World War II in real time

Day 1725 of World War II, May 31st 1944

Eastern Front

Red Army forces hit back around Jassy, ending the threat from the German attacks. Meanwhile, Stalin gives approval "Operation Bagration", the summer offensive against Heeresgruppe Mitte and the liberation of Byelorussia.

Western Front (1944)

More than 4,500 cooks are now on active service preparing meals for just one element of Overlord - the seaborne assault forces. All told, 54,000 men are employed on maintaining installations and getting 4,000 landing craft and barges ready for sailing with their crews. The Americans, who will take off from Cornwall, Devon and Dorset, have supply and service networks that extend deep into the Midlands. The British and Canadians in Hampshire and Sussex have similar lengthy tails. For many men these last days are marked by services conducted by padres in open fields. In the south of England Majors John Howard and Vaughan drive from the airfield at Tarrant Rushton where D Company of the Ox and Bucks Infantry are completely sealed in on the huge base, to Broadmoor. There they meet Brigadier Poett. Smith and Fox sneak out of Tarrant Rushton to have dinner with their girl friends.

Invasion stripes are to be issued to gliders at the discretion of the Air Commander-in-chief.

Air War over Europe

287 US Eighth Air Force B-17s are dispatched to hit marshalling yards in Germany; 88 hit Osnabruck, 54 hit Schwerte, 52 hit Oeske and 50 hit Hamm; one B-17 is lost. Fighter-bomber missions against German airfields with 500 lb (227 kg) and 100 lb (45 kg) general purpose bombs: 78 of 81 P-47s hit Gutersloh Airfield; they claim 5-1-3 Luftwaffe aircraft. 35 P-38s attack Rehein/Hopsten Airfield using DROOPSNOOT methods; they claim 5-0-0 aircraft on the ground.

III./KG 1 was reformed from I./KG 100 based at Fassberg and Lechfeld with He 177 heavy bombers. The formation of the Gruppe was never completed but a few crews took part in attacks on railway targets and tank concentrations on the central and northern sectors of the Eastern Front while the remainder of the Gruppe continued training in Germany.

Battle of the Atlantic

Only five Allied or neutral merchant ships were lost in May, at 27,000 tons the lowest monthly figure of the war so far.

245 minesweepers begin clearing the English coast, and clearing paths to the landing sites on the French coast.

The USAAF's Eighth Air Force in England flies Mission 382: 1,029 bombers and 682 fighters attack marshalling yards and aircraft industry targets in Germany and rail targets in France and Belgium; the fighters claim 4-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground; one bomber and three fighters are lost: Of 246 B-17s, 36 hit Luxeuil marshalling yard, France; 30 hit Florennes/Juzaine Airfield and four hit Namur marshalling yard, Belgium; 23 hit Gilze-Rijen Airfield and 12 hit Roosendaal marshalling yard, The Netherlands; and three hit targets of opportunity without loss. 491 B-24s are dispatched to hit rail targets in France and Belgium but are recalled due to clouds. Four of five B-24s hit rail bridges at Beaumont-sur-Oise and bridges at Melun without loss; Azon radio-controlled bombs are unsuccessfully used against the bridges. Escort is provided by 193 P-38s, 180 P-47 Thunderbolts and 309 P-51 Mustangs; P-38s claim 1-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground; one P-47 is lost; P-51s claim 3-0-1 aircraft on the ground with two P-51s lost. 674 Ninth Air Force fighters provide support; no claims or losses.

22 B-24s are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER missions over France without loss.

The USAAF's Ninth Air Force in England dispatches about 200 B-26 Marauders to bomb lock and highway bridges at Bennecourt, Courcelles-sur-Seine and Rouen, France.

219 RAF aircraft - 125 Lancasters, 86 Halifaxes, 8 Mosquitos - of all groups except No 5 Group successfully attacked the railway yards at Trappes to the west of Paris in 2 waves. 4 Lancasters lost. 129 aircraft - 109 Halifaxes, 16 Lancasters, 4 Mosquitos - of Nos 6 and 8 Groups bombed a coastal wireless transmitting station at Au Fèvre and destroyed 4 of the 6 masts. No aircraft lost. 115 aircraft - 60 Lancasters, 51 Halifaxes, 4 Mosquitos - of 6 and 8 Groups bombed a radio jamming station at Mont Couple which was 'rendered completely unserviceable'. No aircraft lost. 111 Lancasters and 4 Mosquitos of Nos 1 and 8 Groups attacked the railway yards at Tergnier. The sidings and workshops were 'squarely hit'. 2 Lancasters lost. 82 Lancasters and 4 Mosquitos of No 5 Group attacked and destroyed a railway junction at Saumur without loss. 68 Lancasters of No 5 Group raiding a coastal gun battery at Maisy found it covered by cloud and only 6 aircraft bombed. No aircraft lost. 14 RCM sorties, 16 Serrate and 9 Intruder patrols, 28 aircraft minelaying off the Dutch and French coasts, 9 aircraft on Resistance operations, 12 OTU sorties. 5 aircraft were lost - 2 Halifaxes and 1 Hudson on Resistance operations, 1 Stirling minelayer and 1 Intruder Mosquito.

Italian Campaign

Allied forces in Italy continue to advance as Frosinone, Sora, Velletri and Monte Artemiso are taken. Fighting is heavy at Albano. Canadian forces take Frosimeone. Velletri and Monte Artemisi fall to the US 36th Division near Anzio. This breaks the Caesar Line.

During May, the Geschwaderstab of SG 4 lost 6 aircraft to enemy action, I./SG 4 lost 13 (plus 10 in accidents) and II./SG 4 lost 14 ( plus 4 in accidents). The human cost were 18 pilots killed, 3 wounded and one missing, all occurring between 13 May and 27 May. Among the dead were a Geschwaderkommodore, a Gruppenkommandeur and 2 Staffelkapitane. In terms of people and aircraft lost, May may have been SG's worst month in Italy.

II./NJG 6 operations from Perugia got off to a discouraging start. Refueling the aircraft on the night of 31 May took over 2 hours and poor signalling led to no fewer than 3 machines to taxi into bomb craters. Despite these setbacks, 6 Bf 110s were able to fly missions.

Battle of the Mediterranean

The USAAF's Fifteenth Air Force in Italy dispatches 480+ B-17s and B-24s to bomb oil refineries and communications targets in the Ploesti, Romaniaarea; fighters fly 200+ sorties in support; 15 bombers are lost to flak and fighters; 40+ enemy aircraft are claimed shot down.

Photo: B-24 Liberator Through flak and over the destruction created by preceding waves of bombers, these 15th Air Force B-24s leave Ploesti, Rumania, after one of the long series of attacks against the No. 1 oil target in Europe



Pacific War

BURMA-INDIA

(Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 12 B-25s hit the Tiddim road; 130+ B-25s, A-36s, P-51s, and P-40s hit troops, defensive positions, artillery emplacements, boats, railroad facilities, and villages in the Myitkyina- Mogaung area, buildings at Tahona, river boats at Lonkin and Kamaing, docks at Bhamo, railroad cars at Namti, and positions NW of Mohnyin; 21 other B-25s and fighter-bombers pound the Bhamo town area and airfield; and 10 B-24s bomb Ye-u, demolishing several buildings.

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): 51 P-51s and P-40s pound shipping along the Yangtze River, claiming direct hits on 5 small ships; 16 P-51s and P-40s bomb Kweiyi and Yoyang and installations on the river to the S; 10 P-38s bomb the bridge and warehouse area at Nanchang; 12 P-40s bomb Pingkiang; 4 B-25s bombHankow airfield, Pailochi, and motor convoy at Yoyang; 6 other B-25s knock out the bridge at Kengluang; 13 B-24s pound the town of Lungling, causing big fires, while 14 B-24s, supported by P-40s blast the warehouse area at Lashio, Burma; 4 P-40s destroy several aircraft during strafing runs on Linfen and Hohsien Airfields.

Japanese river gunboat Kotaka is sunk by Chinese aircraft in the Yangtze River.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA

(Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain Island, 12 P-38s bomb Vulcan Crater barge hideout; 22 P-39s and 12 P-40s blast supply dumps near Ratawul; 33 B-25s pound Rabaul truck concentrations, wharf area, and NE section of town. 5 B-25s bomb targets of opportunity along the NW coast of New Ireland. On Bougainville, P-39s bomb several targets, including Soraken, Arigua, and several barges and vehicles.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

(Fifth Air Force): B-25s and A-20s hit the Babo area, bomb the airfield near the Ransiki River, cover the beachhead on Biak Island and attack fishing boats on the shore of Japen Island; P-47s and B-25s pound villages, barges, and gun positions in the Wakde-Sarmi battle area; B-24s, P-39s and RAAF aircraft continue to hit the Wewak and Hansa Bay areas. Lost over Rabaul is TBF Avenger NZ2521

ALASKA

(Eleventh Air Force): During the morning 2 B-25s and 4 P-38s fly guardship cover. A bomber flies a weather mission while another reconnoiters and hits Buroton Bay, Kurile Islands.

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 427, MAY 31, 1944

A single Liberator of the Eleventh Army Air Force bombed Shimushiru Island in the Kuriles before dawn on May 29 (West Longitude Date). No opposition was encountered. Another Eleventh Army Air Force Liberator bombed Matsuwa Island before dawn on May 29.

Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Four bombed Paramushiru and Shimushu Islands in the Kuriles before dawn on May 29. Moderate antiair­craft fire was encountered. Large fires were started at Shimushu.
PACIFIC

Operations against the Japanese NA line continue: destroyer escort England (DE-635), assisted by destroyers McCord (DD-534) and Hazelwood (DD-531) and destroyer escorts George (DE-697), Raby (DE-698), and Spangler (DE-696), sink submarine RO-105 200 miles north-northwest of Kavieng, 00°47'N, 151°30'E.

Submarines Barb (SS-220) and Herring (SS-233) rendezvous in Sea of Okhotsk about 150 miles west of Matsuwa Island, Kurils, to plan operations against Japanese shipping in the vicinity. Subsequently, Herring attacks convoy NE, sinking escort vessel Ishigaki and army cargo ship Hokuyo Maru west of Matsuwa Island, 48°00'N, 153°00'E' (see 1 June 1944); Barb comes across convoy NE and sinks army cargo ship Madras Maru, 48°21'N, 151°20'E, and transport K_t_ Maru southwest of Paramushiro, 47°55'N, 151°42'E.

Photo: The U.S. Navy light aircraft carrier USS San Jacinto (CVL-30) launching Grumman F6F Hellcats from Fighting Squadron 51 (VF-51) in the vicinity of Majuro Atoll on 31 May 1944. San Jacinto wears Camouflage Measure 33, Design 7A

Day 1727 of World War II, June 2nd 1944

Eastern Front

Operation Frantic, in which 130 Flying Fortresses shuttle from North Africa to Russia, bombing targets in Hungary and Romania on the way, commences. Under command of Major General Ira C Eaker, Commanding General of the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF), 130 B-17s, escorted by 70 P-51 Mustangs, bomb the marshalling yard at Debreczen, Hungary and land in the Soviet Union, the B-17s at Poltava and Mirgorod and the P-51s at Piryatin. One B-17 is lost over the target; 27 other B-17s, forced off course en route to the Oradea, Romania marshalling yard, also hit Debreczen. Nearly 400 other B-24s attack marshalling yards at Szeged, Miskolc and Szolnok, Hungary and Simeria, Romania. P-51s and P-38s provide escort.

Western Front (1944)

In support of tactical operations, a special conference for ground liaison officers is held by 21 Army Group officers who present a detailed exposition of the plan for the landings in Normandy.

Two British submarines, X20 and X23, leave the north of Scotland, destined for the British D-Day landing beaches. Their job is to mark the approaches for landing craft.

Air War over Europe

Rocket-armed Hawker Typhoon's of Nos. 198 and 609 Squadrons RAF blast radar installations at Dieppe/Caudecote.

The role of the USAAF's Eighth Air Force in England from 2-5 June in preparation for the invasion of Normandy on 6 June includes continuation of attacks against transportation and airfield targets in northern France and the institution of a series of blows against coastal defenses, mainly located in the Pas de Calais coastal area, to deceive the enemy as to the sector to be invaded (Operation COVER). To accomplish their mission, the Eighth Air Force flies two missions: Mission 384: In the morning, 521 of 633 B-17s and 284 of 293 B-24 Liberators hit V-weapon sites in the Pas de Calais area without loss. Mission 385: In the afternoon, 242 B-17s are dispatched to railroad targets in the Paris area; 163 hit the primaries, 49 hit Conches Airfield, 12 hit Beaumont-sur-Oise Airfield and one hits Caen/Carpiquet Airfield; 77 B-24s are dispatched to Bretigny Airfield in France; 13 hit the primary target, 47 hit Creil Airfield and 14 hit Villeneuve Airfield; two B-17s and five B-24s are lost. Three of seven of P-38 Lightnings hit the Ostend Bridge, Belgium without loss.

The USAAF's Ninth Air Force dispatches about 350 B-26 Marauders and A-20 Havocs to bomb NOBALL (V-weapon) targets and coastal defence batteries along the English Channel coast in France; P-38s and P-47 Thunderbolts dive-bomb targets in the area, including V-weapon sites, fuel dump, railroad junctions and bridges.

British bombers attack railway targets in Trappes, France. 128 aircraft - 105 Halifaxes, 19 Lancasters, 4 Mosquitos - of Nos 1, 4 and 8 Groups attacked the railway yards at Trappes. Most of the bombing fell in the eastern half of the target area. 15 Halifaxes and 1 Lancaster lost, 12.5 per cent of the force. This is the final air attack of the Transportation Plan. Since beginning in early March, almost 9000 sorties were flown in 69 attacks, with a loss of 198 planes.

103 RAF Lancasters and 4 Mosquitos of Nos 1 and 8 Groups attacked a radar-jamming station at Berneval with great accuracy and without loss. 271 aircraft - 136 Lancasters, 119 Halifaxes, 16 Mosquitos - attacked 4 coastal gun positions with the loss of 1 Lancaster. In only 1 raid was the bombing accurate but this was not too serious because these raids were part of the invasion deception plan. None of the targets were in the Normandy area; all were on the Pas de Calais coast. Further raids in the next 2 nights would continue the deception and the Normandy batteries would only be bombed on the last night before the invasion. 23 Mosquitos to Leverkusen, 4 to Laval and 3 to Lison, 16 RCM sorties, 9 Serrate and 6 Intruder patrols, 53 aircraft minelaying from Dunkirk to Brest, 36 aircraft on Resistance operations, 11 OTU sorties. 1 Stirling lost on a Resistance operation.

Italian Campaign

The Allied forces make good progress towards Rome. German forces are in full retreat as elements of the US 5th Army take Valmontone, 20 miles from Rome. The US 100th Infantry Battalion participates in the breakout to Rome by attacking and capturing Lanuvio. The 442nd RCT arrives at Naples harbour and on June 10th meets the 100th Infantry Battalion in Civitavecchia, northwest of Rome.

Photo: A line-up of German and Italian AFVs during a display of captured enemy equipment, 2 June 1944. In the foreground can be seen StuG IV and Stug III assault guns with two Marder tank destroyers behind. In the background two Italian Semovente SP guns can be seen



Photo: General Leese and other officers ride on a captured German PzKpfw V Panther tank during a display of enemy equipment, 2 June 1944



Destroyer 'MacKenzie' (DD-614) shells German guns in the Partecica de Mari area, near Anzio.

Battle of the Atlantic

Photo: The U.S. Navy escort carrier USS Tulagi (CVE-72) underway in the Atlantic Ocean on 2 June 1944, enroute from New York (USA) to Casablanca, French Morocco, with a deck cargo of U.S. Army Lockheed P-38 Lightnings and Republic P-47 Thunderbolts. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 32, Design 4A



Germany

Alfred Jodl, Operations Chief, OKW, talks to Hitler about the upcoming invasion. His staff has been checking moon phases, with an eye towards the port of Cherbourg. Hitler is told that a favorable time period between the 5th and the 13th of June exists.

United Kingdom

Photo: USS LST-51 backs away from a pier at Portland, England, after loading for the invasion, 2 June 1944. USS LST-75 is in the background. Note barrage balloon overhead



Photo: A Sherman BARV and Sherman tanks of 13th/18th Royal Hussars during the regiment's move from Petworth to Gosport, 2 June 1944



United States

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Wren (DD-568) underway off Dungeness Point, Washington (USA), 2 June 1944



Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Robert Brazier (DE-345) underway on 2 June 1944. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 32, Design 22D



Photo: The U.S. Navy gasoline tanker USS Kishwaukee (AOG-9) in the Mississippi River near New Orleans, Louisiana (USA), on 2 June 1944. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 32, Design 3D



Photo: The U.S. Navy attack transport USS Barnstable (APA-93) at Portland, Oregon (USA), on 2 June 1944. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 32, Design 3D



Photo: The U.S. Navy gasoline tanker USS Genesee (AOG-8) underway in the Mississippi River near New Orleans, Louisiana (USA), on 2 June 1944. She is wearing Camouflage Measure 32, Design 3D



Pacific War

BURMA-INDIA

(Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 15 B-25s pound the Imphal, India- Tiddim road while a few P-40s hit the Mogaung area; the B-25 ammunition lift to the Imphal area continues.

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): In China, P-40s support ground forces at Watien and Tatangtzu, destroy 2 barges and damage others in the Gulf of Tonkin, and strafe 40 barges carrying horses and troops in the Tungting Lake area N of Nanhsien; B-25s, P-40s, and P-51s pound the Pingkiang area.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA

(Seventh Air Force): B-24s staging through Eniwetok strike Truk Atoll in a pre-dawn raid; B-25s from Engebi bomb Nauru. HQ 15th Fighter Group moves from Wheeler Field to Bellows Field.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA

(Thirteenth Air Force): All scheduled strikes on the Rabaul area of New Britain Island are cancelled due to weather conditions. 20+ P-39s, turned back from the Rabaul area, hit the Tsundawan-Porton road, vehicles in the Komai area, and AA position at Kara.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

(Fifth Air Force): B-25s, A-20s and B-24s hit Timoeka Airfield and nearby villages, shipping off Manokwari, Seroei Village on Japen Island, positions N of Mokmer, Sorido and Kamiri Airfields; P-38s and P-47s battle fighters over Biak Island and over the Babo area, lost is P-38J 43-28516; P-47s and P-40s hit Sawar Airfield, supplies and fuel dumps in the Sarmi and Orai River areas, and hideouts and occupied areas along the coast; B-24s and fighter-bombers maintain consistent pounding of numerous targets in the Wewak-Hansa Bay coastal region; HQ 49th Fighter Group moves from Hollandia to Biak Island; and the ground echelon of the 82d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group, begins a movement from Saidor to Biak; the air echelon operates from Saidor with P-39s. B-24s of the Thirteenth Air Task Force bomb Eten and Dublon Islands, Truk Atoll.

NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN

US forces advance against heavy Japanese resistance on Biak.

ALASKA

(Eleventh Air Force): 2 B-25s and 2 P-38s fly guardship cover; 2 other B-25s fly a negative shipping search.

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 430, JUNE 2, 1944

Shimushu in the Kurile Islands was bombed by Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Four before dawn on May 31 (West Longitude Date). Several large and small fires were started in the vicinity of the airfield. Antiaircraft fire was moderate. All of our planes returned.

PACIFIC

Submarine Guitarro (SS-363), in attack on two Japanese warships carrying out an antisubmarine sweep east of Formosa, torpedoes escort vessel Awaji near Yasho Island, 22°34'N, 121°51'E.

Submarine Picuda (SS-382) attacks Japanese Moji-to-Singapore convoy, sinking escort vessel Awaji, 22°48'N, 121°24'E. As the convoy takes evasive action, however, cargo vessel Arimasan Maru accidentally rams Shinshu Maru's stern, setting off depth charges stowed there and damaging Shinshu Maru.

Submarine Shark (SS-314) attacks Japanese convoy, sinking transport No.2 Chiyo Maru about 600 miles northwest of Saipan, 21°00'N, 140°20'E.

Day 1729 of World War II, June 4th 1944

Western Front (1944)

Overlord convoys at sea turn back because of bad weather which is expected for tomorrow. The bad weather puts the Germans off guard. All Allied radar jamming operations are called off, so that those stations in the German naval radar network that are still up do not set off any alarms. At once the codeword `Ripcord 24' is sent to the Allied fleet approaching the French coast in the heavy seas. Most of the thousand ships immediately begin to turn back. A force of minesweepers is only 35 miles from the beaches when they finally get the word. Another contingent of some 125 vessels, part of Force U (for Utah Beach) are a scant 26 miles from the Calvados coast before they are persuaded to turn around. USS 'Susan B. Anthony', a attack transport, stands out to sea from Bristol. On board are elements of the 90th Infantry Division, VII Corps floating reserve for Utah Beach, and personnel of the 321st Glider Field Artillery Battalion, 101st Airborne Division. German radar station tracks them, but the crew relaxes their vigil when the massive blip turns back towards England. No alarm is given.

General Eisenhower meets around 4:30 A.M. (DBST) with his staff. He is told that the weather is still too rough for a landing; the invasion must be postponed until conditions improve. At 5:15, Eisenhower, hoping that the weather might break, postpones the landings for 24 hours. Postponing the invasion by 24 hours has meant that, should he give the word to go on the 6th, low tide would occur about an hour later, coming now at 5:15. The U.S. landings would therefore be at least an hour later, coming between 06:15 and 06:45 DBST. An intercepted `Ultra' message gives the Allies the latest Luftwaffe weather report, which calls for more bad weather, This confirms the fact that the Germans will not be looking for an invasion at this time. Eisenhower turns to each of his commanders one by one, and gets their opinions. They discuss it some more. At 9:45 P.M., he makes it. Still staring at the table, he slowly says;

"I am quite positive we must give the order... I don't like it - but there it is."

Looking up to the men, he concludes;

"I don't see how we can possibly do anything else."

They will have a final commanders meeting at 0400. That will be the last chance they have to break off the operation.

Rommel leaves for Germany to see Hitler and celebrate his wife's birthday. The trip is, for the most part, uneventful, except for a flat tire in Luneville. Rommel makes it home that night, tired and depressed. His wife and fifteen-year old son, Manfred try to cheer him up, including making his favorite Swabian dish, - Spaetzle mit Kalbsbraten - They retire early.

Continuation War

Photo: Finnish Assault Gun Battalion [Rynnäkkötykkipataljoona, Ryn.Tyk.P] - Sturmkanone 40 or StuG IIIG (Sturmgeschütz III Ausf. G, "Sturmi"). Photograph was taken on 4 June 1944 during Marshal Mannerheim's birthday parade at Enso, Finland



Air War over Europe

20 RAF Mosquitos to Cologne and 6 to Argentan, 4 RCM sorties, 6 Serrate patrols, 4 Halifaxes and 3 Lancasters minelaying from the Scheldt to Dunkirk, 17 aircraft on Resistance operations. No aircraft lost.

The USAAF's Eighth Air Force in England flies three mission to France. In the first mission (Mission 389), the effort is to be divided between the Pas de Calais (COVER) area and the Normandy assault (NEPTUNE) area, however, D-Day is postponed 24 hours and the NEPTUNE force is cancelled. 183 of 201 B-17 Flying Fortresses and 51 of 56 B-24s attack seven targets in the Pas de Calais area; escorting are 130 P-47 Thunderbolts and 42 P-51 Mustangs; two P-51s are lost. In the second mission (Mission 390) 222 of 246 B-17s and 53 of 68 B-24s bomb eight coastal defence positions in the same area using PFF. The third mission consists of 263 B-17s and 185 B-24s hitting airfields, railway junctions and bridges; of the B-17s, 96 hit the Massey/Palaiseau railroad bridge, 50 hit the Versailles/Metelots railroad bridge and 34 hit the Villeneuve/St George railroad bridge; of the B-24s, 23 hit Brourges Airfield, 72 hit the Romorantin/Prunieres Airfield, 56 hit the Avord Airfield, 55 hit the Bretigny Airfield and eight hit the Melun bridges. Escort is 135 P-47s and 277 P-51s; they claim 1-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft; one P-51 is lost.

The USAAF's Ninth Air Force in England dispatches 300+ B-26s and A-20 Havocs to bomb highway bridge and coastal batteries in France; almost 200 P-47s and P-51s dive-bomb bridges, railroad junction, rolling stock and targets of opportunity.

259 RAF aircraft - 125 Lancasters, 118 Halifaxes, 16 Mosquitos - of Nos 1, 4, 5, 6 and 8 Groups to bomb 4 gun positions; 3 of these were deception targets in the Pas de Calais but the fourth battery, at Maisy, was in Normandy between what would soon be known as Omaha and Utah Beaches, where American troops would land in less than 36 hours' time. Unfortunately, Maisy was covered by cloud and could only be marked by Oboe skymarkers, but it was then bombed by 52 Lancasters of No 5 Group. 2 of the 3 gun positions in the Pas de Calais were also affected by bad weather and could only be bombed through cloud but the position at Calais itself was clear and was accurately marked by the Mosquitos and well bombed by Halifaxes and Lancasters of No 6 Group. No aircraft lost on these operations.

Italian Campaign

The US 88th Division enters Rome. The first of the three major Axis capitals has thus fallen. Even as the US Fifth Army began to pour into Rome in huge numbers, the last Germans were fighting rearguard actions in the suburbs; but the great bulk of Kesselring's men are heading north to new defence lines, pursued by advance elements of the British Eighth Army. Three huge flags - Italian, British and American - hang from the Campidoglio [town hall] where Lieutenant-General Mark Clark and his colleagues received frenzied acclamation from the huge crowds. In St. Peter's Square, the crowd was silent long enough to hear the Pope say:

"Yesterday Rome was trembling for her sons and daughters. Today she is able to look with renewed hope and faith for her salvation."

Already Berlin radio is describing Hitler as;

"....the saviour of the Eternal City",

and claiming that Rome had no strategic value. The Allies have yet to be led to the caves near the city where the bodies of 336 hostages were hurled by their SS executioners.

Photo: American tanks entering Rome, 4 June, 1944



Photo: 1st S.S.F. and 351st Inf. Regt., 88th Div., first troops on the streets of Rome. Shown here are soldiers leaving the protective cover of a burning Mark VI tank to move deeper into Rome. 4 June, 1944



The USAAF's Fifteenth Air Force in Italy dispatches 550+ B-17s and B-24s to attack communications in northwestern Italy and on both sides of the Franco-Italian frontier. In France, B-17s hit the Antheor railroad viaduct and Var River railroad bridges. In Italy, B-24s hit the marshalling yards at Genoa, Turin, Savona and Novi Ligure, the viaduct at Recco, and the railroad bridges at Orelle and Gad. Fighters fly 200+ sorties in support of the heavy bombers.

Battle of the Atlantic

TG 22.3 (Captain Daniel V. Gallery), a hunter-killer group comprising escort carrier Guadalcanal (CVE-60) and destroyer escorts Pillsbury (DE-133), Pope (DE-134), Flaherty (DE-135), Chatelain (DE-149), and Jenks (DE-665), forces German submarine U-505 to the surface 150 miles off the coast of Rio de Oro, Africa. Lieutenant (j.g.) Albert L. David leads a boarding party from Pillsbury (which is damaged in collision with the out-of-control U-boat during salvage operations) that saves the ship despite the dangers posed by scuttling charges. He later assists more well-equipped salvage parties that make the captured U-boat seaworthy for the tow to Trinidad. For his "gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty," David is awarded the Medal of Honor.

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Pillsbury (DE-133) tied up to the German submarine U-505 on 4 June 1944, after a U.S. Navy boarding party had captured the submarine. Note the heavily loaded whaleboat in the foreground



Photo: Members of the salvage party from the U.S. Navy escort carrier USS Guadalcanal (CVE-60) use a small handy-billy pump to dewater the partially scuttled German submarine U-505 on 4 June 1944. The submarine's freeboard was extremely low at this time, with only some of her fairwater above the surface. Note the twin 20 mm anti-aircraft machine guns, and the seashell insignia on the fairwater's side



Photo: U.S. Navy salvage parties at work on the captured German submarine U-505, as a Grumman TBM Avenger of Composite Squadron 8 (VC-8) circles overhead, 4 June 1944. In the background is the destroyer escort USS Chatelain (DE-149), whose depth charge attack forced the submarine's crew to surface and abandon their ship



Photo: A boarding party from the U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Pillsbury (DE-133) working to secure a tow line to the bow of the captured German submarine U-505, 4 June 1944. Note the large U.S. flag flying from the submarine's periscope



Photo: The German submarine U-505 lies near the escort carrier USS Guadalcanal (CVE-60) on 4 June 1944, after U.S. Navy salvage parties stopped her from sinking and rigged a tow line. Guadalcanal is painted in Camouflage Measure 32, Design 4A



Photo: The U.S. Navy fleet ocean tug USS Abnaki (ATF-96) tows the captured German submarine U-505 in the Atlantic Ocean on 4 June 1944. The photo was taken from from the escort carrier USS Guadalcanal (CVE-60), which had previously been towing the captured submarine. Note the large U.S. Ensign flying from U-505's periscope



Germany

Adolf Hitler is still enjoying the beautiful scenery of Obersaltzberg, with his headquarters staff situated at various locations around the town. In one of today's meetings, he and Albert Speer discuss turning over aircraft armament production to Speer's own War Ministry. Goering would be furious.

United kingdom

Photo: Horsa gliders waiting to be loaded for D Day, 4 - 5 June 1944



Photo: Major-General Richard Gale, GOC 6th Airborne Division, addresses his men, 4 - 5 June 1944



Photo: Motor Torpedo Boats and Motor Gun Boats of the Coastal Forces coming in off patrol. They are heading up Haslar Creek, Gosport, past HMS Dolphin on their way to HMS Hornet, 4 June 1944



Pacific War

BURMA-INDIA

(Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 20+ P-40s hit the Myitkyina area while 19 others hit various points in N Burma, including Haka, Kamaing, Kamasaing, Tagwin, and Bilumyo. B-25s continue the ammunition lift to Imphal, India.

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): In China, P-40s bomb artillery positions and targets of opportunity in the Watien area of the Salween battle front. Others bomb railroad targets of opportunity in NE French Indochina.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA

(Seventh Air Force): During the night B-24s, staging through Eniwetok hit Truk Atoll; B-25s from Engebi follow with a daylight raid on Ponape.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA

(Thirteenth Air Force): Bad weather again prevents strikes against the Rabaul area of New Britain Island. On Bougainville Island, P-39s flying a total of 55 sorties, blast a truck park near Komai, strafe huts at Doure, and attack a pier at Tunuru; 9 P-38s weathered out of the Rabaul strike the Tonolai supply area; and a lone B-25 bombs Kahili.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

(Fifth Air Force): A-20s bomb the town and harbor at Manokwari and shipping to the E in Geelvink Bay; B-24s bomb Namber and Borokoe Airfields while fighters battle enemy airplanes in the general area; B-24s bomb the area near the Orai River mouth while A-20s hit Wewak and fighter-bombers pound the Hansa Bay coast; a detachment of the 68th Troop Carrier Squadron, 433d Troop Carrier Group, ceases operating from Tadji with C-47s and returns to base at Nadzab.

ALASKA

(Eleventh Air Force): 2 B-24s fly an uneventful reconnaissance over Shimushiru Island; fuel shortage and equipment failure prevent flying to Matsuwa Island (the secondary). Later, a B-25 and 2 P-38s fly a guardship cover mission.

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 432, JUNE 4, 1944

Shimushu and Paramushiru Islands in the Kuriles were bombed by Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Four before dawn on June 2 (West Longitude Date). Two large fires were started on Shimushu. Antiaircraft fire was moderate. Matsuwa Island was bombed by Liberators of the Eleventh Army Air Force before dawn on June 2. No opposition was encountered. All of our planes returned.

Truk Atoll was bombed by Seventh Army Air Force Liberators before dawn on June 3. Forty‑one tons of bombs were dropped on storage areas and on runways. Several fires and explosions were observed. Antiaircraft fire was meager. Two enemy fighters attempted to attack our force but did no damage.

Nauru Island was bombed by Seventh Army Air Force Mitchell bombers and search Venturas of Fleet Air Wing Two on June 2. Antiaircraft bat­teries were hit and fires Started. Antiaircraft fire was moderate.

Ponape Island was bombed by Seventh Army Air Force Mitchells on June 1. An airfield, hangars, and adjacent buildings were hit. No antiair­craft fire was encountered.

Remaining enemy objectives in the Marshalls were attacked by Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two, Dauntless dive bombers and Corsair fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing, and Navy Hellcat fighters on May 31 and on June 1 and 2. In these raids antiaircraft batteries, coastal defense guns, runways and barracks were strafed and bombed. Antiaircraft fire was generally meager.

PACIFIC

Japanese horizontal bombers attack Allied cruiser and destroyer forces TF 74 and TF 75 (Rear Admiral Victor A.C. Crutchley, RN) off Biak, New Guinea, damaging light cruisers Nashville (CL-43), 01°05'S, 136°05'E, and Phoenix (CL-46), 01°00'S, 136°00'E.

Submarine Flier (SS-250) sinks Japanese troopship Hakusan Maru about 375 miles southwest of Chichi Jima, Bonins, 22°45'N, 136°50'E.

Submarine Golet (SS-361) sinks Japanese guardboat No.10 Shinko Maru east of Japan, 35°47'N, 154°54'E.

Coordinated submarine attack group, TG 17.12, makes contact with Japanese convoy 3530 (see 29 May). Two of the group's three boats, Shark (SS-314) and Pintado (SS-387), will obtain favorable attack positions; the third, Pilotfish (SS-386), will not. Shark sinks army transport Katsukawa Maru about 475 miles northwest of Saipan, 19°45'N, 138°15'E (see 5 June).

USAAF B-24s sink Japanese landing ship T.128, 110 miles northeast of Morotai, 04°09'N, 129°45'E.

USAAF A-20s bomb Manokwari, New Guinea, and Japanese shipping in Geelvink Bay, sinking auxiliary submarine chaser No.2 Hakusan Maru and guardboats Shimane Maru, No.3 Tokyo Maru, and Gongen Maru.

Day 1731 of World War II, June 6th 1944

Western Front (1944) - Battle of Normandy - D-Day

The liberation of Europe begins with an airbourne assault. In the early morning hours, 1000 air transports dropped 20,000 paratroops into France. 822 C-47 Dakota aircraft drop the 82nd and 101st Airborne divisions on Normandy, France. Pathfinders of the United States 101st Airborne Division begin parachute landing in Normandy to set up the Drop Zones for the following main force. Some 12,000 paratroopers of the US 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions which are dropped on the Cotentin peninsula.

Map: Map of the invasion area showing channels cleared of mines, location of vessels engaged in bombardment, and targets on shore



Near the Orne Canal at Caen, France, a Horsa glider crash-lands with 28 men of D Company of the British 6th Airborne Division. They begin their task of taking a bridge crossing the canal. D Company of the British 6th Airborne Division completes securing the bridge. The 3rd and 5th Brigades of the British 6th Airborne Division begin landing east of Orne, to knock out the Merville battery. The 9th Battalion of British 6th Airborne begins an assault of about 150 men against 200 Germans defending the Merville battery. It consists of four 75mm guns in four casemates on open ground. The Merville battery is taken.

The airbourne forces are supported by 1,213 warships, including 7 battleships and 23 cruisers, 1,600 auxiliary ships, and 4,126 landing craft, as well as massive British and American air support, which fly 14,674 sorties that day. Opposing them in their bunkers and on the beaches are 5 German infantry divisions with about 50,000 men and 100 tanks and assault guns. The Allies hit at five locations along the coast between St. Mere-Egliese in the west and Caen in the east. The landings were made at Utah, Omaha, Gold, Sword, and Juno. American, British, Canadian and French soldiers were involved in the initial landings. German resistance was stiff but, except for Omaha, it was quickly overcome and the troops were able to move inland from 6-8 miles.

Photo: Bombardment from the sea: The destroyer HMS Beagle moored off GOLD Area, as landing craft make for the beaches, June 6 1944



Photo: HMS Ramillies carrying out a very heavy bombardment in support of the Eastern Flank of the Normandy beachhead during the early stages of the Allied landings. Her powerful guns were employed during the assault in neutralising coastal batteries and later broke up dangerous attacks by tanks and infantry, June 6 1944



Photo: HMS Warspite, part of Bombarding Force 'D' off Le Havre, shelling German gun batteries in support of the landings on Sword area, 6 June 1944. The photo was taken from the frigate HMS Holmes which formed part of the escort group



German coastal radar in Normandy detect the Allied invasion fleet. Shore batteries are told to prepare for an invasion. E-boats and armed trawlers are ordered into battle. Six Canadian Bangor-class minesweepers clear a path to the coast of Normandy, for British forces. Ten Canadian Bangor-class minesweepers clear a path to the coast of Normandy, for American forces. British submarine X23 at Sword beach completes setting up an 18-foot mast with a green light, sending out radio signals and an underwater ping. The mast is to guide British landing craft. German coastal guns begin firing on the US fleet. Allied warships begin returning fire on them. German E-boats torpedo and sink Norwegian destroyer 'Svenner'. Warships off Omaha beach commence 45 minutes of pounding beach defence targets. British Royal Navy cruisers and battleships begin firing on northern French coastal gun positions.

Allied bomber planes begin dropping their loads on the coast, with German antiaircraft gunners returning fire. Waves of American B-24 bombers drop about 1300 tons of bombs on Omaha beach defence targets, but completely miss targets, bombing too far inland. British air force planes drop 950 tons of bombs on Normandy beaches.

The Western Task Force, commanded by Rear Admiral Alan G. Kirk and composed of two assault forces, "O" under command of Rear Admiral John L. Hall and "U" under command of Rear Admiral Donald P. Moon, lands the First U.S. Army commanded by Lieutenant General Omar N. Bradley, USA, on Omaha and Utah beaches, respectively. The US 1st Army begins landing on beaches code-named Utah and Omaha from the Catentia Peninsula to north-west of Bayeux. 300 men of E Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Division, US 1st Army, land at Utah Beach, the first company of the Allies to land. They land a mile south of their target, and encounter little opposition. Twenty-eight of 32 Dual-Drive tanks reach the beach. By noon, the beach is cleared at a cost of six men killed, 39 wounded.

The first two waves to hit the Omaha Beach were decimated and pinned down. Casualties were heavy. As the third wave was moving up the already overcrowded beaches, the navy, in a particularly desperate move, ran destroyers close into the beach and provided direct fire support to the men on shore. This turned the tide and the Americans were able to crawl up the draws and get off the beach. At the end of the day, 3000 men were lost at Omaha, but they had gained a mile of depth for their beachhead. Company A of 116th Regiment of the US Ranger Force lands about 7-km west of the right flank of Omaha beach, below its target, Vierville. Most of the company is wiped out by intense German fire. American engineers on Omaha beach complete making exit E-1 open to vehicle traffic. American 1st Division Commanding Officer General Huebner lands on Easy Red sector of Omaha beach, and sets up his Command Post. Brig. General Norman "Dutch" Cota was the first American General to step foot on Omaha Beach.

Photo: Normandy Invasion, U.S. Navy Ships, June 1944. USS Augusta (CA-31) off French Invasion coast, probably Omaha Beach, during landing operations. Small landing craft speeding toward shore



Photo: A LCVP (Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel) from the U.S. Coast Guard-manned USS Samuel Chase disembarks troops of Company A, 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division (the Big Red One) wading onto the Fox Green section of Omaha Beach (Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France) on the morning of June 6, 1944. American soldiers encountered the newly formed German 352nd Division when landing. During the initial landing two-thirds of Company E became casualties



Photo: Troops wade ashore from a LCVP landing craft, off Omaha Beach, 6 June 1944. Note DUKWs and half-tracks at the water line, lines of men headed inland, and M1903 and M1 rifles carried by some of the troops leaving the landing craft



Photo: American M12 155mm GMC (Gun Motor Carriage) self-propelled guns coming ashore, 6 June 1944



Photo: An M10 Wolverine 3-inch self-propelled gun of 20th Anti-Tank Regiment on Queen Red beach, Sword area, 6 June 1944



L Company of 16th Division lands at Omaha Beach and Company D of 2nd Ranger Battalion land at Point-du-Hoc. Company C of the 2nd Ranger Battalion reaches the crest of the cliff, likely the first assault unit to reach high ground on D-Day. Throughout the day, they fight alone, killing 69 Germans at a cost of two Americans. At the base of the cliff below Point-du-Hoc, the code message "Praise the Lord" is sent by radio to American Navy ships, indicating rangers have reached the top of the cliff. The American Rangers complete their mission of destroying 155-mm guns at Pointe-du-Hoc, making them the first American forces on D-Day to accomplish their mission.

Map: Map of Pointe du Hoc, showing German installations and what was believed to be the locations of the 155mm guns



Photo: U.S. Army Rangers resting in the vicinity of Pointe du Hoc, which they assaulted in support of Omaha Beach landings on D-Day, 6 June 1944. Note Ranger in right center, apparently using his middle finger to push cartridges into a M-1 carbine magazine. The carbine and a backpack frame are nearby



Companies A and B of American 2nd Ranger Battalion land on Dog Green sector of Omaha Beach. 5th Ranger Battalion lands on Dog White sector of Omaha Beach. The American 18th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Division lands on Omaha Beach.

The British 2nd Army under Lieutenant-General Sir Miles Dempsey begins landing on the beaches "Gold", "Juno", and "Sword", toward the River Orne. Units of the British 50th Division begin landing at Sword beach. The 3rd Canadian Infantry Division with the 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade and other troops from the Canadian Army begin landing on the Juno beach, quickly establishing a beachhead. 1st Battalion of the Canadian Regina Rifle Regiment lands at Nan Green Beach, Courseulles-sur-Mer. The Canadian 9th Brigade lands on "Juno" beach. By the end of the day, they advance to near the Carpiquet airfield.

Photo: Commando troops coming ashore from LCIs (Landing Craft Infantry), June 6 1944



Photo: Aerial oblique photo of the junction of King Red and King Green beaches, Gold assault area, during the landing of 50th Infantry Division, 6 June 1944. The Mont Fleury battery (WN 35a) and an anti-tank ditch are visible in front of the village of Ver-sur-Mer



Photo: The British 2nd Army: Royal Navy Commandos of LCOCU (Landing Craft Obstacle Clearing Unit) examine a large casemate and its 88mm gun which formed part of German strongpoint WN33 on the western edge of La Riviere, and which caused the forces landing on 'King' Beach, GOLD Area considerable trouble before it was silenced



Photo: A battery of M7 Priest 105mm self-propelled guns from one of 3rd Division's Royal Artillery Field Regiments near Hermanville-sur-Mer, 6 June 1944



The 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion of the 6th Airborne Division takes Varaville. The German garrison of Varaville surrenders. The Canadian 8th Brigade takes Bernieres. The 3rd British Division advances to three miles of Caen. A group of British men of the 50th Division cross highway N-13, running from Caen to Cherbourg. The 50th British Division advances to two miles of Bayeux. This is the furthest penetration of any Allied unit during D-Day. American engineers complete a road path bypassing a guarded crossroad at St. Laurent. An exit from the beach into Vierville is opened. The Canadian North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment secures St.-Aubin. One troop of Canadian 1st Hussar tanks crosses the Caen-Bayeux railway, making them the only Allied unit to reach their final objective on D-Day.

Photo: A Universal Carrier with wading screens attached and half-tracks of 3rd Division passing through Hermanville-sur-Mer, 6 June 1944



Photo: Glider trains of 6th Airlanding Brigade, 6th Airborne Division, flying over vehicles and landing craft on Queen beach in Sword area, on the evening of 6 June 1944. An HQ half-track can be seen in the foreground, with a Sherman BARV (Beach Armoured Recovery Vehicle) at work in the distance



German Feldmarschal Gerd von Rundstedt orders the 12.Panzer and PanzerLehr divisions to move toward Caen, assuming there would be Allied sea landings on the Calvados and Cotentin coast. German General Alfred Jodl informs Feldmarschal von Rundstedt that the two divisions he ordered to the Calvados and Cotentin would not be moved until Adolf Hitler woke and gave the order. Rundstedt tells the two divisions to stop moving. Hitler gives approval for them to move over eight hours later. German Commander Colonel Oppeln of the 22nd Regiment of the German 21.Panzerdivision is ordered to attack British airborne troops east of Orne, France. They begin moving, but three hours later receive new orders. Then German Commander Colonel Oppeln of the 22nd Regiment of the German 21.Panzerdivision receives new orders to pass through Caen and attack into the gap between Canadian and British forces.

German Commanding Officer General Kraiss of the 352nd Division receives reports about paratroopers landing between Isigny and Carentan. German General Kraiss orders the Kampfgruppe Meyer division to move from south of Bayeux to the Vire estuary, believing a large number of Allied paratroopers had landed there. German General Kraiss orders one battalion of Kampfgruppe Meyer division to act as a reserve unit defending the Omaha Beach area and two battalions of Kampfgruppe Meyer division to act as a reserve unit defending the Gold Beach area. It will take Kampfgruppe Meyer five hours to arrive.

North of Caen, the 22nd Regiment of the German 21.Panzerdivision and the 192.Panzergrenadier Regiment commence attacking a gap between British and Canadian forces, toward the sea. Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt demands that the Allied bridgehead be wiped out that evening. Kampfgruppe Meyer reaches Brazenville, south of Bayeux, intending to launch a counterattack. Instead, they defend themselves against British forces already in possession of the town. German soldiers of the 21.Panzerdivision reach the beach between Canadian and British forces, and wait for tanks to arrive. Five of the arriving tanks are blown up within a few minutes, so they dig in on the defensive. The German Panzer Lehr begins moving toward the Normandy battlefield.

Map: Deployment of German forces on June 6, 1944



Photo: Picture taken by a photographic reconnaissance unit of RAF Coastal Command of allied forces landing at Graye-sur-Mer, north west of Caen, June 6 1944



Photo: Sherman tanks of The Staffordshire Yeomanry, 27th Armoured Brigade, in action near Hermanville-sur-Mer, 6 June 1944



At JG 26 HQ, at Lille, Obstlt. Priller was given the command to move I./JG 26 and III./JG 26 to the JG 2 airfields at Creil and Cormeilles. But the crews, loaded onto trucks, started heading to pre-planned airfields around Reims and Nancy - in the opposite direction. Rinally reaching the crews, Priller ordered them to stop. Having no further orders, Obstlt. Priller and his wingman, Uffz. Heinz Wodarczyk climbed into their Fw 190s and took off for the beaches. The pair reached the invasion area and diving out of cloud cover, strafed the British at Sword beach. Breaking off they headed for Creil, the first Luftwaffe pilots to fly over the invasion area.

By late afternoon, elements of JG 2, SG 4, JG 26 and a quickly thrown together Einsatzstaffel from SG 103 began flying missions around the Orne and Caen areas. The total defensive effort of 5th Jagddivision amounted to 121 sorties, all undertaken by JG 2 and JG 26. II Fliegerkorps reported 51 sorties from SG 4.

By the end of the day, the Allies had established a tenuous beachhead that would lead to an offensive that pinned Adolf Hitler's Third Reich between two pincers--the Western Allies and the already advancing Soviets--accelerating the end of World War II. A million Allied troops, under the overall command of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, moved onto five Normandy beachheads in three weeks. Operations “Neptune” and “Overlord” put forces on the beaches and supplies aimed at the liberation of Europe and the conquest of Germany. Over 90 km of Normandy coastline during the day, about 155,000 Allied troops landed, incurring 11,000 casualties (2500 dead). 69,000 British soldiers landed, with about 2,000 casualties. 14,000 Canadians landed, with about 1,000 casualties, of which 350 are dead. American casualties total about 3,200.

Photo: A gun crew manning a Bofors gun stand ready to open fire on enemy aircraft should they appear whilst the Landing Ships Tanks are loaded in preparation for D-Day, 6 Junw 1944



Air War over Europe

32 RAF Mosquitos to Ludwigshafen, 18 Serrate patrols, 19 aircraft minelaying in the Brest area, 26 aircraft on Resistance operations. No aircraft lost.

1,065 RAF aircraft - 589 Lancasters, 418 Halifaxes, 58 Mosquitos - to bomb railway and road centres on the lines of communication behind the Normandy battle area. All of the targets were in or near French towns. 3,488 tons of bombs were dropped on targets at Achères, Argentan, Caen, Châteaudun, Conde sur Noireau, Coutances, St Lô, Lisieux and Vire. Every effort was made to bomb accurately but casualties to the French civilians were inevitable. Cloud affected the accuracy of the bombing at many of the targets and, at Achères, the Master Bomber ordered the raid to be abandoned because of cloud and no bombs were dropped. 10 Lancasters and 1 Halifax were lost in these raids; 6 of the Lancasters were lost in the No 5 Group raid at Caen, where the main force of bombers had to wait for the target to be properly marked and then fly over an area full of German units and guns at bombing heights below 3,000ft. Some details are available of the effects of the bombing. At Argentan, Châteaudun and Lisieux, much damage was done to railways, although the towns, Lisieux in particular, were hit by many bombs. Important bridges at Coutances were badly damaged and the town centres of Caen, Conde sur Noireau, St-Lô and Vire were all badly bombed and most of the roads through those towns were blocked.

Photo: Daylight bombing raid on the railway yards at Tourcoing, France by aircraft of 2nd Tactical Air Force. Photograph taken by an RAF cameraman flying in one of the attacking Boston aircraft



Italian Campaign

The South African 6th Armored Div. takes Civita Castellona in Italy. French forces capture Tivoli, Italy.

16 residents of a Jewish home for the elderly in Florence, Italy are deported to one of the extermination camps in Poland.

The USAAF's Fifteenth Air Force in Italy continues shuttlebombing (Operation FRANTIC) as 104 B-17s and 42 P-51 Mustangs (having flown to the USSR from Italy on 2 June) attack the airfield at Galati, Romaniaand return to Soviet shuttle bases; eight enemy fighters are shot down and two P-51s are lost. In other missions, 570+ bombers, with fighter escort, hit targets from bases in Italy; in Yugoslavia, B-17s hit the Belgrade marshalling yard and Turnu-Severin canal installations, and in Romania, B-24s hit Ploesti oil refineries and the marshalling yard at Brasov.

Germany

In Herrlingen, Germany, General Erwin Rommel receives news of the Normandy invasion. He immediately begins a long drive to La Roche-Guyon.

Adolf Hitler orders V-1 attacks on London to begin. Oberst Max Waxhtel, commander of II Abteilung Regiment 155(W), based at the Pas de calais, was ordered to prepare the equipment needed to commence firing of the Fi 103s on 12 June.

United States

The U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff issue a report entitled "Operations Against Japan, Subsequent to Formosa" which includes three phases of operations in 1945:

Phase I: Attack the Bonin and Ryukyu Islands and the east Coast of China between 1 April and 30 June 1945.
Phase II: Consolidate and exploit Phase I gains between 30 June and 30 September 1945.
Phase III: Invasion of the Japanese home islands beginning with Kyushu on 1 November 1945 and then Honshu on 31 December 1945.

Pacific War

BURMA-INDIA

(Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 24 B-25s attack the Waingmaw, Wuntho-Hopin area, and Imphal, India-Tiddim road; others maintain ammunition lift into Imphal; 24 A-36s, 11 P-51s, and 45 P-40s pound Myitkyina; about 40 A-36s and P-40s hit the Mogaung, Mohnyin, Lachigahtawng, Pakhren-Sakan and Kadu areas. In India, HQ 443d Troop Carrier Group moves from Sylhet to Sookerating; and 11th and 12th Combat Cargo Squadron, 3d Combat Cargo Group, move from Sylhet to Dinjan and Fenny respectively with C-47s.

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 50 P-40s attack shipping, horses, and troops in the Fulinpu Kweiyi vicinity, 10 P-51s and 6 B-25s pound Tayang Chiang, and 5 B-25s bomb Pailochi Airfield; 9 P-40s hit road and rail targets of opportunity in the Yellow River area; 2 others sink a junk and damage others at Kwangchow Wan.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA

(Seventh Air Force): B-24s returning to Eniwetok from Los Negros (where they rearmed after bombing Guam Island the previous day) hit Ponape Island.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA

(Thirteenth Air Force): P-38s bomb a supply dump near Nordup, New Britain Island. On Bougainville Island, P-39s and US Navy (USN) aircraft hit vehicles near Hari; other P-39s pound a pier and buildings in SE Kahili.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

(Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, B-24s and B-25s bomb shipping near Efman and Waigeo Islands; A-20s hit the airfield at Babo, and A-20s and B-25s hit Namber Airfield and tanks near Mokmer; and P-39s, A-20s and RAAF aircraft continue to pound the Wewak-Hansa Bay area, hitting supply dumps and hideouts. Thirteenth Air Task Force B-24s hit islands in Truk Atoll.

NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN

The 186th Infantry prepares an attack on Mokmar Air Field on Biak.

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 434, JUNE 6, 1944

Truk Atoll was bombed during the night of June 3‑4 (West Longitude Date) by Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force. The airfields at Moen and Param Islands were hit. Four enemy fighters were airborne but did not attack our force. Antiaircraft fire was meager and inaccurate.

Ponape Island was attacked on the night of June 3 by Seventh Army Air Force Liberators and on June 4 by Seventh Army Air Force Mitchells. Installations on Langar Island and antiaircraft batteries were hit.

Lauru Island was bombed by Seventh Army Air Force Mitchells during daylight on June 3, and by Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two on June 5. Gun positions were the principal targets. Antiaircraft fire was intense.

Enemy positions in the Marshalls were bombed and strafed on June 3‑4

search Venturas of Fleet Air Wing Two, Corsair fighters and Dauntless live bombers of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing, and Navy Hellcat fighters. Gun positions and runways were hit. Antiaircraft fire was meager.

PACIFIC

Submarine Harder (SS-257) attacks Japanese convoy in the Celebes Sea, and sinks destroyer Minazuki 120 miles east-northeast of Tarakan, Borneo, 04°05'N, 119°30'E; counterattacks by destroyer Wakatsuki prove unsuccessful.

TG 17.12's operations against Japanese convoy 3530 come to a close as submarine Pintado (SS-387) sinks cargo ship Kashimasan Maru and army transport Havre Maru west-northwest of the Marianas, 16°28'N, 142°16'E.

Submarine Raton (SS-270) attacks Japanese convoy, and sinks Coast Defense Vessel No.15 about 160 miles off Cape St. Jacques, French Indochina, 08°57'N, 109°17'E. Raton is damaged by depth charges, but remains on patrol.

USAAF A-20s attack Japanese shipping off Manokwari, sinking motor sailships No.1 Asahi Maru, No.1 Kasuga Maru, and No.5 Taifuku Maru.

Japanese minelayer Yurishima is damaged by aircraft southeast of Woleai, 07°46'N, 147°30'E.

Day 1733 of World War II, June 8th 1944

Western Front (1944) - Battle of Normandy - D-Day +2

Map: HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map, June 8th 1944



The two bridgeheads of Omaha Beach and Gold Beach are gathered on June 8 in Port-en-Bessin. To the south, the commune of Bayeux is liberated that same day by the British troops.

US forces, reinforced by new divisions (such as the 2nd Infantry Division), are on the offensive. The 1st and 29th infantry divisions, which have had very heavy losses since the landing on Omaha Beach, are continuing to advance.
German troops capture a set of US operations plans; only now do they realize that the Normandy landings are the start of the planned invasion of France, not a diversionary attack. The 29th Infantry, on its way to Isigny-sur-Mer, which was to be under control on June 6th, makes its junction en route with the 90 survivors of the Rangers battalions at Pointe du Hoc, isolated on a thin strip of Land for three days since D-Day. It seizes the village of Grandcamp, thanks in particular to the courage of Sergeant Frank Peregory who won for her heroic action the Medal of Honor. Indeed, he forced to surrender several dozen German soldiers and captured a machine-gun all by himself. In Maisy, the battery is still in the hands of its defenders while advanced elements of the 29th division reach the south of the village.

Photo: Men of 46 (RM) Commando, 4th Special Service Brigade, entering the village of Douvres-la-Delivrande, 8 June 1944, watched by French civilians



The 4th American infantry division, disembarked at Utah Beach on June 6, attacked the city of Montebourg, as part of the offensive for the capture of Cherbourg in the north of Cotentin Peninsula.

The junction between troops disembarked at Utah and Omaha is still not realized. In the hours that followed, it is one of the proratory objectives for the American land forces.

On the British front, the 346th German infantry division counter-attacks in the vicinity of Bréville. The fighting is extremely violent and is similar to those of the First World War, with opponents burying themselves in trenches.

The achievements of the allied military engineers begin: the first elements of the two artificial ports of Saint-Laurent and Arromanches are being installed as of June 8 (these were old ships that were sunk to serve as breakwaters) and an aviation runway is built on the plateau of Omaha Beach to the east of Colleville-sur-Mer. The planes taking off from this runway evacuate the wounded as a matter of priority to hospitals in England.

Allied aviation remains master of the sky and attacks the German elements without interruption, while for its part, the artillery embarked on the warships bombards relentlessly the opposing positions.

Off Normandy, mines continue to take their toll: destroyer escort 'Rich' (DE-695), and tank landing ship LST-499, are sunk; destroyer 'Glennon' (DD-620) is damaged. Whilst acting as HQ ship for the assault forces off Juno beach, frigate HMS 'Lawford' is attacked and sunk by Luftwaffe Do-217 aircraft armed with Henschel 293 missiles, off Courcelles. Location Seine Bay, Juno Beach area. There are 24 casualties. A German guided bomb hits US destroyer 'Meredith'(DD-726). The ship has to be abandoned.

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Glennon (DD-620), at right, after her stern was blown off by a mine, off Normandy, France, on 8 June 1944. The destroyer escort USS Rich (DE-695), a U.S. PT boat, a British motor launch, and a U.S. Auk-class minesweeper are standing by. Rich soon hit another mine, which also destroyed her stern, and was then sunk by a third mine. Glennon was sunk by shore batteries two days later



Air War over Europe

The USAAF's Eighth Air Force in England flies Mission 400: 1,178 bombers and 1,353 fighter sorties are flown on communications in France to isolate German forward elements, and airfields are bombed to prevent Luftwaffe support. Cloud conditions prevent 400+ bombers from executing attacks. 640 B-17 Flying Fortresses are dispatched to La Frilliere (66 bomb), Orleans (36 bomb), Rennes Airfield (30 bomb), Orleans/Les Aubrais marshalling yard (60 bomb), Nantes (25 bomb), La Huchetiere (31 bomb), Tours/La Riche (61 bomb) and Cinq Mars bridge (57 bomb); 18 hit Bruz, two hit Rennes and 13 hit targets of opportunity; one1 B-17 is lost. 538 B-24 Liberators are dispatched to Pontaubault (67 bomb), Angers/St Laud (24 bomb), Angers (19 bomb), Le Mans/Arnage Airfield (14 bomb), Pontaubault (13 bomb), Nantes (42 bomb) and Cinq Mars bridge (55 bomb); five hit Dinon, one hits Precey, one hits Cinq Mars bridge, 30 hit Grandville Harbor, 19 hit a bridge at Rennes, nine hit Precey and 26 hit targets of opportunity; an attack on the Melun bridge by an Azon unit is foiled by clouds; two B-24s are lost. Escort for the bombers is provided by 116 P-51 Mustangs; they claim 3-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft; two P-51s are lost.

Other fighter-bomber missions are: 381 P-38 Lightnings, 24 P-47 Thunderbolts and 89 P-51s fly sweeps and patrols along the Normandy beachhead and the Channel area; P-47s claim 1-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft; three P-51s are lost. 333 P-47s and 526 P-51s fly fighter-bomber missions against communications in northwestern France; they claim 27-2-4 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 21-0-11 on the ground; six P-47s and eleven P-51s are lost. Overall, the fighters fly 1,405 sorties and attack nearly 75 targets during the day.

The USAAF's Ninth Air Force in England dispatches around 400 B-26 Marauders to attack rail and road bridges and junctions, rail sidings, marshalling yards, town areas, fuel storage tanks, ammunition dumps, troop concentration and strong points in the Calais, France area. Around 1,300 fighter sorties provide support to B-26s and high cover over the assault area, and bomb and strafe bridges, marshalling yards, gun batteries, rail facilities, vehicles, towns, and troop concentrations.

483 RAF aircraft - 286 Lancasters, 169 Halifaxes, 28 Mosquitos - attacked railways at Alençon, Fougères, Mayenne, Pontabault and Rennes to prevent German reinforcements from the south reaching Normandy. All of the raids appear to have been successful. 4 aircraft were lost, 2 Lancasters from the Pontabault raid and 1 Lancaster and 1 Mosquito from the Rennes raid.

The first 12,000lb Tallboy bombs developed by Barnes Wallis were used on this night by No 617 Squadron in a raid on a railway tunnel near Saumur, 125 miles south of the battle area. The raid was prepared in great haste because a German Panzer unit was expected to move by train through the tunnel. The target area was illuminated with flares by 4 Lancasters of No 83 Squadron and marked at low level by 3 Mosquitos. 25 Lancasters of No 617 Squadron then dropped their Tallboys with great accuracy. The huge bombs exploded under the ground to create miniature 'earthquakes'; one actually pierced the roof of the tunnel and brought down a huge quantity of rock and soil. The tunnel was blocked for a considerable period and the Panzer unit was badly delayed. No aircraft were lost from this raid.

Fw 190s of III./JG 2 became engaged with P-51s and P-47s from US 361FG, 56FG and 353FG. The Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 2, Hptm. Herbert Huppertz was killed. Hptm. Josef Wurmheller was made acting Gruppenkommandeur.

At crowded Le Mans airfield, pilots of I./JG 1 and II./JG 1 were given paper instructions on jabo tactics to read while their Fw 190s were loaded with bombs. Later 25 Fw 190s took off to attack the Allied fleet but failed to have any results.

Italian Campaign

German forces withdraw along the Adriatic coast.

The USAAF's Fifteenth Air Force in Italy dispatches 52 B-17s, with P-47 escort, to bomb the navy yard and drydocks at Pola, Yugoslavia.

Photo: Men of the 1st Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment march into Rome, 8 June 1944



Battle of the Atlantic

A 'Liberator' patrol a/c from RAF 224 Sqn, piloted by F/Lt KO Moore, RCAF, sank 2 U-boats in less than 30 minutes in the English Channel, by radar-visual attacks on a bright moonlit night. They were - 'U-441', Kptlt. Klaus Hartmann, CO, at 48.27N, 005.47W and 'U-373', OLtzS Detlev Von Lehsten, CO, at 48.10N, 005.31W. There were no survivors from 'U-441's' crew of 51 men; however, all but 4 of the 51 crewmembers from 'U-373' were rescued. OLtzS Von Lehsten has been listed among those lost by some sources (see below). For his part in the action, F/Lt. Moore was awarded the DSO and the US Silver Star.

Germany

The first pre-production Ar 234B-0 was flown before 400 important guests. Before the demonstration, test pilot Joachim Carl decided to make a quick test flight. Almost everything goes wrong including both engines flaming out. Carl landed safely with no idea how he did so. The plane was worked on frantically for a successful afternoon flight.

United States

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Killen (DD-593) underway off Richmond Beach, Washington (USA), 8 June 1944. Her camouflage is Measure 31, Design 11D



Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Straus (DE-408) underway off Boston, Massachusetts (USA), on 8 June 1944. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 31, Design 22D



Photo: The U.S. Navy light cruiser USS Pasadena (CL-65) underway off Boston, Massachusetts (USA), on 8 June 1944. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 32, Design 24D



Pacific War

BURMA-INDIA

(Tenth Air Force): B-24s mine the Bangkok and Mergui, Burma areas. B-25s maintain the ammunition supply to Imphal, India. In Burma, 9 B-25s pound the Imphal, India-Tiddim road and a few A-36s and P-51s hit the enemy in the Mogaung area.

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 19 P-40s bomb docks, warehouses and military installations at Ichang and Shasi and strafe 2 cavalry units at Nanying; 4 P-51s attack railroad traffic in the Singtai-Chengting area.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA

(Seventh Air Force): During the night of 7/8 Jun, B-24s from Eniwetok bomb Truk and Ponape. B-25s from Makin follow up during the day with a strike against Nauru Island. In Hawaii, 72d Fighter Squadron, 318th Fighter Group, moves from Haleiwa Field to Mokuleia Field with P-38s; 78th Fighter Squadron, 15th Fighter Group, moves from Mokuleia Field to Bellows Field with P-47s.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA

(Thirteenth Air Force): 24 B-25s bomb a supply area at Ratawul, New Britain Island. On Bougainville Island, 32 P-39s bomb Tsirogei and a supply area N of Buka, Buka Island and 6 P-38s hit Monoitu Mission.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

(Fifth Air Force): B-25s, P-38s, B-24s and A-20s battle enemy fighters over Manokwari and Efman-Schouten area, bomb a small freighter off Manokwari and hit gun emplacements and occupied areas at Kamiri, at Namber, and near Sorido; P-40s hit supply areas and villages in the vicinity of Sarmi; and A-20s again hit Wewak area. Thirteenth Air Task Force B-24s from the Admiralty Islands hit Truk Atoll.

PACIFIC

Photo: The U.S. Navy amphibious command ship USS Mount Olympus (AGC-8) in June 1944. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 32 Design 8F

Day 1735 of World War II, June 10th 1944

YouTube (The Invasion of Normandy begins! - WW2 - June 10, 1944)



Western Front (1944) - Battle of Normandy - D-Day +4

Map: HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map, June 10th 1944



It was on the 10th of June that the artificial harbors of Arromanches and Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer began to be installed. Other major achievements include the construction of the Bazenville advanced landing ground (ALG B-2) near Bayeux and the one at Cardonville (ALG A-3) south of Grandcamp and Maisy.

Photo: An American 155mm self-propelled gun of 987th Field Artillery Battalion, near Bayeaux, 10 June 1944



US troops continued their offensive northwest towards Cherbourg and southwest of Utah beach in the direction of Carentan which represents a major objective for the Allies, being the crossroads linking the Calvados and Cotentin regions. The 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division is on its way to Carentan, as is the 327th Glider Regiment, which liberates the village of Brévands to the northwest of that city. South of Omaha Beach, the troops of the 2nd US Infantry Division liberate the towns of Trévières and Rubercy.

Photo: A Sherman tank crew of 'C' Squadron, 13th/18th Royal Hussars rest and write letters home by the side of their vehicle, Normandy, 10 June 1944



Photo: A Sherman tank of 13th/18th Royal Hussars uses a Horsa glider as cover during fighting against German troops near Ranville, 10 June 1944



Photo: 'Balaclava', a Sherman tank from regimental HQ of 13th/18th Royal Hussars shooting up German troops using crashed Horsa gliders as cover near Ranville, 10 June 1944



This Saturday, June 10, General Bradley (who installed his command post near the Pointe du Hoc the day before) meets General Montgomery in Port-en-Bessin.

The British forces still deliver bloody fighting to the north and east of Caen and progress with great difficulty. The soldiers of the 51st Highlanders are placed alongside the men of the 6th Airborne Division to defend their positions near the village of Breville.

The population of French village Oradour-sur-Glane, near Limoges, is murdered by a detachment of 2.SS Panzerdivision "Das Reich" commanded by SS Sturmbannführer Otto Dickmann. In all 642 civilians perish. The men are driven into barns and shot, the women and children are herded into the church, which is set on fire. One German officer is killed by masonry falling from the burning church where the women and children are incinerated alive. Those who escape the fire and smoke are machine-gunned. Only seven or eight of the villagers escape alive. A boy of eight ran away into the woods. A woman, Madame Rouffanche hid behind the high altar of the church, where she found a ladder, and jumped from a ten-foot-high window. The Limoges region is largely under Resistance control, but there are no Resistance fighters in Oradour.

Destroyer 'Glennon' (DD-620) is sunk off Normandy by German shore battery; tank landing craft LCT-209 sinks after running aground off beachhead. U.S. freighter 'Charles Morgan' is damaged by bomb off UTAH Beach that kills 7 of the 64-man Army stevedore unit on board and one merchant crewman; there are no casualties among the 27-man Armed Guard. Fleet tug 'Kiowa' (ATF-72) takes on board the survivors. 'Charles Morgan', however, despite strenuous efforts to save her, is ultimately declared a total loss.

Air War over Europe

The USAAF's Eighth Air Force in England flies two missions. Mission 403: Bad weather restricts operations to northwestern France; 883 bombers and 1,491 fighter sorties are flown but 200+ bombers abort due to cloud conditions; one bomber and 24 fighters are lost. 507 B-17 Flying Fortresses are dispatched to Equihen (24 bomb), Hardelot (23 bomb), St Gabriel (26 bomb), Gael Airfield (36 bomb), Nantes/Bouguenais Airfield (55 bomb), Vannes Airfield (59 bomb), Berck (26 bomb), Merlimont Plage (39 bomb), and Toucquet-Paris-Plage (10 bomb). 257 B-24s are dispatched to Wimereau (23 bomb), Boulogne (34 bomb), Dreux Airfield (26 bomb), Evreux/Fauville Airfield (65 bomb) and Boulogne (13 bomb); 39 others hit Conches Airfield; one B-24 is lost. 119 B-24s are dispatched to Chateaudun Airfield (45 bomb) and Orleans/Bricy Airfield (66 bomb) .

US VIII Fighter Command missions during the day are: 405 P-38s fly sweep and escort; they claim 5-2-1 Luftwaffe aircraft. 3 P-47 Thunderbolts and 364 P-51 Mustangs provide escort for the bombers above; they claim 0-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground; seven fighters are lost. 506 P-47s and 213 P-51s fly fighter-bomber missions against communications targets in the beachhead area; they claim 8-0-2 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 1-0-1 on the ground; 15 P-47s and two P-51 are lost.

The USAAF's Ninth Air Force in England dispatches 500+ B-26 Marauders and A-20 Havocs to bomb targets in the assault area including military concentrations, road and rail bridges and junctions, artillery batteries, marshalling yards and town areas; aircraft of 15+ fighter groups fly escort to bombers and transports, and bomb numerous targets in support of the ground assault, including rail facilities, roads, troop concentrations, artillery, and town areas.

432 RAF aircraft - 323 Lancasters, 90 Halifaxes, 19 Mosquitos - attacked railway targets at Achères, Dreux, Orléans and Versailles. All targets were believed to have been hit but few further details are available. 15 Lancasters and 3 Halifaxes lost. 32 Mosquitos to Berlin, 13 RCM sorties, 7 Serrate and 18 Intruder patrols, 30 aircraft minelaying off France on the flanks of the invasion area. 2 Mosquitos lost from the Berlin raid.

Continuation War

The Red Army has launched an offensive in massive strength against the Finns entrenched on the Karelian Isthmus, north of Leningrad. After forceful probing attacks yesterday, with artillery and air support in strength previously unknown in the Finnish front, the main offensive today strikes already weakened Finnish forces and achieves breakthrough at Valkeasaari, very southernmost part of the front. Elements of the 23rd Army captures Terijoki and Yalkena on the Karelian Isthmus. The Red Army has broken through the main defence line, and is advancing towards the rear. It advances some 15 kilometres (10 miles) today. The Finnish GHQ orders 4th Division (Maj. Gen. Aleksanteri Autti) and 3rd Brigade to move to the Isthmus from other parts of the Fenno-Soviet front, and plans of a counter-attack are being formed.

Italian Campaign

Allied advances in Italy continue as The British 8th Army takes Pescara and Chieti. The New Zealand Division enters Avezzano. The Heaviest German air raid since 3 May occurs off Anzio against U.S. shipping off the beachhead. Minesweeper 'Symbol' (AM-123), tank landing ship LST-211, infantry landing craft LCI-41, and U.S. freighter 'Tarleton Brown' are all damaged by near-misses of bombs.

The USAAF's Fifteenth Air Force in Italy dispatches 550+ B-17s and B-24s to attack targets in Italy; B-17s hit a marshalling yard at Mestre and oil storage and marshalling yard at Porto Marghera; B-24s hit oil refinery at Trieste, an air depot at Ferrara and the town of Ancona.

Battle of the Mediterranean

P-51s and P-38s fly escort, and in Romania, strafe targets of opportunity between Bucharest and the Danube River and south of Craiova, and dive-bomb an oil refinery at Ploesti. During these raids the Romanian Air Force has its best day when the IAR-81Cs of Grup 6 Vanatori and the Me109Gs of Grup 9 Vanatori combine to claim 18 P-38s during a low-level raid, one of the targets of which was Grup 6 Vanatori's own airfield. There were 46 bomb-carrying P-38s escorted by another 48 flying fighter cover involved in the attack. Grup 6 Vanatori was already airborne when the raid struck their home field. They benefitted from ideal conditions, catching a group of P-38s at almost ground level during a strafing run on the airfield, and diving in from above and behind. The Romanians lost only one fighter from both groups combined in this extended fight. The USAAF reported 22 P-38s lost over Romania to all causes this day, so the Romanian claim to have shot fown 18 Lightnings may not be too far off the mark.

Germans of the 4.SS-Pol.Pz.Gren.Div. "Polizei", raze the village of Distomo, Greece and murder its inhabitants.

United States

Photo: The U.S. Navy escort carrier USS Long Island (CVE-1) underway in San Francisco Bay, California (USA), on 10 June 1944, photographed by a plane from Naval Air Station Alameda. She has 21 Grumman F6F Hellcat fighters, 20 Douglas SBD Dauntless scout bombers and two Grumman J2F Duck utility planes parked on her flight deck. The ship is painted in Camouflage Measure 32, Design 9A



Photo: U.S. Navy Grumman F6F Hellcats from Fighting Squadron 80 (VF-80) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ticonderoga (CV-14) on 10 June 1944



Photo: The U.S. Navy repair ship USS Jason (ARH-1) in Puget Sound, Washington (USA), on 10 June 1944. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 32, Design 4Ax



Pacific War

BURMA-INDIA

(Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 23 B-24s bomb targets at Chauk, Lonywa and Yenangyaung while 29 others supply ammunition to the Imphal, India area; 50 A-36s, P-51s and P-40s blast targets at Myitkyina, Mogaung and Tapo. 315th Troop Carrier Squadron, 443d Troop Carrier Group, moves from Sylhet to Sookerating, India with C-47s.
British carriers Illustrious and Atheling raid Sabong.

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 23 P-40s and P-51s hit railroad traffic and tracks at Linfen and Loning and a tank concentration at Lingpao; 6 P-40s hit a bridge at Tasa; B-25s, P-40s, P-51s and P-38s carry out 150+ sorties against numerous targets throughout the Tungting Lake area; numerous rivercraft are destroyed or damaged, Kukang and other villages WE of Changsha are bombed, Hankow-Wuchang Airfield revetments and buildings are pounded, the Changshowkai area is blasted and several river landings and storage installations in the lake area are attacked; 3 B-24s on a S China Sea sweep claim 1 small cargo ship sunk; and 75th Fighter Squadron, 23d Fighter Group, moves from Hengyang to Lingling with P-51s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA

(Seventh Air Force): B-24s, staging through Eniwetok, bomb Truk Atoll and Ponape Island during the night of 9/10 Jun. B-25s from Makin hit Nauru Island during the day.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA

(Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain Island, 8 P-38s skip-bomb supply tunnels at Keravia Bay while 4 others strafe nearby AA positions; AA guns S of Rapopo are attacked by 12 B-25s, 20 P-39s, and 20+ US Navy (USN) dive bombers; other B-25s bomb Ratawul. 31 P-39s and 20+ USN aircraft hit Chinatown at Buka on Buka Island and a supply area NE of the airstrip, a barge at Sohano, and on Bougainville Island, trucks near Tsirogei and a ford near Monoitu.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

(Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, A-20s hit the airfield at Babo, destroying grounded aircraft, a fuel dump, several buildings, and a gun position; A-20s, B-25s, and RAAF aircraft hit the Wewak area with 100+ tons of bombs; Lost is A-20G 43-21299, A-20G 43-9475 and A-20G-20 42-86621. HQ 312th Bombardment Group and 387th and 389th Bombardment Squadrons move from Gusap to Hollandia (Group and 389th) and Nadzab (387th) with A-20s; air echelon of 17th Reconnaissance Squadron (Bombardment), 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group, that has been operating from Wakde with B-25s since 25 May, returns to base at Finschhafen.

MARIANA AND PALAU ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

As Task Force 58 approaches the Mariana Islands prior to the invasion of Saipan on 15 June, PB4Y-1 Liberators of Bombing Squadron One Hundred Eight and VB-109 based at NAB Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands, fly ahead of the task force to intercept and destroy any patrolling Japanese aircraft. These sweeps continue tomorrow and an aircraft from each squadron shoots down a Japanese patrol plane some distance from the fleet. These four-engine planes are used because they are a common sighting and will not arouse Japanese suspicions.

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 439, JUNE 10, 1944

Truk Atoll was bombed by Seventh Army Air Force Liberators on June 8 (West Longitude Date). No opposition was encountered.

Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two bombed Nauru Island on June 7 and 8 and Ocean Island on June 7. Barracks and gun emplacements were hit. Antiaircraft fire ranged from moderate to intense. Seventh Army Air Force Mitchells bombed Nauru Island on June 8, hitting coastal defense guns and antiaircraft emplacements. Antiaircraft fire was intense.

A single search plane of Fleet Air Wing Two bombed gun positions at Puluwat Island on June 9.

Mitchell bombers of the Seventh Army Air Force attacked Ponape Is­land on June 7. Hangars near the seaplane base and shops were hit. Meager antiaircraft fire was encountered. On June 8 a single Seventh Army Air Force Liberator bombed Ponape.

Dauntless dive bombers and Corsair fighters of the Fourth Marine Air­craft Wing, Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two, and Navy Hellcat fighters bombed and strafed remaining enemy positions in the Marshalls on June 7 and 8. Piers and antiaircraft batteries were bombed. At one objective a large explosion was caused near an antiaircraft emplacement. On June 8 two Corsair fighters were downed by antiaircraft fire near Maloelap. One of the pilots was rescued by a destroyer. A Dauntless dive bomber was shot down near Mille the same day and its pilot rescued by a destroyer.

PACIFIC

PB4Ys (VB 108, VB 109) sweep ahead of TF 58 (Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher) as it approaches the Marianas, to intercept and destroy any Japanese aircraft in the path of the fast carriers. These sweeps will be repeated on 11 June. During these two days of operations, a Privateer from each squadron will shoot down a Japanese plane at some distance away from the task force. The use of PB4Ys is decided upon because sightings of these long-range planes in that region is a commonplace occurrance and would thus arouse no enemy suspicions that a carrier task force is in the area.

High speed transport Talbot (APD-7) is damaged in collision with battleship Pennsylvania (BB-38), en route to the Marianas.

Destroyer Taylor (DD-468) sinks Japanese submarine RO-111, 210 miles north-northwest of Kavieng, New Ireland, 00°26'N, 149°16'E.

Destroyer escort Bangust (DE-739) sinks Japanese submarine RO-42, 70 miles northeast of Kwajalein, Marshalls, 10°05'N, 168°22'E.

British submarine HMS Tantalus sinks Japanese army cargo ship Hiyoshi Maru in Strait of Malacca, 03°05'N, 99°56'E.

USAAF B-25s bomb Japanese shipping off Manokwari, sinking auxiliary sailing vessel Shinei Maru.

Japanese cargo vessel Yozan Maru is damaged by mine off Manila.

Japanese cargo vessel Kinmon Maru is sunk by accidental fire, Singapore, 01°17'N, 103°51'E.

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Converse (DD-509) viewed from the light cruiser USS Miami (CL-89), 10 June 1944

Day 1737 of World War II, June 12th 1944

Eastern Front

Stalin praises the D-Day landings extravagantly, saying:

"In the whole history of war there has never been such an undertaking."

Western Front (1944) - Battle of Normandy - D-Day +6

Map: HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map, June 12th 1944



The Americans of the 502nd and 506th regiments of the 101st Airborne Division manage to control part of the town of Carentan in the evening after difficult street fighting. The junction between US troops from Utah Beach and those from Omaha Beach is now complete. The five bridgeheads are united in one and the same 80 km long zone from Sainte-Mère-Eglise in the west to Ouistreham in the east, reaching 10 to 30 km deep.

Map: Allied and Axis dispositions on 12 June 1944, showing the British flanking attack through the Caumont Gap and the supporting US 1st Infantry Division advance



The 1st American infantry division liberates the village of Caumont 30 kilometers south of Omaha and thus benefits from a favorable height for observation close to the locality.

Photo: Winston Churchill with Field Marshal Jan Smuts, of the Imperial War Cabinet, (right) and Field Marshal Sir Alan Brooke, CIGS (Chief of the Imperial General Staff), on board the destroyer conveying his party to Normandy, 12 June 1944



Photo: General Sir Bernard Montgomery, commanding 21st Army Group, guides Winston Churchill to his jeep after the Prime Minister had come ashore to begin his tour, 12 June 1944



The British continued fighting in the direction of Villers-Bocage on the road from Caen to Vire. Most of the armored divisions with Tiger tanks are grouped north and northwest of Caen, and the British suffer from this highly resistant and heavily armored protection.

On 12 June at midnight, 18 allied divisions (8 American divisions, 10 British and Canadian divisions) were present in Normandy, representing a total of 326,547 soldiers, 54,186 vehicles and 104,428 tons of equipment.

Photo: USS LST-388 unloads on a Normandy beach at low tide, 12 June 1944. Note barrage balloon overhead. Taken by Combat Photo Unit Eight (CPU-8)



Air War over Europe

303 RAF aircraft - 286 Lancasters and 17 Mosquitos of Nos 1, 3 and 8 Groups - carried out the first raid of the new oil campaign; the target was the Nordstern synthetic-oil plant at Gelsenkirchen (the Germans called the plant Gelsenberg AG). 17 Lancasters were lost, 6.1 per cent of the Lancaster force. The attack opened with exceptional accuracy owing to good work by the Pathfinders and to improved versions of Oboe sets now available. Later phases of the bombing were spoiled by the clouds of smoke from the burning target and by a rogue target indicator which fell 10 miles short of the target and was bombed by 35 aircraft. A German industrial report shows that all production at the oil plant ceased, with a loss of 1,000 tons of aviation fuel a day for several weeks, as well as the loss of other fuels.

27 Mosquitos to Cologne, 3 RCM sorties, 39 Serrate and 13 Intruder patrols, 9 Halifaxes and 5 Stirlings minelaying off Brest and St Nazaire, 13 aircraft on Resistance operations. No aircraft lost.

The USAAF's Eighth Air Force in England flies two missions. Mission 407: With bad weather over top priority targets in Germany, 1,442 bombers are dispatched against airfields and landing grounds in northeastern France and rail and road bridges on the Brest Peninsula; 691 of 769 B-17s and 586 of 673 B-24s hit 16 airfields and six railroad bridges in the Rennes and St Nazaire area; they claim 1-1-0 Luftwaffe aircraft; six B-17s and two B-24s are lost Fighters fly 988 sorties the loss of 16 aircraft: 234 P-38 Lightnings, 80 P-47 Thunderbolts and 201 P-51 Mustangs fly escort, sweeps and patrols over the English Channel and in the Rennes area; they claim 20-0-8 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 1-0-0 on the ground; three P-38s, a P-47 and three P-51s are lost. 93 P-38s and 183 P-47s fly fighter-bomber missions against five railroad bridges in the Tours-Paris area; they claim 5-0-2 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 1-0-0 on the ground; a P-38 and eight P-47s are lost. 45 P-38s and 152 P-51s fly escort for Ninth Air Force A-20 Havocs and B-26 Marauders. Sixteen B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions.

The USAAF's Ninth Air Force in England dispatches 509 B-26s and A-20s to bomb marshalling yards, road and rail junctions, bridges, artillery, town areas, troop concentrations and various targets of opportunity in France; aircraft of 15+ fighter groups fly close and area support for bombers and bomb and strafe rail lines, gun batteries, bridges, fortifications, radar installation, tanks, ammunition dumps, town areas and strongpoints in the battle area.

671 RAF aircraft - 348 Halifaxes, 285 Lancasters, 38 Mosquitos - of Nos 4, 5, 6 and 8 Groups to attack communications, mostly railways, at Amiens/St Roch, Amiens/Longueau, Arras, Caen, Cambrai and Poitiers. (It is interesting to note that, with the exception of Caen, all of these targets were the sites of well-known battles of earlier wars and Caen was soon to be the scene of fierce fighting.) Bomber Command's records state that the Poitiers attack, by No 5 Group, was the most accurate of the night and that the 2 raids at Amiens and the raid at Arras were of reasonable accuracy. The target at Cambrai was hit but many bombs also fell in the town. The most scattered attack (also by No 5 Group) was at Caen. 23 aircraft - 17 Halifaxes and 6 Lancasters - were lost from these raids; all of these losses were from Nos 4 and 6 Groups.

Continuation War

In Karelian Isthmus, the advancing Soviet units reach VT-line, the second Finnish line of defence. They start immediately probing the defences. The line is held by Gen. Laatikainen's IV Corps. After Gen. Sihvo's 10th Division was withdrawn to rear, the line here at the southern part of the front is defended by Gen. Pajari's 3rd Division and Gen. Melander's Cavalry Brigade (the Cavalry Brigade fought on foot, its name was an honorary appellation). Together they defend a stretch of line some 40 km (25 miles) wide. Gen. Martola's 2nd Division reaches the VT-line, after conducting a fighting withdrawal. On the northern part of the Isthmus front Gen. Siilasvuo's III Corps has so far been left in peace, but it has to transfer troops to defend it's endangered right flank. IV Corps's defences are focused around Kivennapa, where lies the attacker's shortest way to Viipuri. However, the Leningrad Front commander Gen. Govorov has received permission to act as he sees fit, and he immediately transfers the point of main effort. The attacking Red Army units now concentrate on the very southernmost part of the front, on the coastal road running along the northern shore of the Gulf of Finland, where the Finnish defences are the weakest.

The commander of the Finnish 3rd Brigade (which is on its way to the Karelian Isthmus) Col. Joose Hannula is killed in an aerial attack. He is succeeded by Col. Kai Savonjousi. Finnish AA-defences claim 15 enemy planes shot down.

Battle of the Atlantic

Frigate HMS 'Halsted' is torpedoed by the units of 9th Schnellboot Geschwader in the English Channel at Seine Bay and has her bows blown off, but is able to make port at Portsmouth astern under her own power. She is not repaired.

'U-490' sunk NW of the Azores in position 42.47N, 40.08W by depth charges from escort carrier USS 'Croatan', and depth charges from destroyer escorts USS 'Frost', 'Huse' and 'Inch'.

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Inch (DE-146) with prisoners from German submarine U-490 (center, two wearing life vests, one in shirtsleeves) on her quarter deck, awaiting transfer to the escort carrier USS Croatan (CVE-25), 12 June 1944. U-490 had been sunk the previous night. Note the K-guns with fast-sinking streamlined depth charges mounted on the ship's side, 3/50 dual-purpose gun in upper left, photographer and guard with a Thompson submachine gun (both at right)



United States

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer tender USS Dobbin (AD-3) at Seeadler Harbor, Admiralty Islands, on 12 June 1944. Alongside are the destroyer escort USS Lovering (DE-39) and the destroyers USS Welles (DD-628), USS Mustin (DD-413) and USS Fletcher (DD-445)



Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Smith (DD-378) off the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California (USA), on 12 June 1944. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 31, Design 23D



Photo: The U.S. Navy USS Howard F. Clark (DE-533) underway off Boston, Massachusetts (USA), on 12 June 1944. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 32, Design 2C



Sweden

An experimental A-4 [V-2] rocket crashes and the wreckage is recovered for study by the Swedish military. The Swedish government later transfers two tons of debris to England, reportedly in exchange for two squadrons of new tanks.

Pacific War

BURMA-INDIA

(Tenth Air Force): 30+ B-25s continue to supply troops at Imphal, India with ammunition. 16 P-40s hit Mogaung and targets of opportunity in N Burma.

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 50 P-40s, P-51s and B-25s hit troop concentrations in the Yellow River area at Lingpao and S of Loyang; in the Tungting Lake area about 100 P-40s and P-51s attack numerous supply boats and other river and lake traffic, and hit dock areas and warehouses at Lanchi, Yuankiang and at scattered points; also hit are villages and troops in the Changsha and Kuanchuang areas; 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Fourteenth Air Force, moves from Gushkara, India to Chengkung with P-51s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA

(Seventh Air Force): Eniwetok Atoll-based B-24s hit Truk Atoll during the night of 11/12 Jun and again during the day.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA

(Thirteenth Air Force): 6 B-24s bomb runways at Tobera and Rapopo; 22 P-39s and 10 P-38s join 20+ USN aircraft in attacks on supply dumps near Ralum; and 20 B-25s pound Malapau village. 44 P-39s hit the airfield on Buka Island and on Bougainville Island, Tsirogei plantation, barges and pier S of Kleine Island and the occupied area W of Komai.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

(Fifth Air Force): Fierce ground fighting continues on Biak Island while Japanese aircraft attack Allied ground forces and shipping offshore; P-47s battle attacking aircraft, shooting down several; P-47s and A-20s hit troop concentrations, communications and various other targets in the Wewak and Hansa Bay areas; 82d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group, moves from Saidor to Biak with P-39s; and 386th Bombardment Squadron, 312th Bombardment Group, moves from Gusap to Nadzab with A-20s. Thirteenth Air Task Force B-24s bomb Dublon Island, Truk Atoll and the airfield on Peleliu Airfield.

MARIANA ISLANDS AND PALAU ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

TF 58 (Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher) strikes against Saipan continue; Navy carrier-based planes sink aircraft transport Keiyo Maru, which had been damaged in the 11 June fighter sweep, and destroy convoy of small cargo vessels: No.11 Shinriki Maru, Sekizen Maru, Myogawa Maru, Shigei Maru and Suwa Maru. F6Fs from TF 58 attack Japanese convoy spotted the previous day and damage fast transport T.1 southwest of the Marianas, 11°43'N, 140°42'E.

During the strikes, Commander William I. Martin, commanding officer of Enterprise's VT-10, is shot down and parachutes into the sea off Red Beach Three, Saipan. Before he is rescued, he observes that the Japanese have marked the length of the reef offshore with red and white pennants, indicating pre-sited artillery ranges--valuable intelligence information quickly disseminated to the approaching amphibious forces.

TG 58.7 (Vice Admiral Willis A. Lee) battleships and destroyers conduct an almost day-long bombardment of Japanese installations on Saipan and Tinian.

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Terry (DD-513) departing Roi, en route to take part in the invasion of Saipan, 12 June 1944. An escort carrier is in the left background. Terry is painted in Camouflage Measure 31, Design 14D. The photo was taken from the battleship USS New Mexico (BB-40)



Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Kidd (DD-661) underway off Roi Island, Kwajalein, en route to the Saipan Invasion, 12 June 1944. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 32, Design 10D. Anchored in the left background is the battleship USS Tennessee (BB-43), with a destroyer alongside and an escort carrier beyond. The photo was taken from USS New Mexico (BB-40)



Photo: U.S. Navy cruisers leaving Roi Island en route to Saipan on 12 June 1944. Seen from the battleship USS New Mexico (BB-40), they are (left to right): the heavy cruisers USS San Francisco (CA-38), USS Minneapolis (CA-36) and USS Wichita (CA-45); and the light cruisers USS St. Louis (CL-49) and USS Honolulu (CL-48)



ADMIRALTY ISLANDS

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer tender USS Dobbin (AD-3) at Seeadler Harbor, Admiralty Islands, on 12 June 1944. Alongside are the destroyer escort USS Lovering (DE-39) and the destroyers USS Welles (DD-628), USS Mustin (DD-413) and USS Fletcher (DD-445)



UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, N. D. COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 525, JUNE 12, 1944

Pacific and Far East.

1. U. S. submarines have reported sinking eighteen vessels as a result of operations against the enemy in these waters, as follows:

1 large tanker
1 medium transport
6 medium cargo transports 6 medium cargo vessels
4 small cargo vessels

2. These actions have not been reported in any previous Navy De­partment communiqué.

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUES, CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 441, JUNE 12, 1944

Carrier aircraft again struck Guam, Rota, Tinian, and Saipan on‑ June 11 (West Longitude Date).

Truk Atoll was attacked by Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force at night on June 9 and 10. Airfields at Param, Eten, Dublon and Moen Islands were principal targets. Several fires were started.

Ponape Island was bombed by Seventh Army Air Force Liberators on the night of June 9. Ponape Town and gun positions were hit.

Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two bombed Ocean Island during daylight on June 9, encountering moderate antiaircraft fire. Two of the planes continued to Nauru Island to strafe small craft there.

On June 10 Mitchells of the Seventh Army Air Force bombed Nauru, and started fires visible twenty miles. Heavy antiaircraft fire downed one Mitchell bomber. A Catalina search plane of Fleet Air Wing Two rescued the crew.

Enemy Positions in the Marshalls were bombed and strafed on June 9, during the night of June 9‑10, and on June 10. Corsair fighters and Dauntless dive bombers of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing, Catalina search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two and Navy Hellcat fighters participated in these attacks. Coastal defense guns and antiaircraft batteries were hit.

PACIFIC

TF 94 (Rear Admiral Ernest G. Small) cruisers and destroyers bombard Japanese position on Matsuwa Island in the Kurils.

Submarine Barb (SS-220) sinks Japanese army transport Takashima Maru in Sea of Okhotsk, 50°53'N, 151°12'E, despite presence of escorting destroyer Hatsuharu, which carries out ineffective countermeasures.

Submarine Flier (SS-250) damages Japanese merchant tanker Marifu Maru in South China Sea west of Luzon, 15°57'N, 119°42'E.

Submarine Narwhal (SS-167) shells oil tanks at Bula, Ceram Island, N.E.I.

Destroyer Melvin (DD-680) sinks Japanese submarine RO-36 between 50 and 75 miles east of Saipan, 15°21'N, 147°00'E.