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Post by lordroel on Feb 5, 2022 16:03:03 GMT
Day 1245 of World War II, February 5th 1943YouTube (Guadalcanal, A New Offensive)Eastern Front The Red Army reached the Sea of Azov at Yeisk, cutting off German troops at Novorossiisk. Soviet forces captured Staryy Oskol and Izyum, but the landings at Anopa were repulsed. Air War over Europe Spitfires of the US 4th FG flew 8 sorties -2 on uneventful patrols and 6 to strafe a shipping convoy. Two corvettes and a merchant ship were damaged. One Spitfire was shot down by Uffz. Heinz Goimann of 5./JG 26. One flight of the US 350th FG, flying P-39s from RAF stations Portreath and Predannack on Lands End, England to Port Lyautey, French Morocco, broke up in a severe squall over the Bay of Biscay and lost one pilot. He was flying alone, probably still on the deck, when he was ambushed and shot down by a patrolling Ju 88 flown by Oblt. Hermann Horstmann of 13./KG 40. 19 Stirlings went minelaying in the Frisian Islands. 2 aircraft were lost. Battle of the Atlantic U-267 was attacked in the North Atlantic by escorts with depth charges. The boat was damaged so severely that a return to base was necessary, reaching St. Nazaire on Feb 18. At 14.05 hours, the 'West Portal' (Master Oswald Joseph Griffin), a straggler from convoy SC-118, was hit forward of the bridge by one torpedo from U-413 and immediately took a list. The U-boat had fired a spread of four torpedoes from a distance of over 3500 yards at the zigzagging ship and hit her with the third torpedo. She was missed by a first coup de grâce, but sank after a second hit in the stern at 15.21 hours. The Germans observed how some of the eight officers, 32 crewmen, 25 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 4in, one 3in and eight 20mm guns) and twelve passengers abandoned ship in lifeboats, but they were never seen again. HMS 'Vanessa' (D 29) recieved a distress signal from the ship and left the convoy to search for survivors, but no position had been reported so search proved to be fruitless. Battle of the MediterraneanThe first signs of a major crack in the facade of Mussolini's Fascist Italy began to show when a tired and bitter il Duce sacked his son-in-law, Count Galeazzo Ciano, Italy's foreign minister since 1936 and 2 other senior members of his cabinet. Mussolini himself took charge of foreign affairs. Mussolini was described as no more than a sad shadow of the bombastic, boastful and vain Duce who set out to recreate the grandeur of Imperial Rome by engineering excuses ti invade soft targets like Albania and Ethiopia - only to see his 'empire' snatched from him by Allied troops. With Anglo-American forces converging on Tunisia, he knew that the invasion of Italy could not be far away and he pleaded with Hitler to sue for peace in Russia after the defeat at Stalingrad and bolster Italy's shattered army against the Allies. On the other hand, Count Ciano was appointed ambassador to the Vatican and many observers believed that the desperate Mussolini sent him there to negotiate peace with the Allies. U-617 shadowed the convoy AW-22 (Alexandria - Benghazi), consisting of four steamers and four escorts from grid CO92 to CO67. At 08.02 hours, the U-boat torpedoed and sank the 'Henrik' and 'Corona'. The 'Corona' (Master Einar Endresen) was hit by one torpedo and 15 minutes later by another on the starboard side. The foc´sle deck line split to keel and from keel to about 15 feet from deck line port side. The collision bulkhead was fractured and foc´sle deck dropped 12 inchs from aft side windlass to stem. All seven Norwegian officers, 40 Chinese crewmen, the Egyptian messboy, six British gunners and 49 army personnel as passengers abandoned ship. The master, 10 crewmen and 11 passengers were picked up by the British motor launch HMS ML-1012. The master, the 2nd mate and three crewmen returned to the lifeboat with the intention of returning to the ship, but on the way back he came across the British motor launch HMS ML-356 and being uncertain of the condition of the ship they decided to board the motor launch. HMS 'Erica' (K 50) (Lt A.C.C. Seligman, RNR) put a boarding party on the 'Corona', including one Indian stoker from 'Henrik' and later took the survivors on board and brought them to Tobruk. The next day, the 'Corona' was taken in tow to Tobruk and beached. In the afternoon on 24 February, she sank during a storm. On 17 Oct, 1947, the wreck of 'Corona' was refloated and was taken in tow by the tug 'Lenamill', but sank two days later 20 miles north of Derna. (Syscom) The 'Henrik' (Master Johan Sørlie) was probably hit by two torpedoes and sank within 3 minutes about 30 miles east of Tobruk. The launched lifeboat swapped as the vessel sank, throwing the occupants into the water. The survivors clung to rafts or debris until they were picked up by British motor launches. Two Chinese crew members died, out of a complement of seven Norwegian officers, 33 Chinese crew members and six gunners. United States Photo: Broadside view of USS McLanahan (DD-615) off the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California (USA), on 5 February 1943. She was under repair at the yard from 25 January to 5 February 1943 Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer USS McLanahan (DD-615) off the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California (USA), on 5 February 1943. She was under repair at the yard from 25 January to 5 February 1943. Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Eaton (DD-510) on 5 February 1943 Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Guest (DD-472) underway off Boston, Massachusetts (USA), on 5 February 1943 Photo: USS MacKenzie (DD-614), Mare Island Naval Shipyard, February 5 1943  United KingdomPhoto: HMS Trinidad. 5 February 1943 Pacific War CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 6 B-24s bomb the railroad station area at Rangoon. P-40s bomb a railway cut west of Meza, and having blocked the line, strafe a halted train. Six B-25s attack the Myitnge bridge but fail to knock out the target but damage the approaches. P-40s hit targets of opportunity in the Kentung area. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-17s bomb Rabaul Airfield. Heavy bombers carry out individual attacks on shipping off Papua and New Britain and hit the town of Rabaul and the airfield at Gasmata. In the Moluccas, B-24s blast docks and shipping at Amboina. In New Guinea, B-25s hit Dobo. A-20s continue to bomb and strafe forces around Zaka, Sappa, Mubo and Gona. Lost on a training flight is B-25C 41-12502.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Feb 6, 2022 7:22:43 GMT
Day 1246 of World War II, February 6th 1943Eastern FrontSoviet advances continued as Bataysk (near Rostov), yeysk (Sea of Azov), Lisichansk (Donets River) and Barvenkovo (near Kharkov) were all liberated. Hitler, infuriated by the continual Soviet advance in southern Russia, had Feldmarschal von Manstein flown to his 'Wolf's Lair' HQ in East Prussia. It was his intention to refuse von Manstein permission to make any more withdrawls, but military reality and the shock of Stalingrad forced him to allow von Manstein to fall back from the Donets to the river Mius, leaving only a rearguard to cover Rostov-on-Don. The fall of Rostov, which was now imminent, meant that 17.Armee, left behind by von Kleist in his retreat from the Caucasus, was now confined to the 'Gothic Line' positions around the Taman penisula between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. Hitler planned to use this army as the springboard for another attack on the Caucasus, but Stalin planned to treat it as he did 6.Armee in Stalingrad. Two days ago, Soviet amphibious forces landed on the peninsula to cut the Germans off from the Crimea. But 17.Armee had been listening to Soviet radio and knew that the assault was coming. They slaughtered the Russians as they were coming ashore at 2 of the landing beaches but another force, put ashore at Novorossiisk, dug in and was expanding its beach-head. Meanwhile, General Malinovsky was racing on from the Donets, forcing von Manstein back to Tagnrog and the Mius even without Hitler's permission. The Russians were now poised to take the whole Donets basin. It was the same story further north where Hitler had been forced to give General von Kluge, the commander of Heeresgruppe Mitte, permission to abandon the vulnerable Rzhev salient. Von Kluge now seemed likely to lose Kursk in the next few days. There was one city that Hitler ordered to be held at all costs: Kharkov, the fourth largest city in the Soviet Union. The newly-formed SS Panzerkorps had been ordered to defend it to the death. Air War over Europe The official 3 days of mourning for Stalingrad ordered by Hitler were over, but it was doubtful if the German people would ever recover from the terrible defeat. They still could not come to terms with the crushing of the Wehrmacht by the untermenschen (subhumans) of Russia. Hitler added to the shock felt in the higher echelons of the Naxi Party by telling a group of gauleiters at his 'Wolf's Lair'; "What you are witnessing is a catastrophe of unheard-of magnitude. . . if the German people fails then it does not deserve that we should fight for its future; then we can write it off with equanimity."General Dietmar, Germany's chief military commentator, echoed Hitler's doom-laden message in an extrodinary broadcast from Berlin last night in which he said; "The bitter experience of Stalingrad still weighs heavily on our soul. For the first time we are experiencing the entire tragedy of the reverse. For the first time an entire German army has ceased to exist."Even more painful for the hundreds of thousands of German families were the last letters from fathers, sons and brothers killed in the final days of the debacle or marched off across the steppes into captivity. The tales of horror told in these letters and the longing for home which permeated them contrasted sadly with the bombastic broadcast of Goring, in which he boasted; "....in spite of everything, Germany's ultimate victory was decided there."In the midst of all the sorrow there was a threat. Goebbels was invoking an old Prussian war decree of 1689 which said: "Whoever, in the midst of battle, begins to retreat, shall be put to death without mercy."SS Reichfuerher Heinrich Himmler receives an inventory of goods taken from murdered Polish Jews, including 825 rail wagons of clothing for redistribution in Germany and a wagon full of women's hair. 52 Wellingtons and 20 Halifaxes were minelaying between St Nazaire and Texel and 3 Wellingtons were lost. 2 Mosquitoes attacked Dusseldorf without loss. Battle of the AtlanticU-465 was attacked by an Allied aircraft during a convoy action and had to abort its attack due to damages. U-403 was strafed and attacked with 6 bombs by a Canadian Canso aircraft (RCAF Sqdn 5) off Newfoundland and recieved moderate damages. U-262 fired five torpedoes at a tanker and a steamer, heard three detonations and claimed both ships sunk. However, there is no confirmation from Allied sources, but it is likely that Polish Steam merchant 'Zagloba' (Master Zbigniew Deyczakowski) was hit and sunk in these attacks. The ship was straggling from the convoy SC-118 since the afternoon of 5 February. (26 dead - no survivors) The Greek Steam merchant 'Polyktor' was torpedoed by U-266 and sank after two coups de grâce at 19.30 and 19.32 hours. The ship was straggling from convoy SC-118 due to problems with the rudder. The master and one crew member were taken prisoner. Battle of the MediterraneanThe Canadian corvette HMCS 'LOUISBURG' is sunk by enemy aircraft off Oran, Algeria. United StatesIn an opinion poll released today the American public were asked: If Hitler offered peace terms now to all countries on the basis of not going further, but of leaving matters as they are now, would you favor or oppose such a plan? Favor 4% Oppose 92 % No Opinion 4% The US High Command is restructured, creating a European theatre under General Andrews and leaving General Eisenhower in charge of North Africa. The European Theater of Operations, United States Army (ETOUSA) had been established on 8 June 1942by presidential directive to command all U.S. Army personnel in Europe and Africa. Major General Dwight D. Eisenhower had been named Commanding General ETOUSA during the same month. Recognizing the importance of the North African operations, the formal separation of operations in England and Africa is finalized as the North African Theater of Operations, United States Army (NATOUSA) is established today with Lieutenant General Eisenhower in command; NATOUSA is responsible for all U.S. Army personnel in North Africa. The U.S. Army Air Forces' Lieutenant General Frank M. Andrews, currently Commanding General U.S. Army Forces in the Middle East, is named to replace "Ike" as Commanding General ETOUSA, which now controls all U.S. Army forces in the U.K., Iceland and Greenland. United KingdomPhoto: 6 February 1943, Scapa Flow, HMS Orwell coming alongside HMS King George V for refuelling at sea Photo: HMS Orwell being refuelled at sea by HMS King George V Pacific War ALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN In the Aleutians, a weather reconnaissance is flown over Kiska and Attu CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 16 fighters follow the Mali River to Hpunkizup where they destroy about 20 trucks loaded with bridge repair equipment and completely decimate the village. Heavy bombers attack the bridge at Myitnge but fail to seriously damage the target. SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) The 370th and 424th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 307th Bombardment Group based at Kipapa Field and Dillingham Field, Territory of Hawaii respectively with B-24s begin operating from Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides. The 371st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 307th Bombardment Group based at Wheeler Field, Territory of Hawaii with B-24s begins operating from Canton in the Phoenix. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) A-20s bomb and strafe forces along the track from Mubo to Komiatum to Salamaua and hit the enemy in the Mambare River delta. An Australian coast watcher reports that there are 60+ Japanese aircraft on Lae Aerodrome; 7 B-25s, 1 B-24, 22 P-38s, 11 P-39s, 5 P-400s and 8 P-40s plus 5 Royal Australian Air Force Beaufighters to attack the airfield. When they arrive, they find the airfield empty; the Japanese are attacking Wau Airfield. The airfield is attacked and bombed and on the way back to base, shot down is C-47 "Early Delivery" 41-38658. Allied aircraft encounter 9 Japanese bombers escorted by several dozen Zekes. In the melee that follows, we claim 25 aircraft shot down without any losses; 12 Zekes were shot down by the P-39s and P-400s of the 40th Fighter Squadron, 35th Fighter Group while the 7th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Group with P-40s claim 7. A single B-24 hits cargo vessels off Finschhafen and Powell Point, claiming 1 vessel destroyed, and attacks troop barges in Riebeck Bay, causing several casualties. The 80th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group with P-39s and P-400s transfers from Port Moresby to Mareeba. This unit has been operating in New Guinea since Jul 42. Japanese attack Wau Airfield and destroy Wirraway A20-504 on the airstrip.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Feb 7, 2022 3:53:59 GMT
Day 1247 of World War II, February 7th 1943Eastern FrontSoviet forces captured Azov and the mouth of the Don River while in the Ukraine, Kramatosk was liberated. Air War over Europe 2 Mosquitoes bombed Essen and Hamborn without loss. Generalfeldmarschall Hugo Sperrle, leader of Luftflotte 3, inspected Schiphol airfield. 100 Wellingtons,81 Halifaxes, 80 Lancasters and 62 Stirlings attacked Lorient. 3 Lancasters, 2 Halifaxes and 2 Wellingtons were lost. The Pathfinder marking plan worked well and the two Main Force waves produced a devastating attack. Battle of the AtlanticU-118 attacked Convoy MKS-7 and sunk 3 ships: the Steam merchants 'Baltonia' and 'Empire Mordred' and the Motor merchant 'Mary Slessor'. U-402 attacked Convoy SC-118 and hit 6 ships: the Motor merchant 'Afrika', Steam merchants 'Kalliopi' and 'Toward', tankers 'Daghild' and 'Robert E. Hopkins' and the Troop transport 'Henry R. Mallory'. U-614 also attacked Convoy SC-118 and hit the Steam merchant 'Harmala'. U-77 attacked Convoy KMS-8 and hit the merchant ships 'Empire Banner' and 'Empire Webster'. U-609 was sunk in the North Atlantic, by depth charges from the Free French corvette 'Lobelia'. 47 dead (all hands lost). U-624 was sunk in the North Atlantic, by depth charges from a British B-17 Fortress aircraft (Sqdn. 220/J). 45 dead (all hands lost). Battle of the MediterraneanIn Sardina, over 50 US 12th AF B-17s and B-24s bombed Elmas airfield and the seaplane base at Cagliari. P-38s provided escort. During the raid on Elmas, Oblt. Ferdinand Ottisch and 2 others were killed and 3 were wounded. 1(F)./122 was reduced to only 3 sevicable Ju 88s. In Italy, US 9th AF B-24s hit the harbor at Naples, scoring a direct hit on 1 vessel and hits on others. Photo: HMS Tigris entering Malta harbour from patrol North African campaignIn the evening, the North African convoy KMS 8 was attacked to the west of Tenes Head by 7 Ju 88 and 7 He 111 torpedo bombers of I./KG 26. The convoy came under attack by German and Italian bombers as it moved towards Sicily and away from Gibraltar Based fighter cover. The bombers sank the RCN corvette HMCS 'Louisburg' and damaged the British steamboat 'Fort Babine'. At 19:00 hours several Axis aircraft converged on the convoy from different directions and executed an aggressive low-level bombing attack. A few minutes later, 5 Italian torpedo-bombers swept in from ahead of the convoy and launched thier weapons. 'Louisburg', who was stained in the van, was hit at 19:10 hours by a torpedo that struck her on the port side amidships. The torpedo was dropped at such short range that there was no time to take evasive action. The attacking aircraft was hit and flew off trailing smoke but did not crash. The majority of casualties was caused by the detonation of her own depth charges as the ship went down so quickly that there was no opportunity to set them to "Safe". Photo: The Prime Minister Winston Churchill gives a speech to men of the 8th Army at Tripoli, Libya, on 7 February 1943 Pacific WarALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, 1 B-17 flies weather reconnaissance over Kiska. SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) During the night, the third and last Tokyo Express comes down to Guadalcanal covered by a rain squall. The three Expesses have taken off 11,706 men from Guadalcanal to fight another day. The 12th Fighter Squadron, 15th Fighter Group with P-39s transfers from Efate, New Hebrides to Guadalcanal, Solomons. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) A single B-24 bombs Dobo and Babo, while another bombs Timika and Kaukenau. Lost after take off for an armed reconnaissance mission is B-24D "Yanks From Hell" 41-23755. PACIFIC Submarine Growler (SS-215) is damaged by accidental ramming of Japanese storeship Hayasaki and gunfire from the same vessel, 70 miles northwest of Rabaul, 03°34'S, 151°09'E. During this action, Growler's commanding officer, Commander Howard W. Gilmore, is mortally wounded. Rather than further hazard his ship, he orders Growler taken down. For his gallantry, Gilmore is awarded the Medal of Honor, posthumously. Hayasaki is damaged in the encounter; Growler is forced to terminate her patrol. Submarine Swordfish (SS-193) is damaged when mistakenly attacked by USAAF B-17, 150 miles north of New Ireland, 00°12'N, 152°00'E, and terminates her patrol as a result. Submarine Trout (SS-202) damages Japanese tanker Nisshin Maru off Miri, 04°31'N, 114°52'E. Photo: The U.S. Navy submarine USS Wahoo (SS-238) at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (USA), soon after the end of her third war patrol, circa 7 February 1943. Her Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Dudley W. Morton, is on the open bridge, in right center
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Feb 8, 2022 3:55:29 GMT
Day 1248 of World War II, February 8th 1943Eastern FrontKursk fell to the Soviets with a sudden flanking movement which took the Germans by surprise. General Golikov's troops also took Korocha, some 70 miles to the south, and the Russians now threatened the whole German line from Orel to Kharkov. Kursk, captured by the Germans in November 1941, became the key to their communications network, the vital link in the shifting of supplies and reinforcements between the southern and central fronts. It was the first of the 3 main bases - Kursk, Orel and Kharkov - which the Germans established as their winter line in 1941, to be recaptured. The Germans used these bases as the starting points for their offensive last summer which led to Stalingrad. Now, it seemed that the Russians would use Kursk to launch the northern arm of a pincer attack on Kharkov in order to trap SS General Hauser's Panzerkorps. German correspondents reporting the battles at the approaches to Kursk, commented with some awe, on the numbers of tanks and guns deployed by the Russians. Air War over Europe 6 Lancasters laid mines in Baltic areas without loss. Battle of the Atlantic Destroyer Boyle (DD-600) rescues 54 survivors of U.S. freighter Pan Royal, which sinks at 36°40'N, 67°20'W, after being accidentally rammed by motor vessel Evita and freighter George Davis, while proceeding in convoy UGS 5. Eight merchant sailors are lost in the mishap; there are no casualties to the 26-man Armed Guard. Battle of the MediterraneanIn Italy, US 9th AF B-24s attacked ferry installations at Messina. North African campaign1(F)./122 was transferred from Elmas to Decimo in Sardina due to the constant Allied air attacks on the airfield. A Me 210 belonging to 2(F)./122 failed to return from the Tripoli - Misurata -Zuara area. Two crew were missing including the pilot, Uffz. Kurt Schulz. In Tunisia, B-17s bombed the docks and shipping at Sousse. B-26s and B-25s bombed Gabes airfield, hitting the nearby marshalling yard. Two forces of A-20s attacked a vehicle and troop concentration east of Faid. Fighters escorted bomber missions, strafed the Sened-Maknassy area and the landing ground at Kebili. United KingdomPhoto: Left to right: Commander Ian Robertson, DSC, RN, (with stick); Rear Admiral T H Troubridge, Rear Admiral Combined Operations; Rear Admiral C S Daniel, CBE, DSO, Assistant Chief of Combined Operations; Col J C P Paul, MC, the Commandant of the Camp. They are watching an LCT exercise Photo: Rear Admiral T H Toubridge and Rear Admiral C S Daniel visited a Combined Operations training centre: A tank landing craft during the exercise at a Combined Operations Training centre Pacific WarALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, weather reconnaissance is flown over Kiska, Agattu, and Attu . Five B-24s and 5 B-25s bomb the Kiska Camp area and hit a water tank and buildings. Two B-25s bomb North Head through the overcast. Four P-38s and a B-25 patrol over Amchitka . CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 18 B-24s of the India Air Task Force pound the Rangoon marshalling yard, wrecking locomotive ships and destroying the railroad station. Three other B-24s bomb the runway at Mingaladon. SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) In the Solomons, P-38s and Navy aircraft bomb Munda Airfield. SOLOMON CAMPAIGN Evacuation of some 11,000 Japanese troops from Guadalcanal is completed SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, A-20s pound Japanese forces in the Mubo area; B-25s bomb the Dobo town area. A single B-24 bombs the airfield at Gasmata BURMA The 77th Indian Brigade, under General Ord Wingate begins what become known as the Chindit Raids, near Imphal. PACIFIC Submarine Tarpon (SS-175) sinks Japanese transport Tatsuta Maru 42 miles east of Mikura Jima, 33°45'N, 140°25'E. Japanese submarine I-21 sights U.S. freighter Starr King one day out of Sydney, Australia, and begins pursuit of the freighter.
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Post by lordroel on Feb 9, 2022 3:55:01 GMT
Day 1249 of World War II, February 9th 1943Eastern Front The Red Army recaptured Belgorod. In the early morning over Slavyanskaya near Kuban, Erich Hartmann of 7./JG 52 scored his 3rd victory over a Russian aircraft - a LaGG-3. Air War over Europe 21 Wellingtons laid mines between Brest and Texel and 2 Mosquitoes raided Essen and Ruhrort with no losses. A map from Essen showed that the Oboe Mosquito's bomb load fell just north of the Krupps factory. Because of his difficulties in converting to the Fw 190, Lt. Ludwig-Wilhelm Burckhardt, Staffelkapitaen of the Fw 190 equipped 6./JG 1, was shifted to the Bf 109 equipped III./JG 1, where he assumed command of 7 Staffel. This time, he was succeeded by Major Heinz Bar, who was appointed 6./JG 1's new Staffelkapitaen. III./JG 1 was equipped with the new Bf 109G-6/AS, equipped with DB 605 AS engines, specially trimmed for high-altitude operations. The unit was tasked to provide other Home Defense units, equipped with Fw 190s, with fighter cover against US fighter planes that escorted heavy bombers against Germany. This suited Lt. Burckhardt well. In III./JG 1, he reunited with Ofw. Herbert Kaiser, an old friend from JG 77 and made the acquaintance of Alfred Grislawski. North African campaignThe Allies sent 24 B-17s of the US 301st BG escorted by P-38s of the US 1st FG and 20 P-40s and Spitfire Vs to attack Axis targets. At 13:45 hours, 6 II./JG 2 pilots scrambled to intercept an incoming enemy aircraft. A formation of 4 P-39s of the US 81st FG was flying a recon mission north of Ousseltia and east of Kairouan, escorted by 9 P-40s of GC II/5. 10 minutes after take-off, the Fw 190s attacked the P-40s. During the combat, the P-40s formed a defensive circle. The Fw 190s barreled into the circle and claimed shooting down at least 12 P-40s and 6 P-38s at no loss to themselves. Hptm. Erich Rudorffer of 6./JG 2 shot down 6 of the Warhawks. After breaking away from the fight, he spotted several P-38s strafing ground targets and he dove to attack them. Two P-38s were shot down by Hptm. Rudorffer, making a total of 8 kills in a span of 32 minutes. GC II/5 lost at least 3 P-40Fs in this combat and Adjudant Chef Verrier, Sgt. Chef Denaix and Sgt. Chef Borg did not return from the mission although no one was killed. In the engagement, Sgt. Chef Denaix was hit and forced landed 24 km east of Kasserine. The French pilots Hebrard, Moret and Denaix each claimed a Fw 190, but II./JG 2 had no losses. Battle of the AtlanticUSAAF B-24s (2d Antisubmarine Squadron) sink German submarine U-519 northwest of Spain, 47°05'N, 18°34'W. Thirty-seven survivors in boat from U.S. freighter Cape Decision, sunk by U-105 on 27 January, reach St. Barthelemy, French West Indies. Arctic naval operations
Photo: The big guns of the battleship HMS Ansonin Northern waters coated with ice. Taken just before the chipping party got to work to clear the guns for action, 9 February 1943 United KingdomPhoto: Seafire Trials on HMS Illustrious. 8 and 9 February 1943, on the Clyde, during Recent Trials With Seafire Aircraft on Board the Aircraft Carrier HMS Illustrious Pilots Were Very Impressed With the Extremely Short Runs Needed To Take Off Photo: The Firebrand Iv- Britain's First Torpedo Fighter. 8 and 9 February 1943, on the Clyde, the Blackburn Firebrand Iv, First Single Seater Torpedo Fighter Ever Built in Britain, during Aircraft Trials Held on the Clyde on Board the Carrier HMS Illustrious. the Firebrand Iv Is Powered by a Bristol Centaurus Engine, Has a Speed of 320 Mph and Is Armed With 4 Cannons Pacific WarSOLOMON CAMPAIGN 1st Battalion of the US Army's 164th Regiment meets a patrol from the 2nd Battalion of the US Army's 132nd Regiment at the village of Tenaro, on the western end of Guadalcanal about 1650 in the afternoon. These two units of the Americal Division have confirmed that organized Japanese resistance on Guadalcanal has ended. General AA Patch, USA radios: "Total and complete defeat of Japanese forces on Guadalcanal effected 1625 today. ... Tokyo Express no longer has a terminus on Guadalcanal. " Japanese stragglers on Guadalcanal will continue. The last known survivor will surrender in 1947. CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force) HQ 318th Fighter Group transfers from Hickam Field to Bellows Field, Territory of Hawaii. The 19th Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group with P-40s transfers from Bellows Field to NAS Barbers Point, Territory of Hawaii. SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) B-26s, escorted by P-38s and P-39s, pound the airfield at Vila. Other P-38s join Navy aircraft in attacking Munda Airfield. The 69th Bombardment Squadron, 38th BG (Medium) with B-25s and B-26s permanently transfers from the New Hebrides to Guadalcanal and participates in the mission described above. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In the Celebes, B-24s bomb Kendari Airfield. In New Guinea, A-20s hit the Lahang area. PACIFIC Submarine Pickerel (SS-177) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Amari Maru off Sanriku, 40°10'N, 142°04'E. Japanese submarine I-21 continues pursuit of U.S. freighter Starr King and torpedoes her, 34°15'S, 154°20'E; there are no casualties among the merchant crew or Armed Guard. Australian destroyer HMAS Warramunga rescues survivors but has to abandon attempt to tow the crippled freighter when a line fouls her port screw. Starr King, however, sinks that night.
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Post by lordroel on Feb 10, 2022 3:52:47 GMT
Day 1250 of World War II, February 10th 1943Eastern FrontVolchansk and Chuguyev were taken by the Red Army. Soviet forces were now only 20 miles from Kharkov. In the morning 3 Soviet divisions (72nd Rifle, 43rd Rifle and 63rd Guard) supported by 60 tanks and 400 guns advanced on the 262nd Spanish Regiment of the 'Spanish Blue Division' - the Battle of Krasni Bor. By 10:00 hours the battle had turned into chaos with disorganized attackers assaulting isolated pockets. Despite heroic defensive fighting by this regiment of Spanish volunteers, by 10:30 hours, II-262 HQ was overrun and Krasni Bor fell into Soviet hands. The battle ended the next day. The Soviets lost no less than 7,000 men (some sources quote up to 11,000 casualties), the Blue Division some 2,500 (60% of the men involved). Losses such as these, in a one day battle, in such a reduced area (some 7km by 5km) were not usually heard in WWII. The sacrifice of the 262 Regiment was a main event in stopping a general offensive aimed at the elimination of the threat against Leningrad and, if possible, to encircle a whole German Corps. Air War over Europe 12 Venturas bombed Caen railway yards without loss but the escorting Spitfires had a fierce fight with German fighters. Four Spitfires were claimed destroyed by fighters from I./JG 2 with credit going to Hptm. Helmut-Felix Bolz of Stab I./JG 2, Lt. Joachim Bialucha of 2./JG 2 and Uffz. Walter Leber and Ofw. Friedrich Klopper of 3./JG 2. The Lorient district in France was evacuated after becoming the target of recent heavy Allied bombings. Battle of the Atlantic RAF 'Whirlbombers' hit the disguised German raider 'Coronel' as she attempted to break out into the Atlantic. She put into Boulogne. USAAF B-24s (2d Antisubmarine Squadron) sink German submarine U-519 northwest of Spain, 47°05'N, 18°34'W. Thirty-seven survivors in boat from U.S. freighter Cape Decision, sunk by U-105 on 27 January, reach St. Barthelemy, French West Indies. Battle of the Mediterranean Photo: HMS Saracen at Algiers, 10 February 1943 Photo: HMS Taku entering Algiers, 10 February 1943 Photo: The French Sloop La Boudeuse (A 62) entering Algiers, 10 February 1943 United States
Photo: The U.S. Navy light cruiser USS Omaha (CL-4) off the New York Naval Shipyard (USA) on 10 February 1943. The ship is painted in Camouflage Measure 22 Photo: The U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Omaha (CL-4) in New York Harbor (USA), 10 February 1943 Pacific WarALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN In the Aleutians, the weather reconnaissance aircraft aborts the mission due to radio failure. Four B-24s, 2 B-17s, 8 B-25s and 8 P-38s attack Kiska ; hits are observed on the landing strip and near the hangar and buildings. Two patrol missions, each by 4 P-38s and 1 B-25, are flown over the American-held Amchitka . CHINA-INDIA-BURMA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 8 B-25s bomb rolling stock at Maymyo. SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): P-38s and Navy aircraft attack Munda Airfield. Photo: A U.S. Navy Sangamon-class escort carrier operating in the South Pacific, circa February 1943. The ship is either: USS Sangamon (ACV-26), USS Suwannee (ACV-27), or USS Chenango (ACV-28) SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): HQ 90th BG and its 320th and 321st Bombardment Squadrons with B-24s transfer from Iron Range, Queensland, Australia to Port Moresby, New Guinea. PACIFIC Submarine Pickerel (SS-177) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Amari Maru off Sanriku, 40°10'N, 142°04'E. Japanese submarine I-21 continues pursuit of U.S. freighter Starr King and torpedoes her, 34°15'S, 154°20'E; there are no casualties among the merchant crew or Armed Guard. Australian destroyer HMAS Warramunga rescues survivors but has to abandon attempt to tow the crippled freighter when a line fouls her port screw. Starr King, however, sinks that night.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Feb 11, 2022 8:19:27 GMT
Day 1251 of World War II, February 11th 1943Eastern FrontLozovaya was captured by Vatutin's Southwest Front. Hptm. Edwin Kerner of 4(F)./122 was killed during a Soviet air attack on Bagerovo. Air War over Europe 129 Lancasters, 40 Halifaxes and 8 Stirlings were sent to Wilhelmshaven and 3 Lancasters were lost. This was an interesting and important raid.The Pathfinders found that the area was completely covered by cloud and they had to employ their least reliable marking method, sky-marking by parachute flares using H2S. The marking was carried out with great accuracy and the Main Force bombing was very effective. Crews saw through the clouds a huge explosion on the ground, the glow of which lingered for nearly 10 minutes. This was caused by bombs blowing up the naval ammunition depot at Mariensiel to the south of Wilhelmshaven. The resulting explosion devastated an area of nearly 120 acres and caused widespread damage in the naval dockyard and in the town. Much damage was also caused by other bombs. It had not been possible to obtain details of the casualties from Wilhelmshaven. This raid represented the first blind-bombing success for the H2S radar device. 19 Bostons attempted attacks on railway targets over a wide area. 1 Boston lost. 2 Mosquitoes went to Bochum and Hamborn and 36 aircraft were minelaying from La Pallice to the Frisians. United States Photo: U.S. Army Air Forces Beech AT-11 Kansans from an advanced flying school dropping practice bombs near Carlsbad, New Mexico (USA), in February 1943 Pacific War SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) B-26s, P-38s and P-39s bomb the airfields at Munda and Vila on Kolombangara . SOLOMON CAMPAIGN The Vought F4U Corsair was flown on a combat mission for the first time when 12 planes of VMF-124 based on Guadalcanal escorted a PB2Y Dumbo to Vella Lavella to pick up downed pilots. The flight was uneventful. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-17s carry out a predawn harassing strike over Rabaul. PACIFIC Destroyer Fletcher (DD-445) and SON (VCS 9) from light cruiser Helena (CL 50) sink Japanese submarine I-18 in Coral Sea, 14°15'S, 161°53'E. Submarine Grayling (SS-209) damages Japanese army cargo ship Hoeizan Maru off Corregidor, 14°16'N, 120°28'E.
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Post by lordroel on Feb 12, 2022 14:25:18 GMT
Day 1252 of World War II, February 12th 1943YouTube (Victory at Guadalcanal)Eastern FrontGerman troops of Heeresgruppe A (von Weichs) evacuated Krasnodar in the Kuban and reached defensive positions in the Kuban brifgehead. Krasnodar was then captured by Red Army forces. Soviet forces west of the Don river liberated Shakhty, Kommunarsk and Krasnoarmeskoye. Air War over Europe 16 Mosquitoes attacked targets in Eastern Belgium and over the German border without loss. 2 Mosquitoes bombed Dusseldorf and Rheinhausen and 38 aircraft were minelaying off Heligoland and in the Frisians with no losses. Battle of the Mediterranean Photo: HMS Submarine Turbulent Has Almost Filled Her Jolly Roger. 12 To 14 February 1943, Algiers, Turbulent, One of the Most Successful British Submarines in the Present War Has Almost Filled Up the Spaces Left on Her Success Flag With the Symbols of Her Triumphs. the White Bars Denote Ships Sunk, White Stars Successful Gun Actions, and the Scimitars Symbolise "special Operations Photo: Two submarines of T class lying alongside the Depot ship, Turbulent outboard, and Taku inboard North Africa Campaign In driving rain, the 7th Armoured Division crossed the Tunisian border in force, leaving the whole of Libya in Allied hands. With Rommel regrouping his Panzerarmee Afrika on the French-built Mareth Line, the next great battles could be expected shortly. General Montgomery was biding his time, re-equipping the 8th Army with supplies and weapons which were arriving in the newly-cleared port at Tripoli by the shipload. His first objectives were Medenine and Ben Gardane - both with valuable airstrips. The Luftwaffe made another command change. Fliegerfuhrer Tunis, recently formed in January, and Fliegerfuhrer Afrika were combined to form Fliegerkorps Tunis and was subordinated to Luftflotte 2. Led by General Hans Seidemann, the command controlled the following units: Fliegerfuhrer 1 (Nord), Fliegerfuhrer 2 (Mitte), Fliegerfuhrer 3 (Sud), Fliegerfuhrer Gabes and the Verbindungsstaffel and Flugbereitschaft of Fliegerkorps Tunis. Photo: A repaired Crusader tank leaves a REME workshop, 12 February 1943 Photo: A Scammell Pioneer recovery lorry tows a disabled Crusader tank into a REME workshop, 12 February 1943 Pacific WarALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN In the Aleutians, weather reconnaissance and attack missions against Kiska and a fighter patrol over Amchitka are broken off due to weather. HAWAII (Seventh Air Force) The 371st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 307th Bombardment Group with B-24s based at Wheeler Field, Territory of Hawaii ceases operating from Canton in the Phoenix after 6 days. CHINA-INDIA-BURMA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 7 B-24s of the India Air Task Force pound the Myitnge bridge area but fail to damage the bridge itself. This strike marks the first use of 2,000 pound blockbusters in the CBI Theater. Twelve other B-24s bomb the Mahlwagon marshaling yard and railway station at Rangoon. Twelve P-40s hit barracks near Lonkin. SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) P-38s, along with Navy aircraft, attack the Munda area, hitting AA at Rapa and setting fires at Kokengolo. B-26s and P-39s follow with a strike on the Munda Airfield. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-24s operating individually attack a sawmill at Ubili, a runway at Cape Gloucester, and the harbor and airfield at Rabaul, New Britain , and score a possible hit on a 6,000-ton vessel in the Solomon Sea between New Britain and Bougainville in the Solomons.
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Post by lordroel on Feb 13, 2022 7:13:15 GMT
Day 1253 of World War II, February 13th 1943
Eastern Front
Soviet troops retake control of the Tostov-on-Don to Voronezh railway line with the recature of Novosherkassk.
Air War over Europe
Spitfire Mk Vs of the US 4th FG flew sorties on shipping patrols. One aircraft was lost and the pilot was killed. The Luftwaffe claimed 12 Spitfires destroyed throughout the day. Hptm. Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland of JG 26 downed one Spifire west of Hardelot at 10:17 hours and another southeast of Le Touquet at 12:20 hours.
The ghost town of Lorient, evacuated by all non-essential personnel last week, was hammered again by the RAF during the night. when 466 planes dropped over 1,000 tons of bombs. 164 Lancasters, 140 Wellingtons, 96 Halifaxes and 66 Stirlings carried out Bomber Command's heaviest attack on Lorient during the war. The ordinary squadrons of Bomber Command, not reinforced for a 1,000 bomber type raid, dropped more than 1,000 tons of bombs for the first time. The raid was carried out in clear visibility and considerable damage was caused to the already battered town. Seven aircraft - 3 Wellingtons, 2 Lancasters, 1 Halifax and 1 Stirling - were lost. The reason for such intense attacks was to deny the port to packs of U-Boats using it as a base for attacks on merchant shipping. Around 1,000 sorties had been made on Lorient each month. St. Nazaire was also targeted, along with the U-Boat engine works at Copenhagen, hit by low-level Mosquitoes 17 days ago. Privately, the head of Bomber Command, Air Chief Marshal Harris, had misgivings about submarine pens as targets; "U-Boats using these bases are amply protected by concrete, bomb-proof shelters."
34 Venturas and 22 Bostons were sent in 5 different raids to attack Ijmuiden steelworks and ships at Boulogne and the lock gates at St Malo. Bombing was successful and no aircraft were lost.
Pacific War
ALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN
In the Aleutians, weather reconnaissance is flown over Kiska, Attu, Agattu, the Semichis, and Buldir . Five heavy bombers, 6 medium bombers and 10 P-38s bomb and strafe Kiska targets including the Camp area, landing strip, and shipping. Of 5 float-type fighter which attack, P-38s shoot down 3. Four P-38s and 1 B-25 fly a patrol mission over Amchitka and Little Kiska; a B-25 shoots down a floatplane.This is was the last mission the B-17 was used in the Alaska theater in combat.
CHINA-INDIA-BURMA
(Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 7 heavy bombers from Gaya, India bomb the Rangoon marshalling yard, scoring over 30 direct hits on the target. P-40s hit a headquarters at Lonkin, buring 12 barracks. Nine B-25s hit rolling stock in the marshalling yard at Paukkan and along the rail line from Shwebo to Sagaing.
SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS
(Thirteenth Air Force) 9 PB4Ys of VP-51 escorted by 4 P-38s and 11 F4Us of VMF-124 and 6 B-24s escorted by 4 P-38s and 7 P-40s of the 18th FG, 44th FS take off on separate missions to hit shipping in the Shortland-Kahilli-Buin area. The PB4Ys drop their bombs on a cargo ship at 1130 hours, score no hits and return to base with their escort. The B-24s attack a cargo ship from 14,000 feet just after 1200 scoring 1 hit. On the way to the target, 3 P-40s and 2 P-38s aborted the mission due to engine trouble, leaving the B-24s with an escort of 2 P-38s and 4 P-40s (P-40 "White 102" 41-14825 piloted by Capt. Albert Johnson, DSC (MIA), P-40F 41-14110 piloted by Lt. Raymond Morrissey, Lt. Jack Bade DSC, Lt. Bob Westbrook SS). This force is attacked by 39 enemey fighters over the target including Zeros and floatplanes. Lost are B-24D 41-23975, B-24D 41-23980, B-24D 41-23957, P-38G piloted by Rist. This is the baptism of fire in the Solomons for the B-24s of the 424th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 307th Bombardment Group (Heavy) which has just come down from Hawaii.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS
(Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, A-20s pound forces in and around Mubo while B-25s hit the Lae area. In the Bismarck Archipelago, a single B-24 bombs the sawmill area at Ubili and a B-17 hits targets of opportunity in the Rabaul area.
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Post by lordroel on Feb 14, 2022 3:52:29 GMT
Day 1254 of World War II, February 14th 1943Eastern Front German troops of Heeresgruppe Don (von Manstein) evacuated Rostov and withdrew to the old Mius line. Russians soon captured Rostov, cutting off the German 17.Armee in the Kuban peninsula forcing the Germans to lines of communication west over the Kerch Straits into the Crimean peninsula. The Soviets now controlled the entire length of the rail line from Voronezh to Rostov. Drasnyy Sulin and Shakhty were also liberated. Air War over Europe The US 1st BW dispatched 74 B-17s against the Hamm marschaling yards. The mission was cancelled due to the weather and the aircraft were recalled before they passed the European coast. One B-17 was damaged although Uffz. Max Kolschek of 4./JG 1 tried to put in a claim of a B-17 destroyed but was denied. 90 Halifaxes, 85 Wellingtons and 68 Stirlings attacked Cologne, 3 of each type of aircraft were lost. The Pathfinder marking was again based on sky-markers dropped by H2S but it was only of limited success. 218 aircraft claimed to have bombed Cologne but local records suggest that less than 50 aircraft hit the target, mostly in the western districts. 2 industrial, 2 agricultural and 97 domestic premises were destroyed. 51 civilians were killed and 135 injured and 25 French workers died when their barracks at an old fort on the western outskirts of Cologne were bombed. During the RAF raid on Cologne Hptm. Manfred Meuer, Staffelkapitaen of 3./NJG 1 destroyed 3 of the RAF bombers to bring his score to 14 kills. 6 out of 10 Mosquitoes accurately bombed Tours railway yards without loss. Battle of the AtlanticThe SS 'Dutchess of York', a Canadian-owned, British-registered CPR passenger liner, was heavily damaged off Cape Finisterre, when she was bombed by Luftwaffe aircraft. She was sunk later in 1943 in another air attack in the same general area. Battle of the Mediterranean152 Lancasters of 1, 5 and No. 8 Groups from England attacked Milan and carried out concentrated bombing in good visibility. Fires could be seen from 100 miles away on the return flight. No report was available from Milan. Italian defences were usually weak and only two Lancasters were lost on this raid. An unusual story is available, however, about a Lancaster of 101 Squadron which was attacked by an Italian CR 42 fighter just after bombing the target. The Lancaster was set on fire and the two gunners were both seriously injured, although they claimed to have shot down the fighter. The pilot, Sergeant I.H.Hazard, had to dive 8,000 feet to put out the fire and one member of the crew mistook instructions and baled out. The remainder of the crew completed the extinguishing of the fire, tended the wounded and eventually reached England. The only officer in the crew, Pilot Officer F.W.Gates the wireless operator, was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and Sergeant Hazard and the other members of the crew who helped to bring the Lancaster home all received Conspicuous Gallantry Medals, an unusually high number of awards of this decoration. Sergeant Hazard died with his Flight Engineer and Navigator when their Lancaster crashed in a flying accident in Yorkshire less than a month after the Milan incident and Pilot Officer Gates died when the Lancaster in which he was flying, with another crew, crashed when returning from Dortmund on 5th May 1943; the two air gunners in the crew appear to have survived the war. 4 Pathfinder Lancasters bombed LA Spezia docks without loss. Photo: Royal Netherlands Submarine "dolfijn" entering harbour, at Algiers Photo: Royal Netherlands Submarine "dolfijn" Operating With British Naval Forces in the Mediterranean, Torpedoed and Sunk An Italian Submarine. This Is the Second Enemy Submarine Known To Have Been Sunk by the Dutch Submarine in the Mediterranean North African campaignThe Germans launched its famous offensive on the Allies at Kasserine. 5.Panzerarmee (von Arnim) forced the retreat of the US 2nd Corps (Fredenhall) inflicting very heavy losses. The 10. and 21.Panzerdivisions attacked the Combat Command A of the US 1st Armoured Division at Faid Pass, and the Afrika Korps survivors attacked the French and Americans on an axis from Gafsa to Feriana to Kasserine. The Americans, positioned poorly between Faid and Sbeitla, broke and retreated in disorder as General von Arnim's forces shattered their lines. The Luftwaffe did its best but it could hardly facilitate the task of the Wehrmacht, which missed its strategic reserves. Twelve Spitfires of the US 308th FS were escorting 9 A-20s, 6 P-39s and 6 P-40s. After one Spitfire returned to base early with a radio problem, the P-40s were attacked by 8 Fw 190s from JG 2. The Spitfires also attacked with 5 of them getting firing opportunities. However, none of the guns fired due to sand jamming them. There had been 2 days of blowing sand and it was not an uncommon problem. By the end of the day, fighters from II./JG 2 had claimed 11 Spitfires shot down with Oblt. Kurt Buhligen of 4./JG 2 again having a mulitple kill day with 4 Spitfires. Two other pilots from 4 Staffel, Lt. Lothar Werner and Ofw. Kurt Goltzsch each claimed 2 Spitfires destroyed. Pacific WarALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN In the Aleutians, the weather reconnaissance aircraft turns back due to weather, as does the morning patrol of 1 B-25 and 4 P-38s flying over Allied held Amchitka. Other missions from Adak are also called off. Seven enemy float-type aircraft bomb and strafe the Constantine Harbor area on Amchitka without effect. CHINA-INDIA-BURMA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, B-25s unsuccessfully attack the bridge at Myitnge. Fourteen P-40s hit the town area of Maingkwan and the barracks to the southwest. SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) "Saint Valentines Day Massacre" 9 PB4Ys of VB-101 take off from Henderson Field with a single 1,000lbs bomb. Escorted by 10 P-38s of the 347th FG 339th FS and 12 F4U of VMF-124 attack shipping in the Buin-Shortland area. The bombers score several hits on a cargo ships including the Hatachi Maru (6,500 tons), and near misses on two others. The formation is then attack by 30 Zekes and about 15 floatplanes. In the ensuing battle, US claim 14 Zekes and 1 Pete shot down; Japanese records show they lost only one plane. Americans lost a total of 10 planes: PB4Y-1 31948 and PB4Y-1 31970, P-38G piloted Finkenstein, P-38G piloted by White, P-38G piloted by John R. Mulvey Jr. (rescued), and P-38G piloted by Wellman H. Huey and F4U-1 02187 and F4U-1 02249. Because of the losses suffered yesterday and today, all daylight bombing missions in the northern Solomons are halted until adequate fighter protection can be furnished. P-39s and Navy aircraft bomb and strafe Munda Airfield and hit AA positions and other targets at Munda Point. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-17s and B-24s pound the Rabaul area, and also bomb the Kokopo area, Watom vessels off Kokop and off Cape Nelson; individual B-24s hit the sawmill at Ubili. Individual B-24s attack the Madang area while B-25s bomb Lae Airfield. PACIFIC Submarine Amberjack (SS-219) is probably sunk by Japanese naval aircraft (958th Kokutai), torpedo boat Hiyodori and submarine chaser Ch 18 off Cape St. George, New Britain, 05°05'S, 152°37'E. Submarine Runner (SS-275) unsuccessfully attacks Japanese cargo vessel Tokyo Maru north of Biak, New Guinea, 07°31'N, 134°21'E. Submarine Thresher (SS-200) damages Japanese submarine I-62 off the Lesser Sundas, 06°05'S, 105°47'E. Submarine Trout (SS-202) sinks Japanese gunboat Hirotama Maru at south entrance to Makassar Strait, 04°11'S, 117°45'E. Return fire from the enemy warship in the last phases of the action fought on the surface wounds seven sailors. PB4Ys (VB 101) strafe and damage ammunition ship Hitachi Maru off Buin, Bougainville, 06°48'S, 155°50'E; USAAF B-17s bomb shipping at Buin as well, completing the destruction of Hitachi Maru.
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Post by lordroel on Feb 15, 2022 3:52:50 GMT
Day 1255 of World War II, February 15th 1943Eastern Front The rear-guard of the 40.Panzerkorps escaped annihilation by the Fourth Ukranian Front. Air War over Europe 6 Oboe Mosquitoes bombed Essen, Rheinhausen and the German night fighter airfield at St Trond. A map from Essen shows that bombs were dropped on the southern part of the Krupps factory. No losses. In an effort to disrupt the German radar chain along the French coast, the US 8th AF and RAF Bomber Command attacked the port area and shipping at Dunkirk harbour along with a raid on the night-fighter control ship 'Tojo', moving through the German Bight. 17 B-17s along with 23 B-24s and 23 Bostons flew on a straight course up the French Coast to Dunkirk. The fighters of JG 2 bounced the formations and shot down 2 B-17s with a victory going to Oblt. Erich Hohagen, Staffelkapitaen of 7./JG 2. Hptm. Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland of Stab II./JG 26 claimed a Spitfire. The control ship 'Tojo' remained afloat after the attack. 12 Mosquitoes bombed railway workshops at Tours. No losses. 4 Stirlings laid mines in the River Gironde and 2 OTU Wellingtons dropped leaflets over France. No losses. Battle of the AtlanticU.S. tanker Atlantic Sun, straggling from convoy ON 165, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-607, 150 miles off Cape Race, 51°00'N, 41°00'W; other than one deckhand rescued by U-607, all hands (45 merchant sailors, a 19-man Armed Guard and one passenger) perish with the ship. North African campaignRommel's forces joined the attack in Tunisia against the Americans at Kasserine as elements of 15.Panzerdivision attacked and captured Gafsa. The bulk of Rommel's forces had taken up strong positions to the east as the last forces from Libya entered the Mareth Line. Photo: Valentine tanks entering the town of Ben-Gardane, 20 miles into Tunisia, 15 February 1943 Photo: Italian Semovente assault guns on the move United KingdomPhoto: The Arrival of Lennitz 15, a Soviet Submarine Which Has Arrived From Vladivastock To Be Refitted at Greenock. 15 February 1943 - The British and Russians meet over the two emblems aboard the Lennitz 15 Photo: Officers and crew of the Russian Submarine LENNITZ 15 line the deck on arrival at Greenock, 15 February 1943 Pacific WarALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN In the Aleutians, a weather reconnaissance B-24 is soon called off due to weather. All other missions are cancelled. Six float-type Japanese aircraft bomb and strafe Allied held Amchitka , hitting the runway and causing casualties. The 18th Fighter Squadron, 343d Fighter Group with P-40s transfers from Adak to Amchitka. CHINA-INDIA-BURMA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, B-24s strike the bridge at Myitnge for the second consecutive day but cause little damage. SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) B-26s, P-39s and P-40s attack Vila Airfield on Kolombangara. B-24s, hindered by effective AA fire, bomb the airfields at Kahili and on Ballale; 2 B-24s are lost. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) On New Britain , Bismarck Archipelago, B-17s again bomb the town of Rabaul and hit the area nearby west of Simpson Harbor. A single B-17 attacks Rapopo Airfield. In the Celebes, B-24s pound shipping and the town area at Amboina, Ceram, Netherlands East Indies. In New Guinea, B-25s pound supply dumps at Lahang. B-24s operating singly bomb the runway at Finschhafen, and claim a direct hit on a vessel in Stettin Bay. B-25s attack the town and airfield of Dili. ESPIRITU SANTO, NEW HEBRIDES Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Conyngham (DD-371) at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, on 15 February 1943. The destroyer in the right background appears to be USS Strong (DD-467) PACIFIC Submarine Gato (SS-212) sinks Japanese stores ship Suruga Maru in Bougainville Strait, 06°27'S, 156°02'E. Submarine Pickerel (SS-177) attacks Japanese convoy, sinking cargo vessel Tateyama Maru off the east coast of Honshu, 39°18'S, 142°08'E. USAAF aircraft sink Japanese cargo ship Kokoku Maru in the Bismarck Sea, 05°32'S, 150°09'E.
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Post by lordroel on Feb 16, 2022 3:59:18 GMT
Day 1256 of World War II, February 16th 1943Eastern Front German troops evacuated Kharkov. The decision to pull out was taken by SS General Paul 'Papa' Hauser, the battle-scarred commander of the newly-formed Waffen-SS corps composed of the crack 'Leibstandarte', 'Totenkopf' and 'Das Reich' divisions. As the Russian circle around Kharkov drew tighter and tighter, Hauser sent ever more urgent cables to Hitler, seeking permission to leave the burning city. Hitler remained adamant, but Hauser, risking execution, defied the Fuhrer and saved his Panzers from certain destruction by elements of the Soviet 40th Army and 3rd tank Army. Fighting against odds of 7 to 1, they stood no chance. Photo: Troops of SS Division Leibstandarte near Kharkov, February 1943 Air War over Europe The commander of Luftwaffe-Command East, General der Flieger Robert Ritter von Greim was promoted to Generaloberst while the commander of Luftflotte 4, Generaloberst Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen was promoted to Generalfeldmarschall. Seventy-one B-17s of the US 1st BW and 18 B-24s of the 2nd BW were dispatched against the locks and U-Boat base at St. Nazaire. The bomber formation was intercepted by head-on attacks by 65 fighters from III./JG 2, I./JG 2 and 9./JG 26. Lt. Stammberger of 9./JG 26 scored hits on a B-17 and watched as it fell to the ground but he was not given credit for the kill. He was soon hit in the cockpit and injured his hand. On returning to base his plane was written off as too badly damaged. Uffz. E. Schwartz, also of 9./JG 26, destroyed a B-17 from the 306th BG over Ploermal. 6 of the B-17s and 2 B-24s were destroyed and because of the aggressive attack, the bombers completely missed the U-Boat target. Another 2 B-24s collided over the Channel on the return flight. 30 more bombers returned badly damaged. The Luftwaffe lost only Lt. Stammberger's aircraft. 131 Lancasters, 103 Halifaxes, 99 Wellingtons and 44 Stirlings carried out the last raid in this series on Lorient. 363 aircraft dropped mainly incendiary bombs in clear visibility. 1 Lancaster was lost. Bomber Command had flown 1853 sorties in 8 area raids in response to direct instructions from the Air Ministry. 1675 aircraft claimed to have bombed Lorient during these raids, dropping nearly 4000 tons of bombs. 24 aircraft were lost. Few records were available from Lorient bit it is known that the town was now almost completely ruined and deserted. 32 aircraft were minelaying off Brest and St Nazaire. No losses. Battle of the Atlantic Fleet Air Wing 16 (Captain Rossmore D. Lyon) is established at Norfolk, Virginia. Battle of the Indian Ocean U.S. freighter Deer Lodge is torpedoed by German submarine U-607 about 60 miles east of Port Elizabeth, South Africa, and abandoned. North African campaignIn Tunisia, 5.Panzerarmee's advance past Kasserine Pass was temporarily suspended as elements of Montgomery's Eighth Army occupied Medenine on the approaches to the Mareth Line. United StatesPhoto: The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Claxton (DD-571) off the Charleston Naval Shipyard, South Carolina (USA), on 16 February 1943 Pacific WarALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, a weather reconnaissance aircraft flies over Kiska, Attu, Agattu, the Semicis and Buldir . Five B-24s, 6 B-25s, 6 P-38s and 1 B-25 photographic aircraft take off for Kiska but do not attack due to weather. One P-40, accompanying several P-38s on the Amchitka fighter patrol, lands on Amchitka strip; an afternoon patrol of 7 P-40s and 1 transport also land at the strip which is now safe for limited operations. CHINA-INDIA-BURMA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 18 P-40s hit targets of opportunity in the Nsopzup and Hpunkizup areas. SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) Rear Admiral Charles P Mason becomes Commander Aircraft Solomon (COMAIRSOLS) with operational control of all Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), USAAF, USMC and USN aircraft in the Solomons. Lost is B-24D "Bundles For Japan" 41-23965. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-17s bomb a warehouse at Ubili. B-25s bomb Lahang Airfield and strafe targets of opportunity on the Salamaua peninsula. PACIFIC Submarine Flying Fish (SS-229) sinks Japanese stores ship Hyuga Maru 24 miles off Pagan, Marianas, 18°30'N, 145°57'E. Submarine Triton (SS-201) departs Brisbane for her sixth war patrol. She will never be seen again.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Feb 17, 2022 4:02:42 GMT
Day 1257 of World War II, February 17th 1943Eastern FrontGerman troops evacuated Demyansk. I./JG 26 again engaged Russian aircraft and destroyed 3 Lend-lease P-40s. But the Gruppe also suffered its first casualties on the Eastern Front. A pilot was killed by Russian AA fire near Demyansk, another crashed into the ground trying to attack Il-2 fighters and a third was shot down by Yak fighters but survived a crash landing. A Ju 52 belonging to KGrzbV 9 was shot down by Soviet fighters with the loss of all 4 crewmen. Air War over EuropeThe jabostaffel of JG 26 was redesignated 10(Jabo)./JG 54. A change-of-command ceremony was held at St. Omer-Wizernes with Oblt. hannes Trautloft, Geschwaderkommodore of the "Green Hearts" - JG 54, flying in from the Eastern Front to attend the formal procedure. 9./JG 26, led by Lt. Otto Stammberger, was ordered to rejoin its Gruppe in Belgium, ending its subordination to III./JG 2. While flying over Aalborg, a Ju 88A-4 belonging to IV./KG 30 collided with another aircraft and was 15% damaged. The Ju 88 landed safely at Aalborg with no injuries to the crew. The other aircraft was less than 10% damaged. 12 Venturas went to Dunkirk but the target was not reached. 6 Wellingtons went on cloud-cover raids to Emden which was bombed by 3 aircraft. No losses. 2 Mosquitoes flew to Bochum and Hamborn. 12 Stirlings laid mines in southern Biscay. No losses. North Africa campaignThe German offensive in Tunisia continued as the Americans took huge losses in men and material. The US 1st Armoured Division was particularliy seriously hit, losing 2/3 of its strength. Von Arnim redirected his forces against Foundouk while Rommel's forces to the south entered Feeriana. Rommel, wanting a greater victory, had hoped von Arnim would head for Sbeitla, which would have destroyed an even greater portion of the American force. This was to be only the first of many command coordination problems for the Germans in Tunisia. United StatesPhoto: The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Lexington (CV-16) steams through floating ice in Boston Harbor, Massachusetts (USA), on 17 February 1943, the day she first went into commission. Note the snow on her flight deck, and the open catapult track on the starboard side, forward United KingdomPhoto: a crew at a Gun Mounting. 17 February 1943, on Board HMS Beehive Photo: HMS Umbra (P35) approaching Devonport on her return to the United Kingdom after over 18 months serving abroad United StatesPhoto: The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Stanly (DD-478) after the aircraft catapult had been removed at the Charleston Naval Shipyard, South Carolina (USA), on 17 February 1943. At this time she had the non-standard armament configuration with five 127mm/38 guns, one twin 40mm gun mount on the fantail and nine 20mm guns Pacific WarALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN In the Aleutians, weather cancels all missions and also the laying of mat at the Amchitka airstrip. CHINA-INDIA-BURMA (Tenth Air Force) The 2d Troop Carrier Squadron, Tenth Air Force with C-47s arrives at Yangkai, China from the U.S. SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) P-39s join Navy fighters and dive bombers in a strike against Munda Airfield. Single B-24s bomb Nusave and the airfields on Ballale and at Kahili. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-24s, operating individually, strike Gasmata Airfield and Pondo Harbor, Bobo and the sawmill at Ubili. PACIFIC Submarine Sawfish (SS-276) accidentally sinks Soviet cargo ship Ilmen off east coast of Kyushu, 30°56'N, 135°30'E.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Feb 18, 2022 9:01:33 GMT
Day 1258 of World War II, February 18th 1943Eastern Front The once-great industrial city of Kharkov, now a ruined ghost town, its inhabitants killed or deported, fell to the triumphant Red Army. After fighting their way in through the suburbs, street by street, the Russians were astonished to find that the Germans had suddenly fled, despite Hitler's orders that it had to be held to the last man. Moscow was delighted. Its forces had come 400 miles in barely 3 months. But the Russians were beginning to run out of steam. They had taken heavy losses against stubborn German resistance and their supply lines were over-extended. The Germans believed it was time to strike at the Russian exposed flank. Air War over Europe 127 Lancasters, 59 Halifaxes and 9 Stirlings attacked Wilhelmshaven. The Pathfinders claimed accurate marking in clear visibility but bombing photographs showed that most of the attack fell in open country west of the target. Wilhelmshaven's report said that the bombs which did fall in the town killed 5 people and injured 47 and caused damage to a variety of buildings including 'Heine's Hotel'. Four Lancasters were lost on the Wilhemshaven raid, 2 of them claimed by Fw. Schuppan of 2./NJG 3 and Uffz. Georg Kraft of 12./NJG 1. 26 Mosquitoes went to Tours railway yards and 1 aircraft was lost. 12 Venturas sent to Dunkirk failed to reach their target. 89 aircraft carried out widespread minelaying operations from St Nazaire to the Frisians. 2 Halifaxes were lost. North Africa campaignGerman attacks continued as the routed American forces abandoned Sbeitla. Rommel, von Arnim and the Italians still couldn't decide on the direction of the combined offensive, giving the Allies time to react. General Rommel was in the midst of his most desperate campaign. Since the battle of El Alamein, 5 months earlier, General Montgomery and the British Eighth Army had pursued Rommel and the remnants of the Afrika Korps from Egypt to Tunisia. Montgomery paused near Mareth in early February, but it was only a matter of time before the British continued the offensive. There was an attack on Benghazi by 4 He 111s of KG 100 and 16 Ju 88s of LG 1. Two aircraft had to return early due to technical problems. The attack took place at 16:15 hours and was concentrated after a low-level approach. Surprise was achieved and much damage was caused. United StatesPhoto: Launch of the U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Wintle (DE-25) at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Cailfornia (USA), on 18 February 1943 Photo: The U.S. Navy ammunition ship USS Lassen (AE-3) underway off Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California (USA), on 18 February 1943 United KingdomPhoto: Bow view of the escort carrier HMS Archer, the Latest Auxiliary Carrier Which Was Built in America. 18 February 1943, Greenock Photo: Broadside view of the escort carrier HMS Archer, the Latest Auxiliary Carrier Which Was Built in America. 18 February 1943, Greenock Photo: Launching Another Motor Gun Boat. 18 February 1943, Hythe, Southampton Pacific WarALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN In the Aleutians, a weather reconnaissance determines that 3 ships at Attu to be friendly. P-40s on local patrol over Amchitka encounter and shoot down 2 enemy fighters. The 21st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 30th Bombardment Group operating under control of the 28th Composite Group with B-24s from Umnak begins operating from Amchitka. TG 8.6 (Rear Admiral Charles H. McMorris), consisting of light cruiser Richmond (CL 9), heavy cruiser Indianapolis (CA 35), and four destroyers, bombards Japanese installations at Holtz Bay and Chichagof Harbor, Attu, Aleutians. SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) B-24s pound the airfield at Munda. B-17s attack the Kahili area and shipping nearby. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-24s unsuccessfully attack shipping off Cape Gloucester and Cape Orford. In New Guinea, B-25s bomb the Barar area. Individual B-24s bomb the Finschhafen landing ground and the Madang area. In Portugese Timor, B-25s unsuccessfully attack shipping off Dili. The 21st Troop Carrier Squadron, 374th Troop Carrier Group with C-47s transfers from Archerfield Airdrome near Brisbane, Queensland, Australia to Port Moresby, New Guinea. AUSTRALIA Operating from MacDonald Airfield in the Northern Territory, six B-25s of the No. 18 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron RAAF take part in an operational mission over Dili. Lost is B-25D N5-144. Heavy cruiser HMAS Australia and three U.S. destroyers of TF 44.3 operate south of Australia to cover passage of five-ship convoy transporting the 30,000 troops of the 9th Australian Division to Sydney. Photo: Fremantle, Australia, February 18th 1943, return of the 9th Australian division from the Middle East, the "Nieuw Amsterdam" entering Fremantle Harbour. HM transport Queen Mary in background JAPANESE OCCUPIED SINGAPORE German auxiliary cruiser Michel (Schiffe 28) arrives at Singapore; the next day she turns over to the Japanese the merchant and Armed Guard sailors she had captured when she sank U.S. freighter Sawokla on 29 November 1942. PACIFIC Submarine Grampus (SS-207) damages Japanese transport Keiyo Maru, 05°04'S, 152°18'E.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Feb 19, 2022 15:55:30 GMT
Day 1259 of World War II, February 19th 1943YouTube (Can the Red Army Capture Hitler?)Eastern Front Hitler, panicked over the constant retreats of his armies in Russia, flew to Zaporozhye to harrass Feldmarschall von Manstein for his failures. Von Manstein clamly laid out the plan for his counter-attack on the already over-extended Soviet spearheads. Hitler accepted the plan. He then told German troops that new, top-secret weapons were going to help them win the battle. Hearing the thunder of Russian artillery and finding out that Soviet tanks were only 60 miles away from Zaporozhye, Hitler hastily decided to cut short his visit to von Manstein's HQ and return safely to his HQ at Vinnitsa. Intercepting large formations of Russian Il-2s in the Leningrad area, fighters from JG 54 claimed 30 Soviet aircraft shot down. Fw. Otto Kittel of 2./JG 54 scored his 39th - and JG 54's 4,000th - victory. Upon landing back at base, Geschwaderkommodore Oblt. Hannes Trautloft personally congradulated Kittel with the announcement; "I have instructed that you're no longer to be assigned a wingman. Instead you're to be sent on freie jagd on your own whenever there's an oppourtunity."Air War over Europe 120 Wellingtons,110 Halifaxes, 56 Stirlings and 52 Lancasters attacked Wilhelmshaven again. 12 aircraft were lost. This raid was another failure with the Pathfinder marking causing the Main Force bombing to fall north of Wilhelmshaven. The local report said that only 3 people were slightly injured. After this raid it was found that the Pathfinders had been issued with out-of-date maps which did not show recent town developments. A general updating of maps then took place. Oblt. Hans-Joachim Jabs of 11./NJG 1 claimed 3 of the Stirlings from the Wilhelshaven raid and Oblt. Paul Gildner of Stab IV./NJG 1 destroyed 2 Halifaxes. 2 Mosquitoes bombed Dortmung and Essen without loss. 12 Venturas attacked German naval torpedo workshops at Den Helder without loss. RAF Army Cooperation Command planes bombed electrical transformer stations in the Loire valley. Battle of the Atlantic Submarine Blackfish (SS-221) torpedoes and sinks German patrol craft VP 408 (ex-trawler Haltenbank), 43°30'N, 002°54'W, but is damaged by depth charges from what she reports as two converted trawlers, and is forced to terminate her patrol. North Africa campaign After days of arguing on objectives, the German offensive in Tunisia resumed. A two-pronged attack, led by 15. and 21.Panzerdivisions were to take Le Kef. However, Allied forces had occupied the mountain passes the German tankers would have to move through. The Germans had pushed US II Corps into the Western Dorsals, a low series of low mountains running from the southwest to the northeast across Tunisia. Rommel ordered Colonel Hans Georg Hildebrandt, the commander of 21.Panzerdivision, to attack through the broad pass at Sbiba and take the First Army supply and transportation center at Le Kef. The German occupation of the principal Allied logistical center and the severance of the Allied supply line would force the British First Army back, buying time to deal with Montgomery. By noon, Rommel terminated the attack. Hildebrandt encountered accurate artillery fire and because his maneuverability was restricted to the roads by the heavy rains of the past 48 hours, he took heavy tank losses. The pass was well fortified and well defended by the American 34th Infantry Division and the British 6th Armoured Division, which had been rushed to Sbiba the night before. The Sbiba approach denied to him, Rommel turned to the only other pass within a reasonable distance, the one that lay 5 miles west of the small village of Kasserine. The Desert Fox ordered the 21.Panzerdivision to hold in place. Two critical German combat elements were not yet on the battlefield: the 10.Panzerdivision was marching south from General von Arnim and the Luftwaffe was grounded due to low cloud cover and rain. The battle would begin without them, but Rommel knew the timing of their arrival could be critical. The blitzkreig operations Rommel favored featured close integration of the German armour and the German Luftwaffe. The Luftwaffe was an important member of the blitzkreig team. But their close air support and recon over Kasserine could be especially important. The American 155mm and 105mm howitzers out-ranged the German artillery, and by February 1943, the Americans had developed techniques that made their artillery an effective tank killer. Rommel realized this and gave his artillery - the Luftwaffe - standing orders to kill as many American howitzers as they could find. The pass at Kasserine was another obstacle that had to be forced and the absence of maneuver room in the Bled Foussana meant the Luftwaffe support was again vital to success. The opposition had to be blasted away because there was no room to go around them. If only the Luftwaffe could fly. The ultimate tactical objective was to create a situation in which the Stukas could enter the target area at high altitude and attack targets from an almost perpendicular dive, delivering the 500lb bomb carried under the fuselage. By February 1943 the Germans had learned this tactic was costly. Even in a steep attack angle, the stuka reached speeds of only 200 mph, and the Americans and British Bofors guns could engage aircraft flying up to 300mph. At Thelepte, the American AA artillerymen discovered they had the ability to decimate a stuka dive-bombing attack. Furthermore, the AA was effective against the German fighters, which had to slow to a speed of 250mph to acquire and attack ground targets. The Kasserine Pass was defended by the US 19th Engineer Regiment, a battalion of the 26th Infantry, some TDs and a four gun battery of French 75mm cannon. Just behind the thousands of mines that covered the entrance to Kasserine, 2 Bofors 40mm AA guns from Battery D, 105th Coast Artillery Battalion (AW) waited for the Luftwaffe. As dawn broke on 19 February, the artillerymen of the 105th huddled against their guns and waited for the Germans. They would not be idle for long. Photo: A PIAT (Projectile Infantry Anti-Tank) in action at a firing range in Tunisia, 19 February 1943 Photo: A travelling photographic exhibition displaying photographs taken by the Army Film and Photographic Unit (AFPU), 19 February 1943. Copies could also be purchased Pacific WarALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, weather cancels all missions except limited weather reconnaissance. Heavy cruiser Indianapolis (CA 35) and destroyers Coghlan (DD-606) and Gillespie (DD-609) (TU 8.6.2), intercept Japanese army cargo ship Aragane Maru bound for the Aleutians and engage her northwest of Attu, Aleutians. CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, P-40s dive-bomb a Japanese HQ at Hpunkizup and afterwards strafe a rail defile south of Meza, burying about 100 feet of track. Five B-25s bomb the rail terminal at Sagaing. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In the Solomons, B-17s bomb shipping and a seaplane base between Buin and Faisi, Bougainville and at Ballale and hit the Kahili Airfield. A-20s bomb and strafe forces in the Butibum and Angari areas. B-24s carry out single-plane attacks agains shipping at Salamaua, off Cape Gloucester, and at Gasmata. PACIFIC Submarine Gato (SS-212) torpedoes Japanese ammunition ship Hibari Maru off eastern Bougainville, 06°27'S, 156°05'E. Hibari Maru is beached off Buin (see 28 February). Submarine Grampus (SS-207) torpedoes Japanese transport/aircraft ferry Keiyo Maru, 04°55'S, 152°26'E. Submarine Runner (SS-275) is damaged by aerial bomb off the Palaus, 07°35'N, 134°25'E, and is forced to terminate her patrol.
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