WE REMEMBER AUGUST 29th

We Remember:

1939:     GERMANY: At 0700 hours local, Swedish industrialist Birger Dahlerus telephones Sir Alexander Cadogan with news of his meeting with Goering at 0115 hours local that morning. Apparently, the Fuhrer, Chancellor Adolf Hitler, "was in fact only considering how reasonable he could be," and was about to extend an invitation to the Poles for discussions in Berlin. In the British House of Commons, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain makes a firm uncompromising speech. "The catastrophe is not yet upon us, but I cannot say that the danger of it has in any way receded." He warns the press to exercise restraint, and apologises for not being able to give more than an outline of his communications with Chancellor Hitler. Chamberlain goes on to describe the national mood as one of calm, united confidence with preparations already in hand; air defence in a state of instant readiness, key points protected, the fleet ready to take up war positions, the merchant fleet under Admiralty co
ntrol and Civil Defence regional organisation on a war footing. Evacuation plans for schoolchildren, mothers with young children, expectant mothers and the blind were prepared and had been practised. Hospitals were ready to receive casualties.  (Andy Etherington)
     The Italian Ambassador to Germany, Bernardo Attolico, suggests to German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop that a peace conference should be held. Ribbentrop rejects the idea. Chancellor Adolf Hitler grudgingly accepts direct negotiations with Poland, but demands that a Polish plenipotentiary must arrive in Berlin by the end of the following day.  (Andy Etherington)

SLOVAKIA: German troops enter Slovakia on Poland's southern frontier. This was done at the request of Prime Minister Joseph Tiso for protection from a Polish invasion.  (Andy Etherington)

POLAND: British Ambassador to Poland Sir H. Kennard and Soviet Ambassador Nokl persuade Polish Foreign Minister Colonel Josef Beck to postpone any further Polish mobilisation. (Andy Etherington)

1940:     EGYPT: Italian planes raid the Suez Canal. (Jack McKillop)

FRENCH EQUATORIAL AFRICA: In Libreville, Gabon, the Free French Governor Masson receives a telegram from General RenŽ-Marie-Edgar de Larminat, Commander of the Free French Forces in Equatorial Africa, informing him of the new order in French Equatorial Africa. Govenor Masson informs the local commandant and publicly declares the colony’s adhesion to Free France. The naval commander of Libreville opposes the move and informs the governor of the imminent arrival of a Vichy naval squadron from Dakar, French West Africa. Masson yields and labels the affair a misunderstanding. Several prominent Gaullists in the colonial establishment are deported to Dakar by flying boat. Vichy France dispatches Air Force General Tetu to Libreville as "Governor General of Equatorial Africa" and orders him to reestablish order throughout the colonies. (Jack McKillop)

GERMANY: RAF Whitleys of No. 4 Group bomb and oil plant at Wesseling and petrol store at Ludwigshaven. (Andy Etherington)

U.K.: RAF Fighter Command: Some 700 Luftwaffe fighters in provocative sweeps to which RAF do not respond. The Chief of Kesselring's fighter organisation claims unlimited fighter superiority has been achieved. At night there are heavy raids against Merseyside (176 sorties) and 44 sorties elsewhere. Losses for the day: Luftwaffe, 17; RAF, 9. (Andy Etherington)
     USN Admiral Robert L Ghormley, Assistant Chief of Naval Operations, meets with British military delegation in London for staff talks. (Marc Small)

U.S.: Peter Goldmark of the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) announces his invention of a color television system.  (Jack McKillop)

1941:     FINLAND: Around noon the advance patrols of Finnish 4th and 8th Infantry Divisions enter the center of Viipuri (today Vyborg in Russian Karelia), the second largest city of pre-1939 Finland. The Soviet units defending the city has been ordered to withdraw the day before, so there is no fighting. The recapture of Viipuri marks the achievement of one of the main aims of the war. The men entering the city's medieval castle intend to raise a Finnish flag to the castle's main tower, but failing to find one a private's white shirt is raised. This "flag"-raising has special symbolism attached to it: one of the most famous pictures taken during the Winter War was taken on 13 March 1940, just minutes before the end of the war, of a Finnish flag still defiantly flying from the highest tower of the Castle of Viipuri, soon to be given over to Soviet Union in the harsh peace that ended that war. Soon after the recapture of the city that same flag that was lowered from the castle
  1 and 1/2 years earlier is again raised to celebrate the moment (IIRC the flag is today in the central War Museum in Helsinki). (Mikko HŠrmeinen)

FRENCH INDOCHINA: The Franco-Laotian Treaty of Protectorate signed by Vichy French Admiral Jean Decoux, Governor General of Indochina, and King Sisavang Vong of Louangphrabang, attaches the provinces of Vientiane, Xiangkhoang and Louang Namtha to the king's domain recompensing the loss of Lao territories to Thailand and normalizing Laos' status as a protectorate of Vichy. (Jack McKillop)

IRAN: The fighting against British and Soviet troops ends. (John Nicholas)

SERBIA: General Milan Nedic is appointed to lead the puppet government for Germany. (John Nicholas)

U.S.: The motion picture "Sun Valley Serenade" is released. This musical, directed by H. Bruce Humberstone, stars Sonja Henie, John Payne, Milton Berle, Lynn Bari, Joan Davis, the Nicholas Brothers, Dorothy Danridge and Glenn Miller and his Orchestra including Ray Anthony, Tex Beneke, Ray Eberle, Paula Kelly, Chummy MacGregor and Billy May. The plot has Payne, the pianist with Miller's Orchestra, sponsoring a Norwegian war refuge who he thinks is a little girl but she is actually Henie. When the band soloist (Bari) quits, Henie puts on an ice skating show as a substitute. Miller's Orchestra performs "Chattanooga Choo Choo," "It Happened in Sun Valley," "At Last," "Moonlight Serenade," and "In The Mood." The film is nominated for three Academy Awards. (Jack McKillop)

1942:     ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: A USN PBY Catalina reports a force of three Japanese cruisers and four destroyers northwest of Umnak Island which is located about 121 nautical miles (225 kilometers) southwest of Dutch Harbor on Unalaska Island. All aircraft of the USAAF's 11th Air Force go on attack alert. The surface force then identifies itself as friendly.  (Jack McKillop)

BELGIUM: During the day, 11 RAF Bomber Command Bostons (= USAAF A-20s) visually bomb the port area at Ostend. Meanwhile, 12 USAAF 8th Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses fly Mission 8 and visually bomb Wevelghem Airfield at  Courtrai at 1131 to 1136  hours local. There are no losses to either force.  (Jack McKillop)

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: USAAF B-17 Flying Fortresses of the Allied Air Force bomb the airfield at Rabaul, New Britain Island.  (Jack McKillop)

CORAL SEA: The Australian transport Malaita is torpedoed by Japanese submarine HIJMS RO-33 in the Gulf of Papua off Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. An escort destroyer, the Australian HMAS Arunta, carriers out four depth charge attacks and sinks the sub about 10 nautical miles (19 kilometers) south-southwest of Port Moresby in position 09.36S, 147.06E.   (Jack McKillop)

FRANCE: During the day, RAF Bomber Command aircraft visually attack two targets: two Bostons (= USAAF A-20s) attack the power station at Comines with the loss of one aircraft. The second target is the Pont a Vendin power station attacked by two Mosquitos with the loss of one aircraft.  (Jack McKillop)

MEDITERRANEAN SEA: After bombarding El Daba Airfield, Egypt, with two other destroyers, the British escort destroyer HMS Eridge (L68) is damaged just before dawn by a torpedo from the Italian torpedo boat MTSM.228 about 76 nautical miles (141 kilometers) west of Alexandria, Egypt, in position 31.07N, 28.26E. The torpedo hits the engine room and the ship is towed back to Alexandria by the escort destroyer HMS Aldenham (L 22) but after a survey, Eridge is declared to be a constructive wreck and not repaired.  (Alex Gordon and Jack McKillop)
     US Army Middle East Air Force B-24 Liberators fail to locate shipping near Crete and return without bombing.  (Jack McKillop)

NEW GUINEA: On the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea, both the Australians and Japanese launch attacks during the day but both sides are stalemated.   (Jack McKillop)
     In Milne Bay in Papua New Guinea, a reconnaissance aircraft spots a Japanese force consisting of seven destroyers and two patrol boats heading for the bay at 1633 hours local. At about 2100 hours local, 770 Japanese troops land and prepare for an assault on No. 3 Airstrip tomorrow night. The Japanese ships twice enter Milne Bay to shell Australian shore positions around Gili Gili, each time scrupulously avoiding firing on the brightly painted and lit-up hospital ship. This contrasted with the behaviour of their IJA comrades ashore who were mutilating and torturing Australian prisoners.  (Michael Mitchell and Jack McKillop)
     In the air, USAAF B-26 Marauders and P-400 Airacobras of the Allied Air Force attack the airfield at Buna and RAAF Kittyhawks hit facilities in the Milne Bay area.  (Jack McKillop)

SOLOMONS ISLANDS: Shortly before midnight, Imperial Japanese Navy Destroyer Divisions 11 and 24 plus Patrol Boats 1 & 34 land the the Imperial Japanese Army's 1st Battalion 124th Infantry and  most of Ichiki's rear echelon on Guadalcanal near Taivu Point, east of the Lunga perimeter.  Their orders include an anti-shipping sweep after landing the troops.  Due to aircraft flying from Henderson Field during the night, the sweep is called off.  Admiral Tanaka relieves Captain Murakami for this action. (John Nicholas)
     In the air, three "Betty" bombers (Mitsubishi G4M, Navy TYpe 1 Attack Bombers) bomb Henderson Field on Guadalcanal early in the morning. At 1200 hours local, ten USMC F4F Wildcats and 14 USAAF P-400 Airacobras attack 18 "Betty" bombers which are escorted by "Zeke" fighters (Mitsubishi A6M, Navy Type 0 Carrier Fighters). The Marines claim five "Bettys" and six "Zekes" shot down but this claim is much too high.   (Jack McKillop)

U.K.: The Chief of the Imperial General Staff, General Sir Alan Brooke, complains bitterly to Prime Minister Winston Churchill about the dreadful casualties and lack of planning of the Dieppe, France, raid on 19 August.  (Jack McKillop)

U.S.: The U.S., the American Red Cross, reveals that Japan has refused free passage of ships carrying food, medicine, and other necessities for American POWs held by Japan. Japan refused to allow even "neutral" ships to enter Japanese waters, even those on humanitarian errands. Despite protests by the Red Cross, Japan allowed just 10 percent of what POWs elsewhere received to reach prisoners in their territories.  (Jack McKillop)

U.S.S.R.: In the battle for Stalingrad, the German 4th Panzer Army crashes through the Soviet Army's defenses southwest of the city. Thousands of Russians surrender, but 20,000 escape and join Stalingrad's garrison. (John Nicholas)

1943:     DENMARK: The Danish government resigns and the Danish Army is disbanded after the Danes refuse to yield to a German demand that saboteurs be executed. The majority of the Danish Navy, a coast defense ship, nine submarines, a tender, three minesweepers and four minelayers, are scuttled at Copenhagen and a coast defense ship is scuttled at Isefjord. A patrol boat, three motor minesweepers and nine small auxiliary vessels sortie to Sweden; the German capture three minesweepers and two patrol boats.  (Jack McKillop)

ITALY: During the day, 39 Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF) B-17 Flying Fortresses visually bomb  the Orte marshalling yard, and B-26 Marauders bomb Torre Annunziata; Northwest African Tactical Air Force fighters escort the NASAF bombers, hit a rail junction at Bagnara, bridge and town of Angitola, gun positions in the Villa San Giovanni-Reggio di Calabria areas, and a marshalling yard at Lamezia.  (Jack McKillop)
     During the night of 29/30 August, 73 RAF Liberators of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group visually bomb the marshalling yard at Torre Annunziata with the loss of one aircraft.  (Jack McKillop)

U.S.: The United States warns Germany that it would punish the instigators and perpetrators of crimes against civilians in occupied countries. ("Trustworthy information has reached the United States Government regarding the crimes committed by the German invaders against the population of Poland. . . . The United States Government reaffirms its resolve to punish the instigators and perpetrators of these crimes. It further declares that so long as such atrocities continue to be committed by the representatives and in the name of Germany, they must be taken into account against the time of the final settlement with Germany." Bulletin, Vol. IX, No. 219, p. 150.)
     The formation of USN combat units for the employment of assault drone aircraft begins within the Training Task Force Command as the first of three Special Task Air Groups was established. The component squadrons, designated VK, began establishing on 23 October.  (Jack McKillop)

U.S.S.R.: Lyubotin, just west of Kharkov, is liberated by the Soviets and Taganrog on the Sea of Azov is evacuated by German troops.  (John Nicholas and Jack McKillop)

1944:     CAROLINE ISLANDS: An USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24 Liberator flies an armed reconnaissance bombs to Yap Island. In the Palau Islands, USAAF Fifth and Thirteenth Air Force B-24s bomb Koror, and Malakal Islands, a seaplane base on Arakabesan Island, and supply area north of Ingesebus Airfield.  (Jack McKillop)

CHINA: The Japanese 11th Army, consisting of seven divisions, starts south down the railroad from Heng-Yang threatening USAAF Fourtheenth Air Force bases at Kweilin and Liuchow.  (Jack McKillop)

CZECHOSLOVAKIA: During the day, the USAAF Fifteenth Air Force in Italy bombs four targets: (1) 178 aircraft bomb the tank factory at Ostrave Moravaska (126 using H2X radar) with the loss of 12 aircraft; (2) 26 bomb the marshalling yard at Ostrave Moravaska
using H2X radar; (3) 26 bomb the industrial area at Ostrava Moravaska using H2X; and (4)  32 bomb the oil refinery at Bohumin (27 using H2X) with the loss of five aircraft.  (Jack McKillop)

FRANCE: General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe, directs that the main effort against the Germans will be made in the north.  (Jack McKillop)
     In northern France, the 15,000 men of the U.S. 28th Infantry Division parade down the Champs ElysŽes in Paris at the request of Charles de Gaulle. Due to the extensive barricading of streets in the city, the parade serves the dual purpose of moving the 28th Division through Paris, and toward combat positions east of the city. For the first time in US military history, soldiers marched straight from a parade, into combat within 24 hours. Meanwhile, the U.S. 5th Infantry Division captures Reims while the assault on Brest continues against unabated resistance. Bad weather allows only minimum bomber and fighter operations by the USAAF Ninth Air Force; B-26 Marauders attack a fuel dump while a few fighters fly sweeps over northwestern France; 100+ C-47 Skytrains complete supply and evacuation missions.  (Jack McKillop)
     In southern France, organized German resistance at Loriol and Livron ends. In the air, USAAF Twelfth Air Force fighters attack targets in the Rhone Valley.  U.S. Marine Corps detachments from the heavy cruiser USS Augusta (CA-31) and light cruiser  USS Philadelphia (CL-41) accept the surrender of two German-held islands in Marseilles Harbor and disarm the garrisons. (Jack McKillop)

HUNGARY: During the day, the USAAF Fifteenth Air Force in Italy visually bombs four targets: (1) 47 bomb the marshalling yard at Szeged and (2) 30 bomb the railroad bridge at Szeged; (3) 38 bomb the marshalling yard at Szolnok with the loss of one aircraft; and (4) and 26 bomb the marshalling yard at Czegleb.  (Jack McKillop)
     During the night of 29/30 August, five RAF Liberators of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group mine the Danube River.  (Jack McKillop)

INDIA: Major General Curtis Emerson LeMay becomes Commanding General USAAF XX Bomber Command, Twentieth Air Force, with HQ at Kharagpur, India. LeMay assumes command after Brigadier General LaVerne G Saunders is seriously injured in a non-operational flying accident. (Jack McKillop)

ITALY: The British 6th Armoured Division reaches Consuma while the Canadian 1st and British 5th Corps thrust to the Foglia RIver, behind which the Germans are moving reinforcements.  (John Nicholas and Jack McKillop)
     In the air, medium bombers of the USAAF Twelfth Air Force hit four bridges and a viaduct in northeastern Italy while A-20 Hovocs hit a fuel station; fighter-bombers hit roads and bridges in northern Italy and support ground forces in the Arno River Valley; P-47 Thunderbolts fly medium bomber escort and armed reconnaissance, claiming 100 vehicles destroyed. Meanwhile, during the day, the USAAF Fifteenth Air Force visually bombs two targets: (1) 54 bomb the railroad bridge at Ferrara with the loss of two aircraft and 28 bomb the railroad bridge at Salcano.  (Jack McKillop)

MARIANA ISLANDS: USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24 Liberators based on Saipan bomb Pagan Island during the evening.  (Jack McKillop)

POLAND: The British and U.S. governments recognize the Polish Home Army (AK) as a responsible belligerent.  The Germans refuse to accept this and the fighting in Warsaw continues. (John Nicholas)
     Soviet and Polish Communists announce the finding of 1.5 million dead around the area of the Majdanek concentration camp. (John Nicholas)

ROMANIA: Soviet troops capture Constanta, the Black Sea port.  (Jack McKillop)
     During the night of 29/30 August, two RAF Liberators of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group mine the Danube River.  (Jack McKillop)

U.S.S.R.: The Soviet government announces that it cannot accept or recognize Bulgarian neutrality which was claimed on 26 August. (John Nicholas)
     The Soviet government replies to the Finnish offer to start the peace negotiations. Before the negotiations can begin, Finland has to immediately and publicly sever all relations with Germany and demand all German troops to be withdrawn from the country by the 15 September. If the Germans fail to comply, they have to be disarmed and handed over to the Allies (=Soviets). The next day Carl Gustav Emil Mannerheim, President of the Republic and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, decides to accept the Soviet conditions. The Parliament, whose agreement is needed to affirm the acceptance, is set to decide on the matter on the 5 September.  (Mikko HŠrmeinen)

VOLCANO ISLANDS: USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24 Liberators based in the Mariana Islands, bomb Iwo Jima during the eventing.  (Jack McKillop)

YUGOSLAVIA: During the day, 28  USAAF Fifteenth Air Force bombers visually bomb the railroad bridge at Borovnica while six others bomb the marshalling yard at Subotica.  (Jack McKillop)
     During the night of 29/30 August, seven RAF Liberators of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group mine the Danube River.  (Jack McKillop)

1945:     EAST INDIES: The Japanese garrisons on Halmahera and Morotai Islands in the Netherlands East Indies surrender.   (Jack McKillop)

HONG KONG: The British Navy arrives to reclaim the colony for the U.K.  (Jack McKillop)

JAPAN: The USN's Task Group 30.6, commanded by Commodore Rodger W. Simpson, arrives in Tokyo Bay to undertake emergency evacuation of Allied POWs in waterfront areas. Accompanying Commodore Simpson is Commander Harold E. Stassen, USNR, Flag Secretary to Commander, Third Fleet, Admiral William F. Halsey. Guided by TBM Avengers from the light aircraft carrier USS Cowpens (CVL-25) and taken to the scene in LCVPs from the high speed transport USS Gosselin (APD-126), Commodore Simpson carries out his orders. The appearance of the LCVPs off the camp at Omori (the first liberated) triggers "an indescribable scene of jubilation and emotion" by the former captives, some of whom swim out to the approaching landing craft. Many of the POWs, suffering from malnutrition and other health problems, required immediate medical care and the hospital ship USS Benevolence (AH-13) is stationed nearby to receive them. Their treatment as POWs was described as an "inquisitional form of barbarism."  (
Jack McKillop)
     Soviet forces occupy Etorofu Island in the Kurile Islands.  (Jack McKillop)ÊÊÊÊ
     Off Japan, the USN submarine USS Segundo (SS-398) encounters Japanese submarine HIJMS I-401 off the northeast coast of Honshu, and "after considerable negotiation," places prize crew on board. (Jack McKillop)

MALAYSIA: Japanese troops in southeast Asia, numbering about 740,000, surrender in Singapore to British Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, Supreme Allied Commander Southeast Asia. General ITAGAKI Seishiro, Commander of the 7th Area Army, signs the document for the Japanese.   (Jack McKillop)

U.S.: Secret Army and Navy reports of official enquiries into the raid on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 are made public. The blame is placed on a lack of preparedness, confusion and a breakdown of inter-service coordination. Former Secretary of State Cordell Hull, General of the Army George C. Marshall, Chief of Staff, U.S. Army, and former Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Admiral Harold R. Stark are criticized. President Harry S. Truman objects to the findings on Hull and Marshall.