FLEEING FOE IS HARRIED IN TUNISIA; MANY TRAPPED IN ALLIED ROUND-UP (5/9/43)

Microfilm-New York Times archives, Monterey Public Library | 5/9/43 | Frank L. Kluckhohn, Drew Middleton, Daniel de Luce, Raymond Daniell, Hanson W. Baldwin, more

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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THE NEWS OF THE WEEK IN REVIEW

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

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.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Selections from West Point Atlas for the Second World War
Tunisia, 1942: Final Allied Offensive – 22 April Attack, 3 May Attack, and Exploitation
The Far East and the Pacific, 1941: Status of Forces and Allied Theater Boundaries, 2 July 1942
India-Burma, 1942: Allied Lines of Communication, 1942-1943
Special Guest Map – The Conquest of Tunis: May 6-12, 1943 (from The Hinge of Fate, by Winston Churchill)

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Thousands Give Up (Kluckhohn) – 2-3
War News Summarized – 3
Tunis is Deliriously Happy as British Tanks Rumble In (Middleton, de Luce) – 4-5
Axis Planes Offer Little Opposition – 5
Victory Accepted Calmly in Britain (Daniell) – 5-6
Second Corps Led by Gen. Bradley – 6
Dewey Helps Fete Victory in Africa – 6
Russians Expect Novorossiisk Rout – 7
Crowded Japanese Transport Hit as Sunk at Madang, New Guinea – 8
The Tunisian Victory (Baldwin) – 9
The Texts of the Day’s Communiques on Fighting in Various Zones – 10-12
General Eisenhower Inspecting British Paratroopers (photo) – 12

The News of the Week in Review
A Climax is Reached in ‘Mare Nostrum’ (map) – 14
Tunisian Victory – 15-16
Twenty News Questions – 17
Victorious Americans in Tunisia Now Veterans (Kluckhohn) – 18-19
Allied Conquests in North Africa Point Toward New Mediterranean Battlegrounds (map) – 20
Invasion Fears Hang Over the Axis (by James MacDonald) – 21
Arab World Plans a New Future (by C.L. Sulzberger) – 22
Answers to Twenty News Questions – 23

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1943/may1943/f09may43.htm

British agent reveals new German radar
Sunday, May 9, 1943 www.onwar.com

In Britain... A German Ju88, fitted with the new Liechtenstein BC radar set, lands in Scotland. It has been flown there by a British intelligence agent. The analysis of this new night-fighter equipment assists the British strategic bombing effort.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/frame.htm

May 9th, 1943 (SUNDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: Aberdeen: A bizarre incident occurred at Dyce airport today. A Junkers Ju88R, based at Kjevik in Norway, landed of its own free will. It was part of a night-fighter unit, and it seems that its crew have gone over to the Allies. The men brought with them a working FuG 202 Lichtenstein air interception radar. This has been enabling the German nightfighters to enjoy much of their recent success against RAF bombers.

HMC ML 105 commissioned. (Dave Shirlaw)

NETHERLANDS: Amsterdam: The Germans today proclaimed martial law throughout the Netherlands, imposed an 8pm to 8am curfew, and rounded up several thousand Dutchmen. The action was ordered by Reich commissioner, Arthur Seyss-Inquart; it comes in the wake of mounting evidence of resistance to the Germans and increasing economic chaos.

Gatherings of more than five people, the printing and distribution of pamphlets calling for resistance to the Germans, and the sale of spirits in bars, have been forbidden. Strikes and lockouts are illegal. All Dutchmen between 18 and 35 have been ordered to register; they will be sent to work in war factories in Germany.
U.S.S.R.: Baltic Fleet and Ladoga Flotilla: MS “T-210 “Gak”” - mined, close to Lavensari Is. (later raised and went into service).
Polar Fleet and White Sea Flotilla: GB “Vanya Communist” - mined close to Svetlii Yar, in Stalingrad area (Sergey Anisimov)(69)

MEDITERRANEAN SEA: Submarine HMS Unrivalled sinks the Italian Santa Mariana Salina (763 BRT).

U-380 was on her way to Tunisia to support the German ground forces in Africa with ammunition. After receiving news of the capitulation, the crew threw the ammunition overboard off Pantelleria. (Dave Shirlaw)

TUNISIA: King George VI tells Eisenhower “the debt of Dunkirk is repaid” as the Allies hold 50,000 Axis prisoners.

All organised German and Italian resistance in North Africa has now ceased. (Jack McKillop)

NEW GUINEA: The First Battle of Lababia Ridge commences. The Australians are faced by Japanese forces led by Okabe and include elements of the 3 and 8 companies 115th Regiment, who had earlier been rescued by destroyers after their troop transports had been sunk during the Battle of the Bismark Sea. (Michael Alexander)

CANADA: HMCS Vercheres, an ex-Coast Guard ship taken into service as an auxiliary m/s, was destroyed by fire at Sorel, Province of Quebec. Little is known about this ship other than she was built at the Polson Iron Works in 1901. Her length was 104 feet and she displaced 157 tons. (Dave Shirlaw)

U.S.A.:
Minesweeper USS Tide commissioned.

Minesweeper USS Specter laid down.

Submarines USS Corvina and Robalo launched.

Destroyer escorts USS Acree and Baron launched. (Dave Shirlaw)

ATLANTIC OCEAN:
At 0055, the unescorted Kanbe, a straggler from Convoy TS-38, was hit by two torpedoes from U-123 and sank within two minutes about 60 miles south of Monrovia. The master, 57 crewmembers and three gunners were lost. Five crewmembers were picked up by the Spanish merchantman Rio Francoli and landed at Santa Isabel, Fernando Po.

The unescorted Corneville was sunk by U-515 with two torpedoes. All 41 crewmembers survived and landed at Anamabu 60 miles east of Takoradi the next day.
U-666 shot down an RAF 58 Sqn Halifax. The boat damaged a Whitley two hours later.

U-381 reported via radio for the last time from a position in the North Atlantic.

(Dave Shirlaw)

[Homer_J_Simpson]

From onwar.com: In Britain... A German Ju88, fitted with the new Liechtenstein BC radar set, lands in Scotland. It has been flown there by a British intelligence agent. The analysis of this new night-fighter equipment assists the British strategic bombing effort.

From etherington: UNITED KINGDOM: Aberdeen: A bizarre incident occurred at Dyce airport today. A Junkers Ju88R, based at Kjevik in Norway, landed of its own free will. It was part of a night-fighter unit, and it seems that its crew have gone over to the Allies. The men brought with them a working FuG 202 Lichtenstein air interception radar. This has been enabling the German nightfighters to enjoy much of their recent success against RAF bombers.

So which is it – British agent or defecting crew?

[iowamark]

Defector. The pilot Heinrich Schmitt was an anti-Nazi.

JUnkers Ju88
""It was flown to Scotland by its defecting crew in May 1943; two of the three crew on board (who may have been British agents)had taken the decision to defect after being ordered to shoot down a civilian BOAC Mosquito courier flight from Sweden to the UK,

The aircraft took off from Aalborg, Westerland, Denmark at on 9th May, landing at Kristiansand, Norway for refuelling, it then took off again, supposedly for a mission over the Skagerrak. The defecting crew in fact flew west to Scotland while holding the third crewmember at gunpoint. The aircraft was detected by British radar as it approached the Scottish coast and two Spitfires from 165 Squadron were scrambled. They intercepted 360043 one mile inland, whereupon the Ju 88 lowered its undercarriage, waggled its wings and dropped flares, signalling the crew's intent to surrender. The Spitfires escorted 360043 to RAF Dyce, where it received slight damage from the airfield's anti-aircraft guns while attempting to land. The Spitfire pilots (an American and a Canadian) were Mentioned in Dispatches for taking the risk not to open fire on the Ju 88 upon interception.

The capture of this aircraft was of great intelligence value at the time, as it was fitted with the latest UHF-band FuG 202 Liechtenstein BC A.I radar, for which a new form of the Window radar interference method was developed soon afterwards. The Ju 88 was operated by the RAF's No. 1426 (Enemy Aircraft) Flight and evaluated in depth by various British groups, including the Royal Aircraft Establishment and the Fighter Interception Unit. It was used to assist in teaching enemy aircraft recognition skills prior to the D-Day landings, and was last flown in May 1945. In September 1954 and again in September 1955, it was displayed on Horseguards Parade for Battle of Britain week. The aircraft was restored in 1975 and fitted with reproduction radar antenna as all its radar equipment had been removed during the war. In August 1978 moved to the RAF Museum, its present home.""