August 24
We Remember:
1939: Parliament reconvenes and passes the Emergency Powers Act, Royal Assent is given today. (Andy Etherington)
The Royal Navy is ordered to war stations. (Andy Etherington)
Hitler predicts that the Chamberlain government will fail. Goering meets with Birger Dahlerus, a Swedish businessman and proposes that Dahlerus, who has good connections, should act as a go-between with Great Britain.
Ambassador Henderson urges that Poland and Germany re-establish contact, saying that it is the 'last hope, if any, of peace: if there is a last hope'. (Andy Etherington)
Soviet Marshal Voroshilov goes duck shooting. (Andy Etherington)
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt sends a telegram to Adolf Hitler in which he says, "I appeal to you in the name of the people of the United States, and I believe in the name of peace-loving men and women everywhere, to agree to the solution of the controversies existing between your Government and that of Poland through the adoption of one of the alternative methods I have proposed." (Jack McKillop)
Louis "Lepke" Buchalter, the leader of the crime family known as "Murder, Incorporated," gives himself up to newspaper columnist Walter Winchell in New York City. Winchell turns the underworld leader over to FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. (Jack McKillop)
Sidney Cotton, in a Lockheed Model 12A Electra Junior equipped with hidden cameras, flew the last civilian flight out of Berlin. He had flown to Berlin to pick up Hermann Goering and fly him to England for a last ditch meeting with Chamberlain in an effort to avert the war. But it was too late, as the invasion plans were already underway. Given an exact route to follow for his departure, Cotton still managed to photograph the German naval fleet at Wilhelmshaven from 60 miles away on the way out.
With the start of the war, Cotton became the head of the RAF's Photographic Reconnaissance Unit (PRU), but quickly antagonized top RAF brass and was tossed out.
As for the aircraft - it was severely damaged by a German parachuted mine in September 1940. It was eventually shipped back to Lockheed in California for repair, and served the rest of the war as a six-passenger airliner in the Caribbean. It's history was lost until being re-discovered in the late 1970s. Now owned by the Pepsi skywriting team of Steve Oliver and his wife Suzanne Asbury Oliver, it is on loan to the Aviation Museum of Kentucky, where it on display in Lexington, Kentucky (2003). Check out the pepsiteam web pages for photos and more history of the aircraft. BTW, it's for sale, and the price has been reduced to less than $290K.
Sidney Cotton was an Australian who had been a pilot in the Royal Navy in WWI, and he became a successful businessman in Europe in the 1920s and 30s. He was approached by MI6 in the autumn of 1938 to collect aerial photos of suspected military areas.
At first he worked with French intelligence, flying a Lockheed Model 12A Electra Junior equipped with hidden cameras. He quickly became dissatisfied with their cooperation and competence, and insisted that he be allowed to operate independently. MI6 acquired a second Electra Junior, which Cotton equipped with larger fuel tanks and several hidden cameras.
From April to August 1939, he made a number of flights over Germany and Italian Somaliland, ostensibly tending his business interests and sightseeing, while secretly photographing military fortifications and installations. (Dennis Sparks)
1940: RAF 4 Group (Whitley). Bombs electrical factory at Milan - aircraft factory at Augsburg - Daimler-Benz factory at Stuttgart. (Andy Etherington)
London has its first bombing raid when ten German planes returning home jettison their loads by mistake. Germany loses 38 planes today and Britain 22. (Andy Etherington)
The Luftwaffe today concentrated its attacks on Fighters Command's airfields flying 1,030 daytime sorties. The first raid appeared at 8.30 am when 40 Do17s and Ju88s, escorted by 66 Bf109s, approached the coast. 12 fighter squadrons went up to intercept. But the raid was a feint, and the real attack was timed to catch the British fighters on the ground as they refuelled.
Hornchurch and North Weald took heavy punishment, with the fighters scrambling to get into the air as the bombs dropped. Hornchurch was saved for severe damage largely by its anti-aircraft guns, while Hurricanes from neighbouring Romford came to the rescue at North Weald. The Germans also got through to Portsmouth where, attempting to bomb the dockyard, they were heavily engaged by anti-aircraft fire. Many of their bombs fell into the town and caused heavy civilian casualties. Ramsgate was also hit. As a result of the day's fighting the German lost 41 aircraft and the RAF 20. But the day is not yet over. Goering has ordered a round-the-clock offensive, and there are reports tonight of raids on Cardiff, Swansea, South Shields and many areas around London. (Andy Etherington)
Manston, in its exposed position on top of the Kentish cliffs, took a terrible hammering, although stories about a "mutiny" amongst ground staff - allegedly refusing to come out of underground shelters despite threats and entreaties from the superior officers - appear to have arisen from a series of misunderstandings, as have tales of civilian workers refusing to fill in bomb craters under enemy fire. Tonight Manston has ceased to exist as a front line fighter base, and is being used only as an emergency field. This is not the only weakness that todays attacks have shown up. Five of 264 Squadrons Defiants have been shot down. (Andy Etherington)
There is also something wrong with the co-operation between Air Vice-Marshal Keith Park's hard pressed 11 Group and Air Vice-Marshal Traffoed Leigh- Mallory's 12 Group. When Park asked for help today, 12 Group's squadrons took so long in forming their "big wing" that the raiders had bombed and gone before 12 Group appeared on the scene. (Andy Etherington)
In London, 2nd Lt Ellis Edward Arthur Chetwynd Talbot (1920-41), Royal Engineers, carried a new and unpredictable type of German bomb to a safe spot on his shoulders. (Empire Gallantry Medal) (Andy Etherington)
ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-37 attacks Convoy SC-1 (Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada to U.K.) and sinks one of the escorts, the British sloop HMS Penzance (L 28), about 499 nautical miles (925 kilometers) south-southwest of Reykjavik, Iceland, in position 56.16N, 27.19W. The sloop is blown in half and it is not possible to lower boats or rafts resulting in 90 men going down with the ship; there are only seven survivors which are picked up by the British 4,141 ton steam freighter SS Blairmore. Five hours later, SS Blairmore is also torpedoed by U-37 about 516 nautical miles (956 kilometers) south-southwest of Reykjavik in position 56.00N, 27.30W. Once again the seven survivors abandon ship and this time they are picked up after some 17 hours by the Swedish merchant SS Eknaren and taken to Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A. (Andy Etherington, Alex Gordon and Jack McKillop)
In the U.S., the Detroit Tigers and the Boston Red Sox play a baseball game in Fenway Park in Boston. With the Tigers leading 11-1 after seven innings, the Red Sox left fielder Ted Williams pitches the last two innings and gives up one run on three hits. (Jack McKillop)
1941: U.S.S.R.: General Ivan S. Konev initiates a new counterattack in the area of Gomel but it is not successful.
The troops of Col. Winell's 8th ID cross the Bay of Viipuri unopposed. =
They are able to consolidate their positions on the eastern shore before =
the Soviets react. (Mikko HŠrmeinen)
In Britain, Prime Minister Winston Churchill makes a radio broadcast in which he discusses his recent meeting with U.S. President Roosevelt in Newfoundland. Churchill pledges unhesitating aid to the U.S. in the event that peaceful discussions with Japan fail. (Jack McKillop)
U.K.: The RCAF's No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron, equipped with Hurricane Mk. Is and based at Northolt, Middlesex, England, shoots down two RAF Blenheim bombers which were mistaken for Junkers JU-88s. (Jack McKillop)
In the U.S., a rag tag group of five musicians, dubbed the Dodger SymPhony by radio announcer Red Barber, make their debut at a Brooklyn Dodgers baseball game in Ebbets Field, Brooklyn. This band, none of which could read music, perform their zany antics at all evening and weekend games. (Jack McKillop)
1942: East of Guadalcanal, US scout planes flying from Enterprise spot carrier Ryujo. A strike is dispatched. Then Shokaku and Zuikaku are sighted. Attempts to redirect the attack from Admiral Fletcher are unsuccessful.
The Ryujo is sunk.
Japanese attacks from the two fleet carriers find Enterprise and while damaged, she is still able to land planes. One of the bombs is caught on film at the exact moment of explosion. Most of the Japanese planes in this strike choose the Enterprise, only a few attack the Saratoga and North Carolina for superficial damage. The steering gear on Enterprise goes out of commission during damage control, and for 30 minutes the ÒBig EÓ circles with her rudder jammed hard to starboard. A second Japanese strike is spotted on radar while the Enterprise is disabled. It heads for an estimated position and does not find the US forces.
The new tactic of centralized fighter direction, using radar, is marred by radio frequencies jammed with too many American transmissions. The mission of this Japanese Naval task force is to protect a supply and reinforcement convoy under command of Admiral Tanaka. This will become known as ÒThe Battle of the Eastern SolomonsÓ. The final act involving the convoy will occur tomorrow.
AMPLIFYING THE ABOVE:
HIJMS Ryujo is sunk and the seaplane carrier HIJMS Chitose is damaged by SBD-3 Dauntlesses of Bombing Squadron Three (VB-3) and Scouting Squadron Three (VS-3) and TBF-1 Avengers of Torpedo Squadron Eight (VT-8) in USS Saratoga (CV-3). Light cruiser HIJMS Jintsu is damaged by SBD-3s of Marine Scout Bombing Squadron Two Hundred Thirty Two (VMSB-232) based on Guadalcanal. During the night of 24/25 August, 4 Japanese warships shell Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. (Jack McKillop)
For more details on this battle, see listmember Tim Lanzendšrfer's web site at:
http://www.microworks.net/pacific/battles/eastern_solomons.htm
Thierack is appointed by Hitler as the new Minister of Justice. He has the power to set aside any or all written law.
FRANCE: The USAAF's VIII Bomber Command in England flies Mission 5: 12 B-17 Flying Fortresses visually bomb the shipyard of Ateliers et Chantiers Maritime de la Seine at Le Trait dropping 24 tons of bombs without loss. (Jack McKillop)
Major General Carl Spaatz, Commanding General USAAF's Eighth Air Force, reports the RAF attitude towards U.S. daylight precision bombing seems to be changing from one of skepticism to one of tentative approval. (Jack McKillop)
In Libya, U.S. Army, Middle East Air Forces B-24 Liberators attack Tobruk harbor. (Jack McKillop)
NEW GUINEA: A Japanese amphibious force leaves Buna in seven large barges and New Ireland Island, Bismarck Archipelago, in transports, heading for Milne Bay; the barges are detected by an Australian coastwatcher during the afternoon. (Jack McKillop)
BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: Allied Air Forces B-17s bomb Gasmata Island and airfields at Rabaul, New Britain Island. (Jack McKillop)
PACIFIC: USN submarine USS Guardfish (SS-217) torpedoes and sinks a Japanese merchant passenger-cargo ship off entrance to Sendai harbor, on the northeast coast of Honshu, Japan. (Jack McKillop)
U.K.: Prime Minister Winston Churchill returns to England after meeting with Soviet Premier Josef Stalin in Moscow. (Jack McKillop)
U.S.S.R.: The slowing German offensive in the Caucasus creeps to within 85 miles (137 kilometers) of the Grozny oil complex. (Jack McKillop)
U.S.: Hollywood stars Tyrone Power, 28, and Henry Fonda, 37, join the armed forces. Power joins the Marine Corps but doesn't go to boot camp until he finishes the motion picture "Crash Dive" about submarines. Fonda joins the Navy and goes straight to boot camp as a Seaman Apprentice. Power went to Officer Candidate School and was commissioned and then took flight training and was later assigned as a transport pilot in the Pacific. He was discharged in Jan 46. Fonda served on the destroyer USS Satterlee (DD-626) rising to the rank of Quartermaster Third Class. Based on the recommendation of the executive officer on the ship, Fonda was commissioned a Lieutenant (jg) and served in Air Combat Intelligence in the Central Pacific; he was discharged in Oct 45. (Jack McKillop)
1943: Himmler is appointed as Minister of the Interior. Neurath resigns as Protector of Bohemia and Moravia with Frisch as his replacement.
Today and tomorrow there are several bomb incidents in Copenhagen, Denmark and strikes in shipyards, courtesy of the Danish resistance.
The USAAF's Antisubmarine Command is redesignated I Bomber Command and reassigned to the First Air Force after the USAAF and USN reach an agreement under which the USAAF withdraws from antisubmarine operations. The USN accepts responsibility for all ASW operations in the Atlantic and the USAAF will transfer all aircraft engaged in this activity to the USN. (Jack McKillop)
In China, 7 B-24 Liberators and 6 B-25 Mitchells of the USAAF's Fourteenth Air Force, escorted by 22 P-40s and P-38 Lightnings, bomb airfields at Hankow and Wuchang; 4 B-24s are lost; 24 IJA interceptors are claimed shot down. (Jack McKillop)
FRANCE: The USAAF's VIII Air Support Command and VIII Bomber Command in England visually bomb four targets:
- VIII Air Support Command Missions 33A & 33B: B-26B Marauders fly two diversions for the VIII Bomber Command B-17 Flying Fortresses.
- VIII Bomber Command Mission 86 Part I: 86 B-17s bomb the aircraft industry at Villacoublay at 1800-1805 hours local; 12 B-17s bomb Conches Airfield at 1844 hours local; and ten B-17s bomb Fauville Airfield at Evreux at 1858 hours local. One B-17 is lost.
- VIII Bomber Command Mission 86 Part II: 58 of 85 B-17s, which had flown to North Africa after attacking Regensburg, Germany, on 17 August, bomb Merignac Airfield at Bordeaux; at 1157-1200 hours; three 3 B-17s are lost. Nine B-17s return to North Africa after encountering difficulties. (Jack McKillop)
ITALY: During the day, Northwest African Tactical Air Force (NATAF) fighter-bombers hit a railroad tunnel and cruiser offshore at Sibari, tracks and buildings at Castrovillari, and the town area at Sibari; and RAF Desert Air Force airplanes strafe motor transport north of Reggio di Calabria and provide withdrawal cover for the NATAF fighter-bombers. During the night of 24/25 August, 48 RAF Liberators of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group visually bomb the steel industry targets at Torre Annunziata. (Jack McKillop)
In the Solomons:
- 25 Thirteenth Air Force B-24s, with fighter escort, bomb Papatura Fa Island and attack the eastern shore of Ringa Cove on New Georgia Island. P-39 Airacobras strafe barges at Kakasa on Choiseul Island.
- The New Georgia campaign ends as U.S. Army troops occupy Bairoko Harbor. (Jack McKillop)
ATLANTIC OCEAN: Two German submarines are sunk:
- U-134 (Type VIIC) is sunk about 35 nautical miles (66 kilometers) west of Vigo, Spain, in approximate position 42.07N, 09.30W, by six depth charges from a British Wellington Mk. XIV, aircraft "J" of No. 179 Squadron based at Gibraltar. All 48 crewmen on the U-boat are lost.
- U-185 (Type IXC/40) is sunk about 867 nautical miles (1 605 kilometers) southwest of Lagens Field, Azores Islands, in position 27.00N, 37.06W, by depth charges from three TBF Avengers and Wildcats of Composite Squadron Thirteen (VC-13) in the USN escort aircraft carrier USS Core (CVE-13). Twenty nine crew are lost, plus 14 dead from the previously rescued crew of U-604; there are just 22 survivors. (Alex Gordon and Jack McKillop)
CANADA: The Quadrant Conference between U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill and Canadian Prime Minister W.L. MacKenzie King in Quebec City, Quebec, ends. Operation OVERLORD, the invasion of northwestern Europe, target date is 1 May 1944, and Operation POINTBLANK, the Combined Bomber Offensive to destroy economic and military power of Germany as a prelude to OVERLORD, shall constitute the primary effort against Germany. Plans for the invasion of Italy are approved, but the forces to be employed are confined to those already allotted by TRIDENT, the U.S.-British conference held in Washington, D.C., USA, in May 1943. Advances against Japan are to be made along both the Central Pacific and the Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA) route. Action in the Central Pacific is to begin with invasion of Gilberts and Marshalls Islands. In the SWPA, Rabaul on New Britain Island, Bismarck Archipelago, will be neutralized but not captured; New Guinea w
ill be neutralized as far west as Wewak; Manus Island in the Admiralty Islands and Kavieng on New Ireland Island, Bismarck Archipelago, are to be secured as bases from which further advances can be supported. A new Allied command, Southeast Asia Command (SEAC), is authorized to simplify command structure in Asia; British Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten is to be Supreme Commander and U.S. Lieutenant Gerneral Joseph Stilwell will be his deputy. The China Theater is not included in SEAC; as China is an area of U.S. strategic responsibility, General Stilwell is responsible to Chinese Generalissimo Chiang Kai.shek. The North Burma offensive is scheduled to begin in February 1944. President Roosevelt opposed recognition of a DeGaulle government, but Churchill recognizes French General Charles DeGaulle's National Committee as a wartime ally. Although there was growing unity on military strategy, there was also growing political disunity especially involving Italy. (Jack McKillop)
EAST INDIES: Fifth Air Force B-25 Mitchells bomb Larat Island in the Tanimbar Islands of the Netherlands East Indies. (Jack McKillop)
NEW GUINEA: In Northeast New Guinea, the Australian 3 Division is replaced by the 5 Division during the final phases of operations against Salamaua. This attack is really a feint; the main objective is Lae and the main body of Australian forces are approaching it from the interior of the island. In the air, USAAF Fifth Air Force B-24 Liberators bomb Wewak and Salamaua. In Papua New Guinea, U.S. forces continue their operations to capture Dot Inlet located northwest of Morobe. (Jack McKillop)
NEW HEBRIDES ISLANDS: The Japanese submarine HIJMS I-25 launches a "Glen" (Yokosuka E14Y, Navy Type 0 Small Reconnaissance Seaplane) to reconnoiter Espiritu Santo Island. (Jack McKillop)
1944: CZECHOSLOVAKIA: B-17 Flying Fortresses of the USAAF's Eighth Air Force in England visually bomb two targets in Brux: 132 aircraft bomb the synthetic oil refinery while seven others bomb the industrial area; two aircraft are lost. The USAAF's Fifteenth Air Force in Italy bombs three targets: 158 bomb the airfield at Pardurice while 110 hit the oil refinery in the same city; another 100 bomb the oil refinery at Kolin; 13 bombers are lost. (Jack McKillop)
FRANCE: In the north, the French 2nd Armored Division, under Major General Jacques LeClerc reaches the ourskirts of Paris. Fighting within the city again, due to German defensive movements. The French use back streets to crack the Germans' defenses of Paris and reach the heart of the city. Nearby, the U. S. 4th Infantry Division pushes into Paris' suburbs. Meanwhile, the U.S. 5th Infantry and 7th Armored Divisions bridge the Seine at Melun and Mandara, east of Paris. (John Nicholas and Jack McKillop)
In the south, US forces liberate Cannes and Antibes on the Riviera and Arles on the Rhone River while the Germans evacuate Bordeaux however, the Germans occupy fortified bunker positions on the Gironde estuary west of the city. (John Nicholas and Jack McKillop)
The first shipments of gasoline, ammunition, food and other military equipment begin streaming across France on the "Red Ball Express," a highway supply line using thousands of American trucks. Using two roads restricted to military traffic, Red Ballers hotrod form St. Lo in Normandy to advanced supply dumps of the U.S. First and Third Armies. The Red Ball rolls 24 hours a day, seven days a week. (Jack McKillop)
In the air, weather cancels a USAAF IX Bomber Command mission against 4 fuel dumps north of the Seine River; fighters give air cover to ground forces, mainly for 3 armored and 2 infantry divisions, bomb Seine River bridges, and fly armed reconnaissance along the Seine and around Troyes, Orleans, and Tours; about 270 C-47 Skytrains fly supply and evacuation missions. (Jack McKillop)
During the night of 23/24 August, USAAF Twelfth Air Force A-20 Havocs hit motor transport and targets of opportunity in the Rhone Valley; during the day, medium bombers bomb bridges at Montpellier, Avignon, and Lunel and score direct hits on gun positions in the Marseille area; and fighters bomb and strafe gun positions, vehicles, roads and bridges throughout southeastern France. (Jack McKillop)
GERMANY: In the air, the USAAF's Eighth Air Force in England dispatches 1,319 bombers and 739 fighters in four forces on visual attacks on strategic targets with some PFF on targets of opportunity; 26 bombers and 4 fighters are lost. (1) 433 B-24s are dispatched to attack aviation industry targets Waggum and Querum Airfields in Brunswick, Langenhagen Airfield in Hannover an oil refinery at Misburg; (2) 451 B-17s are dispatched to hit Merseburg oil refinery, Weimar and Kolleda Airfields and targets of opportunity; (3) 383 B-17s are dispatched to hit oil industry targets at Ruhland and Freital while 15 hit targets of opportunity; and (4) 43 B-24s hit Walther Airfield at Kiel while 3 others hit Hemmingstedt Airfield and 2 hit targets of opportunity. (Jack McKillop)
HUNGARY: Forty nine heavy bombers of the USAAF's Fifteenth Air Force in Italy visually bomb the railroad bridge at Szeged without loss. (Jack McKillop)
ITALY: During the day, medium bombers of the USAAF's Twelfth Air Force bomb bridges at Solignano Nuovo, and Castel del Rio. Heavy bombers of the USAAF's Fifteenth Air Force hit four targets: 62 bomb the railroad bridge at Ferrara; individual bomber hit the railroad at Bordeno and Formignana and a target of opportunity at Polesella; two aircraft are lost. During the night of 23/24 August, USAAF Twelfth Air Force A-20 Havocs hit motor transport and targets of opportunity at Genoa, Milan, and Turin while 74 RAF Liberators of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group bomb the Main marshalling yard at Bologna. (Jack McKillop)
PACIFIC: The USN submarine USS Harder (SS-257) is sunk by Japanese Coast Defense Vessel No. 22 off the west coast of Luzon. (Jack McKillop)
USN submarine sink four Japanese merchant ships. (1) USS Ronquil (SS-396) attacks a Japanese convoy, sinking an army cargo ship off Keelung, Formosa, and a merchant cargo ship off Sankaku Island; (2) USS Sailfish (SS-192) attacks Japanese convoy in Luzon Strait, sinking a transport; and (3) USS Seal (SS-183) sinks a merchant cargo ship off the southeast coast of Hokkaido, Japan. (Jack McKillop)
U.S.: The USN establishes its first night carrier air group, Light Carrier Night Air Group Forty Three [CVLG(N)-43], at Naval Auxiliary Air Station (NAAS) Charlestown, Rhode Island. Its component squadrons were Night Fighting Squadron Forty Three [VF (N)-43] and Night Torpedo Squadron Forty Three [VT(N)-43], the latter the first of the night torpedo squadrons, were established the same day. (Jack McKillop)
YUGOSLAVIA: Fifty one heavy bombers of the USAAF's Fifteenth Air Force in Italy visually bomb a marshalling yard at Vincovici. (Jack McKillop)
A British naval force including carriers HMS Victorious and Indomitable, and battleship HMS Howe, under Admiral Moody, attack Padang in SW Sumatra.
The German Army Group South Ukraine, under Freissner, has been shattered by Russian attacks and the defection of the Rumanian forces attached. Kishinev falls to the Soviets.
Finland: Finnish President Mannerheim and the cabinet unanimously decide to seek peace with Soviet Union. It is agreed that the decision can't be postponed even if Germany is continuously providing Finland with war material and Hitler hasn't reacted to Mannerheim's message to Keitel that Finland will stay in the war only as long as it is in her interest to do so. (Mikko HŠrmeinen)
In Burma, 9 USAAF Tenth Air Force B-25s bomb Kangon; 3 P-47 Thunderbolt flights support British troops northeast of Pinbaw, hitting forces and gun emplacements near Namyin Te and Nansankyin; 4 P-47s bomb Nankan; and 4 P-51 Mustangs strafe vehicles along the Shweli River and bomb a storage area south of Hopin. (Jack McKillop)
In China, town areas, river and road traffic, railroad targets, and other targets of opportunity in or near Hengyang, Chuchou, Siangtan, and Yangtien are attacked by 8 B-25s and 25 P-40s of the USAAF's Fourteenth Air Force; 19 other P-40s hit similar targets of opportunity at Yungeheng, Anjen, along the central Yangtze River, and south of Mangshih. (Jack McKillop)
Saipan Island-based P-47s of the USAAF Seventh Air Force pound Aguijan and Pagan Islands. Marshall Island-based B-24s bomb Truk Atoll while B-25s hit Nauru Island. (Jack McKillop)
The first B-29s of the XXI Bomber Command, Brigadier General Emmett O'Donnell Jrs 73d Bombardment Wing (Very Heavy), arrive in the Mariana Islands. The ground echelon arrives by ship on 16 September. (Jack McKillop)
The USAAF's Far East Air Forces dispatches B-25s to attack shipping in Lembeh Strait, Celebes Island, while B-24s bomb Lolobata Airfield on Halmahera Island. (Jack McKillop)
ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-445 (Type VIIC) is sunk about 148 nautical miles (274 kilometers) west of Saint-Nazaire, France, in position 47.21N, 05.50W, by depth charges from the British frigate HMS Louis (K 515, ex USN DE-517). All 53 crewmen on the U-boat are lost. (Alex Gordon and Jack McKillop)
BARENTS SEA: German submarine U-354 (Type VIIC) is sunk about 238 nautical miles (441 kilometers) north-northwest of Murmansk, U.S.S.R. (now Russia), in position 72.49N, 30.41E, by depth charges from the British sloops HMS Mermaid (U 30) and Peacock (U 96), the frigate HMS Loch Dunvegan (K 425) and the destroyer HMS Keppel (D 84). All 51 crewmen on the U-boat are lost. (Alex Gordon and Jack McKillop)
1945: JAPAN: Military cadets occupy broadcasting facilities in Kawaguchi, near Tokyo in Saitama Prefecture, in protest to the Japanese surrender. General TANAKA Shizuichi, Commander of the Eastern District Army, goes to the station and continues to harangue the cadets until they give up. Late that night, General Tanaka commits harakiri in his office. He takes the whole responsibility for the destruction by fire of a section of the Imperial Palace. The fire was the result of a USAAF bombing raid. His instructions to the regimental commanders of the Eastern District Army are: "I am very grateful to all of your regiments for keeping in strict order after the Imperial command to surrender. Now I have fulfilled my duty as Commanding Officer of the District Army. I am determined to lay down my life to beg His Majesty's awful pardon in place of you and all of your officers and men. I heartily hope that you and all your officers and men will strictly watch yourselves and guard
against rashness and be devoted to the peaceful revival of our fatherland." (John Nicholas)
USAAF Eleventh Air Force B-24 Liberators based in the Aleutian Islands try to photograph the Soviet occupation of the Kurile Islands but are impeded by clouds. (Jack McKillop)
NEW GUINEA: Forces of the Japanese 18th Army have been ordered to ceasefire but their commander says that he cannot order them to surrender until he receives instructions from Field Marshal Count TERAUCHI Hisaichi, Commander in Chief Southern Army. (Jack McKillop)
SOLOMON ISLANDS: On Bougainville, Japanese commander, Lieutenant General KANDA Masatane, Commander of the 17th Army, is still awaiting instruction from Tokyo. (Jack McKillop)
U.K.: Prime Minister Clement Atlee announces in the House of Commons that the sudden ending of Lend-Lease aid, without prior consultation. Attlee, notes that the abrupt ending of American aid has left the country in a "very serious financial position." The Foreign Minister, Ernest Bevin, says that 700,000 homes in London require repairs. Former Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill described the statement as very grave and disquieting. (Jack McKillop)
U.S.: The last M-24 Chaffee light tank built by the Cadillac Division of the General Motors Corporation rolls off the assembly line. Cadillac is now free to begin building automobiles for the first time since 1942. (Jack McKillop)
The motion picture "Pride of the Marines" is released today. Based on the book by Roger Butterfield, this war drama, directed by Delmar Daves, stars John Garfield, Eleanor Parker, Dane Clark, Rosemary DeCamp and Mark Stevens. The film is based on the real life story of Marine Al Schmid who was blinded while fighting on Guadalcanal. The film is nominated for a writing award. (Jack McKillop)
The top songs on the pop record charts are (1) "If I Loved You" by Perry Como, (2) "I Wish I Knew" by Dick Haymes, (3) "Till The End Of Time" by Perry Como and (4) "You Two Timed Me One Time Too Often" by Tex Ritter. "Till The End Of Time" is ranked Number 2 for the year 1945. (Jack McKillop)
Maestro Arturo Toscanini, the conductor of the NBC Symphony Orchestra, agrees to return to Italy next February to conduct the opening performance at La Scala opera house. (Jack McKillop)
In baseball, the Cleveland Indians' ace pitcher Bob Feller returns from the Navy and attracts a home crowd of 46,477 in Cleveland Stadium, who watch him strike out 12 and yield only four hits in a 4-2 win over Detroit's Hal Newhouser. Feller will get nine starts during the remainder of the year, and his five wins will include a one-hitter and two 4-hitters. With the war now over, fans are clamoring for entertainment and it is clear Feller is still baseball's number one ticket seller. (Jack McKillop)
U.S.S.R.: The Soviet Union and China sign a treaty of alliance. (Jack McKillop)
We Remember:
1939: Parliament reconvenes and passes the Emergency Powers Act, Royal Assent is given today. (Andy Etherington)
The Royal Navy is ordered to war stations. (Andy Etherington)
Hitler predicts that the Chamberlain government will fail. Goering meets with Birger Dahlerus, a Swedish businessman and proposes that Dahlerus, who has good connections, should act as a go-between with Great Britain.
Ambassador Henderson urges that Poland and Germany re-establish contact, saying that it is the 'last hope, if any, of peace: if there is a last hope'. (Andy Etherington)
Soviet Marshal Voroshilov goes duck shooting. (Andy Etherington)
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt sends a telegram to Adolf Hitler in which he says, "I appeal to you in the name of the people of the United States, and I believe in the name of peace-loving men and women everywhere, to agree to the solution of the controversies existing between your Government and that of Poland through the adoption of one of the alternative methods I have proposed." (Jack McKillop)
Louis "Lepke" Buchalter, the leader of the crime family known as "Murder, Incorporated," gives himself up to newspaper columnist Walter Winchell in New York City. Winchell turns the underworld leader over to FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. (Jack McKillop)
Sidney Cotton, in a Lockheed Model 12A Electra Junior equipped with hidden cameras, flew the last civilian flight out of Berlin. He had flown to Berlin to pick up Hermann Goering and fly him to England for a last ditch meeting with Chamberlain in an effort to avert the war. But it was too late, as the invasion plans were already underway. Given an exact route to follow for his departure, Cotton still managed to photograph the German naval fleet at Wilhelmshaven from 60 miles away on the way out.
With the start of the war, Cotton became the head of the RAF's Photographic Reconnaissance Unit (PRU), but quickly antagonized top RAF brass and was tossed out.
As for the aircraft - it was severely damaged by a German parachuted mine in September 1940. It was eventually shipped back to Lockheed in California for repair, and served the rest of the war as a six-passenger airliner in the Caribbean. It's history was lost until being re-discovered in the late 1970s. Now owned by the Pepsi skywriting team of Steve Oliver and his wife Suzanne Asbury Oliver, it is on loan to the Aviation Museum of Kentucky, where it on display in Lexington, Kentucky (2003). Check out the pepsiteam web pages for photos and more history of the aircraft. BTW, it's for sale, and the price has been reduced to less than $290K.
Sidney Cotton was an Australian who had been a pilot in the Royal Navy in WWI, and he became a successful businessman in Europe in the 1920s and 30s. He was approached by MI6 in the autumn of 1938 to collect aerial photos of suspected military areas.
At first he worked with French intelligence, flying a Lockheed Model 12A Electra Junior equipped with hidden cameras. He quickly became dissatisfied with their cooperation and competence, and insisted that he be allowed to operate independently. MI6 acquired a second Electra Junior, which Cotton equipped with larger fuel tanks and several hidden cameras.
From April to August 1939, he made a number of flights over Germany and Italian Somaliland, ostensibly tending his business interests and sightseeing, while secretly photographing military fortifications and installations. (Dennis Sparks)
1940: RAF 4 Group (Whitley). Bombs electrical factory at Milan - aircraft factory at Augsburg - Daimler-Benz factory at Stuttgart. (Andy Etherington)
London has its first bombing raid when ten German planes returning home jettison their loads by mistake. Germany loses 38 planes today and Britain 22. (Andy Etherington)
The Luftwaffe today concentrated its attacks on Fighters Command's airfields flying 1,030 daytime sorties. The first raid appeared at 8.30 am when 40 Do17s and Ju88s, escorted by 66 Bf109s, approached the coast. 12 fighter squadrons went up to intercept. But the raid was a feint, and the real attack was timed to catch the British fighters on the ground as they refuelled.
Hornchurch and North Weald took heavy punishment, with the fighters scrambling to get into the air as the bombs dropped. Hornchurch was saved for severe damage largely by its anti-aircraft guns, while Hurricanes from neighbouring Romford came to the rescue at North Weald. The Germans also got through to Portsmouth where, attempting to bomb the dockyard, they were heavily engaged by anti-aircraft fire. Many of their bombs fell into the town and caused heavy civilian casualties. Ramsgate was also hit. As a result of the day's fighting the German lost 41 aircraft and the RAF 20. But the day is not yet over. Goering has ordered a round-the-clock offensive, and there are reports tonight of raids on Cardiff, Swansea, South Shields and many areas around London. (Andy Etherington)
Manston, in its exposed position on top of the Kentish cliffs, took a terrible hammering, although stories about a "mutiny" amongst ground staff - allegedly refusing to come out of underground shelters despite threats and entreaties from the superior officers - appear to have arisen from a series of misunderstandings, as have tales of civilian workers refusing to fill in bomb craters under enemy fire. Tonight Manston has ceased to exist as a front line fighter base, and is being used only as an emergency field. This is not the only weakness that todays attacks have shown up. Five of 264 Squadrons Defiants have been shot down. (Andy Etherington)
There is also something wrong with the co-operation between Air Vice-Marshal Keith Park's hard pressed 11 Group and Air Vice-Marshal Traffoed Leigh- Mallory's 12 Group. When Park asked for help today, 12 Group's squadrons took so long in forming their "big wing" that the raiders had bombed and gone before 12 Group appeared on the scene. (Andy Etherington)
In London, 2nd Lt Ellis Edward Arthur Chetwynd Talbot (1920-41), Royal Engineers, carried a new and unpredictable type of German bomb to a safe spot on his shoulders. (Empire Gallantry Medal) (Andy Etherington)
ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-37 attacks Convoy SC-1 (Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada to U.K.) and sinks one of the escorts, the British sloop HMS Penzance (L 28), about 499 nautical miles (925 kilometers) south-southwest of Reykjavik, Iceland, in position 56.16N, 27.19W. The sloop is blown in half and it is not possible to lower boats or rafts resulting in 90 men going down with the ship; there are only seven survivors which are picked up by the British 4,141 ton steam freighter SS Blairmore. Five hours later, SS Blairmore is also torpedoed by U-37 about 516 nautical miles (956 kilometers) south-southwest of Reykjavik in position 56.00N, 27.30W. Once again the seven survivors abandon ship and this time they are picked up after some 17 hours by the Swedish merchant SS Eknaren and taken to Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A. (Andy Etherington, Alex Gordon and Jack McKillop)
In the U.S., the Detroit Tigers and the Boston Red Sox play a baseball game in Fenway Park in Boston. With the Tigers leading 11-1 after seven innings, the Red Sox left fielder Ted Williams pitches the last two innings and gives up one run on three hits. (Jack McKillop)
1941: U.S.S.R.: General Ivan S. Konev initiates a new counterattack in the area of Gomel but it is not successful.
The troops of Col. Winell's 8th ID cross the Bay of Viipuri unopposed. =
They are able to consolidate their positions on the eastern shore before =
the Soviets react. (Mikko HŠrmeinen)
In Britain, Prime Minister Winston Churchill makes a radio broadcast in which he discusses his recent meeting with U.S. President Roosevelt in Newfoundland. Churchill pledges unhesitating aid to the U.S. in the event that peaceful discussions with Japan fail. (Jack McKillop)
U.K.: The RCAF's No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron, equipped with Hurricane Mk. Is and based at Northolt, Middlesex, England, shoots down two RAF Blenheim bombers which were mistaken for Junkers JU-88s. (Jack McKillop)
In the U.S., a rag tag group of five musicians, dubbed the Dodger SymPhony by radio announcer Red Barber, make their debut at a Brooklyn Dodgers baseball game in Ebbets Field, Brooklyn. This band, none of which could read music, perform their zany antics at all evening and weekend games. (Jack McKillop)
1942: East of Guadalcanal, US scout planes flying from Enterprise spot carrier Ryujo. A strike is dispatched. Then Shokaku and Zuikaku are sighted. Attempts to redirect the attack from Admiral Fletcher are unsuccessful.
The Ryujo is sunk.
Japanese attacks from the two fleet carriers find Enterprise and while damaged, she is still able to land planes. One of the bombs is caught on film at the exact moment of explosion. Most of the Japanese planes in this strike choose the Enterprise, only a few attack the Saratoga and North Carolina for superficial damage. The steering gear on Enterprise goes out of commission during damage control, and for 30 minutes the ÒBig EÓ circles with her rudder jammed hard to starboard. A second Japanese strike is spotted on radar while the Enterprise is disabled. It heads for an estimated position and does not find the US forces.
The new tactic of centralized fighter direction, using radar, is marred by radio frequencies jammed with too many American transmissions. The mission of this Japanese Naval task force is to protect a supply and reinforcement convoy under command of Admiral Tanaka. This will become known as ÒThe Battle of the Eastern SolomonsÓ. The final act involving the convoy will occur tomorrow.
AMPLIFYING THE ABOVE:
HIJMS Ryujo is sunk and the seaplane carrier HIJMS Chitose is damaged by SBD-3 Dauntlesses of Bombing Squadron Three (VB-3) and Scouting Squadron Three (VS-3) and TBF-1 Avengers of Torpedo Squadron Eight (VT-8) in USS Saratoga (CV-3). Light cruiser HIJMS Jintsu is damaged by SBD-3s of Marine Scout Bombing Squadron Two Hundred Thirty Two (VMSB-232) based on Guadalcanal. During the night of 24/25 August, 4 Japanese warships shell Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. (Jack McKillop)
For more details on this battle, see listmember Tim Lanzendšrfer's web site at:
http://www.microworks.net/pacific/battles/eastern_solomons.htm
Thierack is appointed by Hitler as the new Minister of Justice. He has the power to set aside any or all written law.
FRANCE: The USAAF's VIII Bomber Command in England flies Mission 5: 12 B-17 Flying Fortresses visually bomb the shipyard of Ateliers et Chantiers Maritime de la Seine at Le Trait dropping 24 tons of bombs without loss. (Jack McKillop)
Major General Carl Spaatz, Commanding General USAAF's Eighth Air Force, reports the RAF attitude towards U.S. daylight precision bombing seems to be changing from one of skepticism to one of tentative approval. (Jack McKillop)
In Libya, U.S. Army, Middle East Air Forces B-24 Liberators attack Tobruk harbor. (Jack McKillop)
NEW GUINEA: A Japanese amphibious force leaves Buna in seven large barges and New Ireland Island, Bismarck Archipelago, in transports, heading for Milne Bay; the barges are detected by an Australian coastwatcher during the afternoon. (Jack McKillop)
BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: Allied Air Forces B-17s bomb Gasmata Island and airfields at Rabaul, New Britain Island. (Jack McKillop)
PACIFIC: USN submarine USS Guardfish (SS-217) torpedoes and sinks a Japanese merchant passenger-cargo ship off entrance to Sendai harbor, on the northeast coast of Honshu, Japan. (Jack McKillop)
U.K.: Prime Minister Winston Churchill returns to England after meeting with Soviet Premier Josef Stalin in Moscow. (Jack McKillop)
U.S.S.R.: The slowing German offensive in the Caucasus creeps to within 85 miles (137 kilometers) of the Grozny oil complex. (Jack McKillop)
U.S.: Hollywood stars Tyrone Power, 28, and Henry Fonda, 37, join the armed forces. Power joins the Marine Corps but doesn't go to boot camp until he finishes the motion picture "Crash Dive" about submarines. Fonda joins the Navy and goes straight to boot camp as a Seaman Apprentice. Power went to Officer Candidate School and was commissioned and then took flight training and was later assigned as a transport pilot in the Pacific. He was discharged in Jan 46. Fonda served on the destroyer USS Satterlee (DD-626) rising to the rank of Quartermaster Third Class. Based on the recommendation of the executive officer on the ship, Fonda was commissioned a Lieutenant (jg) and served in Air Combat Intelligence in the Central Pacific; he was discharged in Oct 45. (Jack McKillop)
1943: Himmler is appointed as Minister of the Interior. Neurath resigns as Protector of Bohemia and Moravia with Frisch as his replacement.
Today and tomorrow there are several bomb incidents in Copenhagen, Denmark and strikes in shipyards, courtesy of the Danish resistance.
The USAAF's Antisubmarine Command is redesignated I Bomber Command and reassigned to the First Air Force after the USAAF and USN reach an agreement under which the USAAF withdraws from antisubmarine operations. The USN accepts responsibility for all ASW operations in the Atlantic and the USAAF will transfer all aircraft engaged in this activity to the USN. (Jack McKillop)
In China, 7 B-24 Liberators and 6 B-25 Mitchells of the USAAF's Fourteenth Air Force, escorted by 22 P-40s and P-38 Lightnings, bomb airfields at Hankow and Wuchang; 4 B-24s are lost; 24 IJA interceptors are claimed shot down. (Jack McKillop)
FRANCE: The USAAF's VIII Air Support Command and VIII Bomber Command in England visually bomb four targets:
- VIII Air Support Command Missions 33A & 33B: B-26B Marauders fly two diversions for the VIII Bomber Command B-17 Flying Fortresses.
- VIII Bomber Command Mission 86 Part I: 86 B-17s bomb the aircraft industry at Villacoublay at 1800-1805 hours local; 12 B-17s bomb Conches Airfield at 1844 hours local; and ten B-17s bomb Fauville Airfield at Evreux at 1858 hours local. One B-17 is lost.
- VIII Bomber Command Mission 86 Part II: 58 of 85 B-17s, which had flown to North Africa after attacking Regensburg, Germany, on 17 August, bomb Merignac Airfield at Bordeaux; at 1157-1200 hours; three 3 B-17s are lost. Nine B-17s return to North Africa after encountering difficulties. (Jack McKillop)
ITALY: During the day, Northwest African Tactical Air Force (NATAF) fighter-bombers hit a railroad tunnel and cruiser offshore at Sibari, tracks and buildings at Castrovillari, and the town area at Sibari; and RAF Desert Air Force airplanes strafe motor transport north of Reggio di Calabria and provide withdrawal cover for the NATAF fighter-bombers. During the night of 24/25 August, 48 RAF Liberators of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group visually bomb the steel industry targets at Torre Annunziata. (Jack McKillop)
In the Solomons:
- 25 Thirteenth Air Force B-24s, with fighter escort, bomb Papatura Fa Island and attack the eastern shore of Ringa Cove on New Georgia Island. P-39 Airacobras strafe barges at Kakasa on Choiseul Island.
- The New Georgia campaign ends as U.S. Army troops occupy Bairoko Harbor. (Jack McKillop)
ATLANTIC OCEAN: Two German submarines are sunk:
- U-134 (Type VIIC) is sunk about 35 nautical miles (66 kilometers) west of Vigo, Spain, in approximate position 42.07N, 09.30W, by six depth charges from a British Wellington Mk. XIV, aircraft "J" of No. 179 Squadron based at Gibraltar. All 48 crewmen on the U-boat are lost.
- U-185 (Type IXC/40) is sunk about 867 nautical miles (1 605 kilometers) southwest of Lagens Field, Azores Islands, in position 27.00N, 37.06W, by depth charges from three TBF Avengers and Wildcats of Composite Squadron Thirteen (VC-13) in the USN escort aircraft carrier USS Core (CVE-13). Twenty nine crew are lost, plus 14 dead from the previously rescued crew of U-604; there are just 22 survivors. (Alex Gordon and Jack McKillop)
CANADA: The Quadrant Conference between U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill and Canadian Prime Minister W.L. MacKenzie King in Quebec City, Quebec, ends. Operation OVERLORD, the invasion of northwestern Europe, target date is 1 May 1944, and Operation POINTBLANK, the Combined Bomber Offensive to destroy economic and military power of Germany as a prelude to OVERLORD, shall constitute the primary effort against Germany. Plans for the invasion of Italy are approved, but the forces to be employed are confined to those already allotted by TRIDENT, the U.S.-British conference held in Washington, D.C., USA, in May 1943. Advances against Japan are to be made along both the Central Pacific and the Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA) route. Action in the Central Pacific is to begin with invasion of Gilberts and Marshalls Islands. In the SWPA, Rabaul on New Britain Island, Bismarck Archipelago, will be neutralized but not captured; New Guinea w
ill be neutralized as far west as Wewak; Manus Island in the Admiralty Islands and Kavieng on New Ireland Island, Bismarck Archipelago, are to be secured as bases from which further advances can be supported. A new Allied command, Southeast Asia Command (SEAC), is authorized to simplify command structure in Asia; British Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten is to be Supreme Commander and U.S. Lieutenant Gerneral Joseph Stilwell will be his deputy. The China Theater is not included in SEAC; as China is an area of U.S. strategic responsibility, General Stilwell is responsible to Chinese Generalissimo Chiang Kai.shek. The North Burma offensive is scheduled to begin in February 1944. President Roosevelt opposed recognition of a DeGaulle government, but Churchill recognizes French General Charles DeGaulle's National Committee as a wartime ally. Although there was growing unity on military strategy, there was also growing political disunity especially involving Italy. (Jack McKillop)
EAST INDIES: Fifth Air Force B-25 Mitchells bomb Larat Island in the Tanimbar Islands of the Netherlands East Indies. (Jack McKillop)
NEW GUINEA: In Northeast New Guinea, the Australian 3 Division is replaced by the 5 Division during the final phases of operations against Salamaua. This attack is really a feint; the main objective is Lae and the main body of Australian forces are approaching it from the interior of the island. In the air, USAAF Fifth Air Force B-24 Liberators bomb Wewak and Salamaua. In Papua New Guinea, U.S. forces continue their operations to capture Dot Inlet located northwest of Morobe. (Jack McKillop)
NEW HEBRIDES ISLANDS: The Japanese submarine HIJMS I-25 launches a "Glen" (Yokosuka E14Y, Navy Type 0 Small Reconnaissance Seaplane) to reconnoiter Espiritu Santo Island. (Jack McKillop)
1944: CZECHOSLOVAKIA: B-17 Flying Fortresses of the USAAF's Eighth Air Force in England visually bomb two targets in Brux: 132 aircraft bomb the synthetic oil refinery while seven others bomb the industrial area; two aircraft are lost. The USAAF's Fifteenth Air Force in Italy bombs three targets: 158 bomb the airfield at Pardurice while 110 hit the oil refinery in the same city; another 100 bomb the oil refinery at Kolin; 13 bombers are lost. (Jack McKillop)
FRANCE: In the north, the French 2nd Armored Division, under Major General Jacques LeClerc reaches the ourskirts of Paris. Fighting within the city again, due to German defensive movements. The French use back streets to crack the Germans' defenses of Paris and reach the heart of the city. Nearby, the U. S. 4th Infantry Division pushes into Paris' suburbs. Meanwhile, the U.S. 5th Infantry and 7th Armored Divisions bridge the Seine at Melun and Mandara, east of Paris. (John Nicholas and Jack McKillop)
In the south, US forces liberate Cannes and Antibes on the Riviera and Arles on the Rhone River while the Germans evacuate Bordeaux however, the Germans occupy fortified bunker positions on the Gironde estuary west of the city. (John Nicholas and Jack McKillop)
The first shipments of gasoline, ammunition, food and other military equipment begin streaming across France on the "Red Ball Express," a highway supply line using thousands of American trucks. Using two roads restricted to military traffic, Red Ballers hotrod form St. Lo in Normandy to advanced supply dumps of the U.S. First and Third Armies. The Red Ball rolls 24 hours a day, seven days a week. (Jack McKillop)
In the air, weather cancels a USAAF IX Bomber Command mission against 4 fuel dumps north of the Seine River; fighters give air cover to ground forces, mainly for 3 armored and 2 infantry divisions, bomb Seine River bridges, and fly armed reconnaissance along the Seine and around Troyes, Orleans, and Tours; about 270 C-47 Skytrains fly supply and evacuation missions. (Jack McKillop)
During the night of 23/24 August, USAAF Twelfth Air Force A-20 Havocs hit motor transport and targets of opportunity in the Rhone Valley; during the day, medium bombers bomb bridges at Montpellier, Avignon, and Lunel and score direct hits on gun positions in the Marseille area; and fighters bomb and strafe gun positions, vehicles, roads and bridges throughout southeastern France. (Jack McKillop)
GERMANY: In the air, the USAAF's Eighth Air Force in England dispatches 1,319 bombers and 739 fighters in four forces on visual attacks on strategic targets with some PFF on targets of opportunity; 26 bombers and 4 fighters are lost. (1) 433 B-24s are dispatched to attack aviation industry targets Waggum and Querum Airfields in Brunswick, Langenhagen Airfield in Hannover an oil refinery at Misburg; (2) 451 B-17s are dispatched to hit Merseburg oil refinery, Weimar and Kolleda Airfields and targets of opportunity; (3) 383 B-17s are dispatched to hit oil industry targets at Ruhland and Freital while 15 hit targets of opportunity; and (4) 43 B-24s hit Walther Airfield at Kiel while 3 others hit Hemmingstedt Airfield and 2 hit targets of opportunity. (Jack McKillop)
HUNGARY: Forty nine heavy bombers of the USAAF's Fifteenth Air Force in Italy visually bomb the railroad bridge at Szeged without loss. (Jack McKillop)
ITALY: During the day, medium bombers of the USAAF's Twelfth Air Force bomb bridges at Solignano Nuovo, and Castel del Rio. Heavy bombers of the USAAF's Fifteenth Air Force hit four targets: 62 bomb the railroad bridge at Ferrara; individual bomber hit the railroad at Bordeno and Formignana and a target of opportunity at Polesella; two aircraft are lost. During the night of 23/24 August, USAAF Twelfth Air Force A-20 Havocs hit motor transport and targets of opportunity at Genoa, Milan, and Turin while 74 RAF Liberators of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group bomb the Main marshalling yard at Bologna. (Jack McKillop)
PACIFIC: The USN submarine USS Harder (SS-257) is sunk by Japanese Coast Defense Vessel No. 22 off the west coast of Luzon. (Jack McKillop)
USN submarine sink four Japanese merchant ships. (1) USS Ronquil (SS-396) attacks a Japanese convoy, sinking an army cargo ship off Keelung, Formosa, and a merchant cargo ship off Sankaku Island; (2) USS Sailfish (SS-192) attacks Japanese convoy in Luzon Strait, sinking a transport; and (3) USS Seal (SS-183) sinks a merchant cargo ship off the southeast coast of Hokkaido, Japan. (Jack McKillop)
U.S.: The USN establishes its first night carrier air group, Light Carrier Night Air Group Forty Three [CVLG(N)-43], at Naval Auxiliary Air Station (NAAS) Charlestown, Rhode Island. Its component squadrons were Night Fighting Squadron Forty Three [VF (N)-43] and Night Torpedo Squadron Forty Three [VT(N)-43], the latter the first of the night torpedo squadrons, were established the same day. (Jack McKillop)
YUGOSLAVIA: Fifty one heavy bombers of the USAAF's Fifteenth Air Force in Italy visually bomb a marshalling yard at Vincovici. (Jack McKillop)
A British naval force including carriers HMS Victorious and Indomitable, and battleship HMS Howe, under Admiral Moody, attack Padang in SW Sumatra.
The German Army Group South Ukraine, under Freissner, has been shattered by Russian attacks and the defection of the Rumanian forces attached. Kishinev falls to the Soviets.
Finland: Finnish President Mannerheim and the cabinet unanimously decide to seek peace with Soviet Union. It is agreed that the decision can't be postponed even if Germany is continuously providing Finland with war material and Hitler hasn't reacted to Mannerheim's message to Keitel that Finland will stay in the war only as long as it is in her interest to do so. (Mikko HŠrmeinen)
In Burma, 9 USAAF Tenth Air Force B-25s bomb Kangon; 3 P-47 Thunderbolt flights support British troops northeast of Pinbaw, hitting forces and gun emplacements near Namyin Te and Nansankyin; 4 P-47s bomb Nankan; and 4 P-51 Mustangs strafe vehicles along the Shweli River and bomb a storage area south of Hopin. (Jack McKillop)
In China, town areas, river and road traffic, railroad targets, and other targets of opportunity in or near Hengyang, Chuchou, Siangtan, and Yangtien are attacked by 8 B-25s and 25 P-40s of the USAAF's Fourteenth Air Force; 19 other P-40s hit similar targets of opportunity at Yungeheng, Anjen, along the central Yangtze River, and south of Mangshih. (Jack McKillop)
Saipan Island-based P-47s of the USAAF Seventh Air Force pound Aguijan and Pagan Islands. Marshall Island-based B-24s bomb Truk Atoll while B-25s hit Nauru Island. (Jack McKillop)
The first B-29s of the XXI Bomber Command, Brigadier General Emmett O'Donnell Jrs 73d Bombardment Wing (Very Heavy), arrive in the Mariana Islands. The ground echelon arrives by ship on 16 September. (Jack McKillop)
The USAAF's Far East Air Forces dispatches B-25s to attack shipping in Lembeh Strait, Celebes Island, while B-24s bomb Lolobata Airfield on Halmahera Island. (Jack McKillop)
ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-445 (Type VIIC) is sunk about 148 nautical miles (274 kilometers) west of Saint-Nazaire, France, in position 47.21N, 05.50W, by depth charges from the British frigate HMS Louis (K 515, ex USN DE-517). All 53 crewmen on the U-boat are lost. (Alex Gordon and Jack McKillop)
BARENTS SEA: German submarine U-354 (Type VIIC) is sunk about 238 nautical miles (441 kilometers) north-northwest of Murmansk, U.S.S.R. (now Russia), in position 72.49N, 30.41E, by depth charges from the British sloops HMS Mermaid (U 30) and Peacock (U 96), the frigate HMS Loch Dunvegan (K 425) and the destroyer HMS Keppel (D 84). All 51 crewmen on the U-boat are lost. (Alex Gordon and Jack McKillop)
1945: JAPAN: Military cadets occupy broadcasting facilities in Kawaguchi, near Tokyo in Saitama Prefecture, in protest to the Japanese surrender. General TANAKA Shizuichi, Commander of the Eastern District Army, goes to the station and continues to harangue the cadets until they give up. Late that night, General Tanaka commits harakiri in his office. He takes the whole responsibility for the destruction by fire of a section of the Imperial Palace. The fire was the result of a USAAF bombing raid. His instructions to the regimental commanders of the Eastern District Army are: "I am very grateful to all of your regiments for keeping in strict order after the Imperial command to surrender. Now I have fulfilled my duty as Commanding Officer of the District Army. I am determined to lay down my life to beg His Majesty's awful pardon in place of you and all of your officers and men. I heartily hope that you and all your officers and men will strictly watch yourselves and guard
against rashness and be devoted to the peaceful revival of our fatherland." (John Nicholas)
USAAF Eleventh Air Force B-24 Liberators based in the Aleutian Islands try to photograph the Soviet occupation of the Kurile Islands but are impeded by clouds. (Jack McKillop)
NEW GUINEA: Forces of the Japanese 18th Army have been ordered to ceasefire but their commander says that he cannot order them to surrender until he receives instructions from Field Marshal Count TERAUCHI Hisaichi, Commander in Chief Southern Army. (Jack McKillop)
SOLOMON ISLANDS: On Bougainville, Japanese commander, Lieutenant General KANDA Masatane, Commander of the 17th Army, is still awaiting instruction from Tokyo. (Jack McKillop)
U.K.: Prime Minister Clement Atlee announces in the House of Commons that the sudden ending of Lend-Lease aid, without prior consultation. Attlee, notes that the abrupt ending of American aid has left the country in a "very serious financial position." The Foreign Minister, Ernest Bevin, says that 700,000 homes in London require repairs. Former Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill described the statement as very grave and disquieting. (Jack McKillop)
U.S.: The last M-24 Chaffee light tank built by the Cadillac Division of the General Motors Corporation rolls off the assembly line. Cadillac is now free to begin building automobiles for the first time since 1942. (Jack McKillop)
The motion picture "Pride of the Marines" is released today. Based on the book by Roger Butterfield, this war drama, directed by Delmar Daves, stars John Garfield, Eleanor Parker, Dane Clark, Rosemary DeCamp and Mark Stevens. The film is based on the real life story of Marine Al Schmid who was blinded while fighting on Guadalcanal. The film is nominated for a writing award. (Jack McKillop)
The top songs on the pop record charts are (1) "If I Loved You" by Perry Como, (2) "I Wish I Knew" by Dick Haymes, (3) "Till The End Of Time" by Perry Como and (4) "You Two Timed Me One Time Too Often" by Tex Ritter. "Till The End Of Time" is ranked Number 2 for the year 1945. (Jack McKillop)
Maestro Arturo Toscanini, the conductor of the NBC Symphony Orchestra, agrees to return to Italy next February to conduct the opening performance at La Scala opera house. (Jack McKillop)
In baseball, the Cleveland Indians' ace pitcher Bob Feller returns from the Navy and attracts a home crowd of 46,477 in Cleveland Stadium, who watch him strike out 12 and yield only four hits in a 4-2 win over Detroit's Hal Newhouser. Feller will get nine starts during the remainder of the year, and his five wins will include a one-hitter and two 4-hitters. With the war now over, fans are clamoring for entertainment and it is clear Feller is still baseball's number one ticket seller. (Jack McKillop)
U.S.S.R.: The Soviet Union and China sign a treaty of alliance. (Jack McKillop)
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