Elements of the British 10th Corps reached the Volturno River.
The British Eighth Army continued heavy fighting for the Biferno bridgehead with German troops forcing their way into Termoli, Italy.
On the east coast of Italy near Termoli, the German 16th Panzer Division brought the advance of the British 13th Corps to a halt in heavy fighting. German 16th Panzer Division nearly wiped out the British bridgehead on the Biferno River near Termoli, Italy; the British bridgehead was saved by the arrival of Canadian and British tanks.
The US 5th Army captures Aversa and Maddaloni.
Lieutenant General James H Doolittle assumes command of the Twelfth Air Force during the absence of General Carl Spaatz.
One hundred twenty four USAAF XII Bomber Command B-17 Flying Fortresses hit the Bologna marshalling yard with the loss of one aircraft; B-25 Mitchells and B-26 Marauders bomb the Formia road, a road loop north of Mignano, and the Isernia chokepoint; Northwest African Tactical Bomber Force, XII Air Support Command, and RAF Desert Air Force (DAF) aircraft bomb numerous targets in and north of the battle area, including heavy traffic in the Isernia area, gasoline dumps at Alfedena, trains at Termoli, and towns of Venafro and Isolella.
During the night of 5/6 October, 51 RAF bombers of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group attack Grossetto Airfield.
All German troops withdrew from the island of Corsica to the Italian mainland.
Seventeen USAAF Twelfth Air Force B-24 Liberators bomb Eleus Airfield at Athens. Three aircraft are lost.
1,196 Polish Jewish children originally from the liquidated Bialystok ghetto in Poland were transferred from Theresienstadt Concentration Camp in occupied Czechoslovakia to Auschwitz Concentration Camp in occupied Poland.
Theodore Morde of Reader’s Digest met with Franz von Papen, the German ambassador to Turkey, in what would be described later as “a crazy attempt at personal diplomacy”. At the request of OSS chief Bill Donovan, without the knowledge of President Roosevelt, Morde attempted to persuade Papen to lead a coup to overthrow Adolf Hitler, with Papen to be the new leader of Germany. Papen declined the offer.
U-336 (Kptlt. Hans Hunger) is sunk in the Straits of Denmark southwest of Iceland, in position 62.43W, 27.17W, by rockets fired by an RAF Hudson. (Sqdn. 269/F). 50 dead (all crew lost).
Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Commander of the Pacific Ocean Area, issues a plan for an offensive in the Central Pacific. Admiral Raymond A. Spruance Commander of the Fifth Fleet, is to seize Makin, Tarawa, and Abamama in the Gilbert Islands, cover amphibious landings on each with air and naval surface forces, and deny the Japanese the use of land bases in the Marshall Islands and at Nauru during the operation. D-Day for landings is set for 19 November and later postponed to 20 November.
U.S. Navy Task Force 14, commanded by Rear Admiral Alfred E. Montgomery, consisting of 3 aircraft carriers, 3 small aircraft carriers, 3 heavy cruisers, 4 light cruisers, 24 destroyers, and 2 oilers, bombed and shelled Wake Island. Fearing that the strikes portend a landing and that an escaped POW could communicate the weakness of his garrison, Rear Admiral Sakaibara Shigematsu, the Japanese island commander, ordered the execution of the 98 remaining civilians (Contractors Pacific Naval Air Bases) captured on December 23, 1941. Sakaibara personally decapitated the last man himself.
Ensign Robert W. Duncan of US Navy Squadron VF-5 became the first F6F Hellcat fighter pilot to shoot down two Japanese Zero fighters in a single engagement.
In North East New Guinea, Japanese documents captured near Finschhafen reveal that the Japanese are not in full retreat but intend some offensive operation. Lieutenant General Sir Edmund Herring, Commander of I Australian Corps, issues an operations order to the Australian 9th Division stating that Finschhafen is to be defended and developed and the troops are to gain control of the east coast of the Huon Peninsula up to and including Sio.
Fifth Air Force B-25s carry out a coastal sweep west to Madang, bombing and strafing villages and barges; B-17s hit the Bogadjim Road and jetties at Erima; and B-24s bomb the Babo area.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff approve a gradual strengthening of the western Aleutian Islands.
Joseph Stilwell ordered Sun Liren to launch an offensive in northern Burma, but Sun hesitated.
The Fourteenth Air Force dispatches a few B-25s and P-40s to attack a foundry at Shihhweiyao, China; damaging hits are scored on a barrack, on AA positions, blast furnaces, hoppers, and a steam plant. 10 USAAF fighters intercept a force of about 50 “Zeke” fighters west of Kweilin, shoot down 1 enemy fighter; the enemy force turns back.
The U.S. Navy submarine USS Wahoo (SS-238), commanded by Lieutenant Commander Dudley W. Morton, sank 7,908-ton Japanese sinks army transport Konron Maru in Tsushima Straits on the Shimonoseki-to-Fusan ferry line. Only 72 people, of the 616 on board, were rescued because of heavy seas. The attack prompted the cancellation of night ferry trips across Tsushima Straits.
The tank landing ship USS LST-448, damaged on October 1, sank while in tow by the tug USS Bobolink (AT-131) in the Solomon Islands.
In the 1943 Negro World Series, the Homestead Grays of Pittsburgh, champions of the Negro National League, defeated the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League, 8-4, to win the Series in seven games. The contest, played in Montgomery, Alabama, was actually Game 8, but Game 3 had ended with the score tied in extra innings. Josh Gibson, Buck Leonard and Vic Harris led the Grays in hitting.
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UNITED STATES ARMY IN WORLD WAR II CHRONOLOGY, 1941–1945:
5 October
U.S.: JCS approve gradual strengthening of west Aleutians.
POA: CINCPAC–CINCPOA issues plan for offensive in Central Pacific. Admiral Spruance is to seize Makin, Tarawa, and Apamama in the Gilberts, cover amphibious landings on each with air and naval surface forces, and deny enemy use of land bases in the Marshalls and at Nauru during the operation. D Day for landings is set for 19 November (WLT) and later postponed to 20 November (WLT).
WAKE: U.S. TF 14 begins 2–day operation against Wake in which carrier-based and landbased planes participate.
ITALY: 15th Army Group: In U.S. Fifth Army area, British 10 Corps gets forward elements to the Volturno.
In British Eighth Army’s 13 Corps area, indecisive fighting for Biferno bridgehead at Termoli continues, with Germans penetrating into Termoli itself.
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THE U.S. ARMY AIR FORCES IN WORLD WAR II: COMBAT CHRONOLOGY, 1941-1945:
TUESDAY, 5 OCTOBER 1943
AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS
CARIBBEAN (Sixth Air Force: HQ 25th Bombardment Group (Medium) transfers from Ft. Amsterdam, Curacao to Borinquen Field, Puerto Rico.
CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS
CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, a few B-25’s and P-40’s attack a foundry at Shihhweiyao; damaging hits are scored on a barrack, on AA positions, blast furnaces, hoppers, and a steam plant. 10 USAAF fighters intercept a force of about 50 Zekes W of Kweilin, shoot down 1 enemy fighter; the enemy force turns back.
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): HQ 356th Fighter Group transfers from Goxhill to Martlesham, England.
MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): Lieutenant General James H Doolittle assumes command of the Twelfth Air Force during the absence of General Carl Spaatz. In Italy, XII Bomber Command B-17’s hit the Bologna marshalling yard; B-25’s and B-26’s bomb the Formia road, a road loop N of Mignano, and Isernia chokepoint; NATBF, XII Air Support Command, and RAF Desert Air Force (DAF) aircraft bomb numerous targets in and N of the battle area, including heavy traffic in the Isernia area, gasoline dumps at Alfedena, trains at Termoli, and towns of Venafro and Isolella. The 15th Troop Carrier Squadron, 61st Troop Carrier Group, transfers from Licata to Sciacca, Sicily with C-47’s. The 27th and 71st Fighter Squadrons, 1st Fighter Group, based at Mateur, Tunisia send detachments to Gambut, Libya with P-38’s. The 85th and 86th Fighter Squadrons, 79th Fighter Group, transfer from Crotone to Salsola, Italy with P-40’s. The 111th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter), 68th Reconnaissance Group, transfers from Sele to Pomigliano, Italy with P-51’s. A detachment of the squadron is operating from Capaccio, Italy. The 526th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 86th Fighter-Bomber Group, transfers from Sele Airfield to Seretella Airfield, Italy with A-36’s.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, B-25’s carry out a coastal sweep W to Madang, bombing and strafing villages and barges; B-17’s hit the Bogadjim Road and jetties at Erima; and B-24’s bomb the Babo area. HQ 35th Fighter Group transfers from Tsili Tsili to Nadzab, New Guinea. The 33d Troop Carrier Squadron, 374th Troop Carrier Group, transfers from Port Moresby, New Guinea to Garbutt Field, Townsville, Queensland Australia with C-47’s.
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THE OFFICIAL CHRONOLOGY OF THE U.S. NAVY IN WORLD WAR II:
5 October, Tue.
Pacific
TF 14 (Rear Admiral Alfred E. Montgomery), including 3 carriers, 3 small carriers, 3 heavy cruisers, 4 light cruisers, 24 destroyers, and 2 oilers, bombs and shells Wake Island; attack is repeated on 6 October. Fearing that the strikes portend a landing and that an escaped POW could communicate the weakness of his garrison, the Japanese island commander (Rear Admiral Sakaibara Shigematsu) orders the execution of the 98 remaining civilians captured on 23 December 1941.
Tank landing ships LST-448, damaged on 1 October 1943, sinks while in tow of tug Bobolink (AT-131), Solomons, 08°03’S, 156°43’E.
Submarine Wahoo (SS-238) sinks Japanese army transport Konron Maru in Tsushima Straits, 34°00’N, 129°00’E. Loss of Konron Maru, of the Shimonoseki-to-Fusan ferry line, prompts the cancellation of night ferry trips across Tsushima Straits. Only 72 people, of the 616 on board, are rescued because of heavy seas.
Mediterranean
German bombers attack convoy UGS 18; a near-miss damages U.S. freighter Cotton Mather about 15 miles north of Cape Tenes, Algeria, 36°00’N, 01°00’E. There are no casualties among the 53-man merchant complement and the 27-man Armed Guard; and the ship reaches Algiers under her own power.
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WORLD WAR 2 AT SEA, BRITISH AND OTHER NAVIES DAY-BY-DAY:
5 OCTOBER 1943
RAF Hudson aircraft F of 269 Squadron sank U-336 (Kptlt) with rockets southwest of Iceland in 62, 43N, 027, 17W.
Destroyers HMS Savage, HMS Scourge, and HMS Scorpion detached from the Home Fleet for Skaalefjord.
The destroyers arrived at Skaalefjord.
A mine sank German submarine chaser UJ.1214/Rau V (354grt) off Bussefjord, Norway.
Allied aircraft damaged U-610 (Kptlt Baron Walter von Freyberg-Eisenberg-Allmendingen), U-275 (Helmut Bork) and U-666 (Herbert Engel) with depth charges south of Iceland.
Destroyer HMS Sardonyx arrived at Londonderry, Northern Ireland, from Skaalefjord, Faeroes, for duty in the Western Approaches Command after her temporary duty in Home Fleet.
U-219 (Walter Burghagen) departed Kiel, Germany, for Kristiansand, Norway.
Battleship HMS Malaya arrived at Plymouth from the Clyde to exchange ship’s companies with battleship HMS Valiant.
Imperial Japanese Navy submarine I-8 departed Brest, France escorted by two German minesweepers.
Her cargo included samples of a German Daimler-Benz MB 501 20-cylinder diesel “Schnell-boot” (S-Boat) engine, radars including the “Rotterdam Gerät” and sonar equipment, quad 20-mm AA guns, aircraft guns, dive-bomber and horizontal- bomber bombsights, electric torpedoes and naval chronometers.
Her passengers included Rear Admiral Yokoi Tadao, former Naval Attaché to Germany (Sep 40-Sep 43) and Captain Hosoya Sukeyoshi, former Naval Attaché to France (Dec 39-Mar 43).
I-8 also carried three German naval officers including Japanese-speaking Lt Koch, one German Army major, four radar and hydrophone technicians and four civilian passengers including a Dr. Jakob and a Dr. Mueller.
After crossing the equator, I-8 sent her second position report to the Kriegsmarine, but the signal was intercepted and her position plotted by Allied direction finding (DF).
The next day an ASW aircraft attacked the submarine, but she managed to crash-dive.
While traversing the “roaring forties” another storm damaged her bridge.
Aircraft carriers HMS Illustrious (RAA), HMS Unicorn and HMS Formidable, battleship HMS Valiant departed Gibraltar for Britain escorted by destroyers HMS Onslow (D.17), HMS Mahratta, HMS Obedient, HMS Matchless, HMS Venus, HMS Hardy, HNoMS Stord (Norwegian) and HMS Inglefield.
German aircraft damaged American Liberty ship Cotton Mather (7176grt) with bombs while attacking convoy UGS.18 about fifteen miles north of Cape Ténès, Algeria. She reached port under her own power.
Submarine HMS Unruffled sank German minesweeper Pommern (ex-French Belain D’esnambuc) (Kptlt Heydemann †) off Bastia, Sardinia, east of San Remo, Italy. (Some sources have the ship sunk by an old Italian mine.)
German aircraft sank Italian minesweeper Legnano in the Aegean Sea.
German troops scuttled Italian steamers Porto Do Roma (470grt) and Prode (1244grt) at the Island of Leros.
Motor launch ML.350 landed thirty-five survivors from sunken Norwegian tanker Marit (5542grt) at Benghazi, Libya.
Light cruiser HMS Penelope and HMS Sirius arrived at Alexandria, Egypt.
Destroyers HMS Echo, HMS Faulknor (D.8), HMS Fury, and HMS Eclipse arrived at Alexandria.
Special service vessel Glengyle arrived at Port Said, Egypt, with landing ships Devonshire and Sobieski.
Gunboat HMS Cockchafer arrived at Alexandria.
Destroyers HMS Faulknor (D.8), HMS Eclipse and HMS Fury discontinued the U-boat search to proceed to Alexandria.
Corvette HMS Gloxinia continued the search, but no further ASDIC contact was obtained.
Additional search ships and aircraft arrived to assist her.
Light cruisers HMS Aurora (C.12) and HMS Dido rendezvoused with destroyers HMS Tumult and HMS Pathfinder about sixty miles south of Crete to conduct a shipping sweep in the Aegean Sea. HMS Aurora (C.12) and HMS Dido collided in the darkness and headed to Alexandria to repair the damage. The destroyers conducted the sweep, but found nothing.
Russian destroyer leader Kharkov (Capt 2nd Class Negoda) bombarded German positions at Yalta on the Crimean Peninsula.
Russian destroyers Besposhchadny and Sposobny battled the German 1st S-Boat Flotilla (KKpt Büchting) with S.45, S.28, and S.42, and later with S.51 and S.52 off Feodosiya, Russia.
The Royal Navy ordered submarine P.239/HMS Surf to return to Suez, Egypt, to temporarily reinforce the 1st Submarine Flotilla for missions in the Aegean Sea.
Indian minesweepers HMIS Punjab and HMIS Madras departed Bombay, India, for local escort duty.
Indian patrol boat HMIS Ramdas arrived Bombay, India, from Colombo, Ceylon, escorting convoy MB.46.
HMIS Ramdas soon departed Bombay for Colombo escorting convoy BM.69.
Submarine P.317/HMS Tally Ho departed Aden for Colombo.
Cutters HMS Landguard and HMS Sennen arrived at Aden from Port Said, Egypt.
Australian minesweeper HMAS Toowoomba and Indian escort vessel HMIS Kumaon arrived at Khor Kuwai, Oman, from Bombay, India, escorting convoy BP.97.
Indian sloop HMIS Jumna departed Aden to rejoin the Eastern Fleet.
Aden W/T operators reported an unidentified submarine in 14, 20.8N, 050, 47E.
Imperial Japanese Navy submarine I-10 (Cdr Tonozuka) fired three torpedoes at overlapping targets from a distance of 6,340 yards and then dove to 390 feet to escape a depth charge attack from the convoy escorts about 140 miles north of Cape Guardafui, Somalia. The I-10 crew heard three explosions and breaking-up noises.
One torpedo hit Norwegian armed tanker Anna Knudsen (9057grt), sailing with convoy AP-47, on her starboard bow in 14, 20N, 050, 47E. (Royal Navy sources place the attack at 0258 local time.) Anna Knudsen’s master ordered the crew to abandon ship due to serious flooding. After the flooding was checked, the crew returned to the tanker.
The convoy escorts briefly dropped depth charges and inflicted minor damage to the engine room of I-10.
Cdr Tonozuka later claimed three merchant ships sunk.
U-188, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Siegfried Lüdden, damaged Norwegian motor tanker Britannia (9977grt) (Master Karsten Hallén) with a torpedo in 24, 21N, 058, 02E. All crewmen survived, and the tanker reached Bandar-e ‘Abbas, Iran, on the evening of the next day. The tanker sent out an “SSSS” alert after her attack. At 2230 hours on 5 October 1943 the Britannia (Master Johan Karsten Hallén) was hit on the starboard side in the after deck by one torpedo from U-188 in the Gulf of Oman. The tanker caught fire but the crew managed to extinguish it and she escaped at high speed on a zig-zag course. All crew members and five passengers survived and the tanker reached Bandar Abbas on the evening of the next day. She was examined by the master and the 1st mate William Taxt in swimming trunks and it was discovered that she was barely hanging together. The master gave orders for the two parts to be sewn together and before they took her to Bombay for more repairs the master had earned the nickname The crazy Norwegian from the British naval authorities after they had inspected the improvised repairs (all manner of wire and chains had been used). She was temporarily repaired in a dock in Bombay before she departed on 19 December for Abadan, where she loaded a cargo of 6,000 tons of oil in the undamaged tanks. On 2 January 1944, she was on her way out from the Persian Gulf, when she picked up 72 men from the American Liberty ship Albert Gallatin, which had been sunk by the Japanese submarine I-26 in 21°21N/59°58E that same morning. They were brought to Aden, while Britannia continued with her cargo to Neapel, before heading for Baltimore, where she arrived in March for permanent repairs.
Destroyer HMS Rapid arrived at Kilindini from the Seychelles.
Indian minesweepers HMIS Kathiawar and HMIS Bombay arrived at Chittagong, Bengal, from Vizagapatam, India, escorting convoy MA.10.
Both escorts departed soon after for Vizagapatam.
Heavy cruiser HMS Hawkins departed Colombo for the MOMP in Australian waters.
Indian escort vessels HMIS Pansy and Indian naval trawler HMIS Netravati arrived at Vizagapatam from Madras, India, escorting convoy MA.11.
Both escorts soon departed for Madras.
Indian sloop HMIS Narbada and Indian escort vessel HMIS Rohilkand departed Vizagapatam for Chittagong escorting convoy MA.11.
Indian patrol boat HMIS St Anthony departed Cochin for Bombay, India.
Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft carrier Hiyo conducted flight training south of Singapore.
Japanese passenger/cargo ship Teia Maru (17,537grt) (ex-French Aramis (17,537grt)) departed Singapore carrying 1,525 passengers: probably 1,270 Americans, about 120 Canadians, 15 Chileans, several British, Panamanians, Spanish, Portuguese, Cubans, Argentines and nationals from other South and Central American countries. About 975 repatriates were from China.
Teia Maru (17,537grt) passed southeast around Sumatra and into the Indian Ocean rather than going through the perilous Malacca Straits.
Imperial Japanese Army tanker Rikko Maru (9181grt) (aka Rikke Maru (9181grt)) arrived at Singapore.
Imperial Japanese Navy minelayer Hatsutaka arrived at Sibolga, Sumatra.
Hatsutaka departed Sibolga for Afulu.
Hatsutaka arrived at Afulu, Pulau Nias.
U.S. Navy submarine USS Seawolf (SS-197) departed Fremantle, Australia, for her eleventh war patrol in the South China Sea.
Imperial Japanese Navy submarine tender Aratama Maru (6784grt) departed Saigon, French Indochina.
Imperial Japanese Navy gunboat Nanyo (aka Nanyo Maru, ex-UK Lyemun) departed Chuan Shih Tao, China.
Imperial Japanese Navy passenger/cargo ship Koto Maru No. 2 Go (3557grt) departed Basuo, China, for Samah, Hainan Island.
Imperial Japanese Army cable layer Taiei Maru (2933grt) departed Jakarta, Java.
Imperial Japanese Navy minesweeper W-7 arrived at Miri, Borneo.
Imperial Japanese Navy oiler Ondo (14,050grt) departed Balikpapan, Borneo, in Convoy No. 2608 with Imperial Japanese Navy oiler Tsurumi (6500grt), Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Asuka Maru (7523grt), Imperial Japanese Army cargo ship Ryoyo Maru (5973grt), Imperial Japanese Army cargo ship Tajima Maru (7296grt) and two unidentified merchant ships escorted by Imperial Japanese Navy second-class destroyer Sanae and Imperial Japanese Navy submarine chaser Ch-5.
Soon after departing, Tsurumi (6500grt) developed machinery problems and was forced to turn back.
Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Ryuko Maru (2764grt) departed Takao, Formosa, in Convoy No. 209 with Imperial Japanese Navy transport Hokkai Maru (5105grt), Imperial Japanese Navy oiler Tonan Maru (9866grt), and seven unidentified merchant ships escorted by Imperial Japanese Navy auxiliary gunboat Chohakusan Maru (2131grt) (aka Chojusan Maru (2131grt)).
Imperial Japanese Navy auxiliary aircraft transport Nagoya Maru (6072grt) arrived at Takao, Formosa.
Imperial Japanese Navy gunboat Daigen Maru No. 7 (1289grt) departed the Taichow Islands to escort an unidentified convoy.
She returned to the Taichow Islands later the same day.
Imperial Japanese Navy gunboat Shinko Maru No. 1 Go (934grt) departed Shihpu, China, to clear a path before the arrival of Convoy No. 406.
Imperial Japanese Navy gunboat Shosei Maru (998grt) arrived at Luhuashan, China.
Imperial Japanese Navy second-class destroyer Hasu departed Mako, Pescadores.
Imperial Japanese Navy escort vessels Matsuwa and Tsushima departed Takao, Formosa, as an additional escort for convoy HI-10, en route to Moji, Japan, consisting of Imperial Japanese Navy passenger/cargo ship Asama Maru (16,975grt), Imperial Japanese Navy oiler Miri Maru (10,564grt), Imperial Japanese Navy oiler Tatekawa Maru (10,090grt), and Imperial Japanese Navy oiler Otowasan Maru (9204grt).
Imperial Japanese Army hospital ship Yoshino Maru (8959grt) (ex-Dutch Kliest (8990grt)) arrived at Manila, Luzon.
Imperial Japanese Navy auxiliary transport Fukuyama Maru (3581grt) arrived at Manila, Luzon.
Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Suiten Maru (1784grt) (ex-Dutch Schouten (1805grt)) departed Macassar, Celebes.
Imperial Japanese Navy submarine chaser Ch-2 arrived at Macassar, Celebes.
Ch-2 departed on an antisubmarine sweep.
U.S. Navy submarine USS Wahoo (SS-238) (Cdr Morton) sank Imperial Japanese Navy passenger/cargo ship Konron Maru (7908grt) with torpedoes in the Tsushima Straits in 34, 00N, 129, 00E. (IJN sources place the attack site in 34, 20N, 130, 18E.) 542 crew and passengers were lost.
Imperial Japanese Navy oiler San Ramon Maru (7309grt) departed Kudamatsu, Sakhalin Island.
Imperial Japanese Navy submarine chaser Ch-43 arrived at Otaru, Hokkaido.
The Imperial Japanese Navy laid down oiler Nippo Maru (10,528grt) at Mitsubishi Shipbuilding as a 10,528-ton Standard Merchant 1TL- 13 tanker for Iino Kaiun Kogyo K. K. at Nagasaki, Kyushu.
Imperial Japanese Navy submarine chaser Ch-15 arrived at Odomari, Sakhalin Island.
Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Shoun Maru (4396grt) arrived at Palau and began to load phosphate rock.
Imperial Japanese Navy escort vessel Iki departed Palau escorting convoy FU-506 with Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Toyu Maru (4532grt), Imperial Japanese Army passenger/ cargo ship Toyokawa Maru (5123grt) (ex-UK Bangor (5123grt)), Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Moji Maru (3836grt), Japanese cargo ship Totai Maru (3195grt), Japanese cargo ship Tencho Maru and Japanese cargo ship Yagumo Maru (3198grt).
Imperial Japanese Navy submarine chaser Ch-22 arrived at Palau.
Imperial Japanese Navy submarine chaser Ch-24 arrived at Palau escorting convoy O-803.
Imperial Japanese Navy submarine chaser Ch-35 arrived at Palau.
Imperial Japanese Navy minesweeper W-17 arrived at Palau.
Imperial Japanese Navy auxiliary oiler Kumagawa Maru (6641grt) and Imperial Japanese Navy oiler Azuma Maru (6645grt) departed Palau at eleven knots for Balikpapan, Borneo.
U.S. Navy landing ship tank vessel USS LST-338 sank while being towed by U.S. Navy naval tug USS Bobolink (AT-131) in the Solomon Islands.
Imperial Japanese Navy submarine I-38 arrived at Sarmi, New Guinea, and began to unload her cargo.
An Allied aircraft arrived and attacked her while she still had two thirds of the cargo on the upper deck.
I-38 immediately submerged. She later surfaced and disembarked the rest of her cargo.
Imperial Japanese Navy passenger/cargo ship Gokoku Maru (10,438grt) arrived at Rabaul, New Britain, and berthed at No. 5 pier.
Imperial Japanese Navy refrigerated cargo ship Amagisan Maru (7623grt) departed Rabaul, New Britain, in Convoy No. 2052 as the only merchant ship escorted by Imperial Japanese Navy torpedo boat Hiyodori and Imperial Japanese Navy submarine chaser Ch-28.
Imperial Japanese Navy submarine tender Heian Maru (11,614grt) arrived at Rabaul, New Britain.
Imperial Japanese Navy passenger/cargo ship Kiyosumi Maru (6991grt) arrived at Rabaul, New Britain.
She disembarked 1,300 troops including the regimental commander and 170 vehicles.
She then began to unload weapons, ammunition, provisions, medical supplies etc.
U.S. Navy submarine USS Drum (SS-228) arrived at Brisbane, Australia, after her seventh war patrol.
U.S. Navy submarine USS Silversides (SS-236) (Lt Cdr Coye) departed Brisbane, Australia, for her seventh war patrol in the Solomon Islands / New Guinea, area.
Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft carrier Junyo (27,700grt) arrived at Kure, Japan.
Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Ikushima Maru (3943grt) embarked thirty-nine passengers and then departed Kataoka Wan and arrived later the same day at Kakumabetsu Wan (now Bukhta Shelikhova), northwest Paramushiro Island, and disembarked three passengers.
Japanese cargo ship Kizugawa Maru (1915grt) arrived at Muroran, Hokkaido.
Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Tairya Maru (1912grt) departed Kure, Japan.
Japanese cargo ship Yamadori Maru (2904grt) arrived at Kure, Japan, and began to unload 3,519 tons of coal.
Imperial Japanese Navy escort vessels CD-2, CD-4, CD-6, CD-12, CD-14 and CD-16 were all laid down at the Yokosuka Navy Yard.
Imperial Japanese Navy light cruiser Tama arrived at Kure, Japan.
Imperial Japanese Navy oiler Goyo Maru (8469grt) arrived at Yokosuka, Japan.
Imperial Japanese Navy oiler Hishi Maru No. 2 (857grt) completed her repairs and arrived at Kure, Japan, later the same day.
Imperial Japanese Navy oiler Sunosaki (4465grt) arrived at Yokosuka, Japan.
Imperial Japanese Navy transport Kaiko Maru (3548grt) transferred to Ominato, Japan.
Imperial Japanese Navy transport Nankai Maru (5114grt) began loading weapons at Kure, Japan.
Imperial Japanese Navy submarine chaser Ch-34 arrived at Kure, Japan, for repairs.
Imperial Japanese Navy submarine I-183 departed Kobe, Japan, to work up to combat readiness in the Iyo Sea.
Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Hakutetsu Maru No. 15 (1339grt) arrived at Kure, Japan.
She departed later the same day.
Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Hakutetsu Maru No. 7 (1018grt) departed Yokkaichi, Japan.
Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Hiyoshi Maru No. 2 Go (1287grt) departed Yokosuka, Japan.
Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Hyakafuku Maru (986grt) (aka Hyakufuku Maru (986grt)) arrived at Tateyama, Japan.
She then transferred to Yokosuka, Japan, later the same day.
Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Matsuei Maru (1986grt) (aka Shoei Maru (1986grt)) arrived at Saeki, Kyushu.
Japanese cargo ship Yayoi Maru (895grt) arrived at Saeki, Kyushu.
Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Kembu Maru (6816grt) (aka Kenbu Maru (6816grt), ex-UK Empire Blossom (6816grt)) departed Tokuyama, Japan.
Imperial Japanese Navy patrol boat PB-101 (ex-UK HMS Thracian) departed Yokosuka, Japan, for Nagaura, Japan.
PB-101 arrived at Nagaura.
Imperial Japanese Navy minelayer Ishizaki departed Hachinohe, Honshu, and escorted a convoy in patrol area C.
Ishizaki returned to Hachinohe.
Imperial Japanese Navy minelayer Sarushima patrolled from Uraga, Japan, to Sagami Wan.
Sarushima returned to Uraga.
Imperial Japanese Navy minesweeper W-27 temporarily dispersed Convoy No. 8004 consisting of Imperial Japanese Navy collier/oiler Asakaze Maru (6517grt), Japanese cargo ship Shinri Maru (3111grt) (aka Shinri Go (3111grt), ex-Chinese Hsin Lee (3111grt)), Japanese cargo ship Mishima Maru (1934grt), Japanese cargo ship Kiyotada Maru (3079grt) (aka Seichu Maru (3079grt)), Japanese cargo ship Michi Maru, and Japanese tanker Mitsu Maru (5682grt) when it found Japanese cargo ship Sansen Maru in distress off Nagoya, Japan.
Imperial Japanese Navy minelayer Ukishima arrived at Nagaura, Japan.
Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Otori Maru (2105grt) reported a torpedo attack in 39, 00N, 139, 24E.
Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Paran Maru (562grt) (ex-Philippine Palawan (562grt)) arrived at Saipan from Chichi Jima.
U.S. Navy Task Force TF.14 (RAdm Montgomery) with aircraft carriers Essex (CV-9), USS Yorktown (CV-10), USS Lexington (CV-16), USS Cowpens (CVL-25), USS Independence (CVL-22) and USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24); heavy cruisers USS New Orleans (CA-32), USS Minneapolis (CA-36) and USS San Francisco (CA-38); light cruisers USS Nashville (CL-43), USS Santa Fe (CL-60), USS Birmingham (CL-62) and USS Mobile (CL-63); destroyers USS Trathen (DD-530), USS Hazelwood (DD- 531), USS Boyd (DD-544), USS Bradford (DD-545), USS Conner (DD-582), USS Burns (DD-588), USS Braine (DD-630), USS Bullard (DD-660), USS Chauncey (DD-667), USS Hull (DD-350), USS Dale (DD-353), USS Halford (DD-480), USS Bancroft (DD-598), USS Caldwell (DD-605), USS Coghlan (DD-606), USS Ringgold (DD-500), USS Schroeder (DD-501), USS Sigsbee (DD-502), USS Harrison (DD-573), USS John Rodgers (DD-574), USS McKee (DD-575), USS Murray (DD-576) and USS Dashiell (DD-659); plus tankers USS Cimarron (AO-22) and USS Kaskaskia (AO-27) bombed and shelled Japanese-occupied Wake Island.
The U.S. Navy flew 738 sorties and lost twelve aircraft to AA fire. Another fourteen aircraft were lost to severe damage.
The Japanese lost twenty-two aircraft destroyed, leaving them with only twelve operational aircraft on Wake Island.
Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Shoei Maru (3099grt) arrived at Truk.
Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer Hatsukaze departed Truk to assist torpedoed Imperial Japanese Navy oiler Kazahaya (18,300grt).
Imperial Japanese Navy passenger/cargo ship Hakusan Maru (10,380grt) arrived at Truk.
Imperial Japanese Navy light cruiser Oyodo remained on station at Truk when news arrived of U.S. Navy Task Force TF.14 air attacks in the Marshall Islands.
Imperial Japanese Navy water tanker Tateyama Maru (3787grt) arrived at Kwajalein Atoll from Maloelap Island.
The Imperial Japanese Navy attached her to the Marshall Island defence troops, water supply unit under secret instruction No. 10.
Imperial Japanese Navy water tanker Amakasu Maru No. 1 (1913grt) arrived at Kwajalein.
Imperial Japanese Navy oiler Hoyo Maru (8691grt) arrived at Truk escorted by Imperial Japanese Navy escort vessel Fukue, which joined the ship earlier that day.
Hoyo Maru (8691grt) transferred 1,270 tons of fuel oil to Imperial Japanese Navy light cruiser Naka and 1,300 tons fuel oil to Imperial Japanese Navy light cruiser Isuzu.
U.S. Navy submarine USS Ray (SS-271) departed the Canal Zone for Brisbane, Australia.
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NAVAL CONSTRUCTION:
The U.S. Navy Ashtabula-class oiler USS Mississinewa (AO-59) is laid down by the Bethlehem Steel Corp. (Sparrows Point, Maryland, U.S.A.).
The U.S. Navy LST-1-class landing ship, tank USS LST-293 is laid down by the American Bridge Co. (Ambridge, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.).
The U.S. Navy PC-461-class (173-foot steel hull) submarine chaser USS PC-1180 is laid down by the Leatham D. Smith Shipbuilding Co. (Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, U.S.A.).
The Royal Canadian Navy River-class frigate HMCS St. Stephen (K 454) is laid down by Yarrows Ltd. (Esquimalt, British Columbia, Canada).
The U.S. Navy John C. Butler-class destroyer escort USS John C. Butler (DE-339) is laid down by the Consolidated Steel Corp., Ltd. (Orange, Texas, U.S.A.).
The U.S. Navy Abnaki-class fleet tug USS Cocopa (AT-101) is launched by the Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co. (Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.A.).
The U.S. Navy LST-1-class landing ship, tank USS LST-229 is launched by the Chicago Bridge and Iron Co. (Seneca, Illinois, U.S.A.).
The U.S. Navy 80-foot Elco patrol motor torpedo boat USS PT-562 is launched by the Electric Boat Company Ltd. (Elco Works), (Bayonne, New Jersey, U.S.A.).
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Type IXC/40 U-boat U-869 is launched by AG Weser, Bremen (werk 1077).
The U.S. Navy “Tacoma”-class (British River-class) patrol frigate USS Sandusky (PF-54) is launched by the Froemming Brothers Inc. (Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.A.).
The U.S. Navy Edsall-class destroyer escort USS Koiner (DE-331) is launched by the Consolidated Steel Corp., Ltd. (Orange, Texas, U.S.A.).
The U.S. Navy Edsall-class destroyer escort USS Wilhoite (DE-397) is launched by the Brown Shipbuilding Co. (Houston, Texas, U.S.A.).
The British Ministry of War Transport merchant escort carrier (MAC) MV Empire Mackay is completed. She is operated by the British Tanker Company.
The Royal Navy Assurance class rescue tug HMS Assiduous (W 142) is commissioned.
The Royal Navy Isles-class minesweeping trawler HMS Minalto (T 362) is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is A/Skr. Lieutenant Arthur George Day, RNR.
The U.S. Navy LST-1-class landing ship, tank USS LST-275 is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Lieutenant J. P. Dunlavey, USNR.
The U.S. Navy PC-461-class (173-foot steel hull) submarine chaser USS PC-1244 is commissioned.
The U.S. Navy PCE-842-class patrol craft escort USS PCE-870 is commissioned.
The U.S. Navy Edsall-class destroyer escort USS Rickets (DE-254) is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Lieutenant Commander Glenn L. Rollins, USCG.
The U.S. Navy Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Manila Bay (CVE-61) is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Captain Boynton L. Braun.
Photograph: The U.S. Navy Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Manila Bay (CVE-61) en route from San Diego to Pearl Harbor, 24–31 August 1944, with 14 PBJ-1D Mitchells from Marine Bombing Squadron (VMB) 611 and three JM-1 Marauders. Manila Bay is camouflaged in Measure 32, Design 12A. Built by Kaiser Shipbuilding Co. (Vancouver, Washington, U.S.A.). Ordered 17 July 1942, Laid down 15 January 1943, Launched 10 July 1943, Commissioned 5 October 1943.
DANFS ship’s history: https://www.history.navy.mil/…/ship…/danfs/m/manila-bay.html
DAVE DOES HISTORY 
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