4 March 1939

An extension to the football season is granted for a "War Cup" to take place. Bonuses are also introduced for players - £1 for a win and ten shillings for a draw.

NORTH SEA: The minesweeper HMS Sphinx sinks a day after being bombed by German aircraft.

FINLAND: Soviet Foreign Minister Molotov threatens to make peace with the puppet Kuusinen government if the Finnish government delays its decision to start negotiations.

After fierce fighting, Red Army captures the last Finnish-held islands in the Bay of Viipuri, and manages to establish a foothold on the western shore of the Bay.

YUGOSLAVIA: In Belgrade, the Balkan Entente indicate they will remain neutral in the war between Britain, France and Germany.

GIBRALTAR: U.S. freighter SS Exeter, detained at Gibraltar by British authorities since 1 March, is released, but not before 155 sacks of mail for Germany are removed, as are 95 sacks for Italy and 59 for Switzerland. Some 140 sacks previously removed from other neutral ships, however, are brought on board and the ship is permitted to sail.

Minesweeper (ex-fishing vessel) HMCS Joan W II commissioned. 62ft overall, halibut boat, built Jul 1937, by W.R. Menchions, owned by James and Joan Fiddler (they also owned 'Joan W I') chartered for $360.00 per month, returned to owner 1945.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: At 1208 and 1209, U-29 fired one torpedo each at two ships in a group of three dispersed from Convoy HX-19 and observed a hit on the Pacific Reliance and a small detonation near the second (the xB-Dienst reported the sinking of the San Florentino, but the vessel was in fact not hit). The torpedoed vessel first stopped and the crew prepared to launch the lifeboats, but then returned to the ship and proceeded. The U-boat hit her with a stern torpedo at 1239, which was a dud. However the ship broke in two amidships and sank slowly north of Lands End. The Pacific Reliance had been the ship of the convoy commodore RP Galer CBE RNR RD. The master, the commodore, four naval staff members and 47 crewmembers were picked up by the British SS Macville and landed at Newlyn, Cornwall. The second ship sunk was the SS Thurston.

UNITED KINGDOM: London: General Alan Brooke replaces Admiral Pound as chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.

Air Marshal Arthur Harris, who took charge of Bomber Command on 23 February, has already made an impact. Last night 235 bombers took off to attack the Renault works at Billancourt near Paris, and 224 aircraft claim to have bombed the target.

The raid was unique in a number of ways. The aircraft attacked in three waves. The first, consisting of experienced crews, dropped 1,000-pound bombs and then marked the target with flares while the second attacked, also with 1,000 pounders. Finally, the heavies went in with 4,000-pound bombs.

Since the anti-aircraft defences were known to be light the aircraft were able to attack at under 6,000 feet and all were clear of the target in under two hours. German propaganda will make much of the 367 French civilians dead plus 341 badly hurt and 9,250 homeless.

London: Clothes made from "utility cloth" will soon be on sale, and the fashion world is trying to assess the likely effect of the new fabrics on styles. Sir Thomas Barlow, the director-general of civilian clothing, has said that although there will be fewer styles available, this will not mean that variety vanishes and civilians clothing becomes like uniform.

Ladies' hemlines are likely to rise as a result of the new measures, and a smaller range of colours will be available. Pleats and other designs which use a lot of fabric, will also be limited. But Mr Bridgland, the editor of the Tailor and Cutter, is of the opinion that men's loss will be greater with the end of turnups and double-breasted coats.

Westminster: A minister was appointed today to take charge of planning for post-war reconstruction. He is the Labour MP Sir William Jowitt, KC, the paymaster-general.

Ideas for a better Britain after the war are much in the air and are discussed in Picture Post, and Daily Mirror, Daily Herald, News Chronicle and other papers. The archbishop of Canterbury, Dr William Temple, and other church leaders have called for the abolition of "extreme inequality of wealth and possessions" and the introduction of "equal opportunity" after the war. In a new book the archbishop advocates better housing, paid holidays and family allowances.

ASW trawler HMS Grayling launched.

Minesweeping trawler HMS Stronsay launched.

Submarine HMS P-222 commissioned.

ASW trawler HMS Portsdown commissioned.

GREECE: Corfu: Cdr. Anthony Cecil Capel Miers (1906-85) of HMS TORBAY followed and attacked an enemy convoy into the heavily defended anchorage at Corfu. Torbay proceeded to fire torpedoes at two large transports and a destroyer, scoring two hits with both transports reported sunk, and endured 40 depth charges returning to open sea. (Victoria Cross)

INDIAN OCEAN: The Australian sloop HMAS Yarra, escorting a convoy of three ships from Tjilatjap, Java, Netherlands East Indies, to Fremantle, Western Australia, is attacked by the Japanese heavy cruisers HIJMS Atago, Maya and Takao and the destroyers HIJMS Anashi and Nowaki. The three other ships in the convoy are sunk first while HMAS Yarra, armed with three 4-inch (10,16 cm) guns, attempts to engage the Japanese force but they just stay out of range and pound the ship into a blazing wreck and she sinks shortly after 0800 hours. Only 13 of the 151 men aboard Yarra survive; they are rescued by a Dutch submarine on 10 March.

CHINA: Lieutenant General Joseph Stilwell establishes HQ, American Army Forces, China, Burma, and India, at Chungking, using his U.S. Task Force in China and American Military Mission to China (AMMISCA) personnel as a nucleus.

JAPAN: The Japanese Imperial General Staff decides to expand its conquest to New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, the Fiji Islands and American Samoa. Taking the Fijis and Samoa would cut America's supply line to Australia.

Java Sea: Japanese ships sink the Australian sloop HMAS YARRA (Lieutenant Commander Robert William Rankin, age 35), killing 138 of her crew, and the British destroyer HMS STRONGHOLD. Leading Seaman Ronald Taylor refused to obey the order to abandon ship when HMAS Yarra was sinking on 4 March 1942. As captain of the last operating gun on the ship he continued in action until he was killed and his gun silenced. Although not mentioned in dispatches, his action was not forgotten and his name and deeds were included in the official Australian Navy history of WW2.

The commanding officer of HMAS Yarra singled out Taylor for 'for keenness, courage and the example he set to all ratings' in the Empress of Asia blaze. On neither occasion was he mentioned in dispatches.
In WW2 a British Commonwealth sailor could be awarded one of four awards for gallantry in action; the Victoria Cross, the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, the Distinguished Service Medal or be mentioned in dispatches. Only the Victoria Cross or the mentioned in dispatches could be awarded posthumously in WW2. (Anthony Staunton)

Carrier-based aircraft of Task Force Sixteen (TF-16) attack Marcus Island, 1,000 miles from Tokyo, beginning at 0630 hours. USS Enterprise (CV-6) launches 32 SBD Dauntlesses and six F4F Wildcats against the island located 725 miles (1167 kilometres) northwest of Wake Island. Despite intense antiaircraft fire, only one SBD is shot down; the two-man crew is captured by the Japanese.
     Submarine USS Grampus (SS-207) torpedoes and sinks a Japanese tanker 145 miles (233 kilometres) south of Truk Island in the Caroline Islands.
     Submarine USS Narwhal (SS-167) torpedoes and sinks a Japanese army cargo ship in the Ryukyu Islands.
     Submarine USS S-39 (SS-144) torpedoes and sinks a Japanese oiler 170 miles (274 kilometres) northeast of Batavia, Java, Netherlands East Indies.

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES: The Dutch continue fighting on Java and report that the destruction of principal installations has been completed. The Australian Blackforce begins withdrawing from Buitenzorg to Sukabumi, about 30 miles (48 kilometres) to the south.

COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: General Douglas MacArthur, Commanding General U.S. Army Forces, Far East (USAFFE), begins reorganizing his forces in the Philippines in preparation for his departure. The Composite Visayan-Mindanao Force is divided into two commands. Brigadier General William F. Sharp retains command of forces on Mindanao; the Visayan forces are placed under Brigadier General Bradford G. Chynoweth. MacArthur's plans envisage the formation of two more commands. Major General George F. Moore's harbour defence forces on Corregidor and other islands in Manila Bay will constitute one, the forces on Luzon the other.
General MacArthur informs Rear Admiral Francis W. Rockwell, Commandant of the Sixteenth Naval District, that he has been instructed to leave Corregidor. The plan is for him and his party to board the submarine USS Permit (SS-178) which is scheduled to leave Corregidor on 14 March.

AUSTRALIA: No 75 Squadron was formed at Townsville. Squadron Leader Jeffrey, a highly experienced fighter pilot who had commanded No 3 Squadron R.A.A.F in the Middle East, was placed in temporary command to direct the operational training, on the Kittyhawks (P-40) which have been ferried here. The first flight encountered bad weather and lost three aircraft and two pilots in crashes. (Daniel Ross)

TERRITORY OF HAWAII: Japanese Operation K: during the night of the 4th/5th, two Kawanishi H8K1, Navy Type 2 Flying-Boats (later assigned the Allied Code Name “Emily”) of the Yokohama Kokutai (Naval Air Corps) based at Wotje Atoll in the Marshall Islands and refuelled by submarines HIJMS I-15 and I-19 at French Frigate Shoals, fly 2,300 miles (3701 kilometres) each way to drop four bombs near Punch Bowl crater on Oahu causing no damage. Overcast conditions prevent successful pursuit by U.S. aircraft.

CANADA: Japanese Canadians ordered to turn over property and belongings to Custodian of Enemy Alien Property as a "protective measure only".

U.S.A.: The 1942 Academy Awards are presented at the Coconut Grove in the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California. "Mrs Miniver" wins six awards including Best Picture; Best Actress (Greer Garson); Best Supporting Actress (Teresa Wright); and Best Director (William Wyler). "Yankee Doodle Dandy" wins three awards including Best Actor (James Cagney) and Van Heflin wins the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for "Johnny Eager." The Best Song Award goes to Irving Berlin's classic "White Christmas" from the motion picture "Holiday Inn."

The Stage Door Canteen opened on West 44th Street, New York City. It became widely known as a service club for servicemen on leave. It was run by the American Theatre Wing. Many stars and celebs frequented the club during the war years, providing entertainment, dancing, and even serving as waiters/waitresses to provide some randr to servicemen. It would become the focal point of a 1943 film (Stage Door Canteen). (Michael Ballard)

Tarpon Springs, Florida: Petro Botzis, owner of the Central pharmacy here, was advised Monday night by his parents that his younger brother, Anthony Botzis, was lost last week when a tanker was sunk off the eastern coast. Young Botzis was 21 and had been serving as a member of the crew aboard the tanker less than two months. He visited here about five years ago at the time of his brother's marriage and returned several years ago for a short visit. (Bill Howard)

U-966 commissioned.

U-776 laid down.

FINLAND: Marshal Mannerheim states to Gen. Waldemar Erfurth, the German representative at the Finnish GHQ, that there will be no more Finnish attacks. "I have already lost too many men."

U.S.S.R.: Black Sea Fleet and Azov Flotilla: MS "T-514" (ex-"Ost") - mined close to cape Mishako (Sergey Anisimov)(69)

INDIAN OCEAN: At 0110, U-160 made a second attack at Convoy DN-21 ENE of East London and reported hits on two ships; one of which was thought to have been sunk and the other left in sinking condition. In fact, Empire Mahseer was hit by two torpedoes and sank within two minutes. 17 crewmembers and one gunner were lost. The master, 29 crewmembers and six gunners were picked up by armed trawler HMS Norwich City and landed at Durban.

At 0346, U-160 fired two torpedoes at Convoy DN-21 ENE of East London and hit two ships after 1 minute 6 seconds and 1 minute 14 seconds. The Marietta E was sunk and Sheaf Crown damaged. Four crewmembers and one gunner from Marietta E were lost. The master, 33 crewmembers and six gunners were picked up by the SAAF crash launch R-8 and landed at Durban. The following British landing craft were lost with the Marietta E - HMS LCP(R)-673, HMS LCP(R)-680, HMS LCP(R)-684, HMS LCP(R)-685, HMS LCP(R)-689, HMS LCP(R)-692, HMS LCP(R)-693 and HMS LCP(R)-727 (each 10 tons).

BURMA: Operation Cannibal, an Allied drive to recapture Akyab, is stopped by strong Japanese resistance.

PACIFIC OCEAN: The 3 day Battle of Bismarck Sea ends in a US victory. (Michael Ballard)

ARASHIO IJN, Japanese Destroyer, Sunk 55 miles south-east of Finschhafen by USAAF B-17 aircraft.

Destroyer USS Healy laid down.

Destroyer USS Bell commissioned.

Submarine USS Skate launched.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-87 (Kptlt Joachim Bergerm, CO) is sunk west of Leixoes, 41.36N 13.31W by depth charges from corvette HMCS Sheliac and destroyer HMCS St. Croix. The Canadian ships are escorting 57 ship convoy KMS-10 from the UK to Algeria. There are no survivors from the U-boats crew of 49 men. the convoy has been under air attack by German 'Kondor' long-range aircraft for two days. Shediac obtained a sonar contact, which the two escorts attacked repeatedly before it vanished without giving any indication of success. Post-war record examination confirmed that U-87 had been destroyed. German records do not indicate that U-87 was one of the three U-boats assigned to attack KMS-10. It is probable that she was merely transiting through the area when she was detected and attacked. (Alex Gordon and Dave Shirlaw)

U-83 sunk SE of Cartagena, Spain in position 37.10N, 00.05E, by 3 depth charges from an RAF Hudson. 50 dead (all hands lost).

U-333 shot down RAF 172 Sqn Wellington when Leigh Light switched on. This aircraft had sunk the U-268 in Feb.

At 0609, the unescorted City of Pretoria was torpedoed by U-172; exploded and sank WNW of the Azores. The master, 108 crewmembers, 24 gunners, seven passengers (DBS) and 5 apprentices were lost.

The unescorted California Star was torpedoed and sunk by U-515 NW of the Azores. 40 crewmembers, eight gunners and four passengers were lost. The master, 18 crewmembers and three passengers landed at Flores, Azores.

FRANCE: 219 B-24's are dispatched to hit French airfields; 62 hit Bergerac Airfield, 60 hit the Chateau-Bernard Airfied at Cognac; 41 hit Landes de Bussac Airfield and 1 hits La Roche Airfield. The group participating were the 44th, 93d, 389th, 392d, 445th, 446th 448th, 453d and 458th Bombardment Groups (Heavy). Fighter support consisted of 34 P-38's, 185 P-47's and 88 P-51's.

GERMANY: The 8th AF headed to Berlin.
The first American bombers and fighters appear over Berlin. The raid had been cancelled because of weather. One group proceeded to the target with fighter escort. Göring later said, "When I saw the American fighters over Berlin I knew the jig was up." (Hal Turrell)

Bombers are escorted by P-38J Lightnings, but many of the 249 B-17s dispatched hit other targets in Bonn, Dusseldorf, Cologne and Frankfurt because of bas weather and poor visibility over much of the continent.

Today's 1200-mile round trip was made under heavy flak, but there was no sign of Luftwaffe interceptors. Even so, out of 502 bombers and 720 fighters, 39 were lost.

A recall message was received and most of the bombers turned back. The lead aircraft for the 95th BG, "I'll Be Around", was piloted that day by Alvin Brown, with squadron leader(?) Grif Mumford on board as a command pilot. The radio operator of the aircraft received the message, but told Mumford:

and was therefore a fake message sent by the Germans. Mumford elected to continue the mission, and the 95th BG, accompanied by elements of the 100th BG (if memory serves, 29 B-17s in all) proceeded on to Berlin. They were met by P-51s of the 357th FG. (Dennis Sparks)

POLAND: Krakow: Governor Hans Frank reminds a Nazi meeting: "The Jews are a race which must be wiped out. Whenever we catch one, he will be exterminated."

BARENTS SEA: U-472 sunk SE of Bear Island, Norway, in position 73.05N, 26.40E, by gunfire and rockets from destroyer HMS Onslaught and 816 Sqn Swordfish aircraft from escort carrier HMS Chaser. 23 dead and 30 survivors.

U-703 attacked Convoy RA-57 near Kola Inlet with a spread of FAT torpedoes and sank SS Empire Tourist. At 1545 hours, U-703 fired a Gnat and heard a detonation after 3 minutes 10 seconds, which was observed by destroyer HMS Milne. This destroyer then attacked the U-boat with depth charges for several hours. The master, 41 crewmembers, 23 gunners, two signalmen and one naval personnel from the Empire Tourist were picked up by minesweeper HMS Gleaner and landed at Aultbea, Loch Ewe.

U.S.S.R.: The Red Army pushes German forces back across the river Bug, except for a pocket at Uman.

ITALY: Anzio: There is a lull in the fighting giving the Germans time to rally their forces for defence.

BURMA: "Merril's Marauders" go into action for the first time, erecting a roadblock at Walawbaum, in Hukawng Valley, as part of a move to take Myitkyina and re-open the Burma Road.

Air Commando Combat Mission N0. 17 3:05 flight time Hailakandi, Assam to Lonkin, Burma Photo mission of landing strip. The following is from my memory of the occasion, written in my journal at a later date. The photos taken showed the field covered with logs. At that time it was thought the logs were placed there by the Japanese to prevent landings. The results caused much concern with the brass. There was some talk that the mission had been compromised. The force going was diverted to another field. Later it was determined that the Burmese had placed them there to dry out.

Note. General Wingate had not wanted any flying over this particular area prior to the night glider assault landings, but on a hunch Colonel Cochran sent us as a lone B-25 to fly over and photograph the field and our flight did pay off. It would have been a disaster had the flight gone as planned. (Chuck Baisden)

U.S.A.: "Besame Mucho (Kiss Me Much)" by Jimmy Dorsey And His Orchestra with vocals by Bob Eberly and Kitty Kallen reaches Number 1 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart in the U.S. This song, which debuted on the charts on 15 January 1944, was charted for 23 weeks, was Number 1 for 7 weeks and was ranked Number 4 for the year 1944.

Corvette HMCS Agassiz completed forecastle extension refit New York.

Destroyer USS Leutze commissioned.

Frigate USS Sausalito commissioned.

Submarine USS Sterlet commissioned.

Destroyer escorts USS Doyle C Barnes and Jobb launched.

UNITED KINGDOM: U-1014 (Type IXC/41) is sunk in the Minch Channel (Hebrides), in position 55.17N, 06.44W, by depth charges from the British destroyers HMS Loch Scavaig, Nyasaland, Papua and Loch Shin. 48 dead (all hands lost). (Alex Gordon)

U-3508 sunk at Wilhelmshaven by bombs.

U-3038 commissioned.

U-530 sailed from Kristiansand on her final patrol.

U-1202 sailed from Bergen on her second and final patrol.

BURMA: Meiktila: The town falls to the Indian 17th Division. The Japanese 15th and 33rd Armies are trapped at Manadaly. The first assault on 1 March, watched by the 14th Army commander, Lt-Gen William Slim, brought the 255th Indian Tank Brigade onto the heights above the town. Later Slim watched his own Gurkhas push into the suburbs from the north. But the ferocious defence of Major-General Kasuya's scratch garrison, his deep tunnels, and the natural defences of the towns lakes, ensured that it was three days before the last sniper was killed. Today more than 2,000 Japanese bodies lie in the streets.

VOLCANO ISLANDS: Iwo Jima: The first B-29 makes an emergency landing on the island. Fighting is still going-on between US Marines and the Japanese. (Gordon Rottman)

CANADA: Frigate HMCS Grou commenced tropicalisation refit Dartmouth , Nova Scotia.

U.S.A.: Director Mark Sandrich, 44, dies of heart disease at his home in Hollywood, California. Sandrich's directing career began in 1927 and included (1) five films with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers; (2) Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire in the motion picture "Holiday Inn" in which the song "White Christmas" was introduced; (3) the film "So Proudly We Hail" starring Claudette Colbert, Paulette Goddard and Veronica Lake about Army nurses in the Philippines in 1941-42; and (4) "Here Come the Waves" with Bing Crosby, Betty Hutton and Sonny Tufts. Sandrich won the Venice Film Award in 1937 for the Fred and Ginger film "Shall We Dance."

1949: USS Cowell (DD-167), commissioned as HMS Brighton (I-08) on 23 Sept. 1940, part of the destroyers-for-bases deal. Brighton was transferred to Russia as Zharki in 1944; today returns to the Royal Navy. (Ron Babuka)