World War II in real time

Day 1082 of World War II, August 26th 1942

Battle of the Atlantic

160 miles South of Freetown, Sierra Leone, U-130 sinks British SS Beechwood (1 killed, captain taken prisoner by U-130, 42 survivors picked up by British fleet oiler RFA Fortol).

Battle of the Mediterranean

West of Gaza, Palestine, U-375 torpedoes British SS Empire Kumari which is towed to Haifa Bay but sinks next day (3 killed, 89 survivors rescued by British corvette HMS Gloxinia).

Battle of the Caribbean

60 miles East of Barbados, U-162 sinks Norwegian tanker MV Thelma with 3 torpedoes and the deck gun (2 killed, 31 survivors picked up after 2 days by a British warship).

Arctic naval operations

Soviet submarine K2 sets out to patrol the Barents Sea but is never heard from again (probably lost on a mine near Tanafjord, Northern Norway).

North African campaign

Photo: Grant tanks training in the Western Desert, 26 August 1942



United Kingdom

Photo: HMS Howe steaming at full speed during trials



Pacific War

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

(11th AF): A photo mission is aborted over Atka due to weather. A U.S. Army reconnaissance troop lands on Adak Island and finds no Japanese troops.

CCHINA-INDIA-BURMA

(CATF): B-25s, which have moved temporarily from C China to Yunnani, bomb Lashio, Burma, an important rail center, highway junction and air base; covering P-40s strafe numerous targets of opportunity and shoot down at least 2 Japanese fighters.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

(5th AF): P-40s, B-25s, B-26s and B-17s plus RAAF Hudsons, pound Japanese forces in Milne Bay; a large transport is damaged and most of the supplies on the beachheads E of Rabi are destroyed; Lost is B-17F 41-24354 and B-17E "The Daylight Ltd" 41-2621 (crash landing at Mareeba). P-400s strafe Buna Airfield, lost is P-400 1122.

GILBERT ISLANDS

Undefended Ocean Island, located about 242 nautical miles WSW of Tarawa Atoll, is occupied by Japanese troops. Like Nauru Island, occupied yesterday, the island has large phosphate deposits and the loss of these two islands cause a severe shortage of fertilizer in Australia and New Zealand.

INDIA

The training center for Chinese troops is activated at Ramgarh, Bihar Province, with Colonel Frederick McCabe as commandant.

NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN - BATTLE OF MILNE BAY

In Papua New Guinea, beginning at 0145 hours local, the Japanese convoy bringing the rest of the 1,170-man force from New Ireland Island, Bismarck Archipelago, arrives safely in Mime Bay. During the night of 26/27 August, the Japanese make another night attack to the west, forcing the Australian militia back to the Gama River line. In the air, elements of the Allied Air Force, RAAF Hudsons and Kittyhawks and USAAF B-25 Mitchells, B-26 Marauders and B-17 Flying Fortresses, attack Japanese forces who have landed in Milne Bay ; a large transport is damaged and most of the supplies on the beachheads east of Rabi are destroyed.

Meanwhile, Japanese forces on the track between Isurava and Deniki renew their overland drive on Port Moresby at dawn and, after a five-hour fight, the Japanese withdraw. The Japanese supply lines, which are becoming overextended, are frequently attacked by air.

GUADALCANAL CAMPAIGN

The "Tokyo Express" lands 350 Imperial Japanese Army troops east of Taivu Point on Guadalcanal. At approximately 1200 hours, 12 USMC F4F Wildcats intercept 16 "Betty" bombers which have just bombed Henderson Field. The Marine shoot down three of the bombers but they have damaged the aviation gasoline supply and two 1,000-pound bombs and several parked aircraft are damaged by bomb splinters.

Photo: U.S. Navy map showing approximate paths and actions of Japanese (top) and Allied (bottom) naval forces in the battle from 23–26 August 1942. Guadalcanal is the large, roughly oval-shaped island in the center-left of the map

Day 1084 of World War II, August 28th 1942

YouTube (Yamamoto: Midway Round Two? - World War Two)



Eastern Front

Siege of Leningrad Day 355 - Soviet 8th Army advances another 1 mile into the Sinyavino gap against German 223rd Infantry Division. However, they cannot widen the flanks of the salient, as German 18th Army moves troops up from the staging areas in response to the attack.

Air War over Europe

The first heavy raid on Kassel by 306 aircraft of RAF Bomber Command was undertaken during the night. There was widespread damage, particulary in the southwestern part of the city. 144 buildings were destroyed and 317 seriously damaged. 28 soldiers were killed and 64 injured. 15 civilians were killed and 187 injured. Several of the RAF aircraft were lost, mainly to German night-fighters. Kassel was considered a strategic target for Arthur Harris' Bomber Command because it was home to the Henschel locomotive, engine and vehicle plants, the Fieseler aircraft plant and several other important industries. The Henschel Railway works were considered to be the largest in Europe. The city was the important transportation and communication center for Central Europe with north-south traffic (Hannover-Frankfurt) and east-west traffic (Ruhr-Thuringia-Saxony) intersecting there. 31 bombers were lost with many of the night-fighter pilots gaining double victories including Hptm. Thimming of Stab III./NJG 1, Hptm. Werner Streib of Stab I./NJG 1, Oblt. Martin Bauer of 7./NJG 1, Lt. Hermann Muller of Stab III./NJG 2 and Oblt. Becker of 6./NJG 2.

11 B-17s bombed the Avions Potez aircraft factory at Meaulte at 13.37 hours. 3 B-17s were damaged with 1 airman killed. Fighter units from JG 1, JG 2 and JG 26 met the escorting Spitfires and claimed 7 British fighters. Oblt. Wilhelm Galland of 5./JG 26 claimed his 16th kill and Ofw. Rudolf Taschner of 11./JG 2 made his 12th kill.

Bristol was targeted by the Hohenkampfkommando der Versuchsstelle fur Hohenfluge. The lone aircraft, a Ju 88P commanded by Lt. erich Sommer and piloted by Fw. Horst Gotz, appeared over the city at about 09.20 hours, its bomb impacting on a Ford Ten car in Bristol's Broad Weir. As a result of the subsequent explosion, one of 3 nearby buses were seriously damaged by the blast, while petrol from the car's fuel tank was sprayed in a more or less atomized state over the other 2 buses which immediately burst into flames. The death toll was horrific with 45 people being killed - many burnt to death in the blazing buses - with a further 45 injured. In terms of loss of life, this was the single most serious incident to occur in Bristol during WWII.

Continuation War

Photo: "Camouflaged icebreaker with submarines in Mariehamn"



Battle of the Atlantic

In the Belle Isle Strait, Newfoundland, U-165 and U-517 attack convoy SG-6 taking fuel, supplies and men to Iceland. American SS Arlyn is damaged by U-165 and later sunk by U-517 (12 dead, 37 survivors picked up by Panamanian SS Harjurand and 5 survivors row ashore). A torpedo from U-165 rips a 40 foot hole in US fleet oiler USS Laramie which does not explode (despite leaks in the cargo of 361,000 gallons of aviation fuel and 55,000 barrels of oil) and returns to Boston under her own steam for repairs (4 killed, 103 survivors).

390 miles West of Porto, Portugal, U-566 fires 3 torpedoes at convoy SL-119 damaging Dutch SS Zuiderkerk which is scuttled by depth charges from British sloop HMS Erne (all 56 crew and 12 passengers picked up by British sloop HMS Leith) and British SS City of Cardiff which sinks 2 days later (21 killed, 63 survivors picked up by British sloop HMS Rochester).

Battle of the Caribbean

After dark under moonlight, U-94 approaches a convoy 20 miles off the Eastern tip of Haiti but is depth charged by a US Catalina flying boat (squadron VP-92), blowing off the bow hydroplanes and forcing U-94 to the surface. U-94 is rammed twice, depth charged, shelled and machinegunned by Canadian corvette HMCS Oakville (19 killed, 26 survivor picked up by HMCS Oakville and US destroyer USS Lea). 11 Canadian sailors board to capture confidential papers and the enigma machine, but U-94 sinks rapidly and they escape with only 4 pairs of binoculars.

Pacific War

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

Thirty eight Alaskan Scouts debark from the submarines, USS Triton and USS Tuna, and land on Adak Island to reconnoiter; Adak is about 219 nautical miles east of Japanese-held Kiska Island. They find no Japanese on the island.

In the air, three USAAF 11th Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses bomb Japanese-held Kiska Island, one fails to return; all available B-24 Liberators and two flights of P-38 Lightnings fly naval cover at Nazan Bay, Atka Island located about 84 nautical miles ENE of Adak Island; and an attack mission to Japanese-held Attu Island is cancelled due to weather.

FRENCH INDOCHINA

Eight USAAF Tenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells of the China Air Task Force (CATF) hit barracks and ammunition dumps at Hoang Su Phi and a fuel dump at Phu Lo; this is the largest force of B-25s used by CATF to date, and the first B-25 mission flown without escort.

NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN - BATTLE OF MILNE BAY

Kokoda Track, Papua - Australian 39th Battalion at Isurava fall victim to a Japanese flanking attack, as Japanese 3rd Battalion 144th Regiment suddenly appears having moved through the jungle undetected on the left flank. 39th Battalion falls back 1 mile to the Isurava Rest House. Meanwhile on the right flank, Australian 2/16th Battalion holds the Japanese advance on the side track.

GUADALCANAL CAMPAIGN

Japanese decide to bring reinforcements down “the Slot” from Shortland Island at the Western end of Solomon Islands using fast destroyers, as a result of the attack by US land-based and carrier aircraft 4 days ago on the previous convoy of slow transport ships. 600 Japanese troops (35th Infantry Brigade under General Kiyotake Kawaguchi) board destroyers Asagiri, Amagiri, Yugiri, and Shirakumo for an overnight run but they are attacked at 6.05 PM 70 miles North of Guadalcanal by 11 US dive bombers Henderson Field. Asagiri is hit in the torpedo launchers which explode blowing the ship apart (62 crew and 60 troops killed, 135 crew and 135 troops rescued by Amagiri). Yugiri (32 killed) is heavily damaged and Shirakumo (2 wounded) is immobilised and towed back to Shortland Island by Amagiri. A second group of Japanese destroyers does reach Guadalcanal unmolested overnight and lands other elements of Kawaguchi’s 35th Infantry Brigade at Taivu Point, 20 miles East of Henderson Field.

60 miles East of Savo Island, US destroyer-minelayer USS Gamble, heading to Guadalcanal, spots the conning tower of Japanese submarine I-123. From 8.44 to 11.47 AM, USS Gamble conducts several depth charge attacks, sinking I-123 (all hands lost).

FILA ISLAND,NEW HEBRIDES

Photo: A U.S. Marine Corps Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat fighter is lifted on board USS Long Island (ACV-1) from USS Kitty Hawk (APV-1), off Fila Island, New Hebrides, 28 August 1942. This plane was en route to Guadalcanal as part of the second group of U.S. Marine Corps planes to be based at Henderson Field. Note that the F4F's markings appear to have been taped over

Day 1086 of World War II, August 30th 1942

Eastern Front

Siege of Leningrad Day 356 - The Soviet effort to relieve Leningrad in the Sinyavino gap runs out of steam as the Germans organize an effective resistance, including attacks by Luftwaffe fighters and dive bombers.

Continuation War

Photo: Finish minesweeper Louhi escorting ships in the Åland Sea in August 1942



Air War over Europe

5 Pe-8s, piloted by Major Pusep and Capt. Vladmir V. Ponomarenko of 746 BAP and Capt. Boris A. Kybyschko, Mikhail V. Rodnykh and Pavel M. Archarov of 890 BAP, took off for Berlin, while 7 other Pe-8s set off on a diversionary raid on Konigsberg. At the same time, 100 Il-4s and Yer-2s took off from various airfields near the frontlines. At 01.23 hours on the morning of August 30, the first Russian bombs fell on Berlin. It was the largest Soviet raid ever to be mounted against the German capital, but damage was minimal. The Soviet bombing raids on Berlin were never seriously expected to do more than pay the Germans back for their equally ineffective attacks on Moscow and provide a much-needed boost to moral on the home front.

Battle of the Atlantic

Operation Wunderland - German pocket battleship Admiral Scheer returns to Narvik without causing much disruption to the Soviet Navy.

10 miles North of Tobago, U-564 sinks Norwegian tanker MV Vardaas with a torpedo and 50 rounds from the deck gun (all 41 hands 2 lifeboats reach Tobago after 7 hours). At 8.28 AM 50 miles Northeast of Tobago, U-162 sinks American SS Star of Oregon with torpedoes and the deck gun (1 man asleep on a hatch cover is blown overboard and never found, 52 survivors picked up next day by a US patrol boat). At 9.26 AM 375 miles East of Trinidad, U-66 sinks Panamanian MV Sir Huon carrying 5000 tons of manganese and chrome ore plus captured Italian and German tanks from Egypt (all 37 crew members and 9 gunners picked up on September 3 by Argentinian tanker SS 13 de Diciembre or on September 4 by Panamanian SS Tambour). At 7.30 PM, U-66 torpedoes American SS West Lashaway which sinks within 1 minute on the cargo of 7670 tons of tin, copper, cocoa beans and palm oil (all 38 crew, 9 gunners and 9 passengers [2 missionary families returning from Africa] escape on 4 rafts). 12 crew, 1 gunner and 5 passengers [1 woman and 4 children] are rescued 19-25 days later but the rest die of exposure or are never found.

Battle of the Mediterranean

Off Corfu in the Ionian Sea, British submarine HMS Rorqual lays 50 mines and torpedoes Italian SS Monstella which is beached on Corfu to prevent sinking (a total loss).

North African campaign

Battle of Alam el Halfa, Egypt - Rommel’s supply line are badly disputed by Allied sinking of Italian ships, while British 8th Army is building up with a steady stream of new equipment such as 6-pounder anti-tank guns from Britain and Sherman tanks from USA. Rommel plans his trademark penetration of Allied lines followed by a charge into their rearguard to force a panicked retreat and preempt any Allied attack. However, British General Montgomery knows his plans from Ultra intercepts and leaves a 12 mile stretch (from Alam Nayil to the Qattara Depression) lightly defended while concentrating anti-tank defenses 10 miles further East. After dark, Rommel’s tanks attack through the thin sector but are caught in expectedly dense minefields and lit up by Royal Navy Fairey Albacores dropping flares for RAF Wellington bombers to follow.

Pacific War

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

The USN lands 4,500 US troops to occupy Kuluk Bay, Adak Island, amidst a terrific storm and they start building a runway; this airfield, later named Davis AAFld. Adak Island is located about 219 nautical miles east of Japanese-held Kiska Island.

Five USAAF 11th Air Force B-24 Liberators photograph Kiska Island but do not bomb due to overcast, and then fly patrol and photo reconnaissance over Amchitka and Tanaga Islands. P-38 Lightnings fly patrol between Great Sitkin and Little Tanaga Islands. The occupation puts North Pacific forces within 250 miles of occupied Kiska and in a position to maintain a close watch over enemy shipping lanes to that and to Attu. The tender Casco, conducting support operations from Nazan Bay, was damaged by a submarine torpedo and temporarily beached.

NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN

Kokoda Track, Papua - Japanese 144th Regiment attacks the Australians at the Isurava Rest House from the front and both sides, with increased shelling from mountain guns and mortars. The Australians realize they cannot hold this exposed position and pull back through the valley to Eora. Losses at Isurava are Australians 99 killed, 111 wounded; Japanese 140 killed, 231 wounded.

GUADALCANAL CAMPAIGN

Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands - In the Savo Sea 13 miles North of Henderson Field, Japanese bombers sink US fast transport ship (converted destroyer) USS Colhoun (51 killed; 95 survivors, including 21 wounded, rescued by USS Meade). Overnight, Japanese destroyers Kagero, Fubuki, Hatsuyuki, Murakamo, Umikaze, Kawakaze, Suzukaze and Amagiri run down “The Slot” to land 1000 troops (Kawaguchi Detachment) on Guadalcanal.

AUSTRALIA

General Douglas MacArthur, Commander of the Southwest Pacific Area, sends a message to Washington stating ".... as I have previously reporated am not yet convinced of the efficiency of Australian units (at Milne Bay), Papua New Guinea and do not attempt to forecast results."

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA

(7th AF): 6th Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group, moves from Wheeler Field to Kahuku, Hawaii with P-40s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

(5th AF): B-17s attack shipping in Saint Georges Channel

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO

USAAF B-17 Flying Fortresses of the Allied Air Forces attack shipping in Saint George's Channel between New Ireland and New Britain Islands.

BURMA

Myitkyina, northernmost Japanese supply depot and airfield in Burma, from which fighters could hit Dinjan, India (terminus of the Assam-Burma Ferry), is bombed for the first time by eight China-based B-25s of the 10th Air Force's China Air Task Force.

Day 1088 of World War II, September 1st 1942

Eastern Front

Siege of Leningrad Day 359 - Luftwaffe aircraft sink Soviet torpedo boat Purga on Lake Ladoga. Purga is salvaged and machinery recycled into her damaged sister-ship Vikhr.

Stalingrad - 16th Panzer Division (part of 6th Army, waiting North of Stalingrad) and XLVIII Panzer Corps (4th Panzer Army), located on the Stalingrad outskirts, do not have the strength to link up and surround Soviet 62nd and 64th Armies which are still holding ground West of the city. Soviet General Yeremenko sees the danger and orders 62nd and 64th Armies to fall back to avoid encirclement.

Photo: Soviet soldiers during a street fight in Stalingrad



Photo: cutters carrying foodstuffs to besieged Leningrad on Ladoga Lake



Continuation war

Photo: "The marine pilots' duties at Kobba Klintar: The camouflaged icebreaker Sisu", 1 September 1942



Air War over Europe

Overnight, RAF sends 231 bombers to attack Saarbrücken, Germany, but the Pathfinders inadvertently mark Saarlouis, 13 miles Northwest, which is badly damaged (52 civilians killed). No bombs fall in Saarbrücken. 1 Halifax, 1 Lancaster, 1 Stirling and 1 Wellington are lost.

Battle of the Atlantic

18 days into her first patrol, U-756 approaches convoy SC 97 just before 1 AM, 500 miles East of the tip of Greenland, but is spotted on the surface by Canadian corvette HMCS Morden. HMCS Morden tries to ram (U-756 dives) and then attacks with depth charges sinking U-756 (all 43 hands lost). 50 miles further East, an American Catalina PBY floatplane (Squadron VP-73) attacks U-91, causing minor damage.

Photo: The Italian submarine Reginaldo Giuliani under machine-gun attack from a Short Sunderland of No. 10 Squadron RAAF in the Bay of Biscay, 1 September 1942



Photo: The Royal Navy escort carriers HMS Biter (D97) and HMS Avenger (D14) underway in line astern from the aircraft carrier HMS Victorious (R38). Two Supermarine Seafires of 884 Naval Air Squadron, Fleet Air Arm, can be seen at the far end of the flight deck of HMS Victorious



North African campaign

Battle of Alam el Halfa, Egypt - Overnight, RAF Wellington bombers disrupt Rommel’s overland supply lines from Benghazi and Tobruk, destroying valuable fuel without which Panzerarmee Afrika is stationary most of the day. 15th Panzer Division mounts a minor attack which is repelled by British 8th Armoured Brigade. Between 8.26 AM and 5.53 PM, Luftwaffe fighter pilot Oberleutnant Hans-Joachim Marseille shoots down 17 Allied fighters, flying a Messerschmitt Bf 109 in 3 combat sorties. He will be awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds.

Photo: The Air Officer Commanding Air Headquarters Egypt, Air Vice Marshal W A McClaughry, formally hands over to No. 94 Squadron RAF, four Hawker Hurricane Mark IICs presented to Middle East Command by Lady Rachel MacRobert, three of which were named after her sons, who all were killed flying in the early stages of the war. AVM McClaughry is seen here shaking hands with Pilot Officer A Walker, in front of HL735 "The MacRobert Fighter - Sir Roderic" during the ceremony, which took place at El Gamil, Egypt



Photo: Two Hawker Hurricane Mark IICs presented to Middle East Command by Lady Rachel MacRobert, assemble in their positions for the presentation ceremony at El Gamil, Egypt. Four Hurricanes, three of which were named after Lady MacRoberts' sons who all were killed flying in the early stages of the war, were handed over to No. 94 Squadron RAF by the Air Officer Commanding Air Headquarters Egypt, Air Vice Marshal W A McClaughry at the ceremony. Taxying on the left is HL735 "The MacRobert Fighter - Sir Roderick", and on the right is HL851 "The MacRobert Fighter - Sir Iaian"



Pacific War

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

(11th Air Force): US forces complete the occupation of Adak. During Sep, HQ 343d Fighter Group moves from Elmendorf Field, Anchorage to Ft Glenn, Umnak , Aleutian . The detachment of the 11th Fighter Squadron, XI Fighter Command, operating from Ft Randall, Cold Bay, Alaska with P-40s, returns to base at Ft Glenn.

JAPAN

Japanese Foreign Minister TOGO Shigenori, taking the blame for Japan's failure to conclude a quick end to the war, resigns and Prime Minister General TOJO Hideki assumes the post of Foreign Minister. On the 17 September, TANI Masayuka is appointed Foreign Minister.

The Japanese government creates the "Greater East Asia Ministry," to run its empire. Headed by AOKI Kazuo, the function of this ministry is to exploit the labor and resources of the conquered territories as much as possible.

SOLOMON CAMPAIGN

Illustrating US control of the Solomon Islands during daylight hours, USAAF B-17 bombers damage Japanese flying boat support ship Akitsushima and destroyer Akikaze off Buka Island, at the very Northern end of the Solomons. USS Betelgeuse, an Arcturus-class attack cargo ship, lands US 6th Naval Construction Battalion (Seabees) on Guadalcanal to improve Henderson Field and build facilities.

Photo: a U.S. Marine patrol crosses the Matanikau River on Guadalcanal in September 1942



NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN

Milne Bay, Papua - Australians attack again from the KB Mission pushing the Japanese further back towards their original landing site at Waga Waga which is strafed by 7 RAAF Kittyhawk fighters flying from Gili Gili airfield. In response to this setback, 130 Japanese reinforcements (5th Yokosuka SNLF) depart Rabaul for Milne Bay.

Kokoda Track, Papua - Japanese 41st Regiment catches up with Australian 2/14 and 2/16 Battalions at Eora. Japanese patiently shell and machinegun from heights across the valley until attacking from the front and the flank after dark and gradually infiltrating the Australia positions overnight.

SOUTH PACIFIC

During Sept, the forward echelon of the 26th Bombardment Squadron, 11th BG, begins operating from Guadalcanal, Solomon with B-17s; the squadron is based on Efate , New Hebrides .

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

(5th Air Force):Australian ground forces continue a slow retreat over the range but make progress in Milne Bay offensive; and the 89th Bombardment Squadron, 3rd BG, moves from Charters Towers to Port Moresby with A-20s.

Day 1089 of World War II, September 3rd 1942

Eastern Front

Stalingrad - German 4th Panzer Army from the South and 6th Army from the North link up at the village of Pitomnik, 8 miles East of Stalingrad, but Soviet 62nd and 64th Armies have already pulled back into the city. Since crossing the River Don on August 23, 6th Army has destroyed 830 Soviet tanks and 350 artillery pieces and taken 26,500 prisoners. Another statistic is that Germans have suffered 1,500,000 (one and a half million) casualties since the start of Operation Barbarossa in June 1941.

Battle of the Atlantic

200 miles South of Abidjan, Ivory Coast, U-109 sinks British SS Ocean Might carrying 7000 tons of military stores to 8th Army in Egypt (4 killed, 41 crew and 9 gunners reach Ningo, Gold Coast, in lifeboats). U-109 has hunted SS Ocean Might for 30 hours and used 6 torpedoes.

5 miles off the coast of Portugal 50 miles South of Lisbon, U-107 attacks an unescorted convoy of 5 ships sinking British SS Penrose (2 killed) and British SS Hollinside (3 killed). 42 survivors from SS Penrose and 48 survivors from SS Hollinside (34 crew, 8 gunners and 6 survivors from the British liner SS Avila Star being repatriated from Lisbon) are picked up by Spanish trawlers and landed back at Lisbon.

In the Bay of Biscay 400 miles West of St. Nazaire, France, British Whitley aircraft depth charge U-660 and U-705 which were badly damaged by depth charges from Norwegian corvette HNoMS Potentilla and British destroyer HMS Viscount on 24 August. U-660 escapes without damage while U-705 is sunk (all 45 hands lost).

Photo: Photograph taken by the rear-facing camera of a No 77 Squadron Whitley during its attack on U-705 in the Bay of Biscay, 3 September 1942



Photo: Coastal Command Photograph taken by the rear-facing camera of a No 77 Squadron Whitley during its attack on U-705 in the Bay of Biscay, 3 September 1942



Photo: Coastal Command Photograph taken by the rear-facing camera of a No 77 Squadron Whitley during its attack on U-705 in the Bay of Biscay, 3 September 1942. Here the U-boat is sinking, leaving a patch of oil and air bubbles



In the Gulf of St. Lawrence, U-517 sinks Canadian SS Donald Stewart carrying aviation gasoline and bulk cement, which sets back construction of the US airfield at Goose Bay, Labrador (3 killed, 16 crew and 1 passenger picked up by Canadian corvettes HMCS Shawinigan and HMCS Trail).

350 miles East of Boston, US coast guard troop transport USS Wakefield (converted liner SS Manhattan) catches fire and is abandoned. US cruiser USS Brooklyn and destroyers USS Mayo and USS Madison take off all 750 crew and 840 passengers (American civilians, construction workers, Army personnel and merchant seamen repatriating from Britain). USS Wakefield will be towed to Halifax, Nova Scotia, and burn all the way down to the hull. USS Wakefield will be repaired at Halifax and Boston, returning to service in February 1944.

Battle of the Mediterranean

U-375 attacks a small convoy 5 miles North of Tartus, Syria, sinking all 3 sailing boats (Palestinian Miriam and Salina plus 1 other) with the deck gun and tiny Palestinian steamer SS Arnon with a torpedo.

Battle of the Caribbean

60 miles Southeast of Barbados, U-162 attacks British destroyers HMS Vimy, HMS Pathfinder and HMS Quentin but misses with a torpedo. The destroyers counterattack with depth charges forcing U-162 to surrender on the surface where she is scuttled by the crew and rammed by HMS Vimy (2 dead, 49 survivors rescued by the British destroyers and sent to POW camps in USA).

North African campaign

Battle of Alam el Halfa, Egypt - British General Montgomery counterattacks to cut off Rommel’s withdrawal (Operation Beresford). British Valentine tanks of 46 Royal Tank Regiment get lost in a minefield (12 tanks destroyed). Without tank support, the infantry suffers heavy losses (New Zealand 5th Brigade 275 casualties; British 132nd Brigade 697 casualties).

United Kingdom

Photo: The British Army in the United Kingdom 1939-45 2-pounder anti-tank gun of 52nd Reconnaissance Regiment, Scotland, 3 September 1942



Pacific War

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

11th Air Force): In the Aleutian , of 6 bombers and 5 P-38s off to bomb Kiska and flying air cover over Kuluk Bay, Adak , 5 bombers and 3 fighters abort due to weather; the others strafe seaplanes and boats in Kiska Harbor and nearby installations; between 1 and 4 seaplanes are claimed destroyed on the water; this is the longest over-water attack flight thus far in World War II; the 2 fighters which reach the target area return from the 1,260 mile round trip with only 40 US gallons (151 l) of fuel; and the 21st Bombardment Squadron, 30th BG (under control of the 28th Composite Group), arrives at Umnak from the US with B-24s.

AUSTRALIA

Lieutenant General George C. Kenney assumes command of the 5th Air Force in Brisbane, Queensland, where the 5th's HQ was remanned at Townsville, Queensland. The 5th has not functioned as an air force since February 1942 while USAAF units served under the control of the American-British-Dutch-Australian Command (ABDACOM). After the dissolution
of ABDACOM USAAF units served under U.S. Army Forces in Australia and later the Allied Air Forces. General Kenney retains command of the Allied Air Forces. The new 5th consists of eight groups, five bomber groups, three fighter groups and a photographic reconnaissance squadron.

NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN

Papua - At Milne Bay, Australian 2/9th Battalion cautiously resumes the advance against stiff Japanese resistance. At Elevada Creek, a Japanese ambush cost 34 killed or wounded (20 Japanese killed). On the Kokoda Track, Australians split up before Japanese 41st arrives from the flank, with 2/16 Battalion going down the side track and 2/14 Battalion continuing on the main trail. 2/16 and 2/14 Battalions reunite to organize a defense 1 mile back at Myola Ridge.

SOLOMON CAMPAIGN

USMC SBDs bomb and strafe 34 Japanese landing barges off Santa Isabel Island and a USAAF 5th Air Force B-17s strafes seaplanes at Faisi Island in the Shortland Islands.
On Guadalcanal during the evening, the first USMC R4D Skytrain lands at Henderson Field. Brigadier General Roy S. Geiger, USMC, and a small staff, will establish the advance HQ of the 1st Marine Air Wing which will have operational control of all Allied aircraft. The R4D departs with Marine wounded.

FRENCH INDOCHINA

USAAF Tenth Air Force's China Air Task Force B-25s dump bombs and pamphlets on Hanoi in the first U.S. raid against that city; munitions, supplies, and several parked aircraft are destroyed or damaged; nine Japanese interceptors pursue the B-25s for about 30 miles but fail to make contact. For the next three weeks, bad weather and inaccurate Chinese weather forecasts severely limit bomber operations.

Day 1091 of World War II, September 5th 1942

Eastern Front

Siege of Leningrad Day 363 - Volkhov Front reaches 5.5 miles into the Sinyavino gap, only 3.5 miles from Leningrad Front lines on the Neva River. However, the Soviet advance has run out of steam and the battle degenerates into stalemate.

Stalingrad - In the morning, Soviet 1st Guards, 24th and 66th Armies attack from the North with 120 tanks against XIV Panzer Corps (part of 6th Army), but they are broken up by Luftwaffe strikes on tanks and artillery positions. Soviets withdraw at midday (30 tanks destroyed).

Air War over Europe

The USAAF VIII Bomber Command based in the U.K. flies Mission 9: 42 bombers and 24 fighters, in two forces, attack targets without loss;

(1) 11 DB-7 Bostons, escorted by 24 Spitfires, attack the port area at Le Havre at 0932 hours.
(2) 31 B-17 Flying Fortresses bomb the Sotteville marshalling yard at Rouen; 30 hit the Potez aircraft factory at Meaulte; 11 bomb Longuenesse Airfield at St. Omer; and two bomb Ft Rouge Airfield at St. Omer.

This is largest force of 8th Air Force heavy bombers to attack to date; almost 20% of the high explosive bombs burst within the marshalling yard.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-513 attacks iron ore carriers at anchor near the Dominion Steel and Coal Corporation iron mine at Wabana on Bell Island in Newfoundland's Conception Bay. U-513 sinks British SS Saganaga (30 killed, 14 survivors rescued by a Customs launch) and Canadian SS Lord Strathcona (all 44 hands taken off by the Customs launch).

200 miles South of Cape Palmas, Liberia, U-506 sinks British MV Myrmidon carrying supplies and explosives from Britain to Colombo, Ceylon (all 106 crew, 10 gunners and 129 passengers picked up by an escort, British destroyer HMS Brilliant).

Battle of the Mediterranean

25 miles off Derna, Libya, British submarine HMS Traveller sinks Italian freighter SS Albachiara.

North African campaign

The Germans and Italians complete their withdrawal from Alam Halfa, and dig in. British General Bernard Montgomery, General Officer Commanding Eighth Army, issues an Order of the Day, congratulating Eighth Army on its;

"devotion to duty and good fighting qualities which have resulted in such a heavy defeat of the enemy and which will have far-reaching results."

In the air, U.S. Army, Middle East Air Forces P-40s escort Royal Air Force (RAF) bombers over the battle area southeast of Alam-el-Halfa Ridge near Rayil Dayr Ar Depression as the enemy offensive falters and is pushed back.

United Kingdom/United States planning

The convincing protests of Major General Carl Spaatz, Commanding General USAAF (USAAF) 8th Air Force, makes Lieutenant General Dwight D Eisenhower, Commander in Chief US Forces in Europe, change his mind concerning his recent orders to suspend 8th Air Force operations from the U.K. in order to devote total air effort to support of the USAAF Twelfth Air Force and the forthcoming African campaign; General Eisenhower informs General George C Marshall, Chief of Staff U.S. Army, that he considers air operations from the U.K. and in Africa mutually complementary. The final details of Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of French Northwest Africa, are decided by British and American planners.

The initial landings will be made by Americans because it's believed the French won't fight hard against Yanks but might against British troops. Nearly 60,000 American troops commanded by Major General George S. Patton, Commanding General Western Task Force, will sail from Norfolk, Virginia, U.S., land in Morocco and take Casablanca. Another 45,000 Americans under Major General Lloyd Fredendall, Commanding General Central Task Force, will sail from Scotland and storm Oran, Algeria. Americans will make up the first wave of a third landing near Algiers, where British troops will follow them ashore.

United States

Photo: USS Blakeley (DD-150). Off the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, 5 September 1942, following installation of a new bow and general modernization



United kingdom

Photo: British F class destroyer HMS Fame



Pacific War

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

Three U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) 11th Air Force B-24 Liberators abort the bombing of Japanese-held Kiska Island due to an overcast.

SOLOMON CAMPAIGN

Guadalcanal - Just before 1 AM, Japanese destroyers Yudachi, Hatsuyuki and Murakumo shell Henderson Field as they return from landing troops at Taivu. A US Navy PBY Catalina floatplane drops flares to illuminate the attackers but instead lights up US fast transport ships (converted WWI-era destroyers) USS Gregory and USS Little in Savo Sound, which are promptly sunk by Yudachi (USS Gregory 22 killed, 43 wounded; USS Little 62 killed, 27 wounded; survivors from both ships rescued by US destroyer USS Manley). During the day off Santa Isabel Island, US Cactus Air Force operating from Henderson Field again sinks barges carrying heavy equipment for the Japanese troops on Guadalcanal.

PACIFIC OCEAN

US submarine USS Seal damages Japanese passenger-cargo ship Kanju Maru, 20 miles off the coast of French Indochina 80 miles South of Cam Ranh Bay.

NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN

At Milne Bay, Papua, Australian 2/9th Battalion continues advancing, pushing the Japanese almost back to their original landing site at Waga Waga. Overnight, Japanese warships steam into Milne Bay and evacuate the remaining troops, as the decision has been made to concentrate forces to recapture Guadalcanal. Of 1943 Japanese troops landed at Milne Bay, 625 have been killed and 311 wounded are evacuated.

On the Kokoda Track, Papua, Australians withdraw 6 miles to Efogi, across the peak of the Owen Stanley mountain range (Mount Bellamy 7400 feet above sea level). Japanese pursue but do not attack, allowing the Australians time to prepare good defensive positions on a dominating hill near Efogi. Australian casualties in the battle at Eora are 21 killed and 54 wounded while Japanese have 43 killed and 58 wounded.