70 Years Ago Today: Wednesday, July 28, 1943 Alaska Theater: The Japanese garrison of Kiska is withdrawn by sea without detection by Allied forces, who are continuing preparations to invade the island. European Theater: 8th Air Force Mission 78 – 182 B-17s are dispatched against the Fieseler Works at Kassel, Germany, while 120 B-17s bomb the Fw 190 plant at Oschersleben, Germany, losing 22 aircraft, with 205 men listed as missing. This marked the first effective use of rockets by German fighters. It also market the first use of jettisonable belly tanks as 105 P-47s escort the B-17s into Germany, losing one P-47 and its pilot. As a diversion, the VIII Air Support Command Mission Numbers sends 18 B-26s to the coke ovens at Zeebrugge, Belgium, while 18 other B-26s are sent to attack the Tricqueville Airfield in France, but the second mission is recalled when the accompanying fighters do not join up. Elsewhere, in the Bay of Biscay, German submarine U-404 is sunk by a B-24 and a RAF Liberator on anti-submarine patrol. During the night, four RAF Mosquitos attack Hamburg and three others are sent to Düsseldorf, while 17 other aircraft lay mines in the Frisian Islands, and four others fly training missions. Eastern Mediterranean: Desert Air Task Force sends about 100 P-40s, from the 9th Air Force, to attack shipping at Catania and Santa Teresa di Riva, fly patrol over the Straits of Messina, and bomb encampments. Western Mediterranean: Northwest African Air Force fighters sweep over southern Sardinia. In Sicily, light bombers hit Regalbuto, Milazzo, and Centuripe, while A-36s and P-40s, from the12th Air Force, hit heavy traffic on the Troina-Randazzo road, bridges and roads north and west of Cesaro, the landing ground at Falcone and buildings near Randazzo. On the ground in Sicily, the US Seventh Army takes Nicosia and pushes toward Santo Stefano di Camastra. The British Eighth Army takes Agira. Allied cargo vessels begin arriving at Palermo, and Lieutenant General Harold Alexander, 15 Army Group Commanding General, moves his headquarters to Sicily. The 99th Fighter Squadron, XII Air Support Command, flying P-40s, transfers from Tunisia to Sicily. Meanwhile, General Alexander moves his headquarters of the 15th Army Group to Sicily. China – Burma – India Theater (China): 14th Air Force sends six B-25s, with an escort of nine P-40s, to bomb the Taikoo Docks at Hong Kong. South Pacific Area: 13th Air Force B-25s and Navy aircraft hit gun positions and other targets at Webster Cove on New Georgia Island. Meanwhile, General Griswold calls for replacements. Southwest Pacific Theater: 5th Air Force B-25s attack barges and a fuel dump between Cape Raoult and Rein Bay and hit the airfield at Cape Gloucester and two destroyers offshore on New Britain Island. Meanwhile, single B-24s bomb Unea Island and unsuccessfully attack shipping in Saint George Channel between New Ireland and New Britain Islands. In New Guinea, B-24s bomb Manokwari and Larat and Boela on Ceram Island in the Moluccas Islands, while B-25s hit the town of Lautem and the airfield at Cape Chater on Timor Island.
Posted on: Sun, 28 Jul 2013 12:51:54 +0000
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