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January 29th, 1939 (SUNDAY)

FRANCE: Production of the Morane-Saulnier 406 single-seat fighter begins. With an 806 hp Hispano-Suiza 12 Y 12-cylinder V liquid-cooled engine it has a top speed of 302 mph and carries 1x20mm gun and 2 machine guns. (100)

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29 January 1940

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January 29th, 1940 (MONDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM:

RAF Fighter Command: Three enemy aircraft attacked the Shetlands. No damage was caused, 12 bombs fell into the sea.

Between 15 and 20 enemy aircraft attacked shipping off the East Coast from Shetlands to Kent. 4 merchantmen were sunk or damaged, the enemy aircraft were driven off. 1 Luftwaffe aircraft is claimed destroyed.

The German Intelligence at this time believed that as Great Britain was buried under a heavy fall of snow, with roads and railways blocked, that the aerodromes were out of action. But all ranks were working to maintain the aerodrome surfaces in serviceable condition, and the German air crews who attacked were unpleasantly surprised by the weight of air defence that they had to face.

The British Admiralty orders that no American ships should, under any circumstances, be diverted into the war zone delineated by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the provisions of the Neutrality Act. 

Destroyer HMS Berkeley launched.

Submarine HMS Talisman launched.


FRANCE: Paris: The Polish government in exile says that the Nazis have killed 18,000 prominent Poles.

Premier Edouard Daladier delivers a stirring broadcast speech: "Germany hopes to encompass our downfall by exploiting weakness at home..." 

SWEDEN: Diplomatic exchanges via Sweden shows the USSR is prepared to negotiate with the recognized Finnish Government and abandon the puppet communist government.

GIBRALTAR:  U.S. freighter SS Exochorda is detained at Gibraltar by British authorities. 

ATLANTIC OCEAN: At 1530, SS Eika was hit by one torpedo from U-51, broke in two and sank. Only two men survived Harald Støle (age 16) and stoker Alfred Johansen. Both were later picked up by the U-boat and were taken to Germany. Harald Støle was together with his brother Arne on board, who died in the sinking. On 4 February, Harald had his 17th Birthday and on this occasion U-51 CO Knorr gave him a drink and some chocolate. The two survivors were sent home to Norway one week after arriving in Germany. U-51 had to abort patrol due to technical difficulties.
 

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29 January 1941

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January 29th, 1941 (WEDNESDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: London: The government has started installing 600,000 bunks in public air-raid shelters, 22,000 of them in the Tube stations. Regular shelterers are now given a ticket for a specific bunk. Sanitary facilities are being provided and the larger shelters provide snacks. There are food trains which run from station to station each evening and early in the morning. Some shelters are run by marshals or voluntary committees, which expel undesirables (down-and-outs have their own shelter under the rail arches at Charing Cross).

One Tube shelter even has its own newspaper, 'The Swiss Cottager'. Some have regular concerts and many hold card parties. There have been reports of plagues of lice and mosquitoes, but no epidemics. The number of people sheltering in Tube stations has fallen from a peak of 177,000 to 96,000.

CIGS to Wavell:

"Please tell me urgently when you hope to capture Benghazi. Information will be kept strictly secret but is required in connection with assistance it may be necessary to give to Turkey."

The SS TEWKESBURY, a coaler with a capacity of 7,500 tons, arrives back in South Shields, County Durham after a voyage to the River Plate. The crew includes Captain Theo Pryse, Chief Officer: David Howlett, Second Officer: Peter de Neumann, Third Officer: J. Jeffrey, Chief Engineer:
Joseph Love, Second Engineer: Gerard Turner, Bos’n: Jose Ramirez. Amongst the officers only Turner was new to the ship, and he had previously been studying for his Chief Engineer’s Certificate. Having loaded the coal TEWKESBURY made her way to Methil to join the next convoy (EN79)around the north coast of Scotland. (Bernard de Neumann) (see 26 February 1941 for more)

Minesweeper HMS Ilfracombe launched.

ASW trawler HMS Polka launched.

GERMANY: U-152 commissioned.

FINLAND

The Fenno-Soviet negotiations on the fate of Petsamo (Petchenga) nickel mines begin at Moscow.

Finland received the Petsamo area in the Treaty of Tartto (Dorpat) in 1920 from the Soviet Russia, thus gaining an outlet to Arctic Sea. In the next year rich nickel deposits were found there, and ultimately the rights to mine the nickel ore were leased to an Anglo-Canadian consortium. The mine started to operate in late 1930s, and it proved to be one of the richest sources of nickel in Europe.

In the Winter War the Soviets captured the Petsamo area, but for one reason or another Stalin decided to give it back to Finland after the war in March 1940. The reason for that is not known, but possibly Stalin's foreknowledge of German plans to invade Norway played part. During the so-called interim peace between the Winter and Continuation wars (March 1940 to June 1941), Petsamo was of utmost importance to Finland as the only relatively safe outlet to the rest of the world. But the Soviets still greatly desired to have the nickel.

In January 1941 was experienced what the Finns called the Nickel Crisis. The Soviets began to demand a share of the nickel mined in Petsamo, using very threatening expressions. For a time it seemed the Soviets were going to use the Petsamo nickel as a pretext to invade Finland yet again. Negotiations were started, but soon Germans began advising Finns to stay firm. Finally a compromise was reached: over British and Canadian objections it was decided that the Germans and Soviets could share the output of the mine.

After the start of the Operation Barbarossa Germany naturally had the whole output of the mine. After the end of the Continuation War Petsamo was ceded to the Soviet Union, and the nickel mines there are now a major environmental hazard.

GREECE: Athens: General Joannis Metaxas, the Premier of Greece and hero of his country's resistance to the Italian aggressors, has died at the age of 70. A soldier who was exiled for being too pro-German in the Great War, he was a fervent royalist and nationalist. He was the "father" of the modern Greek army. As chief of staff on three occasions, he reorganised the army, built a northern defensive line, and established a military academy.

Above all he imbued the Greeks with his own fighting spirit, and when he contemptuously rejected Mussolini's ultimatum the country united behind him. His monument will be Greece's string of victories over the Italians.

LIBYA: The Australian 2/11th Battalion enters Derna and finds that the Italians had evacuated the town. 

ITALIAN SOMALILAND: British forces cross the border from Kenya into Italian Somaliland. General Sir Alan Cunningham, Commander in Chief East Africa Command, is in command and his forces are 11th and 12th East African Divisions and 1st South African Division. The main attack will not begin until 10 February. 

AUSTRALIA: Minesweeper HMAS Wollongong laid down.

FRENCH INDOCHINA: Japanese brokered armistice talks begin between the French and Thais. (Michael Alexander)
 

CHINA: Nationalist soldiers and Kuomintang guerrillas recover Zhenyang from the Japanese.

 

SINGAPORE: On his way to Britain, the Australian Prime Minister, Robert Menzies, is appalled at the neglect of the island's defences, which he considers an easy target for Japan.

 

U.S.A.: Washington: Secret U.S.-British-Canadian staff conversations begin in Washington to determine joint strategy in case of U.S. involvement in the war; the talks will continue until 27 March. They produce conclusions code named ABC1 which state that Allied policy in the event of war with Germany and Japan should be to put the defeat of Germany first. The talks mark an important stage in the development of cooperation between the US and Britain. As well as their important decisions they accustom the staffs to working with each other. 
One decision was that US and Allied representatives would meet in Singapore on April 21, 1941, to discuss development of common defence policies and procedures. (Marc Small)

Destroyer USS Bailey laid down.

Submarine USS Marlin launched.

ATLANTIC OCEAN:

SS West Wales torpedoed and sunk at 56N, 15.23W - Grid AM 4137 by U-94 while in Convoy SC-19.

Tanker SS WB Walker torpedoed and sunk by U-93 in Convoy SC-19 at 56N, 15.23W - Grid AM 4125.

At 0348, the SS King Robert in Convoy SC-19 was torpedoed and sunk by U-93 south of Rockall. The master and 21 crewmembers were picked up by destroyer HMS Anthony and and landed at Gourock. 20 crewmembers were picked up by armed trawler HMS Lady Madeline and also landed at Gourock. U-93 later sank SS Aikaterini in the same action.

In Convoy SC-19, SS Sesotris was torpedoed and sunk by U-106 at 56N, 15.23W - Grid AM 4131.

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January 29th, 1942 (THURSDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: London: By 464 votes to one the House of Commons today promised "support to the utmost in the vigorous prosecution of the war." This vote of confidence in the government came at the end of a debate lasting 19 hours. It was spread over three days because MPs disperse from Westminster before it gets dark.

The only opposition registered was by three Independent Labour Party members - two as tellers and James Maxton as the lone voter. Over 100 MPs were absent - most on military duties. Mr Churchill announced that he will establish a ministry of production. He was grinning broadly as he left the House after the huge vote.

London: The BBC broadcasts the first edition of Desert Island Discs, presented by Roy Plomley.

Submarine HMS Unbroken commissioned.

Destroyer HS Themistocles (ex-HMS Bramham) launched.

GERMANY: Hitler orders that all methods should be used to bring forced labourers from occupied territories to work for Germany.

U-614, U-613 launched.

U-607 commissioned.

U.S.S.R.: On the central front, the Soviet Army continues to deepen its salient southwest of Kaluga and the Soviets report the capture of Sukhinichi. 

Soviet submarine V-2 commissioned.

LIBYA: Rommels Axis forces enter Benghazi and capture 1,300 trucks. The Axis main force remains in the Msus area, but elements pursue the Indian 4th Division of the British Eighth Army as it falls back slowly toward the Derna Line.

British commanders in the North African war are facing a new threat - a growing myth among the British troops that "good old Rommel" is invincible.

In a directive issued to senior officers, General Auchinleck has praised his opponent as "very energetic and able". But he continues: "There is a real danger that Rommel is becoming a kind of magician or bogeyman to our troops ... I wish you to dispel by all possible means the idea that Rommel represents something more than an ordinary German general."

IRAN: Tehran: Britain and the USSR, whose forces occupied strategic areas of Iran in a joint operation last August, today signed a treaty of alliance with the young Shah. Under the terms of the treaty British and Russian troops may remain in Iran until six months after the end of the war.

The Allies undertake to respect Iran's territorial intergrity, sovereignty and political independence, and to defend the country from all aggression.

In return, the Shah, who succeeded to the "Peacock Throne" after his pro-Nazi father was deposed, promises "not to adopt in his relations with foreign countries an attitude which is inconsistent with the alliance."

The Persian Corridor is to become the principal route for movement of supplies to the USSR. The alliance started off shakily: the Soviets bought up most of Iran's grain harvest, which caused a bread shortage and riots in the streets. Allied troops put the rebellion down, and the United States shipped in grain to compensate for the losses. The Soviet Union then attempted to agitate for the overthrow of the shah by supporting the Tudeh (Farsi for "masses") party, which the Soviets believed would be more generous in oil concessions. Tudeh forces did manage temporarily to take over northern Iran in December 1944. 

JAPAN: Imperial General Headquarters orders the Navy to secure Lae and Salamaua, New Guinea and then Tulagi, Solomon Islands. The Army and Navy are ordered to combine their efforts and seize Port Moresby, New Guinea. 

MALAYA: The withdrawal towards Singapore Island continues. West Force is ordered to accelerate its withdrawal by one day. Major Angus Rose of the 2nd Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders tries to set up a strongpoint on a golf course; the club secretary says, "Nothing can be done until we've called a meeting of the committee." Additional elements of the British 18th Division arrive at Singapore; two of the ships that transported the troops are the USN transports, USS Wakefield (AP-21, ex-SS Manhattan) and USS West Point (AP-23, ex-SS America); also, a squad of obsolete light tanks arrives from India, the only tanks to reach Malaya. 
     Four USAAF Far East Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses, striking out of Palembang, Sumatra, attack Kuantan Airfield scoring numerous hits on runways and hangars. 

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES: The Japanese land at Badoeng Island and Mampawan on Celebes Island. 

An estimated five Japanese warships and seventeen transports, with five unidentified vessels, are reported to be approaching Ambon Island by RAAF airmen. On Dutch orders Australian engineers destroy naval oil reserves, bomb dumps, hangers and other equipment at Laha, and attempt to make the airfield unusable. Ships are sighted before dusk off the coast of Laitimor Peninsula.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS: On Bataan, the II Corps withstands further efforts of the Japanese to breach the main line of resistance. In the I Corps area, troops of 1st and 11th Divisions, Philippine Army (PA), operate against the Little and Big Pockets, respectively, in an effort to determine their strength and disposition, and evoke sharp opposition. Scouts of 1st Battalion, 45th Infantry, Philippine Scouts (PS),  prepare to assist the 11th Division in an attack on Big Pocket. In the South Sector, after a half-hour artillery preparation augmented by fire of the minesweeper USS Quail (AM-15), the 2d Battalion of the 57th Infantry, PS, attacks and clears Longoskawayan Point; enemy remnants are being mopped up. The 3d Battalion of 45th Infantry, PS, continues to make slow and costly progress at Canaan Point. In the Anniston-Psyllium sector, scouts of 2d Battalion, 45th Infantry, PS, prepare for an attack and are reinforced by 1st Battalion of the Philippine Constabulary and 1st Battalion of the 12th Infantry, PA, both of these having been relieved at Canaan Point. Company A of the 57th Infantry, PS, is to guard West Road. 


 

BORNEO: The Japanese occupy Pontianak, on the west coast of Dutch Borneo site of a Dutch Naval Air Station. 

BURMA: Pilots of the 1st and 2d Fighter Squadrons, American Volunteer Group (AVG, aka, “The Flying Tigers”), shoot down 12 Nakajima Ki-27, Army Type 97 Fighters (later given the Allied Code Name “Nate”) near Rangoon during the afternoon. 

David "Tex" Hill, Robert Sandell and Frank Lawlor of the AVG become an aces in this action. (Skip Guidry)

FIJI: The USAAF 70th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) arrives at Suva on Viti Levu Island from the U.S. with 25 crated P-39s Airacobras. 

TERRITORY OF HAWAII: At Hickam Field, the USAAF Hawaiian Air Force inactivates the 18th Bombardment Wing and activates the VII Bomber Command; the new command will control all bomber units.
 

AUSTRALIA: The government establishes the Manpower Directorate to ensure the organization of all citizens, “in the best possible way to meet” all defence requirements and the essential needs of a community who overriding purpose, “for the duration,” of the war. 

U.S.A.: The Combined Chiefs of Staff establish the ANZAC Area, covering ocean expanses between Australia, New Zealand, and the French territory of New Caledonia in the New Hebrides Islands. This area is to be under U.S. naval command. 
     Five-inch (12.7 cm) projectiles containing radio-proximity fuzes are test fired at the Naval Proving Ground, Dahlgren, Virginia, and 52 percent of the fuzes functioned satisfactorily by proximity to water at the end of a 5-mile (8 kilometer) trajectory. This performance, obtained with samples selected to simulate a production lot, confirmed that the radio proximity fuze would greatly increase the effectiveness of anti-aircraft batteries and led to immediate small scale production of the fuze. 
 

ECUADOR: The government breaks diplomatic relations with Germany, Italy and Japan. 

ATLANTIC OCEAN: During bad weather in the North Atlantic, a lookout on U-591 broke his arm.

Minesweeping trawler HMS Sotra exploded and sank after torpedoing by U-431 at 32.07N, 25.30E - Grid CO 6795.

ICELAND: US Coast Guard gunboat USCGC Alexander Hamilton (WPG-34) is torpedoed by German submarine U-132 at 1312 hours local 20 miles (32 kilometres) west of Reykjavik, Iceland, while escorting convoy HX-170. One torpedo, of a four-torpedo spread, smashed into the ship's starboard side, directly abeam of the stack. It hit the fireroom bulkhead and flooded the two largest compartments of the ship, blew up two boilers, exploded directly under the main electrical switchboard, demolished the starboard turbines and flooded the auxiliary engine room, and wrecked the auxiliary radio generator and emergency diesel generator as well. The blast also destroyed three of the ships seven boats. The interior of the ship was plunged into darkness--no heat, steam, nor electricity remained. As the ship settled by the stern, it is abandoned. Later, a tug attempts to take her to port but high seas prevent this.

At 1645, the ship was abandoned; the survivors were picked up by Icelandic fishing trawlers and were taken to Reykjavik. The British tugs Restive and Frisky and the USCGC Redwing tried two times to salvage Alexander Hamilton with no success in the heavy seas. Destroyers USS Ericsson and Livermore and the seaplane tender USS Belknap screened the salvage operation. At 1315 on 30 January, Frisky took the ship in tow, but at 2028 hours she suddenly capsized. Ericsson then fired three rounds into the hull and left. As the cutter was reported still afloat in the evening, the destroyer returned to the scene, but found only an oil slick. One day earlier the store ship USS Yukon suffered an engine failure and was floating helpless in the sea. The cutter arrived and took the ship in tow, while destroyer USS Gwin escorted the little convoy toward Reykjavik. Alexander Hamilton cast the towline and proceeded slowly ahead.

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29 January 1943

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January 29th, 1943 (FRIDAY)

GERMANY: Dr. Ernst Kaltenbrunner succeeds the late Reinhardt Heydrich as head of the RSHA. Controlling the SS, Gestapo, extermination squads and death camps.

U-1005 laid down.

U-344 launched.

U.S.S.R.: Soviet forces liberate Kropotkin, in the Caucasus.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA: Auxiliary AA ship HMS Pozarica is damaged by an Italian air-launched torpedo, but manages to make port at Bougie in tow of minesweeper Cadmus. However, during salvage operations at Bougie on 13 February, she capsized and was written off. (Alex Gordon)(108)

SOLOMON ISLANDS: The Japanese submarine HIJMS I-1 is detected off Guadalcanal by New Zealand corvettes HMNZS Moa and Kiwi. The I-1 was making a supply run and is loaded with cargo for Guadalcanal. After depth charging and ramming by Kiwi, the I-1 severely damaged is run aground on Guadalcanal. This submarine proves to be a treasure trove of intelligence material.

Battle off Rennell Island. The USS Chicago, CA-29 is torpedoed in a night time air strike from a Betty probably belonging to the 701st Air Group. By midnight she is being towed south by the USS Louisville.

CANADA: Submarine HMS Seawolf arrived Halifax, Nova Scotia for ASW training.

U.S.A.:

Destroyer escort USS Neunzer laid down.

Light cruiser USS Birmingham commissioned.

ATLANTIC OCEAN:

U-466 had to abort patrol due to serious technical problems.

At 0547, U-255 reported one Myronich-class freighter (2274 GRT) sunk with one torpedo in the Barents Sea. The Krasnyj Partizan left the Kola Inlet on 24 January and went missing thereafter; the last radio message was received on 26 January.

Minesweeper HMCS Goderich rescued survivors from aft section to US tanker Brilliant which had broken in tow during a storm.

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29 January 1944

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January 29th, 1944 (SATURDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: Corvette HMCS Morden completed forecastle extension refit Londonderry, NI.

Corvette HMCS Forest Hill departed Londonderry to escort Convoy ONS-28.

Minesweeping trawler HMS Harris launched.

Sloops HMS Modeste and Nereide launched.

FRANCE: U-364 reported for the last time on 29 Jan, 1944 announcing its arrival at St. Nazaire on 31 Jan. (Alex Gordon)

GERMANY: Frankfurt: 763 US bombers kill over 700 civilians; 20 planes are lost.

ITALY: Cruiser HMS Spartan is anchored in Anzio Bay at 41 26N 12 41E, to provide air defence for the amphibious landings. As night falls at 1750, approximately 35 minutes after sunset, the invasion force is subjected to a German glider bomb attack. Four enemy aircraft, flying at about 5,000 feet and a few miles inland make at attack. Spartan is one of those targeted and engages the aircraft when an Hs.293 glider bomb strike hits close to her aft funnel at 17.56 and starts fires which can not be controlled. The bomb was engaged at close range by anti-aircraft fire and it was at first thought that the bomb would miss astern. However, the weapon altered course during the final stage of its approach and struck the ship at the after end of B funnel. A large fire broke out at the point of impact. The projectile passed through the ship and exploded on the port side, immediately flooding B boiler room. A secondary fire broke out by the port torpedo tubes. By 1900 the ship was listing 30 degrees and, shortly afterwards, the order was given to abandon ship. The list increased to 35 degrees and Spartan sank at 1915, in six fathoms of water. For an hour the crew fights to save her before the order is given to abandon ship. Ten minutes later she settles on her beam in just over 30 feet of water, taking 5 officers and 41 ratings with her. There are 18 other casualties, and 523 survivors. (Alex Gordon and Navynews and Dave Shirlaw)(108)

U.S.S.R.: Soviet forces clear the important railway line between Moscow and Leningrad.

General Model replaces Field Marshal von Kuchler as commander of Germany's Army Group North.

Marshall Islands: The US TF 58 conducts air raids.
Task Force 58 consisted of the following:

Task Group 58.1

USS Enterprise (CV-6) with Carrier Air Group Ten (CVG-10)

USS Yorktown (CV-10) with CVG-5)

USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24) with Light Carrier Air Group Twenty Four (CVLG-24)

Task Group 58.2

USS Essex (CV-9) with CVG-9

USS Intrepid (CV-11) with CVG-11

USS Cabot (CVL-28) with CVLG-31

Task Group 58.3

USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) with CVG-17

USS Cowpens (CVL-25) with CVLG-22

USS Monterey (CVL-26) with CVLG-30

Task Group 58.4

USS Saratoga (CV-3) with CVG-12

USS Langley (CVL27) with CVLG-32)

USS Princeton (CVL-23) with CVLG-23

The attack begins with a fighter sweep against the airfield on Roi Island in Kwajalein Atoll.USNcarrier aircraft fly almost 700 sorties against airfields and other targets in Kwajaelein Atoll plus Maloelap and Wotje. B-24s of the USAAF's VII Bomber Command, attacking from bases in the Gilbert Islands, maintain day and night attacks (both multi and single-aircraft attacks) against Maloelap, Jaluit, Aur Atoll, Wotje and Mille. Nine B-25s from Tarawa also carry out a strike against shipping and short installations at Wotje. Eighteen Douglas A-24 Dauntlesses (USN SBD), supported by 12 P-40s, hit Jaluit. Finally, 12 P-39s, operating in flights of four aircraft, patrol and strafe Mille all day to deny use of the airfield to the Japanese.

Navy fighter pilots flying F6F Hellcats score a number of victories; 

(1) Fighting Squadron Nine (VF-9 in USS Essex), VF-31 in USS Cabot and VF-6 in USS Intrepid shoot down 13 Mitsubishi A6M, Navy Type 0 Carrier Fighter, Allied Code Name "Zeke," between 0700 and 0720 hours; 

(2) VF-10 in USS Enterprise destroy four "Zekes" over Taroa Airfield on Maloelap between 0715 and 0800; 

(3) VF-6 and VF-9 pilots down six Mitsubishi G4M, Navy Type 1 Attack Bombers, Allied Code Name "Betty," one "Zeke" and one Mitsubishi Ki-57, Army Type 100 Transport, Allied Code Name "Topsy," over or near Burlesque Island about 0840; a VF-5 in USS Yorktown downs a Nakajima B5N, Navy Type 97 Carrier Attack Bomber, Allied Code Name "Kate," over Wotje Island at 1445; and a VF-9 pilot shoots down a "Kate" near Roi Island at 1550. 

(4) Night Fighting Squadron One Hundred One [VF(N)-101] with F4U-2s perform the first combat operation with this type.

Glen Boren makes the following entry in his diary: 
January 29 1944

We left Funifuta and moved into battle position on the 28th. They kicked us out of bed at 0310 and we launched a pre-dawn incendiary attack on the airfield on Kwajalein Island. No air opposition was encountered and very little anti-aircraft fire, but what there was, was very accurate. Several attacks were made during the day. We lost one fighter and the air group lost two TBFs and one SB2C. The airfield was rendered useless.

All I have on the following is the entry in my diary but here it is; Just at dusk, the DD Burns was sent in to rescue the crew of one of the TBFs that went down. They picked up the crew and started back, after dark, On the way out, they ran into a small jap convoy consisting of ; 2 DEs, 1 AK and 1 merchant ship. They took them all on and sank the lot of them During the night we move to Engebi. 

More tomorrow.

Glen

CANADA: Frigate HMCS Poundmaker laid down Montreal, Province of Quebec.

Frigate HMCS Ettrick commissioned Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Corvette HMCS Buctouche completed forecastle extension refit Saint John, New Brunswick.

Corvette HMCS Dawson completed forecastle extension refit Vancouver, British Columbia.

Tug HMCS Otterville assigned to Saint John, New Brunswick.

Minesweeper HMCS Mahone damaged in collision with SS Fort Townshend off Louisbourg, Nova Scotia. Mahone out of service until August of 1944.

U.S.A.: "No Love, No Nothin'" sung by Ella Mae Morse from the movie "The Gang's All Here" is released.

Battleship USS Missouri is launched.

Submarine USS Spikefish laid down.

Frigate USS Corpus Christi commissioned.

Destroyers USS Wren and Mansfield launched.

Destroyer escorts USS Tinsman, Lawrence C Taylor and Jesse Rutherford launched.

Minesweeper USS Reform launched.

 

ATLANTIC OCEAN: At 2207, SS Olga E. Embiricos was torpedoed and sunk by U-188, which misidentified the ship as Giorgios M. Embiricos.

 

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29 January 1945

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January 29th, 1945 (MONDAY)

GERMANY:

U-3509 commissioned.

U-763 scuttled at Köningsberg at the Schichau Shipyard, in position 54.42N, 20.32E, after being damaged by Soviet bombs.

NORWAY: U-636 was attacked by shore-based friendly fire in Norwegian waters, but suffered no damage.

BURMA: Japanese forces try but fail to drive the Chinese from their positions defending the "Stilwell Road" near Lashio.

East INDIAN OCEAN: Operation Meridian II. British carrier-based aircraft have inflicted massive damage on Japan's main source of aviation fuel with bombing raids on Japanese-controlled Palembang oil refineries in Sumatra, in the Dutch East Indies, over the last five days. The loss of the refineries means that crude oil will now have to be shipped to Japan for refining, doubling Japan's need for tankers.

During this action a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm air sea rescue Supermarine Sea Otter (operating in conjunction with the RN submarine Rorqual) has an inconclusive contact with an unknown Japanese biplane off the Sumatra coast. (G.A. Mackinlay)

COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: US landing at San Antonio, Luzon  by XI Corps.

U.S.A.:

Aircraft carrier USS Iwo Jima laid down.

Submarine USS Pomodon laid down.

Frigate USS Greensboro commissioned.

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