1943

1944

1 October 12 October 13 October

19-30 October

5 November 22-26

28-30

First operation of Eighth Air Force; 12 B-17's attack rail center at Rouen, France.

Naval Battle of Eastern Solomons.

U. S. occupation forces land on Adak, Aleutian Islands, without opposition.

Japanese plane, launched from submarine off coast, drops incendiary
bomb on mountain slope near Brookings, Oregon, causing small
forest fire. This is the sole bombing by plane of continental U. S.
during the war.

General Mark W. Clark and small U. S. party land secretly by
submarine to confer with pro-Allied French forces in Algeria.
Alaska Military Highway opened to traffic; built by Army Engineers.
-11 November, Algeria-French Morocco Campaign (Ground).
-13 May 1943, Algeria-French Morocco Campaign (Air).
-13 May 1943, Tunisia Campaign (Ground).

Buna Mission, New Guinea, captured.

U. S. troops begin final offensive to clear Guadalcanal.
Anglo-American conference at Casablanca (SYMBOL).

Papuan Campaign ends in first decisive defeat of Japanese in
World War II.

-31 December 1944, New Guinea Campaign.

Eighth Air Force makes first U. S. air attack on Germany, bombing
docks at Wilhelmshaven.

Hq. NATOUSA established under command of Lt. Gen. Dwight D.
Eisenhower.

-21 November 1944, Northern Solomons Campaign (Ground).
-4 March, Battle of the Bismarck Sea.

II Corps opens drive in Tunisia toward Gabes.

Final assault launched in Tunisia. Tunis and Bizerte overrun on
7th. Enemy in II Corps zone surrender on 9th; all Axis forces on
13th, ending Tunisian Campaign.

TRIDENT Conference (Roosevelt, Churchill, and Combined Chiefs of
Staff) at Washington.

-17 May, Tunisia Campaign (Air).
Converging drive on Rabaul opens.

-17 August, Sicily Campaign (Ground). Main invasion forces land
on 10th; first use of amphibious truck (DUKW) in an assault.
Palermo surrenders to Seventh Army.

Fall of Mussolini proclaimed; replaced by Field Marshal Pietro
Badoglio.

Mass low-level assault on Rumanian oil refineries by AAF bombers.
Munda Airfield, Solomon Islands, captured.

QUADRANT Conference (Roosevelt, Churchill, and CCS) at Quebec.
Sicily Campaign ends as Allied troops enter Messina.

-21 January 1944, Sicily Campaign (Air).

Americans overrun New Georgia, Solomon Islands.

Allied surrender terms for Italy accepted; become effective on
the 8th.

-21 January 1944, Naples-Foggia Campaign (Ground). On 9 Sep-
tember Allied forces under U. S. Fifth Army land in Italy.
Allied troops enter port of Naples.

at

Fifth Army troops begin assault crossing of Volturno River. Italy declares war on Germany, becomes cobelligerent of Allies. Conference between American, British, and Soviet foreign ministers opens in Moscow. They agree to demand unconditional surrender of Germany and to establish a world organization for peace. Fifth Army begins fruitless action against German-held Winter Line. November SEXTANT Conference (Roosevelt, Churchill, Chiang Kai-Shek) Cairo. November EUREKA Conference (Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin) at Teheran. -16 April 1944, Northern Solomons Campaign (Air). -27 November 1944, Bismarck Archipelago Campaign. Roosevelt announces General Dwight D. Eisenhower as Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force to head Operation OVERLORD.

7 December

15 December

24 December

1,300 planes of Eighth Air Force bomb German secret weapon targets. Main invasion of New Britain begins.

Army takes over U. S. railroads to forestall a strike; control lapses 18 January 1944.

Strategic air offensive against German aircraft industry and German air force begins.

Fifth Army successfully concludes operations against Winter Line by capture of Mount Trocchio.

U. S. II Corps begins assault across Rapido River. Bridgehead abandoned on 22d with heavy casualties

U. S. Fifth Army makes amphibious assault landing at Anzio.

-24 May, Anzio Campaign.

-9 September, Rome-Arno Campaign

-14 June, Eastern Mandates Campaign (Ground).

Eisenhower assumes command as Supreme Allied Commander.

In Burma, "Merrill's Marauders" begin expedition in Hukawng
Valley; ultimate goal, capture of Myitkina airfield.

Eighth Air Force makes first attack on Berlin.

-2 September 1945, Bismarck Archipelago Campaign (Air). Drive on Rome opens with heavy bombardment of Gustav Line. Fifth Army enters Rome.

-24 July, Normandy Campaign. Allied forces land on Normandy coast on 6th, supported by air and naval bombardment.

VI Corps drives nearly 65 miles north of Rome.

B-29's based in China make their first attack on Japanese homeland. -2 September 1945, Western Pacific Campaign (Ground).

VII Corps seals off Cotentin Peninsula in France.

Cherbourg surrenders to VII Corps.

In France, First Army opens general offensive, "Battle of the Hedge-
rows." Concluded by capture of St. Lô on 18th.
Fifth Army captures Leghorn.

U. S. Forces land on Guam.

-14 September, Northern France Campaign. First Army launches breakout assault from St. Lô area.

12th Army Group becomes operational under General Omar Bradley. Capture of Myitkina.

-14 September, Southern France Campaign opens with invasion of
southern France by Seventh Army.

U. S. and British forces close pincers on Germans in Falaise-
Argentan pocket.

German forces surrender Paris to U. S. and French troops.
Germans surrender Toulon and Marseilles.

Fifth Army begins pursuit of enemy across Arno River.

Elements of First Army enter Belgium.

Seventh Army captures Lyons.

Hq. Eighth Army arrives at Hollandia, New Guinea.

Ninth Army launches all-out assault on Brest.

-4 April 1945, North Apennines Campaign.

Elements of First Army take Luxembourg. Third Army crosses
Moselle below Metz.

Patrols of First Army are the first Allied troops to cross into
Germany.

Second Quebec Conference (OCTAGON).

-21 March 1945, Rhineland Campaign.

U. S. Forces begin landings on Morotai and the Palaus.

6th Army Group becomes operational.

First Allied Airborne Army launches operation to secure axis of advance toward Arnhem.

First Army goes on defensive along most of its line.

First Army begins assault on West Wall.

Germans launch first V-bomb against Antwerp.

II Corps launches offensive toward Bologna.

-1 July 1945, Leyte Campaign. On 20 October, Sixth Army invades Leyte.

Battle of Leyte Gulf.

Sixth Army completes clearing Leyte Valley.

Third Army launches full-scale attack to take Metz.

Ninth and First Armies open coordinated offensive to clear Roer
plains between the Wurm and the Roer.

Ninth Army elements begin first phase of drive to Roer. Units of
First Army make limited progress through Huertgen Forest.
B-29's begin attacks on Toyko from bases in the Marianas.

Port of Antwerp opened to traffic.

Third Army elements cross Saar River.

Seventh Army begins attack northward toward Maginot Line and
West Wall.

-4 July 1945, Luzon Campaign.

-25 January 1945, Ardennes-Alsace Campaign.

Germans open all-out counteroffensive in the Ardennes, taking
Americans by surprise and penetrating lines of First Army.

General Clark assumes command of Allied Armies in Italy, re-
designated 15th Army Group.

Germans besiege Bastogne, now in Third Army area.

Bastogne garrison refuses German demand for surrender.

In First Army area, enemy drive is stopped short of the Meuse.
Third Army raises siege of Bastogne.

Elements of Third Army open drive on Houffelize.

First Army begins counteroffensive from north to reduce Ardennes salient.

Sixth Army begins landing on shores of Lingayen Gulf, Luzon.

First and Third Armies join at Houffelize.

-15 July, Central Burma Campaign.

Third Army launches attack on West Wall on 29th; First Army joins in attack on 30th.

Sixth Army attacks Manila.

Conference at Yalta (ARGONAUT); United States, Great Britain,
Russia.

First convoy on Ledo Road from Burma enters Kunming, China.
Third Army makes assault crossing of Saar River.

First Army begins attack across Roer River.

Ninth Army joins offensive, crossing Roer at Linnich.

Fifth Army begins limited offensive in Italy.

-4 July, Southern Philippines Campaign.

Sixth Army units overcome final resistance in Manila.

First Army takes Cologne.

Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen seized in surprise attack, and First
Army establishes bridgehead across Rhine.

Third Army takes Coblenz.

Seventh Army breaks through West Wall fortifications.

-11 May, Central Europe Campaign.

Third Army crosses Rhine.

-2 July, Ryukyus Campaign.

Tenth Army forces land on Okinawa.

First and Ninth Armies effect junction near Lippstadt, encircling
Ruhr area.

-8 May, Po Valley Campaign.

Elements of Ninth Army reach Elbe south of Magdeburg.

President Roosevelt dies. Harry S. Truman sworn in as President.
Fifth Army in Italy opens final offensive.

Seventh Army captures_Nuremburg.

Fifth Army drives into Bologna. On the 23d, Fifth Army units cross
Po River.

United Nations Conference opens at San Francisco.

Russian and American patrols contact on Elbe River; Germany is split into two separate parts (and so remains).

German forces in Italy sign unconditional surrender at Caserta, effective 2 May.

Seventh Army units clear Munich.

-2 September, China Offensive.

German High Command surrenders all land, sea, and air forces un-
conditionally to Allied forces, effective 9 May. All offensive opera-
tions are immediately halted.

President proclaims this day V-E Day (Victory in Europe).
Joint Chiefs of Staffs approve directive for Operation OLYMPIC
(invasion of Japanese home islands) scheduled for 1 November.
France, Great Britain, Russia, and the United States issue Berlin
Declaration, announcing their assumption of supreme authority in
occupied Germany.

Third and Seventh Armies designated for occupation duties in
Europe.

6,000 Chicago truck drivers strike; 6,500 Army troops called to operate
trucks; 10,000 more called on 20 June.

Tenth Army completes capture of Okinawa.

SHAEF is dissolved.

Potsdam Conference (TERMINAL); United States, Great Britain, and Russia.

Air Force drops atomic bomb on Hiroshima, first use of atomic energy in war. A second bomb dropped on Nagasaki on 9 August. Russia declares war on Japan.

Japan accepts Allied unconditional surrender terms.

General of the Army Douglas MacArthur appointed Supreme Commander, Allied Powers (SCAP).

Occupation of Japan by U. S. forces begins.

V-J Day. Victory over Japan. Formal terms of surrender signed by
Japanese envoys on board the U.S.S. Missouri anchored in Tokyo
Bay, Japan.

General Yamashita, Japanese commander in the Philippines, sur-
renders at Baguio to Lt. Gen. Jonathan M. Wainwright.

U.S. flag is raised again on Wake Island after the surrender of
approximately 1,200 Japanese stationed there.

American troops formally occupy Tokyo and raise flag on U.S.
Embassy.

U.S. forces enter Korea and are designated U.S. Army Forces in
Korea (USAFIK).

General Headquarters, SCAP, established in Tokyo.

National War College established.

Atomic bomb tests held at Bikini Atoll in the Pacific.

Armed Forces Staff College established.

Hostilities in World War II declared terminated by Presidential
proclamation.

Far East Command established as unified command at Tokyo.
U.S. Forces, European Theater, redesignated the European Command.
Women's Medical Specialist Corps established.

U.S. Senate approves ratification of peace treaties with Italy, Ru-
mania, Bulgaria, and Hungary.

The National Security Act of 1947 provides for: (1) National Military
Establishment; (2) Secretary of Defense; (3) Military Departments
of Army, Navy, and Air Force; (4) National Security Council, Central
Intelligence Agency, National Security Resources Board; (5) separa-
tion of Air Force from Army; (6) Joint Chiefs of Staff; (7) various
boards; and (8) coordination with other executive agencies.
Medical Service Corps established.

Last American occupation troops leave Italy.

A Soviet blockade of the Western sectors of Berlin begins. Terminated 12 May 1949.

-9 July, Army takes over railroads to prevent a nationwide strike.
The Women's Army Corps, U.S. Army, established.

The Berlin Airlift put into operation. Airlift ends 30 September 1949.
Republic of Korea (South Korea) founded.

People's Democratic Republic of Korea founded under Communist
rule in North Korea.

16 September

26 September

1 October

10 October

19 October
20 October

26 October

29 October

1 November

3 November

21 November

New balloon altitude record of 26.5 miles by U.S. Army Signal Corps.
U.S. Army Forces in Korea discontinued; U.S. forces withdraw from
Korea.
North Atlantic Treaty becomes effective, providing for collective
security through a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Mutual Defense Assistance Act signed, authorizing American aid to
members of NATO.

U.S.-Republic of Korea Mutual Defense Assistance Pact signed.
President Truman announces that Atomic Energy Commission has
been authorized to create "hydrogen bomb."

Peace Treaty with Japan becomes effective. SCAP discontinued. North Koreans launch offensive across 38th parallel against Republic of Korea.

-15 September, United Nations Defensive Campaign, Korean War.
UN Security Council urges UN members to furnish military assist-
ance to Republic of Korea.

President Truman announces that he has ordered American air and
naval forces to give cover and support to South Korean troops.
Seoul,_capital of South Korea, falls to North Korean invaders.
Task Force SMITH makes first contact with enemy ground troops
near Osan.
MacArthur named Commander-in-Chief, UN Command in Korea.
U.S. troops fall back across Kum River for a determined stand.
Lt. Gen. Walton H. Walker takes command of all U.S. ground forces
in Korea.

Army's 3.5-inch rocket launcher first used in battle; highly suc-
cessful.
U.S. troops fall back to Naktong River line.

President orders Army to take over U.S. railroads to avert strike;
returned to private management 19-21 May 1952.

Communists rush Naktong River defenses in great force and breach
UN positions at several points.

Marines invade Inchon.

-2 November, UN Offensive Campaign. Eighth Army begins offensive to break out of Pusan Beachhead.

Inchon forces and elements of Eighth Army join south of Suwon, linking the two forces across South Korea from Inchon to Pusan. Seoul liberated.

ROK division crosses 38th parallel into North Korea.

Port of Wonsan overrun by U.S. forces.

UN forces take P'yongyang, capital of North Korea.

U.S. 187th RCT (Airborne) jumps at Sukch'on and Sunch'on.

ROK regiment reaches Yalu River at Chosan.

U.S. 1st Marine Division lands at Wonsan.

U.S. 7th Infantry Division lands at Iwon.

Part of Chinese division identified south of Changjin Reservoir. -24 January 1951, CCF (Chinese Communist Forces) Intervention Campaign.

U.S. 7th Division occupies Hyesanjin on banks of Yalu, most northerly point to be reached by American forces during 1950. 25-27 November Enemy troops, including two Chinese field armies, wrest initiative

from UN Command, launching a violent counteroffensive in the mountainous territory surrounding the central Korean town of Tokchon, and striking two days later in the Changjin Reservoir

area.

X Corps and ROK I Corps units begin withdrawal to Hamhung-
Hungnam area.

Hungnam evacuation.

Eighth Army withdraws below 38th parallel and forms defensive perimeter north and east of Seoul.

Lt. Gen. Matthew B. Ridgway takes command of all UN ground
forces in Korea, succeeding Lt. Gen. Walker, who was killed on 23
December.

Enemy forces, consisting of 7 Chinese Communist armies and 2
North Korean corps, launch general offensive.
Seoul and Inchon abandoned by UN forces.

Wonju abandoned by UN forces.

-21 April, First UN Counteroffensive Campaign. Operation THUNDERBOLT proceeds against stiffening resistance until 9 February. Elements of X Corps reach Wonju and capture Hoengsong.

Operation ROUNDUP begins.

I Corps reaches south bank of Han River.

Operation KILLER begins.

-1 March, Communist foothold south of Han River collapses.
Operation RIPPER begins.

Seoul changes hands for fourth time as it is recaptured by UN
troops.

Operation RUGGED makes general advance toward new objective
line KANSAS, about 115 miles long.

Gen. Matthew Ridgway replaces MacArthur in all his commands.
Lt. Gen. James A. Van Fleet replaces Ridgway as commander of
Eighth Army on 14 April.

-8 July, CCF Spring Offensive Campaign. Three Communist Chinese
armies attack on a front extending across entire peninsula.
Enemy cuts Seoul-Kansong highway, launches strong attack against
Seoul.

UN forces launch limited objective attack.

21 Chinese and 9 North Korean divisions open attack down center of peninsula.

UN troops halt enemy offensive, launch new offensive.

UN forces reach deserted city of Pyongyang, but Chinese troops reoccupy city on 17th.

Jacob Malik, Soviet delegate to the UN, makes public statement
implying Chinese and North Korean willingness to discuss terms
of an armistice.

-27 November, UN Summer-Fall Offensive Campaign.
Armistice negotiations open at Kaesong.

Far East Air Forces start operation STRANGLE.
Enemy armistice delegation breaks off negotiations.

UN forces open drive against northern portion of Punchbowl area,
securing objectives on 18 September.

UN forces begin 4-7 mile advance in east-central Korea, securing final objective on 14 October.

First troop movement in a combat zone by helicopter accomplished when a company of Marines is airlifted ten miles to a frontline position.

Mutual Security Act signed, authorizing a foreign military and economic aid program.

UN forces in the west sector complete 3-4 mile advance to new defense line, JAMESTOWN.

War with Germany ended.

Armistice negotiations resume, but at a new conference site,

Panmunjom.

-30 April 1952, Second Korean Winter Campaign.

-30 November, Korea Summer-Fall 1952 Campaign.

General Mark W. Clark replaces Ridgway in all his commands. Armed Forces Reserve Act of 1952 provides for: (1) delineation of reserve components; (2) establishment of the Army Reserve, vice the Organized Reserve Corps; (3) the Ready Reserve, the Standby Reserve, and the Retired Reserve.

Enemy launches attack around Hills 281 and 395.

-30 April 1953, Third Korean Winter Campaign.

USAREUR directs extensive U. S. military flood relief operations in
the Netherlands.

Van Fleet turns over command of Eighth Army to Lt. Gen. Maxwell
D. Taylor.

Exchange of sick and wounded prisoners begins (Operation LITTLE
SWITCH). Completed 3 May.

-27 July, Korea Summer-Fall Campaign, 1953.
First U. S. atomic artillery shell fired.

Enemy launches main attack on ROK II Corps near Kumsong.
Last major battle of Korean War. Chinese attack and force ROK
units back 8 miles; Eighth Army counterattacks, partially regains
lost ground.

Armistice agreement signed; by its terms, Korean War ends same day.

Prisoner of war exchange begins (Operation BIG SWITCH). Completed 24 September.

President Eisenhower announces that first "hydrogen bomb" was exploded at Eniwetok in 1952.

Secretary of Defense approves Army reorganization plan, which among other things places D. C. of S., Logistics, in command of technical services; creates US CONARC; and provides for additional Assistant Secretaries of the Army.

President Eisenhower announces that atomic weapons will be used
in case of war.

President Eisenhower establishes a military code of conduct.
Army Ballistic Missile Agency established at Redstone Arsenal,
Alabama.

Army missile program curtailed by Secretary of Defense; Army
restricted to range up to 200 miles.

Army announces that it is inactivating its last combat mule unit, and replacing it with a helicopter unit.

Army announces that it is discontinuing use of pigeons, which have been made obsolete by electronic devices.

Army announces that atomic streamlining of combat units will begin in January 1958.

Secretary of the Army Brucker dedicates Army's first nuclear power
reactor at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

President Eisenhower orders use of National Guard and Regular
Army troops in Little Rock, Arkansas, to prevent interference with
court-ordered racial integration at the city's Central High School.
Russians launch "Sputnik I.”

Russians launch "Sputnik II."

The Explorer, a 30.8-pound cylinder-type satellite, is placed in orbit
by U.S. Army. Radio transmitters send back information about
temperatures, cosmic rays, and meteoric particles.

Navy places Vanguard 1, a 3.25-pound satellite, in orbit.
Army places in orbit Explorer III, weighing 31 pounds.

American Unknown Soldiers of World War II and the Korean War
buried at Arlington National Cemetery.