October 29, 1944
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SUNDAY, 29 OCTOBER 1944

AMERICAN ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): On Paramushiru four B-25s on reconnaissance hit Tomari Cape buildings and a freighter which is left listing.

India-Burma: On Salween front, Gen Wei Lihuang's Chinese Expeditionary Force, closely supported by U.S. Fourteenth Air Force, renews offensive, attacking toward Lung-ling with Ch 200th Div in the lead. Japanese have been thinning out.

Burma: In NCAC area, Br 36th Div, having paused briefly at Mawpin, resumes southward drive down RR corridor.

CHINA THEATER (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, fighters in support of Chinese ground forces blast hill positions in the Lungling and Mangshih areas; others damage a bridge at Sinshih, bomb Kweiyi and Paoching, hit railroad targets between Siaokan and Sinyang, and strafe airfields at Chingmen, Tangyang, and Ichang.

INDIA-BURMA THEATER (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 80+ fighter-bombers again attack a wide variety of targets including troop concentrations, bridges, supply dumps, and numerous targets of opportunity at Kawlin, Wingnang, Hsenwi, Bhamo, Shwegu, Kyungon, Tugyaung, Yebyangale, Henu, and Kayin.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA) AAFPOA (Seventh Air Force): 19 B-24s from Saipan bomb Chichi Jima. Two B-24s from Guam strike Yap.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Fighter-bombers and B-25s, operating in small forces, are active against airfields, AA positions, and targets of opportunity on Halmahera. Fighter-bombers hit Ransiki while fighter-bombers, A-20s, and B-25s bomb Urarom and Soeli and strafe targets of opportunity throughout the Urarom-Kaimana area. HQ 13th AF moves from Noemfoor to Morotai. The 63d Troop Carrier Squadron and 64th Troop Carrier Squadron, 403d Troop Carrier Group based on Biak begin operating from Wakde and Noemfoor respectively with C-47s. Force landed on a ferry flight are P-47D "Tojo Special" 42-23249 (survived) and P-47D 42-75921 (survived). Lost is B-24J "Sleepy Time Gal" 42-110120 (MIA).

U.S. Army: Since 77th Div will apparently not be needed on Leyte, General MacArthur transfers it from control of General Krueger to that of Admiral Nimitz. U.S. On Leyte, Sixth Army in the X Corps area, 3d Bn of 34th Inf, 24th Div, takes the lead in drive to Jaro, reaching the town at 1700 after having cleared opposition en route to Galotan. 19th Inf defends S flank of div; Co K establishes roadblock at Ypad. 2d Cav Brig, 1st Cav Div, continues assembling in Barugo area, 1st Sq joining Tr C there. In XXIV Corps area, 2d Bn of 381st Inf, 96th Div, takes Labir and Catmon Hills with ease. 1st Bn jumps off at noon and makes contact with 2d Bn. 1st Bn, 383d Inf, is relieved on Labiranan Head and passes to Sixth Army reserve. Withdrawing depleted 2d Bn to reserve, 17th Inf of 7th Div continues attack toward Dagami with 1st and 3d Bns and breaks into S part of town. From Burauen, 2d Bn of 32d Inf moves without incident along Highway 1 to Abuyog. 7th Cav Rcn Tr, preceding it, pushes on toward Baybay.

U.S. Navy: Pacific Naval Operating Base Leyte, and Naval Air Station Samar are established.

TG 38.2 (Rear Admiral Gerald F. Bogan) attacks Japanese airfields in the Manila area and shipping in Manila Bay, damaging heavy cruiser Nachi. During Japanese air attacks on the fast carriers off Leyte, a kamikaze crashes into USS Intrepid (CV-11) at Lat 15°07'N, Long 124°01'E.

Japanese guardboat No.3 Kyoei Maru is also lost on this date off Luzon; although the agent of her demise is unspecified, it is most likely Navy carrier-based planes.

PB4Y from VPB-115 sinks Japanese tanker Itsukushima Maru off Brunei Bay, 05°04'N, 119°47'E. Destroyer Shigure rescues survivors.

Japanese army tanker Kokko Maru is sunk by RAAF mine off Balikpapan at Lat 01°17'S Long 116°48'E. U.S. aircraft sink Japanese guardboat No.16 Kiku Maru at Rabaul.

SS John A. Johnson is torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-12 roughly 1,000 miles northeast of Oahu at Lat 29°36'30"N, Long 141°43'W, and is abandoned when she breaks in two. I-12 surfaces, shells the wreck, setting both halves ablaze, before bearing down on the lifeboats and rafts and firing on them with machine guns and pistols. These brutal actions result in the death of 4 of the 41 merchant sailors, the Army security officer and 4 of the 28-man Armed Guard (see October 30, 1944 and November 13, 1944).