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RECORD AIR ATTACK LEAVES BERLIN AFIRE; U.S. CARRIER PLANES POUND PACIFIC ISLES (11/20/43)
Microfilm-New York Times archives, Monterey Public Library | 11/20/43 | Drew Middleton, Frederick Graham, Ralph Parker, George Horne, Brooks Atkinson

Posted on 11/20/2013 4:19:54 AM PST by Homer_J_Simpson

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TOPICS: History
KEYWORDS: milhist; realtime; worldwarii
Free Republic University, Department of History presents World War II Plus 70 Years: Seminar and Discussion Forum
First session: September 1, 2009. Last date to add: September 2, 2015.
Reading assignment: New York Times articles delivered daily to students on the 70th anniversary of original publication date. (Previously posted articles can be found by searching on keyword “realtime” Or view Homer’s posting history .)
To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by freepmail. Those on the Realtime +/- 70 Years ping list are automatically enrolled. Course description, prerequisites and tuition information is available at the bottom of Homer’s profile. Also visit our general discussion thread.
1 posted on 11/20/2013 4:19:55 AM PST by Homer_J_Simpson
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To: Homer_J_Simpson
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2 posted on 11/20/2013 4:20:52 AM PST by Homer_J_Simpson ("Every nation has the government that it deserves." - Joseph de Maistre (1753-1821))
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To: Homer_J_Simpson
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The West Point Military History Series, Thomas E. Griess, Editor, The Second World War: Asia and the Pacific

3 posted on 11/20/2013 4:23:23 AM PST by Homer_J_Simpson ("Every nation has the government that it deserves." - Joseph de Maistre (1753-1821))
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To: Homer_J_Simpson
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John Toland, The Rising Sun: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire, 1936-1945

4 posted on 11/20/2013 4:24:31 AM PST by Homer_J_Simpson ("Every nation has the government that it deserves." - Joseph de Maistre (1753-1821))
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To: Homer_J_Simpson
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Barbara W. Tuchman, Stilwell and the American Experience in China, 1911-45

Last month on one of our dog-walking trips to Carmel I got some pictures of the Stilwell home there. It is identified by a plaque mounted in front. It is a nice house, but not as spectacular as many in this exclusive neighborhood. I think Stilwell originally bought 5 connected lots there at Carmel Point. That would represent serious money today.

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5 posted on 11/20/2013 4:26:17 AM PST by Homer_J_Simpson ("Every nation has the government that it deserves." - Joseph de Maistre (1753-1821))
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To: Homer_J_Simpson
Billboard Top Ten for the Week of November 20, 1943

#1 – “Paper Doll” - Mills Brothers
#2 - “Sunday Monday or Always” - Bing Crosby, with the Ken Darby Singers
#3 - “Pistol Packin’ Mama” - Al Dexter
#4 – “Pistol Packin’ Mama” - Bing Crosby, with the Andrews Sisters
#5 - “People Will Say We’re in Love” - Bing Crosby, with Trudy Erwin
#6 – “Put Your Arms Around Me Honey” - Dick Haymes, with the Song Spinners
#7 - “I Heard You Cried Last Night” - Harry James, with Helen Forrest
#8 - “Oh What a Beautiful Mornn’” – Bing Crosby, with Trudy Erwin
#9 – “People Will Say We’re in Love” - Frank Sinatra, with the Bobby Tucker Singers
#10 - “Blue Rain” - Glenn Miller, with Ray Eberle

6 posted on 11/20/2013 4:26:48 AM PST by Homer_J_Simpson ("Every nation has the government that it deserves." - Joseph de Maistre (1753-1821))
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To: r9etb; PzLdr; dfwgator; Paisan; From many - one.; rockinqsranch; 2banana; henkster; meandog; ...
2,500-Ton Bombing (Middleton) – 2-3
Fighter Mastery Over Nazis Shown (Graham) – 3
Ukraine Base Lost – 4-5
Russians Outgeneraled Foe in Capturing Korosten and Rechitsa by Brilliant Tactics (Parker) – 5
War News Summarized – 5
Nimitz Widens War (Horne) – 6
Japan Said to Send Men to South Area – 6
Australians Drive Near Sattelberg – 7
Wang Troops Seen Turning to Chiang (Atkinson) – 7-8
Japan is Warned by Repatriates from U.S. that the Allies Must Not be Underestimated – 7
The Sinking of a Japanese Ship by a U.S. Submarine (photo) – 8
War Dogs Afield in Hunt for Japanese on Bougainville (photo) – 9
The Texts of the Day’s Communiques on the War – 10-11
Army Reports 145 Missing in Action – 11
7 posted on 11/20/2013 4:27:54 AM PST by Homer_J_Simpson ("Every nation has the government that it deserves." - Joseph de Maistre (1753-1821))
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To: Homer_J_Simpson

http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1943/nov1943/f20nov43.htm

American landings in the Gilbert Islands
Saturday, November 20, 1943 www.onwar.com

In the Gilbert Islands... American forces begin amphibious assaults. On the Tarawa Atoll, the 2nd Marine Division (General J. C. Smith) lands on Betio Island. Task Force 53 (Admiral Hill) provides naval support with 3 battleships and 4 cruisers and air support from 4 escort carriers. Of the 5000 American troops in the initial landing 1500 become casualties. The Japanese garrison consists of 4800 troops under the command of Admiral Shibasaki, supported by 50 artillery pieces and 7 light tanks. On Makin Atoll, the US 27th Infantry Division (General RC Smith) lands on Butaritari. Task Force 52 (Admiral Turner) provides naval support with 4 battleships and 4 cruisers and air support from 3 escort carriers. Meanwhile, the USS Independence from Task Force 50 is hit by a submarine torpedo.

On the Eastern Front... Soviet forces cross the Dniepr near Cherkassy in a new offensive.

In the Solomon Islands... American divisions continue to advance inland along the Numa-Numa trail, parallel to the Piva River.

In Italy... Although the British 8th Army (Montgomery) had scheduled an assault on the German-held Sangro Line for today, poor weather results in a postponement. A limited probing attack instead is carried out.

In the Mediterranean... The British evacuate the island Samos in the Aegean Sea.


8 posted on 11/20/2013 4:29:13 AM PST by Homer_J_Simpson ("Every nation has the government that it deserves." - Joseph de Maistre (1753-1821))
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To: Homer_J_Simpson

http://www.etherit.co.uk/month/thismonth/20.htm

November 20th, 1943

UNITED KINGDOM: London: Just before 7am today, Sir Oswald Mosley was released through a back entrance of Holloway prison, where he has been detained under Regulation 18B since 1940. His release was on health ground. He and Lady Mosley, who shared a flat in the prison, were reunited with their two sons, aged four and two, who were being cared for by friends. Protests at the Mosleys’ release are being made by many Labour organizations, trade unions and factory deputations outside the Home Office. It has been stated by the government that Herbert Morrison, the home secretary, who ordered the release, still has wide powers to control Sir Oswald’s movements.

There is a strong suspicion that to some degree Mosley’s extended internment was motivated by the hatred felt for him by the Labour Home Secretary, Herbert Morrison, who regarded Mosley as a traitor to the Labour Party (Mosley had been a Minister in Ramsey MacDonald’s second government). Certainly Churchill, who knew and despised Mosley, was very uneasy about keeping him locked-up without trial long after the threat of a German invasion had receded. (Adrian Weale)
Frigate HMS Curzon commissioned.

Escort carrier HMS Speaker commissioned.

Frigates HMS Trollope and Tyler launched.

GERMANY:
U-249, U-397, U-924 commissioned.

U-484, U-680, U-681, U-905 launched.

BALTIC SEA: U-768 sunk in the Gulf of Danzig in position 54.30N, 19.15E after a collision with U-745. 44 survivors (No casualties).

U.S.S.R.: A new attack by the Soviets begins near Cherkassy as they cross the Dnieper River.

The Red Army achieves a breakthrough near Kremenchug in the Ukraine, and advances toward Kirovograd.

ITALY: Heavy rains dull Montgomery’s planned attack across the Sangro River to a limited effort. The 36th Brigade is the only unit to cross.

The USAAF Twelfth Air Force’s XII Air Support Command and RAF Desert Air Force fighters carry out uneventful armed reconnaissance; Northwest African Tactical Bomber Force aircraft bombs the Porto Civitanova railway junction, Pedaso, Giulianova, and Loreto.

GREECE: The Germans occupy Samos in the Dodecanese Islands, after the British evacuate. This ends the British campaign. The British have taken a beating and their effort will later be described as quickly improvised with insufficient forces.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA: U-565 fired one T 5 torpedo at a British submarine, but without success.

BURMA: In the British Fourteenth Army’s XV Corps area, the Indian 7th Division starts across the Mayu Range along two crude trails in preparation for an offensive.

CHINA: Two USAAF”> USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells hit warehouses and barracks on Nampang Island; weather prevents completion of several other scheduled missions.

NEW GUINEA: In Northeast New Guinea, 50 USAAF”> USAAF Fifth Air Force B-25 Mitchells and B-26 Marauders bomb Japanese positions in the Sattelberg area and sink or damage at least ten luggers in Hansa Bay while A-20 Havocs hit the Lae area.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: Major General Ralph J. Mitchell, USMC, relieves Major General Nathan F. Twining, USA, as head of Solomon’s Air Command. Gen Twining later takes command of the USAAF”> USAAF Fifteenth Air Force in Italy.

On Bougainville, the 3d Marine Division is extending its positions in the vicinity of the Piva River forks against lively opposition. The 37th Infantry Division is unopposed.

Forty five USAAF”> USAAF Thirteenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells, RNZAF Venturas and P-38 Lightnings attack Bonis Airfield on northern Bougainville; a few other B-25s strafe coastal villages in the Empress Augusta Bay region in western Bougainville.

GILBERT ISLANDS: US landings begin on Tarawa Atoll. The crystal-clear waters of this equatorial paradise turned to blood as hundreds of US marines are mown down by machine-gun fire as they try to wade ashore.

Admiral Hill’s US naval TF 53 has brought General J.C. Smith’s 2nd Marine Division of 18,600 men to invade Betio Island which is 2 miles long and less than 1/2 mile wide, but the site of the Gilberts’ only airfield. The defenders are lead by Admiral Shibusaki and 4,800 men with 50 artillery pieces and 7 light tanks. The terrain ranges from sea level to 9 feet above sea level.

The preliminary bombardment is massive with more than 3,000 tons of shells from 18 ships and air strikes. Due to the sandy ground, timing and other coordination issues these preparations leave many bunkers and other defensive positions and weapons untouched. The reef around the island will also cause many problems with the landing, forcing many Marines to wade far too long to reach the beach.

Marines casualties quickly started to mount as amphibious tanks and tracked personnel carriers ran aground on the coral reef, leaving their occupants to wade 800 yards through open sea.

The US sustains 1,500 casualties of 5,000 that attempt to land. The tides interfere with later planned reinforcements, so they will not land today.

Admiral RK Turner’s US naval TF 52 lands soldiers from General Ralph Smith’s 27th Infantry Division on Makin Atoll. These landing on Butaritari are somewhat successful in spite of a vigorous defence and the inexperience of this unit.

Rear Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner’s Task Force 52’s landing force (the 27th Infantry Division’s 165th Infantry Regiment reinforced by the 3d Battalion of the 105th Infantry Regiment, tanks of the 193d Tank Battalion, and other supporting units), under Major General Ralph C. Smith, invades Makin. (The 165 Infantry Regiment is the old 69th “Fighting Irish” Regiment of the New York National Guard.)

A third US task force is poised to attack Apamam.

Rear Admiral Harry W. Hill’s USN Task Force 53b’s landing force (2d Marine Regiment of 2d Marine Division, reinforced by the 2d Battalion of 8th Marine Regiment and supporting units), under Major General Julian C. Smith, USMC, invades Betio Island, at the south-western tip of the atoll, where an airfield and main Japanese forces are located. Betio is 2 miles (3,2 kilometres) long and less than ½ mile (805 meters) wide The defenders are lead by Rear Admiral SHIBASAKI Keiji and 4,800 men with 50 artillery pieces and seven light tanks. The terrain ranges from sea level to 9 feet (2,7 meters) above sea level. Landings are made with great difficulty and very heavy casualties. Transports arrive south of the assigned area and at 0507 hours come under fire of previously alerted Japanese on Betio. While transports are moving northward out of range of Japanese guns, warships attempt, with some success, to neutralize Japanese positions. Aircraft deliver brief strikes before the forces land. Although H Hour is postponed from 0830 to 0900 hours, the first troops do not reach shore until 0910 hours. Marines land under direct fire, many wading from a partly exposed reef that fringes coast; upon reaching the shore, landing teams become intermingled and disorganized. Landings are made on three adjacent beaches (Red 1, 2, and 3, from west to east) on the northwest coast. The 3d Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment, the Red assault force, gains a beachhead on the northwest tip of the island but is isolated there. In the centre, 2d Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment, is pinned down by Japanese fire on Red 2. The 2d Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, favoured by more protracted naval gunfire preparation, meets less opposition on Red 3 and gains a beachhead extending inland to the airfield. To strengthen their precarious hold on the island, the 1st Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment, from regimental reserve, and 3d Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, from division reserve, are committed. Fortunately, Japanese counterattacks, expected after nightfall, fail to materialize, and meagre gains are held. Shortly before the invasion of Betio, a scout-sniper platoon clears Japanese positions from the main pier, partly burning it in the process.

Betio would give the Allies an airfield within striking range of Japan’s bases on the Marshall Islands.

Offshore the carriers of TF 50 covers both landings. Beginning at about 1755 hours, 16 Betty bombers (Mitsubishi G4M, Navy Type 1 Attack Bombers) attack Task Group 50.3 built around the aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) and USS Essex (CV-9) and the small aircraft carrier USS Independence (CVL-22). F6F Hellcat pilots of Fighting Squadron Eighteen (VF-18) in USS Bunker Hill, shoot down five bombers and ship’s gunners down four but one launches a torpedo that strikes the carrier’s starboard quarter seriously damaging the ship; she retires for repairs. (Dennis Peck and John Nicholas)

From Glen Boren’s diary:

November 20. The day started the same as before with four or five flights to assist the Marines with the landing. We figured it was a pushover. We were astounded to learn of all the problems that they were having. We sure had a lot to learn.

At about sunset, Radar announced twenty aircraft coming in at 20 feet making torpedo runs on the fleet. Five went after the USS INDEPENDENCE. Four were shot down and one got through and scored a hit, damaging the rudder. She could steer with the engines, but not very good. She went back to Pearl(?) The Bunker Hill shot down five and VF 18 got four and two unconfirmed. I don’t know what the rest of the Task Force shot down. One or two may have gotten away.

As a preliminary to the main invasion of Butaritari Island, the largest of the Makin group, a special landing detachment sails for Kotabu Island at 0645 hours and secures the island without opposition. The invasion of Butaritari is begun on schedule at 0830 hours, when Boat Landing Teams (BLTs) 1 and 3 of the 165th Infantry start landing on Red Beaches 1 and 2 on the west coast. At 1041 hours, about 10 minutes behind schedule, BLT 2 begins landing on Yellow Beaches, located on the northern (lagoon) shore between On Chong’s Wharf and King’s Wharf. Both assault forces secure beach heads and with tank support push rapidly forward against light resistance, converging along the West Tank Barrier, where Japanese opposition is overcome, although a small pocket remains to the northwest. Artillery is emplaced on Ukiangong Point.

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: USAAF Fifth Air Force B-24 Liberators bomb Gasmata on New Britain Island.

A USN PBY-5 “Black Cat” Catalina of Patrol Squadron One Hundred One (VP-101) sinks a cargo ship in Rabaul harbour during the night of 20/21 November.

MARSHALL ISLANDS: USN carrier-based aircraft from Task Group 50.1 [USS Lexington (CV-16), USS Yorktown (CV-10) and USS Cowpens (CVL-25)] attack Japanese installations on Mili Atoll.

CANADA: HMC ML 113 commissioned.

U.S.A.: USAAF XX Bomber Command is activated as Smoky Hill AAFld, Kansas.

This new command will eventually have operational and administrative control of all B-29 Superfortress units in India.

The escort aircraft carrier Delgada (CVE-40) is transferred to the British Navy under Lend-Lease and is commissioned as HMS Speaker (D 90). This is the 30th escort aircraft carrier transferred to the Royal Navy. She is returned to the USN on 27 July 1946.

Submarine USS Parche commissioned.
Escort carrier USS Nehenta Bay launched.

Minesweeper USS Project launched.

Destroyer escort USS Roy O Hale launched.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Donitz calls off his U-boats, as the convoy is protected by 19 warships and 24-hour air cover: three U-boats have been sunk.

German submarine U-536 is sunk about 453 nautical miles (839 kilometres) northeast of Lagens Field, Azores Islands, in position 43.50N, 19.39W, by depth charges from the British frigate HMS Nene (K 270) and the Canadian corvettes HMCS Snowberry (K 166) and Calgary (K 231); 17 of the 55 crewmen survive.
U-618 shot down RAF Liberator aircraft (Sqn 53/N). The entire aircrew was lost.

U-648 shot down RCAF Sunderland aircraft (Sqn 422/G). The entire aircrew, 11 men, was lost.

U-453 sank SS Jela.


9 posted on 11/20/2013 4:31:32 AM PST by Homer_J_Simpson ("Every nation has the government that it deserves." - Joseph de Maistre (1753-1821))
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To: Homer_J_Simpson

Thanks again for posting these great WW2 threads :-)


10 posted on 11/20/2013 5:23:11 AM PST by Bobalu (Ted Cruz was right and his star now shines bright)
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To: Homer_J_Simpson

Yep, thanks for posting.


11 posted on 11/20/2013 9:43:22 AM PST by Rebelbase (Tagline: optional, printed after your name on post)
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To: Homer_J_Simpson; Bobalu; henkster

It’s in one of the follow-on write ups, but it’s worth mentioning that the 165th Infantry Regiment that went ashore at Betio was the designation at the time for the 69th Infantry, the “Fighting Irish” of the New York National Guard. The Regiment saw action in the Civil War (with the Irish Brigade), WWI, WWII, Iraq and Afghanistan. One of the WWI Regimental Commanders, Col. William (”Wild Bill”) Donovan, organized the OSS in WWII. He was also awarded the Medal of Honor in WWI (along with the Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Service Medal, National Security Medal, Silver Star and Purple Heart).


12 posted on 11/20/2013 2:17:16 PM PST by colorado tanker
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To: colorado tanker

My dad went to Purdue; never a big fan of the Fighting Irish.


13 posted on 11/20/2013 2:18:16 PM PST by henkster (Communists never negotiate.)
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To: henkster

Well, the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame is an entirely different matter. My Dad went to Indiana University and hated ‘em.


14 posted on 11/20/2013 2:29:05 PM PST by colorado tanker
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To: colorado tanker

Huh. I went to Indiana University and hated the Irish. You’re not a long-lost son are you?


15 posted on 11/20/2013 2:44:41 PM PST by henkster (Communists never negotiate.)
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To: henkster

Depends. Do you have a large estate?


16 posted on 11/20/2013 3:02:58 PM PST by colorado tanker
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To: colorado tanker

Nope. Sorry.


17 posted on 11/20/2013 5:33:50 PM PST by henkster (Communists never negotiate.)
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To: Homer_J_Simpson
A near disaster occurred on the night of November 19-20 off Tarawa, when the submarine Nautilus was attacked and damaged by the light cruiser St. Louis and destroyer Ringgold.

Nautilus was carrying a force of 78 Marine and Army raiders to capture small Apamama Atoll, but had been diverted to Tarawa to help search for a downed airman. Unfortunately the other US warships in the area were not notified of this, so when the cruiser and destroyer picked up a radar contact moving through their defensive area, they thought it was a Japanese patrol boat.

Nautilus took a hit from either a 5-inch or 6-inch shell (depends on which historian you listen to) at the base of the conning tower. The shell damaged the main induction valve but did not explode, allowing the sub to execute an emergency dive and escape.

The unexploded shell was on display at a submariner bar at Pearl Harbor for the remainder of the war.

18 posted on 11/20/2013 6:08:22 PM PST by Stonewall Jackson (I aim to misbehave.)
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