The News of the Week in Review
Fifteen News Questions – 14
Tory and Labor Views of the British Election (cartoons) – 15
British Election Hangs on Churchill Prestige (Daniel) – 16
The Soviet Union’s Strategic Position in the Far East (maps) – 17-18
Big Questions in Asia Now Center on Russia (Baldwin) – 18-19
Low Birthrate Worries Britain – 19
“Heavy, Heavy Hangs Over His Head” (cartoon) – 19
Germany’s Economic Power Broken for Years to Come (Middleton) – 20
Answers to Fifteen News Questions – 21
The New York Times Magazine
‘Occupy Germany for Fifty Years’ (by Leopold Schwarzschild, first-time contributor) – 22-23
The Great Decision by Which We Still Stand (by Julian P. Boyd, first-time contributor) – 24-27
Independence Day, 1945 (by Theodore C. Agins, Lieut. U.S.N.R. , first-time contributor) – 28
July 1st, 1945 (SUNDAY)
GERMANY: British troops withdraw from Magdeburg, which now becomes part of the Soviet occupation zone.
JAPAN: During the night of 1/2 July, the Twentieth Air Force dispatches 564 B-29s of the USAAF’s XXI Bomber Command on one mining and four incendiary missions.
Mission 240: 152 B-29s attack the Kure urban area destroying 1.3 square miles (3.4 square km), 40% of the city; 2 other B-29s hit alternate targets.
Mission 241: 154 B-29s hit the Kumamato urban area destroying 1.0 square mile (2.6 square km), 20% of the city; 1 other B-29 hits an alternate target; 1 B-29 is lost.
Mission 242: 100 B-29s bomb the Ube urban area destroying 0.42 square miles (1.1 square km), 23% of the city.
Mission 243: 126 B-29s attack the Shimonoseki urban area destroying 0.51 square miles (1.32 square km), 36% of the city; 5 other B-29s hit alternate targets; 1 B-29 is lost.
Mission 244: 24 B-29s mine Shimonoseki Strait and the waters at Nanao and Fushiki.
148 Iwo Jima based P-51s are dispatched to hit airfields in the Nagoya area (Kasumigaura, Itami, Hamamatsu, and Nagano); they claim 2-0-0 aircraft in the air and 3-7 on the ground; 2 P-51s are lost.
Patrol Bombing Squadron One Hundred Eighteen (VPB-118) based at Yonton, Okinawa with PB4Y-2 Privateers, fly their last mining mission off Korea having dropped 195 aerial mines.
For the first time since the Doolittle Raid on 18 April 1942, B-25s attack the Japanese home islands; 33 B-25s, operating in two flights from Okinawa, and escorted by USMC F4U Corsairs, bomb Chiran Airfield on Kyushu Island: two others hit Yaku-shima Island in the Osumi Islands.
Elements of Task Forces 30 and 38 set sail from Guam and Leyte Island, Philippine Islands for attacks on the Japanese home islands. The aircraft carriers assigned are:
Task Group 30.6, the Antisubmarine Warfare Group
- USS Anzio (CVE-57) with Composite Squadrons Thirteen and Sixty Six (VC-13 and VC-16)
Task Group 30.8, the Logistics Support Group
- Task Unit 30.8.1
- USS Roi (CVE-103) as an aircraft transport
- USS Steamer Bay (CVE-87) with VC-93
- USS Thetis Bay (CVE-90) as an aircraft transport
- Task Unit 30.8.2
- USS Admiralty Islands (CVE-99) as an aircraft transport
- USS Hollandia (CVE-97) as an aircraft transport
- USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71) with VC-63)
Task Force 38
- Task Group 38.1
USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24) with Light Carrier Air Group Thirty One (CVLG-31)
USS Bennington (CV-20) with Carrier Air Group one (CVG-1)
USS Hancock (CV-19) with CVG-6
USS Lexington (CV-16) with CVG-94
USS Jacinto (CVL-30) with CVLG-49
- Task Group 38.3
USS Bataan (CVL-29) with CVLG-47
USS Essex (CV-9) with CVG-83
USS Monterey (CVL-26) with CVLG-34
USS Randolph (CV-15) with CVG-16
- Task Group 38.4
USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) with Night Carrier Air Group Ninety One [CVG(N)-91]
USS Cowpens (CVL-25) with CVLG-50
USS Independence (CVL-22) with CVLG-27
USS Shangri-La (CV-38) with CVG-85
USS Yorktown (CV-10) with CVG-88
BORNEO: The reinforced 7th Australian Division (Reinforced) (less one brigade), General Milford, land at Balikpapan. Naval support is from the TF commanded by Admiral Barbey.
An Australian Army corps lands at Balikpapan, Borneo to seize the oil fields. The area had been bombed by the US Thirteenth Air Force for three weeks and the Navy had been shelling the area for two weeks. This is the last major amphibious operation of WWII.
Preceding the landings, 83 Thirteenth Air Force B-24s bomb beach targets and the landings themselves are screened by B-25s laying a smoke screen. Also supporting the landings are USMC and USN aircraft of Task Group 78.4 consisting of:
- USS Block Island (CVE-106) with Marine Carrier Air Group One (MCVG-1) comprised of Marine Fighting Squadron (carrier-based) Five Hundred Eleven [VMF(CVS)-511 and Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron (carrier-based) Two Hundred Thirty Three [VMTB(CVS)-233].
- USS Gilbert Islands (CVE-107) with MCVG-2 comprised of VMF(CVS)-512 and VMTB(CVS)-143.
- USS Suwanee (CVE-27) with Escort Carrier Air Group Forty (CVEG-40) consisting of Fighting Squadron Forty (VF-40) and Torpedo Squadron Forty (VT-40.During the day a flight ofUSNaircraft from Suwanee bombs and rockets barracks that have been captured by the Australians who had neglected to advise the aviators; several Australian soldiers are killed.
Because of the massive firepower at his disposal the Australian commander chose to attack directly at the heart of the enemy’s defences, relying on saturation bombardment to obliterate resistance. Earlier the Australian government told MacArthur that it did not want the 7th Division used. MacArthur insisted that another division could not be substituted in time.
CHINA: Chinese forces liberate Liuchow.
CANADA: Corvettes HMCS North Bay and Stellarton paid off Sorel, Province of Quebec.
HMC ML 074, 089, 095 and 096 paid off.
825 (TBR) Sqn reformed, ASH-fitted Fairey Barracuda II aircraft at RNAS Rattray for HMCS Warrior.
U.S.A.: Vol III No 11 of US Intelligence Bulletin picks up what was covered in Tactical and Technical Trends. (Bill Howard)
In the U.S., New York State establishes the New York State Commission Against Discrimination to prevent discrimination in employment because of race, creed or natural origin; it was the first such agency in the United States.
During WW II, the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) produced numerous documents, most commonly known are the Intelligence Bulletins. The Military Intelligence Special Series continues with “Japanese Parachute Troops.” (William L. Howard)
German PoW Lt-Gen Willibald Borowietz is killed in an auto accident. He is the highest ranking PoW buried at Fort Benning, Georgia. He holds the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. (Elliott Minor, Associated Press Writer, Published November 15, 2004)
“Occupy Germany for 50 years.” Well, in a way, that’s exactly what happened.
“Allied Reich Rule Assailed by Tokyo.” It was laughable that the Japanese were complementing the Soviets on their “correct” treatment of Germans in their occupied zone. It’s not like the Japanese were too obviously trying to suck up to the Soviets. Too late, too bad. Baldwin has called the shot on this one. The Soviets already cut their deal with the Americans and Brits for their piece of the action in the Far East. I think even the Japanese have to know that’s going to happen, they are just in denial about it.
MARSHALLS WANT U.S. PROTECTORATE
One petition.............said:
“When this World War is over we request as it is written below:
1) We ask the United States of America to look over us.
2) And it should also keep our customs
3) We want the United States as long as we live on the world.
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/26551.htm