10 Sqn. Eight aircraft to Bremen. All bombed.

51 Sqn. Seven aircraft to the Ruhr. Three bombed.

58 Sqn. Eight aircraft to Bremen. Two returned early, two bombed primary, three bombed alternative targets. One FTR.

2 Group ( Blenheim). 107 Sqn. Bombing - Creil - started a fire visible 40 miles away.

RAF Fighter Command: The first victory by a Blenheim Mark 1F night fighter, equipped with airborne radar.

London: The war cabinet today approved a draft document signed 19 July by Neville Chamberlain, now the Lord President of the Council, creating a new secret organisation, the Special Operations Executive (SOE). It’s aim, in Churchill’s words, is to "set Europe alight."

It will come under the Labour MP Hugh Dalton, the Minister for Economic Warfare in the coalition government, who was asked to head the planned SOE on 16 July. Both MI6, which has its own sabotage department and the army have expressed opposition to the formation of SOE because it intrudes into their territory, but Dalton is determined it will succeed.

"Regular soldiers," he argues, "are not the men to stir up revolution, to create social chaos or to use all those un-gentlemanly means of winning the war which come so easily to the Nazis."

Destroyer HMS Beagle destroyed a German Junkers JU-87 by pom-pom fire.

Destroyer HMS Brazen: loss of the ship reported. She was sunk while returning under tow, to port, after being attacked by enemy aircraft. Three planes were reported shot down. All the ship's crew was saved.

Destroyer HMS Paladin laid down.

Minesweepers HMS Lantan and Lyemun laid down.

U.S.S.R.: Soviet submarine SC-138 launched.

JAPAN: Tokyo: Prince Fumimaro Konoye is appointed prime minister.

CANADA: Corvette HMS Eyebright launched Montreal, Province of Quebec.
 

Destroyer HMS Cowdray launched.

GERMANY: Berlin: The German News Bureau (DNB) reported:

On Sunday night through to Monday morning the German Luftwaffe launched its first grand assault on the Soviet capital. A responsible authority in Berlin confirms that large numbers of bombers wings mounted an extremely vigorous attack. The raids continued for several hours without let-up, we believe from sunset until dawn. the German aerial attack on Moscow appears to confirm that the German Luftwaffe has now been successful in setting up takeoff bases inside the conquered Russian territories. These bases are well situated for its bomber missions so that the bombers are now only a few hundred miles from Moscow and can make intensified attacks on the Soviet capital.

The Wehrmacht High Command announced:

The breakthrough operations of the German Wehrmacht and its allies have broken the Soviet defensive front into disconnected groups. Despite tenacious local resistance and dogged counter-attacks, any unified conduct by the enemy is no longer discernible. Operations to smash and annihilate the individual Soviet armed forces groups, are continuing without let-up along the entire Eastern Front. Last night the Luftwaffe attacked Moscow for the first time in retaliation for the Bolshevik air raids on the open capital cities of our allies, Bucharest and Helsinki. Strong German bomber formations with good ground visibility made relay bombing raids on military installations in the Soviet Russian communications and munitions centre in Moscow. Direct bomb hits started countless conflagrations and wide-spreading fires in the Kremlin district and around the Moskva river bend. High ranking Soviet headquarters buildings and government offices have been destroyed or badly hit, as have supply factories.

U-450 laid down.

U-117, U-171 launched.

U.S.S.R.: The Axis armies pause in their advance, having conquered 700,000 square miles of Russian territory.

Moscow: The Soviet Information Bureau reported:

Yesterday evening Moscow experienced its first air attack of the war. The sirens sounded at 10:00 P.M. after lookout men had reported more than 200 German bombers flying toward Moscow. Soviet night interceptor planes and antiaircraft batteries went into action and succeeded in forcing the bulk of the attackers to turn back before reaching the capital. Only isolated German-Fascist aircraft succeeded in breaking through and released a number of bombs that destroyed dwellings or set them on fire, but no military targets were hit. There were several dead and injured. Night interceptors and anti-aircraft guns destroyed 17 German aircraft.

FINLAND: While the Finnish attack in Karelia is in progress (often against heavy Soviet resistance), Colonel Ruben Lagus, the commander of the 5th Div., is nominated the first recipient of a new decoration, the Mannerheim Cross (2nd class).

MEDITERRANEAN SEA: Italian planes locate part of the Convoy of Operation Substance which left Gibraltar yesterday. The Italian Fleet stays in port, expecting a ferry flight of aircraft to Malta.
The Italian sub Alagi heard the convoy of Operation Substance but could not attack while the sub Diaspro fired 4 torpedoes to the Ark Royal and HMAS Nestor but missed. 8 SM79s torpedo bombers and 15 bombers (SM79 and Cant Z1007) take off from Sardinia to attack the convoy but failed to find it. (Andrea Galliano)

U-639 launched.

U-665 commissioned.

Trigger-happy SS guards have surrounded the ghetto walls; others roamed the streets, snatching wailing children from their mothers' arms. Whole orphanages have been emptied and their inmates, kicking and yelling, carried off in high-sided carts to the ghetto's railway siding where they were loaded into covered goods wagons. All day long the shrieks of "Mama, mama!" and "Save us!" have tormented the adults who stayed behind.

SS Major Hermann Hofle is in charge of the deportation. He has ordered Adam Czerniakow, the leader of the Jewish council, to deliver 6,000 Jews to the railway siding by 4pm each day, seven days a week. If this is not done, the Nazis' 60 hostages - among Czerniakow's wife - will die.

NEW ZEALAND: Ships bearing the US 1st Marine Division sail from Wellington for the Koro island rehearsal, prior to the landings in the southern Solomon Islands now set for August 7.

TERRITORY OF ALASKA: ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: The 11th Air Force dispatches 8 B-24 Liberators and 2 B-17 Flying Fortresses to Kiska Island, but only 8 reach the target and due to fog drop only 7 bombs with unobserved results; 1 B-24 is missing on the return flight.

CANADA: Patrol vessel HMCS Western Maid acquired. Built in Vancouver, 1936, 44ft overall, Registered owner Union Trading Co, Ltd, Vancouver, noted as filthy condition, main engine requiring overhaul, otherwise seaworthy. Appraised at $10,200.00, ownership to crown Aug 1942, sold Mar 1945.

Minesweeper HMCS Middlesex launched Port Arthur, Ontario.

U.S.A.: US President Roosevelt agrees with the British that "Sledgehammer" is not possible in 1942. He instructs his planners in London to find "another place for US troops to fight in 1942".

Gasoline [petrol] rationing is implemented.

Submarine USS Blackfish commissioned

Destroyer USS Radford commissioned.

Submarine USS Dace laid down.

Destroyer USS Sigsbee laid down.

Minesweeper USS Pheasant laid down.

Corvette USS Pert laid down.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: At 1335, the Roamar was shelled by U-505 with 22 rounds from the deck gun and sank at 1500.

At 2012, the unescorted and unarmed Honolulan was torpedoed by U-582 about 400 miles south of the Cape Verde Islands while proceeding on a nonevasive course at 9.6 knots. One torpedo struck the starboard side at the #5 hatch, destroying a lifeboat, opening a huge hole in the hull and jamming the steam whistle. Most of the eleven officers and 28 crewmen abandoned ship in three lifeboats. The master, the first mate and the radio operator stayed behind until a second torpedo struck at 2040 between the #2 and #3 hatch, causing the ship to sink within minutes. These men jumped into the water and were picked up by one of the boats. Two hours later the ship sank with the whistle still blowing. The survivors were questioned by the U-boat and given the course to the Cape Verde Islands and two boxes of cigarettes before leaving. All men were picked up by the British MS Winchester Castle six days later and landed in New York on 7 August.

U-77 reported that she had sunk eight sailing vessels with gunfire between 22 Jul and 16 Aug 42. Six of these vessels were Vassiliki, Toufic El Rahman, St. Simon, Ezzet, Kharouf and Daniel. The Adnan was only damaged and an unidentified sailing vessel was sunk on 7 August.

Destroyer HMS Ursa launched .

Minesweeper HMS Frolic launched.

Corvette HMS Allington Castle laid down.

GERMANY:

U-989 commissioned

U-349, U-995 launched.

In the air, Northwest African Tactical Air Force (NATAF) light bombers hit Randazzo, the railroad at Falcone, the road west of Marina, Adrano, Paterno, Troina, and Misterbianco.

During the night of 21/22 July, Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF) Wellingtons bomb Capodichino Airfield and Salerno marshalling yard. During the day, 100+ B-17s bomb the Battipaglia marshalling yard and Foggia; B-26s hit a Salerno bridge and marshalling yard; and fighters fly a sweep over Maddalena Island, strafing factories, trucks, and small vessels.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: During the afternoon, 20+ B-17s and B-24s, 12 Navy PB4Y-1 Liberators, 18 SBD Dauntlesses and 18 TBF Avengers escorted by 134 Allied fighter aircraft attack shipping in the area off Buin, Bougainville Island. A sea-plane carrier is sunk, and damaging hits are claimed on several other vessels. Navy F4F Wildcat pilots shoot down 5 A6M "Zekes."
A US reconnaissance party lands in Vella Lavella.

PACIFIC OCEAN: USS Sculpin (SS-191) sinks the seaplane carrier HIJMS Nisshin east of Kokoda Island off New Guinea at position 3.47S 151.36E. (Jack McKillop and Massmiliano Stola)

TERRITORY OF ALASKA: ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: The USN's Task Groups 16.1 and 16.2, under Rear Admiral Robert C. Griffin, bombard Kiska Island.

TG 16.1, composed of the heavy cruisers USS Louisville (CA-28), USS San Francisco (CA-38) and USS Wichita (CA-45), the light cruiser USS Santa Fe (CL-60) and five destroyers, fires 1,719 rounds for 21 minutes at the Main Camp and Little Kiska Island.

TG 16.2, composed of the battleships USS Mississippi (BB-41) and USS New Mexico (BB-40), the heavy cruiser USS Portland (CA-33) and four destroyers, fires 1,084 rounds for 18 minutes on North and South Head, Sunrise Hill and the Submarine Base.

The Japanese return fire but it is ineffective. IJN submarines are reported but they turn out to be two porpoises and three whales.

The USAAF's Eleventh Air Force dispatches 26 B-25 Mitchells, 17 B-24s, 13 P-40s, and 20 P-38 Lightnings hit North Head, Main Camp, and the submarine base at Kiska Island, as well as coastal defenses and Anti-Aircraft guns at both Kiska and Little Kiska Islands, starting numerous fires.

Intense and heavy AA fire downs one B-25 (crew saved) and damages 18 aircraft of which another B-25 crashes at base.

One B-25 photographs the southern and western Kiska Island shores while a B-24 flies radar reconnaissance over Kiska Island.



CANADA: HMC ML 125 commissioned.

Minesweeper HMCS Middlesex launched Port Arthur, Ontario.
Henry Asbjorn Larsen 1899-1964 leaves Halifax on the RCMP patrol ship St. Roch to return to Vancouver via Northwest Passage; completes trip 86 days later.

U.S.A.:

Escort carrier USS Bolinas commissioned.

Destroyer escort USS Canfield commissioned.

Destroyer escorts USS Eichenberger and James E Craig launched.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: At 0921, the unescorted Cherry Valley was hit by two torpedoes from U-66, while steering a zigzagging course at 15.5 knots. The torpedoes struck the starboard side between the #6 and #7 tanks. The explosions ripped open the #5, #6, #7 and #8 starboard and centre tanks. The engines and steering gear were not damaged and the tanker tried to escape at a reduced speed of 13 knots. U-66 followed the tanker and fired a spread of three torpedoes at 1130; one was seen passing ahead and one other astern. The U-boat then surfaced to stop the vessel with gunfire. The tanker was armed with one 5in, one 3in and eight 20mm and fired back, forcing the U-boat to break off the attack. The list to port was adjusted by emptying the #1 starboard tank and the Cherry Valley successfully escaped. She arrived at San Juan, Puerto Rico, under her own power, escorted into port by the HNLMS Jan van Brakel on 24 July. There were no casualties among the eleven officers, 40 crewmen and 28 armed guards. Eventually she was repaired and returned to service.

At 1510, U-81 torpedoed the Empire Moon, which was sailing in an unidentified convoy, escorted by HMS Stroma. The ship reached port safely.
 

UNITED KINGDOM: The Eighth Air Force flies two missions.

- Mission 488: 7 B-17s drop leaflets on Bremen, Hamburg and Kiel, Germany. Escort is provided by 27 P-51 Mustangs.

- Mission 489: 7 B-17s drop leaflets in France and the Netherlands during the night.

- 44 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.

Rescue tug HMS Enforcer launched.

ASW trawler HMS Royal Marine launched.

CHINA: US official observers arrive to assess military co-operation between the US and China.

GUAM: Both US Marine Division advance about 1 mile from their beachhead positions taken yesterday in the invasion.
The Allies' central Pacific strategy of cutting Japan off from its recently-acquired Pacific empire seems tantalizingly close to fruition. If Guam, the southern-most of the Marianas, falls, Japan's last lifeline to its bases in the east will be severed. US bombers are hastening the process, today striking for the 37th successive day at Yap, in the western Carolines, 350 miles to the south of Guam and Japan's nearest base to Guam. West of Yap, US forces also bombed the Japanese-held Palau Islands, a possible staging post for recapturing the Philippines.

NEW GUINEA: Following an air and artillery bombardment, U.S. Army personnel clear the last organized Japanese pocket on Biak Island.

MARIANAS ISLANDS: Seventh Air Force P-47 Thunderbolts from Saipan Island, using napalm-bombs for the first time, hit Tinian and Pagan Islands. They aim to burn out the heavy brush overlooking the landing beach, but the early mixture with gasoline is less than satisfactory. Makin Island-based B-25s pound Ponape Island. Far East Air Force (FEAF) B-24s again attack the airfield on Yap Island.

TERRITORY OF ALASKA: ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: Two B-25s flying a negative shipping search encounter a G4M "Betty" bomber which evades contact.

CANADA: Frigate HMCS Stone Town commenced tropicalization refit Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.
Corvette HMCS Frontenac paid off Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Corvette HMCS Camrose paid off Sydney, Nova Scotia.
Corvette HMCS Kamsack paid off Sorel, Province of Quebec.

Henry Asbjorn Larsen 1899-1964 leaves Halifax on the RCMP patrol ship St. Roch to return to Vancouver via NW Passage; completes trip 86 days later.

HMC ML 125 commissioned.

U-354 evacuated a weather team from Hopen Island.

U.S.A.: The Bretton Woods conference of international finance ministers ends, having set up the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Monetary Fund.

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt sails for Hawaii in the heavy cruiser USS Baltimore (CA-68) to confer with Admiral Chester W. Nimitz and General Douglas MacArthur.

The motion picture "The Adventures of Mark Twain" is released in the U.S. Directed by Irving Rapper, the film stars Fredric March (as Twain), Alexis Smith, Donald Crisp, Alan Hale, John Carradine and Percy Kilbride; Diana Barrymore is cast in a bit part while Peter Lawford has an uncredited bit part. This "Hollywoodized" version of Samuel Clemens is not a great biography but it is entertaining. The film is nominated for three technical Academy Awards.

Submarine USS Mero laid down.

Destroyer USS Harry E Hubbard commissioned.

Minesweeper USS Creddock launched.

Coast Guard-manned Army vessel FS-183 was commissioned at New Orleans, Louisiana. Her first commanding officer was LTJG E. W. Owiazda, USCGR. He was succeeded on 11 October 1945 by LT Clive V. Clark, who in turn was succeeded on 24 October 1945 by LTJG Elliott Rubin, USCGR. She was assigned to and operated in the Southwest Pacific area.

Twentieth Air Force B-29 Superfortresses fly a bombing and a mining mission during the night of 23/24 July; 1 B-29 is lost.

- Mission 282: 23 B-29s, staging through Iwo Jima, mine Shimonoseki Strait and the Korean coast at Najin (which is the longest B-29 combat mission of the war) and in the Pusan-Masan, Korea area; 1 B-29 is lost.

- Mission 283: 72 B-29s bomb the coal liquefaction company at the Imperial Fuel Industry Company at Ube, Japan.

- 100+ Iwo Jima Island-based P-51s hit airfields, rail installations, and other tactical targets at Itami, Hanshin, Sano, Tokushima, Takamatsu, and Minato, Japan.

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES: Wing-Commander John Hampshire leads nine B-24s from 25 Squadron RAAF to attack Semarang in daylight. This was one of a series of raids with smoke that could be seen on the southern coast of Java. (Mike Mitchell)

CANADA: Corvette HMCS Frontenac paid off Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Corvette HMCS Camrose paid off Sydney, Nova Scotia.

Corvette HMCS Kamsack paid off Sorel, Province of Quebec.