The Patrol Zone

This article contains official CINCPAC and Navy Department Communiqués issued during August 1944.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 99, AUGUST 1, 1944

During July 31 (West Longitude Date) troops of the Second and Fourth Marine Divisions moved ahead against moderate enemy resistance and through difficult terrain and occupied the cliffs overlooking the beaches at the extreme southern tip of Tinian Island. During the night of July 30-31 the Japanese attempted several small scale counterattacks which were beaten back at a cost to the enemy of 300 dead. Our attack was launched in the morning of July 31 and carried to the southern beaches by late afternoon. The enemy on Tinian now has little means of resistance and no means of escape.

During the night of July 29-30 Seventh Army Air Force Liberators bombed Truk Atoll, and neutralization raids against enemy positions in the Marshall and Caroline Islands were carried out by aircraft of the Central Pacific shore-based air force before dawn and during the day on July 30.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 100, AUGUST 1, 1944

U. S. forces continued to advance rapidly in Guam Island during July 31 (West Longitude Date), driving northward from two and one half to three miles in the center and on the right flank, and advancing about a half mile on the left flank. In the advance the towns of Utana, Pado, Pulan, and Matte were occupied. On the west coast our line is anchored about a mile and a half south of Saupon Point, and on the east coast we are less than a mile from Fadian Point. On Orote Peninsula mopping up operations have been completed and in the southern half of Guam these operations are continuing. Carrier aircraft of a fast carrier task group directed bombs and rocket fire against enemy troop concentrations in northern Guam during July 31.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 101, AUGUST 1, 1944

Organized Japanese resistance on Tinian Island ceased during the night of July 31 (West Longitude Date). The Second and Fourth Marine Divisions are continuing mopping up operations.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 102, AUGUST 2, 1944

Marine and Army troops on Guam, fighting through dense underbrush and against mounting enemy resistance, advanced more than a mile to the north during August 1 (West Longitude Date). The towns of Saucio, Toto, and Timoneng and the airfield at Tyan were occupied in the advance. On the west coast our line is anchored on the southern shore of Tumon Bay, and on the east coast it is anchored approximately three miles south of Sassayan Point. Our casualties through August 1 were 1022 killed in action, 4,946 wounded in action and 305 missing in action. Our troops have counted 7,419 enemy dead.

Carrier aircraft from a fast carrier task group attacked enemy Installations on Guam on August 1 with bombs and rockets. Additional bombs and strafing attacks were delivered against troop concentrations.

Lieutenant General Holland M. Smith, USMC, Commanding General, Fleet Marine Forces, Pacific, has sent the following despatch to Major General A. D. Bruce, U.S.A., Commanding General, Seventy-Seventh Infantry Division:

“The Seventy-Seventh Infantry Division has shown commendable ability of high order in operation against the enemy on Guam. Its complete cooperation with other fighting elements has been noted with much pleasure. It has shown marked tactical ability in moving its forces into position over unfavorable terrain and in the face of great difficulties.”

Late reports indicate that during the ground action on July 27, Mount Tenjo was occupied by the Seventy-Seventh Infantry Division.

On Tinian Island mopping up operations are in progress. Ravines and caves at the southern tip of the island were partially cleaned out during August 1. Our troops have buried 2,075 enemy dead, and have interned many civilians. Large numbers of the enemy have yet to be buried. Our casualties as of August 1 were 208 killed in action, 1,121 wounded in action and 32 missing in action.

On July 30 and 31 Seventh Army Air Force Liberators dropped 60 tons of bombs on an airfield and installations at Truk. Six to eight Japanese fighters attempted to intercept. Three of the fighters were shot down and three more damaged. Five of our Liberators were damaged but all returned to base.

Mitchell bombers of the Seventh Army Air Force attacked Nauru Island on July 30 with more than 12 tons of bombs, scoring hits on the airfield and on gun positions.

On July 30 and 31 aircraft of the Central Pacific shore-based air force harassed enemy positions in the Marshall Islands.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 103, AUGUST 3, 1944

Additional gains averaging nearly two miles were made by Marine and Army forces driving northward on Guam during August 2 (West Longitude Date). On the West Coast our line was advanced further along the shore of Tumon Bay and on the East Coast we are about one and a half miles from Sassayan Point. As a result of the day’s advances an important road junction near the town of Finegayan was brought under our control. Stiffened enemy resistance is being encountered. As of August 2, our troops had counted 7,893 enemy dead. A large number of civilians have sought protection behind our lines and currently 7,000 are being cared for.

Carrier aircraft, attacking from an altitude of 100 feet, directed bombs and rocket fire against enemy fortifications and storage areas in Northern Guam during August 2.

The American flag was formally raised over Tinian Island on August 2. Scattered remnants of the enemy, hiding in caves and dugouts, are being dealt with by Marines. Approximately 4,000 civilians have been interned. The number of enemy troops killed is now estimated at more than 5,000.

Ponape Island was attacked by Seventh Army Air Force Mitchell bombers on August 1, and on the same day further neutralization raids against enemy positions in the Marshall Islands were carried out by Dauntless dive bombers and Corsair fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 104, AUGUST 4, 1944

Our forces on Guam made slight gains on the right flank and in the center during August 3 (West Longitude Date). On the east coast our line is anchored about one mile south of Sassayan Point. There was no appreciable advance along the west coast and our anchor there remains on the shore of Tumon Bay. All road junctions in the vicinity of Finegayan were brought under our control.

Enemy resistance on Mount Barrigada has been eliminated and we now control the 674-foot height.

In close support of ground troops, aircraft from a fast carrier task group on August 3 dropped bombs, fire rockets and strafed Japanese-held positions, roads, storehouses and troop areas on Guam.

Mopping up operations on Tinian Island continued during August 3, and additional numbers of civilians were interned. Scattered Japanese troops are still being hunted down on Saipan Island, and an average of 50 a day are being eliminated or taken prisoner.

Ventura search planes of Group One, Fleet Air Wing Two, attacked Nauru Island on August 2. Antiaircraft fire was moderate. Catalina patrol bombers of the same air wing bombed Japanese positions in the Marshall Islands on the night of August 1-2.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 105, AUGUST 5, 1944

Troops of the Army’s Seventy-Seventh Division advanced approximately three miles northward along the eastern shore of Guam to Lumuna Point on August 4 (West Longitude Date). On the western coast Marines pushed more than one and one-half miles northward to Amantes Point.

During the night of August 3-4 a small enemy force identified as Navy troops were repulsed in an attempt to counterattack. Eleven of the enemy were killed, bringing the total counted Japanese dead to 8,129.

As of August 4 approximately 22,000 civilians on Guam had found refuge within our lines.

More than 25 tons of bombs were dropped on Wotje in the Marshall Islands on August 3 by Corsair fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing.

More than 60 tons of bombs were dropped on Truk Atoll by Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force at dusk on August 3. One ship near Dublon Island was left burning. Other hits were observed at the Dublon Naval Base, and on gun emplacements and barracks. There was no interception and only moderate antiaircraft fire. All of our planes returned.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 106, AUGUST 6, 1944

Air and surface units of a fast carrier task force on August 3 and 4 (West Longitude Dates) virtually wiped out a Japanese convoy and raided airfields, towns, and ground installations in the Bonin and Volcano Islands groups. On August 3 our planes sank four cargo ships of approximately 4,000 tons each, three escorting destroyers or destroyer escorts, and four barges. One cargo vessel and the balance of the escorting warships were damaged. On the same day our surface vessels sank one large destroyer, one cargo ship, one small oiler and several barges. One damaged escort vessel escaped. On August 4 our forces continued the sweep. Carrier-based planes sank one escort vessel and two other small craft. Damage was inflicted on five barges, two of which were carrying troops, one landing craft and three smaller vessels. One light cruiser and five smaller vessels were possibly sunk. All six of these ships were left burning. Also damaged were one destroyer escort and 10 small craft. Two landing ships were grounded and a large cargo vessel damaged in the preceding attack was hit again. In the attack on ground installations our surface craft shelled shipping and shore facilities at Chichi Jima. Omura Town on Chichi Jima was destroyed. Ground installations on Muko Jima, Ant Jima, Haha Jima and Iwo Jima were hit. At Iwo Jima six airborne enemy planes were shot down and six others were destroyed and five damaged on the ground. One plane was destroyed on the ground at Chichi Jima. We lost from enemy antiaircraft fire 16 planes and 19 flight personnel.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 107, AUGUST 6, 1944

Further gains were made during August 5 (West Longitude Date) by U. S. troops driving northward on Guam Island. On the left flank our troops moved ahead more than two miles almost to Haputo Point. There was no substantial change in our line on the right flank and our positions there remain near Lumuna Point. In the day’s gains the towns of Ukudu and Liguan were occupied. Strong defensive positions along roads paralleling the western shore were wiped out by our advancing ground forces, and nine field guns and two tanks were destroyed. Artillery destroyed several trucks laden with enemy troops.

Fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing are now operating from the airfield on Orote Peninsula.

Corsair fighters and Dauntless dive bombers of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing and Catalina search planes of Group One, Fleet Air Wing Two, bombed remaining enemy positions in the Marshall Islands on August 4. Mitchells of the Seventh Army Air Force hit Ponape and a Navy Liberator attacked Wake Island on the same day. In these attacks moderate antiaircraft fire was encountered but all of our aircraft returned.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 108, AUGUST 7, 1944

One-third of the remaining enemy-held area at the northern end of Guam was brought within our lines on August 6 (West Longitude Date). In the central sector we advanced north nearly three miles, occupying the village of Yigo. Near Yigo we captured several strong positions and a considerable amount of supplies and equipment.

In the area occupied on August 6 our troops found a large cemetery in which there was evidence of mass burial of enemy dead.

Supporting our ground forces, carrier aircraft on August 6 bombed and strafed enemy positions and troop concentrations near Mount Santa Rosa.

On the western coast our line is anchored near Haputo Point and on the east coast at Lumuna Point.

Navy Liberators of Group One, Fleet Air Wing Two, and Army Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force attacked Truk on August 5 with about 30 tons of bombs. Two of eight to 12 enemy interceptors probably were damaged. Navy search planes of Group One, Fleet Air Wing Two, bombed Param in the Truk Atoll and raided Ponape on August 4. Nauru was attacked on August 4 and 5. All of our planes returned from these missions.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 109, AUGUST 8, 1944

Rapid advances during August 7 (West Longitude Date) drove Japanese forces on Guam Island into the northeast corner of the island. On the west coast our troops advanced nearly six and one half miles to Ritidian Point at the northern tip of the island. On the east coast we advanced more than three miles almost to Anao Point. The center of our line running in a generally southeasterly direction from Ritidian Point to Anao Point curves sharply inward and is less than a mile from the shoreline at the point of deepest penetration. The Japanese defenders are thus threatened with being cut into two groups. Mount Santa Rosa, the highest elevation in Northern Guam, was occupied by our forces in the day’s advances. Our troops have counted more than 10,000 enemy dead.

Navy carrier aircraft of a fast carrier task group on August 7 supported ground operations on Guam by bombing, strafing and firing rockets into enemy troop concentrations and installations.

Central Pacific land-based aircraft on August 5, 6, and 7 attacked enemy fields and installations from Nauru Island to Wake Island.

On August 5 Navy Liberators of Fleet Air Wing Two bombed Wake Island, scoring bits on the runways. Several small craft were strafed and one left sinking.

On the same day and also on August 6 Seventh Army Air Force Mitchells and Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two attacked Nauru Island, bombing airfields and the phosphate plant.

Seventh Army Air Force Mitchells and Navy Liberators of Fleet Air Wing Two hit Ponape on August 6, encountering medium antiaircraft fire.

Remaining Japanese positions in the Marshall Islands were attacked on August 6 and 7 by Seventh Army Air Force Liberators, Catalinas of Fleet Air Wing Two, and by Corsair fighters and Dauntless dive bombers of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing.

All our planes returned from these missions.

Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Four attacked enemy objectives in the Northern Kuriles during daylight of August 4 (West Longitude Date). Airfields and adjacent installations were bombed. Antiaircraft fire was moderate. Small craft near Paramushiru were bombed and strafed. Several of our aircraft were damaged by antiaircraft fire from the vessels but all returned safely.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 110, AUGUST 9, 1944

All of Guam Island with the exception of a small area inland from Pati Point on the east coast was occupied by U. S. forces on August 8 (West Longitude Date). The remaining pocket of enemy resistance is surrounded and is under heavy pressure. A Naval patrol maintained off the northern coasts of Guam since our troops began their northward drive is believed to have prevented virtually all enemy attempts at escape.

Nauru Island was attacked several times from the afternoon of August 6 to the early morning of August 7 by Ventura search planes of Group One, Fleet Air Wing Two. Runways were the principal targets. Moderate antiaircraft fire was encountered. A Liberator search plane of Fleet Air Wing Two strafed buildings and antiaircraft guns at Wake Island, another Navy Liberator bombed Truk, and two search Liberators bombed the airfield at Ponape on August 7. Wotje, Jaluit, and Maloelap Atolls in the Marshalls were attacked by Dauntless dive bombers and Corsair fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing on August 7. We lost no planes in these operations.

Navy Department COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 535, AUGUST 10, 1944

Pacific and Far East.

1. U. S. submarines have reported sinking 16 vessels, including one combatant ship, as a result of operations against the enemy in these waters, as follows:

1 large cargo transport

7 medium cargo vessels

4 medium cargo transports

2 small cargo vessels

1 medium tanker

1 escort vessel

2. These actions have not been reported in any previous Navy Department communiqué.

Navy Department COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 536, AUGUST 10, 1944

European Theater.

1. The following vessels participating in the Allied operations for Europe’s liberation were lost due to enemy action:

USS Osprey (Minesweeper)

USS PC 1261

2. The next of kin of all casualties of the Osprey and PC 1261 have been notified.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 111, AUGUST 10, 1944

Organized Japanese resistance on Guam Island ceased during the afternoon of August 9 (West Longitude Date). The First Provisional Marine Brigade, Third Marine Division, and Seventy-Seventh Infantry Division are engaged in mopping up operations.

Nearly 60 tons of bombs were dropped on Truk Atoll during daylight on August 8 by Seventh Army Air Force Liberators. Approximately 10 enemy fighters intercepted our force, damaging two Liberators. One enemy fighter was shot down and two damaged. Antiaircraft fire was meager. Ventura search planes of Group One, Fleet Air Wing Two, attacked Nauru Island before dawn on August 8, striking at gun emplacements. Nauru was also hit by Venturas during daylight on August 8. Mitchell bombers of the Seventh Army Air Force bombed Ponape Island on the same day, and neutralization raids against Maloelap Atoll were carried out by Liberator and Catalina search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two. All of our planes returned from these operations.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 112, AUGUST 10, 1944

Casualties suffered by American forces on Guam Island through August 9 (West Longitude Date), the day on which organized Japanese resistance ended, were 1,214 killed in action, 5,704 wounded in action, and 329 missing in action. Our troops have counted 10,971 enemy dead. Elimination of scattered remnants of the enemy continues.

Final figures covering our casualties on Tinian Island indicate 190 killed in action, 1,515 wounded in action, and 24 missing in action. On Tinian our troops have buried 5,544 enemy dead to date, and have taken more than 400 prisoners of war.

Navy Department COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 537, AUGUST 12, 1944

Atlantic Ocean.

1. The USS Fiske (DE 143) was sunk recently in the Atlantic by a submarine torpedo.

2. The next of kin of the casualties aboard the Fiske have been notified.

Navy Department COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 538, AUGUST 21, 1944

Pacific and Far East.

1. U. S. Submarines have reported sinking nineteen vessels, including two combatant ships, as a result of operations against the enemy in these waters, as follows:

1 light cruiser

1 escort vessel

1 large tanker

3 medium cargo transports

11 medium cargo vessels

2 small cargo vessels

2. These actions have not been announced in any previous Navy Department communiqué.

Navy Department COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 539, AUGUST 30, 1944

Pacific and Far East.

1. U. S. submarines have reported the sinking of 17 vessels, including two combatant ships, as a result of operations against the enemy in these waters, as follows:

2 destroyers

3 small cargo transports

3 medium cargo transports

1 medium tanker

6 medium cargo vessels

1 small cargo vessel

1 small tanker

2. These actions have not been announced in any previous Navy Department communiqué.