29 August 1939

August 29th, 1939 (TUESDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM:
7.00 a.m. Dahlerus telephones Cadogan with news of his meeting with Göring at 1.15 that morning. Apparently, the Fuhrer 'was in fact only considering how reasonable he could be', and was about to extend an invitation to the Poles for discussions in Berlin.

In the commons Chamberlain makes a firm uncompromising speech.
'The catastrophe is not yet upon us, but I cannot say that the danger of it has in any way receded.' He warns the press to exercise restraint, and apologises for not being able to give more than an outline of his communications with Hitler. Chamberlain goes on to describe the national mood as one of calm, united confidence with preparations already in hand; air defence in a state of instant readiness, key points protected, the fleet ready to take up war positions, the merchant fleet under Admiralty control and Civil Defence regional organisation on a war footing. Evacuation plans for schoolchildren, mothers with young children, expectant mothers and the blind were prepared and had been practiced. Hospitals were ready to receive casualties.

UNITED KINGDOM: NORTHERN IRELAND: Recruiting opens in Belfast for the 200th General Purpose National Defence Company, the first of several home service units destined to be incorporated during the first years of war within the three Ulster infantry regiments.

GERMANY:
Ambassador Attolico suggests to Ribbentrop that a peace conference should be held. Ribbentrop rejects the idea. Hitler grudgingly accepts direct negotiations with Poland, but demand that a Polish plenipotentiary must arrive in Berlin by the end of the following day.

German troops enter Slovakia on Poland's southern frontier.

POLAND:
Ambassadors Kennard and Nokl persuade Colonel Beck to postpone any further mobilisation.

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29 August 1940

Yesterday Tomorrow

August 29th, 1940 (THURSDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM:
RAF Bomber Command: 4 Group (Whitley). Bombing - oil plant at Wesseling - petrol store at Ludwigshaven.
51 Sqn. Seven aircraft to Wesseling. Very bad weather. One bombed primary, two bombed alternative targets.
78 Sqn. Five aircraft to Ludwigshaven. Two returned early, one bombed primary, two bombed alternative targets.

Battle of Britain:
RAF Fighter Command: Some 700 Luftwaffe fighters in provocative sweeps to which RAF do not respond. The Chief of Kesselring's fighter organisation claims unlimited fighter superiority has been achieved.
At night there are heavy raids against Merseyside (176 sorties) and 44 sorties elsewhere.
Losses: Luftwaffe, 17; RAF, 9.

Admiral Robert L Ghormley, US Assistant CNO, meets with British military delegation in London for staff talks. (Marc Small)

U-100 sank SS Alida Gorthon, Astra II, Dalblair, Empire Moose and damaged Harismere in Convoy OA-204.

ASW trawler HMS Sarabande launched.

EGYPT: Italian planes raid Suez Canal.

FRENCH EQUATORIAL AFRICA: In Libreville, Gabon, the Free French Governor Masson receives a telegram from Free French General de Larminat informing him of the new order in French Equatorial Africa. Masson informs the local commandant and publicly declares the colony's adhesion to Free France. The naval commander of Libreville opposes the move and informs the governor of the imminent arrival of a Vichy naval squadron from Dakar, French West Africa. Masson yields and labels the affair a misunderstanding. Several prominent Gaullists in the colonial establishment are deported to Dakar by flying boat. Vichy France dispatches Air Force General Tetu to Libreville as "Governor General of Equatorial Africa" and orders him to re-establish order throughout the colonies.

FRENCH INDOCHINA: The Vichy French government cedes the Tonkin bases to the Japanese.

U.S.A.: Peter Goldmark of the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) announces his invention of a color television system.

29 August 1941

August 29th, 1941 (FRIDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: Destroyer HMS Rockwood is laid down.

FRANCE: Paris: The Germans execute a naval officer, Comte Jean d'Estiennes d'Orves and two others who were amongst the first agents sent from London by de Gaulle, in reprisal for the assassination of a German naval cadet on the 21st.

FINLAND: Around noon the advance patrols of 4th and 8th IDs enter the center of Viipuri (today Vyborg in Russian Karelia), the second largest city of pre-1939 Finland. The Soviet units defending the city has been ordered to withdraw the day before, so there has been no fighting. The recapture of Viipuri marks the achievement of one of the main aims of the war. The men entering the city's medieval castle intend to raise a Finnish flag to the castle's main tower, but failing to find one a private's white shirt is raised.

This "flag"-raising has special symbolism attached to it: one of the most famous pictures taken during the Winter War was taken on 13 March 1940, just minutes before the end of the war, of a Finnish flag still defiantly flying from the highest tower of the Castle of Viipuri, soon to be given over to Soviet Union in the harsh peace that ended that war.

Soon after the recapture of the city that same flag that was lowered from the castle 1 years earlier is again raised to celebrate the moment (IIRC the flag is today in the central War Museum in Helsinki).

The news of the recapture causes great celebrations around the country. Flags are flying and special thanksgiving services are held in churches. Hitler awards Mannerheim the Knight's Cross. Two days later a victory parade is staged in the recaptured city although fighting is still going on nearby and time bombs left by the retreating Soviets are being feverishly searched and defused by engineers.

Evacuation of Tallinn to Leningrad. Minefields cause heavy losses, 25 of 29 larger transports are lost. Baltic red fleet loses 5 destroyers, two corvettes, two submarines and two patrol boats. Finnish VMV patrol boats sink one sailing ship and capture two tugs.

EASTERN FRONT: Kamenets-Podolski, Ukraine: After a two-day "special action", SS troops have massacred 11,000 Jewish Hungarian forced labourers.

Mussolini has met Hitler at the Führer's military headquarters at Rastenburg in East Prussia. After talks about military and political strategy, the dictators toured the recently-conquered territory in the Ukraine and visited the Italian units serving alongside the Germans. This, the seventh meeting between the two men since the start of the war, was a full-scale affair with Mussolini resplendent in uniform, striding past knocked-out tanks and blasted buildings.

YUGOSLAVIA: General Milan Nedic is appointed to lead the puppet Serbian government for Germany.

IRAN: Fighting here ends.

FRENCH INDOCHINA: Franco-Laotian Treaty of Protectorate signed by Vichy French Admiral Jean Decoux, Governor General of Indochina and King Sisavang Vong of Louangphrabang attaches the provinces of Vientiane, Xiangkhoang and Louang Namtha to the King's domain recompensing the loss of Lao territories to Thailand and normalizing Laos status as a protectorate of Vichy.

AUSTRALIA: Following the resignation of prime minister Menzies, Artie Fadden (Country Party) becomes prime minister. Menzies is to be the minister for Defence Co-ordination. (Daniel Ross)

CANADA: HMCS Mayflower arrives in Liverpool, Nova Scotia for a refit.

U.S.A.: The motion picture "Sun Valley Serenade" is released. This musical, directed by H. Bruce Humberstone, stars Sonja Henie, John Payne, Milton Berle, Lynn Bari, Joan Davis, the Nicholas Brothers, Dorothy Danridge and Glenn Miller and his Orchestra including Ray Anthony, Tex Beneke, Ray Eberle, Paula Kelly, Chummy MacGregor and Billy May. The plot has Payne, the pianist with Miller's Orchestra, sponsoring a Norwegian war refuge who he thinks is a little girl but she is actually Henie. When the band soloist (Bari) quits, Henie puts on an ice skating show as a substitute. Miller's Orchestra performs "Chattanooga Choo Choo," "It Happened in Sun Valley," "At Last," "Moonlight Serenade," and "In The Mood." The film is nominated for three Academy Awards.

Submarine USS Kingfish is laid down.

29 August 1942

August 29th, 1942 (SATURDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: The US Eighth Air Force in England flies Mission 8: 11 of 13 B-17 Flying Fortresses attack Courtrai Airfield, Belgium at 1131-1136 hours; 1 B-17 hits Steene Airfield at 1137; they claim 0-1-1 Luftwaffe aircraft.

The CIGS, Sir Alan Brooke, complains bitterly to Churchill about the dreadful casualties and lack of planning of the Dieppe raid.

Minesweeper HMS Stratford commissioned.

Minesweeping trawler HMS Lundy is launched.
Submarine HMS Trooper commissioned.

BELGIUM: During the day, 11 RAF Bomber Command Bostons (= USAAF A-20s) visually bomb the port area at Ostend. There are no losses.

FRANCE: During the day, RAF Bomber Command aircraft visually attack two targets: two Bostons (= USAAF A-20s) attack the power station at Comines with the loss of one aircraft. The second target is the Pont a Vendin power station attacked by two Mosquitos with the loss of one aircraft.

GERMANY: Moscow Radio reported today that Soviet aircraft have bombed Berlin for the second time in four nights. Danzig, Konigsberg and Stettin were also hit. In its report the radio says that while over Berlin one of the Russian pilots sent a message to Stalin telling him "our task has been carried out".

Berlin has admitted that Russian aircraft reached the city, but says that "only a few bombs were dropped". After the previous raid the Germans said that "only single aircraft succeeded in reaching the outskirts."

The Russians insist, however, that 48 fires were started in the German capital and that there were nine big explosions. They give similarly detailed accounts of fires started and damage caused in the other cities. The resumption of raids on Berlin after nearly a year means that the Russians have now succeeded in forming a long-range force capable of flying some 2,000 miles.

U-397 laid down.
U-306 and U-667 launched.
U-385 commissioned.

SWITZERLAND: Berne: There is growing concern in Switzerland about the neutral republic' attitude towards the Jews and gypsies now being rounded up to be deported from Vichy France to "the east" - in fact, death in the Auschwitz gas chambers. In response to the lively official and press debate on the issue the Swiss government said today that its policy was not to turn back Jewish refugees to Switzerland. In practice, however, Jews trying to flee the brutal mass round-ups in Vichy France are often refused entry by Swiss border guards.

U.S.S.R.: In the battle for Stalingrad, the German 4th Panzer Army crashes through the Soviet Army's defenses southwest of the city. Thousands of Russians surrender, but 20,000 escape and join Stalingrad's garrison.

Soviet submarine SC-304 sunk by Seeigel minefield. All hands lost.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA: US Army Middle East Air Force B-24 Liberators fail to locate shipping near Crete and return without bombing.

Whilst carrying out a coastal bombardment of the Daba area of the North Africa coast, destroyer HMS Eridge takes a torpedo hit in the engine room from Italian MTSM.228. Location: off El Dab'a airfield, Egypt, 31 07N 28 26E. She is towed back to Alexandria by HMS Aldenham but after survey is declared to be a constructive wreck and not repaired. (Alex Gordon and Jack McKillop)(108)

NEW GUINEA: In the air, USAAF B-26 Marauders and P-400 Airacobras of the Allied Air Forces attack the airfield at Buna and P-40s hit facilities in the Milne Bay area.
     Enemy ground forces continue their drive over the Owen Stanley Range toward Port Moresby.
     In Milne Bay in Papua New Guinea, a reconnaissance aircraft spots a Japanese force consisting of seven destroyers and two patrol boats heading for the bay at 1633 hours local. At about 2100 hours local, 770 Japanese troops land and prepare for an assault on No. 3 Airstrip tomorrow night. A Japanese cruiser that twice enters Milne Bay to shell Australian shore positions around Gili Gili, each time scrupulously avoided firing on the brightly painted and lit-up hospital ship. This contrasted with the behaviour of their IJA comrades ashore who were mutilating and torturing Australian prisoners. (Michael Mitchell)

CORAL SEA: The Australian destroyer HMAS Arunta sinks Japanese submarine HIJMS RO-33 10 miles (16 kilometres) southeast of Port Moresby in position 09.36S, 147.06E.

Pte. Bruce Steel Kingsbury (b.1918), Australian Military Forces, died clearing a path through attacking troops, saving battalion HQ. (Victoria Cross)

SOLOMON ISLANDS: Off Guadalcanal, USS Gamble, a destroyer minesweeper, escorting a supply convoy sinks IJN I-123. The supply convoy safely reaches Guadalcanal.

3 IJN G4M "Betty" bombers bomb Henderson Field early in the morning. At 1200 hours local, 10 USMC F4F Wildcats and 14 USAAF P-400s attack 18 "Betty" bombers which are escorted by A6M "Zeke" fighters. The Marines claim 5 G4Ms and 6 A6Ms shot down but this claim is much too high. After dark, 7 Japanese destroyers land IJA troop east of the Lunga River.

Shortly before midnight, IJN destroyer division 11 and 24 plus Patrol Boats 1 and 34 land 1st Btn 124th Infantry IJA and most of Ichiki's rear echelon on Guadalcanal near Taivu Point, east of the Lunga perimeter. Their orders include an anti-shipping sweep after landing the troops. Due to aircraft flying from Henderson Field during the night, the sweep is called off. Admiral Tanaka relieves Captain Murakami for this action.

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: USAAF B-17s of the Allied Air Forces bomb the airfield at Rabaul, New Britain Island.

NEW HEBRIDES: Bill Paull becomes a (reluctant) US Marine Raider on the island of Espiritu Santo.

Here is his tale:

        I was a reluctant Marine Raider for a short period (29 August - 28 September, 1942) on the island of Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides. I think our outfit was called the 1st Provisional Raider Bn. I was one of the many Marines who were working aboard the troop transports at Tulagi and Guadalcanal on 10 August when Admiral Fletcher pulled the fleet out of the Solomons and deserted all the Marines ashore with less than half their provisions and gear unloaded.   Three days later I was dumped ashore on Santo along with many other orphans and we artillerymen were set to work surveying gun positions and emplacements to repel the expected Jap invasion of the Hebrides. The news of the Makin raid filtered down to us. We all felt it was a disaster but the news was being put out that we had scored a stunning success. We all knew about the fabled "Raiders" and Col. Carlson from their recruiting efforts while we were training and forming up the 2nd Marine Division at Camp Elliot near San Diego back in the spring of '42. The scuttlebutt was that Carlson was a Communist and the Raiders were highly trained, dedicated killers.
        Anyway, about 10 days after the Makin raid all us orphans were organized into a Raider battalion and began training to make another surprise raid on some Jap held island (probably Little Makin.) None of us were happy campers and we were greatly relieved when we were disbanded about the end of September and sent back to the Solomans to rejoin our old outfits. As I recall, during our Raider training there was none of that BS about "democracy" and having decisions made by consensus of all the troops. We were organized in the traditional "Marine" way....... the officers and NCOs made the decisions and gave the orders, and us grunts obeyed.
        I think Gordo may have more info about the Provisional Raiders. I have searched my personnel records and have come up with the dates that I've quoted, but after 61 years, my memory of those miserable days is somewhat cloudy.
Regards, ......... Bill Paull

TERRITORY OF ALASKA: Aleutians Islands: A USN PBY Catalina reports a force of 3 IJN cruisers and 4 destroyers northwest of Umnak Island; thereupon all aircraft of the US 11th Air Force go on attack alert. The surface force then identifies itself as friendly.

CANADA: Patrol vessel HMCS Camentia acquired. Sold in 1945 to Ante Boroevich of Vancouver, later owned by Norman Wadhams of Alert Bay, British Columbia.
Destroyer HMCS Assiniboine arrives Halifax for refit.
Corvettes HMCS Fredericton, Sudbury and The Pas arrive New York to bolster US escort forces for New York - Guantanamo convoys under Commander Eastern Frontier.
Minesweepers HMCS Trois-Rivieres and Port Hope arrive Halifax from builders in Sorel and Toronto respectively.

U.S.A.: The American Red Cross, reveals that Japan has refused free passage of ships carrying food, medicine, and other necessities for American POWs held by Japan. Japan refused to allow even "neutral" ships to enter Japanese waters, even those on humanitarian errands. Despite protests by the Red Cross, Japan allowed just 10 percent of what POWs elsewhere received to reach prisoners in their territories.

Destroyer escort USS Doherty launched. Destroyer USS Saufley commissioned.

The American Red Cross, reveals that Japan has refused free passage of ships carrying food, medicine, and other necessities for American POWs held by Japan. Japan refused to allow even "neutral" ships to enter Japanese waters, even those on humanitarian errands. Despite protests by the Red Cross, Japan allowed just 10 percent of what POWs elsewhere received to reach prisoners in their territories.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-66 sank SS Topa Topa.

29 August 1943

August 29th, 1943 (SUNDAY)

DENMARK: The Danish government of Prime Minister Erik Scavenius, resigns and the Danish Army is disbanded after the Danes refuse to yield to a German demand that saboteurs be executed. The majority of the Danish Navy, 1 coast defence ship, 9 submarines, a tender, 3 minesweepers and 4 minelayers, is scuttled at Copenhagen and a coast defence ship is scuttled at Isefjord. A patrol boat, 3 motor minesweepers and 9 small auxiliary vessels sortie to Sweden; the German capture 3 minesweepers and 2 patrol boats.

The Germans impose martial law and move in 50,000 troops.

At noon on 24 August a violent explosion wrecked the capital's Forum Hall, which was capable of holding 16,000 people.

Strikes and sabotage have become more and more frequent as news of Allied victories in Russia and southern Europe has spread. The Germans demanded the introduction of a curfew, press censorship and the death penalty for sabotage. The Danish government, backed by King Christian, rejected the demands.

In recent weeks, factories have been blown up, trains derailed and a power station in East Jutland wrecked. In the provincial capital of Odense, where strikes have shut factories, crowds have paraded in the streets singing patriotic songs, waving British and American flags and chanting "Long live the Allies."

U.S.S.R.: Lyubotin, just west of Kharkov, is liberated by the Russians and Taganrog on the Sea of Azov is evacuated by German troops.

Black Sea Fleet and Azov Flotilla: MS "Djalita" - by U-18, at Poti area (Sergey Anisimov)(69)

ITALY: During the day, 39 Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF) B-17 Flying Fortresses visually bomb the Orte marshalling yard, and B-26 Marauders bomb Torre Annunziata; Northwest African Tactical Air Force fighters escort the NASAF bombers, hit a rail junction at Bagnara, bridge and town of Angitola, gun positions in the Villa San Giovanni-Reggio di Calabria areas, and a marshalling yard at Lamezia.

During the night of 29/30 August, 73 RAF Liberators of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group visually bomb the marshalling yard at Torre Annunziata with the loss of one aircraft.

INDIAN OCEAN: Submarine HMS Trident missed training cruiser HIJMS Kashii off Sabang in the Strait of Malacca with a spread of eight torpedoes.

U.S.A.: Washington: Roosevelt warns Germany that its crimes against civilians in occupied Europe will be brought to account after the war. ("Trustworthy information has reached the United States Government regarding the crimes committed by the German invaders against the population of Poland. . . . The United States Government reaffirms its resolve to punish the instigators and perpetrators of these crimes. It further declares that so long as such atrocities continue to be committed by the representatives and in the name of Germany, they must be taken into account against the time of the final settlement with Germany." Bulletin, Vol. IX, No. 219, p. 150.)

The formation of USN combat units for the employment of assault drone aircraft began within the Training Task Force Command as the first of three Special Task Air Groups was established. The component squadrons, designated VK, began establishing on 23 October.

Destroyer escort USS Atherton commissioned.
Destroyer escorts USS Merrill and Snyder launched.
Destroyer USS Marshall launched.
Submarine USS Guavina launched.

29 August 1944

August 29th, 1944 (TUESDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: Minesweeper HMS Golden Fleece commissioned.

Two British Overseas Airlines (BOAC) aircraft crash:

- In SWEDEN, Lockheed C-60A-5-LO, msn 18-2491, registered G-AGIH, crashes at Kinnekulle; 4 of 8 aboard survive.

- A de Havilland DH 98 FB Mk VI, registered G-AGKR, crashes in the NORTH SEA.

NORTH SEA: Lt (P) Robert Hampton "Hammy" Gray RCNVR, led a flight of F4U Corsair aircraft in a deadly low-level strafing attack against 3 Narvik-class destroyers. Although his aircraft took a direct hit and lost most of his rudder Gray flew back to his carrier HMS Formidable. Upon arrival orbiting the ship for 45 minutes rather the disrupt landing ops. He was recovered onboard safely. Once Operations Neptune and Overlord had established the Normandy beachheads, naval air power was re-tasked to other targets. Because the cross-channel logistical situation was still very tenuous, enemy offensive capability, such as their large Narvik-class destroyers, merited special attention. Although they were not sunk, the air attacks kept enemy surface naval units engaged elsewhere and denied them access to the area of primary concern. In this way, a sea denial operation in one region reinforced a sea control campaign in another area.

FRANCE: Soissons is liberated when the US VII Corps crosses the Aisne River. The US 3rd Army liberates Reims and Chalon-sur-Marne.

The 15,000 men of the U.S. 28th Infantry Division parade down the Champs Elysées in Paris at the request of Charles de Gaulle. Due to the extensive barricading of streets in the city, the parade serves the dual purpose of moving the 28th Division through Paris, and toward combat positions east of the city. For the first time in US military history, soldiers marched straight from a parade, into combat within 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the U.S. 5th Infantry Division captures Reims while the assault on Brest continues against unabated resistance. Bad weather allows only minimum bomber and fighter operations by the USAAF Ninth Air Force; B-26 Marauders attack a fuel dump while a few fighters fly sweeps over northwestern France; 100+ C-47 Skytrains complete supply and evacuation missions.

In southern France, organized German resistance at Loriol and Livron ends. In the air, USAAF Twelfth Air Force fighters attack targets in the Rhone Valley. U.S. Marine Corps detachments from the heavy cruiser USS Augusta (CA-31) and light cruiser USS Philadelphia (CL-41) accept the surrender of two German-held islands in Marseilles Harbor and disarm the garrisons.

U.S. Marine Corps detachments from the heavy cruiser USS Augusta (CA-31) and light cruiser USS Philadelphia (CL-41) accept the surrender of two German-held islands in Marseilles Harbor and disarm the garrisons.

In northern FRANCE, bad weather allows only minimum bomber and fighter operations by the US Ninth Air Force; B-26s attack 1 fuel dump while a few fighters fly sweeps over northwestern France; 100+ C-47 Skytrains complete supply and evacuation missions.

In EUROPE, bad weather restricts US Eighth Air Force bomber operations. 104 P-38 Lightnings and P-47 Thunderbolts attack transportation targets in France, Belgium and Germany; 2 airfields, 3 marshalling yards, rail lines at several points, and a large number of rail and road vehicles are attacked; they claim 20-0-7 aircraft on the ground; 3 P-47s are lost.

GERMANY: Rastenburg: Hitler orders extra fortifications on the North Sea coast between Denmark and the Netherlands.

U-2510 is commissioned. U-2342 is laid down.

CZECHOSLOVAKIA: Prague: Partisans fighting the Germans in Slovakia, the eastern part of pre-war Czechoslovakia, issued a general call to arms today and declared the formation of a free Czechoslovak republic. The uprising is centred on the town of Banska Bystrica, in the centre of Slovakia, and the partisans have won control of large areas of surrounding land. Hitler is reported to be furious and has ordered the Wehrmacht and the SS to crush the uprising.

FINLAND: This day the Soviet government replies to the Finnish offer to start the peace negotiations. Before the negotiations can begin, Finland has to immediately and publicly sever all relations with Germany and demand all German troops to be withdrawn from the country by 15 Sept. If the Germans fail to comply, Finns has to disarm them hand hand over to the Allies (Soviets). The next day Mannerheim decides to accept the Soviet conditions. The Parliament, whose agreement is needed to affirm the acceptance, is set to decide on the matter on 5 Sept.

EASTERN FRONT: The USSR announces that it cannot accept or recognize Bulgarian neutrality which was claimed on the 26th.

Russians and Polish Communists announce the finding of 1.5 million dead around the area of the Majdanek concentration camp.

The British and US governments recognize the Polish Home Army (AK) as a responsible belligerent. The Germans refuse to accept this and the fighting in Warsaw continues.

CZECHOSLOVAKIA: During the day, the USAAF Fifteenth Air Force in Italy bombs four targets: (1) 178 aircraft bomb the tank factory at Ostrave Moravaska (126 using H2X radar) with the loss of 12 aircraft; (2) 26 bomb the marshalling yard at Ostrave Moravaska using H2X radar; (3) 26 bomb the industrial area at Ostrava Moravaska using H2X; and (4) 32 bomb the oil refinery at Bohumin (27 using H2X) with the loss of five aircraft.

HUNGARY: During the day, the USAAF Fifteenth Air Force in Italy visually bombs four targets: (1) 47 bomb the marshalling yard at Szeged and (2) 30 bomb the railroad bridge at Szeged; (3) 38 bomb the marshalling yard at Szolnok with the loss of one aircraft; and (4) and 26 bomb the marshalling yard at Czegleb.

ROMANIA: Soviet troops capture Constanta, the Black Sea port.

During the night of 29/30 August, five RAF Liberators of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group mine the Danube River.

YUGOSLAVIA: During the day, 28 USAAF Fifteenth Air Force bombers visually bomb the railroad bridge at Borovnica while six others bomb the marshalling yard at Subotica.

During the night of 29/30 August, seven RAF Liberators of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group mine the Danube River.

ITALY: Medium bombers of the US Twelfth Air Force hit 4 bridges and a viaduct in northeastern Italy while A-20 Havocs hit a fuel station; fighter-bombers hit roads and bridges in northern Italy and support ground forces in the Arno River Valley; P-47s fly medium bomber escort and armed reconnaissance, claiming 100 vehicles destroyed. In southern France, fighters attack targets in the Rhone Valley.

The British 8th Army reaches the River Foglia. The British 6th Armoured Division reaches Consuma while the Canadian 1st and British 5th Corps thrust to the Foglia RIver, behind which the Germans are moving reinforcements

The US Fifteenth Air Force in Italy dispatches 550 B-17s and B-24s to strike targets in Italy, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Yugoslavia; in Italy, communications targets in the Po Valley and railway bridges at Ferrara, Salzano, and Ferrara; in Czechoslovakia, oil refineries and communications targets in the Silesian Plain, including the Bohumin area, steel works and marshalling yard, Moravska-Ostrava marshalling yard, oil refineries and industrial area including, tank works, and marshalling yards; in the Hungarian Plain, marshalling yards at Szolnok and Szeged, and a railway bridge at Szeged; and in Yugoslavia, a railway bridge at Borovnica. P-38s bomb Latisana Bridge, Italy.

Major General Curtis Emerson LeMay becomes Commanding General US XX Bomber Command, Twentieth Air Force, with HQ at Kharagpur, INDIA. LeMay assumes command after Brigadier General LaVerne G Saunders is seriously injured in a non-operational flying accident.

CHINA: The Japanese 11th Army, consisting of seven divisions, starts south down the railroad from Heng-Yang threatening USAAF Fourtheenth Air Force bases at Kweilin and Liuchow.

CAROLINE ISLANDS: A USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24 Liberator flies an armed reconnaissance bombs to Yap Island. In the Palau Islands, USAAF Fifth and Thirteenth Air Force B-24s bomb Koror, and Malakal Islands, a seaplane base on Arakabesan Island, and supply area north of Ingesebus Airfield.

MARIANA ISLANDS: USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24 Liberators based on Saipan bomb Pagan Island during the evening.

VOLCANO ISLANDS: USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24 Liberators based in the Mariana Islands, bomb Iwo Jima during the eventing.

U.S.A.: Destroyer USS Willard Keith launched.
Minesweeper USS Roselle launched.
Destroyer escort USS John L Williamson launched.
Destroyer USS Norris laid down.

Coast Guard-manned Army vessel FS-196 was commissioned at New Orleans. Her first commanding officer was LTJG F. B. Davis, USCGR. She was assigned to and operated in the Southwest Pacific area. She was decommissioned 22 August 1945.

29 August 1945

August 29th, 1945 (WEDNESDAY)

HONG KONG: The British fleet arrives to reclaim the colony for Britain.

CHINA: Mao Tse-tung and Chiang Kai-shek meet at Chungking for talks to try to avert civil war between the Communists and the Nationalists.

SINGAPORE: Japanese troops in southeast Asia, numbering about 740,000, surrender in Singapore to British Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, Supreme Allied Commander Southeast Asia. General ITAGAKI Seishiro, Commander of the 7th Area Army, signs the document for the Japanese.

JAPAN: In the Kurile Islands, Soviet forces occupy Etorofu Island. The Japanese garrisons on Halmahera and Morotai Islands surrender. The first Allied prisoners in Japan are liberated by USN forces.

The USN's Task Group 30.6 commanded by Commodore Rodger W. Simpson arrives in Tokyo Bay to undertake emergency evacuation of Allied POWs in waterfront areas. Accompanying Commodore Simpson was Commander Harold E. Stassen, USNR, Flag Secretary to Commander, Third Fleet, Admiral William F. Halsey.

Guided by TBM Avengers from the light aircraft carrier USS Cowpens (CVL-25) and taken to the scene in LCVPs from the high speed transport USS Gosselin (APD-126), Commodore Simpson carries out his orders. The appearance of the LCVPs off the camp at Omori (the first liberated) triggers "an indescribable scene of jubilation and emotion" by the former captives, some of whom swim out to the approaching landing craft. Many of the POWs, suffering from malnutrition and other health problems, required immediate medical care and the hospital ship USS Benevolence (AH-13) is stationed nearby to receive them. Their treatment as POWs was described as an "inquisitional form of barbarism."

The battleship USS Missouri anchors in Tokyo Bay.

Off Japan, the USN submarine Segundo (SS-398) encounters Japanese submarine HIJMS I-401 off the northeast coast of Honshu, and "after considerable negotiation," places prize crew on board.

EAST INDIES: The Japanese garrisons on Halmahera and Morotai Islands in the Netherlands East Indies surrender.

U.S.A.: Secret Army and Navy reports of official enquiries into the raid on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 are made public. The blame is placed on a lack of preparedness, confusion and a breakdown of inter-service coordination. Former Secretary of State Cordell Hull, General of the Army George C. Marshall, Chief of Staff, U.S. Army, and former Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Admiral Harold R. Stark are criticized. President Harry S. Truman objects to the findings on Hull and Marshall.

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