Posted on 05/27/2015 4:24:24 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
John Toland, The Rising Sun: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire, 1936-1945
Winston S. Churchill, Triumph and Tragedy
The News of the Week in Review
For Our Air Fleets Operating Against Tokyo a Great Base is Blasted Out on Okinawa (photos) – 12
Fifteen News Questions – 13
Okinawa is a Lesson for Invasion of Japan (Rae) – 14-15
“It’s Later Than You Think” (cartoon) – 15
“In the Pacific Theatre” (cartoon) – 15
Answers to Fifteen News Questions – 15
How the Japanese Armies are Distributed (map) – 16
Our Strategic Position in China is Improving (Baldwin) – 17
http://www.etherit.co.uk/month/4/27.htm
May 27th, 1945 (SUNDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: HMS DIPPER, RNAS Henstride, 761 RN Sqn Seafire a/c, S/Lt(A) Wilfred Adris “Nip” OWEN RNVR, Canadian, Lost, flying accident, dove into ground SE, of Abbotsbury, Dorset, UK, Interred, KEMPSTON CEMETERY, UK.
HMCS Lockeport departed Canada for UK.
HMCS Nene arrived Sheerness in preparation for return to RN.
Departed UK, with ON-305, last westbound convoy WW.II. a. HMCS Jonquiere and HMCS St Stephen.
CHINA: Nanning: Japan has suffered a major setback in southern China with the the loss of Nanning. The southern gateway city only 78 miles from the Indochina border has been a vital link in Japan’s main overland supply lifeline to its armies in Burma, Thailand, Malaya and Indochina. Nationalist troops advancing from the north and west recaptured Nanning, Kwangsi province’s capital. They also cut the north/south highway linking Indochina with the rail junction at Liuchow. The road, which has been recently improved, has served as the main route for moving Japanese troops and supplies.
BURMA: An entire army is moved by air for the first time ever, when US aircraft fly the Chinese Sixth Army from Burma to China.
JAPAN: The USAAF’s Twentieth Air Force in the Mariana Islands flies Mission 185: During the night of 27/28 May, nine B-29 Superfortresses drop mines in Shimonoseki Strait and in the Moji area of Japan; one B-29 is lost.
The slow meticulous US advance on Okinawa is met by fierce resistance from the Japanese.
American marines today claimed to have crossed the Asato and captured part of the Okinawan capital of Naha as forces of the US Tenth Army battle to complete the conquest of this strategically important island just 340 miles south of mainland Japan. The north of the island has been under Allied control since 20 April, but heavy rains - and fierce resistance by General Ushijima’s Thirty-Second Army - have slowed the US advance in the south. Infantry of the 7th Division is embroiled in a particularly tough fight for Shuri Castle, the key position on Japan’s defensive line in the south.
Japan launches a heavy air offensive against the US fleet. Japanese submarines make unsuccessful attacks on US convoy routes to Guam and Leyte.
Off Okinawa, Japanese suicide craft damage nine U.S. Navy vessels:
- The destroyer USS Braine (DD-630) is hit in quick succession by two suicide planes. The first hits forward seriously damaging the bridge and the second hits amidships blowing number two funnel overboard and demolishing the amidships superstructure. Braine retires to Kerama Retto for emergency repairs.
- The destroyer USS Anthony (DD-515) is slightly damaged by a kamikaze.
- The destroyer escort USS Gilligan (DE-508) is hit by a dud torpedo from a kaiten carried by submarine HIJMS I-357.
- High-speed minesweeper USS Southard (DMS-10, ex DD-207) is slightly damaged by a kamikaze which crashed 15-yards (13.7 m) ahead of the ship.
- Minesweeper USS Gayety (AM-239) is damaged by a near-miss from a 500-pound (230 kg) bomb which explodes just astern. Five men were killed and two wounded by flying debris, and the fantail bursts into flames. The fire is extinguished and the ship heads to Kerama Retto for repair. - High-speed transport USS Loy (APD-56, ex-DE-160) shoots down three suicide planes during two attacks. The third aircraft exploded close aboard the starboard beam and sprayed the ship with fragments and 18 of her crew are wounded and there is some internal damage.
- High-speed transport USS Rednour (APD-162, ex-DE-592) is struck by a kamikaze on the stern, starting fires and blowing a 10-foot (3.0 m) hole in her main deck killing three and wounding 13 of her crew. After driving off yet another suicide plane, Rednour entered Kerama roadstead for temporary battle damage repairs.
- Surveying ship USS Dutton (AGS-8, ex-PCS-1396) is struck by a Japanese plane which crashes the ship, carrying away part of the bridge, blowing one of her crew overboard, and holing her, fortunately above the water line. She heads for Kerama Retto for repairs.
- Large support landing craft LCS-52 is damaged by kamikaze that misses.
COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: Santa Fe on Luzon is liberated by US forces.
Heavy fighting continues on Mindanao.
CANADA: Departed UK, with ON.305, last west bound convoy WW.II. a. HMCS Jonquiere and HMCS St Stephen
Departed St. John’s with convoy HX.358, for UK. last eastbound convoy of WW.II: a. HMCS Arrowhead, HMCS Eastview, HMCS Hepatica, HMCS Trillium, HMCS Peterborough and HMCS ST Lambert.
Minesweeper HMCS Lockeport departed Canada for UK.
Corvette HMCS Norsyd commenced refit Halifax , Nova Scotia.
U.S.A.: Destroyer USS Sarsfield launched.
I am VERY surprised to learn about there being 5,000 strikes in 1944!
I would have THOUGHT that the unions would’ve been eager to help Uncle Joe...
Anyone have any info the USS Murray? I think it was world war two destoryer my grandfather before he died said he served on it.
Very interesting article by H.W. Baldwin.
Thanks great stuff
Do you see your grandfather’s name on the roster, StoneWall? It seems that at this point Murray is probably at Pearl Harbor for repair of the bomb damage, or else recently returned to action. I see in the history that Murray covered the Army operation at Aitape in New Guinea. My father was there for that one.
Based on your endorsement I read the article. Indeed interesting. I wonder if it penetrated the fog for American readers. I admit to not following events in China with near the attention I have to other PTO campaigns, where Americans were the dominant Allied force.
He used a carbine to bag the japanese from about 100 yards away.
From Page 6 two hour battle on Yontan .
They just don't write them like that anymore.
He used a carbine to bag the japanese from about 100 yards away.
From Page 6 two hour battle on Yontan .
They just don't write them like that anymore.
Sorry for the double post. I reported it and asked that the 2nd one be removed.
Doolittle headed to the Pacific as head of the 8th Air Force.
Would the 8th be composed of B-17s or given B-29s?
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