May 30, 1944 - Tuesday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS Daly: 

USS Daly (DD-519) -New Guinea 

May 27th:  En route to Biak Island, New Guinea to support landing of invasion force at the island.  Bombarding targets on the beach at 6:30 AM.  After bombardment, assumed radar duties for the patrol force. Air attacks in the afternoon, no damage; four enemy planes shot down.  Temperatures 80s, light winds.

May 28th: On patrol all day at Biak. No engagements during the day.  Temperatures 80s. light breezes.

May 29th: Again on patrol all day at Biak. No engagements.  Temperatures 80s. light breezes.

May 30th: Again on patrol all day at Biak. No engagements.  Temperatures 70s-80s; breezy, winds up to 25 mph.

Biak Island was the next step in MacArthur's quick advance across New Guinea to the Philippines.  It was about 200 miles beyond Wakde and near the western end of Papua New Guinea.  The troops had actually got a little ahead of their air support, as heavy bombers could not land at the muddy airfields that were being constructed.  This kind of leapfrogging, however, was keeping the Japanese in retreat and on the defensive.

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In the Central Pacific, the various task forces for the invasion of the Marianas were now in motion, moving toward the mid-month invasion of Saipan, Tinian, and Guam.

In Italy, Allied troops continue to capture towns and push toward the liberation of Rome.

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More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 488-489. 
• New Guinea and the Marianas, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 96-102, 157-169.
• War at the End of the World, James P. Duffy, pp, 317-327.
  
• Events of May, 1944
  
• Logbooks of the US Navy at the National Archives, USS Daly, DD-519, May 1944

NEXT POST:  JUNE 3RD

May 30, 1864 - Monday - 160 years ago today

Status - John Baer - 40th Indiana Regiment - Howard's Corps - Newton's Division - Wagner's Brigade

On the 27th, Wood's division attacks the Confederate right but is thrown back with significant losses.  The Confederates counterattack after dark and sweep up a number of Union prisoners.  Howard brings up the other divisions but goes no further.

A Confederate attack on the Union right the next day (the 28th) was repulsed.  

The Confederates then sent Hood's corps on the 29th to try to turn the Union left, but Union troops were in the attack route and so the attack was called off.  By this time both sides were dug in and the action died down somewhat.

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Virginia Campaign

The Confederates are staying between the Union army and Richmod.  Grant is now approaching the Cold Harbor area due east of Richmond.

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More Information:

• Link: War Operations, see Volume XXXVIII, Chapter L, Part IV, Correspondence, pp. 323-363.
  
• The Civil War Day by Day, John S. Bowman, Ed. pp. 162-163.
• The Civil War, A Narrative, Vol 1II, Red River to Appomattox, Shelby Foote, pp. 348-351.
• Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, Retreat With Honor, pp. 305-309.
  
• Decision In The West, The Atlanta Campaign of 1864, Albert Castel, pp, 229-251.
• Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, pp. 567-572.
• Memoirs of General William T. Sherman, pp. 511-515.
  
• Events: 1864
  

NEXT POST:  JUNE 3RD