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WWII - 70 Years Ago


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October 11-12, 1942

 

The Battle of Cape Esperance.

 

US and Japanese naval forces engage between Savo Island and Guadalcanal - resulting in the loss of one US destroyer and one Japanese cruiser and three Japanese destroyers.

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October 26, 1942

 

In the Battle of Santa Cruz off Guadalcanal, the USS Hornet is damaged and later sinks.

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October 27, 1942

 

Eastern Front - The Germans gain ground in the area around Stalingrad.

 

Guadalcanal - The Japanese have suffered heavy casualties and call off their offensive.

 

El Alamein - A counterattack by Rommel's armor is beaten off by the British.

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November 20, 1942

 

The southern claw of the Soviet pincer round Stalingrad begins its attacks. The attack is held up for a short time by the 29th Panzergrenadier Division, but the Soviet gains continue.

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November 24, 1942

 

The German Sixth Army and Fourth Panzer Army are surrounded at Stalingrad. The Soviets believe they have about 85,000 Germans cut off in the city when in fact the total is nearer 300,000.

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December 1942

Gas rationing begins in the USA

First US bombing of mainland Italy

Marines turn over Guadalcanal to the American army

Germans begin a retreat from the Caucasus

 

Great thread! Wonderful way for people to learn about WWII!!!

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December 9, 1942

 

On Guadalcanal, the exhausted 1st Marine Division is relieved by General Patch's XIV Corps.

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December 14, 1942

 

The German relieving attack toward Stalingrad is still making good progress.

 

In Libya, the Eighth Army attacks on El Agheila continue, as Rommel begins to pull out.

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JULY 7, 1937 - the date that the Japanese invaded China...

 

By the time Germany steam-rolled into Poland, the war in the East was all ready two years old...

 

Two Years old?? If anyone remembers, the Japanese invaded Manchuria in 1931.

The infamous (and fabricated) Manchuria Incident.

 

Tom

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December 25, 1942

 

Christmas day 1942 and a world at war.

 

Fighting continues in Libya with the Germans loosing ground.

 

The Americans press forward on Guadalcanal but have encountered heavy resistance.

 

And the Soviets continue their advances against stubborn German resistance around Stalingrad.

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE ! !

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December 31, 1942

 

As 1942 winds down . . .

 

Libya - a Free French force under Leclerc advances from Chad for a link up with the Eighth Army.

 

The Japanese High Command decides to evacuate Guadalcanal - orders will be issued on January 4th.

 

Troops of the Soviets Fifth Shock Army drive southwest and expel the Germans from Tormosin.

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE ! !

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January 24, 1943

 

Manstein asks Hitler's permission to order Paulus to surrender - permission is refused.

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January 27, 1943

 

Fifty-five US bombers raid Wilhelmshaven in the first USAAF raid over a German target.

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January 31, 1943

 

The Germans loose Stalingrad - Paulus surrenders himself and the southern pocket of Germans in Stalingrad.

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‎70 Years Ago Today: February 11, 1943

 

US General Dwight D. Eisenhower is selected to command the Allied armies in Europe. During the evening, 177 British bombers attack Wilhelmshaven, Germany. A hit on a naval ammunition depot devastates 120 acres of the town and dockyards. This raid represents the first blind-bombing success for the H2S radar system. In other operations, 19 RAF Bostons were sent to attack railway targets, but bad weather forces them to look for secondary targets, with only eight aircraft finding targets. And the RAF continues mine-laying activities. During the night, 220 sorties were flown with only three aircraft lost.

 

Bad weather cancels all medium and heavy bomber missions in the Mediterranean, however, A-20s are still able to attack Station de Sened, Tunisia.

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In the Solomons, bombers and fighters continue their attacks on the airfields at Munda on New Georgia Island and Vila on Kolombangara Island. In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-17s carry out a predawn harassing strike over Rabaul on New Britain Island.

 

The Soviet Red Army recaptures Karkav.

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70 Years Ago Today: February 12, 1943

 

Winston Churchill writes to Josef Stalin, informing him of preparations for a cross-Channel invasion of Europe in August or September. Sixteen RAF Mosquitos attack targets in Eastern Belgium and over the German border. During the night two Mosquitos bomb Düsseldorf and Rheinhausen while 38 other aircraft conduct mine-laying off Heligoland and in the Frisians. There are no losses.

 

Soviet forces take the Krasnodar rail center. The German escape corridor from Rostov is narrowed as Red Army troops cut the main railroad extending northwest from Rostov at Krasnoarmeisk.

 

In the Aleutians, bad weather grounds all aircraft.

 

In Burma, B-24s attack the Myitnge bridge but fail to damage it. Twelve other B-24s bomb the Mahlwagon marshaling yard and railway station at Rangoon while P-40s attack the barracks near Lonkin.

 

In Tunisia, heavy and medium bomber mission s are cancelled again due to bad weather, but, for the second day in a row, A-20s attack gun installations west of Station de Sened.

 

In the Pacific, American aircraft attack anti-aircraft batteries in the Munda, New Georgia area. This is followed by an attack on the airfield by B-26s and P-39s. In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-24s, operating individually, attack a sawmill at Ubili, a runway at Cape Gloucester, and the harbor and airfield at Rabaul, New Britain Island.

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70 Years Ago Today: February 13, 1943

 

In the Aleutians, weather reconnaissance is flown over Kiska, Attu, Agattu, the Semichis, and Buldir Island. Eleven bombers and 10 ten fighters attack targets at Kiska including the camp area, landing strip, and shipping. Four enemy aircraft are shot down.

 

In Europe, Spitfires attack various shipping targets, with one Spitfire lost, killing the pilot. Duri...ng the evening. 466 RAF bombers attack the German submarine bases at Lorient, losing seven aircraft. In nine attacks since January 14, two-thousand sorties have been flown against this one target. In other action, 56 RAF bombers on five different raids attack the Ijmuiden steelworks and shipping targets at Boulogne and St Malo without any losses. In Italy, a raging storm does not prevent B-24s from bombing the Naples area and Crotone Airfield.

 

In Russia the Red Army gains complete control of Rostov–Voronezh rail line with capture of Novocherkassk and Likhaya.

 

In Crete, during the afternoon and evening, RAF B-24 Liberators from the IX Bomber Command attack Heraklion Airfield, with one of the Liberators hitting the Kastelli/Pediada Airfield on the return trip.

 

In North Africa, Rommel launches a counter-attack against the Americans in western Tunisia; he takes Sidi Bouzid and Gafsa. The Battle of the Kasserine Pass begins with inexperienced American troops forced to retreat. Meanwhile, B-26s bomb El Aouina Airfield while their fighter escorts attack enemy positions near Station de Sened and the Faid area.

 

In Burma, heavy bombers attack the Rangoon marshalling yard while P-40s hit the headquarters at Lonkin, burning 12 barracks. Nine B-25s attack the marshalling yard at Paukkan.

 

In the Solomons, nine PB4Ys escorted by 15 fighters attack a cargo ship but score no hits then return to base. Six B-24s escorted by 11 fighters attack another cargo ship scoring one hit. On the way to the target, five of their escorts had to abort the mission which was later attacked by 45 enemy fighters while over the target. Three B-24s and six fighters are lost on this mission due to engine trouble or enemy fire.

 

In other Pacific action, A-20s attack enemy forces in and around Mubo while B-25s bomb the Lae area in New Guinea. And, in the Bismarck Archipelago, a solitary B-24 bombs the sawmill at Ubili and a single B-17 attacks targets in the Rabaul area.

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70 Years Ago Today: Sunday, February 14, 1943

 

In the Aleutians, all American flight activity is cancelled because of bad weather, but enemy aircraft bomb and strafe the Constantine Harbor area on Amchitka Island without afflicting any damage.

 

In Burma, B-25s unsuccessfully attack the bridge at Myitnge, which was also bombed two days earlier with the same result. American aircraft attack the town of Maingkwan and enemy barracks to the southwest.

 

8th Air Force Mission 34: In only the third mission since January 27th, 74 B-17s are sent to attack the marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany. The mission is cancelled due to bad weather and the aircraft are recalled before they pass the European coast. In the evening, 243 RAF bombers attack Cologne with nine aircraft lost. Meanwhile four Lancasters bomb the La Spezia docks without loss. Further south the RAF sends 142 Lancaster bombers on a mission to Milan, Italy. At least 27 factories are destroyed but two planes are shot down.

 

Rostov-on-Don is liberated by the Red Army.

 

In the Mediterranean, B-25s return with their bombs after looking for shipping targets and finding none. In Tunisia, all heavy and medium bomber missions are cancelled by bad weather but fighters strafe enemy targets in the El Guettar-Sened-Maknassy areas. Enemy ground forces begin a drive, supported by artillery and dive bombers, against Allied forces east of Sidi bou Zid.

 

The Battle of Kasserine Pass between the US 1st Armored Division and German Panzers in North Africa continues.

 

In the Pacific, nine PB4Ys escorted by 22 fighters attack shipping in the Buin, Bougainville-Shortland Island area. The bombers score several hits on cargo ships but on the return trip the formation is attack by 45 enemy aircraft. While 15 enemy aircraft are shot down, two of the PBYs and six fighters are lost. Because of the losses suffered yesterday and today, all daylight bombing missions in the northern Solomons are halted until adequate fighter protection can be furnished.

 

On New Georgia Island, American aircraft attack Munda Airfield and enemy positions at Munda Point. In the Bismarck Archipelago, American bombers attack the Rabaul area, and also bomb the Kokopo area, Watom Islands, vessels off Kokopo and off Cape Nelson while individual B-24s again bomb the sawmill at Ubili. In New Guinea, individual B-24s attack the Madang area and B-25s bomb the airfield at Lae.

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