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1932   (SUNDAY) 

SWITZERLAND: Victor Lytton, chairman of the League of Nations mission to Manchuria, produces the so-called Lytton Report on the conflict between China and Japan and accuses Japan of being the aggressor. Japanese special interests are acknowledged and it proposes to make Manchuko a autonomous part of China under Japanese control.

1935   (WEDNESDAY) 

SWITZERLAND: The League of Nations meets to discuss Italian aggrsinia (Ethiopia).

September 4th, 1939 (MONDAY)

NETHERLANDS: Antiaircraft batteries fire on several unidentified planes over Amsterdam.

DENMARK: An unidentified plane drops four bombs on Esbjerg killing two civilians.

The RAF crews had been warned that no bombs should fall on shore and no merchant ships should be hit. Seven of the 29 attacking aircraft did not return. 

Pilot Officer S.R. Henderson, a Canadian serving in No.206 Squadron, Royal Air Force, becomes the first Canadian to participate in an operational sortie during the WWII when he serves as the lead navigator in a bomber force attacking German war ships at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. (Canada has not declared war on Germany yet and will not do so until 10 September.) 

Ten Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mk IIIs of Nos. 51 and 58 Squadrons dropped leaflets on the Ruhr, Hamburg and Breman.

Polish troops cross into Germany north of Breslau.

POLAND: The German 3.Armee (von Kuechler) and 4.Armee (von Kluge) join in the Corridor at Bydgoszcz and re-establish the land connection between East Prussia and the Reich that was severed in 1919 as a result of the Versailles Treaty. 

ITALY: Abandons attempts at mediation among the warring countries.

JAPAN: The new Prime Minister, Nobuyuki Abe, promises to keep out of the war in Europe.

INDIA: Lord Linlithgow, Viceroy of India declares that India is at war with Germany.

AUSTRALIA: In Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, the Chiefs of Staff Committee, comprising the chiefs of staff of the three military, is formed to provide advice to the government on operational matters and strategic considerations. A larger body, the Defence Committee, which comprises the chiefs of staff, an officer of the secretariat of the Department of Defence and, on occasions, the Controller-General of Munitions, the Controller of Civil Aviation and the Chairman of the Principal Supply Officer’s Committee, advised the government on overall defence policy.

NEWFOUNDLAND: The nation declares war on Germany.

U.S.A.: The Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OpNav) orders Commander Atlantic Squadron to establish, as soon as possible, a combined air and ship patrol to observe and report, in cipher, the movements of warships of warring nations, east from Boston, Massachusetts, along a line to 42°30'N, 65°00'W then south to 19°N then around the seaward outline of the Windward and Leeward Islands, to the British island of Trinidad.

A thunderstorm deluges Washington D.C. with 4.4 inches (11,2 centimeters) of rain in two hours. September of this year is very dry across much of the nation, and Washington D.C. receives more rain in that two hour period than most other places in the country that entire month.

BRAZIL: The RN light cruiser HMS Ajax intercepts the German freighter SS Carl Fritzen 200 miles (322 km) east-southeast of Rio Grande do Sul. The cruiser sinks the merchantman with gunfire.

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September 4th, 1940 (WEDNESDAY)

4 Group (Whitley).51 Sqn. 1 aircraft missing from Berlin, ditched off Holland. 1 crew drowned, rest PoW.
Bombing - power station at Berlin - oil tanks at Magdeburg - 'Razzling'.
51 Sqn. Six aircraft to Berlin. Five bombed and 'Razzled', one FTR.
78 Sqn. Six aircraft to Magdeburg. Five bombed primary, one bombed Bremen.

Battle of Britain:
RAF Fighter Command: Airfields at Bradwell, Lympne and Eastchurch (twice) are bombed. 

Medway towns and Shorts aircraft factory at Rochester and Vickers at Weybridge are bombed. 

At night Liverpool, Bristol, south-east England are raided.

A small group of low-flying, bomb-carrying Bf110s of ZG 76 crossed the coast at Littlehampton, then made for Brooklands Hurricane factory. Hurricanes of 253 Squadron patrolling near Guildford and using Observer Corps information swooped upon the '110s, destroying six. Confusion overtook the remainder as they hurled 500-kg bombs at the Vickers Wellington factory, killing 88 and causing over 700 casualties as a result of heavy machinery, materials and glass being hurled around factory shops.

The intention was that Bf110s and '109s of Erpro 210 after attacking Poling CH (Chain Home radar) station, would provide withdrawal cover for ZG 76. Instead, RAF fighters also dealt effectively with the escort, picking off its Gruppenkommandeur and forcing ZG 76 to find its own way home.

The weather is fine and warm with haze in the Channel and Straits and occasional rain and strong winds in the north. During the day, the German’s main effort consisted of two attacks in East Kent and Thames Estuary areas. There is also a considerable amount of high flying reconnaissances of convoys, especially round the North and East Coasts and Wales. In the North, at 1140 hours one Ju 88 is identified in the Dunbar area although no track is plotted. At 1610 hours and 1809 hours two high altitude reconnaissance flights approached Montrose and Aberdeen. The second of these reported the position of a convoy. Fighters went up but did not intercept. In the East, some high altitude reconnaissances are flown by enemy aircraft off the Coast of Norfolk. In the Southeast, between 0600 and 0700 hours one aircraft at 17,000 feet (5 182 meters)) is over a convoy off North Foreland. It is engaged by fighters but the result is inconclusive. At 0915 hours activity developed into an attack by about 150 aircraft. One group of 80 flew into the Estuary and on towards Eastchurch, Hornchurch, North Weald and Debden, and the other of 70 crossed near Lympne and flew towards Biggin Hill. Most of the aircraft soon turned and by 0945 hours are recrossing the coast. During their withdrawal a force of 30 aircraft patrolled off North Foreland in addition to the usual hostile patrols in the Straits. At 1235 hours five hostile bombers are over Dover and at 1258 hours an attack developed. By 1305 hours some 200 aircraft crossed the coast on a wide front between Dover and Littlehampton at 20,000 feet (6 096 meters). The bulk flew over Kent and Sussex but had commenced to disperse by 1400 hours. Some however flew over the Thames Estuary and near Gravesend but drew off at 1340 hours. A third section of about 50 aircraft flew along the Coast to West of Shoreham as if making for Kenley but quickly turned back. Damage is done at Weybridge. Durin

 g the period of these raids about 80 enemy aircraft remained on patrol in the Straits. At 1635 hours one enemy aircraft at 5,000 feet (1 524 meters) flew towards Dover. One section of fighters did not make interception. Between 1730 and 1750 hours small raids and two of six aircraft and one of 12 approached Dungeness but did not cross the coast. In the South between 0700 and 0800 hours, four hostile raids are in the Channel off the Isle of Wight, Portland and Beachy Head. At 1615 hours two-plus aircraft flew over the Isle of Wight. A section sent up did not made interception. In the West at 1132 hours a hostile reconnaissance is made over a convoy at Milford Haven. (Andy Etherington)

     During the night, Luftwaffe activity commenced earlier at 2000 hours and later concentrated on South Wales and the Midlands including Manchester and Liverpool whence some raids crossed to Newcastle. The number of enemy aircraft involved on the route Cherbourg-Poole-Midlands up to 2345 hours is estimated at 100. In addition there are widespread isolated raids involving at least a further 100 aircraft over the Eastern half of the country including the London area, and at various points round the Coast indicating probable mine-laying. These raids continued to come in up to approximately 0300 hours by which time the majority of raids inland has begun to move away in a South Easterly direction. (Andy Etherington)

     Today, the RAF claimed 51-19-22 Luftwaffe aircraft while losing 17 aircraft with six pilots killed or missing. (Andy Etherington)

Losses: Luftwaffe, 25; RAF, 17.

A Bristol Beaufighter Mk. IF assigned to the Fighter Interception Unit at Tangmere, Sussex, makes its debut in the night fighter role during the night of 4/5 September.

Corvettes HMS Marigold and Tulip launched.
Corvette HMS Coltsfoot laid down.

Minelayer HMS Welshman launched.

GERMANY: Berlin: "I have tried to spare the British ... they have replied by murdering German women and children," says Hitler, threatening savage reprisals on British cities. "When they declare that they will attack our cities in great strength, then we will erase theirs."

U-656 is laid down. U-142 is commissioned.

CRETE: The Australian light cruiser HMAS Sydney (D 48) and the British destroyers HMS Dainty (H 53) and Ilex (D 61) bombard the Italian airfields at Scarpanto. Three Italian motor torpedo boats attack the ships but two are sunk by HMS Ilex and the third broke off the attack.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA: Fleet Air Arm Swordfish aircraft from Illustrious and Eagle mounted an air strike against airfields on the island of Rhodes.

CANADA: Corvette HMCS Levis launched Lauzon, Province of Quebec.

U.S.A.: The US government warns the Japanese government against making aggressive moves in Indochina.

Submarine USS Grayling launched.
Destroyer USS Corry laid down.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Destroyer HMCS St Laurnet and corvette HMS Godetia rescued survivors from merchant ship Titan (9,035 GRT). Titan was sunk by U-47, KKpt Günther Prien Knights Cross, Knights Cross with Oak Leaves, CO. She was in ballast at the time of her sinking. Six crewmembers were lost from her crew. Titan had been a member of the 27-ship Methil Roads (Thames Estuary) north bound to Liverpool convoy OA-207. The convoy departed on 31 Aug 40 and Titan was the only ship lost.

U-46 sinks the SS Luimneach.

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September 4th, 1941 (THURSDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: William Mackenzie King, the Canadian prime minister, warned today that Britain is now the only obstacle in the way of an attack by Hitler's "enslaving hordes of new barbarians" on the New World. He made an impassioned plea to the US for a declaration of support for Britain similar to that promised by Mr Churchill for the Americans in the Far East. Otherwise, he said, "the war may drag on for years, carrying in its train famine, pestilence and horrors still undreamed of."

The Canadian leader was speaking at the Mansion House, in the City of London. Mr Churchill endorsed the Canadian call and added: "Time is short and the struggle is dire. To save humanity all free men must stand together." 

Destroyer HMS Matchless is launched.

FRANCE: Paris: The first detachment of the Legion des Volontaires Français [Legion of French Volunteers] sets off to join the German army on the eastern front.

GERMANY: Rastenburg: Hitler, infuriated by the slow progress of the German advance, starts looking for a scapegoat.

With the immanent loss of their forward airbases in Estonia, the Soviet Air Force launches the fifth, (and last for some time) air raid against Berlin. It causes no significant damage.

U-510 is launched. U-268, U-632 and U-712 are laid down. U-156 and U-586 are commissioned.

FINLAND: General der Artillerie Alfred Jodl visits Finland. He discusses with the Finnish leadership about the Finnish war effort, particularly the possibility of a Finnish attack towards Leningrad. Mannerheim rejects the idea of a Finnish participation, but agrees to pursue the retreating Russians as far as the first Soviet fortification-line north of Leningrad. Mannerheim informs Jodl about the situation on the Finnish front: Karelian Army has just started its attack towards the River Syväri (Svir). Jodl also hands Mannerheim the Knight's Cross Hitler had awarded him a couple of days earlier.

U.S.S.R.: Finnish troops capture Belostrov.

U.S.A.: The government extends Lend-Lease aid to Poland because ". . . the gallant resistance of the forces of the Government of Poland is 'vital to the defence of the United States." 

In baseball, the New York Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox 6-3 at Fenway Park in Boston to clinch the American League pennant, the earliest date in major league baseball history. This is their third straight pennant victory. The Yankees needed only 136 games to win the pennant, giving them a 91-45 record. 

ATLANTIC OCEAN: The US destroyer Greer (DD-145) is attacked by U-652. Although undamaged President Roosevelt presents this incident as evidence of German aggression.

The "Greer Incident" began about 175 miles southwest of Iceland at 0840 hours local when USS Greer, carrying mail and passengers to Argentia, Newfoundland, from Reykjavik, Iceland was signalled by an RAF aircraft that a German submarine had crash-dived some 10 miles (16 km) ahead. Forty minutes later the destroyers soundman picked up the U-boat, and Greer began to trail the submarine. The RAF aircraft, running low on fuel, dropped four depth charges at 1032 hours and returned to base, while Greer continued to dog the U-boat. Two hours later the German ship began a series of radical manoeuvres and Greer's lookouts could see her pass about 100 yards (91 meters) off. An impulse bubble at 1248 hours warned Greer that a torpedo had been fired. Ringing up flank speed, hard left rudder, Greer watched the torpedo pass 100 yards (91 meters) astern and then charged in for attack. She laid a pattern of eight depth charges, and less than 2 minutes later a second torpedo passed 300 yards (274 meters) to port. 

Greer lost sound contact during the manoeuvers, and began to quarter the area in search of the U-boat. After 2 hours, she re-established sound contact and laid down a pattern of 11 depth charges before discontinuing the engagement. Greer had held the German raider in sound contact 3 hours and 28 minutes; had evaded two torpedoes fired at her; and with her 19 depth charges had become the first American ship in World War II to attack the Germans.

The Greer was sailing under wartime conditions with all lights blacked out. She is equipped with the latest submarine detectors.

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September 4th, 1942 (FRIDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: Belfast: Police clash with IRA gunmen in street battles.

Corvette HMS Cornel is launched.

NETHERLANDS: Three RAF Bomber Command Wellingtons lay mines in the Frisian Islands

GERMANY:

During the day, RAF Bomber Command dispatches six Mosquitos and three bombed the Cologne, Essen and Münster areas through thick cloud without loss. During the night of 4/5 September, 251 aircraft, 98 Wellingtons, 76 Lancasters, 41 Halifaxes and 36 Stirlings, are dispatched to bomb Bremen. The Pathfinders introduced new techniques on this night, splitting their aircraft into three forces: 'illuminators', who lit up the area with white flares; 'visual markers', who dropped coloured flares if they had identified the aiming point; then 'backers-up', who dropped all-incendiary bomb loads on to the coloured flares. This basic pattern - illuminating, marking and backing-up - would form the basis of most future Pathfinder operations with proper target-indicator bombs and various electronic bombing aids being employed as they became available. The weather is clear and the Pathfinder plan worked well; heavy bombing of the target followed by 221 aircraft. Bremen confirms that this is a successful raid. Among the industrial buildings seriously hit are the Weser aircraft works and the Atlas shipyard. Four dockside warehouses are destroyed and three oil-storage tanks are burnt out. Various public buildings together with seven schools and three hospitals are hit. One hundred twenty four people are killed and 470 injured. Six aircraft bomb five other targets of opportunity.

U-241 and U-548 are laid down.

HUNGARY: Soviet planes bomb Budapest in the war's first air raid on the Hungarian capital.

U.S.S.R.: The Germans attack at Stalingrad, splitting Soviet 64th Army and driving to the Volga at Krasnoarmeisk. The city has been under continuous bombardment by over 1000 Luftwaffe aircraft for 24 hours.

 RAF No. 144 Squadron equipped with Hampden Mk. Is flies from Britain to Africa and, Russia, to provide protection for Arctic convoys. Nine of the Hampdens are lost, either running out of fuel and being forced to crash land in Sweden, or, in one case, being accidentally shot down by Soviet aircraft as they approach the Russian coast. Even in the water, the Soviets keep firing on the crew, until their shouts of "Angliski!" over the radio are recognized. One Hampden is forced to land in Norway and the crew is captured before they can burn the plane which contains secret documents about the imminent convoy PQ 18. 

Black Sea Fleet and Azov Flotilla: GB "Rostov-Don" and GB "Octyabr" exploded by crew to prevent capturing, on Kuban river (Sergey Anisimov)(69)

GREECE: Colonel David Sutherland is part of a 12-man Special Boat Service unit which is making a raid on the occupied island of Rhodes.

At midnight the unit is landed by the Greek submarine Papanikolis; they had no radio, and were instructed to live off the land for the next fortnight. With three Royal Marines and two Greeks, Sutherland successfully blew up three Italian aircraft and a fuel dump, as well as starting a dozen fires.

But the enemy then pursued them closely over the barren mountains, and mined the beaches after discovering the SBS's boats hidden in a grotto.

Most of the raiding party were killed; Sutherland and Marine John Duggan had to hide in a cleft of rock without food or water for a day while suffering agonising cramp as one of their pursuers sat smoking only a few feet away.

Finally reaching the shore, Sutherland contacted the submarine Traveller. Although it was five days since they had eaten (a tin of sardines each), the two men swam out to sea to the discouraging sound of engines dying away, unaware that this came from the Italian patrol boat which was hunting them. As they climbed aboard the submarine, it was forced to crash-dive, and they had to be revived with mugs of pusser's rum as the patrol boat dropped depth charges.

Sutherland was awarded the Military Cross and Duggan the Military Medal.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA: U.S. Army, Middle East Air Forces): B-24 Liberators, in conjunction with the RAF and the RN, attack a convoy at sea; 2 merchant ships are reported sunk and 1 left burning.

The Italian torpedo boat Polluce is sunk off Tobruk by British bombers. 

EGYPT: Operation Beresford ends with the New Zealanders withdrawing, being overextended. 132 Brigade has lost 700 men while 6 Brigade, in a diversionary attack, has lost 159 men, including Brigadier George Clifton, who is taken POW. He makes nine escape attempts, succeeding the final time. 

USAAF B-25 Mitchells and RAF Bostons, repelling counterattacks during the Alam-el-Halfa, Egypt, battle, hit troop concentrations and vehicles, while P-40s, operating with the RAF, escort bombers and engage in combat over the battle area, claiming 1 fighter destroyed.

NEW GUINEA: Cpl. John Alexander French (b.1914), Australian Military Forces, eliminated three machine guns before dying of wounds. (Victoria Cross)

On the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea, the Australian forces continue to withdraw southward fighting the Japanese as they go. Under cover of darkness, the Australian 2/16 Battalion reaches Myola.

     In the Milne Bay area of Papua New Guinea, Australian troops move forward and come up against Japanese positions at Goroni. Repeated attacks fail to dislodge the Japanese. During the night of 4/5 September, the Japanese destroyer HIJMS Yayoi, covered by two other destroyers, evacuates 224 wounded Japanese troops.

    RAAF Kittyhawks bomb and strafe Japanese forces in the Milne Bay area at Goroni, Wagga Wagga, Ahioma, and north of Lilihoa. 

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: During the night of 4/5 September, a Japanese evacuation force sets sail from Rabaul, New Britain Island to Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea. The force consists of a light cruiser, three destroyers and two patrol boats.

USAAF OPERATIONS IN THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (5th Air Force): In New Guinea, P-40s bomb and strafe forces in the Milne Bay area at Goroni, Wagga Wagga, Ahioma, and north of Lilihoa.

Australian ground forces pushing east along Milne Bay reach Goroni and the Japanese begin evacuating Milne Bay, the first defeat of a Japanese amphibious landing in WWII.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: The Marine 1st Raider Battalion lands on Savo Island and finds it free of Japanese troops.

     During the day, USMC and USN F4F Wildcats, SBD Dauntlesses and USAAF P-400 Airacobras bomb and strafe Japanese landing barges attempting to cross open water between Santa Isabel and Guadalcanal Islands.

PACIFIC OCEAN: USN submarines sink five Japanese ships: (1) USS Growler (SS-215) sinks an ammunition ship in Formosa Straits, about 50 miles (80 kilometres) northeast of Keelung, Formosa; (2) USS Guardfish (SS-217), operating off the northeast coast of Honshu, Japan, sinks two merchant cargo ships and a passenger cargo ship off Kuji Bay, Iwate Prefecture; and (3) USS Pompano (SS-181) sinks a guardboat northeast of Honshu, Japan. 

During the day in the Solomons Sea, two RAAF Hudsons attack two Japanese destroyers northeast of Normanby Island, D'Entrecasteaux Islands. They drop eight 250-pound (113 kilogram) bombs; two just missed the stern of one of the ships.

AUSTRALIA: Brisbane: To strengthen the war effort, the Australian government is moving to cut down on "fun and games" in the domestic scene. In a national broadcast here last night, the prime minister, John Curtin warned that should Port Moresby and Darwin fall to the Japanese, Australia faced a bloody struggle on its own soil. Austerity measures to be brought in are intended to restrict horse and dog races, raise the tax on all entertainments, reduce the drinking of alcohol, smoking and the eating of expensive meals, check black-marketeering and deglamourize activities described in gossip columns.

U.S. General Douglas MacArthur Supreme Commander, Southwest Pacific Area, orders “all available naval forces” to cover convoys in the Coral Sea and prevent Japanese reinforcement of Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea.

TERRITORY OF ALASKA: USAAF OPERATIONS IN ALASKA (11th Air Force): In the Aleutians, 2 B-24 liberators and a P-38 Lightning bomb and patrol Nazan and Kuluk Bays on Atka Island, but bombing of Kiska Island is cancelled due to weather.

U.S.A.: Tug HMCS North Shore commissioned New Orleans, Louisiana. Sailed to Canada with civilian crew.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: An unidentified German U-boat comes across a lifeboat containing 19 survivors of U.S. freighter SS California, sunk by Italian submarine Reginaldo Giuliani on 13 August and provides rations and navigational assistance before departing.

U-171 sinks SS Amatlan.

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September 4th, 1943 (SATURDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: USAAF OPERATIONS IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

The VIII Air Support Command flies Mission 47: 144 B-26B Marauders are dispatched to 4 marshalling yards in France (36 B-26s to each target); 33 hit Courtrai marshalling yard at 1756 hours; 33 hit the Deliverance marshalling yard at Lille at 1756 hours; 34 hit the Hazebrouck marshalling yard at 1831 hours; and 23 hit the St Pol marshalling yard at 1833 hours.

NETHERLANDS: During the night of 4/5 September, ten RAF Bomber Command bombers lay mines in the Frisian Islands.

FRANCE: During the night of 4/5 September, RAF Bomber Command aircraft lay mines in three locations: eight each aircraft lay mines in the River Gironde and off Lorient and St Nazaire. No aircraft are lost.

GERMANY: Berlin: In the third saturation raid on the city in 11 nights, the RAF last night blasted Berlin with 1,000 tons of bombs within 20 minutes. Only a few days ago the Germans were saying that British losses were so heavy the RAF dare not return. Bomber Command adopted new tactics for the raid, concentrating the whole fleet of 316 Lancasters and four Mosquitoes over the city in a short period of time; losses are put at 22 planes, compared with 47 in the raid three nights ago and 56 in the first raid last month. The raid left 422 Berliners dead, and caused widespread devastation.

During the night of 4/5 September, RAF Bomber Command sends eight Mosquitos to attack two cities; three bomb Duisburg and two bomb Cologne.

Hamburg: Lord Haw-Haw tells Britain that "the final blow will be struck by Adolf Hitler."

U-903 commissioned.

U.S.S.R.: Hitler partially corrects one of his stupidities by ordering the German 17th Army to abandon Novorossisk and a tiny corner of the Kuban steppe, north of the Caucasus. For seven months more than 250,000 Germans and Romanians have been uselessly cooped up in the Kuban because Hitler thinks the Heer some day will go on the offensive again and capture the Caucasian oilfields. Now there's a good chance the 17th will be trapped and captured by the Soviet Army.  

In the Ukraine, the Soviets take Merefa, a major rail junction south of Kharkov. 

ITALY: Allied troops land between Reggio and Catona.

Messina, SICILY: Lieutenant John Bridge (b. 1915), RNVR, was awarded the George Cross for leading the bomb disposal work at Messina with the Royal Navy's Port Clearance Party 1500. P1500 had started work on 25 August, attempting to make the port useable in time for the Allied invasion of mainland Italy. P1500's original officer and four others were killed at the start by booby-trapped depth charges. Under Bridge's leadership, over 250 booby-traps ashore, and forty in the water, were made safe. Bridge himself made 28 dives to disarm two large clusters of depth charges. (George Cross)

USAAF OPERATIONS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

* Twelfth Air Force: In Italy, bad weather prevents XII Bomber Command B-17 Flying Fortresses from locating their targets (airfields); P-38s sent to hit landing grounds at Grazzanise also fail to find targets, but attack targets of opportunity in the general area; US fighter-bombers and RAF light bombers hit motor transport scattered along the Italian toe, and bomb gun positions northeast of Reggio di Calabria and roads and railroad junction in the Cosenza-Catanzaro-Nicastro area and at Colosimi.

CHINA: Ten USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells and 11 P-40s attack Tien Ho airfield at Canton; three of 15 intercepting "Zeke" fighters (Mitsubishi A6M, Navy Type 0 Carrier Fighters) are shot down.

NEW GUINEA: The reconquest of New Guinea advanced a major step today when battle-hardened Australian veterans of El Alamein and US troops stormed ashore in an amphibious operation aimed at seizing the key New Guinea port of Lae, on the Huon Gulf. 

This landing was the largest in the Pacific to that date. It formed part of the largest triphibious operation ever carried out in the Pacific.

USN Task Force 76 (Rear Admiral Daniel E. Barbey) lands the Australians, of the 9th Division, headed for Red Beach east of Lae at the mouth of the Buso River, as part of a 1st Australian Corps operation to envelop and destroy the Japanese 51st Division (Operation POSTERN). Landings are also made on the Huon Peninsula at Hopoi. As they landed on the beaches as Japanese aircraft attacked their landing craft, killing seven soldiers. Once ashore the Allied troops advanced towards Lae without interruption. The Australians had cloaked their plan to seize Lae by threatening the nearby village of Salamaua without actually attacking it; the Japanese thereupon reinforced Salamaua, thus weakening the defences of Lae. Japanese aircraft from Rabaul have continued making trouble for the Allies during the day, inflicting about 120 casualties. But the attacks failed to interfere with the westward advance of the 9th Division.

9th Division is the "right pincer". The holding force is constituted of 3rd Australian Division at Salamaua and the left pincer by 7th Div AIF airlanding at Nadzab tomorrow (5 September 1943).  This plan was conceived by General Sir Thomas Blamey.

The Australians are transported by USN Task Force 76 and guarded by ten destroyers. 

The initial landing today was by two brigades, HQ and support elements of 9 Div, carried in vessels of 7th Amphib Force (Rear-Adm Barbey USN). 532nd EBSR (US) also took part in the landing. 

The balance of the division came in the second wave two days later. Blamey had insisted on landing the entire 9th Division instead of the single brigade envisioned by GHQ planners. Events on shore later would vindicate his judgment.

Although there was negligible resistance on shore, Japanese aircraft scored hits on LSTs in the initial landing and in the follow-on force. 2/4 Cdo Coy lost about a quarter of its strength to a bomb hit while an infantry battalion lost its CO and other personnel. There was no CAP.

After securing the beachhead, 9 Div AIF began its advance westward along the coast towards Lae. Somewhere ahead were a lot of enemy ... (Michael Mitchell)

At 0705 hours local, 6 "Zeke" fighters (Mitsubishi A6M, Navy Type 0 Carrier Fighters) and three "Betty" bombers (, Navy Type 1 Attack Bombers) attack the landing craft and sink the infantry landing craft LCI-339 and damage the destroyer USS Conyngham (DD-371) and tank landing ships USS LST-471 and USS LST-473.

At 0800 hours local, 9 USAAF Fifth Air Force B-24s support the Australian landings near Lae by pounding Lae Airfield; at 0900 hours, 24 B-24s attack gun emplacements and other targets at Malahang Airdrome at Lae. At about 1400 hours, 40 P-38s and P-47 Thunderbolts intercept about 100 IJN aircraft over the departing invasion force; a "Val" dive bombers (Aichi D3A, Navy Type 99 Carrier Bombers) hit an LST and score near misses on two USN destroyers while a "Betty" bomber scores a torpedo hit on an LST killing 51 and wounding 30. (Michael Mitchell and Jack McKillop)

During this action Seaman First Class Johnnie David Hutchins of the US Naval Reserve won the MOH for extraordinary heroism and conspicuous valour above and beyond the call of duty while serving on board a Landing Ship, Tank, during the assault on Lae.

His citation read:

As the ship on which Hutchins was stationed approached the enemy-occupied beach under a veritable hail of fire from Japanese shore batteries and aerial bombardment, a hostile torpedo pierced the surf and bore down upon the vessel with deadly accuracy. In the tense split seconds before the helmsman could steer clear of the threatening missile, a bomb struck the pilot house, dislodged him from his station, and left the stricken ship helplessly exposed. Fully aware of the dire peril of the situation, Hutchins, although mortally wounded by the shattering explosion, quickly grasped the wheel and exhausted the last of his strength in manoeuvring the vessel clear of the advancing torpedo. Still clinging to the helm, he eventually succumbed to his injuries, his final thoughts concerned only with the safety of his ship, his final efforts expended toward the security of his mission. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country. (Drew Halevy)

NEW BRITAIN ISLAND in the Bismarck Archipelago, B-25s bomb the airfield at Cape Gloucester on New Britain Island; A-20 Havocs and RAAF planes hit the airfield on Gasmata Island off New Britain Island; and  11 RAAF Catalinas attack Vunakanau and Lakunai Airdromes at Rabaul on New Britain Island.

USAAF OPERATIONS IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (Thirteenth Air Force): In the Solomon Islands, 23 B-25s hit the Dulo Cove area on New Georgia Island; 9 B-24s, 15 USAAF fighters, and 20+ USN fighters hit the airfield on Ballale Island.

USAAF OPERATIONS IN THE CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS

* Fourteenth Air Force: In China, 10 B-25s and 11 P-40s pound Tien Ho airfield at Canton; 3 of 15 intercepting "Zeke" fighters are shot down.

PACIFIC OCEAN: USN submarines sink three Japanese vessels: (1) USS Albacore (SS-218) sinks a gunboat about 133 nautical miles southwest of Ponape, Caroline Islands in position 05.25N, 156.37E; (2) USS Sunfish (SS-281) sinks an army cargo ship about 40 nautical miles southwest of Tainan, Formosa in position 22.06N, 119.50E; and (3) USS Tarpon (SS-175) sinks a guardboat about 887 nautical miles east of Tokyo in position 35.56N, 157.59E. 

U.S.A.: Destroyer escorts USS Breeman and Runels launched. Submarine USS Icefish laid down. Destroyer escort USS Scroggins laid down.
 

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September 4th, 1944 (MONDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: London: The cabinet has decided today that all Russians captured by the British forces will be sent back to the Soviet Union whether they want to go or not. There are something like 12,000 Soviet citizens being held in camps in Britain, and they are arriving at the rate of 2,000 a week from France.

Some of these prisoners are men who chose to fight with the Germans because of their hatred of Communism, but many were forcibly conscripted from prisoner-of-war camps and sent to build and man the defences in France. Their presence has been the source of growing friction between Russia and Britain.

Submarine HMS Sidon launched.

Frigate HMCS Ribble arrived Londonderry to join EG-26.

ÉIRE: An RN Fairey Swordfish crashes at Carracastle, County Mayo.

BELGIUM: The British 11th Armoured Division enters Antwerp, one of Europe's largest seaports. Antwerp's docks are undamaged, but the Germans control part of the 70-mile (113 kilometer) waterway leading to the city. 11th Armoured are ordered to halt because it is outstripping its 300-mile-long supply line. It fails to push to take important canal crossings to dominate the approaches to the port.

The British also take Louvain.

Machine gunner Private Gino Merli (1924-2002)of the US 1st Infantry Division's 18th Infantry is one of 14 men who set up a roadblock near the village of Sars la Bruyere, a few miles from the French border.

At least 100 German soldiers came down a cobblestone road, and their fire knocked out one of the Americans' two machine-gun positions. Private Merli and his assistant gunner killed several members of the German patrol from the surviving machine-gun position, but then Private Merli's assistant was killed by return fire.

The remaining members of his unit retreated or were killed, wounded or captured.

Refusing to abandon his position, Private Merli was alone in his foxhole at midnight, and he held off several more German attacks, expending about 2,000 rounds of ammunition.

Once, when continuing to fire would have given Private Merli's position away, a group of Germans approached his foxhole and saw what appeared to be two dead soldiers inside. The body of Private Merli's assistant gunner was on top, and he was lying below, pretending to be dead.

The Germans prodded Private Merli in the buttocks with their bayonets, inflicting four wounds, but he did not cry out. Satisfied that he was dead, the German soldiers departed. Then Private Merli began firing again.

At daybreak, the remnants of the German patrol surrendered after American troops opened a counter-assault. Private Merli then jumped from his gun pit, having survived with a finger wound and the four bayonet wounds. (MOH)

NETHERLANDS: During the night of 4/5 September, nine RAF Bomber Command Mosquitos bomb Steenwijk Airfield without loss.

FRANCE: USAAF Ninth Air Force: Bad weather prevents bomber activity; fighters fly armed reconnaissance over Belgium, eastern France, Luxembourg, and eastern and central Germany, and defensive night patrols over western and northwestern France. 

Field Marshall Gerd von Rundstedt is named Commander in Chief West by Adolf Hitler.  

General Eisenhower states the general objectives of the Allied armies. The Canadian 1 Army and British 2 Army along with the U.S. First Army are given the task of advancing toward the Ruhr. The U.S. Third Army will drive to the Saar.  

The British liberate Lille in northern France while Patton's U.S. Third Army refuels, storms across the Moselle River and pushes toward Nancy, capital of the French province of Lorraine. 

In southern France, the U.S. VI Corps and French II Corps continue their advance on Besancon and Dijon while the U.S. 45th Infantry Division captures Bourg-en-Bresse.

GERMANY: During the night of 4/5 September, RAF Bomber Command dispatches 43 Mosquitos to bomb Karlsruhe; 42 attack the target without loss. .

U-2344 laid down
U-3007 launched.

FINLAND: The Russian-Finnish cease fire is agreed to and is effective immediately. A delegation leaves Finland for Russia to negotiate the Peace Treaty. The Finnish troops cease hostilities at 7 am. as ordered, but the Soviet troops keep on fighting until the tomorrow morning. The reason is in PM Hackzell's oversight making the Finnish agreement to Soviet conditions public. As he accidentally forgot to mention that Finland will break the relations with Germany, the Soviet view was that Finland hasn't fulfilled all the conditions. The matter is clarified, but the time this hassle takes delays the sending of Soviet orders to cease hostilities, and most of the Soviet formations receive them late. 

There are several skirmishes and artillery actions this day, and Finns lose 99 men killed this first day of peace. But finally the Continuation War is over. Its cost to Finland is about 65 000 killed or missing and 145 000 wounded out of total population of 3,8 million in 1939. When the losses of the Winter War of 1939-40 and the coming Lappland War against Germans are added, the WWII kills almost 90,000 Finns.

The Finnish peace delegation goes to Moscow on 7 Sept and the Peace Treaty is signed on 19 September.

BULGARIA: Six USAAF Fifteenth Air Force bombers attack highways.

U.S.S.R.: Brasnov and Senaia are taken by the Soviet Army.
 

USAAF OPERATIONS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS 

* Twelfth Air Force: In Italy, B-25s and B-26s hit several road and railroad bridges and tunnel in the Po Valley while fighter-bombers strike pontoon bridges, roads, bridges, and motor transport in preparation for an Allied ground assault on the Gothic Line; during the night of 3/4 September A-20s on armed reconnaissance of the Po Valley bomb vehicles in the Turin-Milan areas; fighters fly armed reconnaissance and offensive patrols in the Po Valley and the Rhone Valley in France.

* Fifteenth Air Force: In Italy, almost 400 B-17s and B-24s, with fighter escort, attack submarines in Genoa harbor and hit communications in northern Italy including the Avisio viaduct, marshalling yards at Trento, Bronzola, and Ora, and railroad bridges at Ora, Casarsa della Delizia, and Latisana.

ITALY: The U.S. Fifth Army issues final orders for the attack on the Gothic Line.

     USAAF Twelfth Air Force B-25 Mitchells and B-26 Marauders hit several road and railroad bridges and tunnel in the Po Valley while fighter-bombers strike pontoon bridges, roads, bridges, and motor transport in preparation for an Allied ground assault on the Gothic Line.

     USAAF Fifteenth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators visually bomb six targets: 165 attack the U-boat base at Genoa; 59 hit the railroad bridge at Latisana; 58 attack the railroad bridge at Casarsa; 56 hit the railroad viaduct at Aviso; 53 bomb the North marshalling yard at Trento; and at Ora, 51 hit the railroad bridge and 48 bomb the marshalling yard.

     During the night of 4/5 September, 65 RAF Liberators of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group bomb the marshalling yard at Ravenna.

USAAF OPERATIONS IN THE CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS

* Tenth Air Force: 24 B-24s haul 32,000 US gallons (121,133 liters) of fuel to Kunming, China; and though heavy rains curtail combat operations, 9 P-47 Thunderbolts attack Bhamo and Myothit, Burma. 

* Fourteenth Air Force: In China, 12 B-25s blast sampan, barge, and motor launch concentrations in the Kweiyang area; 6 B-25s, with P-51 Mustang support, pound the Paishul and Lingling areas, considerably damaging the town of Lingling and killing an estimated 60 soldiers and 10 horses; 100+ P-40s and P-51s on armed reconnaissance kill large numbers of troops and horses, pound river and road traffic, and a variety of other targets of opportunity in the eastern Burma-southwestern China region around Changning and Lungling and throughout areas mainly to the south of the Tungting Lake-Yangtze River section of inland southeastern China, mainly around Hengyang, Lingling, Leiyang, Yangtien, and Kiyang.

BURMA: The 11th East African Division captures Sittaung without opposition.

     USAAF Tenth Air Force combat operations are curtailed by heavy rains but nine P-47 Thunderbolts attack Bhamo and Myothit, Burma.

CHINA: Twenty four USAAF Tenth Air Force B-24 Liberators haul 32,000 US gallons (26,646 Imperial gallons or 121 kiloliters) of fuel to Kunming from India.

     Twelve USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells blast sampan, barge, and motor launch concentrations in the Kweiyang area; six B-25s, with P-51 Mustang support, attack the Paishul and Lingling areas, considerably damaging the town of Lingling and killing an estimated 60 Japanese soldiers and ten horses; 100+ P-40s and P-51s on armed reconnaissance kill large numbers of troops and horses, attack river and road traffic, and a variety of other targets of opportunity in the eastern Burma-southwestern China region around Changning and Lungling and throughout areas mainly to the south of the Tungting Lake-Yangtze River section of inland southeastern China, mainly around Hengyang, Lingling, Leiyang, Yangtien, and Kiyang.

JAPAN: Six USAAF Eleventh Air Force B-25 Mitchells based in the Aleutian Islands fly an anti-shipping sweep close to Paramushiru Island and draw shore-based antiaircraft fire; eight fighters intercept but there are no losses on either side.

VOLCANO ISLANDS: USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24 Liberators bomb Iwo Jima.

EAST INDIES: During the night of 4/5 September, 23 USAAF Fifth Air Force B-24 Liberators bomb Kendari Airfield on Celebes Island.

NEW GUINEA: Following an estimate by Australian Lieutenant General Sir Frank Berryman, Chief of Staff Advanced Headquarter Allied Land Forces South-West Pacific, that the Aparri, Philippine Islands, operation would require three Australian divisions, Australian General Sir Thomas Blamey, Commander in Chief Allied Land Forces Southwest Pacific and Commander-in-Chief Australian Military Force, writes U.S. General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Commander Southwest Pacific Area, requesting the use of the Australian 6th Division, which by then (January 1945) would be at Aitape , Papua New Guinea.

     Bad weather cancels most large-scale operations. In Dutch New Guinea, USAAF Fifth Air Force A-20 Havocs and B-25 Mitchells hit Utarom (Kaimana) Aerodrome and fighter-bombers attack Moemi Aerodrome and the town of Napido..

MARCUS ISLAND: USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24 Liberators bomb Marcus Island in the North Pacific. The island is located in the North Pacific about 768 nautical miles (1 422 kilometers) west-northwest of Wake Island and is used as a refueling point for Japanese aircraft en route to the Central Pacific.

MARIANA ISLANDS: On Pagan Island, USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24 Liberator bomb and P-47 Thunderbolts fly rocket and strafing attacks..

MARSHALL ISLANDS: USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24 Liberators strike Wotje Atoll.

USAAF OPERATIONS IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (Seventh Air Force): 5 B-24s, on armed reconnaissance, snooper mission, and training flights, bomb Iwo Jima Island, Marcus Island in the North Pacific, Yap Island, and Pagan Island. P-47s hit Pagan Island with rockets and strafing attacks. In the Marshall Islands, B-24s from Kwajalein Atoll strike Wotje Atoll.

CAROLINE ISLANDS: Five USAAF Fifth Air Force B-24 Liberators, on armed reconnaissance, bomb Yap Island. 

PACIFIC OCEAN: USN submarine USS Bowfin (SS-287) sinks a Japanese guardboat in the North Pacific. 

USAAF OPERATIONS IN THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (Far East Air Forces): Bad weather cancels most large-scale operations. In New Guinea, A-20s and B-25s hit Urarom Airfield and fighter-bombers attack Moemi and hit Napido. During the night of 4/5 September B-24s bomb Kendari Airfield on Celebes Island.

USAAF OPERATIONS IN ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In the Kurile Islands, 6 B-25s fly an antishipping sweep close to Paramushiru Island and draw shore-based AA fire; 8 fighters intercept but there are no losses on either side.

U.S.A.: Destroyer USS Everett F Larson laid down
Light cruiser USS Youngston laid down.

Minesweepers USS Fancy and Fixity launched
Destroyer escorts USS Bray and Walton commissioned.

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September 4th, 1945 (TUESDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: Minesweepers HMCS Minas and Kenora departed Devonport for return to Halifax.

NORWAY: SPITZBERGEN: The last German unit surrenders; the weather station 'Haudegen' on Spitzbergen, which was set out from U-307 on 28 September 1944.

MARIANA ISLANDS: The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter USCG  83434  became the first and only USCG cutter to host an official surrender ceremony when Imperial Japanese Army Second Lieutenant YAMADA Kinichi surrendered the garrison of Aguijan Island on board. Rear Admiral Marshall R. Greer, USN, accepted the surrender for the United States. 

WAKE ISLAND: The Wake Island Surrender Acceptance Unit arrives aboard the USS Levy (DD-162) under Brigadier-General Lawson H. M. Sanderson, Commanding General, 4th US Marine Aircraft Wing. The U.S. flag is raised over Wake Island at 1330 hours local, as a USMC bugler plays "Colors." This was the  first time the Stars and Stripes had flown over Wake since its  capture by the Japanese on 23 December 1941. At this time their are 653 IJN and 609 IJA personnel remaining on the island. Over 400 of these troops were wounded and ill. Some 600 others had been killed by US attacks, 1,288 died of starvation and illness, and 974 wounded and ill had been evacuated. The first man to step ashore was Marine Colonel Walter L. J. Bayler, the last man to leave Wake (then a major) on 21 December 1941 by flying boat. (Jack McKillop and Gordon Rottman)

U.S.A.: Escort carrier USS Saidor commissioned.
Heavy cruiser USS Helena commissioned.

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