July 27 - August 4, 1942: Heavy Allied
air strikes in Greece and
all parts of Southern Italy to pave the way for future offensives.
IJNAF planes from Guadalcanal spur Allied plans, and USN torpedoes have
problems.
French North Africa:
From dawn to dusk Allied planes pound enemy airfields from Sardinia to
Calabria. No less than 811 offensive missions are flown this day, making it
one of the most active so far. Through a combination of fighters and Flak,
Allied formations lost 28 planes, destroying in return 11 Italian fighters
in the air and 23 planes on ground. More important was the fact that airfield
complexes at Comiso, Trapani, Reggio di Calabria and Cagliari are heavily
hit and several radar stations destroyed.
Peloponnesus:
The Aegean Air Force launches a succession of heavy attacks against Axis
held positions around Tripolis, Argos and Corynth. The Luftwaffe reacts
in force and since the beginning of "Pericles" this day sees one of the
hardest fought air battles. 39 Allied planes are destroyed (nearly 10%)
but the Luftwaffe loses 23 planes.
Port-Blair
French commandos led by Colonel d'Astier de la Vigerie, who have been
stationed in the Andamans since PEDESTAL, embark early in the day with 11
local scouts on the fast Minelayer HMS Manxman, bound to Elphinstone Island.
Known also as Thayawthadangyi Kyun and part of the Mergui Archipelago (Lat.
12.85° N, Long. 98.06 E) the place has been selected by SOE operatives
to erect a secret base aimed at collecting information on Japanese movements
in the area and establishing good contacts with the local population, known
as the Mergui Sea Gypsies. Once a coastwatcher network is established preparations
are to be made for offensive operations in the area, which are expected
to begin by 1943.
Kuching Bay:
Adm. Kondo's forces leave Kuching Bay to soften up Singapore defences.
Delayed several times, the second attempt to storm Singapore is to begin soon.
Buna (Papua north Coast)
Japanese transports land several thousand men to prepare for an offensive
toward Port-Moresby through the Owen Stanley mountain range.
Brisbane:
Four G4M1 attacked Brisbane and faced for the first time some AA fire.
Only light damage was caused.
This day is quite important, but for different reasons. R.Adm. Charles
A. Lockwood USN, Southwest Pacific Submarines Commander received a long signal
from Bu.Ord stating that:
"...torpedo depth-setting tends to over react. During trials torpedoes
have been found running ten feet too deep. The anti-countermining device
is erratic and its inactivation at submarine captain discretion is authorized."
This signal confirmed fears expressed by most USN submarine officers
from the beginning of the war. As far back as December 1941 USS Sargo's
Commanding Officer (Ltn. Commander T.D. Jacobs), who had experienced the
failure to explode of 13 torpedoes, had experimented with shallow depth
settings and had inactivated the magnetic influence device. On 20-21 June,
Captain Fife of the Brisbane command had fired torpedoes against a special
fisherman's net target and found that torpedoes were running significantly
too deep.
Constant discussions between USN submarine officers and MN ones, be they
at Fremantle or Brisbane, had convinced the former that "...there was something
rotten in our torpedo kingdom."
In his report sent first to Pearl Harbour with Lockwood's endorsement
and which ended on Adm. King's desk, Captain Fife had added:
"French submarines operating from Eastern Australia (i.e. Brisbane) are
not more modern than our latest Fleet boats. To some extent they can be
described as a rough equivalent of our pre-war Perch class. Their torpedoes,
be they French pattern or a handful of RN Mk.VIII adapted to French dimensions,
are not to be considered as more advanced than ones used in Fleet boats.
It would be wrong to assume that results they gained were produced by any
kind of technical superiority to our most modern equipment. French skippers
are extremely aggressive and frequently ready to close at very short range
before firing, but so are most of our skippers too. French crews are all very
seasoned and use spread firing. They openly dislike anything too complex with
their torpedo exploding devices and rely on percussion fuze. If war experience
can be accounted for better tactics at first, one cannot evade the conclusion
that their torpedoes are much more reliable than ours. This just can't be
traced to deffective depth setting even if this factor certainly accounted
for at least 50% of failures our submarines have experienced so far. If
one cannot discount the fact that bad maintenance in very exacting war conditions
could have led to bad torpedo performance, the reliability of the magnetic
influence device is now open to doubt for all submarine captains of the
Southwest Pacific Command."
Unfortunately the Bureau of Ordnance, if admiting results of depth setting
tests conducted at Brisbane was still resisting the second conclusion. The
magnetic influence device was still considered as one of the most important
USN secrecy and expectations were very high that such a device, allowing
the torpedo head to explode under the target vessel keel, would inflict considerably
more damage than a classical hit against the hull.
Nouméa
Four G4M1 attacked Noumea harbour at dawn. This time again the raid was
detected late. Morning midst prevented AC20 P-40 to take off but also prevented
correct aiming by Japanese bombers. No damage was inflicted despite the
harbour's considerable congestion.
Later in the morning the flying boat carrying Gen. Martial Valin and officers
of the Court of Enquiry arrived to Nouméa.
Guadalcanal
Six RAAF Whitleys and four Manchesters attacked Tenaru and, for the first
time, Tulagi. Two bombs struck a fuel dump on Tanimbogo, causing a fire
and destroying about half of the drummed fuel there. One of the Manchesters
was lost due to an engine fire over New Caledonia on the return trip, the
crew surviving by baling out.
Simultaneously with the raid one French PBY-5 made a radar-snooping
mission to collect data of the Japanese set operating from Guadalcanal.
South Pacific.
Despite another allied ships sighting by a Japanese flying boat, only
one anti-ship sortie was sent out and was unsuccessful.
French DB-73M1/2 began to mount standing patrols in area where IJNAF H6K
flying-baots were known to operate.
Pearl Harbour:
USN Large cruiser submarines Argonaut and Nautilus, with French Surcouf,
begin to practise assault landing with Ltn.Col. Evans F. Carlsons USMC 2nd
Raider Battalion. The three large boats are intended to operate as a group
for a strategic diversion in the Gilbert islands.
JULY 28th
South-Eastern GB and France:
Major "Circus" operation sees the first combat mission of USAAF 8th AF
B-17. Twenty four 97th BG B-17 attack Abbeville-Drucat escorted by no less
240 Spitfires, including those of the French EC-1 (1st Fighter Wing). JG-2
FW-190s avoid combat and land at Amiens or Lille.
French North Africa:
Second air attack "big day". This time Allied planes target railway stations
and marshalling yards in Calabria and around Tarento. No less than 717 attack
missions are flown, and 19 planes are lost (of which 9 by Flak) but 13 Italian
fighters destroyed.
Roma:
Late in the evening, reviewing the last two days enemy attacks, the Regia-Aeronautica
Staff decides to redeploy fighters operating in Southern and Western Sicily
to Calabria. Reconstituting a strong fighter nucleus to oppose a major enemy
operation becomes now the highest priority after losses suffered since mid-July.
Greece:
Air activity is relatively limited over Peloponnesus but for a strong
attack against Corynth. However, coordinated with this attack, French NA-73s
make low level intruder missions on Axis held airfield around Athens. For
the first time, the number of losses is roughly equal on both sides, the
Aegean Air Force having lost 13 planes and the Luftwaffe 11.
Just before dusk, several 40mm armed NA-73 (technically NA-92) attack
German tanks and armoured vehicles moving north of Tripolis, destroying 5
Pz-IIIs and 3 half-track vehicles but losing one of their own to light Flak.
Singapore:
V.Adm Nobutake Kondo's (CinC 2nd Fleet) force, including Comcardiv 4 :
R. Adm. Kakuji Kakuta: CVL Ryujo (16 A6M2, 15 D3A1), CVL Junyo* (16 A6M2,
6 B5N2, 28 D3A1), Bat Div.2: BB Yamashiro*, Hyuga, Crudiv 4: CA Atago*(F),
Chokai and screened by R.Adm Sentaro Omori force with CL Abukuma (F) DD
Akebono, Ushio, Sazanami, Wakaba, Nenohi, Hatsuharu, Hatsushimo arrived
at 150 km East of Singapore in the morning. Comcardiv 4 planes began to attack
Singapore targetting first heavy shore batteries and store dumps. Two raids
were launched during the day, and 3 D3A1 as well as 2 A6M2 were lost to
a very active British AA defense.
Brisbane:
Two G4M1 conducted a nuisance night raid on Brisbane, causing light damage.
Nouméa:
That same night, fourteen G4M1 attacked the area inland from the port
of Noumea, where very large dumps were located. Large fires were observed
in the area after the attacks. While some of these were decoys, several
large dumps were hit, including an ammunition dump which was mostly lost.
Immediate efforts began to disperse the very large quantities of supplies
built up on this area.
One G4M1 was lost to AA fire, taking the total of losses to seven. While
seventeen aircraft remained, three were not serviceable and returned to Rabaul
for maintenance, leaving 14 serviceable G4M1 at Tenaru.
Following this raid, it was decided that pending the arrival of "true"
night fighters AB-8 DB73M2 could operate as provisional NF planes helped by
searchlights.
Guadalcanal
Tenaru-based A6M2 locate and destroy a French PBY-5 south of Guadalcanal.
Four RAAF Whitleys, two Manchesters and two USAF B-17 raid the Guadalcanal
area. No significant damage is caused, but two A6M2 are damaged at Tenaru.
Koro Islands (Fiji)
Admiral Turner's amphibious ships begin a 3 days rehearsal for the landing
on Guadalcanal under cover of V.Adm Frank Fletcher's TF-61 including CV
USS Saratoga, Enterprise and Wasp.
JULY 29th
French North Africa:
Allied planes are launching three simultaneous air raids against Cagliari,
Reggio di Calabria and Tarento. A total of 587 missions are flown and just
7 planes are lost against 5 Italian fighters.
By the end of the day, 64 of 96 B24 belonging to the 98th "Colossus" BG
and the 376th "Liberandos" BG arrived to Tunis-Pont du Fah airfield from
Benghazi. To help USAAF crews build combat experience before the beginning
of BLOWLAMP, Gen. J. Doolittle had agreed to some combat missions.
Greece:
One major raid hit this day the Larissa marshalling yard. The Luftwaffe
reaction is relatively slow to develop and Aegean Air Force bombers are
intercepted over the sea well after the bombing. One Beaumont-I is lost
as well as one B-25 and 4 P-40E but 4 Bf-109 are destroyed (of which 1 by
Beaumont's return fire).
To replace losses suffered so far the Luftwaffe crack fighter unit in
Greece, the JG-27, receives a first batch of 14 Bf-109G. More powerful than
the Bf-109F with its DB-605 engine, this new variant of the "109", the "Gustav"
is not so pleasant to fly as the old "F".
An unpleasant supprise for Major Neumann, the Geschwader Kommodore, was
the fact that among the 16 new pilots sent to make good losses the JG 27
had suffered so far three had less than 150h on their flying logs and one
even less than 120h. The four young men were immediately sent back to Vienna
as the JG 27 Kommodore signaled to Berlin that only relatively experienced
pilots could hope to survive considering the enemy strength over Peloponnesus
and Greece.
In Athens, Luftwaffe commanding officers signal to Berlin during the night
that despite heavy losses enemy attacks are pushing Axis forces in Greece
to the verge of exhaustion. However, with the intensity of air battles raging
in the east there are no reserves left and the Luftwaffe General staff can
just answer that no air assets are to be spared till next winter when it
would be possible to re-allocate to Greece part of the forces engaged against
the Soviet Union.
Malayan coast:
Under the cover of the night, men of the De La Vigerie Commando (more
or less the size of a company) land on Elphinstone Island. By 0215 HMS Manxman
is able to retire at high speed toward Port-Blair.
Singapore:
Kondo's carriers resume their attacks with dawn. Three main raids are
launched, two on naval shore batteries and and one on Singapore store dumps.
Two more D3A1 are lost to AA fire.
Brisbane
Two G4M1 conduct a nuisance night raid on Brisbane. Three CAC "Boomerang"
try to intercept using ground based searchlights but fail. One Boomerang
is destroyed when landing back but the pilot escaped with light wounds.
Guadalcanal
Two Whitley and two Manchester conducted a nuisance attack on Tenaru,
but little damage is done.
After having refuelled at Efate (Port-Vila), 4 AB8 DB-73M1 attacked Tenaru
airfield at dawn after having flown the last 125 miles at low level to escape
radar-detection. Part of the bomb bay has been filled with petrol tanks and
each plane carried just eight 110lb DT2 French pattern bombs. The raid was
a surprise for Japanese crews and 2 A6M2 and 1 G4M1 were destroyed by bombs
while other planes were damaged. One communication L3Y1 (a G3M1 bomber modified
as a transport plane) sitting on the runway before taking-off for Rabaul
was destroyed too by front 0.50mg of the last two attack bombers.
Nouméa:
The French Court of Enquiry convenes to listen French commanding officers
about the disastrous Japanese attack on La Tontouta airfield.
South Pacific
The extensive web of H6K, H8K and G4M patrols is showing that most Allied
merchant shipping has cleared a vast area around Tenaru field, which was
having an impact on Allied shipping out of all proportion to the forces assigned
there. However, the signs of a major Allied buildup were everywhere. Major
Allied forces had been identified by air recon and by analysis of Allied
message traffic patterns.
Two French DB-73M2 sighted a large H8K Japanese flying-boat, which escaped
in the cloud base.
JULY 30th:
Over Occupied France:
To force German fighters to fight, several bombing raids against Luftwaffe
airfields are launched this day with USAAF 97th BG B-17 attacking Cambrai,
and RAF Beaumont-I light bombers of n° 13, 88, 107, 226, 418, 605 and
614 SQN attacking Abbeville, Lille and Amiens under an umbrella of 385 Spifires.
Simultaneously n° 174 and 609 SQN Tornadoes are launching Rhubarbs over
the Pas-de-Calais. This time both the JG-2 "Richtofen" and the JG-26 "Schlageter"
react in force, downing 3 B-17 and 7 Beaumont bombers as well as 9 Spitfire
(mostly Mk. V) but losing 9 Fw-190 and 3 Bf-109G in return. Acting as top-cover
the two French squadrons GC I/1st and III/1st claim 3 FW-190 and 1 Bf-109
for the loss of 2 Spitfire IX.
The JG-26 Log Book contains following remarks for this day:
"...the enemy is introducing every month new combat types or newer variants
of established ones. The old Spitfire-V seems to be replaced a more powerful
variant which is as fast as our 190s under 20,000ft and faster above this
altitude. The fact the two variants look absolutely alike is putting us at
a tactical disadvantage as we have to assume that every Spifire spotted could
be of the new variant. (...)
Those new US Heavy bombers are not so well defended as described. But
they are tough and difficult to down. One has to expend a considerable ammo
weight and come to really close range to get a kill."
Isle of Wight:
Troops selected for Operation RUTTER execute a full-scale landing to test
procedures and communications. Late evening, reviewing exercise results
Maj. Gen. John H. Roberts declares "it is to be a piece of cake".
Sicily and Southern Italy:
Both Messine and Reggio di Calabria are attacked by a combined total of
412 Allied planes. the Reggia Aeronautica does not react but 2 bombers are
shot down by the Italian Flak over Reggio.
Singapore:
Kondo's CV planes conduct again three raids against Singapore, targeting
naval guns and command posts. Again 2 D3A1 and 1 B5N2 were lost to AA fire.
Buna (Papua north coast).
Seven Port Moresby-based B-17s tried to bomb Japanese troops concentrating
at Buna and Gona, but were jumped by 9 A6M2. Five US bombers were lost.
South Pacific (Brisbane based Allied Joint Intelligence Unit).
Intelligence Picture indicates that Japanese forces in area are:
Tulagi area – 1 Inf Bn (750 men), 1 AA Bn (600 men) IJN personnel 500.
Guadalcanal – 1 Inf Regt (2300 men) 1 AA Regt (500 men) 1 MG Bn (325
men) 2 Engineer units (1,050 men) Service personnel 200 men, labour unit
900 men.
German like air warning radar-sets are operating at Guadalcanal and Rabaul.
One German like AA fire control radar is suspected in Rabaul area.
Nouméa
After resuming its session early in the morning the Court of Enquiry listens
to R.Adm Thierry d'Argenlieu just before noon. After a short break from
13h30 to 14h30 the court of Enquiry meets again. By 1630 it is announced
to all commanding officers summoned to the Court that no dereliction of
duty has been found, that proper defence measures have been taken considering
the actual material situation, but that co-operation level between various
Allied commands in New Caledonia was highly unsatisfactory.
This very night, eight G4M1 staged from Truk via Rabaul over the previous
days visited Noumea harbour while 12 G4M1 from Tenaru attacked the city and
port areas. While the bombers caused little damage, the eight which overflew
the roadstead laid eight magnetic mines, the first time these weapons (provided
by the Germans) had been used in operations. The results were extremely
disruptive. Over the next week, six merchant ships were very badly damaged
by these mines, mostly through the shock fracturing their cast iron machinery
feet and bedplates. These ships were simply irreparable in-theatre. The
disruption caused by this attack came close to paralysing the port.
5 DB-73M2 took-off during the attack but were unable to catch attackers.
The three planes which went after the 12 G4M1 attacking Nouméa were
unable to climb fast enough to catch Japanese bombers operating from 20,000ft.
the two others, which went for the eight planes attacking the harbour lost
them in clouds.
AdA Gen. Martial Valin, who had witnessed the raid, sent personnaly a
signal to Algier asking for a flight of NF Beaufighters to be dispatched
to Noumea. He shortly after advised the sending of minesweeping Wellington
to fight the threat of magnetic mines.
Guadalcanal
Three RAAF Whitleys attacked Tenaru, causing, as usual, little damage.
3 French DB-73M1 attacked Tulagi at dawn, again after a stop at Efate.
They set fire to a fuel dump, destroyed one A6M2-N and one Aichi H9A ASW
light flying-boat, but were jumped by 2 A6M2 on standing patrol. One DB-73M1
(plane n°6) crashed in the Indispensable Straits and another (plane
n°3), badly damaged, had to make a belly landing at Efate (Port-Vila).
JULY 31st
Naples:
At 11h15 Naples is attacked by forty-eight 98th and 376th BG B-24 escorted
by 48 EC-5 (5th Fighter Wing) Mustang-II. The raid, the first seeing USAAF
heavy bombers in action in the MTO, is a considerable surprise for Italian
defenders as no one was expecting that single-engined fighters could have
a range long enough to escort bombers so far. The mixed formation of 12
Re-2000 and 16 Re-2001, which rose to attack the bombers was quickly overwhelmed,
losing 5 Falco-I and 4 Falco-II for 2 Mustang-II. The quick escort intervention
prevented the 24-plane box system adopted to be tested. USAAF bombers split
just before target with 376th BG planes attacking Naples harbour (where
two freighters were put ablaze and significant damages done to docks) and
98th BG planes attacking Castellmare di Stabia shipyards where Navalmeccanica
was the most heavily hit. Here bombs damaged beyond repair TB Aliseo waiting
to be launched and sank Monsone, which was completing.
Singapore
Kondo's CV planes conduct this day two raids against Singapore, targeting
again naval guns and command posts. British AA fire destroys one D3A1 and
one B5N2. By the end of the day, having expended nearly all bombs carried,
the Japanese squadron began to retire to Kuching bay to re-fuel and re-arm.
South Pacific
Two French DB-73M2 surprised a H6K4 shadowing a troop convoy heading for
Port-Villa and quickly dispatched the large flying-boat.
V.Adm Ghormley (USN) and R. Adm Turner (USN) review results of training
landings done the previous days. Because of her much better communication
suit R.Adm Turner selects French training cruiser Jeanne d'Arc as his flagship
for the Amphibious force.
Nouméa:
R.Adm. McCain USN met this day with Gen. Valin, R. Adm. d'Argenlieu MN
and Air Commodore Lucas RAAF to discuss the security of forthcoming Watchtower
operation aërial lanes. The similarity between Japanese radar signals
and known German ones was highlighted. It was assumed that most Japanese
radars were either German ones or close copy of German ones. This put the
stress on the 70 to 200 MHz and the 450 to 600 MHz bands. If usual UHF/VHF
sets could be modified to detect signal sent on the first band, the second
one implied special equipment brought to Sydney by the Golden Horn. McCain
agreed that 2/3rd of US and French PBY operating under his command were to
be as soon as possible fitted to detect signals in both bands. Some RAAF Whitleys
could also be equipped. Not only was it expected that radar signal detection
could be used to detect new Japanese bases, but also to detect major ships.
On a larger scale the information was to be passed to CV air groups as even
small planes like F4F or SBD could detect a radar operating between 70 to
150 MHz.
AUGUST 1st.
Thames Estuary.
German fighter-bombers of 10 (Jabo)/JG 26 attack ships waiting for the
tide and sink two coasters. They escape interception from either Manston based
Tornadoes or newly operational Spitfire-XIIs.
Central Greece:
Aegean Air Force planes conduct many low level missions to interdict railway
and road transport between Athens and Larissa. In the afternoon JG 27 and
II/JG 3 planes try to interfere with roving patrols at medium to low altitude.
The French 13ème EC (13th FW) lose two NA-92FGA (of GC II/13th) and
three NA-73 (one from the I/13th and the two others from the III/13th).
However 3 Bf-109 are also destroyed during dogfights taking place under
1,000ft as well as two Italian MC-200 of Maj. Marco Larcher's 6° Gruppo
(1st Stormo CT).
GC II/6th (flying from Malesmes) loses one NA-73 to AA fire during attacks
along the Eubean coast.
Trincomalee
Under V.Adm. Sommerville, the British I.O. Fleet raised anchor after dusk
and left, with BB: HMS Nelson, Rodney, CV HMS Indomitable and Illustrious,
CL HMS Sheffield, Gloucester, Fiji, Trinidad, Newfoundland, CLAA HMS Charybdis,
Phoebe, DD HMS Antelope, Napier, Nestor, Jervis, Ithuriel, Partridge, Quadrant,
Quality, Queenborough, Quentin, Quiberon, Quickmatch, Quilliam (F) Raider.
By 2230, ships headed toward Nicobar Islands.
Brisbane
Four G4M1 attacked Brisbane, again causing little significant damage.
The defences finally worked, a RAAF Defiant shot down one of the Japanese
bombers, with the loss of all its crew. Tenaru was attacked by a B-17 and
three Manchesters, firing a fuel dump.
AUGUST 2nd.
Cagliari:
Cagliari-Elmas airfield is attacked in the morning by 48 USAAF B-24 (24
from the 98th BG and 24 from the 376th BG), under escort of forty-eight
5ème EC (5th FW) Mustang-II. There is no Regia Aeronautica attempt
to intercept and the airfield is heavily pounded by bombers, each carrying
8,000lb of bombs. Five SM-79-II torpedo-bombers are destroyed by bombs and
several others damaged as well as two Fiat CR-25Bis reconnaissance planes.
Greece:
The Athens area is again heavily attacked by Allied bombers with heavy
fighter cover. The Aegean Air Force lose 11 planes this day (of which 2 to
the Flak), but 4 German and 2 Italian fighters are destroyed.
New Caledonia
The large airfield complex at Plaine des Gaiacs (center of the South coast)
is declared operational with one 7,000ft strip, another 5,000ft long and
8 smaller emergency and satellite fields. Tontouta airfiel is to be closed
for two monts to be re-surfaced and all damages of the Japanese raid repaired.
AUGUST 3rd
Northern France and Belgium:
Under the code-name of CIRCUS-188, big air operation to test German air-defenses
before RUTTER.
Airfields at Lille-nord, Abbeville-Drucat and Cambrai are attacked by
RAF Beaumont light bombers (n° 13, 88, 107, 226, 418 (RCAF), 605 and
614 SQN) and USAAF ones (97th BG with 340th, 341st, 342nd and 414th BS). The
Arques-la bataille airfield is attacked by Tornadoes of n°56 and 245
Sqn carrying each two 500lb bombs. Lock gates at Bruges are attacked by Hurricane
(Hurri-bombers) of n°3 and 32 Sqn.
A massive air cover is provided including 204 Spitfire V from n°
65, 66, 71 ("Eagle"), 81, 111, 121 ("Eagle"), 129, 130, 131, 232, 302 (Polish),
303 (Polish), 306, 308 (Polish), 310, 312, 317( Polish) SQN, top cover being
provided by 140 Spitfire IX from RAF n°154, 165, 222, 242, 411 (RCAF),
412 (RCAF), 602, 610, 611 Sqn and French GC II/1st and III/1st. During the
whole operation, airfields known as German fighter nests are harassed by
low-flying Tornadoes of n° 253, 266, 400 (RCAF), 414 (RCAF) and 609 Sqn.
This operation generated a strong German reaction.
The bombing of Bruges lock gates was relatively successful and no Hurricane
were lost to a strong small-caliber Flak. However as planes were crossing
the coastline going back to their base things changed fast.
Scrambled from Wevelgham and Morseel, Joseph "Pips" Priller's FW-190s
of III/JG26 were soon joined by ones of the I/JG 26. Both Gruppen, totaling
40 planes, climbed to 30,000ft and dived on the Hurri-bomber escort. The
Spitfire V wing was quickly overwhelmed. Bounced first was the n°111 squadron,
which soon lost cohesion. Three Spitfire went down including the Sqn. Leader
one. FW-190 attacked then the squadron flying just under and n°71 ("Eagle")
Sqn lost two planes quickly. The top-cover Spitfire IXs of n°610 and
611 Sqn arrived then and a major dogfight errupted where two other Spitfires
went down but this time in company of three Fw-190. As JG 26 FW-190 were
breaking off, ones of Walter Oesau's JG 2, which had refueled at Beaumont-le-Roger,
attacked the RAF bomber formation which had just bombed Abbeville-Drucat.
Two Spitfire V of n°310 sqn and one of the n°308 fell quickly but
the 40 planes strong German formation was then faced by 44 Spitfire IX of
both n°412 squadron and of the two French "groupes". Again an extremely
violent fight errupted seeing this time four FW-190 going down for two more
Spifire (one Canadian of n°412 Sqn and the one of the French III/1st
leader, E. Fayolle who got killed).
Tornadoes attacking the Arques airfield had lost two planes to the Flak
(one of the n°56 Sqn and one of the 245 sqn) for two FW-190 and one
Bf-109G damaged on the ground. However sometimes later Tornadoes of n°
266 and 609 Sqn were to claim three more JG-26 FW-190 caught in their landing
pattern at Audembert and St Omer-Wizernes. One n°253 Sqn Tornado was
lost for an unknown reason south of Aumale and n°414 Sqn Canadian Tornadoes
claimed two twin-engined training Fw-58 "Weihe" just north of River Seine.
This air battle was to be seen in retrospect by most Allied observers
as a turning point. Allied planes had lost 15 of their own for combat reasons
(of which two by Flak) and 4 others crash-landing on their bases after the
fight. Allied pilots were claiming 19 enemy planes, which was giving them
for the first time a break-even. Actually only ten German fighters had been
destroyed and, with the two unfortunate trainers caught by n°414 squadron,
the Allied tally reached just twelve planes. Still, this was far better than
results of the spring, before the large-scale introduction of both the Spitfire-IX
and the Tornado, when the RAF had lost 108 planes in April for a return
of 15 enemy planes. The Tornado had obviously proved its worth in low-level
intruding mission.
Attacks on airfields had been moderately successful as non-flyable planes
had been well dispersed and protected by German ground crews. However, rebuilding
crattered runways and repairing installations would take time. More ominous
for both Oesau and Priller was the fact that depite their own personal successes
(both men claiming two Spitfire each) they have been unable to reach Allied
bombers.
Olbia (Sardinia)
Olbia harbour is attacked by 18 French B-26A belonging to the 11éme
EB (11th Bomber Wing). This is the first combat mission done by this type
in MTO. Planes have flown under radar cailing for a large part of the trip
and have attacked unescorted. The raid creates some confusion among defenders
and one Italian coaster is sunk as well as two others damaged. On their
return run French bombers meet a mixed transport formation of 5 Ju-52 and
3 SM-81 going from Naples to Cagliari, shooting down two of the formers
and one of the latter.
Zanthe:
The two airstrips built in Zanthe are declared operational this day. They
can accomodate fighters and light bombers.
Espiritu Santo (New Hebrides)
Arrival late in the day of 18 PBY-5 (15 USN and 3 MN) at Espiritu Santo,
which is to function as an advanced base for WATCHTOWER. Two of the RAAF
Hudson based at Efate (Port-Vila) are to receive too special radar-detection
equipments.
AUGUST 4th:
Oran-Mers-El-Kebir:
PBY-5 of the E-22 flotilla launch an extensive Search and Rescue operation,
ostensibly to recover possible survivors from a Algiers-Gibraltar plane
which would have crashed at sea during the night.
Ajaccio:
The Campo del Oro airfield was attacked at 09h45 by 48 USAAF B-24 (98th
and 376th BG) escorted by 48 French NA-89 Mustang-II of the 5ème
EC (5th FW). The raid was intercepted by 14 Re-2001 belonging to the 2°
Gruppo. In a 5 minute fight nine Re-2001 were destroyed but not without having
downed three French Mustangs. (Actually 2 were destroyed and the third just
damaged, but the pilot preferred balling out over Corsica than to attempt
crossing the sea to North African shores in a thoroughly shot up plane.
He was quickly recovered by the Underground movement and was picked up two
weeks later by a French submarine.) Also lost was one 376th BG B-24, the
first combat loss of USAAF heavy bombers in the Mediterranean Theatre of
Operations. Delivered under perfect weather, the bombing neatly devastated
the airfield, destroying or damaging beyond repair most Ju-87s present. Actually
only 6 Ju-87 were still in flying condition after the bombing. In addition,
two SM-84 transport planes and two light-attack Caproni "Ghibli", used as
counter-insurgency planes, were destroyed on the ground by US bombs, which
also set on fire the fuel farm.
This attack had a bloody sequel.
2°Gruppo Commander, Ltn. Colonel Quarantotti, who has claimed one
Mustang destroyed and one B-24 damaged, took-off again after a quick refuelling
to look for some of his pilots who have ditched in the sea after the fight.
For some unknown reason his plane caught fire soon after take-off. Quarantotti
balled out but met his death by drowning when unable to disentangle his parachute.
This raid was the last of "training operations" before the beginning
of BLOWLAMP. The day after, all flying B-24 were to go back to Benghazi,
before moving to Rhodes and Crete.
Reggio di Calabria:
The city is attacked by a mixed British-French formation (Beaumont-I and
B-25) with a heavy escort. The Regia Aeronautica does not react to this
raid.
Brindisi:
Using Zanthe as a refuelling stop 12 French DB-73 (19th BW) and 12 British
Boston-III (235th BW) make a low-level attack against Brindisi airfield,
destroying 3 Fiat G-50, 5 SM-79-II and setting fire to some installations.
One French and one British planes are lost to light Flak.
Augsburg-Haunstetten:
At the usual Messerschmitt test airfield the Me-309 prototype resumes
its flight trials. However, the flight is soon aborted after ailerons had
proved to be extremely heavy to the point of making the plane difficult
to control.
Sumatra:
From a position south of the Great Nicobar Island, Adm. Sommerville's
carriers launch at 0435 a formation of 10 Albacore, 8 bomb-armed Martlet
II and 8 escort F4F-3A (of French AC2) for a strike on Japanese position
and store dumps at Banda Aceh. The dawn strike suprise Japanese troops and
only one Martlet is damaged by AA fire. The Japanese local command is informed
by 1030 that carrier-based planes are attacking north of Sumatra and Gen.
Yamashita orders every unit in the Malacca Straits area to General Quarters,
fearing this raid would be the harbinger of another convoy run to Singapore.
Actually Adm. Sommerville's attack was just a diversion intended to draw
Japanese attention far from the forthcoming WATCHTOWER.
Efate (New Hebrides)
Ten AC-20 P-40E land at Efate to boost local defences and provide cover
for Espiritu Santo.