through the Gothic Line. In British Eighth Army area, Canadian I Corps continues to pursue the enemy toward Uso River. Mediterranean Theater, Greece British Special Boat Squadron, Mediterranean, is dropped on Araxos, on the northwest coast of the Peloponnesus, to seize the airfield from which the retreating enemy can be harassed and to occupy Patras. China – Burma – India Theater General Hurley sends a report to President Roosevelt on the situation and tells him of the Generalissimo’s reaction to Roosevelt’s message. China – Burma – India Theater (China) The 14th Air Force sends 15 B-24s to bomb the Burma Road, in the Chefang area, of China. On the Salween front, the Japanese send a rescue column to extricate the garrison of Pingka. Southwest Pacific Area On Morotai, work is begun on another airfield, called Pitoe Drome, about 1,200 yards north of Wama Drome. On Peleliu, Regimental Combat Team 321, of the 81st Division, arrives from Angaur and is attached to the 1st Marine Division. On Angaur, the 322nd Infantry again drives into the Lake Salome bowl from the south, but pulls back again when forward positions become untenable.
Posted on: Tue, 23 Sep 2014 11:29:24 +0000