This day in the war in Europe 65 years ago

29 May 1943

GERMANY: 292 Lancasters, 185 Halifaxes, 118 Stirlings, 113 Wellingtons and 11 Mosquitoes attacked Wuppertal, 33 aircraft lost. This attack was aimed at the Barmen half of the long and narrow town of Wurrertal and was the outstanding success of the Battle of the Ruhr. Both Pathfinder marking and Main Force bombing was particularly accurate and a large fire area developed in the narrow streets of the old centre of the town. It is probable that this fire was so severe that the first small form of what would later become known as a 'firestorm' developed. Because it was a Saturday night, many of the town's fire and air raid officials were not present, having gone to their country homes for the weekend and the fire services of the town, in their first raid, were not able to control the fires. Approximately 1000 acres, possibly 80% of Barmen's built up area, was destroyed by fire. 5 out of the town's 6 largest factories, 211 other industrial premises and nearly 4,000 houses were completely destroyed. The number of buildings classed as seriously damaged, 71 industrial and 1,800 domestic, indicates the high proportion of complete destruction. Various figures were given for the number of people killed but our expert on Ruhr raids, Norbert Kruger, advises that the figure of 'approximately 3,400' was the nearest reasonable estimate. The above figures indicate that the property damage in this raid was about twice as severe as any previous raid on a German city while the number of people killed in this comparatively unprepared backwater of the Ruhr was about 5 times greater than any previous city raid.The Bf 110s of NJG 1 along with the Fw 190s and Bf 109s of NJVK intercepted the formations of RAF bombers attacking Wuppertal. Many of the bombers were shot down during the 20 mile run through the guns of the Kammhuber Line, ground-controlled "boxes" patrolled by Luftwaffe night-fighters. Many Nachtjagders added to their scores including Hptm. Manfred Meuer, Staffelkapitaen of 3./NJG 1, who destroyed 4 RAF bombers during the combat. Two Halifaxes were brought down by pilots from Major Hajo Herrmann's NJVK. The raid killed 2,450 civilians and left 118,000 homeless. Over 80% of the city was destroyed as 1000s acres of the city were burned out in a firestorm.

WESTERN FRONT: The USAAF's VIII Bomber Command in England flies Mission Number 61: 169 B-17 Flying Fortresses are dispatched against the submarine pens and locks at Saint-Nazaire, France; 147 aircraft hit the target at 1706-1711 hours local and claim 6-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft; eight B-17s are lost. In two other raids, 72 B-17s are dispatched against the Rennes, France naval depot; 57 hit the target at 1601-1605 hours and claim 19-5-14 Luftwaffe aircraft; six B-17s are lost. In the third raid, 38 B-24 Liberators are dispatched against the U-boat yards at La Pallice, France; 34 hit the target without any casualties on either side.

Seven YB-40s, heavily armoured B-17s with increased firepower for escorting bombers, flew their first mission. YB-40s showed an inability to keep up with B-17s after they dropped their bombs and the need for modification of waist and tail gun feeds and ammunition supplies. US 327th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 92d Bombardment Group (Heavy), based at Alconbury, flew its first mission with the YB-40 to St. Nazaire, France.

12 Venturas bombed Caen airfield without loss.

UNITED KINGDOM: A damaged Sunderland flying boat of No. 461 Sqdn., RAAF, is successfully landed on an airfield in South Wales. This is one of the first occasions on which a flying-boat has been put down safely on land.

INDIAN OCEAN: At 1937, the unescorted 'Hopetarn' was torpedoed and sunk by 'U-198' about 450 miles east of Durban. Six crewmembers and one gunner were lost. The second officer was taken prisoner by the U-boat, landed at Bordeaux on 24 September and taken to the POW camp Milag Nord. The master, 28 crewmembers and seven gunners were picked up two days later by the British merchantman 'Nirvana' and landed at Durban on 3 June.

NORTH AMERICA: Rosie the Riveter appears on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post.

MEDITERRANEAN: In Sicily during the night, Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF) Wellingtons bombed the town areas, docks, and airfield at Castelvetrano, Bo Rizzo, Trapani, and Marsala. In Sardinia, NASAF P-38s bombed Porto Ponte Romano.

P-40s, P-38s, and B-26s of NASAF and Northwest African Tactical Air Force (NATAF) attacked gun positions, a radar station, and town area on Pantelleria Island.

21 year old Uffz. Kurt Selle of 9./JG 77 was lost. Escorting re-supply Ju 52s, the engine of his Bf 109G-6 'Yellow 9' suddenly seized. Selle had no choice but to attempt a ditching in the Mediterranean but struck rocks off El Tavolara. The pilot died instantly.

EASTERN FRONT: Lt. Erwin Fleig, Staffelkapitaen of 2./JG 51 and a 66 victory experte is forced to bail out of his damaged Bf 109 during combat with Russian fighters. He lands uninjured in enemy territory and is captured becoming a POW.

30 May 1943

UNITED KINGDOM: Twenty children and 5 adults were killed when a bomb hit a church in Torquay, England dropped by German raiders.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: The 'Flora MacDonald', escorted by armed trawler HMS 'Fandango', was hit by one torpedo from 'U-126'. The torpedo struck on the port side in the engine room, killing the third assistant engineer and a fireman. The explosion opened a large hole that immediately flooded the engine room, stopped the engines and caused the ship to settle by the stern. A fire started in the #3 hold and flames, shooting 40 feet in the air, quickly trapped some of the men in their quarters. The surviving crewmembers of the eight officers, 36 men, 24 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 5in and nine 20mm guns) and two passengers abandoned ship in six lifeboats and two rafts. Five of these men suffered severe burns. The fire raged out of control and spread to the #2 and #4 holds and the entire midships house. The armed trawler picked up the survivors and decided to head to Freetown, so the badly burned men could be treated. Three of them died on board and the other two died in the hospital in Freetown from their burns. 20 men were hospitalized. At 1430 the next day, tug HMS 'Zwarte Zee', escorted by sloop HMS 'Milford' and corvettes HMS 'Woodruff' and 'Tamarisk', took the still burning vessel in tow for Freetown at 5.5 knots. At 1800 on 1 June, they beached the ship in Freetown Harbor where the cargo of rubber was salvaged. The Liberty ship burned for 16 days and was later declared a total loss.

'U-418' fought off an RAF No. 210 Sqn Catalina aircraft. The aircraft made it home but was so "holed" that she sank on landing. Later salvaged. The boat was most probably 'U-418', which was lost shortly afterwards.

'U-459' shot down an RAF No. 10 Sqn Whitley.

WESTERN FRONT: Vichy broadcast an announcement that the French naval squadron at Alexandria had gone over to the Allies.

27 RAF aircraft conducted minelaying off Biscay ports.

Towards evening, Oblt. Wurm of 1./SAGr 128 downed a Liberator at 20:54 hours in the area north of the Brest peninsula. His victim was probably from RAF No. 224 Sqdrn. Ofw. Vincenz Giessuebel of 14./KG 40 made a claim for a Liberator northwest of Brest and this was possibly related to Oblt. Wurm's victory.

Stabs-Fw. Fritz Stritzel of Stab I./JG 2 was listed as missing in action against the Allies and presumed killed. He died with a final victory score of 19 enemy aircraft destroyed.

Pilot Uffz. Berg and crew member Obfw. Wirths took off in a Bf 110G-4 belonging to 7./NJG 3 from Fliegerhorst København – Kastrup at 14:05 hours for a calibration flight for a radar station in the Skagerak. When finshed with the calibration they sighted an "English" freight ship and attacked. The ship fired back with flak and the Bf 110 was hit and the engines stopped. The aircraft ditched in the Skagerak at 16:10 hours and the crew survived long enough to be rescued after a long stay in the water. Obfw. Wirths was taken to the Lazarett, Copenhagen where he stayed until 30 June.

MEDITERRANEAN: In Italy, B-24s hit Foggia Airfield, damaging buildings and hangars, and destroying several aircraft. P-38s bombed the Chilivani railway station and marshalling yard, hit port and railroad at Aranci. B-17s bombed the Pomigliano aircraft factory and landing ground and Capodichino Airfield and marshalling yard.

During the night, Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF) Wellingtons bombed Pantelleria Island. The following morning medium bombers and fighters also hit the island. Northwest African Tactical Air Force (NATAF) fighters hit Pantelleria Island. B-25s attacked concentrations on the NE slope of the Island.

31 May 1943

MEDITERRANEAN: The US 15th Air Force hit the Italian airfields at Foggia, destroying large numbers of aircraft.

In Italy, Royal Air Force (RAF) heavy bombers, including Liberators of No. 178 Squadron under operational control of the IX Bomber Command, bombed oil stores, harbor, and seaplane base at Augusta. Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF) B-17s bombed the airfield and marshalling yard at Foggia. In Sardinia, P-38s bombed Cagliari, a factory at Guspini, and a power station at Santa Caterina.

NASAF medium bombers and fighters hit defended positions on Pantelleria Island. Northwest African Tactical Air Force (NATAF) P-40s also hit positions on the island.

GERMANY: Admiral Dönitz transfered responsibility for naval armaments to Albert Speer's ministry.

Chronic shortages were biting deeper into German civilian morale. Today the government announced a cut in the weekly meat ration from 12 to nine ounces, and the SS, in one of its regular secret reports, noted on 6 May that despite stiff penalties bartering was increasing. This was not surprising, given the lack of consumer goods. An SS report on 17 May expressed concern at the consequences of a shortage of alarm clocks: arms workers and miners, exhausted from long hours and frequent air raids, were sleeping through early shifts.

NORTH AFRICA: Generals de Gaulle and Giraud began talks on a provisional government of France. It was also announced that Rear Admiral Rene Emile Godfroy's naval squadron, immobilized at Alexandria, joined Giraud's forces on 7 May.

The Egyptian Cabinet voted to resume diplomatic relations with Russia.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: 'U-440' was sunk in the North Atlantic NW of Cape Ortegal, Spain, by depth charges from an RAF No. 201 Sqn Sunderland. 'U-563' was sunk in the Bay of Biscay SW of Brest, by depth charges from RAF No. 58 and No. 228 Sqn Halifaxes and an RAAF No. 10 Sqn Sunderland.

WESTERN FRONT: The Danish resistance blows up an engine shed at Toender as sabotage mounts, despite Danish King's appeal for a halt.

A III./KG 101 Fw 190 crashed at an unknown location, causing 10% damage. Two Fw 190s were sent to Beauvais and St. Andre. During the day Oblt. Homann, Technical Officer of III./KG 101 sent a strength report. The Gruppe had 36 pilots and the Fw 190A-3 that had crashed was being repaired, having suffered a burst hydraulic pipe. Two Fw 190A-5s were handed over to JG 2 at Beaumont le Roger. Stab./JG 2 was based at this airfield and had recieved 3 Fw 190A-5s from other units, I./JG 2 had recieved one Fw 190A-5 and III./JG 2 had recieved 12 Fw 190A-5s from other units.

The squadrons of 2 Group despatched 54 aircraft on 5 raids on this, the last day before the group left Bomber Command.

30 Venturas were despatched - 12 to attack Zeebrugge power station, 12 to Caen airfield and 6 to Cherbourg docks. 12 Mitchells bombed a shipyard at Flushing. All of these raids were successful. The only casualty was a Mitchell of 180 Squadron which ditched in the sea. 3 of its crew were picked up safely but Flight Sergeant A.W.Wood, the New Zealand wireless operator, died - the last casualty suffered by 2 Group with Bomber Command. 12 Bostons sent to attack a power station in France were not able to reach the target. 27 aircraft went minelaying off Biscay ports without loss.

The approximate number of Raf Bomber Command aircrew lost during May 1943, killed or POW, was 1579.

UNITED KINGDOM: SS 'Catford' (1,568t) on a voyage from London to the Tyne was sunk by a mine, off the Humber.

Between 01:44 and 01:49 hours 8 photo flash bombs fell south of Bristol, one of which, having failed to ignite, was recovered unburnt at Winford.

EASTERN FRONT: The Gruppenkommandeir of II./JG 51, Hptm. Josef Fozo was badly injured in a take-off accident and ended his combat career in hospital. He had destroyed 24 enemy aircraft during the war along with 3 victories in the Condor Legion.

1 June 1943

MEDITERRANEAN: An attack by Wellingtons against Pantelleria Island during the night was followed by Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF) P-38s and B-17s while Northwest Tactical Air Force (NATAF) P-40s attacked gun positions on the island during the day.

In Italy, NASAF P-40s strafed the seaplane base on Stagnone Island and P-38s bombed the railroad near Balesrate. In Sardinia, P-38s, B-26s, and B-25s, bombed Porto Torres harbor, Porto Ponte Romano and Olbia harbor.

III./JG 77 was ordered to take up residence at the airfield of Chilivani near Olbia to provide aerial cover in concert with II./JG 51 from Allied bombing raids on Italian ports and airfields. An airfield with reasonable facilities, the pilots recalled above all the intense heat of the Mediterranean summer. Uffz. Helmut Schwarzenhoelzer remembered;

"On Sardinia we were accommodated under canvas and the stifling heat was unbearable. Temperatures reached 40 degrees plus on the ground in the broiling sun while at altitude in the cockpits of our 109s, temperatures could fall as low as minus 20...."

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UNITED KINGDOM: RAF No. 315 (Polish) Squadron arrived at Hutton Cranswick (12 Group), Yorkshire, where it received "new" Spitfire VB and VCs. RAF No. 350 (Belgian) squadron reaches full strength at Acklington with the addition of R. Bladt and A. Van Wersch.

Army Co-operation Command was disbanded and the 2d Tactical Air Force was formed in the United Kingdom under command of Air Marshal J.H. D'Albiac.

Eden announced that Empire casualties in first three years of war were 92,089 killed, 226,719 missing, 88,294 wounded and 107,891 captured.

EASTERN FRONT: The Soviets raid airfields and facilities at Smolensk, Orel and Bryansk in an attempt to disrupt the German buildup for the Kursk Offensive.

Submarine "Sch-406" of the Baltic Fleet and Ladoga Flotilla was sunk by aviation and surface ships gunfire, close to Porkallan-Kallboda lighthouse. GB "KL-12" (ex-"Kalyaev") was lost by field artillery, close to Vasilisin Is., on Onega Lake.

Major Seifert of I./JG 26 was ordered to give up command of his Gruppe and take a position on the staff of a German mission to Bulgaria. Unknown to Seifert, his mother had invoked the "last surviving son" rule when his brother Gerhard was killed in February. She requested his removal from combat.

The Staffelkapitaen of 4./JG 3, Lt. Wolf Ettel was finally awarded the Ritterkruez after achieving 120 kills against the Russians. Heinz Leber of JG 51 was killed in action with afinal victory tally of 54 destroyed planes.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Germany began operations with a U-boat festooned with Anti-aircraft guns. Initially, the Allies were surprised by the new platform but quickly adopted newer, less risky tactics for dealing with the threat.

Britain lost an outstanding actor-director when Leslie Howard was lost presumed dead after the plane he was travelling in disappeared over the Bay of Biscay. The British airliner, a Douglas DC-3-194, msn 1590, owned by KLM (Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij NV) but leased to British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) as G-AGBB, left Lisbon for Eire, and its last radio message was:

"Enemy aircraft attacking us."

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He was shot down by a flight of Ju-88s. Leslie Howard had been lecturing in Portugal and Spain on his films 'Pimpernel Smith' and 'The First of the Few'. As a result, 900 cinemas there were to show British films. He was 50 and universally popular. After playing Ashley Wilkes in 'Gone with the Wind' he returned to Britain, where he was the definitive Professor Higgins in the film of 'Pygmalion'. His other films include 'Of Human Bondage' and 'The Petrefied Forest'. Although it came to be believed that the real target was Howard's manager, Alfred Chenhalls, who bore a passing resemblance to Winston Churchill, it now appeared certain that Howard was the actual target. Alerted to Howard's presence in the Iberian Peninsula by German agents, Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels had ordered the plane shot down in order to silence the outspoken anti-Nazi actor.

The sloop HMS 'STARLING' and an RAF Liberator E/120 each sink a U-boat in separate actions. 'U-202' (Type VIIC) was sunk at 0030hrs southeast of Cape Farewell, Greenland, by depth charges and gunfire from the British sloop HMS 'Starling'. 'U-418' (Type VIIC) was sunk in the Bay of Biscay northwest of Cape Ortegal, Spain, by rockets from a British Beaufighter aircraft (Sqdn. 236/B).

WESTERN FRONT: 23 Wellingtons and 10 Stirlings laid mines in the Frisians, off Texel and off the Biscay ports without loss.

NORTH AFRICA: Churchill spoke to British troops gathered in the dusty heat of the Roman ampitheatre at Carthage.

NORTH AMERICA: The 477th Bombardment Group (Medium) was first activated at MacDill Field, Tampa, Florida, assigned to the Third Air Force and trained with B-26 Marauders. The four squadrons assigned were the 616th, 617th, 618th and 619th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium).

2 June 1943

ATLANTIC OCEAN: A Short Sunderland of RAAF No. 464 Squadron,was attacked over the Bay of Biscay by eight Junkers Ju 88s. The ensuing combat last for 45 minutes and the Sunderland shot down three of the attacking Ju 88s. The Sunderland was badly damaged, with one of its crew killed and three wounded. Nevertheless, the pilot, Flight Lieutenant C.B. Walker brought the aircraft safely back and was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Service Order. The combat indicated the seriousness with which the Germans viewed the Allied air threat to their U-boats transiting the Bay of Biscay from their French coastal ports. The Germans deployed long range Junkers Ju 88s of KG 40 and shorter ranged Focke Wulf Fw 190 fighters to try to combat the threat of Allied aircraft. In response the Royal Air Force (RAF) deployed Bristol Beaufighter and later de Havilland Mosquito squadrons to try to counter the threat of German interceptors. The patrols became known as Instep operations. The RAF lost 15 aircraft in patrols over the Bay of Biscay during June 1943. 4 Junkers Ju 88s were claimed as destroyed by Instep patrols.

'U-105' (Type IXB) was sunk near Dakar, by depth charges from a one-of-a-kind French Potez-CAMS 141 flying boat named "Antarés" of Flotille d'exploration 4E, French Naval Air Force. The 4-engine flying boat that sank 'U-105' was the only one of that design built. The aircraft, named after a star as tradition in the French Navy, was based at Dakar and she sank the boat after a 2 hour chase.

'U-521' (Type IXC) was sunk in the North Atlantic southeast of Baltimore by depth charges from the US submarine chaser PC 565.

WESTERN FRONT: 21 Wellingtons and 14 Stirlings laid mines off the Biscay ports without loss.

EASTERN FRONT: Luftwaffe raiders bombard Soviet positions at Kursk. The Red Air Force bombed Kiev and Roslavl. The Russians claimed 162 "kills" for the loss of 30 planes.

MEDITERRANEAN: The British destroyer HMS 'Jervis' and the Greek ship 'Vasilissa Olga' attacked an Italian convoy, sinking the torpedo boat 'Castore' and two merchant ships.

In a message aimed at Allied bombing strategists, Pope Pius XII appealed to the warring nations to observe the "laws of humanity" in air warfare. He implicitly condemned the routine targeting of civilians in "terror" bombing campaigns, although he did not comment on German bombing.

During the night, Wellingtons of Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF) hit Pantelleria Island in the Mediterranean and dropped pamphlets on Naples, Italy. Fighters and medium bombers hit Pantelleria during the following morning and afternoon. P-38s attacked the airfield at Milo, Sicily while P-40s strafed targets of opportunity in Sardinia.

NORTH AMERICA: Famed American football player Nile Kinnick, winner of the 1939 Heisman Trophy, died during a training flight from the USS 'Lexington' over the Caribbean. He experienced engine problems during the flight and ditched into the Caribbean. While a rescue boat arrived soon after he ditched, his body was never found.

GERMANY: A Ju 88R-2 was experimentally fitted with the enlarged squared-off tail unit of a Ju 188, becoming the Ju 88 V-58. A completely revised armament fit was introduced. Two MG 151/20 cannon were housed in the right-hand side of the nose, and 4 more located in a ventral tray under the left side of the belly. Designated Ju 88G V-1, the new version first flew in June 1943 and served as the prototype in deleting the nose mounted MG 151 cannon, as they blinded the pilot at night. The increased power of the 1,700 hp BMW 801D radials helped restore much of the type's good handling qualities. The Ju 88G-1 was the first series production version, essentially the same as the G-0.

3 June 1943

WESTERN FRONT: The French Resistance supported by British SOC agents destroyed 300 tons of tyres at the Michelin tyre factory at Clermont-Ferrand, badly damaging the facility.

A Ju 88A-4 belonging to 13./KG 30 belly landed due to engine failure at Fliegerhorst Aalborg West and was 50% damaged. An Ar 66 belonging to JG 102 made an emergency landing near Blaavand as the pilot was lost. The Ar 66 was 35% damaged but the pilot was unharmed.

24 Wellingtons and 15 Stirlings went minelaying off the Biscay ports. No losses.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: 'U-308' (Type VIIC) was sunk in the Norwegian sea northeast of the Faroes by torpedoes from the British submarine HMS 'Truculent'. '

U-594' (Type VIIC) was sunk west of Gibraltar by rockets from a British Hudson aircraft (48 Sqdn.).

German mining operations, laid by a U-boat, sink 'Halma', a cargo ship sailing under the Panamanian flag, off the coast of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

GERMANY: A tunnel was broken at OFLAG VIIB at Eichstätt which got 65 officers out, all of whom were recaptured within a matter of days but which caused such a diversion of resources as to cause the Gestapo to insist upon extermination on the next mass escape.

EASTERN FRONT: Germany launched Operation Cottbus, aiming to destroy Soviet partisans in the area of Borisov.

A Ju 88D-1 belonging to 4(F)./122 was shot down by a fighter in the Krymskaya-Krasnodar area.

UNITED KINGDOM: US HQ 5th Air Defense Wing arrived at Duxford, England from the US. This unit will be redesignated the 66th Fighter Wing in Jul 43. HQ 384th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and it's 545th Bombardment Squadron(Heavy) arrived with B-17s at Grafton Underwood, England from the US. HQ 386th Bombardment Group (Medium) and it's 552d, 553d and 554th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium) arrived with B-26s at Snetterton Heath, England from the US.

The first fruits of victory reached British shops, Algerian wine.

MEDITERRANEAN: Fighters, light and medium bombers of the Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF) and Northwest Tactical Air Force NATAF) attacked defended positions on Pantelleria Island in the Mediterranean following a raid on the town area and docks by Wellingtons during the night.

French generals Charles de Gaulle and Henri Giraud join forces in Algiers to create the French Committee of National Liberation. Their organization will act as the French authority wherever the French empire exists beyond the reach of the Nazis.

4 June 1943

MEDITERRANEAN: The bombardment from sea and air of the island of Pantelleria in the Sicilian Channel continued. During the night, Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF) Wellingtons bombed Syracuse, Sicily; Catanzaro, Italy; and Pantelleria Island in the Mediterranean, which was also hit on the following day by fighters, light, medium, and heavy bombers, of NASAF and the Northwest Tactical Air Force (NATAF).

General Henri Giraud was appointed C-in-C of the Fighting French Army.

In Italy, B-24s attacked Grottaglie Airfield, leaving hangars and other building in flames. B-24 gunners claimed 3 fighters shot down.

WESTERN FRONT: Three Ju 88s belonging to 11./KG 30 were practising formation flying in the area south of Østervraa, Denmark. When the formation turned to one side '4D+IV' turned in the opposite direction and cut the tail off '4D+HV' and both aircraft fell to the ground. A fire erupted in one engine of '4D+IV' and when it hit the ground next to a small pond some of the nearby trees were set on fire. The Ju 88 lying with the belly up continued to burn and was a 100% loss. '4D+HV' started turning round and round as it now had no tail to stabilize it and none of the crew were able to bail out. The tail fell between Skovfogedgaarden farm and St. Nejsum farm and the fuselage with the crew fell on the grounds belonging to St. Nejsom farm. Aage and Anna Bering arrived and found Air gunner Uffz. Erich Träger of '4D+IV' standing badly shaken near the wreck. He and a comrade had managed to bail out of the aircraft, but at too low an altitude. Their parachutes were caught in the branches of trees and this had saved Trägers life while his comrade had died after his body hit the trunk of a tree. Aage and Anna found the dead flyer still hanging in the tree and lowered him to the ground. When they realised that he was dead, they covered him with his parachute.Träger walked over to the nearby St. Nejsom farm and talked to Ida and Anton Jensen. They only understood two words of what he was saying: "Comrades" and "Telephone". They guided him towards the main building where he used the phone to contact Aalborg. Afterwards he returned to the crash site where he spent the rest of the afternoon sitting in one of the German trucks that arrived from Aalborg. The third Ju 88 made a couple of low passes over the area and then turned towards Aalborg. The first Germans to arrive were some elderly soldiers that were garrisoned in Østervraa. Together with civilians they tried to get the flyers out of the aircraft, but gave it up when they heard that Luftwaffe personnel were on their way towards the crash site. Instead they told the civilians to leave the site. Pilot Fw. Willi Hinka, Navigator Uffz. Herbert Schwarzer and Wop Uffz. Heinrich Messemer died and were laid to rest in Frederikshavn cemetery on 10 June 1943. Pilot Uffz. Hans-Jürgen Skopnik, Navigator Obergefreiter Karl-Heinz Müller, Wop Gefreiter Heinz-Günther Kaltenhausen and Air gunner Flieger Hans Sontopski of '4D+HV' were all laid to rest in Frederikshavn cemetery on 10 June 1943.

EASTERN FRONT: In a rare attempt at long range strategic bombing, the Germans raid the massive new Soviet tank factory at Gorki.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: The British submarine HMS 'TRUCULENT' sinks 'U-308' off the Faeroe Islands by torpedoes. All U-boat crew of 44 are lost. 'U-594' (Type VIIC) was sunk west of Gibraltar by rockets from a British Hudson aircraft (48 Sqdn.).

UNITED KINGDOM: The US 544th, 546th and 547th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 384th Bombardment Group (Heavy) arrived with B-17s at Grafton Underwood, England from the US. The group will fly it's first mission on 22 Jun. The 555th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 386th Bombardment Group (Medium) arrived at Snetterton Heath, England from the US with B-26s.

The House of Commons rejected any lifting of the economic blockade against occupied Europe.

5 June 1943

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Operations outside the North Atlantic prove to be more successful for the Germans as 'U-513' sinks 4 ships off the coast of Brazil. But losses for the German wolf packs continued. 'U-217' (Type VIID) was sunk in the mid-Atlantic by depth charges from Avenger aircraft of the US escort carrier USS 'Bogue'.

EASTERN FRONT: The Luftwaffe launched a series of heavy raids on Kursk, the pivotal point of the Russian salient which bulged dangerously into the German lines between Orel, in the north and Kharkov in the south.

Despite the withdrawal of fighter squadrons to face the growing threat of Allied bombers in the west, and the need to reinforce the Mediterranean, the Germans were able to rebuild Field Marshal von Richtohofen's Luftlotte 4 into a powerful striking force. His Stukas and Bf 109s were joined by Henschel 129 tankbusters and Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighters.

However, the Luftwaffe, like the Wehrmacht, was devoting a significant part of its strength to containing the threat posed by the Russian partisans who now had their own airstrips behind the German lines. These were used to deliver supplies and evacuate wounded partisans and peasants. A report today on the current anti-partisan Operation 'Cottbus' said that these airstrips take twin-engined aircraft.

Moscow claimed the destruction of 752 German aircraft in combat and on the ground in the week ended 5 June for loss of 212 Russian aircraft, and reported that during May the enemy had lost 2069 planes on the Eastern front.

MEDITERRANEAN: British ships kept up the heavy shelling of Pantelleria Island.

During the night, Northwest African Air Force Wellingtons hit docks and the town area of Pantelleria Island in the Mediterranean. During the day, B-25s and P-38 Lightnings extended the attack on the island, hitting mainly gun positions. German fighter opposition, extremely light at first, picked up when Bf 109s and Fw 190s appeared along with Italian fighter aircraft.

During the early morning, Royal Air Force (RAF) heavy bombers, under operational control of the IX Bomber Command, attacked the harbor at Catania, Sicily. In Sardinia, B-26s bombed Porto Ponte Romano while P-38s hit airfields at Monserrato and Capoterra.

NORTH AMERICA: Boeing engineers start preliminary studies for developing a jet-powered aircraft.

WESTERN FRONT: 12 aircraft went minelaying in the Frisians. No losses.

6 June 1943

EASTERN FRONT: SS units murder 13,000 Jewish men, women and children in five medium-sized "Aktions" throughout occupied Poland and the Ukraine.

A Ju 88D-1 belonging to 4(F)./122 failed to return from a sortie over Poti on the Black Sea coast.

MEDITERRANEAN: The bombardment of the island of Pantelleria continued into its third consecutive day. During the night, Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF) Wellingtons hit the town and docks of the Island. The following afternoon, Spitfires, P-40s, P-38s, B-26 Marauders, A-20 Havocs, A-36 Apaches, and B-25 Mitchells of the NASAF, Northwest African Tactical Air Force (NATAF) and USAAF Ninth Air Force continued pounding the island. The Allied air bombardment increased and was concentrated on coastal batteries and other gun emplacements as the second phase of air offensive against Pantelleria Island started.

In Italy, B-24's struck the harbor areas of Villa San Giovanni and Reggio di Calabria, and ferry slips and railroad yards at Messina. B-24 gunners claimed 8 fighters destroyed.

NORTH AFRICA: In a speech ironically delivered a year to the day prior to the Allied invasion of Normandy, General de Gaulle, to the Free (Fighting) French, called for a fourth republic. His appeal for "national renovation" was being taken by observers here to mean that he did not intend France to return to the pre-war constitution of the Third Republic. De Gaulle also told his audience that;

"France does not want to be liberated by others, even by her best friends. She does not want gifts. We intend win our liberty ourselves."

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WESTERN FRONT: General Franco proposes "no-bombing" zones in Europe. The Allies reject the idea as beneficial to the Axis.

7 June 1943

GERMANY: Professor Clauberg informed Himmler that experiments of using X-ray exposure for mass sterilization was nearly ready for common use, stating "…one doctor, with perhaps, ten assistants, can probably effect several hundred, if not one thousand sterilizations on a single day."

MEDITERRANEAN: For the fourth straight day, the island of Pantelleria is bombarded from sea and air. Following a night raid by Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF) Wellingtons on Pantelleria Island in the Mediterranean, heavy, medium and light bombers, and fighters of the NASAF and Northwest Tactical Air Force (NATAF) pounded the island throughout the afternoon, dropping 600 tons of bombs.

UNITED KINGDOM: HQ US 353d Fighter Group arrived at Goxhill, England from the US.

WESTERN FRONT: The Axis discovered the "Comet Line," an underground network of safe houses established in 1940 to rescue Allies trapped behind enemy lines. The houses stretched from Belgium through France, Spain, and Gibraltar.

8 June 1943

MEDITERRANEAN: The bombardment of the island of Pantelleria continued into its fifth consecutive day. Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF) Wellingtons pounded the town and docks during the night. The air offensive against the island increased during the following day as fighters, light, medium and heavy bombers of the NASAF, Northwest Tactical Air Force (NATAF) and the USAAF's Ninth Air Force continued to bomb throughout the day. The B-17s, along with medium, light, and fighter bombers, dropped almost 700 tons of bombs. B-25s of 2 groups directed their major effort at gun emplacements. A naval task force consisting of motor torpedo boats, cruisers, and destroyers carried out a full-scale bombardment of coastal batteries and the harbor's docks. Surrender requests, dropped by airplane, bring no response.

Royal Air Force (RAF) heavy bombers bombed the Messina, Italy ferry terminal. In Sardinia, P-38s attacked barracks north of Segariu and the airfield at Villacidro.

UNITED KINGDOM: The first flight of the de Havilland Mosquito Mk XVIII (HJ 732) was made today. It was equipped with a 57mm Molins gun (equivalent to a 6-pounder field gun).

Several pilots of RAF No.350 (Belgian) squadron are transferred to the reactivated 349 (Belgian) Squadron that will be led by S/Ldr Y. Du Monceau de Bergendael: C. Brahy, J. Groensteen, G. Seydel, J. Van Leerberghe, and L. Verbeeck.

9 June 1943

MEDITERRANEAN: The heavy shelling of Pantelleria Island continued for the sixth straight day, dropping more than 822 tons and the Allies say that it will go on until the island surrenders. Medium and heavy bombers, and fighters of the Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF) continued pounding the Island in predawn hours and during the afternoon.

The Axis "Operation Black" against the Yugoslavian partisans succeeded in trapping Tito and a battalion of his troops. A breakout was made which left 100 partisans dead, Tito was wounded during a German air attack and his forces scattered. However, they regrouped and fought on.

In Sicily, B-24s bombed the landing ground at Gerbini and the airfield at Catania.

EASTERN FRONT: German and Russian forces on the eastern front launched a series of probes against each other. Soviet thrusts along the Mius River gained some ground while a German attack near Lisichansk did not.

UNITED KINGDOM: RAF No. 350 (Belgian) squadron moves to Ouston Airfield.

WESTERN FRONT: 8 OTU Wellingtons went on leaflet flights to France. 1 aircraft crashed in England.

10 June 1943

EASTERN FRONT: 700 Russian night bombers attacked German positions at Yaroslavl and airfields west of Kursk; 19 were lost.

GERMANY: The possibility of an Allied invasion of Sicily was discounted in the projections of German High Command (OKW).

MEDITERRANEAN: Pantelleria was bombed for the seventh straight day and reached a crescendo. Following attacks during the night by fighter-bombers, Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF) and Northwest Tactical Air Force (NATAF) aircraft (fighters, and light, medium and heavy bombers)maintained all-day attacks on Pantelleria Island. Over 1,000 sorties were flown. B-25s, escorted by fighters, bombed the Island. The escorting fighters dive-bombed targets on the island. Sicily-based enemy aircraft appeared but failed to impede the Allied air offensive. 1,571 tons of bombs were released. It was one of the heaviest air attacks of the war up to that time. The Army Air Forces official history described how;

"wave after wave of bombers swept over former Tunisian battlefields and out across the Mediterranean." It went on to note that observers were "struck by the power of the aerial weapon which the Allies had forged."

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More than 100,000 leaflets were dropped on the island demanding its unconditional surrender.

"The demand was made to save the garrison from unnecessary suffering", said Allied headquarters. "Pantelleria will continue to be subjected to bombing and blockade."

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With the failure of the second surrender call to meet with a response, the British 1st Infantry Division embarked on the night of June 10-11 to assault and capture Pantelleria.

Royal Air Force (RAF) heavy bombers attacked Reggio di Calabria Airfield, Italy.

The partisan leader Josip Broz, better known by his nom de guerre, Tito, narrowly escaped capture when his temporary headquarters in a Bosnian farmhouse were surrounded by Axis soldiers, it was revealed today. Tito heard a warning shout, leapt through a window and spent the next few hours hiding in a ditch listening to the Italian troops in the house. Several of Tito's staff were captured and executed later. The informer can expect little mercy from Tito's men. With a price of 100,000 Reichsmarks (£8,300) on his head, Tito is the most wanted man in Europe and has had several similar escapes.

UNITED KINGDOM: HQ US 386th Bombardment Group (Medium) and it's 552d, 553d, 554th and 555th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium) with B-26s transferred from Snetterton Heath, England to Boxted, England. The group will fly it's first combat mission on 30 Jul 43.

The detachments of the US 416th Night Fighter Squadron, VIII Fighter Command at Cranfield, Usworth, and Bath, England returned to their base at Honiley, England. The squadron was attached to the RAF for training on Beaufighters.

WESTERN FRONT: The Combined Chiefs of Staff (CCS) issued a directive through the Chief of Air Staff (C/AS), Royal Air Force (RAF), marking the official beginning of the Combined Bomber Offensive (CBO) of the USAAF and RAF against sources of German war power. The 'Pointblank Directive' outlined the priorities and aims of the bomber offensive leading up to the cross channel invasion of France. The RAF was to bomb strategic city areas at night and the USAAF was to hit precise targets by daylight. However, the primary focus when weather permits was to attack targets identified at the Casablanca conference. German fighter force and related industry are a high priority because of the American intention to begin daylight bombing. The CCS sanctions the Combined Operational Planning Committee as the agency for coordinating the efforts of the CBO forces. However, the plan was not specific enough and this allowed both the US Air Force and British Bomber Command to conduct their independent operations as they saw fit.

5 Whitleys and 1 Wellington went on leaflet raids to France. 1 Whitley was lost. The operations since the end of May were a good example of the way in which Bomber Command curtailed its operations during the moon period.

Just finished reading about Point Blank and there were 2 priorities almost equal the which was the destruction of 1 the oil industry and 2 the Luftwaffe. The point blank document of June 3 reads and was directed at both the USAAF and Bomber Command "to seek the destruction of enemy fighters in the air and on the ground" there was not one mention of general area attack upon German morale.... Harris didn't play the game because the RAF was not able to

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11 June 1943

EASTERN FRONT: SS chief Heinrich Himmler orders the resettlement of all remaining Jews in occupied Poland from urban ghettos to death camps.

GERMANY: The USAAF's VIII Bomber Command in England flew Mission Number 62: 252 B-17s were dispatched against the U-boat yard at Wilhelmshaven, Germany and the port area at Cuxhaven, Germany. 218 hit the targets and claimed 85 Luftwaffe aircraft. Eight B-17s were lost. The raid on Wilhelmshaven demonstrated the difficulty of operating beyond range of fighters escort as enemy fighter attacks prevented accurate bombing of the target.

326 Lancasters, 202 Halifaxes, 143 Wellingtons, 99 Stirlings and 13 Mosquitoes attacked Dusseldorf. 38 aircraft were lost. This was the first night that more than 200 Halifaxes took part in a raid.The Pathfinder marking plan proceeded excellently until an Oboe Mosquito inadvertently released a load of target indicators 14 miles north-east of Dusseldorf. This caused part of the Main Force to waste its bombs on open country. But the main bombing caused extensive damage in the center of Dusseldorf where 130 acres were claimed as destroyed and this proved to be the most damaging raid of the war for this city. Dusseldorf reported that the fire area measured 8 km by 5 km covering the city center - both the old and the new parts, the Derendorf district and the south of the city. No less than 8,882 separate fire incidents were recorded of which 1,444 were classified as large. 1,292 people were killed and 140,000 people were bombed out of their homes. The list of destroyed and seriously damaged industrial and public buildings covered 4 typed pages in the Dusseldorf report. 42 industries connected with the war effort suffered complete stoppages of production and 35 more suffered a partial reduction. 20 military establishments were hit. 8 ships were sunk or damaged. The Gau (province) local government headquarters was destroyed.

29 Lancasters, 22 Halifaxes and 21 Stirlings were dispatched on an interesting raid on Munster. All the aircraft were provided by 8 Group and it was really a mass H2S trial. 33 of the aircraft carried markers or flares, the remaining aircraft acting as the bombing force although the marker aircraft also bombed. The marking and bombing were very accurate and the whole raid lasted less than 10 minutes. Photographic reconnaissance showed that much damage was done to railway installations in Munster as well as to housing areas. Munster's report was very brief stating only that 132 buildings were destroyed, 317 were seriously damaged and 52 people were killed. Unfortunately the raid was expensive for the small force involved. 5 aircraft were lost.

Major Hermann Graf arrived at Wiesbaden-Erbenheim airfield to begin forming a new high-altitude fighter Geschwader for Reichmarschall Goering's anti-Mosquito group. Major Graf, who was directly responsible to Goering, had very little problem arranging the transfer of a number pilots to his group. The fighter unit started with 8 specially modified Bf 109Gs though the arrival of the planes and pilots was delayed. The Bf 109Gs were equipped with a special tank for a Nitro-Oxide mixture contained under pressure in liquid form and injected directly into the supercharger intake to cool the engine temperature and increase performance. The unit was named Jagdgruppe Sud.

MEDITERRANEAN: The Allies launched "Operation Corkscrew", a landing on the bomb range formally known as Pantelleria Island. As the British 1st Infantry Division landing craft headed toward the island, B-17s delivered a final pounding to the Pantelleria harbor area. During the next 12 minutes, the Fortresses dropped tons of bombs, resulting in "simultaneous flashes and a great roar," stated the AAF official history. "Suddenly the whole harbor area appeared to rise and hang in midair, while smoke and dust billowed high, dwarfing Montagna Grande, Pantelleria's tallest peak." At about 11:00 hours, Allied airplanes spotted a white cross on the airfield. Shortly thereafter, the first British assault wave hit the beach. The commander of the landing force contacted Pantelleria's military governor, Vice Adm. Gino Pavesi, who surrendered the island and the garrison of 78 Germans and 11,121 Italians. A small number of captured German technicians maintained that German soldiers and anti-aircraft gunners would have made a much better showing than the island's garrison. On the other hand, the sheer intensity of bombing and its increasing weight, according to the testimony of prisoners of war, made it doubtful that the outcome would have been different. Although more than 5000 tons of bombs were dropped on the island, there was less damage than expected. The harbor facilities at Pantelleria had been badly damaged; the town itself had been practically destroyed; communications were a shambles; roads had been obliterated; electric power had been destroyed; and water mains were broken. At Marghana airdrome, the airfield was cratered. Although the underground hangar had withstood a number of direct hits, except for two aircraft, all of the 80-plus enemy airplanes had been either destroyed or damaged. The 1943 Pantellerian experience pointed the way toward the Allies' future strategy: Intensive air bombardment, increasing in tempo, and naval bombardment would precede landing operations. As the AAF official history noted: "The pattern set here was probably one that would be followed in other island operations and perhaps in the invasion of the continent itself." The Allies now intensified preparations for the assault on Sicily in July 1943. Allied airplanes operating from Pantelleria would play a critical role in that assault operation.

Oblt. Karl von Lieres und Wilkau of I./JG 27 was killed in combat. He had destroyed a total of 32 enemy aircraft, including 24 in the Desert Campaign.

UNITED KINGDOM: HQ US 388th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and it's 560th, 561st, 562d and 563d Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) arrived at Knettishall, England from the US with B-17s. The group will fly it's first combat mission on 17 Jul 43.

HQ US 389th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and it's 564th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) arrived at Hethel, England from the US with B-24s. The group will fly it's first mission on 9 Jul.

WESTERN FRONT: A Ju 88A-6 belonging to 12./KG 30 crashed at Fliegerhorst Aalborg West due to pilot error and was 80% damaged. Obergefreiter Adriano Puzzilli and Gefreiter Duino Vanzini died and were brought to Frederikshavn from Lazarett Aalborg and were laid to rest in Frederikshavn cemetery on 16 June 1943.

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12 June 1943

ATLANTIC OCEAN: 'U-118' (Type XB) was sunk in the mid-Atlantic west of the Canary Islands by depth charges from eight Avenger aircraft of the US escort carrier USS 'Bogue'.

GERMANY: A British Coastal Command Mosquito plane flew a reconnaissance flight over Peenemünde, Germany. Photos showed a large rocket lying on a trailer. The rocket was a V-2, the type first used in September 1944.

323 Lancasters, 167 Halifaxes and 11 Mosquitoes attacked Bochum, 24 aircraft lost.
This raid took place over a completely cloud-covered target but accurate Oboe sky-marking enabled the all Lancaster/Halifax Main Force to cause severe damage to the centre of Bochum. After daylight photographs had been taken, 130 acres of destruction were claimed. The only report from Germany said that 449 buildings were destroyed and 916 severely damaged and that 312 people were killed. On the first operational mission of a He 219A 'Uhu' night-fighter, flown by Major Streib of I./NJG 1 and Uffz. Fischer as his radioman, the 'Uhu' shot down 5 RAF heavy bombers on the raid to Bochum. On returning to base, Major Dtreib misjudged the runway because of dim lights and crashed. The Heinkel hit the ground so hard that ir broke up but both men walked away without a scratch. Upon hearing about Major Streib's success with the He 219, Generalluftzugmeister Milch replied,

"....perhaps Streib would have shot down just as many had he been flying another type of aircraft."

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In the next 10 days, the He 219 would redeem itself by claiming 20 RAF bombers and 6 previously untouchable Mosquitoes.

34 Wellingtons went to the Frisians , Lorient and St Nazaire minelaying without loss.

MEDITERRANEAN: Fighters, light, medium and heavy bombers of the Northwest African Strategic Air Force, the Northwest African Tactical Air Force and the USAAF Ninth Air Force hit Lampedusa Island in the Strait of Sicily. Twenty four B-25s (12 of the 445th) took off at 13:39 to bomb the town and adjacent area of Lampedusa. The escort were 12 P-38s from the 82nd fighter group. A string of bombs fell through the town, harbor installations, radio building and small boats on shore. A couple gun emplacements were hit. The island surrendered to the Allies after RAF Sergeant Cohen of the Coldstream Guards "captured" the island after making a false landing.

The unescorted 'Palima' was hit by one torpedo from 'U-97' and sank rapidly. 24 crewmembers and two British gunners were lost. 37 crewmembers and two British gunners rescued themselves on a few rafts that had floated free. During the day they were spotted by an aircraft, picked up by a large whaleboat and a Greek destroyer and landed at Beirut the same day.

In Sicily, B-17s and B-26s bombed Castelvetrano, Boccadifalco, and Milo Airfields.

2(F)./122 was selected to operationally evaluate the Arado Ar 234, one of which arrived at Frosinone from Germany around mid-June. On 12 July the Arado jet was flown to Villacidro on Sardinia from where it was to be used to fly recon over Bizerta in North Africa. Immediately after this flight it was destroyed in a landing accident at Frosinone.

NORTH AFRICA: King George VI of Great Britain arrived in North Africa to visits the troops. He will go to Malta on the 20th.

UNITED KINGDOM: The Luftwaffe carried out a night attack against Plymouth.

WESTERN FRONT: At approximately 09:30 hours a Ju 88A-4 belonging to 11./KG 30 hit the ground near Mørke and burst into flames and was a 100% loss. All four flyers were laid to rest in Frederikshavn cemetery on 16 June 1943. Another Ju 88A-4 belonging to 12./KG 30 crashed at Fliegerhorst Aalborg West due to pilot error and was 60% damaged. The crew were unharmed.

A Ju 88C-6 belonging to 11./NJG 3 was on a calibration flight for radar. Lt. Nicolas Volkmar tried to reach base when the left engine lost power. Ammunition and machine guns were dumped overboard to lighten the aircraft but Lt. Volkmar could not keep it flying and touched down on a hill where there was a potato field. From the hill, the Ju 88C-6 skidded into a meadow where there were stumps that had not been removed. These ripped the bottom of the Ju 88 and it came to a halt a few metres from two bulls that were hitched in the meadow. The aircraft was 75% damaged. A truck arrived with a team of guards that guarded the aircraft, and took the crew back to Grove. In the morning a new team of guards arrived to release those who had been on duty during the night. The team was billeted at the farm for about five days while a team of 6-8 men took the Ju 88 apart and transported it back to Fliegerhorst Grove. The local police constable spent the next three days collecting the guns and ammunition dumped from the aircraft. It was found on a three kilometres long trail west of the landing ground. Afterwards the farmer received 600 kroner as compensation for the damage to his field. Probably due to a mistake he received yet another check of 600 kroner about a year later. This check was cashed in a hurry.

3(F)./122 sent out a Ju 88 from Schiphol, tasked with a recon of a convoy off the east coast of England. The Ju 88 was attacked by a Beaufighter and crash-landed off the Dutch coast. Two crewmen were wounded and taken to hospital. The Beaufighter was crewed by F/O J. N. Howard-Williams and F/O J. A. Quinton of RAF No. 604 Sqdrn. As the Ju 88 did not make it back to base, it was not suitable for the 2000th Feindflug of the German unit, the offical 2000th taking place 3 days later.

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13 June 1943

ATLANTIC OCEAN: The United States Coast Guard Cutter 'ESCANABA' (PG-77), was sunk by a German submarine torpedo, off Ivigtut, Greenland.

GERMANY: US VIII Bomber Command Mission Number 63: 151 B-17s were dispatched against the Bremen, Germany U-boat yards and a smaller force of 76 B-17s were dispatched against the Kiel, Germany U-boat yards. Both forces were unescorted and short-range P-47s were used on 2 diversionary sweeps off the coast during the morning and afternoon. The Thunderbolts from the US 56th FG met with the Fw 190s of III./JG 26 off the Belgian coast in the morning sweep. 2 Fw 190s were claimed by Col. Hub Zemke although only Ogfr. Heinrich Zenker was shot down and killed and Oblt. Karl-Heinz Bocher was wounded. The second sweep in the afternoon found 44 P-47s from the US 78th FG clashing with the Fw 190s of II./JG 26. 2 P-47s were shot down without loss to the Gruppe. 3 P-47s were claimed by pilots of JG 26, claimants including Ofw, Heinz Gomann and Lt. Friedrich Lange - both from 5./JG 26 - and Fw. Hans Mayer of 6./JG 26. Meanwhile the B-17s continued on to their targets, hoping that the two-pronged attack would split the defending fighters. The Bremen formation was attacked by 6./JG 11 and 32 Bf 109s and Fw 190s of III./JG 26 led by Gruppenkommandeur Hptm. Kurt Ruppert. A massive diving frontal attack raked the lead B-17 with cannon fire and it fell out and spiraled down. On board was Brigadier General Nathan Bedford Forrest III of HQ 402d PCBW, riding in the co-pilots seat. All 13 crewmen bailed out but only one, the group navigator survived. General Forrest was the first American General to be lost in combat in Europe. The body of General Forrest was found near the seaplane base at Bug on Rügen and was laid to rest in Wiek cemetery on 28 September 1943. In 1947 his body was moved to Arlington cemetery, USA. (B 17F 42-30164 crashed Kiel Bay 13/6-1943) A second massive sweep through the formations from the rear immediately destroyed 4 more B-17s from the US 95th BG. On this pass, Hptm. Ruppert was hit by return fire and forced to bail out. He tried to open his parachute too quickly and it ripped his hemp harness and he fell to his death. 5 more B-17s were shot down bringing a total of 10 lost by the 95th BG in a few minutes of combat. In what the USAAF says was one on the heaviest fighter attacks to date, 26 B-17s were lost. A B-17F belonging to the 95 BG, 336 BS which was christened "Rat Killer", was one of those shot down, crashing in the sea south of the island of Langeland. 3 more B-17s crashed in Kiel Bay. 31 B-17s were claimed by pilots from JG 1, JG 11, JG 26, JG 54 and NJG 3.

6 Mosquitoes went to Berlin, 4 to Dusseldorf and 3 to Cologne, no losses. All targets were cloud covered and only estimated positions were bombed.

MEDITERRANEAN: In Sicily, US and Royal Air Force (RAF) heavy bombers attacked Catania and Gerbini Airfields, causing severe damage to aircraft, runways, hangars, and other installations. The heavy bombers claimed 5 fighters but 2 B-24s were shot down at sea.

The Italian island of Linosa in the Sicilian Channel surrendered to the British.

UNITED KINGDOM: German raiders dropped "butterfly" anti-personnel bombs for the first time, killing 74 people and injuring 130.

At about 11.30 hours, a Typhoon operating from Milfield airfield, near Wooler, crashed in a field at Kimmerston Farm, Milfield. The plane was heard to come down in a power dive at a speed estimated at 600 mph, it did not pull out of it in time. The pilot was killed.

Night fighter ace Wing Commander John Cunningham, brought down his 16th victim over southern England.

WESTERN FRONT: 18 Wellingtons and 12 Stirlings went minelaying off the Biscay ports. 1 Wellington was lost.

Lt. Bock of III./JG 54 emergency landed his Bf 109 near Hesselbjerg 15 kilometres south of Rudkøbing on the island of Langeland at 10:00 hours due to lack of fuel after the combat. The Bf 109 was apparently less than 10% damaged and the pilot was unharmed. The aircraft was taken apart by the Luftwaffe and loaded on a railway wagon at Nordenbro railway station from where it was sent to Ofenerdiek near Oldenburg. When it arrived it was clear that the canopy had been forced open during the transport and the Luftwaffe complained to the Danish government demanding that those involved should be found and punished. An investigation was launched and it was found that the damage had been done by members of the Wehrmacht as it was common for guards to climb the wagons and get into damaged aircraft when the trains were parked in railway stations.