World War II Diary: 75 Years Ago, Today Sunday, October 3, 1943

World War II Diary: 75 Years Ago, Today

Sunday, October 3, 1943

British Commandos began Operation DEVON overnight, an amphibious landing at the town of Termoli on the Adriatic coast of Italy. During the early morning hours, British commandos landed and occupied Termoli in Italy. The Germans reacted quickly by counterattacking with the 16th Panzer Division. The commandos successfully held out until relief came when a linkup with the British 78th Division was made.

In Italy, the USA 34th Division captured Benevento, Italy, and the bridges across the Calore River.

The Canadian 1st Division advanced to within fifteen miles of Vinchiaturo, Italy, hampered by very rough terrain.

The Twelfth Air Force’s XII Bomber Command dispatches B-26s, B-25s, and P-38s to bomb railroad, highway, and pontoon bridges, an overpass, and road junction at Capua, Castel Volturno, Piana, Arce, Mignano, and Isernia; P-38s also hit shipping between Corsica and Italy. XII Bomber Command fighter-bombers hit motor transport in the battle area as US Fifth Army troops take Benevento.

The marshalling yard at Civitavecchia is bombed by 46 RAF aircraft of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group during the night of 3/4 October without loss.

The Germans launched Operation POLAR BEAR, a series of attacks on islands in the Aegean Sea. The first attack came from paratroops landing on the island of Kos. The operation was designed to force Turkey to remain neutral after the British began occupying islands in the Aegean.

SS General Dr. Werner Best declared Denmark to be judenfrei, although most of the nation’s Jews had learned of the impending mass arrests and were in hiding, awaiting the chance to flee to Sweden.

Nazi Wehrmacht forces commit the Lyngiades massacre in northwest Greece as an arbitrary reprisal.

After General Henri Giraud stepped aside as a co-director, General Charles de Gaulle became the sole leader of France’s Committee for National Liberation, which would form the basis of the nation’s post-war government.

WAAF Photographic Interpretation Officer, F/O Babington-Smith, discovers evidence of the V1 flying-bomb. It was photographed by a Mosquito of No. 540 Squadron during a sortie over Peenemünde, Germany.

USAAF Eighth Air Force’ VIII Air Support Command flies two missions: 36 B-26B Marauders are dispatched to the Vendeveille Airfield at Lille, France, but weather prevents their hitting the target and 72 B-26Bs are dispatched to Tille Airfield, Beauvais with 63 hit the target at 1724-1727 hours; a B-26 is lost.

During the night of 3/4 October, six RAF Bomber Command aircraft drop leaflets over the country.

During the night of 3/4 October, seven RAF Bomber Command Stirlings lay mines in the Frisian Islands.

During the night of 3/4 October, RAF Bomber Command sent 547 aircraft, 223 Halifaxes, 204 Lancasters, 113 Stirlings and seven Mosquitos, to bomb Kassel; 501 aircraft actually bombed. The H2S “blind marker” aircraft overshot the aiming point badly and the “visual markers” could not correct this because their view of the ground is restricted by thick haze. German decoy markers may also have been present. The main weight of the attack thus fell on the western suburbs and outlying towns and villages. Twenty four aircraft, 14 Halifaxes, six Stirlings and four Lancasters, are lost, 4.4 per cent of the force. A number of Mosquito operations also took place; nine aircraft on a diversion bombed Hannover, nine Oboe aircraft bombed the Knapsack power-station near Cologne and four on Mark II Oboe trials to Aachen, and three hit Cologne.

U-class submarine HMS Usurper (P 56) is lost after leaving for a patrol off Algiers on 24 September with instruction to patrol the Italian naval base at La Spezia. Today she is ordered to move to the Gulf of Genoa. It is thought that she may have been sunk in minefield QB.192 in the Gulf of Genoa, or been the victim of an attack by UJ.2208 on this date. There are no survivors.

Miniature submarine HMS X-10 is scuttled in the North Sea after meeting up with HMS Stubborn on 28 September. With no working compass, a periscope propped in the up position and the weather worsening, Flag Officer Submarines ordered that it be scuttled rather than risk the lives of the transit crew who would otherwise have to bring it back to the UK. There are no casualties.

The Japanese completed the evacuation of Kolombangara, Solomon Islands.

7 Fourteenth Air Force P-40s damage a 250-ft (76.2 m) vessel on the Yangtze River near Chiuchiang; 4 P-38 Lightnings bomb Chiuchiang docks; and 6 B-24s damage a 100-ft (30.5 m) coastal freighter off Tonkon Point on Hainan Island.

Thirteenth Air Force P-39s strafe several barges west of Choiseul Island while the Japanese complete evacuation of Kolombangara Island.

Bismarck Archipelago: Fifth Air Force B-25s continue to hit barges along the west coast of the island.

The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Henley (DD-391) was sunk by the HIJNS submarine RO-108 off eastern New Guinea.

The Japanese hospital ship Hikawa Maru was damaged by a mine at Surabaya, Java.

An experimental television program, The Bureau of Missing Persons, premiered on the DuMont Television Network. A forerunner of the 1990 premiere of America’s Most Wanted, the show, hosted by NYPD Captain John J. Cronin, showed photographs of missing persons and invited the few television set owners, in New York City, to call the local police for any clues in identification.

The United States agreed to loan Saudi Arabia two million dollars worth of silver in order for the Saudis to create a stable currency.

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UNITED STATES ARMY IN WORLD WAR II CHRONOLOGY, 1941–1945:

3 October

AEGEAN: Axis forces invade Kos Island

ITALY: 15th Army Group: In U.S. Fifth Army’s VI Corps area, 133rd Infantry of 34th Division takes Benevento and establishes bridgehead across Calore River. 34th Division is then withdrawn to reserve, leaving 45th Division to expand bridgehead.

In British Eighth Army area, Germans rush reinforcements forward in attempt to hurl back bridgehead across the Biferno at Termoli, and hard fighting ensues. Brigade of 8th Division is landed in the bridgehead, night 3–4. Cdn 1st Division, hampered by terrain, is within 15 miles of Vinchiaturo.

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THE U.S. ARMY AIR FORCES IN WORLD WAR II: COMBAT CHRONOLOGY, 1941-1945:

SUNDAY, 3 OCTOBER 1943

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 7 P-40’s damage a 250-ft (76.2 m) vessel on the Yangtze River near Chiuchiang; 4 P-38’s bomb Chiuchiang docks; 6 B-24’s damage a 100-ft (30.5 m) coastal freighter off Tonkon Point on Hainan Island. A detachment of the 76th Fighter Squadron, 23d Fighter Group, based at Hengyang, China begins operating from Suichwan, China with P-40’s.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): VIII Air Support Command Missions 76, 77 and 78: 1. 36 B-26’s are dispatched to the Lille/Vendeveille Airfield in France but weather prevents their hitting the target. 2. 131 of 144 B-26’s dispatched to Amsterdam/Schiphol (71 aircraft), Woensdrecht (34 aircraft) and Haamstede (26 aircraft) Airfields in the Netherlands hit their targets at 1120-1136 hours; 47 B-26’s are damaged. 3. 72 B-26’s are dispatched to Beauvais/Tille Airfield, France; 63 hit the target at 1724-1727 hours; 1 B-26 is lost and 27 damaged. Total casualties for all missions are 5 WIA. The 153d Liaison Squadron, 67th Observation Group, transfers from Keevil to Membury, England with A-20’s and L-4’s. The 328th, 329th, 330th and 409th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 93d Bombardment Group (Heavy), cease operating from Oudna, Tunisia and return to their base at Hardwick, England with B-24’s. The 564th, 565th, 566th and 567th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 389th Bombardment Group (Heavy), cease operating from Massicault, Tunisia and return to their base at Hethel, England with B-24’s.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, XII Bomber Command B-26’s, B-25’s, and P-38’s bomb railroad, highway, and pontoon bridges, an overpass, and road junction at Capua, Castel Volturno, Piana, Arce, Mignano, and Isernia; P-38’s also hit shipping between Corsica and Italy. XII Bomber Command fighter-bombers hit motor transport in the battle area as US Fifth Army troops take Benevento. HQ 82d Fighter Group and it’s 95th, 96th and 97th Fighter Squadrons transfer from Grombalia, Tunisia to San Pancrazio, Italy with P-38’s. HQ 313th Troop Carrier Group and it’s 29th Troop Carrier Squadron transfer from Sciacca to Trapani/Milo Airfield, Sicily with C-47’s. HQ 321st Bombardment Group (Medium) and it’s 445th, 446th and 447th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium) transfer from Soliman, Tunisia to Grottaglie, Italy with B-25’s. HQ 324th Fighter Group and it’s 314th, 315th and 316th Fighter Squadrons transfer from El Haouaria to Menzel Heurr, Tunisia with P-40’s. These units have been regrouping since Jul 43. Detachments of the 512th, 513th and 514th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 376th Bombardment Group (Heavy), based at Enfidaville, Tunisia begin operating from Bengasi, Libya with B-24’s.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): P-39’s strafe several barges W of Choiseul Island in the Solomon Islands.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): B-25’s continue to hit barges along the W coast of New Britain Island in the Bismarck Archipelago. The 431st Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Group, ceases operating from Port Moresby and returns to it’s base at Dobodura, New Guinea with P-38’s.

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THE BOMBER COMMAND WAR DIARIES:

RAF Bomber Command, Night of 3/4 October 1943

KASSEL

547 aircraft – 223 Halifaxes, 204 Lancasters, 113 Stirlings, 7 Mosquitoes. 24 aircraft – 14 Halifaxes, 6 Stirlings, 4 Lancasters – lost, 4.4 percent of the force.

This raid did not proceed according to plan. The H2S ‘blind marker’ aircraft overshot the aiming point badly and the ‘visual markers’ could not correct this because their view of the ground was restricted by thick haze. German decoy markers may also have been present. The main weight of the attack thus fell on the western suburbs and outlying towns and villages. But, even so, large fires were started at both the Henschel and Fieseler aircraft factories, at the city’s main hospital and at several other important buildings. The eastern suburb of Wolfshanger was devastated. Kassel’s casualties were 118 dead – 68 civilians, 12 military and 38 foreigners – and 304 injured. Musgrove, in his excellent book Pathfinder Force,* records that a large ammunition dump at Ihringshausen, just north of Wolfshanger, was hit by a chance bomb load and the resulting explosions attracted further bombs; photographs taken later showed 84 buildings at the military location destroyed and a great mass of craters. The outlying townships of Bettenhausen and Sandershausen were also severely hit but details for these places are not available.

Mosquito Operations

10 aircraft on a diversion to Hannover, 12 Oboe aircraft to Knapsack power-station near Cologne, 4 aircraft on Mark II Oboe trials to Aachen. No losses.

Minor Operations: 7 Stirlings minelaying in the Frisians, 7 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

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THE OFFICIAL CHRONOLOGY OF THE U.S. NAVY IN WORLD WAR II:

3 October, Sun.

Pacific
Japanese complete evacuation of Kolombangara, Solomons.

Destroyer Henley (DD-391) is sunk by Japanese submarine RO 108 off eastern New Guinea, 07°40’S, 148°06’E.

Japanese hospital ship Hikawa Maru is damaged by mine, Surabaya, Java.

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WORLD WAR 2 AT SEA, BRITISH AND OTHER NAVIES DAY-BY-DAY:

3 OCTOBER 1943

Destroyer HMS Middleton arrived at Scapa Flow from Hvalfjord, Iceland.

Steamer Empire Activity (5335grt) (ex-Italian Amelia Lauro (5335grt)) was stranded south of Newfoundland, Canada.

Destroyer HMS Rocket arrived at Greenock, Scotland, from Scapa Flow to boiler clean.

A mine sank naval trawler HMS Meror (250grt) off Humber, England.

The German 4th Torpedo Boat Flotilla (KKpt. Kohlauf, RK) sortied from Lorient, France with T.23, T.22, T.25 and T.27 to escort German prize ship Nordvard (4111grt) to port.

She had been captured by armed merchant cruiser SCHIFF.33/Pinguin and sent to France.

The German 2nd Minesweeper Flotilla also sortied to provide escort.

Destroyers HMS Grenville and HMS Ulster plus four Hunt-class destroyers were en route to intercept the German prize ship Nordvard (4111grt) before she reached Lorient, France.

German submarine chaser UJ.2208/Alfred (ObltzS Banzhaf) sank submarine HMS Usurper (Lt Mott) in the Gulf of Genoa.

Dutch submarine HNMS Dolfijn patrolled the area off Toulon, France.

Submarine HMS Sickle patrolled the area off Genoa, Italy.

HMS Unshaken patrolled off Elba.

HMS Unruffled patrolled off Bastia.

HMS Untiring patrolled off La Spezia, Italy.

HMS Unseen (Lt Crawford) patrolled off Imperia, Italy.

HMS Ultor (Lt Hunt) patrolled off Civitavecchia, Italy.

Destroyers HMS Onslow (D.17), HMS Venus, HMS Obedient, HMS Mahratta, HMS Hardy, HMS Matchless and HNoMS Stord (Norway) arrived at Gibraltar.

Naval trawler HMS Aracari (245grt) grounded near Filicudi Island, north of Sicily. She was a total loss.

Dutch submarine HNMS Dolfijn patrolled the area off Toulon, France.

Submarine HMS Sickle patrolled the area off Genoa, Italy.

Submarine HMS Unshaken patrolled the area off the Island of Elba.

Submarine HMS Unruffled patrolled the area off Bastia, Corsica.

Submarine HMS Untiring patrolled the area off La Spezia, Italy.

Submarine HMS Unseen (Lt Crawford) patrolled the area off Imperia, Italy.

Submarine HMS Ultor (Lt Hunt) patrolled the area off Civitavecchia, Italy.

Destroyers HMS Aldenham, RHS Pindos (Greek) and RHS Themistocles (Greek) failed to intercept the German 21st Submarine Chaser Flotilla before it reached the Island of Kos due to a lack of fuel.

Convoy UGS.17 arrived at Alexandria escorted by destroyer HMS Beaufort, corvette HMS Primula, plus naval whalers HMSAS Southern Maid, HMSAS Southern Sea and HMS Falk (Norwegian). Ten merchant ships entered Alexandria while twentyseven ships and landing ship tank vessel HMS LST-180 continued to Port Said.

Dutch submarine HNMS O-23 departed Port Said for Malta while en route to Britain.

The German 21st Submarine Chaser Flotilla landed 1,500 German troops on the Island of Kos in the Aegean.

The Germans captured 1,388 British and 3,145 Italian troops as POWs.

Minesweeper HMAS Burnie (Australian) and HMIS Bengal (Indian) departed Aden for Khor Kuwai, Oman, escorting convoy AP.47.

Australian minesweeper HMAS Cairns arrived at Aden from Suez, Egypt.

Destroyer HMS Quadrant sighted a surfaced submarine in 14, 50N, 053, 30E and unsuccessfully attacked it with depth charges. The submarine submerged, and no further contact was made.

Destroyer HMS Rapid arrived at the Seychelles after escorting submarine depot ship HMS Adamant to refuel.

She then departed for Kilindini, Kenya.

Light cruiser HMS Kenya departed Kilindini for Colombo, Ceylon, escorting convoy KR.7.

Australian destroyers HMAS Quiberon and HMAS Quality provided local antisubmarine escort.

Heavy cruiser HMS Suffolk departed Kilindini for Durban, South Africa.

Frigate HMS Derg departed Kilindini for Aden escorting one merchant ship.

Escort vessel HMS Nigella arrived at Kilindini from Durban.

Indian patrol boat HMIS Irriwadi and naval trawler HMIS Agra arrived at Madras, India, from Vizagapatam, India.

Dutch submarine HNMS O-24 arrived at Colombo, Ceylon, after her war patrol.

Indian escort vessel HMIS Khyber arrived at Colombo, Ceylon, from Addu Atoll.

Armed merchant cruiser HMS Canton arrived at Trincomalee, Ceylon, after she escorted American Liberty ship Sambridge (7176grt) from the MOMP in 90E to rendezvous with destroyer HMS Scout off Ceylon.

Indian sloop HMIS Narbada arrived at Vizagapatam from Colombo, Ceylon.

Imperial Japanese Army tanker Nansei Maru (5878grt) (ex-UK Pleiodon (5878grt)) departed Singapore.

Imperial Japanese Navy oiler Kozui Maru (6702grt) departed Singapore for Shimotsu, Japan, in a 15-knot convoy with Japanese tanker Nichinan Maru (5175grt) and Imperial Japanese Navy oiler Takasaki (18,300grt).

Imperial Japanese Navy submarine I-162 arrived at Sabang, Sumatra.

Imperial Japanese Navy torpedo boat Kari departed Singapore for patrol/escort duties between Sabang, Sumatra, the Andaman Islands, and Penang, Malaya.

Imperial Japanese Army passenger/cargo ship Olympia Maru (5617grt) departed Singapore and headed south.

Imperial Japanese Navy tanker Nichinan Maru (1945grt) (aka Nichisai Maru (1945grt)) departed Singapore.

Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Tatsuwa Maru (6335grt) departed Singapore for St. Jacques, French Indochina, in Convoy No. 625 with an unidentified merchant ship without escort.

Japanese passenger/cargo ship Teia Maru (17,537grt) (ex-French Aramis (17,537grt)) arrived at Singapore.

Imperial Japanese Navy oiler Nampo Maru (10,033grt) (aka Nanpo Maru (10,033grt)) arrived at Mako, Pescadores.

Imperial Japanese Army tanker Rikko Maru (9181grt) (aka Rikke Maru (9181grt)) departed St. Jacques, French Indochina, for Singapore.

Imperial Japanese Navy gunboat Nanyo (aka Nanyo Maru, ex-UK Lyemun) departed Amoy, China, for Nanao Tao, China.

Nanyo arrived at Nanao Tao.

Imperial Japanese Navy passenger/cargo ship Koto Maru No. 2 Go (3557grt) departed Samah for Basuo (now Dong Fang), on Hainan Island’s west coast.

A mine damaged Imperial Japanese Navy hospital ship Hikawa Maru (11,622grt) off Surabaya, Java. She began repairs at Surabaya.

Imperial Japanese Army cable layer Taiei Maru (2933grt) arrived at Jakarta, Java.

Imperial Japanese Navy auxiliary transport Seian Maru (3712grt) departed Balikpapan, Borneo.

Imperial Japanese Navy minesweeper W-11 arrived at Surabaya, Java.

Imperial Japanese Army oiler Ichiyo Maru (5106grt) (aka Imperial Japanese Army oiler Ichiu Maru (5068grt)) arrived at Takao, Formosa, in convoy TE-01.

Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Nissho Maru No. 2 (1386grt) departed Naze, Okinawa.

Imperial Japanese Navy gunboat Daigen Maru No. 7 (1289grt) departed the Taichow Islands.

She fired seven rounds of her main gun at an unidentified village and landed Special Naval Landing Force troops.

Daigen Maru No. 7 (1289grt) returned to the Taichow Islands.

Imperial Japanese Navy gunboat Shinko Maru No. 1 Go (934grt) loaded fresh food from Japanese cargo ship Taisei Maru (1948grt) and fresh water from Japanese cargo ship Kanan Maru (2567grt) before she departed Shihpu, China, to clear a path before the arrival of Convoy No. 406.

Imperial Japanese Navy gunboat Shosei Maru (998grt) patrolled from Luojia Shan, China, to Ssu Chiao Shan, China.

Imperial Japanese Navy second-class destroyer Kuretake arrived at Kirun, Formosa, with an unidentified convoy.

Imperial Japanese Navy second-class destroyer Fuyo arrived at Takao, Formosa.

Imperial Japanese Navy escort vessel Sado arrived at Takao, Formosa, escorting Imperial Japanese Army passenger/cargo ship Hakone Maru (10,420grt).

Imperial Japanese Navy escort vessel Wakamiya departed Takao, Formosa, escorting convoy C with four unidentified merchant ships.

Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Suez Maru (4645grt), Imperial Japanese Army passenger/cargo ship Teifu/Taihu Maru (7110grt) (ex-French Bouganville (7110grt)), Imperial Japanese Army passenger/cargo ship Belgium Maru (5838grt), Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Teiritsu Maru (9877grt) (ex-French Leconte de Lisle (9877grt)) and Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Havre Maru (5652grt) arrived at Takao, Formosa, in Convoy No. 102 escorted by Imperial Japanese Navy patrol boat PB-36.

Imperial Japanese Navy gunboat Karatsu (ex-U.S. Navy USS Luzon (PR-7)) arrived at Cebu, Cebu from Iloilo, Philippines.

Imperial Japanese Navy oiler Yamasachi Maru and Japanese tanker Taketsu Maru (5949grt) (aka Butsu Maru (5949grt)) arrived at Manila, Luzon.

Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Suiten Maru (1784grt) (ex-Dutch Schouten (1805grt)) arrived at Macassar, Celebes.

Imperial Japanese Navy submarine chaser Ch-3 arrived at Lautem, Timor, from Dili, Timor.

Imperial Japanese Navy second-class destroyer Karukaya arrived at Moji, Japan, escorting Convoy No. 207.

Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer Shiokaze departed Sasebo, Kyushu, to join Convoy No. 103 at sea.

Construction completed on Imperial Japanese Navy submarine I-183 (Lt Cdr Saeki Takuo) and she was attached to Sasebo Naval District.

The Imperial Japanese Navy assigned her to Submarine Squadron 11, Japanese First Fleet (RAdm Marquis Daigo Tadashige).

Imperial Japanese Navy passenger/cargo ship Nichirin Maru (1020grt) (ex-UK Mata Hari (1020grt)) transferred from Sasebo, Kyushu, to Sankaku Jima.

Imperial Japanese Navy collier/oiler Asakaze Maru (6517grt) departed Moji, Japan, for Kobe, Japan.

Imperial Japanese Army oiler Hokki Maru (5601grt) departed Moji, Japan, in Convoy No. 103 with Imperial Japanese Navy oiler Kiyo Maru (7250grt) (ex- German tanker Vigrid (7250grt)), Imperial Japanese Army cargo ship Columbia Maru (5617grt), Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Hakko Maru (1132grt), Japanese cargo ship Hokushin Maru (1997grt), Imperial Japanese Army cargo ship Minryo Maru (2224grt), and six unidentified merchant ships escorted by Imperial Japanese Navy second-class destroyer Asagao.

The convoy split into two parts after departure. Asagao escorted one part and destroyer Shiokaze, which joined the convoy from Sasebo, Kyushu, escorted the other part.

Imperial Japanese Navy submarine chaser Ch-34 departed Palau escorting convoy Hollandia No.1 with Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Tonegawa Maru (4997grt), Imperial Japanese Army cargo ship Kamoi Maru (548grt), Imperial Japanese Army passenger/cargo ship Uchide Maru (5274grt) and Imperial Japanese Army passenger/cargo ship Saiho Maru (4639grt) (aka Seiho Maru (4639grt)).

Imperial Japanese Navy passenger/cargo ship Mexico Maru (5755grt) departed Palau in an unidentified convoy with Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Kashu Maru (5460grt) Imperial Japanese Army passenger/cargo ship Toyooka Maru (7097grt) and an unidentified escort.

Imperial Japanese Navy submarine I-38 departed Rabaul, New Britain, for Sio, New Guinea, on her fifteenth supply mission.

U.S. Navy Force Chandler patrolled the area north of Kolombangara Island for Japanese barges.

Imperial Japanese Army passenger/cargo ship Keisho Maru (5879grt) arrived at Rabaul, New Britain.

Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Ogashima Maru (1397grt) arrived at Mili Atoll and then departed later the same day.

Imperial Japanese Navy passenger/cargo ship Yamafuku Maru (4928grt) arrived at Kavieng, New Ireland, to seek shelter due to a reported U.S. Navy submarine sighting.

Imperial Japanese Navy submarine chasers Ch-17 and Ch-40 departed Rabaul, New Britain, escorting convoy O-302 with two unidentified merchant ships.

U.S. Navy destroyers USS Henley (DD-391) (Cdr C. R. Adams), USS Reid (DD-369) and USS Smith (DD-378) arrived to conduct an antisubmarine sweep off Finschafen, New Guinea.

Imperial Japanese Navy submarine Ro-108 (Lt Arai) fired a salvo of torpedoes at U.S. Navy destroyers USS Henley (DD-391) (Cdr C. R. Adams), USS Reid (DD-369) and USS Smith (DD-378).

Lookouts aboard USS Smith (DD-378) spotted three torpedo wakes and combed them, so that one torpedo passed 500 yards to port and the others 200 yards to starboard.

Lookouts aboard USS Henley (DD-391) also spotted and evaded two torpedoes, but a third torpedo hit her port side, exploded in her No. 1 fire room, destroyed her boilers, and broke her keel.

The crew abandoned USS Henley (DD-391) and 241 of her 258 men were rescued.

USS Henley (DD-391) broke in half and sank stern first. USS Smith (DD-378) made an unsuccessful depth charge attack.

Lt Arai reported two U.S. Navy destroyers sunk off eastern New Guinea.

With the evacuation completed, the Japanese barges had removed 5,400 men and the Imperial Japanese Navy destroyers another 4,000 men including General Sasaki.

Imperial Japanese Army passenger/cargo ship Manila Maru (9519grt) departed Ujina, Japan.

Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Tairya Maru (1912grt) arrived at Kure, Japan.

Imperial Japanese Navy oiler Eiho Maru (5068grt) departed Osaka, Japan.

Imperial Japanese Navy transport Kaiko Maru (3548grt) transferred to Nonai, Aomori Prefecture.

Imperial Japanese Navy transport Tatsutagawa Maru No. 2 (1923grt) (aka Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Tatsutakawa Maru (1923grt)) departed Muroran, Hokkaido.

In accordance with a secret Imperial Japanese Navy message, the former Italian steamer Calitea II (3685grt) was renamed Ikutagawa Maru (3685grt) and assigned call sign JXBY.

Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Hakutetsu Maru No. 7 (1018grt) arrived at Kata, Japan.

She departed later the same day.

Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Matsuyama Maru (385grt) transferred from Onomichi, Japan, to Kure, Japan.

Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Unkai Maru No. 10 (851grt) transferred from Yokosuka, Japan, to Yokohama, Japan.

Imperial Japanese Navy submarine chaser Ch-41 departed Hachinohe, Hokkaido.

Imperial Japanese Navy collier/oiler Asakaze Maru (6517grt) arrived at Kobe, Japan, from Moji, Japan.

Imperial Japanese Navy transport Akashisan Maru (4541grt) departed Ominato, Japan.

Imperial Japanese Navy patrol boat PB-101 (ex-UK HMS Thracian) departed Wada Misaki, Japan, for Sumoto, Japan.

PB-101 arrived at Sumoto.

Imperial Japanese Navy supply ship Santo Maru (3234grt) departed Saipan, Northern Marianas, but then returned, probably due to previous damage issues.

Imperial Japanese Navy submarine I-169 arrived at Truk.

Imperial Japanese Navy passenger/cargo ship Hie Maru (4943grt) arrived at Truk.

Imperial Japanese Navy escort vessel Oki departed Truk escorting Convoy No. 4003 with Imperial Japanese Navy passenger/cargo ship Chihaya Maru (7089grt) (ex-Dutch passenger/cargo ship Tjisaroea (7089grt)), Imperial Japanese Navy passenger/cargo ship Hakozaki Maru (10,413grt), Imperial Japanese Navy passenger/cargo ship Asahisan Maru (4550grt) and Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Shiganoura Maru (3512grt).

Imperial Japanese Navy light cruisers Isuzu and Naka arrived at Truk.

A U.S. Navy patrol bomber spotted Imperial Japanese Navy passenger/cargo ship Kiyosumi Maru (6991grt), Imperial Japanese Navy submarine tender Heian Maru (11,614grt) and Imperial Japanese Navy passenger/cargo ship Gokoku Maru (10,438grt), but the dense cloud cover made an attack impossible.

Imperial Japanese Army passenger/cargo ship Hiyoshi Maru (4943grt) departed Truk escorted by Imperial Japanese Navy auxiliary gunboat Choun Maru.

Imperial Japanese Navy oiler Fujisan Maru (9524grt) arrived at Truk.

U.S. Navy submarine USS Dace (SS-247) arrived at Pearl Harbor, Oahu.

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NAVAL CONSTRUCTION:

The U.S. Navy LST-1-class landing ship, tank USS LST-54 is laid down by the Dravo Corp. (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.).

The U.S. Navy Balao-class submarine USS Springer (SS-414) is laid down by the Mare Island Navy Yard (Vallejo, California, U.S.A.).

The U.S. Navy LST-1-class landing ship, tank USS LST-282 is launched by the American Bridge Co. (Ambridge, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.).

The U.S. Navy Mount McKinley-class amphibious command ship USS Mount Olympus (AGC-8) is launched by North Carolina Shipbuilding Co. (Wilmington, North Carolina, U.S.A.).

The U.S. Navy Cannon-class destroyer escorts USS Gustafson (DE-182) and USS Samuel S. Miles (DE-183) are launched by the Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. (Newark, New Jersey, U.S.A.).

The U.S. Navy Cannon-class destroyer escort USS Tills (DE-748) is launched by the Western Pipe & Steel Co. (San Pedro, California, U.S.A.).

The U.S. Navy Vulcan-class repair ship USS Ajax (AR-6) is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Commander John L. Brown.

The Royal Navy “U”-class submarine HMS Unswerving (P 63) is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is T/Lieutenant Michael D. Tattersall, RNVR.

Photograph: Supermarine Spitfire Mark IXs and VCs of No. 232 Squadron RAF undergoing servicing at Serretelle landing ground, south of Salerno, Italy. In the foreground, local peasants in a bullock cart help to prepare the airfield for use by removing tree stumps from the new runway and delivering fencing posts.