12 Sep 1944
Caroline Islands
Caroline Islands
- USS Honolulu began two weeks of daily bombardments of Peleliu in the Palau Islands. For his performance as commander of the Peleliu fire support group, Rear Admiral Walden Ainsworth, aboard Honolulu, was awarded the Legion of Merit with combat 'V'. ww2dbase [Palau Islands and Ulithi Islands Campaigns | Walden Ainsworth | Honolulu | Peleliu, Palau | DS]
15 Sep 1944
Caroline Islands




See all 15 Sep 1944 photos
Caroline Islands
- The US Marines invaded Peleliu in the Palau islands believing that the island was only lightly defended. In fact, there were some 12,000 Japanese concealed on the island waiting to reveal their hand. In a week the Marines would suffer terrible casualties. The 1st Marines ended up at half their combat strength and, in the 5th and 7th Marines more than four out of every ten men sent ashore were either killed or wounded. For the record Peleliu measured just six miles long and two miles wide and was of questionable strategic value. ww2dbase [Palau Islands and Ulithi Islands Campaigns | Peleliu, Palau | AC]
- USS Marcus Island launched aircraft to provide cover for the Peleliu, Palau Islands invasion. ww2dbase [Marcus Island | Peleliu, Palau | CPC]




See all 15 Sep 1944 photos
29 Sep 1944
Caroline Islands
Caroline Islands
- Cruisers USS Honolulu, USS Portland, USS Cleveland, and USS Indianapolis departed the Peleliu area bound for Manus in the Admiralty Islands. ww2dbase [Honolulu | Walden Ainsworth | Indianapolis | Portland | Peleliu, Palau | DS]
1 Oct 1944
Caroline Islands
Caroline Islands
- Five miles northwest of Peleliu, USS Bailey came under a nighttime strafing attack that left 9 dead, 16 wounded, and damage to many systems aboard the ship. ww2dbase [Bailey | Palau Islands and Ulithi Islands Campaigns | Peleliu, Palau | DS]
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