October 10, 1944
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

TUESDAY, 10 OCTOBER 1944

AMERICAN ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Four B-24s abort a strike at Kashiwabara due to weather.

(CBI) BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 28 P-47s support ground forces near Pinhe, bomb the towns of Tawbon and Man Naung, and hit targets of opportunity in and near Momauk. Transport operations to various points in the CBI continue at the rate of 250+ sorties.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 12 B-25s bomb and considerably damage the Kunlong ferry; 38 P-40s and P-51s on armed reconnaissance attack a bridge and other targets of opportunity near Mangshih, hit troop areas around Tanchuk and Wuchou, river traffic near Dosing, and locomotives and barges along the N French Indochina coast.

USN Admiral "Bull" Halsey's carrier aircraft begin sustained attacks on Japanese bases from the Ryukyus to the northern Philippines in preparation for the amphibious assault on Leyte. As many as 1,000 planes are in action at once. The war also draws closer to Japan as planes from Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher fast carrier task force bomb coastal defenses and ships at Okinawa and other islands of the Ryukyu group.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA) AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 14 B-24s from Saipan bomb the airfield on Iwo Jima and shipping off the eastern shore. 24 P-47s pound buildings and storage caves on Pagan; later a B-24 bombs the radio station north of Pagan Airfield on Pagan. Twelve B-25s from Makin bomb Nauru Airfield runways and adjacent AA positions.

RNZAF: Lost is PV-1 Ventura NZ4575 (KIA).

USMC: Lost is FG Corsair 13316 (rescued).

Australian Army: Z Force Operation Rimau: October 10-16, 1944 another group of Australian Army "Z Force" (Z Special Unit) commandos under the command of Major Ivan Lyon attempted a similar raid against Japanese shipping in Singapore Harbor one-man motorized submersible canoes code named "Sleeping Beauties" (SB). Detected by a Malaysian Police patrol boat Hei Ho, the mission was compromised. The commandos divided into three groups with one group of seven under the command of Lyon attempted to attack shipping. They claimed to have sunk three ships with limpet mines but the sinking are unconfirmed. Afterwards, all the commandos were either killed or captured. Those captured all died in custody or were executed.

Operation Rimau: A second group of "Z Force" (Z Special Unit) commandos under the command of Major Ivan Lyon attempted a similar raid against Japanese shipping in Singapore Harbor using one-man motorized submersible canoes code named "Sleeping Beauties" (SB). Detected by a Malaysian Police patrol boat Hei Ho, the mission was compromised. The commandos divided into three groups with one group of seven under the command of Lyon attempted to attack shipping. They claimed to have sunk three ships with limpet mines but the sinking are unconfirmed. Afterwards, all the commandos killed or captured. Those captured all died in custody or were executed.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: P-38s and B-25s bomb Djailolo, Kaoe, and Hate Tabako Airfield and Wasile town area. P-47s hit Liang Airfield on Ambon. In New Guinea, A-20s hit the Sarmi area and A-20s and B-25s bomb Urarom Airfield. Lost is A-20G 43-21631 (2 died, 2 rescued).

Far East Air Force (FEAF) conduct a long range bombing mission against oil refineries at Balikpapan on southeast Borneo. The bombers take off before dawn including B-24s from 5th AF units including 90th BG, 22nd BG, 43rd BG plus B-24s from 13th AF units including 5th BG and 307th BG on a bombing mission against oil refineries at Balikpapan on southeast Borneo. After take off before dawn, the bombers fly directly to an assembly point where they will rendezvous and meet a fighter escort of P-38 Lightnings from 9th FS and 5th Fighter Command. Meanwhile, P-47D Thunderbolts from 40th Fighter Squadron (40th FS) and 41st Fighter Squadron (41st FS) conduct a fighter sweep over nearby Manggar Airfield on southeast Borneo. When they 5th Air Force bombers reach the assembly point, they are ahead of the 13th Air Force bombers and P-38 escort. Approaching the target, Japanese fighters intercept and drop aerial bombs to break up the bomber formation. During the air combat, the Americans claim 30+ Japanese fighters shot down. The escorting fighters claim 18 shot down and one damaged. Lost is B-24J 44-40774 pilot 1st Lt. Donald J. Clarey (22nd BG, 19th BS entire crew MIA), B-24J 44-40368 pilot 1st Lt. Leonard F. Temple (90th BG, 400th BS entire crew MIA), B-24J 42-100005 pilot 1st Lt. Robert C. Stone (22nd BG, 408th BS entire crew MIA), B-24J "Liberty Belle" 42-100206 pilot 2nd Lt. Joseph C. Tafaro (22nd BG, 33rd BS entire crew rescued) and P-47D 42-28529 pilot 1st Lt. Hilton S. Kessel (MIA).

IJN: Japanese fighters scramble to intercept the U.S. air raid over Balikpapan. Lost are J1N1 Irving pilot Lt Ozaki (S902, 381 Ku), A6M5 Zero plot Lt. Akira Tanaka (S309, 331 Ku) and CPO Eizo Ohta (S602, 381 Ku). Also intercepting were floatplanes (A6M2 Rufes or N1K1 Rexs) likely from 22 Tokubetsu Konkyochitai (22 Special Base Unit). Also intercepting were A6M5 Zeros and possibly a few J2M Jacks from 331 Ku and 381 Ku.

References
Moonlight Interceptor (1985) page 46
The Jolly Rogers History of the 90th Bomb Group During World War II (1981) pages 148-150 (October 10, 1944), 198 (10/10/44 Temple)
Legacy of the 90th Bombardment Group "The Jolly Rogers" (1994) pages 139-140 (October 10, 1944), 141 (map)
Revenge of the Red Raiders The Illustrated History of the 22nd Bombardment Group During World War II (2006) pages 314 (map), 318-321 (October 10, 1944), 483 (October 10, 1944 crews)
Ken’s Men Against The Empire: The Illustrated History of the 43rd Bombardment Group During World War II Volume II: October 1943 to 1945 B-24 Era (2019) pages 163-169 (October 10, 1944), 359 (October 10, 1944 casualties)
Japanese Naval Air Force Fighter Units and Their Aces 1932-1945 (2011) pages 228-229 (381 Ku), 248 (S309), 255 (S602), 259 (S902), 402 (losses 10/10/44)
Ace of Aces: The Dick Bong Story (2019) pages 90-91 (October 14, 1944), 145 (Appendix B 10/10/43 [sic 44])