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1918   (MONDAY) 

FRANCE: At 0500 hours local, an Armistice is signed between the Allies and Germany at Compiegne to be effective at the 11th hour, on the 11th day of the 11th month. Thus, World War I ended. The day became known as Remembrance Day or Armistice Day to reflect and remember the sacrifices men and women made during World War I in order to ensure peace. It is observed in the U.S., the British Commonwealth and various European countries (including France and Belgium) to commemorate World War I and other wars. In 1954, the U.S. Congress passed and President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a bill into law changing the name of the holiday to Veterans Day, a day to honor all of the servicemen and women who served in the Armed Forces.

1921   (SATURDAY)

UNITED STATES: The International Conference on Naval Limitation, more commonly known as the Washington Naval Conference, opens in Washington, D.C. This disarmament effort is occasioned by the hugely expensive naval construction rivalry that exists among the U.K., Japan and the U.S.. U.S. Senator William E. Borah, Republican of Idaho, takes the lead on this matter and urges that the major Allied nations from World War I gather in an effort to slow the arms race. The proposal is not met with initial enthusiasm by the President Warren Harding administration, but it becomes a political imperative when it was portrayed as a Republican alternative to League of Nations' peace efforts. The major naval powers of France, Italy, Japan, the U.K. and the U.S. are in attendance as well as other nations with concerns about territories in the Pacific, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal and China, who are not parties to the disarmament discussions. The Soviet Union is not invited, nor are the

  defeated Central Powers. In the initial session, U.S. Secretary of State Charles Hughes shocks the delegates by going beyond platitudes and offering a detailed plan for arms reduction. Labeled by some as one of the most dramatic moments in American diplomatic history, Hughes calls for the scrapping of nearly 2 million tons (1.8 million metric tonnes) of warships and a lengthy "holiday" on the construction of new ships. He is widely hailed in the press as a savior, but leaders of the other Allied governments are quietly skeptical. The conference will continue until February 1922.

1931   (WEDNESDAY)

UNITED STATES: Secretary. of State Henry Stimson asked General Charles G. Dawes, American Ambassador to the U.K., to go to Paris, France, during the League of Nations Council meeting "inasmuch as this meeting will consider the present situation in Manchuria and questions may arise which will affect the interests or treaty obligations of the United States . . . he will be in a position to confer with the representatives of the other nations present in Paris in case such conference should seem desirable."

1932   (FRIDAY)

UNITED STATES: The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) opens Radio City in New York City with a gala show.

1937   (THURSDAY) 

PALESTINE: In an effort to control terrorist attacks in Palestine, the British commissioner sets up special military courts to try suspected terrorists. Anyone caught carrying firearms or bombs could be sentenced to death by these courts.

November 11th, 1939 (SATURDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM:
London: Queen Elizabeth broadcast an Armistice Day message to the women of the Empire from Buckingham palace tonight, while the King listened on a wireless in another room. "War has at all times called for the fortitude of women," she said, "but now we, no less than men, have real and vital work to do." To us also is given the proud privilege of serving our country in her hour of need."

"The tasks you have undertaken cover every field of national service." But these tasks are not for every woman. It is the worries and irritations of carrying on wartime life in ordinary homes which are so often hard to bear. Many of you have had to see your family life broken up, your husband going off to his allotted task, your children evacuated to places of greater safety.

The King and I know what it means to be parted from our children and we can sympathise with you." [The two princesses have remained at Balmoral since the outbreak of the war.] "All this has meant sacrifice and I would say to those who are feeling the strain: You are taking your part in keeping the Home Front, which will have dangers of its own, stable and strong."

So far 45,000 women have been recruited as volunteers for the women's services - the WRNS (3,400), the ATS (24,000), the WAAF (8,800) and the nursing services (8,000). Recruiting for the WRNS has been halted because the waiting lists are already so long. The ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service) takes women from the ages of 18 to 43. The age limit for the WAAF (Women's Auxiliary Air Force) has been raised to 50 for those with experience. Women pilots are being accepted in the Air Transport Auxiliary which flies planes from the factories to their squadrons.

Recruiting has also been suspended for the Women's Land Army, for which 25,000 women have registered. Only a proportion of those who have completed training have yet found work. The Marchioness of Reading, who founded the Women's Voluntary Service for Civil Defence (the WVS) last year says that nearly 500,000 women have volunteered for it.

     Dr. R.V. Jones submits The Hitler Waffe report, listing seven possible secret German weapons, with #5 being long-range guns and rockets.

FRANCE: Minesweeper FS La Curieuse launched.

Colonel Charles de Gaulle urges general headquarters that French tanks be formed into armored divisions rather than be dispersed as infantry supports. His ideas are rejected.

BELGIUM: The Belgian Army cancels military leaves.

     Belgian police along the French border receive orders to clear roads to allow for French forces entering into Belgium.

GERMANY:
The Foreign Office repeats earlier assurances that the neutrality of Holland and Belgium will be respected.

U-69 laid down.

U.S.S.R.: The Soviet Commissar of Defence Kliment Voroshilov gives orders to found a 'People's Army of Finland', the military arm of the future Soviet puppet 'People's Government of Finland.' and orders the Red Army to move into attacking positions along the Finnish border.

GIBRALTAR: U.S. freighter SS Nishmaha is detained by British authorities.

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November 11th, 1940 (MONDAY)

First five Cant Z.1007bis reconnaissance aircraft escorted by 24 G.50bis fighters, followed by 10 Br.20 bombers, escorted by 40 CR.42 fighters.

Another day operation of the Italian Corpo Aereo Italiano, today, had different results from previous missions in October, three of the ten Br.20s of 43 St. were shot down by RAF fighters and three more being so damaged to be forced to effect crash-landings in Belgium. The RAF also shot down three C.R.42 biplane fighters. One of the B.R.20s had a crew of six, all wearing helmets and carrying bayonets. (Jack McKillop and Ferdinando d'Amico)

RAF Coastal Command: Seven Lockheed Hudson Mk. IIIs arrive at RAF Aldergrove, Northern Ireland, having flown direct from Gander, Newfoundland, in 10.5 hours. This marks the beginning of Hudson deliveries by air when all Hudson's are flown across the Atlantic. They left in the early hours of Sunday morning flown by BOAC civilian air crews under the command of Captain D. Bennett.

RAF Bomber Command: 2 Group: Blenheims of 82 Squadron are sent to bomb Hamm, Soest, Osnabruck and Le Havre. Weather was very bad and only secondary targets were bombed, including Duisburg's docks and the railway at Dortmund. Two aircraft failed to bomb and two crashed into the sea upon return. 2 aircrew were killed in the crashes.

FRANCE: Paris: German guards violently break up a patriotic demonstration by students at the Arc de Triomphe.

VICHY FRANCE: Jean Moulin, the uncooperative prefect of the Eure-et-Loir district is sacked by the authorities.

I am very sorry that European events have forced me to complicate [your plans for Operation Compass]. Unremitting efforts will be made to remount your Air Force on latest machines at the earliest moment.

INDIAN OCEAN: German Merchant raider Atlantis claims 13th victim:

AUTOMEDON (1) was built in 1922 by Palmer's Shipbuilding and Iron Co. at Jarrow with a tonnage of 7628grt, a length of 459ft 4in, a beam of 58ft 4in and a service speed of 14 knots. Sister of the Eumaeus she was built for the Ocean Steam Navigation Co.

When sailing between the Nicobar Islands and Ceylon the German armed merchant cruise (Hilfskreuzer) HK Atlantis under the command of Kapitan Bernhard Rogge was spotted some 18 miles distance in a sea that was like glass. The two ships converged and when some 4600 yards apart the Atlantis swung to starboard, cleared for action and fired a warning shot. Immediately, the Automedon began to radio for assistance sending 'RRR Automedon 0416N' before the transmission was jammed and the Atlantis opened fire. The Atlantis was an experienced AMC and her gunfire extremely accurate. Her first shells demolished the bridge killing everybody there including her master, Capt. W. B. Ewan.

Three further salvoes scored eleven hits before the Atlantis ceased firing. The Automedon was still steaming at full speed and a man on board attempted to reach the stern gun to return fire. Three more salvoes hit the ship killing the gunner and stopping the ship. A boarding party from the Atlantis found a complete shambles with all the ships paper destroyed with the exception of those in the safe.

Examination of the holds revealed a cargo worth millions to the Allied war effort. Bound for Penang, Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai she was carrying aircraft , cars, machinery spares, bicycles, microscopes, service uniforms, steel and copper sheets, cameras, sewing machines as well as beer , whisky cigarettes and food supplies. There were also 120 mail bags. Rogge was concerned about the situation as both ships were stationary in a relatively busy shipping lane and another ship observing the scene would quickly guess what was happening and send a radio message before any action could be taken by the Atlantis. He therefore set a time limit of 3 hours during which time 31 British and 56 Chinese crew members, 3 passengers including a woman, their possessions, all the frozen meat and food together with the ship's papers and the mail bags.

The British crew members were appreciative of Rogge's gesture regarding possessions and assisted with the transfer of food but nothing else. They did, however, indicate where 550 cases of whisky were stored in the No.3 hold as well as helping to locate 2.5 million Chesterfield cigarettes. Among the 56 Chinese crew members were twenty or so who had been picked up from Lawther and Latter's Anglo-Saxon which had been sunk earlier in the North Atlantic. They were on their way home to Hong Kong and Rogge was impressed by their phlegmatic stoicism.

As the stores were being loaded the safe was forced and the contents extracted. Because the bridge party were killed at the onset of the action the secret documents could not be destroyed. Amongst the papers were Admiralty Sailing Instructions, the Merchant Navy Code and Deciphering Tables 7, 8 and 9. To Rogge's further astonishment, when two mail bags marked ' Safe Hand, British Master Only' were opened, he found mail for the Commander-in-Chief, Far East which included Cabinet papers suggesting a defence of the Far East and a review of the European situation at the time. He also found detailed maps of minefields, new fleet cipher tables plus a number of coded documents. The contents of the two mail bags was so comprehensive that the Japanese later believed them to be fakes, put on board a British merchant ship in order to mislead the enemy.

Rogge then thought that he could tow the Automedon out of the shipping lanes but his engineers reported that the steering gear had been totally wrecked so the concept had to be abandoned.

Consequently, time bombs were placed aboard the Automedon and at 15.07 hours she became the thirteenth victim of the Atlantis as she sank by the stern. The survivors eventually reach Bordeaux in the captured Norwegian tanker STORSTAD. The entire load of high octane aircraft gasoline in the Norwegian tanker SS Ole Jakob captured yesterday and top secret documents about Singapore defences taken today are sent to Japan in SS Ole Jakob. As a result, the Japanese secretly approve the use of Muag Island, a small island in the Mariana Islands, as rest-refitting-replenishment area for raiders and blockade runners. (Denis Peck)

FIJI ISLANDS: HQ 8 New Zealand Infantry Brigade is established in Fiji.

AUSTRALIA: The Australian light cruiser HMAS Sydney (D 48) departs Fremantle, Western Australia, escorting the 6,700 ton troopship SS Zealandia en route from Sydney, New South Wales, to Singapore with almost 1000 reinforcements of the 8th Australian Division.

CANADA: Oiler HMCS Sunbeam commissioned. Bunker Vessel, 589/11, ex-D.M. Hopper Barge No.4, ex-MandF Hopper Barge No.4, ex-Foremost 19, arrived Canada circa 1920, #132590, Purchased. Sunbeam's Log - Built Port Glasgow, NS, Launched 1911, Yard #90, converted at Marine Industries Ltd, Sorel, Province of Quebec, hull Log - jn - 89, 589 tons, 178x33.5x12ft, 6kts, crew 2/27. Post WW.II, sold 1947, 1949 renamed Oakbranch, 1971 broken up. (MandF=Ministry of Marine and Fisheries, and D.M.=Dept of Marine).
 

U.S.A.: Time Magazine reports on the first Draft selection of October 1940.

Secretary of War Henry Lewis Stimson, 73, stepped to the jar [same one used to pull draft numbers in 1917]. Fragile, twittery Lt. Colonel (retired) Charles R. Morris, who blindfolded Newton D. Baker for the first draft drawings of WWI, did the same for Mr. Stimson (with a bandage made from the cover of a chair in Independence Hall, sanitized with a sheet of Kleenex). Secretary Stimson gingerly put his left hand in the jar, took the first capsule he touched, handed it to Mr. Roosevelt. The President, old-stager that he was, glanced at the newsreel and radio men, got their nod before he intoned: "The first number is one---five---eight." Registration serial number 158, held by some 6,175 registrants throughout the US, thus became draft order No. 1. In the crowded auditorium, Mrs. Mildred C. Bell gasped: 158 was her 21-year-old son Harry's number. A friend sitting beside her squawked with excitement, bringing newsmen, radio announcers, and temporary fame upon the belles and Harry's fiancé. (W Rinaman)

 An Armistice Day storm rages across the Great Lakes Region and the Upper Midwest. A blizzard leaves 49 dead in Minnesota, and gales on Lake Michigan cause ship wrecks resulting in another 59 deaths. Up to 17 inches (43 centimeters) of snow falls in Iowa, and at Duluth, Minnesota, the barometric pressure falls to 28.66 inches of mercury (971 hectopascals). The blizzard claims a total of 154 lives, and kills thousands of cattle in Iowa. Whole towns are isolated by huge snowdrifts.

Minesweeper USS Raven commissioned.

Destroyer USS Ludlow launched.

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November 11th, 1941 (TUESDAY)

GERMANY: U-353 launched.

BALTIC SEA: U-580 sunk near Memel, in position 55.45N, 20.40E, after a collision with the target ship Angelburg. 12 dead and 32 survivors.

FINLAND: Finland gives an official answer to the US offers to mediate peace between Finland and the Soviet Union. Finland states that her war is defensive in nature, and the Finnish military efforts doesn't threaten the US interests. Finland can't fulfill the US demand to retreat behind the pre-1939 border, because such an act would undermine Finnish security. After giving this official answer, the Finnish FM Witting pays an unofficial visit to the US ambassador Schoenfeld. Witting states that Finland won't cut the Murmansk railway or advance to Archangel. All Finnish military operations from now on will be modest in nature.

LIBYA: Major Ernst Duellberg's BF109F-4 (Trop) is damaged in combat by the Tomahawk of Flt-Lt A. C. Rawlinson of 3 Sqn. RAAF. Duellberg nurses his aircraft back to Ain-el Gazala where it belly-lands and is written off. (Michael Alexander)

ETHIOPIA: Allied forces, with local guerrillas assisting, attack Chilga and Kulkaber around the main Italian Gondar position. The attacks make little headway today.

JAPAN: The Foreign Ministry in Tokyo sends the following message to the Japanese embassy in Washington, D.C.: "Judging from the progress of the conversations [with U.S. authorities], there seem to be indications that the United States is still not fully aware of the exceedingly criticalness of the situation here. The fact remains that the date set forth in my message #736 [25 November] is absolutely immovable under present conditions. It is a definite dead-line and therefore it is essential that a settlement be reached by about that time. The session of Parliament opens on the 15th [work will start on (the following day ?)] according to the schedule. The government must have a clear picture of things to come, in presenting its case at the session. You can see, therefore, that the situation is nearing a climax, and that time is indeed becoming short."

     Ten submarines , including HIJMS I-69, I-74, I-75 and others leave Yokosuka Naval Base for rendezvous at Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, then to proceed to Hawaii.

Battleship Mushashi (むしゃし for those of you with Japanese language support enabled) is launched.

COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: Major General Lewis H. Brereton, Commanding General Far East Air Force, is ordered by Lieutenant General Douglas MacArthur, Commanding General U.S. Army Forces Far East (USAFFE), to undertake a three-week, 11,500-mile (18 507 kilometer) survey to Rabaul, New Britain Island, Bismarck Archipelago; Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea; and Townsville Queensland, and Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, to comply with U.S. Army Chief of Staff General George C. Marshall's directive of 30 September 1941. The purpose of the trip is to establish working relations with Australian officials and to survey the trans-Pacific air ferry route from Australia to the Philippines and Java including its extension to Singapore and China. Brereton departs for Australia on 16 November. (Marc Small)

CANADA:

Minesweeper HMCS Swift Current commissioned.

Minesweeper HMCS Drummondville arrived Halifax from builder Montreal, Province of Quebec.

Minesweepers HMCS Mahone and Chedabucto departed Esquimalt for Halifax.

U.S.A.: President Franklin D. Roosevelt agrees to the extension of Lend Lease Act to the Free French because, "the defense of territories rallied to Free France is vital to the defense of the United States."

Destroyer USS Farenholt launched.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-561 sank SS Meridian in Convoy SC-53.

USN destroyer USS Edison (DD-439), en route to rendezvous with convoy ON-34 (U.K. to North America, depth charges a sound contact and destroyer USS Decatur (DD-341), screening convoy HX-159 (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, to U.K.), depth charges a sound contact off the Grand Banks; it is later evaluated as a "doubtful" submarine.

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November 11th, 1942 (WEDNESDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: Escort carrier HMS Begum launched.

Submarine HMS Stubborn launched.

ASW trawler HMS Sapper launched.

1942 - HMC ML 087 commissioned.

FRANCE: German troops marched into unoccupied France today, allegedly to save Vichy from invasion. Codenamed Operation ANTON (the name was changed from ATTILA), the move was ordered by Hitler after Laval resisted pressure from Berlin to let German forces occupy Tunisia.

A letter from Hitler to Marshal Petain justified the occupation by saying that he wanted to protect the south of France from an Allied invasion: "When information had been received   that the next objectives of Anglo-American invasion were to be Corsica and the south of France, Germany and Italy were forced to take all measures to "arrest the continuation of the Anglo-American aggression." Petain protested against the German invasion of occupied France as a "decision incompatible with the armistice agreement."

The occupation was carried out by German and Italian units. Within 24 hours they controlled the whole of the territory formerly ruled by Vichy except for a small enclave round the naval base at Toulon. Field Marshal von Rundstedt, the German commander, said that the "attitude of the population is indifferent", except in Marseilles.

Although the invasion was a defensive response to the Anglo-US "Torch" landings in North Africa, Hitler admitted in his letter to Petain that it was the escape of General Henri Giraud "which chiefly made me behave in this manner." Giraud, who escaped with a home-made rope from the castle of Konigstein, made his way last week to North Africa with the help of British intelligence and a British submarine.

Italian troops land on Corsica and move into mainland France.

     During the night of 11/12 November, RAF Bomber Command Wellingtons lay mines off Bay of Biscay ports: ten lay mines off St. Nazaire; nine off Lorient; six off La Pallice; and four off Brest.

GERMANY:  Hitler orders German troops into Vichy.

German armored ship Admiral Scheer returns to Kiel from Norway.

 U-532 commissioned.

U.S.S.R.:  At Stalingrad, German 6.Armee (von Paulus) launches its last major attack to capture the city and succeeds in reaching the Volga River near the Red October factory on a frontage of 600 yards (549 meters). The Soviets fragment the German effort and within two days the offensive degenerates into a series of unconnected actions. Both sides suffer heavy casualties. While some German units penetrate to the Volga River, others are cut off. Floating blocks of ice in the Volga cause problems with Soviet resupply efforts.

     In the Caucasus, 13.Panzer-Division (von der Chevallerie) of III.Panzerkorps (von Mackensen) begins to disengage its units halted before Ordshonikidse to avoid being cut off by heavy Soviet attacks against its rear communications.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA: German submarine U-407 torpedoes and sinks the 19,627 ton British merchant freighter SS Viceroy of India about 47 nautical miles (86 kilometers) north-northeast of Oran, Algeria, in position 36.26N, 00.24W.

     The British minelayer HMS Manxman (M 70) maxes a dash from Alexandria, Egypt, to Malta delivering vitally needed supplies.

FRENCH MOROCCO: All resistance of French forces ceases by 0700 hours local. The U.S. Western Task Force cancels an attack on Casablanca because of an armistice and the 3d Infantry Division enters the city at 0730 hours. Combat Command B of the 2d Armored Division receives the surrender of Mazagan and establishes a bridgehead at Azemmour without opposition.

ALGERIA: The Vichy French representative for North Africa, Admiral Jean-Francois Darlan, arranges an armistice with the Allies which ends the fighting in French Morocco and Algeria effective at 0700 hours local. Admiral Darlan also helps the Allied governments to gain control over French West Africa, which eliminates the threat to Allied convoys operating along the African coast.

     The British First Army lands elements of the 36th Brigade, 78th Division, at Bougie, 110 miles (177 kilometers) east of Algiers, without opposition. The Hart Force, a mobile task force based on the 11th Brigade of the 78th Division, moves out of Algiers toward Bone, traveling overland.

At 2.30 this morning, the guns stopped firing over Algeria as both sides paused to lick their wounds. Three days of combat brought heavy losses: at Oran, 17 French warships were sunk, while the entire fleet at Casablanca, in Morocco, has been blasted out of existence.

The human casualties have been great. Over 4,000 men died in the fierce struggle between the Allied invasion force and local French troops under the command of Admiral Jean-François Darlan. In the end, it was Darlan who agreed an armistice with the General Mark Clark, the US commander-in-chief, in defiance of Marshal Petain's orders to resist.

The war is not yet won, however. Hitler started to airlift German troops into Tunis today.

The British 11th Brigade moves east from Algiers in strength. The  36th Brigade lands and captures Bougie. 

     USAAF Twelfth Air Force fighters fly reconnaissance over the Oran-Tafaraoui area and escort C-47 Skytrains carrying paratroops from Gibraltar to Algiers.

LIBYA: X Corps, British Eighth Army, drives the last of the Axis forces from Egypt and enters Libya via Halfaya Pass, taking Bardia without opposition. The 1st and 7th Armoured Divisions continue the pursuit of Axis while the New Zealand 2d Division pauses at the frontier to reorganize.

     Fifteen US Army, Middle East Air Force B-24 Liberators bomb shipping north of Bengasi, claiming four direct hits and several near misses on a vessel. P-40s fly a sweep over the Gambut area, claiming three Luftwaffe Ju 87 Stuka dive bombers destroyed.

INDIAN OCEAN: Two Japanese armed merchant cruisers, Hokoku Maru and Aikoku Maru, attack the Indian minesweeper HMIS Bengal (J 243) escorting the empty armed Dutch tanker SS Ondina about 1,444 nautical miles (2 674 kilometers) west-northwest of Perth, Western Australia, Australia, in position 19.45S, 092.40E. HMIS Bengal mounts one 3-inch (75 millimeter) gun and some machine guns, SS Ondina mounts a 4-inch (10,2 centimeter) and several machine guns while the two Japanese armed merchant cruisers mount eight 5.5-inch (14.0 centimeter), two 3.1-inch (80 millimeter) and four 1-inch (25 millimeter) guns plus four torpedo tubes. They also carry two "Rufe" seaplanes (Nakajima A6M2-N, Navy Type 2 Fighter Seaplanes). One shell fired hits the torpedo tubes on Hokoku Maru causing the torpedoes to explode and turning the ship into a flaming wreck and she sank. Both BENGAL and, ONDINA claimed the decisive hit on HOKOKU MARU and no account I have seen has come down definitely in favour of one ship or the other. According to Roskill, and quoted in Gill:
The Japanese account says that, ONDINA hit the first raider, but the BENGAL's report is emphatic that it was her own gunfire which did the damage.'

 Meanwhile, HMIS Bengal was firing at Aikoku Maru until she ran out of ammunition and steamed away leaving SS Ondina. The crew of the Ondina kept firing at the Japanese ship and in turn, was hit several times. However, a tanker has many individual tanks and she was empty so a shell in one or more tanks would not sink her. The crew of Ondina fired their last shell and the captain ordered "Abandon Ship." Aikoku Maru approached the tanker and fired two torpedoes which struck the ship and exploded but did not sink her despite a 30-35 degree list. The Japanese then opened fire on the three lifeboats and two rafts, fired another torpedo at the tanker which missed, picked up survivors from the Hokoku Maru and then departed the area. The tanker was still afloat and the crew reboarded her and set sail for Fremantle, Western Australia. HMIS Bengal arrived at Diego Garcia Island on 17 November while SS Ondina arrived at Fremantle on 18 November. After the failure of this engagement, the Japanese discontinue their armed merchant cruiser program.  (Ric Pelvin)

BURMA: Nine USAAF Tenth Air Force P-40s hit Shinghbwiyang causing heavy damage.

NEW GUINEA: In Papua New Guinea, the Japanese Oivi-Gorari defenses are defeated and the Australian 16th Brigade moves forward and finds Oivi deserted. Six hundred Japanese have died in the battle. Meanwhile, the headquarters of the 126th Infantry Regiment, 32d Infantry Division, is flown to Pongani. In the air, USAAF Fifth Air Force A-20 Havocs bomb and strafe targets in the Wairopi area.

PORTUGUESE TIMOR: Colonel Spence of Sparrow Force, signals Darwin that his men of the 2/2nd Company are in urgent need of relief after fighting a guerrilla war for the last 10 months. Darwin agrees and a flotilla of two Bathurst corvettes, HMAS Castlemaine and HMAS Armidale along with Kuru are earmarked to take them out. The 2/2 with 363 all ranks plus 150 Portugese troops and 190 Dutch troops from a Dutch "Stay behind" unit are to be lifted over the nights of the 30th November to the 5th of December: 61 Dutch native troops with two Dutch officers and 3 AIF men are to be landed during the same operation and embarked aboard the HMAS Armidale. (William L. Howard)(188, 189, 190, 191)

SOLOMON ISLANDS: The US advance towards Kokumbona on Guadalcanal continues, in spite of  General Sano's order to his 2nd Btn 228th Infantry to destroy the US forces  west of the Matanikau River. The offensive halts shortly after noon and the  units ordered to withdraw. The troops could not be told the real reason for  the withdrawal. Another Japanese offensive to retake Guadalcanal was in the  offing.

 Admiral Halsey orders Admiral Kincaid to get carrier USS Enterprise  underway and to "be prepared to strike enemy targets in Cactus  [Guadalcanal] area."

     The American westward offensive toward Kobumbona is halted because of strong indications of an all-out Japanese attempt to recover the Lunga area. After reaching positions a little beyond those gained on 4 November, the assault force begins withdrawal across the Matanikau River east of Lunga perimeter, the 2d Battalion of the Army's 164th Infantry Regiment closes a gap on the south flank of the U.S. line. along Gavaga Creek and drives north to the beach while 7th Marine Regiment closes in from east and west. A Naval force bringing reinforcements and supplies from the New Hebrides Islands arrives and begins unloading; when the three transports of the force are damaged by Japanese aircraft, the group retires to join naval forces approaching from New Caledonia.

     Admiral William F. Halsey, Commander South Pacific Forces and South Pacific Area, orders Rear Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid, Commander, Cruisers Pacific Fleet and Commander, Task Force 61, to get aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) underway and to "be prepared to strike enemy targets in Cactus [Guadalcanal] area."

     At 0930 hours local, nine "Val" dive bombers (Aichi D3A, Navy Type 99 Carrier Bomber) escorted by 18 "Zeke" fighters (Mitsubishi A6M, Navy Type 0 Carrier Fighter) from the aircraft carrier HIJMS Hiyo, attack USN ships offloading supplies and personnel at Guadalcanal. USMC F4F Wildcat pilots shoot down five "Vals" and five "Zekes" but lose six F4Fs and four pilots. A USAAF pilot in a P-39 Airacobra shoots down a sixth "Zeke." At 1100 hours local, 25 "Betty" bombers (Mitsubishi G4M, Navy Type 1 Attack Bombers) escorted by 26 "Zeke" fighters, bomb Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. Seventeen USMC F4F Wildcats intercept and shoot down seven "Bettys" and one "Zeke;" a USAAF P-39 Airacobra pilot shoots down an eighth "Betty." One F4F Wildcat is lost.

     USAAF Fifth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses attack shipping off the south coast of Bougainville Island.

PACIFIC OCEAN: Search aircraft from Guadalcanal Island report at least 61 Japanese ships in the Buin-Tonolai in the southern area of Bougainville Island and other ships are massed at Rabaul, New Britain Island, Bismarck Archipelago.

     Four Japanese submarines launch "Glen" seaplanes (Kugisho E14Y, Navy Type 0 Small Reconnaissance Seaplanes) to fly reconnaissance over Allied bases:

     - HIJMS I-7's "Glen" flies over Vanikoro, Santa Cruz Island, Solomon Islands.

     - HIJMS I-9s "Glen" overflies Espirito Santo, New Hebrides Islands.

     - HIJMS I-21's "Glen" reconnoiters Noumea, New Caledonia Island.

     - HIJMS I-31's "Glen" overflies Suva, Viti Levu Island, Fiji Islands.

TERRITORY OF ALASKA: ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: Three USAAF Eleventh Air Force B-26 Marauders, three B-17 Flying Fortresses, and three B-24 Liberators are over Japanese-held Kiska Island; the B-26s make unsuccessful runs on a ship in Gertrude Cove and the B-17s and B-24s find the submarine base closed by weather. A weather aircraft flies over Attu and Amchitka Islands.

CANADA:

Frigate HMCS Wentworth laid down Esquimalt, British Columbia.

Corvette HMCS Owen Sound laid down Collingwood, Ontario.

U.S.A.: The motion picture "Road to Morocco" is rushed to the Paramount Theater in New York City to take advantage of the publicity from yesterday's landing of Allied troops in North Africa. Directed by  David Butler, this comedy stars Bing Crosby, Dorothy Lamour, Bob Hope, Anthony Quinn, Monte Blue and Yvonne De Carlo. This is the second Crosby/Hope/Lamour "Road" film.

Henry J. Kaiser readies the launch of a Liberty ship in San Francisco Bay. The ship's keel was laid in Richmond at midnight 7 November and completed in 4 days, 15 hours, 26 minutes.

Destroyers USS Stockton, Stevenson, Schroeder and Ringgold launched.

Submarine USS Tullibee launched.

Destroyer escorts USS Osterhaud and Parks laid down.

Minesweeper USS Salute laid down.

Minesweeper USS Staff commissioned.

GREENLAND: Construction of a LORAN (long range aids to navigation) station begins at Fredericksdaal on the southwest coast.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: U class submarine HMS Unbeaten operating a patrol in the Bay of Biscay is not heard form again after 6 November. An investigation into her probable cause of loss suggests that she was the victim of an attack made on 10 November at 1745 by RAF Wellington Mk. VIII aircraft F of 172 Squadron RAF on a submarine at 46 50N 06 51W which was within ten miles of Unbeaten’s estimated position. There are no survivors. (See Evans A.S. Beneath the Waves, London, William Kimber 1986 pp327.) Officially the file remains open.  

British destroyer depot ship HMS Hecla (F 20) which was proceeding to Gibraltar to augment dockyard repair facilities is torpedoed and sunk 180 miles west of Gibraltar at 35 43N 09 57W by U-515 (Kapitanleutenant Werner Henke). A total of 279 crewmen went down with the ship and 568 men are rescued by escorting destroyers. Henke thought his target was a Southampton class cruiser, and just two hours later blew the stern off destroyer HMS Marne which was escorting Hecla. Marne, however made port at Gibraltar. (Alex Gordon & Jack McKillop)(108)

Submarine FS Sidi Ferruch sunk off Fedhala Roads, Morocco by aircraft from escort carrier USS Suwannee.

U-160 sank SS City of Ripon.

U-407 sank SS Viceroy of India in Operation Torch.

U-380 sank SS Nieuw Zeeland in Operation Torch.

U-173 damaged USS Hambleton (DD-455) and oiler USS Winooksi (AO-38) and sank USS Joseph Hewes (AP-50) in Convoy UGF-1, off Fedala Roads, French Morocco.

U-354 lost one man overboard [Fähnrich zur See Horst Mayen].

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November 11th, 1943 (THURSDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: Frigate HMCS Teme (ex-HMS Teme) launched South Bank-on-Tees.

Sloop HMS Mermaid launched.

Frigate HMS Somaliland launched.

Submarine HMS Voracious launched.

FRANCE: Grenoble: Commemoration of the Armistice banned by Marshal Petain, was turned into a patriotic demonstration by the Resistance here today. Police arrested 450 people who will be deported to Germany.

Grenoble is a major centre for the French Resistance, and the Gestapo is using every possible means to crush the growing opposition to the Nazi-dominated Vichy government. On the night of 13 November, a commando of the Groupes Francs blew up the Wehrmacht's artillery depot. In retaliation, the Gestapo then assassinated all the leaders of the United Resistance Front.

One hundred fifty seven USAAF Ninth Air Force B-26 Marauders bomb military installations and targets of opportunity in the Cherbourg area, mainly at Martinvast.

     Thirty one USAAF Fifteenth Air Force B-24 Liberators attack the Annecy ball bearing plant at Annency with the loss of one aircraft.

     During the night of 11/12 November, 124 Halifaxes and ten Lancasters of RAF Bomber Command make another attack on the French transport system with the loss of four Halifaxes. One hundred thirty one attack the marshalling yard at Cannes; the night is clear and the Pathfinders mark the target from 5,000 feet (1 524 meters) but the railway yards are not hit at all and the railway workshops suffer only blast damage. Six other aircraft hit a railroad bridge at Agay and ten Lancasters each dropped one 12,000 pound (5 443 kilogram) bomb on the railway viaduct at Antheor but no hits are recorded. Other bombers lay mines off Bay of Biscay ports: nine lay mines off La Pallice; eight off Gironde; six off Brest; five off St. Nazaire; and four off Lorient; one aircraft is lost. Six other aircraft drop leaflets over Northern France.

GERMANY: The USAAF Eighth Air Force's VIII Bomber Command flies Mission 127: Two areas in Germany are targeted: 59 B-17 Flying Fortresses bomb the marshalling yard at Munster with the loss of four aircraft and one hit the industrial area of Rees.

     During the night of 11/12 November, RAF Bomber Command dispatches Mosquitos to bomb five targets: ten bomb the Rheinmetall armaments factory at Dusseldorf; eight hit Berlin; six attack Hannover; three hit the Vereinigte Stahl armaments factory at Bochum; and one bombs Aachen

U-250, U-873, U-1202 launched.

CZECHOSLOVAKIA: Theresienstadt: 47,000 Jews are forced to stand outside in the cold and rain from 4am to 12 noon.

U.S.S.R.: In their advance on Zhitomir, Soviet forces cross the Teterev River and capture Radomyshl.

ITALY: Montgomery's forces occupy Casalanguida in their advance on the Sangro River.

In the U.S. Fifth Army's VI Corps area, the 2d Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, to which the 1st Ranger Battalion is attached, clears the saddle of Mt. St. Croce.

     USAAF Twelfth Air Force and RAF light bombers and fighter-bombers, in support of the U.S. Fifth and British Eighth Armies, hit troop and gun concentrations and communications in the Rocca and Palena areas; other Northwest African Tactical Air Force aircraft bomb the town of Rocca, Bussi sul Tirino explosive works near Popoli, and docks at Civitavecchia, and strafe strongpoints at Roccaraso and Atessa; and fighters hit motor transport in the coastal area between the Sangro and Pescara Rivers.

     During the night of 11/12 November, 41 RAF bombers of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group attack the marshalling yard at Prato and another two drop leaflets over Leghorn.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA: In the Aegean Sea off the Greek island of Kos in the Dodecanese Islands, escort destroyer HMS Rockwood (L 39) is hit by an Hs.293 glider bomb from a Do 217 following an attack on Kalymnos Island, and has to be towed to Alexandria where she arrives on 19^th November, but is not repaired. Location of bomb hit 5 miles East of Kos at 36 50N 27 30E. (Alex Gordon)(108)

Fifty German aircraft sink three transports and one tanker of an Allied convoy east of Oran.

LEBANON: Beirut: All day Beirut's Moslem population has been rioting, following the arrest by Free French Senegalese troops of Lebanon's president (Bechara Khoury), prime minister (Riad Solh) and the seven other ministers of the cabinet. French marines and Senegalese troops break brutally into their houses and one minister who resisted is brutally beaten. The arrests - and suspension of the constitution - follow the effective declaration of independence three days ago when Lebanon's parliament adopted Arabic as the sole official language, took control of foreign policy, and deleted from the constitution all references to "the prerogatives and powers of the mandatory state."

This was in defiance of a request to the contrary by M. Hellau. Helleu has also dissolved the Parliament and appointed Emile Edd as a President of the Republic. Those arrested are exiled to the Castle of Rashayya located about 65 kilometers (40 miles) east of Sidon. The Lebanese people react swiftly to the French actions. Strikes and demonstrations are organized throughout Lebanon and riots erupt in some places. Religious and political leaders as well as representatives of doctors, lawyers, engineers and journalists visit the British and U.S. Legations demanding intervention

The Gaullists had offered Syria and Lebanon independence when the Anglo-Free French army invaded the French-mandated territories in 1941. "I come to you to put an end to the mandatory regime and to proclaim you free and independent," General Georges Catroux promised. But the Gaullist administration in Syria and Lebanon, fearing a reaction against it in metropolitan France - and British ambitions in the Middle East - resisted Anglo-US pressure to fulfil the promise. Catroux was replaced as delegate-general with a colonial hard-liner, Jean Helleu. Today's events will bring even more Anglo-US pressure to bear on the French.

As a result of diplomatic pressure from Britain, supported by the U.S. and the Arab States, France is forced to reverse its policy and release the internees. The latter are reinstated in their positions. Their release symbolises the beginning of the end of French rule in Lebanon. This beginning is followed by lengthy negotiations between the Lebanese government and the French. The end comes in 1946 when the French leave the area and Lebanon is said to have gained its political, administrative and military independence.(Glenn Stenberg)

CHINA: Chinese Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek replies to U.S. Lieutenant General Joseph Stilwell's memo of 5 November at a conference of Chinese National Military Council at Chungking. While agreeing to a British and Chinese attack on Burma, he wants to hold the Chinese back until the British are attacking Kalewa. Replacements and supplies for the Y-Force are to be provided.

     Six USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-24 Liberators bomb the Burma Road about 375 miles (604 kilometers) west of Tungling, producing a landslide and badly damaging the road; six P-40s south of Yoyang knock out a gun emplacement and hit a radio station, barracks, and hostels in the area; eight more P-40s, on armed reconnaissance in the Li-Chou-Ching-Shih area, strafe a pontoon bridge and troops, and sink a river steamer, a motorboat, and several small supply boats.

BURMA: In the British Fourteenth Army's IV Corps area, the Japanese seize Haka.

NEW GUINEA: In Northeast New Guinea, USAAF Fifth Air Force P-39 Airacobras strafe Bogadjim and B-25 Mitchells hit the Madang area.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: The battle between the US Marines and the Japanese 23rd Regiment ends with the Japanese pushed back. 

     Additional elements of the 21st Marine Regiment arrive. Marines now hold the junction of the Mission and Numa Numa Trails, having killed an estimated 550 Japanese during their drive up Mission Trail. In order to secure airfield site, Gen Geiger orders 3d Marine Division to drive east and the Army 37th Infantry Division west.

     A few USAAF Thirteenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells and USN F4U Corsairs strafe barges and shore installations in the Matchin Bay located south of Buka Island. Buka Island is located north of Bougainville Island. .

NEW BRITAIN: US Admirals Sherman and Montgomery lead two separate US naval task forces in a successful strike against Rabaul. The Japanese lose about 35 aircraft, and a light cruiser and two destroyers are disabled.

Before dawn, 23 USAAF Fifth Air Force B-24 Liberators bomb Lakunai airfield near Rabaul on New Britain Island. During the morning, 239 aircraft from Task Force 38 (Rear Admiral Frederick C. Sherman) and Task Group 50.3 (Rear Admiral Alfred E. Montgomery), attack Japanese ships at Rabaul while U.S. Marine Corps F4U Corsairs provide a combat air patrol (CAP) over the ships. TF 38 is built around the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga (CV-3) with Carrier Air Group 12 (CVG-12) and small aircraft carrier USS Princeton (CVL-23) with Light Carrier Air Group 23 (CVLG-23). TG 50.3 is built around aircraft carriers USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) with CVG-17 and USS Essex (CV-9) with CVG-9 and the small aircraft carrier USS Independence (CVL-22) with CVLG-22. The carrier based aircraft sink destroyer HIJMS Suzunami and damage light cruisers HIJMS Yubari and Agano, and destroyers HIJMS Naganami, Urakaze, and Wakatsuki. As the carrier aircraft depart, 42 USAAF Thirteenth Air Force B-24 Liberators join USAAF Fifth Air Force and RAAF aircraft in an attack on shipping in Rabaul harbor. This is the Thirteenth Air Force's first strike on Rabaul. Escorting fighters claim 17 Japanese fighters shot down while the bombers claim five. At 1315 hours, the Japanese send "Betty" bombers (Mitsubishi G4M, Navy Type 1 Attack Bombers), 14 "Kate" torpedo bombers (Nakajima B5N, Navy Type 97 Carrier Attack Bombers), 27 "Val" dive bombers (Aichi D3A, Navy Type 99 Carrier Bomber) escorted by 67 "Zeke" fighters (Mitsubishi A6M, Navy Type 0 Carrier Fighter) to attack the USN ships. USN fighters attack and the best estimate is that they shoot down two "Bettys," 14 "Kates," 17 "Vals" and eight "Zekes;" eleven U.S. aircraft are lost and the aircraft carrier USS Essex is slightly damaged.

Glen Boren's diary entry:

ABOARD THE USS BUNKER HILL IN THE PACIFIC SOMEWHERE NEAR RABAUL

I was awakened in what I thought was the middle of the night and we went for breakfast. Then to the flight deck for flight quarters. IIRC, we launched everything that would fly, at dawn for a strike at the shipping at Rabaul.

The USS Essex and the USS INDEPENDENCE doing the same thing.

Shortly after that, Tommy Blackburn landed his F4U Squadron (VF 17) on board for fuel and to be ready for the return of our Air Group. Part landing on the Bunker Hill and part landing on the Essex. We, (VF 18) had replaced VF 17 as the fighter squadron on the Bunker Hill and the F4U's were land based somewhere near where we were operating.

At about the time for our planes to return, the F4U's took off to give us air coverage while we landed our Air Groups. We had two Hellcats and three Helldivers make water landings as they were too badly shot up to try to land aboard. All involved were picked up by our Destroyers.

The fighters were refueled and rearmed and we respotted the flight deck for takeoff as Radar reported unidentified aircraft 30 miles out. At 1000 hours, all hell broke loose. The air was full of jap dive-bombers and torpedo planes intermixed with Hellcat and F4U's.

The last Hellcat to launch was Ens. Billy Watts, who banked to port after leaving the deck as too much gunfire to starboard. As my job finished as he was launched, I watched him start to pull up his gear as a jap dive bomber finished his pullout right in front of Watts, who promptly shot him down less than a thousand yards off the bow. What a sight! 

Another of our fighters who followed the torpedo planes in got shot up and later landed in the water. Friendly fire, but was not where he was supposed to be. Too eager, I guess.

The japs pulled out and I helped clear the 5 inch shell cases from the flight deck. Just finished that and here they came again. I ran to the stern of the flight deck to watch a jap torpedo go by, just a few feet aft. We all caught hell for that. I went FWD and watched the rest of the attack from the 20mm gun positions on the starboard side. 

We lost one fighter pilot that day, bailed out over the harbor and before his wingman could get turned around and cover him, a jap fighter shot him in the chute, of which the wingman promptly shot down.

VF 18 was credited with 18 dive bombers, 4 torpedo plans and 12 zeros. Not a bad score for a green fighter squadron in its first day of combat. Our skipper and three others are all that had any combat experience.

AFTER RABAUL, 11 NOV. 1943

That evening, we left the Rabaul area and went back to Espiritu Santo for a day. Then we took off for the Gilbert Islands.

We were at sea for several days, with nothing happening til the 18th.

CANADA: Frigate HMCS Buckingham laid down.

Minesweeper HMS Lysander launched Port Arthur, Ontario.

U.S.A.: The U.S. Congress passes a bill lowering the draft (conscription) age to 18 and raising the upper limit to age 37.

The motion picture "Sahara" is released. Directed by Zoltan Korda, this war drama of Allied troops, and their M3 tank, in North Africa stars Humphrey Bogart, Bruce Bennett, J. Carrol Naish, Lloyd Bridges and Dan Duryea. 

     In major league baseball, the Most Valuable Players (MVPs) for both leagues are named: New York Yankee's pitcher Spud Chandler (20-4 on the season) wins it in the American League and St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Stan Musial (.357 on the season) in the National League.

The US Navy decommissions Motor Torpedo Squadron 2, after service in the Solomon Islands. Jack Kennedy and PT-109 were assigned to this squadron. (See August 1st, 1943)

Fire destroys the hangar at the Hughes Aircraft facility at Harper's Dry Lake in the Mojave desert which houses the prototype Hughes DX-2 (Wooden). (John Nicholas)

Destroyer escorts USS Hubbard and Hayter launched.

Minesweeper USS Pivot launched.

Submarine USS Bluegill commissioned.

Destroyer escort USS Wesson commissioned.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Submarine HMS Seawolf arrived Bermuda for ASW training.

U-516 sank SS Pompoon.

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November 11th, 1944 (SATURDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: Corvette HMS Alnwick Castle commissioned.

Minesweeper HMS Mystic launched.

Frigate HMS Veryan Bay.

NORTH SEA: Fourteen RAF Bomber Command aircraft lay mines in the Kattegat, the 88 mile (142 kilometer) broad arm of the North Sea between Sweden and Denmark.

FRANCE: Paris: Churchill attends the Armistice Day celebrations in Paris, and gets a wildly enthusiastic reception.

In the U.S. Third Army's XX Corps area, the 90th Infantry Division nearly doubles the size of its bridgehead: the 359th Infantry Regiment, after repelling local counterattacks, pushes to the ridges ahead, blocks the crossroads southeast of Rettel, and outposts Kerling, but the Germans retain Oudrenne on its southern flank; the 357th Infantry, leaving elements behind to complete the reduction of the Metrich works, drives quickly to high ground northwest of Breistroff-la-Petit, well ahead of the flanking regiments; on the southern flank, where Fort Koenigsmacker surrenders, the main body of 358th Infantry Regiment works along Bois d'Elzange ridge, taking Hill 254. Moselle River flood waters reach their crest and begin to subside. A battalion of the 378th Infantry Regiment, 95th Infantry Division, supported by combat engineers, establishes a bridgehead across the Moselle at Thionville and begins an assault on Fort Yutz; the 377th Infantry maintains a small bridgehead in the Bertrange area. Continuing quickly northeast on the southern flank of the corps, the 2d Infantry Regiment of 5th Infantry Division reaches Aube and Dain-en-Saulnois, near the Nied Francaise River. In the XII Corps area, the 6th Armored Division, assisted by the 80th Infantry Division, drives to the Nied Francaise River and establishes bridgeheads. One Combat Command B task force of the 6th Armored Division takes a bridge near Sanry-sur-Nied and crosses while another reaches the western bank of the river at Remilly; a Combat Command A column and the 317th Infantry Regiment of the 80oth Infantry Division seize a bridge at Han-sur-Nied and establish a bridgehead; another Combat Command A force and the 318th Infantry Regiment reach the river at Baudrecourt 2 miles (3,2 kilometers) south of Han-sur-Nied, and construct a treadway bridge. Combat Command B, 4th Armored Division, and elements of the 137th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division, are still held up at Fonteny but push into the village. The 320th and 134th Regiments, 35th Infantry Division, continue through Foret de Ch. reau-Salins, from which the Germans begin withdrawing their main forces. Combat Command A, 4th Armored Division, and the 104th Infantry Regiment, 26th Infantry Division, push forward on the southern flank of the corps, Combat Command A to positions between Conthil and Rodalbe and the 104th Infantry Regiment taking Rodalbe. The 101st Infantry Regiment, 26th Infantry Division, completes the capture of Hill 310 and secures firm positions on the Koecking ridge.

     In the French First Army area, the I Corps commander requests and receives permission to postpone Operation INDEPENDENCE (the French offensive toward Belfort) from the 13th to the 14th in order to complete preparations.

     The USAAF Ninth Air Force's XIX Tactical Air Command flies armed reconnaissance and supports the U.S. XII and XX Corps in the Thionville-Metz area.

GERMANY:

The British Second Army continues to regroup in order to help the U.S. Ninth Army in an offensive in Roer Valley northeast of Aachen. XXX Corps takes up positions on the southern flank of the army, including region formerly held by the U.S. XIII Corps from Macseyck to Teveren, 2 miles (3,2 kilometers) southwest of Geilenkirchen.

     The USAAF Eighth Air Force flies Mission 712: 482 bombers and 367 fighters make Pathfinder Force attacks on oil refineries and marshalling yards in western Germany; one bomber and one fighter are lost: 143 bombers attack the marshalling yard at Oberlahnstein; 134 hit the Welheim synthetic oil refinery at Bottrop; 100 bomb the Buer synthetic oil refinery at Gelsenkirchen; 24 bomb the Mosel marshalling yard at Koblenz; and 23 hit the marshalling yard at Rheine. Sixteen aircraft drop chaff over Germany to disrupt German radar.

     One hundred ninety USAAF Ninth Air Force B-26 Marauders and A-20 Havocs hit strongpoints at Putzlohn and rail bridges at Sinzig, Euskirchen, Ahrweiler, and Mayen; the IX Tactical Air Command hits railroads and other targets, escorts the bombers, and supports the U.S. 28th Infantry Division in the Schmidt area. The XXIX Tactical Air Command hits targets in western Germany.

     USAAF Fifteenth Air Force bomber attack two targets: 120 bomb the Main marshalling yard at Salzburg with the loss of five aircraft and 16 hit the marshalling yard at Rosenheim with the loss of one aircraft.

     During the day, RAF Bomber Command sends 122 Lancasters to carry out a G-H attack on the Klocknerwerke synthetic-oil refinery at Castrop-Rauxel. The bombing is believed to be accurate and no aircraft are lost.

     During the night of 11/12 November, RAF Bomber Command sends 237 Lancasters and eight Mosquitos to bomb Harburg: 233 bomb the target with the loss of seven Lancasters. The aiming point for this raid was the Rhenania-Ossag oil refinery, which had been attacked several times by USAAF day bombers. Another 209 Lancasters and 19 Mosquitos are dispatched to Dortmund: 206 aircraft bomb the target without loss. The aiming point is the Hoesch Benzin synthetic-oil plant in the Wambel district. A local report confirms that the plant is severely damaged. Other bombs hit nearby housing and the local airfield. RAF Bomber Command also dispatches 41 Mosquitos to hit various targets: 17 bomb Kamen; 13 hit Osnabruck, seven attack Wiesbaden, six bomb Gotha and 2 attack Erfurt. A mining missions is flown over the Elbe River with five aircraft laying mines in the river.

U-3035 laid down.

U-2348, U-3517, U-3518 launched.

U-3010, U-3510 commissioned.

AUSTRIA: USAAF Fifteenth Air Force bombers hit six targets: 19 bomb a highway bridge at Sillian; 17 attack the Main marshalling yard at Linz with the loss of eight aircraft; 13 hit the marshalling yard at Villach; six bomb targets of opportunity at St. Viet; and one each hit the marshalling yard at Lienz and a target of opportunity at Spittal.

NORWAY: U-1163 set up a weather station in northern Norway.

Twenty one RAF Bomber Command aircraft lay mines off Oslo without loss.

U.S.S.R.: The Soviets improve positions west of Kiev, seizing a foothold across the Teterev River, but are under pressure in the Fastov area, southwest of Kiev, where the Germans are taking the initiative. The Soviet Center Front forces an attack northward toward Rechitsa, west of Gomel.

     In Lithuania, for a second day, the German armored ship (pocket battleship) "Lutzow" heavy cruiser "Prinz Eugen," destroyers Z25 , Z35 and Z36 and torpedo boats T13 , T16 and T20 support the German army at Memel and Sworbe.

ITALY: Rfn. Thaman Gurung (b.1924), 5th Gurkha Rifles, a patrol scout, obtained valuable information and, through his bravery, saved many lives - except his own. (Victoria Cross)

In U.S. Fifth Army's British XIII Corps area, a limited attack by the Indian 8th Division from Mt. St. Bartolo fails.

     In the British Eighth Army's Corps area, the 4th Division breaks through just beyond Foril and advances toward the Montone River.

     USAAF Twelfth Air Force medium bombers strike at railroad bridges in north central and northeastern Italy, damaging a bridge at Piazzola sul Brenta and knocking out two spans of a bridge at Latisana; fighter-bombers continue support of ground forces south of Bologna, attack vehicles, trains, and communications in the Genoa-Alessandria area, bomb Villafranca di Verona Airfield and set most of the area aflame. During the night of 11/12 November, A-20 Havocs hit motor transport, Bergamo Airfield, and the Po River crossing at San Benedetto.

     USAAF Fifteenth Air Force heavy bombers hit seven targets: 19 bomb a railroad bridge at Casarsa; 14 hit Aviano Airfield; 13 attack the South railroad bridge at Pinzano; six bomb the railroad at Wurzen Pass; five bomb the railroad bridge at Latisana; and one each bomb the marshalling yard at San Michele and a target of opportunity.

     During the day, seven RAF bombers of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group drop supplies to partisans in northern Italy.

CHINA: Ten USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells bomb Kweilin Airfield while five B-25 Mitchells and six P-40s attack Chingmen Airfield,. Over 70 P-40s, P-51 Mustangs and P-38s over southern China on armed reconnaissance hit targets of opportunity at several locations, concentrating on the Changsha, Lingling, and Hengyang, China areas. The attack on Hengyang is so successful that the Japanese are forced to confine future operations from this field to army co-operation flights.

THAILAND: USAAF Fourteenth Air Force fighter bombers on armed reconnaissance hit targets of opportunity at Lampang.

BURMA: In the Northern Combat Area Command (NCAC) area, the British 36th Division halts after futile efforts to outflank the Japanese in the Pinwe area.

     Nearly 90 USAAF Tenth Air Force P-47 Thunderbolts hit troop concentrations at Chaungdauk, Nawngtao, Mankang, and in the Indaw vicinity; damage and knock out bridges at Meza and south of Kawlin, score near misses on bridges in the Hsenwi and Namhkai area; blast a radio installation near Manoi, bomb Kawlin Airfield, hit rail traffic between Shwebo and Padu, and attack targets of opportunity along the Irrawaddy River from Tigyaing to Twinnge.

     USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells hit Wan Lai-Kam and four B-25s bomb Wanling.

FRENCH INDOCHINA: USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells hit Phuc Yen and damage a bridge on the Mekong River.

JAPAN: Tokyo: The aircraft carrier SHINANO, with a steel and concrete construction supposedly capable of withstanding any bomb attack, joins the Japanese fleet.

Submarine USS Scamp sunk by depth charges from a Japanese coast defense vessel south of Tokyo Bay. All hands lost.

VOLCANO ISLANDS: Escorted by newly arrived USAAF Seventh Air Force P-38 Lightnings, 29 Guam-based B-24 Liberators pound Iwo Jima Island airfields.

     USN Task Group 30.2 (Rear Admiral Allan E. Smith) consisting of three heavy cruisers and five destroyers, bombards airfields and other Japanese shore installations on Iwo Jima; the shelling commences shortly before midnight and continues into 12 November. PB4Y Liberators screen the group's approach, spot gunfire, and cover the retirement.

COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: An air strike from US naval TF 38 hits a Japanese convoy off Ormoc, sinking 4 destroyers, a minesweeper and 5 transports with almost 10,000 troops.

In the U.S. Sixth Army's X Corps area on Leyte, the 21st Infantry Regiment of the 24th Infantry Division continues the assault on Breakneck Ridge after a preparatory bombardment, the 1stt Battalion gaining the ridge that is its immediate objective but halting short of crest. The 1st Battalion of the 34th Infantry Regiment, which is out of rations, moves to Agahang, about 3,800 yards (3 475 meters) northwest of Limon, and obtains food from the Filipinos.

     USAAF Far East Air Forces B-24 Liberators hit Dumaguete Airfield on Negros Island while fighter-bombers hit shipping in the Palompon area of Leyte Island and targets of opportunity at Valencia on Mindanao Island.

     Major Richard I. Bong shoots down two "Zeke" fighters (Mitsubishi A6M, Navy Type 0 Carrier Fighters) bringing his total victories to 36.

     Aircraft from Task Group 38.1 (Rear Admiral Alfred E. Montgomery), TG 38.3 (Rear Admiral Frederick C. Sherman) and TG 38.4 (Rear Admiral Ralph E. Davison) set upon a Japanese convoy (fourth phase of TA Operation) as it enters Ormoc Bay, Leyte Island, sinking destroyers HIJMS Hamanami, Naganami, Shimakaze, and Wakatsuki; minesweeper W.30; three army cargo ships; and a merchant cargo ship.

EAST INDIES: In the Netherlands East Indies, USAAF Far East Air Forces fighter-bombers and B-25 Mitchells hit shipping and Namlea Airfield on Boeroe (Buroe) Island. On Celebes Island, P-38s hit Kendari Airfield and B-24 Liberators bomb the Ninring River area.

CAROLINE ISLANDS: The last of the six preliminary training missions of the USAAF Twentieth Air Force's XXI Bomber Command is directed at Truk Atoll where eight B-29 Superfortresses, escorted by USAAF Seventh Air Force P-38 Lightnings, bomb the Dublon Island submarine pens.

BONIN ISLANDS: Tonight a US naval TF of cruisers and destroyers will shell Iwo Jima located 600 miles from Tokyo.

CANADA: Frigate HMCS Victoriaville commissioned.

NEWFOUNDLAND: Corvette HMCS Parry Sound arrived St. John's from work ups Bermuda.

U.S.A.: Destroyer escort USS Williams commissioned.

ATLANTIC OCEAN:

U-771 sunk in the Arctic in the Andfjord near Harstad, Norway, in position 69.17N, 16.28E, by torpedoes from submarine HMS/M Venturer (P 68). 51 dead (all hands lost).

U-1200 sunk south of Ireland, in position 50.24N, 09.10W, by depth charges from the British corvettes HMS Pevensey Castle (K 449), HMS Lancaster Castle (K 691), HMS Porchester Castle (K 362) and HMS Kenilworth Castle (K 420). 53 dead (all hands lost).

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November 11th, 1945 (SUNDAY)

GERMANY: The massive U-boat bunker "Elbe II" in Hamburg is blown up by the Royal Engineers.

YUGOSLAVIA: Elections are held today. Marshal Tito's Communist-dominated National Front wins with 90.84% of the vote.

KOREA: Cho Man Sik establishes the Democratic Party of Korea.

U.S.A.: The composer Jerome Kern dies in New York city.

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