Air Operations, Europe

The Allied bombing effort this month can be divided into four categories. First, general strategic bombing, area bombing carried out solely by the heavy bombers of the RAF. Targets include Kiel, Bremen and Brunswick. Second, the attacks on particular target systems including oil, rail transport and aircraft manufacturing. Oil targets are attacked by both British and Americans and include Zeitz, Bohlen, Freita, Kolin, Poolitz and Hamburg-Meerbeck. Rail centers hit are Saarbrucken, Mulhouse, Strasbourg and others. Aircraft works bombed are Anklam, Neustadt and Rakmel. The third type of operation is in direct support of the ground forces. British light and medium forces fly 33,000 sorties in this work.

Developments during the month include shuttle raids by the 8th Air Force in which planes fly to Russia and then Italy, attacking on each trip. Also large forces from Bomber Command are sent over Germany during daylight for the first time since the early months of the war. In all the US 8th and 15th Air Forces drop 75,000 tons and Bomber Command 65,000 tons. The German V-weapon effort also continues, causing 4,000 casualties in Britain this month.

Air Operations, Carolines

• FEAF B-24s attack Utagal Island.
• 2 475th Fighter Group P-38s down a D3A 'Val' dive bomber and 2 A6M2-N 'Rufe' float planes over Koror Island in the Palau Islands.

Air Operations, CBI

• 8 10th Air Force B-25s attack the rail line between Hopin and Naba.
• 10th Air Force fighter-bombers attack Shwegu and a bridge near Mohnyin, and support Allied ground forces near Myitkyina and Taungni.

• 8 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack the airfield at Wuchang.
• 2 B-25s attack Siangyin.
• More than 90 14th Air Force P-40s and P-51s attack numerous river targets and the airfield at Henyang.

Air Operations, East Indies

V Bomber Command B-24s attack the Namlea airfield on Boeroe.

Air Operations, Europe

• 777 aircraft are sent to bomb various V-weapons sites. Included in this total are 385 Lancasters, 324 Halifaxex and 67 Mosquitos. Only 79 aircraft bomb targets. The reason why the others do not are no reported by Bomber Command, but the most likely reason is poor weather conditions.
• No aircraft are lost.

Air Operations, Marianas

• Organized Japanese resistance on Tinian ceases.
• The 318th Fighter Group, 6th Night Fighter Squadron, and 41st Medium Bomb Group will continue to support US ground forces on Guam and conduct attacks against the bypassed Japanese bases on Pagan and Rota islands.

Air Operations, New Guinea

Most 5 Air Force aircraft are grounded by bad weather, but several B-25s and P-39s attack ground targets.

Battle of the Atlantic

The Kriegsmarine deploys radio-controlled Linsen assault boats against Allied shipping. These small vessels are packed with 600 pounds of explosives and account for the early loss of the destroyer HMS Quorn and various other vessels.

China

The Japanese still besiege Hengyang, frustrating attempts by the Chinese garrison to open a gap through the enemy lines.

The US 14th Air Force has carried out 4,454 missions since May 26 in support of the Chinese forces engaged in central east China.

Diplomatic Relations

An anti-Japanese Burmese government-in-exile is formed in India.

Eastern Front

Troops from Ivan Chernyakhovsky's 3rd Belorussian Front, heading for Königsberg in East Prussia, take Kaunas, capital of Lithuania. Elements of the 1st Baltic Front reach the Gulf of Riga about 25 miles west of the city. However, the Russians are unable to consolidate so as to capture Riga and isolate the German Army Group North from the rest of the German army. Many of the routes leading to east Prussia from the Baltic States, (described by the Germans as Ostland) are cut.

In Poland the patriots of the Home Army (Armija Krajowa), under 'General Bor' the nom de guerre of Gen Tadeusz Komorovski, begin open operations in Warsaw. This army is aligned politically with the exile government in London and, although by no means of one mind in political affairs, is generally anti-communist. The rising is timed so that when the Russians arrive in Warsaw, as they seem certain to do very shortly, they will find an established Polish government with the prestige of having liberated the national capital. However, the Russian accounts claim that because of the long rapid advance they have made during July, they are unable, for the moment, to move further.

The Russian advance halts suddenly at the suburb of Praga, the other side of the Vistula. The western position is that the Russians have stopped so that the Germans would do the job wiping out the anti-Soviet forces in Poland. The most telling point on the western side is the reluctance of the Russians to lend any help to British and American plans and, after much negotiation, attempts to drop supplies to the Poles. Needless to say, the insurgents are surrounded and virtually annihilated by the Germans. The remnants of the patriot forces surrender on October 2.[MORE]

Finland, Politics

President Risto Ryti resigns. Marshal Karl Gustav Mannerheim is chosen to replace him. The Finns hope this will facilitate negotiations with the Soviets.

Guam

US Marines and infantry pursue the enemy northwards, reaching a line that goes from the west coast north of Agana to Pago Bay on the east coast. They have taken more than half of the island.

New Guinea

Operations on Biak and on the Vogelkop peninsula continue on a small scale.

In the Aitape sector the Americans advance as far as the Niumen stream, stabilizing their advanced lines.

Air Operations, Carolines

FEAF B-24s attack the airfield on Yap.

Air Operations, CBI

• 10th Air Force fighter-bombers support Allied ground forces around Taungni and attack numerous targets of opportunity in northern and central Burma.
• P-40s attack strongpoints and artillery positions near Myitkyina.

• 11 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s and 32 14th Air Force P-38s and P-40s attack Tengchung, breaching the city wall in five places.
• 9 P-38s and P-40s attack a bridge at Tingka.
• 8 P-40s attack Yangtze River shipping.
• An 81st Fighter Group P-47 downs a Ki-48 'Lily' bobmer over the Anking airfield.

Air Operations, East Indies

• V Bomber Command B-24s attack Cape Chater and Lautem.
• B-25s attack a military camp on Timor.
• B-25s conduct sweeps throughout the Molucca Islands and Lesser Sunda Islands.
• V Fighter Command fighter-bombers attack vessels and coastal targets at Talaud in the Sunda Islands.

Air Operations, Europe

• 394 aircraft including 234 Lancasters, 99 Halifaxes, 40 Mosquitos, 20 Stirlings and 1 Lightning bomb 1 flying bomb launch site and 3 storage facilities. Visibility is clear and all targets are claimed to have been hit with good results.
• 2 Lancasters of No. 5 Group are lost on the Bois de Cassan site raid.
• 54 Lancasters of Nos. 1 and 8 Groups attack naval vessels in the port area of Le Havre in good visibilty and without a loss.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• V Bomber Command A-20s attack the airfield at Nabire.
• 5th Air Force bombers, fighter-bombers, and fighters attack numerous targets in bypassed areas; and V Fighter Command fighter-bombers attack the Mapia Islands.

Battle of the Atlantic

The US destroyer escort Fiske (DE-143) is sunk by a topedo from the German submarine U-804 in the North Atlantic.

Burma-China

On the Salween front the aircraft supporting the Chinese attacks on Teng-chung bomb the town walls and open at least five breaches.

Diplomatic Relations

Turkey breaks off diplomatic and commercial relations with Germany but refuses to declare war as requested by the Allies.

Eastern Front

POLAND - The battle at Wolomin continues, with the Germans feeding in the 4th Panzer Division. The Soviet 69th Army crosses the Vistula at Pulawy.

The fighting at Wolomin intensifies as the Germans throw the 4th Panzer Division in to support the 3 panzer divisions already in action. The Poles continue their attacks in Warsaw, gaining control of a larger area of the city. Significantly, an assault upon the Okacie airbase fails. The capture of the airfield would have given the Home Army a point of supply for Allied aircraft. The Germans defending the base repel repeated Polish attacks and inflict heavy casualties. Hitler appoints SS Gen Erich von dem Bach-Zelewski to command the forces tasked with the defeat of the Polish revolt.

Along the Vistula, the 69th Army succeeds in crossing the Pulawy to support those armies already across near the town.

Air Operations, Carolines

• FEAF B-24s attack the Woleai and Yap atolls.
• VII Bomber Command B-24s attack the Truk Atoll.

Air Operations, CBI

• 10th Air Force B-25s attack Wanling, rail bridges between Myitkyina and Naba, and a road bridge at Panghkam.
• 10th Air Force P-47s and P-51s support Allied ground troops near Sahmaw and Taungni, and attack Mosit and Shwegu, a factory at Mohnyin, and Japanese Army artillery positions and ground troops at Maingna and Myitkyina.

• 23 308th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Yoyang.
• 6 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack Mangshih.
• Nearly 150 14th Air Force fighter-bombers attack targets of opportunity over a broad area, including the Salween River front.

Air Operations, East Indies

V Bomber Command B-25s attack oil-drilling facilities at Boela, Ceram.

Air Operations, Europe

• 1,114 aircraft carry out major raids on the Bois de Cassan, Forêt de Nieppe and Trossy St Maxim flying bomb storage sites. In the aircraft total are 601 Lancasters, 492 Halifaxes and 21 Mosquitos. 1 Lightning and 1 RCM aircraft accompany the raids. The weather is clear and all raids are successful.
• 5 Lancasters are lost on the Trossy St Maxim raid and 1 on the Bois de Cassan raid.

Air Operations, Marianas

41st Medium Bomb Group B-25 gunships and 318th Fighter Group P-47s, all based on Saipan, undertake their first mission in direct support of USMC and US Army infantry on Guam.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• Most of the 5th Air Force is grounded by bad weather, but V Bomber Command B-25s are able to support US Army ground troops on Biak and attack Urarom, MacCluer Gulf, and Japanese ground troops at Bira.
• A-20s and V Fighter Command fighter-bombers attack bypassed areas.

Battle of the Atlantic

Linse ('Lentil') explosive boats, or human torpedoes, sink the destroyer Quorn. 4 officers and 126 ratings are killed.

Burma-China

Units of the Chinese 50th Division take Mytkyina, capturing 187 Japanese, almost all sick or wounded. The rest of the Japanese garrison has either escaped or been killed. The long struggle, which has cost the Chinese 972 and the Americans 272 killed and 3,189 Chinese and 955 Americans wounded, is a most valuable victory for the Allies, since it reopens land communications between India and China.

On the Salween front the Chinese 8th Army attacks Teng-chung and Sung Shan.

Eastern Front

Ivan Konev's troops, the 1st Ukraine Front, seize crossings over the Vistula just south of Sandomierz itself 110 miles south of Warsaw.

Army Group North has been struggling to concentrate its forces near Riga to re-establish contact with the 3rd Panzer Army. The Soviet High Command begins to move the 5th Guards Tank Army up to support the 1st Baltic Front.

At Wolomin the Germans commit yet another division, the 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking hitting 2nd Tank Army. With heavy fighting inside Warsaw, the Red Army continues to throw forces across the Vistula. Heavy fighting rages around the Sandomierz and Baranow bridgeheads.

Guam

The US 77th Infantry Division advances on the right flank, but the Japanese have evacuated the fortified positions in the jungle and retired to the north. The Americans take the village of Barrigada. On the left flank, the 3rd Marine Division goes ahead quickly, occupying Finegayan and pushing on towards Tumon Bay. American naval vessels shell Mount Santa Rosa, which overlooks the northern part of the island and on which the Japanese have concentrated.

Air Operations, Bonin and Volcano Islands

Carrier aircraft from Task Group 58.1 and Task Group 58.3 attack Chichi Jima and Iwo Jima. When a Japanese convoy composed of 5 freighters, 2 large landing ships, 1 destroyer, and 2 destroyer-escorts attempts to flee the area, the US Navy carrier aircraft claim all 5 freighters, the 2 landing ships, and 1 destroyer sunk, and escorting US Navy cruisers sink the 2 destroyer-escorts.

VF-19 F6Fs down 2 A6M Zeros over the Iwo Jima area at 1100 and 1240 hours, respectively.

Air Operations, Carolines

FEAF B-24s attack Utagal Island and the airfield on Yap.

Air Operations, East Indies

• V Bomber Command B-24s attack oil facilities at Boela.
• A 475th Fighter Group P-38 downs a Ki-43 'Oscar' fighter over Piroe (Ceram) at 1145 hours.
• A 49th Fighter Group P-38 downs a Ki-43 'Oscar' fighter over Amboina.

Air Operations, Europe

For the first time, at the request of the Russians, fighter-bombers of the US 15th Air Force carry out a huge raid on a number of Romanian airfields, and land on Russian bases.

The Gloster Meteor jet fighter debuts against V-1s.

• 291 aircraft of Nos. 6 and 8 Groups attack the flying bomb sites at Bois de Cassan and Trossy St Maxim in clear visibility. Include in the total are 169 Halifaxes, 112 Lancasters and 10 Mosquitos.
• 2 Halifaxes of No. 6 Group are lost on the Bois de Cassan raid and 2 Lancasters are lost on the Trossy St Maxim raid.
• 288 Lancasters of Nos. 1, 3 and 8 Groups attack the Bec-d'Ambes and Pauillac oil storage sites in clear conditions and without a loss. 27 Serrate Mosquitos are used as escorts to the bombers attacking these 2 sites. This is the first use of Group No. 100 Mosquito fighters in this way. They do not encounter any German fighters.
• 27 Lancasters, 2 Mosquitos and 1 Mustang of No. 617 Squadron attack a railway bridge at Étaples. Some hits are scored but the 1,000-lb bombs used fail to destroy the bridge.
• There are no losses.
• 3 Mosquitos attache the Forêt de Nieppe storage site without a loss.

• 12 Halifaxes lay mines off Brest, 29 aircraft are on Resistance ops and there are 11 OTU sorties.
• 1 Halifax and 1 Lysander are lost on Resistance operations.

A posthumous Victoria Cross is awarded later to Squadron Leader I. W. Bazalgette of No. 635 Squadron, captain of one of the aircraft lost on the all-No. 8 Group raid on Trossy St Maxim. Bazalgette's Lancaster was hit by flak and set on fire while approaching the target but the pilot carried on to release his markers and bombs on the target. (The statement in the VC citation that Bazalgette was Master Bomber for this raid is not correct, although he had acted as Master Bomber on earlier raids.) On leaving the target, the Lancaster dived steeply, almost out of control, but the pilot was able to recover from this and 4 members of his crew were able to bale out. Bazalgette then made a good crash-landing in an attempt to save his wounded bomb aimer and the mid-upper gunner who was overcome by fumes or smoke, but the Lancaster exploded and all 3 men still inside were killed. Squadron Leader Bazalgette and his 2 comrades are buried at the small village of Senantes.

Air Operations, CBI

• 10th Air Force B-25s support Allied ground forces advancing on Sahmaw.
• 10th Air Force P-51s support Allied ground forces around Sahmaw and Taungni.
• Fighter-bombers attack a wide range of targets across northern and central Burma.
• 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s under 14th Air Force control attack the airfields at Hsenwi and Lashio.
• 4 449th Fighter Squadron P-38s attack two bridges at Mongyu.

• 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack Mangshih.
• 70 14th Air Force P-40s attack shipping, dumps, and ground troops in the Tungting Lake and Yangtze River areas.
• 32 P-40s attack Tengchung.
• A 5th CACW Fighter Group P-40 downs a Ki-43 'Oscar' fighter over the Siang River at 0555 hours.
• 3rd CACW Fighter Group P-40s down 2 transports near Sinti during the morning.
• A 23rd Fighter Group P-40 downs a D3A 'Val' dive bomber in an engagement near Hengyang at 1400 hours.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• V Bomber Command B-24s attack Faan.
• B-25s and A-20s attack the airfield at Nabire and oilfields at Kasim Island and Klamono.
• A-20s and V Fighter Command fighter-bombers attack barges, troops, and dumps east of the Driniumor River and in bypassed areas.
• P-39s attack Pegun Island.

Atlantic

German MTBs fire T3D Dackel ('Daschhund') long-range torpedoes at shipping in Seine Bay. This is repeated 5 more nights in August. Only 2 ships are hit.

Burma

On the Salween front the Chinese succeed in penetrating the town of Teng-chung, where bitter house-to-house fighting takes place. The British 2nd Division, XXXIII Corps, coming up from the area of Imphal, occupies Tamu, across the Burmese frontier.

Eastern Front

The German Army Group North pushes back the troops of the 1st Baltic Front which have reached the Gulf of Riga and re-opens the Estonia-Latvia corridor between Riga and the Russian salient north of Jelgava.

The 16th Army launches a fierce counterattack in Latvia, hitting the 51st Army south of Jelgava. Heavy fighting ensues but the German progress is slow.

In Warsaw the Poles gain control of the Mokotow, Czerniakow, Powisle, Old Town and Zoliborz districts but come under increasingly heavy German counterattack. More and more German units, mainly SS, are poured into the city. Some of these units are of the worst type, made up of criminals and murderers, an example being the infamous Dirlewanger Brigade, Elements of the 19th Panzer Divison fight their way across the city from the Praga suburb but encounter fierce resistance.

To the south the 1st Ukrainian Front commits the 5th Guards Army to the fighting at Sandomierz.

Air Operations, Bonin and Volcano Islands

• Carrier aircraft from Task Group 58.1 and Task Group 58.3 attack Chichi Jima and Iwo Jima.
• 2 VF-13 F6Fs down a G4M 'Betty' bomber at sea at 0645 hours.
• A VF-2 F6F downs an H8K 'Emily' flying boat at sea at 0845 hours. A VF-2 F6F downs another H8K 'Emily' flying boat at sea at 1129 hours.
• A VF-8 F6F downs an H8K 'Emily' at sea at 1520 hours.

Air Operations, Carolines

FEAF B-24s attack the Yap Atoll.

Air Operations, CBI

• 14 10th Air Force B-25s attack Taungni and stores at Bilumyo. 50 10th Air Force P-51s attack the Taungni area.
• 21 P-47s attack many targets in the Bhamo area.
• 15 14th Air Force B-25s attack Wanling and 3 B-25s attack the airfield at Lashio.

• 36 14th Air Force P-40s attack Tengchung.
• More than 50 P-40s attack numerous targets in the Tungting Lake area.
• A 23d Fighter Group’s 75th Fighter Squadron P-40 downs a D3A 'Val' dive bomber over Hengyang at 0700 hours.
• 2 other 75th Fighter Squadron P-40s each down a Ki-43 'Oscar' fightr in an engagement over Sinshih at 0820 hours.

Air Operations, East Indies

• V Bomber Command B-24s attack oil facilities at Boela.
• B-25s attack occupied villages and small craft on the Celebes coast and in the Sunda Islands.
• VB-101 PB4Ys reconnoitering Celebes drop their bombs on various targets of opportunity.

Air Operations, Marianas

41st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack ground targets in northern Guam. 1 B-25 is downed and all aboard are killed. This is the only USAAF airplane lost in the 24 tactical missions mounted over Guam between August 3 and August 8.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• V Bomber Command B-24s attack a seaplane base at Kokas.
• V Fighter Command P-39s attack barges near Geelvink Bay and artillery positions and an ammunition dump at Luain.
• A 419th Night Fighter Squadron P-61 crew downs a Ki-21 'Sally' bomber near Noemfoor Island at 0204 hours.

Air Operations, Europe

Between June 14 and August 5 the Finnish 'ace', Maj Eino A. Luukkanen with 54 victories total, shoots down 20 Russian planes in his Me-109.

• 741 aircraft of Nos. 4, 5 6 and 8 Groups attack the flying bomb storage sites at Forêt de Nieppe and St Leu d'Esserent. Included in this total are 469 Halifaxes, 257 Lancasters and 16 Mosquitos. The bombing conditions are good, but 1 Halifax is lost on the St Leu d'Esserent raid.
• 31 Lancasters and 8 Mosquitos of No. 8 Group attempt to carry out small 'Oboe leader' raids on 4 launch sites, but only 9 aircraft succeed in bombing.
• There are no losses.
• 306 Lancasters of Nos. 1, 3 and 8 Groups attack oil storage targets on the Gironde River at Blaye, Bordeaux and Pauillac with excellent results. 1 Lancaster is lost on the Pauillac raid. 30 Mosquitos of No. 100 group escort these bombers without a loss.
• 15 Lancasters and 2 Mosquitos of No. 617 Squadron attack the U-boat pens at Brest and score 6 direct hits with 12,000-lb tallboys.
• 1 Lancaster is lost to flak.
• 14 Lancasters of No. 5 Group again attack the railway bridge at Étaples, but the target is soon covered in smoke and dust and no results are observed.
• There are no losses.

•   35 Mosquitos attack the synthetic oil plant at Wanne-Eickel without a loss. The markers appear to be well-placed and 2 fires are observed.

• 3 Halifaxes lay mines off Brest, 6 aircraft are on Resistance ops and there are 2 RCM and 5 OTU sorties.
• There are no losses.

Air Operations, Philippines

During the night, 1 63rd Heavy Bomb Squadron SB-24 attacks the Sasa airfield on Mindanao. This is the first in a series in minor nuisance night raids against targets on Mindanao.

Australia, Home Front

Japanese PoWs attempt a mass break-out from a camp in Coworra, New South Wales. 334 Japanese manage to escape, but Australian machine gun fire kills 234 Japanese and wounds 108 others. 3 guards are killed in the incident.

English Channel

Having been damaged during her previous patrol in the English Channel, U-671 was heading for St Nazaire when she is detected by the British frigate Stayner. The Stayner makes 3 depth-charge attacks as well as with Hedgehog. As the U-boat tries to surface, she is hit with another depth-charge and Hedgehog attack by the British destroyer Wensleydale ruining any chance to surface.

U-671

Air Operations, Bonin and Volcano Islands

Covered by carrier aircraft from Task Group 58.1 and Task Group 58.3, escorting cruisers bombard Chichi Jima and Iwo Jima with complete impunity.

Following the bombardment by surface warships, Task Group 58.1 and Task Group 58.3 depart the area for Eniwetok.

Air Operations, Carolines

FEAF B-24s attack the Yap Atoll.

Air Operations, CBI

• 6 10th Air Force B-25s attack Mohnyin. 2 B-25s attack a bridge at Hsenwi.
• 21 10th Air Force P-51s attack 4 rail bridges between Naba and Pinbaw.
• Several P-40s attack targets of opportunity near Myitkyina.
• P-47s and P-51s attack numerous targets throughout northern Burma.

• 47 14th Air Force P-51s and P-40s attack the Hengyang area.
• 28 P-40s attack Tengchung.
• 19 P-40s attack sampans and trucks near Changsha.
• 20 P-40s attack targets in the Yangtze River area.
• 23rd Fighter Group P-40s down 1 D3A 'Val' dive bomber and 4 Japanese fighters near Hengyang during a morning engagement.
• 76th Fighter Squadron P-51s down a D3A 'Val' dive bomber and a Ki-43 'Oscar' fighter near Hengyang during a mid-afternoon engagement.

Air Operations, Marianas

41st Medium Bomb Group B-25 gunships mount 2 missions in support of US ground troops on Guam.

Air Operations, New Guinea

Most of the 5th Air Force is grounded by bad weather, but some aircraft are able to attack artillery positions at Dagua and several targets of opportunity, and support ground troops near Sarmi.

Air Operations, Europe

US 15th Air Force planes return to Italy, completing shuttle bombing missions against targets in Romania after refueling and rearming in Russia. 8th Air Force B-17s at the same time bomb the German aircraft factory at Gdynia in Poland and proceed to their Russian base.

• 222 aircraft of Nos. 4, 5 and 8 Groups attack the Bois de Cassan and Forêt de Nieppe V-weapons sites. In this total are 107 Lancasters, 105 Halifaxes and 10 Mosquitos. 1 Lightning accompanies the Bois de Cassan raid. The bombing at both targets is scattered. Some markers at the Forêt de Nieppe site are not accurate and some of the Master Bomber's instructions at Bois de Cassan are misunderstood resulting in more than half the bomber force there retaining their bombs.
• 3 Lancasters are lost on the Bois de Cassan raid.

• 51 Halifaxes, 6 Lancasters and 5 Mosquitos bomb the railway center at Hazebrouck. The attack opens well, but the target becomes obcured by smoke.
• 1 Halifax is lost.
• 12 Lancasters and 3 Mosquitos of No. 617 Squadron bomb the U-boat pens at Lorient without a loss. 2 direct hits are scored.

• 40 Mosquitos attack the synthetic oil plant at Castrop-Rauxel. A large fire is seen.
• 1 Mosquito is lost.

• 7 Mosquitos are sent to Cologne and 4 to Forêt de Nieppe, 12 Stirlings lay mines off Brest, 22 aircraft are on Resistance ops, 10 Lancasters of No. 8 Group are on a special operation in support of ground troops described as 'a recce of target marking by ground forced in the battle area', and there are 10 Mosquito patrols and 14 RCM sorties.
• 1 mine-laying Stirling is lost.

Air Operations, Pacific

B-24s bomb Davao in the Philippines.

Atlantic

The US freigher William L. Marcy is torpedoed, possibly by a schnellboote from the 2nd or 6th Flotillas) off Juno Beach. A passenger was killed but none of the crew or the Armed Guard sailors are lost. The ship is later towed to Falmouth, England and Swansea, Wales where it is written off as a total loss.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-736 is the first U-boat to be sunk using the Squid ahead-throwing weapon. Her periscope is spotted by the British frigate Lock Killin who determines the speed and depth of the submarine when launching a pattern of 6 Squid charges. Just before the pattern exploded, a Gnat is countermined on the frigate's port side. The frigate hastily tries to clear the area before the U-boat explodes, but she did not. Her hull is shattered and she is finished off by the British sloop Starling.

U-736

Burma

Gen William Slim orders the British and Indian XXXIII Corps to advance to the Chindwin and occupy Sittaung and Kalewa. It is at this point that they will have to cross the Chindwin.

Eastern Front

The oil facilities around Drogobych (Drohobycz) are taken by the Russians.

27,000 Jews being held in camps east of the Vistula are transported to Germany.

Laura falls to the 3rd Baltic Front.

Air Operations, Carolines

FEAF B-24s attack Fais Island and the Yap Atoll.

Air Operations, CBI

• 10th Air Force B-25s attack 4 bridges in the Mawhun and Naba areas.
• 10th Air Force fighter-bombers support Allied ground forces at Taungni and attack the airfield at Onbauk and bridges and targets of opportunity across northern Burma.

• A lone 308th Heavy Bomb Group B-24 sinks an Italian cargo ship in the Whangpoo River near Shanghai.
• 27 14th Air Force P-40s attack the Hengyang area.
• 21 P-40 fighter-bombers attack Changsha.
• 4 P-40s bomb the city wall and town area at Tengchung.
• 6 P-40s attack Hsiaoshuipu.

Air Operations, East Indies

V Bomber Command B-24s attack the Galela and the Lolobata airfields on Halmahera.

Air Operations, Europe

• 25 Lancasters and 2 Mosquitos are sent to bomb the U-boat pens at Lorient but are recalled before bombing. 1 Wellington flies an RCM sortie.
• There are no losses.

• 1,019 aircraft are sent to hit 5 target areas in front of Allied ground troops. Include in the aircraft total are 614 Lancasters, 392 Halifaxes and 13 Mosquitos. The attacks are carefully controlled and only 660 aircraft drop their bombs. The German strongpoints and the roads around them are left well-cratered.
• 10 Lancasters are lost.

• 4 Mosquitos are sent to the Coulommiers airfield, 18 Halifaxes and 11 Stirlings lay mines off Brest, 6 aircraft are on Resistance operations, and there are 11 Mosquito patrols and 48 RCM sorties.
• There are no losses.

Air Operations, Marianas

Massive air, artillery, and naval bombardments support what is hoped will be the final drive by US ground forces to clear Guam of Japanese forces. 16 41st Medium Bomb Group B-25s and 80 318th Fighter Group P-47s based on Saipan participate in the effort, as do 30 VC-5 TBMs from the USS Kitkun Bay.

At 0600 hours, VMF-225, in F4Us, mounts Marine Air Group 21’s first combat air patrol from the Orote airfield on Guam. As a result, US carrier aircraft are no longer required to provide general air cover for the island. VMF(N)-534, in F6F night fighters, is also declared fully operational at the Orote airfield, relieving US carrier-based night fighters of night-patrol responsibilities over the island.

Opening a long campaign aimed at neutralizing Japanese bases in the Mariana Islands that are to be bypassed, VMF-217, in F4Us, attacks targets on Rota Island.

Eastern Front

The Russians are contained by the Wehrmacht almost everywhere. In any case the Russians have to suspend their summer offensive for a time after advancing nearly 450 miles in order to reorganize their over-stretched supply lines. In 3 months the Red Army has advanced from the Dnieper to the Vistula, a distance of over 400 miles. The Russian forces advance in the Carpathian foothills to take Sambor southwest of Lvov.

Sombor falls to the 1st Guards Army of the 4th Ukrainian Front.

Guam

The 3rd Marine Division, the 77th Infantry Division and the 1st Marine Brigade, following a heavy barrage, launch a heavy attack against Yigo and Mount Santa Rosa. They succeed in taking Yigo, but their advance to the peaks of Mount Santa Rosa is slowed by fierce Japanese resistance and by the extremely dense vegetation in the jungle. During the night the Japanese counterattack with tanks, but are driven back.

New Guinea

On Biak Island the US 162nd Regiment advances along the track from Sorido to Korim Bay to link up with the 163rd Regiment, which has been operating against the Japanese in the north of the island.

Occupied France

The Resistance destroys 19 transport aircraft at the SNCAC factory, Bourges.

Air Operations, Carolines

• VII Bomber Command B-24s attack the Truk Atoll.
• FEAF B-24s attack airfields at the Yap Atoll and Gagil-Tomil Island.
• During the night, 868th Heavy Bomb Squadron SB-24s mount the first pre-invasion attack against Japanese airfields and defenses in the Palau Islands. This phase of the pre-invasion bombardment plan will continue through September 14 and will include daylight attacks from August 25.

Air Operations, CBI

• Despite bad weather that grounds most 10th Air Force fighter-bombers, 10th Air Force B-25s are able to attack several bridges between Meza and Naba.

• 6 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s and 7 14th Air Force P-40s attack stores at Hengshan.
• 29 P-40s attack artillery positions and targets of opportunity around Hengyang.
• 15 P-40s attack radio stations and stores at Amoy and Swatow.
• 12 P-40s attack shipping between Sinti and Hankow.
• 8 P-40s attack various targets between Hengyang and Siangtan.
• 23rd and 51st Fighter group P-40s and a 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron P-51 down an A6M Zero and 4 Ki-43 'Oscar' fighters in an engagement near Hengshan between 0550 and 0605 hours.
• 3rd CACW Fighter Group P-40s down 8 Ki-43 'Oscars' in the Hankow area between 1415 and 1430 hours.

Air Operations, Europe

Aircraft of the US 8th Air Force, taking off from airfields in Russia and heading for Italy, attack Romanian airfields. From Italy they will fly on to Britain, bombing north Italy and Germany. This is an elaboration of the 'shuttle'.

• 202 aircraft of Nos. 6 and 8 Groups attack an oil storage facility at Forêt de Chantilly. In this total are 148 Halifaxes, 49 Lancasters and 5 Mosquitos. The target is hit and fires are started.
• 1 Halifax is lost in the sea.
• 58 Halifaxes and 20 Mosquitos attack 4 launch sites with accurate bombing.
• 1 Halifax is lost.

• 170 Lancasters and 10 Mosquitos of Nos. 1, 3 and 8 Groups attack depots and storage dumps at Aire sur Lys and Forêt de Lucheux. Both raids are successful.
• 1 Lancaster is lost on the Forêt de Lucheux raid.

• 34 Mosquitos are sent to Cologne, 24 aircraft lay mines off the Brittany ports, 15 aircraft are on Resistance operations, and there are 18 Mosquito patrols and 11 RCM sorties.
• 2 aircraft are lost on Resistance ops, probably Halifaxes.

Air Operations, East Indies

V Bomber Command B-24s attack the Galela and Lolobata airfields on Halmahera.

Air Operations, Marianas

41st Medium Bomb Group B-25 gunships attack Guam as effective organized Japanese resistance on the island comes to an end. Except for attacking bypassed islands, the Marianas air campaign is concluded.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• V Bomber Command B-24s attack Manokwari, Urarom and the airfield at Babo.
• A-20s attack a radio station near Hollandia and ground troops near Musu.
• V Fighter Command fighter-bombers attack artillery positions at Dagua, troops at But, and building and a bridge at Boram.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-667 sinks the Canadian corvette Regina 8 miles off Trevose Head, Cornwall with the loss of 30 of her crew. She is in escort of Convoy EBC-66. 66 survivors are picked up by the British armed trawler Jaques Morgand and the British landing ship LCT-644. The US freighter Ezra Weston is also torpedoed by U-667 en route to Falmouth, England from Avonmouth. The British landing craft LCT-24 and the French trawler Jacques Margand pick up the survivors.

Ceylon

A floating dock sinks at Trincomalee. The HMS Valiant is seriously damaged.

China

The Japanese capture Hengyang. This is the prelude to the launching of the ICHI-GO plan, which is to lead to the capture of all the American airfields in the southeast of China, and of a huge expanse of territory.

Eastern Front

The AK forces have now managed to seize control of most of Warsaw and have expanded their strength with much captured German equipment. SS Gen Erich von dem Bach-Zelewski is appointed to lead the German forces charged with defeating the Poles. The units employed by the Germans are mostly SS, police and punishment battalions, all alike in their cruel and violent methods. After complaints from Guderian and others the worst offenders will be taken out of the fight and some of their leaders executed.

The Stavka has moved the 22nd Army up to aid the 4th Shock Army and after further bitter fighting Krustpils falls.

In Warsaw the Germans establish a strong axis from Wola to the Kierbedzia Bridge. Polish counterattacks continue.

Air Operations, Carolines

• FEAF B-24s attack the Yap Atoll.
• During the night, 868th Heavy Bomb Squadron SB-24s attack Japanese airfields and defenses in the Palau Islands.

Air Operations, Europe

Capt Antoine de Saint-Exupéry disappears during a reconnaissance flight from Corsica over occupied France. He was 44.

•   172 aircraft of Nos. 4 and 8 Groups attack 7 launch sites. Included in this total are 114 Halifaxes, 35 Mosquitos and 23 Lancasters. Visibility is clear and all attacks are successful.
• 3 Halifaxes are lost.
• 147 Halifaxes, 8 Lancasters and 5 Mosquitos of Nos. 4 and 8 Groups attack a fuel storage dump at Forêt de Mormal. A large column of thick smoke is seen rising from the target area at the end of the raid.
• There are no losses.
• 17 Lancasters and 1 Mosquitos of No. 5 Group are sent to hit an oil dump and 12 Lancasters of No. 617 Squadron and 1 Mosquito attack the U-boat pens at La Pallice. Smoke and haze at both sites prevent the results to be determined.
• There are no losses.
• 2 Halifaxes and 2 Wellingtons make RCM sorties without a loss.

• 311 aircraft of Nos. 1, 3, 6 and 8 Groups attack 4 launch sites and the storage site at Fort d'Englos. Included in the aircraft total are 171 Lancasters, 115 Halifaxes and 25 Mosquitos. All targets are accurately bombed with no aircraft losses.
• 176 Lancasters and 14 Mosquitos of Nos. 1 and 5 Groups successfully attack an oil storage facility at Forêt de Chatellerault.
• 2 Lancasters are lost.

• 3 Mosquitos are sent to Osnabrück, 16 Mosquitos lay mines in the Dortmund-Ems canal, 10 Lancasters lay mines off the Biscay ports, 20 aircraft are on Resistance operations, and there are 40 Mosquito patrols and 21 RCM and 15 OTU sorties.
• There are no losses.

Air Operations, CBI

• 10th Air Force fighter-bombers support Allied ground forces around Sahmaw and Taungni, and attack Tagwin and a bridge near Hopin.

• 6 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack rail targets near Hengyang.
• 36 P-51s and P-40s attack targets between Hengyang and Siangtan.
• 21 P-51s and P-40s attack a pontoon bridge and river traffic at Changsha and along the Yangtze River.

Air Operations, East Indies

V Bomber Command B-24s attack the Boela airfield on Ceram and the Liang airfield on Amboina.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• V Bomber Command B-25s attack Waigeo Island.
• A-20s attack the airfield at Nabire and Asap Island.
• A-20s and V Fighter Command fighter-bombers attack bypassed areas.
• Fighters strafe villages near Manokwari.

Atlantic

The US torpedo boat PT-509 is sunk by naval gunfire off the Isle of Jersey in the English Channel.

Burma-China

On the Salween front the Japanese carry out a successful raid against artillery emplacements and supply dumps in the Chinese 8th Army sector of Sung Shan.

In China, following the defeat at Hengyang, Marshal Li Chi-shen, President of the Military Consultative Committee, tells an American consul that the Eastern Chinese 'war lords' are about to set up a provisional government of national unity to drive out the Japanese invader. The new government will demand Chiang Kai-shek's resignation. The American reaction to this is anxiously awaited.

Air Operations, Carolines

• FEAF B-24s attack the Yap Atoll.
• During the night, 868th Heavy Bomb Squadron SB-24s attack Japanese airfields and defenses in the Palau Islands.

Air Operations, CBI

• 9 10th Air Force B-25s attack Shwekyina.
• Several 10th Air Force P-51s attack the railroad station at Mingon.

• 16 14th Air Force P-40s attack motor vehicles around Changsha and Siangtan.
• 9 P-40s strafe the airfield at Taiyuan.
• 2 P-40s attack junks off China’s south coast.
• 5th CACW Fighter Group P-40s down 2 Ki-27 'Nate' fighters over the airfield at Taiyuan between 1250 and 1310 hours.

Air Operations, East Indies

• V Bomber Command B-24s attack the airfields on Halmahera and Boeroe.
• During the night, 31 58th Very Heavy Bomb Wing B-29s based at Chengtu, China, and staging through China Bay, Ceylon, attack an oil refinery at Palembang, Sumatra.
• 8 B-29s sow 16 mines in the Moesi River near Palembang.
• 3 B-29s attack targets of opportunity.
• The flight from Ceyon to Palembang and back is the longest direct, non-stop flight undertaken by USAAF combat aircraft in World War II — 3,900 miles. One B-29 is lost due to a fuel shortage.

Air Operations, Japan

• 4 28th Composite Bomb Group B-25s attack 2 Japanese Navy patrol boats near Shimushu Island in the Kuriles.
• During the night, 24 58th Very Heavy Bomb Wing B-29s based at Chengtu mount individual attacks against the Nagasaki city area, and 3 B-29s attack targets of opportunity.

Air Operations, Europe

• 98 Lancasters and 5 Mosquitos of Nos. 1 and 8 Groups attack aviation fuel storage tanks at Dugny, near Paris. The bombing starts badly but becomes concentrated.
• There are no losses.
• 60 Lancasters of No. 1 Group and 20 Pathfinder Mosquitos attempt to bomb a flying bomb site at Ferme du Forestal, but cloudy conditions create difficulties. Only 17 Mosquitos and 13 Lancasters actually attack, possibly because the aircraft of No. 1 Group are not used to the Oboe-leader technique.
• There are no losses.
• 4 Wellington fly RCM sorties without a loss.

• 215 aircraft including 109 Lancasters, 101 Halifaxes and 5 Mosquitos, of Nos. 5, 6 and 8 Groups successfully attack oil depots at Bordeaux and La Pallice.
• There are no losses.
• 104 Halifaxes of No. 4 Group and 20 Lancasters of Nos. 1 and 8 Groups attack a railway junction and the railway yards at Dijon. The damage is extensive.
• 2 Halifaxes are lost and a third crash-lands in a liberated part of Normandy.

• 32 Mosquitos are sent to Berlin, 3 Lancasters of No. 8 Group are sent to Bremen, 12 Lancasters lay mines off the Biscay ports, 8 aircraft are on Resistance operations, and there are 37 Mosquito patrols and 8 RCM sorties.
• There are no losses.
• The 3 Pathfinder Lancasters which bomb Bremen are the first Lancaster Mark VIs flown on operations by Bomber Command and they drop the Command's first 10,000lb bombs.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• V Bomber Command B-25s attack the airfield at Langgoer.
• V Fighter Command fighter-bombers attack Manokwari, Sorong, occupied villages around Geelvink Bay, and IJA ground forces between Aitape and Wewak.

Air Operations, Pacific

The USAAF begins a 7-month bombardment of Iwo Jima.

Air Operations, Volcano Islands

B-24s of the VII Bomber Command’s Saipan-based 30th Heavy Bomb Group mount the first land-based attack of the war against Iwo Jima.

Battle of the Atlantic

Liberator 'C' of No 53 Squadron RAF spots submerged U-boat U-608 and drops 6 depth charges. The aircraft reports the contact to the 2nd Escort Group. The British destroyer Wren and the frigate Loch Killin take up the search. After receiving a firm echo sounder trace Loch Killin attacks with 6 depth charges. Badly damaged, the U-boat surfaces and is scuttled.

U-608

Eastern Front

There is a lull along a great part of the front. The Polish patriots in Warsaw still have to bear the weight of German repression by themselves. The Russians ignore their request to give them at least some support from the air. The patriots now ask London for help.

Troops of the 2nd Belorussian Front force the crossing of the Narew River near Bialystok.

Air Operations, Carolines

During the night, 868th Heavy Bomb Squadron SB-24s attack Japanese airfields and defenses in the Palau Islands.

Air Operations, CBI

• Despite bad weather, 5 10 Air Force B-25s attack Kadu.
• 6 P-40s attack a Japanese Army headquarters at Bhamo and ground troops at Shwekyina.

• 23 308th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Changsha.
• 16 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack Hengyang.
• More than 40 14th Air Force P-40s and P-51s attack targets in and around Hengyang.
• 26 P-40s attack various targets of opportunity.
• An 81st Fighter Group P-47 and two 5th CACW Fighter Group P-40s down 3 Ki-44 'Tojo' fighters over a downed B-29 near Hawyin at 1430 hours.

Air Operations, Europe

• 459 aircraft of Nos. 1, 3, 4 and 8 Groups attack 3 railway yards and 1 bridge. Included in the aircraft total are 270 Lancasters, 169 Halifaxes and 20 Mosquitos. Between 133 and 142 planes bomb the 3 sites of Douai, Lens and Somain. The bombing at these targets start out well but the ground features are rapidly covered by smoke and dust.
• 1 Halifax is lost on the Somain raid.
• 49 aircraft attack the Étaples railway bridge and claim direct hits on the bridge.
• There are no aircraft losses here.
• 53 Lancasters and 5 Mosquitos of No. 5 Group attack the U-boat pens at Bordeaux and La Pallice with 2,000-lb armor-piercing bombs, but examination of these pens after being captured a few weeks later show that these bombs could not penetrate the roofs. 6 Mosquitos of No. 100 Group provide escort on the Bordeaux, but no German fighters are present.
• There are no losses.

• 40 Halifaxes of No. 4 Group 20 Pathfinder Mosquitos attack 4 launch sites. Visibility is clear and the bombing is accurate.
• There are no losses.

• 179 Lancasters and 10 Mosquitos of Nos. 1 and 8 Groups carry out an exceptionally accurate raid on the railway yards at Givors.
• There are no losses.

• 33 Mosquitos are sent to Berlin and 2 to Trossy St Maxim, 8 Stirlings and 6 Lancasters lay mines off Biscay ports, 14 aircraft are on Resistance operations, and there are 28 Mosquito patrols and 9 RCM sorties.
• 1 Mosquito is lost on the Berlin raid.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• V Bomber Command B-25s and A-20s attack Haur.
• A-20s attack a Japanese Army headquarters at Sawar, shipping off Urarom and in Wandammen Bay, and a radar station and barges on Geelvink Bay.
• V Fighter Command P-39s attack a barge terminal at Kairiru Island and various targets in bypassed areas.

Battle of the Atlantic

• During August and September 17 U-boats are transferred from western France to Norway.
• Sunderland 'P' of No 461 Squadron RAAF attacks a surfaced U-boat, U-385, with 6 depth charges. Although the U-boat continues to engage the aircraft with flak fire, she is dead in the water. The ships of Escort Group 2 are directed to the area and open fire sinking the U-boat in about 5 minutes.

U-385

Eastern Front

The 3rd Baltic Front begins a new offensive south of Lake Peipus. The German line is fractured and advances of up to 15 miles are made to the west and northwest. Hitler's obstinacy has now ensured that his Army Group North will be virtually isolated from the main body of the German army.

Air Operations, Bonin Islands

30th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s based on Saipan attack Chichi Jima.

Air Operations, Carolines

• 11th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s based in the Marshall Islands attack the Truk Atoll.
• During the night, 868th Heavy Bomb Squadron SB-24s attack Japanese airfields and defenses in the Palau Islands.

Air Operations, CBI

• 24 10th Air Force fighter-bombers support Allied ground forces at Pinbaw and Taungni.
• Nearly 20 fighter-bombers attack a variety of targets at Bhamo, Manla, Myothit, Pinwe, and Shwekyina.

• 7 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack rail yards at Hengyang.
• 19 14th Air Force P-51s and P-40s attack the Hengyang area.
• 39 P-40s attack numerous targets of opportunity.
• 3rd CACW Fighter Group P-40s down 3 Ki-43 'Oscar' fighters over Sinkantow during a morning engagement.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• V Bomber Command B-24s attack the airfield at Babo.
• B-25s and V Fighter Command P-39s attack the airfield at Nabire.
• A-20s and P-47s attack Japanese Army ground troops and targets of opportunity around Sarmi.
• A-20s and P-39s attack Japanese Army ground troops at Haur and mount a coordinated strike with US Navy PT-boats against fuel dumps at Boram.
• P-39s attack Mansinam Island and targets around Geelvink Bay.
• P-47s support Allied ground forces in the Sansapor area.
• A 421st Night Fighter Squadron P-61 crew downs a Ki-49 'Helen' bomber near Owi Island at 0415 hours.

Air Operations, Europe

Italian-based US bombers attack the Bordeaux-Mérignac airfield and then fly on to Britain.

• 95 Halifaxes, 16 Lancasters and 6 Mosquitos of Nos. 6 and 8 Groups attack a fuel dump at Forét De Montrichard. The area is soon covered in a thick plume of smoke.
• There are no losses.
• 68 Lancasters of No. 1 Group and 2 Mosquitos of No. 5 Group attack U-boat pens at Brest, La Pallice and Bordeaux without a loss. A U-boat is believed to have been hit at La Pallice. Fighter escort is provided by 8 Mosquitos of No. 100 Group. An RCM sortie is flown by a Wellington.

• 242 Lancasters and 137 Halifaxes are sent to Brunswick. This is an experimental raid. No Pathfinder aircraft participates and there is no marking. The intention is to discover how successfully a force of aircraft can carry out a raid with each crew bombing on the indications of its own H₂S set. The raid is not successful and there is no concentration of bombing. The Brunswick report calls it a 'heavy raid' but only states that bombs fell in the central and Stadtpark areas. Other towns, up to 20 miles distant, are mistaken for Brunswick and are also bombed.
• 17 Lancasters and 10 Halifaxes are lost.
• 297 aircraft including 191 Lancasters, 96 Halifaxes and 10 Mosquitos are sent to Rüsselsheim. The target for this raid is the Opel motor factory and normal Pathfinder marking methods are used. The motor factory is only slightly damaged. The local report states that the tire and dispatch departments and the powerhouse are hit but most of the bombs fall in open countryside south of the target.
• 13 Lancasters and 6 Halifaxes are lost.
• 91 Lancasters, 36 Halifaxes, 12 Stirlings and 5 Mosquitos bomb a German troop concentration and a road junction north of Falaise. The bombing is believed to have been very effective.
• There are no losses.
• 40 Halifaxes and 12 Mosquitos attack 2 launch sites and a storage facility.
• There are no losses.

• Support and training aircraft make a diversionary sweep over the English Channel, 21 Mosquitos are sent to Kiel, 10 to Frankfurt and 3 each to the Coulommiers and Juvincourt airfields, 10 Lancasters and 4 Halifaxes lay mines off Biscay ports, and there are 47 Mosquito patrols and 33 RCM and 21 OTU sorties.
• 1 Mosquito is lost on the Frankfurt and 1 Mosquito from No. 100 Group.

Air Operations, Japan

4 28th Compisite Bomb Group B-24s and 2 11th Air Force F-7s attack Paramushiro and Shimushu islands, and Suribachi in the Kurile Islands.

During the night, 2 28th Composite Bomb Group B-24s attack Kashiwabara.

China

Chiang Kai-shek accepts Roosevelt's proposal to send Gen Patrick J. Hurley and his economic adviser, Donald M. Nelson, to China as his personal representatives.

Diplomatic Relations

Churchill meets with Tito in Italy.

Air Operations, Carolines

During the night, 868th Heavy Bomb Squadron SB-24s attack Japanese airfields and defenses in the Palau Islands.

Air Operations, CBI

• 9 10th Air Force B-25s attack a bomb dump at Pinwe.
• 26 10th Air Force fighter-bombers attack Mawlu, Pinbaw, and Pinwe.
• 20 fighter-bombers attack Japanese Army troops and dumps at Mankwi, Myothit, and Tali.
• 7 fighter-bombers attack two bridges.

• More than 30 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack the airfield at Pailochi, shipping at Takao (Formosa), and the cities of Hengyang, Sinsiang, and Tungling.
• 51 14th Air Force P-51s and P-40s attack the Hengyang area.
• More than 50 fighter-bombers attack troops, rail lines, shipping, and motor traffic across a broad area.
• 18 P-38s and P-40s attack Tengchung.

Air Operations, Europe

1,000 Allied heavy bombers attack roads leading to the Seine from Paris to the sea. There are also heavy raids on railway bridges in southern France.

• 28 Lancasters and 1 Mosquito of No. 5 Group attack the U-boat pens and shipping at Brest. Hits are claimed on the pens, on the hulk of an old French battleship, the Clémenceau, and on a medium-sized tanker. The object of the attacks on ships is to prevent the Germans using any of the large ships in Brest to block the harbor just before its capture by American troops.
• 1 Lancaster is lost.
• 15 Lancasters of No. 5 Group bomb an oil depot at Bordeau accurately.
• 1 Lancaster is lost.
• 8 Mosquito fighters and 1 RCM Wellington of No. 100 Group carry out operations without a loss.

• 30 Mosquitos are sent to Hannover, 10 Halifaxes and 5 Lancasters lay mines off Biscay ports, 4 Halifaxes are on Resistance operations, and there are 15 Mosquito patrols and 22 RCM and 9 OTU sorties.
• There are no losses.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• V Bomber Command B-24s attack bivouacs and dumps at Manokwari.
• V Fighter Command P-39s join US Navy PT-boats in an attack against Dagua.
• P-39s and P-47s support Allied ground forces at Sarmi and attack Cape Wom, Matapau, Suain, and Ulban.

Air Operations, Philippines

14th Air Force long-range aircraft reconnoiter the docks at Manila. Upon learning of this mission, both Gen Joseph W. Stilwell and Gen Douglas A. MacArthur warn Maj-Gen Claire L. Chennault that he is not authorized to open a bombing campaign against targets in the Philippines.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-547 is damaged by a British air-laid mine off Pauillac, but is able to make the return trip to Germany.

U-547 Class Type IXC CO Oberleutnant zur See Heinrich Niemeyer Location Bay of Biscay, Gironde Estuary Cause Mine Casualties Unknown Survivors Unknown

U-270 Class Type VIIC CO Oberleutnant zur See Heinrich Schreiber Location Bay of Biscay, W of La Rochelle Cause Air attack Casualties 10 Survivors 74

• U-270 is traveling fromj Lorient to La Pallice carrying base personnel when she is spotted by Sunderland 'A' of No 461 Squadron RAAF. She is attacked with 6 depth charges which fractures the pressure hull causing massive flooding. The ship is abandoned shortly thereafter.

China

Gen Claire Chennault sends a number of reconnaissance aircraft of the US 14th Air Force on a mission over Manila, in the Philippines. His action is immediately criticized by Stilwell and MacArthur, who insist, on political grounds, that the Philippines must not be bombed.

Eastern Front

Verro falls as the 67th Army advances upon Tartu and the 1st Shock Army upon Valk (now Valga).

Air Operations, Carolines

During the night, 868th Heavy Bomb Squadron SB-24s attack Japanese airfields and defenses in the Palau Islands.

Air Operations, CBI

• 10th Air Force B-25s attack Indaw and Mohnyin.
• 18 10th Air Force P-51s attack the Myothit area.
• 46 fighter-bombers attack numerous targets in northern Burma.
• 4 14th Air Force P-40s attack a bridge near Hsenwi.

Air Operations, East Indies

V Bomber Command B-24s and B-25s attack Ternate Island and other targets in the Molucca Islands.

Air Operations, Europe

RAF aircraft have begun dropping supplies and ammunition for the Polish insurgients in Warsaw.

• 805 aircraft including 411 Lancasters, 352 Halifaxes and 42 Mosquitos attack 7 German troop positions facing the Canadian 3rd Division which is advancing on Falaise. A careful plan is prepared with Oboe and visual marking, and with a Master Bomber and a deputy at each of the 7 targets. Most of the bombing is accurate and effective but, about half-way through the raids, some aircraft start to bomb a large quarry in which parts of the 12th Canadian Field Regiment are positioned. This mistake may have been caused by the yellow identification flares which are ignited by the Canadians. It is unfortunate that the target indicators being used by the Pathfinders are also yellow. Bomber Command crews claim that the Canadians used the yellow flares before any bombs fell in the quarry. The history of the Canadian units says the bombs fell first. The Master Bombers tries hard to stop further crews bombing in the wrong area, but approximately 70 aircraft bomb the quarry and other nearby Allied positions over a 70-minute period. The Canadians take shelter in their slit trenches and most emerge unscathed though shaken, but 13 men are killed and 53 injured and a large number of vehicles and guns are hit. This is believed to have been the first occasion on which Bomber Command aircraft hits friendly troops during the Battle of Normandy. The Canadian artillery regiment is machine-gunned by RAF Spitfires and USAAF Mustangs the following day.

Details of the Canadian side of the bombing come from Into Action with the 12th Field by Captain TJ Bell (published privately in Canada} and from the personal reminiscences of former Lance-Corporal George R Carter of the 12th Canadian Field Regiment. George Carter's brother, Flying Officer Roy E Carter of No 431 Squadron, was a Bomber Command navigator whose Halifax had been shot down over Holland on the Sterkrade raid of 16/17 June 1944. Roy Carter baled out successfully but, while he was being hidden by Dutch civilians in a house at Tilburg, he was discovered by Germans on 8 July and shot, together with a Pathfinder pilot and an Australian airman. The bloodstained Dutch flag which covered the bodies after their death was brought to England in 1983 and placed in the No 83 Squadron Memorial Chapel in Coningsby parish church.

• 155 Lancasters and 4 Mosquitos of No. 5 Group make 2 separate attacks on ships in Brest harbor. The Clemenceau and the cruiser Gueydon are both hit and are believed sinking in 'safe' positions which will not hinder Allied use of the port when American troops take possession. The Allied forces are anxious to capture a good port to which supplies and reinforcements for the land battle can be brought in directly from the United States.
• 2 Lancasters are lost.
• 1 Wellington flies an RCM sortie.

• 32 Mosquitos are sent Berlin, 2 to the Sterkrade oil plant and 2 to the St Trond airfield, 8 Halifaxes and 6 Lancasters lay mines off Biscay ports, 4 aircraft are involved on Resistance operations, and there are 1 RCM and 7 OTU sorties.
• There are no losses.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• V Bomber Command B-24s attack the airfield at Babo.
• A-20s, V Fighter Command fighter-bombers, and RAAF aircraft attack Japanese Army ground troops at Kaiten, Terabu, and Wewak.

Air Operations, Volcano Islands

30th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Iwo Jima.

Air Operations, Carolines

During the night, 868th Heavy Bomb Squadron SB-24s attack Japanese airfields and defenses in the Palau Islands.

Air Operations, CBI

• More than 70 10th Air Force fighter-bombers attack numerous targets throughout northern Burma.
• 12 14th Air Force B-25s attack Kutkai.

• Nearly 100 14th Air Force P-51s and P-40s attack shipping, motor vehicles, troops, horses, artillery, warehouses, dumps, and targets of opporunity across east-central China.
• 35 P-40s attack Hsenwim (Burma), Lungling, Tengchung, and Tingka.

• 4 14th Air Force P-40s attack shipping off Hongay and Nam Dinh.

Air Operations, Europe

• 1,004 aircraft attack 9 airfields in Belgium and Holland in preparation for a night offensive against German troops. Included in the aircraft total are 599 Lancasters, 385 Halifaxes, 19 Mosquitos and 1 Lightning. Visibility is good and all raids are classified as successful.
• 3 Lancasters are lost.
• 1 Wellington flies and RCM sortie.

• 32 Mosquitos are sent to Berlin, 8 to the Venlo airfield and 9 to various Ruhr targets, 6 Halifaxes lay mines off La Pallice, and there are 7 Mosquito patrols and 1 RCM sortie.
• There are no losses.

Air Operations, East Indies

• V Bomber Command B-24s attack the Lolobata airfield on Halmahera.
• B-25s attack shipping near Ternate Island.
• Various 5th Air Force aircraft attack targets of opportunity on Ceram and Tanimbar islands.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-618 is surfacing when she is picked up by the radar of Liberator 'G' of No 53 Squadron. The U-boat is illuminated with the aircraft's Leigh Light. 6 depth charges are dropped and an explosion and fire from aft of the conning tower is observed. No wreckage is seen, but oil is seen in the area of the attack a short time later.

U-618

Eastern Front

German defenders block the Russians attempting to break through the Carpathian mountain passes.

English Channel

U-741 had just attacked Convoy FTC-68 and was seeking refuge on the bottom after firing when the British corvette Orchis makes contact with her. The ship makes two attacks with depth charges and another with her Hedgehog after which there is a loud explostion followed by the appearance of large quantities of oil.

U-741

Mediterranean

The US destroyer Somers (DD-381) sinks the German ship Esebart and damages the corvette UJ-6083. The latter is captured and then scuttled southwest of Isle Port Cros.

New Guinea

On Numfoor Island the main Japanese garrison manages to break off contact with the American paratroopers and takes refuge in the area of Pakriki, on the central south coast.

Occupied France

There is an uprising against the Nazi occupation of Paris as 20,000 gendarmes go on strike and capture 700 Germans.

Southern France

Allied forces land in southern France between Toulon and Cannes. This is Operation DRAGOON, originally and for the most of the planning stage, known as ANVIL. The code name has been changed because it is believed that the Germans have discovered it and its significance. The landing forces are from Gen Alexander M. Patch's US 7th Army. Lucian Truscott's VI Corps provides the 3 divs that make up the bulk of the assault force. The follow-up formation is Gen Jean de Lattre's II French Corps. French commando units also land from the sea in the first wave and there is also an airborne attack. This involves 5,000 men from a composite parachute group and they drop inland near Le Muy. Before these or the seaborne force go in there are attacks by 1,300 land-based aircraft and naval shelling. Adm Hewitt is in command of the naval forces.

Air Operations, Bonin Islands

30th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Chichi Jima.

Air Operations, Carolines

During the night, 868th Heavy Bomb Squadron SB-24s are prevented by bad weather from attacking Japanese airfields and defenses in the Palau Islands.

Air Operations, CBI

• 16 10th Air Force B-25s attack Indaw.
• 37 10th Air Force P-40s and P-51s attack ground positions and artillery positions in the Pinbaw area.
• 20 P-51s attack airfields at Anisakan, Lashio, Nawnghkio, Onbauk, and Shwebo.
• 19 P-47s and P-51s attack an ammunition dump at Pegu (Thailand), a bridge near Bhamo, the rail line between Hopin and Naba, and targets of opportunity at Katha.
• 14th Air Force P-40s attack the Hsenwi area.
• 18 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack the Wanling area.

• 12 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack Chaling and warehouses at Sangtan.
• 90 P-40s and P-51s attack numerous targets on the Salween River front and the Yangtze River and Tungting Lake regions.

Air Operations, East Indies

• V Bomber Command B-24s and B-25s attack the Lolobata and Miti airfields on Halmahera and other targets in the Molucca Islands.
• B-25s sink a vessel in the Sunda Islands.

Air Operations, Europe

For the first time Me-163 rocket fighters intercept B-17s near Leuna, Germany, but there are no casualties.

• 25 Lancasters and 1 Mosquito of No. 5 Group are sent to attack the U-boat pens at La Pallice. The target is covered in cloud and only 3 aircraft drop their bombs. 1 Wellington flies an RCM sortie.
• There are no losses.

• ;461 Lancasters are sent to hit the port and industrial areas of Stettin. It is claimed to be an accurate attack with much damage to the port and industrial areas.
• 5 Lancasters are lost.
• 348 aircraft including 195 Lancasters, 144 Halifaxes and 9 Mosquitos are sent to Kiel. The raid is only partially successful.
• 3 Halifaxes and 2 Lancasters are lost.

• Support and 145 planes from training units make a diversionary sweep over the North Sea, 23 Mosquitos are sent to Berlin, 5 to the airfield at Deelen, and 3 each to Dortmund, Kamen and Sterkrade, 89 aircraft lay mines in the Baltic and in Kiel Bay and 4 in the Gironde River, and there are 47 Mosquito patrols and 33 RCM and 24 OTU sorties.
• 3 Halifaxes are lost laying mines in Kiel Bay, 2 Lancasters off Swinemünde and 1 OTU Wellington.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• V Bomber Command A-20s support Allied ground forces around Maffin Bay.
• V Fighter Command P-39s attack the airfield at Ransiki, Moemi, Waren, and Japanese Army troops and positions between Manokwari and Windissi.

Burma

All organized Japanese resistance ends along the Burma-India border.

Diplomatic Relations

In a note to Britain, the Soviet Government condemns the Warsaw Rising as 'a reckless, appalling adventure' and declares that the Soviet High Command 'must dissociate itself' from same.

Eastern Front

The Russian attacks reach Ossow only seven miles northeast of Warsaw but they are pushed back by a German counterattack.

Air Operations, Carolines

During the night, 868th Heavy Bomb Squadron SB-24s attack Japanese airfields and defenses in the Palau Islands.

Air Operations, CBI

• 9 10th Air Force B-25s attack Katha.
• 47 10th Air Force fighter-bombers support Allied ground forces around Pinwe.
• 12 fighter-bombers attack Bilumyo and Nanyinbya.
• 12 fighter-bombers attack artillery positions and stores around Momauk.
• 14th Air Force fighter-bombers supporting Chinese Army ground forces on the Salween River front attack targets in eastern Burma.

• 24 308th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Yoyang.
• 18 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack rail yards and stores at Chiuchiang.
• 4 B-25s attack the airfield at Hengyang and nearby road traffic.
• More than 100 14th Air Force fighter-bombers attack targets in the Salween River area and throughout east-central China.

• 8 14th Air Force P-40s attack shipping near Haiphong and along the coast.

Air Operations, East Indies

• V Bomber Command B-24s attack airfields on Amboina, Boeroe, and Ceram.
• B-25s strafe ground positions at Dili (Timor) and in the Kai and Moloe islands (Molucca Islands).
• B-25s sink a merchant ship off Halmahera.
• 8th Fighter Group P-38s down 1 Ki-21 'Sally' bomber, 1 A6M Zero, and 6 Ki-43 'Oscar' fighters around Amboina between 1415 and 1435 hours.

Air Operations, Europe

• 79 Halifaxes of No. 4 Group are sent to bomb shipping in the port area of Brest, but the target area is covered by 7/10ths cloud. Only 54 aircraft drop their bomb and the results are unobserved.
• There are no losses.

• 55 OTU Wellingtons and 14 RCM aircraft carry out a sweep over the North Sea without loss. This type of operation is now being flown on some nights when no major raid is going on, in order to draw up the German fighters and cause them to waste fuel. These sweeps are, therefore, part diversionary to confuse the German controllers but also part of the campaign against German oil supplies.

• 37 Mosquitos are sent to Mannheim, and 3 each to Dortmund, Kamen and Sterkrade, 12 Halifaxes lay mines off the Biscay coast, 4 aircraft are on Resistance operations, and there are 14 Mosquito patrols and 15 RCM and 2 OTU leaflet sorties.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• V Bomber Command A-20s attack oil installations at Klamono.
• V Fighter Command fighter-bombers attack stores and artillery positions at Manokwari and Ransiki, and troops around MacCluer Gulf.
• P-40s support a landing by US Army troops at Wardo, Biak.
• P-39s strafe ground targets at But, Marubian, and between Cape Wom and the Dandriwad River.

Air Operations, Volcano Islands

30th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Iwo Jima.

Diplomatic Relations

Bulgaria announces it wishes to stop fighting.

Eastern Front

In Lithuania the German Army Group North sends in counterattacks all along the line but especially against Siauliai. The aim is to prevent Riga being cut off and to eliminate the threat to its armies still in Estonia. Further south, the 3rd Belorussian Front reaches the border of East Prussia along the Sesupe River and begins to bombard German territory.

Fighting in Latvia intensifies as the 3rd Panzer Army throws more than 300 panzers and assault guns into the attack toward Riga. The 2nd Guards Army is hard pressed by the 3rd Panzer while the 51st is hit by elements of both the 3rd Panzer and 16th Armies. The 16th is continuing to attack south of Jelgava.

The 33rd Army of the 3rd Belorussian Front crosses the East Prussian border and gains a minor bridgehead across the Sesupe River.

Air Operations, Carolines

• V Fighter Command fighter-bombers attack several targets of opportunity while conducting an armed reconnaissance over the Palau Islands.
• During the night, 868th Heavy Bomb Squadron SB-24s attack Japanese airfields and defenses in the Palau Islands.

Air Operations, CBI

• 39 10th Air Force fighter-bombers support Allied ground forces around Pinbaw.
• 16 P-51s and P-47s attack a bridge and other targets at Bhamo.
• 16 fighter-bombers attack Japanese Army ground forces at Moda.
• 8 P-47s attack the airfield at Lashio and nearby targets of opportunity.
• 4 P-47s attack a bridge in Hsenwi.
• 14th Air Force fighter-bombers attack targets in eastern Burma.

• 12 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack stores at Mangshih.
• 6 B-25s attack stores at Changsha.
• 14th Air Force fighter-bombers support Chinese Army ground forces on the Salween River front and attack numerous targets in east-central China.
• 311th Fighter Group P-51s down 2 Ki-44 'Tojo' fighters near Chefang at 1700 hours.

Air Operations, East Indies

V Fighter Command fighter-bombers attack several targets of opportunity while conducting sweeps over the Molucca Islands.

Air Operations, New Guinea

V Bomber Command A-20s and V Fighter Command fighter-bombers attack ground defenses near Sarmi and troops and stores at Suain.

Air Operations, Europe

• 158 Lancasters and 11 Mosquitos of No. 5 Group attack a German supply depot at L'Isle-Adam near Paris.
• 2 Lancasters are lost.
• In daylight raids, 64 Lancasters and 5 Mosquitos are sent to the oil storage depots at Bordeaux and Ertvelde Rieme near Ghent, 16 Halifaxes and 16 Lancaster are sent to hit 7 flying bomb sites, and 23 Lancasters to the U-boat pens at La Pallice.
• 2 Lancasters are lost raiding flying bomb sites.

• 288 aircraft are sent to Bremen. In this total are 216 Lancasters, 65 Halifaxes and 7 Mosquitos. Visibility over the target is clear and the Pathfinders provide perfect marking throughout the raid. Bremen's own records show this to have been the most destructive raid of the war, although only 274 aircraft attack, dropping just over 1,100 tons of bombs. The whole of the center and the northwestern parts of Bremen, including the port area, are devastated.
• 210 Halifaxes, 14 Mosquitos and 10 Lancasters from mainly No. 4 Group are sent to bomb the synthetic oil plant at Sterkrade. Bomber Command documents state the raid is successful and the facility is seriously damaged.
• 1 Halifax and 1 Lancaster are lost.

• 122 Halifaxes, 18 Lancasters and 4 Mosquitos of Nos. 6 and 8 Groups attack Connantre located between Paris and Reims. The target is a railway station and yards 70 miles east of Paris. The Pathfinder marking is accurate and the damage to the target area is severe. This raid marks the end of a long series of raids on the Belgian and French railway systems.
• There are no losses.
• 108 Lancasters and 5 Mosquitos of Nos. 1 and 8 Groups attack the oil depot and storage tanks at Ertvelde Reime to the north of Ghent. Severe damage is caused to the targets.
• There are no losses.

• Support and 139 training aircraft make a diversionary sweep over the Normandy area, 21 Mosquitos are sent to Berlin and 19 to 5 other targets, 11 Halifaxes lay mines off the Biscay ports, 5 aircraft are on Resistance ops, and there are 62 Mosquito patrols and 33 RCM sorties.
• 1 Mosquito is lost on a raid to Harburg.

Battle of the Atlantic

• Sunderland 'W' of No 201 Squadron RAF is on patrol to prevent U-boats from evacuating personnel from Brest to Bordeaux when she sees a periscope. The aircraft drops 6 depth charges in a perfect straddle of U-107. As the aircraft returned for a second attack, wreckage and oil is noticed coming to the surface.

U-107 Class Type IXB CO Leutnant zur See Karl-Heinz Fritz Location Bay of Biscay, W of La Rochelle Cause Air attack Casualties 58 Survivors None

U-621 Class Type VIIC CO Oberleutnant zur See Hermann Stuckmann Location Bay of Biscay Cause Depth charge Casualties 54 Survivors None

• Escort Group 11, which included the Canadian destroyers Ottawa, Resticouche, Kootenay and Chaudière, is deployed off the approaches to Rochefort when Kootenay reports a firm asdic contact. Ottawa attacks with Hedgehog and an oil slick is noticed on the surface soon after.
• On this day Hitler gave the order for the evacuation of the southern French ports of La Pallice and Bordeau. U-129 is surveyed and found that she needed extensive repairs which could not be done at Lorient. It was decided to scuttle her.

U-129

Diplomatic Relations

Plans are announced for the Allied occupation of Germany.

Air Operations, Carolines

During the night, 868th Heavy Bomb Squadron SB-24s attack Japanese airfields and defenses in the Palau Islands.

Air Operations, CBI

• 4 10th Air Force P-47s support Allied ground troops near Thaikwagon.
• 4 P-47s attack troop-laden trucks between Bhamo and Myothit.

• 25 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack warehouses at Puchi.
• 11 B-25s attack Sienning.
• 3 B-25s attack the airfield at Hengyang and a nearby rail line.
• More than 70 14th Air Force P-51s and P-40s attack various targets at Chaling, Changsha, Hengyang, Pengtse, Siangtan, and Yoyang.
• 23rd Fighter Group P-40s down a D3A 'Val' dive bomber and 2 Ki-43 'Oscar' fighters near Yochow at 0530 hours.

Air Operations, Europe

• 52 Lancasters of No. 5 Group attempt to bomb 2 groups of oil storage tanks at La Pallice. The targets are difficult to identify and the results of the raid are unseen.
• There are no losses.
• 1 Wellington of No. 100 Group carries out a 'signals watch' flight.

Eastern Front

During the night the 2nd Ukraine Front under Rodion Malinovsky opens a powerful offensive in the area of Jassy, in which the 3rd Ukraine Front under Fyodor Tolbukhin also takes part, attacking in the area of Tiraspol, in Romania. Their aim is to destroy the German-Romanian 6th Army, part of the South Ukraine Army Group of Johannes Friessner. This army consists of 23 Romanian and 21 German divisions. Marshal Ion Antonescu can foresee his own political downfall coming with the end of the big expeditionary force he sent into Russia, where it has fought valiantly in the Ukraine, the Caucasus and the Crimea.

Russian forces launch their major offensive to clear the Balkans.

The Soviet 3rd Shock Army is halted just beyond the Oger River by an assault by 3 divisions of the German 18th Army to the north.

The Soviet 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts launch probing attacks around Jassy and Tiraspol in preparation fo the Jassy-Kishinev Offensive. This will be Stavka's attempt to destroy German and Romanian forces in Romania, capture the Ploesti oil fields and then cross into Bulgaria, and threaten the rear of German forces in Greece and Yugoslavia. For this mission the two fronts have been substantially reinforced. The 2nd Ukrainian Front comprises the 4th Guards, 6th Tank, 7th, 27th, 40th, 52nd and 53rd Armis - 771,000 troops, 11,000 artillery pieces, 1,300 tanks and 900 aircraft. The 3rd Ukrainian Front deploys the 5th Shock, 37th, 46th and 57th Armies - 523,000 troops, 8,000 artillery pieces, 600 tanks and 1,000 aircraft.

Facing this massive force is Army Group South Ukraine. This group comprises the 8th Army (Romanian I, VII and LVII Corps and German XVII Corps) - 43,000 German and 112,000 Romanian troops; Romanian 4th Army (Romanian IV and VI Corps and German IV Corps) - 43,000 German and 88,000 Romanian troops; 6th Army (VII, XXX, XLIV and LII Corps) - 212,000 German and 25,000 Romanian troops; and Romanian 3rd Army (Romanian II and III and German XXIX Corps, with the 13th Panzer Division in reserve) - 14,000 German and 75,000 Romanian troops. The Luftwaffe has 318 aircraft to support the army group, which deploys a total of 400 tanks and assault guns.[MORE]

Air Operations, New Guinea

• Despite bad weather that grounds most of the 5th Air Force, V Bomber Command A-20s support Allied ground forces around Sarmi and Sawar.
• V Fighter Command P-39s support Allied ground forces near Wewak and attack targets around Geelvink Bay.
• P-40s attack port facilities at Napido.

Britain, Home Front

Sir Henry Wood, composer-conductor and founder of the annual London 'Promenade Concerts', dies at the age of 74.

Air Operations, Carolines

• 30th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s based at Saipan attack the Yap Atoll.
• 11th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s based in the Marshall Islands attack the Truk Atoll.
• During the night, 868th Heavy Bomb Squadron SB-24s attack Japanese airfields and defenses in the Palau Islands.

Air Operations, CBI

• 24 10th Air Force P-47s support Allied ground forces around Thaikwagon.
• 4 P-51s attack various targets of opportunity at Aledaw and Myintha.

• 4 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s and 7 14th Air Force P-40s attack a pontoon bridge, sampans, and buildings in the Hengyang area.
• 13 P-40s attack river traffic, road traffic, and buildings in the Hengshan area.
• More than 60 fighter-bombers attack numerous targets while conducting sweeps across east-central China.
• A 23rd Fighter Group P-40 and a 26th Fighter Squadron P-51 each down a Ki-44 'Tojo' fighter near Hankow at an unspecified time.

Air Operations, East Indies

V Bomber Command B-24s attack Namlea (Boeroe) and Tobelo Island in the Molucca Islands.

Air Operations, Europe

142 Russian planes attack U-boats and shipping at Constanta.

Allied planes begin dropping limited supplies to the Polish Home Army in Warsaw.

• 3 Mosquitos make Ranger patrols and 1 Wellington is on 'signals watch'.
• There are no losses.

• 7 aircraft lay mines off La Pallice without a loss.

Air Operations, Japan

• 61 of 75 58th Very Heavy Bomb Wing B-29s dispatched from Chengtu, China, attack a steel plant at Yawata with 96 tons of bombs. 6 B-29s attack secondary targets and targets of opportunity. 14 B-29s are downed in combat or operational accidents, including one from which the crew bails out over Soviet territory. 2 of the B-29s lost over Yawata are downed as a result of an intentional ramming by a Ki-45 'Nick' figher.
• During the night, 10 of 13 58th Very Heavy Bombt Wing B-29s taking off late from Chengtu, China, attack a steel plant at Yawata and 5 attack nearby secondary targets.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• V Bomber Command B-25s attack the airfield at Langgoer.
• A-20s and V Fighter Command fighter-bombers attack troops at Marubian, stores at Wom, and many targets in the Wewak area.
• P-39s and P-40s attack the Manokwari area.
• P-39s attack Windissi.
• P-40s support Allied ground forces at Napido.

Air Operations, Philippines

While 17th Reconnaissance Squadron B-25s photograph the area, 345th Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack two villages on Talaud Island in the Sunda Islands. Also 5th Air Force F-5s begin photographing Japanese installations on Mindanao.

Baltic Sea

The Prinz Eugen bombards the Russian positions on the Gulf of Riga.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-178 is another of the U-boats abandoned in France after Hitler's order to evacuate La Pallice and Bordeaux. She needed urgent repairs to her battery which could not be done in the local dockyard. She is scuttled by her crew.

U-178 Class Type IXD2 CO Kapitänleutnant Wilhelm Spahr Location Bay of Biscay, Bordeaux Cause Scuttling Casualties Unknown Survivors Unknown

U-188 Class Type IXC/40 CO Kapitänleutnant Siegfried Ludden Location Bay of Biscay, Bordeaux Cause Scuttling Casualties Unknown Survivors Unknown

• U-188 is scuttled in the same circumstances as U-178.
• The German submarine U-1229 is sunk by aircraft (VC-42) from the US escort carrier Bogue in the North Atlantic area.

U-1229 Class Type IXC CO Kapitänleutnant Arnim Zinke Location Atlantic, SE of Newfoundland Cause Air attack Casualties 17 Survivors 41

U-984 Class Type VIIC CO Oberleutnant zur See Hans Sieder Location Atlantic, W of Brest Cause Depth charge Casualties 45 Survivors none

• Ottawa, Chaudière and Kootenay of Escort Group 11 are returning to Londonderry when Ottawa gets a firm asdic contact. Chaudière, equipped with superior asdic set, attacks with Hedgehog bombs, but sees no result. She then attacks with depth charges which apparently destroys U-984.

Black Sea

U-9 is bombed by Soviet aircraft while along side at Constanza.

U-9

Burma-China

On the Salween front, the Chinese blow up the Japanese fortifications at Sung Shan with mines, and after a bloody assault with flame-throwers and with bayonets, succeed at last in seizing the positions.

Eastern Front

After a fierce artillery preparation during the night a major Soviet offensive begins in the south with two main attacks near Jassy and Tiraspol. It is a massive undertaking involving 939,000 Red Army troops, 1,400 tanks and 1,700 aircraft. Malinovsky's 2nd Ukraine Front advance south around Jassy and Tolbukhin's 3rd Ukraine Front southwest from Tiraspol. Their attacks fall on the 3rd and 4th Romanian Armies and the German 6th Army which in fact contains many Romanian troops. At the same time the Romanians turn on the Germans, seizing the bridges over the Danube and Prut Rivers, effectively trapping 16 German divisions. These forces are all part of Gen Johannes Freissner's Army Group South Ukraine. In the north in Latvia the Russian attacks also continue fiercely. The fire of the German heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen helps beat off one important Russian advance near Riga.

The Soviet Jassy-Kishinev Offensive begins. The 2nd Ukrainian Front launches a devastating assault on the Romanian 4th Army, the IV and VI Corps being shattered. The Soviet 52nd Army crashes into the junction between the German IV and Romanian IV Corps at Jassy, while the 27th Army pummels the Romanian VI Corps. Soon the Romanians are fleeing and the Soviet 53rd Army is inside Jassy.