November 9, 1944: As the fight in ‘Green Hell’ (the Hurtgen Forest) continues, the attack has effectively been halted, with loss of most of the ground gained in its early phases. Kommerscheidt, the village between Vossenack and Schmidt taken by US 1st Army, is lost and American infantry is driven back 500 yards to high ground to the northwest. Considerable progress has been made in clearing Hurtgen Forest and the Germans have suffered severe casualties, primarily due to superior Allied artillery. Vossenack is still the scene of heavy house-to-house fighting, with each side holding approximately half the town.
In Hurtgen, 4th Infantry Division troops begin an attack designed to eliminate a salient that extended into the Weisser Wehe Valley. Companies I and K are designated as the main assault units, but a 500-yard-wide minefield separates them. The German gunners, mines and soldiers with small arms effectively break up the attack, inflicting severe losses. When some GIs try returning to their old foxholes, they find Germans in residence. Again, command and control breaks down - shortages of food and ammunition afflict the Americans. The splintered 12th Regiment reverts to the 4th Division. Only three days after being committed, it is in shambles, counting 562 casualties among its complement of 2,300.
Elements of US 3rd Army cross the Moselle River around Metz with support from US 8th Air Force (730 bombers attack Metz and 47 bombers attack Thionville) and US 9th Air Force (74 bombers attack Metz). Further south, US 12th Corps continues advancing beyond the Seille River, capturing Chateau Salins. US 7th Army clearing Rao-l'Etape sector.
After finishing clearing Walcharen Island yesterday, Canadian 1st Army is regrouping and clearing the sector along the Maas. German troops withdrew from the Moerdijk bridgehead in the Netherlands across the Meuse River.
Over Germany, RAF Bomber Command sends 277 aircraft to attack Wanne-Eickel during the day and launches a third raid on Homburg.
First Lieutenant Donald J. Gott (pilot) and Second Lieutenant William E. Metzger, Jr.(co-pilot), both serving on a B-17 Flying Fortress in the 729th Bomb Squadron, 452nd Bombardment Group, earn the Medal of Honor. On that day, during a bombing mission over Saarbrücken, Germany, his plane was severely damaged and several of the crew wounded by enemy fire. Knowing that the most seriously injured crewman needed immediate medical aid, and fearing that he would not receive such aid if he was dropped by parachute into enemy territory, Gott and the co-pilot, William E. Metzger, Jr., decided to try to fly the crippled aircraft back into Allied territory. Once reaching friendly airspace, the two stayed behind with the seriously injured man while the other crewman parachuted to safety. Gott and his co-pilot attempted a crash landing, but the aircraft exploded before touching down, killing all three on board. For their actions, both Gott and Metzger were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor six months later, on May 16, 1945. Gott, aged 21 at his death, was buried in Harmon Cemetery, Harmon, Oklahoma and Metzger, aged 22 at his death, was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in his hometown of Lima, Ohio.
Here is Gott’s medal of Honor citation (Metzger’s is identical, only the name and rank are changed).
“On a bombing run upon the marshaling yards at Saarbrücken a B-17 aircraft piloted by 1st. Lt. Gott was seriously damaged by antiaircraft fire. Three of the aircraft's engines were damaged beyond control and on fire; dangerous flames from the No. 4 engine were leaping back as far as the tail assembly. Flares in the cockpit were ignited and a fire raged therein, which was further increased by free-flowing fluid from damaged hydraulic lines. The interphone system was rendered useless. In addition to these serious mechanical difficulties the engineer was wounded in the leg and the radio operator's arm was severed below the elbow. Suffering from intense pain, despite the application of a tourniquet, the radio operator fell unconscious. Faced with the imminent explosion of his aircraft, and death to his entire crew, mere seconds before bombs away on the target, 1st. Lt. Gott and his copilot conferred. Something had to be done immediately to save the life of the wounded radio operator. The lack of a static line and the thought that his unconscious body striking the ground in unknown territory would not bring immediate medical attention forced a quick decision. 1st. Lt. Gott and his copilot decided to fly the flaming aircraft to friendly territory and then attempt to crash land. Bombs were released on the target and the crippled aircraft proceeded alone to Allied-controlled territory. When that had been reached, 1st. Lt. Gott had the copilot personally inform all crewmembers to bail out. The copilot chose to remain with 1st. Lt. Gott in order to assist in landing the bomber. With only one normally functioning engine, and with the danger of explosion much greater, the aircraft banked into an open field, and when it was at an altitude of 100 feet it exploded, crashed, exploded again and then disintegrated. All 3 crewmembers were instantly killed. 1st. Lt. Gott's loyalty to his crew, his determination to accomplish the task set forth to him, and his deed of knowingly performing what may have been his last service to his country was an example of valor at its highest.”
On the eastern front, the Soviet 3rd Ukrainian Front crosses the Danube at Kiskoszeg.
In Italy, Allied troops crossed the Montone River, British 4th Division (an element of British 8th Army) captures Forli, and US 5th Army captures Monte Budriatto.
Pictured: GIs prepare to move out on patrol in the Hurtgen Forest on November 9, 1944.; Members of Battery A, 4520 AA stand by and check their equipment while the convoy takes a break.; Members of a mortar company of the 92nd Division pass the ammunition and heave it at the Germans in an almost endless stream near Massa, Italy. This company is credited with liquidating several machine gun nests on November 9, 1944.