MONDAY, 31 JULY 1944
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 20 fighter-bombers hit Myitkyina, Eleven fighter-bombers
attack the Kamaing-Mogaung area, 12 bomb a bridge at Mohnyin, 14 support ground
forces near Myitkyina, and 11 others hit targets of opportunity at Sahmaw, Bilumyo,
and Pinhe; 9 B-25s pound the Hopin troop area; the Japanese are in retreat down the Tiddim road.
Burma: 11 Army Group: In Br Fourteenth Army area, 4 Corps hq is withdrawn to India and its components on Tiddim road are transferred to command of Hq, 33 Corps, which now has full responsibility for forcing enemy back across the Chindwin. Japanese are in full retreat down Tiddim road. 15 Corps, on Arakan front, has engaged in patrolling throughout June and July despite heavy monsoon rainfall.
CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, twelve B-24s bomb the Wuchang railroad yards;
B-25s, operating individually or in pairs, bomb Hengshan, Siangtan, and Hankow and attack airfields: Tien Ho, White Cloud, Hengyang, and Wuchang; 60+ P-40s
and P-51s attack troop compounds, town areas and road and river traffic at several
locations in or near Changsha, Hengyang, Kaishowkiao, Liling, Luchi, and Liuchow.
PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s and P-47s from Saipan bomb and strafe Tinian. B-25s from Makin pound Nauru.
B-24s from the Marshalls bomb Truk.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s again strike Woleai, Lolobata Airfield and Galela Airfield are also hit. P-39s continue to hit villages on the west coast of Geelvink Bay; in NE New Guinea fighter-bombers continue pounding Japanese concentrations
and targets of opportunity on the north coast, particularly between Wewak and Yakamul;
A-20s support Australian ground forces in the Hansa Bay area, hitting troop
positions west of the Sepik River and troop concentrations at Singarin and Kopa.
U.S. Army: At 8:44am the U.S. Army 3d Bn of 1st Inf, 6th Div makes an amphibious landing without opposition at
Sansapor and the Sansapor Plantation and Village are quickly secured and defensive positions established. Cape Sansapor is found to be unsuitable for PT base but is to become site of radar warning installation. In Aitape area, 124th Inf, reinf by 2d Bn of 169th and dubbed TED Force, begins counterattack in North Force sector at 8:00am under direction of Col Edward M. Starr. The 4 bns cross the Driniumor River and advance in separate columns toward Niumen Creek, which 3 of the 4 reach, the other being halted 800 yards short by enemy rear guards. 128th Inf protects sector previously held by North Force. In sector of South Force, Co G of 127th Inf breaks out of encirclement near Afua and returns to main body. From 13 July to date, South Force has suffered almost 1,000 casualties; 260 of them within 112th Cav; over 700 Japanese are estimated to have been killed by South Force. The 81st Division in Hawaii begins preliminary rehearsals for the landings in Palau.
USMC: On Tinian, Marines continue south over rugged terrain against moderate resistance. Unusually heavy bombardment by naval vessels, aircraft, and arty precedes attack. On Guam, 3d Mar and 77th Inf Divs begin pursuit of enemy northward, 3d Mar on left, and reach first phase line, extending generally from Agana on W to Yona on E, without trouble except for skirmish at Yona, where 77th Div meets some enemy troops.
