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1931   (MONDAY) 

SWITZERLAND: China asks the withdrawal of Japanese troops before the next League of Nations Council meeting.

1935   (SATURDAY) 

UNITED STATES: President Franklin D. Roosevelt embargoes the export of arms and munitions to Italy and Ethiopia.

1937   (TUESDAY) 

SWITZERLAND: The League of Nations and the U.S. government condemn Japan's attack on China. As a result of this action, the Chinese could purchase military aircraft and import large quantities of munitions to support their war effort against the Japanese.

UNITED STATES: Contrary to the isolationist feelings in the United States, President Franklin Roosevelt calls for an international quarantine of aggressors as the only means to preserve global peace. There is a strong isolationist backlash against this policy as the president recognizes that he had outpaced public opinion. His speech, however, encourages a widespread American boycott against Japanese products.

1938   (WEDNESDAY) 

CZECHOSLOVAKIA: Eduard Benes resigns as the president of Czechoslovakia and departs the country, eventually settling in the United States. President Benes had been the target of German attack throughout the Sudeten Crisis.

October 5th, 1939 (THURSDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: The Government issues new regulations regarding Summer Time. Summer Time which was established in 1922. The 1922 Act stated that the clock would be advanced one hour from 0200 hours Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) on the day following the third Saturday in April (or, if that day is Easter Day, the day following the second Saturday) until 0200 hours GMT on the day following the third Saturday in September. This new regulations changes the end of Summer Time to the day after the third Saturday in November, i.e., 19 November 1939.

FRANCE: The U.S. freighter SS Exeter is detained by French authorities at Marseilles, France while the freighter SS City of Joliet, detained by the French since 14 September, is released.

GERMANY: The Nazi anti-Semitic weekly, Der Sturmer, publishes a "Hymn of Hate" calling England the "curse of the world".

U-83 is laid down.

POLAND: Warsaw: Hitler makes a tour of the conquered capital before returning to Berlin. During the day, Hitler takes the salute during the victory march through the rubble of Warsaw: "The German people are watching you with the greatest pride," Hitler told his soldiers. The German high command offered a banquet to celebrate the victory with Hitler as the honoured guest. Since Warsaw was unsafe, and guerrilla bands were still operating nearby, the banquet was held in an immense tent erected on the airfield. Inside the tent were buckets of champagne and mountains of stolen delicacies heaped on horseshoe tables for the benefit of the senior officers of the Polish campaign; it was understood that Hitler would take his usual vegetarian meal. As it was Hitler entered the tent, saw the heavily laden table and turned away abruptly, muttering that he never took food with his troops except at field kitchens.

The man who was in charge of this lavish affair was Gen. Johannes Blaskowitz, the commander who had actually taken the city. Hitler had not, in the past, been able to warm up to the man. Now when he saw the lavish tables of food laid out, he was noted as saying with false wonder something like, "What, are we at WAR, or not?" Then making the comment about eating with his troops, he went out to the field kitchens set up for the occupying soldiers, and had a small bowl of soup (or something like that). 

The officer in charge of Hitler's escort was Erwin Rommel. (Peter Margaritis)

U.S.S.R.: Moscow: Latvia and the USSR sign a mutual assistance pact, giving the Soviets sea and air bases on the Baltic. This is the result of Stalin's free hand in the Baltic states granted by the German-Soviet Boundary and Friendship Treaty.

Stalin has also signed a Treaty of Mutual Assistance with Estonia giving the Soviets the right to occupy the naval bases of Narva, Baltiski, Haapsalu and Parnu. Talks have started with Lithuania on the last "Treaty of Mutual Assistance".

The Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov meets the Finnish Ambassador Aarno Yrjö-Koskinen and invites Finland to send the Foreign Minister or a special plenipotentiary to negotiate on 'concrete political issues'. The Finns decide to send Juho Kusto Paasikivi (formerly the Finnish ambassador at Stockholm).
 

CANADA: HMCS Moby Dick is hired.

U.S.A.: Baseball!

* The Navy Department informs the U.S. passenger liner SS Iroquois of word received late yesterday concerning the plot to sink the ship as she nears the east coast. "As a purely precautionary measure," President Roosevelt announces this day, "a USCG vessel and severalUSNships from the [neutrality] patrol will meet the Iroquois at sea and will accompany her to an American port."

* Secretary of State Cordell Hull requests Chargé d'Affaires ad interim in Germany Alexander C. Kirk, to ascertain why German authorities have detained the Swedish motorship MS Korsholm (at Swinemünde), Estonian steamship SS Minna (at Kiel), and Norwegian steamship SS Brott (at Sivinemünde). All of the neutral merchantmen carry cargoes of wood pulp or wood pulp products consigned to various American firms. These are the first instances of cargoes bound for the United States held up for investigation by German authorities. While no U.S. ships are detained, cargoes bound for American concerns in neutral (Finnish, Estonian, Latvian, and Norwegian) merchant ships come under scrutiny by the Germans.

* In the Territory of Hawaii, the USN forms the Hawaiian Detachment and sends it to its new operating base, Pearl Harbor; the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) (flagship), two heavy cruiser divisions, two destroyer squadrons and a light cruiser flagship, a destroyer tender and a proportionate number of small auxiliaries make up the force. 

* The British motion picture "The Spy in Black" is released today. Directed by Michael Powell, this action adventure film stars Conrad Veidt and Valerie Hobson. The plot has a German U-boat sent to the Orkney Isles in 1917 to sink the British fleet.

* In baseball, the second game of the 1939 World Series between the Cincinnati Reds and the New York Yankees is played in Yankee Stadium in New York City. The Yankees lead the series 1-0. The starting pitchers are Bucky Walters (27-11 for the season) for the Reds and Monte Pearson (12-5 on the season) for the Yankees. Pearson had a no-hitter until the 8th inning when catcher Ernie Lombardi hits a single. Yankee first baseman Babe Dahlgren hits a home run and a double and the Yankees win the game 4-0 and lead the series 2-0.

U-32 damages SS MARWARRI.

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October 5th, 1940 (SATURDAY)

JAPAN: Tokyo: Prime Minister, Prince Konoye, warns that war with the US is inevitable if the US goes on seeing the Axis as hostile. "If the United States refuses to understand the real intention of Japan, Germany, and Italy in concluding an alliance for positive cooperation in creating a new world order and persists in challenging those powers in the belief that the accord is a hostile action, . . ."

CANADA: The fourth group of ships involved in the destroyers-for-bases agreement--USS Branch (DD-197), USS Hunt (DD-194), USS Mason (DD-191), USS Satterlee (DD-190), USS Laub (DD-263), USS Aulick (DD-258), USS Edwards (DD-265) and USS McLanahan (DD-264)--arrive at Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Corvette HMCS SHEDIAC and corvette HMCS PICTOU are laid down at Lauzon, Province of Quebec.

Patrol craft HMCS Vison is commissioned.

U.S.A.: * Secretary of the Navy Knox places all Organized Reserve divisions and aviation squadrons of the Organized Reserve on short notice for call to active duty and grants authority to call fleet reservists as necessary. Before this date, Naval Reserve personnel had been ordered to active duty on a voluntary basis only.

He also denounces the Tripartite Pact.

Submarine USS GATO is laid down.

Following the premiere of "Knute Rockne-All American" yesterday in South Bend, Indiana, the two stars, Pat O'Brien and Ronald Reagan, attend a Notre Dame football game where Kate Smith sings "God Bless America" at halftime.

Baseball!

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October 5th, 1941 (SUNDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: Destroyer HMS Hurworth is commissioned.

U.S.S.R.: Moscow: The Russians put German losses in the campaign at 3,000,000 and their own at 1,100,000.

Ukraine, Panzergruppe 1 (von Kleist) reaches the Sea of Azov.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA: U-79 is successful in breaking through to the Mediterranean.

EGYPT: British military leaders have devised a plan to hit back at Rommel and the DAK. The Allied enclave at Tobruk will be the prime target of Operation Crusader. It was agreed two days ago and despite pressure from Churchill for quick action, General Sir Claude Auchinleck, the C-in-C, wants to build up his supplies before taking the offensive next month.

Lt-Gen Sir Alan Cunningham will lead the British campaign at the head of the Eighth Army, formed last month from XIII and XXX Corps. In addition to the British troops, Sir Alan will have Australian, Indian, New Zealand, Polish and Free French forces under his command.

ITALIAN SOMALILAND: Capt. Jack Parsonon strafes an Italian Sm-75 cargo plane on the airfield at Djibouti, the only enemy aircraft destroyed by a P-36 Mohawk in East Africa. (Mike Yared)(284)

JAPAN: Japan breaks diplomatic relations with the Polish government-in-exile.

COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: USN Task Force 5 returns from deployment in southern Philippine waters. (Marc Small)

CANADA: Minesweeper HMCS Red Deer is launched at Montreal, Province of Quebec.

U.S.A.: Baseball!

CARIBBEAN SEA: The Canadian Paterson Steamships Co. merchantman Mondoc (1,926 GRT) sank in the Caribbean Sea after she struck an unknown submerged object, probably Darien Rock, off the east coast of Trinidad. She was on route from Trinidad to the US Virgin Islands (other sources say Guyana to the British Virgin Islands), with a cargo of bauxite from transshipment. There were no survivors from this incident.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-565 is attacked by an aircraft. One bomb hit the deck, but it was a dud and rolled off into the water.

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October 5th, 1942 (MONDAY)

GERMANY: During the night of 5/6 October, RAF Bomber Commands sends 257 aircraft, 101 Wellingtons, 74 Lancasters, 59 Halifaxes and 23 Stirlings, to bomb Aachen; 184 aircraft bomb the target with a loss of ten bombers, five Halifaxes, two Stirlings, two Wellingtons and a Lancaster, 3.9 per cent of the force. A further six aircraft crash in England, possibly in thunderstorms. The weather continues to be bad over Germany. There is little Pathfinder marking at Aachen and most of the bombing falls in other areas. Aachen reports that the raid is carried out by an estimated ten aircraft and that the centre of the attack appears to be in the southern suburb of Burtscheid. Five people are killed and 39 injured. Many of the bombs intended for Aachen fall in the small Dutch town of Lutterade, 17 miles (27 kilometers) away from Aachen, and it seems that most of the Pathfinder marking are over this place. More than 800 houses are seriously damaged; 83 people are killed, 22 are injured and 3,000 are made homeless.

U-359 is commissioned.

U-430 is laid down.

U-668 and U-669 are launched.

U.S.S.R.: Soviet submarine "Sch-320" of the Baltic Fleet, Ladoga and Onega Flotillas is sunk by the Finnish submarine Vetehinen (Kapteeniluutnantti Antti Leino) by ramming, in the Gulf of Finland. The Vetehinen is also damaged, but manages to get back to base for repairs. (Sergey Anisimov and Mikke Härmeinen)(69)

Joseph Stalin, premier and dictator of the Soviet Union, fires off a telegram to the German/Soviet front at Stalingrad, exhorting his forces to victory. "That part of Stalingrad which has been captured must be liberated."

CHINA: Chiang Kai-shek formally reincorporates Sinkiang province into China and demands that the USSR withdraw its military presence.

NEW GUINEA: In Papua New Guinea, on the Kokoda Track, the main body of the 3rd Battalion, “Maroubra Force,” reaches Menari. Fifth Air Force B-25 Mitchells attack a convoy off Buna; A-20 Havocs hit AA positions at Sanananda Point and bomb the village of Sanananda; and B-17 Flying Fortresses bomb airfields at Buna and also hit airfields at Rabaul on New Britain Island.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: An American offensive raid against the Japanese bases and shipping at Shortland Island in the northern Solomons is launched by Admiral Ghormley. The USS Hornet is moved west of the base and the aircraft are launched early. The clouds and weather of the approaching cold front impede the attack. The formation unravels n the low cloud and rain. Hornet crews claim 8 planes and two more during their withdrawal. The simultaneous raids by B-17s against Buka and the Cactus AF against Rekata Bay are also derailed by the weather.

SBD Dauntlesses of Scouting Squadrons Three and Seventy One (VS-3 and VS-71) and Marine Scout Bombing Squadron One Hundred Forty One (VMSB-141) from Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, attack a Japanese convoy, damaging destroyers HIJMS Minegumo and HIJMS Murasame 150 miles (241.4 km) from Guadalcanal.

TERRITORY OF ALASKA: Aleutian Islands, 6 Eleventh Air Force B-24 Liberators, 3 P-38 Lightnings and 3 P-39Airacobras abort a bombing, weather, and photo mission over Kiska Island due to weather.

     The motion picture “Road to Morocco” is released today. This musical comedy is directed by David Butler and stars Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour and Anthony Quinn; Yvonne De Carlo and Ken Maynard appear in uncredited roles. Crosby and Hope, two wild and crazy guys adrift on a raft in the Mediterranean, are cast away on a desert shore and hop a convenient camel to an Arabian Nights city where Hope soon finds himself sold as a slave...to luscious Princess Shalmar (Lamour). The film is nominated for two technical Academy Awards. This film is ranked Number 78 on the American Film Institute’s list of “The 100 Funniest American Films” and Jimmy Van Heusen’s song “(We’re Off on the) Road to Morocco” sung by Crosby and Hope is ranked Number 95 on the list of “The 100 Greatest American Movie Songs Of All Time.” (Jack McKillop

ATLANTIC OCEAN southwest of Iceland, a PBY-5A Catalina of Patrol Squadron Seventy Three (VP-73) based at NAF Reykjavik, Iceland, depth charges and sinks German submarine U-582 in position 58.52N, 21.42W. All hands on the sub are lost.

U-619 (Type VIIC) is sunk southwest of Iceland, in position 58.41N, 22.58W, by 4 depth charges from a British Hudson aircraft (269/N Sqdn.). 44 dead (all crew lost). (Alex Gordon)

U-68 reaches the area off Capetown, South Africa, and begins looking for shipping traffic.

While closing on convoy HX-209, U-257 is attacked by an aircraft which drops six bombs. The U-boat suffers such severe damage that it has to return to base.

U-575 loses a man overboard. [Oberbootsmaat Herbert Bühler]

U-175 sinks the SS WILLIAM A MCKENNEY.

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October 5th, 1943 (TUESDAY)

FRANCE: German troops complete the evacuation of the island of Corsica.

GERMANY: U-869 is launched.

ITALY: The US 5th Army captures Aversa and Maddaloni.

In U.S. Fifth Army area, the British X Corps gets forward elements to the Volturno River.

     In the British Eighth Army’s XIII Corps area, indecisive fighting for the Biferno bridgehead at Termoli continues, with Germans penetrating into Termoli itself.

     One hundred twenty four USAAF XII Bomber Command B-17 Flying Fortresses hit the Bologna marshalling yard with the loss of one aircraft; B-25 Mitchells and B-26 Marauders bomb the Formia road, a road loop north of Mignano, and the Isernia chokepoint; Northwest African Tactical Bomber Force, XII Air Support Command, and RAF Desert Air Force (DAF) aircraft bomb numerous targets in and north of the battle area, including heavy traffic in the Isernia area, gasoline dumps at Alfedena, trains at Termoli, and towns of Venafro and Isolella.

     During the night of 5/6 October, 51 RAF bombers of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group attack Grossetto Airfield.

GREECE: Seventeen USAAF Twelfth Air Force B-24 Liberators bomb Eleus Airfield at Athens. Three aircraft are lost.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA: Lieutenant General James H Doolittle assumes command of the Twelfth Air Force during the absence of General Carl Spaatz. In Italy, XII Bomber Command B-17s hit the Bologna marshalling yard; B-25s and B-26 Marauders bomb the Formia road, a road loop north of Mignano, and Isernia chokepoint; Northwest African Tactical Bomber Force, XII Air Support Command, and RAF Desert Air Force (DAF) aircraft bomb numerous targets in and north of the battle area, including heavy traffic in the Isernia area, gasoline dumps at Alfedena, trains at Termoli, and towns of Venafro and Isolella.

CHINA: The Fourteenth Air Force dispatches a few B-25s and P-40s to attack a foundry at Shihhweiyao; damaging hits are scored on a barrack, on AA positions, blast furnaces, hoppers, and a steam plant. 10 USAAF fighters intercept a force of about 50 "Zeke" fighters west of Kweilin, shoot down 1 enemy fighter; the enemy force turns back.  

NEW GUINEA: In North East New Guinea, Japanese documents captured near Finschhafen reveal that the Japanese are not in full retreat but intend some offensive operation. Lieutenant General Sir Edmund Herring, Commander of I Australian Corps, issues an operations order to the Australian 9th Division stating that Finschhafen is to be defended and developed and the troops are to gain control of the east coast of the Huon Peninsula up to and including Sio.

Fifth Air Force B-25s carry out a coastal sweep west to Madang, bombing and strafing villages and barges; B-17s hit the Bogadjim Road and jetties at Erima; and B-24s bomb the Babo area.

PACIFIC OCEAN: Today Admiral Montgomery's US Naval TF 14 (Rear Admiral Alfred E. Montgomery) will shell and bombard Wake Island. They will do it again tomorrow.

TF 14 consists of the aircraft carriers USS Essex (CV-9) with Carrier Air Group Nine (CVG-9), USS Yorktown (CV-10) with CVG-5 and USS Lexington (CV-16) with CVG16; the light aircraft carriers USS Cowpens (CVL-25) with Light Carrier Air Group Twenty Five (CVLG-25), USS Independence (CVL-22) with CVLG-22) and USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24) with CVLG-24; three heavy cruisers, four light cruisers, 24 destroyers and two oilers. A predawn strike consisting of 48 F6F Hellcat fighters and 24 TBF Avenger bombers attacks the airfield and other installations while F6F pilots shoot down 30 "Zeke" fighters (Mitsubishi A6M, Navy Type 0 Carrier Fighters).

The USN submarine USS Wahoo (SS-238) sinks the Japanese army transport Konron Maru (formally of the Shimonoseki-to-Fusan Ferry Line) in Tsushima Straits, about 126 nautical miles (233 kilometers) south of Pusan, Korea, at 34.00N, 129.00E. (The Tsushima Strait is a channel between Tsushima Island and northwest Kyushu, Japan, connecting the Sea of Japan with the East China Sea.) The ship is ferrying troops across the Tsushima Strait. Only 72 of the 616 soldiers and crewmen aboard the vessel survive because of heavy seas. This loss prompts the cancellation of night ferry trips across Tsushima Straits.

HAWAIIAN ISLANDS: Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Commander of the Pacific Ocean Area, issues a plan for an offensive in the Central Pacific. Admiral Raymond A. Spruance Commander of the Fifth Fleet, is to seize Makin, Tarawa, and Abamama in the Gilbert Islands, cover amphibious landings on each with air and naval surface forces, and deny the Japanese the use of land bases in the Marshall Islands and at Nauru during the operation. D-Day for landings is set for 19 November and later postponed to 20 November.

Escort carrier USS MANILA BAY (CVE-61) is commissioned.

Destroyer USS RICKETS is commissioned. Destroyer escorts USS Wilhoite and Koiner are launched.
Destroyer escort USS John C Butler and  Frigate USS Sandusky are launched.

Baseball!

ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-336 is sunk in the Straits of Denmark southwest of Iceland, in position 62.43W, 27.17W, by rockets fired by an RAF Hudson. (Sqdn. 269/F). 50 dead (all crew lost). (22)(Alex Gordon)

U-188 sinks the SS BRITANNIA.

GREENLAND: Patrol Squadron Six (VP-6 CG), was established as a U.S. Coast Guard squadron under U.S. Navy operational control at NAS Argentia, Newfoundland. Squadron personnel have actually been arriving since 23 July 1943, by Naval Air Transport Service. Upon arrival they commence training and indoctrination in cold weather operations. The squadron’s home port is Narsarssuak, Greenland, code name Bluie West-One (BW-1). Upon establishment it came under the administrative control of the USN’s Fleet Air Wing Nine (FAW-9). Personnel matters continue to be handled by Coast Guard Headquarters. The squadron flew the PBY-5A Catalina, with ten aircraft (one designated as a spare), 22 officers and 145 enlisted men, including eight enlisted pilots. Operational flights begin on 13 October 1943, after the first three PBY-5A Catalinas arrive at Narsarssuak. Two of the squadron’s nine operational aircraft are detached to NAS Argentia. These aircraft and crews are rotated frequently to allow maintenance and repair work to be done on the other seven. At Narsarssuak all the squadron’s aircraft sit outside and all maintenance, refueling and arming takes place in the open regardless of weather conditions because it is found that moving aircraft from warm hangars to the cold outside results in condensation and subsequent freezing in fuel pumps, controls and instruments. Herman Nelson F-1 portable heaters are needed to warm the engines and the aircraft interiors before starting. Crews are relieved every 12 months, with relief crews staggered every four months. The USAAF provides aerology support and daily weather briefings.

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October 5th, 1944 (THURSDAY)

England, the Eighth Air Force flies 2 missions:

* Mission 665: 1,090 bombers and 733 fighters in 3 forces are dispatched to bomb industrial targets, airfields and railways in western Germany; 9 bombers and 5 fighters are lost:

- 348 B-17s are dispatched to hit targets of opportunity at Cologne (248), Brechten (27), Dortmund (14) and Coblenz (11) using GH and H2X; 3 B-17s are lost. Escort is provided by 181 P-51s; 3 are lost. - 360 B-24s are dispatched to hit Lippstadt Airfield (175), Rheine marshalling yard (107) and Paderborn Airfield (28) visually; targets of opportunity hit are Herford marshalling yard (8) and Lipperode Airfield (2). Escort is provided by 260 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 1-0-0 aircraft in the air and 15-0-7 on the ground; a P-51 is lost.

- 382 B-17s are dispatched to hit Loddenheide Airfield at Munster (235) and Handorf Airfield at Munster (68) using PFF means; targets of opportunity hit are the Rheine marshalling yard (10) and other (2); 6 B-17s are lost. Escort is provided by 234 P-47s and P-51s without loss. 

* Mission 666: 8 bombers drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and Germany during the night.

Destroyer HMCS Crusader (ex-HMS Crusader) launched Clydebank, Glasgow, Scotland.

Destroyer HMS Caesear commissioned.

NETHERLANDS: Five pilots of the Royal Canadian Air Force's No.401 (Fighter) Squadron flying Spitfire Mk. XIVs from Rips, the Netherlands, shoot down a Luftwaffe Me-262 in the Arnhem-Nijmegen area. This was the first jet-propelled aircraft shot down by the RAF or RCAF.

In the Canadian First Army area, the British I Corps gets forward elements on the left to Aiphen, southwest of Tilburg.

From Alan Wood, Daily Express war correspondent in Normandy and at Arnhem, broadcasting in BBC Pacific Service.

I think Arnhem was the most glorious failure of the war....

But like Gallipoli, this failure was so redeemed by heroism that it will be remembered when many an easy triumph is forgotten. The men of Arnhem, like the men of Anzac, achieved something more than success and won something greater than victory...

I think the Germans came to admire the spirit of our men, and in spite of the terrible bitterness of the fighting there was some chivalry about it. Our main field dressing station fell into the German hands one day - it was only a few hundred yards down the road from where we were, and it was naturally rather awkward having the Germans so close, particularly as they parked a self-propelled gun just near it. We thought of launching an attack to get it back again, but, as we heard the Germans were treating our wounded well, we decided it was best to leave things as they were. So our doctors stayed in the field dressing station looking after our casualties, with the German doctors working beside them looking after the German casualties -all helping each other. Once the Germans said they might have to use the dressing station as a firing point unless we moved our front line 200 yards away from it. If we had, it would have put our front line just about at Division headquarters, so we had to refuse. Then there was the time the Polish parachutists had just arrived to reinforce us. They saw the building standing there in the German lines with a gun beside it, and naturally began shooting it up: and there had to be all sorts of apologies and explanations that we had some new men in our sector of the line who hadn't learned the ropes yet. And then we began to run short of water at our advanced dressing station inside our own perimeter. Our General sent his Medical Officer down to Arnhem under the cover of the Red Cross to see the German Commander about it. The German Commander not only arranged for our Red Cross jeeps to go down to draw water from a well inside German lines, but sent the Medical Officer back to us with a present of a bottle of brandy.

FRANCE: In the U.S. Third Army’s XX Corps area, the 5th Infantry Division maintains a foothold at Fort Driant against heavy fire from surrounding forts. On the northern flank of the corps, elements of the 83d Infantry Division, assisted by artillery and fighter bombers, finally clear Grevenmacher after nightfall. The XII Corps orders a three-division attack to begin on 8 October. Several days of aerial and ground bombardment serve to weaken German positions in zone of projected attack.

GERMANY: All hospitals are put under military control, and sixteen-year-olds are called up for military service.

In the U.S. First Army’s XIX Corps area, the 2d Armored Division overruns the villages of Zweibruggen and Frelenberg and continues toward Geilenkirchen. The Luftwaffe at Palenberg in some strength but causes little damage. In VII Corps area, adverse weather conditions prevent the 9th Infantry Division from launching an attack toward Schmidt, an important objective commanding Roer River and Schwammenauel Dam, one of a series of Roer dams.

     The USAAF Eighth Air Force flies dispatches 1,090 bombers and 733 fighters in three forces to bomb industrial targets, airfields and railways in western Germany; nine bombers and five fighters are lost. 249 aircraft hit the Gereon marshalling yard at Cologne with the loss of two aircraft, 235 bombed the Loddenheide Bf 109 repair facility at Munster, 174 hit Lippstadt Airfield, 117 attack the marshalling yard at Rheine, 67 bombed Handorf Airfield at Munster, 32 hit Paderborn Airfield, 27 bomb a target of opportunity at Brechten, 14 attacked the industrial area at Dortmund, 11 hit the Mosel marshalling yard at Koblenz, nine bombed targets of opportunity at Lordhern, eight hit the marshalling yard at Herford and one bombs a target of opportunity.

     During the day, RAF Bomber Command dispatches 227 Lancasters and a Mosquito to bomb Wilhelmshaven through 10/10ths cloud cover; 219 bomb the target. Marking and bombing are all based on H2S radar and the raid appears to be scattered. Eighteen Lancasters do not join in the main attack but bomb a group of ships seen through a break in the cloud over the sea. Wilhelmshaven's diary only states that 12 people died. One Lancaster is lost.

     During the night of 5/6 October, RAF Bomber Command sends 531 Lancasters and 20 Mosquitos on the first major RAF raid to Saarbrücken since September 1942; 399 bombed the city and 76 hit the marshalling yard. The raid is made at the request of the U.S. Third Army which is advancing in this direction; the intention is to cut the railways and block supply routes generally through the town. The bombing is accurate and severe damage is caused in the main town area north of the River Saar, the area through which the main railway lines ran. Damage is particularly severe in the Altstadt and Malstatt districts. In other raids, 20 Mosquitos bomb Berlin, six attack Frankfurt-am-Main , five hit Krefeld, four bomb the port area at Brunsbuttelskoog, three hit the Hoesch synthetic oil plant at Dortmund and one each attack Duisburg and Dusseldorf. Mining operations are carried out by ten Halifaxes laying mines in the Heligoland Bight and nine Mosquitos mining the Kiel Canal.

U-3006 commissioned.
U-676 show down near Ösel in the Baltic two Soviet planes (one Il-2 and one Pe-2). The U-boat was used as convoy flak escort at this time.

HUNGARY: Forces of the Soviet Second Ukrainian forces launch an offensive from the Arad area of Romania into southeastern Hungary, pressing northwest toward Szeged and Budapest, on route to Vienna.

WESTERN EUROPE: The Ninth Air Force dispatches 330+ B-26s and A-20 Havocs against targets in Arnhem, the Netherlands, and Aldenhoven and Duren, Germany, but they are recalled; fighters hit pillboxes along the Westwall, support ground forces of the XV Corps in France, fly armed reconnaissance in the Prum, Bonn, Koblenz, Trier and Landau, Germany, areas, hit targets along the Rhine-Marne Canal, and during the night of 5/6 October fly patrol in Belgium, eastern France, and western Germany.

NORWAY: U-427 ran aground in the Hoegs-Fjord, Norway, suffering some damage.

ESTONIA: Saaremaa Island in the Baltic is invaded by Soviet forces.

German units make a fighting withdrawal toward the Syrve peninsula.

LATVIA: The Soviet Army Group North is met by stiff German resistance on the approaches to Riga, Latvia.

The Red Army has launched a new offensive against the Germans in the Baltic in its carefully-staged build-up to the invasion of East Prussia. According to German reports, four tank corps and 14 rifle divisions have attacked their positions between Riga and Tilsit, in East Prussia.

If this new thrust succeeds it will effectively cut off the remnants of Army Group North which have retreated into Courland. At the same time Riga itself is being threatened by Russian forces which have captured the railway town of Ogre, 20 miles to the south-east. There is no doubt that Germany intends to fight to retain control of Riga. Refugees escaping from the city report that the Germans are continuing to strengthen their defences.

Minesweeper SM 3 is lost to Finnish mines off Suursaari.

LITHUANIA: From the Siauliai area, troops of the Soviet First Baltic Front push in force toward the Baltic and East Prussia in effort to cut off German Army Group North.

ITALY:  The U.S. Fifth Army issues alternative instructions for continuing their attack after reaching Highway 9 (Bologna-Faenza) based on assumptions that the Germans may or may not have withdrawn from the Valle di Commachio-Apennines pocket by that time. Regimental Combat Team 6 of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force, as a training exercise, is to continue along the Serchio valley toward Castelnuovo. In the II Corps area, the 133d Infantry Regiment takes Monzuno and finishes clearing the Mt. Venere area. The 91st Infantry Division, committing attacks with three regiments after preparatory artillery fire takes Loiano and Mt. Bastia while the 85th Infantry Division takes Mt. Bibele on the left and holds positions on Hill 566 on the right. The 88th Infantry Division is held up by strong opposition on Hill 587.

     In the British Eighth Army’s V Corps area, the Indian 10th Division, after bitter fighting, succeeds in taking the Sogliano-St. Martino ridge and forces the Germans back across the Fiumicino River.

During the night of 4/5 October, Twelfth Air Force A-20s bomb targets of opportunity in the battle area in the mountains south of Bologna and north of the Arno River Valley; during the day weather grounds medium bomber wings and the XII Fighter Command.

     During the night of 5/6 October, 40 RAF Bombers of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group hit the pontoon bridge at San Benedetto.

GREECE: Patras: Peasants working their rockstrewn, barren fields watched as the multi-coloured parachutes filled the clear blue sky before running to greet their liberators. The British Army has fulfilled the promise it made three years ago - to return and liberate Greece.

The airborne forces dropped in yesterday, a reconnaissance in force while the main force was still steaming towards the Peloponnese. Their first target was an airfield - which was found deserted and demolished, although the first Dakota was landing there within hours.

By the time the main force came ashore today, it was clear that the Germans are evacuating the Peloponnese. The British are hurrying eastwards along the Gulf of Corinth in the hope of trapping the 10,000-strong garrison in Athens.

The liberators are shocked by the level of starvation they see in every Greek face. Money is useless; food, cigarettes and quinine are the only acceptable currency.

During the night of 5/6 October, two RAF bombers of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group lay mines in the Euripos Channel.

BURMA: 11 Tenth Air Force P-47 Thunderbolts hit Mawlu and attack locomotives and targets of opportunity in the Naha area; 8 B-25s attack bridges at Namhkai, damaging the main bridge; and troop carriers fly 250+ sorties to various locations in the CBI.

CHINA: The Japanese capture Fuzhou (Foochow), the last seaport under Chinese control.

12 Fourteenth Air Force B-25s and 22 fighter-bombers attack Samshui, Koyiu and Takhing; 8 hit targets of opportunity in the Canton-Wuchou area, and 3 bomb a storage area at Mangshih; and 50+ P-40s and P-51 Mustangs over wide areas of southern China attack rivercraft, road traffic, bridges, town areas, and troops.

JAPAN: 2 Eleventh Air Force B-24s based in the Aleutian Islands bomb Kashiwabara and Kurabu Cape on Paramushiru Island in the Kurile Islands at dawn.

EAST INDIES: Far East Air Forces B-24s bomb airfields in the Kendari area on Celebes Island. B-25s and P-38s hit Kairatoe Airfield on Celebes Island, the town of Amboina on Ambon Island and numerous coastal and shipping targets of opportunity in the Ambon-Ceram Islands area.

NEW GUINEA: Dutch New Guinea USAAF A-20s, B-25s, and fighter-bombers attack Urarom, the Simora Point area, Doom Island, Babo, Efman and Samate Airfields and disposal areas; and A-20s blast Japanese bivouacs and supply areas near Sarmi.

MARIANA ISLANDS: Seventh Air Force P-47s based on Saipan attack Pagan Island with rockets and bombs; a B-24 bombs gun positions on the island.

NAURU ISLAND: B-25s from the Gilbert Islands bomb runways and gun positions on Nauru Island.

WAKE ISLAND: During the night of 5/6 October B-24s from the Marshall Islands strike Wake Island.  

SOLOMON ISLANDS: The USN's Special Air Task Force (STAG 1) (Commander Robert F. Jones), based on Stirling Island in the Treasury Islands, commences operations with Interstate TDR-1 target drones controlled from converted TBM-1C Avengers against Japanese targets in the southwest Pacific. Four TDRs, each carrying a 2,000-pound (907.2 kg) bomb, are launched against Japanese supply caves in the Keravia Bay, Rabaul, area of New Britain Island. One TDR hits in the vicinity of cave entrances; one misses the target area. Two are lost en route due to interference from communications frequency used by motor gunboat (PGM) operating in the waters over which the drones fly.

CAROLINE ISLANDS: PALAU ISLANDS: Peleliu: The US 7th Marines, fighting in torrential rain, are relieved by the 5th Marines in the struggle to dislodge Japanese forces from the Mount Umurbrogol pocket.

B-24s from the Marshall Islands bomb an airfield at Moen Island, Truk Atoll

CANADA: Tug HMCS Listerville assigned to Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Corvette HMCS Whitby departed St. John's for Londonderry to join EG C-4.
Tug HMCS Glenbrook commissioned.

U.S.A.: Destroyer escort USS Formoe commissioned.
Destroyer USS Southerland launched.

Baseball!

Coast Guard-manned Army vessel FS-373 was commissioned at Sturgeon Bay WI with LTJG J. L. Barron, USCGR, as her first commanding officer. He was succeeded on 11 October 11, 1944, by LTJG W. H. Bosworth, USCGR. She was assigned to and operated in the Southwest and Western Pacific areas. This included Tacloban, San Fernando, etc.

Coast Guard-manned Army vessel FS-374 was commissioned. She was assigned to and operated in the Southwest and Western Pacific areas, including Tacloban, Batangas, Gaang Point, etc. during the war.

Coast Guard-manned Army vessel FS-353 was commissioned at New York with LTJG Robert H. Foster, USCGR, as commanding officer. She departed New York, 23 October 1944 for the Southwest Pacific, where she operated during the war at Hollandia and elsewhere.

     The top songs on the pop charts are: "Till the End of Time" by Perry Como, "If I Loved You" by Perry Como and "You Two Timed Me One Time Too Often" by Tex Ritter.

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October 5th, 1945 (FRIDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: The last Handley Page Halifax heavy bomber, a Mk VII, built by Fairey flies today. (22)

The Daily Mirror publishes a cartoon by Philip Zec, it shows a typical Hollywood tycoon in a canvas chair surrounded by scripts marked ‘All American Burma Front’ and ‘All American defence of London’. A suited Englishman is politely pointing out ‘Excuse me – but you are sitting on some graves’. Beneath the chair are a series of graves marked ‘Britain’s sacrifice for world freedom’.

JAPAN: Tokyo: Kijuro Kidehara is appointed premier.

CANADA: Frigate HMCS Royalmount completed refit Sydney, Nova Scotia.
Destroyer HMCS Restigouche paid off.

U.S.A.: Destroyers USS Rich and Lloyd Thomas launched.
 

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