October 28th, 1944 (SATURDAY)
NORTH SEA: U-1060 (Type VIIF) Not a combat vessel but a torpedo transport (operating mainly to the Norwegian bases) is sunk in the North Sea south of Bronnøysund, at position 65.24N, 12.00E by rockets and depth charges from aircraft of the British carrier HMS Implacable, a British Halifax T aircraft (Sqn 502) and from a Czechoslovakian Liberator aircraft (Sqn 311/H). 12 dead, 43 survivors.
WESTERN EUROPE: Forty six USAAF Ninth Air Force B--26 Marauders bomb rail bridges at Sinzig, Kempenich, and Ahrweiler, and airfield at Euskirchen, Germany; fighters escort the bombers, fly sweeps and armed reconnaissance over western Germany, attack six bridges and a tunnel, and support US XIX Corps in Belgium near the German border.
FRANCE: Near St. Die, Staff Sergeant Lucian Adams, U.S. Army, 30th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division, braves the concentrated fire of German machine guns in a lone assault armed with a borrowed BAR, he kills 9 Germans, eliminates three machine gun nests and clears woods of the enemy. (MOH) (Drew Philip Halevy)
General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force, issues a directive for a November offensive, calling for the destruction of the Germans west of the Rhine, establishment of bridgeheads across the river, and a drive into Germany.
In the U.S. Third Army's XX Corps area, one company of the 357th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division, makes a diversionary attack north of Hôtel de Ville in Maizières-lès-Metz, while three companies enter the factory area in preparation for an attack.
The U.S. Sixth Army Group issues a letter of instruction for the reduction of Germans west of the Rhine and the capture of Strasbourg. In the U.S. Seventh Army's XV Corps area, the Germans make a limited withdrawal, during the night of 28/29 October, pulling back to the line Leintrey-Blemerey.
During the night of 28/29 October, the USAAF Eighth Air Force flies Mission 692: three B-17 Flying Fortresses and six B-24 Liberators drop leaflets over the country.
BELGIUM: A German V-1 "buzz bomb" lands in Antwerp killing 71 persons and destroying 40 homes. Antwerp suffered the most from the V-1 and V-2 missiles.
NETHERLANDS: West of Venlo, the Allies counterattack and regain ground captured by German Parachute troops.
In the Canadian First Army's British I Corps area, the U.S. 104th Infantry Division takes Rijsbergen, about halfway between Zundert and Breda, and pushes toward the Roosendaal-Breda highway.
In the British Second Army's XII Corps area, Tilburg falls to Dempsey's 15th Division. In the VIII Corps area, the U.S. 7th Armored Division begins a two-pronged attack to recover Meijel, Combat Command B driving southeast along the Deurn-Meijel highway and Combat Command R task force moving along the Asten-Meijel road. Small gains are made against severe opposition.
During the day, RAF Bomber Command sends 277 aircraft, 155 Halifaxes, 86 Lancasters and 36 Mosquitos, to carry out raids on gun positions at five places on the rim of the newly flooded island of Walcheren: 71 hit Westkapelle, 68 bomb Domberg, 49 attack Flushing, 38 hit Oostkapelle and 35 bomb Dishoek. Most of the bombing appears to be successful. A Halifax and a Lancaster are lost.GERMANY: The USAAF Eighth Air Force flies Mission 691: 382 B-17 Flying Fortresses and 217 fighters are dispatched on PFF attacks on marshalling yards (M/Ys) in Germany; three bombers and two fighters are lost. The targets are the Hamm M/Y hit by 185 B-17s and the M/Y at Munster bombed by 177 B-17s. One B-17 hits a target of opportunity.
Nineteen USAAF Fifteenth Air Force B-17s bomb the marshalling yard at Munich.
During the day, RAF Bomber Command dispatches 733 aircraft to bomb Cologne; 623 bomb the city with the loss of six aircraft. The bombing took place in two separate waves and the local report confirms that enormous damage is caused. The districts of Mülheim and Zollstock, northeast and southwest of the centre respectively, become the centre of the two raids and are both devastated. Much damage is caused to power stations, railways and harbour installations on the Rhine.
During the night of 28/29 October, 30 RAF Bomber Command Mosquitos bomb a chemical plant in Cologne, four hit Karlsruhe and three attack Rheine.
U-2345 launched.
EAST PRUSSIA: The Soviet advance into the Goldap area is brought to a standstill by the tenacious resistance of 4.Armee.
AUSTRIA: Bad weather again limits operations by the USAAF Fifteenth Air Force: 11 B-17 Flying Fortresses bomb two targets: ten B-17s hit an aircraft factory at Klagenfurt and one bombs Erlasback.
NORWAY: During the night of 28/29 October, RAF Bomber Command sends 237 Lancasters and seven Mosquitos to attack the U-boat pens at Bergen. Clear conditions are forecast for the target area, although there are some doubts about this. Unfortunately the area is found to be cloud-covered. The Master Bomber tries to bring the force down below 5,000 feet (1 524 meters) but clouds are still encountered and he orders the raid to be abandoned after only 51 Lancasters have bombed. Three Lancasters are lost. Meanwhile, ten Lancasters lay mines off Oslo without loss.
BULGARIA: The government signs an armistice with the Allies. By its terms, Bulgaria will relinquish portions of Greece and Yugoslavia acquired in 1941, make certain
reparations yet to be determined, and place their armed forces at the disposal of the Soviet high command.
U.S.S.R.: MOSCOW: The USSR-Bulgaria armistice is signed. Bulgarian troops will now operate under Soviet command. Text
YUGOSLAVIA: The partisans announce the capture of Split, capital of Dalmatia and Adriatic port, to Partisan forces.
ITALY: In the U.S. Fifth Army's IV Corps area, Regimental Combat Team 6 of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force outflanks Gallicano, in the Serchio Valley. The II Corps, now greatly understrength after six weeks of hard fighting, is ordered in writing to halt offensive and establish defensive positions.
In the British Eighth Army’s V Corps area, the Indian 10th Division crosses more elements over the Ronco River during the night of 28/29 October and begins an attack from the bridgehead south of Meldola.
Bad weather again grounds USAAF Twelfth Air Force medium bombers, and restricts the XXII Tactical Air Command; fighter-bombers and fighters, flying 65 sorties, attack vehicles and trains in the Turin-Milan-Genoa area.
CHINA: USAAF Fourteenth Air Force fighters strafe villages, troops, and horses in the Menghsu-Konghow area, pound bridges around Kaotienhsu, and hit Yangtong Airfield and Wuchou.
BURMA: Chinese forces capture Myothit.
In the Northern Combat Area Command (NCAC) area, the Chinese 38th Division encounters patrols from Japanese outpost line along the Taping River near Bhamo but routs them in order to reach the river at Myothit. Two regiments are to make wide enveloping maneuver in order to turn the Japanese line.
Over 80 USAAF Tenth Air Force fighter-bombers attack numerous targets including town areas, troops, railroad facilities, and a variety of targets of opportunity at Mannaun, Manoi, Sinkan, Winwa, Man Mao, Myazedi, Pinwe, Naba, Yebawgyi, and Kangon.
FRENCH INDOCHINA: USAAF Fourteenth Air Force fighters strafe shipping at Hongay.
THAILAND: A Japanese transport is sunk and another heavily damaged by two human torpedoes (Mk.II "Terry Chariots"), LXXIX and LXXX, launched from the British submarine HMS/M Trenchant (P 331), in Phuket Harbor. The two Chariots are scuttled.
COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: Admirals
Davison and Bogan relieve Admiral Sherman with their
task groups of US TF 38 in air ops over Luzon. Today and tomorrow they will destroy almost 100 Japanese
aircraft for a loss of 15 US aircraft. The carrier USS Intrepid is hit during a
Kamikaze attack.
Near Dagami, Leyte, Philippine Islands the US attacks make slow
progress with heavy losses. On the north end of Leyte, the US 1st Cavalry
Division is held up by fierce Japanese resistance near Carigara.
In the X Corps area on Leyte, the 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division drives through Alangalang to the Mainit River and dislodges the Japanese from steel bridges spanning it. The 19th Infantry Regiment, blocks a road north of the Binahaan River near Macalpe and establishes a perimeter at Tingib. The 2d Cavalry Brigade is ordered to advance on Carigara; the 8th Cavalry Regiment is to establish a base at San Miguel, secure Cavite, and patrol as far north and northwest as Barugo road; the 7th Cavalry Regiment, while holding positions at Santa Cruz and Babatngon, is to concentrate in the Barugo-Carigara area and patrol south and southeast. A troop of the 7th Cavalry Regiment moves by water from Babatngon to Barugo and overland to Carigara, where a prolonged fire fight ensues and withdraws to Barugo late in the afternoon. In the XXIV Corps area, the 382d Infantry Regiment, 96th Infantry Division, finishes clearing Tabontabon and continues toward Kiling. The 381st Infantry Regiment begins an attack on the eastern slopes of Catmon Hill at 1200 hours. A battalion gets almost to Labir Hill, but another battalion receives such accurate fire at the foot of the hill that it pulls back to the vicinity of the line of departure. The 17th Infantry Regiment makes slow progress toward Dagami with the lead battalion suffering heavy casualties.
USAAF Far East Air Forces (FEAF) B-24 Liberators, fighting bad weather, bomb Puerto Princesa Airfield on Palawan Island.
EAST INDIES: USAAF Far East Air Forces (FEAF) B-25 Mitchells and P-38 Lightnings attack town of Amboina on Ceram Island.. During the night of 28/29 October, B-24 Liberators bomb the Wilhelmina Docks area on Celebes Island.
BONIN ISLANDS: USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24 Liberators from Saipan Island bomb Haha Jima.
CAROLINE ISLANDS: USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24 Liberators from Guam Island, bomb Yap Island.
Fourteen B-29 Superfortresses of the USAAF Twentieth Air Force’s XXI Bomber Command based in the Mariana Islands fly their first combat mission, actually an operational training exercise, against submarine pens on Dublon Island, Truk Atoll; four others, one carrying Brigadier General Haywood S Hansell, Jr, Commanding General XXI Bomber Command, abort; about a third of the bombs fall in the general target area.
PACIFIC OCEAN: Task Group 38.4 (Rear Admiral Ralph E. Davison) bombs Japanese shipping near Cebu, damaging a landing ship off Ormoc, Leyte.
USN destroyer USS Helm (DD-388), assisted by destroyer USS Gridley (DD-380) and a TBM Avenger of Torpedo Squadron Twenty One (VT-21) in the small aircraft carrier USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24), sinks Japanese submarine I-46, about 129 nautical miles (239 kilometers) east of Tacloban, Leyte, Philippine Islands, in position 10.56N, 127.13E.
USN destroyer escort USS Eversole (DE-404) is torpedoed and sunk by Japanese submarine HIJMS I-45 about 162 nautical miles (300 kilometers) east-southeast of Tacloban, Leyte, Philippine Islands, in position 10.18N, 127.37E. Eversole is ordered abandoned, and after the men are all in the water, the submarine sand opened fire, then
dived once more. Five minutes later, there is a tremendous underwater explosion which killed or wounded all of the sailors in the water. Two other escorts rescue 139 wounded survivors. HIJMSI-45 is in turn sunk by destroyer escort USS Whitehurst (DE-634) about 157 nautical miles (290 kilometers) east-southeast of Tacloban in position 10.10N, 127.28E.
CANADA: Minesweeper HMCS Fort Frances commissioned.
U.S.A.: The top songs on the popular record charts today are: "I'll Walk Alone" by Dinah Shore; "Dance with the Dolly" by The Russ Morgan Orchestra (vocal: Al Jennings); "The Trolley Song" by Judy Garland; and "Smoke on the Water" by Red Foley.
Destroyer minelayers USS Aaron Ward and J William Ditter commissioned.
Frigate USS Abilene commissioned.
ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-1226 (Type IXC/40) is lost in the Atlantic, possibly because of a Schnorkel defect. Position not known. 56 dead (all hands lost). (Alex Gordon)
U-242 sank SS Rigel.