October 20, 1944
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

FRIDAY, 20 OCTOBER 1944

(CBI) BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, nine P-47s hit encampments and stores near Naha; 5 others knock out a road bridge near Wanling and hit a supply dump in the area, while 4 more attack troops and supplies in the Nansiaung area. Transports fly 200+ sorties in the CBI. In India, the 490th Bombardment Squadron, 341st Bombardment Group, moves from Dergaon to Moran with B-25s.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 18 B-25s bomb docks and storage area at Samshui and the town of Kweiping; 28 P-51s and P-40s join the attack on the Samshui area; 77 P-40s and P-51s on armed reconnaissance pound road, river, and rail traffic, town and village areas and other targets of opportunity around Kweiping, Menghsu, Shawan, Kaotienhsu, Pingnam, Hsenwi, Wuchou, Dosing, Tanchuk, and coastal areas of French Indochina including Hongay.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA) AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): Six P-47s from Saipan bomb and strafe Pagan. Later in the day 4 B-24s hit the . During the night of 20/21 Oct a B-24 on a snooper mission bombs Iwo Jima. In Hawaii, HQ VII Fighter Command moves from Ft Shafter to Hickam Field; the 549th Night Fighter Squadron, 7th Fighter Wing, arrives at Kipapa Field from the US with P-61s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s bomb Davao. B-25s hit Ambon Town. Lost is B-25G Mitchell 42-64946 pilot 1st Lt. Harold F. Watts (MIA). 2d Photographic Charting Squadron, 311th Photographic Wing, arrives at Hollandia from the US to New Guinea with F-7s; the 6th Troop Carrier Squadron, 374th Troop Carrier Group, moves from Nadzab to Biak with C-47s; the ground echelon of the 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, begins a movement from Biak to Leyte (air echelon continues operating from Biak with F-5s); the 67th Troop Carrier Squadron, 433d Troop Carrier Group moves from Hollandia to Biak with C-47s.

US Army: The liberation of the Philippines begins with American landings on Leyte. X Corps landings at Tacloban by the 1st Cavalry Division and 24th Infantry Division. XXIV Corps 96th Division and 7th Division land at Dulag. Three days earlier, Six Army, 6th Ranger Battalion lands on Dinagat, Homonhon Island and Suluan Island. After the landing, General Douglas MacArthur lands on Red Beach near Palo and is photographed wading ashore by Major Gaetano Faillace in an iconic photograph making good on his promise "I shall return". Captain Francis B. Wai was killed inland from Red Beach and later earns the Medal of Honor, posthumously.

U.S. Army: Before landings, naval guns pound assault zone, beginning at 0600, and lifting for a time at 0850 for air strike on Dulag area. Aircraft provide close support throughout day. The Sixth Army invades Leyte, landing on east coast in vicinity of Tacloban, the capital, and Dulag at approximately 1000. Two firm beachheads are established, but at end of day they are nearly 10 miles apart. In a preliminary operation, 21st Inf of 24th Div lands well to S in vicinity of Panaon Strait at 0930 and secures the strait without opposition. Advance echelon of GHQ opens on Leyte at noon. X Corps lands 2 divs abreast on N in vicinity of Tacloban. On N flank, 1st Cav Div, with 7th Cav of 2d Brig and 12th and 5th Cav of 1st Brig, lands and clears San Jose, Tacloban Airfield and Cataisan Peninsula; makes contact with 24th Div to left. 24th Div, with 34th Inf on N and 19th on S, meets heavy fire after initial waves have landed; against strong opposition seizes Hill 522, key terrain feature N of Palo commanding N entrance to Leyte Valley, and secures bridgehead averaging a mile in depth. XXIV Corps lands near Dulag with 96th Div on N and 7th on S. 96th, with 383d Inf on N and 382d on S, is slowed by harassing fire and difficult terrain but takes San Jose, positions astride Labiranan R, and Hill 120; pushes inland about 2,500 yards on N and 1,300 on S; makes contact with 7th Div to left. 7th Div lands with 32d Inf on N and 184th on S; gets forward elements on N across Highway 1 and on S takes Dulag and reaches edge Dulag Airfield where counterattacks are repelled, night 20-21. 3d Bn, 17th Inf, lands in the afternoon and secures right flank
by establishing bridgehead south of Daguitan River at Dao.

In Palau, Gen Mueller, 81st Div commander, takes responsibility for ground operations in the Palaus from III Amphib Corps. Elements of 81st Div seize Pulo Anna.

USN: Lost is PV-1 Ventura 34799 pilot Lt(jg) William B. Taylor (MIA).