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Njaco
The Pop-Tart Whisperer
November 9 Sunday
ASIA: IJN aircraft carrier "Akagi" arrived at Sasebo, Japan. IJN aircraft carriers "Shokaku" and "Zuikaku" arrived at Kure, Japan.
ATLANTIC OCEAN: Convoy PQ 3 departs Hvalfjord for Archangel.
U.S. Navy Task Unit 4.1.4, under command of Captain Alan G. Kirk, departed Argentia, Newfoundland, to screen the 31-ship Convoy HX-159. This was the first escort task unit that included in its composition a Coast Guard cutter - the USCG "Campbell". The convoy would not be attacked by U-boats although the presence of whales and blackfish resulted in attacks on sound contacts on five occasions through November 13.
EASTERN FRONT: The 19,894-strong Soviet Independent Coastal Army, with 10 T-26 tanks and 152 guns, arrived in Sevastopol, Russia from Odessa, Ukraine, bringing the total defense of the city to 52,000 troops, 170 guns and 100 aircraft. 40 kilometers east of Sevastopol, the 11.Armee captures Yalta as it clears the bulk of the Crimean Peninsula.
Soviet armies conduct localized counterattacks at multiple points along the front of German Army Group Center. In the Rostov sector, Timoshenko prepares counteroffensive against exposed northern flank of German 1.Panzerarmee. Meretskov takes command of Soviet 4th Army.
Hungarian freighter "Ungvar" struck a mine (previously laid by Soviet submarine L-4) and sank in the Black Sea. Nearby Romanian torpedo boats "Viforul" and "Vijelia" were also destroyed in the explosion. Soviet cruiser "Molotov" bombards German positions around Feodosia.
Heinrich Müller ordered that all Soviet prisoners of war bound to be executed who were not fit to travel to the places of execution were to be killed at their places of imprisonment. This was to avoid allowing civilians the see these malnourished and diseased prisoners as it could damage morale.
The Leningrad Radio Symphony Orchestra performed Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in a live concert broadcast to London. Near the end of the performance, air raid sirens could be heard over the music. Shortly thereafter, bombs could be heard detonating outside the concert hall along with the rapid fire of AA guns. The orchestra completed the performance without a break.
Mihailovich's Chetnik partisans continue their attack on Tito's communist group, weakening organized resistance to the Nazis.
On this date The Jager Report (issued on 1 Dec 1941) noted that 76 adult male, 77 adult female, and 18 children, all Jews, were killed in Vilnius, Lithuania for a total of 171 people.
GERMANY: RAF Bomber Command sends 103 aircraft to attack Hamburg overnight.
Hitler briefed Nazi leaders in Munich and told them that if the 'weather god' saw fit to grant another 10-14 days of favorable conditions his forces would be able to envelop Moscow and cut off the Caucasus. The Führer's view – at least concerning Moscow – was based on that of his Army commanders, Field Marshal von Brauchitsch (Commander-in-Chief) and General Halder (Chief of the General Staff). Brauchitsch and Halder were eager to strike the final blow that would bring the Soviets crashing down.
MEDITERRANEAN: Attack on Convoy Beta : Force K made radar contact on Convoy Beta at a range of 8 miles, and maneuvered unseen into perfect attack position (not only down-moon, meaning the convoy was silhouetted by moonlight, but also waiting until Brivonesi's big ships were on the opposite tack, ten miles away and with the convoy between them and the British). Despite being outnumbered and outgunned, the British press home their attacks. At 0100 hours, British cruiser HMS "Aurora", cruiser HMS "Penelope", destroyer HMS "Lance", and destroyer HMS "Lively", intercepted their target and opened fire at point-blank naval range, a mile and half to a mile and three-quarters— on the three nearest destroyers of the close escort.. All five freighters (German freighters "Duisburg" and "San Marco"; Italian freighters "Maria", "Sagitta", and "Rina Corrado"; and Italian tankers "Conte di Misurata" and "Minatitlan") and Italian destroyer "Fulmine" were sunk with radar gunnery, while damaging destroyers "Grecale" and "Maestrale". All were sunk before Brivonesi could come to the rescue. The Italian admiral chased the departing raiders, straddling enemy ships twice at ranges of five-and-a-half to ten miles, but eventually giving up a stern chase against faster vessels. At 0640 hours, British submarine HMS "Upholder" attacked Italian destroyer "Libeccio", which was busy rescuing survivors of the night time battle. 704 survivors from the convoy are rescued. An attempt was made to tow her back to port for repairs, but "Libeccio" would sink en route. HMS "Upholder" also unsuccessfully attacks Italian cruisers "Trento" and "Trieste". Count Ciano writes in his diary of the effect of Malta based aircraft:
Overnight five Albacore aircraft from Malta, FAA No. 828 Squadron were dispatched to attack the submarine base at Augusta with good results. A large fire was started amongst the oil tanks. Light Ack Ack was very intense and accurate. Six Blenheims from RAF No. 107 Squadron, five Blenheims from RAF No. 18 Squadron flew a shipping sweep Gulf of Sirte. Nothing was sighted. Three Wellingtons from RAF No. 104 Squadron made a nuisance raid on Naples. Two Wellingtons from RAF No. 104 Squadron made a nuisance raid on Messina. Three Swordfish carried out submarine patrol. Nothing was sighted.
Six air raid alarms were sounded in Malta through Sunday night: at 1941, 2211, 2309, 0027, 0122 and 0210 hours. A total of twenty five enemy aircraft approached the Island but they dropped the majority of their bombs in the sea, mainly thanks to excellent work of the searchlight operators. During the first raid they illuminated a BR 20 Italian bomber, which was promptly engaged by a RAF Hurricane and damaged. In the second raid another enemy aircraft was reported 'probably destroyed' by Hurricanes. Just before the second alarm a Hurricane crashed soon after taking off, near Wardia Ridge: the pilot successfully bailed out at 500 feet.
NORTH AMERICA: A third National Academy of Sciences report agreed with the British MAUD report that an atomic bomb was feasible. The MAUD Committee report, "'Use of Uranium for a Bomb", concluded that an atomic bomb was feasible. The report described the bomb in technical detail, providing specific proposals for developing a bomb and including cost estimates. The report concluded that building an atomic bomb would require a large skilled labor force that was also needed for other parts of the war effort. The report also suggested that the Germans could also be working on such a bomb, and so it recommended that the work should be continued with high priority in cooperation with the Americans.
NORTHERN EUROPE: 3rd Battle of Munakukkula: Finnish 1. and 3./JR 1 start their attack to take back Munakukkula (Egg hill). The assault starts around 0600 hours and is over at 0900 hours. Soviet casualties are estimated to be around 110 KIA, while Finnish losses were counted as 1 KIA and 20 WIA. The companies capture 1 MG, 3 LMG and 25 rifles. Munakukkula ("Egg hill") is a name given to a 70 meter high hill at Soviet part of the Eastern Karelian Isthmus near the pre-war Finnish border.
Third Soviet convoy departs Kronstadt to evacuate troops from Hango.
PACIFIC OCEAN: In the Philippines MacArthur met with Hart and advises him to "get a real Fleet". Hart bitterly resented this jab.
UNITED KINGDOM: Declaring that Britain would support America by declaring war on Japan should the U.S. find herself at war with Japan, Prime Minister Churchill further stated that,
Little damage was done in a bombing incident at West Hartlepool. HE fell in the water at the docks of a North-east town, causing some slight damage to property.
.
ASIA: IJN aircraft carrier "Akagi" arrived at Sasebo, Japan. IJN aircraft carriers "Shokaku" and "Zuikaku" arrived at Kure, Japan.
ATLANTIC OCEAN: Convoy PQ 3 departs Hvalfjord for Archangel.
U.S. Navy Task Unit 4.1.4, under command of Captain Alan G. Kirk, departed Argentia, Newfoundland, to screen the 31-ship Convoy HX-159. This was the first escort task unit that included in its composition a Coast Guard cutter - the USCG "Campbell". The convoy would not be attacked by U-boats although the presence of whales and blackfish resulted in attacks on sound contacts on five occasions through November 13.
EASTERN FRONT: The 19,894-strong Soviet Independent Coastal Army, with 10 T-26 tanks and 152 guns, arrived in Sevastopol, Russia from Odessa, Ukraine, bringing the total defense of the city to 52,000 troops, 170 guns and 100 aircraft. 40 kilometers east of Sevastopol, the 11.Armee captures Yalta as it clears the bulk of the Crimean Peninsula.
Soviet armies conduct localized counterattacks at multiple points along the front of German Army Group Center. In the Rostov sector, Timoshenko prepares counteroffensive against exposed northern flank of German 1.Panzerarmee. Meretskov takes command of Soviet 4th Army.
Hungarian freighter "Ungvar" struck a mine (previously laid by Soviet submarine L-4) and sank in the Black Sea. Nearby Romanian torpedo boats "Viforul" and "Vijelia" were also destroyed in the explosion. Soviet cruiser "Molotov" bombards German positions around Feodosia.
Heinrich Müller ordered that all Soviet prisoners of war bound to be executed who were not fit to travel to the places of execution were to be killed at their places of imprisonment. This was to avoid allowing civilians the see these malnourished and diseased prisoners as it could damage morale.
The Leningrad Radio Symphony Orchestra performed Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in a live concert broadcast to London. Near the end of the performance, air raid sirens could be heard over the music. Shortly thereafter, bombs could be heard detonating outside the concert hall along with the rapid fire of AA guns. The orchestra completed the performance without a break.
Mihailovich's Chetnik partisans continue their attack on Tito's communist group, weakening organized resistance to the Nazis.
On this date The Jager Report (issued on 1 Dec 1941) noted that 76 adult male, 77 adult female, and 18 children, all Jews, were killed in Vilnius, Lithuania for a total of 171 people.
GERMANY: RAF Bomber Command sends 103 aircraft to attack Hamburg overnight.
Hitler briefed Nazi leaders in Munich and told them that if the 'weather god' saw fit to grant another 10-14 days of favorable conditions his forces would be able to envelop Moscow and cut off the Caucasus. The Führer's view – at least concerning Moscow – was based on that of his Army commanders, Field Marshal von Brauchitsch (Commander-in-Chief) and General Halder (Chief of the General Staff). Brauchitsch and Halder were eager to strike the final blow that would bring the Soviets crashing down.
MEDITERRANEAN: Attack on Convoy Beta : Force K made radar contact on Convoy Beta at a range of 8 miles, and maneuvered unseen into perfect attack position (not only down-moon, meaning the convoy was silhouetted by moonlight, but also waiting until Brivonesi's big ships were on the opposite tack, ten miles away and with the convoy between them and the British). Despite being outnumbered and outgunned, the British press home their attacks. At 0100 hours, British cruiser HMS "Aurora", cruiser HMS "Penelope", destroyer HMS "Lance", and destroyer HMS "Lively", intercepted their target and opened fire at point-blank naval range, a mile and half to a mile and three-quarters— on the three nearest destroyers of the close escort.. All five freighters (German freighters "Duisburg" and "San Marco"; Italian freighters "Maria", "Sagitta", and "Rina Corrado"; and Italian tankers "Conte di Misurata" and "Minatitlan") and Italian destroyer "Fulmine" were sunk with radar gunnery, while damaging destroyers "Grecale" and "Maestrale". All were sunk before Brivonesi could come to the rescue. The Italian admiral chased the departing raiders, straddling enemy ships twice at ranges of five-and-a-half to ten miles, but eventually giving up a stern chase against faster vessels. At 0640 hours, British submarine HMS "Upholder" attacked Italian destroyer "Libeccio", which was busy rescuing survivors of the night time battle. 704 survivors from the convoy are rescued. An attempt was made to tow her back to port for repairs, but "Libeccio" would sink en route. HMS "Upholder" also unsuccessfully attacks Italian cruisers "Trento" and "Trieste". Count Ciano writes in his diary of the effect of Malta based aircraft:
Exactly a week after the first cluster bomb attack on Valletta, Malta, the hilltop community of Rabat awoke to the same terrifying sight of Thermos bombs scattered throughout the narrow streets. Superintendent Philip Pullicino of the Special Constabulary and his men worked alongside local police and ARP volunteers in a co-ordinated operation to find and guard every single bomb, until Bomb Disposal Officer Lt George Carroll and his Section arrived to deal with them. Working in teams of three, by the end of the day the Bomb Disposal men had dealt with over 80 Thermos bombs in the town.
Overnight five Albacore aircraft from Malta, FAA No. 828 Squadron were dispatched to attack the submarine base at Augusta with good results. A large fire was started amongst the oil tanks. Light Ack Ack was very intense and accurate. Six Blenheims from RAF No. 107 Squadron, five Blenheims from RAF No. 18 Squadron flew a shipping sweep Gulf of Sirte. Nothing was sighted. Three Wellingtons from RAF No. 104 Squadron made a nuisance raid on Naples. Two Wellingtons from RAF No. 104 Squadron made a nuisance raid on Messina. Three Swordfish carried out submarine patrol. Nothing was sighted.
Six air raid alarms were sounded in Malta through Sunday night: at 1941, 2211, 2309, 0027, 0122 and 0210 hours. A total of twenty five enemy aircraft approached the Island but they dropped the majority of their bombs in the sea, mainly thanks to excellent work of the searchlight operators. During the first raid they illuminated a BR 20 Italian bomber, which was promptly engaged by a RAF Hurricane and damaged. In the second raid another enemy aircraft was reported 'probably destroyed' by Hurricanes. Just before the second alarm a Hurricane crashed soon after taking off, near Wardia Ridge: the pilot successfully bailed out at 500 feet.
NORTH AMERICA: A third National Academy of Sciences report agreed with the British MAUD report that an atomic bomb was feasible. The MAUD Committee report, "'Use of Uranium for a Bomb", concluded that an atomic bomb was feasible. The report described the bomb in technical detail, providing specific proposals for developing a bomb and including cost estimates. The report concluded that building an atomic bomb would require a large skilled labor force that was also needed for other parts of the war effort. The report also suggested that the Germans could also be working on such a bomb, and so it recommended that the work should be continued with high priority in cooperation with the Americans.
NORTHERN EUROPE: 3rd Battle of Munakukkula: Finnish 1. and 3./JR 1 start their attack to take back Munakukkula (Egg hill). The assault starts around 0600 hours and is over at 0900 hours. Soviet casualties are estimated to be around 110 KIA, while Finnish losses were counted as 1 KIA and 20 WIA. The companies capture 1 MG, 3 LMG and 25 rifles. Munakukkula ("Egg hill") is a name given to a 70 meter high hill at Soviet part of the Eastern Karelian Isthmus near the pre-war Finnish border.
Third Soviet convoy departs Kronstadt to evacuate troops from Hango.
PACIFIC OCEAN: In the Philippines MacArthur met with Hart and advises him to "get a real Fleet". Hart bitterly resented this jab.
UNITED KINGDOM: Declaring that Britain would support America by declaring war on Japan should the U.S. find herself at war with Japan, Prime Minister Churchill further stated that,
The Abwehr, the German military intelligence, believes that a fire bomb attack at a food warehouse at Wealdstone, London was carried out by two of its secret agents who landed in Scotland from Norway seven months ago. In fact, the agents, both Norwegian, have been working for British Intelligence from the day they landed, and their sabotage exploit was carefully contrived to establish their credentials with the Germans. Code-named "Jack" and "OK" by the Germans, but known to the British by the cartoon character names of "Mutt and Jeff", they are being run by the "Twenty Committee", so-called because of the Roman numerals of double-cross. The committee, chaired by an Oxford don, John Masterman, was set up last January. Its purpose is to feed information, a mixture of fact and fiction, to the Germans through their own agents. Captured agents are given the choice: work for us or be executed as a spy. Two of the first Abwehr agents parachuted into England a year ago were given this choice. They both chose to live and now, code-named "Summer" and "Tate", are employed in sending disinformation to their former bosses.
Little damage was done in a bombing incident at West Hartlepool. HE fell in the water at the docks of a North-east town, causing some slight damage to property.
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