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1933   (SUNDAY) 

UNITED KINGDOM: The Rolls-Royce Merlin aircraft engine is started for the first time. The Merlin powered the Hawker Hurricane, Vickers-Supermarine Spitfire, North American P-51 Mustang, Avro Lancaster and many other aircraft during World War II.

1934   (MONDAY) 

CHINA: The beginning of the Long March of Communist Chinese. Under pressure from Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek and the Nationalists, the Communist Chinese, under Mao Zedong and Zhu De, break through the Nationalist lines and march westward. Approximately 100,000 Communist Chinese endured Nationalist bombardment and air attacks, which result in the loss of half of Mao's force. The Communists marched 6,000 miles (9 556 kilometers), crossing 18 mountain ranges and 24 rivers before reaching safe haven in the northwestern province of Shensi in October 1935. As a result of this redeployment, the Communists move beyond the range of the Nationalists and Mao emerged as the undisputed leader of the Chinese Communist movement.

1938   (SATURDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: The prototype of the Bristol Beaufort, s/n L4441, makes it's first flight. Total Beaurfort production is 2,129 machines including 700 built in Australia. The Beaufort served as a general reconnaissance and torpedo bomber in RAF Coastal Command and in the Middle East and Indian Ocean.

October 15th, 1939 (SUNDAY)

London: The news blackout by censors has left people eager to listen to rumour. On the propaganda front the Ministry of Information (MOI) is being beaten by Germany. The MOI's posters are disliked. Saying "YOUR Courage, YOUR Cheerfulness, YOUR Resolution will bring US Victory". People ask whom they mean by "US"? The government and it's friends? The patronising slogans are also irritating, "Kill that Rumour - It's Helping Hitler". "Fred Karno's Army has nothing on the MOI," says the Daily Mirror.
Meanwhile an estimated one million are tuning into "Lord Haw-Haw", broadcasting from Hamburg. He was nicknamed this by the Daily Express because of his upper-class drawl which announces "Jairmany Calling!". He presents amusing skits of old buffers in a London club grousing about the war or "the blasted socialists". Sir Jasper Murgatroyd and Bumbleby Mannering (a clergyman) are two more of his characters. Posing as a well-meaning adviser to the British, Haw-Haw needles them about food prices, war profiteers and censors who keep them in the dark. "Where is the Ark Royal? Britons, ask your government!" He says working men should "demand social justice and call for peace".

Armed merchant cruisers HMS Aurania, Ausonia and Cilicia commissioned.

POLAND: Of the 16,000 Polish civilians executed in the first six weeks of the war, 5,000 are Jewish. About 250,000 Jews escape from the Germans into the Soviet Union. Some are immediately deported to labor camps in Siberia, where many of them later died.

ESTONIA: The government signs a treaty to return Estonians of German origin to the Reich.

FINLAND: Compulsory national service is introduced.

U.S.A.: 325,000 people attend the dedication of New York City's New York Municipal Airport by Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia. This airport, the former North Beach Airport, is renamed New York Municipal Airport - LaGuardia Field on 2 November 1939 but it is not opened to airline traffic until 2 December 1939. [The first aircraft to land is a Transcontinental and Western Airlines (TWA) DC-3 from Chicago which lands at 0001 hours local.] The airport will be renamed LaGuardia Field in 1947. In the meantime, Newark Municipal Airport in New Jersey, remains the only commercial airport in the New York City metropolitan area, a function it has admirably performed since 1928.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-37 sank SS Vermont.

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October 15th, 1940 (TUESDAY)

At 2100 hours local, 30 aircraft head for Hornchurch and central London and hit Waterloo Station and block all but 2 of the rail lines. At 2145 hours, another 50 aircraft attack the city and at 2320 hours, attacks begin in Kent and the Thames Estuary.

In London, train service is stopped at the 5 main stations and traffic for other stations is cut by more than two-thirds. The Underground (subway) is severed at 5 places and roads are blocked throughout the city and a reservoir, 3 gasworks, 2 power stations and 3 important docks were hit. There are 900 fires in London during the night and there are over 1,200 casualties including 400 killed including 64 people sheltering in Balham Underground station. The BBC loses 7 people killed when a bomb hits Broadcasting House during  the BBC's 2100 hours local news program. Bombs destroy the main artery of London's water supply, the 46 million Imperial gallon-a-day (55.2 million U.S. gallons or 209.1 million liters) pipeline at Enfield. it is notable that the Germans have resumed the use of the parachute mine, which has caused considerable devastation and casualties.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA: Last night, on patrol southwest of Calabria in the Ionian Sea, submarine HMS/M Triad (71) is lost in a surface gun action with the submarine 'Enrico Toti'. The TRIAD, commanded by Lt-Cdr G. S. Salt, was on patrol in the Gulf of Taranto and found the Toti on the surface shortly after midnight. Triad fired first hitting Toti twice, one of which was at the base of the conning tower by a 4" round from TRIAD but the damage was minor, and firing a torpedo which goes astern of Toti. The two boats now came so close that Toti's first lieutenant could hear Triad's bridge party speaking English. TOTI (an unorthodox boat with a 120mm gun in an enclosed mount forward) now used her superiority in close range weapons to force Triad's bridge party and the gun crew below decks. Triad began to dive but Toti scored two hits with her gun on TRIAD's conning tower and one hit with a torpedo and the British submarine was later seen to sink.  The TRIAD, commanded by Lt-Cdr G. S. Salt, was on patrol in the Gulf of Taranto and had earlier fired a torpedo which narrowly missed going to the stern of the target. According to the reports of the Toti's captain (Lt-Cmdr Bandino Bandini) though, it was a  surface torpedo attack. The Italian boat at once point came so close to the British submarine that the crews could hear each other and an Italian threw a boot at the Triad.

At about this time HMS Rainbow is lost off Albania in a collision with the Italian merchant ship Antonella Costa. The entire crew of 53 are casualties. 
(Peter Beeston and Mike Yaklich and Alex Gordon)(108 and 121)

CANADA: Minesweeper HMCS Outarde laid down North Vancouver, British Columbia.

U.S.A.: Over 16 million men have registered for the draft.

The United States requisitioned planes ordered by Sweden. These are 144 Vultee Model 48C single-seat fighter aircraft which are given the USAAF designation P-66 and assigned to Britain (which designated it Vanguard Mk. I), Canada and China under Lend-Lease. China eventually received 129 of the aircraft and the USAAF kept 14 as trainers.

Additional units of the National Guard (NG) are inducted today. Called up are three divisions, ten brigades, 26 regiments, four observation squadrons and a battalion of coast artillery from five states and Puerto Rico. The divisions are New York's 27th, Ohio's 37th and the 32d consisting of NG units from Michigan and Wisconsin.

The 298th and 299th Infantry Regiments of the Hawaii National Guard are inducted at Honolulu.

The motion picture "The Great Dictator" premiers at the Astor and Capitol Theaters in New York City. Written, directed and starring Charles Chaplin, this screwball comedy also stars Paulette Goddard, Jack Oakie, Reginald Gardiner and Billy Gilbert. Chaplin plays a dual role, a Jewish ghetto barber and dictator Adenoid Hynkel of Tomania, a spoof of Adolf Hitler, while Oakie plays Benzino Napaloni of the rival country Bacteria, a spoof of Benito Mussolini. The film is nominated for five Academy Awards including Best Picture (it loses to "Rebecca"), Best Actor (Chaplin), Best Supporting Actor (Oakie) and a music and writing award.

ATLANTIC OCEAN:

U-93 sank SS Hurunui in Convoy OA-228.

U-138 damaged SS British Glory and sank SS Bonheur in Convoy OB-228.

U-103 sank SS Thistlegarth in Convoy OB-227.

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October 15th, 1941 (WEDNESDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: Destroyer HMS Tyrian laid down.

GERMANY:

U-270 and U-921 laid down.

U-335, U-379 and U-599 launched.

U-88 commissioned.

POLAND: A German Decree is issued in Warsaw. It confines all Jews to the ghettos. The penalty is automatic execution.

U.S.S.R.:  Odessa is evacuated by the Russians after holding out for several weeks.35,000 men are involved. Most units of the Soviet Black Sea Fleet are now based at Sevastopol. 

     Extremely heavy fighting is reported in the Kalinn area as Soviet forces launch massive and desperate attacks against the city and the attacks stop the advance of the German Third Panzer Army.

     In Moscow, ten inches (25,4 centimeters) of snow fall in the area around the city. The Soviet government is evacuated to Kuibyshev, 600 miles (966 kilometers) to the east. Roads to the east are jammed with cars filled with party officials. Offices and factories are abandoned and the railway stations are besieged by throngs of desperate people trying to flee the city. Premier Joseph Stalin, after assurances from General Georgi Zhukov, Commander of the Central Front, decides to stay.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA: The British submarine HMS/M TORBAY (N 79) bombards the Libyan port of Apollonia.

JAPAN: Hozomi Ozaki, a Japanese author, journalist and spy for the Soviet Union under Richard Sorge, was arrested for treason. He was a member of a high-level, policy-planning brain trust that advised the Japanese Prime Minister and was in a position to pass on high-level secrets to Soviet spy Sorge. Ozaki was executed along with Sorge in 1944, his letters to his wife and daughter were published after the war and became a best seller, with a Japanese people struggling to come to terms with the defeat and looking for new heroes from their past, untainted by the crimes of the militarists.

CANADA: In Ottawa Ontario, the government prohibits the private use of glycerine because it is needed for explosives.

Corvette HMCS Louisburg arrived Halifax from builder Quebec City, Province of Quebec.

Patrol vessel HMCS Moolock 84x20ft, Built by Victoria Motor Boat and Repair Works, Ltd, Victoria. Launched, 1-mg, Fisherman's reserve, west coast, sold 1946 and renamed Western Girl I.

Corvette HMCS Sudbury commissioned.

Tug HMCS Becanoeur ordered from Marine Industries Ltd, Sorel, Province of Quebec.. Ex-Dept of Transport tug, for conversion to gate vessel. Yard#85, Log - jn 231, completed 1942, Post WW.II sold Marine Industries Ltd, commercial, renamed Becanoeur #133954.

U.S.A.: The War Department releases a large number of jeeps, ambulances, trucks and sedans for shipment to the Philippine Army, "subject to the availability of shipping." (Will O'Neil)

In an attempt to rectify what has become known as an obvious blunder on behalf of the American Military, the Congress of the United States presents and then passes a resolution restoring the full rank of brigadier general to Billy Mitchell. Although Mitchell had died in 1936, it is obvious that the military had acted out of political self-interest and that Mitchell had been fully justified in voicing his concerns over the indolence and arrogance in American military leadership. The resolution did virtually nothing for Mitchell or his family, other than restore honor to his name and his years of military service to his country.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: At 0705 hrs U-553 sights convoy SC 48 and attacks an hour later, torpedoing and sinking British motorship MS Silvercedar and Norwegian freighter SS Ila before at 1024 the U-boat is driven off by Canadian destroyer HMCS Columbia [ex-USS Haraden (DD-183)]. U-432, U-502, U-558 and U-568, followed by U-73, U-77, U-101 and U-751 converge on the convoy, and one of these boats, U-568, torpedoes and sinks British steamer SS Empire Heron before being driven off by British corvette HMS Gladiolus. During this next attempt at 1624 hrs the escort HMCS Columbia attacks U-553 with six depth charges, but without result. Two hours later the Canadian escort attacked with a torpedo. More depth charges followed. In the night the boat lost the convoy when it changed course. Consequently, the USN's Task Unit 4.1.4 (Captain Hewlett Thebaud), comprising 4 U.S. destroyers, is directed to proceed to SC 48's aid as the west-bound convoy it had been escorting, ON 24, is dispersed.

SS Vancouver Island 9,472 GRT, Canadian Merchantman, 15kts, ex-Weser (German) sunk in the North Atlantic at 53.37N, 025.37W, by U-558, OLtzS Günther Krech, Knights Cross, CO. There were no survivors from her crew of 65, which included 32 passengers and 8 DEMS gunners. 3 RCN DEMS gunners killed. Weser was captured 25 Sep 40 off the coast of Mexico by HMCS Prince Robert. She had been sailing independently when she was sunk. Her relatively high speed of over 15kts, made her a valuable blockade runner for the Germans, and was considered sufficient to rendered her invulnerable to submarine attack.

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October 15th, 1942 (THURSDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: The USAAF 14th FG, flying P-38s, completes its first combat mission with the 8th AF by escorting RAF Boston light bombers to France. (Skip Guidry)

Frigate HMS Byard laid down.

HMC ML 089 commissioned.

Escort carrier HMS Activity commissioned.

NETHERLANDS: During the day, four Mosquitos of RAF Bomber Command bomb the Storch diesel engine factory at Hengelo and one Mosquito bombs the port area Den Helder, all without loss.

FRANCE: During the day, 23 Douglas (A-20) Bostons of RAF Bomber Command, attempt to bomb a large German merchant ship in Le Havre docks. The intended target has moved from its berth but a 5,000 ton ship nearby is bombed instead and so badly damaged that she is later seen aground and later still seen in dry dock. No Bostons are lost. The Bostons are escorted by the two squadrons of the USAAF 14th Fighter Group, flying P-38F Lightnings from RAF Ford and RAF Tangmere, Sussex, England. This is their first combat mission with the USAAF Eighth Air Force. (Skip Guidry and Jack McKillop)

GERMANY: During the night of 15/16 October, RAF Bomber Command sends 289 aircraft, 109 Wellingtons, 74 Halifaxes, 62 Lancasters and 44 Stirlings, to bomb Cologne; 258 aircraft bomb the city. Eighteen aircraft, six Wellingtons, five Halifaxes, five Lancasters and two Stirlings, are lost, 6.2 per cent of the force. This is not a successful raid. Winds are different from those forecast and the Pathfinders have difficulty in establishing their position and marking the target sufficiently to attract the Main Force away from a large decoy fire site which received most of the bombs. Cologne reports one "Luftmine" out of seventy one 4,000 pound (1 814 kilogram) bombs carried by the bombing force), three other high-explosive bombs (out of 231) and 210 incendiary bombs (out of 68,590). Two hundred twenty sixes are damaged but only two of these receive what is classed as "serious damage;" four people are injured.

U.S.S.R.: German attacks continue to move slowly forward in the areas of the Tractor Factory and reach the Volga River just north of the main complex.

Soviet submarine "Sch-311"of the Baltic Fleet, Ladoga and Onega Flotillas is sunk by surface ASW ships at Porkalla area. (Sergey Anisimov)(69)

Moscow: The Soviet government calls for the immediate trial of Rudolf Hess and all German generals in Allied custody.

The Germans start a new offensive on Soviet positions in Stalingrad.

NEW GUINEA: The Australian 25th Brigade, 7th Division, drives the Japanese back from Templeton's crossing. Fifth Air Force A-20 Havocs and P-40s attack the Japanese south of Templeton's Crossing and at Popondetta while B-25 Mitchells bomb Salamaua and hit targets in the Owen Stanley Range and in the area around the bridge at Wairopi.

AUSTRALIA: Advisory War Council agrees that the government should send a request to the British requesting the return of the Australian 9th Division, Australian Imperial Force, from North Africa.

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October 15th, 1943 (FRIDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: British General Pownall is appointed Chief of Staff; US General Wedemeyer is appointed Deputy Chief of Staff to Admiral Mountbatten at  South East Asia Command.

HQ U.S. Army Air Forces in the United Kingdom (USAAF">USAAFUK) is activated to exercise supervision over and provide coordination between the Eighth and Ninth Air Forces in the UK. Lieutenant General Ira C Eaker is appointed Commanding General in addition to his duties as Commanding General Eighth Air Force.

HQ Ninth Air Force moves from North Africa to England and Lieutenant General Lewis H. Brereton assumes command. Although the Ninth Air Force is scheduled to provide tactical support to Allied ground forces after the Normandy invasion, the Ninth's fighters will support the Eighth Air Force in its strategic missions over Europe.

Frigate HMS Pitcairn launched.

Submarine HMS Vigorous launched.

Frigates HMS Anguilla and Helmsdale commissioned.

Minesweeper HMS Pickle commissioned.

Frigate HMS Pitcairn launched.

Submarine HMS Vigorous launched.

FRANCE: The 1.Staffel [squadron] of Fernaufklarungs-Gruppe 5 [German for Long Range Reconnaissance Group] with Ju 290A-2s and -3s joined operations over the Atlantic. (230)(Greg Kelley)

GERMANY:

U-1405 laid down.

U-369 commissioned.

BALTIC SEA: U-23 damaged TSC-486 Sovetskaja Rossija.

ITALY: British units of General Mark Clark's Fifth Army finally break German defenses and push across the Volturno river, some on pontoon bridges built by combat engineers of the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division.

     In the U.S. Fifth Army's British X Corps area, the 56th Division crosses the Volturno River, using bridges in the former U.S. VI Corps sector. The VI Corps' 3d Infantry Division takes Cisterna, but elements are being strongly opposed near Villa and Liberi. Elements of the U.S. 34th Infantry Division take Ruviano. The Germans withdraw from this area during the night of 15/16 October. On the right flank of the U.S. VI Corps, the 45th Infantry Division finishes clearing to Titerno Creek and makes contact with the 34th Infantry Division across the Volturno River to left.

     The British Eighth Army's XIII Corps pauses as the Canadian 1st Division takes Vinchiaturo and Canadian tanks support British units attacking Termoli.

The Germans begin rounding up the Jews of Rome. Prior to these arrests, the Jewish community is told by the Germans that unless it could raise 50 kilograms (110 pounds) of gold (equivalent to US$56,000) within 36 hours, 300 hostages would be taken. When it turned out the Jews could raise only 35 kilograms (77 pounds), the Chief Rabbi, Israel Zolli, asked for and received a loan from the Vatican treasury to cover the balance. The Pope approved the transaction.

XII Air Support Command and other elements of the Northwest African Tactical Air Force hit roads, railroads, bridges, junctions, railway facilities, town areas, and motor transport at or near Piedimonte, Vairano, Termoli, Petacciato, Sparanise, and Civitanova, and hit gun positions and communications in the general battle area north of the Volturno River.

     Forty seven bombers of RAF No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group attack a railroad bridge at Talamone without loss.

GREECE: Twelfth Air Force B-25s of the XII Bomber Command hit airfields at Salonika and Megalo Mikra.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA: U-616 encountered the British submarine HMS Untiring, which fired three torpedoes without success.

NEW GUINEA:  The Japanese attack Allied positions in Oro Bay. 59 Fifth Air Force P-38s and 8 P-40s intercept around 100 Japanese aircraft attacking Allied shipping in Oro Bay, New Guinea. The US fighters shoot down 26 "Val" dive bombers, a "Kate" torpedo bomber (Nakajima B5N, Navy Type 97 Carrier Attack Bomber) and 19 "Oscar" fighters (Nakajima Ki-43, Army Type 1 Fighter Hayabusa) between 0805 and 0900 hours.

At 1730 hours, P-38s and P-40s shoot down 5 "Lily" bombers (Kawasaki Ki-48, Army Type 99 Twin-engine Light Bombers) east of Finschhafen, New Guinea. 

70+ B-25s hit positions and villages from Sio to Saidor, New Guinea. 

EAST INDIES: Six B-24s bomb Boela on Ceram Island in the Moluccas Islands.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: The I Marine Amphibious Corps (I MAC) issues final orders for the invasion of the Northern Solomons. The attack force (Task Force 31 under Rear Admiral Theodore Wilkinson, Commander of the 3rd Amphibious Force), with ground forces of Lieutenant General Alexander A. Vandegrift's I MAC, will seize the Treasury Island bases on 27 October in preparation for main invasion of Bougainville Island on 1 November. In support will be carrier- based and land-based aircraft, surface forces, and submarines.

21 Thirteenth Air Force B-24s and 12 P-38s plus 17 USN F4U Corsairs attack Kahili Airfield supply and personnel areas on Bougainville Island at about 1200 hours. Six "Zekes" are claimed shot down. During the late evening B-25s bomb the airfield on Buka Island.

PACIFIC OCEAN: 0100 hours: USS Tullibee (SS-284) a transport at 24-30 N, 120-26 E. (Skip Guidry)

Admiral Halsey issues orders for the invasion of Northern Solomons by Task Force 31.

CANADA: Target towing vessels ordered - HMCS Kirkwood, Atwood, Brentwood, Eastwood, Greenwood, Inglewood, Lakewood, Oakwood and Wildwood.

Corvette HMCS Camrose completed forecastle extension refit Pictou , Nova Scotia.

Corvette HMCS Halifax completed refit Liverpool , Nova Scotia.

Submarine HMS L-27 commenced refit Sydney , Nova Scotia.

U.S.A.: The Joint Chiefs of Staff accept General Henry H. "Hap" Arnolds's proposal to split the Twelfth Air Force in the Mediterranean into two air forces; the Twelfth Air Force will become a tactical air force while the new Fifteenth Air Force will become a strategic air force.

Submarine USS TANG (SS-306) is commissioned with Lieutenant Commander Richard H. O'Kane in command. (John Nicholas)

Destroyer escort USS Coolbaugh commissioned.

Escort carrier USS Petrof Bay laid down.

Destroyer escort USS Underhill launched.

     Douglas DC-3-178, msn 1588, registered NC16008 and named "Flagship Missouri" by the U.S. airline American Airlines, crashes near Centerville, Tennessee, at 2317 hours local. This is American Flight 63 from Nashville to Memphis, Tennessee, with four crew and 11 passengers; all are killed. The aircraft struck the ground nose-first in a vertical attitude while en route and is completely demolished by the impact. The cause of the crash is the inability of the aircraft to gain or maintain altitude due to carburetor ice, propeller ice or wing ice or some combination of these icing conditions, while over terrain and in weather unsuitable for an emergency landing.

CARIBBEAN SEA: Submarine USS Dorado lost to an American patrol craft from Guantanamo Bay or possibly lost to mines from U-214. Dorado was in transit from the New London submarine base to the Panama Canal.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: A man died of illness on U-488. [Maschinenmaat Karl Bergmann].

U-371 damaged SS James Russell Lowell beyond repair in Convoy GUS-18.

U-426 sank SS Essex Lance in Convoy ONS-20.

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October 15th, 1944 (SUNDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: The Eighth Air Force flies 3 missions:

Mission 677: 754 bombers and 464 fighters are dispatched to hit industrial, oil and rail targets in the Cologne, Germany area; all but 1 force bombs by PFF methods; 7 bombers and 3 fighters are lost:

- 454 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Geron (141), Nippes (127) and Kalk (111) marshalling yards; 11 others hit the Koblenz/Lutzel marshalling yard; 4 B-17s are lost. Escort is provided by 146 P-51s.

- 385 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Eifeltor (148) and Imbert (24) marshalling yards; secondary targets are the Kalk (117) and Gereon (50) marshalling yards; other targets are Wester marshalling yard (11) and other (1); 2 B-17s are lost. Escort is provided by 150 P-51s; 2 P-51s are lost.

- 369 B-24s are dispatched to hit oil facilities at Monheim/Rhenania (64) and Reisholz (61) visually; secondary targets are Cologne/Gereon marshalling yard (185) and Dormigeon (13); targets of opportunity are Worringen (12), Cologne Airfield (12) and Limburg marshalling yard (6); a B-24 is lost. Escort is provided by 131 P-51s; a P-51 is lost. 

Mission 678A: 2 B-17s make an unsuccessful APHRODITE attack on naval installations on Heligoland Island, Germany; 23 B-17s fly a cover mission to the same targets. Escort is provided by 15 P-51s and 2 P-38s. 

Mission 679: 5 B-17s and 4 B-24s fly a night leaflet mission over the Netherlands, France and Germany.

FRANCE: In the U.S. Seventh Army's XV Corps, area the 313th Infantry Regiment of the 79th Infantry Division tries in vain to dislodge the Germans from the hill mass east of Foret de Parroy. The VI Corps opens a drive on Bruyères in the Vosges mountains, from north, west and south. The 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division, begins clearing the woods north of the town in an effort to cut the Bruyres-Brouvclieures road. The 36th Infantry Division attacks on the west with attached 442d Infantry Regiment (Nisei), which includes the 100th Battalion, recently arrived from Italy, and on south with the 143d Infantry Regiment along the road from Fays. The 3d Infantry Division begins a secret move north in preparation for the drive on St. Die. (Gene Hanson & Jack McKillop)

WESTERN EUROPE: Bad weather prevents Ninth Air Force bomber operations; fighters fly rail cutting missions and support elements of the US First, Third, Seventh, and Ninth Armies in eastern France and western Germany.

GERMANY: The US 7th Army attacks west of Epinal. Fighting continues around Aachen and in the Scheldt estuary.

In the U.S. First Army's XIX Corps area, the 116th Infantry Regiment of the 29th Infantry Division and supporting tanks from 2d Armored Division continue their efforts to close the Aachen gap with frontal attacks but by this time have gained only 1,000 yards (914 meters). A new plan of attack to speed the line-up with the VII Corps is formulated. In VII Corps area, the 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, gains most of Observatory Hill, north of Aachen, but the Germans counterattack sharply and recover positions in the northern part; since the 16th Infantry Regiment line near Eilendorf is under strong German pressure, the 1st Infantry Division is ordered to suspend the Aachen offensive temporarily. The 9th Infantry Division’s drive on Schmidt ends far short of the objective; both sides have suffered heavy casualties; 39th Infantry Regiment recovers all ground lost recently and still holds Wittscheidt and Germeter.

     During the day, 18 RAF Lancasters attack the Langscheid dam at the Sorpe reservoir, the second most important supply of water for the Ruhr and one of the targets for the original Dams Raid by No 617 Squadron in 1943. Sixteen aircraft drop 12,000 pound (5 443 kilogram) Tallboy bombs or other bombs from 15,000 feet (4 572 meters) and hits are seen on the face of the earth dam but no breach is made. No aircraft lost.

In a massive display of Allied air superiority, British and American bombers have this weekend battered the Ruhr. Last night the RAF attacked Duisburg in what the air ministry described as its biggest single night operation. The attacks yesterday and today involved 1,013 RAF Lancasters and Halifaxes plus 1,251 USAAF Flying Fortresses and Liberators. Cologne and the Sorpe dam were also hit.

Berlin: Rommel's death, from "war wounds" is announced.

The German light cruiser LEIPZIG was proceeding from Gotenhafen to Swinemunde to load a cargo of mines destined to counter a supposed Allied landing in the Skaggerak. Simultaneously the German heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen was steaming towards Gotenhafen to rearm after bombardment operations against Russian forces. At 2005, 2.5 miles east of the Hela Peninsula, in dark and foggy conditions, Prinz Eugen rammed LEIPZIG amidships between the bridge superstructure and the funnel, nearly cutting her in half.

Prinz Eugen was to return to service after emergency repairs on 19 November. The heavily damaged LEIPZIG was never fully repaired. She remained in dockyard hands until January 1945 when it was decided to use her as floating in the defence of Gotenhafen. After action against the Russians in March 1945, she escaped to surrender in Denmark powered only by her diesels. (Ric Pelvin)

U-777 (Type VIIC) is sunk at 2002hrs near Wilhelmshaven, at position 53.51N, 08.10E, by British bombs during an air raid. (Alex Gordon)

FINLAND: Petsamo falls to the Russian 14th Army, important as it contains a major nickel production centre. Nickel is a prime ingredient in armour plate.

U-481 sank Finnish freighters Dan, Endla and Maria.

LATVIA: The Russian 2nd and 3rd Baltic Fronts capture Riga.

HUNGARY: Budapest: Admiral Horthy, the Hungarian regent, has been seized by the Germans a few hours after making a broadcast announcing that he was going to ask for an armistice.

Horthy's overthrow, which involved the kidnapping of his son, was carried out in Operation Mickey Mouse by the SS men Otto "Scarface" Skorzeny and Erich von dem Bach-Zelewski. The operation to kidnap Horthy's son, Miklos, by a team led by Skorzeny's second in command, Adrian von Foelersam is intended to produce a bargaining chip in negotiations with the reluctant Admiral. It was Skorzeny who rescued Mussolini and Zelewski who destroyed Warsaw. The new premier is "acting regent" Major Ferenc Szalasi, the leader of the fascist Arrow Cross, who has pledged to "go on fighting alongside Germany and Japan."

Under his regime, the Jews of Budapest suffer a reign of terror that lasts until the liberation of the city in February 1945. Szalasi fled with the retreating German forces, but is captured by the Americans, who extradite him to Hungary in October 1945. Found guilty by a People's Tribunal of war crimes and crimes against the people, he is executed on 12 March 1946. Horthy is also captured in Bavaira by the Americans at the end of the war and is held in protective custody until the end of 1945, when he is released. He spends the rest of his life in Portugal until his death in 1956.

The operations is followed up today by Operation "Panzerfaust", the near bloodless seizure of Budapest's Government quarter, the Burgberg (Castle Hill) by Skorzeny and elements of the 600.SS-Fallschirmjaeger-Bataillon, as well as Tiger II's of the Heer's schwere Pz.Abt.503. (Russell Folsom)

ARCTIC OCEAN: U-365 set a weather reporting group ashore in South Spitsbergen in the Arctic.

ITALY: Vinchiaturo falls to Canadian units of the British 8th Army.

The US 5th Army has pushed north of the Volturno against stiff German resistance. The Germans are beginning to fall back to the Barbara line.

The Polish 2nd Division captures Bambettola.

In the U.S. Fifth Army area, the South African 6th Armoured Division comes up abreast the U.S. II Corps to their right; with the occupation of the heights northeast of Grizzana, they gains control of lateral Highway 6424. In the U.S. II Corps' 1st Armored Division sector, the Germans continue to defend Monterumici, although this position is being outflanked.

     In the British Eighth Army area, V Corps takes Mt. delle Vacche and Mt. Burratini without opposition but is halted short of Mt. Reale and Mt. Romano. In the Canadian I Corps area, Gambettola falls to the New Zealand 2d Division without a fight.

Twelfth Air Force B-25s bomb bridges in the western Po Valley; B-26s hit bridges in the eastern part of the Valley, and have excellent success bombing a railway fill at Ossenigo, trapping 300+ railway cars north of the target; fighters and fighter-bombers concentrate their efforts toward support of ground forces along a wide front in the mountains south of Bologna Bad weather limits strategic operations by the Fifteenth Air Force to weather reconnaissance missions.

     During the night of 15/16 October, RAF bombers of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group attack two targets: 57 hit the marshalling yard at Opicina while 13 attack a pontoon bridge at San Benedetto.

YUGOSLAVIA: During the night of 15/16 October, six RAF bombers of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group flies supplies to partisans.

GREECE: After a delay while mines are being cleared, Force 140, consisting of the British III Corps and Greek troops, all commanded by Lieutenant General Sir Ronald Scobie, General Officer Commanding British Troops in Greece, arrives off Piraeus in the evening and goes ashore. General Scobie, upon landing, sets up his headquarters in Athens and orders retreating Germans pursued by land and harassed by air.

CEYLON: British Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, Supreme Allied Commander, South East Asia Command, departs Kandy for Cairo, Egypt, to meet British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

BURMA: The Northern Combat Area Command (NCAC) opens an offensive to clear north Burma and open the supply route to China (Operation CAPITAL), pushing southward from Myitkyina toward a line Katha- Shwegu-Bhamo almost unopposed. The British 36th Division, which has been moving south in the Burma Railway corridor during the monsoon season, continues their drive with the 29th Brigade from the Namma area and is followed by the Chinese 50th Division. In the center, the Chinese 22d Division moves southeast from the Kamaing area in region between the railroad corridor and the Myitkyina-Bhamo road in an effort to secure a bridgehead over the Irrawaddy River at Shwegu. The Chinese 38th Division attacks on the eastern flank to secure the Bhamo-Mansi area. In addition to the Chinese New Sixth and New First Armies, NCAC now has under its command the Chinese 1st Separate Regiment, the U.S. 475th Infantry Regiment (containing Operation GALAHAD survivors) and the U.S. 124th Cavalry Regiment (a Texas National Guard unit), which is to be combined into the 5332d Brig (Provisional), later called Task Force MARS, with the strength of about a division.

40 Tenth Air Force P-47 Thunderbolts attack positions in the Mohnyin area and at Man Naung, supply concentrations at Kyungyi, railroad targets in the Mawhun area, ammunition stores at Manwing, and buildings near Muse; 12 B-25s hit the town of Onbauk, storage facilities at Indaw, and vicinity of Thabeikkyin. Transport operations in the CBI continue on a large scale.

CHINA: The Fourteenth Air Force sends 28 B-24s, 33 P-51 Mustangs, and 18 P-40s to attack White Cloud Airfield in Canton and shipping in the Hong Kong area; 2 B-24s bomb Amoy; and 6 fighter-bombers hit targets of opportunity near Mangshih and Tajungchiang.  

JAPAN: 4 Eleventh Air Force B-25s on armed reconnaissance over Paramushiru Island, Kurile Islands, turn back when the flight drifts off course; a B-24 strafes a freighter off Shimushiru Island.

COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: Various Japanese positions north of Manila are attacked with airstrikes from US TF 38.

WESTERN PACIFIC: Task Group 30.3 (Rear Admiral Laurance T. DuBose) is formed to cover the retirement of the crippled heavy cruiser USS Canberra (CA-70) and light cruiser USS Houston (CL-81); an augmented Task Group 38.1 (Vice Admiral John S. McCain) provides cover.

Task Groups 38.2 (Rear Admiral Gerald F. Bogan) and TG 38.3 (Rear Admiral Frederick C. Sherman) take up position to waylay Japanese fleet units that might try to attack the damaged ships. 

TG 38.4 (Rear Admiral Ralph E. Davison), meanwhile, attacks Japanese installations near Manila. Between 1015 and 1100 hours, F6F Hellcat pilots shoot down 47 Japanese fighters. The aircraft carrier USS Franklin (CV-13) is attacked by 3 enemy aircraft, one of which scores with a bomb that  hits the after outboard corner of the deck edge elevator, killing 3 and wounding 22.

Tokyo Rose announces the destruction of Admiral Halsey's Task Force 38 and Emperor Hirohito declares a victory holiday. A tongue-in-cheek Halsey message says all his sunken ships have been salvaged and are retiring toward the enemy.

0400 hours: Submarine USS Tambor (SS-198) sinks a cargo ship at 29-43 N,143-09 E. (Skip Guidry)

Dutch submarine HNMS Zwaardvisch sinks a Japanese oceanographic research vessel by gunfire about 78 nautical miles (144 kilometers) northwest of Surabaya, Java, Netherlands East Indies, in position 06.30S, 111.35E.

VOLCANO ISLANDS: 27 Seventh Air Force B-24s from Saipan strike fuel storage, AA positions, and installations at the airfield on Iwo Jima; 1 other B-24 bombs the airfield at Pagan Island in the Mariana Islands.  (John Nicholas and Jack McKillop)

WAKE ISLAND: 2 B-24s from the Marshall Islands bomb Wake Island during the night of 15/16 October.

PALAU ISLANDS, PELELIU: The battered 1st Marine Division is withdrawn from the battle for Peleliu's "Bloody Nose Ridge." The job will be finished by GIs of the 81st Infantry Division. Angaur Island, the first plane lands on Angaur Airfield.

EAST INDIES: Far East Air Forces A-20 Havocs again attack airfields and oil storage on Ceram Island; P-38s carry out a shipping sweep over the Flores Island area in the Lesser Sunda Islands and on Halmahera Island bomb the Pitoe and Kaoe areas; P-38s bomb Amahai Airfield on Ceram Island while bombers on armed reconnaissance hit nearby targets of opportunity.

NEW GUINEA: USAAF Fifth Air Force P-47s attack Sagan Airfield

A Dutch submarine sinks a Japanese oceanographic research vessel off Surabaya, Java. The ship was the 200-ton oceanographic research vessel Kaiyo No. 2; there were actually six of these vessels all with the name Kaiyo and the suffix No. 1 through No. 6. The ships were sometimes called Kaiyo Maru No. n.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: The USN's Special Air Task Force (STAG 1) operations continue as four Interstate TDRs glide bombs are launched against Matupi Island, Birmarck Archipelago, as part of coordinated attack by other Green Island-based USMC PBJ Mitchells, F4U Corsairs and SBD Dauntlesses against Simpson Harbor Rabaul, New Britain Island. Poor picture reception and pilot error results in none of the TDRs hitting their targets.

U.S.A.: During WW II, the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) produced numerous documents, most commonly known are the Intelligence Bulletins. The Military Intelligence Special Series continues with "Japanese Field Artillery." (William L. Howard)

Destroyer escort USS George M Campbell launched.

Heavy cruiser USS Macon launched.

GREENLAND: USCGC Eastwind, supported by Southwind, captured the German trawler Externsteine in East Greenland, 800 miles south of North Pole off Shannon Island, after destroying Nazi radio station on Little Koldewey Island. Eastwind's crew unofficially christens the captured auxiliary "Eastbreeze." Both icebreakers, however, are damaged by pack ice.  

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October 15th, 1945 (MONDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: Havildar Umrao Singh of the Indian Army is awarded the Victoria Cross from HM King George VI at Buckingham Palace. This is for his actions of December 16, 1944. (Daniel Ross)

The House of Commons votes to extend the British government's wartime emergency powers for five years in an effort to recover from the cancellation of Lend-Lease support. The British economy relies heavily on the transfusion of American aid and the British have to maintain austere economic measures to prevent financial collapse.

FRANCE: Pierre Laval, former Premier of the Vichy government is executed. 

The charge is "treason" or "plotting against the security of the state" or "conducting intelligence with the enemy" (depending on your source). Prior to his execution, he had attempted suicide with poison. The US news magazine Time had named him "Man of the Year" in 1931.

Fleeing France, ahead of the advancing Allied Armies, for Germany, the Nazis assisted him in flying to Spain. Franco had Laval arrested and sent to Austria, where US forces arrested him. He was turned over to the new French government in July, 1945. (CJ Martin)

CANADA: Frigate HMCS Montreal paid off Halifax , Nova Scotia.

1946   (TUESDAY) 

GERMANY: Hermann Göring, Commander in Chief of the Luftwaffe and one of Hitler's most loyal supporters, commits suicide swallowing a cyanide tablet he has hidden from his guards before he is scheduled to be executed.

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