B-24s In Production at the Willow Run Bomber Plant |
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Air Operations, Europe
Stukas attack shipping at Murmansk.
BOMBER COMMAND50 aircraft are sent to the Western Baltic on a mine-laying mission. 2 Hampdens and 2 Wellingtons are lost.
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]Barents Sea
The British light cruiser Trinidad is sunk by German bombers while escorting an Arctic convoy. 62 crew and passengers are lost.
[ | ]Battle of the Atlantic
The US freighter Nicarao (1445t) is torpedoed and sunk by U-751 north of San Salvador, Bahamas losing 8 of the 35-man crew.
[ | ]Burma
The first British forces reach India in the retreat from Burma. The British casualties from the campaign have been about 30,000 from a force of 45,000. Many of those 'casualties' are Burmese deserters. The Chinese losses cannot be computed, but must have been enormous. There are about 95,000 Chinese engaged and only one formation, 38th Div, remains as a viable fighting unit. The Japanese losses of less than 8,000 reflect their superior training, tactics, equipment and air power. With the monsoon season beginning the Japanese can be well satisfied with having so rapidly overrun Burma and with cutting China off from surface communication.
[ | ]Eastern Front
After fierce fighting, troops from von Manstein's 11th Army capture Kerch eliminating the Russians from the Crimea, except for Sevastopol in the southwest corner of the peninsula. The Russians lose 150,000(176,000?) men, including many taken prisoner, and most of its armor. Stalin's reaction was, 'You see, that's where going on the defensive gets you.'
FINLAND AND NORWAYThe German XXXVI Corps and Finnish III Corps attack the Soviet 26th Army at Kastenga. However, the attacks are beaten off.
SOUTHERN USSRNorth of Kharkov the German 3rd and 23rd Panzer Divs continue their attacks, forcing the Soviet 28th and 38th Armies on to the defensive. However, Soviet success to the south of the city means Timoshenko can think about committing his mobile units to exploit the advance. If Krsnograd falls, the German 6th and 17th Armies will be endangered. In the Crimea the German 11th Army mops up after its victory. The Soviet Crimea Front has lost 162,282 dead or captured, 14,284 wounded and 1,100 artillery pieces, 260 tanks and 3,800 vehicles either destroyed or captured. In addition, the Soviets have lost more than 300 aircraft shot down.
The German High Command determines to counterattack the Southwestern Front and destroy it, thus increasing the chances of success for its own offensive in the area.[MORE]
[ | ]India
Gen Harold Alexander transfers his headquarters from Burma to the area of Imphal, India. Gen Stilwell also arrives in India.
[ | ]New Guinea
Australian reinforcements in the form of half a brigade and groups of anti-aircraft gunners, are dispatched to Port Moresby to bolster the local defenses.
[ | ]North Africa
The British 8th Army is preparing to go over to the offensive, but Axis forces show they may be ready first to begin an attack.
[ | ]Pacific
The US submarine Tuna (SS-203) sinks the Japanese transport Toyoharu Maru (454t) 65 miles off Sohuksando,Korea.
[ | ]Soviet Union, Home Front
The rocket-powered fighter, the Berezniak-Isnaev BI-1, is flight-tested.
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United States, Home Front
Gasoline rationing begins in 17 states. The weekly ration is 3 gallons for non-essential vehicles.
First WAAC Sworn In |
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WAAC Inspection by the Director |
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Vichy France
3 Vichy French warships, the carrier Béarn and 2 cruisers, are immobilized at Martinique at the insistence of the US Government.
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War Crimes
In retaliation for the US Doolittle air raid on Tokyo, Japanese troops kill 100 Chinese families.
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