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1931   (FRIDAY) 

TURKEY: Soviet Foreign Minister Maxim Litvinov visits Ankara and the Soviet and Turkish governments agree to renew the Turco-Russian Alliance for another five years.  

UNITED STATES: The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) puts a TV transmitter atop the Empire State Building in New York City. The first experimental TV broadcast is on 22 December.

 1935   (WEDNESDAY) 

UNITED STATES: President Franklin D. Roosevelt repeats determination of the United States not to become involved in the Italo-Ethiopian controversy stating, "In dealing with the conflict between Ethiopia and Italy, I have carried into effect the will and intent of the neutrality resolution recently enacted by Congress."  

1938   (SUNDAY) 

UNITED STATES: The radio program "The Mercury Theater on the Air" on CBS presents Orson Welles' production of H.G. Wells' "War of the Worlds" at 2000 hours Eastern Time. The show is set up as a music program interrupted by news bulletins saying that Martians have landed in Grovers Mill, New Jersey. Though a disclaimer is broadcast several times throughout the hourlong program, most listeners did not pay attention to the explanation telling them that the story is fictional and a radio fabrication. Even the newspaper program guides printed the warning. Of the 6 million listeners who heard the show, more than 1.7 million reportedly believed the story is true Nobody ever found out why thousands of people believed the science-fiction drama..

October 30th, 1939

The RAF performs a reconnaissance of an aerodrome in North Germany.

London: A government white paper exposes Nazi Brutality towards dissidents and Jews, including the concentration camp system.

'The Lion Has Wings', the first war film of the conflict, is shown. It features newsreel footage of RAF Ansons attacking a German fleet. 
The Spitfire sequences were flown by B flight of 74 Squadron RAF (which squadron I later joined). 

The scenes with74 Squadron were shot on 6 Sep 1939, late in the day after A Flight had shot down two Hurricanes of 56 Sqn in the infamous 'Battle of Barking Creek' . In an early morning SNAFU, due to faulty controlling and aircraft recognition, and lack of a good IFF system (at that stage we only had the 'Pip-Squeak' system) aircraft were vectored on to the non-existent enemy, with this tragic result.

The happier and almost unreal experience befell B Flight. The stars of the film were Merle Oberon (Lady Korda) and Ralph Richardson. The shot of the Flight Commander's tent shown in one scene had a large painting of the Squadron badge and 'The Tiger's Den' on it so there was no mistaking which Sqn was doing the flying.

I still have several stills from the film.

(Doug Tidy)

U-56 fires two torpedoes at HMS Nelson, the flagship of the Home Fleet, but they do not explode.

Corvettes HMS Calendula and Clarkia laid down.

Submarines HMS Upholder, Urge and Unique laid down.

AMC HMS Cheshire commissioned.

     U.S. freighter SS Scanpenn is detained by British authorities at Kirkwall, in the Orkney Islands and freighter SS Hybert is detained by British authorities at the Downs the same day

GERMANY: U-409, U-410, U-411, U-412, U-451, U-452, U-453, U-454 ordered.

POLAND: Heinrich Himmler, Reichsfuhrer-SS and Head of the German Police, orders that all Jews must be cleared out of the rural areas of western Poland within three months. In the Poznan region, 50 communities are immediately uprooted. (Atlas)

SWITZERLAND: Rationing of Sugar, pasta, leguminous plants, rice, wheat and corn semolina, flour, oats and barley products, butter, edible fats and food oils, starts today. (William Jay Stone from http://www.geschichte-schweiz.ch/en/worldwar2.html)

U.S.S.R.: The Fenno-Soviet negotiations get a new twist as FM Molotov published the Soviet demands in a speech. The realization of the demands are now a matter of prestige for Stalin.

Submarine S-4 commissioned.

U.S.A.: Corvette USS Ready laid down.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-34 aborted patrol and returned to base due to serious engine trouble.

U-13 sank SS Cairnmona in Convoy HX-5.

U-37 sank SS Thrasyvoulos.

U-59 sank HMS Northern Rover.

A contingent of the British Home fleet, the battleships HMS Rodney (29) and Nelson (28), the battlecruiser HMS Hood (51) and escorting destroyers, is sailing just west of the Orkney Islands north of Scotland. A high level conference is being held aboard Nelson; the attendees are Commander-in-Chief Home Fleet, Admiral Sir Charles Forbes, the First Sea Lord, Admiral of the Fleet, Sir Dudley Pound, and First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill. The German submarine U-56 finds herself in the middle of the fleet and fires three torpedoes at Nelson; two of them strike the ship but fail to explode. (The Germans are having torpedo problems.) U-56 escapes unharmed.

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October 30th, 1940 (WEDNESDAY)

ORP Kujawiak is launched.

NORTH SEA: WW1 vintage destroyer HMS Sturdy, local Western Approaches escort for Halifax/UK convoy SC8, runs aground off the west coast of Scotland on Tiree Island. She is a total loss and there are 3 casualties.

As polls showed Wendell Wilkie, the Republican candidate, cutting into his lead, the President has stressed his reluctance to lead America into war. A week ago in Philadelphia he attacked the "fantastic misstatement" that he had made secret alliances. Wilkie has cut Roosevelt's lead in the polls to four points.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Destroyers HMS Harvester and HMS Highlander sink U-32 northwest of Ireland at 55.37N, 12.19W during a convoy attack. They use depth charges. There are 9 dead and 33 survivors.

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October 30th, 1941 (THURSDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: No. 607 Squadron RAF goes into action with the Hawker Hurricane fighter-bomber known as the Hurribomber. They will take over the 'Channel Stop' anti-shipping operations from No. 2 Group. (22)

Submarine HMS Tireless laid down.

GERMANY:

U-378, U-594 commissioned.

U-602 launched.

U-640 laid down.

NORWAY: RAF Hudson bombers have struck a body blow at the German Navy's supply system in the northern seas. A raid on the Norwegian port of Aalesund is thought to have left six supply ships irreparably damaged. The Hudsons flew through driving snow over the North Sea to find a target lit by moonlight. One pilot described how he hit his target from 30 feet before flying across the town at rooftop height, firing machine guns. He then put incendiary bombs through a factory roof. Norwegians resent occupation more than the raids.

U.S.S.R.: The German advance on Moscow halts. Until winter fully sets in, the soft muddy ground will not allow them sufficient mobility to continue.

German Army Group Center reports heavy fighting in the Volkolamsk, Mozhaisk and Kaluga areas. Although successful in these battles, the Germans call a temporary halt in their advance on Moscow as Soviet counter attacks, depleted supply levels, and the worsening weather conditions make attack difficult.

     Elements of the German 11th Army close on Sevastopol, beginning a siege, which would last for nine months.

CANADA: Douglas DC-3-277B, msn 2207, registered NC25663 by the U.S. airline American Airlines, crashes near St. Thomas, Ontario, at 2210 hours local. This is American Flight 1 from New York City to Detroit, Michigan via Buffalo, New York and Chicago, Illinois, carrying 17 passengers and three crew; all 20 aboard are killed. The aircraft circled a wooded area three or four times looking for a landing spot before stalling and diving into a plowed field. The cause of the crash is never determined.

Minesweeper HMCS Drummondville commissioned.

Minesweeper HMCS Thunder arrived Halifax from builder Toronto, Ontario.

U.S.A.: President Franklin D. Roosevelt sends a letter to Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin offering the Soviets US$1 billion (US$12.8 billion in year 2004 dollars) credit without interest payments, the return to begin five years after the war's end and to be completed in a ten-year period.

     Douglas DC-3A-269, msn 2124, registered NC21712 by the U.S. airline Northwest Orient Airlines, crashes in fog and mist near Moorehead, Minnesota, at 0204 hours local. This is Northwest Flight 5 en route from Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Fargo, North Dakota, carrying 13 passengers and a crew of two; the pilot, Clarence Bates, is thrown clear of the wreckage and is the lone survivor. The accident report states that the aircraft crashed due to accumulation of ice on the wings and other surfaces of the airplane, increasing the stalling speed and the drag of the airplane on the power required to maintain flight. The action of the captain in descending to attempt a landing at Fargo with known icing conditions and critical ceiling conditions instead of proceeding to an available alternate is to blame.

Destroyer USS Abner Read laid down.

Minesweeper USS Pioneer laid down.

Destroyer USS Laffey launched.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: At 0712 hours GMT, USN oiler USS Salinas (AO-19), in convoy ON-28 (U.K. to North America), is struck by two torpedoes fired by German submarine U-106 about 607 nautical miles (1 125 kilometers) east of St. John's, Newfoundland in position 46.56N, 37.46W. The first torpedo strikes portside at her number 9 tank; a second torpedo follows hitting the ship portside at tanks 2 and 3. At 0730 hours GMT, a surfaced submarine fires three torpedoes at the oiler but all miss. Only one of Salinas's crew is injured. Task Unit 4.1.6, screening ON-28, attacks sound contacts; destroyer USS Bernadou (DD-153) carries out five depth charge attacks and fires at what is most likely U-67, forcing her to submerge; USS DuPont (DD-152) carries out three depth charge attacks; USS MacLeish (DD-220) and Sampson (DD-394) one apiece. USS Lea (DD-118) escorts Salinas (which will reach St. John's under her own power); they will be joined en route by Coast Guard cutter USCGC Campbell (65) and tug USS Cherokee (AT-66).

U-81 was attacked and severely damaged by the Catalina aircraft Z from 209 RAF Sqn.

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October 30th, 1942 (FRIDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: USAAF 336th Fighter Squadron transfers to Debden, Essex.

Destroyers HMS Obedient, Racehorse and Wensleydale commissioned.

Destroyer HNLMS Tjerk Hiddes commissioned.

NETHERLANDS: During the day, three RAF Bomber Command Mosquitos bomb two targets with the loss of one aircraft: two bomb Leeuwarden Airfield, 2.2 miles (3,5 kilometers) south of the town, and one bombs the port area at Den Helder .

     During the night of 30/31 October, three RAF Bomber Command Wellingtons lay mines in the Frisian Islands without loss.

GERMANY: U-991, U-992 laid down.

EGYPT: Alexandria: The Bletchley Park codebreakers who have been unable to read the U-boat Enigma cipher for almost a year must thank the self-sacrifice of two men who died today retrieving an Enigma machine and its key settings from a sinking submarine. Lieutenant Francis Anthony "Tony" Blair Fasson (b. 1913), Able Seaman Colin Grazier (b. 1920) and a third sailor boarded U-559 (Type VIIC) as she was being scuttled after an attack by destroyers HMS Pakenham (G 06), HMS Petard (G 56) and HMS Hero (H 99), the escort destroyers HMS Dulverton (L 63) and Hurworth (L 28), and an RAF Wellesley Mk. I of No. 47 Squadron based at Shandur, Egypt, 83 nautical miles (153 kilometres) north-northeast of Port Said, Egypt at position 32.30N, 33.00E. They passed their prize to safety, but were unable to escape before the U-boat sank, taking them with her. In total there were seven dead and 38 survivors.

Lt. Francis Anthony Blair Fasson (b.1913) and A/S Colin Grazier (b.1920), both of HMS PETARD, boarded a crippled U-boat and, aware of the danger, recovered valuable documents and instruments until the vessel suddenly sank, taking them both. (George Crosses)

The British Eighth Army renews the assault on the north flank of XXX Corps during the night of 30/31 October. The Australian 9th Division drives north to the sea, then pushes east, trapping a large Axis force. Allied planes provide excellent tactical support, attacking accurately in small area to neutralize Thompson's Post. Most of the pocketed Axis force subsequently succeeds in escaping when tanks from the west break through to assist.

     US Army, Middle East Air Force B-25 Mitchells attack landing grounds at Fuka-Bagush and El Daba while P-40s fly escort.

NEW GUINEA: The Australian advance up the Kokoda Track reaches Alola, New Guinea. This is 10 miles from Kokoda. One Brigade will proceed directly up the track, the other will advance more easterly to Oivi.

NEW CALEDONIA:  A "Glen" seaplane (Yokosuka E14Y1, Navy Type 0 Small Reconnaissance Seaplane) is launched from Japanese submarine HIJMS I-9 and reconnoiters Nouméa, New Caledonia Island.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: USMC F4F Wildcats from Guadalcanal make a dawn attack on the Rekata Bay Seaplane Base on Santa Isabella Island. The Marine pilots shoot down three "Rufe" seaplane fighters (Nakajima A6M2-N, Navy Type 2 Fighter Seaplanes) and two "Pete" biplanes (Mitsubishi F1M2, Navy Type 0 Observation Seaplane) at 0515 hours.

     USAAF Fifth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses bomb the harbor and shipping at Buin on southern Bougainville Island.

     USN Task Group 64.2 (Rear Admiral Norman Scott), comprising light cruiser USS Atlanta (CL-51) and four destroyers, bombards Japanese positions at Point Cruz, Guadalcanal.

PACIFIC OCEAN: US cruisers and destroyers shell Japanese positions on Santa Cruz Island.

The Japanese fleet is reported to have withdrawn from the Solomons.

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: A USAAF Eleventh Air Force B-24 Liberator twice flies reconnaissance over Agattu and Japanese-held Kiska Islands; there are no bombing mission as all bombers are on alert for possible naval targets.

CANADA: Corvettes HMCS Regina, Moose Jaw and Algoma departed St John's as UK convoy escort and eventual Operation Torch Duty.

U.S.A.: Submarine USS Flier laid down.

Destroyer USS Cony commissioned.

Submarine USS Hake commissioned.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-520 (Type IXC) is sunk east of Newfoundland, at position 47.47N, 49.50W, by depth charges from a Canadian Digby aircraft (RCAF Sqdn 10/742). 53 dead (all crew lost).

U-658 (Type VIIC) is sunk east of Newfoundland, at position 50.32N, 46.32W, by depth charges from a Canadian Hudson aircraft (RCAF Sqdn. 145/Y). 48 dead (all crew lost). (Alex Gordon)

U-659 sank SS Bullmouth and damaged SS Tasmania and Corinaldo in Convoy SL-125.

U-129 sank SS West Kabar.

U-203 sank SS Corinaldo in Convoy SL-125.

U-409 dank SS Silverwillow and damaged SS Bullmouth in Convoy SL-125

U-509 sank SS Brittany in Convoy SL-125

German submarine U-604 torpedoes and sinks the 11,898 ton troopship, SS Président Doumer, an ex-French passenger liner now a Ministry of War Transport, about 151 nautical miles (280 kilometers) north of Portugal’s Madeira Islands, in position 35.08N, 16.44W; 260 people aboard are lost. The ship is sailing in Convoy SL-125 from Freetown, Sierra Leone, to the U.K.

U-604 also sinks the SS Baron Vernon in convoy SL-125.

Destroyer HMCS Columbia attacked by U-522 Kptlt Schneider, CO. Torpedo missed.

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October 30th, 1943 (SATURDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: In London, the Moscow Conference of Foreign Ministers ends after considering certain politico-military issues. Although a tripartite conference (American-British-Soviet), the Chinese representatives have participated in some phases. Conferees agree to demand “unconditional surrender” of Germany and establish a world organization for peace (the U.N.). Discussions lead to establishment later in London of European Advisory Commission to study and make recommendations on problems relating to termination of the war in Europe. The groundwork is laid for a conference of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin at Teheran, Iran. Other agreements include the decision that China should join the alliance as the fourth major power.

Frigate HMS Condamine laid down.

Frigates HMS Lochy, Rowley, Seychelles launched.

Minesweeper HMS Parkes launched.

Submarine HMS Thorough launched.

Destroyer HMS Tenacious commissioned.

Frigate HMS Byron commissioned.

FRANCE: Five USAAF Ninth Air Force B-26 Marauders bomb Maupertus Airfield, 6.9 miles (11 kilometers) east of Cherbourg.

GERMANY:

U-1406 laid down.

U-483 launched.

U.S.S.R.: Soviet units reach Genichesk. This cuts one of the German exit from the Crimea.

ITALY: Mondragone falls to units of the US 5th Army. This marks a penetration of the Barbara Line. The hilly terrain and tenacious defence slows the other units of the Army inland.

USAAF Twelfth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators bomb five targets: 26 hit a target of opportunity (TO) at Savona, 20 bomb the Genoa marshalling yard (M/Y), seven attack the Imperia M/Y, five hit a TO at Varazze and two bomb a TO at Port Maurizio. Weather reduces the efforts of Northwest African Tactical Air Force elements; Northwest Tactical Bomber Force B-25 Mitchells bomb Frosinone; fighter-bombers, mainly of the XII Air Support Command, hit bridges, junctions, shipping, marshalling yard, gun positions, and vehicles at several locations, including Giulianova, Ancona, Ortona, Sessa Aurunca, Mignano, and Cassino.

     During the night of 30/31 October, 31 RAF bombers of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group bomb the Grosseto marshalling yard.

CHINA: Seven USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells and 12 P-40s attack the motor pool and barracks at Shayang while nine P-38 Lightnings hit the Chiuchiang dock area and shoot down two interceptors.

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: USAAF Fifth Air Force B-25 Mitchells strafe barges in Rein Bay on New Britain Island.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: USAAF Thirteenth Air Force aircraft attack targets on Bougainville. Sixteen B-24 Liberators bomb Kara Airfield and shortly afterwards it is hit by 68 SBD Dauntlesses and 27 TBF Avengers escorted by USN and AAF fighters; the airstrip and other targets at Kieta on the west coast are attacked by six B-25 Mitchells, 12 P-39 Airacobras and 20 USN aircraft; and the Tonolai harbor area off Kahilli in the southern part of Bougainville is hit by eight P-40s and 17 USN fighters. U.S. aircraft sink a Japanese transport near Kieta.

PACIFIC OCEAN: 1700 hours: USS Seahorse (SS-304) sinks a sampan at 30-48 N, 135-36 E. (Skip Guidry)

CANADA:

Minesweeper HMS Flying Fish (ex HMCS Tillsonburg) laid down Toronto, Ontario.

Frigate HMCS Longueuil launched Montreal, Province of Quebec.

Minesweepers HMCS Fort Frances and Kapuskasing launched Port Arthur, Ontario.

U.S.A.: "Pistol Packin' Mama" by Al Dexter and his Troopers reaches Number 1 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart in the U.S. This song, which debuted on the charts on 28 August 1943, was charted for 17 weeks, was Number 1 for 1 week and was ranked Number 11 for the year 1943.

Destroyer escorts USS Stockdale, Price, Henry R Kenyon launched.

Submarine USS Sea Cat laid down.

Minesweeper USS Reign laid down.

Destroyer USS Harry E Hubbard laid down.

Frigate USS Charlotte launched.

Destroyer USS Monssen launched.

Destroyer escorts USS Mosley, Bangust, Newell and Richey commissioned.

Destroyer USS Porterfield commissioned.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-415 shot down RAF Wellington aircraft (Sqn 612/C). No survivors from aircraft, the boat had to abort its patrol due to damages sustained.

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October 30th, 1944 (MONDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: 

The two greatest US fighter groups commanding officers end their combat days on this date.

Col. Hubert Zemke, former CO of the 56th FG, USAAF, and current CO of the 479th FG, USAAF, a 17.75 victory aces, is lost on his final scheduled combat sorite. He bails out over enemy territory and is captured when his P-51 is ripped apart in a thundercloud. 

Col. Donald Blakeslee, CO of the 4th FG, USAAF, flies the last of more than 350 combat sorties, 900 flying hours (half again as much as any US fighter pilot), and is forcibly transferred to a desk job with the VIII Fighter Command's 65th Fighter Wing. The exact number of combat hours is not certain. He recorded only the times over the coast in and out, which totalled considerably less than the full flight period for each mission. (Skip Guidry)

Corvette HMS Hedingham Castle commissioned.

ASW trawler HMS Royal Marine commissioned.

WESTERN EUROPE: USAAF Ninth Air Force B-26 Marauders are recalled from a mission (mainly against bridges) because of bad weather; fighters fly patrols and armed reconnaissance over northeastern France and in western Germany around Aachen and the Rhine River; and the XIX Tactical Air Command escorts B-26 Marauders and heavy bombers of the Eighth Air Force.

NORTH SEA: U-427 took part in operation Specht and guarded a German minefield off Stavanger (Norway).

NETHERLANDS: In the Canadian First Army's II Corps area, the Canadian 2d Division completes their drive across southern Beveland, reaching the east end of the Walcheren causeway. The Canadian 3d Division is nearing the end of the action to reduce the Britisheskens Pocket. In the British I Corps area, the U.S. 415th Infantry Regiment, spearheading for the 104th Infantry Division, reaches the Mark River and attempts to take a bridge near Standdaarbuiten, but the Germans blow it up.

     In the British Second Army area, VIII Corps area, the Germans makes a final effort to advance in the Peel Marshes but are brought to a halt. .

     Two USAAF Eighth Air Force bombers a target of opportunity at Enschede.

     During the day, RAF Bomber Command sends 102 Lancasters and eight Mosquitos are dispatched to bomb gun batteries on Walcheren Island; 96 bomb the target with the loss of one Mosquito. This is the last Bomber Command raid in support of the Walcheren campaign and the opening of the River Scheldt.

     During the night of 30/31 October, USAAF Eighth Air Force flies Mission 694: two B-17 Flying Fortresses and seven B-24 Liberators drop leaflets over the country.

FRANCE: In the U.S. Third Army's XX Corps area, the 357th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division completes the capture of Maizières-lès-Metz, thus opening route to Metz from the north.

     In the U.S. Seventh Army's VI Corps area, elements of 45th Infantry Division seize St Benoit, on the Rambervillers-Raon-l’Etape road. The 3d Infantry Division now holds a broad salient west of St Die and the Meurthe River from the vicinity of Nompatelize on the north to Traintrux on the south. In the 36th Infantry Division zone, the 442d Infantry Regiment (Nisei) at last makes contact with and relieves the 1st Battalion, 141st Infantry Regiment.

GERMANY: The USAAF Eighth Air Force flies Mission 693 with 1,279 bombers and 978 fighters flying a major mission against German oil production facilities; two bombers and five fighters are lost: 209 aircraft hit the marshalling yard (M/Y) at Hamm; 189 bomb the M/Y at Munster; 92 attack the Ebano oil refinery and 67 bomb the Rhenania oil refinery, both in Hamburg; 34 hit the port area at Cuxhaven; 22 bomb the port area at Wessermunde; 13 attack the industrial area at Osnabruck; and 16 hit targets of opportunity.

     The USAAF Eighth Air Force also flies Mission 693A: two of five B-17 Flying Fortresses make an APHRODITE attack on Heligoland Island with escort provided by seven P-47 Thunderbolts. In a second raid, 26 B-17s, escorted by eight P-47, fly a cover mission to Heligoland bombing the U-boat base.

     During the day, RAF Bomber Command sends 102 Lancasters to bomb the synthetic oil refinery at Wesseling; all 102 bomb the target. No results are seen because of the cloud but the bombing is believed to be accurate.

     During the night of 30/31 October, RAF Bomber Command dispatches 905 aircraft,

438 Halifaxes, 435 Lancasters and 32 Mosquitos, to bomb Cologne; 870 bomb the city without loss. This is an Oboe-marked raid through cloud, and Bomber Command estimates that only "scattered and light" damage is caused in the western parts of the city. But the local report shows that enormous damage is caused in the suburbs of Braunsfeld, Lindenthal, Klettenberg and Sülz, which are "thoroughly ploughed up" by the huge tonnage of high explosive dropped (3,431 tons of high explosive and 610 tons of incendiaries are dropped). A vast amount of property, mostly civilian housing, is destroyed but railways and public utilities are also hit. There is little industry in the area which is bombed. Meanwhile, 58 Mosquitos bomb Berlin with the loss of one aircraft, five bomb the city and marshalling yard at Aschaffenburg, and three each bomb the marshalling yard at Heilbronn and the city of Oberhausen.

U-3031 laid down.

U-2524, U-2525 launched.

AUSTRIA: During the night of 30/31 October, three USAAF Fifteenth Air Force B-24 Liberators bomb a marshalling yard at Klagenfurt.

POLAND: The last transport of Jews from Theresienstadt, a ghetto in Czechoslovakia, run by the SS, arrives at Auschwitz in the suburbs of the city of Oswiecim. Today and tomorrow, 1,689 of them are sent to the gas chambers. This is the last use of the gas chambers at this camp. (Apparatus)

HUNGARY: The Soviet Army begins an offensive aimed at the capital, Budapest.

ITALY: In the U.S. Fifth Army area, the Germans begin series of counterattacks toward Palazzo that last for several days, but Combat Command B of the South African 6th Armoured Division holds firm. In the IV Corps area, Regimental Combat Team 6 of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force seizes the Lama hill mass, north of Barga. During October, the corps has conducted a training program for inexperienced 1st Division, Brazilian Expeditionary Force, and the U.S. 92d Infantry Division (Colored) as the units arrived.

     In the British Eighth Army's Polish II Corps area, the Germans withdraw from the Caminata region. In the V Corps area, the 10th Division takes Meldola, from which the Germans have withdrawn, but runs into strong opposition as it pushes on toward the Rabbi River. The 4th Division tries in vain to get patrols across the Ronco River on the north flank of the corps.

     Weather again grounds USAAF Twelfth Air Force medium bombers and limits XXII Tactical Air Command fighter-bombers and fighters to 51 sorties against scattered targets in the Po Valley.

CHINA: Thirteen USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-24 Liberators lay mines in Victoria Harbor, Hong Kong and sink a Japanese ship off Hong Kong..

BURMA: Ten USAAF Tenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells knock out bridges at Namhkai, Wuntho, Thegyaung, and Nankan and damage others at Okkyin and Zawchaung; 50+ P-47 Thunderbolts knock out the Hpao Nam River bridge and strafe targets of opportunity at several locations; hit several bridges throughout the northern Burma rail corridor, damaging or knocking out each target; support ground forces at Naba Station and Pinwe; and hit troop concentrations at Mansi and Manyut.

FRENCH INDOCHINA: USAAF Fourteenth Air Force P-40s bomb installations around Phu Lang Thuong and hit junks at sea.

JAPAN: Three USAAF Eleventh Air Force B-24 Liberators fly armed reconnaissance over Matsuwa and Onnekotan Islands in the Kurile Islands.

VOLCANO ISLANDS: During the night of 30/31 October, one USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24 flies a snooper mission and bombs Iwo Jima.

COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: In the U.S. Sixth Army's X Corps area on Leyte, the 3d Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, starts toward Carigara along the road from Jaro but is halted almost at once by Japanese. In the XXIV Corps area, 2d and 3d Battalions, 383d Infantry Regiment, 96th Infantry Division, attack San Vicente from the Guinarona River and find the barrio and the hill of the same name undefended. The 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, completes the capture of Dagami in the morning and spends rest of day mopping up.

US Naval TF 38 begins to withdraw from the Philippines to Ulithi and two carriers are heavily damaged by Kamikaze attacks.
The two ships of Task Group 38.4 struck by kamikazes are the aircraft carrier USS Franklin (CV-13) and the light aircraft carrier USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24). Both retire to Ulithi and then to the U.S. for repairs. The withdrawal of Task Group 38.4 to Ulithi and the escort aircraft carriers of Task Group 77.4 to Manus Island, leaves the defence of the Leyte beachhead in the hands of several USAAF P-38 groups and a P-61 squadron and Carrier Air Group Seven (CVG-7) in USS Hancock (CV-19), Light Carrier Air Group Twenty Nine (CVLG-29) in USS Cabot (CVL-28) and Night Carrier Air Group Forty One [CVLG(N)-41] in USS Independence (CVL-22).

     USAAF Far East Air Forces B-24 Liberators bomb Bacolod Airfield on Negros Island, while on Mindanao Island, B-25 Mitchells and fighter-bombers hit San Roque Airfield and barges at Zamboanga.

     Army Air Forces Southwest Pacific Area issues an instruction for air support of the Mindoro operation by Lieutenant General George C. Kenney's USAAF Far East Air Forces, comprising the USAAF Fifth and Thirteenth Air Forces. Fifth Air Force is to be the "assault air force" but the Thirteenth Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, carrier- based planes of the USN Third and Seventh Fleets, and land-based planes of the Seventh Fleet are also to assist as are B-29 Superfortresses of the USAAF Twentieth Air Force.

BORNEO: In British North Borneo, USAAF Far East Air Forces P-38 Lightnings hit Sandakan Airfield and sink two Japanese merchant tankers off Sandakan.

EAST INDIES: USAAF Far East Air Forces B-24 Liberators bomb the wharf area at Makassar on the southwestern tip of Celebes Island while P-40s, over the northeastern peninsula, hit various targets of opportunity. P-38 Lightnings hit Piroe on Ceram Island and B-25 Mitchells sink a Japanese ship off Lomblon Island.

NEW GUINEA: Utarom (Kaimana) Aerodrome in Dutch New Guinea is again bombed by USAAF Fifth Air Force A-20 Havocs and B-25 Mitchells.

NAURU ISLAND: USAAF Seventh Air Force B-25 Mitchells from Makin Island strike Nauru. Nauru Island is a 21 square kilometer (8 square mile) island in the South Pacific Ocean, located about halfway between the Gilbert and Solomon Islands. The island is rich in phosphate deposits and was occupied by the Japanese on 25 August 1942.

CAROLINE ISLANDS: Eight USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24 Liberators on armed reconnaissance missions from Guam bomb Yap Island.

     Eight B-29 Superfortresses of the USAAF Twentieth Air Force's XXI Bomber Command in the Mariana Islands bomb submarine pens on Dublon Island, Truk Atoll; nine others bomb 2 miles (3.2 km) beyond the target.

PACIFIC OCEAN: US Naval Task Group 38.4 begins to withdraw from the Philippines to Ulithi Atoll, Caroline Islands, and two aircraft carriers are heavily damaged by Kamakaze attacks. The two ships of Task Group 38.4 struck by kamikazes are USS Franklin (CV-13) and USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24) which are hit in the Philippine Sea about 110 nautical miles (204 kilometers) east-southeast of Tacloban, Leyte, Philippine Islands. Both retire to Ulithi and then to the U.S. for repairs. The withdrawal of Task Group 38.4 to Ulithi and the escort aircraft carriers of Task Group 77.4 to Manus Island, Admiralty Islands, leaves the defense of the Leyte beachhead in the hands of several USAAF P-38 Lightning groups and a P-61 Black Widow squadron and Carrier Air Group Seven (CVG-7) in USS Hancock (CV-19), Light Carrier Air Group Twenty Nine (CVLG-29) in USS Cabot (CVL-28) and Night Carrier Air Group Forty One [CVLG(N)-41] in USS Independence (CVL-22).

U.S.A.: Destroyers USS Floyd B Parks and Herbert J Thomas laid down.

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October 30th, 1945 (TUESDAY)

CANADA: Minesweepers HMCS Burlington, Coquitlam and Red Deer paid off.

U.S.A.: Minesweeper USS Pigeon commissioned.

Shoe rationing ends. (Patrick Holscher)

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