UNITED KINGDOM: RAF Bomber Command: 4 Group (Whitley). Bombing - marshalling yards at Mannheim and Hamm.
102 Sqn. Nine aircraft. One returned early, three bombed, one FTR.

RAF Fighter Command: Weather, rain, Luftwaffe attack south-coast shipping. Channel convoys suspended in daylight hours. 4 Luftwaffe aircraft destroyed, 2 RAF aircraft lost.

Bombs fall for the first time on Brentwood, Essex.

No. 1 Squadron replaces 43 Sqn. at Tangmere. Plt. Off. Goodman in a Hurricane downs a Bf109 of III/JG 27.

238 Sqn. tangles with JG27 and off Portland Flt. Lt. S.C. Walch destroys a Bf109.

German night activity includes ten HE’s dropped at Fraserburgh in Aberdeenshire, and attacks on houses in Chigwell (Essex), Bristol, Dagenham and Canvey Island (Essex). Bombs intended for the ICI plant at Winnington, Cheshire instead fell among houses in Northwich but none exploded. Off Flatholme, Wales, a sand ship was blown up (possibly by mines) and eight crewmen were lost.

The Admiralty issues an order prohibiting the passage of Dover by ships during daylight hours.

Submarine HMS P-36 laid down.

NORTH SEA: As the damaged KM Gneisenau makes for Germany from Norway, submarine Swordfish carries out an attack and sinks escorting torpedo boat 'Luchs'.

JAPAN: Tokyo: Japan intends to take advantage of the war in Europe to expand its empire in Asia, according to a new military-inspired national plan to prepare Japan for war.  Their top priority is to block supplies reaching the Nationalist Chinese via Indochina. They will also take a more aggressive stance to secure their own raw materials from the Dutch East Indies.

Unveiled by Prince Konoye four day after becoming Prime Minister, Japan’s "new order", for Greater East Asia envisages Japan leading a strong union combining Japan, Manchukuo and China, the Chinese Nationalists defeated and the Japanese armed forces ready to go to war with Britain and the USA within 12 months if talks fail to stop arms reaching China through British and French territories.

U.S.A.: President Franklin D. Roosevelt invokes the Export Control Act which prohibits the exporting of aviation fuel and certain classes of iron and steel scrap with a license. This act stops the flow of these vital materials to Japan.

UNITED KINGDOM: London: People are flocking to 'Target for Tonight', a new, authentic kind of war film made by Harry Watt and the film-makers of the Crown Film Unit (formed from the pre-war GPO film unit). The film is an understated, unemotional account of an RAF bombing mission over Germany by a Wellington bomber code-named "F for Freddie".

The "actors" are real aircrew from Mildenhall airfield, in Suffolk, performing their real-life roles. After bombing the target in heavy flak, the plane is hit and has to limp home in dense fog. It is piloted by Squadron-Leader Pickard.

British notice of denunciation of commercial agreements with Japan and freezing of Japanese assets.

Minesweeper HMS Deloraine launched.

Corvette HMS Rockrose launched.

FRANCE: The British ships HMS Cattistock, HMS Mendip and HMS Quorn bombard Dieppe.

GERMANY:

U-116, U-134 commissioned.

U-251, U-437 launched.

POLAND: Vilna: This morning the Germans arrested members of the ghetto's Judenrat [Jewish council]. They demanded five million roubles for their release, of which two million must be found by tomorrow morning. Failure to pay will mean their execution.

As the news spreads through the ghetto, the Jewish community is trying desperately to raise the money to save their lives. Men are donating watches and women jewellery.

PORTUGAL: In Lisbon the transport USS West Point (AP-23, ex SS America), embarks American and Chinese diplomatic personnel and their families from consulates in Germany, German-occupied countries and Italy and sets sails for the New York. Also on board are 21 US ambulance drivers who had been passengers on the Egyptian ship SS ZAMZAM which had been sunk the German auxiliary cruiser ATLANTIS on 17 April.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA: Submarine HMS Cachalot rammed and sunk NW of Benghazi by Italian torpedo boat Generale Achille Papa.
 

CANADA: Fairmile depot ships HMCS Preserver and Provider ordered Marine Industries Ltd, Sorel, Province of Quebec.
Corvette HMCS Weyburn launched Port Arthur, Ontario.

U.S.A.: Roosevelt incorporates the armed forces of the Philippines into the US Army and sends General Douglas MacArthur"> MacArthur to take up the command of US forces in the Far East. MacArthur"> MacArthur says that he is confident that the Philippines can be defended if war should spread to the Far East.
US General MacArthur"> MacArthur recalled to duty as a Lieutenant General and is appointed Commander of USAFFE (US Army Forces in the Far East, a name MacArthur"> MacArthur detested -- he had wanted the new command known as the Far East Command). The Army of the Commonwealth of the Philippines is called into Federal service contemporaneously. 

Washington: In an executive order issued last night Roosevelt brought all financial transactions involving Japanese interests under the control of the US government. In effect freezing Japanese assets worth at least GBP 33 million. This is in response to the Japanese occupation of northern French Indochina on 24 July.
He has also closed the Panama Canal to Japanese ships.

Today the British treasury and Dutch governments announced similar restrictions on all orders affecting Japanese holdings in Britain and the Dominions. By request of the Chinese government, the freeze is also applied to Chinese assets in order to thwart Japanese attempts to abuse its position as the occupier of key Chinese financial centres.

At a stroke, Japan has lost
88% of its oil imports and most of its supply of wheat, cotton, zinc, iron ore, bauxite and manganese. Its two biggest export markets, for GBP55 million worth if silk to the US and GBP40 million worth of cotton cloth to Britain, have disappeared.

Japan hit back by freezing US and British assets in Japan. These are believed to be small.

Anti-Aircraft cruiser USS San Diego launched.

SOUTH AMERICA: Peru and Ecuador declare a truce in the border war.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: At 0328, U-141 attacked Convoy OS-1 and Schüler thought the he has scored one hit on each of three ships. The first vessel was seen being abandoned, the second exploded and the third, which had four masts, was seen to develop a heavy list. In fact, the Botwey was sunk and the damaged Atlantic City was abandoned, but later reboarded and salvaged.

UNITED KINGDOM: Both the VIII Air Support Command and the VIII Bomber Command in England fly missions:

- During VIII Air Support Command Mission Number 4: 18 B-26B Marauders attack Longuenesse Airfield at Saint-Omer, France; 15 hit the target at 1112 hours without loss.

- During VIII Bomber Command Mission Number 77, two targets in Germany and a convoy are hit; 24 B-17s are lost mostly to Luftwaffe fighters. In the first raid, 96 B-17s bomb rubber factories at Hannover losing 16 B-17s;

(1). 119 B-17 and 2 YB-40 Flying Fortresses are dispatched against rubber factories at Hannover; 96 hit the target at 1200-1243 hours and claim 40-9-28 Luftwaffe aircraft; 16 B-17s are lost.

(2) 49 of 61 B-17s dispatched against Hannover hit a convoy and other targets of opportunity losing 6 aircraft; they in turn claim 15-1-7 Luftwaffe aircraft.

(3) 54 of 121 B-17s dispatched against Hannover bomb the U-boat yards at Hamburg at 1159-1200 hours; they claim 5-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft; losing 2 aircraft.

Frigates HMS Antigua, Bickerton, Bligh launched.

ASW trawler HMS Pollock commissioned.

GERMANY: Rastenburg: Hitler orders defensive preparations in Greece, which he assume will be the Allies' next landing site.
Essen: After a heavy raid on the Krupp armaments works last night, Dr. Gustav Krupp von Bohlen suffers a stroke when he sees the burning ruins.

U.S.S.R.: Orel: The Germans are pulling out of the great bastion at Orel. Having failed at great cost to cut off the Russian salient at Kursk, the Wehrmacht is having to withdraw from its own salient, 200 miles south of Moscow, in the face of a massive Soviet counter-offensive.

Hitler reluctantly gave permission for Field Marshal von Kluge to withdraw his armies from the salient two days ago after it became apparent that they were in danger of suffering another defeat  on the scale of Stalingrad. The Red Army has broken through the German's fortified lines east of Orel on a front 20 miles long and has defeated five German divisions.

Both sides are also weighing the lessons, as well as counting the cost, of the great tank battle at Kursk. Each deployed tank-busting aircraft fitted with large-calibre cannon. On the German side, the Stuka, fitted with two 37mm flak cannon, and the Henschel Hs-129 with its 30mm cannon performed with great effect. The Russians replied with Sturmovik Il-2s fitted with deadly 37mm cannon which on one occasion reduced 70 tanks of the 9th Panzer Division to burning wrecks within 20 minutes.

PACIFIC OCEAN: The last mission against Wake Island from Midway Island is flown. 8 Seventh Air Force B-24s bomb targets including oil storage area. 20+ fighters (including an aircraft identified as a possible Fw 190) intercept the formation. The B-24s claim 11 of the fighters shot down. 

SOUTH-WEST PACIFIC: Major USAAF_bong.html">Richard I. Bong (USAAF) flying a Lockheed P-38 Lightning shot down two Kawasaki Ki-61, Army Type 3 Fighter Hiens ("Tony") and two Nakajima Ki-43, Army Type 1 Fighter Hayabusas  ("Oscar")

SOLOMON ISLANDS: In the Solomon Islands, 24 USMC SBD Dauntlesses and 37 TBF Avengers attack Japanese AA gun positions in the Munda Field area of New Georgia Island. 

Later, 21 USMC F4U Corsairs strafe Kahili Airfield on Bougainville in support of 10 Thirteenth Air Force B-24s which drop fragmentation bombs on aircraft revetments. During the night, six B-17s also bomb the airfield.

B-25s, P-40s, and US Navy fighters over southern Kolombangara Island hit the east shore of Webster Cove and bivouac area and buildings on Simbo Island.

TERRITORY OF ALASKA: ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: 3 bombers and 5 fighters of the Eleventh Air Force fly 5 armoured reconnaissance missions to Kiska Island.

USAAF Eleventh Air Force operations: 32 B-24 Liberators, 38 P-40s, and 24 P-38 Lightnings fly 13 attack raids, bombing and scoring hits on numerous Kiska Island and Little Kiska Island targets, including North Head, Main Camp, the runway, Gertrude Cove, AA batteries, and on a suspected submarine in Kiska Island harbor. A submarine is sighted near Rat Island. AA fire claims 1 P-40 (pilot rescued), and damages 3 others. 1 B-25 and 15 P-38s fly 2 air cover missions to Kiska Island for the US Navy. Over 1O4 tons of bombs are dropped on Kiska Island this day, highest one-day bomb load so far dropped by the Eleventh Air Force. 
The Japanese Kiska rescue force refuels in the morning. In the evening, four ships are damaged by ramming in a thick fog.
 

U.S.A.: Nearly eighteen months after Hitler's declaration of war on the United States, six US citizens are indicted 'in absentia' by a federal grand jury in Washington D.C., on charges of wartime treason. These, all members of the RRG's (German Broadcast Corps.) North American Service, were Fred Kaltenbach, Edward Delaney, Constance Drexel, Douglas Chandler, Jane Anderson, and Robert Best. [HA-p.45] (247)(Russell Folsom)

 Destroyer escorts USS Koiner, Lloyd, Otter, Wiseman laid down.

Destroyer USS Meredith laid down.

Destroyer escort USS Amick commissioned.

CARIBBEAN SEA: U-359 (Type VIIC) is sunk in the Caribbean south of Santo Domingo, at position 18.06N, 75.00W, by depth charges from a PBM-3C Mariner (P-12) of Patrol Squadron VP-32 based at NAS Coco Solo, Canal Zone. All 47 crew of the U-boat perish.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-359 is sunk in the Caribbean south of Santo Domingo, in position 18.06N, 75.00W, by depth charges from a PBM-3C Mariner of Patrol Squadron Thirty Two (VP-32) based at NAS Coco Solo, Canal Zone. All 47 crewman of the U-boat perish.

- Mission 496: Of 93 P-47 Thunderbolts attack the St. Just marshalling yards and 40 attack the Givet fuel dump in France; 1 P-47 is lost.

- Mission 497: 7 B-17s drop leaflets in France during the night.

- 9 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions.

ENGLISH CHANNEL:- U-214 (Type VIID) is sunk in the English Channel south-east of Eddystone, in position 49.58N, 03.30W by depth charges from the frigate HMS Cooke [K 471, ex USS Dempsey (DE-267)]. All 48 crewman of the U-boat perish.

NORTH SEA:- U-2323 (Type XXIII) sank at 1635 hours local west of Möltenort while on a training mission, in position 54.23N, 10.11E, after striking a mine. There are 2 dead and 12 survivors. The boat had been commissioned 8 days earlier.

Corvette HMCS Alberni shot down a German Junkers 88 that had attacked her at almost sea level. Alberni opened fire with her starboard Oerlikons and the after pom-pom as the plane tore toward her. The Junkers climbed and banked to clear Alberni and her port Oerlikons scored direct hits at close range. The aircraft burst into flames and exploded in the sea 100 yards off Alberni's port bow with no survivors.

FRANCE: US VII Corps take Marigny and St. Gilles in France. To the west the US VIII Corps crosses the Lessay-Periers road.
Weather forces the recall of several groups of Ninth Air Force B-26s and A-20 Havocs, assigned to support the US First Army, but about 160 aircraft manage to bomb a fuel dump at Senonches with good results; fighters escort the bombers, fly cover over the assault area, carry out close support for ground troops in the Saint-Lo area, and fly armed reconnaissance in the Poix, Amiens, Chartres, Laval, and Angers areas.

GERMANY: Lt.Alfred Schreiber of Ekdo262 shoots up a high altitude recon Mosquito intruder above Munich. Thought to be the first aerial combat jet kill in history, it has since been compromised by evidence that the badly shot up Mossie actually made it to a base in Northern Italy. (Russ Folsom)

Berlin: Himmler has launched a nationwide manhunt for anti-Hitler conspirators, and some 7,000 men and women are now in the Gestapo's torture chambers. The lucky ones are those who died on the night of 20 July. Beck tried unsuccessfully to shoot himself and was finished off by an army sergeant. Von Stauffenberg was taken into the courtyard of the War Ministry and shot. The Gestapo soon put a stop to that. Himmler wanted living plotters who could be tortured into betraying others. Some 5,000 of those now held face execution; the rest, mostly relatives of suspects, will be sent to concentration camps.

EASTERN FRONT: Units of the First Ukraine Front reach the Vistula west of Lublin. In the north Narva is captured by units of the Leningrad Front.
Fifteenth Air Force fighters on the second shuttle mission leave USSR Operations FRANTIC bases, strafe enemy aircraft in the Bucharest-Ploesti, Romania area, and return to bases in Italy. In Austria, 330+ B-17s and B-24s attack the Wiener Neudorf aircraft factory, the airfield at Markersdorf, Thalerhof, Zwolfaxing, and Bad Voslau, and targets of opportunity in the Vienna area. Also hit are Szombathely Airfield, Hungary and oil storage at Berat, Albania. Fighters fly escort and carry out patrols and sweeps in the Brod-Zagreb, Yugoslavia and Ploesti-Bucharest, Romania areas; bombers and fighters claim 70+ enemy aircraft shot down.

NEW GUINEA: Japanese resistance continues in the areas of Aitape, Biak and Numfoor.

PACIFIC: In the Caroline Islands, carrier-based aircraft of the USN's Task Groups 58.2 and 58.3 again bomb Japanese installations in the Palau Islands while aircraft from TG 58.1 attack and photograph Fais and Ngulu Islands and Sorol, Ulithi and Yap Atolls. Far East Air Force (FEAF) B-24s again hit supply areas, communication, and other targets on Woleai Atoll.

Japanese I-29 is sunk by the USS Sawfish (SS-276) north of the Philippines. (Mike Yared)(144 and 145)

Submarine USS Robalo mined and sunk off Palawan Island. Four survivors captured by Japanese Army but never seen again.

TERRITORY OF HAWAII: US President Roosevelt arrives in Pearl Harbor in the heavy cruiser USS Baltimore (CA-68) and meets with Admiral Nimitz and General MacArthur in Honolulu. They discuss plans by MacArthur to capture the Philippines vs plans by Nimitz to bypass the Philippines and strike Formosa.

U.S.A.: Minesweeper USS Dipper launched.

Destroyer escort USS Jaccard commissioned.

Coast Guard-manned Army vessel FS-260 was commissioned at New York with LT A. Smalley, USCGR, as first commanding officer. He was succeeded by LTJG L. F. Jones, USCGR, who in turn was succeeded by LTJG William L, Barlow, USCG on 14 October 1945. On 26 August 1944 she departed from the 3rd Naval District and on 5 September 1944, was reported towing the QS-16 to the Southwest Pacific where she operated during the war.

Coast Guard-manned Army vessel FS-345 was commissioned at Kewaunee WI with LTJG G. W. Oberst, USCGR, as commanding officer. She was assigned to and operated in the Southwest Pacific area and at Guam. Her first monthly diary was submitted for July and August 1945, the vessel, on 1 July 1945, being anchored in Manila Harbor where she had proceeded two weeks previously to effect an overhaul of her main engines and generators. She was still anchored there 31 August 1945. 

BERMUDA: HM S/M Unruffled arrives for ASW training.

During the night of 26/27 July, 350 Twentieth Air Force B-29 Superfortresses fly 3 incendiary missions against secondary cities; 1 B-29 is lost:

- Mission 293: 127 B-29s attack the Matsuyama urban area destroying 1.22 sq mi (3.16 sq km), 73% of the total city area.

- Mission 294: 97 B-29s hit the Tokuyama urban area destroying 0.47 sq mi (1.22 sq km), 37% of the city area; 1 other hits an alternate target.

- Mission 295: 124 B-29s attack the Omuta urban area destroying 2.05 sq mi (5.31 sq km), 38% of the city area; 1 other hits an alternate target; 1 B-29 is lost.

509 BG conducts another Pumpkin mission.

(David Hebditch)

BORNEO: Thirteenth Air Force B-24s hit Tabanio, Trombol, Sengkawang, and Oelin Airfields in support of Australian ground troops.

CANADA: HMC ML 120 is paid off.

U.S.A.: Destroyer USS Joseph P Kennedy Jr launched.

Destroyers USS McCaffery and Newman K Perry commissioned.