We Remember:
1939: Thomas C Hart promoted to full Admiral and assumes command of the US Asiatic Fleet in Shanghai. (Marc Small)
1940: RAF 4 Group (Whitley). Bombs naval and merchant shipping at Hamburg. (Andy Etherington)
RAF Fighter Command: Weather cloudy, rain. Attacks on convoys in Channel. 8 enemy a/c destroyed, 3 RAF a/c lost. (Andy Etherington)
German He 111s bombers mine the Mersey Estuary. (Andy Etherington)
A low-flying single He111 drops HE and incendiaries onto GlasgowÕs Hillington Industrial Estate, damaging a printing works, a sugar and oil cake factory and injuring 18 people. Soon after Welsh-based 92 Sqn. Spitfires (K9998, N3167, N3297) engage a Ju88 of KG51 over Porthcawl. The Junkers is later shot down by 87 Sqn. Pilot Officer R.P. Beamont near Lynton, Devon. (Andy Etherington)
Bombs fall for the first time on Renfrew, Samford, Waltham and Weybridge.
(Andy Etherington)
Some 383 Frenchmen lost their lives tonight when their ship was sunk by a German motor torpedo boat off the coast of Brittany. The Meknes left Southampton early today carrying 1,277 French naval officers and ratings who were being repatriated to France. She was showing all lights and had a searchlight trained on the French ensign when she was attacked at 10.30 pm. One officer said: ÒWhy would they torpedo us when the war was over as far as we were concerned?Ó (Andy Etherington)
Italian Planes bomb Jerusalem killing 46. (Andy Etherington)
The Rumanian government seizes British oil interests. (Andy Etherington)
1941: The Japanese government presented an ultimatum to the Vichy government, on the 19th, demanding bases in southern Indochina. Vichy has conceded today. The Japanese will begin to occupy these bases on the 28th.
The ultimatum was decided in the Japanese Imperial Conference on July 2.
AMPLIFYING THE ABOVE:
The U.S. government denounces the Japanese actions in Indochina. (Jack McKillop)
The USN transport USS West Point (AP-23, ex-SS America) which departed New York City on 16 July with German and Italian consular officials and their families, arrives at Lisbon, Portugal and the civilians are disembarked. (Jack McKillop)
15 RAF Halifax bomb Scharnhorst for 5 hits while docked at La Pallice.
After a long siege, the Soviet defenders of Brest-Litovsk are forced to surrender. (Andy Etherington)
An Einsatzgruppe [action squad] commander reports back to Berlin that 4,435 Jews have been liquidated in the town of Lachowicze, Poland. (Andy Etherington)
1942: After the 24 July mission, 217 SquadronÕs OC, SL W. A. L. Davis, RAF departed for home and SL R. P. M. ÒPatÓ Gibbs, DFC+bar, RAF, as the senior officer became the acting OC of the combined Beaufort Squadron, 39 & 217. However, the OC of the newly arrived 86 Squadron, SL James Robert Hyde, DFC, RAF, being of equal rank, claimed his right to lead alternating strikes. As such, when a new convoy of one merchant ship and two escorts was sighted off Cephalonia by a PR Spitfire of 69 Squadron, the mission was his.
While it was believed that that this was the same ship attacked three days earlier, in fact this was a new convoy bound for Tobruk from Taranto consisting of the mew 16-knot motor ship Vettor Pisani (6,339 BRT), escorted by the torpedo boats Orsa and Calliope. HydeÕs striking force was limited to six Beauforts in two sections, HydeÕs three from 86 Squadron, and three from 217 under FL Stevens. Gibbs was extremely apprehensive about Hyde leading the strike as this waould be his first strike in the Mediterranean, all his experience having been in gained on night operations in the UK.
The striking force departed at first light, escorted by eight Beaufighters of 235 Squadron, and sighted the target at 0930. Hyde, unfamiliar with the standard tactics developed the Mediterranean, attacking in loose formations at virtually wave top height, adopted an extremely tight formation at an altitude of 300 feet. This formation, coupled with the dark UK paint schemes his aircraft still retained, silhouetted the lead vic, something the Italian flak gunners were quick to capitalize on. While the Beauforts were still a considerable way out, a direct hit shattered HydeÕs AW355:G, fragments of which sliced through his number two, PO D. L. FurphyÕs AW 308:H. Seconds later, FS L. C. ThompsonÕs AW356:Z was fatally hit, erasing the entire lead vic long before they reached dropping distance. Meanwhile, having brought his loose vic down to the customary 25Õ height, FL Stevens led his 217 section in a devastatingly accurate attack, hitting Pisani twice, then escaping back when
ce they came. Covered throughout by the Beaufighters, from much higher up, they noted that the entire flak barrage was thrown up in front of the torpedo bombers while they orbited above, totally ignored. This fact, coupled with the loss of HydeÕs entire vic (although eight up the 12 aircrew had been rescued by the Italians) would cause have a considerable bearing on future strikes. (Mark Horan)
The Soviet city of Rostov is captured by German troops. (Jack McKillop)
The U.S.,Joint Chiefs of Staff issue a statement that USAAF heavy and medium bomber groups will he shifted from Operation BOLERO assignments, the invasion of Europe, to Africa for Operation TORCH, the invasion of North Africa. BOLERO resources are further depleted by a decision to send 15 combat groups to the Pacific theater. (Jack McKillop)
The British and Americans finally agree that an invasion of Europe, "Sledgehammer,
US troops arrive in Fiji. (Denis Peck)
Australian troops fight a delaying action in the New Guinea jungles, falling back towards Kokoda, destroying a bridge. (Denis Peck)
In the USA: Alabama Gov. Frank Dixon refuses to accept a US prison work defense supply contract because it bars discrimination. Dixon fulminates against Federal agencies trying to "break down the principle of race segregation.
U-90 (Type VIIC) is sunk in the Northern Atlantic , in position 48.12N, 40.56W by the Canadian destroyer HMCS St. Croix. 44 dead (all crew lost) (Alex Gordon)
1943: The Facist Grand Council meets for the first time since 1939. The debate and votes go against Mussolini. The future is unclear at this time.
The US 45th Division takes Cefalu, Sicily on the north coast. Other US units advance towards Nicosia.
In the Aleutian Islands, 62 Eleventh Air Force P-40s fly 9 missions to Kiska Island (2 of them flown by Royal Canadian Air Force pilots) bombing the runway and scoring many hits. An AA battery takes a direct hit and explodes and AA guns are strafed on North Head and Little Kiska Island. Intense AA fire downs a P-40. (Jack McKillop)
On Wake Island, 8 Seventh Air Force B-24 Liberators from Midway Island bomb oil storage, barracks, and a gun emplacement. 20-30 "Zeke" fighters (Mitsubishi A6M Navy Type 0 Carrier Fighters) attack the formation and 9 fighters are claimed destroyed; a B-24 is lost in a collision with a falling "Zeke." (Jack McKillop)
In the Solomons, USN destroyers bombard Bairoko Harbor on New Georgia Island. In the afternoon, 37 USMC TBF Avengers and 36 USMC and USN SBD Dauntlesses, escorted by 48 USAAF fighters, bomb the area around Bairoko in support of ground forces. Later in the day gun positions at Bibolo Hill near Munda are hit, along with other targets. (Jack McKillop)
The USAAF's VIII Bomber Command in England flies Mission Number 75: Three targets in Norway are attacked. This is Eighth's first mission to Norway and its longest, 1,900 miles (3,058 km) round trip to date.
1. 179 B-17 Flying Fortresses and 1 YB-40 are dispatched against the nitrate works at Heroya; 167 aircraft hit the target at 1317-1414 hours and claim 9-2-0 Luftwaffe aircraft; a B-17 is lost. Work at the plant is disrupted for 3.5 months, and unfinished aluminum and magnesium plants are damaged and subsequently abandoned by the Germans.
2. 45 B-17s are dispatched against the port area at Trondheim; 41 hit the target; they claim 4-2-3 Luftwaffe aircraft. The German submarine U-622 is sunk during this raid.
AMPLIFYING #2 U-622 (Type VIIC) is sunk at 1400hrs near Trondheim, in position 63.27N, 10.23E, by US bombs during an air raid (8. USAAF). (Alex Gordon)
3. 84 B-17s are dispatched against the port area at Bergen; they find 10/10 cloud cover and return to base with their bombs.
Crews successfully experiment with a new assembly procedure for occasions when bad weather conditions prevent ascent in formation. Aircraft take off individually on instruments, proceed to a designated splasher beacon for group formation, and then along line of 3 splasher beacons for force assembly. The method works well and makes possible many future missions which might otherwise have been abandoned. (Jack McKillop)
On the ground in Sicily, the US Seventh Army continues to mop up the western part of Sicily. Further east, the US 45th Infantry Division takes Cefalu and Castelbuono while the US 1st Infantry Division seizes Gangi and heads toward Nicosia.
In the air, Ninth Air Force P-40s fly armored reconnaissance and fighter-bomber missions over the Adrano and Milazzo areas; the attacks are concentrated against motor transport targets. In Sicily, Northwest African Tactical Air Force fighter-bombers hit barges, warships, and docks in the Messina-Milazzo area and transport northeast of Mount Etna. (Jack McKillop)
In Italy, Northwest African Strategic Air Force B-17s and B-25 Mitchells bomb the railroad yards at Bologna and B-26 Marauders hit the railroad yards at Paola. (Jack McKillop)
In Germany, the RAF begins Operation GOMORRAH. During the night of 24/25 July, 791 RAF aircraft drop 2,300 tons of incendiary bombs on Hamburg in just a few hours. The explosive power was the equivalent of what German bombers had dropped on London in their five most destructive raids. More than 1,500 German civilians are killed in this raid. Only 12 aircraft are lost thanks to a new radar-jamming device called "Window," which consisted of strips of aluminum foil dropped by the bombers en route to their target. These "Window" strips confused German radar, which mistook the strips for dozens and dozens of aircraft, diverting them from the identifying the actual bombers. (Jack McKillop)
In the Pacific, the submarine USS Tinosa (SS-283) fires 15 torpedoes at the Japanese oiler SS No. 3 Tonan Maru west of Truk Atoll. Thirteen torpedoes hit the ship but only two explode. This problem involving the exploder in the Mk. XIV torpedo has exasperated USN submariners in the Pacific and an investigation is launched which eventually identifies the problem. After the attack, the Japanese vessel is towed to Truk and is used as a floating oil storage tank. (Jack McKillop)
U-459 (Type XIV) is scuttled after being attacked by two British aircraft (Sqdn. 172/Q & 547/V) near Cape Ortegal, Spain, at 45.53N, 10,38W. 19 killed and 41 survivors. U-459 was a "Milchkuh" operating a fuelling and
replenishment service for 72 other U-Boats (Alex Gordon)
In the U.S., the radio program "Foreign Assignment" makes its debut on the Mutual Radio Network. The title role of Brian Barry is played by Jan Jostyn, who also starred in another popular radio drama, "Mr. District Attorney." The plot has foreign correspondent Barry involved with wartime espionage, especially in occupied France. The show, broadcast on Saturday nights at 2030 hours Eastern time, remain on the air until January 1944. (Jack McKillop)
Ella Mae Morse's "Get On Board, Little Chillun" with Freddie Slack's Band is released. (Jack McKillop)
"You'll Never Know" by Dick Haymes reaches Number 1 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart in the U.S. The song is from the motion picture "Hello Frisco, Hello" starring Alice Faye, John Payne, Lynn Bari and June Havoc. This song, which debuted on the charts on 10 July 1943, was charted for 16 weeks, was Number 1 for 4 weeks and was ranked Number 5 for the year 1943. (Jack McKillop)
1944: General SchmidtÕs V Amphibious Corps, 15,600 Marines, lands on Tinian in the Marianias. TF 52, under Admiral Hill, is in direct support. AdmiralÕs Ainsworth and Oldendorf provide fire support for these landings. The 2nd and 4th Marine Divisions are landed. Opposing them, Admiral Kakuta and Colonel Ogata with 6,200 soldiers. This landing marks the first use of Napalm in the Pacific.
The US Cobra attack west of St Lo is postponed due to bad weather.
Lublin, Poland falls to Rokossovsky. The First Ukraine Front captures the site of Majdanek Concentration Camp.
In the Marianas, the 4th Marine Division lands on Tinian. (Jack McKillop)
In the U.S., the U.S. Navy Court of Inquiry into the Pearl Harbor attack is enjoined to "give its opinion as to whether any offenses have been committed or serious blame incurred on the part of any person or persons in the naval service." The board consists of three retired admirals. (Jack McKillop)
The USAAF's Eighth Air Force in England flies two missions.
Mission 492: Heavy bombers are scheduled to participate in a US First Army offensive (Operation COBRA) to penetrate the German defenses west of Saint-Lo and secure Coutances; 1,586 bombers and 671 fighters are dispatched but bad weather causes the ground forces to delay the attack until next day, and cloud conditions cause 1,102 bombers to abort. Escort for the bombers is provided by 478 P-38 Lightnings, P-47 Thunderbolts and P-51 Mustangs; they claim 1-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 1-0-1 on the ground; 3 P-38s are lost. Targets hit are:
1. Of 909 B-17s dispatched, 343 hit the Periers/St Lo area and 35 hit the Granville railroad junction; a B-17 is lost.
2. 109 of 677 B-24s dispatched bomb targets of opportunity including road intersections and rail lines; 2 B-24s are lost.
143 P-51s fly a sweep over Lechfeld and Leipheim Airfields in Germany; they claim 3-0-0 aircraft in the air and 12-0-16 on the ground; 2 P-51s are lost.
Mission 493: 7 B-17s drop leaflets in France during the night.
Six B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night. (Jack McKillop)
In France, 11 groups of Ninth Air Force bombers scheduled to participate in Operation COBRA have missions cancelled due to weather; 5 groups of B-26s hit rail bridges and 5 groups of B-26s and A-20 Havocs strike 3 fuel and ammunition dumps; fighters fly escort to the bombers, fly area cover, bomb installations in the Laval-Nantes-
The USAAF's Fifteenth Air Force in Italy dispatches 200+ bombers to attack targets in France and Italy; B-17s attack tank repair and ball bearing works in Turin, Italy; B-24s attack the harbor at Genoa, Italy, and airfields at Valence/La Tresorerie and Les Chanoines, France; fighters hit troop concentrations at Sjenica, Prijepolje, Pljevlja, and Andrijevica and strafe the Prizren, Yugoslavia area. (Jack McKillop)
U-1164 (Type VIIC/41) Stricken at Kiel on 24 July, 1944 after being damaged by British bombs. Broken up.
Whilst acting as HQ ship for troops ashore destroyer HMS Goathland is
mined NNE of Courcelles. She is towed back to Portsmouth but not repaired. (Alex Gordon)
1945: The Potsdam Declaration is agreed to by Churchill, Truman and Stalin; after Stalin is informed of the existance of the Atomic Bomb. Truman decides that it will be used, if the Japanese do not come to terms. The Potsdam agreement will be released on the 26th.
US: Various items salvaged from the French passenger liner Normandie will be auctioned this week. The liner was undergoing converstion to a troop transport when a welders torch started a fire on February 9, 1942.
Monsignor Mansour Stephen of Brooklyn's Roman Catholic church of Our Lady of Lebanon will acquire some items for their new church. The Bronze Doors ($1,025), ten bronze plaques ($975), a bronze railing ($155), a cloisonnŽ enamel bas-relief of a Norman knight ($380), and a bronze statue ($690) entitled "La Paix" (Peace). Slightly remodeled, "La Paix" will be enshrined in the church's square tower. (John Nicholas and Will Rinaman)
15 US carriers and 4 British carriers begin a series of raids against the Japanese Home Islands. More details of this raid will appear on July 28.
Tonight the BBs will bombard Kushimoto and Shionomisaki.
AMPLIFYING THE ABOVE:
In Japan, carrier-based aircraft of the USN's Task Force 38 attack the Kure Naval Base and airfields in on Honshu. The aircraft sink the battleship-carrier HIJMS Hyuga, the heavy cruiser HIMJS Tone, which is pushed aground to permit salvaging, and three other ships; they also damage 15 other ships including battleships, cruisers and destroyers. The raids are unopposed.
Carrier-based aircraft of the RN's Task Group 37.2 damage an escort aircraft carrier which then strikes a mine laid by a B-29 Superfortress. The raids are unopposed.
The USAAF's Twentieth Air Force based in the Marianas dispatched 625 B-29s on 7 missions against targets in the Nagoya and Osaka areas; 1 B-29 is lost.
Mission 284: 82 B-29s attack the Sumitomo Light Metals Industries propeller factory at Osaka; most of the machine tools had been removed but the facility is completely wrecked; 4 others hit alternate targets; 1 B-29 is lost.
Mission 285: 81 B-29s hit the Kawanishi Aircraft Plant at Takarazuka destroying 77% of the plant; 3 others hit alternate targets.
Mission 286: 153 B-29s hit the Osaka Arsenal and Kuwana; the arsenal sustains additional damage amounting to 10% of the original roof area; 9 others hit alternate targets;
Mission 287: 66 B-29s attack the Aichi aircraft plant at Eitoku; the plant sustains its heaviest damage of the war; 5 others hit alternate targets.
Missions 288 and 289: 113 B-29s hit the urban are of the city of Tsu; 2 others hit alternate targets.
Mission 290: 77 B-29s attack the Nakajima plant at Handa destroying the principal assembly buildings; 1 B-29 hit an alternate target.
91 VII Fighter Command P-51s, operating from Iwo Jima, hit airfields and other tactical targets at Hamamatsu, Suruga Bay, and other points in the Nagoya, Japan area. (Jack McKillop)
Whilst engaged in preparatory clearing operations for the forthcoming landings in Malaya (Operation Zipper) minesweeper HMS Squirrel is mined and has to be scuttled by gunfire. There are 7 casualties. Location: off Phuket Island in the Gulf of Thailand. (Alex Gordon)
1947: U-190 is sunk in "Operation Scuttle". This Type IXC/40 U-boat, launched 3 June 1942 had surrendered on 8 May 1945 and been commissioned into the RCN. U-190 was finally paid off 24 July 1947 when it was sunk by rocket fire from RCN Firefly aircraft off Halifax on the site where U-190 sank HMCS Esquimalt in April 1945. (Alex Gordon and Dave Shirlaw)
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