2, PERHAPS 3, JAPANESE CARRIERS SUNK WITH ALL THEIR PLANES, NIMITZ REPORTS (6/7/42)

Microfilm-New York Times archives, Monterey Public Library | 6/7/42 | Robert Trumbull, Joseph M. Levy, Harold Denny, Hanson W. Baldwin, George Axelsson

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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THE NEWS OF THE WEEK IN REVIEW

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

My father is a Naval War College graduate, and one of the texts they used in his course (1977-78) was a book about Midway written by two Japanese officers who were participants. I read it several times when I was a girl.

?

[Tax-chick]

Yes, that’s it, although it had a black paper cover and a parchment over-cover embossed with Japanese characters and a cool Rising Sun flag.

[BroJoeK]

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June 7, 1942:

• "A Jewish woman who has escaped from the Warsaw Ghetto into the city proper is dragged back to the ghetto and shot.

• "The Jewish Yellow Star is made mandatory in Occupied France."

"A Nazi security officer photographs SS and Red Cross officials during a Red Cross visit to the Amersfoort concentration camp in the Netherlands.
The SS carefully controlled outside access to the camps, and all visits were meticulously staged.
Camps were decorated for the occasions and inmates received new clothing.
Even musical events were presented, to show that the prisoners were living under agreeable conditions."

"These children from the Polish town of Pitrokow Kujawski were shipped to Chelmno, where they were murdered in the camp's gas vans.
Though deportations from the nearby Lódz Ghetto to Chelmno began in January 1942, Lódz residents weren't aware of the death camp until summertime."

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[CougarGA7]

A good book on Wannsee Conference that I did a review on for Homer is called “The Wannsee Conference and the Final Solution: A Reconsideration” by Mark Roseman. It is short but it really tries to piece together the details of what actually went on at the Conference itself.

[CougarGA7]

You know, I’m not sure if there are any studies on the source of this leak. Admittedly, I never really have looked though. Might make an interesting paper. Much like the time I wrote that one on the possible sources of the Tribune’s lead of Rainbow 5.

[CougarGA7]

Hmm. Not as much as a mystery this one is. The reporter, a Mr. Stanley Johnston, who placed the story was on board the USS Lexington at the Battle of the Coral Sea and most likely saw this dispatch sent to the ship:

CINC PACIFIC FLEET ESTIMATE MIDWAY FORCE ORGANIZATION X STRIKING FORCE 4 CARRIERS (AKAGI KAGA HIRYU SORYU) 2 KIRISHIMAS 2 TONE CLASS CRUISERS 12 DESTROYERS SCREEN AND PLANE GUARD X SUPPORT FORCE 1 DV OR XCV2 KIRISHIMAS 4 MOGAMIS 1 ATAGO 1 ? BD SCREEN XX OCCUPATION FORCE 1 TAKAO 1-2 MYOKOS (QUESTION) 1 CHITOSE 1 CHITOYODA 2-4 KAMIKAWA MARU 4-6 AK 8-12 AP 12 DESTROYERS X APPROXIMATELY 16 SS RECONNAISANCE AND SCOUTING MISSION MID PACIFIC-HAWAIIAN ISLANDS AREA.

Here is the story he placed. Note the similarities:

The various forces were made up aqpproximately as follows, according to navy information here:

THE STRIKING FORCE: Four aircraft carriers, the Akaga and Kaga of 26,900 tons each, and the Hiryu and Soryu of 10,000 tons each; 2 battleships of the Kirishima class - 29,300 tons with 14 inch guns; 2 cruisers of the Tone class - new 8,500 ton 6.1 inch gun ships; 12 destoyers.

Support Force Listed.

THE SUPPORT FORCE: One aircraft carrier of the Ryuzyo class, 7,100 tons; 2 Kirishima class battleships; 4 new 8,500 ton cruisers of the Mogami class, including the Mogami, Mikuma, Suzuya and Kumano - with 15 guns of 6.1 inch caliber; 1 light cruiser; 10 destroyers.

THE OCCUPATION FORCE: four cruisers - the Chakas, Myoko, Hitore, and Choda, all believed of 3,500 tons with main batteries of 6.1 inch guns; 2 armored transports of the Kunikisima Maru class - converted liners; 4 to 6 troopships; 8 to 12 supply vessels; 12 destroyers; 10 submarines.

While it is clear from the detail that he was using a book detailing Japanese naval ships (probably Jane's Fighting Ships), he had to have something more than just that to compose this story with such accuracy.

[CougarGA7]

Here's the latest report on Midway attack. Not entirely accurate and certainly scripted. But it is another fun one to listen to.

MBS - Battle of Midway Island Special Broadcast

[Homer_J_Simpson]

The reporter, a Mr. Stanley Johnston, who placed the story was on board the USS Lexington at the Battle of the Coral Sea . . .

In a few days we will have a long report from Mr. Stanley Johnston giving his observations during that battle.

[PAR35]

and one LB-30 crashes into the sea killing all of the crew including Major General Clarence L Tinker,

I thought that the LB-30 was an exclusively British variant of the B-24

[CougarGA7]

I thought that the LB-30 was an exclusively British variant of the B-24.

That's what I thought. It was a transport variant as well which means it wouldn't have a bomb bay. May just be a typo. I'll take a look at my books on U.S. Air Force aircraft when I get home and see if it has anything on this.

[reg45]

LB-30 Info