Madrid
The French "Chargé d'Affaires" in Madrid is informed by Spanish
authorities that two days ago local fishermen found the body of a drowned
French officer off Torrevieja. The French diplomat asks for immediate custody
of the body by the French consulate in Alicante.
Sicily:
Airfields and military installations on Sicily’s eastern coast are attacked
all day by Allied aircraft. 432 offensive missions are flown resulting in
the loss of 6 Allied planes (3 French, 2 British, 1 US), all by AA fire.
Eleven Italian planes are destroyed on the ground and two in air combat.
AUGUST 6th
English Channel:
British and French planes clash with JG-1 and JG-26 fighters during bomber
raids on Le Havre and Antifer. Seven Spitfires, two Tornadoes and two Beaumont
bombers are lost for the destruction of 6 FW-190s and one Bf-109.
Oran - Mers El Kebir:
Arrival of a USN task-group sent to the Mediterranean to strengthen R.Adm.
H. Ken Hewitt forces in preparation for the forthcoming Operation Torch.
This task group includes two old battleships (Texas and New York), heavy
cruiser Tuscaloosa, light cruisers Savannah, Brooklyn and Philadelphia, as
well as 13 destroyers (DD Roe, Livermore, Kearny, Parker, Hambleton, Macomb,
Eberle, Bristol, Woolsey, Edison, Tillman, Boyle and Rowan). These ships
are to train with forces under Adm Rawlings (RN) and Michelier (MN), with
Adm. Sir Andrew Browne Cunningham (RN) in overall command.
These ships have transited from the US East coast in company with two former
Clemson-class DDs converted as APDs and delivered to the French Navy (Goumier
ex DD-190 Satterlee and Tabor ex DD-191 Mason). Both ships have an armament
of two 3-in/50 DP guns, 4 x 40mm, 5 x 20mm, 4 DCT and 2 DC racks. They carry
four LCPL and 144 troops.
Southern Italy:
After refuelling from Malta and Gozo, French NA-73 of the 39th Wing, NA-89
Mustang-II of the 7th and 5th Wing, helped by Gozo based Spitfire-V of French
3rd Wing and RAF n° 73, 92, 249, 126, 119 squadrons escort French B-26
and B-25 attacking Italian airfields at Reggio di Calabria, Catanzaro, Crotona
and Cosenza. In ensuing fights 11 Allied planes are lost (of which 4 by
AA fire) but 9 Italian planes are destroyed in the air and 17 on the ground.
Zanthe:
The 3 Yugoslav Fighter Squadrons (GC I/80, II/80, III/80) the first two
on P-39D and the last on P-40E as well as French GC I/7 and II/7 flying on
Hawk-87 (P-40E) deploy on airstrips built on Zanthe Island. They are followed
by French DB-73 of the 19th Bomber Wing previously deployed from Malesme.
AUGUST 7th
Alicante:
After two days of frustrating administrative processes the French consulate
in Alicante is allowed by Spanish authorities to recover personal effects
of the drowned officer recovered on August 3rd. Late in the evening the
French Embassy in Madrid transmits to Algiers "Mincemeat swallowed."
Sicily and Southern Italy:
Major air operation during the day. As Allied planes based in North-Africa
are pounding airfields and Italian defenses in Sicily, Zanthe based planes
strike Lecce, Brindisi and Bari. The combination of multiple attack axis
confuses to a considerable extent Italian air defences. Of 597 Allied planes
participating in this operation, only 11 are lost (of which 5 from AA fire
and 1 in a landing accident). No less than 19 Italian planes are destroyed,
all but 6 on the ground.
AUGUST 8th
Western Sicily:
The Trapani airfield complex is submitted to a major attack (124 bombers
in two waves escorted by 164 fighters). Damage is extensive, at the cost
of 5 Allied planes.
Southern Italy:
Bari and Foggia are attacked during the night by RAF Malta based Wellington
of N° 37, 104, 38, 148 squadrons.
Athens area and Central Greece:
Planes of the Aegean Air Force launch a succession of raids against Axis
logistical facilities around Athens and Larissa. 217 planes participate
in these raids and 11 are lost of which 7 to the Luftwaffe, which suffers
4 planes destroyed in air combat.
AUGUST 9th
Southern Italy
Zanthe based Yugoslav P-39D (GC I/80 and II/80) begin naval interdiction
missions in the Tarento Gulf and the Otranto Channel, under P-40E top cover.
Two small freighters are set ablaze south of Tarento.
AUGUST 10th
Gozo and Pantelleria:
First elements of USAAF 31st and 52nd FG (flying on Spitfire-V) begin to
deploy from airfields in these two tiny Islands to be able to cover Eastern
Sicily.
Roma:
Meeting of the Italian general staff in the Quirinal. Mussolini is informed
by Italian Intelligence relaying information obtained from Spain that a
major Allied offensive is to begin by early to mid-September and would include
landings West of Tarento and South of Brindisi. Some diversionary operations
are to happen against Corsica and in Greece. The enemy aim seems to be seizing
Puglia and Basilicata regions and from there to march on Naples, then isolating
Italian forces operating in Sicily and Calabria.
At the same meeting the Regia Aeronautica Chief of Staff informs Mussolini
that attrition suffered from Allied raids against Sicily during the last
three weeks is leaving the Italian Air Force sorely depleted. He requests
authorization to recall units from Western and Southern Sicily.
After three hours of heated discussion the meeting is suspended without
a decision as Mussolini wants to inform Hitler first before taking a decision.
AUGUST 11th
Leipheim (Germany)
The Me-262 V3, the first Me-262 prototype to have flown on jet engines
only, crashes after take-off on its sixth flight from Leipheim airfield
near Ulm. Flight Captain Baur is wounded in this crash and the plane will
have to be rebuilt. The post-crash inquiry will conclude that a power loss
from Jumo-004 engines coupled with premature stall of the wing inner section
was the probable cause of the accident.
Algiers:
Meeting of Allied supreme and MTO commanders (including US generals Marshal,
Eisenhower and Patton, British Empire Staff representatives (Gen. Sir Allan
Brooke, Field Marshal Alexander and General Montgomery) with French authorities
led by Minister of war Gen. C. de Gaulle to prepare the forthcoming operation
Torch. Allied forces deployed in Peloponnesus have been reorganized. The
Allied Forces in Greece Commander (AFGC) is still French General Giraud with
British Gen. Ritchie as second in Command. Forces are divided as Armée
d'Orient (including French 1st and 2nd Army Corps and Yugoslav 1st Army corps)
and British VIIIth Army (including the British XXXth Army Corps and the Greek
1st Army Corps). US troops have been pulled out to be integrated into forces
allocated to TORCH.
Command of Operation TORCH is to be given to British general Alexander
but US forces are to operate as a separate Army under General Patton's command,
a prerequisite for the first massive US troops involvement in the European
theatre of operations. US forces were, by mid-August 1942, composed of two
Infantry Divisions (1st and 9th), two Armoured divisions (1st and 2nd),
two Airborne regiments and various Artillery and support units. Even if
relatively "green" by comparison to British, French, Greek and Yugoslav
forces operating in MTO, they were already a quite formidable combat force,
well equipped and highly motivated after months of intense training in Northern
Africa.
TORCH is also to be combined with a limited offensive of Allied forces
operating in Peloponesus, in a move consistent with the MINCEMEAT operation.
AFG Command
Gen. Giraud (headquarters in Heraklion)
French "Armee d'Orient"
1st French Army Corps: 1st French Armoured Division, 2nd Moroccan Infantry
Division (2è DIM), 10th Mountain Infantry Division (10è D.
Chasseurs Alpins), support and logistic units.
2nd French Army Corps: 10th French Infantry division, 1st Moroccan Tabor
Grouping (1er GTM), 3rd Moroccan Tabor Grouping (3è GTM), 1st Foreign
Legion Mobile Brigade (1ère BMLE).
1st Yugoslav Army Corps: 1st Yugoslav Infantry Division, 2nd Yugoslav Infantry
Division, 1st Yugoslav Armoured Brigade.
British 8th Army: Gen. Ritchie.
XXXth Army Corps: 7th Armoured Division, 4th Indian Infantry division,
2nd South African Division.
1st Greek Army Corps: 1st Greek Infantry Division, 2nd Greek Mountain Infantry
Brigade, 1st Greek Armoured Brigade, 82nd British Armoured brigade.
At this time of the war, with the benefit of Allied support, Greece and
Yugoslavia were able to deploy still limited but nevertheless significant
forces.
The Greek Army, mostly constituted by 1941 evacuated soldiers now boosted
by conscription from Crete, Dodecanese and southern Peloponesus, was fielding
One infantry division, three Mountain infantry brigades, three territorial
and static defence brigades, one Armoured Brigade and two battalions of
special forces. These forces helped the Allies considerably by garrisoning
Crete and Dodecanese Islands in addition to contributing to operations in
the Peloponesus. All Greek units were patterned on the British Army system.
The Yugoslav Army, reconstituted by 1941 evacuated soldiers, was following
closely the French pattern and included two infantry division, one Armoured
brigade (to be expanded to a division) and one regiment of special forces.
Zanthe:
RAF 238th Bomber Wing operating on Blenheim and Beaumont deploy for some
time to Zanthe airfield.
Rhodes:
Arrival of the second Lend-Lease convoy bound to Russia, which had left
New York on July 23rd. The 17 freighters are to be escorted up to Turkish
waters by the Aegean Squadron.
AUGUST 12th:
Fort de France:
Commissioning by the French Navy of 8 new US-built PC boats (Coutelas,
Javelot, Bayonette, Glaive, Epieu, Estoc, Lance, Couteau) which are to operate
as light convoy escorts in the Carribean.
Munchen:
Meeting between Marshal Jodl and Marshal Count Cavallero to discuss the
forthcoming Allied offensive in the Mediterranean. Marshal Jodl informs his
Italian counterpart that the military situation on the eastern front precludes
the sending of any German troops to Italy or any reinforcement to Greece.
Sicily and Southern Italy:
No less than 5 raids are launched by Allied planes against enemy targets
in Sicily, Calabria and Puglia. 645 combat missions are flown and 14 allied
planes are lost this day to the enemy against 9 Italian fighters destroyed
in the air and 5 on the ground.
Brisbane:
Arrival of RNN destroyer Isaac Sweers, which is to join the reconstituted
Dutch squadron (CL Tromp, DD Van Ghent, Van Nes and Witte de With). The
old destroyer Eversten had been decommissioned to be used as a source of
spare parts for other RNN DDs.
AUGUST 13th
Algiers:
Field Marshal Sir Harold Alexander's staff is informed by General G.S.
Patton US-Army, that 1st and 9th Infantry divisions are to be considered
from now as combat-ready. Elements of the US 1st and 2nd Armored Divisions
are completing their combat-training after teaming with battle-seasoned
elements of the French 2nd Armored Division.
Zanthe:
Operating from Zanthe airfield light bombers of the RAF 238th Wing join
Yugoslav P-39D in naval interdiction missions in the Otranto Channel.
South-West Pacific Area:
Beginning of the Battle of Eastern Solomons.
AUGUST 14th
Washington:
Following events in the South-Western Pacific Area a delegation including
the Honourable Harry Hopkins, the Undersecretary of the Navy M. James Forrestal
and Admiral Thomas Hart leaves Washington to Pearl Harbor and then Nouméa
and Canberra.
Tirana:
Tirana Harbour is attacked by 12 Beaumont bombers escorted by French and
Yugoslav P-40E. Two Italian freighters are set on fire.
Baghdad:
The first Polish soldiers and officers freed from Soviet camps are welcomed
by a British-French delegation. The Soviet Government has agreed to send
to the Middle-East 69,000 Polish troops, who have been considered as Prisoner
of War since 1939.
AUGUST 15th
Rome:
At an extraordinary meeting of the Italian General Staff, Mussolini orders
that all surface combattants still based in Tarento or Bari are to retire
to Napoli and Ancona. Regia Aeronautica units are to redeploy in Calabria
and torpedo-bomber units reconstituted in Gorizia are to be sent to Tirana.
A mobile Army corps, concentrating all tanks and armored vehicles available,
is to be constituted between Foggia and Carignola, to be able to attack
enemy beachheads.
This meeting is succeeded by another momentous one, of the Great Fascist
Council. For the first time Mussolini decision to openly side with Germany
in the war is challenged by some participants.