UNITED KINGDOM: Bank Holiday Monday in England and Wales.

GERMANY: Count Ciano asks to see Joachim von Ribbentrop, Hitler's Foreign Minister.

UNITED KINGDOM: RAF Fighter Command: Weather, cloudy. Luftwaffe attacks a convoy off the east coast.
Heavy raids on Poole, Dorset and bombs fall for the first time on Exeter.
Losses: Luftwaffe, 2. RAF 0.

Barnes Wallis in a meeting with the Deputy Director of Operational Requirements (RAF) proposes a 4,000lb bomb to be carried in a Wellington.

GERMANY: Daily Keynote from the Reich Press Chief:
    In the matter of air leaflet propaganda, the Minister [of Propaganda, Goebbels">Göbbels] states that he does not expect much to come out of a German air-leaflet propaganda campaign in England, because the amount of effort that would go into it would be out of all proportion to the results ... The Minister admits that the most recent leaflets dropped by the British, are somewhat more dangerous than the earlier ones. He wishes to be informed at once of the exact wording of every new enemy leaflet that appears.

U-140 commissioned.

U.S.S.R.: Soviet submarine K-22 commissioned.

U.S.A.: Destroyer USS Grayson launched.

Squadron Leader (then Sgt. Pilot) H.G. James. James, only 18 years of age but with 410 hours in his log book was flying a Bristol Bombay as part of a shuttle service between Heliopolis and the front. On the afternoon of 7 Aug 42 he was detailed to pick up 14 wounded soldiers from Burg-el-Arab. Gott was also to be a passenger. At 4:45 P.M. the aircraft took off and flying only 50 feet off the ground so as not to attract the attention of Luftwaffe aircraft headed back to Heliopolis. 

After only a few minutes a flight of six ME 109 Fs jumped the Bombay and set afire two engines. James ordered the rear door lifted off its hinges and placed in the back of the Bombay and landed the burning plane safely on a sand plateau. It's brakes were shot and she ran on for about eight miles.

The Germans attacked the Bombay as she ran along the sand. James ordered his passengers to bail out the open door even before the aircraft came to a stop. He and some other crew and one wounded soldier were able to get out through the cockpit floor hatch. Once on the ground they found that the rear door had not been lifted off its hinges and had closed. The aircraft was burning and there was no way to get at Gott and the others in the aircraft. (William Jay Stone) 

PALESTINE: In an announcement by Sir John Grigg, Britain creates a Palestine Regiment, with separate Jewish and Arab battalions.

 

SOLOMON ISLANDS: Guadalcanal: The first American offensive of the Pacific War began spectacularly today when the 1st Marine Division (reinforced), by heavy air and naval bombardments, landed on remote Guadalcanal, Tulagi, Tanambogo and Gavatu  in the southern Solomon Islands.

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This first offensive action in the Pacific war comes 7 months to the day after Pearl Harbor. 

The Marines commanded by General Vandegrift have close support from TF 62 under Admiral RK Turner. Admiral Fletcher with TF 16 provides air cover from carriers Enterprise, Saratoga and Wasp. The landings on Guadalcanal are not contested. The islands of Tulagi, Gavatu and Tanambogo are heavily contested.

USN warships of Task Force 16 begin a preinvasion bombardment of Guadalcanal and Tulagi at 0614 hours local. Carrier-based aircraft of the aircraft carriers USS Enterprise (CV-6), USS Saratoga (CV-3) and USS Wasp (CV-7) also conduct air strikes against the islands. At 0910 hours, the 1st Marine Division (Reinforced) initiates Operation Watchtower by landing on Guadalcanal, Tulagi, Florida, Gavutu and Tanambogo Islands. 

The Australian Cruiser Squadron takes part. It consists of:

           HMAS Canberra; Captain Frank E. Getting, RAN
           HMAS Australia; Captain H. B. Farncomb, RAN
           HMAS Hobart; Captain H. A. Showers, RAN

The squadron was commanded by a Rear-Admiral of the Royal Navy, usually Australian-born. For example, Rear-Adm Jack Crace (who commanded the squadron at the Coral Sea) was born in Australia but joined the Royal Navy. The Australian naval college only started taking students in 1913, consequently it was difficult to find flag officers of the Royal Australian Navy with the requisite experience. 
Admiral Victor Crutchley, RN was one of the few officers to hold this command who was not born in Australia. Admiral Crutchley is in command of the Australian Cruiser Squadron at this time and has been placed in command of the transport screening forces by Admiral
Turner. (Mike Mitchell)

At 1315 hours local, the Japanese attack with 27 ( Navy Type 1 Attack Bomber) "Betty" bombers escorted by 17 (Mitsubishi A6M Navy Type 0 Carrier Fighter) "Zeke" fighters from Rabaul; 18USNF4F Wildcats of Fighting Squadrons Five and Six (VF-5 and VF-6) of the carriers USS Saratoga (CV-3) and USS ENTERPRISE (CV-6) drive them off and shoot down 8 G4Ms and 1 "Zeke;" 8USNWildcats and an SBD Dauntless are lost.  Among the Japanese pilots on this strike is Saburo Sakai. It is this mission from which his epic return flight to Rabaul will begin. He returns alone with only one eye, one arm and one leg in a crippled Zero, 565 miles.

At 1430 hours, 9 Aichi D3A Navy Type 99 Carrier Bombers, Allied Code Name "Val," attack and damage a destroyer; 5 "Vals" are shot down by F4F Wildcats and 4 ditch returning to their base at Rabaul. 

13 USAAF B-17 Flying Fortresses of the Allied Air Forces bomb Vunakanau Airfield on New Britain Island, Bismarck Archipelago, in coordination with Marine landings.

The 19,000 marines who landed here were not opposed on the beach-head. It is the first capture of territory from Japan so far in the war, and only token resistance was offered when the marines went on to seize a partially-completed airfield. But at the second landing on nearby Tulagi island, they ran into a stiff fight to subdue some 1,500 Japanese who resisted fiercely before they were annihilated against American losses of 150 men.
Thus, for the first time in the war American troops have wrested territory from the all-conquering Japanese. The Midway victory had altered the naval balance, and the American Joint Chiefs of Staff moved at once to plan the seizure of the southern Solomons where Japanese activity threatened to cut vital communications between Australia and the United States. Their directive of 2 July called for a two-pronged offensive towards northern New Guinea and the Solomon Islands chain. The ultimate objective of both offensives was to recapture Rabaul and break the barrier of the Bismarck Islands. Japanese reaction to the Guadalcanal challenge is not expected to be long in coming.
Japan has a strong striking force of bombers and fighters based at Rabaul and will be determined to thwart the US offensive. The first Japanese reaction to these landings arrives in the form of an afternoon air strike from Rabaul. Among the Japanese pilots on this strike is Saburo Sakai. It is this mission from which his epic return flight to Rabaul will begin. He returns alone with only one eye, one arm and one leg in a crippled Zero, 565 miles.



Bill Paull adds: On 7 August, 1942 "I" Battery, 3rd Bn., 10th Regiment, 2nd Marine Division fired the first American offensive artillery round (75mm) of WW2
on the island of Tulagi in the Solomon Islands. 
Some "dumb cannoneer" did save it and manage to get home with it.  Until last year, it has always been proudly displayed at the annual reunion of our "Forgotten Battalion."  Since our ranks are thinning rapidly, last year we voted to offer it to the Marine Corps Museum at Quantico, Virginia.  They were happy to get it and it now is on prominent display.
The late Arnold Gladson added: On this date, 56 years ago, the 2nd Marine Reg. 2nd Marine Div. landed against the heavily defended Japanese positions of Gavutu and Tulagi in the British Solomon Islands, while at the same time the 1st Marine Division was landing unopposed at Guadalcanal, My Weapons Company platoon first landed on Gavutu and then, by way of causeway, crossed over to Tulagi where we took many casualties.

AUSTRALIA: Rescue tug HMAS Sprightly launched.

TERRITORY OF ALASKA: Aleutians: The USAAF 11th Air Force dispatches 3 B-24 Liberators to bomb Kiska Island but they return with their bombs due to solid overcast; 4 more B-24s also depart for Kiska; 1 turns back with mechanical trouble, the others abort the mission over the target due to undercast; 1 B-24, 4 P-38 Lightnings and an LB-30 Liberator fly 2 air coverage missions at Nazan Bay, Atka Island for USN tenders.

Kiska is bombarded by USN Task Group 8.6 consisting of the heavy cruisers USS Indianapolis (CA-35) and USS Louisville (CA-28); the light cruisers USS Honolulu (CL-48), USS Nashville (CL-43) and USS St Louis (CL-49); and 6 destroyers, between 1955 and 2021 hours local. The task force fires 631 rounds of 8-inch (203.2 mm), 3,534 rounds of 6-inch (152.4 mm) and 2,620 rounds of 5-inch (127 mm) ammunition destroying barracks, landing barges, a moored H6K "Mavis" flying boat and the merchant vessel SS Kano Maru and damaging two H6K "Mavis" flying boats.  The bombardment serves as a diversion for the Allied landings in the Solomon Islands.

U.S.A.: Destroyer USS Strong commissioned.

Public opinion poll results: 
Do you think that Roosevelt and Churchill should have the final decision on the military and naval plans of the war or do you think these plans should be decided by military and naval leaders of the United Nations?

Roosevelt and Churchill 21%

Military and naval leaders 64%

Undecided 15%

(Jay Stone)

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up US$0.25 to US$105.05 (US$1,105.79 in year 2000 dollars).

The motion picture "Pardon My Sarong" is released. This comedy, directed by Erle C. Kenton, stars Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Virginia Bruce, Leif Erikson and William Demarest. The plot has two bus drivers (Abbott and Costello) ending up on a tropical island with jewel thieves.

ATLANTIC OCEAN:

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August 7th, 1943 (SATURDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: Minesweeper HMS Stawell commissioned. Frigate HMS Bullen launched.

GERMANY: U-827, U-881 laid down.

U-394 commissioned.

U-904, U-923 launched.

ITALY: Beginning yesterday, Italians and Germans meet at Verona, Italy. This meeting will last through tomorrow. Present are the two foreign ministers and the Army Chiefs of Staff. The Italians are intent on persuading the Germans that they are not negotiating with the Allies.

On the ground in Sicily, U.S. forces improve their positions on the north coast in the San Fratello region against heavy resistance. During the night of 7/8 August, a small amphibious force lands on the coast 2 miles (3.2 km) east of Sant' Agata di Militello, greatly aiding progress along the coast. Other forces begin a drive on Randazzo.

In the air, 150 USAAF Ninth Air Force B-25 Mitchells attack Randazzo; and 140+ P-40s attack shipping at Messina and in the Straits, and shipping and shore-supply stores along the northeastern coast. Northwest African Tactical Bomber Force medium and light bombers pound Randazzo, the enemy's key withdrawal point; Maletto is also bombed; P-40s and A-36 Apaches strafe and bomb small craft between Sicily and mainland Italy, motor transport near Randazzo, a warehouse north of Messina, dumps on the toe of Italy, and vehicles and communications targets in the Sant' Agata di Militello, Bronte, Cesaro, Tortorici, Castiglione di Sicilia and Riposto areas.

Northwest African Strategic Air Force B-25s in 2 forces hit the landing ground at Crotone while B-26 Marauders bomb the railroad bridge at Marina di Cantanzaro and highway bridge over the Angitola River.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA: Submarine HMS Parthian is lost after leaving Malta for Beirut. She is believed to have been mined in the Adriatic. There are no survivors. (Alex Gordon)(108)

Submarine HMS Saracen was forced to the surface off Bastia on the NE of Corsica by depth charges from Italian corvettes Minerva and Euterpe. Her crew abandoned ship and scuttled the boat.

CHINA: Civil war looms, after clashes between Communists and Kuomintang troops at Anch'u and Chuhsien, in Shantung province.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: New Georgia: Six US warships (DDs) sank three Japanese destroyers early today, 48 hours after capturing key airfields at Munda. Only the Shigure escaped from what is being called the Battle of Vella Gulf. The Japanese were surprised trying to run supplies to Kolombangara Island, 15 miles from Munda, where the remnants of the 5,000 strong garrison have been evacuated; 1,500 of them were burnt in their bunkers. Strategically, Munda brings Allied bombers 200 miles closer to the main Japanese naval base at Rabaul, in New Britain.

16 B-24s and 40+ B-25 Mitchells of the USAAF Thirteenth Air Force, plus nearly 30 US Marine Corps aircraft, pound the harbour and shore areas of Bairoko on New Georgia Island. USAAF P-40 pilots shoot down 3 A6M "Zekes" in the afternoon.

CANADA: HMC ML 110 commissioned.

Frigate HMCS Grou launched Montreal, Province of Quebec. Minesweeper HMCS New Liskeard laid down.

U.S.A.: Destroyer USS Dortch commissioned.

Escort carrier USS Liscombe Bay commissioned.

Destroyer escort USS Stanton commissioned. Destroyer escort USS Tatum launched. Destroyer USS Wadleigh launched.

Submarine USS Hawkbill laid down.

Frigate USS Uniontown launched.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Two German U-boats are sunk by US aircraft:

- U-117 is sunk west of the Azores, in position 39.42N, 38.21W while supplying U-66, by depth charges and a Fido homing torpedo from five USN TBF Avengers of Composite Squadron One (VC-1) in the escort aircraft carrier USS Card (CVE-11). All hands, 62 men, on the U-boat are lost.

- U-615 was attacked southeast of Curacao Island, Netherlands Antilles, on 6 August by a PBM-3S Mariner of Patrol Squadron Two Hundred Five (VP-205), based at NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The submarine was on the surface and returned fire shooting down the aircraft with the loss of all hands. A PBM-3C of VP-204, based at NS San Juan, Puerto Rico, then attacks causing moderate damage and forcing the submarine to dive. For the rest of the day and during the night, VP-204 flies continuous patrols over the area forcing the submarine to remain submerged. In the morning, U-615 surfaces and a VP-204 aircraft attacks but is shot down with the loss of all hands.

A second PBM attacks and causes moderate damage to both the sub and the aircraft but the PBM remains in the area until a USN PV-1 Ventura of Bombing Squadron One Hundred Thirty (VB-130), based at Edinburgh Field, Trinidad, arrives and both aircraft conduct a coordinated bombing and strafing attack sinking the sub in position 12.38N, 64.15W. 43 of the 47 crewman survive and are picked up by a US destroyer the next morning.

This was possibly the longest ongoing combat between a U-boat and aircraft. U-615's battle enabled many other U-boats in the Caribbean to surface and escape to the east. The aircraft were from the following squadrons; VP-204 (P-6 and P-8), VP-205 (P-2, P-11 and P-4) and VB-130 (Ventura B-5). (Alex Gordon)

U-566 shoots down two PV-1 Ventura aircraft from VB-128.

U-84 sunk in the North Atlantic, in position 27.55N, 68.03W, by a Mk 24 homing torpedo from a USN VB-105 Liberator. 46 dead (all hands lost).

U-181 sank SS Umvuma.

U-371 sank SS Contractor in Convoy GTX-5.

U-757 sank SS Fernhill in Convoy OS-52.

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August 7th, 1944 (MONDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: The USAAF Eighth Air Force in England flies 4 missions:

- Mission 527: 905 bombers and 471 fighters, in 5 forces, are dispatched to hit fuel dumps and bridges in France but heavy cloud cover forces many aircraft to return with bombs and other formations to be recalled; 1 bomber and 5 fighters are lost. Targets hit (number in parenthesis indicates bombers attacking) are:
(1) 71 hit Montbartier and 34 hit St Loubes escorted by 123 P-51 Mustangs;
(2) the primary targets of 224 B-17s, escorted by 96 P-51s, are Nanteuil Bridge (36), Sens (26), St Florentin (25), Dueny (24), Bourron Marlotte (23) and Paris-St Quen (12) and also Chartres Airfield (23), Maintenon Bridge (23), Houden marshalling yard (14), Chateaudun Airfield (11) and Rouglaf (1);
(3) 1 of 182 B-17s hits Montdidier Airfield with escort provided by 90 P-38s and P-51s;
(4) B-24, escort by 34 P-47 Thunderbolts, bomb Andenne Bridge (10), Semuse (8) and targets of opportunity (8) with the loss of 1 B-24; and
(5) the primary targets of 333 B-24s, escort by 94 P-51s, are Doullens Bridge (37), Saleux (24), Recques-sur-Course (23), Frevent Bridge (15), Rieme/Ertveld (11) and Langerbrugge (9) with 12 bombing a factory near Wendelghem and 1 hitting a target of opportunity.

- Mission 528: 1 of 3 B-17s flies a Micro H test mission (Micro H was a radar system which combined the Gee-H and H2X radar functionality for use by pathfinders).

- Mission 529: 271 P-47s and P-51s fly fighter-bomber missions to marshalling yards and railroads north and east of Paris; 3 P-47s and 2 P-51s are lost.

- 5 B-17s fly a leaflet mission over France during the night.

    Personal Memory: Today's mission would target a large fuel storage area inside the city limits of Paris almost on the banks of the Seine River in the St. Ouen area. My diary for the mission reads: "Paris, France. (St Ouen). Flak really rough. They tracked us all the way. I was luckier than most as I only got a few holes. Target CAVU except for haze. Carried 38, 100 pound bombs. Over enemy territory two hours and five minutes." I was flying in the number two position off the right wing of the lead plane with 2nd Lt. G. C. Lawrenson in aircraft number 42-102569 which had no nose art. Thirteen planes were able to bomb this target while the rest went to Chartres to bomb an airfield as a target of opportunity. From our bombing altitude of 25,000 feet the visibility was fair, with the target being obscured for a time by a thin layer of clouds. Another group from our wing turned in front of us at our altitude giving us some violent prop wash. Even so, twelve planes of our thirteen  did a drop on the primary. One plane in our group didn't drop his bombs because the bombardier forgot to turn on the selector and salvo switches and so returned their 38 bombs to Molesworth. Of course there was a salvo switch at the bombardier's station as well as in the pilot's compartment. But to drop them late would put the bombs well over the MPI and might do serious damage to our friends. We knew that we would on occasion kill some friendly folks but we always tried to avoid this. The bombs that we dropped had no nose fuses and had a one fortieth second fuse at the tail to give them instantaneous ignition. We were carrying 2000 gallons of gas per plane for this five hour and forty five minutes mission. There was intense and accurate flak throughout our seven minute bomb run but they didn't get us tight on target until barely before bombs away at which time we turned to ruin their two-and-a-half Kilometre lead. Of the thirteen planes in our low group we had the five  with major damage and five with minor, including mine. Most of my new crews had a very exciting start to their combat tours. As Winston Churchill said during his stint in the Boer war: "Nothing is quite so exhilarating  as being shot at and missed." Score: Milk runs 14, Others 17. Dick Johnson One more to go! (Tomorrow). (Dick Johnson)

German V1s have killed over 5,000 people and destroyed 35,000 homes to date.

FRANCE: The German counter-attack recaptures Mortain. Attacking between the VII and XIV Corps the 2nd and 116th Panzer Divisions launch a strong counterattack with a total of 120 tanks. This is east of Mortain. During their advance the Germans retake Mortain. Allied air attacks assist the ground forces in limiting the German gains, which are also limited by a lack of fuel. (Andreas Broicher)(229)

Operation TOTALIZE: Canadian First Army has the objective of seizing Falaise. The attack is south-east of Caen, a combined assault by Canadian infantry and Polish tanks on the SS armoured forces holding up the Allied advance on the Caen to Falaise road. From 2300 hours last night 1,019 aircraft of RAF Bomber Command drop 3,462 tons of bombs in support of TOTALIZE on German positions. Ten Lancasters were lost and Typhoons fired rockets at the Panzers. The USAAF was less accurate and bombed its allies, killing 65 servicemen. (W Jay Stone)

To maintain close a association with ground forces, HQ IX Tactical Air Command and HQ XIX Tactical Air Command of the USAAF Ninth Air Force constitute mobile units to accompany Advance HQ of the US First and Third Armies, respectively, as they advance rapidly to the east; Lieutenant General Lewis H Brereton relinquishes command of the Ninth Air Force to become Commanding General First Allied Airborne Army. 

Over the battlefield, 380+ A-20 Havocs and B-26 Marauders bomb bridges at Nogent-sur-Seine and Neuvy-sur-Loire; fighters escort IX Bomber Command aircraft, furnish defensive cover in the Vire, Laval, and Rennes areas, and support ground forces in the assault area.

Totalize also saw the first use of Kangaroo armoured personnel carriers.

Normandy: Capt. David Auldgo Jamieson (b.1920), Royal Norfolk Regt., led a company which, largely owing to his courage and leadership, set up and held a bridgehead under heavy fire. (Victoria Cross)

Eisenhower transfers his headquarters from London to Granville.

The U.S. First Army breaks through the German lines on the Cotentin Peninsula and cuts off the German-held port of Cherbourg.

GERMANY: U-2328 launched. U-198 sinks SS Empire Day.

POLAND: Sambor, south-west of Lvov falls to the Soviet Army.

FINLAND: Three out of four German T-type torpedo boats are sunk by mines while conducting a minelaying operation south from Neugrund. Two Finnish radiomen are lost.

U.S.S.R.: A shuttle mission is flown in accordance with a Soviet request; 55 B-17s and 29 P-51s attack an oil refinery at Trzebina, Poland without loss; the aircraft return to Operation FRANTIC bases in the USSR.

ITALY: The USAAF Fifteenth Air Force in Italy dispatches 353 B-17s and B-24s to Germany to bomb 2 synthetic oil refineries at Blechhammer South (B-17s) and Blechhammer North (B-24s); 300+ fighters provide support. In Yugoslavia, 76 B-24s hit Alibunar Airfield and Novi Sad oil facilities; the bombers and fighters claim nearly 30 aircraft shot down.

ROMANIA: Shortly following the meeting between Hitler and Antonescu, at which the Führer admitted to the Romanian dictator that he could not guarantee the air defence of Romania, a secret order is passed down from the Air Ministry, grounding the fighter groups, Grup 7 Vanatori and Grup 9 Vanatori. The Romanian command, no longer able to depend upon sufficient German help, can no longer afford to risk the further loss of its most experienced fighter pilots. (Mike Yaklich)

KURILE ISLANDS: USAAF Eleventh Air Force dispatches 5 B-24s based in the Aleutian Islands to bomb Kataoka Airfield on Shimushu Island.

 

CAROLINE ISLANDS: USAAF Far East Air Force (FEAF) B-24s bomb power plant, AA positions, and barracks area on Yap Island and a phosphate plant on Fais Island. 

US Navy Motor Torpedo Squadron 3 is decommissioned.

GUAM: Fierce fighting marks the today's action on Guam. The jungle and terrain assist the defending Japanese.

TERRITORY OF ALASKA: In the Aleutian Islands, the USN heavy cruiser USS Baltimore (CA-68) with US President Franklin D Roosevelt aboard, arrives at Kodiak. FDR then boards the destroyer USS Cummings (DD-365) and in company with 2 other destroyers, departs Kodiak for Bremerton, Washington.

In the Aleutians, U.S. President Roosevelt arrives at NOB Kodiak in the heavy cruiser USS Baltimore (CA-68) and transfers to the destroyer USS Cummings (DD-376).

CANADA: Minesweeper HMCS Digby completed refit Digby, Nova Scotia and departed for workups Bermuda

Corvette HMCS Peterborough departed Bermuda for St. John's to join EG C-6

Frigate HMCS Longueuil departed St. John's for Londonderry with convoy HXF-302.

Frigate HMCS Sea Cliff launched.

Destroyers HMCS Qu'Appelle, Restigouche, Skeena, Assiniboine and HMS Albrighton departed Devonport for Operation Kinetic. The aim of Kinetic was to interdict German re-supply shipping into western Channel ports.

U.S.A.: Submarine USS Sea Robin commissioned.

The world's second program-controlled calculator, the IBM Automatic Sequence Controlled Calculator (popularly called the Harvard Mark I) is dedicated. This mechanical machine, built by Harvard researcher Howard Aiken with the support of IBM, weighed 10,000 pounds (4,536 kg), measured 51 feet (15.5 meters) long and 2 feet (61 cm) deep, and contained 750,000 parts. The machine stored 72 numbers and could perform 3 additions or subtractions a second. The machine could also perform more complicated functions, such as calculating logarithms or performing trigonometry.
Although the device quickly excited public interest, the mechanical machine was eclipsed by the advent of the commercially available electronic computer in 1948.

CUBA: Pan American World Airways Sikorsky S-42 seaplane, msn 4201, registered NC823M and named "Hong Kong Clipper," crashes on takeoff and sinks at Antilla; 14 of the 31 aboard survive.

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August 7th, 1945 (TUESDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: The secret of Radio Direction Finding (RDF), now called radar, is revealed.

BURMA: Cocos Islands: The last bombing missions by RAF Consolidated Liberators are flown by eight aircraft of No. 99 and three aircraft of No. 356 Squadron. (22)

KOREA: TAEGU, South Korea - Flying crippled after an aborted night raid over Japanese-occupied Korea, the B-24 bomber "Lady Luck II" slammed into a mountain. All 11 aboard were killed when the bomber struck Mangwoon Mountain on Namhae island, off Korea's southern coast.

The crew were Staff Sgt. Thomas G. Burnworth; Staff Sgt. Walter R. Hoover; 2nd Lt. Ronald L. Johnson; 1st Lt. Edward B. Mills Jr; Staff Sgt. James E. Murray; 2nd Lt. Joseph M. Orenbuch; Staff Sgt. Henry C. Rappert; 2nd Lt. Nicholus M. Simonich; Sgt. Warren E. Tittsworth; and Sgt. Steven T. Wales.

31-year-old Kim Duk Hyung witnessed the crash and was impressed by Japanese troops into going with them to find and loot the crash site. Kim later returned to bury the crew. He worked after the war to build a monument to the crew. This monument was finished on May 11, 1956, almost 11 years after the fatal crash. Made of hand-hewn, natural granite, it stands 11 feet tall.

It was unveiled at a ceremony Nov. 30, 1956. An envoy of then- President Eisenhower, and U.S. and South Korean officials attended.

At a Pentagon ceremony 30 years later, in November 1986, the U.S. secretary of the Army presented Kim a distinguished civilian service medal. (Brooke Rowe from http://ww2.pstripes.osd.mil/01/oct01/ed103101c.html)

Sea of Japan: The USS Billfish torpedoes a small freighter. (Henry Sirotin, 101)

JAPAN: The Japanese Supreme Council for the Direction of the War, meets to discuss the bombing of Hiroshima. The SCDW is know as the Big 6 of the Japanese Cabinet. PM, FM, War Minister, Navy Minister, Army CofS, Navy CofS. The Military members refuse to concede that this might be an atomic bomb. They insist on sending investigating teams. The Commander of Eta Jima Naval Academy is selected by the Navy and the Army sends Dr. Asada a professor of physics at Osaka University.

154 B-29 Superfortresses of the USAAF Twentieth Air Force fly a bombing mission during the day and 30 B-29s fly a mining mission during the night of 7/8 August; 1 B-29 is lost.

- Mission 317: 124 B-29s, escorted by VII Fighter Command fighters, bomb the naval arsenal at Toyokawa. 1 B-29 is lost. After escorting the B-29s on their bombing mission, P-51s attack railroad targets and shipping in and near Magarimatsu, Chofu, Atsugi, and Sagami.

- Mission 318: During the night of 7/8 August, 29 B-29s, escorted by FEAF P-47s, drop mines in Shimonoseki Strait, at Miyazu, Maizuru, Tsuruga, Obama and at Najin; 1 other mines an alternate target.

In Japan, FEAF B-24s and A-26 Invaders over Kyushu pound Tsuiki Airfield and other B-24s start fires at Omura; B-25s hit bridges and other targets at Matsubase and Kawajiri and bomb a convoy off Pusan, Korea; other B-25s hit Chiran and Izumi Airfields. fighter-bombers attack and considerably damage communications and transportation facilities throughout Kyushu.

The Nakajima Kikka, a Japanese copy of the Messerschmitt 262, makes its maiden flight.

KURILE ISLANDS: USAAF Eleventh Air Force dispatches 5 B-24s based in the Aleutian Islands to bomb Kataoka Airfield on Shimushu Island.

COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: Organized Japanese resistance ends on the island of Mindanao.

Submarine USS Apogan left base for her eight war patrol in the Marcus Island area. While Apogan was on patrol Japan capitulated on 15 Aug 1945. On 2 Sept 1945 Apogan returned to Pearl Harbor.

CANADA: Minesweeper HMCS Suderoy V (ex whaler of same name) paid off.

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