Second Day in Hell PTO (id:#57350)

Critical Hit (Leatherneck 2 ID: LN2-6)   [next]   [previous]

Peleliu, Palau Islands 1944-09-18 (49 others)

Overview:

The"cakewalk" that the Marines had expected on Peleliu had turned to a nightmare. Marines on the beaches tokk heavy casualties but secured a solid foothold on the island's southern shore. At 0800 on D+1, the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment launched an attack on the large airfield that lay juts off the invasion beaches. While units of the 5th Marines attacked the southern end, the 2/1 had orders to seize the north end of the airfield along with it's adjacent hangars, workshops and command buildings, now mostly ruined by naval gunfire and bombings. Under a fusillade of enemy fire the Marines struck across the northern portion of the airfield, reducing a blockhouse and a pillbox with flamethrowers and explosives.

Defender: Japanese (Elements of the 15th Infantry Regiment and 144th Anti-aircraft unit)  

Errata (source)