Yesterday            Tomorrow

May 20th, 1939 (SATURDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: Submarine HMS Taku launched.

FRANCE: Destroyer FS Lansequenet launched.

U.S.S.R.: Moscow: Commissar for Foreign Affairs Molotov meets with the German ambassador Schulenburg. More...

U.S.A.: The first North Atlantic Air Mail service is launched by Pan American Airways from New York to Marseilles, France via the Azores.

Top of Page

Yesterday               Tomorrow

Home

20 May 1940

Yesterday Tomorrow

May 20th, 1940 (MONDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: RAF Bomber Command: 4 Group (Whitley). Bombing - road/rail communications at Catillon-Hannapes, Julich and bridges over River Oise. 10 Sqn. Six aircraft. Five bombed from low level (2 - 6,000 feet). 51 Sqn. Six aircraft, four bombed. 77 Sqn. Seven aircraft. Six bombed, one FTR. 102 Sqn. Five aircraft. Four bombed, one FTR.

Winston Churchill sends a telegram to President Roosevelt regarding his request for U.S. destroyers. Churchill acknowledges FDR's problems in providing them but states that, "If they were here in six weeks they would play an invaluable part."

Minesweeping trawler HMS Olive commissioned.

Destroyer HMS Orwell laid down.

NORTH SEA: Minesweeping trawler HMS Rifnes bombed and sunk off Ostend.

NETHERLANDS: Arthur Seyss-Inquart, the former Austrian chancellor, is appointed Reich Commissioner for the Netherlands.

FRANCE: At 2 am Hoth’s Corps in the north was set in motion again, with Rommel at its head, and pushed up to the heights of Arras, which seemed very important to the German High Command. "We will only have won", wrote Halder, "when we have taken Arras high plateau"; and he expected "a decisive battle lasting several days" in this area.

When he arrived south-east of Arras, Rommel took up defensive positions. He made ready to by-pass the town on the following day on the south, and then to proceed to the famous heights north of Arras, where so much blood was shed in 1915.

In the south Guderian’s Panzers set off from the line of Cambrai-Peronne before dawn. A about 9am, the 1st Panzers, on the left, easily captured Amiens, in the presence of Guderian, who had particularly wished to witness this "historic event". Then it established a bridgehead about 4 miles deep on the south bank of the Somme.

On the right, the 2 Panzers made a thrust from Albert towards Abbeville, through Doullens, Bernaville, and Beaumetz. At 7pm it seized Abbeville without much difficulty. From there it sent out one tank battalion, which reached the sea at Noyelles at dusk.

With understandable joy, the Panzer crews, who had crossed the Meuse scarcely a week before, filled their lungs with the sea air and their eyes with the sight of the sea.

When the Fuhrer got this news, "he was beside himself with joy", declared Jodl, "and he already foresaw victory and peace". The French army was now definitely cut in two.

"In the evening of this memorable day", wrote Guderian, "we did not know in which direction we were to continue to advance. General von Kleist himself had no orders. May 21 was spent waiting for orders. I employed the time visiting Abbeville and making an inspecting of the Somme bridgehead."

It was towards the end of the day that orders arrived from OKH for a swing northwards in order to seize the Channel ports and the Pas de Calais. Guderian then gave orders to the 1st Panzers, in the right, to start the next day straight for Calais, through Samer and Desvres; he told the 2nd Panzers, on the left, to head for Boulogne by going along the coast. On Guderian’s right, Reinhardt’s Corps was to go between Doullens and Arras and advance to Saint-Omer, but at the pivoting point, on the right, we shall see that Hoth’s Corps was held up in the Arras area.

Berlin Diary by William Shirer:

We came to a terrific hole in the road ... The German officer explained that the French blew this one up. "French dynamite experts," he said. "At places they have done a beautiful job ... We lost little time," he added, "even though you have to admit the French did a good job of it here." His admiration for the French dynamiters was terrific.

Paris: Reynaud sacks Gamelin and replaces him with General Maxime Weygand. Until now Weygand has been in virtual exile in Syria, now his appointment as Supreme Commander is hailed in the press; but he is a staff officer who has never commanded armies in battle. He has disregarded plans already made for the Allied armies in north and south to attack and cut off the exposed German armoured columns, still unprotected by infantry. He spent his first day making ceremonial visits to the French president and cabinet ministers. Then he said he would visit the front, as his hero Foch had always done. He set off by air for Ypres to talk to French, British and Belgian commanders. During the meeting King Leopold decided that Weygand was completely ignorant of the plight of the Allied armies.

GERMANY: U-403 laid down.

NORWEGIAN CAMPAIGN: (Mark Horan) Word having arrived that the weather was improving over Narvik, at 0330 HMS Ark Royal, in position 70.24N, 16.10E, dispatched nine Swordfish of 810 and 820 Squadrons (armed with either 4x20 lb Cooper, 4x25 lb Incendiary, and either 2x500 lb or 4x250 lb bombs). This mission exhausted the last 250 lb GP bombs on the ship. At the same time a fighter patrol left for Narvik. At 0400, a second fighter patrol departed with orders to cover the Swordfish in their attack on the Hundallen and Sildvik. Unfortunately, the weather deteriorated drastically and the entire force had to abandon their mission and return to the ship.

At 0600 a further fighter patrol was dispatched. While it managed to get to the Narvik area, the weather was atrocious and the trio was lucky to find their way back to the ship. Further flying was suspended. However, at 2101 Flag Officer Narvik informed the Vice-Admiral commanding that Bardufoss landing ground now being operational, HMS Furious should dispatch the Gladiators of 263 Squadron to shore on the 21st.

 

Top of Page

Yesterday            Tomorrow

Home

20 May 1941

Yesterday                           Tomorrow

May 20th, 1941 (TUESDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: Sloop HMS Landguard commissioned.

FRANCE: Paris: The Gestapo arrest the Communist and Resistance leader Gabriel Peri.

GERMANY: Berlin: A circular issued by the central office of emigration tells German consulates that Göring  has banned all emigration of Jews from France and Belgium because of the "doubtless imminence of the final solution."

U-615, U-616 laid down.

GREECE: Flt. Lt. Montague T St. John "Pat" Pattle of 80 Sqn., a South African and the RAF's greatest ace with 41 confirmed victories, is killed in action.

CRETE:

The Luftwaffe launch a huge airborne armada against the island.

Operation Mercury begins at 7:15 AM. The German forces are divided into three groups: West Group under Maj. Gen. Eugen Meindl, which makes its drop at Maleme; Central Group under Lt. Gen. Sussmann, which attacks Suda Bay and Khania; and East Group under Maj. Gen. Ringel, which drops at Herklion. The overall commander is General Lohr of the 4th Air Fleet. His forces include VIII. Fliegerkorps under Air Fleet General von Richthofen, the XI. Fliegerkorps under Air Fleet General Student, the 7th Airborne Paratroop Division under Lt. Gen. Sussmann, the reinforced 5th Mountaineering Division under Maj. Gen. Ringel, and reserve forces made up of units of the 6th Mountaineering Division. There are 10 aerial combat groups with 453 Ju52s, 430 bombers, 180 fighters and 100 gliders.

The drop of the first wave of German paratroops went off almost without a hitch and contrary to expectations, losses of transport aircraft were few. Only 7 of the Ju52s deployed failed to return to their bases in Greece. But during descent and landing, the paratroops were met by strong defensive fire. Many companies of troops were too widely dispersed; they suffered heavy losses and were virtually incapable of going on the offensive. Thus they failed to capture the important Hill 107 near Maleme airfield which was being held by New Zealanders. German airborne infantry who made glider landings in the rocky terrain, also met surprisingly vigorous Allied fire and suffered far higher losses than they predicted. Instead of carrying out their assignment to secure the landing zone, they were immediately put on the defensive.
Gen. Meindl was one of the casualties of the first wave. When news reached Greece that Meindl was out of action, Hermann Bernhard Ramcke, who was then between assignments, decided to accompany the next wave of Fallschirmjaeger jumping into the Maleme perimeter. He landed at Maleme and took charge of that sector.
I. Battalion of the Sturm Regiment is left almost leaderless. The regimental chief surgeon, Dr. Heinrich Neumann, takes over the battalion.

Meanwhile the second wave of German paratroop regiments were standing by at Greek airfields, waiting for the return of the transport aircraft that were due to drop them on Crete that same afternoon. But the first wave transports were delayed in arriving back at their takeoff bases and most had to be refuelled out of portable fuel drums, which was a slow process. It was no longer possible to relay new orders because British agents had cut all the telephone cables between Luftwaffe XI Corps. The Germans therefore attacked Rethimnon and Heraklion at 3.15 PM just as the second wave were about to take-off, the second wave was expected by the defenders and they were shot to pieces by tanks which appeared before they could free themselves from their parachutes, the attacks on the airfields failed.

New Zealand General Freyberg, commander of Crete, reporting to Wavell:

At dawn on Tuesday, powerful German forces began heavy assault on Crete. Large numbers of paratroops jumped onto the island, and according to reports received so far, airborne troops have landed in transport aircraft. British and Greek units have engaged the enemy. A number of German paratroops have been killed and captured. The battles are continuing.

Minesweeper HMS Widnes is badly damaged and sinks in shallow water due to a German air attack at Suda Bay on Crete. She is later salved by the Germans and commissioned into the Kriegsmarine as UJ.2109. (Alex Gordon)(108)

"C" Squadron of the 3rd King's Own Hussars was in its leaguer four miles west of Canea, and 2nd Lieutenant Farran was sent to block the road from Galatos with his troop of tanks.

When he saw a party of Germans escorting a group of about 40 hospital patients who had been taken prisoner, he killed the guards. The next day he supported 10th Infantry Brigade in a successful attack on Cemetery Hill.

After the Germans broke through the line at Galatos, Farran counter-attacked to retake the village, but was wounded in both legs and an arm, and taken prisoner. He was awarded his first MC.

MAP

PALESTINE: Wavell orders 7 Aust Division (Maj-Gen John Lavarack) to move from Mersa Matruh to Palestine in preparation for invasion of Syria. (Michael Alexander)

CHINA: A Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" fighter is shot down by the Chinese over the city of Chengdu, north of Chungking. The wreckage is examined and details sent to the U.S.|Naval Attaché. More...

U.S.A.: Destroyer USS Barton laid down.

NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN: Unescorted convoy HX126 from Halifax is attacked at 40 degrees west and losses are heavy.

The USN's Task Force 2 consisting of the aircraft carrier USS Wasp (CV-7); the heavy cruiser USS Quincy (CA-39); and the destroyers USS Kearny (DD-432) and USS Livermore (DD-429) departs Bermuda for a 4,000+ mile (6,400+ km) neutrality patrol that concludes in Bermuda on 3 June. The Wasp Air Group consists of Marine Bombing Squadron Two (VMB-2), Fighting Squadron Seventy One (VF-71) and Scouting Squadron Seventy Two (VS-72).

The ninth Lake-class US Coast Guard Cutter, USCGC Shoshone (CGC-50), is transferred to the Royal Navy as HMS Languard. .

At 0458 hours on 20 May 1941, the Norman Monarch in station #91 of convoy HX-126 was torpedoed and sunk by U-94. The Harpagus in station #93 was the designated rescue ship for the column and dropped back to rescue survivors. After picking up the whole complement of 48 men, she set course to regain the convoy. At 2320, the Harpagus, having almost regained position, was struck by two torpedoes from U-109 in the starboard side and sank very quickly about 250 miles SSE of Cape Farewell. 25 crewmembers, four gunners, three passengers and 26 survivors were lost. The master, 17 crewmembers and 22 survivors were picked up by destroyer HMS Burnham and landed at Reykjavik.

At 1644, the San Felix, dispersed from Convoy OB-322, was hit by one of two torpedoes from U-111, but escaped in a rain squall with a slight list to starboard after evading a second attack by zagging. The tanker arrived in St John’s on 26 May and later returned to service.

At 2124, the Javanese Prince was torpedoed and sunk by U-138 155 miles NW of the Butt of Lewis, Outer Hebrides. One crewmember was lost. The master, 45 crewmembers, eight gunners and four passengers were picked up by destroyers HMS Faulknor, Lincoln and tug HMS Assurance. All survivors were transferred to the British rescue ship Toward and landed at Gourock on 28 May.

At 1448, 1450 and 1516, U-556 fired torpedoes at Convoy HX-126 south of Cape Farewell and sank three ships, the Darlington Court, British Security and Cockaponset. The British Security caught fire after she was hit and burned for three days until she sank in 57°14N/39°23W. The master, 48 crewmembers and four gunners were lost. The master and 40 crewmembers from the Cockaponset were picked up by the Dutch rescue ship Hontestroom and landed at Reykjavik on 27 May. The master Charles Hurst, ten crewmembers and one gunner from the Darlington Court were picked up by the rescue ship Hontestroom and landed at Reykjavik on 27 May. 22 crewmembers, three gunners and three passengers were lost.

At 1817, the John P. Pedersen, dispersed from Convoy HX-126 the same day, was torpedoed by U-94 about 160 miles south of Greenland. One British gunner was lost and 37 survivors abandoned ship in two lifeboats. The U-boat sank the tanker with two coup de grâce fired at 1850 and 1920. 16 survivors in one boat were picked up by the Dutch rescue ship Hontestroom on 23 May and taken to Reykjavik. Four of them joined the Norwegian Navy there, while eight continued to Gourock on board the Dutch vessel. Another three were sent to Preston, while one was briefly admitted to a hospital at Reykjavik. The other lifeboat with 21 survivors, including the master (13 Norwegians, two Dutch, two Swedish and four British) was never found.

At 0453, the Norman Monarch in position #91 of Convoy HX-126 was hit on the starboard side by one of two torpedoes from U-94 and sank about 200 miles SSE of Cape Farewell. The Harpagus in station #93 was the designed rescue ship for the column and dropped back to rescue survivors. After picking up the master, 41 crewmembers and six gunners the ship tried to rejoin the convoy, but was torpedoed and sunk by U-109. The master, 19 crewmembers and six gunners from the Norman Monarch did not survive the second sinking, the remaining 22 crewmembers were picked up by HMS Burnham and landed at Reykjavik.

At 1729, the Rothermere, dispersed from Convoy HX-126 the same day, was hit in the engine room by one torpedo from U-98 SE of Cape Farewell. The ship sank by the stern after being hit by a coup de grâce at 1756. The master and 21 crewmembers were lost. 29 crewmembers, four gunners and one passenger were picked up by the Icelandic merchantman Bruarfoss and landed at Reykjavik.

 SS Rothermere (5,356 GRT), Newfoundland-registered, Anglo-Newfoundland merchantman torpedoed and sunk by U-98, Kptlt Robert Gysae, Knight's Cross, Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, CO, in the North Atlantic, in position 57.48N, 041.36W. Rothermere was proceeding to England in Convoy HX-126. There were twenty-two casualties from the crew.

HMCS St Francis, a Town-class destroyer (ex-USS Bancroft), a Clemson-class destroyer), rescued survivors from the British freighter Starcross (4,662 GRT), which had been torpedoed in position 51.45N, 020.45W by the Italian Glauco-class submarine Otaria, LCdr Giuseppe Vocaturo, CO.

Top of Page

Yesterday        Tomorrow

Home

20 May 1942

Yesterday                           Tomorrow

May 20th, 1942 (WEDNESDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: The Singleton report recommends that the RAF adopt the intensive bombing programme proposed by Air Marshal Arthur Harris as means of prosecuting the war.

GERMANY:

U-465 commissioned.

U-525 launched.

POLAND: Lodz: 300 train-coachloads of underwear belonging to Jews gassed at Chelmno arrive for cleaning and sorting at the ghetto workshops.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA: At 2019, the Eocene in Convoy AT-46 was torpedoed and sunk by U-431 near Sollum. The master, 34 crewmembers, six gunners and two army engineers were picked up by armed trawler HMS Cocker and landed at Tobruk.

INDIA: New Delhi: All Burma is now in Japanese hands. China is isolated, and India is exposed to the danger of invasion. The Allied defeat in Burma is a military disaster that has brought in its train an unparalleled death toll totalling three-quarters of a million refugees who died from starvation, disease, injury and exhaustion. Some 400,000 have reached India from the war zone. Many of them are continuing to die from the effects of their terrible ordeal.

Allied losses were high; 13,463 British, Indian, Burmese and Gurkha soldiers lost their lives in the 900-mile fighting retreat, compared with 4,597 Japanese casualties. But not once did the British military formations in Burma lose their cohesion in the longest retreat ever attempted by the British army.

They fought stubborn rearguard actions for hundreds of miles while harassed by constant air attack. Although the troops were ragged and emaciated, more than half still have their weapons and their fighting spirit remains undiminished.

In the Kabow valley, the scenes of collapse were unrelieved. In the burnt-out shambles of Mandalay, where the water became polluted, the death toll from smallpox reached 600 a day.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: Admiral John S McCain, USN, in seaplane tender USS TANGIER (AV-8) at Noumea, New Caledonia Island, assumes command as Commander Aircraft South Pacific Forces (COMAIRSOPAC). This new command is established to direct the operations of tender and shore-based aviation in the South Pacific Area.  

CANADA: Destroyers HMCS Micmac and Nootka laid down Halifax , Nova Scotia.

U.S.A.: Washington: US naval forces are sent to Midway Island and the Aleutians after intercepted secret messages reveal Japanese preparations for an attack.

Four U.S. merchant vessels are sunk by German submarines in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. In the Gulf of Mexico, an unarmed tanker is sunk 50 miles (80.5 km) off Louisiana by U-506 and an armed freighter is sunk by U-752 near the Yucatan Channel. U-103 sinks two armed freighters in the Caribbean; the first is sunk about 40 miles (64.4 km) off the south coast of Cuba and the second is sunk north of the first sinking.

Submarine USS Kingfish commissioned.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: At 1839, the Norland, dispersed from Convoy ON-93, was hit near the bridge by one stern torpedo from U-108. She stopped and began shelling the periscope. The U-boat had to surface to attack the ship with the deck gun because no torpedoes were left. At 1957, Scholtz opened fire with the deck gun from a distance of 8000 meters, the tanker fired back, but the shots did not reach the U-boat and after the first hits, the tanker ceased fire at 2030. The last shells from the deck gun were fired from the distance of 1000 meters, in all 14 hits had been observed. After the crew abandoned ship in three lifeboats, the U-boat opened fire with the Anti-Aircraft guns at 2300 until the ammunition for the 37-mm was also spent 30 minutes later. The tanker settled slowly and sank by the stern at 0158. All 48 survivors were rescued, but 14 survivors in one of the lifeboat had been picked up on 25 May near Bermuda by Polyphemus, torpedoed and sunk by U-578 two days later. All men from Norland survived the second sinking.

The Sylvan Arrow was hit by a torpedo at 1321 and set on fire. 38 crewmembers and 5 of the 6 Armed Guards were picked up by USS Barney and taken to Port of Spain. 26 of them were soon repatriated on SS Robert E. Lee. The 12 others (including the master) were engaged in an attempt to salvage the ship, which was found after 3 days. A tug tried to tow the tanker in on 26. May but she began to rip apart and finally sank in the evening of 28. May in position 12.50N/67.32W. The 12 men were taken to Curacao and left aboard the Dutch freighter Crijnssen on 7 June. 3 Days later this ship was torpedoed and sunk. The master and 6 men of his crew landed together with 24 others on the Yucatan coast and were repatriated by a plane. The remaining 5 crewmembers were picked up by the steam merchant Lebore, but this ship was also torpedoed and sunk. They were picked up by USS Tattnall and landed at Cristobal.

At 2200, the Darina, dispersed on 17 May from Convoy ON-93, was torpedoed and sunk by U-158 about 500 miles ESE of Bermuda. Five crewmembers and one gunner were lost. The master, 44 crewmembers and five gunners were rescued. The boat with the master and 17 survivors were picked up by the British tanker British Ardour and landed at Charleston, South Carolina on 27 May. The boat of the chief officer was rescued after 6.5 days 150 miles SSE of Bermuda by the American merchantman Exanthia and landed at Norfolk, Virginia. The boat of the 3rd officer was rescued after six days by the Norwegian merchantman Dagrun and landed at Capetown on 23 June

 At 0758, the unescorted and unarmed Halo was hit by two torpedoes from U-506 about 50 miles from the Southwest Pass of the Mississippi River, while proceeding on a rapidly changing zigzag pattern at 10.4 knots. The first torpedo struck on the starboard side under the bridge and completely destroyed this part of the ship. The second hit aft of the bridge but forward of the engine room. The second explosion broke the ship in two and ignited the cargo. The tanker plunged bow first with her propeller still turning and sank within three minutes. 23 men of the crew of eight officers and 34 men managed to leave the ship, but only one raft was left, the four lifeboats and three other rafts were destroyed by the explosions and fire. The survivors huddled together clinging to wreckage in the water near the sunken ship throughout the night and the next day. The oil on the surface burned for six hours. Two men cling to a half-burned raft and stayed on it for seven days without food or water. They were then picked up by the British tanker Orina and taken to New Orleans. The other survivors in the water began dying from exposure and injuries. On the third day wreckage ascended from the tanker and the seven remaining survivors tied boards together with strips of canvas torn from their life preservers. Crude oil also floated free forming a layer four inches thick. Five days after the sinking, the Mexican Oaxaca picked up the three remaining survivors, but one of these men died at sea. The two men arrived at a hospital in Tampico on 28 May, but one men died 30 minutes after arriving. Thus, only one officer and two crewmen survived the sinking.

At 1908, the unescorted George Calvert on her maiden voyage was torpedoed by U-753 about 50 miles off the Northwest coast of Cuba, while proceeding on a zigzag course at 11 knots after she had left a small convoy about eleven miles off the Dry Tortugas. The torpedo struck the #3 hold about five or six feet below the waterline. A second torpedo struck 20 feet forward of the stern. This torpedo exploded the magazine, blew the stern gun overboard and killed three armed guards. The most of the eight officers, 33 men and ten armed guards (the ship was armed with one 4in, four .50cal and two .30cal guns) abandoned ship in three lifeboats. At 1003, a third torpedo hit amidships and broke the ship in half, causing her to sink immediately. Some of the survivors were questioned by U-753, asking the name of the ship, her tonnage and cargo. The lifeboats reached shore about six hours later but waited to land at Dimas, Cuba, the next day.

Top of Page

Yesterday        Tomorrow

Home

20 May 1943

Yesterday                           Tomorrow

May 20th, 1943 (THURSDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: Due to incorrect operation of her Otway log (speed measuring device) submarine HMS Untamed begins to flood and settles in 160 feet of water off Sanda Island on the West coast of Scotland. Due to delays in escape attempts, and incorrect flood valve assembly, none are able to escape and the entire 36 man crew are poisoned by CO2. Untamed was eventually raised and recommissioned as HMS Vitality, finally being broken up in March 1946. (Alex Gordon)(108)

Frigates HMS Gardiner, Goodall, Goodson and Gore laid down.

Destroyer HMS St James laid down.

Boom defense vessel HMS Bartizan launched.

Minesweepers HMS Florizel and Foam launched.

Escort carrier HMS Nairana launched.

Frigate HMS Tees launched.

GERMANY:

U-985, U-986 launched.

U-313, U-979 commissioned.

U-1023, U-1024 laid down.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA: The full weight of Allied air power is being thrown at airfields in Italy, Sicily and Sardinia in an attempt to neutralize the Luftwaffe and the Italian air force. Over the past 48 hours, at least 186 Axis aircraft have been destroyed in day and night bombing. The most spectacular raid hit Grosseto airfield, 90 miles north of Rome. Flying Fortresses saturated the field and installations with fragmentation bombs, leaving 58 Italian bombers wrecked.

Minesweeper HMS Fantome is mined during clearance operations off Cape Bon and has her stern blown off. She is towed back to Bizerta, but found to be beyond repair and paid off as a constructive loss. There is one casualty but 36 survive. (Alex Gordon)(108)

INDIAN OCEAN: The Benakat left Capetown in a coastal convoy which was formed in the Table Bay, but left after three days to continue her voyage on the prescribed route to the destination. On 14 May the Admiralty radioed a new course. At 0728 on 20 May a torpedo struck her from U-197 on the starboard side, just before the bridge. The explosion caused very heavy damage, wrecked the starboard lifeboat and destroyed the starboard machinegun-platform, injuring the first and fourth mate (not seriously). After the hit no electric power was left, so the distress signal could only be send a few times. The ship began to list to starboard, and with some difficulty the crew succeeded in boarding the three remaining lifeboats and rowed away. About 20 minutes later a second torpedo hit the Benakat on the starboard side and broke her in two. The bow section sank and the stern remained afloat. The U-boat surfaced and fired with the deck gun at the port side of the vessel until the stern sank.

JAPAN: Tokyo: The Army General Staff issues orders for the withdrawal of all forces on Attu and Kiska Islands.

TERRITORY OF ALASKA: US forces fighting on Attu in the Aleutians are heavily engaged in the areas of Clevesy Pass.
Jack McKillop adds: The American troops have been fighting for ten days and suffer acutely from the cold and hunger. The GIs boots soak up water and freeze at night causing numerous cases of frostbite.  This action is conducted in a cold drizzle near Prenoergast Ridge. All air-ground support missions to Attu are cancelled due to weather but 20 P-40s bomb the Main Camp and submarine area at Kiska, and strafe barges in the harbour. 

CANADA: Destroyer HMCS Columbia completed refit Saint John, New Brunswick and assigned to Western Local Escort Force.

U.S.A.: The US Tenth Fleet was established, headquartered in Washington, D.C., under command of Adm. Ernest J. King. The role of Tenth Fleet was to coordinate American anti-submarine operations in Atlantic. Rear Admiral Francis S. Low, King's Assistant Chief of Staff (Anti-submarine), was appointed Chief of Staff Tenth Fleet. All anti-submarine resources from US Fleet headquarters were transferred intact to the Commander Tenth Fleet. Admiral King retained command in order to direct asset allocation between commands in the Atlantic. He also did this to take the lead in the struggle with the US Army Air Corps over control of squadrons assigned to anti-submarine duty. General George C. Marshall wished Army very long-range and long-range squadrons to be commanded by an army general officer and to create a Coastal Air Command under the command of the Army Air Corps, headed by Lieutenant General McNarney. King was adamantly opposed to this arrangement and carried on an active struggle to gain control over long-range, land-based aircraft for naval uses. Eventually, the US Army Air Corps withdrew from anti-submarine patrols and transferred its aircraft to the USN. By Nov 43, the transfer of aircraft had been completed and all anti-submarine operations were the exclusive responsibility of Tenth Fleet. Rear-Admiral A.R. McCann relieved Admiral Low as Chief of Staff in Jan 45. Admiral King retained command of Tenth Fleet until it was dissolved on 15 Jun 45.

Frigate USS Annapolis laid down.

Destroyer escorts USS Barber and Greiner launched.

Frigate USS Belfast launched.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-258 sunk in the North Atlantic, in position 55.18N, 27.49W, by depth charges from an RAF 120 Sqn Liberator. 49 dead (all hands lost).

Top of Page

Yesterday        Tomorrow

Home

20 May 1944

Yesterday                           Tomorrow

May 20th, 1944 (SATURDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM:  Minesweeping trawler HMS Wyoming mined and sunk off Harwich.

The USAAF's Eighth Air Force in England flies Mission 359: 638 bombers and 657 fighters are dispatched to hit targets in France and Belgium; two bombers and four fighters are lost; the AAF claims 2-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 1-0-1 on the ground:

- 190 B-17 Flying Fortresses are dispatched to bomb Orly Airfield (90 bomb) and Villacoublay Air Depot (73 bomb) in France.

- 125 of 177 B-24 Liberators bomb Reims Airfield and marshalling yard in France.

- 271 B-17s and B-24s are dispatched to marshalling yards at Liege and Brussels, Belgium but the mission is abandoned due to heavy cloud cover; two bombers are lost.

Escort is provided by 146 P-38 Lightnings, 177 P-47 Thunderbolts and 334 P-51 Mustangs; P-38s claim 2-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 1-0-1 on the ground; one P-38, one P-47 and two P-51s are lost.

The USAAF's Ninth Air Force in England dispatches about 450 B-26 Marauders to attack airfields, coastal defenses, and V-weapon site in France; about 250 aborts are caused mainly by bad cloud conditions and failure to rendezvous with fighters. 

P-47s dive-bomb targets in northwestern Europe.

Aircraft carrier HMS Warrior launched Belfast NI.

Minesweeper HMS Regulus commissioned.

Submarine HMS Supreme commissioned.

Aircraft carrier HMS Pioneer launched.

GERMANY:

U-1057, U-1131 commissioned.

U-2504 laid down.
 

POLAND: A V2 rocket is test fired and lands near the River Bug about 80 miles east of Warsaw. The Polish resistance runs a herd of cows into the river to muddy the water. The Germans fail to find the rocket and give up. The Poles got it out of the river using man power, take it apart and send the guidance systems and rocket motor to British intelligence in London by Lysander and Hudson courier aircraft. (William H. Howard) See follow ups on May 23 and May 25.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: Three light cruisers and eight destroyers (USN Task Group 53.18) bombard Japanese installations on Alu, Poporang and Morgusia Islands in the Shortland Islands off the south end of Bougainville Island.

NEW GUINEA: US forces break Japanese resistance on Wakde, a coral islet 220 miles east of Biak. The three day battle has resulted in 809 Japanese dead; 43 Americans died with 139 wounded.

PACIFIC OCEAN: US carriers begin a two-day assault on Japanese positions on Marcus Island. Aircraft from the carriers USS Essex (CV-9) and USS Wasp (CV-18) continue their attacks on Marcus Island in the North Pacific but bad weather halts operations. Meanwhile, aircraft from the light aircraft carrier USS Jacinto (CVL-30), which has been positioned to the northwest of Marcus as a screen, sink a Japanese guardboat.

CANADA: Tug HMCS Atwood assigned as ASW training vessel at Halifax and Pictou, Nova Scotia.

Frigate HMCS La Hulloise commissioned.

U.S.A.: "Tess's Torch Song (I Had A Man)" sung by Ella Mae Morse from the movie "Up In Arms" is released.

Destroyer USS John A Bole laid down.

Submarine USS Sea Poacher launched.

Destroyer escort USS Walton launched.

Destroyer minelayer USS Shea launched.

Destroyers USS Taussig and Wren commissioned.

Escort carrier USS Bismark Sea commissioned.

Submarine USS Baya commissioned.

Coast Guard-manned Army vessel FS-363 was commissioned at Sturgeon Bay, WI with LT R. A. McCaffery, USCGR, as commanding officer. She was assigned to and operated in the Southwest Pacific area, including Leyte, Mindoro, Parang, etc., during the war. 

Top of Page

Yesterday        Tomorrow

Home

20 May 1945

Yesterday                           Tomorrow

May 20th, 1945 (SUNDAY)

GERMANY: Berlin: The Soviet occupiers appoint Dr Arthur Werner as the city's Oberburgmeister.

JAPAN: The USAAF's Twentieth Air Force flies Mission 179: During the night of 20/21 May, 30 B-29 Superfortresses mine Shimonoseki Strait, Maizuru harbor, and He-Saki anchorage; one B-29 is lost.

Japanese kamikazes are active off Okinawa:

- The destroyer USS Thatcher (DD-514) is struck by a kamikaze which passed down her port side, climbed steeply, did a wingover and dived in the ship striking aft of the bridge. The ship had a 6x9 foot (1.8x2.7 m) hole between the keel and the bilge. With 14 killed or missing and 53 wounded, the stricken ship limped into Kerama Retto. 

- The destroyer escort USS John C. Butler (DE-339) is attacked by six kamikazes just before sunset; five are shot down and the sixth strikes the mast damaging the mast and the antennas.

- The high-speed transport USS Chase (APD-54, ex DE-158) shots down a kamikaze but the aircraft splashes 10 yards (9.1 m) from the ship and the explosion of the two bombs carried by the aircraft rip the ship's hull open, flooding the engine and fire rooms. With her steering gear jammed at hard left rudder, Chase drove off another suicide plane. Listing so badly as to be in danger of capsizing, Chase was kept afloat by her crew and towed into Kerama Retto for repairs.

- The high-speed transport USS Register (APD-92, ex DE-233) is attacked by four kamikazes at 1925 hours; two are shot down but one attacking from ahead, began a low, gliding run in an attempt to crash the bridge. Passing down the port side, the kamikaze was deflected overboard by the kingpost, which buckled and crashed over No. 3 40mm. gun mount, wounding 12 of the crew, including the gun captain, and causing considerable damage to the hull. The fourth plane though damaged, escaped. - The tank landing ship USS LST-808 is also damaged by a kamikaze.

2008: Glen Arthur Boren, 85, of Riley, and member of WWII Lists, died Today.  He was born July 10, 1922.

    Mr. Boren served his country in WWII in the U.S. Navy as an aircraft mechanic assigned to the USS Bunker Hill in the Pacific. His photo appeared on the Jan. 1, 1944 cover of Naval Aviation News and can be viewed, along with his WWII diary, at www.tarawaontheweb.org/boren/htm. He was a member of the Kansas National Guard from 1948 to 1950. In 1951, he joined the Air Force and spent four years at Smoky Hill AFB in Salina as a guided missile technician, training gunners during the Korean Conflict.

Other occupations he held throughout his life included working for his father at Boren Oil Company in Manhattan, patrolman of the Abilene Police Department, deputy sheriff of Ottawa County, special deputy sheriff of Saline County, special deputy sheriff of Lincoln County, and deputy game warden of Dickinson County. Additionally, he was a field service engineer for Radioplane (a division of Northrup), where he tested re-entry systems for the Gemini and Apollo missions. He eventually retired in 1985 from the Fort Riley Fire Department, having achieved the rank of crew chief (captain).

   After retirement, Mr. Boren continued to work in small engine repair, fire equipment sales, and locksmithing. He also served his local communities as fire chief of the Riley Volunteer Fire Department and the Leon Springs (Texas) Volunteer Fire Department.

Top of Page

Yesterday        Tomorrow

Home