U.S. Navy Department (September 21, 1944)
CINCPAC Communiqué No. 126
The 1st Marine Division made minor gains in a northerly direction along the western ridge of Peleliu Island on September 24 (West Longitude Date) facing stiff opposition from the enemy troops well entrenched in precipitous terrain. Our attack was preceded by gunfire from cruisers and destroyers and by bombing.
Meantime, our forces occupied the entire east coast of Peleliu, including the island of Ngabad.
More enemy equipment has been captured consisting of six trench mortars and 31 machine guns. An additional 10 enemy aircraft have been found destroyed on the airfield.
The 81st Division is continuing mopping‑up operations on Angaur.
Enemy troops killed on Peleliu number 8,792. Enemy troops killed on Angaur number 850.
The airfield and installations on Babelthuap and the seaplane base at Arakabesan were bombed on September 20.
Seventh Army Air Force Thunderbolts strafed and bombed gun emplacements on Pagan in the Marianas on September 19.
Aircraft of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing bombed storage areas at Rota Island on September 18 and attacked it again on September 19, causing several explosions and starting fires.
A single plane bombed Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands on September 18. There was no anti-aircraft fire.
Truk Atoll was the target of 7th Army Air Force Liberators on September 18. Sixty‑nine tons of bombs were dropped on the airfield at Moen. Four enemy aircraft attempted interception. Anti-aircraft fire was meager. Three Liberators were slightly damaged but all returned.
Venturas of Fleet Air Wing Four bombed Paramushiru in the Kurils on September 19. Direct hits were scored on communication facilities. Later the same day, a single 11th Army Air Force Mitchell bomber attacked Paramushiru, encountering meager anti-aircraft fire. All planes returned safely.
Corsairs and Dauntless dive bombers of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing attacked Wotje, in the Marshalls, on September 19. Bivouac areas, storage areas, and communication facilities were bombed. Meager anti-aircraft fire was encountered.
CINCPAC Communiqué No. 127
Carrier aircraft of the Pacific Fleet swept the island of Luzon in the heart of the Philippines on September 20 (West Longitude Date) striking in great force at shipping in Manila Bay and in Subic Bay, at enemy installations at Clark Field and Nichols Field near Manila, and at the Cavite Naval Base.
One hundred and ten enemy aircraft were shot down in the air and 95 were destroyed on the ground. The following additional damage was inflicted on the enemy:
ENEMY SHIPS DAMAGED:
- One large destroyer leader
including those probably sunk:
- Four large oil tankers
- One destroyer
- One small oil tanker
- Two large oil tankers
- Two large cargo ships
- One large transport
- One medium cargo ship
- Ten large cargo ships
- Two small cargo ships
- Twelve medium cargo ships
- One floating dry dock
- Two barges
In addition to the heavy shipping and aircraft losses inflicted upon the enemy, much damage was done to military objectives on and adjacent to Clark Field and Nichols Field, and to the fields themselves. Our losses in this superlatively successful attack which apparently caught the enemy completely by surprise, were 15 aircraft from which several of the flight personnel were recovered. There was no damage to our surface ships.