Posted on 02/21/2014 5:22:08 AM PST by Homer_J_Simpson
http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1944/feb44/f21feb44.htm
New Zealanders clear the Greens
Monday, February 21, 1944 www.onwar.com
In the Solomon Islands... Japanese resistance on the Green Islands, north of Bougainville, ends. The islands are occupied by elements of the New Zealand 3rd Division (Barrowclough).
On the Eastern Front... In the north, Soviet forces capture Soltsy, southwest of Shimsk, as well as Kholm, 60 miles to the south. Meanwhile, in the Ukraine, Soviet forces are attacking towards Krivoi Rog.
In Tokyo... Prime Minister General Tojo takes over the office of Chief of the Army General Staff, in place of Field Marshal Sugiyama. The navy minister, Admiral Shimada, also takes an additional office, replacing Admiral Nagano as Chief of Staff.
http://www.etherit.co.uk/month/thismonth/21.htm
February 21st, 1944 (MONDAY)
ÉIRE: Dublin: The US requests that Dublin expel Axis diplomats.
UNITED KINGDOM: Escort carrier HMS Reaper commissioned.
GERMANY: “Big Week” 617 B-17s and 244 B-24s are dispatched to hit aircraft industry at Brunswick and various airfields in Germany. 16 aircraft are lost.
ITALY:
Alberto di Filippis writes to his brother from the village of Cava dei Tirreni (courtesy of Brian Millo)
Cava, 21 February 1944
Dear brother,
I am at last managing to send you some news. I am well. As is Prospero and everybody at home. We had 18 days of emergency, from 10 to 28 September, with a complete English (sic) victory. A great many English are occupying the Croce pass and are encamped there, mostly close to Monticello: they’re all most courteous and generous. Some of them left us weeping. The military events did not cause damage to the house: but a fire triggered some looting, and it was almost completely destroyed, from the second to the third floor. We have done some repairs and have sorted ourselves out: but there is still much to do — and we have no money. It goes without saying that life has become fantastically expensive as a result of the rapacious growth of a ruthless black market. The Allies have begun to fight it, but to wipe it out will want more time.
And what about you? Send me detailed news. We all long for it passionately. I cannot give you confirmation of Ferdinando [the third brother]: communications with the rest of Italy are cut off. His most recent postcard dates back to the end of August, and it arrived here hardly two days ago. Ever more affectionate hugs from us all to you all. I pray always for you. God grant that we may kiss each other again.
Your brother Albert.
INDIAN OCEAN: Unescorted SS Fenris torpedoed amidships by U-168, but was able to reach Bombay in damaged condition under own power for repairs.
CHINA: The 8th Route Army takes Taiku.
JAPAN: Prime Minister Tojo assumes the office of Chief of Army General Staff. Navy Minister Shimada replaces Admiral Nagano as Chief of Naval General Staff.
PACIFIC OCEAN: From Glen Boren’s diary: After the raid on Truk, we departed for the Marianas. At about 1630 on February 21, 1944, two Jap ‘Betties’ sighted our convoy. One of them was shot down by our CAP but the other one got away.
About 2100, Torpedo defence was sounded as more ‘Betties’ were sighted on radar. Shortly after that, General Quarters sounded as they moved in for the kill. 11 or 12 ‘Betties’ were shot down during the night by the convoy and none of our ships were hit. After being located, we figured we would get a real hot reception in the morning as we moved into strike position.
US Marines with support of naval bombardment and carrier aircraft secure Eniwetok Atoll.
CANADA:
Destroyer HMCS Sioux (ex-HMS Vixen) commissioned.
Corvette HMCS Hespeler (ex-HMS Guildford Castle) commissioned.
Minesweepers HMCS Guysborough, Kenora, Canso and Wasaga departed Halifax for Devonport via Azores.
U.S.A.:
Submarine USS Chivo laid down.
Aircraft carrier USS Leyte laid down.
Submarine USS Sea Cat launched.
Destroyer escorts USS Otter and Roche commissioned.
Destroyer USS Ross commissioned.
Sounds as though US Navy fliers have turned Truk Lagoon into a mecca for divers in future decades.
One, however was known to escape...
And is still being searched for...
;-)
Kirk will command allied forces from his flag-ship, USS Enterprise:
“Yugoslav Civil War Flares Despite Plea”
“Intensified fratricidal fighting in three Yugoslav sectors was reported ...”
“The Partisans,” including a Czech volunteer brigade, the Croat Ustashis, and the Royal Yugoslav Government Chetniks. The Czeck-supported Partisans seem to have won ... but no doubt the descendants of all parties are rehashing the conflict to this very day.
LOL!
Hanson Baldwin observes that the Italians aren’t being much help to us in the campaign.
Perceptive guy, Baldwin. The Italians weren’t much help to the Germans, either.
That’s true. It’s almost like they didn’t want to be in the war!
It didn't happen, although Luftwaffe losses were sizable. As has been the pattern, the damage to the industry wasn't as great as we thought/hoped.
The best news is that, in contrast with the Schweinfurt raids, with fighter cover our losses were in the acceptable range. The other good news is that what is left of the Luftwaffe fighter force in Western Europe is being pulled back to Germany to take on the bombers closer to home. We'll have air superiority over Normandy.
Can't say that I blame them. Rommel used them as cannon fodder. All of Il Duce's dreams turned out to be mirages and now their country is a war zone.
Big Week did all of that. The Luftwaffe was not able to interfere with the Normandy invasion. However, Big Week was not a cakewalk. It put a lot of stress on the American aircrews and ground crews to make this effort. American losses were also high, and crew morale had some rough spots. But we could take the losses. The Luftwaffe could not.
In 1944, the U.S. built an astonishing 96,270 military aircraft. That compares with 3,611 in 1940. Amazing.
One site I found states there were 4,680,000 automobiles manufactured in the U.S. in 1940. Zero in 1944.
They really shut down the economy for the war effort.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.