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 General Mark W. Clark and small U. S. party land secretly by Buna Mission, New Guinea, captured. U. S. troops begin final offensive to clear Guadalcanal. Papuan Campaign ends in first decisive defeat of Japanese in -31 December 1944, New Guinea Campaign. Eighth Air Force makes first U. S. air attack on Germany, bombing Hq. NATOUSA established under command of Lt. Gen. Dwight D. -21 November 1944, Northern Solomons Campaign (Ground). II Corps opens drive in Tunisia toward Gabes. Final assault launched in Tunisia. Tunis and Bizerte overrun on TRIDENT Conference (Roosevelt, Churchill, and Combined Chiefs of -17 May, Tunisia Campaign (Air). -17 August, Sicily Campaign (Ground). Main invasion forces land Fall of Mussolini proclaimed; replaced by Field Marshal Pietro Mass low-level assault on Rumanian oil refineries by AAF bombers. QUADRANT Conference (Roosevelt, Churchill, and CCS) at Quebec. -21 January 1944, Sicily Campaign (Air). Americans overrun New Georgia, Solomon Islands. Allied surrender terms for Italy accepted; become effective on -21 January 1944, Naples-Foggia Campaign (Ground). On 9 Sep- 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 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- 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 U. S. and British forces close pincers on Germans in Falaise- German forces surrender Paris to U. S. and French troops. 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 Patrols of First Army are the first Allied troops to cross into 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 Ninth Army elements begin first phase of drive to Roer. Units of Port of Antwerp opened to traffic. Third Army elements cross Saar River. Seventh Army begins attack northward toward Maginot Line and -4 July 1945, Luzon Campaign. -25 January 1945, Ardennes-Alsace Campaign. Germans open all-out counteroffensive in the Ardennes, taking General Clark assumes command of Allied Armies in Italy, re- 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. 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, First convoy on Ledo Road from Burma enters Kunming, China. 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 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 -8 May, Po Valley Campaign. Elements of Ninth Army reach Elbe south of Magdeburg. President Roosevelt dies. Harry S. Truman sworn in as President. Seventh Army captures_Nuremburg. Fifth Army drives into Bologna. On the 23d, Fifth Army units cross 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- President proclaims this day V-E Day (Victory in Europe). Third and Seventh Armies designated for occupation duties in 6,000 Chicago truck drivers strike; 6,500 Army troops called to operate 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 General Yamashita, Japanese commander in the Philippines, sur- U.S. flag is raised again on Wake Island after the surrender of American troops formally occupy Tokyo and raise flag on U.S. U.S. forces enter Korea and are designated U.S. Army Forces in 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 Far East Command established as unified command at Tokyo. U.S. Senate approves ratification of peace treaties with Italy, Ru- The National Security Act of 1947 provides for: (1) National Military 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 Berlin Airlift put into operation. Airlift ends 30 September 1949. People's Democratic Republic of Korea founded under Communist 16 September 26 September 1 October 10 October 19 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.-Republic of Korea Mutual Defense Assistance Pact signed. 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. President Truman announces that he has ordered American air and Army's 3.5-inch rocket launcher first used in battle; highly suc- President orders Army to take over U.S. railroads to avert strike; Communists rush Naktong River defenses in great force and breach 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 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 Enemy forces, consisting of 7 Chinese Communist armies and 2 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. Seoul changes hands for fourth time as it is recaptured by UN Operation RUGGED makes general advance toward new objective Gen. Matthew Ridgway replaces MacArthur in all his commands. -8 July, CCF Spring Offensive Campaign. Three Communist Chinese 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 -27 November, UN Summer-Fall Offensive Campaign. Far East Air Forces start operation STRANGLE. UN forces open drive against northern portion of Punchbowl area, 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 Van Fleet turns over command of Eighth Army to Lt. Gen. Maxwell Exchange of sick and wounded prisoners begins (Operation LITTLE -27 July, Korea Summer-Fall Campaign, 1953. Enemy launches main attack on ROK II Corps near Kumsong. 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 President Eisenhower establishes a military code of conduct. Army missile program curtailed by Secretary of Defense; Army 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 President Eisenhower orders use of National Guard and Regular Russians launch "Sputnik II." The Explorer, a 30.8-pound cylinder-type satellite, is placed in orbit Navy places Vanguard 1, a 3.25-pound satellite, in orbit. American Unknown Soldiers of World War II and the Korean War |