Posted on 01/08/2015 4:17:49 AM PST by Homer_J_Simpson
Winston S. Churchill, Triumph and Tragedy
http://www.etherit.co.uk/month/0/08.htm
January 8th, 1945 (MONDAY)
BELGIUM: In the U.S. First Army’s VII Corps area, the 4th Cavalry Group (Mechanized) and 84th Infantry Division pursue the Germans on the right of the corps to Marcourt and Cielle; other elements of the 84th Infantry Division start clearing the woods south of the main road junction southeast of Manhay, the 2d Armoured Division drives on Samre, Combat Command A moving south from Dochamps and Combat Command B pushing southeast along the Salmchteau-Samre Road. The 3d Armoured Division gains their intermediate objective line, taking Hebronval, Ottre, Joubieval, and Provedroux. In the XVIII Corps (Airborne) area, the 82d Airborne Division consolidates along the line Grand Sart-Salmchâteau-Trois Ponts and clears Comté.
In the U.S. Third Army’s VIII Corps area, the Germans drive 87th Infantry Division units from Bonnerue and maintains pressure in the Tillet region. Some 17th Airborne Division elements gain and then lose high ground north of Laval and others are forced out of Flamierge. In the III Corps area, the 6th Armoured Division recovers lost ground in the Neffe-Wardin sector. Task Force Fickett occupies the zone between the 35th and 26th Infantry Divisions, along the high ground before Villers-la-Bonne-Eau and Betlange. Belgium, and Harlange, Luxembourg.
The USAAF Eighth Air Force flies Mission 788: A B-17 Flying Fortresses and two B-24 Liberators drop leaflets over St Hubert.
FRANCE: Strasbourg: Battle rages, with the US 7th Army fending off a strong German attack at Rimling.
In the U.S. Seventh Army’s XV Corps area, the Germans enter Rimling. The 100th and 36th Infantry Divisions improve their positions in local attacks. In the VI Corps area, the 45th Infantry Division makes slight progress against the western flank of the German salient; Task Force Herren becomes responsible for the eastern flank. The 79th Infantry Division withstands pressure near Aschbach and moves reinforcements to the Soultz-Rittershoffen area. The Germans check efforts to reduce the Gambshelm bridgehead. The 314th Infantry Regiment, 79th Infantry Division, is unable to advance in Drusenheim or southeast of Rohrweiler. Combat Command B, 12th Armoured Division, attacks with the 714th Tank Battalion toward Herrlisheim.
Sergeant Russell Dunham is awarded the MOH for actions today leading a platoon in the 30th Infantry, Third Infantry Division, when the soldiers among them, including his brother Ralph, are pinned down by German fire. They are at the bottom of a hill near the village of Kaysersberg. He charges up the snow covered hill killing, wounding or capturing 18 German soldiers. (Mark W. Carver)
GERMANY: The USAAF Eighth Air Force flies Mission 787: 736 bombers and 269 fighters are dispatched to make PFF attacks on communications centres, rail targets and bridges in Germany; two bombers are lost. The heaviest attack is made against the Ost marshalling yard at Frankfurt-am-Main which is hit by 137 aircraft. Sixteen other targets are also bombed.
AUSTRIA: Over 300 USAAF Fifteenth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators bomb seven marshalling yards (M/Ys): 205 hit the Main M/Y at Linz, 46 bomb Klagenfurt M/Y, 42 attack the Main M/Y at Graz and 17 aircraft hit four other M/Ys.
ITALY: Bad weather sharply reduces daytime operations of the USAAF Twelfth Air Force. Of three medium bomber missions dispatched, only one reaches the target (the Chivasso railway bridge) where only six medium bombers bomb through the overcast; less than 20 XXII Tactical Air Command fighters hit scattered targets in the Po Valley.
BURMA: In the Northern Combat Area Command area, the U.S. 475th Infantry Regiment (Long Range Penetration, Special) at Mong Wi is ordered to move forward for action.
Twenty one USAAF Tenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells hit troops and supply areas at Nampeng and Mong Long; 74 P-47 Thunderbolts and P-38 Lightnings attack troop concentrations and supply areas at Tunhunghkam, Monguy, Hpa-hpun, and Man Om; and 12 P-47s knock out a bypass bridge at Namhkai. Transports complete 470+ sorties to forward bases and frontline areas.
Eight USAAF Fourteenth Air Force P-51 Mustangs hit targets of opportunity east of Muse and east of Wanling.
COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: On Leyte, U.S. General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, Commander in Chief South West Pacific Area, sends a message to Australian General Sir Thomas Blamey, Commander in Chief Australian Military Force and Commander in Chief Allied Land Forces South West Pacific Area, in New Guinea and states that his communique tomorrow will “carry announcement Australian troop as requested by you” in a message on 6 January. Tomorrow’s announcement states: “Australian forces have relieved United States Army elements along the Solomons axis, in New Britain and British New Guinea. Continuous actions of attrition at all points of contact have been in progress. So far 372 Japanese have been killed, 20 captured and 10 friendly nationals recovered.”
Preinvasion aerial and naval bombardment of Lingayen Gulf area of Luzon continues. Mine sweeping is completed.
In the main strikes during the day on Luzon Island, USAAF Far East Air Forces P-51 Mustangs and P-40s strafe airfields in the Lingayen Gulf area; A-20 Havocs hit railroad yards at Cabanatuan, motor convoys between Cabanatuan and Bongalion and between Bongabon and Mojon, Rosales and San Quintin rail installations, bridges at Cuyapo, Paniqui, and near Santa Rosa; P-47 Thunderbolts hit rail yards and a truck convoy in the San Jose area; and B-24 Liberators and A-20s attack Nichols Field and Nielson, Lipa, and Calingatan Airfields. B-25 Mitchells with P-47 cover, bomb Fabrica Airfield on Negros Island, while B-24 Liberators bomb Likanan Airfield and oil storage at Matina on Mindanano Island.
VOLCANO ISLANDS: Twenty six USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24 Liberators bomb airfields on Iwo Jima, while, during the night of 8/9 January, ten more B-24s subject the island to individual snooper strikes over a 6-hour period.
PACIFIC OCEAN: During continuing Japanese aerial onslaught on the Lingayen Gulf invasion force in the South China Sea, kamikazes damage escort aircraft carriers USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71) about 63 nautical miles (117 kilometres) west-southwest of Lingayen, Luzon in position 15.48N, 119.09E, and Kadashan Bay (CVE-76), about 87 nautical miles (161 kilometres) southwest of Lingayen, Luzon in position 15.10N, 119.08E. A suicide also crashes close aboard Australian heavy cruiser HMAS Australia (D 84), ending her support operations this day.
The USN coordinated submarine attack group, Task Group 17.21 (Commander Charles E. Loughlin) attacks a Japanese convoy in the South China Sea about 52 nautical miles (97 kilometres) west-southwest of Taihoku, Formosa. USS Barb (SS-220) sinks two merchant cargo ships (the second explodes violently, forcing Barb deep and tearing off deck gratings); and a merchant tanker and damages an army cargo ship; USS Picuda (SS-382) damages a cargo ship and USS Queenfish (SS-393) damages a tanker. In the confusion generated by TG 17.21’s attack, a merchant tanker runs aground in Tungshiao Bay.
CANADA:
Frigate HMCS Sussexvale departed Halifax for workups Bermuda.
Destroyers HMCS Sioux and Algonquin arrived Kola Inlet with Convoy JW-63.
U.S.A.: Admiral Jonas H. Ingram, Commander-in-Chief of the US Atlantic Fleet, says that it is possible and probable that New York City or Washington will be hit by buzz bombs within the next 30 to 60 days. The Admiral states that he will take charge of coastal defences of New York and Washington, and that he has moved ‘plenty of forces’ to take every possible precaution against the attack. He predicts that the bombs might come in one of three ways: 1) surface ships; 2:) submarines; 3) long-range planes.
He believes that the bombs will be smaller that the V-1 or V-2s launched against Great Britain — and that the greatest danger to expect was from fires — and that the bombs were not expected to seriously damage any large buildings. He warns against panic, which would increase the damage... ‘I don’t think there is anything to worry about too much,’ he says, ‘they might try to hit the Empire State Building to cause panic...they might kill a few people and cause some damage...but they won’t be able to launch more than 10 or 12 robot bombs.”
“He adds, ‘the next alert will be the real McCoy, the danger area would be in a 300 mile arc from which either New York, Washington, or Boston will be hit.’ He declares that ‘The Germans had 300 submarines at least in the Atlantic, and that the Navy was prepared to keep them from coming close enough to fire, or to stop them before they fired very many bombs.” (Neal D. O’Brien)
In California, the packing shed of the Doi family is burned and dynamited and shots are fired into their home. The family had been the first to return to California from the Amache Relocation Camp for Ethnic Japanese located 1.5 miles (2,4 kilometres) west of Granada, Colorado, and the first to return to Placer County, having arrived three days earlier. (Placer County is located northeast of Sacramento.) Although several men are arrested and confess to the acts, all would be acquitted. Some 30 similar incidents would greet other Japanese Americans returning to the West Coast between January and June.
Light cruiser USS Amsterdam (CL-101) commissioned.
Destroyer escort USS Cross commissioned.
BRITISH WEST INDIES: Martin Model 130 Flying Boat, msn 558, registered NC14716 and named “China Clipper” by the U.S. airline Pan American Airways, crashes at Port of Spain, Trinidad, at 2116 hours local. This is Pan Am Flight 161 from Miami, Florida, to Leopoldville, Belgian Congo. The aircraft crashes 1.25 miles (2 012 kilometres) short of the intended landing area in a nose-down attitude at too great a speed and breaks up in the water. The crash is blamed on the first officer’s failure to realize his proximity to the water and to correct his attitude for a normal landing and the lack of adequate supervision by the captain during the landing, resulting in the inadvertent flight into the water in excess of normal landing speed and in a nose-down attitude. Twenty three of the 30 people aboard the aircraft are killed. The is the last Martin 130 in service.
Hmmm... Missed the Michael Brown piece.
Me too!
(Page 7 NYT): Great story about a loud, talkative Irish-American who bamboozled a Kraut platoon by yelling at them in Yiddish. Only one German from the platoon survived.
The report of the Montgomery presser was really hard to read. The man was insufferable. I realize he was a British national hero, but I just don’t see how Ike restrained himself from relieving the jerk.
Even his choice of words - sounds like he’s conducting the campaign from a tea party or cocktail party. The whole schtick sets my teeth on edge - right down to his clownish garb and that smirk on his face. It’s like his head is in the clouds or up his whatever.
Personality disorder with narcissistic overtones, compounded by an inferiority complex from his lack of recognition and advancement as a teen. It may go back even farther; Mommy didn’t provide him with good potty training.
Please don't hijack the thread. This isn't about Obama.
Lol; good one Homer. Oddly enough, as I typed it was thinking the same thing. However, there is a huge difference between the 0bama and Monty.
Monty was an accomplished, successful and competent general. I don’t think 0bama would make a decent 3rd shift assistant mens’ room attendant.
I think I shall call you Bradley. Now, Ike and Bradley, we shall proceed with your potty training . . .
January 8, 1944
The Billings Gazette:
A new offensive by the Russian Second Ukrainian army has wasted a 62-mile-wide break-through in German Dnieper bend lines and has advanced 25 miles In three days, completely surrounding the Industrial town of Krovbgrad, Moscow announced Friday night, while the Russian First Ukrainian army to the northwest struck 12 miles farther into old Poland to capture Klesow.
The fortress village of San Vittore, just six miles from Cassino and the flat plains leading toward Borne, fell to General Mark W. Clark’s Fifth army at 3:57 p.m. Thursday after three days of desperate, no-quarter street fighting with a German garrison.
Fighting on the southeastern front of the American beach head at Cape Gloucester dropped into a lull intermittent patrolling and skirmishing with Japanese forces around Borgen Bay Wednesday and Thursday, but Allied airmen continue their blows with the seventeen straight night raids on Kavieng, New Ireland, it was announced Saturday.
Postmark January 8, 1944 Fort Benning GA
From: Harold Lederman, Eleventh Company Sixth Training Regiment A.S.T.P, Fort Benning Georgia
To: Mr and Mrs Ben Lederman, 923 North Leavitt St., Chicago Ill
Dear Mother and Dad,
I received your package of clothing and food. Mom, you ask me why I don’t wash. If you got up at 6 o’clock in the morning. Made your bed, washed up, swept the barracks up and got all the clothes ready that I must wear during the day. And after I came back at 7 o’clock in the evening, I must polish 3 pair of shoes, so bright that you can see your face in them, and clean my rifle, oiling all parts. The lights go out at 10 o’clock. And you ask me why I don’t wash?
However, they have just opened up a laundry down here. It will cost me $1.50 a month. I send the laundry out once a week. Mom, can’t you get me pure woolen stockings? I need at least 2 pair of them. I take 15 mile hikes and I need them. As for more my cold it is not serious. Its just the damp weather that gets me down.
I hope you received the $20. I will get paid January 31 about $43. I’ll send home about $37.
I received aunt Diena’s letter and I will soon answer it.
Love, Harold
http://dearmotheranddad.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/03/postmark-januar.html
Oh man, I have to laugh at myself. My last three posts were from January 8, 1944.
My brain has not moved to 1945 as yet.
Sorry about that. :-)
I’ll make up for it:
World War II Today: Battle of the Bulge: Three Medal of Honor Heroes:
Sgt Day G. Turner, Company B, 319th Infantry, 80th Infantry Division, Dahl, Luxembourg, 8 January 1945:
He commanded a 9-man squad with the mission of holding a critical flank position. When overwhelming numbers of the enemy attacked under cover of withering artillery, mortar, and rocket fire, he withdrew his squad into a nearby house, determined to defend it to the last man.
The enemy attacked again and again and were repulsed with heavy losses. Supported by direct tank fire, they finally gained entrance, but the intrepid sergeant refused to surrender although 5 of his men were wounded and 1 was killed. He boldly flung a can of flaming oil at the first wave of attackers, dispersing them, and fought doggedly from room to room, closing with the enemy in fierce hand-to-hand encounters.
He hurled handgrenade for handgrenade, bayoneted 2 fanatical Germans who rushed a doorway he was defending and fought on with the enemy’s weapons when his own ammunition was expended. The savage fight raged for 4 hours, and finally, when only 3 men of the defending squad were left unwounded, the enemy surrendered.
Twenty-five prisoners were taken, 11 enemy dead and a great number of wounded were counted. Sgt. Turner’s valiant stand will live on as a constant inspiration to his comrades. His heroic, inspiring leadership, his determination and courageous devotion to duty exemplify the highest tradition of the military service.
Technical Sergeant Charles F. Carey, Jr.:
Technical Sergeant Charles F. Carey, Jr., ASN: (6253699), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty on January 8 and 9, 1945, while serving with the 397th Infantry Regiment, 100th Infantry Division, in action at Rimling, France.
Technical Sergeant Carey was in command of an antitank platoon when about 200 enemy infantrymen and twelve tanks attacked his battalion, overrunning part of its position. After losing his guns, Technical Sergeant Carey, acting entirely on his own initiative, organized a patrol and rescued two of his squads from a threatened sector, evacuating those who had been wounded.
He organized a second patrol and advanced against an enemy-held house from which vicious fire issued, preventing the free movement of our troops. Covered by fire from his patrol, he approached the house, killed two snipers with his rifle, and threw a grenade in the door. He entered alone and a few minutes later emerged with 16 prisoners. Acting on information he furnished, the American forces were able to capture an additional 41 Germans in adjacent houses.
He assembled another patrol, and, under covering fire, moved to within a few yards of an enemy tank and damaged it with a rocket. As the crew attempted to leave their burning vehicle, he calmly shot them with his rifle, killing three and wounding a fourth.
Early in the morning of 9 January, German infantry moved into the western part of the town and encircled a house in which Technical Sergeant Carey had previously posted a squad. Four of the group escaped to the attic. By maneuvering an old staircase against the building, Technical Sergeant Carey was able to rescue these men. Later that day, when attempting to reach an outpost, he was struck down by sniper fire.
The fearless and aggressive leadership of Technical Sergeant Carey, his courage in the face of heavy fire from superior enemy forces, provided an inspiring example for his comrades and materially helped his battalion to withstand the German onslaught.
Technical Sergeant Russell E. Dunham Company I, 30th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. At about 1430 hours on 8 January 1945, during an attack on Hill 616, near Kayserberg, France, T/Sgt. Dunham single-handedly assaulted 3 enemy machine guns. Wearing a white robe made of a mattress cover, carrying 12 carbine magazines and with a dozen hand grenades snagged in his belt, suspenders, and buttonholes, T/Sgt. Dunham advanced in the attack up a snow-covered hill under fire from 2 machine guns and supporting riflemen.
His platoon 35 yards behind him, T/Sgt. Dunham crawled 75 yards under heavy direct fire toward the timbered emplacement shielding the left machine gun. As he jumped to his feet 10 yards from the gun and charged forward, machine gun fire tore through his camouflage robe and a rifle bullet seared a 10-inch gash across his back sending him spinning 15 yards down hill into the snow. When the indomitable sergeant sprang to his feet to renew his 1-man assault, a German egg grenade landed beside him. He kicked it aside, and as it exploded 5 yards away, shot and killed the German machine gunner and assistant gunner. His carbine empty, he jumped into the emplacement and hauled out the third member of the gun crew by the collar.
Although his back wound was causing him excruciating pain and blood was seeping through his white coat, T/Sgt. Dunham proceeded 50 yards through a storm of automatic and rifle fire to attack the second machine gun. Twenty-five yards from the emplacement he hurled 2 grenades, destroying the gun and its crew; then fired down into the supporting foxholes with his carbine dispatching and dispersing the enemy riflemen.
Although his coat was so thoroughly blood-soaked that he was a conspicuous target against the white landscape, T/Sgt. Dunham again advanced ahead of his platoon in an assault on enemy positions farther up the hill. Coming under machinegun fire from 65 yards to his front, while rifle grenades exploded 10 yards from his position, he hit the ground and crawled forward.
At 15 yards range, he jumped to his feet, staggered a few paces toward the timbered machinegun emplacement and killed the crew with hand grenades. An enemy rifleman fired at pointblank range, but missed him. After killing the rifleman, T/Sgt. Dunham drove others from their foxholes with grenades and carbine fire.
Killing 9 Germans—wounding 7 and capturing 2—firing about 175 rounds of carbine ammunition, and expending 11 grenades, T/Sgt. Dunham, despite a painful wound, spearheaded a spectacular and successful diversionary attack.
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