October 26, 1944
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

THURSDAY, 26 OCTOBER 1944

USA: P-51D Mustang 44-15669 pilot Gertrude V. "Tommy" Silver is lost over Santa Monica Bay off Los Angeles.

AMERICAN ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Six B-24s which abort a naval task force cover mission after failing to find the ships, two bomb installations on Onnekotan.

Burma: In NCAC area, Ch 22d Div, attacking in center of NCAC front, reaches old Chindit airstrip, BROADW AY, 27 miles SE of Hopin, where it remains for a few days to recover from arduous march over hills.

THEATER CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, B-24s and B-25s attack shipping off the E Luichow Peninsula; B-25s also hit river shipping from Dosing to Takhing and a Yellow River bridge; fighters attack the town of Menghsu, hit targets of opportunity around Menghsu and Kweiping, and make an armed reconnaissance attack on Hongay, French Indochina; B-25s and fighters bomb railroad yards at Hsuchang.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA) AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): Eight P-47s from Saipan bomb and strafe Pagan. Fifteen B-25s based in the Gilberts, bomb Nauru Airfield.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s attack a naval force of 2 battleships, 5 aircraft carriers, and 5 destroyers W of Panay; hits are claimed on a battleship and 2 carriers; on Mindanao , P-38s hit vehicles in the Davao area and B-25s bomb Iligan. On Halmahera, P-40s attack targets of opportunity in the Dodinga-Kaoe Bay area, Djailolo, supply area south of Galela, and guns south of Doro. A-20s and B-25s bomb Urarom; the 318th Troop Carrier Squadron (Commando), 3d Air Commando Group, arrives at Nadzab with C-47s.

IJN: Lost is G4M2 Betty transporting Zero pilots from 201 Kokutai.

U.S. Army: U.S. Sixth Army: In X Corps area, 24th Div, having cleared northern approaches to Leyte Valley, attacks inland. 2d Bn, 34th Inf, drives steadily along Highway 2 to Santa Fe. From Castilla, 3d Bn of 19th continues to outskirts of Pastrana, where entrance into the town is barred by a strong fortress. In XXIV Corps area, 382d Inf of 96th Div attempts to take Tabontabon, Japanese supply center, but after reaching edge of the barrio is forced back to Guinarona R. Div arty shells the barrio through night 26-27. 383d Inf's Co E conducts rcn in force against San Vicente Hill, N tip of Catmon Hill, but is forced to withdraw. Japanese withdraw main body of troops from Catmon Hill. 3d Bn, 381st Inf, starts N along Highway 1 toward Tanauan to secure N flank of beachhead along road Tanauan-Dagami. 32d Inf, 7th Div, continues battle for Buri airfield with 2d and 1st Bns, moving through fortifications to positions around edge of the field. 17th Inf, leaving 2d Bn of 184th Inf behind to contain enemy on ridge and moving its 3d Bn forward by truck from Dao, attacks with 1st, 2d, and 3d Bns toward Dagami, reaching positions about 600 yards S of Guinarona.

On Peleliu, RCT 323 takes control of operations against Umurbrogol Pocket. The Umurbrogol Pocket now averages about 600 yards from N to S; although about 475 yards wide on N, deep salients have been driven southward into it; Japanese retain a few caves along E side; S part of the pocket is less than 350 yards wide. A period of unfavorable weather conditions begins, during which RCT 323 improves defenses. In total, 321st Inf has lost 146 killed and 469 wounded on Peleliu.

USN: The Battle of Leyte Gulf concludes as the remaining Japanese fleet withdraws. Navy carrier-based and USAAF land-based planes attack retiring Japanese ships that have survived the previous days' action. TF 38 planes sink light cruiser Kinu southwest of Masbate, 11°46'N, 123°11'E; destroyer Hayashimo 40 miles south of Mindoro, 12°05'N, 121°50'E. Aircraft from USS Hornet (CV-12) and USS Wasp (CV-18) sink light cruiser Noshiro south of Mindoro, 11°35'N, 121°45'E; planes from USS Hancock (CV-19) sink landing ship T.102 in the Guimaras Straits, 11°00'N, 123°00'E; TF 38 planes damage heavy cruiser Kumano; destroyer Okinami in Sibuyan Sea. Planes from TU 77.4.2 sink destroyer Uranami 70 miles north-northeast of Iloilo, Panay, 11°50'N, 123°00'E. USAAF B-24s sink light cruiser Abukuma southwest of Negros Island, 09°20'N, 122°30'E; battleship Haruna is damaged by near-misses. In related action, U.S. cruisers and destroyers sink destroyer Nowaki 65 miles south-southeast of Legaspi, Luzon, 13°00'N, 124°54'E.

PT-132 is damaged by dive bomber, 09°00'N, 125°00'E.

U.S. freighter Benjamin Ide Wheeler is attacked by Japanese plane off Leyte, and damaged by near-miss of bomb that wounds three of the ship's embarked troops.

Submarine Drum (SS-228) sinks Japanese transport Tatsura Maru, 19°00'N, 120°45'E, and merchant passenger/cargo ship Taisho Maru and cargo ship Taihaku Maru north of Luzon, 19°21'N, 120°50'E.

Submarine Icefish (SS-367) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Taiyo Maru west of Luzon Strait, 19°04'N,120°36'E, but is damaged by depth charges and is forced to terminate her patrol.

Submarine Rock (SS-274) sinks Japanese merchant tanker No.7 Takasago Maru near Balabac Strait, 10°18'N, 117°47'E.

U.S. Navy carrier-based aircraft sink merchant tanker No. 31 Nanshin Maru west of Balabac Strait, 08°22'N, 116°55'E.

Special Task Air Group One (STAG-1) launched four drones against Rabaul. Two drones hit buildings close to their targets. One crashed into the sea off the southwest tip of Duke of York Island. The fourth diverted to Cape St. George and hit the German Lighthouse. This was the last attack in a month long demonstration of the TDR assault drones and concluded the first use of the guided missile in the Pacific. During the demonstration a total of 46 drones were expended of which 29 reached the target areas: two attacked the German Lighthouse at Cape St. George, making one hit which demolished the structure; nine attacked anti-aircraft emplacements on beached ships achieving six direct hits and two near misses; and 18 attacked other targets in the Shortlands and Rabaul areas making 11 hits.

Royal Navy: British submarine HMS Tantivy damages Japanese ship No.2 Katsuma Maru.