This day in the war in Europe 65 years ago

[Njaco]

1 June 1942

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Operation Drumbeat continues with German submarines sinking four merchant ships off the U.S. coast:
- 'U-404' sinks an armed U.S. freighter off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina by gunfire.
- 'U-172' torpedoes and sinks an unarmed U.S. freighter off the Bahamas.
- 'U-106' and 'U-158' each torpedo and sink an unarmed U.S. freighter in the Yucatan Channel in the Gulf of Mexico.

EASTERN FRONT: The seige of the Crimean fortress of Sevastopol by 11. Armee (von Manstein) continued with a round-the-clock bombardment by heavy artillery and Luftwaffe bombers.

During an escort mission for Generaloberst Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen's Fiesler Storch near Sevastopol, II./JG 77's Lt. Ludwig-Wilhelm Burckhardt's Bf 109 was hit by Soviet ground fire and Burckhardt had to belly-land close to the Soviet lines. Had he come down only a few hundred yards further to the west, he would have landed in a minefield or behind enemy lines. He survived the crash without injuries, but had to run in order to escape Soviet infantry fire. This resulted in a sharp reproach from his Geschwaderkommodore , Major Gordon Gollob, for abandoning his own aircraft.

Oblt. Heinrich Kraft of 8./JG 51 was promoted to Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 51.

GERMANY: The RLM had requested some He 177A-1s to be modified for some special operations by the fixing of 1 or 2 30mm MK101 cannon in the lower nose position. A small series of aircraft were designated "He 177 Zerstroer" and a further change to the configuration followed in Feb 41 with the fitting of 4 semi-fixed MG151/20 cannon. Approval for the project by the RLM came in March 42 and modifications to 12 He 177A-1s at Rostock-Marienehe started in June 1942. Work began on the necessary conversion components with the construction of a standard equipment set comprising two 30mm MK101 cannon on aircraft now designated He 177A-1/U2. To achieve operational readiness, the first four A-1/U2s were supposed to be fitted with modernized power plants before transfer to E-Staffel 177 at Larz, but due to work overload there, it was decided to entrust the fitting of the new weapon conversion sets to I./FKG 50.

The RAF launched another "1,000 bomber" night raid against Essen in the Ruhr, but with minimal effect. 956 aircraft were dispatched, of which 767 claimed to have attacked. Subsequent recon revealed that the results of the raid were disappointing. Lt. Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer of NJG 1 and soon to be known as "The Night Ghost of St. Trond", scored his first night victory.

 

[syscom3]

2 June 1942

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Continuing Operation Drumbeat, the German submarine 'U-159' sinks an unarmed U.S. merchant freighter about 400 miles (741 km) northeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

EASTERN FRONT: German forces renew the bombing of Sevastopol.

MEDITTERANEAN: 'U-652' (Type VIIC). Badly damaged by depth charges from a British Swordfish aircraft and scuttled on 2 June, 1942 in the Mediterranean in the Gulf of Solum, at position 31.55N, 25.113E, by torpedoes from 'U-81'.

NORTH AFRICA: Rommel's 90th Light and Trieste Divisions move to Bir Hacheim to cover his flank. The Free French hold against the 15th Panzer Division.

 

[syscom3]

3 June 1942

ATLANTIC OCEAN: The German Operation Drumbeat continues off the U.S. east coast:
- 'U-502' sinks an unarmed U.S. tanker off the Florida keys. The Germans take two survivors aboard for interrogation but have to dive when a USN patrol bomber appears. The sub later surfaces and the U.S. sailors are released and provided with a life raft and provisions. The sailors are rescued on 8 June.
- 'U-432' sinks two armed U.S. fishing boats enroute from Gloucester, Massachusetts to Sea Island, Nova Scotia with gunfire after allowing the crews to abandon ship and board lifeboats.

EASTERN FRONT: Oblt. Siegfreid Freytag of 6./JG 77 scored his 50th victory.

NORTH AFRICA: In the Gazala area, Oblt. Hans-Joachim Marseilles of 3./JG 27, shot down 6 Tomahawks of SAAF No. 5 Sqdn. and badly damaged 2 others which belly-landed during a dogfight that lasted all of 12 minutes. Remarkably, he achieved this feat using just his 2 MGs as his cannons jammed after firing only 10 rounds. Among the destroyed aircraft was Capt. Botha, an ace with 5 victories, 3 of which were claimed against Ju 87s in the same combat. Because of this action, the Luftwaffe was able to send more Stukas to attack the British line at Bir Hacheim. These 6 Tomahawks raised Marseille's score to 75, for which he was awarded the Eichenlaub on 6 June. Afterward, his mate, Hans-Arnold Stahlschmidt wrote in a letter home; "Marseille is able to shoot like a young God. Above all, he is able to do what only a few can - to shoot with perfection while turning."

Three claims by III./JG 53 were made in combat over the sea just near to the El Alamein coast area.

 

[Njaco]

4 June 1942

UNITED KINGDOM: There was some scattered Luftwaffe bombing in parts of Durham and Yorkshire. Most of the bombers were engaged in mine-laying and in anti-shipping activities off North-East England. At Sunderland, 2 delayed-action bombs damaged a ship when they exploded on the following day and another interferred with the loading of 2 coaling vessels.

In Durham County, a number of IBs were dropped in fields west of Ryhope and at Tunstall. About 1 ton of potatoes was damaged. 4 HEs fell in a cornfield near White Mare Pool causing damage to crops. A large number of IBs were dropped near the Golf course at Seaton Carew and along the foreshore between Seaton Carew and Seaton Snooks. The only fire was to grassland. 6 HEs were dropped between high and low watermark, 400 yards south of Seaton Carew. They were discovered and exploded between 07.30 and 19.55 hours the next day. No damage or casualties was caused.

4 HEs dropped in the riverside area of Sunderland without exploding. One exploded at 08.05 hours and one at 08.25 hours in the river west of Wearmouth Bridge, damaging the SS "Zealous" which was beached. Another HE exploded at 11.28 hours, seriously injuring 2 RNVR men and slightly injuring police and ARP personnel. One UXB remained and was holding up the loading of 2 coaling ships.

IBs fell in the vincinity of the Tunstall Poultry Farm, Tunstall Burdon District and at Carr's Poultry farm, Ryhope.

 

[syscom3]

5 June 1942

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German Operation Drumbeat continues as U-boats sink two U.S. merchant vessels in the Atlantic and Caribbean:
- 'U-68' sinks an armed tanker in the Caribbean. All hands are lost.
- 'U-172' sinks an unarmed freighter in the Atlantic.

EASTERN FRONT: Fw. Anton "Toni" Hafner of 8./JG 51 downed 7 Russian planes to bring his score to 43 victories.

NORTH AFRICA: In The Gazala Line battles, the Germans counter-attacked; a pincer movement with 21.Panzerdivision and Ariete in the North and 15.Panzer from the south. In the evening, Major General Messervy's HQ was overrun again, and the Indian units' command and control broke down completely; 22nd Armoured Brigade was unable to provide any support, having already been withdrawn into leaguer for the night. It too had been severly handled, losing 60 tanks.

NORTH AMERICA: The U.S. declares war on Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania.

In Canada, HM MTB 315, 15th MTB Flotilla is commissioned, and Minesweepers HMCS 'Digby' and 'Truro' are launched.

UNITED KINGDOM: Operation HARPOON commences as convoy WS 19Z (Force "X") sails from the River Clyde enroute to Malta.

 

[syscom3]

6 June 1942

ATLANTIC OCEAN: The German auxiliary cruiser (Q-ship) KMS 'Stier' (Schiffe 23), - 'Raider J' to the British - sinks the 10,170-ton armed Panamanian tanker 'Stanvac Calcutta' about 500 miles (805 km) off Brazil. The USN Armed Guard aboard the tanker returned fire with a 3-inch (76.2 mm) bow gun and 4-inch (101.6 mm) after gun and the tanker was taken only after 'Stier' had expended 148 rounds of 5.9-inch (149.9 mm) ammunition and a torpedo, killing the tanker's captain and 15 of her crew. Fortunately for the Germans, they destroyed the 'Stanvac Calcutta's radio and killed her radio officer with their first salvo before a distress call could be sent. The Germans transfer 26 merchant sailors and nine USN Armed Guards to the 'Stier'; one would die of his wounds later and one died in Japanese captivity. This was the second ship sunk by 'Stier'; the first was the 4,986-ton British 'Gemstone' in the Atlantic narrows 175 miles (281.6 km) east of Brazil's St. Paul Rocks on 4 June. 'Gemstone' had been carrying a load of iron ore from Cape Town, South Africa to Baltimore, Maryland, when she was sunk. The Germans transferred 33-members of her crew to the 'Stier'. On 10 and 15 June, 'Stier' rendezvoused with the supply ship 'Charlotte Schliemann', one of the blockade-running tankers delegated to sustain her at sea. She also took the opportunity to transfer the 68 prisoners to the supply vessel. On 27 July, 'Stier' put the last of her prisoners aboard 'Charlotte Schliemann'. 'Stier' again rendezvoused with 'Charlotte Schliemann' on 27 August and transferred 37 prisoners from the British merchantman 'Dalhousie' sunk 250 miles (402.3 km) east of Trinidad. The 'Charlotte Schliemann' then set sail for Yokohama, Japan, where all of the civilian and military prisoners were transferred to the Japanese.

NORTH AFRICA: Oblt. Hans-Joachim Marseilles of 3./JG 27 was awarded the Eichenlaub for achieving 75 victories.

WESTERN FRONT: Hptm. Helmut Lent, Gruppenkommanduer of II./NJG 2, was awarded the Eichenlaub (No. Ninety-eight) after 34 night victories and 8 by day.

 

[syscom3]

7 June 1942

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Operation Drumbeat continues as German submarines sink two more unarmed U.S. merchant vessels in the Caribbean. 'U-159' sinks a freighter north of Columbia while 'U-107' sinks a freighter southeast of the Yucatan Channel.

EASTERN FRONT: 11. Armee (von Manstein) began the final assault on the Soviet fortress of Sevastopol in the Crimea. The Soviet Black Sea Fleet is involved in suppling the Russian defenders.

WESTERN FRONT: Hptm. Johannes Seifert of I./JG 26 was awarded the Ritterkreuz for 36 victories.

 

[syscom3]

8 June 1942

ATLANTIC OCEAN: The German Operation Drumbeat continues as 'U-302' torpedoes and sinks an armed merchant tanker approximately 35 miles (56 km) NE of Cape Blanco, Venezuela.

EASTERN FRONT: In severe dogfights with the veterans of the Soviet Black Sea Fleet Aviation over Sevastopol, Lt. Ludwig-Wilhelm Burckhardt of 6./JG 77 downed 2 of the Soviet fighters. Oblt. Anton Hackl of 5./JG 77 destroyed three Russian planes to bring his score to 57 victories and Hptm. Kurt Ubben of Stab III./JG 77 brought his score to 70 victories after he downed a Russian fighter during the day.

NORTH AMERICA: The European Theater of Operations US Army (ETOUSA) is established by presidential directive. Major General James E. Chaney is designated commander of all US forces in ETOUSA.

 

[Njaco]

9 June 1942

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Operation Drumbeat continues with German submarine sinking an armed U.S. freighter in the Caribbean, 60 miles (96.6 km) off the Honduran coast. (Syscom)

EASTERN FRONT: 6. Armee (von Paulus) launched a counterattack against advancing Soviet forces in the Kharkov area. Uffz. Wilhelm Crinius of 3./JG 53 and operating near Kursk, shot down two Russian Il-2 ground attack aircraft for his first victories.

NORTH AMERICA: In Canada, Lt Denis James Patrick RCNVR awarded Bar to George Medal.

Harbor craft HMC HC 181, 161, 155, 162, 170 177 are ordered from SG Mason Tancoak in Nova Scotia. Harbor craft HMC HC 151, 152, 153, 197, 154 169 are ordered from Palmer Williams Summerside in Prince Edward Island. (Syscom)

NORTH AFRICA: The loss of 14 Ju 87 Stuka dive-bombers during attacks against the British Gazala line in the past week, forced Field Marshall Albert Kesselring to plan a very large air attack against the British stronghold of Bir Hacheim. The first wave of aircraft in the morning were turned back because of heavy smoke and dust over the target area. At noon, a second formation containing 124 Ju 87s and 76 Ju 88s escorted by 168 Bf 109s attacked the Allied positions. Oblt. Hans-Joachim Marseilles of 3./JG 27 destroyed 4 British aircraft during the day's heavy combats.

 

[Njaco]

10 June 1942

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Operation Drumbeat continues off the U.S. coast as German submarines sink three merchant vessels:
- 'U-157' sinks a U.S. armed tanker and a U.S. unarmed freighter off Cuba
- 'U-68' sinks a British motor vessel in the Caribbean. (Syscom)

EASTERN FRONT: 6. Armee forced the withdrawl of Soviet forces from the Kharkov area and the German forces captured Volchansk and Kupyansk.

GERMANY: The entire town of Lidice in the (then) Protectorate Bohemia and Moravia was destroyed by the Germans . This was one of many reprisal actions for the recent assassination of Reinhard Tristan Eugen Heydrich in Prague on May 27. The entire population was rounded up, and all men over sixteen years of age were put in a barn. They were shot the next day. Another nineteen men, who were working in a mine, along with seven women, were sent to Prague, where they were also shot. The remaining women were shipped to the Ravensbruck concentration camp, where about a quarter of them died in the gas chambers or from overwork. The children were taken to the Gneisenau concentration camp, where they were sorted by racial criteria, and those deemed suitable for Aryanization were shipped to Germany. The village itself was razed and bulldozed. All together, about 250 people died in the Nazi reprisal in Lidice. The death toll for all victims in the effort to avenge the death of Heydrich is estimated at 1,300. Lidice became an international symbol for Nazi tyranny - although hundreds of similar villages were likewise destroyed in Belarus and other German occupied territory. May all the victims rest in peace and may the murderers not be forgotten. (Syscom)

MEDITTERANEAN: Operation Harpoon involves a convoy from Gibraltar to Malta, under Admiral Curteis. His escort forces include 1 battleship, 2 carriers, 4 cruisers, and 17 destroyers and 6 merchant ships. There are also several merchant ships sailing independently. Admiral Vian leaves Alexandria with another convoy for Malta under Operation Vigorous. The 11 merchant ships are escorted by 8 cruisers and 26 destroyers. (Syscom)

NORTH AFRICA: German forces in North Africa fight their way out of their defensive position, known as the "Cauldron".

The Geschwaderkommodore of JG 27, Oblt. Bernhard Woldenga was promoted to the first of the staff postings which would eventually elevate him to the position of Jafu Balkan. He had not added to his score since 4 victories achieved in Russia. In fact, ill health had prevented him from leading the Geschwader on operations over the desert. He did, however, leave one tangible memento of his time as CO of the Geschwader - a Stab emblem based on the shield he had earlier designed for I./JG 1. The main difference was that the three small Bf 109 silhouettes were now pointing upwards. Critics of the original badge had expressed the view that the nose-down attitude of its three fighters suggested that they were fleeing!

Oblt. Woldenga's departure set in train a whole string of new appointments. Major Eduard Neumann replaced him as Geschwaderkommodore, Hptm. Gerhard Homuth became Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 27 and Oblt. Hans-Joachim Marseilles took over as Staffelkapitaen of 3./JG 27.

NORTH AMERICA: An additional Lend-Lease Agreement is signed in Washingon, DC. Secretary of State Hull signs for the US and Foreign Minister Maxim Litvinov signs for the USSR. (Syscom)

The USN establishes Project Sail at NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island, for the airborne testing and associated work on Magnetic Anomaly Detection (MAD) equipment. (Syscom)

Minesweeper HMCS 'Port Arthur' arrived Halifax from Montreal.

 

[Njaco]

11 June 1942

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarines mine areas off the U.S. east coast. 'U-87' mines waters off Boston, Massachusetts, and 'U-373' mines the waters off Delaware Bay between New Jersey and Delaware. (Syscom)

NORTH AMERICA: The United States and the Soviet Union sign a lend-lease agreement to aid the Soviet war effort. (Syscom)

NORTH AFRICA: The British stronghold at Bir Hacheim finally fell under the weight of Luftwaffe air attacks, securing the German rear area and allowing Rommel to concentrate against the British retreating towards Egypt. After more than 2 weeks of fierce attack and counter-attack, British forces pulled out of the "Knightsbridge" box.

 

[Njaco]

12 June 1942

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Operation Drumbeat continues off the coast of the U.S. as German submarines sink two more armed U.S. merchant vessels. A tanker bound for Portland, Maine, is sunk by 'U-158' in the Gulf of Mexico 20 miles east of Trinity Shoals Gas Buoy while a steamship is sunk by 'U-159' in the Caribbean off the coast of Panama. (Syscom)

German submarine 'U-701' mines the waters off Cape Henry, Virginia. (Syscom)

EASTERN FRONT: Oblt. Egon Albrecht was appointed Staffelkapitaen of 1./ZG 1.

MEDITERRANEAN: By mid-June 1942, Malta's supply situation had deteriorated. The Luftwaffe had joined the Regia Aeronautica to isolate and starve the island and it had become untenable as a offensive base. Axis armies had advanced into Egypt and Crete, thereby aquiring their own advance bases and denying the British safety over much of the eastern Med.

The British Meditteranean Fleet was reinforced with forces available from the Indian Ocean, for the passage of two 2 simultaneaous Malta convoys - one from Gibraltar (Operation Harpoon), the other from Egypt (Operation Vigorous). Ships were sent from Kilindini, Kenya to Haifa to cover the eastern convoy, including the 4 Australian N Class destroyers, HMAS "Norman", HMAS "Napier", HMAS "Nestor", and HMAS "Nizam". These formed the 7th Destroyer Flotilla. The Operation Harpoon force of 6 escorted merchantmen passed through the Strait of Gibraltar covered by the battleship "Malaya", carriers "Argus" and "Eagle", cruisers "Kenya", "Charybdis", "Liverpool" and destroyers. The Luftwaffe took notice of the convoys. A merchant ship was damaged by air attacks and had to divert to Tobruk. Another merchant ship, sent to Tobruk due to engine trouble, was sunk by further air attacks.

Thirteen USAAF B-24s of the HALPRO detachment (the bombing detachment for the China-Burma- India Theater) under command of Colonel Harry A Halverson enroute from US to China take off during the night of 11/12 June from Fayid, Egypt to bomb oil fields at Ploesti, Rumania. Only 12 attack at dawn; four of the 13 land at a base in Iraq which was designated for recovery of the flight, three land at other Iraq fields, two land in Syria, and four are interned in Turkey. Though damage to the target is negligible, the raid is significant because it is the first USAAF combat mission in the European- African-Middle East (EAME) Theater in World War II, and the first strike at a target which later will be famous. (Syscom)

After escorting convoy AT.49 to Tobruk destroyer HMS 'Grove' with only one screw operating runs aground near Raz Azzaz. Despite being able to refloat she is reduced to 8 knots and is torpedoed and sunk by 'U-77'. There are 110 casualties and 80 survivors. (Syscom)

NORTH AFRICA: Rommel's breakout continues. The British Guards Brigade maintains heavy pressure on the Germans. The British have lost 100 tanks. German tank losses are also severe but the Germans are better at tank repair. British General Neil Ritchie faced facts and ordered the 8th Army to abandon the remains of the Gazala line before Rommel could destroy his army. The 1st South African and 50th Division pulled out. The question was whether or not to hold Tobruk. General Sir Claude Auchinleck, theatre commander, insisted on holding the port. Meanwhile, Rommel's weary Afrika Korps tried to cut the coast road, but was stopped by point-blank fire from 25 pounder guns. Rommel signaled; "It is my intention to take Tobruk in a coup de main."

 

[Njaco]

13 June 1942

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Operation Drumbeat continues as the German submarine 'U-159' sinks an armed U.S. merchant freighter in the Caribbean east of the Panama Canal. (Syscom)

'U-157' (Type IXC) is sunk at 1600hrs northeast of Havana, Cuba, in position 24.13N, 82.03W, by depth charges from the US Coast Guard cutter USS 'Thetis'. 52 dead (all crew lost). (Syscom)

EASTERN FRONT: The Soviet Navy lists submarine Shch-405 Baltic Fleet off Seskar Island (mined off Someri Island). (Syscom)

GERMANY: At Peenemunde Albert Speer, General Adolf Galland, and General Milch watched a demonstration flight of the Me 163A with 3 aircraft in a formation take-off.

MEDITERRANEAN: The Operation Vigorous convoy force of 11 ships and their escorts sailed from Haifa and Port Said, and were met off Tobruk by Rear-Admiral Philip Vian's Med Fleet cruiser Force A with 7 light cruisers and 17 destroyers. The total escorting force now comprised 8 cruisers and 26 destroyers supported by corvettes and minesweepers, along with the old battleship "Centurion" which, disarmed between the wars, had been refitted with AA guns. Two British battleships had been sunk in Alexandria harbour in Dec. 1941 (HMS "Queen Elizabeth" and HMS "Valiant") so no battleship was available to provide cover except for "Centurion". 9 submarines were deployed as a screen at Taranto. The convoy sailed through "Bomb Alley", between German-occupied Crete and North Africa and came under intense bomb, torpedo and surface attacks almost as soon as the convoy had left Alexandria. Early Axis attacks were concentrated on the cruisers and the 11 ships of the convoy but later the destroyers became the principle targets.

NORTH AFRICA: In the battle for Tobruk, German tanks and AA batteries (88mm) of the Afrika Korps destroyed 138 Allied tanks, leaving the British 8th Army with only 75 armoured vehicles operational. British and South African troops pull out of the Gazala Line.

NORTH AMERICA: The German submarine 'U-584' lands four agents at Amagansett, Long Island, New York, but they are seen by a young U.S. Coastguardsman who reports the incident which alerts U.S. officials. (Syscom)

US Army - First issue of "Yank" is published. (Syscom)

Long Range Navigation (LORAN) equipment is given its first airborne test by the USN. The receiver is mounted in the nonrigid airship K-2 and, in a flight from NAS Lakehurst, New Jersey, accurately determines position when the airship was over various identifiable objects. The test culminated with the first LORAN homing from a distance 50 to 75 miles (80.5 to 120.7 km) offshore during which the LORAN operator gave instructions to the airship's pilot which brought them over the shoreline near Lakehurst on a course that caused the pilot to remark, "We weren't just heading for the hanger. We were headed for the middle of the hanger." The success of these tests lead to immediate action to obtain operational LORAN equipment. (Syscom)

 

[syscom3]

14 June 1942

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Operation Drumbeat continues as German U-boats sink two unarmed U.S. merchant vessels in the Caribbean. A bulk carrier is sunk by 'U-172' about 200 miles (321.9 km) north of Cristobal, Canal Zone and 'U-161' sinks a freighter east of Nicaragua.

 

[syscom3]

15 June 1942

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Operation Drumbeat continues as German submarines sink three more U.S. merchant vessels in the Atlantic and Caribbean. 'U-502' sinks two ships, an unarmed freighter northwest of Trinidad and an armed freighter 150 miles (241.4 km) east-southeast of Punta Herrero, Mexico; and 'U-126' sinks an unarmed freighter west of Grenada.

Two armed U.S. tankers in convoy KN-109 strike mines laid by 'U-701'. One ship strikes a mine off Virginia Beach, Virginia, while the second strikes a mine in the entrance to Chesapeake Bay.

EASTERN FRONT: The Soviet Navy lists submarine M-95 Baltic Fleet off Gogland Island (mined off Suuraari Island).

MEDITTERANEAN: Tribal class destroyer HMS 'Bedouin' is damaged by surface gunfire and an aircraft launched torpedo, which hits the engine room and blows the ship in two. There are 28 casualties, but 213 survivors rescued by an Italian hospital ship become POW's. Location SW of Pantellaria 36 12N 11 38E.

Whilst escorting convoy Vigourous, HMS 'Hasty' is attacked by a force of S-Boats from Crete: and takes a (torpedo?) hit from S-55 which damages her so seriously that she had to be sunk. Location SE of Crete at 34 10N 22 00E.

NORTH AFRICA: The 15.Panzerdivision blocks the road east of Tobruk, but are too late to catch the South Africian Division. The 21.Panzer reaches Sidi Rezegh by evening.

UNITED KINGDOM: Major General Carl Spaatz, Commanding General of the USAAF's 8th Air Force, arrives in the UK. The VIII Bomber Command takes a significant step toward development of the organization for control of combat operations by establishing the 1st Bombardment Wing (Provisional) at Brampton Grange, England.

 

[syscom3]

16 June 1942

MEDITTERANEAN: Whilst escorting the Vigourous convoy, cruiser HMS 'Hermione' is torpedoed and sunk by 'U-205' South of Crete at 33 30N 26 10E ,and destroyer HMS 'Nestor' which had also been operating with the Vigourous convoy was disabled in an attack by Ju 87s and had to be taken in tow. After the tow had broken twice and after receiving warnings of S-boat activity, it was decided to scuttle 'Nestor' S of Crete at 33 36N 24 27E.

NORTH AFRICA: The British retreat from El Adam conceding any chance of moving west of Tobruk.

NORTH AMERICA: The U.S. Congress authorizes an increase in the USN's airship strength to 200 airships.

 

[Njaco]

17 June 1942

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German Operation Drumbeat continues with 'U-129' sinking an armed U.S. freighter off the north coast of Cuba. Off Virginia Beach, Virginia, a U.S. collier in a convoy is sunk by a mine laid by 'U-701'. (Syscom)

MEDITTERANEAN: After parting company with convoy HG.74, destroyer HMS 'Wild Swan' is damaged in an air attack by Ju 87s and sinks after colliding with a Spanish fishing vessel (three of which also sank after being hit by the aircraft) S of Bantry Bay at lat.49 52N long. 10 44W. (Syscom)

NORTH AFRICA: The British 4th Armored Brigade loses 30% of its tanks in an attack on Sidi Rezegh. (Syscom)

At dawn over the desert, a brace each of Tomahawks and Hurricanes, claimed near Gambut attacking German panzers in the Lybian desert, took the Staffelkapitaen of 3./JG 27, Oblt. Hans-Joachim Marseilles' score to 99. He was exhausted and ready to call it a day but encouraged by the other three members of his schwarm; "Come on, Joachim, now for the hundreth!", he felt honorbound to oblige. A lone hurricane shot down into an AA emplacement south of Gambut airfield made Oblt. Marseilles only the 11th LW fighter pilot to reach the century mark -but the first to achieve this total solely against the western Allies. He even found time to go into a steep climb 3 minutes after dispatching the low-level Hurricane in order to add number 101 (a high flying Photo-recon Spitfire, which, if identified correctly, was the first for the Geschwader since the Battle of Britain), before returning to Ain-el-Gazala, which I./JG 27 had re-occuppied just 24 hours earlier. The "Star of Afrika" destroyed the 6 Allied aircraft, all within the space of 10 minutes. Returning to base, Oblt. Marseilles was so tired and weary looking that his commander, Major Neumann, ordered him,

"You are going on leave, at once!"

Marseilles objected, stating the need for fighters against the British retreat, but Major Neumann responded,

"You're off! You've been summoned to the Fuerher's HQ."

He immediately went on a 2 month leave. That evening 21.Panzerdivision swung north to face the coast road and the coast. Rommel himself led the drive, which reached the RAF Gambut base by 22.00 hours, catching 15 servicable aircraft and their fuel on the ground. Half an hour after midnight, Rommel's tanks reached the coast. Tobruk was cut off. Leaving behind a garrison of some 30,000 troops, the British 8th Army withdrew from Tobruk.

NORTH AMERICA: German submarine 'U-202' lands four agents on Ponte Verdra Beach south of Jacksonville, Florida. These agents are part of the team that landed on Long Island on 13 June. (Syscom)

YANK, the weekly magazine for the U.S. armed services, begins publication. (Syscom)

 

[Njaco]

18 June 1942

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Operation Drumbeat continues with the submarine 'U-124' sinking an armed U.S. merchant freighter in the Atlantic east of Newfoundland. (Syscom)

EASTERN FRONT: Infantry units of 11. Armee (von Manstein) broke into the outer defenses of the fortress of Sevastopol in the Crimea. 7./JG 54 was shifted to Kotly and assigned with the task of providing German minesweepers in the Gulf of Finland with fighter cover.

MEDITERRANEAN: On 15 June 1942, a Do 24T-2 of Seenotstaffel 7 took off from Suda on a rescue mission of a downed Bf 109 in the ocean. Chancing upon an Allied convoy, the plane was attacked by escorting RAF fighters. After taking hits, the Dornier managed to elude the fighters and locate the Bf 109 whose pilot, Lt. Heinrich Hesse of 7./JG 53, had been lying in a lifeboat for 24 hours after being shot down by a SAAF fighter. While trying to take off with the rescued pilot, the Dornier lost its tail when it was slammed onto the sea by rough waves. Although the tail section was missing the plane was still able to float and the crew were unharmed. After 8 hours afloat, they were sighted by a He 111 who directed the submarine 'U-83' to the diabled seaplane. The crew were rescued and the plane sunk with cannon fire. On 18 June the 'U-83' docked in the harbour at Messina, Italy with its rescued cargo. The submarine commander recieved the Ritterkreuz for his part in the rescue of the 2 aircrews. The crews were surprised when they emerged from the sub to see another boat with the crew of Do 24T-2 'CH+EW' that had also had trouble and had to leave their aircraft behind.

NORTH AFRICA: Before he left for Berlin and rest, Oblt. Marseille of 3./JG 27 was informed that he had been awarded the Schwerter to his Ritterkreuz, only 2 weeks after being awarded the Eichenlaub and the reason for his being summoned to Hitler's HQ. Marseille departed in a Ju 52/3m for Berlin. Before he left, word was reached at the JG 27 base that the RAF base at Gambut had fallen. Now Rommel could use the Luftwaffe for his final assault on Tobruk. Rommel's troops spent the day clearing out pockets of resistance outside the Tobruk perimeter. Rommel moved his 2 German and 1 Italian armoured divisions up to attack the seaside fortress.

NORTH AMERICA: British PM Churchill arrives in Washington, DC for a US-UK summit meeting. Discussions concern the 2nd Front in 1942. Churchill raises the idea of invading French North Africa when it becomes obvious that "Sledgehammer" will not be possible during 1942. The future of Atomic Research is also discussed. Decisions are made for both the US and UK to share the research. (Syscom)

The U.S. Navy commissions its first black officer, Harvard University medical student Bernard Whitfield Robinson. (Syscom)

 

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19 June 1942

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Operation Drumbeat continues. German submarine 'U-161' shells a U.S. schooner 8 miles (12.9 km) southeast of Puerto Rico. A U.S. patrol plane flies over and the sub submerges but the vessel sinks. 'U-701' sinks USN district patrol vessel YP-389 off a Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, mine area.

 

[syscom3]

20 June 1942

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Operation Drumbeat continues in the Atlantic. German submarine 'U-128' sinks an armed U.S. merchant freighter 120 miles (193.1 km) southeast of Barbados.

EASTERN FRONT: The Germans reach Sevastopol Harbor after heavy fighting.

NORTH AFRICA: Rommel begins his attack of Tobruk with heavy dive-bomber attacks. The ground forces advance quickly and will breach the main positions by afternoon. Evening finds German forces at the harbor.

NORTH AMERICA: Major General James E. Chaney, Commanding General European Theater of Operations U.S. Army (ETOUSA), is recalled from the UK and will be replaced by Brigadier General Dwight D. Eisenhower. General George C. Marshall's letter of instruction to Eisenhower reveals a plan to integrate all US air units in the UK into the 8th Air Force. The broad objective of the USAAF in the ETO is to attain "air supremacy over Western Continental Europe" in preparation for a future invasion of the Continent.