80 Years ago Today, Tuesday, 16 May 1944

 International

US, UK, USSR, Belgium, Norway and the Netherlands sign agreement concerning the administration of countries as they are liberated.

USN

Pacific

During exercises, battleship Colorado (BB-45) is damaged when she accidentally runs aground on a pinnacle off Kahoolawe, T.H.

Destroyers Franks (DD-554), Haggard (DD-555), and Johnston (DD-557) sink Japanese submarine     I-176, 150 miles north of Cape Alexander, Solomons, 04°01'S, 156°29'E. Haggard suffers slight damage from exploding depth charges.The sinking of I-176 prompts the Japanese to shift the position of a cordon of submarines (the NA line) in the New Guinea-Carolines area; much radio traffic accompanies the move (see 19 May 1944).

Japanese minelayer Aotaka is damaged by mine, Kaoe Bay.

Atlantic

Non-rigid airship K 5 is destroyed in crash into number one hangar, Lakehurst, New Jersey.

AAF

Twelfth AF

MBs attack railroad bridges and a tunnel in C Italy. LBs blast guns in Roccasecca while FBs and ftrs just behind enemy lines seek out motor transport tgts, crater roads, and hit bridges, harassing the already strained comm network, while US Fifth Army troops push rapidly W and NW and British Eighth Army forces push through last defenses of Gustav Line in effort to isolate Cassino, a joint effort by British 13 Corps and Polish 2 Corps.

Tenth AF

30-plus A-31’s pound Kohima, Moirang, and S of Buthidaung. About 70 B-25’s and FBs hit Myitkyina and Hopin areas. 11 B-24’s hit Ywataung and Sagaing M/Ys and town of Akyab.

Fourteenth AF

8 B-24’s blast motor pool and warehouse areas at Mangshih.

Fifth AF

Fifth AF aircraft continue to pound a variety of tgts in Netherlands New Guinea and NE New Guinea. Tgts include A/Fs and supply areas on Noemfoor and Biak Is, AA guns, supplies, and occupied villages in Wakde I-Maffin-Sawar coastal area, and bridges, villages, troop concentrations, and AA positions.

Thirteenth AF

40-plus FBs hit Vunakanau area. Ftrs on sweeps hit barges at Jacquinot Bay and Mioko Harbour, vehicles at Kurakakaul, Mandres Bay, and Vunarima, and N of Vunakanau, a small vessel in Mandres Bay, and a sawmill at Keravat. FBs hit occupied areas at Tunuru, near Kieta, near Manetai Mission, and at Tinputs.

Seventh AF

Kwajalein-based B-24’s pound Wake. B-25’s from Makin hit Nauru and Ponape.

USA

NEW GUINEA—TF TORNADO—Wakde assault force—begins voyage to target from Hollandia area.

CBI—In NCAC area, H Force crosses the Namkwi after confining inhabitants of Namkwi village in order to assure secrecy.

On Salween front, 593d Regt, Ch 190th Div, reaches Shweli valley near Laokai, having moved W over mountains. Rest of 190th Div is clearing strongpoints in Mamien Pass. On S flank, where enemy has thinned out in order to strengthen upper Shweli valley, elements of Ch 76th and 88 Divs are progressing rapidly toward Pingka and have taken 13 villages NE of that objective.

11 Army Group: In Br Fourteenth Army area, Kachin guerrillas gain temporary possession of Washang, about 30 miles E of Myitkyina.

ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army area, II Corps rapidly pursues enemy. In 85th Div sector, 339th Inf, after clearing Scauri and M. Scauri, is pinched out by 338th, which drives along Ausonia road to Highway 7 and to Acquatraversa Creek. 337th Inf, pushing W from Castellonorato, meets opposition from M. Campese and halts in valley below it. 349th Inf, 88th Div, advances in conjunction with 337th Inf. Continuing toward Itri, 351st reaches M. Ruazzo and M. Mesola. In FEC area, one column of Mtn Corps completes difficult trek, almost unopposed, to M. Revole; another reaches positions S of Esperia. Elements of 3d Algerian Div secure junction of S. Giorgio–Esperia roads and hold it against counterattack. On right flank, 1st Motorized Div silences fire on S. Giorgio and drives W, pinching out 2d Moroccan DIV.

In Br Eighth Army area, Cdn 1 Corps takes over sector to left of 13 Corps and relieves Ind 8th Div. In 13 Corps area, 78th Div, assuming burden of assault, pushes NW through last defenses of Gustav Line in effort to isolate Cassino in conjunction with Poles. Pol 2 Corps, which has been reorganizing after its initial defeat, is ordered to renew offensive on 17th.

80 Years ago Today, Monday, 15 May 1944

 

Monday, 15 May 1944

USN

Pacific

Naval Air Bases, Ebeye and Roi-Namur, Kwajalein Atoll, Marshalls, are established.

During amphibious training exercises in the Hawaiian Operating Area, heavy seas break the moorings of three LCTs carried as deck cargo on board three tank landing craft. LCT-988 sinks, 20°00'N, 157°00'W; LCT-984 founders and is scuttled by submarine chaser PC-1079; LCT-999 is salvaged.

Submarine Aspro (SS-309) attacks Japanese convoy, sinking transport Jokuja Maru about 175 miles northwest of Palau, 10°10'N, 131°48'E.

Japanese destroyer Shiratsuyu is sunk in collision with Seiyo Maru west of Mindanao, 09°09'N, 126°51'E.

Mediterranean

PBY-5s (VP 63) and British escort vessels HMS Kilmarnock and HMS Blackfly sink German submarine U-731, western Mediterranean, 35°54'N, 05°45'W.

AAF

Eighth AF

38 B-17’s attack V-weapon site at Marquise/Mimoyecques while 90 B-24’s bomb similar tgt at Saint-Pol/Siracourt.

Ninth AF

45 A-20’s and B-26’s bomb A/Fs at Creil and Evreux/Fauville, and Somain M/Y. Over 300 others are forced to abandon missions because of thick clouds.

Twelfth AF

MBs and LBs again hit comm lines N and NW of the front while FBs in close spt of Allied ground assault through Gustav Line blast gun positions, motor transport, ammo supplies, bridges, rolling stock, and other military tgts in the battle area. The MBs and LBs also hit harbors and vessels along coasts at Piombino, Talamone, Portoferraio, and Ancona.

Fifteenth AF

Weather cancels all operations except ftr sweep over Toulon-Marseille area.

Tenth AF

20-plus A-31’s hit gun positions W of Buthidaung and signal center to the SE. 19 B-25’s pound T/Os along Tiddim road while 36 A-31’s hit Moirang. 20-plus B-25’s and FBs hit gun positions at Hopin and A/F at Myitkyina. 17 P-38’s attack Heho and Kangaung A/F, claiming 15 aircraft destroyed, most of them in the air. 7 B-24’s bomb Myitkyina, Kalewa, and Mandalay.

Fourteenth AF

B-25’s strike Kengluang bridge and hit installations near Wan Pa-Hsa. P-40’s strafe troops near Pingkai, along Mamien Pass, and in the Mengta area.

Fifth AF

Wewak-Hansa Bay area is again hit by A-20’s, B-24’s, and FBs. B-24’s and B-25’s attack numerous tgts in Wakde-Sawar-Sarmi-Maffin Bay areas and on Biak I. Thirteenth Air TF B-24’s from the Admiralties bomb supply and bivouac areas on Mariaon and Tagaulap Is and AA guns on Woleai and Paliau Is.

Thirteenth AF

24 B-25’s and 40-plus P-40’s, P-38’s, and P-39’s, along with TBF’s and SBD’s, pound area N of Muguai, and hit Maika area between Muguai and Ebery’s Lease. 40-plus ftrs on sweeps over Bougainville and Shortland Is attack AA positions, trucks, and huts at several locations including Kieta, Cape Friendship, and Chabai areas. Allied ftr sweeps continue over Rabaul area; several T/Os, including a concentration of barges in Keravia Bay, are hit.

Seventh AF

Operations are limited to photo rcn of Jaluit from Kwajalein.

USA

NEW GUINEA—U.S. outposts at Ulau and Marubian are withdrawn by sea to Nyaparake.

BURMA—In NCAC area, H Force reaches upper Namkwi R, about 15 miles from Myitkyina.

ITALY—In U.S. Fifth Army’s II Corps area, 337th Inf of 85th Div overruns Castellonorato. To left, 3d Bn of 338th reaches junction of Highway 7 and Ausonia road. 88th Div, thrusting to Spigno, finds town undefended and in ruins; is ordered to push on to Itri at once. On left flank in FEC sector, one gp of Mtn Corps pushes steadily W along difficult mountain trails toward M. Revole. Another gp continues northward, scaling Fammera escarpment; 6th Moroccan Inf is relieved of containing role at Ausonia and joins main body. Enemy is driven from Ausonia by noon but retains La Bastia Hill to N in effort to keep control of Esperia road. 3d Algerian Div relieves holding force at Ausonia; armored elements push on to Castelnuovo, which 2d Moroccan Div has cleared earlier in day, thereby gaining control of Ausonia Defile. German fire prevents forward movement of 1st Motorized Div from S. Giorgio on right flank of FEC.

In Br Eighth Army area, 13 Corps continues working through the Gustav Line, with 78th Div moving forward between 4th Div and Ind 8th Div, in preparation for concerted assault with Poles on Cassino. Cdn 1 Corps begins passing through 13 Corps and relieving Ind 8th Div.

80 Years Ago Today, Sunday, 14 May 1944

 

14 May 1944

USN

Pacific

Submarines Aspro (SS-309) and Bowfin (SS-287) attack Japanese convoy, and sink cargo ship Bisan Maru about 90miles northwest of Palau, 08°55'N, 133°42'E.

Submarine Bonefish (SS-223) attacks Japanese convoy bound for the Sibitu Passage, sinking destroyer Inazuma near Tawi Tawi, east of Borneo, 05°03'N, 119°36'E, and evades counterattacks by what is most likely destroyer Hibiki. Ironically, Bonefish had aimed her initial torpedo at a tanker ( Nichiei Maru, Azusa Maru, or Tatekawa Maru ) but ended up hitting Inazuma instead.

Submarine Crevalle (SS-291), en route to her base, is damaged by depth charges off northern Celebes, 00°57'N,125°51'E.

Submarine Sand Lance (SS-381) encounters that portion of convoy 3503 that had been detached to proceed to Guam, and sinks army cargo ship K_ho Maru southwest of Apra harbor, 13°43'N, 144°42'E. Sand Lance survives resultant depth-charging from one or more of the escorts: escort vessel Oki, torpedo boat Otori, and auxiliary submarine chaser No.8 Shonan Maru.

Mediterranean

German submarine U-616 attacks convoy GUS 39 off Cape Tenes, Morocco, prompting a search by Oran-based U.S.destroyers (see 17 May 1944) (Captain Adelbert F. Converse).

AAF

Twelfth AF

Support for Allied ground assault into Gustav Line continues as aircraft hit at lines of communications N and NW of Rome and blast tgts in immediate battle area. MBs claim hits on bridges, bridge approaches, and viaducts at Chiani, Marsciano, Monte Molino, Castiglione d’Orcia, San Giovanni Valdarno, Poggibonsi, Tabianello, and Arezzo. A-20’s pound cmd posts in battle area. FBs hit stations, tracks, roads, town areas, bridges, gun positions, and T/Os in immediate battle area and in or near Esperia, Terni, Narni, Itri, Terracina, Perugia, Chiusi, Orvieto, San Giovanni Valdarno, Maranola, and other locations N of Rome.

5/14/44 Fifteenth AF

Just over 700 B-24’s and B-17’s attack M/Ys at Vicenza, Padua, Ferrara, Treviso, Mestre, Mantua, and Piove di Sacco, and A/Fs at Piacenza and Reggio Emilia. Ftrs fly over 170 sorties in escort. 48 P- 38’s strafe Aviano and Villaorba A/Fs.

Tenth AF

24 A-31’s bomb troops and gun positions at Lahaw. 12 P-38’s hit Tiddim road at Tonzang, causing roadblock. 48 A-31’s bomb positions at Kalewa and S of Bishenpur. 11 P-40’s hit bridge and road at Kazu and railroad shed at Myitkyina. 25 B-25’s and P-51’s hit troop positions at Hopin. Meiktila and Heho A/Fs are hit by 20-plus P-51’s and P-38’s. The ftrs claim 4 airplanes downed in combat. 

Fourteenth AF

60 P-40’s and P-51’s hit trucks at Yoyang, river shipping, boxcars, and trucks at Pailochi and Sienning, and storage area at Shayang. 20 other P-40’s bomb and strafe towns near Mamien Pass, Pingkai and areas around Mengta and Tating. 6 Japanese bmrs hit Kienow, rendering A/F temporarily unusable.

Fifth AF

B-24’s bomb Bosnik supply areas and Sorido runway. In Wakde-Sawar-Maffln Bay area, villages and AA positions are pounded by B-24’s and B-25’s. FBs, A-20’s, B-24’s, and B-25’s maintain strikes against A/Fs, bridges, trucks, villages, and other tgts in Wewak-Hansa Bay area.

Thirteenth AF

23 B-25’s bomb Tobera airstrip. 44 FBs pound supply and personnel areas at Vunakanau. P-39’s and

P-40’s strafe tgts in N and E Gazelle Peninsula, and ftr patrols over Rabaul area attack several T/Os. In Buka-Bougainville area, 40-plus P-39’s and P-40’s bomb Hangan, Tsirogei, Tokiparo, pier at Kessa Plantation, and near Ibu.

Seventh AF

53 B-24’s from Kwajalein and 43 B-25’s from Makin join Navy aircraft in pounding Jaluit.

USA

NEW GUINEA—Co C, 127th Inf, withdrawing from Marubian, finds its route cut by enemy. Japanese also harass Co A at Ulau Mission. Since these positions are becoming untenable, it is decided to withdraw.

ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army area, II Corps makes progress all along line against rearguard opposition. 338th Inf, 85th Div, clears Hill 131 of S Ridge, previously an enemy strongpoint, and outposts Formia–Ausonia road. 2d Bn, 337th Inf, then continues toward next 85th Div objective, Castellonorato, reaching Hill 108, N of Spigno–S. Maria Infante road junction, and patrolling beyond there. 351st Inf, 88th Div, seizes Hill 126, at E end of S Ridge, and S. Maria Infante village, initial objectives. Div, with elements of 3 regts in assault, begins drive on Spigno. 350th Inf advances W across Ausente Creek to N slopes of M. dei Bracchi; 349th occupies M. dei Bracchi and, in conjunction with 351st, clears M. la Civita. In Mtn Corps area, two groups advance W to positions just E of Ausonia road, where they are stopped by enemy. Third group reaches base of Fammera escarpment, leaving containing force at Ausonia. On left flank of FEC area, 4th Mtn Div and 3d Algerian Div mop up region W of M. Majo. In center, 2d Moroccan Div, thrusting toward S. Giorgio, reaches Castellone and Cantalupo Hills; elements are pushing toward Castelnuovo. On right flank, 1st Motorized Div, advancing along the Liri, reaches S. Giorgio.

In Br Eighth Army area, 13 Corps continues to expand and strengthen Rapido bridgehead. Preparations are made for next phase of attack, to isolate Cassino in conjunction with Pol 2 Corps, on 15th, but delay of 78th Div in crossing the Rapido forces postponement of assault.

80 Years Ago Today, Saturday, 13 May 1944

 Eighth AF continues to strike strategic targets as Allied forces prepare for Overlord

13 May, Sat. --

 

USN

 

Pacific

 

F4Us, F6Fs, and SBDs, and USAAF B-24s and B-25s bomb Japanese installations at Jaluit; attacks will continue on14 May.

 

Submarine Pogy (SS-266) sinks Japanese cargo ship Anb_ Maru off Suruga Bay, Honshu, 34°31'N, 138°33'E.

 

Japanese landing ships T.128 and T.150 are damaged by mines, Palau.

 

Atlantic

 

Destroyer escort Francis M. Robinson (DE-220) sinks Japanese submarine RO-501 (ex-German U-1224), en route toJapan on her maiden voyage, 400 miles south- southwest of the Azores, 18°08'N, 33°13'W.

 

AAF

 

Eighth AF

689 B-17’s and B-24’s bomb A/Fs, M/Ys, aircraft assembly plant, and T/Os at Tutow, Osnabruck, Barth, Sylt I, Stettin, and Stralsund. 12 HBs are lost.

 

Ninth AF

More than 300 B-26’s and A-20’s bomb A/Fs, coastal defenses, railway battery, and V-weapon sites in France and Belgium. P-47’s carry out dive-bombing raids on various tgts.

 

Twelfth AF

MBs, LBs, and FBs continue to attack lines of comm but devote main effort to spt of Allied ground forces push against Gustav Line (French Expeditionary Force with US Fifth Army gains spectacular breakthrough by fierce assault). A-20’s hit cmd post; B-26’s damage Cortona, Certaldo, Signa, and Montepescali bridges; B-25’s blast towns in rear of battleline with good results at Pastena, Pico, Vallecorsa and Itri; and FBs carry out armed rcn and scheduled attacks against comm, road and rail traffic, and gun positions along immediate battleline and in areas around Esperia, Pico, Sant’ Oliva, Pignataro Interamna, Arce, Fondi, Perugia, Todi, Spoleto, Terni, Orvieto, Chiusi, Rieti, and N of Rome.

 

Fifteenth AF

HBs continue interdiction in spt of ground forces. 670-plus B-17’s and B-24’s, mostly with ftr escort, attack M/Ys at Trento, Bronzola, Fidenza, Piacenza, Faenza, Imola, Cesena, Modena, Parma, San Rufillo, Borgo San Lorenzo, Castel Maggiore and Bologna, and hit railroad bridges at Bolzano and Avisio. Ftrs sweep Bologna-Modena area.

 

Tenth AF

Nearly 100 P-40’s and P-51’s over Mogaung Valley hit gun positions, bridges, spt ground forces (near Nanyaseik), and hit numerous T/Os throughout the whole valley. 12 A-36’s hit positions near Maungdaw. 19 B-25’s and 46 A-31’s pound several points along road and bomb troop concentrations at Bishenpur. 30-plus B-24’s, B-25’s, A-36’s, and P-51’s hit Indaw, Taungbaw, and Mohnyin. 11 B-25’s bomb Monywa.

 

Fourteenth AF

19 B-25’s hit storage and warehouse areas at Mangshik and Lungling, bridge at Hsenwi, truck and tank concentrations SW of Loyang, and town area of Lungling. 39 P-40’s hit military installations at Mengta and Tating, village N of Kaitou bridge at Tingka, and truck concentration at Yingyangchen.

 

Fifth AF

B-24’s hit dispersal areas on Japen I, supply areas and AA guns at Bosnik, and A/Fs at Sorido, Namber, and near Moemi R. B-24’s and B-25’s hit A/Fs in the Wakde-Maffin-Sawar-Arare area. More than 200 FBs, A-20’s, and B-25’s thoroughly pound A/Fs, bridges, fuel dumps, vehicles, villages, AA guns, and supply areas in WewakHansa area.

 

Thirteenth AF

50-plus P-39’s and P-40’s attack piers at Ratsua, Porton, Chabai, and Tarlena. 30-plus other FBs hit various tgts, including supply area SE of Bonis, town of Chabai, village near Ibu, and huts and villages along Numa Numa trail. 3 B-25’s hit coastal guns at Hahela Mission. 21 B-25’s and more than 40 P- 39’s, P-40’s, and P-38’s pound supply areas at Talili Bay. Ftr sweeps over N New Britain and New Ireland continue. Many T/Os are strafed.

 

Seventh AF

B-24’s, staging through Eniwetok from Kwajalein, bomb Truk during the early morning hours. Other HBs from Kwajalein bomb Maloelap and Jaluit. B-25’s from Engebi hit Ponape.

 

Eleventh AF

1 B-25 flies a shipping strike and strafes 2 fishing vessels.

 

USA

 

NEW GUINEA—Gen Gill decides to abandon Marubian area.

 

CBI—In NCAC area of Burma, when frontal and flanking attacks on Tingkrukawng by K Force  fail, the village is bypassed. On Salween front, Japanese almost wipe out a Ch bn in Mamien Pass but situation is restored after reinforcements arrive. Japanese resistance in this region ends. Regt of 53d Army crosses the Salween and attacks Japanese flank, regaining positions in Tatangtzu Pass.

 

ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army area, Germans, after offering stiff resistance throughout day, begin withdrawal to next delaying position night 13–14. In II Corps area, efforts of Co F of 339th Inf, 85th Div, to break through enemy encirclement fail. 2d Bn, 338th, clears Cave d’Argilla and Hill 60, in region N of S. Martino Hill, while 1st Bn pushes from Solacciano toward Hill 126, on S Ridge. 351st Inf, 88th Div, continues toward S. Maria Infante. Renewing attack on right flank of II Corps, 350th Inf’s 1st Bn seizes M. Rotondo. FEC smashes through Gustav Line in spectacular push. 2d Moroccan Div overruns M. Girofano, M. Feuci, and M. Maio in center of corps zone. Exploiting this success, 1st Mtzd Div speeds forward on right flank to S. Apollinare while 4th Moroccan Mtn Div, on left flank, clears opposition about M. Ceschito, N of road to Coreno, in skillful enveloping attack. Over 1,000 prisoners are taken. Mtn Corps, upon moving forward from Castelforte to positions N of M. Rotondo, halts until opposition can be cleared from Ceschito. Mtn Corps is organized into 3 groups. One pushes northward toward Ausonia and the other 2 drive W toward Spigno, night 13–14. In Br Eighth Army area, 13 Corps expands Rapido bridgehead. Bridge is completed in sector of 4th Div.

80 Years Ago Today, Friday, 12 May 1944

As I model the WWII era, it's appropriate to provide some context.  The following entries are extracted from the official combat chronologies of the US Navy, Army Air Forces, US Army and US Marine Corps

12 May 1944 Friday

USN

Pacific

Submarine Tautog (SS-199) attacks Japanese convoy, sinking merchant collier No.2 Banei Maru off northeast Honshu, 40°01'N, 141°58'E.

Japanese transport Kasumi Maru is sunk by mine (probably Japanese) in Straits of Malacca, 03°50'N, 99°30'E.

Japanese river gunboat Saga is damaged by aircraft, South China Sea.

AAF

Eighth AF

800 B-17’s and B-24’s operating in 3 forces, bomb oil plants, other industrial tgts, M/Ys, A/Fs, and some unidentified T/Os at Merseburg, Lutzkendorf, Zeitz, Bohlen, Zwickau, Gera, Chemnitz, and Brux. An estimated 430 ftrs offer intense opposition. 46 HBs are lost.

Ninth AF

IX TCC carries out EAGLE, a full-scale exercise of the tactics and techniques of paradrop, glider tow, parapack in resupply, air landing of supplies, and medical evacuation as a dress rehearsal for the airborne invasion of Normandy. More than 450 MBs attack coastal defenses, A/Fs, bridges, railroads and railroad guns, and V-weapon sites in France and Belgium. Thick haze impedes visibility and causes many aborts.

Twelfth AF

A-20’s blast cmd posts along main battlefront as Allied ground forces seek to break through Gustav Line. MBs hit concentration near Fondi, attack forces at Vallecorsa and Pastena, and bomb numerous positions along main front. FBs pound cmd posts, guns, bridges, road and rail traffic, and troops along assault front and in rear areas, concentrating especially on the Monte Cassino Benedictine Abbey and surrounding area.

Fifteenth AF

Around 730 B-17’s and B-24’s (largest HB force used by Fifteenth AF on any day to this time) attack German HQs at Massa d’Albe and Monte Soratte; town of Civitavecchia; A/Fs at Tarquinia and in surrounding area; M/Ys at Chivasso, Piombino, Marina di Carrara, Viareggio, and Ferrara; Orbetello I; Piombino harbor; docks and comm at San Stefano al Mare; harbor, M/Y, and railroad bridge at Chiavari; La Spezia M/Y and harbor; and several T/Os. 26 P-38’s strafe Piacenza A/F. Other ftrs fly over 250 sorties in spt of bombing missions.

Tenth AF

24 A-31’s hit positions at Labawa and SSE of Maungdaw. 36 A-31’s hit villages around Bishenpur while 4 B-25’s strike at Tiddim road NNW of Tonzang. 50-plus B-25’s and FBs knock out railroad bridge at Pinbaw, pound gun positions and supply area at Myitkyina and hit defensive positions near Kazu-Tiangsup. 4 B-25’s damage Myothit bridge while 8 P-38’s bomb Kyaukye. 21 P-51’s hit A/Fs at Meiktila and Heho, claiming 8 interceptors downed. 4 B-25’s knock out bridge at Daga while 2 others bomb camp at Taungbaw.

Fourteenth AF

16 P-40’s and 11 B-25’s hit several tgts in S China and in Indochina. Military installations, arty positions, and tank concentrations are pounded in Yoyang area, a bridge and several trucks are damaged at Sienning, a naval vessel is attacked at Hong Kong, a radio station on Cat Ba I is bombed, and railroad yards, supply dump, and river junks are blasted in Phu Lang Thuong area.

Fifth AF

B-24’s bomb Mokmer A/F and attack tgts on Ceram, Amboina and Timor. A-20’s, B-25’s and FBs blast villages, coastal bridges and roads, vehicles, airstrip at Boram, and other tgts throughout WewakHansa Bay region.

Thirteenth AF

12 B-25’s and 20plus P-40’s and P-38’s pound Tobera airstrip and nearby personnel areas; some of the B-25’s returning from Tobera bomb Sohano I. 12 P-39’s and about 70 Navy SBD’s and TBF’s sink numerous barges throughout Rabaul area, especially at Simpson Harbor and Keravia Bay. Gun positions in Matupi area are also attacked.

Seventh AF

12 Makin-based B-25’s bomb Nauru. A single B-24 from Kwajalein bombs Jaluit.

Eleventh AF

1 B-24 reconnoiters and bombs Matsuwa I installations, concentrating on the A/F on Tagan Cape.

USA

NEW GUINEA—Charov outpost is withdrawn in order to strengthen base at Nyaparake. CBI—In NCAC area of Burma, K Force clashes with enemy near Tingkrukawng and is soon pinned down by superior numbers. Ch 38th Div is now able to maintain communications between its 114th and 112th Regts; 113th is approaching West Wala and Maran.

On Salween front, 198th Regt begins clearing Mamien Pass. 36th Div, Ch 53d Army, which is to clear Tatangtzu Pass, surrounds enemy outposts at E end of it; night counterattack forces 36th Div back to the Salween.

ITALY—AAI: Aircraft join in battle for Rome at dawn.

In U.S. Fifth Army’s II Corps area, enemy is resisting strongly and making determined counterattacks. Elements of 339th Inf, 85th Div, withstand attacks on S. Martino Hill and are passed through by 1st Bn, 337th, which completes capture of this feature. Co F, 339th, is isolated on M. dei Pensieri during enemy counterattack. 338th Inf makes another vain effort to drive up draw between S Ridge and S. Maria Ridge but takes Solacciano. Stiff opposition slows progress of 351st Inf, 88th Div, toward S. Maria Infante; Co F is isolated and wiped out. 350th Inf takes Ventosa village with ease and halts to await forward movement of French. In FEC area, 4th Moroccan Mtn Div, reinf by regt of 3d Algerian Div, tanks, and TD’s, clears Castelforte on left and assists 2d Moroccan Div on right. 2d Moroccan Div is unable to advance. 1st Motorized Div is committed on right flank; 4th Motorized Brig assisted by armor pushes N toward S. Andrea but makes little headway. Mtn Corps, consisting of 1st, 3d, and 4th Groups of Tabors, 1st Moroccan Inf of 4th Mtn Div, and 2d Bn of Algerian Arty Regt, follows 4th Moroccan Mtn Div into Castelforte.

In Br Eighth Army’s 13 Corps area, Ind 8th Div gains firm bridgehead on W bank of the Rapido and puts 2 bridges across the river, but Br 4th Div is unable to expand its small bridgehead. Pol 2 Corps, in Cassino area, seizes Phantom Ridge, NW of the Monastery, but is forced back to line of departure, where it remains for several days.

GERMANY—In powerful experimental blow at oil fields in central Germany to test enemy reaction, more than 800 heavy bombers of Eighth Air Force, escorted by U.S. and RAF fighters, attack oil plants at Zwickau, Merseburg–Leuna, Bruex, Leutzkendorf, Boehlen, and other points with 1,718 tons of bombs. Damage at Bruex, Boehlen, and Zeitz is so severe that the plants are temporarily put out of operation. Excellent results are also achieved at Merseburg–Leuna. German Air Force reacts violently and 46 bombers of Eighth Air Force and 10 Allied fighters are lost. Almost 200 enemy aircraft are claimed destroyed.

The Elusive Single Sheathed Bx-35

 

I posted a short note on working with a photo of the Fe-U donor car three years ago, you can see it and the 1944 railroad map here: https://northbaylines.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-fe-u-and-1944-railroad-map-ive-had.html

This is the before photo

But I still didn’t have a full view of a Bx-35 in the ‘40’s.

The Santa Fe converted it’s 500 car Fe-U class of 50’ single sheathed 10’2” inside height double door Automobile Cars to single door box cars between December 1939 and 1943.  The conversion was a simple one, sealing the left hand door and extending the lining to the center door post.  All 500 cars had the “Automobile” lettering removed and were re-classed as Bx-35 in the 150001-150500 series: 431 Fe-U’s from the 66201-66700 series in 1940, 51 in the 67261-67311 series in 1942, and the final 17 engine carrying cars in the 6200-6217 series in 1943.

 Photos abound of Bx-35s after they were rebuilt with steel bodies in 1953-54, but are scarce as hen’s teeth after conversion, but before rebuilding.  When John Dobyne wrote his 2001 Santa Fe Boxcar book, the only available single sheathed photo was same the Fe-U builder’s photo used in Hendrickson’s 1997 Furniture and Automobile Boxcar book.  Ironically, that book did contain a partial view of a single sheathed Bx-35.  On page 80, the intro photo for the WWII period Auto Cars was a Jack Delano photo of Fe-22 7114 with a load of hay in front of the Kansas City Live Stock Exchange.  Tantalizingly coupled to its right is a partial view of Bx-35 150312.  Visible are the left three single sheathed panels and most of the sealed left hand door, but not the door hardware or center post. 

 

https://loc.gov/pictures/resource/fsa.8d15156/

 

This evening, I was looking through some photos that I’d obtained from Stan Kistler for something else and discovered a Bx-35.  W.C. Whittaker captured ATSF 1261 about to come off the Muir trestle westbound and enter Valley Division tunnel 2 on 14 April 1946.  When I enlarged the photo to look at the locomotive’s tunnel smoke deflector, my eyes drifted back along the consist to GN 46930 behind the tender with a tank car conveniently between it and the next car.  The tank gave a line of sight to the car number stenciled on the A end of the single sheathed apparently double door car, A.T.S.F. 150179.  I’m pretty sure Will wasn’t even thinking of the rare bird he bagged that post-war, mid-April day, and I don’t know if Stan noticed it either when he added it to his collection.  I certainly didn’t when I obtained a copy to get another view of the massive steel trestle.  But I’m grateful that they captured and preserved that rare piece of Santa Fe freight car history that day almost 80 years ago.  Sometimes you find the darndest things in the background. 

 

W.C. Whittaker Photo, Collection of Stan Kistler

 

John Barry

Lovettsville, VA

15 August 2023

78 years to the day after the Japanese people heard their Emperor’s voice as he broadcast an offer to surrender and end WWII.

Follow the Money 2 – The War Production Board Mailing List

 

You have surely heard the old saying that if you want to know what’s going on, follow the money.  This find is a result of that.  Not in the dollars and cents aspect, but from the arcane bureaucracy that came from government regulation of the economy during the WWII emergency.  Capitalism and centrally controlled economies are more than a tad incompatible, but total mobilization to win WWII tipped the scale toward the latter.  The agency responsible for deciding who got what resources and what they got made into was the War Production Board.  To do this, they had to keep track of what industry was doing, so they collected data, reams and reams of it.  But before the internet, the favored means of communication was the US Mail.  Industry had to provide periodic reports that told the WPB how many widgets they made that period, what resources they consumed, etc.  But to make sense of all that, it had to be provided in a standardized format so the WPB clerks could aggregate the info from A.A.A. Mfg. Co., through Ford Motor Company and General Motors Corp. to J.A. Zurn Mfg. Co. 

 

Why did I mention AAA and JA Zurn with the likes of Ford and GM?  Because the WPB needed info from every plant using controlled materials and they are the first

and last entries

 in the Mailing List for Form WPB-732, Plant Report of Operations.

This mailing list allowed the WPB clerks to send out the blank forms and allow us, 80 years hence, to see a large cross section of plants supporting the war effort.  It’s not complete, lacking direct reference to the Army and Army Air Force depots or Petroleum companies, but it does have 135 pages of manufacturers, and their plant mailing addresses.  The data on the pages is explained on the cover page:

OK, but what did these plants make?  For that, we need a not so super secret decoder ring, the Industry Classifications from the 1939 Census of Manufacturers.

So, for our first entry, AAA Mfg Co, their industry code is 1611, which is in the Electrical Equipment group, Group 16, specifically a manufacturer of wiring devices and supplies. 

They are in Waltham, MA, which falls in Region 1 for labor markets, with an area code of 017

 

 

And that is the Boston-Quincy area as shown on the following map from the back of the mailing list:

 

The Mailing List is available on Google Books at

https://books.google.com/books?id=_jLiav3U0fMC&newbks=0&dq=MAILING%20LIST%20FOR%20FORM%20WPB&pg=PP6#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

while the Industry Classifications is available on Google Books at

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Census_of_Manufactures_1939/cIvtAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Industry+Classifications&printsec=frontcover

 

I hope that you find this WWII industry information helpful.

 

John Barry

Lovettsville, VA

28 January 2023