Sunday, June 11, 1944. D+5. Carentan taken.

Photograph taken the moment the No. 1 Cannoneer fires a M3 105 howitzer at Carentan, June 11, 1944.

The U.S. 1st Army captured Carentan and Lison.  The British and Canadians experienced heavy fighting in their effort to take Caen, including the deployment of the most recent German armor. The 46 Royal Marines Commando took Cairon after heavy fighting against the 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend.  They then took Lasson, Rots and Rosel.

The HMS Halstand was torpedoed and rendered a loss by E-boats off of Normandy.

Gooseberry 1, an artificial breakwater formed from sunken obsolete ships, was in palce.

The French Expeditionary Corps captured Montefascone, Italy.

The US 15th Air Force raided Axis airfields at Focsani, Romania and flew on to Ukraine.

Task Force 58 began raids on Saipan and Tinian, causing the Japanese to lose 36 aircraft, three warships and 30,000 tons of merchant transport.

The USS Missouri was commissioned.  She is now a museum ship at Pearl Harbor.

USS Missouri, Pearl Harbor Hawaii

 USS Missouri viewed from the USS Arizona Memorial.

 Small trailed mortar, probably of a Japanese pattern.

 Dual Bofars 40mm Anti Aircraft guns formally on the USS Missouri.

 The "tears" of the USS Arizona.  Oil slick from oil leaking from the bunkers of the Arizona.

 The spot on which World War Two came to an end on the decks of the Missouri.

 The instrument of surrender.

 Oil from the USS Arizona alongside the USS Missouri.

 Tomahawk Missile platform.

 The location on the USS Missouri where she was hit by a Kamikaze aircraft.  The result was this dent in the side.  The Japanese pilot was buried in a formal burial at sea the following day.

 While not labeled on the ship, these are powder bags for 16 in guns.

Last prior edition:

Saturday, June 10, 1944. D+4. The Oradour-sur-Glane and Distomo Massacres.

Labels: 1940s, 1944, baseball, Distomo Massacre, Eastern Front, French Resistance Movements, German SS, Greek Partisans, Italy, Operation Overlord, Oradour-sur-Glane Massacre, Waffen SS, War Crimes, World War Two

Friday, June 11, 1899. Pope Leo XIII concecrates the entire human race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Pope Leo XIII consecrated the entire human race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before Thine altar. We are Thine, and Thine we wish to be; but to be more surely united with Thee, behold each one of us freely consecrates himself today to Thy most Sacred Heart.

Many indeed have never known Thee; many too, despising Thy precepts, have rejected Thee. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to Thy sacred Heart. Be Thou King, O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken Thee, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned Thee; grant that they may quickly return to Thy Father’s house lest they die of wretchedness and hunger. 

Be Thou King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof, and call them back to the harbor of truth and unity of faith, so that there may be but one flock and one Shepherd. 

Be Thou King of all those who are still involved in the darkness of idolatry or of Islamism, and refuse not to draw them into the light and kingdom of God. Turn Thine eyes of mercy towards the children of the race, once Thy chosen people: of old they called down upon themselves the Blood of the Savior; may it now descend upon them a laver of redemption and of life. 

Grant, O Lord, to Thy Church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give peace and order to all nations, and make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry: ‘Praise be to the divine Heart that wrought our salvation; to it be glory and honor forever.

 Last prior edition:

Thursday, June 10, 1909. The Lincoln penny introduced.

Labels: 1900s, 1909, 1950s, 1958, Art, Currency

Saturday, June 10, 1944. D+4. The Oradour-sur-Glane and Distomo Massacres.

German POW being searched in France, June 10, 1944.

The Oradour-sur-Glane massacre was carried out by the troops of the SS Panzer Division Das Reich in France, destroying the village and killing 642 residents.  It was a reprisal for Resistance activities.  200 of the dead were women and children who were burned to death in a church.

A few escapees were tipped off as the village was surrounded by Alsatian members of the unit.

The Waffen SS also carried out the Distomo massacre on the same day, killing 214 residents of that Greek village in reprisal for a partisan attack upon the unit.

Utah and Omaha beaches were linked by the 2nd Armored Division.  The artificial harbors of Arromanches and Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer began to be installed.

Allied casualties for the day in Normandy amounted to 15,000 men.

Iin Italy, the British 8th Army captured Pescara and Chieti.

British seaborne aircraft hit Saband in the Dutch East Indes as a diversion from American forces approaching the Mariana Islands.

The Red Army took Terijoki and Yalkena from the Finns.

Joe Nuxhall debuted for the Cincinnati Reds at age 15. He'd be sent down to the minors, but would reappear in the major leagues at age 23.

Jockey Jimmy Stout rode Bousset in horse racing's only triple dead heat in the Carter Handicap.

Last prior edition:

Friday, June 9, 1944. D+3

Labels: 1940s, 1944, Battle of Ushant, boats and ships, Brittany, Canadian Navy, German Kriegsmarine, Imperial Japanese Navy, Italy, Normandy, Operation Overlord, Polish Navy, Royal Navy, U.S. Navy, World War Two