Battle of Peleliu Timeline & Photos : September 16, 1944

Marines on Peleliu, September 1944

D +1 — September 16^th

10:00 a.m. temperature is 100 degrees and rising.

Hundreds of Marines are incapacitated by petroleum-contaminated water shipped in fuel drums that were not scrubbed.

Marines from the 16^th Field Depot volunteer and are accepted for combat duty.

5^th Regiment takes the airfield.

1^st Regiment, 2^nd Battalion takes Hill 200 with a loss of 200 Marines, denying the enemy direct observation of the beachhead.

1^st Regiment, 1^st Battalion take the east ridge at a cost of 250 Marines. The 1^st Regiment is now down to 2/3^rds strength with over 1,000 casualties in 48 hours.

Marines on Peleliu.  Flamethrower on left and M-1 Carbine on right.

Marines inspect a Japanese tank knocked out at the airfield.  Peleliu September 1944