JAPANESE ABANDON RIDGES AT SALAMAUA; AMERICAN FLEET TAKES ISLES OFF SICILY (8/21/43)

Microfilm-New York Times archives, Monterey Public Library | 8/21/43 | Milton Bracker, Frederick Graham, John H. Crider

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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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
Soviet Summer and Fall Offensives: Operations, 17 July-1 December 1943
South Pacific Area Operations: Capture of New Georgia, 21 June-27 August 1943
New Guinea Force Operations: Capture of Salamaua and Lae, 29 June-16 September 1943
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
Cartwheel, the Seizure of the Gilberts and Marshalls, and Concurrent Air and Naval Operations, 30 June 1943-26 April 1944

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Billboard Top Ten for the Week of August 21, 1943

#1 - “In the Blue of the Evening” - Tommy Dorsey, with Frank Sinatra
#2 – “You’ll Never Know” - Dick Haymes, with the Song Spinners
#3 - “It Can’t Be Wrong” - Dick Haymes, with Song Spinners
#4 - “All or Nothing At All” – Harry James, with Frank Sinatra
#5 – “You’ll Never Know” - Frank Sinatra, with the Bobby Tucker Singers
#6 – “Comin’ In on a Wing and a Prayer” - Song Spinners
#7 - “In My Arms” - Dick Haymes, with the Song Spinners
#8 - “I Heard You Cried Last Night” - Harry James, with Helen Forrest
#9 - “It’s Always You” - Tommy Dorsey, with Frank Sinatra
#10 – “Paper Doll” - Mills Brothers

[Homer_J_Simpson]

The index by author on Homer’s profile is now updated through September 15, 1943.

Victory in Pacific – 2
Aeolians Occupied (Bracker) – 3-4
War News Summarized – 4
Red Army Slashes Deeper in Ukraine – 5
Navy Reorganizes Its Air Arm to Expand Its Share in Fighting – 5
RAF’S Day Bombers Cut Nazi Strength (Graham) – 6
Quebec Talks End Tuesday; Hull Arrives, ‘Big 4’ Dine (Crider) – 6-7
The Texts of the Day’s Communiques on Fighting in Various Zones – 8-9

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1943/aug1943/f21aug43.htm

Australians advancing in New Guinea
Saturday, August 21, 1943 www.onwar.com

Australian troops in New Guinea near Salamaua [photo at link]

In New Guinea... Australian troops occupy Komiatum, 6 miles southwest of Salamaua.

In Australia... Prime Minister Curtin’s Labour Party wins the election.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

August 21st, 1943 (SATURDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: Frigates HMS Conn and Cotton launched.

Escort carrier HMS Ruler launched.

GERMANY: U-1226 launched.

DENMARK: Riots, strikes and sabotage paralyze Copenhagen and other Danish cities and towns. The Germans rush 40,000 troops from Norway to quell the disturbances.

U.S.S.R.: Soviet forces capture Zmiev, south of Kharkov.

Moscow: Andrei Gromyko is appointed Soviet ambassador to the US.

Field Marshal von Manstein warns Adolf Hitler that the Soviet Army’s crunching offensives may overwhelm out-numbered German forces in the Ukraine. Wehrmacht intelligence has determined 287 Soviet divisions are battering 52 German divisions.

ITALY:

- US Ninth Air Force B-24’s attack a railroad station, marshalling yard, and air depot at Cancello Arnone.

- US Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF) B-26 Marauders and B-17s bomb marshalling yards at Villa Literno and Aversa; the P-38 escort also attacks Aversa; NASAF aircraft claim 20+ enemy fighters shot down.

ALGERIA: Maj. André Gilbert Kempster (b.1916), Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, threw himself on a grenade which had rolled into his trench, he died instantly.

NEW GUINEA: Komiatum, 6 miles SW of Salamaua, is captured by Australian troops.
USAAF 5th AF B-25s bomb But and Dagua Airfields on New Guinea.

AUSTRALIA: Election returns show that Premier Curtin’s Labour Party is on top.

Menzies retained Kooyong, though the United Australia Party, led by WM Hughes, lost heavily. The Curtin Labour government increased its majority, winning 49 seats to 12 United Australia Party seats, 7 Country Party, 3 Country National Party, 1 Liberal Country Party, 1 Queensland Country Party, and 1 Independent seats in the House of Representatives. Labour won all 19 Senate seats contested. (Daniel Ross)

TERRITORY OF ALASKA: During the Aleutian Campaign, 3 June 42 to 21 August 43, the US Eleventh Air Force destroyed 69 aircraft, sank 21 and damaged 29 ships, and lost 29 of its own aircraft.

U.S.A.: The motion picture “The 7th Victim” is released today. This horror film, directed by Mark Robson, stars Tom Conway and Kim Hunter. The plot has Mary Gibson (Hunter) going to New York City in search of her missing sister and finding a group of devil-worshippers.

Submarine USS Batfish commissioned.

Destroyer escorts USS Cooner and Bunch commissioned. Destroyer escorts USS Gary and Greenwood launched. Corvette HMCS Eyebright completed foc’sle extension refit Baltimore, Maryland.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-596 sank SS Lily, SS Namaz and SS Panikos.

The Allies, while building up for Overload (D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944) established a new troopship convoy route called UT. This was a fast and heavily escorted convoy route averaging 15 knots.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

ALGERIA: Maj. André Gilbert Kempster (b.1916), Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, threw himself on a grenade which had rolled into his trench, he died instantly.

That item seems curious. Was there fighting in Algeria at this point?

[colorado tanker]

According to Wiki Kempster was conducting grenade training and a grenade he had thrown rolled back into the pit. He was awarded the George Cross for saving the lives of the others in the pit.

[colorado tanker]

I don't know if its disinformation, but Gen. Chamier-G was not at Peenemunde, but was a Luftwaffe officer who went down in the Balkans about this time.

Gen. Jesschonnek did not die of an "illness" but committed suicide after he mistakenly ordered Berlin air defenses to open fire on a group of German fighters the night of the Peenemunde raid.

[PAR35]

“committed suicide” but was it voluntary?

[Homer_J_Simpson]

According to Wiki Kempster was conducting grenade training and a grenade he had thrown rolled back into the pit. He was awarded the George Cross for saving the lives of the others in the pit.

Thanks. The Etherington site could have made that more clear.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

I don't know if its disinformation, but Gen. Chamier-G was not at Peenemunde, but was a Luftwaffe officer who went down in the Balkans about this time.

From the article:

"... [D]ispatches from Stockholm saying that the general was murdered during the RAF attack by a revolver bullet fired from the back."

That awkward wording suggests that the Allies had spooks on the ground at Peenemunde who used the confusion of the attack to plug a high-ranking German on site. If it wasn't Gen. Chamier-G perhaps it was some other secret weapon honcho.

[colorado tanker]

“committed suicide” but was it voluntary?

The report I read said he did it at Hitler's HQ, so I tend to think not.

[colorado tanker]

That awkward wording suggests that the Allies had spooks on the ground at Peenemunde who used the confusion of the attack to plug a high-ranking German on site. If it wasn't Gen. Chamier-G perhaps it was some other secret weapon honcho.

That could very well be. My understanding is that British intelligence was in contact with some slave laborers at the installation and was getting information from them.