70 Years Ago Today: Sunday, June 4, 1944 European Theater At SHAEF, General Eisenhower postpones D-Day 24 hours, to June 6, because of unfavorable weather forecasts. European Theater, Strategic (POINTBLANK) 8th Air Force Mission 389 – The effort is to be divided between the Pas de Calais area (Operation COVER) and the Normandy assault area (Operation NEPTUNE), however, D-Day is postponed 24 hours and the NEPTUNE raid is cancelled. Meanwhile, 201 B-17s and 56 B-24s attack seven targets in the Pas de Calais area. Fighter escorts are 130 P-47s and 42 P-51s. Two P-51s are lost. 8th Air Force Mission 390 – 246 B-17s and 68 B-24s bomb eight coastal defense positions in the same area using PFF. One airman is listed as kille in action. 8th Air Force Mission 391 – 263 B-17s and 185 B-24s bomb airfields, railway junctions and bridges. The B-17s hit the Massey/ Palaiseau railroad bridge, the Versailles/Metelots railroad bridge and the Villeneuve/St George railroad bridge. The B-24s bomb the Brourges Airfield, the Romorantin/Prunieres Airfield, the Avord Airfield, the Bretigny Airfield and the Melun bridges. 10 airmen are listed as killed in action. Fighter escort is 135 P-47s and 277 P-51s. One P-51 is lost. Two B-17s, from the 8th Air Force, fly weather reconnaissance over the UK and the Atlantic. During the night, the RAF sends 125 Lancasters, 118 Halifaxes, and 16 Mosquitos to bomb four gun positions. Three of these are deception targets in the Pas de Calais, but the fourth battery, at Maisy, is in Normandy, between what is soon to be known as Omaha and Utah beaches, where American troops land in less than 36 hours. Unfortunately, Maisy is covered by clouds and can only be marked by Oboe skymarkers, before it is bombed by 52 Lancasters. Two of the three gun positions in the Pas de Calais are also affected by bad weather and can only be bombed through the clouds, but the gun position at Calais is clear and is accurately marked by the Mosquitos and well bombed by Halifaxes and Lancasters. Meanwhile, 20 Mosquitos attack Cologne, six hit Argentan, four fly radio counter measure sorties, and six fly Serrate patrols. Four Halifaxes and three Lancasters lay mines from the Scheldt to Dunkirk, and 17 other aircraft fly resistance operations European Theater, Tactical (OVERLORD) The 9th Air Force sends a force of over 300 B-26s and A-20s to bomb highway bridge and coastal batteries, in France. Meanwhile, almost 200 P-47s and P-51s divebomb bridges, railroad junction, rolling stock and targets of opportunity. Mediterranean Theater, Tactical In Italy, 12th Air Force medium bombers hit railroad bridges in north central Italy. Fighter-bombers concentrate on motor transport north of Rome, over which the enemy is retreating. Mediterranean Theater, Strategic The 15th Air Force sends a force of over 550 B-17s and B-24s to attack communications in northwestern Italy and on both sides of the Franco-Italian frontier. In France, B-17s hit the Antheor railroad viaduct and Var River railroad bridges. In Italy, B-24s hit the marshalling yards at Genoa, Turin, Savona and Novi Ligure, the viaduct at Recco, and the railroad bridges at Orelle and Gad. In other action, fighters fly over 200 sorties in support of the heavy bombers. Italy Campaign US Fifth Army columns, some motorized, converge on Rome against rear-guard opposition and are enthusiastically welcomed by the populace. Elements of 88th Reconnaissance Troop of II Corps are the first to enter but cannot deepen penetration. General Clark designates the garrison of the Eternal City to be comprised of the US 3rd Division, less one regiment that will remain in the city as Fifth Army reserve, the British 1st Battalion, of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, and one composite battalion of the French Expeditionary Force (FEC). The US 3rd Division is to command the garrison forces. In VI Corps area, the 1st Armored Division takes Albano and drives up Highway 7 into Rome, while the 36th Division, to east, advances into eastern suburbs. The 45th and 34th Division task forces secure crossing sites below Rome. In II Corps area, 1st Special Service Force and 88th Division columns, making the main effort, with the 1st Special Service Force along Highway 6 and the 88th Division along Via Prenestina, are delayed west of Centocelle for about nine hours, but push on through to Rome. The 1st Special Service Force fans out within Rome to take the Tiber bridges north of Ponte Margherita. The 88th Division Task Force, based on the 1st Battalions, of the 351st and 350th Regiments, drive through the city and seize Ponte Milvio and Ponte del Duca d’Aosta. On left flank of II Corps, one 85th Division force drives through Frascati and along Via Tuscolana to Rome, taking Ponte Cavour. 85th Division force cuts Highway 7. The French Expeditionary Force (FEC) completes its relief of the US 3rd Division on the right flank of II Corps. Forward elements of the 3rd Algerian Division reach Aniene River at Lunghezza. The 1st Motorized Division is committed to the right. The British Eighth Army regroups in order to place two fresh armored divisions, the British 6th and the South African 6th, as forward pursuit elements that XIII Corps is to lead. XIII Corps takes command of the South African 6th Armoured Division from the Canadian I Corps. Canadian I Corps is withdrawn into reserve. China – Burma – India Theater (China) 14th Air Force P-40s bomb artillery positions and targets of opportunity in the Watien area, of the Salween battle front, in China. Others bomb railroad targets of opportunity in northeastern French Indochina. China – Burma – India Theater (Burma) The 10th Air Force sends over 20 P-40s to attack the Myitkyina area, in Burma, while 19 others hit various points in northern Burma, including Haka, Kamaing, Kamasaing, Tagwin, and Bilumyo. Meanwhile, B-25s continue the ammunition lift to Imphal, India. On the Salween front, the Chinese silence enemy fire on the heights commanding the Huei-jen Bridge. The 88th and 87th Divisions, of the Chinese 71st Army, are converging on Lung-ling, with the 88th from Pingka and the 87th along the Burma Road. Meanwhile, elements of the Chinese New 28th Division take Lameng, as others are containing Sung Shan garrison. Southwest Pacific Area In New Guinea, 5th Air Force A-20s bomb the town and harbor at Manokwari and shipping to the east in Geelvink Bay. B-24s bomb the Namber and Borokoe airfields, while fighters battle enemy airplanes in the general area. Meanwhile, other B-24s bomb the area near the Orai River mouth, while A-20s hit Wewak and fighter-bombers pound the Hansa Bay coast. On Biak, the 186th Infantry of Task Force HURRICANE halts its westward drive because of a possible enemy attack and spends the rest of day in uneventful patrolling. In the Ibdi area, the 162nd Infantry makes limited progress in clearing the trail leading inland and the ridge lines extending from it. In the Aitape area, of Hollandia, the Japanese, after preparatory bombardment, counterattack against the Herrick Force, of Task Force PERSECUTION, in the Yakamul area, forcing elements on far side of stream to retire. Bailey Force is ordered to relieve Herrick Force and starts north toward Yakamul, bypassing the enemy block on trail. Southwest Pacific Area headquarters begins preparations for the seizure of Noemfoor Island, between Biak and Manokwari. The island, containing three airdromes, can be used as a staging area and also as base from which to cover sea lanes west of Biak. South Pacific Area Bad weather again prevents strikes against the Rabaul area, of New Britain Island. On Bougainville Island, P-39s flying a total of 55 sorties, blast a truck park near Komai, strafe huts at Doure, and attack a pier at Tunuru. Nine P-38s weathered out of Rabaul, strike the Tonolai supply area and a lone B-25 bombs Kahili. Central Pacific Area 7th Air Force B-25s, from Engebi Island, in the Eniwetok Atoll, bomb Ponape Island. North Pacific Area Two B-24s, from the 11th Air Force, fly an uneventful reconnaissance over Shimushiru Island. Fuel shortages and equipment failures prevent flying to the secondary target at Matsuwa Island. Later, a B-25 and two P-38s fly a guardship cover mission.
Posted on: Wed, 04 Jun 2014 12:30:00 +0000
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