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1933   (SATURDAY)

GERMANY: The government gives notice of withdrawal from the League of Nations.

1934   (SUNDAY)

UNITED STATES: A severe windstorm lashed the northern Pacific coast. In Washington State, the storm claimed the lives of 22 persons, and caused US$1.7 million damage, mostly to timber. Winds, gusting to 87 miles per hour (140 kilometers per hour) at North Head Washington, produced waves twenty feet (6,1 meters) high.

1935   (MONDAY)

GERMANY: Germany ceases to be a Member of the League of Nations.

1937   (THURSDAY)

SPAIN: In the Civil War, Nationalist forces finally succeed in capturing Gijon and Oviedo, victories which break Republican resistance in the Asturias Region of northwestern Spain and complete their conquest of the area.

UNITED STATES: The motion picture "The Awful Truth" is released today. This romantic comedy, based on a play by Arthur Richman, is directed by Leo McCarey and stars Irene Dunne, Cary Grant and Ralph Bellamy. The plot has Dunne and Grant divorcing and doing their best to ruin each other's plans for remarriage. The film is nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Director, Best Picture, Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Bellamy), Best Actress in a Leading Role (Dunne); McCarey wins for Best Director. This film is ranked Number 68 of the American Film Institute's list of "The 100 Funniest American Films" and Number 77 on the list of bThe 100 Greatest American Love Stories."

1938   (FRIDAY)

CHINA: The Japanese army advances northward, seizing Guangzhou (Canton) almost without a struggle. The Japanese had bombed the city by air for several months and most of the inhabitants have already fled. The capture of Guangzhou allows the Japanese to cut off the Guangzhou-Hankou Railway, which is the most important rail line for the transportation of foreign military imports into the interior.

CZECHOSLOVAKIA: The Czecho-Slovak government terminates its alliance with the Soviet Union, under German government pressure.

October 21st, 1939 (SATURDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: Competitive soccer returns with a regional competition. The country is divided into 8 regions. The normal rules apply, but the plan does not include win/draw bonuses for players. Professionals in England will receive no more than 30 shillings for each match, paid to 11 men and one reserve.

The first day of the regional football leagues opens with many more goals as the players enjoy the games. The  number of spectators is disappointing at only 170,000 throughout the country.

The Gloster factory begins production of the Hawker Hurricane, as part of the sub-contracting of the RAFs major fighter aircraft. (22)

NETHERLANDS: Submarine HNLMS O-21 launched.

NORWAY: U.S. freighter SS City of Flint, under prize crew from German armoured ship Deutschland, puts in to Tromsø¸ for water. The Norwegian government, however, orders the ship to leave and she sails for Soviet waters.

U.S.S.R.: The Finnish negotiator Juho Paasikivi, accompanied by Finance Minister Väinö Tanner, return to Moscow.

GIBRALTAR: U.S. freighter SS Meanticut is detained by British authorities and ordered to proceed to Oran, Algeria, to discharge certain cargo earmarked for delivery to Italy.

CANADA: Ammunition lighter HMC NAD 01 ordered from Halifax Shipyards. Completed, 21 Mar 40 renamed HMC HC 82, lost 18 Jul 45 Bedford Basin explosion.

ATLANTIC OCEAN:

U-15 sank SS Orsa.

U-19 sank SS Capitaine Edmond Laborie and SS Deodata.

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October 21st, 1940 (MONDAY)

Battle of Britain:

Liverpool: The city suffers its 200th air raid.

BATTLE OF BRITAIN: The weather is mainly cloudy with fog and intermittent rain and poor visibility. During the day considerable activity by single aircraft and small formations is noticeable over widespread areas. London boroughs are bombed, resulting in a few casualties and damage to property. Incidents are reported in the following counties: Lancashire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Sussex and Kent. The chief objectives are aerodromes, but it is also noticeable that the Germans indulged in a certain amount of promiscuous machine-gunning without any apparent damage or casualties; four incidents are reported, at 0800 hours in an area round Bala Junction, at 1100 hours at an Open Air School at Blackburn, at 1130 hours against workers in a field at Iden and at 1345 hours on a convoy on the Tillshead to Lavington Road.. The night attack on London is not so intense as of late, but the attack on Coventry is very severe and fires and damage is extensive.

RED SEA: Convoy BN7 is attacked by Italian destroyers from Massawa. The escorts, including New Zealand cruiser HMS Leander and the destroyer HMS Kimberley, drive destroyer 'Francesco Nullo' ashore with their gunfire.

Shortly after dawn, the NULLO was overtaken by the KIMBERLY and two other vessels just outside Massawa. The NULLO and the KIMBERLY had at it again, this time engaging in a one-hour gun battle in which the handicapped Italian destroyer came out much the worse. The NULLO was left dead in the water and sinking, but had meanwhile managed to work its way in under the protection of Harmil Island in the Massawa channel. Here the Italians had established a naval 76-mm battery (the smaller of the two types of shore-based antiaircraft guns generally employed by the Italian Navy, both capable of a dual-purpose role). As the KIMBERLY closed in to finish off its Italian adversary with a torpedo, the gunners on Harmil Island engaged it, scoring a hit which temporarily stopped the British destroyer (although it had to be towed back to Port Sudan by its companion vessels, the damage to the British ship proved to be minor). While the British departed, the NULLO sank. The destroyer's captain, Lt-Commander Borsini, chose to go down with his ship. When his faithful orderly, seaman Ciaravolo, saw his commander still on the bridge, he reportedly jumped out of the lifeboat he was in and swam back to the NULLO to share his captain's fate. (Mike Yaklich)

CANADA: Corvette HMCS Jonquil commissioned.

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October 21st, 1941 (TUESDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: Sloop HMS Woodcock laid down.

FRANCE: Nantes: Fifty hostages were shot here this morning - in reprisal for the killing of Lt-Col Karl Holz, the local German commander. He was shot six times as he walked past the cathedral yesterday morning, two of the bullets hitting his neck.

Now the Vichy authorities have announced that, "considering the gravity of the crime", 50 more hostages will be shot unless the killers are found by tomorrow. The statement coincides with a visit to occupied France by Admiral Darlan, the Vichy vice-premier.

General Stülpnagel, commander of the German occupation forces, described the killers as "cowardly criminals, paid for by England and Moscow". So far - after an enthusiastic round-up which netted the prefect of Loire, the commandant of the Nantes gendarmerie and three perfectly innocent policemen - they have not been found.

Since the Germans invaded the USSR and the French Communist Party roused itself from a policy of "masterful inactivity", there has been a steady increase in anti-German terrorism, though the majority of the French have had no strong feelings either way. What are slowly changing their attitudes are the German and Vichy counter-measures. So far 131 Frenchmen have been executed as hostages; no one can tell in which direction opinion will go. 

GERMANY:

U-163, U-253 commissioned.

U-271, U-418, U-713 laid down.

YUGOSLAVIA: Kragujevac: Germans and local fascist militiamen massacre 2,300 Serbs in reprisal for recent partisan attacks.

U.S.S.R.: In Odessa, Ukraine, a delayed-action bomb blows up Major General Ion Glogojanu, commander of the Romanian 10th Division, and 51 of his staff. (This was referred to in detail in Mike Yaklich's additional post for October 16th)

At Kharakov, the workers at the massive Kramatorsk heavy-machine factory finish packing the last of their factory onto rail cars for the journey east. The men unable to find places on the train walk 20 miles (32 kilometers) to the nearest railhead to find transport there. The Germans are seven miles (11 kilometers) behind them.

     In the Ukraine, units of the German Sixth Army capture Stalino in the industrial Donets Basin.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA: Insect class gunboat HMS Gnat is torpedoed by U-79 North of Bardia at 32 08N 25 22E. She loses all power and but is eventually towed back to Alexandria by destroyer HMS Griffin. Her hull is beached, but repair (consideration being given to welding Cricket’s bow to Gnat’s stern) is not possible, so she was paid off on 7 December 1941.

GNAT owed her survival to the fact that she was hit well forward under the port anchor. Her bows and some 30 feet of starboard side plating were blown off. Two more torpedoes were fired, one passing under the shallow draft vessel, bumping her as it went. The other missed down the starboard side.

Everything forward of No 18 bulkhead had gone but the bulk head, although bulging, held. She was towed back to Alexandria stern first by the destroyer GRIFFIN initially and then the tug ST MONANCE.

There were no casualties.

(Alex Gordon and Richard Pelvin)(108 and 124)

JAPAN: The Foreign Office in Tokyo sends the following message to the Japanese Embassy in Washington, D.C.: "The new cabinet differs in no way from the former one in its sincere desire to adjust Japanese-United States relations on a fair basis. Our country has said practically all she can say in the way of expressing of opinions and setting forth our stands. We feel that we have now reached a point where no further positive action can be taken by us except to urge the United States to reconsider her views. We urge, therefore, that, choosing an opportune moment, either you or Wakasugi let it be known to the United States by indirection that our country is not in a position to spend much more time discussing this matter. Please continue the talks, emphasizing our desire for a formal United States counter-proposal to our proposal of 25(?) September."

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS: The following message is sent from the Japanese representative in Davao, Mindanao Island, to Tokyo: "As an air base for central Mindanao district, 300 men are being managed by Americans, and the ground is now being leveled. An under ground hangar and under ground oil tanks are planned; however, the material for this is delayed so that building on this is not progressing as planned. Already several times a week planes are flying here, and it seems they are expecting large heavy bomber planes too, very soon."

CANADA:

Corvette HMCS The Pas commissioned.

Corvette HMCS Edmunston commissioned Esquimalt BC

U.S.A.: In tests with MAD (Magnetic Airborne Detector) equipment, a PBY Catalina from NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island, locates the USN submarine USS S-48. The tests are carried out in cooperation with the National Defense Research Committee.

Escort carrier USS Copahee launched.

Submarine USS Haddock launched.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-82 sank SS Treverbyn and SS Serbino in Convoy SL-89.

After damaging the British Armed merchant cruiser HMS Aurania in Convoy SL-89, U-123 took one seaman of this ship onboard as a prisoner. In the evening the boat was attacked by a British Sunderland aircraft with two bombs. U-123 suffered slight damage.

While escorting a convoy from Gibralter to the U.K., the destroyer HMS Cossack (G 03) is hit by a torpedo from the German submarine U-563. The explosion blows off the bow and forward section of the ship killing 159 officers and ratings. Still afloat, the vessel is taken in tow stern first by a tug from Gibralter but bad weather causes the tow to be slipped and the Cossack sinks soon after about 229 nautical miles (425 kilometers) west of Gibraltar in position 35.56N, 10.04W. Sn 35.56N, 10.04W. Some survivors are  rescued by the destroyer HMS Legion (G 74) and the corvette HMS Carnation (K 00) and taken to Leith, Scotland.

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October 21st, 1942 (WEDNESDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: Trawler HMS Campobello completed and loaned to RCN.

FRANCE: The USAAF Eighth Air Force flies Mission 15 against two targets; three B-17 Flying Fortresses are lost: 66 B-17s and 24 B-24 Liberators are dispatched to hit the U-boat pens at Lorient but clouds prevent all but 15 B-17s from bombing from 17,500 feet (5 334 meters), 5,000 to 10,000 feet (1 524 to 3 048 meters) lower than usual; 36 Luftwaffe Fw 190s intercept and shoot down three B-17s. The second mission consisting of eight of 17 B-17s bomb Cherbourg Airfield; they claim 10-4-3 aircraft without loss.

NETHERLANDS: During the day, three RAF Bomber Command Mosquitos are dispatched to Germany but only two are able to bomb targets, the Stork diesel engine factory at Hengelo and the airfield at Leeuwarden. No losses.

     During the night of 21/22 October, RAF Bomber Command dispatches seven Stirlings and seven Wellingtons to lay mines off Denmark and in the Frisian Islands of the Netherlands but the Wellingtons are recalled. Six of the seven Stirlings lay their mines in the Frisian Islands with the loss of one aircraft.

GERMANY:

U-681, U-855 laid down.

U-362, U-536, U-841 launched.

U-273, U-306, U-418, U-667 commissioned.

POLAND: After a seven-day action, 20,000 Jews have been sent from the Piotrkow ghetto to Treblinka for gassing. Treblinka, established in 1941 as a forced labor camp for those accused of crimes by the occupation authorities, is located 50 miles (80 kilometers) northeast of Warsaw, Poland.

U.S.S.R.: Baltic Fleet, Ladoga and Onega Flotillas, submarines. "S-7" torpedoed and sunk by Finnish submarine Vesihiisi (kapteeniluutnantti Olavi Aittola), close to Sederarm lighthouse, at Aland Sea. The Russian surfaces in the open sea at 1926 hours and is located by the Finn. only 8000 meters away. A single torpedo is fired from 2,000 meters hitting the Soviet boat in the stern sinking it. Only the four men standing on the bridge, including the captain survive and made PoW. (Sergey Anisimov and Mikko Härmeinen)(69)

A combined German, Finnish and Italian force launches an unsuccessful attack on Suho Island on Lake Ladoga to break the Soviet supply route to Leningrad.

German street fighters make gains in the Red October area of Stalingrad and over the next two days more than half of the Barrikady Factory and housing project in the north are taken in a series of vicious attacks.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA: German submarine U-431 is sunk about 75 nautical miles (139 kilometers) east of Cartagena, Spain, by depth charges from an RAF Wellington Mk. XIV, aircraft of No. 179 Squadron based at Gibraltar; all 53 crewmen are lost.

ALGERIA: In advance of the Allied North African landings, U.S. Major General Mark W. Clark, Deputy Commander in Chief Allied Expeditionary Force; Brigadier General Lyman M. Lemnitzer, Assistant Chief of Staff to Supreme Allied Commander Mediterranean; two additional Army officers; and Navy Captain Jerauld Wright are landed at Cherchel, about 49 miles (79 kilometers) west of Algiers, from British submarine HMS/M Seraph (P 219) to meet with a French military delegation to ascertain French attitudes toward impending Allied operations. Among issues discussed is the French request for an American submarine to evacuate General Henri-Honeré Giraud, a POW in occupied France. Since none is available for that mission, a British submarine under temporary U.S. command will be substituted. The meeting comes to an abrupt halt after a servant tips off police who happen to belong to the resistance. Clark€'s party gets a good soaking when their boat capsizes on return to HMS/M Seraph. (Jack McKillop & Dave Shirlaw)

LIBYA: US Army, Middle East Air Force B-24 Liberators dispatched against shipping at Bengasi fail to locate target because of bad weather; during the return flight, several B-24s bomb tent areas along the coast and also hit landing grounds; B-25 Mitchells, cooperating with the RAF, bomb a landing ground and tent area.

CHINA: B-24 Liberators of the USAAF">USAAF Tenth Air Force's India Air Task Force (IATF) stage through Chengtu to bomb coal mines at Lin-hsi; the plan is to blast nearby power stations and pumping facilities and flood the mines; the attack fails to flood the mines but inflicts considerable damage to the target area; this marks the first use of heavy bombers in China and the first USAAF">USAAF strike north of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers.

NEW GUINEA: Along the Kokoda Track a slow Australian advance encounters strong Japanese positions at Templetons Crossing. Seven days of attacks follow. (William L. Howard)

A 50-man patrol of Cannon Company, 126th Infantry, U.S. 32d Infantry Division, sets out from Jaure for the Kumusi River Valley, where it subsequently establishes a defence line and is joined by Captain Alfred Medendorp’s main group (Company E, 126th Infantry Regiment, Antitank and Cannon Companies and native carriers), the entire force being called the Wairopi Patrol.

     The Australians maintain pressure on the Japanese along the Kokoda Track, slowly gaining ground in flanking attacks. The 16th Brigade advances and finds that the Japanese have abandoned the positions they held yesterday.

     Australian General Thomas Blamey, Commander in Chief Allied Land Forces Southwest Pacific Area and Commander in Chief Australian Military Force, sends a message to Major General Arthur Allen, General Officer Commanding 7th Australian Division, stating, "You should consider acting with greater boldness...General MacArthur (considers) that progress on the trail is not repeat not satisfactory. The tactical handling of our troops in my opinion is faulty." General Allen responds, "I feel that the difficulty of operations in this country are still not fully realised....the track between Alola and Myola is the roughest and most precipitous throughout the complete route."

SOLOMON ISLANDS: The Japanese 11th Air Fleet at Rabaul begins its attacks on Guadalcanal in support of the upcoming offensive. Nine "Betty" bombers (Mitsubishi G4M, Navy Type 1 Attack Bombers), escorted by 25 "Zeke" fighters (Mitsubishi A6M, Navy Type 0 Carrier Fighters) strike Henderson Field. USMC and USN F4F Wildcat pilots shoot down six "Zekes;" two F4Fs are lost.

The Japanese army is supported by four battleships and four aircraft carriers, and numbers 20,000 soldiers. The Japanese coastal force are supported by tanks and heavy artillery, but fail to cross the Mataniku river. They pull back after losing a tank to U.S. fire.

On Guadalcanal, the IJA 2nd Division is advancing towards the point south of Henderson Field for their attack. They have been marching for 6 days and are heavily engaged by the jungle. Due to their lack of progress, the attack scheduled for tomorrow night is postponed one day.

The 8th US Marines land.

PACIFIC OCEAN: 

Submarine USS Gudgeon (SS-211) sinks an armed transport at 03-30 S, 150-30 E, south of Kavieng.

0000 hours: Submarine USS Greenling (SS-213) sinks a sampan at 39-37 N, 142-45 E.

1400 hours: Submarine  USS Guardfish (SS-217) sinks a cargo ship at 27-25 N, 123-05 E. 

1400 hours: USS Guardfish (SS-217) sinks a cargo ship at 27-20 N,123-42 E. (Skip Guidry)

The Japanese aircraft carrier HIJMS Hiyo is damaged by an engine room fire after departing Truk in the Caroline Islands and thus cannot participate in the Battle of Santa Cruz on 26 October.

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: USAAF Fifth Air Force B-25 Mitchells hit Luscan Harbor on the south coast of New Britain Island.

CANADA:

Naval college HMCS Royal Roads commissioned Esquimalt, British Columbia.

Corvette HMCS Weyburn Oerlikon fitting completed, to Mediterranean escort duty.

U.S.A.: Admiral Ernest J. King, Chief of Naval Operations and Commander in Chief United States Fleet, informs Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Commander of the Pacific Ocean Area and Commander of the Pacific Fleet, that the Joint Chiefs of Staff have agreed to strengthen air forces in South Pacific by 1 January 1943.

The motion picture "For Me and My Gal" opens at the Astor Theater in New York City. Directed by Busby Berkeley, this romantic musical stars Judy Garland, George Murphy, Gene Kelly, Ben Blue, Horace (Stephan) McNally and Keenan Wynn.

Minesweeper USS Bond launched.

Destroyer escort USS Edward C Daly launched.

Minesweeper USS Seer commissioned.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: In the Bay of Biscay, the British submarine HMS Graph (the former German U-boat U-570) fired a four-torpedo fan at U-333, but all torpedoes missed.

In the North Sea, the 3,974 ton cargo/passenger ship SS Palatia departs Kristiansand, Norway, today. On board are 999 Russian POWs and 135 ships crew and guards, a total of 1,134 men. About an hour after sailing, the ship is torpedoed by a Hampden Mk. I torpedo bomber from No. 489 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force, based at Wick, Caithness, Scotland. The Palatia sink near the Sangnvaar Lighthouse, with the loss of 954 men.

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October 21st, 1943 (THURSDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: Admiral Pound is dead. He had resigned as British First Sea Lord on October 4. Admiral Sir John Cunningham succeeds Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham in command of Royal Navy units in the Mediterranean.

FRANCE: Bad weather causes 72 B-26 USAAF Ninth Air Force Marauders sent to bomb Fauville Airfield at Evreux to abort the mission.

GERMANY: U-999, U-1194 commissioned.

U-101 stricken at Neustadt. Scuttled there on 3 May 1945. Wreck broken up,

During the night of 21/22 October, RAF Bomber Command dispatches 11 Mosquitos: five bomb Emden, three bomb the Bruderich steelworks at Düsseldorf and one each bomb Aachen and Dortmund. There are no loses.

YUGOSLAVIA: USAAF Twelfth Air Force P-38 Lightnings bomb the marshalling yard at Skoplje and vessels along Dalmatian coast are attacked by Northwest African Tactical Air Force bombers.

ITALY: USAAF Twelfth Air Force bombers attack three marshalling yards (M/Ys): 39 B-24 Liberators bomb the M/Y at Orvieto, 32 B-17 Flying Fortresses hit the M/Y at Terni, and 28 B-17s attack the M/Y at Albini; B-26 Marauders and B-25 Mitchells bomb bridges at Montalto di Castro and northwest of Acquapendente and the railroad at Orbetello; P-38 Lightnings bomb a radar station at; RAF and US Northwest African Tactical Air Force light and medium bombers concentrate on Cassino, hitting the town, a bivouac area nearby, and railroad to the south; and XII Air Support Command fighters and fighter-bombers patrol the Naples area and attack numerous roads, railroads, bridges, junctions, trucks, gun emplacements, and other targets in the battle area.

     During the night of 21/22 October, 39 RAF bombers of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group bomb the Furbara Airfield without loss.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA: U-431 (Type VIIC) is sunk in the Mediterranean off the coast of Algiers at position 37.23N, 00.35E, by depth charges from a British Wellington aircraft (Sqdn. 179/Z) 52 dead (all crew lost). (Alex Gordon)

CHINA: Six USAAF Fourteenth Air Force P-40s attack the barracks area at Kunlong.

BURMA: Six USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-24 Liberators bomb Nawlang; the barracks area is blasted by at least three direct hits.

D’ENTRECASTEAUX ISLANDS: Headquarters of the ALAMO Force (the code for the U.S. Sixth Army while operating as a special ground task force directly under GHQ, Southwest Pacific Area) moves from Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea, to Goodenough 1sland.

NEW GUINEA: In the Finschhafen area of Northeast New Guinea, the Japanese again attack Australian troops but the intensity of the assault is diminished and by the end of the day it appears that the Australians are winning.

     In Northeast New Guinea, 50+ B-24 Liberators bomb positions at Sattelberg and 19 B-25 Mitchells follow with a low-level strike while other B-25s carry out a sweep along the Bogadjim road.

PACIFIC OCEAN: Aboard the aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill (CV-17): "We got underway today from Pearl Harbor as a unit of Task Group 53.3 heading for Espiritu Santo." (Glen Boren)

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: USAAF Fifth Air Force P-40s bomb Gasmata Airfield on New Britain Island and attack two light cruisers off New Ireland Island, damaging one of them.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: Twelve USAAF Thirteenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells, with an escort of 36 fighters, and three USN PV-1 Venturas attack Kara Airfield in southern Bougainville Island. The runway and several buildings suffer direct hits.

CANADA: Minesweeper HMCS Chedabucta (J 168) collides with the cable ship SS Lord Kelvin in the Gulf of St. Lawrence at 48 14N 69 16W, about 32 nautical miles (59 kilometres) west-southwest of Rimouski, Quebec. This collision is due to an officers' lack of skills and a moment's confusion on the part of the crew; one crewmen is lost. The U.S. Coast Guard buoy tender USCGC Buttonwood (WAGL-306) tows Chedabucto towards Ile du Bic, Quebec. She survives the collision. but after survey is declared to be a constructive total loss. (Alex Gordon)(108)

Frigate HMCS Prince Rupert arrived Halifax from Esquimalt, British Columbia.

U.S.A.:

Submarines USS Bugara and Bullhead laid down.

Destroyer escorts USS Rinehart and Roche laid down.

Destroyer USS Stephen Potter commissioned.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: While serving as a Flak boat U-271 was attacked by two Avengers from USS Core and one man from its crew died.

U-68 sank ASW trawler HMS Orfasy.

Standing out of New York Harbor, the USN destroyer USS Murphy (DD-603) is struck on the portside between the bridge and forward stack by U.S. tanker SS Bulkoil 265 miles (491 kilometers) east-southeast of Ambrose Lightship, New York. The forward half of the ship sheared off and slowly sank, taking 38 officers and men with it. The after section is kept afloat and is towed into New York Navy Yard where, following a seven--month repair job and replacement of the entire bow, the veteran warship rejoins the fleet.

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October 21st, 1944 (SATURDAY)

NORTH SEA: The German patrol boat F 631 attacked U-245 in the North Sea by error.

WESTERN EUROPE: Bad weather grounds USAAF Ninth Air Force bombers. Fighters fly armed reconnaissance and attack railroads in western Germany and support elements of the U.S. Third and Seventh Armies in eastern France and western Germany.

NETHERLANDS: During the day, 75 RAF Bomber Command Lancasters carry out an accurate visual bombing of a coastal battery at Flushing; one Lancaster is lost.

FRANCE: U.S. Lieutenant General Omar Bradley, Commanding General 12th Army Group, orders the U.S. Ninth, First, and Third Armies to prepare for a drive to the Rhine, with 5 November as the target date for the Ninth and First Armies and 10 November for the Third Army.

     In the U.S. Seventh Army's XV Corps area, the 79th Infantry Division launches a full scale assault on the heights east of Foret de Parroy, with the 313th Infantry Regiment on the left, the 315th in the center, and the 314th on the right. Some progress is made against strong opposition. In VI Corps area, the 179th Infantry Regiment of the 45th Infantry Division enters Brouveleures after the main body of Germans has withdrawn and begins to clear rear-guard opposition. As the 7th Infantry Regiment continues toward St Die, clearing Domfaing, the 3d Infantry Division commits the 15th Infantry Regiment to the left. The 36th Infantry Division is improving positions east of Bruyêres.

GERMANY: Aachen finally surrenders to US forces. The extended battle by elite German formations including paratroopers, and ten day siege leaves much of it in ruins.  
The city was taken only after close-quarter battles fought from house to house. Five brave attempts to break the siege line were made last night, all broken by American fire-power. This morning the garrison commander, Col. Gerhardt Wilck, sent two US captives as messengers to negotiate surrender. With about 400 men he marched to the headquarters of Lt-Col. John Cortez to insist upon proper treatment for his defeated soldiers.
From the back of a US Jeep he told his men: "I believe further fighting is useless. I have acted against my orders, to fight to the last man. The American commander says I cannot give you 'Sieg Heil' or 'Heil Hitler', but we say it in our hearts."

The garrison, totalling 1,626 men, had run out of food, ammunition and water. Most of the town's ancient streets had become impassable because of debris. In the centre only the mediaeval cathedral was still basically intact. The civilian population demanded a surrender ten days ago.

Berlin: Once again Grand Admiral Donitz has shown himself to be a formidable opponent. The Royal Navy hoped that the war at sea would be virtually over as soon as the Allied forces captured the heavily-armoured French bases which have harboured the U-boats for most of the war.

Donitz was ahead of them. He moved the main U-boat fleet out to bases in Norway and has been rapidly refitting the fleet with a newer and more sophisticated Schnorkel. Yet despite the new device, the Allies managed to sink 19 U-boats last month.

The advantages of the Schnorkel were demonstrated by Count von Matuschka in U-482. He did a round voyage from Norway of 2,729 miles, over 90% of which was under water. He preyed undetected on the main sea route north of Ireland and sank the corvette HMS HURST CASTLE and four ships.

The Schnorkel is a long tube which extends up to the surface and enables air to be drawn into the submarine while it is submerged. It has a valve which closes if a large wave sweeps over the tube. The valve stops water getting in - but it also cuts off the air, brings the U-boat crew near to suffocation, and hurting their eardrums when the air rushes in again. The Germans first started experimenting with Schnorkel devices as early as 1940.

Donitz started to fit them in large numbers as soon as he realized that British aircraft were decimating the U-boats. The Schnorkel not only allows them to stay submerged but also enables them to pick up long-range wireless signals undetected by the British. It does tend to slow a U-boat by several knots. So far German successes have been small in number. But the presence of the Schnorkel boats is still tying up a large number of Royal Navy ships in escort duties for merchant ships.

     During the night of 21/22 October, RAF Bomber Command sends 242 Halifaxes and 21 Pathfinder Lancasters to bomb Hannover but they are recalled because of deteriorating weather in England. All aircraft landed safely. Meanwhile RAF Mosquitos attack four targets: four bomb Pforzheim, two hit Dusseldorf , and one each attack Cologne and Leverkusen. There are no losses.

U-2356, U-2357, U-2536 laid down.

U-3513, U-3514 launched.

U-2341 commissioned.

HUNGARY: Elements of the Soviet Second Ukrainian Front pushing west from Szeged reach the Danube River at Baja, south of Budapest.

     B-24 Liberators of the USAAF Fifteenth Air Force bombs two marshalling yards (M/Y): 104 aircraft bomb the M/Y at Szombathely and 49 bomb the Main M/Y at Gyor without loss. Almost 100 P-38 Lightnings and P- 51 Mustangs escorts strafe Szombathely and Seregelyes Airfields and rail lines between Sajoszentpeter to Ipolyszog.

     During the night of 21/22 October, an RAF bomber of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group drops leaflets over Budapest.

YUGOSLAVIA: During the night of 21/22 October, 60 RAF bombers of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group bomb the marshalling yard at Maribor; four aircraft are lost. Three other RAF bombers drop supplies to partisans.

ITALY: The British V and Canadian I Corps continue crossing the Savio River.

Pte. Ernest Alvia Smith (b.1914), Canadian Army, destroyed two tanks and two self-propelled guns and routed a number of German troops. (Victoria Cross)

In the U.S. Fifth Army area, the South African 6th Armoured Division commits fresh troops on Mt. Salvaro and completes the capture of Mt. Alcino. In the British XIII Corps area, the 38th Brigade of the 78th Division makes another unsuccessful attempt to take Mt. Spadura. The 21st Brigade, Indian 8th Division, pushes almost to the summit of Mt. Romano.

     In the British Eighth Army’s Polish II Corps area, the 5th Kresowa Division, pressing northwest toward Route 67, which leads to Forli, takes Strada St. Zeno in the Rabbi River valley and the summit of Mt. Grosso. V Corps expands its three bridgeheads across the Savio River despite heavy rainfall and rapidly rising water. The Indian 10th Division’s 20th Brigade pushes toward Mt. Cavallo on the left flank of the corps while the 25th Brigade attacks to expand the bridgehead from St. Carlo. The 4th Division completes the capture of Cesena and crosses additional forces over the Savio River there, although handicapped by lack of a permanent bridge. In the Canadian I Corps area, The Canadian 1st Division at 2000 hours begins an attack across the Savio River with the 2d Brigade, supported by diversionary fire of the 3d Brigade, and secures a bridgehead.

     USAAF Twelfth Air Force B-26 Marauders, in the days only medium bomber mission, attack the Nervesa della Battaglia railroad bridge and causeway; fighters and fighter-bombers operate in close support of the U.S. Fifth Army forces south of Bologna and fighter-bombers also hit communications in northern Italy as far north as Verona and as far west as Turin.

CHINA: Three USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells and 130+ P-40s and P-51 Mustangs attack shipping, gun positions, troop areas, bridges, town areas, road traffic, and other targets of opportunity around Yuma, Takhing, Dosing, Konghow, Shawan, Kuanyang, Kweiping, Tungpingchi, Tingka, Muse, Wan Lai-Kam, Shekpo, Menghsu, and Amoy.

BURMA: Fifteen USAAF Tenth Air Force P-47 Thunderbolts damage at least three bridges throughout the railroad corridor in northern Burma; 15 other P-47s support ground forces in the Mohnyin area, hitting gun positions and defensive works at Ywathit; 12 others attack positions and occupied areas around Bhamo and Muse, six knock out the Paungni River bridge, and four attack the town of Mawhun; about 270 sorties are flown by Tenth Air Force transports in the China-Burma-India Theater.

NEW GUINEA: In Northeast New Guinea, USAAF Fifth Air Force B-25 Mitchells and fighter-bombers hit Misami Island.

     In Dutch New Guinea, USAAF Fifth Air Force fighter-bombers attack Mongosah (Cape Tanahmerh) and Sagan Aerodromes. Meanwhile, 81 (P-40) Kittyhawks of three Australian squadrons dive bomb the town of Mumi.

EAST INDIES: USAAF Far East Air Force B-24 Liberators bomb Parepare on Celebes Island.. Other fighter-bombers hit Kaoe Bay supply areas on Halmahera Island; Boela Aerodrome and Amboina town area on Ceram Island.

COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: On Leyte Island, the Japanese decide to make a strong effort to defeat the Americans instead of fighting a delaying action as planned. Generals Walter Krueger, Franklin Sibert, and John Hodge take command ashore of Sixth Army, X Corps, and XXIV Corps, respectively. In X Corps area, 2d Brigade of the 1st Cavalry Division seizes Tacloban and southern half of hill to the southwest; the 1st Brigade drives west, taking Utap and Caibaan. The 34th Infantry Regiment, on the northern flank of the 24th Infantry Division, undergoes a determined Japanese counterattack, beginning at 0100 hours, in the Pawing area. Artillery and USN Seventh Fleet aircraft assist after daylight in routing the Japanese, more than 600 of whom are killed. The 2d Battalion then attacks the ridge to the west but cannot take it. The 19th Infantry Regiment clears the far slope of Hill 522 and, with strong fire support, takes Palo. In the XXIV Corps area, the 96th Infantry Division’s 383d Infantry Regiment begins working around Catmon Hill, which is actually a series of hill positions. 1st Battalion secures Labiranan Head but, since the Japanese remain in this area, pulls back to the Labiranan River. The 2d Battalion gains positions 300 yards (274 meters) north of Tigbao and the 3d Battalion, positions 1,110 yards (1 015 meters) north of the barrio. The 382d Infantry Regiment drives on Tigbao but is slowed by pillboxes as well as swampy terrain. The 7th Infantry Division attacks toward Dulag and Burauen Airfields with the 32d and 184th Infantry Regiments. The 32d, against considerable opposition, gets forward elements (2d and 3d Battalions) to the regimental beachhead line. The 184th Infantry Regiment easily takes Dulag Airstrip by 0900 hours and continues west to positions about 1,000 yards (914 meters) beyond the beachhead line, but a gap exists between it and 32d Infantry Regiment.

     Naval support is from the US Seventh Fleet and one group of Task Force 38. Air strikes on Cebu, Panay, Negros and Masbate Islands are made by two other groups of TF 38.

     At 0605 hours in the Leyte Gulf, a Japanese "Val" dive bomber (Aichi D3A, Navy Type 99 Carrier Bomber) crashes into the foremast of the heavy cruiser HMAS Australia (D 84). A fire starts but is put out by 0635 hours. The ship's captain and 21 others are killed or die of injuries and 64 others are injured. The commodore's staff transfers to the heavy cruiser HMAS Shropshire and HMAS Australia retires to Manus Island in the Admiralty Islands.

     USAAF Far East Air Forces B-24 Liberators bomb Cagayan and B-25 Mitchells attack a truck convoy near Kibawe on Mindanao Island.

VOLCANO ISLANDS: Twenty eight USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24 Liberators from Saipan Island bomb Iwo Jima.

PALAU ISLANDS: The Japanese resistance on Angaur Island ends. Losses are: Japanese 1,300 KIA and 45 POW; US 264 KIA and 1355 WIA. US heavy bomber units are already operating from Angaur. The Palaus were declared secure on September 30 by US Admiral Fort.

CANADA: Light cruiser HMCS Uganda (ex-HMS Uganda) commissioned Charleston, South Carolina.

U.S.A.: Major General Clayton L. Bissell becomes Assistant Chief/Air Staff, Intelligence (A-2) in Washington, DC. He was formerly CG of the US 10th Air Force.

     A new command, Marine Carrier Air Groups, is established under Aircraft, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, to direct the formation and training of Marine Corps squadrons destined to operate from air support escort carriers. Current plans called for the formation of six Marine Carrier Air Groups, each composed of a fighter and a torpedo squadron, four of them to be assigned to escort carriers and two to function as replacement and training groups.

Submarine USS Chub commissioned.

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October 21st, 1945 (SUNDAY)

FRANCE: A General election is held. The French Communist Party (PCF) become the strongest party in the new parliament. The poll is a combined election and referendum. 92% vote 'yes' for a new constitution to be drawn up. Two-thirds vote to give the government extraordinary powers until the entry into force of the new constitution. (212)

UNITED STATES: The top songs on the music pop charts are: "I'll Buy That Dream" by The Pied Pipers, "Till the End of Time" 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.

ARGENTINA: Juan Peron marries Eva Duarte.

1947   (TUESDAY) 

CANADA: U-190 is sunk in "Operation Scuttle". This Type IXC/40 U-boat, launched 3 June 1942 had surrendered on 8 May 1945 and been commissioned into the RCN. U-190 is finally paid off 24 July 1947 and then sunk by rocket fire from Royal Canadian Naval aircraft off Halifax Harbour, Nova Scotia. (Alex Gordon)

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