9 June 1939

Yesterday Tomorrow

June 9th, 1939 (FRIDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: The IRA sets off 30 pillar-box bombs.

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9 June 1940

Yesterday Tomorrow

June 9th, 1940 (SUNDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: RAF Bomber Command: 4 Group (Whitley). Bombing - road and rail communications in France.

10 Sqn. Nine aircraft to Libremont, Sedan and Neufchateau. All bombed.

51 Sqn. Eleven aircraft. All bombed. One damaged by Flak, tail-gunner wounded.

58 Sqn. Six aircraft to Amiens. All bombed.

77 Sqn. Seven aircraft to Somme bridges. Six bombed. One hit by Flak and crashed at Abingdon on return.

102 Sqn. Eight aircraft to Abbeville and St. Valery. All bombed.

FRANCE: Paris: The Germans reach the Seine River. Dieppe and Compiegne fall. France is taking heavy losses in the fighting.

With the Germans just 50 miles away, the government leaves Paris and heads west for Tours. Paris is left in the hands of a military governor, General Hering.

Rommel crosses the Seine at Elbeuf. The cut off part of the French Tenth Army concentrates around Saint-Valery-en-Caux in an attempt to evacuate. They are prevented from doing this by tank fire from 7 Panzer.

Aisne: At 4.30 am a violent artillery barrage falls along the French positions along the Aisne, while the Luftwaffe attack the batteries and rear areas.

At 5 am the German infantry attacks between Neufchatel and Attigny. The French 14th Infantry Division on the right repulsed the Germans capturing 800 prisoners. The French 2nd Infantry Division, where the main attack was made, held firm everywhere except on its left flank, at Chateau-Porcien, where the Germans establish a bridgehead.

During the night Guderian pushes the 1st Panzers across the river at Chateau-Porcien.

NORWAY: Narvik: Germany formally reoccupies the port, and King Haakon and Norway’s High Command orders General Ruge and his army and all other loyal Norwegians to stop fighting at midnight. So strong is Dietl’s admiration of their courage that he is allowing them to return to their homes.

Mark Horan adds: By dawn it is obvious to all interested parties, from the Admiralty on down, that some form of disaster has befallen HMS Glorious and company, from which no word has been heard since departing the Narvik area, and requests for position reports have gone unanswered...

Meanwhile, Ark endeavours to keep and A.D.A. patrol of two Swordfish and a fighter patrol of three Skuas over the troop convoy throughout the day. Also, commencing at 0405, she begins launching a series of more and more extensive air searches in front of and beyond the convoy.

At 0405, four Swordfish search the sector from 130 to 225 degrees, ahead of the convoy. The aircraft report a small convoy and several independents, but no enemy warships. At 0718 two Swordfish are sent to the rearward sector to search for a missing ship, SS Vandyck (13,241 BRT), but she is not found (bombed and sunk by a FW-200C of 1/KG 40). At 1000 four more Swordfish are sent out between 130 and 210 degrees, then at 1110 another three go out between 275 to 090 degrees (a fairly skimpy number for such a wide sector). At 1300, a large coordinated effort is sent off, and for the first time 701 Squadrons Walrus amphibians are to take part as well. First 6 Swordfish and two Walrus' depart to search between 110 southward to 285 degrees. A further three Skuas are sent off to search between 315 Northward to 035 degrees. The former went out to 100 miles, the later only 20 miles past the convoy. The whole is repeated at 1545 when by a like number of aircraft in exactly the same sectors. At 1830 six Swordfish and three Walrus' went out between 175 Southward to 340 degrees to 120 miles, while three Skuas went out on the arc 015 to 140 degrees to 20 miles astern of the convoy. All of the efforts availed nothing, as the two German battleships were well on their way to Trondheim.

Meanwhile, word had come in that HMS Valiant, escorting the convoy, had spotted a snooper. Thus, immediately after the search went up, a section of 800 Squadron Skuas under Lt. G. R. Callingham went up to intercept and then patrol over the convoy. On arrival, they found, chased, and brought down He-115 S4+EH of KuFlGr 506. Interestingly, the wreck of this aircraft was found on the sea floor several years ago. Turns out the FAA pilot (Acting S-Lt. R. W. Kearsley, RN) and the German pilot (the crew was rescued by another He-115) have been good friends since the war!)

At 2145, a similar search (six Swordfish and two Walrus) went out between 155 westward to 355 degrees, distant 129 miles, with three Skuas again going astern.

Then, at 2300, six He-111s of II/KG 26, were sighted approaching Ark Royal from astern. Callingham's trio, already in the air, shot down one Heinkel and damaged another. Likewise, Lt. G. E. D. Finch-Noyes section of three from 800 Squadron, sent off at 2315 to reinforce the CAP, damaged another in a long chase. At 2355, two more sections were sent aloft, Lt. C. W. Peever's trio from 803, and Capt. R. T. Partridge's from 800. They two became embroiled with the last of the Heinkel's, forcing them to jettison their bombs and flee. No FAA aircraft were hit.

Apparently, several of the FAA search aircraft, one being a Walrus, were sighted by Glorious survivors in the water, but the nasty weather, and height above the water of the aircraft combined to hid the overburdened Carley floats still, at this point, overloaded with the weakened and frozen survivors.

In the afternoon German warships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau arrive in Trondheim.

FRENCH NORTH AFRICA: The heavy cruiser USS Vincennes (CA-44) and destroyers USS Truxton (DD-229) and USS Simpson (DD-221) arrive at Casablanca, French Morocco from the U.S. The Bank of France's gold reserves, 200 tons of gold brought to Casablanca by a French auxiliary cruiser, will be loaded in the U.S. cruiser and taken to New York City for deposit in U.S. banks.

9 June 1941

June 9th, 1941 (MONDAY)

SYRIA: The Allies capture Tyre.

On coastal axis an attempt by British commandos to land behind the Litani Bridge is defeated by bad weather. The French blow the bridge.

2/16 Aust Bn cross the river under fire and secure the far bank by the afternoon. By 0130 next morning engineers have built a pontoon bridge across the river. On the central axis, Australians capture Fort Khiam after a sharp bombardment, but can make no progress towards Merdjayoun. Gloster Gladiators of 'X' Flight RAF begin operations from Amman, flying patrols over Free French troops on the road to Damascus. General de Verdilhac (Vichy Dep C-in-C) orders II/6 Battalion French Foreign Legion and 6th Chasseurs d’Afrique (armoured) to assemble in Nahr el Awaj area for counter-attack.

There is a naval battle off the coast of Syria when the two French super-destroyers GUEPARD and VALMY are sighted by the British destroyers HMS JANUS and HMS JACKAL. In the ensuing engagement both of the British ships are damaged, HMS JANUS seriously. The French ships use their superior speed to withdraw when two more British destroyers HMS ISIS and HMS Hotspur appear. (Peter Beeston)

CANADA: Minesweeper HMCS Canso is launched at North Vancouver.

Minesweeper HCMS Granby is launched at Levis Province of Quebec.

Corvette HMCS Saskatoon is commissioned.

Tug HMCS Patricia McQueen is assigned to Gaspe Province of Quebec.

RN Auxiliary Oiler Clam arrives St John's and joined the NEF.

U.S.A.: The plan for a joint U.S. Army-Marine Corps invasion of the Azores in the event that German invades Spain and Portugal is suspended when intelligence sources learn that Germany has no intentions to invade the Iberian Peninsula.

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9 June 1945 9 June 1944 9 June 1943 9 June 1941 9 June 1940 9 June 1939 9 June 1942

Yesterday Tomorrow

June 9th, 1942 (TUESDAY)

CZECHOSLOVAKIA: Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia: The entire town of Lidice is destroyed in reprisal for the assassination of Heydrich on May 27.

A few children survived the massacre and were SOLD to German families at RM 50 each. This was one of many reprisal actions for the recent assassination of Reinhard Tristan Eugen Heydrich in Prague.

Thirty-five prisoners were trucked in the next morning from nearby Theresienstadt camp to clean up, bury the dead.

Lidice became an international symbol for Nazi tyranny - although hundreds of similar villages were likewise destroyed in Belarus and other German occupied territory. (John Nicholas and Tom Hickcox)

U.S.S.R.: Germany launches a new offensive on the Kharkov front.

MALTA: A consignment of 32 Spitfires is delivered by the carrier HMS EAGLE.

MADAGASCAR: HMS Ramillies leaves Diego Suarez today, bound for Durban for structural repairs. Her escort on the journey was by the light Cruiser HMS Emerald, three destroyers and a tug. There was much apprehension about the journey due to the extensive damage she had taken, from the Japanese midget submarine attack, and worry about the gaping hole in her side. She arrives at Durban late today having been escorted for the latter part of her journey by HMS Jasmine and HMS Fritillary.

She will leave for Cape Town and the UK on the 6th August 1942 arriving back at Plymouth on the 8th September for further repairs at the Devonport Dockyard. She will be out of service for nearly a year (Denis Peck)

JAPAN: The Japanese declare that the Philippine Islands are secured.

AUSTRALIA: Lieutenant Commander Lyndon B. Johnson, USNR, on a congressional inspection tour of the Southwest Pacific, boards a B-26 Marauder, msn 1353, USAAC s/n 40-1488, flown by 1st Lt. W. H. Greer as pilot and RAAF Sergeant Pilot G. A. McMullin as co-pilot, of the USAAF's 19th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 22d Bombardment Group (Medium) based at Townsville, Australia, to participate in an attack on Japanese airfields in New Guinea. The aircraft takes off but engine trouble forces the pilot to return to base without having seen combat. For this mission, Johnson is awarded the Silver Star for "gallantry." Johnson goes on to become the 36th President of the U.S.

Here is the story of the mission.

Eleven B-26 Marauder's of the 22nd Bombardment Group (Medium) departed Townsville, Queensland, Australia, at 1330 hours local on 8 June 1942 and arrived at Seven Mile Aerodrome, Port Moresby, New Guinea, by 1746 hours local. They then raided Lae, New Guinea, on 9 June 1942. This mission was called "TOW 9" in the official records.

Lieutenant Commander Lyndon Baines Johnson, USNR, the future 36th President of the United States, went on this raid as an observer.

Lyndon Johnson travelled from Townsville to Port Moresby by B-17 on the morning of the raid.

The raid was delayed by an hour waiting for the VIP's that were to accompany them on the raid. The VIP's were Congressman Lyndon Baines Johnson (USNR), General Marquat, Col. G. Anderson (Gen Staff), Lt Col. Dwight Divine II and Lt. Col. Francis R. Stevens.

Lyndon Johnson was initially assigned to Lt. Bench's aircraft, "The Virginian," USAAC 40-1508. But he apparently left the aircraft to retrieve his camera and on return he found that Lt. Col. Francis R. Stevens had taken his place on "The Virginian." Lyndon Johnson then changed aircraft from "The Virginian" to Arkie Greer's "Heckling Hare" just before he took off on the mission. The crew of "Heckling Hare" apparently also knew their aircraft as "Arkansas Traveller."

This was fortuitous for Lyndon Johnson, as Bench's aircraft, "The Virginian," was boxed in so low by "Shamrock," Thunderbird" and "Boomerang" as they departed the target, that "The Virginian" flew into the water off Salamaua killing Willis Bench and all of his crew.

After the mission, Lyndon Johnson returned to Australia in General Brett's Boeing B-17D Flying Fortress, USAAC 40-3097 "Swoose" flown by Captain Frank Kurtz. They almost ran out of fuel when they became lost heading for Cloncurry, Queensland. They landed in the bush on Carisbrooke Station near Winton. This B-17, "Swoose", then flew back to USA with General Brett. The aircraft is owned by the National Air and Space Museum in Washington.

Nine days after the raid, Lyndon Johnson was awarded an Amy Silver Star medal, the nation's 3rd highest medal for valour, by General MacArthur's chief of Staff, Major-General R.K. Sutherland for his participation in the above bombing raid. He often wore this medal during his term as President of the United States. He refused to discuss the details of how we won the medal. His citation read:-

"For gallantry in action in the vicinity of Port Moresby and Salamaua, New Guinea on June 9, 1942. While on a mission of obtaining information in the Southwest Pacific area, Lieutenant Commander Johnson, in order to obtain personal knowledge of combat conditions, volunteered as an observer on a hazardous aerial combat mission over hostile positions in New Guinea. As our planes neared the target area they were intercepted by eight hostile fighters. When, at this time, the plane in which Lieutenant Commander Johnson was an observer, developed mechanical trouble and was forced to turn back alone, presenting a favorable target to the enemy fighters, he evidenced marked coolness in spite of the hazards involved. His gallant action enabled him to obtain and return with valuable information."

Lyndon Johnson's diary records the following regarding this mission:-

"After we were off the field with Prell and Greer leading, Greer's generator went out: crew begged him to go on. For the next thirty minutes we flew on one generator."

CANADA: Lt Denis James Patrick RCNVR awarded Bar to George Medal.

Harbour craft HMC HC 181, 161, 155, 162, 170 and 177 are ordered from SG Mason Tancoak in Nova Scotia.

Harbour craft HMC HC 151, 152, 153, 197, 154 and 169 are ordered from Palmer and Williams Summerside in Prince Edward Island.

U.S.A.: A German submarine sinks an armed U.S. freighter in the Caribbean, 60 miles (96.6 km) off the Honduran coast.

First US Navy photographic interpretation unit set up in the Atlantic.

9 June 1943

June 9th, 1943 (WEDNESDAY)

MEDITERRANEAN SEA: The heavy shelling of Pantelleria continues, and the Allies say that it will go on until the island surrenders.

Medium and heavy bombers, and fighters of the Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF) continue pounding Pantelleria Island in the Mediterranean in predawn hours and during the afternoon.

TERRITORY OF ALASKA: ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: The Japanese evacuation of Kiska Island in the Aleutians Islands by submarines continues.

Submarine HIJMS I-9 departs Paramushiru Island, Kurile Islands for Kiska and is never heard from again.

Meanwhile, HIJMS I-169 unloads one ton of weapons and ammunition and two tons of food for the Japanese remaining on Kiska and evacuates 31 Navy and 29 civilian personnel. After getting underway, a US vessel fires six rounds at the submarine at 2250 hours local in a dense fog off the north coast of the island.

CANADA: Corvette HMCS Fredericton arrives at Liverpool, Nova Scotia for refit.

9 June 1944

June 9th, 1944 (FRIDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: Catterick, Yorkshire: Mr. John Weller Brown (d.1978), was blown some distance when an ammunition railhead blew up, but unhesitatingly went to the aid of the dead and injured. (Empire Medal)

Woodford, Cheshire: The prototype Avro Lancaster IV later designated the Lincoln makes its first flight. A long-range bomber it carries 14,000-lb of bombs for 1,470 miles. (22)

FRANCE: The British are involved in heavy fighting around Caen in Normandy. The US VII Corps takes Azeville on the way to Cherbourg. Allied aircraft are operating from air fields in Normandy.

During the evening the 327 Glider Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division crossed the River Douvre in Normandy. In addition the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment passed a few men across the river on that night. The 327th had a mission of cutting the main road leading east out of Carentan so as to prevent an escape by Germans on that road. (Jay Stone)

Tulle: The 2nd SS Das Reich Panzer division kills 99 civilian men in reprisal for a local Resistance act of sabotage.

Bad weather prevents operations by the USAAF's Eighth and Ninth Air Forces in England.

Old BB HMS Centurion is scuttled as a blockship off Arromanches in preparation for the construction of the Mulberry harbours off Normandy. She was not in commission at the time and there were no casualties. 53 old warships and merchant ships were used to make this 4-mile breakwater.

Cruiser HMS Durban (not in commission) is scuttled as a blockship off Arromanches.

Auxiliary AA ship Alynbank (not in commission) is scuttled as a blockship at Arromanches. (Alex Gordon)(108)

Off the Coast of Normandy: At 0100, eight ships of the 10th Destroyer Flotilla, organized into two divisions of four destroyers each, encountered a German formation of two large Narvik-class DD's (Z-24 and Z-32) the ex-Dutch DD ZH-1 (formerly HNLMS Gerhard Callenburgh) and the 1939-class torpedo boat (known as Elbing- class to the allies) T-24. The German formation had sortied from Brest to attack the allied invasion forces off of the Normandy coast and was then to proceed to Cherbourg to deliver a deck cargo of torpedoes for German E-boats. Upon encountering the 19th Division (Tartar (SO), Ashanti, Haida and Huron) the German formation split.

Z-32, which was the lead ship with their Senior Officer embarked, altered to the north towards the 20th Division (Blyskawica, Javelin, Piorun, and Eskimo), ZH 1 altered west towards the 19th Division, and Z-24 with T-24 altered away to the south-west. Tartar and Ashanti sank ZH-1 while Haida and Huron pursued Z-24 and T-24.

The faster German ships soon outran Haida and Huron, who then reversed course to return to the other action. At 0254, they encountered Z-32, who had outrun the 20th Division and was returning to the south at 31 knots. Z-32 attempted to shake off her pursuers by running eastward through a known minefield but the combined allied force eventually cornered her. Z-32 deliberately ran herself hard ashore where she was shelled and left in flames. Subsequent air attacks by Canadian 'Beaufighter' torpedo-bombers finished the destruction of the wreck.

US LST-314 (Landing Ship Tank) is torpedoed by a German E-Boat. The ship has already dropped off cargo on June 6, and is making another cargo run to Normandy. Among those killed is Navy Gunner's Mate 1st Class Walter Baranick. Rescue operations are performed by destroyer HMS Beagle. 104 are lost, 50 soldiers and 54 sailors. There were 58 soldiers aboard with special equipment. They were specialists in harbour control. (JJ McKenna, nephew of Walter Baranick)

GERMANY: Hitler's commanders remain convinced that the main thrust of the invasion is yet to come and will be in Belgium or the Pas de Calais.

ITALY: Marshall Badoglio resigns from the Italian government. Ivanoe Bonomi forms a new cabinet.
The Allied advance continues north of Rome.

The USAAF's Fifteenth Air Force in Italy dispatches around 500 B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators to attack targets in Germany and Italy; B-17s hit the industrial area and air depot at Munich, Germany; B-24s also hit the industrial area and ordinance depot at Munich and oil storage at Porto Marghera, Italy; P-47 Thunderbolts, P-38 Lightnings and P-51 Mustangs fly 250+ sorties in support of the Munich raids; the bombers and fighters claim 30+ aircraft destroyed; 13 USAAF aircraft are lost.

FINLAND: The Soviet offensive against Finland in the Karelian Isthmus is initiated by a massive artillery bombardment and series of probing attacks by Army General Leonid Govorov's Leningrad Front. By nightfall the Red Army units have succeeded in penetrating into Finnish defences and tying the local Finnish reserves in battle. The main blow follows tomorrow.

The Soviet aviation is also active. Ground attack and bomber aircraft scour the Finnish rear. Finnish Me 109G and Brewster Buffalo fighters of Aviation Regiment 3 (Lt. Col. Gustaf Magnusson) claim ten Soviet aircraft shot down over the Isthmus without own losses. The Finnish claims are 2 x Airacobra, 4 x La-5, 3 x Il-4 and a Pe-2 (research in Russian archives has so far confirmed the loss of 3 x Il-4, from 55th and 836th Bomber Aviation Regiments and 113th Bomber Aviation Division). However, bad weather saves Finns from a very serious blow: Soviet long-range bomber aviation was ordered to bomb the city of Viipuri (Vyborg) in north-western Isthmus by several hundred aircraft. The bombers, based in southern Russia, are forced to abort the mission after meeting an area of thunderstorms over central Russia. Viipuri, besides of being of great symbolical significance, is also an important supply and communication hub for Finnish forces in the Karelian Isthmus.

U.S.S.R.: An American expert on Japanese military intelligence, Colonel Moses W. Pettigrew, meets with Soviet Far East Intelligence experts in Moscow. This is the first meeting between the two groups and will lead to a progressively better exchange of information for the rest of the war.

CANADA: Corvette HMCS Arvida arrived Halifax from work ups in Bermuda.

Corvette HMCS Regina arrives at Sydney Nova Scotia for a refit.

Corvette HMCS Lachute is launched at Quebec City.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: An extract from Jim Verdolini's diary:

June 9,1944.

The Abnaki, a fleet tug, and the Kennebeck, met us, and refuelled us, and took U-505 in tow, for our 2500 mile trip home.

From the Cincpac Press Office: JOINT STATEMENT, JUNE 9, 1944

The following joint Anglo-American statement on submarine and anti-submarine operations is issued under the authority of the President and the Prime Minister:

"During May our shipping losses have been by far the lowest for any month of the war, and they have in fact been a fraction of the losses inflicted on enemy shipping by our warships and aircraft, although their merchant shipping is petty compared to that of the Allies.

"There has been a lull in the operations of the U-boats which perhaps indicates preparation for a renewed offensive. The change which had come over the scene is illustrated by the fact that in spite of the few U-boats at sea, several are now sent to the bottom for each merchant ship sunk whereas formerly each U-boat accounted for a considerable number of merchant ships before being destroyed.

"This is to be ascribed to the vigilance and to the relentless attacks of our Anglo-American-Canadian and other anti-U-boat forces, including the scientists who support them in a brilliant manner."

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 438, Truk Atoll was bombed by Seventh Army Air Force Liberators on the night of June 7-8 (West Longitude Date). Airfields were the principal tar-gets. Antiaircraft fire was meagre and inaccurate.

Ponape Island was attacked by Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force on the evening of June 6 and at night on June 8. Airfields, plantation areas, and Ponape Town were bombed. Antiaircraft fire was meagre.

Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two bombed Pakin and Nauru Islands on June 6. Antiaircraft batteries were hit at Pakin Island.

Enemy positions in the Marshalls were bombed and strafed by Dauntless dive bombers and Corsair fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing and Navy Hellcat fighters on June 6 and 7. Runways, coastal gun emplacements, and antiaircraft batteries were principal targets. A Corsair fighter was downed near Mille Atoll on June 7 and its pilot rescued by a destroyer. (Denis Peck)

9 June 1945

June 9th, 1945 (SATURDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: The RAF reveals the Vampire, a new jet fighter which can fly at over 500mph.

JAPAN: Japanese Privy Seal Kido today gains the approval of the Emperor on a scheme to mediate peace through the USSR. This plan features 1) Honourable terms for Japan. 2) Withdrawal from occupied ares at Japan's initiative. 3) Acceptable arms reductions.

Tokyo: Japan has responded to the daylight pounding of three of its mainland cities and the imminent defeat of its forces on Okinawa by stepping up kamikaze raids on the US naval task force off Okinawa. In the last three days suicide pilots have sunk two US destroyers, killing 312 servicemen. Japan has lost 67 kamikaze flyers in the raids. The attacks have ended hopes that Japan is preparing to accept the Allied demand for unconditional surrender. It is understood that even the premier Mr. Suzuki, a known moderate, is opposed to such a surrender, believing it to be a betrayal of Japanese forces still in the field.

In the latest raids on Japan - the first time that three cities have been hit in one day - a fleet of 110 unescorted B-29s dropped high-explosive bombs on aircraft factories at Nagoya, Narao and Akashi. At the same time US carrier-based fighters strafed bases on Kyushu used for Kamikaze attacks.

The USAAF's Twentieth Air Force in the Mariana Islands flies four missions:

1. Mission 191: 44 B-29 Superfortresses attack the Kawanishi Aircraft Company's plant at Narao; one other hits a target of opportunity.

2. Mission 192: 24 B-29s hit the Kawasaki plant at Akashi; there is 9/10 cloud cover and bombing is by radar; the village of Akashi rather than the factory is hit; two others bomb targets of opportunity.

3. Mission 193: 42 B-29s hit Aichi's Atsuta factory; only four bombs hit the target area but one causes a devastating fire; one other hits a target of opportunity.

4. Mission 194: During the night of 8/9 June, 26 B-29s mine Shimonoseki Strait; one other mines an alternate target. Mines previously laid by B-29s sink two Japanese freighters off Japan.

On Okinawa, Ushijima's defence force, confined to the island's southern tip, has been split in two after landings behind the Japanese lines by US marines.

COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: Mindanao: US troops capture the last major defensive strongpoint on the island, at Mandog.

TERRITORY OF ALASKA: ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: Four North American B-25 Mitchells, based on Attu Island, Aleutian Islands, attack Araido Island in the Kurile Islands and are attacked by Japanese aircraft. Two B-25s stray into Soviet airspace and one is shot down by antiaircraft fire; the second lands at Petropavlosk.

Task Force 92, the light cruisers USS Concord (CL-10), USS Richmond (CL-9) and USS Trenton (CL-11) plus escorting destroyers, patrols the east coast of the Kurile Islands searching for Japanese shipping.

CANADA: HMC MTB 464 paid off.

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