Drone Operations Continue

OCTOBER

SUN 1 OCT 1944
Office of Deputy Commander in Chief U.S. Fleet and Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Vice Admiral Richard S. Edwards) is established.

Pacific

Interstate TDR-1 assault drone in flight, carrying an aerial torpedo.
U.S. Navy photograph.

Special Air Task Force (STAG 1) drone operations continue with two separate attacks on Japanese positions on Bougainville. In the first, four TDRs are launched against antiaircraft gun positions on Ballale and Poporang Islands; one lands in the midst of them, a second detonates within 100 feet of the southwest end of Ballale runway; two explode on Poporang in the general area of the target. In the second, four TDRs (two allocated to each target) are launched against antiaircraft positions on Kangu Hill, two miles south of Kahili airdrome, and the Pororeri River bridge north of Kangu Hill; the first two TDRs hit the lower slope of Kangu Hill but one does not explode; one TDR crashes (perhaps hit by antiaircraft fire) while the second cannot find the target, and explodes north of Kangu Hill.

By Greg Goebel - VectorSite, Public Domain.

Destroyer Bailey (DD-492) is damaged by strafing off Palau, 06°59'N, 134°13'E.

During minesweeping operations in Ulithi lagoon with TU 33.13.1, motor minesweeper YMS-385 is sunk by Japanese mine in Zowariyau Channel, 09°52'N, 139°37'E.

Submarine Cabrilla (SS-288) sinks Japanese tanker Kyokuho Maru, and merchant tanker Zuiyo Maru in South China Sea, west of Luzon, 16°15'N, 119°43'E.

Submarine Hammerhead (SS-364) sinks Japanese ore carriers Kokusei Maru and Hiyori Maru and cargo ship Higane Maru north of Borneo, 06°30'N, 116°11'E.

Submarine Snapper (SS-185) sinks Japanese coastal minelayer Ajiro and transport Seian Maru northwest of the Bonins, 28°11'N, 139°30'E.

Submarine Trepang (SS-412) sinks Japanese supply ship Takunan Maru north of Ogasawara-gunto, 25°30'N, 142°30'E.

Auxiliary minesweeper Kaiyo Maru is sunk by mine off Tsingtao, China.

Mediterranean
Destroyer Gleaves (DD-423) shells German gun positions in Ventimiglia, Italy, area and encounters intense shore battery fire; destroyer Benson (DD-421) shells enemy gun emplacement and then destroys two Italian motor torpedo boats (MAS).

Destroyer Forrest (DD-461) is damaged in collision with tank landing ship LST-550 off Southern France, 43°20'N, 05°20'E.