August 17
We Remember:
1939: Hitler orders Admiral Canaris, the head of German Intelligence, to obtain Polish uniforms for a 'special SS operation'. (Andy Etherington)
Soviet Foreign Minister Molotov is highly gratified by the German's obvious haste to achieve a political agreement, and to Drax's outrage, Marshal Voroshilov - by now sure that neither the French nor the British mean business - dismisses their delegates for four days. (Andy Etherington)
Sumner Welles, US Under Secretary of State, passes information concerning the German overtures to Moscow to British Ambassador Sir Ronald Lindsay. Lindsay immediately telegraphs London, confident his message will be in the Foreign Office first thing in the morning, London time. It is, but is not deciphered for four days. (Andy Etherington)
1940: Admiral Cunningham leads 3 British Battleships to bombard Italian positions at Bardia and Fort Capuzzo. In an effort to provide air cover for the bombardment operation, HMS Eagle dispatched the three Sea Gladiators of her 813 Fight Flight to Sidi Barrani where they joined RAF Gladiator's of 112 Squadron in flying CAP throughout the day. In the afternoon, the expected attacks by Regia Aeronautica appeared. The patrols of Gladiators broke up several attacks, with 813 Fighter Flight's Cdr. C. L. Keighley-Peach, Lt. L. K. Keith, and Lt. A. N. Young claiming two of 8 claims overall. Tragically, 11 days later Young would be killed as killed when his 824 Squadron Swordfish crashed at Dekheila. The Mediterranean fleet sustained no damage. (Mark Horan)
Greece reserve forces are called up in some districts. This demonstrates the recent increased tensions. The Greek cruiser Helle was sunk by an Italian submarine recently. (John Nicholas)
RAF 4 Group (Whitley). Bombs aircraft factory at Augsburg. (Andy Etherington)
Churchill spends the afternoon watching the progess of the battle in the "ops room" of No. 11 Group at Uxbridge, near London. He could hardly contain his excitement as he followed the progress of the battles. The gallantry of the RAF against constant attack from the Luftwaffe made a deep impression on him. Later, driving home, he said: "Don't speak to me; I have never been so moved." (Andy Etherington)
The Luftwaffe removes Stukas from its attacking force, as they have proved too vulnerable. (Andy Etherington)
The German government announces a "total blockade" of the British Isles and states that all ships will be sunk without warning. (Jack McKillop)
1941: A US note to Japan is formally presented. This note maintains the lines as agreed at Placentia Bay. Since it is toned down from what was originally agreeed, the British and Dutch governments do not present their notes at this time. (John Nicholas)
Amplifying the Above:
US President Franklin D Roosevelt and Secretary of State Cordell Hull talk with Japanese Ambassador Nomura Kichasaburo. The Americans state their conditions for resuming negotiations with the Japanese. (Jack McKillop)
U.S.S.R: The German Army's Heeresgruppe Nord (von Leeb) in its drive toward Leningrad captures Narva while Heeresgruppe SŸd (von Rundstedt) reaches the Dniepr River at Dnepropetrovsk. Novgorod on the shores of Lake Ilmen also falls to the Germans. (John Nicholas and Jack McKillop)
In the Mideast, the British and the Soviets warn Persia to get rid of the excess of German tourists. (Jack McKillop)
London and Moscow sign trade accord. (Jack McKillop)
1942: Japanese positions on Makin Island is raided by the 2nd USMC Raider Battalion.
AMPLIFYING THE ABOVE
In Makin Atoll, Gilbert Islands, Companies "A" and "B," 2d Marine Raider Battalion (Lieutenant Colonel Evans F. Carlson, USMC), land on Butaritari Island. The purpose of this raid is to destroy Japanese installations, take prisoners, gain intelligence on the area and divert Japanese attention and reinforcements from the Solomon Islands; Intelligence estimates that there are 45 Japanese on the island. The Marines had been transported in the submarines USS Nautilus (SS-168) and USS Argonaut (SS-166), each of which could carry a company. The submarines surfaced in heavy rain and high seas and Carlson changed the plans; originally, the two companies were to land on widely separated beaches but the new plan has them landing together. One platoon did not get the word and ended up landing alone in what became the enemy rear.
The two companies crossed the island and then turned southwest towards the known Japanese positions and a fire fight soon ensued. The Japanese launched two banzai attacks which were easily dispatched; unknown to the Americans, these attacks nearly wiped out the Japanese garrison.
At 1130 hours, two enemy aircraft appeared and they dropped bombs, none of which hit the Marines. Two hours later, 12 aircraft appeared, several of them seaplanes. Two large seaplanes landed in the lagoon and were fired upon by the Marines; one burst into flames and the other crashed on takeoff. The remaining aircraft bombed and strafed the island for an hour.
The natives on the island reported that Japanese reinforcements had landed from the seaplanes and two small ships in the lagoon. Colonel Carlson believed there was a sizeable Japanese force on the island and it was decided to evacuate the troops in their rubber boats. However, a heavy surf soaked the outboard engines making them inoperative, boats capsized and equipment was lost. Several boatloads of troops made it to the submarines but Carlson and 120 men ended up on the shore where they remained into the next day. (Jack McKillop)
Rouen, France is the target for the 1st all-American bombing raid over Europe.
AMPLIFYING THE ABOVE:
The USAAF's VIII Bomber Command in England flies Mission 1. Twelve B-17E Flying Fortresses of the 97th Bombardment Group (Heavy) based at Grafton Underwood, Northamptonshire, takeoff at 1527 hours. The lead aircraft of the first flight of six is named "Butcher Shop" and is piloted by Colonel Frank A. Armstrong, the group commander; the co-pilot is Major Paul W. Tibbets, the pilot of the B-29 "Enola Gay" which dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima in August 1945. The lead aircraft of the second group is "Yankee Doodle" and this aircraft carries Major General Ira C. Eaker, Commanding General, VIII Bomber Command. The B-17s rendezvous with four squadrons of RAF Spitfire Mk. IXs and proceed to the target, the Sotteville marshalling yard at Rouen France. A second diversion force of six B-17s took off at 1512 hours from Polebrook, Northamptonshire, headed for France but then turned around and returned to base. All 12 aircraft bomb at 1739-1746 hours; the bombing was reasonably
accurate with about half the bombs falling in the general target area. The escorts kept Luftwaffe fighters at bay but one Bf 109 got within range and was claimed as damaged by a ball turret gunner. The main force returns to base shortly after 1900 hours. (Jack McKillop)
The Germans capture Russian positions in Pyatigorsk and Yessentuki in the Caucasus.
ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-108 torpedoes and sinks an armed U.S. merchant tanker about 150 nautical miles (277 kilometers) north of Cayenne, French Guiana, in position 07.24N, 52.33W. Although the U-boat crew sees three men escape from the burning ship, they are never found. There are no survivors from the 41 merchant sailors and the 8-man Armed Guard. (Jack McKillop)
MEDITERRANEAN: British submarine HMS/M Turbulent (N 98) fires two torpedoes that strike the Italian motor transport MV Nino Bixio. One of the torpedoes explodes in a hold full of Allied POWs and 336 of them, including 120 New Zealanders, are killed. The ship does not sink and is taken under tow by an escorting Italian destroyer and twoed to Navarino, Greece. The survivors are shipped to a POW camp near Bari, Italy. (Jack McKillop)
1943: In the Aleutian Islands, a US Eleventh Air Force B-24 flies over Kiska Island watching friendly forces land on the shore of eastern Kiska Lake. American troops land on Little Kiska Island. (Jack McKillop)
The US Eighth Air Force's VIII Air Support Command and VIII Bomber Command both fly missions.
The VIII Air Support Command flies Missions 23 and 24 attacking 2 airfields in France. (1) 29 B-26Bs attack Bryas Sud Airfield at 1051 hours, and (2) 35 B-26Bs bomb Nord Airfield at Poix at 1552 hours.
On the first anniversary of US heavy bomber operations from the UK, the VIII Bomber Command flies Mission 84, a two-pronged attack, marking the deepest penetration of German territory to date. The critical targets are the Messerschmitt complex at Regensburg, and the anti-friction-bearing factories at Schweinfurt; 60 B-17's are lost in the fierce air battle that extends to the targets and continues after the bombing.. (1) 188 B-17s bomb Schweinfurt between 1459-1511 hours; they claim 148-18-63 Luftwaffe aircraft; 36 B-17's are lost; there are 80 high explosive hits on the 2 main bearing plants. (2) 127 B-17's attack Regensburg between 1148-1207 hours; they claim 140-19-36 Luftwaffe aircraft; 24 B-17's are lost; every important building in the complex is damaged; the surviving aircraft continue on to bases in North Africa. (John Nicholas and Jack McKillop)
During the night of 17/18 August, the RAF begins Operation CROSSBOW,
massive attacks on German V-weapon sites. About 570 aircraft drop 2,000
tons of bombs on Peenemunde, Germany. (Jack McKillop)
In Sicily, the Sicilian campaign ends with the official entry of the US Seventh Army's 3d Infantry Division into Messina at 1000 hours. The British force from Ali arrives shortly thereafter. The fall of Sicily paves the way for the stepped-up air offensive against Italy. (Jack McKillop)
In the Solomon Islands, new ground troops are landed on Vella Lavella
Island despite air attacks by the Japanese. At dusk, several Japanese
aircraft attack shipping and sink an LST and destroy an early-warning radar
site. On New Georgia Island, Japanese artillery on Baanga Island continues
to shell Munda Airfield. (Jack McKillop)
US Fifth Air Force B-24s bomb oil facilities at Balikpapan, Borneo and damage a Japanese cargo ship. (Jack McKillop)
The Quebec Conference between US President Franklin D Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill begins in the Canadian city. The 2 leaders and the Combined Chiefs of Staff discuss worldwide strategy. (Jack McKillop)
Portugal agrees to allow the British to establish bases in the Azores. (Jack McKillop)
General Patton's forces enter Messina. British forces follow. The Allied capture of Sicily is marred by successful evacuation of 50,000 German and 62,000 Italian soldiers and 50 panzers and various supplies. (John Nicholas)
1944: Soviet Army Group North attacks toward Siauliai in Lithuania to prevent Riga from being cutoff. (John Nicholas)
The last significant Japanese force on Numfoor, New Guinea is largely destroyed. (John Nicholas)
Finland: Finnish President Mannerheim meets Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel who has come for a sudden visit to Finland. The formal reason for Keitel's visit is to bring Mannerheim the Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross and a Knight's Cross for General of Infantry Erik Heinrichs, the Chief of Finnish General Staff.
Mannerheim informs Keitel that the promise given by the ex-President Risto Ryti, that Finland won't make peace unless in agreement with Germany, is in force no more. It was made by President Ryti personally and was not ratified by the Parliament. The Finnish people do not approve of the promise and thus Ryti had to resign. Finland shall stay in the war only as long as is in her interest to do so. Keitel assures that Germany won't submit, but will keep fighting for ten more years if necessary. Mannerheim comments that unfortunately we Finns can't do that. Keitel is visibly agitated when he leaves. (Mikko HŠrmeinen)
ITALY: The Germans pull out of Florence, releasing Italy's most beautiful city from a vise in which it long has been clutched. Neither army shelled Florence and it is believed that the historic city is intact except for five bridges blown up by the Germans. (Jack McKillop)
The US Eighth Air Force in England flies 3 missions.
Mission 558: 10 B-24s are dispatched to drop Azon missiles on the Les Foulous, France rail bridge but the mission is abandoned due to deteriorating weather.
Mission 559: 1 B-17 drop a BATTY TV bomb on the port area at La Pallice, France.
Mission 560: 7 B-17s drop leaflets in France during the night.
33 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night. Fighter-bomber missions flown by the VIII Fighter Command:
397 P-38 Lightnings and P-47 Thunderbolts hit the Paris/Brussels area;
they claim 3-0-3 aircraft.
318 P-51 Mustangs are dispatched to hit communications targets; 7 P-51s are lost. (Jack McKillop)
France: The US Ninth Air Force dispatches 400+ A-20 Havocs and B-26s to bomb road bridges at Montfort-sur-Risle, Pont-Audemer, Nassandres, Beaumont-le-Roger, Le Bourg, Brionne, and Beaumontel, and a rail bridge at La Ferriere-sur-Risle; fighters fly ground force cover over Saint-Malo and Dreux and armed reconnaissance in northwest France; IX Tactical Air Command fighters attack and severely damage Gestapo HQ near Chateauroux. (Jack McKillop)
The US Twelfth Air Force, despite bad weather, sends medium bombers to
attack railroad bridges leading to the beachhead area of the south coast and hit coastal guns southwest of Toulon; A-20s hit motor transport during the night and drop ammunition to invasion forces; fighter-bombers and fighters on armed reconnaissance and patrol score excellent results against motor transport and rail cars and destroy several airplanes on airfields in the south. (Jack McKillop)
The mayor of Paris, Pierre Charles Tattinger, meets with the German commander Dietrich von Choltitz to protest the explosives being deployed throughout the city. Adolf Hitler had decreed that Paris should be left a smoking ruin, but Dietrich von Choltitz thought better of his Fuehrer's order. (Jack McKillop)
Chief of State Marshal Henri PŽtain and his staff are interned at Belfort by order of the FŸhrer. The Vichy French government under Premier Pierre Laval resigns. (Jack McKillop)
Falaise, France is completely capured by the Canadian 2nd Division. There remain only a few miles between The Canadians to the north and the US V Corps to the south. (John Nicholas)
Dreux, Chateaudun and Orleans are captured by US forces. The citadel at St. Malo, France surrenders. (John Nicholas)
German Field Marshal Walther Model takes over command of German forces in the West from Field Marshall Gunther von Kluge who committed suicide because of his involvement in the July 20 plot against Hitler. (John Nicholas and Jack McKillop)
In southern France, St. Raphael, St. Tropex, Frejus, Le Luq an St. Maxime fall to the Allies. There is little German resistance. (John Nicholas)
BULGARIA: One B-24 Liberator of the USAAF's Fifteenth Air Force in Italy visually bombs a target of opportunity. (Jack McKillop)
ROMANIA: Two hundred forty five B-24 Liberator of the USAAF's Fifteenth Air Force in Italy bomb three oil refineries at Ploesti with the loss of 19 aircraft: Using H2X radar, the Romano Americano Refinery if bombed by 70 aircraft while 54 bomb visually; 124 aircraft bomb the Romano Americano Refinery, 70 using H2X radar; and 34 bomb the Standard Oil Refinery visually. Other targets hit by individual aircraft are a highway at Bailesti, a marshalling yard at Dragonesti, and another unnamed highway. (Jack McKillop)
YUGOSLAVIA: B-17 Flying Fortresses of the USAAF's Fifteenth Air Force in Italy bomb two targets: 51 aircraft bomb the airfield at Nis with the loss of one aircraft while one bombs the railroad at Pirot. (Jack McKillop)
US Seventh Air Force B-24s from Saipan Island bomb Iwo Jima Island in the
Volcano Islands. (Jack McKillop)
US Thirteenth Air Force radar-equipped B-24s attack Japanese airfields and
defenses on in the Palau Islands during the night of 17/18 August. (Jack McKillop)
In India, the Indian Viceroy Viscount Wavell rejects Gandhi's request to discuss war support in return for Indian independence. (Jack McKillop)
In U.S. baseball, New York Yankees' center fielder Johnny Lindell ties a major league baseball record by hitting four consecutive doubles in a game against the Cleveland Indians. The Yankees win the game 10-3. (Jack McKillop)
1945: Hirohito dispatches 3 princes to carry word of the surrender to various units of the armed forces. Prince Takeda is sent to the Kwantung and Korean armies. Prince Kan-in is sent the the Southern Army and the 10th Area Fleet HQ. Prince Asaka is sent to the China Expeditionary Army and the China Area Fleet. These missions, of members of the Royal Family, are successful at convincing the various commanders that the decision is in fact that of the Emperor and not that of "traitors around the Throne." (John Nicholas)
Soldiers of the Army Air Signal Training Division advance on Tokyo by train after receiving the Emperor's broadcast. They are convinced that he has been advised by traitors and it is not his decision. They occupy the Imperial Museum of Art. It will take 2 days for them to be removed, in the end by actual armed assault. (John Nicholas)
FRENCH INDOCHINA: Ho Chi Minh, the leader of the Indochina Communist Party's National Liberation Committee, reads a proclamation calling on the Vietnamese people to begin the revolution. Viet Minh troops seize power from Japanese puppet government authorities in the Hanoi suburbs. (Jack McKillop)
In the Kurile Islands, the Soviet 101st Infantry Division lands on Shimushu Island. The Japanese 91st Division counterattacks resulting in heated combat. (Jack McKillop)
In the Netherlands East Indies, Achmad Sukarno proclaims independence from the Dutch after hearing confirmation that Japan has surrendered. (Jack McKillop)
In the U.S., 100,000 workers are laid off from war jobs as contracts end.
The motion picture "The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry" is released today. Based on a play by Thomas Job, this film-noir drama is directed by Robert Siodmak and stars George Sanders, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Ella Raines and Harry von Zell. The plot involves a bachelor (Sanders), head designer in a small-town cloth factory, who lives with his two selfish sisters. He becomes involved with a new colleague (Raines) and the sisters try and break the romance up. (Jack McKillop)
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