25 April 1939

VATICAN CITY: Pope Pius XII says: We are happy about the greatness, the rapid development and the fortune of Germany. It would be wrong to say that we don't want a prospering, great and mighty Germany.

UNITED KINGDOM: RAF Bomber Command: 4 Group. Bombing - Kjeller, Fornebu and Aalborg airfields

77 Sqn. Six aircraft. One returned U/S, two attacked shipping without result, three attacked airfields.

Six Blenheims searched Hardanger and neighbouring fjords. and bombed harbour works and a railway station in Granvins Fjord and shipping at Ulvik; a medium sized transport was sunk. Two German flying boats were also encountered, one was sunk and the other seriously damaged. One Blenheim FTR.

RAF Coastal Command: Blenheims shoot down a He-111 and Hudsons make reconnaissance's of the Norwegian coast.

25 April was expected to be a big day, as the arrival of the two additional carriers, this time carrying fighters, was expected to greatly assist the Army and Navy units operating in Northern Norway.
The big effort was to occur in and around Trondheim (where the Germans
were), and Åndalsnes to the South and Namsos to the North (the British landing sites). At 0300, the two carriers were in position 65.12 N, 8.24 E in an overcast sky a force 2 wind out of the NW and 35 foot swells. The strike planes went in several waves:

Wave 1: At 0310 HMS Ark Royal commenced launching 14 Swordfish, each armed with 4x250 lb GP and 8x20 lb Cooper bombs. At 0330 the attackers took their departure, OC Lt-Cdr. Guy Beauchamp Hodgkinson, RN, leading six of 820 Squadron's Swordfish heading for the German airfield at Vaernes, while Capt. Nigel Robert Mackie Skene, RM, leading seven of 810 Squadron's Swordfish (the other, 2K:L2768 crashed on takeoff, thankfully the crew, Lieutenant N. R. Corbet-Milward, RN (P) and Petty Officer J. Black, RN (AG), were rescued by the plane guard destroyer. ) was heading for Jonsvatnet Lake outside of Trondheim, where many German Transport aircraft had been observed the prior evening. They had orders to switch to Vaernes if no enemy aircraft were found. At the same time, HMS Glorious dispatched Lt. W. P. Lucy, RN leading five Skuas of 803 Squadron's Blue and Red sections, to attack shipping and seaplanes believed to be in Trondheim harbour. From there they were to shift to the Lake and cover the slower Swordfish during their attack

Wave 2: Between 0415 and 0430, Ark Royal dispatched nine Skuas (seven from 801, two from 800) under 801 Squadron's OC, Lt-Cdr. H. P. Bramwell, RN, while Glorious added the remaining six Skuas of 803 Squadron's Green and Yellows sections . Each aircraft was armed with a single 250 lb. GP bomb and 8 x 20 lb. Cooper bombs, and the lot had orders to proceed independently to the various fjords surrounding Trondheim harbour and attack any enemy shipping.

Meanwhile, at 0445 and continuing throughout the day, the Sea Gladiator's of 802 and 804 Squadron's continue their two-hour standing section patrols over the fleet.

Lucy's Skuas, being faster than Ark Royal's Swordfish, arrived over Trondheimfjord at 0440 and commenced their attack on nine twin engine aircraft and six ships sighted in the harbour. They used the 250 lb bombs on the ships and the Cooper bombs on the aircraft. They then linked up with 810 Squadron proceeding to the lake at 0455.
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At 0450 820 Squadron commenced its diving attack on Vaernes from 5,000 feet and in the face of intense AA fire, and the aircraft plaster several facilities. Meanwhile, having discovered no aircraft on the lake, 810 Squadron diverted to Vaernes, and at 0525 they gave the airfield its second plastering in an hour. At the same time, 803 Squadron strafed the aircraft in the harbour. One Skua, 8G, was hit by return fire and force-landed in Sorfjord in shallow water near a village. The crew Lieutenant A. B. Fraser-Harris, RN (P) and Leading Airman G. S. Russell (AG), RN, ultimately made the 69 mile trip to friendly lines and reached HMS Calcutta. Their escape in detail

AA fire also ultimately accounted for three Swordfish as well, 810 Squadron's 2R:K8879 force-landed near HMS MAORI, which quickly picked up the crew, Captain W. H. N. Martin, RM (P), Lieutenant J. A. Crawford, RN (O), and Leading Airman H. G. Edwards, RN (AG) and 820 Squadron's 4A force-landed near another destroyer which saved Captain A. C. Newson, RM (P), Lieutenant-Commander G. B. Hodgkinson, RN (O), and Leading Airman R. H. McColl, RN (AG), but the crew of 2G:L2790, which went in a considerable way off, could not be found, although HMS ARK ROYAL received a signal from the crew about their predicament and an aerial search was sent off to lead a destroyer to them; Lt. Arthur Anthony Pardoe, RN (P) and Petty Officer Airman Leslie Melville Lloyd, RN (AG) being lost.

While the lot was retiring, the Skuas of the second wave arrived. Ark Royal's contingent again worked over the six ships in port, claiming one hit and many near misses, while two Skuas spotted a Ju-88 and a wrecked He-111 on a frozen lake and shot them up for sport. 803 Squadron's lot piled in right after the Ark Royal's lot, hitting two oilers. Green section ran into an impenetrable weather front while returning to the ship, and ultimately all three returned to the area of Namsos and made successful force landings. Skua 8A:L2903 (Lieutenant H. E. R. Torin, RN (P) and Midshipman(A) T. A. McKee, RN (O)) came down on shore near Roan, SW of Namsos. 8B:L3048 (Lieutenant G. R. Callingham, RN (P) and Naval Airman first class D. A. Prime, RN (AG)) came down on a beach in front of Namsos, while 8C (Sub-Lieutenant I. Easton, RN (P) and Naval Airman first class A. J. Hayman, RN (AG)) came down at Osen. Fortunately, all three crews quickly linked up with Allied forces, though it would be some time before they got home. The rest returned safely by 0730.

Meanwhile, at 0455 and again at 0555, Ark Royal launched three plane sections from 800 Squadron to provide fighter patrols cover the Allied landing site at Namsos. The first, Red section (Lieutenant G. E. D. Finch-Noyes, RN) ran off an He-111 and a Junkers 89 before returning at 0850, while the other returned at 1015 having made no contact. By that point the weather had closed in and further flying was suspended.

Meanwhile, at 1600, after fuelling in Bygden Fjord and delaying her departure to bring aboard a recovered German torpedo, HMS Furious got underway for the Clyde in company with the destroyers HMS Isis, HMS Ilex, HMS Imogen. At 2230 her screen was reinforced by the destroyers HMS Delight, HMS Diana, and HMS Imperial. (Mark E. Horan)

ASW trawlers HMS Bradman, Hammond and Larwood sunk by German aircraft off Norway.

NORWAY: The British 15th Brigade and Norwegian units forces give fierce resistance in the Gudbrondsdal but fall back.

As Pellengahr sets out for Åndalsnes , he meets a new British force, the 15th Brigade, whose 3,800 men had been hurriedly shipped to the aid of Sickleforce. The brigade’s three battalions were regular army. One of them had served in Palestine until 1939 and was experienced in small-unit hill fighting. In fact, the 15th Brigade was trained and fit to fight anywhere - except in the deep snow of Norway.

Maj. Gen. Sir Bernard G. T. Paget commanded and General Ruge had assigned a few Norwegian ski detachments and some trucks for transport, the 15th Brigade moved forward through Dombas, setting up supply dumps in railroad tunnels as it moved. The going was rough; German air attacks on road and rail movements went on through the increasingly long hours of daylight, taking a toll in casualties and frazzled nerves.

Pellangahr’s spearhead made contact with 15 Brigade at Kvam, 35 miles south of Dombas. The brigade’s five French 25mm Hotchkiss antitank guns stopped the first German rush, knocking out two tanks, but the Germans began working around the British left flank. The British held though and at night they reorganize their lines, abandoning two anti-tank guns in the process.

The pilot had major problems with their engine and was ditching in the Soerfjorden (Southfiord), near Trondheim. ("The water was bloody cold" as the pilot said 50 years later) Their mission ended up 50 meters from shore and they had to swim. 3 of the local people had seen the a/c and stood onshore and was throwing stones at them. The gunner shouted in cockney to them and they finally understood that they were not German airmen. They did not understand English and therefore they had to use their fingers to be understood. Finally a man, Andreas Aune arrived and he could talk to them since he earlier had been 16 years in the USA. He had seen the a/c from his small farm and understood that they needed help. He had a small rowing boat and set down in this and had to row 2 kilometres before he saw them, there they was standing with the water coming out of their clothes. In the nearest house 2 old ladies wanted to make hot coffee for them, but Andreas spoke to them and they agreed in that he could take them to his farm. They walked trough a forest to get to the farm. Where they got dry warm clothes and a small breakfast and then to bed. The 2 airmen slept for many hours while his wife was preparing a huge dinner meal for the "refugees". When they were sleeping the plans were made how to get them to a safe area. Andreas found the phone lines in the area and cut them, so the news about the airmen would not get around. It was only 20 kilometres to the nearest German fortress. Since there was some snow left in the area, they had to learn how to ski. When they had finished their dinner, Skiing practice could start with help from the son on the farm, Anders (16). It was a lot of laughing when they was falling again and again and again. They had a jolly good time. Poor George had almost ended his escape to freedom as he got his feet on each side of a tree! But at last it was ok. (Here am I not sure if they was one or 2 night on the farm) Andreas had found 2 men (Meier Roedsjoe and Oscar Odinsen) who could help them over the mountain and through the Namsos area. The discussion was if they should get them to Sweden or to the allied forces. Odinsen and Roedsjoe had just arrived back from a journey to Sweden with other refugees. But this time they should try to get them to the British and French forces, since the airmen wanted to get back so they could continue fighting against the German forces. Their uniforms had been changed with ordinary clothes and they paid one Pound as a thank you for the meal and shelter before they left the farm. After midnight their journey started and the first kilometres was with horse and sled. Karsten Moholt was the "driver". But it was not a nice romantic trip in the forest as you see in the movies, the waters in the area they were travelling over was not safe at this time of the year and sitting on the sled was an awful experience for them. The sled was built hauling wood. Finally they arrived at the Oeyan farm in Roedsjoe. Then they travelled to the Skaugdalen (a valley) where Olav Hullvang gave them breakfast. At Fines in Verran the police sergeant was waiting for them. He had obtained a small open fishing boat for them. Then they sailed to Follafoss. On their journey they passed some German destroyers, but they did not take any notice of them. At Follafoss they left Odinsen and got into a "modern" Taxi, (as Fraser-Harris recalls). Between Malm and Namsos they finally found British forces, who were firing at them! In the beginning, they did not believe they were allied airmen, but when they found their uniform caps in their backpacker, hey was convinced. On 2 May the allied forces left the Namso area and Fraser-Harris and Russell were with them. When they got back, a message was sent over Radio Canada to the men who had helped them. Some of the local people had heard this message and mentioned it to the men. But Fraser-Harris was worried the local people would have major problems after they had been helping "the enemy". In France they had shot local people for doing the same. It seems the Germans did not know about the incident before it was too late. Not until 1944 when Andreas arrested by the Germans and was confronted about the incident. After the war the Aune family tried to get in contact with Fraser-Harris, but he could not be found. They did not remember he was from Canada. In 1986 another pilot, PT Partifge was in the Trondheim area. He had also been shot down, but this was in the Stjoernfiord, which leads to the area where Fraser-Harris did his emergency landing. He mentioned to Fraser-Harris, that some of his rescue team was still alive. In June 1990 Fraser-Harris visited the area and could talk to some of the men who had helped him. The young boy on the farm, Anders got a nice silver cup from him. He had still the one Pound they had got in 1940. Now this rests in the silver cup. Only Anders is alive in 2004. He will never forget Fraser-Harris and the incident.

Submarine HMS P-311 laid down.

GERMANY: Hitler issues Directive No. 28 - Operation Mercury, the invasion of Crete. Gen Maj Gerhard is made air commander of a force of transport aircraft which is to include 493 Ju 52/3ms and over 80 DFS 230 gliders.

NORTH AFRICA: The Afrika Korps attacks the Halfaya Pass and drives the British back to Buq Buq.

Wavell admits to Churchill that the decision to let the Armoured Division withdraw gradually from Rommel so as to maintain force until the enemy had been stretched too far and then counterattack, was a mistake. The 3rd Armoured Brigade melted away through mechanical and administrative breakdowns, without much fighting. 2nd Armoured Division's unpractised HQ lost control. This was partly due to inexperience of signal personnel...

IRAQ: Baghdad: Germany and Italy undertake to give financial and military aid to Rashid Ali.

Strong British and Imperial troops have arrived in the area of the Mosul airfields and, with the consent of Iraqi military authorities, have occupied positions of strategic importance. Precautions have been taken against possible military surprise raids, and both land and aerial forces have been considerably strengthened. British troop movements are still continuing.

U.S.A.: Washington: In a statement today, President Roosevelt promises all possible aid will be sent to Greece from the United States.

The motion picture "The Flame of New Orleans" is released in the U.S. Directed by Rene Clair, the film stars Marlene Dietrich, Bruce Cabot, Mischa Auer and Andy Devine. This period comedy set in 1840 New Orleans, has Dietrich trying to convince her fiancé that she is two different women while being chased by another man. The film was nominated for one technical Academy Award.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: The US Navy enforces a new security zone 2,000 miles off the east coast.

At 0038, the Polyana was hit near the bridge by one torpedo from U-103, capsized fast and sank within one minute. The ship was last seen when detached from Convoy OG-58 in 44°41N/22°43W and was reported missing when she did not arrive in Freetown on 30 April. The U-boat had missed the freighter with a first torpedo at 2357 on 24 April. All crewmembers, 19 Norwegians, two British, one Danish, one Tunisian, one Spanish and one Maltese were lost.

London: The RAF hammered the German Baltic port of Rostock last night. "An overpowering concentration of bombers was brought over the town," said the air ministry. In last night's attack 125 bombers, including the new four-engined Lancaster, used area bombing tactics against the town and precision bombing by special crews to attack the Heinkel aircraft factory whose bombers did so much damage to British cities.

Some of the precision bombers, Manchesters of No. 106 Squadron led by Wing-Commander Guy Gibson, made their bombing runs at under 2,000 feet. However, daylight reconnaissance shows that no damage was done to the Heinkel works during the raid two nights ago, and the centre of the city was barely hit last night.

Despite this, the attacks by the RAF on German cities, though many of the targets escaped direct hits, has enraged Hitler. Following the raid on Lübeck last month he ordered a series of terror raids against British cities with a cultural heritage. He told Göbbels that he would repeat these raids "night after night until the English are sick and tired of terror attacks."

These raids on Britain's historic cities are being called the Baedeker raids, after the German travel guides, because after the destruction of Lübeck the deputy head of the German foreign office press department said: "Now the Luftwaffe will go out for every building marked with three stars in Baedeker." Exeter and Bath have been the first to suffer these travel guide raids. Great damage has been done to homes and there have been many casualties. It is believed that the Germans are using a new type of electronic beam to guide them to their targets, but they can scrape together only a few aircraft, and RAF fighters are taking a heavy toll of the enemy bombers.

Princess Elizabeth has registered for war service today, just four days after her 16th birthday. She was one of about 200,000 sixteen-year-old girls across the country who signed up with the ministry of labour under the youth registration scheme. So far local panels have been reluctant to call such young girls for interview, so it is unlikely that the princess will be called.

On the occasion of her birthday on Tuesday, the princess made her first inspection of the Grenadier Guards as their new colonel. She then gave her first luncheon to about 30 guests, and the day was rounded off in the evening by a dance to celebrate her "coming out". She danced the opening number with her father, the king.

FRANCE: Paris is exhilarated today by the news that General Henri Giraud, who has been a prisoner of war since he was captured in June 1940, has escaped to Switzerland.

The 63-year-old general's escape was a romantic adventure, and it has given a much-needed boost to the French morale, which has taken a hammering over the last three years.

He succeeded in freeing himself from the castle at Königstein, in Saxony, which has been turned into a maximum-security prison, jumped on board a moving train and reached the French border. His plans are not known, but he is unlikely to remain in Europe.

The Petain government has awarded him the Medaille Militaire. Hitler, on the other hand, was in such a "black rage" when he heard of Giraud's escape that he ordered the Gestapo to find him and assassinate him.

A graduate of the French army officer's school at St. Cyr, Giraud is famous for his physical courage. He served for many years in the colonies. Now that he is free, he will inevitably be a rival pole of attraction for French patriots to General de Gaulle, who served under him in 1936.

U-302 launched.

U-212, U-382, U-518 commissioned.

BURMA: The Japanese move toward Lashio in Burma. They lose Taunggyi to the Chinese 5th Army.

AUSTRALIA: Sydney: Sixteen Sydney people, member of the "Australia First" movement, have been arrested here. Their premises have been searched and documents seized. They were detained because of a suspected relationship between some Sydney members of the movement and four people in Western Australia who had been charged with attending a meeting at which they were told that they would be required to use sabotage to help the Japanese. The prime minister, John Curtin, has told the House of Representatives that the "Australia First" movement has been under constant supervision by military intelligence and that there was a prima facie case against 20 individuals.

The movement seeks the recall of Australian forces for the country's defence and aid for Australia before other countries, including the Soviet Union.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: At 0831, the unescorted Modesta was hit in the #2 hold by one torpedo from U-108 and sank within 12 minutes about 110 miles NW of Bermuda. A first torpedo had missed the ship at 0517. The master, 16 crewmembers and one gunner were lost. 19 crewmembers and four gunners were picked up by the Belgian Airman and landed at Bermuda.

FINLAND: Five Baglietto-type MTBs ("Hurja-class") purchased from Italy arrive in Turku.

CHINA: Sun Tien-ying, the commander of the Chinese Fifth Army, defects to the Japanese.

NEW GUINEA: A party from the Japanese "Provisions Transportation Unit", carrying supplies from Salamaua to Komiatum is ambushed by Australian commandos. The commandos counted 60 men before they sprang the ambush. (Michael Alexander)

CANADA: Minesweeper HMCS Quinte arrived Pictou , Nova Scotia under tow for repair. Quinte had completed a 6-week refit in Lunenberg just before she went aground on 30 Nov 42 at the entrance to St Peter's Channel, Cape Breton Island. The damage to her hull was so extensive that she had to be beached to prevent outright sinking. Salvage operations were conducted over the winter of 1943. Her repairs were not completed until Jun 44.

U.S.A.: The Hays Office, the motion picture censorship group, bans "zoot suits" from the movies.

Against this backdrop of hate and vengeance toward the Mexican American community in Los Angeles, what is known as the "Zoot Suit Riots" (though they are now often referred to as the "sailor riots") occurred. On the night of June 3, 1943, eleven sailors on shore leave stated that they were attacked by a group of Mexican pachucos. In response to this, a group of over 200 uniformed sailors chartered 20 cabs and charged into the heart of the Mexican American community in East Los Angeles. Any zoot suiter was fair game. On this and the following nights, many a zoot suiter was beaten by this mob and stripped of their clothes, their zoot suits, on the spot. Nine sailors were arrested during these disturbances, not one was charged with any crime. On the following nights of June 4th and 5th, the uniformed servicemen (by this time the sailors had been joined by soldiers) again invaded East Los Angeles, marching abreast down the streets, breaking into bars and theatres, and assaulting anyone in their way. Not one was arrested by the Police or the Sheriff. In fact, the servicemen were portrayed in the local press as heroes stemming the tide of the "Mexican Crime Wave." During the nights of June 6th and 7th, these scenes were again repeated. Time Magazine later reported that, "The police practice was to accompany the caravans of soldiers and sailors in police cars, watch the beatings and jail the victims." According to Rudolpho Acuña in Occupied America, "Seventeen-year-old Enrico Herrera, after he was beaten and arrested, spent three hours at a police station, where he was found by his mother, still naked and bleeding. A 12-year-old boy's jaw was broken. Police arrested over 600 Chicano youths without cause and labelled the arrests 'preventive' action. Angelenos cheered on the servicemen and their civilian allies."

Finally, at midnight on June 7th, because the navy believed it had on actual mutiny on hand, the military authorities did what the city of Los Angeles would not, they moved to stop the rioting of their personnel. Los Angeles was declared off limits for all military personnel. Though there were little consequences for the rioters (servicemen and local law enforcement authorities alike), there was some public outcry. On June 16th, 1943, Eleanor Roosevelt commented in her column that, "The question goes deeper than just suits. It is a racial protest. I have been worried for a long time about the Mexican racial situation. It is a problem with roots going a long way back, and we do not always face these problems as we should." Los Angeles' response was typified by the June 18th headlines of the Los Angeles Times, "Mrs. Roosevelt Blindly Stirs Race Discord," and she was accused of communist leanings in the accompanying editorial. Governor Earl Warren (later Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court during their landmark desegregation cases) convened a committee to investigate the riots and recommended punishment for all involved in the riots, servicemen and civilians. Other than the charges filed against the Mexican American victims, no punishment was ever meted out.

U-533 attacked by an American USN VP-84 PBY-5A. Three of U-533´s gun crew were injured by the Catalina's .30 cal. gunfire. They were - (Bootsmaat Buttkus, Matrosengefreiter Ludwig and Matrosengefreiter Fekken). All of them went again out to sea and Buttkus and Ludwig perished with the boat the following October.

SS Empire Morn was damaged by a mine laid on 11 April by U-117. She reached Gibraltar and was used as store ship.

At 0143, the Rosenborg, a straggler from Convoy RU-71, was hit by two torpedoes from U-386 north of Rockall and sank within 30 seconds. The master, 21 crewmembers, four gunners and two passengers were lost. Two crewmembers were picked up by the British rescue ship Goodwin and landed at Clyde on 28 April.

UNITED KINGDOM: Knutsford, Cheshire: The controversial Lt-Gen George S. Patton has upset US congressmen by being reported today as telling a British audience that it was the destiny of Britain and the US to rule the world once they had won the war. One congressman described the speech as "barmy". A version of the speech published in Britain suggests that Patton included the USSR in the "destiny" remarks.

Corvette HMS Farnham Castle launched.

Frigate HMS Loch Eck launched.

Destroyer HMS Whelp commissioned.

BLACK SEA: U-18 was attacked in the Black Sea by German aircraft BV 138 and suffered slight damage.

BURMA: Air Commando Combat Mission N0. 50 3:05 Flight Time Hailakandi, Assam to Hopin, Burma. Bombed Japanese supply dumps.

note: Our crew was now flying with different pilots. Remember Captain Ziegler, a damn fine pilot and good officer. He retired from the AF as a full Colonel. Died several years ago. Also had Major Radovich, (we called him 1,000 pounder Rad) we could only carry three of these as compared to 6- 500 lb. GPs. Rad claimed we got more bang from the big ones. Really wasn't much around the area that the smaller bombs could not handle, but he was a Major and one does not argue with Majors. Also flew with Captain Sinskie and Captain Merchant. Good pilots. (Chuck Baisden)

Carter Harmon performs the first helicopter evacuation in a combat zone in the highlands of Northern Burma. Picture.

Corvette HMCS Kamloops completed forecastle extension refit Charlottetown.

ASW towing vessel HMCS Lakewood assigned to Esquimalt.

Tug HMCS Glenholme laid down Vancouver, British Columbia.

U.S.A.: The motion picture "Follow the Boys" is released in the U.S. Directed by A. Edward Sutherland, this picture was Universal Studio's all-star WWII musical comedy and featured Marlene Dietrich, George Raft, Orson Welles, Dinah Shore, W.C. Fields, Jeanette MacDonald, the Andrew Sisters, Sophie Tucker, Nigel Bruce, etc. The paper thin plot has Raft organizing USO shows.

Minesweeper USS Concise commissioned.

Destroyer escort USS Oswald launched.

ICELAND: U-289 landed espionage agents Sverrir Matthiasson and Magnus Guðbjörnsson.

UNITED KINGDOM: The US 8th Air Force makes its last bombing mission from England when 554 B-17s and B-24s attack airfields and rail targets in Czechoslovakia and south-eastern Germany.

375 RAF Lancaster and Mosquito bombers drop six-ton bombs on Hitler's home at Berchtesgaden. Escorted by 98 Mustangs of the US Eighth Army Air Force and 13 Mustang squadrons of RAF Fighter Command, the bombers flew low, taking cover from the anti-aircraft fire behind mountains, until they were almost over the target, and then dropped their bombs. The Times reported on the attack that twelve 1,000-lb bombs, fused for deep penetration, were used against the Berghof chalet, and large numbers of 4,000-lb and 1,000-lb bombs were dropped on the SS barracks. After the second run, and with two Lancasters missing, the anti-aircraft batteries had been silenced. When it was all over, most of the buildings on the Obersalzburg were smoking ruins. (Russell Folsom)(128)

U-1197 damaged by bombs at Bremen and stricken at Wesermünde, 25 Apr 1945. Captured there by British forces.

NORWAY: Tonight an oil target at Vallo is the subject of the last raid by RAF Lancasters of the war. (22)

FINLAND: The last German troops leave Finnish territory around Kilpisjärvi, in far north-western Finland, thus ending the Fenno-German Lappland War and WWII for Finland. In this last day, two Finnish soldiers die, one is wounded and one goes missing in skirmishes with German patrols. During the seven-month war against Germany, Finns lose 774 KIA, 262 MIA and 2904 WIA. The German losses are estimated roughly equal.

ARCTIC OCEAN: Destroyers HMS Iroquois, Haida and Huron arrive Kola Inlet with Convoy JW-66.

ITALY: German resistance begins to collapse as Mantua, Parma and Verona fall to the Allies. Just 40 miles away, Mussolini flees to Como.

Uprisings in Milan and Genoa are aided by Partisans.

PACIFIC OCEAN: PB4Y-2 Privateers of Patrol Bombing Squadron One Hundred Eighteen (VPB-118) based at Yonton, Okinawa, continue sewing aerial mines off the coast of Korea.

U.S.A.: An Allied conference at San Francisco meets to write a constitution for the post war organization "The United Nations". The meeting will conclude tomorrow.

US Secretary of War Stimson and General Leslie Groves arrive at the White House. They are here to brief President Truman on the Manhattan Project -- "S1" as Stimson preferred to call it.

Stimson meets alone with Truman at first. A memo of several pages, was given to Truman. Finished by Stimson that morning, it begins: "Within four months we shall in all probability have completed the most terrible weapon ever known in human history, one bomb of which could destroy a whole city." The memo acknowledges the shared development, by the US and Great Britain, of this "most terrible weapon".

General Groves then joins them with a memo of 25 pages on the status of the Manhattan Project. After President Truman reads this, Stimson and Groves answer his questions.

Stimson asked for an authorization to establish an advisory committee to "advise" the President regarding the implications and decisions of "this new force". The request is approved.

This is Truman's first briefing of specific activities at Hanford, Washington and other locations within the US. Truman had first become aware of the huge government activity during 1943 as Chairman of the "Truman Committee". At that time, after assurances by Col. Stimson, he kept the committee away from any serious investigations of the Manhattan Project. (From David McCullough "Truman")

During the organising conference USS CASPER makes two security patrols off the Farallon Islands.

Destroyer USS Hamner laid down.

Submarine USS Unicorn laid down.

Minesweeper USS Embattle commissioned.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-326 sunk in the Bay of Biscay west of Brest in position 48.12N, 05.42W by a homing torpedo from a USN VPB-103 Sqn Liberator. 43 dead (all hands lost).