lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Mar 22, 2022 3:50:43 GMT
Day 1289 of World War II, March 22nd 1943Eastern FrontGerman troops of Heeresgruppe Mitte recaptured Byelgorod. Once again the weather had taken a decisive hand in the war in Russia. The thaw came early and both armies were bogged down in the morass of mud churned up by fighting vehicles of both sides. Where, only a few days ago, tanks could roar at full speed across the hard-frozen steppe, they were now in danger of drowning in a sea of mud and the runways of airstrips had turned into quagmires which refused to release aircraft. While the thaw brought difficulties to both sides, it hurt the Germans most by bringing von Manstein's successful counter-offensive to a halt. After recapturing Kharkov, he had planned to cut quickly across the Donets behind the Russian armies which were still pressing west. If he had been able to do so, he might well have caught the Red Army in a trap and produced a disaster comparable to Stalingrad. But he lost too many men and too many machines to achieve the quick result, and now General Thaw had taken command. Photo: A German 75mm Pak 38/37 gun in position. In the background, German soldiers are building a wooden shelter Air War over Europe There was slight German activity over Newcastle. Sunderland and County Durham bore the brunt of the Luftwaffe's sorties. AA projectiles caused damage and casualties. HE and IBs fell on fields north of Rake House, Rake Lane, on the beach at Cullercoats and on the rocks beside the South Pier. Considerable damage was done to sidings and railway stock, chiefly wagons and vans. German records examined after the war show that a Do 217 failed to return from a sortie to Hartlepool. Mosquitoes shot down 2 Ju 88s over the Bay of Biscay. US Eighth AF Mission #46: 76 B-17s and 26 B-24s were dispatched against the U-Boat yards at Wilhelmshaven. 69 B-17s and 15 B-24s dropped 224 tons of bombs on target. They lost one B-17 and 2 B-24s. The fighters of I./JG 1 intercepted the formations including Lt. Knoke who tried his aerial bombing tactic for the first time. Flying a Bbf 109G loaded with a 500lb bomb, Lt. Knoke was able to drop the bomb in the middle of a formation of Fortresses. The bomb broke the wing off a B-17 from the 91st BG and it crashed 18 miles off Heligoland, killing the entire crew. Not exactly the way it was supposed to work but the effect was the same. Numerous bombers returned to England badly damaged including one that had 368 holes in the aircraft. 189 Lancasters, 99 Halifaxes, 63 Stirlings and 6 Mosquitoes attacked St Nazaire. 1 Lancaster was lost. RAF #3 Group sent out a recall order to its Stirlings and only 8 carried on to bomb the target. Accurate marking led to a concentrated attack by 283 aircraft on the port area of St Nazaire. Lt. Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer of Stab II./NJG 1 claimed the destruction of a Lancaster during the RAF raid on St. Nazaire. But another pilot, Hptm. Wilhelm Herget of Stab I./NJG 4 also made a claim of destroying the same RAF bomber. Unable to decide who should get credit for the kill, General Kammhuber ordered the 2 experten to draw lots. The Lancaster kill was awarded to Hptm. Herget. 6 Wellingtons laid mines off Texel without loss. 12 Venturas attacked Maasluis oil refinery but again failed to hit the target. 12 further Venturas turned back from French targets. No losses. North Africa campaign As the British attempted to expand their bridgehead over Wadi Zigzaou, German reserves from the 15.Panzerdivision (with a mere 30 tanks in all) counterattacked. The panzers attacked just as a heavy rain fell on the area. The British Valentine tanks were no match for the more powerfully gunned panzers and by dusk the bridghead had all but disappeared. The British lost two thirds of the Valentine tanks and went on the defensive in this sector. Meanwhile elements of 21.Panzerdivision and 164th Light Division arrived at Tebaga Gap to stop the 2nd New Zealand Division's advance. But it was here that Montgomery decided to change tactics and throw all his weight behind his 'Left Hook'. He sent General Horrocks and the British 1st Armoured Division over the long desert route to join the New Zealanders in their thrust through the Tebaga Gap. RAF Hurricanes smashed a panzer counter-attack near the Mareth Line. At 12:50 hours a total of 24 Spitfires of RAF No. 145 Sqdrn and RAF No. 601 Sqdrn took off in two formations. 12 of these Spitfires, from 145 Sqdrn, met 7 Bf 109s from JG 51 in the Mareth area. The other formation of 12 Spitfires also reported an engagment with 7 Bf 109s in the same area. Shortly after 13:00 hours 36 Kittyhawks from RAF Nos. 112 and 250 Sqdrns took off and were attacked by 6 Bf 109s. One Kittyhawk of 250 Sqdrn was shot down by Major Muncheberg of Stab./JG 77. Six more Spitfires dived into the combat, whereby S/L Wade claimed one Bf 109 shot down. This may have been Oblt. Heinrich Osswald of 4./JG 77 who was killed. A little while later 13 Hurricanes of RAF No. 6 Sqdrn took off and was engaged by Bf 109s which shot down one Hurricane. Lt. Franz Hradlicka of 5./JG 77 claimed a Hurricane during the combats as did Lt. Liedtke of 4./JG 77. 23 P-38s of the US 82nd FG escorted B-26s and they were engaged by 2 Bf 109s. Later during the mission, the same formation of bombers and P-38s were attacked by 6 Bf 109s. The US 52nd FG was very successful near Mazzouna against Bf 109s, Fw 190s and Ju 88s. the group downed 5 Bf 109s, 2 Fw 190s and 2 Ju 88s, losing only one Spitfire to a crash landing from flak damage. The US 31st FG also lost one to a crash-landing. Battle of the Mediterranean24 B-17s bombed port facilities at Palermo. This was the first Allied bomber mission against Sicily by aircraft based in Northwest Africa. United StatesPhoto: USS Salmon (SS-182) off the Mare Island Navy Yard, 22 March 1943 Pacific WarALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN In the Aleutians, 6 B-25's, 12 B-24's and 22 P-38's attempt 3 missions to Kiska Island. Only 8 of the P-40's get through but fly uneventful patrol. The 404th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 28th Composite Group with B-24's transfers from Elmendorf Field, Anchorage, Alaska to Adak Island. BURMA AND INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 17 B-25's, operating in 2 forces, bomb the Gokteik Viaduct. Several damaging hits are scored on the base and structure. Seven B-25's pound the Thazi rail junction. Considerable damage is caused to warehouses, yards, sidings, tracks, and rolling stock. CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) In French Indochina, P-40's again strafe the phosphate mine area at Lao Kay. SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) In the Solomons, P-38's strafe the Rekata Bay area. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) Heavy bombers pound the Gasmata Airfield. In single-plane strikes, heavy bombers attack Finschhafen, Lae and Madang. In single-plane strikes, heavy bombers attack the harbor at Lorengau on Manus Island. The 400th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 90th Bombardment Group with B-24's transfers from Iron Range, Queensland, Australia to Port Moresby, New Guinea. OFF THE COAST OF NETHERLANDS OCCUPIED EAST INDIES Submarine Gudgeon (SS-211) attacks Japanese convoy 30 miles north of Surabaya, Java, sinking army cargo ship Meigen Maru, 06°31'S, 112°47'E, and survives the resultant depth-charging by escort vessels. SULU SEA Submarine Tambor (SS-198) damages Japanese transport Bugen Maru in the Sulu Sea, off Negros, P.I., 08°58'N, 123°08'E.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Mar 23, 2022 3:49:28 GMT
Day 1290 of World War II, March 23rd 1943Air War over Europe A Ju 88A-4 belonging to 13./KG 30 crashed in Store Vildmosen moor near the road, killing the crew of four. The aircraft burst into flames on impact and set fire to the moor. 15 Mosquitoes attacked railway engine works at Nantes. Direct hits were scored and no aircraft were lost. 45 aircraft laid mines in the Frisian Islands and south of Texel and 21 aircraft dropped leaflets over French towns. 2 Wellingtons were lost, one each from the minelaying and leaflet dropping sorties. Photo: Beaufighter VIF V8748/ZJ-R of No. 96 Squadron being re-armed at Honiley, 23 March 1943. The armourers are feeding belts of ball and high-explosive incendiary ammunition into the magazines of the aircraft's four 20mm Hispano cannon North Africa campaign Patton's drive on El Guettar was stopped by determined German and Italian resistance with the 10.Panzerdivision taking serious losses. The Germans were amazed at how quickly the Americans were learning. 50 tanks of Broich's 10.Panzerdivision had swept down from the hills during the night and hit the US 1st Infantry Division marching in the valley below, followed by mobile guns and troop carriers full of infantry. Messerschmitts swarmed out of the sky and strafed foxholes and gun emplacements. The Germans swept through, driving all before them until they were slowed by a hastily laid minefield and artillery. the panzers paused to reorganize then set off again, fully confident of victory against the 'green' Americans.But the Americans stood their ground. Artillery shells rained down on the panzers and in fighting that often came down to "him-or-me" hand-to-hand combat, US 1st Division troops pushed the Germans out of their fighting positions and off hilltops. Fortunately, Allen's men could call on strong air and artillery support. Massed artillery and tank destroyers knocked out nearly 30 tanks while mines stopped 8 more. American casualties were heavy but the 10.Panzerdivision had to withdraw. Photo: Bishop 25-pdr self-propelled guns in action near Grenadier Hill, 23 March 1943 In the afternoon the Axis forces returned, this time in long columns of infantry led by panzers. But the American forces had used the hours in between to set up their artillery guns and showered the advancing Germans with shells. The panzers turned and retreated. The US 1st Division avenged its defeat at the Kasserine Pass by beating off the 10.Panzerdivision which retreated from the El Guettar valley and dug in to reinforce the Italian 'Centauro' Division in the mountains. For the first time an American infantry divsion had taken on German tanks and won. The Luftwaffe suffered a terrible loss. During a freie jagd, Major Joachim Muncheberg, Geschwaderkommodore of JG 77, came across a formation of US Spitfires. Diving on the Allied flight, Muncheberg claimed his 135th kill. But unable to break from his attack, Muncheberg's Bf 109 collided with his victim and both planes crashed to the ground, killing the commander. His position at JG 77 was taken by Oblt. Johannes Steinhoff from II./JG 51. II./JG 51 recorded the first loss of one of their new Bf 109G-6s in the desert. In the morning, 3 He 111s of I./KG 26 attacked the convoy 'KMF 11' to the north of Tenes Head, sinking the troop transport 'Windsor Castle' and damaging the Norwegian oil tanker 'Garonne'. Photo: Three Spitfire LF Mark VBs of No. 244 Wing RAF based at Bu Grara, flying in close starboard echelon formation off the Tunisian coast after escorting light bombers on a sortie to Mareth. Nearest the camera is AB502 IR-G, the personal aircraft of the Wing Leader, Wing Commander I R "Widge" Gleed, which he flew when he was shot down and killed over Cap Bon on 16 April 1943, while the two accompanying aircraft are ER220 UF-V and EP481 UF-F of No. 601 Squadron RAF. All three are fitted with Aboukir air filters and have clipped wings in order to assist low-level performance Battle of the MediterraneanNaval Station and Naval Air Facility are established at Arzeu, Algeria; Advanced Amphibious Training Bases are established at Port Lyautey, Morocco, and at Nemours, Tenes, Beni Saf, and Mostaganem in Algeria. Photo: A U.S. Army Air Force Martin B-26B Marauder (s/n 41-17747) of the 37th Bomb Squadron, 17th Bomb Group. This aircraft was hit by flak and belly landed at Telergma, Algeria, on 23 March 1943 United Kingdom Photo: Bristol Beaufighter Mk VIF of No. 96 Squadron RAF being re-armed at Honiley, Warwickshire, 23 March 1943Pacific WarALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN In the Aleutians, weather grounds all missions except the weather reconnaissance flight and an unsuccessful intercept attempt of an enemy reconnaissance airplane by 2 P-40's. BURMA AND INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 9 B-25's bomb barracks, warehouse, railroad tracks, and the airfield at Meiktila. CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) In French Indochina, P-40's strafe the operations building at Dong Cuong and hit troop trucks between Tuyen Quang and Ha Giang. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-17's thoroughly pound the airfields in the Rabaul area and strafe a vessel off Cape Gazelle. Single B-24s attack Gasmata Airfield. A-20's bomb and strafe forces in the Mubo area and at the mouth of the Bitoi River. B-25's strafe targets of opportunity in the Salamaua, Labu Lagoon and Nadzab areas, and at the mouth of the Markham River. Single B-24's attack Lorengau harbor and the airfield at Salamaua. SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) Destroyed by Japanese bombing is B-17E "Zero Six Zero" 41-9060. OFF THE COAST OF FORMOSA Submarine Kingfish (SS-234) is damaged by depth charges off Formosa, 26°20'N, 121°55'E, and is forced to terminate her patrol. OFF THE COAST OF SAIPAN Submarine Whale (SS-239) sinks Japanese transport Ken'yo Maru about 130 miles northwest of Saipan, 17°20'N, 145°00'E; one of Whale's torpedoes circles back toward her, forcing the boat to "go deep" but then heads back and hits the target.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Mar 24, 2022 3:51:34 GMT
Day 1291 of World War II, March 24th 1943Air War over Europe3 Mosquitoes shot up trains in areas east of the Ruhr without loss. A force of German raiders was scattered widely over seperated parts of Northern England. At North Shields considerable damage was done to property. The only casualty was one person seriously injured at High Heaton by AA fire. There was a fighter-bomber raid on Ashford, Kent. A total of 8 German aircraft - 3 Do 217Es and 5 Ju 88As - crashed this night, mostly flying into high ground. A Do 217E struck a hill at Twice Brewed Inn at Haltwhistle at 00:20 hours. The crew all perished. A Ju 88A, flying low, hit a hill at a shallow angle at Linhope Rigg near Powburn, Northumberland at 00:45 hours and again the crew all perished. Another D0 217E was shot down by AA fire and crashed at Madam Law Farm, Kirknewton. It appeared that the aircaft had come from a northerly direction, crashed into the side of Madam Law, near the top, riccocheted over the hill and came to rest in pieces on the southern side. Three of the four crew were thrown out of the plane and killed, the fourth was found dead inside the burnt wreckage. North Africa campaign Montgomery continued his attacks in Tunisia, sending the 4th Indian Division on a flank attack toward Ksar el Hallouf and Ben Zelten. It failed to dislodge the Axis forces. United KingdomPhoto: HMS STARLING, leader of a group of British sloops which have just added two more victims to their impressive record of U-boats destroyed. During a North Atlantic patrol the first U-boat was illuminated by a starshell fired by HMS KITE NW of the Azores. After forcing her down by depth charges the KITE, WOODCOCK, AND STARLING shadowed the enemy until morning. At dawn HMS WOODCOCK dropped another pattern of depth charges, explosions were heard and the surface of the water littered with tell-tale oil and wreckage. Within 8 hours the second U-boat met her fate. She was detected by HMS wild goose and HMS STARLING delivered the coup de grace Pacific WarALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN In the Aleutians, 10 B-24's, 3 B-25's, and 12 P-38's fly 5 attack missions to Kiska Island. North Head runway and the Main Camp area are bombed. BURMA AND INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 23 B-24'a and 2 B-17's (the B-17's attack from 50 feet) attack the bridge at Myitnge but fail to score damaging hits. Eight B-25's bomb the engine sheds at Maymyo. SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) B-17's and Navy dive-bombers hit the Airfield at Kahili. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, B-25's hit Langgoer and Faan. B-25's and B-17's, operating individually, attack shipping in the Netherlands East Indies and airfields and targets of opportunity at Gasmata and Mubo. YELLOW SEA NEAR PORT ARTHUR Operating in the Yellow Sea near Port Arthur, submarine Wahoo (SS-238) sinks Japanese merchant passenger-cargo ship Teisho Maru at 39°01'N, 122°25'E, cargo ship Takaosan Maru at 38°13'N, 123°24'E and cargo ship Satsuki Maru, 38°10'N, 123°26'E.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Mar 25, 2022 8:45:07 GMT
Day 1292 of World War II, March 25th 1943Air War over EuropeThe Luftwaffe flew a bombing mission over North Britain and Scotland and lost 10 aircraft. KG 2 lost 4 Do 217s, 3 crashing in the UK and one on the Continent, whilst KG 6 lost 6 Ju 88s including 2 missing over the North Sea. One Junkers Ju 88 of 1./KG 6 based at Deelen, Holland was chased by a Beaufighter from RAF No. 219 Sqdrn and hit Linhope Rig near Powburn in the early hours. Ofw. F. Lang and his 3 crew were all buried in Chevington Cemetary. North Africa campaign Pressure from the British 1st Armoured Division at Tebaga Gap and the US II Corps at Maknassy forced General von Arnim to withdraw from the Mareth Line. Photo: Martin Baltimore Mark IIIAs of No. 232 Wing RAF taxy to the take-off point at Ben Gardane North, Tunisia, to bomb the Mareth Line Battle of the MediterraneanGreek partisans succeeded in taking over Samos Island from the Itailian garrison. United StatesPhoto: The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Andres (DE-45) at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Pennsylvania (USA), on 25 March 1943, fitting-out, showing her initial armament fit: two 3-inch/50s forward, one aft; one 20 millimeter gun forward of the bridge, with the Mk. 10 depth charge projector (“hedgehog”) just aft of Mt. 31; four 20 millimeter Oerlikon machine guns grouped two on a side just aft of the stack, and the twin-mount 40 millimeter guns just ahead of Mt. 33. The depth charge tracks appear to be empty at this point Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Johnston (DD-557) sliding down the building ways at the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation Shipyard, Tacoma, Washington (USA), on 25 March 1943 Pacific WarALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN In the Aleutians, a weather airplane take photos of Holtz Bay and Chichapof Harbor. Fourteen B-24's, 3 B-25's, 12 P-38's, and 2 P-40's fly 4 missions to Kiska Island. The targets include the beach, runway, hangar area, North Head, the Main Camp and submarine base. CHINA-BURMA-INDIA In Burma, 8 B-25's bomb the engine sheds at Maymyo for the second consecutive day. Considerable damage is done although the main shed is not hit. SW PACIFIC B-24's pound Rabaul. Single B-17s hit Gasmata and Ubili. In the Moluccas, B-24s hit shipping, the wharf and town area at Amboina. In New Guinea, single B-17's hit Lae. YELLOW SEA Operating in the Yellow Sea near Port Arthur, submarine Wahoo (SS-238) sinks Japanese merchant passenger-cargo ship Teisho Maru at 39°01'N, 122°25'E, cargo ship Takaosan Maru at 38°13'N, 123°24'E and cargo ship Satsuki Maru, 38°10'N, 123°26'E.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Mar 26, 2022 16:12:06 GMT
Day 1293 of World War II, March 26th 1943YouTube (American Army Finally Does Something Right)Air War over Europe173 Wellingtons, 157 Lancasters, 114 Halifaxes, 9 Mosquitoes and 2 Stirlings attacked Duisburg. 6 aircraft were lost. Photo: Avro Lancaster B Mark III, ED724 'PM-M', of No. 103 Squadron RAF pauses on the flarepath at Elsham Wolds, Lincolnshire, before taking off for a raid on Duisburg, Germany, during the Battle of the Ruhr. Three searchlights (called 'Sandra' lights) form a cone to indicate the height of the cloud base for the departing aircraft The Mosquito lost was the first Oboe Mosquito casualty. A message was received from the pilot, F/Lt L.J. Ackland, that he was having to ditch in the North Sea. His body was never found but his navigator, W/O F.S. Sprouts, is believed to have survived. This raid was one of the few failures of this series of attacks on Ruhr targets. It was a cloudy night and, for once, accurate Oboe sky-marking was lacking because 5 Oboe Mosquitoes were forced to return early with technical difficulties and a sixth was lost. The result was a widely scattered raid. The only details reported from Duisburg were 15 houses destroyed and 70 damaged with 11 people killed and 36 injured. Battle of the AtlanticNaval Operating Facility, Belem, Brazil, is established. Escort carrier Bogue (CVE-9) operates in support of convoy SC 123; her aircraft keep U-443 and U-415 down and prevent their attacking the convoy. North Africa campaign Montgomery took a leaf from the German book and staged what he called a "blitz attack" on the afternoon of 26 March, with the sun behind the British and shining in the eyes of the Axis troops and a dust storm blowing in their faces. As Freyberg's infantry and Horrock's armour moved toward the entrance of the Tebaga Gap, waves of 30 Allied bombers, paced 15 minutes apart, zeroed in on the Axis defenses in the valley passageway to El Hamma. The RAF plastered the German units holding the exits and smashed guns and equipment and paralyzed the 21.Panzerdivision. The bombing and strafing lasted 3 hours and when at dusk silence again settled in the valley, Freyberg's New Zealanders, bayonets at the ready, poked into the gap. Photo: A signboard erected in the town of Gafsa, Tunisia in readiness for the link-up of the Eighth and First Armies, 26-27 March 1943 After the infantry led the way through the rim of the Axis defenses, it parted and let Horrock's armour slide through and push on toward El Hamma in the moonlight. As the 1,200 vehicles left the infantry behind and advanced on a single track, they passsed almost unchallenged through the encampment where part of the 21.Panzerdivision rested for the night. Even though the resistance was feeble, the progress of the gigantic column was agonizingly slow, impeded by frequent wadis. By dawn the Germans had been able to scrape up enough 88mm guns to establish an anti-tank screen at the exit of the valley, 3 miles from El Hamma. They opened up on the British 1st Armoured Division and stopped its advance, keeping Horrocks at bay for two days. But Monty's "Left Hook" had done its job. Fearing that Horrocks might break through at any moment and attack thier rear in force, the Axis troops of the Mareth Line were compelled to retreat. They pulled out undercover of a sandstorm and withdrew northward along the coast, settling finally for another fight at Wadi Akarit, 15 miles north of the port of Gabes. During the morning, a formation of 12 torpedo bombers constisting of 9 He 111s of I./KG 26 and 3 Ju 88s of III./KG 26 attacked convoy 'KMF 12' to the west of Alger, sinking the Dutch motor-ship 'Prinz Willem III'. United StatesPhoto: Aerial view of escort carrier USS Card (ACV-11) in Hampton Roads, Virginia Pacific WarALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN Battle of the Komandorski Islands: TG 16.6 (Rear Admiral Charles H. McMorris), comprising one heavy cruiser, one light cruiser, and four destroyers, outfights and repulses a Japanese force of two heavy cruisers, two light cruisers, and four destroyers (Rear Admiral Hosogaya Boso) escorting two transports with reinforcements for Kiska, Aleutians. In this daylight surface action, heavy cruiser Salt Lake City (CA-25) is damaged by gunfire from heavy cruisers Maya and Nachi and light cruiser Abukuma, 52°47'N, 172°45'E, but damages Nachi in return; destroyers Bailey (DD-492) and Coghlan (DD-606) are also damaged by gunfire, 53°20'N, 168°36'E. Photo: The heavy cruiser Salt Lake City, damaged by Japanese cruiser gunfire, starts losing speed prior to going dead in the water during the battle under a smoke screen laid by accompanying destroyers Photo: USS Bailey showing battle damage in the aftermath of the action In the Aleutians, a reconnaissance aircraft covers Attu, Agattu, Semichi and Alaid where a cabin is strafed. Upon report of Navy contacts with enemy surface force (Battle of Komandorskies), 13 B-24's, 11 B-25's and 8 P-38's are ordered to hit the enemy, reported 150 mi (240 km) west of Cape Wrangell (Attu). Because of mechanical failures and weather, airplanes cannot take off until 6 hours after the surface force is sighted. Thus, Japanese ships have fled when aircraft arrive at the interception point. Some of the returning B-25's bomb a radar site, hangar, and Main Camp area on Kiska. BURMA AND INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 6 B-24's mine the Rangoon River during the night of 26/27 Mar. Six others fly a diversion raid on the city of Rangoon, scoring hits on Mingaladon Airfield, between the central railroad station and Pazundaung Creek, and in the Syriam area. SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force) In the Gilbert Islands, B-24's bomb Nauru Airfield. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-17's attack shipping, the harbor and town area at Wewak. A-20's pound forces and targets of opportunity in the Mubo, Lahang, and Salamaua area. Lost is A-20A "Minnie Ha Ha" 40-170. A single B-l7 bombs Finschhafen and unsuccessfully attacks a ship E of Talasea. Lost on an administrative flight B-17F 41-24384. SOLOMON ISLANDS Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Fletcher (DD-445) at anchor in Purvis Bay, Florida Island, Solomon Islands, on 26 March 1943
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Mar 27, 2022 6:51:17 GMT
Day 1294 of World War II, March 27th 1943Air War over Europe 191 Lancasters, 124 Halifaxes and 81 Stirlings attacked BERLIN. 9 aircraft were lost. This raid was basically a failure. The bombing force approached the target from the south-west and the Pathfinders established two separate marking areas but both well short of the city. No bombing photographs were plotted within 5 miles of the aiming point in the centre of BERLIN and most of the bombing fell from 7 to 17 miles short of the aiming point. The BERLIN report confirms that damage in the city was not heavy although the bombing was slightly more widespread than the bombing photographs indicated. Only 16 houses were classed as completely destroyed but many further buildings including public utilities and factories suffered light damage. These were typical results in a scattered raid; the local fire services were able to contain fires quickly but 102 people were killed and 260 injured. The majority of these casualties occurred when two bombs at the Anhalter Station hit a military train bringing men on leave from the Russian Front. 80 soldiers were killed and 63 injured. Arno Abendroth states that the damage in BERLIN would have been heavier if approximately one quarter of the bombs dropped had not turned out to be 'duds'. "The English factories must have been under some stress," he writes. Further out from the city centre stray bombs hit several Luftwaffe establishments. 3 planes were destroyed and a flak position was hit at Templehof airfield. The flying school at Staaken airfield was damaged and a further 70 service personnel were killed or wounded. These casualties are in addition to those in BERLIN. The most interesting story concerns a secret Luftwaffe stores depot in the woods at Teltow, 11 miles south-west of the centre of BERLIN. By chance this was in the middle of the main concentration of bombs and a large quantity of valuable radio, radar and other technical stores was destroyed. The Luftwaffe decided that this depot was the true target for the RAF raid on this night and were full of admiration for the special unit which had found and bombed it so accurately. The Gestapo investigated houses nearby because someone reported that light signals had been flashed to the bombers. 5 Mosquitoes reached and bombed and engineering factory at Hengelo but 7 other Mosquitoes did not reach their targets. No losses. North African campaignSoldiers of the 2nd New Zealand Division broke through the Axis lines after an overnight attack which outflanked the German defenses now retreating from the Mareth Line 30 miles further east. The New Zealanders - 27,000 men and 200 tanks - attacked a gap in the hills at Tebaga. The 8th Armoured Brigade and the New Zealand infantry made up the advance wave, followed by the British 1st Armoured Divsion. Their movements were given some cover not only by the encroaching dusk but also by a sandstorm which obscured the vision of the anti-tank guns ranged to defend Tebaga. By daybreak the Allies had blasted through the gap, ensuring the ultimate breach of the Mareth Line. Montgomery had pushed back the Axis forces from two sides: the inland column established through Tebaga (the "Left Hook") and a direct coastal assault via Gabes (the "Right Hook"). Von Arnim planned to deploy tanks of the 15.Panzerdivision to hold off the Allies in order to allow his infantry time to retreat from the doomed Mareth Line to new defensive positions at Wadi Akarit. As Patton began anew attack near Foudouk, the British armour was stopped in front of El hamma as German infantry held the road open for retreating Axis forces. US 12th AF fighters attacked the German installations. Photo: Infantry demonstrate how they used ladders to scale the sides of Wadi Zigzuoa on the Mareth line, 27 March 1943 Another attack against convoy 'KMF 12' in the afternoon was made by 12 Italian S. 79 torpedo bombers of 89 and 105 Group and 8 He 111s of I./KG 26, guided by 2 Ju 88 bombers of III./KG 76. The British motor-ship 'Empire Rowan' was sunk in the Gulf of Philippeville by 3 aircraft of the Italian 105 Group along with 2 crews of 89 Group. An Italian aircraft failed to return to base from the mission being shot down by a Spitfire of RAF No. 43 Squadron. The Germans lost 3 aircraft, a He 111 of I./KG 26 and the 2 Ju 88s of II./KG 76 to Hurricanes and Spitfires of RAF No. 43 Sqdn and RAF No. 249 Sqdn. Battle of the Atlantic Naval Air Facility, Natal, Brazil, and Naval Operating Facilities at Victoria, Florianopolis, Fortaleza, Maceio, Recife, Rio Grande do Sul, Santos, and Sao Luiz, Brazil, are established. United StatesPhoto: The U.S. Navy destroyer tender USS Cascade (AD-16) off the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California (USA), on 27 March 1943, shortly after alterations at Navy Yard Mare Island to reduce topside weight Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Dyson (DD-572) off Charleston, South Carolina (USA), on 27 March 1943 United kingdom Photo: Newly-built Centaur Mk III tanks lined up for despatch to units in the issue park at No. 6 AFV Depot at Slough, near London, March 1943 Pacific WarALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN In the Aleutians, 7 B-24's from Adak and 6 Amchitka-based B-25's attempt unsuccessfully to attack naval targets. From Amchitka, 1 B-25 and 6 P-38's (of which 1 turns back with mechanical trouble) provide cover for US surface force until 1300 hours local. Six P-38's and 1 B-l7 depart Adak for a second cover mission, but do not find the surface force. A detachment of the 11th Fighter Squadron, 343d Fighter Group based on Adak with P-40's begins operating from Amchitka Island. CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force) The 46th Fighter Squadron, 15th Fighter Group with P-39's transfers from Hilo Field, Territory of Hawaii to Canton Island in the Phoenix Islands. BURMA AND INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 5 B-24's mine the Rangoon River for the second consecutive night. KURILE ISLANDS The Japanese force retiring from the Battle of the Komandorski Islands reaches Paramushiru. The heavy cruiser Nachi has been hit five times and the light cruiser Tama was hit twice. Japanese casualties are 15 dead and 27 wounded on Nachi and one wounded on Tama. MOLUCCAS ISLANDS Fifth Air Force B-24s hit the harbour and shipping on Tanimbar Island. SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) P-39's join Navy aircraft in an attack on Vila Airfield. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, B-25's hit Lae and Salamaua. B-24s attack the harbor and shipping at Bogia.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Mar 28, 2022 2:55:42 GMT
Day 1295 of World War II, March 28th 1943Air War over Europe Shortly after noon, 103 B-17s and 24 B-24s were sent to bomb the Rouen marshaling yards. Bad weather caused the Liberators to return to base, leaving the Fortresses to carry on alone. After the escorting RAF Spitfires failed to rendezvous with the bombers, the B-17s began flying a triangular pattern over the Channel, allowing the fighters of II./JG 26 and 12./JG 2 to intercept the formation. When the Spitfires finally arrived, they were too low on fuel and had to return to their airbases leaving the B-17s alone to the Luftwaffe. The German fighters tore into the bomber formation. 9 B-17s were badly damaged and one was shot down by Lt. Georg-Peter Eder of 12./JG 2. But Lt. Eder was injured by return fire from the American bombers and crash-landed his Bf 109 at Beaumont-Le Roger airfield. 24 Venturas, escorted by fighters, bombed Rotterdam docks and hit at least 6 ships and started a fire in a dockside warehouse. No planes were lost. 6 Mosquitoes were dispatched to attack a railway yard near Liege but 2 aircraft were shot down and the remaining 4 bombed an alternative target. 179 Wellingtons, 52 Halifaxes, 50 Lancasters, 35 Stirlings and 7 Mosquitoes attacked St Nazaire. 2 aircraft were lost. This Oboe marked attack fell mainly in the port area. 7 aircraft laid mines off St Nazaire with no losses. North African campaign British 8th Army forces completed the capture of the Mareth Line as Free French forces operating in southern Tunisia cleared several towns. 9th AF P-40s supported ground forces in eastern Tunisia while 12th AF aircraft supported ground forces in western Tunisia. Anxious to move beyond El Guettar, Patton planned a two division attack to the sea that would divide enemy forces. The now experienced US 1st Infantry Division would advance on the north. On the south Major General Manton S. Eddy's 9th Infantry Division would make its first attack as a unit. The 9th would also be making its first attack at night, a difficult tactic in the easiest terrain and in the rocky hills east of El Guettar probably impossible for a unit with only 5 months experience. When the attack began before dawn, 3 battalions of the 9th soon became lost, and 2 remained out of touch for 36 hours. On the left the 1st Infantry Division made faster progress but was unable to push too far ahead of Eddy's men without inviting envelopment. Soon both divisions were exhausting themselves against enemy units dug into rock-face positions with interlocking fields of fire. Photo: Sherman tanks on parade during a visit by the Turkish Military Mission, 28 March 1943, Tunis Photo: A Universal carrier escorts a large contingent of Italian prisoners, captured at El Hamma, 28 March 1943 United StatesPhoto: A Martin PBM Mariner patrol bomber seaplane is hosed down after it was hauled up ramp at Naval Air Station Banana River, Florida (USA), ca. March 1943 Photo: The U.S. Navy light aircraft carrier USS Princeton (CV-23) underway in the Delaware River, off the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania (USA), on 28 March 1943. Princeton was redesignated CVL-23 on 15 July 1943 Photo: The U.S. Navy light aircraft carrier USS Princeton (CVL-23) underway in the Delaware River, off the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania (USA), on 28 March 1943 Pacific WarSOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) In the Solomons, the last remaining personnel of the battle-weary 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy) with B-17's leave SOPAC to return to Hawaii. P-38's of the 70th FS, and eight F4U's of VMF-124. Due to engine trouble and weather, seven Corsairs and three P-38s were forced out of the mission. The remaining planes hit the seaplane bases at Poporang and Shortland, claiming 8 aircraft destroyed, and attack a destroyer east of Shortland, leaving it listing. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) Medium and heavy bombers on individual missions attack Langgoer, Dobo, Gasmata, and barges and a small boat off Finschhafen and Kerema. OFF THE COAST OF JAPANESE OCCUPIED WAKE ISLAND Submarine Tunny (SS-282) damages Japanese troopship Suwa Maru off Wake Island, 19°13'N, 166°34'E; to prevent her from sinking, Suwa Maru is run aground off Wake's southern shore (near the wrecks of two patrol boats beached there on 23 December 1941). NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN Photo: The Netherlands merchant ship Bantam under Japanese air attack on 28 March 1943 in Oro Bay, New Guinea
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Mar 29, 2022 2:51:56 GMT
Day 1296 of World War II, March 29th 1943Air War over Europe 162 Lancasters, 103 Halifaxes and 64 Stirlings attacked BERLIN. 21 aircraft were lost. Weather conditions were difficult with icing and inaccurately forecast winds. The marking for the raid appeared to be concentrated but in a position which was too far south and the Main Force arrived late. Most of the bombs fell in open country 6 miles southeast of Berlin. German records say that 148 people were killed in Berlin and 148 buildings were totally destroyed but there is some doubt about the accuracy of these figures. 8 Oboe Mosquitoes and a Main Force of 149 Wellingtons attacked Bochum. 12 aircraft were lost. This raid was another failure. The night was moonless and cloudy. The Mosquitoes were not able to adhere to their timetable and there were long gaps in the sky-marking. Local records say that only 4 buildings in Bochum were destroyed and 35 were damaged with 28 people being killed. 61 Venturas flew 2 raids to Rotterdam docks and 1 to a railway target at Abbeville but the weather was unfavorable and only the bombing on the second raid to Rotterdam was accurate. No losses. 1 Mosquito went to Dortmund and 7 Stirlings laid mines in the Frisians without loss. North African campaignThe last Axis troops reached Wadi Akarit. With the Wadi Akarit line fully manned, the New Zealanders entered Gabes. The new Axis defense was a strong natural barrier but preparations for the line were poor and the forces to defend it depleted. El Hamma was finally occupied by British forces. 9th AF B-25s and P-40s attacked an airfield and supported British ground troops. Photo: Crusader tanks of the 1st Armoured Division enter El Hamma, 29 March 1943 Photo: A Universal carrier crew pass by a wrecked shop in the village of Mareth, 28-29 March 1943 Photo: A Valentine tank crew brew a 'cuppa' in Gabes, 29 March 1943, Tunis Battle of the Atlantic German submarine U-160 torpedoes U.S. freighter William Pierce Frye, straggling from convoy HX 230, at 56°57'N, 26°15'W. Heavy seas have previously damaged most of her lifeboats, and the only serviceable one is swamped; life rafts and floats drift away from the ship. One tank landing craft (LCT) being carried as deck cargo breaks free as the ship sinks, but only seven men reach it (see 3 April). United StatesPhoto: Aerial view of Gould Island, Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island (USA), on 29 March 1943, showing the U.S. Navy air facility in the lower left, and the Naval Torpedo Station, Newport, facilities in the upper right. Note the Consolidated PBY Catalina plane by the hangar Pacific WarALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, 7 heavy and medium bombers, with fighter escort, bomb and strafe the Kiska runway and nearby Main Camp area. Heavy AA fire damages 6 bombers and 2 P-38's. Photo: The U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Salt Lake City (CA-25) at Dutch Harbor, Alaska (USA), on 29 March 1943, three days after the Battle of the Komandorski Islands Photo: The U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Salt Lake City (CA-25) alongside the destroyer tender USS Markab (AD-21) at Dutch Harbor, Alaska (USA)on 29 March 1943, being repaired after being damaged in the Battle of the Komandorski Islands three days earlier. At left are the USS Coghlan (DD-606) and another destroyer BURMA AND INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 4 B-24's bomb shipping and dock area at Tavoy. Nine B-25's bomb the Maymyo railroad yards, 7 P-40's blast possible Japanese HQ north of Maingkwan. Eight others pound positions WNW of Sumprabum. CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) In Burma, P-40's strafe trucks at Bhamo and fuel drums at Chefang, China. SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) B-17's and B-24's pound Buin and Kahili. P-38's strafe a seaplane base at Faisi. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In the Bismarck Archipelago, a lone B-l7 bombs the Gasmata Airfield while another attacks the Mur-Weber Point area. Dick Bong gets his 9th kill when he shoots down a Doris (mis-identified medium bomber). HAWAII Photo: The U.S. Navy battleship USS Oklahoma (BB-37) righted to about 30 degrees, while she was under salvage at Pearl Harbor. She had capsized and sunk during the 7 December 1941 Japanese air raid. Naval Air Station Ford Island is in the background PACIFIC Submarine Gato (SS-212) evacuates certain military and civilian people (including 9 women, 3 nuns, and 27 children) from Teop Island, Solomons. Submarine Gudgeon (SS-211) sinks Japanese fleet tanker Toho Maru in Makassar Strait, 00°00'N, 118°18'E, and damages tanker Kyoei Maru, 00°54'N, 119°01'E. Submarine Wahoo (SS-238) sinks Japanese auxiliary cable ship Yamabato Maru south of Kyushu, 30°26'N, 129°41'E.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Mar 30, 2022 2:50:06 GMT
Day 1297 of World War II, March 30th 1943Eastern Front Stalin was informed that the Murmansk convoys were being suspended due to the losses sustained by the merchant ships. Air War over Europe 10 Mosquitoes bombed the Philips works at Eindhoven but could only hit the corner of the factory. No losses. North African campaign Allied troops of the British Eighth Army moved up to the new German defensive line at Wadi Akarit. The 10 day battle to breach the Axis defenses of the Mareth Line was over, with Montgomery a decisive victor in his first confrontation with the new German commander, General von Arnim. The movement of so many men and tanks in darkness was a move previously favoured by Rommel but not the Allies. Another tactic deployed to a greater extent than was customary for the Allies was the use of air power to support attacking land forces. Forward air-controllers were in the front line of the Tebaga attack, using radio to direct Spitfires and other aircraft to attack tanks and enemy defenses. The land forces advanced behind an aerial barrage of cannon fire and bombs from fighter-bombers flying over them in 15 minute relays. Some 6,000 Axis soldiers - mostly Italian - were taken prisoner. But although most of the Mareth Line defenders escaped, they had little time to prepare new defenses against the inevitable next move by Monty's desert soldiers. Further northwest, frustrated at the pace of the American infantry attack, General Alexander directed Patton to send an armoured column on a quick thrust to Gabes, the seaport whose possession would complete the division of Axis forces. Patton sent a task force ahead at noon, but in 3 days it made little progress and lost 13 tanks. The task force was halted, and the emphasis returned to the infantry struggling in the hills. Photo: A 25-pdr field gun in action at night during the assault on the Mareth line, 30 March 1943 Photo: Trucks carry supplies of petrol and ammunition to the front line, 30 March 1943, Tunis Pacific WarALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN In the Aleutians, 6 missions are dispatched against Kiska and Attu Islands. From Adak, 6 B-24's, 6 B-25's, and 4 P-38's are over Kiska at 1200 hours local but cannot bomb due to weather. Four B-24's, 4 P-38's, and 2 F-5A's then bomb the runway at Attu. Next, 5 B-24's and 4 P-38's bomb the Main Camp; intense AA fire downs 1 B-24. From Amchitka, 4 P-38's bomb Little Kiska. Next, 4 P-38's bomb Kiska through the overcast, followed by 6 B-25's bombing and strafing radar, radio installations, Main Camp, runway, and personnel. BURMA AND INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 5 B-25's bomb the Maymyo railroad yards, scoring hits on machine shops, sheds, and tracks. Sixteen P-40's hit targets of opportunity at Npyentawng, Wuja, and Mohnyin. CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) In China, P-40's strafe 8 locomotives southwest of Lashio, exploding 3 of them. SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) Heavy bombers continue snooper strikes on Vila and Kahili Airfield. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) A-20's, B-25's, B-24's, and B-17's pound shipping, the harbor, and town area at Finschhafen. B-24's hit Gasmata. Single aircraft attack several targets, mostly shipping and coastal areas, in the Netherlands East Indies, northeastern New Guinea, and New Britain. PACIFIC Submarine Tuna (SS-203) attacks Japanese convoy north of Manus, Admiralty Islands, sinks army cargo ship Kurohime Maru, 00°22'S, 147°46'E, and survives the resultant depth-charging by escort vessels.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Mar 31, 2022 2:45:44 GMT
Day 1298 of World War II, March 31st 1943Eastern Front Attacks against the German 17.Armee in the Kuban peninsula resulted in the fall of Anastasyevsk, north of Novorossiisk, to the advancing Soviet forces. Photo: Head of the Central Sniper School's political department talks to girls leaving for the front Air War over Europe The shipyards at Rotterdam were bombed by the Us 8th AF. 78 B-17s and 24 B-24s were dispatched. The US had trouble as only 33 B-17s of the 303rd and 305th BG (Heavy) bombed the target. A formation of B-24s on the way to Rotterdam were blown off course by high winds which forced the formation to change course numerous times. The changes were so bad that 4 of the 6 bomber groups aborted the mission. The remaining B-17s were met by Fw 190s from JG 26. Only 2 bombers were lost off Ostend. Two other bombers were destroyed in a mid-air collision. Approximately 1056 RAF Bomber Command aircrew were lost in March, either killed or POW. Battle of the MediterraneanA large US AF bombing force attacked the Axis air base and transit port of Cagliari, Sardinia. North African campaignCap Serrat was occupied by the British. Photo: A Bristol Beaufighter aircraft of No. 252 Squadron, Royal Air Force with an F14 camera in its nose, warms up on a North West African airfield Photo: Flight Lieutenant W H Pentland, of No 417 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, awaiting start up in his Supermarine Spitfire Mark V, BR195 'AR-T', at Goubrine, Tunisia Photo: Supermarine Spitfire Mark Vs of No 417 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force in loose formation over the Tunisian Desert Pacific WarALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN In the Aleutians, a reconnaissance airplane finds impenetrable weather and returns to base. Two P-38's make an uneventful sweep. BURMA AND INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 9 B-25's bomb the marshalling yard at Pyinmana, blasting railroad tracks and warehouses. CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) The 16th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group with P-40's transfers from Chenyi to Kweilin, China. The 75th Fighter Squadron, 23d Fighter Group with P-40's transfers from Yunnani to Lingling, China. The US opens training centers for Chinese infantrymen. SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) P-40's and P-38's hit the Suavanau Point area on Rekata Bay. The 23d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 5th Bombardment Group based on Espiritu Santo begins operating it's B-17's from Guadalcanal. NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN US infantrymen under Colonel Archibald MacKechnie land at the mouth of the Waria river. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) A-20's hit Salamaua, while B-24's bomb Babo. Individual B-24's attack Lae Airfield, Finschhafen, and Samoa Point and Timper River bridges. Japanese aircraft raid the Russell Islands.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Apr 1, 2022 4:52:59 GMT
Day 1299 of World War II, April 1st 1943Air War over EuropeThe growing might of the Allies had forced the Luftwaffe to increase its fighter units and a new Geschwader, JG 11, was formed at Jever from a poaching of Bf 109s from I./JG 1 and Fw 190s from III./JG 1, becoming II./JG 11 and I./JG 11 respectively. To this organization was added a new Bf 109 equipped II./JG 11 and a Geschwaderstab under Geschwaderkommodore Major Anton Mader from II./JG 77. Having formed this new unit, JG 11 was based in an arc stretching on the north German plain between the Dutch and Danish borders. I./JG 11 was divided between Aalborg-West (Denmark) and Lister (Norway). II./JG 11 was initially divided between Borkum (4./JG 11), Jever (Stab.II and 5./JG 11) and Wangerooge (6./JG 11), but all were united at Jever during April. The Gruppenkommandeurs were Major Walter Spies for I./JG 11, Hptm. Gunther Beise of II./JG 11 and Hptm. Ernst-Gunther Heinze for III./JG 11. In place of Major Mader, Major Siefried Freytag was posted as Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 77. Back in August 1942, the General der Nachtjagd, Josef Kammhuber, had urged the aircraft manufacturer Ernst Heinkel to produce enough of the new He 219 'Uhu' nightfighters to equip an operational Gruppe by 1 April 1943. By this date Heinkel had only 5 prototypes available. A small batch of preproduction He 219A-Os were nevertheless delivered to I./NJG 1 at Venlo. In early April, the Fliegerfuhrer Atlantik Generalluetnant Ulrich Kessler, requested that patrols be flown by auxillary tank equipped Fw 190s to the area southwest of Cornwall, England, where Coastal Command aircraft could be expected to fly. 12 Mosquitoes bombed a power station and railways yards at Trier. Both targets were hit. A local report says that 21 people were killed in the attack but gives no other detail. No planes were lost. Photo: Post-attack aerial photograph of the railway yard (Ausbesserungswerk) in Trier-West by a Supermarine Spitfire from 542 Squadron Royal Air Force on 4 April 1943. Eleven Royal Air Force De Havilland Mosquito B.IV bombers (six from No. 105 Squadron, RAF Marham; five from No. 139 Sqn, RAF Manston) attacked the railroad network in Trier, Germany, on 1 April 1943. As the six 105 Sqn. Mosquitoes attacked the railway yard from an altitude of 15 m, the 227 kg bombs ricocheted from the steel roof of the locomotive shop and destroyed the adjacent street car depot of the Stadtwerke Trier Battle of the Atlantic Naval Operating Facility, Grondal, Greenland, is established. Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, Maryland, is established. Submarine Shad (SS-235) torpedoes Italian blockade runner Pietro Orseolo, 44°37'N, 02°18'W, shortly after the Italian ship had reached the Bay of Biscay and her escort of four German destroyers. North African campaignDuring the night RAf Wellingtons of the NAAF bombed the Bizerte docks and Karouba Bay seaplane base. During the day, A-20s bombed La Fauconnerie and El Djem airfields. Fighters carrying out recon missions over wide areas of Tunisia, attacked motor transports, tanks and guns in the Sidi Mansour-Djebel Tebaga areas. British medium and light bombers along with fighters hit gunpositions north of Oued el Akarit and hit the Sfax-El Maou airfield, hitting parked planes and AA batteries. Photo: The aftermath of an attack by Stukas on vehicles on the Gabes road east of El Hamma. Two lorries blaze after being hit, but the Grant tank on a transporter in the foreground was unscathed, 1 April 1943 Pacific WarALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, 18 B-24's bomb Kiska targets including North Head. Six B-25's, 16 P-38's, and 24 P-40's in 6 missions from Amchitka to Kiska, bomb the Main Camp and submarine base areas. Four B-24's bomb the runway at Attu. All aircraft, including 2 B-25's colliding in the air, return safely. BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 8 B-25's hit the Thazi railroad junction. A detachment of the 25th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group with P-40's which has been operating from Sadiya, India since Nov 42 transfers to Jorhat, India. SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) In the Solomons, P-38's and P-40's attack and set fire to a small cargo vessel in Kokolope Bay. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, A-20's hit the Kitchen Creek area and the Labiabi-Duali area. Single B-24's attack Salamaua, Finschhafen and the bridge at Rempi. Single B-24's hit the airfields at Gasmata and Cape Gloucester. PACIFIC Submarine Gato (SS-212) is damaged by depth charges off New Ireland, 03° 08'S, 153° 00'E, and is forced to terminate her patrol.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Apr 2, 2022 15:29:32 GMT
Day 1300 of World War II, April 2nd 1943YouTube (Patton Has a Plan, and it's Bad)Eastern Front Moscow claimed that 850,000 Germans died in the winter campaign. Air War over Europe Today was the first sortie of the newly formed 1409 (Meteorological) Flight, based at Oakington. One Mosquito, crewed by Flight Lieutenant P. Cunliffe-Lister and Sergeant J. Boyle, made a weather reconnaissance flight to Brittany in preparation for the Bomber Command raids to be carried out in the coming night. The Mosquito returned safely. 1409 Flight operated until the end of the war, flying 1364 sorties on 632 days. Only 3 Mosquitoes were lost during this period. Although all these sorties were under Bomber Command control, it was not practicable to list every sortie in the Bomber Command War Diaries. 55 mixed aircraft went to St Nazaire and 47 to Lorient in the last raids on these French ports. Bomber Command was released from the obligation to bomb these targets 3 days later. 1 Lancaster was lost from the St Nazaire raid. The only report available from France said that the local fire brigade headquarters at St Nazaire was hit and 1 person was wounded. Both towns were now largely deserted by their former civilian populations. Battle of the Atlantic 'U-124' on passage to the Freetown area encountered the UK/West Africa convoy 'OS45' to the west of Portugal. Two merchant ships were sunk, but she was attacked by the sloop 'Black Swan' and the corvette 'Stonecrop' of the 37th EG and sunk in turn. Battle of the MediterraneanDuring the night, RAF Liberators of the 9th AF bombed the ferry terminal at Messina and the airfield at Crotone. During the day two 9th AF B-24s on a special mission, bombed the ferry terminals at Messina and Villa San Giovanni. 27 B-24s sent against Naples found the target totally obscured by clouds. 9 machines bombed the area through overcast and 3 bombed Augusta and Crotone. 24 9th AF B-24s sent to attack Palermo aborted because of heavy clouds over the target. 1(F)./122 received 6 Bf 109G-4/R3s with orders to base them at Elmas, since this was the only airfield on Sardinia that had a runway long enough for Bf 109 photo recon variants outfitted with auxiliary fuel tanks. Photo: Light Coastal Forces in the Mediterranean. 2 April 1943, at Sea Off Algiers, Motor Gun Boats and Torpedo Boats, the Small Ships of the Royal Navy Photo: In line ahead, MTB's on patrol off the Algerian coast North African campaign US 9th AF P-40s flew 9 armed recon and 6 fighter-bomber and escort missions. NAAF B-25s and A-20s bombed the airfield at La Fauconnerie. 6./JG 77 lost a Bf 109 in an air combat with a P-40, north of Gabes, 4./JG 77 lost one Bf 109 in combat with Bostons and Spitfires over La Fauconnerie and 3./JG 77 lost one Bf 109 after combat with a P-40 near gabes in the evening. Pacific WarALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, 18 B-24's bomb Kiska targets including North Head. Six B-25's, 16 P-38's, and 24 P-40's in 6 missions from Amchitka to Kiska, bomb the Main Camp and submarine base areas. Four B-24's bomb the runway at Attu. All aircraft, including 2 B-25's colliding in the air, return safely. BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 8 B-25's hit the Thazi railroad junction. A detachment of the 25th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group with P-40's which has been operating from Sadiya, India since Nov 42 transfers to Jorhat, India. SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) In the Solomons, P-38's and P-40's attack and set fire to a small cargo vessel in Kokolope Bay. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, A-20's hit the Kitchen Creek area and the Labiabi-Duali area. Single B-24's attack Salamaua, Finschhafen and the bridge at Rempi. Single B-24's hit the airfields at Gasmata and Cape Gloucester.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Apr 3, 2022 7:22:24 GMT
Day 1301 of World War II, April 3rd 1943
Air War over Europe
225 Lancasters, 113 Halifaxes and 10 Mosquitoes attacked Essen. 12 Halifaxes and 9 Lancasters were lost, a further 2 Halifaxes crashed in England. This was the first raid in which more than 200 Lancasters had taken part. The weather forecast was not entirely favorable for this raid and the Pathfinders prepared a plan both for sky-marking and ground-marking the target. In the event, there was no cloud over Essen and the Main Force crews were somewhat confused to find two kinds of marking taking place. The resultant bombing, however, was accurate and a higher proportion of aircraft produced good bombing photographs than on any of the earlier successful raids on Essen. Local reports showed that there was widespread damage in the centre and in the western half of Essen. 635 buildings were destroyed and 526 seriously damaged.118 people - 88 civilians, 10 flak gunners, 2 railwaymen, 2 policemen and 16 French workers - were killed and 458 people were injured. Almost the whole of NJG 1 were involved in the RAF raid on Essen and several pilots recorded multiple kills. Triple victories were awarded to Major Werner Streib of Stab I./NJG 1 and Hptm. Hans-Dieter Frank of 2./NJG 1 while Hptm. Herbert Lutje from 8./NJG 1 and Oblt. Eckart-Wilhelm von Bonin of 6./NJG 1 were credited with 2 bombers apiece. Single scores were claimed by Lt. August Geiger of 7./NJG 1, Major Helmut Lent of Stab IV./NJG 1 and Oblt. Martin Bauer from 3./NJG 1.
FW190 fighter bombers raided Eastbourne and strafed streets crowded with shoppers.
12 Venturas bombed shipping at Brest and 8 Mosquitoes attacked railway targets in Belgium and France. 1 Mosquito was lost.
16 Wellingtons went minelaying off Brittany ports. 1 aircraft was lost.
Battle of the Atlantic
German submarine U-155 torpedoes and sinks U.S. tanker Gulfstate off Key West, Florida, 24°22'N, 80°27'W. USCG plane rescues three survivors, district patrol craft YP-351 15; 34 merchant seamen and 9 Armed Guard sailors perish with the ship.
British destroyer HMS Shikari rescues seven survivors (five merchant seamen and two Armed Guard sailors) from U.S. freighter William Pierce Frye, sunk by German submarine U-160 on 29 March. Thirty-five merchant seamen have perished, as have 22 of the 24-man Armed Guard.
North African campaign
Patton's thrust by US II Corps around El Guettar was stopped by determined Axis defenses. NAAF fighters strafed tanks and trucks at Kebira and Jabal Nasir Allah. 13 Stukas near El Guettar were attacked by Spitfires of the US 52d FG. The Spitfires shot down 12 of the Stukas and lost one Spitfire. As remembered by Col. Collinsworth;
"One squadron relieved another squadron on station. We were patrolling all daylight hours - you talk about a waste of time and flying hours, this was it! But Vinson, his squadron was to replace another squadron and at the appointed time, the squadron that was to leave the patrol didn't see the replacements, which was Vinson and his squadron. So because of fuel, they left at the appointed time, but Vinson wasn't there. Well, what Vinson had done was delay his takeoff 5 minutes intentionally, and maintained low-level flight across there to El Guettar and lo, and behold, he caught 13 Stukas doing their business! They shot down, to the best of my knowledge, 12 of those Stukas and lost one Spitfire. Now, unfortunately, that one lone Spitfire was Arnold Vinson."
Capt. Vinson did become an ace, along with Capt. Norman McDonald who shot down 3 that day, to become the first Spitfire aces in the Med.
USAAF 9th AF B-24s bombed El Maou Airdrome in the Sfax area during the night. P-40s flew fighter-bomber missions north of Gabes. B-25s bombed the airfield at Saint Marie du Zit. Western Desert AF light bombers hit motor transport and gun positions north of Oued el Akarit.
Pacific War
PACIFIC
Submarine Haddock (SS-231) sinks Japanese fleet tanker Arima Maru north of Palau, 10°26'N, 135°00'E.
Submarine Pickerel (SS-177) sinks Japanese submarine chaser Ch 13 southeast of Shiriyasaki, Japan, 40°03'N, 141°58'E, but is afterwards sunk by minelayer Shirakami and auxiliary subchaser Bunzan Maru off northern Honshu.
BURMA-INDIA
(Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 17 B-25's, operating in 2 forces, bomb the Myitnge bridge, scoring hits on both approaches.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS
(Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, A-20's hit Kitchen Creek while single B-24's bomb Korindindi. In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-17's pound shipping and the airfield at Kavieng while single B-24's bomb Kavieng.
PACIFIC
Submarine Haddock (SS-231) sinks Japanese fleet tanker Arima Maru north of Palau, 10°26'N, 135°00'E.
Submarine Pickerel (SS-177) sinks Japanese submarine chaser Ch 13 southeast of Shiriyasaki, Japan, 40°03'N, 141°58'E, but is afterwards sunk by minelayer Shirakami and auxiliary subchaser Bunzan Maru off northern Honshu.
USAAF B-17s (5th Air Force) sink Japanese transport Florida Maru in Kavieng harbor, 02°35'S, 150°49'E. B-17s and B-24s damage heavy cruiser Aoba and destroyer Fumizuki off Kavieng.
Japanese destroyer Kazagumo is damaged by mine, Kahili Bay, Bougainville.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Apr 4, 2022 2:57:50 GMT
Day 1302 of World War II, April 4th 1943Air War over Europe 203 Lancasters, 168 Wellingtons, 116 Halifaxes and 90 Stirlings made the largest raid so far on Kiel. This was the largest 'non-1000' bombing force of the war so far. 12 aircraft were lost. The Pathfinders encountered thick cloud and strong winds over the target so that accurate marking became very difficult. It was reported that decoy fire sites may also have drawn off some of the bombing. Kiel reported that only a few bombs in the town with 11 buildings destroyed, 46 damaged and 26 people being killed. No commercial premises were hit. The only building hit apart from houses was a Catholic church. German aircraft began dropping mines in the Thames Estuary near London. The US Eighth AF targeted the Renault plant in Paris for bombing by 97 B-17s of the US 1st BW. Three diversions by the bombers drew the defending German fighters away and allowed 18 B-17s of the US 305th BG to successfully bomb the target. On the return flight, the bombers were bounced over Rouen by 75 fighters from JG 26, I./JG 2 and the single Staffel of JG 105 led by the Geschwaderkommodore of JG 2, Major Walter Oesau. Heavy damage was caused by the German defenders before the escorting RAF Spitfires appeared and a massive dogfight ensued, extending over the Channel. Five Spitfires were shot down and 2 B-17s were credited to II./JG 26's Gruppenkommandeur Hptm. 'Wutz' Galland. Oblt. Karl Borris of 8./JG 26 claimed 1 B-17 while Major Oesau was credited with a 4th bomber. JG 26 lost 2 pilots killed from MG fire from the bombers and one pilot injured. Victory claims being what they were, one B-17 crew was given credit for destroying 10 Luftwaffe fighters. 60 Venturas attacked an airfield near Caen(24 aircraft), a shipyard at Rotterdam(24 aircraft) and a railway target at St Brieue (12 aircraft). All targets were successfully bombed but 2 aircraft from the Rotterdam raid were lost. Of the RAF Venturas that were lost attacking Caen and Rotterdam, credit for the kills was given to Uffz. Schonrock of 4./JG 1 and Fw. Roden from 4./JG 1 who also claimed a P-38. Six Spitfires were also claimed by pilots of 5. and 4./JG 1. Battle of the MediterraneanThe US Ninth AF dispatched 99 B-24s to attack Naples, concentrating on the dock area. In Sicily, RAF Liberators bombed Palermo. Meanwhile NAAF B-25s bombed shipping at Carloforte on San Petro Isalnd and 64 B-17s hit Capodichino airfield and the marschaling yards at Naples. Photo: Malta-based Torpedo Craft Attack Italian Shipping. 4 April 1943, Malta Harbour - the MTB slips past a British submarine when leaving harbour to attack Axis coastal shipping North African campaign NAAF P-38s dive-bombed a beached freighter off Cape Zebib. Other P-38s escorted bombing raids. NATAF A-20s hit La Fauconnerie airfield while B-25s hit El Djem and Sainte Maries du Zit airfields. Fighters accompanied light and medium bombers on attacks and carried out support missions over the battle areas of Tunisia. Ofw. Johann Picler of 7./JG 77 claimed one B-25 for his 32d victory. Pacific WarPACIFIC Submarine Haddock (SS-231), damaged by depth charges off Palaus, 09°31'N, 133°39'E, is forced to terminate her patrol. Submarine Porpoise (SS-172) sinks Japanese whaling ship Koa Maru near Eniwetok atoll, 13°10'N, 162°05'E. BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 8 B-25's hit the Maymyo engine sheds. Nine others bomb the Pyawbwe railroad yards. Seven B-24's heavily damage the Thilawa oil refinery. SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher assumes the position of Commander Air Solomons (COMAIRSOL) which has operational control of all Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), USAAF, USMC and USN aircraft in the South Pacific. A detachment of the 18th Photographic Squadron (Heavy), 4th Photographic Group with B-25's begins operating from Espiritu Santo. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, B-25's and A-20's pound areas along the Huon Gulf, around Kitchen Creek and the Heaths and Lane Plantations. Single B-17's bomb Salamaua. In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-17's bomb the town area and airfield at Kavieng. Single B-17's bomb Cape Gloucester.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Apr 5, 2022 2:49:39 GMT
Day 1303 of World War II, April 5th 1943Air War over Europe The US sent 104 B-17s and B-24s of the US 1st BW to raid the ERLA aircraft repair facility at Antwerp, escorted by 9 squadrons of RAF Spitfires. The bombing of the factory turned out to be one of the major tragedies of WW II. The Germans had taken over the Minerva motorworks when they occupied Belgium in 1940 and 3,000 people were employed there, repairing damaged German planes and therefore on the priority list for attention by the US Eighth AF. When the escort Spitfires withdrew at the limit of their endurance, the Germans struck, breaking up the US formation causing the bombing run to be poor. Oblt. Otto Stammberger described the attack by JG 26; "At about 1430 hours a report was received at Vitry that many bombers were assembling over southeastern England. Neither the direction of the attack not its target could yet be determined. Our Gruppe was called to cockpit readiness; at this command 30 pilots climbed into their aircraft and made ready for takeoff. We recieved running reports over the loudspeakers of the movement of the aircraft, which were now identified as heavy bombers - about 100 of them. They were still circling while assembling. At 1445 hours we were sent off into the air; first to wait over Amiens and then over Bethune. The bomber stream took a southeastern course toward Dunkirk and we were sent to Dunkirk. The heavies had now reached the coast near Ostend and flew in the direction Ghent-Brussels. We turned and rushed toward Brussels. Past Ghent, the stream suddenly turned east toward Antwerp. We had already been in the air more than half an hour and had used up over half our fuel as we had been flying at high speed trying to catch up to the bombers.
After about 45 minutes we saw the bombers far ahead on an easterly course; we were to their north. Now we took out after them at full throttle, climbing at a slight angle in order to be able to storm through the formation from the front. Suddenly we saw the bomb carpet of the first formation strike on the southern edge of Antwerp with large explosions and clouds of smoke. We had just reached a good attack position and broke to the right, diving on the first pulk, which made a left turn away from us. But the pulk following it was in just the right position for our attack. Just as this formation dropped its bombs, I found a Boeing squarely in my sights. Everything now took place in fractions of a second. The salvo from my 4 cannon and 2 machine guns hit squarely in the bomber's cockpit; I had to pull up quickly as the bomber suddenly tipped forward - the pilot had probably been hit. The aircraft entered a spin to the left. Most of the crew bailed out. The B-17 kept flying, pilotless, for some distance; it finally crashed at about 1535 hours. After my victory, I still had enough fuel for 10 or 15 minutes of flight, and returned to my base with as many of my companions as were still with me."Four B-17s were shot down by JG 26 including one each for Geschwaderkommodore Priller - his 84th kill - Gruppenkommandeur Hptm. 'Wutz' Galland's 38th victory, Obfw. Addi Glunz' 32d victory and Oblt. Stammberger's 5th victory. But this success had a cost. The Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 26, Hptm. Fritz Geisshardt was hit by return fire from the bombers and landed at Ghent, badly wounded. The doctors could not save him and he died the next morning. In a mission summary, Brigadier General Frank Armstrong of the US Eighth AF's 1st BW stated; "This was the strongest and most aggressive force of fighters that 1st Bombardment Wing has ever faced. The enemy, with his tactics of attacking in formation, picking out the low aircraft, boring in to make the attack and then breaking away downward as the next wave came in, was successful in destroying 4 aircraft and acting as a definite deterrent on the bombing run."
Two bombs hit the aircraft factory, killing many workers but the rest of the bombs were released too late and fell on the residential part of Mortsel, a suburb of Antwerp, over a mile away from the target. A total of 936 civilians were killed including 209 schoolchildren. Only 18 children survived the bombing of St. Lutgardis school at No. 30 Mechelsesteenweg. In all, 342 people were injured and 220 houses destroyed.12 Venturas attacked a tanker at Brest. The ship was not hit but nearby dock installations were. 3 Venturas were lost. North African campaign Montgomery was finally ready to attack the Germans and Italians on the Wadi Akarit Line. The Axis forces had used the time wisely and had improved the defenses so that the 15.Panzerdivision and 90th Light Division were in good shape but most of the armour had been sent north to engage US forces around El Guettar. Four hours before the battle began, the 4th Indian Division staged an attack on the Italian positions on the 900ft high Djebel Fatnassa that commanded the wadi from the rear. In the lead were Gurkhas, warriors from Nepal who began scaling Fatnassa to secure the pathway along the ridgeline above the wadi. For Italian Alpine troops high in the hills overlooking Wadi Akarit, the nightmare came on a starless night. Sentries knew nothing of the assault by the 4th Indian until they felt the cold steel of Gurkha kukris against their throats. In a few hours, more than 4,000 Italians had surrendered. The Indian encirclement - over a wide mountainous area - was an overwhelming success. By dawn, the Gurkhas had secured the high ground, eliminating a key position of the Axis defense. Operation FLAX began which was designed to destroy - in the air and on the ground - enemy air transports and escrts employed in ferrying personnel and supplies to Tunis. NAAF B-17s and A-20s bombed airfields at Sidi Ahmed and Tunis. Fighetrs attacked E-Boats off Pont-du-Fahs and vehicles south of Bou Hamran. Western Desert AF and NAAF aircraft hit motor transport west of Cekhirs and struck shipping. During the day NAAF aircraft claimed the destruction of nearly 50 aircraft in aerial combat. As the daylight bombers returned to their bases, RAF Wellingtons hammered targets behind the battle lines, destroying a railway station, barracks and factories near Sfax. Vital Axis supply routes took a terrible punishment. In an effort to re-supply the Afrika Korps trapped in Tunis, the Luftwaffe tried to fly in supplies from Sicily and southern Italy. 65 JU 52s were sent across the Med in one of the first large scale re-supply missions. The Junkers were escorted by only 2 Bf 109s from II./JG 27 and 3 Bf 110s from III./ZG 26. These were attacked near Cap Bon by 46 P-38s from the US 1st and 82d FG, divided into 2 formations. The Germans scrambled whatever they could to aid the hard pressed formation of transports but the whole reinforcement amounted to nothing more than 8 Bf 109s from II./JG 53. The German fighter pilots shot down 6 P-38s, but of course were so outnumbered that they were unable to cover the Ju 52s against the masses of Lightnings. No less than 14 Ju 52s were shot down. Elsewhere, P-38s accounted for another 15 German fighters. Combined efforts of NAAF fighters and bombers destroyed up to 200 Luftwaffe aircraft on 5 April, with many destroyed on the ground. Photo: Lieutenant General W G Holmes, GOC 9th Army, stands on a Sherman tank of the Wiltshire Yeomanry to watch a gunnery display, 5 April 1943 Photo: A Priest 105mm self-propelled gun of 1st Royal Horse Artillery firing on the range during a demonstration in front of Lieutenant General W G Holmes, GOC 9th Army, 5 April 1943 Battle of the AtlanticGerman submarine U-563 torpedoes U.S. tanker Sunoil, a straggler from convoy HX 231, at 58°16'N, 38°00'W. Armed Guard gunfire forces the attacker to submerge, but U-563 torpedoes and finishes off the ship later the same day. British destroyer HMS Vidette, sent from HX 231 in response to the tanker's distress call, never locates any survivors; Sunoil is lost with all hands (43 merchant seamen and a 26-man Armed Guard). Battle of the MediterraneanAs Allied troops prepared for the final push on Tunis and Bizerte, British and American aircraft launched their greatest assault on Axis targets. More than a thousand sorties were flown, a record in the North African campaign. Allied Fortresses and Mitchells saturated 3 airfields - Borizza, Boca de Felso and Milo - on the Italian mainland. More than 250 grounded aircraft were destroyed. P-38s flew several fighter sweeps over the Straits of Sicily. United StatesPhoto: The U.S. Navy escort carrier USS Casablanca (ACV-55), at right, about to be launched at Henry J. Kaiser's shipyard, Vancouver, Washington (USA), on 5 April 1943. Two of her 49 sister ships are under construction at left Pacific WarALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, reconnaissance covers all islands W of Kiska with negative results. 16 B-24's and 6 B-25's bomb the Attu runway and Kiska's Main Camp and runway. 4 P-38's fly top cover. Later, 3 B-25's, 16 P-40's, and 16 P-38's bomb Kiska again. BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 17 B-25's bomb railroad targets at Mandalay; 2 others hit Ngamya. Three B-24's bomb the Prome railroad yards; 5 hit the Mahlwagon yards and roundhouse. 12 P-40's and a B-25 support ground forces in N Burma. CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) In Burma, P-40's on armored reconnaissance strafe 15 horse-drawn wagons at Wanling. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, single B-17's attack occupied areas at several points along the Huon Gulf coast, hit Finschaffen on the Huon Peninsula, bomb Madang and other points on the N coast of New Guinea and hit Cape Gloucester on New Britain Island in the Bismarck Archipelago. BURMA The Imperial Japanese Army forces on the Malaya Penninsula begin advancing NW toward India. PACIFIC USN destroyer USS O'Bannon (DD-450) sinks Japanese submarine RO 34 near Russell Island. Submarine Finback (SS-230) inflicts further damage upon Japanese troopship Suwa Maru (previously damaged by Tunny (SS-282) on 28 March and beached) off Wake Island, 19°20'N, 166°35'E.
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