Battle Concludes

THU 26 OCT 1944

Pacific
Battle for Leyte Gulf concludes as Navy carrier-based and USAAF land-based planes attack retiring Japanese ships that have survived the previous days' action. TF 38 planes sink light cruiser Kinu southwest of Masbate, 11°46'N, 123°11'E; destroyer Hayashimo 40 miles south of Mindoro, 12°05'N, 121°50'E. Aircraft from carriers Hornet (CV-12) and Wasp (CV-18) sink light cruiser Noshiro south of Mindoro, 11°35'N, 121°45'E; planes from carrier Hancock (CV-19) sink landing ship T.102 in the Guimaras Straits, 11°00'N, 123°00'E; TF 38 planes damage heavy cruiser Kumano; destroyer Okinami in Sibuyan Sea. Planes from TU 77.4.2 sink destroyer Uranami 70 miles north-northeast of Iloilo, Panay, 11°50'N, 123°00'E. USAAF B-24s sink light cruiser Abukuma southwest of Negros Island, 09°20'N, 122°30'E; battleship Haruna is damaged by near-misses. In related action, U.S. cruisers and destroyers sink destroyer Nowaki 65 miles south-southeast of Legaspi, Luzon, 13°00'N, 124°54'E. Motor torpedo boat PT-132 is damaged by dive bomber, 09°00'N, 125°00'E.

U.S. freighter Benjamin Ide Wheeler is attacked by Japanese plane off Leyte, and damaged by near-miss of bomb that wounds three of the ship's embarked troops.

Submarine Drum (SS-228) sinks Japanese transport Tatsura Maru, 19°00'N, 120°45'E, and merchant passenger/cargo ship Taisho Maru and cargo ship Taihaku Maru north of Luzon, 19°21'N, 120°50'E.

Submarine Icefish (SS-367) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Taiyo Maru west of Luzon Strait, 19°04'N,120°36'E, but is damaged by depth charges and is forced to terminate her patrol.

Submarine Rock (SS-274) sinks Japanese merchant tanker No.7 Takasago Maru near Balabac Strait, 10°18'N, 117°47'E.

British submarine HMS Tantivy damages Japanese ship No.2 Katsuma Maru.

U.S. Navy carrier-based aircraft sink merchant tanker No.31 Nanshin Maru west of Balabac Strait, 08°22'N, 116°55'E.

Special Air Task Force (STAG 1) operations in the southwest Pacific conclude as four TDRs are flown against lighthouse on Cape St. George, New Ireland. One of the four hits squarely and demolishes the structure.

USAAF aircraft sink merchant cargo ships Kaiko Maru and Doei Maru off South China coast, 20°50'N, 111°50'E.

Other Japanese casualties include merchant cargo ship Seito Maru sunk by Austalian mine off Sumatra, 03°12'S, 116°15'E; and merchant cargo ship Kompira Maru sunk by aircraft, Shimushuri Island.

Dr. Farley's takes on the battle.