SUNDAY, 23 JULY 1944
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 100+ fighter-bombers hit enemy positions
in the Myitkyina area, support ground forces at Szigahtawng, bomb the Kamaing and Mogaung areas, blast troops and supplies at Kalang, Kyungon, and Tinzai,
and hit targets of opportunity at Peau, Namma, Sahmaw, Taungni, and Hopin; 9
B-25s hit the Myitkyina and Naungtalaw areas while 8 bomb Namting.
China: Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, in message to U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, reaffirms his willingness to place Gen Stilwell in command of Ch forces but specifies 3 conditions that must be met: (1) Chinese communists, before coming under authority of Gen Stilwell, must agree to obey orders of Chinese Government; (2) Stilwell's role must be clearly defined; (3) Chinese must have full authority for lend-lease distribution. Adm Mountbatten outlines two plans of attack: Capital, an attack across the Chindwin; and Dracula, an attack on Rangoon area by seaborne and airborne forces. On Salween front, Ch 8th Army, renewing attack on Sung Shan with 3 regts supported by direct fire of howitzers, makes substantial progress.
CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 62 P-40s attack warehouses, trucks,
and troops in the Changsha-Sinshih-Fulinpu area, bomb the airfield and river
craft at Siangtan, hit enemy-held areas of Hengyang, and strafe and bomb troop
compounds and villages N of it; 6 B-25s and 21 P-40s hit warehouses and railroad
yards in the Yellow River area; 10 P-40s hit Japanese positions on the Salween
front in support of Chinese forces; and 449th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter
Group based at Chengkung with P-38s, sends a detachment to operate from Yunnani until March 1945.
PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): P-47s from Saipan hit Tinian and the 48th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 41st Bombardment Group (Medium),
based on Abemama begins operating from Saipan with
B-25s. B-25s from Makin attack Nauru. B-24s staging through Eniwetok bomb Truk while others, flying out of Kwajalein, hit Wotje. Crashed after take off is C-47A 42-100988 (KIA).
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s bomb Yap, hitting the town area and airfield. In New Guinea, airfields and shipping
terminals over widespread areas of the Vogelkop Peninsula and nearby islands
are pounded by B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, and fighter-bombers; But
Airfield is again
the main target in NE New Guinea; communications, supplies, barges, and troop
concentrations from Wewak to Yakamul are also bombed and strafed throughout
the day; HQ 345th Bombardment Group (Medium) and 500th and 501st Bombardment
Squadrons (Medium) move from Nadzab to Biak with B-25s; the 25th and
26th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadrons, 6th Photographic Reconnaissance
Group, move from Nadzab to Biak and Hollandia respectively with F-5s;
and the 460th Fighter Squadron, V Fighter Command moves from Gusap to Nadzab with A-20s. Lost is A-20G 42-54089 pilot Captain Kramer Thomas, Jr. (MIA).
U.S. Army: General Douglas MacArthur radios his proposed schedule of operations to Washington D.C. the invasion of Morotai on September 15, 1944 and Talauds on October 15, 1944 and Mindanao on November 15, 1944.
In New Guinea, in the Aitape area, Troop A and Troop B of 112th Cavalry, upon relief by 1st Bn of 127th Infanty north of Afua, attack west toward isolated Troop C while 2d Bn, 127th Inf, moves in from the southeast. Cavalrymen recapture Afua with little difficulty; 2d Bn reaches perimeter of Troop C. North Force frustrates further enemy efforts to secure crossing of the Driniumor River during the night of July 23-24.
On Biak, final mop up of Ibdi Pocket is begun. On Noemfoor, patrols of 503d Para Inf regain contact with enemy about 4 miles NW of Inasi village, on E coast.
On Guam,
the 77th Infantry Division, USA (less the 307th Infantry) began landing to the south and relieved the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade in their southern sector. The 307th Infantry went ashore as III Amphibious Corps reserve the following day.
On Tinian, warships, artillery and aircraft successfully execute final preinvasion bombardment.
USMC: 3d Mar Div fights stubbornly to expand N beachhead; completes occupation of Cabras I., where guns are emplaced to support future operations. 306th Inf, 77th Div, lands at Agat and begins relief of 1st Prov Mar Brig in S beachhead.
Meanwhile. elements of the 3d Marine Division completed the occupation of Cabras Island.
USN: Lost is R4D-5 Dakota 39090 pilot Lt(jg) John D. Gross (MIA).
Destroyer Bush (DD-529) is damaged by premature detonation of 5-inch shell during shore bombardment exercises off Kahoolawe, T.H.
High speed minesweeper Chandler (DMS-9) is damaged by fire, Marianas, 15°08'N, 145°28'E.
Japanese guardboat Wakayoshi Maru is sunk by mine, Hayatomo Seto, Inland Sea.
Japanese cargo vessel Takazan Maru is damaged by RAAF mine in Tiore Strait, Celebes, 04°25'S, 122°17'E.
Royal Navy:
British submarine HMS Storm sinks Japanese cargo ship Kiso Maru and fishing vessel Taih Maru near Port Owen, 14°00'N, 96°50'E.
