SATURDAY, 14 OCTOBER 1944
AMERICAN ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Four B-25s bomb and strafe buildings at
Otomae Bay in the Kuriles.
China: Gen Stilwell flies to eastern China, where Chinese are preparing to take the offensive.
(CBI) BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): Transport aircraft fly 200+ sorties, delivering
men and supplies to various points in the CBI. The 165th Liaison Squadron (Commando),
1st Air Commando Group, moves from Asanol, India to Tamu, Burma with C-64s and
L-5s.
CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 32 P-51s and P-40s on armed reconnaissance
attack troops, town areas, and river traffic around Samshui, Mangshih, Kweiping,
Hsinganhsien, Konghow and Tajungchiang.
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Twentieth Air Force): 103 B-29s from Chengtu bomb Okayama aircraft plant on Formosa; 12 more hit last-resort targets
and targets of opportunity; this is the first Twentieth AF mission during which
100+ B-29s attack targets and the first of a series of missions against Formosa in conjunction with the US invasion of Leyte.
Admiral Halsey's Task Force 38 (TF-38) carries out more attacks on Formosa to neutralize it as a Japanese base. Lost is F6F Hellcat 58415 pilot Lt(jg) Robert W. Blakeslee (MIA). During TF 38 operations against Japanese shipping and installations on Formosa, Navy carrier-based planes damage coastal minelayer Enoshima and auxiliary submarine chasers Cha 7 and Cha 151 off Takao.
While Task Force 38 (TF-38) remains nearby to provide cover for the ongoing salvage of crippled heavy cruiser USS Canberra (CA-70) damaged the previous day, Japanese aerial counterattacks continue, inflicting damage on carrier Hancock (CV-19), 23°30'N, 121°30'E; light cruiser Reno (CL-96) (suicide plane); and destroyer Cassin Young (DD-793) (strafing), 22°30'N, 124°50'E. Light cruiser USS Houston (CL-81) is damaged by aerial torpedo, and destroyer USS Cowell (DD-547) is damaged when she fouls Houston as Cowell lies alongside assisting in salvage efforts, 22°27'N, 124°01'E. Heavy cruiser Boston (CA-69)--later relieved by fleet tug Pawnee (ATF-74)--takes Houston in tow. At this juncture, heavy air attacks on TF 38, together with enemy radio propaganda broadcasts that reflect a vast overestimation of the destruction wreaked by attacking Japanese aircraft, prompts Commander Third Fleet to withdraw TG 38.2 (Rear Admiral Gerald F. Bogan) and TG 38.3 (Rear Admiral Frederick C. Sherman) to the eastward to set upon any important Japanese fleet units that would attempt to finish off the "crippled remnants" of TF 38. The enemy, however, does not take the bait.
Submarine Angler (SS-240) sinks Japanese army transport Nanrei Maru south of Tablas Strait, 11°53'N, 121°39'E.
Submarine Bonefish (SS-223) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Fushimi Maru in South China Sea off west coast of Luzon, 16°12'N, 119°45'E.
Submarine Dace (SS-247) sinks Japanese merchant tankers Eikyo Maru and Nittetsu Maru and damages merchant ore carrier Taizen Maru off North Borneo, 06°05'N, 115°55'E.
USS Saratoga (CV-3) and destroyer escort USS Howard F. Clark (DE-533) are damaged in collision during maneuvers off Oahu.
III Amphibious Force from Hawaii, with elements of Leyte invasion force reach Manus and depart for Leyte.
USMC: Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, designated Major General Harry Schmidt (Commanding General, V Amphibious Corps) as Landing Force Commander for the Iwo Jima operation and directed him to prepare plans for the upcoming invasion.
Adm Fort turns over control of all operations in the Palaus to Adm Hoover, heading Forward Area Central Pacific (TF 57). On Peleliu, 81st Div prepares to relieve Marines at Umurbrogol Pocket while defending eastern arm of the island, recalling 2d Bn of 321st Inf from offshore islands. On Angaur, attack and occupation phase is terminated by III Amphib Corps, although pocket still remains on the northwest tip.
PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA) AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): Three B-24s on armed reconnaissance
from Saipan bomb Marcus. P-47s on a sweep over Pagan bomb and strafe storage
caves. 1 B-24 from the Marshall bombs Wake during the night of 14/15. HQ
41st Bombardment Group (Medium) and the 48th, 396th and 820th Bombardment Squadrons
(Medium) move from Makin to Wheeler Field with B-25s.
Royal Navy: HMS Sturdy sinks Japanese Communication Vessel No.128 in Gulf of Boni.
RAAF: P-40N Kittyhawks strike Manokwari. Lost is P-40N Kittyhawk A29-824 pilot W/O Peter Gerald Schlencker (MIA).
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s again bomb
oil refineries and associated industries in the Balikpapan area; others
bomb Pombelaa mine on Celebes. In support of the bombers, P-47D Thunderbolts from 41st Fighter Squadron (41st FS) and 40th Fighter Squadron (40th FS) conduct a fighter sweep over Manggar
Airfield on southeast Borneo. Lost is P-47D "Claire-Doll III" 42-28500 pilot 1st Lt. Raymond P. Wiedmeyer (MIA). A-20s, B-25s, and fighter-bombers again hit Laha Airfield on Ambon and Haroekoe Airfield. In New Guinea,
374th Troop Carrier Group HQ and 21st Troop Carrier Squadron move from Nadzab to Biak with C-47s.
References
The Jolly Rogers History of the 90th Bomb Group During World War II (1981) pages 148-150, 198 (10/10/44 Temple)
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 169 (October 14, 1944), 359 (October 10, 1944 casualties).
