At 0950, the 955-FAOB post at (K93052110) reported their position surrounded and that they were destroying their equipment. The 62-AFAOB post at (K93052050) was also forced to abandon its position to avoid being overrun by the attacking infantry. It was later learned that the 17-FAOB observation post at (K930217) had been taken by the Germans, who killed one of the observers and seriously wounded another before passing through the position. The first (center) Platoon of Troop B continued to hold to the front and attacked to protect their open, right flank by a combat patrol led by Sgt Rusen, which engaged the enemy breakthrough on their south. The second (right) Platoon finding themselves hopefully outflanked on their left, employed their light tanks and armored cars to face the enemy on their north, between their positions and the 1st Platoon. A four-man (Pvt Bottini, Pvt Lewis, Pvt MacDonald, and Pvt Jacobs) machine gun outpost at (K 933209) was completely surrounded and forced to take cover, from flanking fire, in a nearby home. At 0945 Maj Edgerton, Squadron S-3 ordered Capt Meyer to take the 1st Platoon of the Engineers to reinforce Troop B. They were brought down from their positions on the hill and proceeded in two trucks, using the road towards the Mützenich church because of small arms fire heard in the vicinity of the railroad crossing along the shorter route. They turned right on the highway and as they rode through a dense cloud of black smoke given off by three vehicles burning alongside the church, they came under a heavy enemy artillery concentration which burst on the road and on both sides but inflicted no damage or casualties.
At 1010, Capt Meyer arrived at the B Troop CP with the Platoon ready for action. From 1000 to 1030, observers caught supporting waves of enemy infantry advancing from Imgenbroich. This advance was broken up by the fire of the 62-AFAB; casualties were observed at (K947198). Also at 1000, the enemy succeeded in cutting the Monschau – Eupen road at the hairpin turn above Monschau (K941198), and a small force was actually placed a machine gun in motion on the high bank overlooking the road at (K94001975). This was eliminated by Sgt Martin and a four-man patrol from the 1st Platoon of Fox Co, who assaulted it with hand grenades under their own covering fire, killing three and capturing two of the enemy. Eight additional Germans surrendered in this immediate locality, presumably as a result of this action; making a total of 10 captured in this action. At 1035, approximately 45 enemies had infiltrated the positions of the 2nd Platoon of Troop B, and Lt Yontz, the platoon commander, prepared to counter-attack with the engineer reinforcements brought up by Capt Meyer.
During the first fight which followed, Sgt Oxenham and four men went to the aid of the isolated outpost at (955208) with an armored car. Firing the .50 Cal machine gun from the turret himself, he directed the dismounted men to employ marching fire, and together, they advanced straight at the attacking enemy. The Germans withdraw before this determined action and a number took cover in a stone barn, which Sgt Oxenham surrounded, forcing the surrender of eight. As the Platoon, reinforced by the engineers, counter-attacked to restore their beleaguered outpost and to close the gap between themselves and the 1st Platoon of Troop B, they were joined by two NCO forward observers from Troop B, S/Sgt Fisher, and Sgt Sullivan. These men had the mission of setting up an observation post in support of Troop B, but finding their intended location in the center of the firefight described above, they joined forces with the counter-attacking Platoon.
While engaging several enemies with their personal weapons, they observed Germans reinforcements coming out of the draw and across the railroad tracks at (K940203). Disengaging themselves from the fight, they immediately called for and adjusted fires by the Assault Gun Troop which inflicted what were probably the heaviest casualties of the day on an enemy reserve platoon. Actual Germans determined the total of enemy dead in this area to be from 50 to 65 resulting from both small arms and artillery fire. The Platoon successfully restored all of its positions and, with the aid of the engineers, closed the gap and joined forces with the 1st Platoon.
At the time of the above action the Troop B CP came under enemy small arms fire and found itself engaged in a firefight among the hedgerows at (K93420). The combined efforts of all HQs personnel, employing personal weapons and machine guns of the CP armored cars turned this enemy attack away from the Eupen road and to the north where they were engaged by the new reinforced 2nd Plat. T/5 Harold S. Hill, a half-track driver in the troop supply section was severely wounded in this action and died later in the hospital. At 1023, in the midst of the above attack on Troop B, a message came from the 102-CG that reinforcements consisting of a company of armored infantry and a company of medium tanks were on the way.
Some twenty enemy fighters strafed the Troop B and Fox Co sectors when Cpl Fitzpatrick, manning a .50 Cal machine gun sets one afire which was seen to crash in the enemy territory south of Imgenbroich. Also at 1030, the Troop C right flank outpost overlooking the crew at (K946236) was attacked by a squad of Germans who attempted to flank their position. This was repelled after a short firefight in which Sgt Messano and his light tanks at (K946184) assisted. Three casualties were inflicted before the enemy withdrew. At 1100, the 3rd Platoon of Troop B reported some enemy infiltration between their positions and the 1st Platoon. At 1111, two companies of Germans attempted to assault both of these Platoons from the draw at (K943205). Observers for the 62-AFAB adjusted on this target and broke up the attack before the enemy could cross the railroad tracks in front of Troop B. Defensive fires were maintained on this dead ground for several hours after the attacking forces were broken up. Shortly afterward, friendly planes appeared over the area and the artillery marked Imgenbroich with red smoke. From 1000 to 1100, the attack along the snake road, north of Monschau, was renewed and supported by heavy machine gun fire from the Stillbusch house (K945202). All artillery being employed on the Troop B front at this time, the 1st Platoon of Fox Co and Troop C met the attack with 37-MM tanks, machine guns, and mortar fire.
TDs continued to shoot at houses along the road (K945196) and the tanks placed 37-MM high explosive shells into the Stillbusch positions until all machine gun fire was silenced. At 1124, Group HQs informed the Squadron that the expected reinforcements should be arriving at about that time. A message was sent to the Group, in return, that a battalion of Germans had penetrated the Mützenich Hill and that PWs statements indicated the main attack was to follow that afternoon. Due to the heat of the engagement, it was impossible for the Squadron HQs to keep abreast of the situation on all troop fronts, and the fact that the fight on the Mützenich Hill was slowly coming under control was not known until later in the afternoon. Actually, the number of Germans penetrating our lines did not exceed 100, although the exact figure could not be reckoned.
Able Co 47-AIB (5-AD) commanded by Lt Weirsma, reported to the Squadron at 1000 and was directed over the unimproved road which ran north-east from the Eupen road at (K899199), and through the woods in rear of Troop B. Here they deployed, three platoons abreast, to move to the east, through the woods, and map any enemy which had infiltrated through the Troop B lines. The Company’s AT Platoon was given the mission of patrolling the roads in the rear of the troops and covering the main road intersections with their guns. At approximately 1120, Capt Whitley and his Charlie Co (less 2 platoons) of medium tanks from the 10-TB, were intercepted on the Eupen road by Capt Meyer at (K899199) where he was issuing instructions to Able 47-AIB. Capt Whitley was given orders to take one platoon as far down the highway as the B Troop CP and, without stopping, to dispatch it under its platoon leader astride the road leading off to the left at (K981201) and to proceed in combat formation ready for action. They were to gain contact with Lt Yontz in the vicinity of (K930205) and lend him direct support. They proceeded on their mission and upon reaching the turn-off point, were met by the Squadron Commander. As the Troop B situation was now under control, he directed the tanks to disregard their assigned mission and to take cover while awaiting further orders.
At 1201, Group HQs radioed that the 47-RCT was advancing into the sector from Eupen and that the Squadron would become attached to them upon their arrival. Confirmation that the main attack was to be launched by the Germans that afternoon was received as a result of a prisoner of war statement sent by Troop A. At Squadron HQs in Monschau, all personnel had been alerted and formed into security groups against the threat of penetration from the Mützenich Hill and at the hairpin turn (K941198). Armored cars and crews were placed at strategic points in the town and on the hill above the command post itself. Machine guns and riflemen were stationed at the doors and windows of the post office building occupied by the CP. Prisoners, as many as 13 at one time, were sent to the rear by trucks, being forced to lie down in the body of the vehicles. Ration and ammunition trucks, which continued to come forward from Eupen throughout the engagement, were used for this purpose, with supply and mortar maintenance personnel acting as guards. Several of the HQs troop mechanics were pressed into service to provide additional local security, as were a number of convalescent patients from the Squadron aid station in the building next to the command post. From 1200 to 1300, there was a slight slackening of the pressure on the Troop B front, and the heavy defensive fire was maintained on possible routes of enemy withdrawal west of Imgenbroich. Concentration was placed on these areas by the 62-AFAB and Troop E. At 1322, the 1st Plat. of Troop B, began to receive more small arms fire and at 1330, Fox Co took another prisoner at the blown bridge north of Monschau. At 1350, five medium tanks were put in support of Troop B positions, now completely restored.
Two platoons of engineers were in the line with Troop B and the infantry continued to mop up in the woods to the rear, attempting to drive the enemy penetrating force to the east. In 1420, artillery was placed on enemy groups forming about the bunkers and pillboxes in the vicinity of Imgenbroich. Troop E fired on enemy mortar positions near Staffelbusch (K938210) and Laufenbuch (K942208). From 1600 to 1700, the enemy commenced withdrawing at (K940207). Long-range tank and machine-gun fire by 3rd Plat. of Fox, Co drove a force of about 30 Germans to seek cover in the woods at (K940208). Troop E was immediately registered in the woods and inflicted heavy casualties; only a few escaped. Twenty bodies were later evacuated from this particular area. In 1645, the infantry cleaned up in the rear of Troop B broke from the woods and were integrated into the Troop positions for that night. The medium tanks were disposed of in support of the Squadron, one platoon at (K930205), one section at (K937185), and the remaining section at (K936195). Defensive, interdiction, and harassing fire for the night were arranged with the 406-AG, 62-AFAB, and Troop E.
The 47-IR (9-ID) arrived in Mützenich at 1836, the CP locating at (K916195). The regiment bivouacked astride the Eupen road, west of Mützenich for the night. Liaison was immediately established using the alternate CO half-track. At dark, all listening posts were put out, and as many patrols were maintained throughout the night as practicable. At 2200, Troop C observed about twenty enemies in the vicinity of the house and the dragon’s teeth to their immediate front. This report was quickly corroborated and both the 62-AFAB and Troop E were called upon for fire. Illuminating mortar shells were thrown over the area and an estimated force of 200 Germans was caught advancing west from Imgenbroich with the evident intention of coming into our lines of defenses through the StillBusch (K945202) and the Snake Road (K945196) draws.
Approximately 100 Germans were trapped by artillery fire on the Snake Road itself, and a larger number at (K952200). Heavy enemy casualties were caused by the artillery with 37-MM and machine guns of Fox Co and Troop C accounting for a number of the Germans who had reached the blown bridge (K942196). The firing continued for about 45 minutes under the constant light of the 60-MM mortar illuminating shells. Shortly after 2100, the enemy force withdrew after suffering severe losses. At 2200, Troop E was given a mission to walk up the Snake Road again, employing battery fire in 50-yard jumps. Again at 2230, Fox Co and the Troop B outposts reported movement in the StillBusch (K945202) draw, and the area was illuminated. An estimated 100 enemies were seen advancing from Imgenbroich in the area (K948198). Troop E put over 150 rounds in this area and effectively dispersed the enemy groups with unknown casualties. At 2300, towed 57-MM AT guns from the 47-IR were attached and two were placed with Troop C and one with Fox Co.
