World War II in real time

Day 1335 of World War II, May 7th 1943

YouTube (Kilroy was Here! The fall of Tunis)



Continuation War

Photo: Czechoslovak 7.5 cm kanon PL vz. 37 used by the Finnish army. Finnish designation of gun was 75 ItK/37 SK, Skoda



Battle of the Atlantic

The battle with convoy 'ONS-5' came to an end. In the week long battle, the convoy of 42 merchants and 9 escorts were attacked by 51 U-Boats. the convoy lost 13 ships but the escorts and land-based Catalina planes sank 7 U-Boats, seriously damaging 5 more. Despite the serious losses, the Allies considered this a great success.

RAF maritime patrol aircraft sank 3 U-Boats in oneday. A Handley-Page Halifax of No. 58 Sqdrn sunk 'U-109' and a Short Sunderland of RAAF No. 10 Sqdrn sank 'U-663', both engagements taking place in the Bay of Biscay. Meanwhile a Lockheed Hudson of No. 233 Sqdrn sank 'U-447' off Gibraltar.

North Africa Campaign

Fighting in North Africa was coming to a speedy conclusion as von Arnim's Axis forces retreated into the Cape Bon peninsula. 5.Panzerarmee evacuated Tunisia and Bizerte. It was 03:15 am when the order was given for the British to drive into the city. Armoured cars of the 11th Hussara were they first - as they had been in every major town or city captured since El Alamein - followed almost immediately by the tanks. Thousands of civilians lined the streets of Tunis to pelt British troops with spring flowers, bestowing kisses on embarrassed troops of the Derbyshire Yeomanry as their tanks rolled in. Even then, however, the fighting was not over, as small pockets of fanatical Germans continued to snipe from vantage points on public buildings and mosques.

Photo: Troops with captured German Nebelwerfer rocket launchers, 7 May 1943



The final assault on the Djebel Bou Aoukaz hills overlooking the city had involved an artillery barrage of an intensity not known since El Alamein. The technique was to use a concentration of fire, centrally controlled, on all known enemy positions. Shells landed on every two yards of front, causing total havoc. A huge air attack began at dawn, with the RAF flying more than 200 sorties. By 09:30 am the 4th Indian Division had cleared a path for IX Corps tanks. Simultaneously, the US II Coprs began its final assault towards Bizerte in the north. After some tough fighting, the US 9th Infantry Division drove into the city in the late afternoon but formal entry was reserved for the French Corps Franc d'Afrique.

The last remnants of the Luftwaffe abandoned their airfields and flew off for Sicily or Italy. For JG 77, the evacuation from the Cape Bon peninsula was a chaotic affair. The Geschwader had suffered heavy losses in the air and on the ground while claiming 333 kills in total in North Africa. Transport aircraft were in short supply and the pilots found themselves flying a shuttle between Tunis and Sicily with up to 2 passengers in the fuselages of the Bf 109s. Having achieved some 50 victories over North Africa, 4./JG 77 experte Fw. Ernst-Wilhelm Reinert was just one pilot to fly the hazrdous over-water flight. Too tall to squeeze into the fuselage of a 109, Reinert took the controls of 'White 7', the Bf 109G assigned to his superior, Oblt. Zeno Baeumel, while Baeumel and a mechanic crammed into the machine. Enroute to Sicily, Reinert sighted a formation of Royal Navy Martlets and swung his heavily loaded fighter in behind one of the British aircraft to deliver the coup de grace before putting down in Sicily, no doubt to the immense relief of his terrified passengers. Once back on the mainland and with most of their aircraft unmaintained and even unservicable on arrival in Sicily - the majority of the ground crews having gone into captivity in North Africa - the pilots of I. and II./JG 77 returned by train to Germany to collect new aircraft. Only III./JG 77 remained in Italy, being based in Foggia northeast of Naples. Aircraft were taken on loan from JG 53 in an effort to rebuild the Gruppe. Obstlt. Johannes Steinhoff now took over as Geschwaderkommodore as the Geschwader, now part of Fliegerkorps II, prepared for the Allies to invade Sicily.

Battle of the Mediterranean

During the night in Sicily, NASAF Wellingtons bombed the docks and shipping at Trapani as a diversion for a mine-laying mission off Malta.

United Kingdom

Lt. General Jacob L. Devers was appointed Commanding General European Theatre of Operations US Army replacing General Andrews who was killed in Iceland.

Photo: Infantry mine-detecting team in training at Studland in Dorset, 7 May 1943



United States

USN representatives witness landing tests of the Sikorksy XR-4-SI helicopter aboard the merchant tanker SS Bunker Hill in a demonstration sponsored by the U.S. Maritime Commission and conducted in Long Island Sound. The USAAF pilot makes about fifteen flights, and in some of these flights he lands on the water before returning to the platform built on the deck of the tanker.

Pacific War

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

(Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, an attempted mission to Kiska by 6 P-40's is aborted due to weather.

SOLOMONS CAMPAIGN

The waters around New Georgia in the Solomons are mined. Amplifying the above: Task Group 36.5 consisting of the destroyer USS Radford and the light minelayers USS Gamble, USS Preble and USS Breese, lay mines across Blackett Strait, the western entrance to Kula Gulf and directly in the favorite route of the "Tokyo Express."

BURMA

The British evacuate Buthidaung, Burma.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Fifth Air Force) B-17's and B-24's bomb the airfield, supply dumps, and other targets at Madang. Japanese fighters from Wewak were on patrol and intercepted seven B-17s and six B-24s over Madang. The B-17s reported interception by seven Japanese fighters including two that dropped aerial bombs that missed by a considerable distance. Four B-17s were damaged, one seriously, in conventional attacks. A-20's hit forces in the Green's Hill area. In Timor, B-25's pound Penfoei. Lost is B-17F "Reckless Mountain Boys" 41-24518. Lost on a training flight is P-61B piloted by Hornaday.

PACIFIC

TG 36.5, composed of light minelayers Gamble (DM-15), Preble (DM-20), and Breese (DM-18), covered by destroyer Radford (DD-446), lays minefield across Blackett Strait, western approaches to Kula Gulf, Solomons. Four Japanese destroyers encounter the field later that night.

Submarine Snook (SS-279) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ships Tosei Maru and No. 3 Shinsei Maru in the Yellow Sea, 36°05'N, 123°21'E.

Submarine Wahoo (SS-238) sinks Japanese merchant passenger/cargo ship No.5 Tamon Maru off Benten Zaki, Honshu, 40°05'N, 141°53'E.

Net tender Catalpa (YN-5), escorted by minesweeper Dash (AM-88), brings damaged U.S. freighter William Williams, torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-19 on 2 May 1943, into Suva, Fiji Islands.

Vichy French steamship Gouverneur General Pasquir is sunk by mine off coast of French Indochina, 20°14'N, 107°00'E.

Day 1337 of World War II, May 9th 1943

Air War over Europe

A Ju 88R-1 defected to Britain, landing near Aberdeen. Allegedly it was carrying an important agent but the secrets of the 'Lichtenstein BC' radar were also extremely valuable. This night-fighter version of the Ju 88, using BMW radial engines instead of the normal Jumo 211s, with pilot Oblt. Herbert Schmid, r/o Obfw. Paul Rosenberger and engineer Obfw. Erich Kantwill took off from Fliegerhorst Aalborg West on an operational flight and at 16:06 hours the aircraft was reported lost over the North Sea. The crew of the Ju 88 from 10./NJG 3 was believed to have contacted the Allies about their defection and 2 Spitfires intercepted and escorted the night-fighter to airbase Dyce-Aberdeen in Scotland. The Junkers was practically brand new and fresh from the factory with the FuG 202 'Lichtenstein BC' interception radar onboard. The crew were made prisoners of war. This Ju 88R-1, now in the RAF museum at Hendon, is one of two surviving Ju 88s - the other being a Ju 88D-1 in the USAF museum.

Photo: Ju 88 R-1 nightfighter, Werknummer 360043, in the RAF museum at RAF Hendon



Battle of the Atlantic

Light cruiser Marblehead (CL-12), on patrol in the South Atlantic, rescues the crew of a crashed USAAF B-26, 06°42'S, 21°35'W.

Battle of the Mediterranean

In Italy, B-24s attacked harbour facilities at Messina, scoring hits on the ferry terminal, roundhouse, 2 ferries and a ship. B-25s hit the landing ground on Pantelleria Island. In Sardinia, during the night, NASAF Wellingtons bombed Villacidro, Elmas and Decimomannu airfields. In Sicily, B-17s with P-38 escort bombed Palermo. B-26s followed immediately with an attack on the same target. Fw. Josef Brandl of 7./JG 27 was listed as missing in action. He had 7 kills with JG 27.

North Africa Campaign

Axis forces facing the US II Coprs in Tunisia, began to surrender. Six generals were among those who capitulated. King George VI told Eisenhower,

"the debt of Dunkirk is repaid!"

as the Allies began to take 50,000 Axis soldiers prisoners.

United States

Photo: Launching of USS Robalo, 9 May 1943, at Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company, Manitowoc, Wisconsin



Photo: The "flush decker" HMS Roxborough (I07), (ex-USS Foote (DD-169)) on post refit trials off the Charston Navy Yard, South Carolina (USA), 9 May 1943



Pacific War

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Fifth Air Force) B-24's and B-17's bomb Manokwari, Nabire, Kaimana, and Madang Airfield, and the Wewak-But area. B-25's hit the airfield at Gasmata. The 89th Bombardment Squadron (Dive), 3d Bombardment Group (Dive) with A-20's transfers from Port Moresby to Dobodura. Both the squadron and group will be redesignated Bombardment Group/Squadron on 25 May 43 to reflect it's true equipment and mission.

PACIFIC

Submarine Gar (SS-206) sinks Japanese gunboat Aso Maru southeast of Cagayan Island, 09°09'N, 122°50'E.

Submarine Pogy (SS-266) damages Japanese transport Uyo Maru off Iwaki, Japan, 37°05'N, 141°06'E.

Submarine Wahoo (SS-238) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ships Takao Maru and Jimmu Maru off Kone Zaki, northeastern Honshu, 38°57'N, 141°49'E.

Photo: The U.S. Navy escort carrier USS Breton (CVE-23) underway in 9 May 1943

Day 1339 of World War II, May 11th 1943

Air War over Europe

A daylight raid by 20 German fighter-bombers on Great Yarmouth killed 26 girls staying at an ATS hotel.

The US 94th BG (Heavy) and its 331st, 332d, 333d and 410 BS (heavy with B-17Fs arrived at Earls Colne, England from the US. The 334th, 335th, 336th and 412th BS (Heavy) of the 95th BG, also with B-17Fs, arrived at Framlingham, England.

Battle of the Mediterranean

The Allies ended a 3 day aerial bombardment of the Italian island of Pantelleria. In Sicily, B-24s struck Catalina harbour, severly damaging the area and several ships. NASAF B-17s, B-26s and B-25s bombed Marsala, hitting the warehouse, docks, railroad yards, seaplane base and city area.

North Africa campaign

NATAF fighters and A-20s attacked vehicles, gun positions and troop concentrations in the Zaghouan-Sainte Marie du Zit area on Cape Bon as the British 4th Division completed an uneventful sweep around the Cap Bon peninsul, revealing no important forces there. Resistance in the Zaghouan sector was weakening.

Panama

Photo: The U.S. Navy Omaha-class light cruiser USS Trenton (CL-11) underway in the Gulf of Panama on 11 May 1943



Pacific War

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN - OPERATION LANDCRAB

Operation LANDCRAB, the invasion of Attu Island in the Aleutian Islands begins. At 0309 hours local, the submarines USS Narwhal and USS Nautilus rendezvous off the north coast of Attu and land scouts of the 7th Infantry Scout Company. The actual unopposed invasion by the 17th and 32d Infantry Regiments, 7th Infantry Division, begins in the afternoon.

Photo: Aerial photograph of Holtz Bay, Attu island, Alaska (USA). The caption identifies "Beach Scarlet", where the U.S. Navy submarines USS Narwhal (SS-167) and USS Nautilus (SS-168) landed the 7th Scout Company, U.S. Army, between 0309 and 0510 hrs on 11 May 1943, which marked the beginning of the recapture of Attu



At 1530 hours local, the Northern Force lands on the north side of Holtz Bay and pushes southeast; the Southern Force lands at Massacre Bay at 1620 hours and pushes north. By 2200 hours, the Northern Force is 0.5 miles (805m) from a hill dominating Holtz Valley while the Southern Force has secured a beachhead in Massacre Bay.

The operation is supported by the U.S. Navy's Task Force 51 consisting of the battleships USS Idaho, USS Nevada and USS Pennsylvania; the auxiliary aircraft carrier USS Nassau with Composite Squadron Two One and Marine Observation Squadron One Hundred Fifty Five embarked; eight destroyers; plus the transports and escorts which included two Royal Canadian Navy Flower-class corvettes, HMCS Dawson and HMCS Vancouver. The Northern Force is supported by the heavy cruisers USS San Francisco and USS Wichita; the light cruiser USS Louisville and four destroyers. The Southern Force is supported by the light cruisers USS Detroit, USS Raleigh, USS Richmond and USS Santa Fe plus five destroyers.

Photo: USS Pennsylvania (BB 38), main batteries of the 14” guns during bombardment of Attu Island, Alaska, May 11, 1943. This bombardment lasted nearly three hours



Photo: The U.S. Navy attack transport USS Heywood (APA-6) unloads troops at Attu in foggy weather, in May 1943



Photo: The destroyer Pruitt guides landing craft toward the beach at Massacre Bay, Attu



Photo: U.S. soldiers of the southern landing force on the beach at Massacre Bay, Attu island, Alaska (USA), during the Battle of Attu, 11 May 1943. The landing craft in the foreground belong to the attack transport USS Heywood (APA-6)



In the Aleutian Islands, the following missions are flown to support US forces landing on Attu: 1 air-ground liaison sortie by 1 B-24; a B-24 supply sortie dropping supplies to ground forces; and 5 attack missions, flown by 11 B-24's and 12 B-25's. The first attack mission cannot find the target and instrument-bombs targets which include the runway, radar, submarine base, and camp area. Because of poor visibility the next 2 missions hit Kiska, where the runway and Main Camp are attacked. Two B-24's then bomb the Chichagof Harbor area through fog while another drops leaflets on Attu.

BURMA The British pull the 26th Division back from Maungdow in the Burma Theater. General Irwin and Lloyd are relieved.

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Seventh Air Force) The 26th BS, 11th BG (Heavy), with B-17's, transfers from Bellows Field to Wheeler Field, Territory of Hawaii and begins transitioning to B-24D's.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA

(Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 6 B-24's pound Syriam, causing large fires in the town area.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Thirteenth Air Force) B-17's fly harassing strikes during the night of 10/11 against Kahili Airfield and Shortland. The 390th BS, 42d BG (Medium) with B-25's, transfers from the Fiji to Guadalcanal.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Fifth Air Force) In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-17's and B-24's hit the airfield and general area at Rabaul. B-25's bomb Penfoei and Dili. The 403d BS, 43d BG (Heavy), with B-24's transfers from Mareeba to Port Moresby.

PACIFIC

Submarine Grayback (SS-208) attacks Japanese convoy, sinking collier Yodogawa Maru about 125 miles northwest of Kavieng, 00°47'S, 149°02'E.

Submarine Plunger (SS-179) finishes off abandoned Japanese transport Kinai Maru, damaged the day before east of Saipan, 14°29'N, 149°00'E.

Day 1341 of World War II, May 13th 1943

Eastern Front

Volga Flotilla: GB "Vanya Communist" - was mined close to Svetlii Yar, in the Stalingrad area.

Air War over Europe

​135 RAF Halifaxes, 104 Wellingtons, 98 Lancasters, 95 Stirlings and 10 Mosquitoes attacked Bochum. 24 aircraft were lost. This raid started well but after 15 minutes what were believed to be German decoy markers drew much of the bombing away from the target. (Hugh Spencer)

156 RAF Lancasters and 12 Halifaxes were despatched in a further attempt to bomb the Skoda armaments factory at Pilsen. 120 aircraft from this force were from 5 Group and the remainders were Pathfinders. 9 aircraft were lost. This target again proved to be a difficult one to find and mark accurately and nearly all the bombs fell in open country north of the Skoda works.

12 RAF Mosquitoes went to Berlin, 1 was lost, and 8 aircraft went minelaying in the Frisians.

The USAAF's VIII Bomber Command in England flew Mission Number 55 against the Luftwaffe airfields at Meaulte and St. Omer with 4 groups of B-17s escorted by 13 squadrons of Spitfires. 97 B-17s were dispatched against the Avions Potez aircraft factory at Meaulte and 72 B-17s were dispatcged against the Longuenesse and Ft. Rouge airfields at St. Omer. At 12:00 hours the fighters of II./JG 26 were ordered into the air as the bomber formations reached the Belgian coast. After the B-17s suddenly turned south towards northern France, II./JG 26 was redirected to Lille. All the Fw 190s headed to the new vector except for the plane of Oblt. Otto Stammberger and his wingman who had a broken radio and did not recieve the new instructions. Not noticing that the rest of his Staffel had left for Lille, Oblt. Stammberger attacked the escorting Spitfires alone with his wingman. After his plane was hit and his fuel tank exploded, Stammberger bailed out and landed hard with a damaged parachute. He was knocked unconcious and ended up in hospital, severely injured. The rest of JG 26's fighters reached the bombers on their return course and attacked. The fighters of II./JG 26 ignored the Spitfires and assailed the 91st BG in the low box while the fighters of III./JG 26 attacked the 305th BG in the high box and the escortingSpitfires. The attack was vicious and several American airmen commented on the ferocity of the Luftwaffe's engagement. Hitting the bomber formations from the rear, the German fighters were able to damage several bombers while flying straight through the formations. One B-17 was severely damaged when a bomb was dropped on it from a bomb-carrying Fw 190. 3 B-17s and 3 RAF Spifires were shot down at a cost for the Luftwaffe of Oblt. Stammberger and an Unteroffizier, who was shot down in flames by a Spitfire. One of these B-17s was HELL'S ANGELS of the 303rd BG (H) which today completed it's tour of 25 missions, the first B-17 crew to complete a tour intact.

The 416th Night Fighter Squadron, US VIII Fighter Command arrived at Honiley, England from the US. Detachments were dispersed to Cranfield, Usworth and Bath to train with Beaufighters under control of the RAF.

12 Bostons attacked Cherbourg docks and 6 Mitchells attacked railway targets at Boulogne. 1 Mitchell was lost. (Hugh Spencer)

Battle of the Atlantic

The British sank three out of seven U-boats hunting convoy 'HX-237', which has lost three ships. 'U-753' was sunk by HMCS 'Drumheller', HMS 'Lagan' and RCAF 423 Sqn aircraft. A Sunderland from RCAF 423 Sqn sighted 'U-753' while flying in support of convoy 'HX-237'. Making skillful use of cloud cover, F/Lt Musgrave approached to within a mile before being sighted by the U-boat, which opened a withering fire that drove off her attacker. The Sunderland orbited out of the U-boat's AA range and called for support from the convoy escorts, only 10 miles away. As 'Lagan' and 'Drumheller' approached the U-boat dove, at which point the Sunderland made its attack. Two depth charges were seen to explode and the escorts made a series of follow-up attacks that produced oil and debris. Convoy 'HX-273' arrived in New York City on 17 May 43 with 45 ships. The convoy did lose 3 ships to U-boats, but theses were all 'stragglers' and no ships were lost from within the main body of the convoy.

'U-176' attacked Convoy 'NC-18' and sank the 'Nickeliner' and 'Mambi'. The 'Mambi' was hit by one torpedo and sank fast. Of 29 Cuban crewmembers and five American armed guards, only the master, nine crewmembers and one armed guard survived. A first torpedo in the port bow and a second hit the 'Nickeliner' on the port side aft. The first explosion lifted the bow out of the water and threw water and flames about 100 feet into the air and the second released ammonia from the tanks. As the bow began to settle, the engines were secured and the eight officers, 15 crewmen, seven armed guards (the ship was armed with one 3in and two .30cal guns) and one passenger abandoned ship in two lifeboats 30 minutes after the hits. The tanker sank at 10:15 hours, while the survivors were picked up by a Cuban submarine chaser and landed at Nuevitas.

Battle of the Mediterranean

After two weeks of constant bombardment from the air, Italian defenders on Sardinia were joined by German troops as the island braced itself for an Allied invasion. Few Axis leaders now doubted that Sardinia would be the target and coastal defenses were being rebuilt and the airfields repaired after the Allied raids. B-17s, B-25s and B-26s from 7 Bomb Groups, escorted by fighters from 7 Fighter Groups, bombed Cagliari, hitting shipping, the dock area, marshalling yard, oil dump, chemical plant and the city area. Allied forces launched a series of heavy bombing attacks on Pantelleria Island in preparation for the invasion of Sicily. The intensive bombardment was an essential part of an Allied deception plan which involved the corpse of a mythical "Major William Martin" of the Royal Marines washed up in Spain last month carrying allegedly secret documents, giving details of the landings from North Africa. Hitlers Abwehr was taken in by the apparent authenticity; hence the reinforcements. Field Marshal Kesselring, the German commander in Italy, was known to be dubious, however, and kept strong mobile forces in Sicily and Southern Italy which he regarded as the more logical area for the attack. It was Mussolini who called for reinforcements for Sardinia.

Ofhr. Hans-Jurgen Schumacher of 7./JG 77 was injured attempting to get airbourne from Foggia in Bf 109G-4 'White 5' - although the aircraft was 90% destroyed, the pilot returned to III./JG 77 after 14 days of hospitalization.

'U-616' was attacked by escorts in the Mediterranean with 64 depth charges. The boat suffered severe damage and had to return to base.

In Italy, B-25s bombed Augusta while RAF Liberators, under operational control of the IX Bomber Command, attacked the Messina ferry terminal. Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF) Wellingtons bombed the area of the railroad station, marshalling yard and docks in Naples during the night.

North Africa campaign

At 2.15pm today, the teleprinter chattered out a message for the British prime minister, who was in Washington. "Sir," said the Allied C-in-C, General Alexander,

"it is my duty to report that the Tunisian campaign is over. All enemy resistance has ceased. We are the masters of the North African shores."

The German commander in North Africa, General von Arnim, had surrendered yesterday, and the Italian Feldmarschall Messe surrendered the "1st Italo-German Panzerarmee", the current designation of Rommel's 'Panzer Army Afrika'. The end came quickly as Axis troops found themselves trapped between 2 Allied spearheads and began to give themselves up in the thousands. A small 11th Hussar squadron from Montgomery's British Eighth Army found itself with 10,000 exhausted men of the once formidable Afrika Korps. Then the deluge began as General von Vaerst, commanding 5.Panzerarmee, signaled; "We will fight to the last." - only to watch his beaten troops raise their hands and march into captivity. On a beach near Bizerte, another Hussar squadron found 9,000 disconsolate Germans awaiting rescue, some trying to build rafts. More Germans had escaped in commandered small boats, only to be plucked out of the ocean by the Royal Navy. About 240,000 Germans and Italians went into captivity. The focus of all now turned to Sicily. For Hitler, who ordered a defence to "the last bullet", the implications were serious. The defeated Afrika Korps would have been invaluable in the defence of Europe. For the British, American and French, bitter lessons had been learnt. American generals and their troops had seen German armour in action and learned how to cope with skilled defensive fighting. The French learned to co-operate with the British, despite the sinking of their fleet. And the British, celebrating in the bars of Tunis, learned that it was a long way from Alamein.

Map: Tunisia Campaign operations 20 April to 13 May 1943



United Kingdom

British officials announced that for the first time in the war, there were more German prisoners of war in the hands of the Allies than British prisoners in the hands of the Axis.

United States

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Hudson (DD-475) off the Boston Naval Shipyard, Massachusetts (USA), on 13 May 1943. Hudson was completed with three twin 40 mm gun mounts and 11-20 mm guns



Pacific War

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN - OPERATION LANDCRAB

In the Aleutians, bad weather keeps the air-ground liaison B-24 from observing or hearing friendly ground forces on Attu and it returns to base. An air-ground support mission of 6 B-24's divert from Attu to Kiska; 2 of the bombers don't get the message, proceed to Attu, and bomb Chichagof Harbor and Holtz Bay. The other 4 bomb the Main Camp area. Eight P-40's dispatched to Kiska in 2 waves cannot see the target and instead bomb Little Kiska installations.

US forces on Attu in the Aleutian Islands outnumber the Japanese 4:1 but are holding. Bad weather and the terrain work in favor of the Japanese. As U.S. losses continue to mount, the American front-line positions remain essentially the same as they were on D-Day. At 1100 hours, the 3d Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, part of the Southern Landing Force, attempts to take Jarmin Pass; Japanese fire from fog-shrouded heights stop the attack and kill two company commanders and wound two others. The Japanese attack the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, part of the Northern Landing Force, which has occupied the crest of Hill X but their attacks are driven off.

Photo: More equipment and combat supplies are brought ashore at Massacre Bay on 13 May 1943



The battleship USS Idaho and a destroyer silence enemy shore batteries on Attu permitting American artillery to move forward.

The Japanese dispatch 19 land-based torpedo aircraft from Kiska to attack the U.S. naval forces at Attu but they must turn back because of poor weather.

SOLOMON CAMPAIGN

TF 18 (Rear Admiral Walden L. Ainsworth) bombards Munda and Vila airfields, Solomons, while minelayers (TG 36.5) sow mines across northwestern approaches to Kula Gulf. Light cruiser Nashville (CL-43) is damaged by turret explosion, Solomons, 08°28'S, 158°49'E, and destroyers Chevalier (DD-805) and Nicholas (DD-449) are damaged by gun mount explosions, 08°30'S, 158°01'E.

Photo: The U.S. Navy light cruiser USS Honolulu (CL-48) firing during the night bombardment of Japanese positions at Vila, on Kolombangara, and Munda, on New Georgia, 13 May 1943



Photo: The U.S. Navy light cruiser USS Helena (CL-50) firing during the Munda-Vila Bombardment, 13 May 1943, as seen from USS Honolulu (CL-48). The gunfire causes wavy pattern of tracers



Photo: Destroyers of the U.S. Navy Task Force 18 steam in column on 13 May 1943 after bombarding Munda and Vila, as seen from USS Nicholas (DD-449). Note the lookout at work in the gun tub



Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Nicholas (DD-449) suffered a hang-fire in No. 53 5"/38cal gun mount on 13 May 1943, while firing on enemy positions on Kolombangara. The gun exploded, with no casualties. This photo shows Nicholas shortly after that event before she was repaired at Nouméa by replacing the gun with one from USS Hutchins (DD-476), newly arrived in the area



CHINA-INDIA-BURMA

(Fourteenth Air Force) The 76th Fighter Squadron, 23d Fighter Group, with P-40's, transfers from Kunming, China to Lingling, China.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Thirteenth Air Force) During the night of 12/13 May, 2 B-24's on snooper missions bomb Kahili and Ballale Airfields. They are followed shortly by 6 B-17's which pound the same targets. During the day, 34 P-38's, P-39's, and P-40's, along with 62 Navy and Marine fighters and Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) P-40's, intercept 20+ airplanes over the Russells-Tulagi area. Allied pilots claim 16 aircraft shot down (1 by USAAF fighters). During the early evening, 5 B-17's again hit Kahili and Ballale Airfields.
In the Solomon Islands, Task Force 18 bombards Munda and Vila on New Georgia Island while minelayers sow a minefield across the northwestern approaches of Kula Gulf.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

Fifth Air Force) B-17's bomb airfields at Rabaul on New Britain Island and Wewak and Boram in New Guinea. 38th BG B-25's blast the airfield, town area, and targets of opportunity at Gasmata while A-20's hit Cape Gloucester Airfield and area. Single B-24's and B-17's attack various shoreline and offshore targets, including landing strips, buildings, gun positions, barges, and vessels, on the NE New Guinea coast, New Britain, and in the Admiralty Islands.

Day 1342 of World War II, May 15th 1943

Eastern Front

Stalin dissolved the Komintern, the Communist International, who’s mission was to obtain the worldwide revolution. He thought it might be good for relations with Churchill and Roosevelt. The timing of the announcement, which will take effect in a week, is significant. The Grand Alliance against the Axis powers came under strain last month when Moscow broke with the Polish government in exile in London over the Katyn atrocity.

Air War over Europe

The USAAF VIII Bomber Command in England flew Mission Number 57. 113 B-17s were dispatched against various targets in Germany as well as airfield and naval installations on Helgoland Island and the naval base and submarine construction works at Wilhelmshaven. 76 bombed the targets and claimed 29 Luftwaffe aircraft destroyed but five B-17s were lost. 80 B-17s were dispatched against the U-boat yard, marshalling yard and airfield at Emden. 59 bombers bombed at 1056-1103 hours local and claimed 14 destroyed Luftwaffe aircraft while one B-17 was lost.

116 P-47 Thunderbolts were dispatched on a high altitude sweep of the Amsterdam/Rotterdam area in the Netherlands prior to the bombing raids. They claimed two Luftwaffe aircraft damaged and one P-47 was lost.

RAF No. 315 (Polish) Squadron flew Circus 297 over Caen. P/O Blokin in a Spitfire IX, was shot down by one Focke Wulf, while F/O Dubielecki damaged another. G/C Pawlikowski flying a Spitfire IX, was killed by AA, NE of Caen (France). Sgt Lewandowski was also killed. 2./JG 2 lost its Staffelkapitaen when Oblt. Horst Hannig was bounced by RAF Spitfires near Caen. He managed to bail out of his Fw 190 but his parachute failed to open and he was killed. A former Eastern Front experte, Oblt. Hannig had managed to add only 8 more victories - including a 4 engined bomber - to his 90 Russian kills since taking over 2 Staffel in January.

Battle of the Atlantic

'U-266' was sunk in the North Atlantic by depth charges from an RAF No.58 Sqn Halifax. At 20:43, the unescorted 'Maroussio Logotheti' was hit by two torpedoes from 'U-105' and sank immediately. The ship had been missed by a first torpedo, which detonated prematurely. The second officer was taken prisoner by the U-boat, transferred four days later to 'U-460' and landed at Bordeaux on 25 June. 'U-607' fired a spread of two torpedoes at the unescorted 'Irish Oak' and hit her twice under the bridge after 2 minutes 10 seconds. After the crew had abandoned ship, she was sunk by a coup de grâce. 'U-591' was hit with machine gun fire from an RAF No.10 Sqn Whitley that wounded the Commander and one seaman. The boat had to abort its 3 day-old patrol and returned to St Nazaire 2 days later.

Battle of the Mediterranean

Hitler, worried over the potential for an Allied invasion of Italy (and the subsequent fall of Mussolini’s regime), removed troops earmarked for the eastern front and Operation Citadel and sent them to Italy.

In Sicily, Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF) Wellingtons bombed Palermo during the night.

Axis forces in Yugoslavia launched their fifth offensive against aimed at smashing local resistance. Unternehmen "Schwarz", as it was called, was the biggest offensive so far against the partisans, and promised to be the most savage. Axis troops were ordered to move "with utmost brutality" against "the hostile population". Four German and Italian divisions were supported by Bulgarian troops and the Ustachi, the notorious Croatian irregulars. In all 120,000 men were lined up against a much smaller force of guerrilla fighters. The Germans and their allies were using new tactics. Until now they had advanced along main roads; but now were using Tito's methods, advancing across the countryside, often by night.

North Africa campaign

General Giraud deposes the bey of Tunis for collaboration with the Axis.

United States

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Bush (DD-529) in San Francisco Bay, California (USA), on 15 May 1943, five days after commissioning. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 21



Photo: The U.S. Navy light cruiser USS Brooklyn (CL-40) underway on 15 May 1943. Photographed from an aircraft based as Naval Air Station Weeksville, North Carolina (USA)



Pacific War

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN - OPERATION LANDCRAB

In the Aleutians, weather again curtails operations. The air-ground liaison B-24 observes and directs air operations at Attu throughout the day as visibility permits and directs a supply drop for ground forces by another B-24 in 2 air-ground support missions. Six B-24's bomb Holtz Bay and Chichagof Harbor and 6 P-38's strafe AA installations in the Holtz Bay area.

On Attu in the Aleutians, the fog lifts at 1100 hours and elements of the Northern Landing Force move forward. They find that the Japanese has withdrawn from the reverse slope of Hill X to Moore Ridge in the center of Holtz Valley leaving food and ammunition behind. This pullback permits the Provisional Battalion, which has been pinned down since D-Day, to link up with the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry and the 3d Battalion, 32d Infantry. As the American troops enter the valley to the north of Moore Ridge, the clear skies permit Japanese troops to place accurate fire on them.

The Southern Landing Force again attacks Jarmin Pass but is repulsed. On Adak, the reported situation on Attu appeared grim. Of special interest was the exposed position of the USN ships supporting the Army on the island; a Japanese submarine has already fire torpedoes at a battleship and there are reports that a Japanese task force is enroute to challenge the landings. The Navy advises the Army that the support ships will be withdrawn no later than 17 May.

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Seventh Air Force) 7 B-24's from Midway bomb Wake; 4 others abort and 7 others fail to find the target. 22 fighters intercept the formation; the B-24's claim 4 shot down; 1 B-24 is lost.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA

(Fourteenth Air Force) In China, 25-35 Japanese bombers and 30-40 fighters attack Kunming. Nearly all of the bombs fall in W and SW of the airfield, causing little damage. 28 P-40's intercept, claiming 13 fighters and 2 bombers shot down.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, B-25's pound the airfield at Lae; A-20's strafe the aircraft and building at Lae; and B-24's hit Nabire. In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-25's pound the airfield at Gasmata; B-24's bomb the airfield at Rabaul; and single heavy bombers hit Gasmata, Cape Gloucester, and barges SW of Ubili.

Day 1344 of World War II, May 17th 1943

Eastern Front

The 17.Armee continued it’s attacks in the Kuban. Soviet defenses hold firm.

Air War over Europe

The USAAF's VIII Bomber Command in England flew Mission Number 58: 159 B-17 Flying Fortresses were dispatched to hit the port area and U-boat base at Lorient, France; 118 bombed the target and claimed 47 Luftwaffe aircraft destroyed. An additional 39 B-17s were dispatched to hit the docks and sub pens at Bordeaux, France. 34 bombed and one B-17 was lost. The Fw 190s of I. and III./JG 2 and 1./SAGr 128 intercepted the bombers. Oblt. Wurm of 1./SAGr 128 made his unit's only claim, a Fortress II, while JG 2 claimed 10 bombers and a Spitfire. The Luftwaffe concentrated its efforts on the B-17s of the US 1st and 4 th BW, which lost 7 bombers shot down and 28 damaged.

In a third strike, 11 B-26 Marauders were dispatched on a low-level mission to bomb power stations at Haarlem and Ijmuiden, The Netherlands. One B-26 aborted, the other ten are all shot down before they reached the target. This action prompted the Eighth Air Force to abandon low-level medium bomber attacks. A B-26 Marauder of the USAAF was one of the flight of ten that encountered heavy AAA fire while en-route to bomb the power plants. It was shot down and forced to ditch in a canal. On-board was navigator Jim Hoel, of Evanston, Illinois, USA, one of three survivors of the aircraft's six man crew. During the crash Jim lost his elaborate Gallet Chronometer. 60 years later in 2003, Peter Cooper of England returned the watch to Jim.

The ‘Memphis Belle’ returned from a raid on Lorient, France, finishing her 25th bombing mission with an intact crew. This was a first for a plane in the USAAF's VIII Bomber Command. During the Belle’s 10 months of combat, her crew shot down eight enemy fighters, probably destroyed five others, and damaged at least a dozen more, dropped more than 60 tons of bombs over Germany, France and Belgium, flew 148 hours, 50 minutes, and covered more than 20,000 combat miles. Although there were no major injuries in the crew, the plane had five engines shot out and on one mission, her tail was nearly shot away.

RAF No.315 (Polish) Squadron flew Rodeo 217 over Cayeux-Poix. F/O Zajac was credited with 1 Fw-190 damaged.

The Luftwaffe sent 89 bombers on a night air raid against Cardiff in Wales and during the course of this a few stray bombs fell at Aust. Uffz. Joachim Troger of 3./KG 2 was rescued from the sea off Clevedon, his Do 217 having crashed at Woodspring Bay following a mid-air collision.

Battle of the Atlantic

The 'Aymeric' in Convoy 'ONS-7' was torpedoed and sunk by 'U-657' east of Cape Farewell. 52 crewmembers and one gunner were lost. The master, 18 crewmembers and six gunners were picked up by British rescue ship 'Copeland' and trawler HMS 'Northern Wave' and landed at Halifax on 25 May.

'U-648' shot down an RAF 10 OTU Sqn Whitley. The entire aircrew was lost. 'U-229' was attacked by a Catalina with four bombs. The boat was damaged so badly that it returned to base. 'U-128' was sunk in the South Atlantic south of Pernambuco by gunfire from destroyers USS 'Moffett' and 'Jouett', and depth charges from two USN VP-74 Mariners. 'U-646' was sunk SE of Iceland by depth charges from an RAF 269 Sqn Hudson. 'U-657' sunk east of Cape Farewell, Greenland by depth charges from corvette HMS 'Swale'.

Battle of the Mediterranean

A convoy of Allied ships successfully traversed the Mediterranean Sea without meeting any enemy submarines or air attacks. This was the first convoy to do this since Italy joined the war in 1940, offering tangible proof that the Axis has quit North Africa.

In Italy, Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF) Wellingtons bombed the Lido di Roma seaplane base and dropped leaflets over Rome.

United States/United Kingdom relations

Britain and America came to an agreement to share the work and the results of a joint attack on the codes and ciphers of the Axis powers. Britain is to concentrate its efforts on the German and Italian ciphers while the US war department devotes its attention to the Japanese army ciphers. Experts from both sides will work on each other's cryptanalytic programmes, and there will be a full exchange of information and "decrypts". It was also agreed to adopt the Bletchley Park codename of "Ultra", derived from Ultra-Secret, for all information gleaned from breaking the German Enigma, the Japanese "Purple" and the Italian C38M enciphering machines. Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire, 40 miles north of London, is the wartime home of the vastly expanded government code and cipher school whose name gives little hint of the extraordinary work it is doing in allowing Allied commanders to read enemy secrets.

Pacific War

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN - OPERATION LANDCRAB

In the Aleutians, 2 attempted ground support missions to Attu by a B-24, 5 B-25's, and 6 P-38's are recalled due to weather. The detachment of the 11th Fighter Squadron (P-40's), 343d Fighter Group that has been operating from Amchitka returns to it's base at Adak.

On Attu Island in the Aleutians, the Northern Landing Force moves forward on Moore Ridge and discovers that the Japanese had abandoned the ridge during the night and patrols report that the east arm of Holtz Bay is free of Japanese. The Southern Landing Force attacks Jarmin Pass and finds that the enemy has also abandoned this previously defended area.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Thirteenth Air Force) P-39's and Navy airplanes bomb and strafe a bivouac and AA positions in the Rekata Bay area.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Fifth Air Force) B-25's bomb Dili, Penfoei, and Barique. B-25's bomb Gasmata; single heavy bombers hit Gasmata and Cape Gloucester. Single heavy bombers hit Lae and Finschhafen.

PACIFIC

Submarine Grayback (SS-208) attacks Japanese convoy, sinking army cargo ship England Maru about 60 miles northwest of Mussau Island, 01°00'S, 148°40'E.

Minesweeper Dash (AM-88) rescues 56 survivors from U.S. freighter William K. Vanderbilt, torpedoed and sunk by Japanese submarine I-19 the previous day southwest of Suva.

Japanese cargo ship Woosung Maru strikes reef and sinks off Chiba Prefecture, southern Honshu, 35°00'N, 140°00'E.

Day 1346 of World War II, May 19th 1943

Air War over Europe

The USAAF VIII Bomber Command in England flew Mission Number 59: 123 B-17 Flying Fortresses were dispatched against the U-boat yards at Kiel, Germany. 103 bombed the target and claimed 48 Luftwaffe aircraft destroyed. Six B-17s were lost. A smaller force, 64 B-17s, was dispatched against the naval yards at Flensburg, Germany. 55 attacked the target and claimed 12 Luftwaffe aircraft. No B-17s were lost. An uneventful diversion is flown by 24 B-17s.

Battle of the Atlantic

'U-954' was sunk in the North Atlantic SE of Cape Farewell, Greenland by depth charges from corvettes HMS 'Jed' and 'Sennen' escorting convoy SC-130. Among the crew of 47 who perished was Admiral Dönitz' younger son, Peter.

'U-273' was sunk SW of Iceland by depth charges from an RAF 269 Sqn Hudson.

The Canadian-flagged barquentine 'Angelus' was stopped by 'U-161' north of Bermuda and sunk by gunfire after the crew of ten men abandoned ship in a lifeboat. When USS 'Turner' found the boat after five days; only two of them were still alive, the others had died from exposure. The survivors were landed at Portland ME on 27 May 1943.

Battle of the Mediterranean

2nd Lt. Louis Curdes, of the US 82nd FG, 95th FS shoots down two Bf 109s near Villacidro, Sardinia. In Sardinia, B-25s hit Milis and Villacidro Airfields while B-26s bombed Monserrato and Elmas Airfields, the outskirts of Quarto Sant'Elena, and Cagliari harbor. In Sicily, B-17s bombed Milo Airfield at Trapani.

Axis planes bomb Allied shipping in Oran harbor, Algeria, damaging U.S. freighters Samuel Griffin and Luther Martin; the former suffers 15 men injured among her complement of 44 merchant seamen and 26 Armed Guards; the latter suffers no injuries. Both ships are repaired and returned to service.

North Africa campaign

In Tunisia after 2 days of sand storms, aircraft were again airborne. P-40s flew escort for ships in the area east of Kelibia off Cap Bon peninsula.

United States

Photo: Selman Army Airfield Louisiana, 19 May 1943



Pacific War

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

(Eleventh Air Force) 6 B-24's and 11 B-25's fly 3 air-ground support missions to Attu, bombing the Sarana Valley. 4 P-40's fly 2 reconnaissance missions to Kiska.

On Attu Island in the Aleutians, the Southern Landing Force tries to advance against Japanese opposition at Point Able on the eastern shore of Holtz Bay.

Photo: Americans examine a Japanese anti-aircraft gun on a hill at head of west arm of Holtz Bay. This was one of the strong Japanese positions from which Americans drove their troops. Barrel of gun is on ground, left foreground, May 19, 1943



Photo: The U.S. Navy light minelayer USS Sicard (DM-21) en route from Alaska (USA) to the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California (USA), for repair, 19 May 1943. Sicard was damaged in a collision with the destroyer USS Macdonough (DD-351) on 10 May 1943 off Attu, Aleutian Islands



CHINA-INDIA-BURMA

(Fourteenth Air Force) HQ 402d Bombardment Group (Medium) is activated at Kunming, China. No squadrons are assigned and headquarters is never fully manned.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Fifth Air Force) B-24's hit Gasmata Airfield. Single heavy bombers hit Gasmata twice during the day. Lost on a daylight reconnaisance mission is B-24D 41-24269. B-25's attack the Salamaua area and targets of opportunity off the NE coast of the Huon Peninsula. In Timor, B-24's hit Penfoei.

PACIFIC

Submarine Gar (SS-206) sinks Japanese guardboat Asuka Maru in Makassar Strait, 01°02'N, 119°08'E.