Drone Ops Commence

WED 27 SEP 1944
Pacific
Special Air Task Force (STAG 1) (Commander Robert F. Jones) commences operations with TDR-1 drones (controlled from converted TBM-1c aircraft) against Japanese targets in the southwest Pacific. Four TDRs are launched against beached Japanese freighter used as antiaircraft emplacement off Kahili airstrip, Bougainville. Two drones hit the ship, one crashes just short (bomb does not explode) and one is lost en route.

Submarine Apogon (SS-308) sinks Japanese cargo ship Hachirogata Maru in Sea of Okhotsk off Shimushir Island, 46°32'N, 146°48'E.

Submarine Bonefish (SS-223) damages Japanese oiler Kamoi 240 miles southwest of Manila, 13°48'N, 148°38'E.

Submarines Flasher (SS-249) and Lapon (SS-260) attack Japanese convoy in South China Sea west of Luzon; Flasher sinks army transport Ural Maru and damages merchant tanker Tachibana Maru 15°45'N, 117°20'E; Lapon sinks merchant tanker Hokki Maru, 15°50'N, 117°41'E.

Submarines Narwhal (SS-167) and Stingray (SS-186) land supplies on north coast of Mindanao and east coast of Luzon, respectively.

Submarine Plaice (SS-390) sinks Japanese Coast Defense Vessel No.10, 100 miles north-northwest of Amami Ōshima, 29°26'N, 128°50'E.

Submarine Searaven (SS-196) damages Japanese destroyer Momi off Etorofu, Kurils, 45°44'N, 148°41'E.

British submarine HMS Thorough damages Japanese auxiliary sailing vessel No.9 Kashiwa Maru off north coast of Sumatra.

PBY damages Japanese cargo ship Tateishi Maru off Jolo, 06°02'N, 121°29'E; the ship is beached to prevent sinking.

Tank landing craft LCT-823 sinks after running aground off Palau.

Caribbean
Garbage lighter YG-39 sinks off Canal Zone, 10°10'N, 79°51'W.

Mediterranean
Motor torpedo boat PT-559, with British motor torpedo boats, attack northbound convoy off Raffallo, Italy.