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1932   (THURSDAY)

MANCHUKUO: The Japanese and Manchukuo governments sign a protocol which establishes a Japanese protectorate over the kingdom.

1935   (SUNDAY)

GERMANY: Chancellor Adolf Hitler alleges that Germans in Memel, Lithuania, have been tortured and deprived of autonomy after peace had been concluded.

1936   (TUESDAY)

SPAIN: The government protests Italians, Germans, and Portuguese ebels in the Spanish Civil War.

UNITED STATES: The USN's first aircraft carrier, USS Langley [CV-1, ex collier USS Jupiter (AC-3)], is detached from the Battle Force and assigned to Commander, Aircraft Base Force, for duty as a seaplane tender (AV-3). After a brief period of operation, she goes into the yard for conversion, from which she emerges early in 1937 with the forward part of her flight deck removed. The USN now has four aircraft carriers in commission.

1937   (WEDNESDAY)

SWITZERLAND: Wellington Koo, Chinese Delegate, warned the League of Nations Council of injury to foreign interests in the Far East and the possibility of a world conflict if Japanese aggression in China goes unchecked.

1938   (THURSDAY)

GERMANY: British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain flies to Germany and meets with Chancellor Adolf Hitler. Hitler demands the annexation of the German regions of Czechoslovakia on the basis of self-determination and announces Germany's intentions to go to war to achieve this goal. Prime Minister Chamberlain and Lord Runciman return to London to meet with French government leaders.

September 15th, 1939 (FRIDAY)

Britain has been living for a fortnight without a weather forecast, the first deprivation of war. Another, not so badly missed, is schooling. Some 2,000 city schools have been requisitioned for use in Civil Defence, and a million unevacuated children have no classes to go to.

Petrol ration cards have already been issued and rationing was due to start tomorrow, but has been postponed after motorists drained the pumps dry of "Pool" petrol at 1/6 a gallon.

The 'Firby' (4869 tons), owned by the Ropner Shipping Company, Limited, was sunk in the Atlantic. The master, Captain Prince, has informed the owners that he and the crew of 40 all got away and had landed safely. Four, however, had been injured by shells.

The chief officer, Mr. James Woodruff, stated that the crew, after taking to the boats, pulled alongside the German submarine, the commander of which was most considerate. members of his crew handed nine loaves of black bread to the sunken ships crew and three rolls of bandages for the injured men. Before they moved away the commander sent an S.O.S. to Mr. Churchill at the Admiralty giving the position where the sinking had occurred. After 13 hours in a heavy sea the men were rescued by a destroyer.

The Times, September 15th, 1939.

U-26 sank SS Alex Van Opstal.
U-36 sank SS Truro .
U-53 sank SS Cheyenne.

LUXEMBOURG:  A Grand Ducal decree calls for the recruitment of 125 volunteer reservists to augment the Company of Volunteers. 
 

POLAND: Guderian's 10th Panzer Division closes the ring around Brest on the east bank of the Bug. An attempt to capture the citadel by means of a surprise tank attack failed, owing to the Poles having blocked the entrance gate by parking an old Renault tank at an angle across it, so that tanks could not force their way in. The German 20th motorized and the 10th Panzer Divisions are deployed for a concerted attack on the citadel to take place tomorrow. (95)(Russ Folsom)

Gdynia is captured by German forces. Polish breakout attempts from the Kutno pocket are unsuccessful.    

U.S.S.R.:

Khalkin-Gol: The Soviet Union, Mongolia and Japan sign an agreement calling for all combat actions at Khalkin-Gol to cease by September 16. The two sides agress to exchange prisoners of war and a commission is created to define the borders of Mongolia and Manchuria in the area of Khalkin-Gol. This enables it to pull forces away from Mongolia and look west. Both sides have been under pressure from Germany since the signing of the Nazi-Soviet non-aggression pact. Peace talks were initiated by Japan's new cabinet, appointed two weeks ago.

Pravda attributes Poland's "military debacle" to its "brutal treatment" of its national minorities, especially the Polish Ukrainians and White Russians.

AUSTRALIA: The government announces the mobilization of the Militia and the establishment of the 2nd Australian Imperial Force for service abroad. Australia needed to raise a volunteer force for overseas service because the militia were only allowed to serve in Australian territories.

CANADA: The first British transatlantic convoy sets sail from Halifax, Nova Scotia. From now on, all ships carrying vital supplies of Canadian wheat and US munitions are to travel in convoys scheduled and protected by the British and Canadian navies. The vital Glasgow-Thames coastal trade is now moving in convoys. Last week the first convoy from Liverpool set sail for the US.

Patrol vessel HMCS Brad D'Or commissioned. Built Sorel, Province of Quebec. Launched 1919, completed 1926, 265 tons, 124.5x23.5x12.4ft, 7kts, crew 4/20. Ex-Dept of Marine and Fisheries, Lightship No. 25. Pendants (FY18)>(J06)
MFV HMCS Santa Maria commissioned. Built Vancouver, British Columbia. Launched 1936, 67.5x19.3x9.25ft, 8kts, crew 1/10, 1-.303mg
Destroyers HMCS Fraser and St Laurent arrived Halifax from Vancouver, British Columbia.

NEWFOUNDLAND: Since Canada had "publicly proclaimed interest in the defence of Newfoundland," Governor Sir Humphrey Walwyn suggests to the Dominions Secretary in London that they invite the Canadian Government "to take over for the duration of the war...Botwood Seaplane Base for the RCAF." London flatly refuses, explaining that in light of Newfoundland's destined role in transatlantic aviation, relinquishing control of its airports was inadvisable as they "are such an important factor in our bargaining position vis-a-vis Pan-American World Airways and [the] United States." London did not object, however, to the RCAF making use of facilities if Canada so requested. Indeed, such a request had been made by Canada earlier in the month and authorized by Newfoundland. An agreement in April 1941 did eventually see the transfer of Newfoundland's air bases to Canada for the duration of the war.

U.S.A.:

The isolationist campaign against American involvement in the war is reaching a crescendo. In three days alone, a total of more than a million pieces of mail reached Capitol Hill, urging senators and congressmen to vote against selling arms to the allies. Several members of Congress have taken to the airwaves to broadcast the isolationist viewpoint, including Senators Borah Nye and Vandenberg, but the most vociferous advocate is Charles Lindbergh.The Lindberghs moved to Europe after the infamous kidnapping of their son, and became close to the "Cliveden set" in Britain, who advocated appeasement to Germany, and Joseph Kennedy, the US Ambassador to Great Britain. Lindbergh praised Nazi Germany's "sense of decency", called Hitler "undoubtedly a great man" and accepted a Nazi decoration.

     The temperature in Detroit, Michigan, soars to 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Centigrade) to establish a record for September.

Destroyer USS Mustin commissioned.

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September 15th, 1940 (SUNDAY)

RAF Bomber Command: 
4 Group. 77 Sqn. Whitley P4917 crashed landing at Tholthorpe on night operations. Sgt E.E. Fenning and crew safe.
Bombing - invasion fleet at Ostend and Dunkirk - Hamburg docks - industrial targets at Berlin.
58 Sqn. Three aircraft to Berlin. All bombed alternatives. Three aircraft to Hamburg. All bombed alternatives. Three aircraft to Ostend. All bombed.
77 Sqn. Bombing - eight aircraft to Dunkirk and Ostend. One bombed and strafed Ostend docks. Two aircraft to Berlin, both bombed.

Over Antwerp, after a successful attack on German barges, the Hampden Mk. I P 1355 in which Sergeant John Hannah (1921-1947), assigned to No 83 Squadron based at Lossiemouth, Morrayshire, Scotland, is the wireless operator/air gunner, is subjected to intense anti-aircraft fire, starting a fire which spread quickly. The rear-gunner and navigator had to bale out and Sergeant Hannah could have acted likewise, but instead he remained to fight the fire, first with two extinguishers and then with his bare hands. He sustained terrible burn injuries, but succeeded in putting out the fire and the pilot is able to bring the almost wrecked aircraft back safely. Sergeant Hannah is awarded the Victoria Cross (VC) for gallantry, determination and devotion to duty.

RAF Fighter Command: The weather is fair with some cloud patches and fine during the evening.
Largest ever German formations over London and south-east, in two big raids, but mainly broken up by 24 Fighter Command squadrons operating on this day, since known as Battle of Britain Day. An undisputed victory. 

The Luftwaffe delivered two major attacks on London during the day. Later smaller formations attacked both Portland and targets in the Southampton area. German patrols are plotted between 0900 and 1100 hours in the following areas: In the Straits, off Harwich, between Lympne and Dungeness, 20 miles (32 kilometers) East of line Lowestoft to Spurn Head, in the Estuary, and south of Shoreham and the Isle of Wight. The first major attack occurred at 1100 hours when Luftwaffe aircraft began to mass in the Calais/Boulogne, France, area and at 1130 hours the leading wave of about 100 aircraft crossed the coast between Dover and Dungeness, followed by a second wave of 150 aircraft. Objectives appeared to be in the London district. No 11 Group sent up 16 fighter squadrons to meet the attack, and No 12 Group provided five fighter squadrons to patrol Debden and Hornchurch. Approximately 100 German aircraft succeeded in reaching Central London. The second major attack when at 1400 hours a wave of approximately 150 German aircraft crossed the coast near Dover, followed by a second wave of 100 aircraft. These formations spread over South-east and South-west Kent and the Maidstone area, and about 70 penetrated Central London. No 11 Group sent up 16 fighter squadrons and No 12 Group four fighter squadrons. Targets in South London and railways in London and Kent appeared to be the chief objectives. At 1530 hours a formation of 25 aircraft attacked Portland. It is engaged and successfully driven off by RAF fighters. At 1725 hours about 50 German aircraft flew over the Isle of Wight and attacked objectives in the Southampton district. This formation is intercepted and driven off by 6½ RAF squadrons.

     During the night of 15/16 September, the first raids are plotted leaving the French Coast at Le Havre at about 2000 hours. They crossed the Coast at Shoreham and penetrated to the London area which appeared to be the main objective throughout the night. At about 2230 hours raids to London started to come from the Dieppe, France, area crossing the coast between Selsey Bill and Dover. Between 0100 and 0300 hours raids are coming in via the Thames Estuary and Essex. About fifteen raids are plotted out of the Cherbourg, France, area to South Wales and the Bristol Channel, some of which penetrated to the Midlands and others to Liverpool. By 0130 hours these raids had withdrawn by the activity over London and the South-east continued until about 0500 hours. Two raids are plotted in the Digby and Church Fenton areas and two are plotted in the Irish Channel. Some ten raids are suspected of minelaying between Montrose and Flamborough Head.

11 Group had by now been invigorated by rested and fresh Squadrons such as 46 and 229 which in 12 Group had not experienced much fighting but were well staffed. They were worked up in the pause granted by the switch in enemy tactics to the bombing of cities.

Shortly after 11:00 radar stations in Kent reported enemy forces assembling inland of Boulogne. Fighter Command ordered Park to prepare his squadrons for action and also warned 10 and 12 Groups. Soon after 72 and 92 Squadrons from Biggin Hill were scrambled.
On its way was much of KG3 and other bomber formations which met a huge fighter cover over France and headed for Dungeness, where around 11:30 20 Spitfires presented an unwelcome greeting. As the raiders headed for London they were harried by ever more fighters and shortly before reaching London four Hurricane Squadrons launched head-on assaults followed by Douglas Baders 'Big Wing' (2 Spitfire and 3 Hurricane Squadrons) broke through the flanking escort and reached the Dorniers. Over 150 fighters were soon running amok among the bombers. The raid was deflected and KG 3 did not make its objective.

Next came another wave of 150 Do 17s of KG 2 and KG 76 with the He-111s of KG 26 and KG 53 , along with Me 109s of JG 26 and JG 54 for protection. By 14:00 they were crossing into Kent on a broad front and in response the RAF managed to put up most Squadrons at full strength and 170 British fighters met them. When the Germans managed to get to London they encountered Duxford's 12 Group 'Big Wing' along with six 11 Group Squadrons and two reinforcing Squadrons from 10 Group. The raid was aborted and the bombers forced to jettison their loads.

Smaller diversionary raids were attempted on Portland and the Supermarine Spitfire works at Woolston, Southampton, but both were thwarted.

Losses: Luftwaffe, 60; RAF, 26.

London: A survey shows that two-thirds of the capital's population are getting under four hours sleep.


FRANCE: The Pas-de-Calais and surrounding region are put under the control of German military command in Belgium.

GERMANY: U-111 launched.

U.S.S.R.: Conscription laws are changed and the call-up of 19-20 year olds will begin.

CANADA: Single men aged between 21 and 24 are called up.

Corvette HMCS Orillia launched.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-48 attacks convoy SC3 northwest of Ireland and sinks SS Alexandros, SS Empire Volunteer and sloop HMS Dundee at 56 45N, 14 14W. Both she and Penzance, lost in August, were long endurance ships used as A/S ocean escorts for the slow and vulnerable SCs.

U-65 sank SS Hird in Convoy SC-3.
The Canadian Paterson Steamships line merchantman Kenordoc (1,780 GRT) was sunk in the North Atlantic in position 57.42N, 015.02W, by torpedoes and shellfire from U-48, KptLt. Heinrich Bleichrodt, Knight's Cross, Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, CO. Kenordoc has been recorded as being a member of convoy SC-2. However, sources indicate that SC-2 arrived in Liverpool on 10 Sep 40 having lost two of its 53 ships, but not including Kenordoc. This probably indicates that she was a ‘straggler’. British records do not indicate convoy losses for ships that were not part of the main body of ships. There were seven casualties from her crew of 20 men. (Some sources also claim Kenordoc was a straggler from convoy SC-3 and that she was sunk by U-99, KptLt. Otto Kretschmer, CO.)

When the ship City of Benares was sunk with over 100 children on board, Destroyer HMS Hurricane was the first rescue ship on the scene, arriving 18 hours to pick up survivors after the Benares had sunk.
 

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September 15th, 1941 (MONDAY)

GERMANY: U-157 and U-506 commissioned.

GERMANY: The US Navy begins to take over the convoying of British ships as far as Iceland, seen as an unneutral act by the German government.

U.S.S.R.: Schlusselburg on the south side of Lake Ladoga falls to the Germans. Leningrad is completely isolated from land routes to the rest of the Soviet Union. This siege will last for 3 years.

Lead elements of the German 16th Panzer Division (1st Panzer Group), meet 3rd Panzer Division (2nd Panzer Group) at Lokhvista, 125 miles (201 kilometers) east of Kiev. The jaws of the trap have slammed shut. Four Soviet Armies (5, 21, 26 and 37) , over 600,000 soldiers, are surrounded in the Kiev area. The cordon is weak, but it is there.

Moscow: Stalin asks for 25 to 30 British divisions to be sent to aid the Soviet struggle against invasion.

YUGOSLAVIA: Widespread unrest causes martial law to be imposed in Zagreb, Serbia and Croatia.

U.S.A.: The US Attorney General Francis Biddle rules that the Neutrality Act does not prohibit US ships carrying war material to British possessions.

     Four National Guard (NG) observation squadrons from four states are inducted into Federal Service and assigned to the USAAF.

The 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment, Alaska National Guard is inducted at Juneau.

Aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill laid down.
Submarine USS Pogy laid down.
Destroyers USS Stanly, McCalla and Lardner laid down.

Submarine depot ship HMS Forth commences refit in USA.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-94 sank SS Empire Eland, SS Newbury and SS Pegasus in Convoy ON-14.
 

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September 15th, 1942 (TUESDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: Destroyer HMS Brissenden launched.

NETHERLANDS: During the night of 15/16 September, 26 RAF Bomber Command aircraft laid mines in the Frisian Islands.

FRANCE: During the day, 12 RAF Bomber Command Bostons bombed the whaling factory ship Solglint in Cherbourg harbor; the ship is set on fire and gutted. No Bostons are lost. During the night of 15/16 September, nine aircraft laid mines in the Gironde Estuary.

GERMANY: U-863 laid down.

U.S.S.R.: There is fierce fighting between German and Soviet forces for possession of Mamayev Kurgan, the strategic hill overlooking Stalingrad.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA: A lone US Army, Middle East Air Force B-24 drops 1 bomb on a tanker in Suda Bay, Crete. B-24s bomb behind the enemy lines while P-40s, along with the RAF, fly escort and carry out a scramble missions over the area west of El Alamein, Egypt.

EGYPT: US Army, Middle East Air Force B-24 Liberators bomb behind the Axis lines while P-40s, along with the RAF, fly escort and carry out a scramble missions over the area west of El Alamein.

NEW GUINEA: On the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea, a Japanese patrol penetrates between two Australian units at 1400 hours local. A reinforced infantry company( Company E and attachments) of the U.S. Army's 126th Infantry Regiment, 32d Infantry Division, is airlifted from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, to Port Moresby by USAAF transport aircraft. These is the first U.S. infantry unit in New Guinea. 
     In the air, US 5th Air Force B-25s and B-26s hit Buna and Sanananda and attack camps at Efogi and Myola. on New Guinea; and the first US infantry troops, elements of the 32d Infantry Division, arrive at Port Moresby. 

EAST INDIES: The Australian corvette HMAS Kalgoorlie (J 192) arrives in Betano Bay, Portugese Timor with 14 soldiers and 15 tons of supplies for the “Sparrow Force.” The “Sparrow Force” consists of the 2/2 Independent Company Australian Imperial Force, and survivors from the 2/40th Battalion, 22nd Brigade, 8th Division Australian Imperial Force, who did not surrender to the Japanese, plus local East Timorese guerillas.

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: In the air, USAAF 5th Air Force B-17s bomb the harbor and airfields at Rabaul on New Britain Island. 
 

SOLOMON ISLANDS: The USN's Task Force 18 is escorting the six transports carrying the 7th Marine Regiment to Guadalcanal. TF 18 is built around the aircraft carrier USS Wasp (CV-7) and the battleship USS North Carolina (BB-55), was sighted and attacked by the Japanese submarines HIJMS I-16 and HIJMS I-19. 
At 1444 hours, a spread of 4 torpedoes from the IJN submarine HIJMS I-19 were fired; 2 hit the USS Wasp in the vicinity of gasoline tanks and magazines and 1 hits the battleship USS North Carolina. A fourth torpedo, probably from HIJMS I-16, hits the destroyer USS O'Brien. USS North Carolina took the torpedo portside, 20 feet (6.1 meters) below her waterline, and 6 of her men were killed. A 5.6 degree list was righted in as many minutes, and she maintained her station in a formation at 26 knots. 

At 1452 hours, the destroyer USS O'Brien (DD-415) sighted smoke coming from Wasp. As a member of Hornet's ASW screen she made an emergency turn to the right. At about 1454, while accelerating and swinging right, her lookouts spotted a torpedo two points forward of the port beam 1000 yards (914 meters) away. This torpedo missed close astern, but while attention was concentrated on it another torpedo hit the port bow. The explosion did little local damage, but set up severe structural stresses through the ship but she was able to proceed under her own power. 

The aircraft carrier USS Wasp was the most severely damaged. Fires broke out almost simultaneously in the hangar and below decks and the heat of the intense gasoline fires detonated the ready ammunition at the forward antiaircraft guns on the starboard side, and fragments showered the forward part of the ship. The number two 1.1-inch (27.9 mm) mount was blown overboard. Water mains in the forward part of the ship proved useless, since they had been broken by the force of the explosions. There was no water available to fight the conflagration forward; and the fires continued to set off ammunition, bombs, and gasoline. As the ship listed to starboard between 10 and 15 degrees, oil and gasoline, released from the tanks by the torpedo hit, caught fire on the water. A serious gasoline fire broke out in the forward portion of the hanger, within 24 minutes of the initial attack, three additional major gasoline vapor explosions occurred. Unable to control the fires, the "abandon ship" order was given at 1520 hours. The abandoned ship drifted and the fires traveled aft; four more violent explosions boomed as night began to fall. The destroyer USS Lansdowne (DD-486) drew the duty of destruction, and she fired five torpedoes into the dying ship's fire-gutted hull. Three hit, but she remained afloat. By now, the orange flames had enveloped the stern. The carrier literally floated in a burning pool of gasoline and oil. She sank at 2100 by the bow. 

TERRITORY OF ALASKA: ALEUTIANS: The US 11th Air Force dispatches a B-17 Flying Fortress and a B-24 Liberator to fly armed reconnaissance over Kiska Island, and at  Amchitka Island blast buildings in the Constantine Harbor area; fighters strafe Kiska Island Camp area and down 4 intercepting aircraft.

CANADA: Minesweeper HMCS Westmount commissioned.

Support vessel HMCS Avalon III ex-ZIG ZAG.
Tug HMCS Grenville assigned to Sydney, Nova Scotia.
Minesweeper HMCS Truro arrived Halifax from builder Quebec City, Province of Quebec.
Corvettes HMCS Louisburg, Prescott and Woodstock departed St. John's for UK with Convoy HX-207 and support of Operation Torch, the North African Landings
Fairmile depot ship HMCS Provider launched Sorel, Province of Quebec

U.S.A.: Marine Photo squadrons VMD-1 and VMD-2 are redesignated VMD-154 and VMD-254 respectively. One squadron was scheduled to deploy to the Solomon Islands and since VMD-254 was further along in training, the squadrons exchanged designations, i.e., VMD-154 became VMD-254 and vice-versa.

Destroyers USS Pringle, Gherardi commissioned.
The auxiliary aircraft carrier (ACV) USS Altamaha (ACV-18, ex AVG-18, ex Maritime Commission Hull 235) is commissioned at Tacoma, Washington. This is the ninth ACV in commission.
Destroyer escort USS Tomich laid down.

Destroyers USS Maddox and Nelson launched.
Minesweeper USS Zeal launched.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: The German submarine U-261 is sunk west of the Shetlands, in position 59.50N, 09.28W, by depth charges from a Whitley of No 58 Squadron based at Stornoway, Hebrides Islands. All 43 hands on the U-boat are lost. This is the boats first patrol.

U-506 along with U-156 and U-507 and Italian submarine Cappellini took part in the rescue operations after the sinking of SS Laconia in September 1942 off Africa. About 1500 men were saved by these boats and French ships from Dakar (which arrived on Sept 16, 4 days after the sinking).

U-517 sank SS Inger Elisabeth and Saturnus in Convoy SQ-36.
U-68 sank SS Breedijk.
U-514 sank SS Kioto.
U-515 sank SS Sörholt.

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September 15th, 1943 (WEDNESDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: 
 

An RAF Lancaster of No. 617 Squadron drops the first 12,000-lb bomb on the Dortmund-Ems Canal. (22)

The US Eighth Air Force's VIII Bomber Command flies 2 missions with the loss of 6 bombers.

- Mission 95, in 3 forces, is flown against aviation facilities in France. 
(1) 87 B-17s attack the Romilly-sur-Seine air depot at 1848-1850 hours. 
(2) 139 B-17s attack three targets; 40 hit the Caudron-Renault industrial area in Paris at 1855 hours, 21 hit the Billancourt-Renault works at 1854 hours, and 78 hit the Hispano-Suiza aircraft engine works in Paris; they claim 12-2-4 Luftwaffe aircraft; 5 B-17's are lost. 
(3) 47 B-24s hit Chartres Airfield at 1904-1911 hours; they claim 3-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 B-24 is lost.

- Mission 96: 5 B-17s join the RAF in a night attack on the Dunlop factory at Montlucon, France.

The US Eighth Air Force's VIII Air Support Command flies Mission 58 against 2 airfields in France without loss. 
(1) 72 B-26B Marauders are dispatched to Nord Airfield at Lille but the mission is aborted due to weather. 
(2) 68 B-26Bs hit Merville Airfield at 1745 and 1748 hours.

Minesweeper HMS Friendship commissioned.

Frigate HMS Nadder launched.
Submarine HMS Vivid launched.

Frigate HMS Spragge laid down.

FRANCE:      During the night of 15/16 September, RAF Bomber Command dispatches 369 aircraft,

209 Halifaxes, 120 Stirlings, 40 Lancasters, to attack the Dunlop tire and rubber plant at Montlucon. Five USAAF Eighth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses also took part. This is a moonlit raid and the Pathfinders marked the target accurately and the Master Bomber brought the Main Force in well to carry out some accurate bombing. Every building in the factory is hit and a large fire is started. Three aircraft are lost.

GERMANY: The 12,000 pound (5 443 kilogram) Blockbuster bomb is used for the first time, when eight Lancasters of RAF Bomber Command took off to carry out the postponed raid on the Dortmund-Ems Canal but the area is misty and five of the six aircraft attacking are lost. These heavy losses, and the losses of the Dams Raid, confirmed that low-level attacks on German targets, even when away from major defended areas, are not viable with heavy bombers and this type of operation is not repeated. Meanwhile, seven Mosquitos bombed Berlin without loss.

U-1162 commissioned.

U.S.S.R.: Continuing toward Kiev, Soviet troops of the 1st Byelorussian Front under the command of General Konstantin Rokossovskii capture Nezhin. To the north, the Soviet Army opens a strong offensive against Smolensk. Dyatkovo is evacuated by the Germans. The Germans admit the loss of Bryansk.

ITALY: US Ninth Air Force B-24s hit a marshalling yard at Potenza and attack railroads and warehouses in the areas around Potenza, Altamura, Gravina di Puglia, and Matera.

US Twelfth Air Force B-17s bomb highways and a railroad at Torre del Greco while B-25 Mitchells and B-26s hit highways and road junctions at or near Torre Annunziata, Battipaglia, Eboli, Serre, Auletta, and Polla. The US XII Air Support Command and other Northwest African Tactical Air Force elements attack buildings, railroads, highways and motor transport in support of US Fifth Army as German counterattacks astride Sele River subside. British Eighth Army forces reach Saptri, threatening the enemy with entrapment between US and British forces.

     During the night of 15/16 September, 123 RAF bombers of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group bomb a highway at Pompeii.

At Salerno the counterattack by the Germans is halted for them to regroup. HMS Valiant and Warspite join the warships offshore in their bombardment of German positions.

General Harold Alexander, Commander in Chief 15th Army Group, replaces General Dawley of the British VI Corps.

The British 8th Army continues its advance. Forward elements of the British 5th Division, attempting to contact the U.S. VI Corps, reach Sapri. The Germans are threatened with entrapment by the British Eighth Army and the U.S. Fifth Army. .

Procida in Naples Bay is captured by the Allies.

Salo: Supporters of Mussolini form a Fascist republican rival government to the Pietro Badoglio administration.

GREECE: British paratroops occupy the island of Kos in the Dodecanese and a squadron of Spitfires is flown in.

Kos: Much to the disapproval of their American allies, British troops have landed on this Dodecanese island only a mile from the Turkish coast. The 5,000-strong Italian garrison is fighting with them. Such is the low priority given to this operation that General Eisenhower refused the use of landing craft, and Britain's Special Boat Squadron was forced to requisition Greek fishing caiques to land in Kos.

The SBS was joined by 120 men of the 11th Parachute Battalion dropped from Dakotas, before the main body of troops, the 1st Battalion Durham Light Infantry, flew in. The British and their Italian allies have been under continual attack from the Luftwaffe, and troops from a Dakota have been interned in Turkey after the aircraft was forced down on the sea by a Messerschmitt. Hitler has diverted aircraft from all parts of the Mediterranean to the Dodecanese. Eisenhower, on the other hand, has ruled that the Aegean "campaign" as no more than a British side-show.

CHINA: Chiang Kai-shek demands the recall of General Stilwell, who asked Chiang to join the Communists against the Japanese, complaining that Stilwell does not understand the realities of China.

FRENCH INDOCHINA: 5 US Fourteenth Air Force B-24s attack a cement plant at Haiphong; 50+ Japanese fighters attack the B-24's, shooting down 4 of them; the 1 returning B-24 claims 10 fighters downed.

NEW GUINEA: The Australians of the 7th and 9th Divisions have pushed the front lines to within two miles of Lae.

By dusk, the 7th Division, advancing from the west, is 5 miles (8 kilometers) from Lae and the 9th Division is a little over one mile (1,6 kilometers) east of Lae Aerodrome, the airfield Amelia Earhart took off from in 1937 en route to Howland Island.

US Fifth Air Force B-24s, with P-38 escort, bomb airfields in the Wewak area, destroying 10 enemy aircraft on the ground; 14 more are claimed destroyed in air combat. B-17s bomb the Lae area; and B-25s sink about 15 barges between Alexishafen and Finschhafen, blast an ammunition and supply dump near Bogadjim, and attack AA positions at Bostrem Bay.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: US Thirteenth Air Force B-25s bomb Vila airfield on Kolombangara Island and Kahili and Kara airfields on Bougainville Island. B-24s, with fighter escort, later pound the Kahili runway area; others hit Parapatu Point on New Georgia Island. During the night, B-25s hit Kahili Airfield twice and heavy bombers bomb airfields on Buka and Ballale Islands. Ballale Airfield is also hit by USN SBD Dauntlesses, supported by USAAF, USN and USMC fighters; a bivouac area, revetments, supply dumps and gun positions are hit; the runway appears badly damaged by the strikes. 

A PBY-5 Catalina of USN Patrol Squadron Twenty Three (VP-23), based in the Florida Islands, spots a submarine southeast 100 miles (161 kilometres) southeast of San Cristobal Island. The destroyer USS Saufley (DD-465) assists in sinking the Japanese submarine RO-101; all 50 submarines are lost. 

GILBERT ISLANDS: Aircraft of USN Task Force 15 attack Tarawa, Makin, and Abemama to decrease Japanese pressure on the Ellice Islands and provide operational training. During the attack on Tarawa, TBF Avengerss, SBD Dauntlesses, and F6F Hellcats from the aircraft carrier USS Lexington (CV-16), and small aircraft carriers USS Princeton (CVL 23) and Belleau Wood (CVL 24) sink Japanese motor torpedo boats Gyoraitei and Gyoraitei No. 3.

AUSTRALIA: General Douglas MacArthur, Commander-in-Chief South West Pacific Area, orders the New Guinea Force (all Allied ground forces in New Guinea) to capture Kaiapit and Dumpu in Northeast New Guinea with assistance from RAAF and USAAF aircraft.

PACIFIC OCEAN:  The USN submarine USS Haddock (SS-231) sinks a Japanese collier north of Truk Island in the Caroline Islands. 

CANADA: Tug HMCS Beaverton launched.
Loch or River Class frigates ordered for RCN but cancelled by Dec/43 - Canadian Vickers Ltd, Montreal Province of Quebec: HMCS Alexandria, Alvington, Henryville and 9 un-named. Morton Engineering and Dry Dock Co. Ltd. Quebec City, Province of Quebec: 2 un-named. Yarrows Ltd Esquimalt, British Columbia: 8 un-named. Davie Shipbuilding and Repair Co. Lauzon, Province of Quebec: HMCS Lingabar, St Edouard, Shipton, St Agathe, Westbury and 2 un-named.

U.S.A.: T.V. Soong, the Chinese Ambassador to the U.S., presents a plan to President Franklin D. Roosevelt for the reorganization of the China theater in such a way as to eliminate American Lieutenant General Joseph Stilwell, Commander of the U.S. China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater of Operations, Chief of Staff to Chiang Kai-Shek and Commander of the Northern Area Combat Command in Burma. Stilwell had asked Chinese Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek to join the Communists against the Japanese, and Chiang complains that Stilwell does not understand the realities of China.

French Patrol Squadron One (VFP-1), manned by Free French naval personnel trained under U. S. Navy control, was established at Naval Air Station, Norfolk, Virginia. 

American Airlines DC-3-401, msn 4803, registered NC-33657, crashes at Dallas Texas.

Destroyer escort USS Pennewill commissioned.
Escort carrier USS Wake Island launched.

Submarine USS Pintado launched.
Minesweepers USS Prime and Prowess laid down.
Destroyer escorts USS Eversole and Dennis laid down.
Escort carrier USS Marcus Island laid down.

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September 15th, 1944 (FRIDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: EUROPEAN OPERATIONS

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS: The US Eighth Air Force in England flies Mission 632: As part of Operation FRANTIC, 110 B-17s are dispatched to drop supplies to Warsaw patriots and then proceed to bases in the USSR; a weather front is encountered over the North Sea and the bombers are recalled. Escort is provided by 149 P-51 Mustangs; 2 P-51s collide in a cloud and are lost.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS: In northern France, bad weather prevents US Ninth Air Force bomber operations; the US IX Tactical Air Command supports US First Army troops and in Germany, flies armed reconnaissance around Cologne and from Trier to the Rhine River area; the US XIX Tactical Air Command supports the US Third Army and flies armed reconnaissance in the Nancy-Strasbourg area. HQ XII Tactical Air Command, based in southern France, remains assigned to the US Twelfth Air Force but is put under operational control of the Ninth Air Force.

Liverpool: Over a thousand British PoWs return from Germany on the liner ARUNDEL CASTLE.

FRANCE: Marshal Petain and others of the Vichy government are ordered to be arrested by François de Methon, the justice minister, on charges of collaboration.

     In northern France, the U.S. 2d and 29th Infantry Divisions continue to make slow progress at Brest. Units of the Task Force Sebree move into Nancy from Toul without opposition.

     In northern France, bad weather prevents US AAF Ninth Air Force bomber operations; the US IX Tactical Air Command supports US First Army troops and in Germany, flies armed reconnaissance around Cologne and from Trier to the Rhine River area; the USAAF XIX Tactical Air Command supports the US Third Army and flies armed reconnaissance in the Nancy-Strasbourg area. HQ XII Tactical Air Command, based in southern France, remains assigned to the USAAF Twelfth Air Force but is put under operational control of the Ninth Air Force.

     In southern France, the 6th Army Group becomes operational at 0001 hours local and assumes control of the Allied Forces Headquarters (AFHQ) forces that are in France. At the same time, operational control of the 6th Army Group passes AFHQ to Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force, a move previous agreed upon between American General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Commander-in-Chief Supreme Headquarter Allied Expeditionary Force, and British General Henry Wilson, Supreme Allied Commander Mediterranean. French Army B acquires autonomy and is on a par with the U.S. Seventh Army. French Army B regroups during the next few days for a drive eastward.

     In southern France, 53 USAAF Fifteenth Air Force B-24 Liberators fly a supply mission from Italy.

BELGIUM: The Canadian 4th Armoured Division establishes a bridgehead across Canal de Derivation near Balgerhoek.

NETHERLANDS: In preparation for Market-Garden, the British 2nd Army crosses the Meuse-Escaut canal. The US 1st Army takes Eisden and Maastrich. The US 3rd Army takes Nancy and Epinal. The US 7th Army and the French 1st Army, from the south of France, come under General Eisenhower's command today.
 

GERMANY: American troops enter Germany for the first time as elements of the U.S. VII and V Corps reach the southwestern frontier.

The U.S. 1st Infantry Division almost encircles Aachen. The U.S. 3d Armored Division heads east toward Eschweiler battling the second defense belt of the West Wall, called the Schill Line. Task Force Lovelady of the 3d Armored Division cross the Vicht River upon completion of a bridge and with little difficulty achieves complete breakthrough of West Wall fortifications driving through Mausbach toward Eschweiler.

     During the night of 15/16 September, RAF Bomber Command sent 490 aircraft, 310 Lancasters, 173 Halifaxes and seven Mosquitos, to Kiel; 465 bomb the target. Four Halifaxes and two Lancasters are lost. The evidence of returning crews and of photographs caused Bomber Command to record this as “a highly concentrated raid” with “the old town and modern shopping center devastated.” Other targets are also bombed: 24 of 27 Mosquitos bombed Berlin with the loss of one aircraft; 7 of 9 Mosquitos bombed Lübeck; and 7 of 8 Mosquitos bombed the marshalling yard at Rheine. Minelaying missions included 13 aircraft mining Kiel Harbor, nine mining off Pillau, nine mining the Fehmarn Channel, six mining the Elbe River and five mining the Kattegat.

U-2337 launched.

POLAND: The USAAF Eighth Air Force in England flies Mission 632: As part of Operation FRANTIC, 110 B-17 Flying Fortresses are dispatched to drop supplies to Warsaw patriots and then proceed to bases in the U.S.S.R.; a weather front is encountered over the North Sea and the bombers are recalled. Escort is provided by 149 P-51 Mustangs; two P-51s collide in a cloud and are lost.

     During the night of 15/16 September, nine RAF Bomber Command aircraft lay mines off Gdynia.

NORWAY: 28 British Lancaster heavy bombers attack Tirpitz, in Altafjord. Flying from Russia they use 12,000 lb armour-piercing "Tallboy" bombs. Smoke screens effectively screen the German battleship, which is still disabled when one direct hit goes straight through the forecastle, peeling back the deck like the lid of a sardine tin. The two RAF squadrons arrived in Yagodnik, north Russia, two days ago.

Thirty eight Lancasters and a weather reconnaissance Mosquito of RAF Bomber Command had set out on 11 September to fly to Northern Russia in preparation for this raid on the German 45,000 ton battleship Tirpitz, which is at anchor in Kaa Fjord in Northern Norway. One aircraft returned to the U.K. and six crash-landed in Russia but their crew members are not seriously hurt. Only 27 Lancasters and a further Lancaster with a cameraman on board are available for the raid on the Tirpitz, which eventually took place today. Twenty aircraft are loaded with the 12,000 pound (5 443 kilogram) Tallboy bomb and six (or seven, the records are not clear) carried several 'Johnny Walker' mines, of 400-500 pound (181-227 kilogram) weight developed for attacking capital ships moored in shallow water. The attack caught the Tirpitz by surprise and her smoke-screens are late in starting. One Tallboy hit the Tirpitz near the bow and caused considerable damage. The shock caused by the explosion of this bomb, or possibly from other bombs which are near misses, also damaged the battleship's engines. The Germans decided that repairs to make Tirpitz fully seaworthy are not practicable and she is later moved to an anchorage further south in Norway, but only for use as a semi-static heavy artillery battery. These results of the raid are not known in the U.K. at the time and further raids against Tirpitz would take place. None of the Lancasters are shot down on the raid and all returned safely to the airfield in Russia but one aircraft crashed in Norway while returning to the U.K. two days later with 11 men on board.

     During the night of 15/16 September, six RAF Bomber Command aircraft laid mines in Kaa Fjord.

FINLAND: This day is the deadline by when all Germans should have evacuated Finland. Southern Finland has been evacuated in time, but in Finnish Lappland (where Germans had manned the frontline since 1941) it has been evident all the time that the Germans could not and would not leave in time. That is why Finns and Germans have secretly agreed to orchestrate the German withdrawal so that there would be no fighting. Despite the agreement, this day sees the first bloodletting between the former "Waffenbröderen". In northern town of Oulu a three-man German patrol is killed after refusing to surrender.

In eastern Gulf of Finland a major battle is fought when Germans launch Operation Tanne Ost, capture of the island of Suursaari (today Gogland or Sur-Sari in Russian possession). After midnight some 2000 men invade the island. Germans expect to gain the island without a fight but the Finnish defenders, led by Lt. Col. Miettinen, refuse to surrender and fight back. After dawn it's clear the German situation is hopeless. They are pinned down on the beach by the Finnish defenders and are strafed by Russian fighters who have also driven away the German ships giving fire support to the operation. In the end Germans surrender. They have lost 153 killed and 1231 POW's (who are later handed over to the Russians).

For Finnish political leadership this action is heaven-sent. The peace negotiations are going on at Moscow, and now there's proof that Finns are seriously fighting Germans. It is hoped (vainly) that this would help the negotiators to get a little better deal. The politicians are unaware of the deal struck in north with Germans, and the soldiers of course hope that the Russians wouldn't find out either.

U.S.S.R.: Kronstadt: Captured U-boat U-250 is towed into dry dock here. After sinking this boat on July 30 the Russians discovered that they had a German U-boat captain alive and a sunken U-boat in shallow waters. Russian divers soon discovered that the boat lay at only 27 meter depth with only a slight listing of 14 degrees to the right and a large hole over the top of the diesel room. Two large air tanks, 200 tons each, were transported to the area and the Russians worked behind a smoke-curtain to raise the boat.

The Germans and the Finns did what they could to prevent the boat with the new secret T5 (Zaunkönig) acoustic-torpedo falling into Soviet hands. Finnish coastal artillery and German torpedo boats made frequent attacks on the salvage site but to no avail.

Today former Commander Kptlt. Schmidt had to go first into the now dry boat, as the Russian believed some explosive charges might still be on the boat. The 6 survivors then spent some years in Russian captivity. (Alex Gordon)(117)

GREECE: The USAAF Fifteenth Air Force in Italy bombs four targets in Greece. One hundred nine B-17 Flying Fortresses bomb Kalamaki Airfield in Athens while 51 bomb the German U-boat base at Salamis; 113 B-24 Liberators bomb Tatoi Airfield and 54 bomb Eleusis Airfield, both in Athens. P-38 Lightnings and P-51 Mustangs fly escort, target cover, and sweep target areas; the attacks are aimed at hampering the withdrawal of German forces from the area.

ITALY: MEDITERRANEAN OPERATIONS (US Air Forces)
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS: The US Fifteenth Air Force in Italy dispatches 276 B-17s and B-24s to bomb Tatoi, Eleusis, and Kalamaki Airfields and Salamis submarine base in Greece; P-38 Lightnings and P-51s fly escort, target cover, and sweep target areas; the attacks are aimed at hampering the withdrawal of enemy forces from the area. 53 B-24s fly a supply mission to southern France and 24 B-24s begin evacuating aircrews formerly imprisoned in Bulgaria from Cairo, Egypt to Bari, Italy.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS: All US Twelfth Air Force medium bomber missions are cancelled or aborted due to weather; fighter-bombers, though restricted by weather, carry out armed reconnaissance against enemy communications and defensive positions in the Milan-Genoa-Modena-Pistoia areas, as Allied forces (joined on this date by elements of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force) attempt to penetrate enemy strongholds in the northern Apennines.

The British 8th Army crosses the Marano River. The U.S. IV Corps occupies Viareggion. The 6th Regimental Combat Team, Brazilian Expeditionary Force (BEF), under command of Brigadier General Euclydes da Costa, enters the line. These are the first Brazilians to fight on European soil and the first echelon of the Brazilian 1st Infantry Division to arrive, the rest of the division is coming later. The British 1st Division completes the capture of Poggio Prefetto. The British Eighth Army drives quickly toward the Rimini Line while the British 46th Division takes Montescudo.

EGYPT: Twenty four USAAF Fifteenth Air Force 24 B-24 Liberators begin evacuating aircrews formerly imprisoned in Bulgaria from Cairo to Bari, Italy.

PACIFIC OCEAN: The two great American military drives across the Pacific Ocean converged  today as General MacArthur's forces, moving north from New Guinea, invade Morotain the Dutch East Indies. At the same time Admiral Nimitz lands the US 1st Marine Division in an assault on five beach-heads on Peleliu Island in the Palau group, 430 miles north-east of Morotai. Both islands are within striking distance of the Philippines.

The landing at Morotai is virtually unopposed, but the situation is different on Peleliu. The Japanese garrison is a regiment from the 14th Division under Col. Nakagawa. Naval forces that have been bombarding, under Admiral Oldendorg, remain in support.

The American plan is for a landing on the western beaches three regiments abreast. 1st Marines are to assault the beaches on the left, which are designated White 1 and White 2, and push through the enemy toward the northwestern peninsula of the island.

In the centre, the 5th Marines are to land on Orange beaches 1 and 2 and drive across to the island's eastern shore. They will be responsible for securing the island's airfield before moving to seize the northeastern part of the island.

Three days of naval gunfire had preceded the Marine's landing, but it proves inadequate against the type of Japanese defenses created on the island. The resistance on the beaches is moderate. The Marines faced enfilading fire from bunkers and from the high ground above the beaches. Fierce fighting begins as the Marines move inland. The Japanese have taken advantage of the rugged, ridged terrain around Umurbrogol Mountain (unreported by American reconnaissance units) to construct a series of interlocking underground shelters and well-concealed concrete bunkers based on a complex of caves. The Japanese fight tenaciously to prevent the Marines from securing a beachhead. At the end of the day the beachhead is only a few hundred yards wide. (Paul and Jean Beach)

During the assault Lewis Kenneth Bausell, a corporal in the US Marine Corps, risks his life charging a Japanese pillbox and firing his automatic into the aperture. (MOH)

Ironically, while Morotai is considered strategically important, the seizure of Peleliu is now regarded by many senior officers as no longer necessary.

The USN submarine USS Guavina (SS-362) sinks a Japanese fast transport Pagubas, southern Mindanao, Philippine Islands. 
     The USN submarines USS Pampanito (SS-383) and USS Sealion (SS-315) rescue 73 British and 54 Australian POWs who were aboard the Japanese freighter Rakuyo Maru sunk by the USS Sealion on 12 September. The freighter was carrying 1,300 POWs when she was torpedoed. 

Japanese submarine RO.42 is sunk by the USS Sea Devil (SS-400) east of Japan. (Mike Yared)(144 and 145)

WESTERN PACIFIC: CAROLINE ISLANDS: In the Palaus Islands, the U.S.1st Marine Division (Reinforced) lands on Peleliu Island at about 0830 hours local after a preparatory bombardment by naval vessels and aircraft. (Operation STALEMATE II). The Japanese garrison is a regiment from the 14th Division under Colonel NAKAGAWA. U.S. naval forces under Rear Admiral Jesse Oldendorf, commander, Cruiser Division Four (CruDiv 4), that have been bombarding the island, remain in support.  The resistance on the beaches is moderate but fierce fighting begins as the Marines move inland.  At the end of the day the beachhead perimeter measures 2,800 yard (2 560 meters) from north to south but is only 400 to 700 yards (366 to 640 meters) deep, except for a salient in the center. As a diversion for the Peleliu landings, a feint landing is made on Babelthuap Island.

The US Army's 81st Division concurrently attacks the island of Angaur, next to Peleliu. (228)

VOLCANO ISLANDS: A lone US Seventh Air Force B-24 on a snooper mission bombs Iwo Jima Island; all other B-24 missions abort. 

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES: USN Task Force 77 (Rear Admiral Daniel E. Barbey) lands the U.S. Army's 41st Infantry Division (Reinforced) (Major General John C. Persons, USA) on Morotai Island, in Operation TRADE WIND; supported by two heavy cruisers, three light cruisers and ten destroyers (TG 77.2) (Rear Admiral Russell S. Berkey) and aircraft from six escort carriers (Task Group 77.1) (Rear Admiral Thomas L. Sprague), screened by eight destroyer escorts. Japanese resistance is negligible and Pitoe Aerodrome is quickly captured. Airfield facilities built on Morotai will be used in operations to support missions against Japanese positions in the Philippines.  Forces push inland about 2,000 yards (1 829 meters) to D-Day objectives. 
     The USN submarine USS Stingray (SS-186) lands men and stores on Majoe Island, in the Molucca Sea. 
     In the air, USAAF Far East Air Forces A-20s, B-24s and P-47s bomb Kaoe, Lolobata and Hate Tabako on Halmahera Island. B-24s sink two small Makassar-bound Japanese cargo vessels off Mongole Island. RAAF Beaufighters and USAAF A-20s bomb Japanese shipping off southeast coast of Ceram, sinking two fishing vessels. 

NEW GUINEA:  Far East Air Forces P-39s bomb Manokwari Airfield and the town area. 

U.S.A.: The Joint Chiefs of Staff decide to invade central rather than the southern Philippines and advance the target date for the invasion of Leyte from 20 December to 20 October. Projected operations against Yap Island in the Caroline Islands, Talaud Island in the Netherlands East Indies and Mindanao Island in the Philippines are canceled.

     The aircraft carrier USS Shangri-La (CV-38) is commissioned at Portsmouth, Virginia. The USN now has 16 aircraft carriers (CVs) in commission.

     Two USN commissioned escort aircraft carriers are renamed so that their present names can be used on for Midway Class large aircraft carriers. The two are: USS Coral Sea (CVE-57) which is renamed USS Anzio and USS Midway (CVE-63) which is renamed USS St. Lo.

Minesweeper USS Nimble commissioned.
Destroyer USS McKean laid down Seattle, Washington state.
Minesweepers USS Sprig and Toucan launched.

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September 15th, 1945 (SATURDAY)

FRENCH INDOCHINA:  In Laos, Prince Phetsarath issues a proclamation unifying the Kingdom of Louangphrabang with the four southern provinces of Laos, declaring Vientiane the capital and announcing a forthcoming meeting of a Congress of People’s Representatives to decide the country’s social, economic and political direction. 

BORNEO: In Jesselton, British North Borneo, Japanese Colonel IEMURA, commander of the 25th Mixed Regiment, surrenders to Brigadier Selwyn Porter, commander of the 24th Australian Brigade.

CANADA: Tugs HMCS Glenora and Glencove towed 3 Fairmiles (HMC ML 104, HMC ML 105 and HMC ML 107) to Rimouski, Province of Quebec for the Arts and Trade School
Submarine HMS Une arrived Digby, Nova Scotia for ASW training.

U.S.A.: The USN begins Operation MAGIC CARPET, the transportation of American service personnel from Pacific locations back to the U.S.

The top songs on the pop music charts are "Till the End of Time" and "If I Loved You" by Perry Como, "On the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe" by Johnny Mercer and "You Two Timed Me One Time Too Often" by Tex Ritter.

The Combined Intelligence Objectives Subcommittee publishes a report: "The Intelligence Exploitation of Germany"

This 96 page report covers the:

Chapter 1 - Description of the CIOS,

Chapter 2 - Function of the CIOS,

Chapter 3 - Summary of significant Intelligence,

Appenddix A - List of Evaluation Reports.

Appendix B List of Final Field Team Reports

(William L. Howard)

Destroyer USS Orleck commissioned.

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