Showing posts with label Chinese Army. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chinese Army. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 5, 2025

Sunday, August 5, 1945. Enola Gay and Necessary Evil.

The 20th Air Force dropped 720,000 leaflets over twelve Japanese cities.  Conventional bombing raids continued.

Gen. LeMay officially confirmed the atomic mission for the next day.

Paul Tibbets named the lead plane in the Hiroshima bombing mission the Enola Gay, after his mother.  This was done over the objection of the planes normal designated pilot, Robert Lewis, who wanted to name the plane  "The Pearl Harbor," "The Avenger," or "The USS Indianapolis".  Lewis also wasn't happy about being moved to the co-pilot's seat for the mission.

Lewis would return to civilian life after the war, and died in 1983 at age 65.

The B-29 that would take photos on the mission would be named Necessary Evil.  It featured, as many plans did, a buxom woman, albeit one clothed in a bikini, as nose art.

The Chinese 13th Army captured the town of Tanchuk. The Chinese 58th Division took Hsinning (Changchun).

Paul Ferdonet, the "Radio Traitor" of Stuttgart, was executed in France.

His pro Nazi broadcast had actually dwindled after 1942.

Oddly enough, today would have been Loni Anderson' birthday.  She passed away yesterday.

Last edition:

Saturday, August 4, 1945. Tibbets briefs his crew.

Tuesday, July 29, 2025

Tuesday, July 29, 1975. A Nigerian Coup.

The Nigerian government was overthrown in a coup.

The Chinese Army, the Communist one, killed hundreds of rebels and civilians in the Yunnan Province.  Most of those killed were Muslim Hui's, of which 900 were killed in the village of Shadian.  400 Red Chinese soldiers were killed in the action.

The OAS voted to lift its embargo on Cuba.

Turkey took control of remaining US facilities in the country.

The US made its first delivery of weapons to UNITA in Angola.

Last edition:

Monday, July 28, 1975. Turkey acts.

Labels: 

Sunday, July 27, 2025

Friday, July 27, 1945. Preparing the bomb.

Little Boy was delivered to Tinian and preparation to drop it on Japan commenced.

Commencing on the night of July 27, B-29s dropped leaflets on eleven Japanese cities warning them that they were targeted for bombing.

The Chinese took Guilin.

Ernest Bevin became the British Foreign Affairs Secretary.

The World War Two British chiefs of staff had their final meeting with Churchill.

Last edition:

Thursday, July 26, 1945. Churchill out, Attlee in.

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Monday, July 9, 1945. Dutch land at Balikpapan.

Dutch troops landed north of Balikpapan, completing the encirclement of the bay.

Chinese troops captured the Tanchuk airbase.

The Brazilian cruiser Bahia accidentally sank itself by hitting itself during antiaircraft firing exercises.  294 men were killed.

Charles de Gaulle proposed a national referendum to decide the system of government in France.

A crowd of 30,000 gathered in Perth for the funeral procession of John Curtin to Karrakatta Cemetery.

A total solar eclipse was visible across parts of the northern hemisphere, including parts of North America.

Life magazine featured a model in a bikini, something that various magazines had been doing a lot of in 1945.

Last edition:

Sunday, July 8, 1945. The Camp Salina Massacre.

Monday, June 30, 2025

Saturday, June 30, 1945. Mopping up.

"These five 96th Div. Texans are considered "aces" by their buddies in Co. I, 383rd Inf. Regt., an ace being anyone who has killed five or more Japs. From bottom to top: S/Sgt. Vernon Z. Wilkins, 101 Chicago St., Delhart; Pfc. Albert Welfel, El Campo; Pfc. Richard S. Groce, 318 Lafitte St., San Antonio; PFC Roy D Clepper, Florey; and Pfc. Russell Linnard, of Pharr, Texas. 30 June, 1945. Company I, 383rd Infantry Regiment, 96th Infantry Division."  I wonder what their lives were like after the war.
Today in World War II History—June 30, 1940 & 1945: 80 Years Ago—June 30, 1945: In the Philippines, Luzon is declared secure. Organized Japanese resistance ends on Mindanao in the Philippines.

Sarah Sundin's blog.

Indeed, some Japanese troops would hold out on the Philippines on an individual basis for decades. 

" Jap tankette knocked out in battle for Shuri. Tank is about 10 ft. by four and about five feet in height, and carries two men. Relative size is shown by Lt. M. A. Miller of 94 Parkway Rd., Bronxville, New York. 30 June, 1945. Photographer: Henderson, 3240th Signal Photo Det."  Tankettes were a British concept from between the wars, but had fallen out of favor almost everywhere before World War Two.  Japan, which existed in military isolation, kept them.

American forces on Okinawa completed a week of mop-up operations in which 8,975 Japanese were reported killed and 2,902 captured, showing how intense operations remained.

While not apparent to anyone yet, the U.S. Army and Marine Corps had effectively concluded the main part of their ground fighting in the war.  Ground combat, however, carried on for the British and Dominion armies, and the Chinese Army.

Former U.S. Army Air Force base Liuzhou, China, was recaptured by the Chinese.  They also took Chungchin on the Indochinese border.

The French the 5e REI, a Foreign Legion regiment which had been stationed in Indochina, was deactivated, having been decimated in their retreat into China.

Truman appointed James F. Byrnes to be Secretary of State.

Last edition:

Friday, June 29, 1945. Downfall.

Thursday, June 26, 2025

Tuesday, June 26, 1945. The United Nations Charter signed, Manhattan Project scientists worry, Marilyn appears in Yank,

The United Nations Conference on International Organization concluded with the United Nations Charter being signed at the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center by 50 of the 51 original member countries.

Poland was unable to send a delegation, and therefore did not sign.

While many people in the world were becoming optimistic about the post war world, the Manhattan Project scientists were getting worried.


And fighting in the Pacific was still going on, including mopping up operations on Okinawa, and new landings in the Ryukyus where Marines landed on Kume to establish a radar station.

The US dropped paratroopers near Aparri to link up with the 37th Infantry Division.

The Chinese army took Liuchow airfield.

The United States Army Air Force commenced B-29 raids at night against Japanese oil refineries.

Bombed Out Refinery, Nagoya Japan.

Bombed Out Refinery, Nagoya Japan. Early 1950s

A photograph taken by my father in Nagoya Japan, depicting refinery damage from World War Two.

Norma Jeane Dougherty, later known as Marilyn Monroe, appeared as the Yank centerfold.


The title of Generalissimo of the Soviet Union was introduced aand assigned next day assigned to I.V. Stalin, who declined to use it, favoring Marshall.

Last edition:

Monday, June 24, 1945. Brandenburg Ballerina.

Saturday, June 14, 2025

Thursday, June 14, 1945. Slogging.

The Chinese Army captured Ishan.

"Riflemen of the 2nd Bn., 381st Regiment of the Tenth Army's 96th Div. peer cautiously ahead as they advance across the summit of Yaeju-Dake escarpment (Big Apple Ridge) on Okinawa. 14 June 1945. 2nd Battalion, 381st Infantry Regiment, 96th Infantry Division."

Action continued on Okinawa, but the battle was finally winding down.

Likewise, action continued in the Philippines, and Bouganville.

The British arrested Joachim von Ribbentrop in Hamburg.

The Northern Ireland general election returned a Ulster Unionist Party majority.

A victory parade was held in Rangoon.

Gen. Eisenhower was awarded the French Order of Liberation by Gen. de Gaulle.

The US Joint Chiefs of Staff issue a directive to General MacArthur, General Arnold and Admiral Nimitz to prepare plans for the immediate occupation of the Japanese islands in the event of a sudden capitulation. 

Today In Wyoming's History: June 14--Flag Day1945  Shoshone and Washakie National Forests consolidated.  Attribution:  Wyoming State Historical Society.

Last edition:

Wednesday, June 13, 1945. Taking the Oruku Peninsula.

Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Sunday, June 10, 1945. Action in the Far East.

Today in World War II History—June 10, 1940 & 1945: 80 Years Ago—June 10, 1945: Australian troops land at Brunei on Japanese-occupied Borneo, an important port, and capture Labuan airfield.

Sarah Sundin's blog.  It was, we'd note, a largescale operation.

The also landed at Labuan and Muara.

The Battle of Porten Plantation ended in a Japanese victory.

US and Philippine forces prevailed at Davao.

The USS William D. Porter was sunk off of Okinawa by kamikazes.

"A guncrew of the 383rd Inf. Regt. loads a shell into the new 57mm recoiless rifle to fire against Jap pillboxes and caves on Okinawa. 10 June, 1945. 383rd Infantry Regiment, 96th Infantry Division."  This is the first photograph of a recoiless rifle being used in World War Two that I've seen.  It's sometimes debated if they saw action in the war at all, but clearly they did.

The Chinese Army took Wenchow..

Japanese Prime Minister Suzuki is granted dictatorial powers by the Imperial Diet.

Last edition: 

Saturday, June 9, 1945. Parade.

Saturday, June 7, 2025

Thursday, June 7, 1945. Returning monarchs.

Today in World War II History—June 7, 1940 & 1945: 80 Years Ago—June 7, 1945: King Haakon VII of Norway and his family return to Oslo on their fifth anniversary of leaving Norway. US Marines cut off Oroku Peninsula on Okinawa. King George VI & Queen Elizabeth visit Guernsey and Jersey in recently liberated Channel Islands. In Honolulu, Hawaii, the USO opens the Rainbow Club, for all races, with staff of all races.

From Sarah Sundin's blog.

The Battle of West Hunan concluded in a Chinese victory.

The 1st Corps took Bambang on Luzon.

"Men of Co. B., 165th Inf. Regt., 27th Inf. Div, burn out the scaffolding to the entrance of a cave with a flamethrower. The cave is located in the center of Kin, Okinawa, where they are searching for stolen American supplies. 7 June, 1945."

Yontan airfield, June 7, 1945.
 
All German citizens in the zone occupied by the western Allies are order to watch films of Belsen and Buchenwald.

Joseph Stalin instructed the Soviet delegation at San Francisco to drop its request for a Big Five veto over discussion of international disputes in the United Nations.

Winston Churchill refused a demand from the House of Commons to reveal all that was discussed at the Yalta Conference.

Last edition:

Wednesday, June 6, 1945. Hitler's body.

    Thursday, March 13, 2025

    Tuesday, March 13, 1945. The road to Mandalay.

    "These First U.S. Army infantrymen, known as "Grover's Ghosts", are a combat patrol of the 121st Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division. They captured the German town of Seilsdorf using Nazi weapons and equipment after their own ammunition ran out. Hermulheim, Germany. 13 March, 1945."  121st Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division.  Photographer: Pvt. H. Jaquith, 165th Signal Photo Co.

    The Battle of Kiauneliškis ended in a Red Army victory with the destruction of the Lithuanian partisan bunkers.

    The British Indian 62nd Bde took the last Japanese rail link to Mandalay.

    "En route from Kunming, China, to Kai Yuan, China, in the Petrified Forest area. 13 March, 1945.
    Entire convoy personnel of Maj. Gen. R. B. McClure, C.G. of C.G.C. and Gen. Ho Ying Chin, Supreme Commander of the Chinese Armies. Photographer: Pfc. E. J. Frayne, Jr."

    Last edition:

    Monday, March 12, 1945. Santa Fe Riots.

    Thursday, January 16, 2025

    Tuesday, January 16, 1945. Der Führerbunker.

    Hitler arrived in Berlin, where he would principally remain for the rest of the war.

    The Red Army took Radom, Poland.

    An Allied offensive to eliminate a German bridgehead over the Rhine north of Strasbourg was commenced.

    "Pfc. Gerald A. Cohan, 9 Shaw Ave., Newark, N.J., mans a .30 caliber machine gun covering approaches to Salmchateau, as the 75th Division takes the town. 3rd Battalion, 289th Infantry Regiment, 75th Infantry Division. 16 January, 1945."

    The Chinese took Namhkam in Burma.

    The U-248 was sunk by US destroyers north of the Azores.

    Last edition:

    Sunday, December 15, 2024

    Friday, December 15, 1944. Glenn Miller Lost.

    The airplane carrying definitive band leader of the 1940s, Glen Miller, disappeared over a fog bound English Channel.  Miller, age 40, was serving as the leader of the US Army Air Forces Orchestra.


    Miller's influence on US military music would be profound.

    The U.S. Seventh Army captured Riedseltz, Salmbach and Lauterbourg in France.

    The RAF made a largescale daylight raid on the submarine pens at Ijmuiden.

    The Sixth Army landed on Mindoro and faced very little ground resistance, but heavy air resistance.  The US forces included a regiment of paratroopers.

    Admiral William D. Leahy was promoted to five star rank, the first officer to be so promoted and the senior most officer in the Armed Forces.

    The Chinese Army captured Bhamo, Burma.

    Hollywood Canteen including the Andrews Sisters, Jack Benny, Eddie Cantor, Joan Crawford, Jimmy Dorsey and Roy Rogers was released.

    Last edition:

    Thursday, December 14, 1944. The tragedy of Lupe Vélez.

    Wednesday, December 4, 2024

    Monday, December 4, 1944. The Dutch Famine.

    "Sailors, aboard USS LST 392, discussing D-Day, when Ernie Pyle was their passenger and left his signature on their guns. Shown, left to right: SM3 Chas T. Repik, USNR; SC2c James F. Reardon, USNR; S1c Edward T. Wholley. (Bottom) BM2c Martin A. Reilly, USNR and RM2C Gint Middleton, USNR. Photograph released December 4, 1944."

    The Germans cut Dutch bread rations to two pounds per week.

    Martial law was declared in Greece.

    " Troops of the 14th Chinese Division detruck at North Airstrip, Myyitkyina, Burma, and go into bivouac for night preparatory to boarding planes for China. 4 December, 1944."

    Heilbroon was firebombed, resulting in the deaths of 7,147 people.

    The Kishinami was sunk in the South China Sea by the USS Flasher.

    Last edition:

    Sunday, December 3, 1944. Dekemvriana (Δεκεμβριανά)