Posted on 04/08/2013 5:28:44 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
This campaign [in Burma] goes from bad to worse, and we are being completely outfought and out-manoeuvred by the Japanese. Luckily, the small scale of the operations and the attraction of other events has prevented public opinion being directed upon this lamentable scene. We cannot however count on a continuance of this.
When does General Wavell reach this country?
Winston S. Churchill, The Hinge of Fate
* You have 30 minutes. When you are finished put down your pencil, turn over your answer sheet, and fold your hands on your desk.
http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1943/apr1943/f08apr43.htm
Japanese use Allied POWs to build railway
Thursday, April 8, 1943 www.onwar.com
A bridge build by Allied prisoners on the Death Railway [photo at link].
In Burma... General Kawabe replaces General Iida in command of Japanese forces, which are now organized as the Burma Area Army. The Japanese are planning to extend their hold on northern Burma. Among the logistical preparations are the construction of new rail lines. About 60,000 Allied prisoners of war are employed in this work and about 15,000 will die through ill treatment.
From Washington... In an effort to control inflation, President Roosevelt forbids certain wage and price increases. He also orders workers not to change jobs in some industries unless this is beneficial to the war effort.
My cousin died during one of those battles (my uncle Dave, his dad, was much older than my mom) and he is buried in a US Military Cemetery in Tunisia. Thanks for posting.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/frame.htm
April 8th, 1943 (THURSDAY)
TUNISIA: Axis forces continue their withdrawal towards Enfidaville.
Ninth Air Force P-40s fly 29 bomber escort, armed reconnaissance, and fighter-bomber missions against retreating column along coast north of Gabes.
Northwest African Air Force P-40s and Spitfires fly sweeps and armed reconnaissance over the Faid Pass-Fondouk el Aouareb-Kairouan-Ousseltia area as the British X Corps attacks Fondouk.
Other fighters fly widespread reconnaissance and sweeps, attacking motor transport south of Zaghouan. Western Desert Air Force fighters hit retreating columns in the Cekhira-Sfax area. (Jack McKillop)
CHINA: 10 Fourteenth Air Force P-40s strafe Ft Bayard Airfield. (Jack McKillop)
BURMA: 9 Tenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells bomb Meiktila Airfield; 6 B-24s attack the airfield at Heho; and 4 P-40s and a B-25 strafe an enemy dump at Ningam. (Jack McKillop)
NEW GUINEA: Fifth Air Force B-17 and B-24s bomb Finschhafen. (Jack McKillop)
SOLOMON ISLANDS: The oiler USS Kanawha (AO-1), damaged by Japanese dive bombers yesterday, and beached off Tulagi by tugs USS Rail (AT-139) and USS Menominee (AT-73), sinks before daybreak. (Jack McKillop)
BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: Fifth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators carry out small harassing raids on Ulamoa and Kavieng Airdrome on New Ireland Island. (Jack McKillop)
TERRITORY OF ALASKA: ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: The Eleventh Air Force weather aircraft scouts Kiska and islands west of it with negative results. (Jack McKillop)
U.S.A.: President Roosevelt orders certain wage and price controls in his effort to combat inflation. His order also restricts the ability of some workers to change jobs.
HJS, I love history especially about WW2 and really enjoy your posts, Thanks
Bump.
My late wife’s Aunty Betty’s brother was with”Monty”in 8th Army.
Fascinating articles. Thanks for posting these. Reading newspaper articles gives a different perspective from reading history books.
There’s an interesting article in today’s selections (your first post) about how the U.S. govt is planning an effort to reeducate Europeans after the war, to “decontaminate” Europe of naziism.
It’s hard to see from our perspective today how that could have been considered a problem in those days. I wish instead they had decontaminated Europe (and the U.S.) of communism.
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