On This Day during WW2....

The Highwayman

Bloody Omaha, American Cemetery
(I have more pics if you want to see)

280special

leincar wrote: »

I'll jump the gun by thirty minutes as I'm in Bayeux and its already the 6th of June.

At 9.30am. My Father, Corporal Samuel Auty landed with Baker company, 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry on Utah beach. Right now I'm having a beer with many of my family and friends as we are on the Auty annual pilgramage.

Beside me is Captain Peter Cary Richardson (who I'm named after) and his family. He is 89 years of age and is drinking glass by glass as well as anyone of us here in the pub. He and my Father fought alongside each other for six months until they were both injured in the Hurtgen Forest battle in November 1944.

They both went back to their unit in February 1945 and were some of the first troops into Dachau Concentration camp. My Father and himself were lifelong friends until my Fathers death 4 years ago.

As Cary Richardson is seriously ill, he has begun to tell me some of the stories of what they wemt through. My Father in the months before he died had put a lot on tape(my Brother is meant to be compiling it all with a view to a book, right now, he would have difficulty tying a shoe lace. Kronenburg does not agree with him) what we have heard in the last day and a half is mind boggling.

My Father recieved the Silver Star with bar for deeds in Hurtgen. This we knew, but finally knowing what he did has made us all emotional and extremely proud. I won't go into details for obvious reasons, maybe in the near future, but now I know why I'm called Cary, and Capt Richardson's son is called Samuel.

that must have been a truly fantastic experience to be there on the day that it is with someone who fought alongside your father. Please pass on our respects and gratitude.

280special

Highwayman, thanks for sharing your photos.

Amerika

Got to talk for a little bit to “Wild Bill” Guarnere of the 101st Airborne Division, and portrayed in “Band Of Brothers,” this past Saturday (2 days before the D-Day anniversary) at the WWII Weekend. He’s every bit the character portrayed in the movie. Even barked an order at me… Get your ass down here! (for a picture with him sitting at the table).

nevsky

leincar wrote: »

I'll jump the gun by thirty minutes as I'm in Bayeux and its already the 6th of June.

At 9.30am. My Father, Corporal Samuel Auty landed with Baker company, 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry on Utah beach. Right now I'm having a beer with many of my family and friends as we are on the Auty annual pilgramage.

Beside me is Captain Peter Cary Richardson (who I'm named after) and his family. He is 89 years of age and is drinking glass by glass as well as anyone of us here in the pub. He and my Father fought alongside each other for six months until they were both injured in the Hurtgen Forest battle in November 1944.

They both went back to their unit in February 1945 and were some of the first troops into Dachau Concentration camp. My Father and himself were lifelong friends until my Fathers death 4 years ago.

As Cary Richardson is seriously ill, he has begun to tell me some of the stories of what they wemt through. My Father in the months before he died had put a lot on tape(my Brother is meant to be compiling it all with a view to a book, right now, he would have difficulty tying a shoe lace. Kronenburg does not agree with him) what we have heard in the last day and a half is mind boggling.

My Father recieved the Silver Star with bar for deeds in Hurtgen. This we knew, but finally knowing what he did has made us all emotional and extremely proud. I won't go into details for obvious reasons, maybe in the near future, but now I know why I'm called Cary, and Capt Richardson's son is called Samuel.

I'm on my first trip to Normandy with my old man and a friend of his. We are in a bar in Bayeux called La Gitane and I bumped into Leincar about 20 minutes ago(Jesus he's a big man). Pure coincidence, but I bought him a drink as he helped me get a job a few months ago. He said that in all his years coming to Normandy he finally went to somewhere new today. A place called the 'Maisy Battery'. I don't know if anyone else has been there, but seemingly it has only recently been discoverd, so I'm off there tomorrow. I'm only here for 3 days but Leincar is here for another 10. Its amazing that someone with a knowledge and a love of Normandy can be so infectious with his enthusiam. His family and friends are mad and everyone seems to know him.

Seemingly he is in the process of buying this bar, but he is having legal problems as this place seems to be one of the few tabacs in Bayeux.

Anyway he is having many Hoegaardens(standyuppers) he calls them.

The place in general is packed. Seemingly as a worldwide interest in history grows, Normandy is getting more and more popular. Leincar was saying to me that he thought tourism in the area would die down after the 60th anniversary but its getting more and more popular. Its an unbelievable place for a holiday and beats a week on the beach anyday.

Sorry if the post is in the wrong place, it just seemed appropriate.

The Highwayman

Some more pics(hope you dont mind)

Point Du Hoc

The Highwayman

Omaha, American Cemetery

leincar

nevsky wrote: »

I'm on my first trip to Normandy with my old man and a friend of his. We are in a bar in Bayeux called La Gitane and I bumped into Leincar about 20 minutes ago(Jesus he's a big man). Pure coincidence, but I bought him a drink as he helped me get a job a few months ago. He said that in all his years coming to Normandy he finally went to somewhere new today. A place called the 'Maisy Battery'. I don't know if anyone else has been there, but seemingly it has only recently been discoverd, so I'm off there tomorrow. I'm only here for 3 days but Leincar is here for another 10. Its amazing that someone with a knowledge and a love of Normandy can be so infectious with his enthusiam. His family and friends are mad and everyone seems to know him.

Seemingly he is in the process of buying this bar, but he is having legal problems as this place seems to be one of the few tabacs in Bayeux.

Anyway he is having many Hoegaardens(standyuppers) he calls them.

The place in general is packed. Seemingly as a worldwide interest in history grows, Normandy is getting more and more popular. Leincar was saying to me that he thought tourism in the area would die down after the 60th anniversary but its getting more and more popular. Its an unbelievable place for a holiday and beats a week on the beach anyday.

Sorry if the post is in the wrong place, it just seemed appropriate.

Jesus Nevsky, no fear of discretion on your part. Lol. I'm not buying the bar, however as I know Frank and Marion who own the bar I am making a small(seriously small) investment as they are going through a bit of a downturn. Any Irish rock music you hear in there does come from me.

When You say I'm a big man, I presume you are talking about my height?

citizen_p

11.06.1939
pre war but note the marching style, Swastika flags (german national flag at the time) and Salute

Berlin has the best police baggage Marchers!
In the 25km baggage march at the German police championship in Frankfurt,
Berlin won largely with a time of 3:50:14, (Pure march time) ahead of Bayren Nord.

Our photo shows the triumphant lieutenant schutlheiss as he leads Berlin police
team in the tight parade march past the guests of honour.

BlaasForRafa

I'm sort of surprised this hasn't been posted yet. It is the 70th anniversary of the launch of Operation Barbarossa, the start of Germany's fateful attack on the Soviet Union.

Over 3 million troops from Germany, Finland, Romania, Italy with contingents from Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia and Spain went on the offensive with attacks beginning before dawn on 22/06/1941. Soviet formations were stunned and the Germans made large gains. Over 1k soviet planes were destroyed for the loss of a few dozen german ones. It was the start of the largest, most costly war front ever.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNG8OqSPw5Y

jam_mac_jam

BlaasForRafa wrote: »

I'm sort of surprised this hasn't been posted yet. It is the 70th anniversary of the launch of Operation Barbarossa, the start of Germany's fateful attack on the Soviet Union.

Over 3 million troops from Germany, Finland, Romania, Italy with contingents from Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia and Spain went on the offensive with attacks beginning before dawn on 22/06/1941. Soviet formations were stunned and the Germans made large gains. Over 1k soviet planes were destroyed for the loss of a few dozen german ones. It was the start of the largest, most costly war front ever.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNG8OqSPw5Y

Some good pictures of it here.

http://englishrussia.com/2011/06/21/the-day-of-memory-and-mourning/

marcsignal

On this day in 1944 an attempt was made to assassinate Adolf Hitler, inside his Wolf's Lair field headquarters near Rastenburg, East Prussia. The plot was the culmination of the efforts of several groups in the German Resistance to overthrow the Nazi-led German government. The failure of both the assassination and the military coup d'état which was planned to follow it led to the arrest of at least 7,000 people by the Gestapo. According to records of the Führer Conferences on Naval Affairs, 4,980 people were executed, resulting in the destruction of the organised resistance movement in Germany.

The Wolf's Lair conference room soon after the explosion


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20_July_plot

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marcsignal

On this day in 1944 the 100th Bomb Group target for the day was the Leuna oil refinery at Merseburg, Germany.
This mission was the second day in row that the 100th bombed Merseburg.




Men of the 100th Bomb Group most of them from the 351st Bomb Squadron

B17 mission Navigators Blog


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marcsignal

Halifax Harbour Nova Scotia August 3rd 1944




Type XXIII U-Boat U2325 Was Commissioned August 3rd 1944




Italians Invade British Somaliland August 3rd 1940



Link

The Highwayman

4 Aug 1938
The first Spitfire fighter deployed into service went to No. 19 Squadron RAF. The squadron reported good performance, but the fighter had leaks and the engine was difficult to start.

4 Aug 1940
Italian troops marched in three columns toward Berbera, British Somaliland. The main column marched along the main road through Hargeisa, while two smaller columns flanked to the east and west.

German submarine U-58 sank Greek ship Pindos with two torpedoes 10 miles from the Irish coast at 2120 hours; 3 were killed and 29 took to lifeboats. 300 miles northwest of Ireland, German submarine U-52 sank three transports in convoy HX-60: Geraldine Mary (3 killed, 48 survived), Gogovale (all 37 survived), and King Alfred (7 killed, 34 survived); U-52 was depth charged by Royal Navy escort vessels, causing significant damage, but she was able to escape and sail to Kiel, Germany for repairs; she would be out of action until 17 Nov 1940.

British submarine HMS Sealion sank Norwegian ship Torun off of the Norwegian southern coast.
After sundown, German armed merchant cruiser Widder stopped Norwegian tanker Beaulieu with one shot from her gun in the Atlantic Ocean about 1,700 miles east of Florida, United States, killing 4 in the process. 28 survivors were taken to lifeboats and abandoned; they would be rescued by British tanker Cymbeline on 13 Aug 1940. Beaulieu was sunk by scuttling charges.
Three British minesweeping trawlers hit German naval mines on this date at different locations on the British coast and were all destroyed: HMT Drummer (2 killed), HMT Marsona (11 killed), and Oswaldian (12 killed, 7 survived).
German anti-submarine trawler Perseus (UJ-175) hit a naval mine and sank off Ameland Island off northwestern Netherlands.
4 Aug 1941
Tatsuta Maru departed San Francisco, California, United States with US$2,500,000 worth of raw silk and 85,589 gallons of oil, both which was only allowed after Captain Toichi Takahata fought hard for due to the recently passed executive order to freeze Japanese assets in the United States.


4 Aug 1942
Deportation of Belgian Jews to Auschwitz Concentration Camp began.

Elements of German 4.Panzerarmee crossed the Aksay River en route to Stalingrad, Russia.
The first P-38 Lightning kill in the Pacific Theatre occurred when a pair of Kawanishi flying-boats were shot down off the Aleutian Islands.

Sinking of ship Tucker


4 Aug 1943
German 9.Armee retreated, allowing Red Army to move into Orel, Russia.
The US advance in Sicily, Italy was halted at Troina and the Furiano River.

Otto Skorzeny learned from the German Police Attaché that Benito Mussolini had been transported in an ambulance from the Royal Palace in Rome, Italy to one of the carabinieri barracks in Rome back on 25 Jul 1943.



4 Aug 1944
Anne Frank and her family were arrested in Amsterdam, the Netherlands by the Gestapo.
Germans evacuated Florence, Italy.

Allies captured Rennes, France.

Soviet forces gained another bridgehead over the Vistula River in Poland near Baranov.

Colonel Charles Hunter was relieved of his command and returned to the United States by ship. Morale among the "Marauders" (most of whom were recovering from their ordeal in hospital beds) collapsed completely as a consequence, and soon after the entire force was despicably disbanded. Back in the United States, the obnoxious Stilwell's treatment of Hunter's "Marauders" had become a public scandal eventually leading to a full inquiry.
An extensively modified Thunderbolt fighter (XP-47J) became the first airscrew driven aircraft to exceed 500 mph in level flight with a recorded speed of 504 mph. However the P-47J did not go into production as the Republic development team chose to concentrate on the more advanced XP-72 project.

USS Tunny departed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, United States for her seventh war patrol with the wolfpack "Ed's Eradicators".

Sinking of ship Matsu

Photos dated 4 Aug 1944

4 Aug 1945
Japanese guards executed seven captured American airmen in Singapore.
US Army B-25 bombers based on Okinawa, Japan attacked Takanabe, Kyushu, Japan, damaging or destroying warehouses, factories, railways, and a rail marshaling yard.

In a public statement, Douglas MacArthur announced that "a mighty invasion force is being forged", referring to the seemingly impending invasion of the Japanese home islands.

US bombers attacked Japanese positions at Surabaya, Java, Dutch East Indies.
German prisoner of war Kurt Rossmeisl escaped from imprisonment in North Carolina, United States and evaded the immediate search. He would later board a train for Chicago, Illinois, United States, established a false identity as "Frank Ellis", and remained at large until 1959.
USS Blenny reported sinking a small Japanese craft with the deck gun in the South China Sea off Malaya.

USS Macabi arrived at Apra Harbor, Guam, Mariana Islands for repairs.

USS Bugara sank 3 small enemy craft with her deck gun in the Gulf of Siam and South China Sea area during the day.

USS Carbonero departed the Philippine Islands for her second war patrol.

marcsignal

On this day in 1944 the 392nd Bomb Group targeted Brunswick, Germany.



For the fifth time, the Group was assigned an aiming point in this target area. Between 0500 and 0600 hours, (27) crews were briefed and, despite a dense fog, take-off for the Group planes began at 0907 hours. A regrettable accident marred this mission, happening just after take-off. The lead aircraft of the 576th, ship #222 with First Lieutenant 0. H. Filkel’s crew including one of the Group’s leading Bombardiers, Captain Amoss, crashed near East Dereham for a reason unknown, killing all aboard.

The wreckage of B-24 #42-95222. It crashed shortly after take-off, killing all aboard.


As a result of this unfortunate mishap, the high right squadron took over the Group lead with (25) aircraft going over the target dropping (156) 1000# GPs - (80) percent of the bombs hitting within 2000 feet of the aiming point. One aircraft released on a Target of Opportunity, wide of the aiming point. No enemy aircraft opposition was experienced but flak was accurate and heavy, causing damage to (16) of the returning Liberators. The mission terminated with aircraft landing about 1540 hours.



Standing left to right: 2/Lt Bill J. Jurczyn, copilot; 2/Lt Frank Walker, bombardier; 1/Lt William A. Sturm, pilot; 2/Lt John L. Rawlings, Jr., navigator
Kneeling left to right: S/Sgt John A.H. Lingle, waist gunner; S/Sgt Jack C. Brown, radio operator; S/Sgt Donald E. LaChance, engineer; George Austermuhl, rank and position unknown; S/Sgt Russell H. Huff, tail gunner; S/Sgt John E. McCormick, waist gunner (photo from S/Sgt Lingle's family)

Link to 392nd Bomb Group Site

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tricky D

On this day, at 8:45am local time, a new weapon like no other, was detonated against a target.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_bombings_of_Hiroshima_and_Nagasaki

marcsignal

On this day in 1944, 8 of the 20th of July ploters were executed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNi5256dhvM

Barely two weeks after Col. Stauffenberg‘s bomb had barely missed slaying the Fuhrer, eight of his principal co-conspirators stood show trials at the Volksgerichtshof (People’s Court) before hectoring prig Roland Freisler.

Link

Morlar

marcsignal wrote: »

On this day in 1944, 8 of the 20th of July ploters were executed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNi5256dhvM

Link

I think it's interesting to note that Freisler was captured during WW1 and imprisoned by the Russians, at one point he became a pow camp kommissar.
In fact Hitler called him 'that old Bolshevik!' He spent his later years fitting the profile of the overly-zealous convert. He also personally visted the Stalinist Moscow show trials of 1938.

marcsignal

September 12th 1939

French advance into Germany ends.


General Gamelin

French forces have now advanced about 5 miles (8 km) into Germany on a 15-mile (24 km) frontage in the Saarland region. The French claim that the action has forced the Germans to withdraw 6 divisions from Poland, although British observers express doubts. The advance places the front within half a mile of the Siegfried Line and a frontal assault on this defensive system is considered to be out of the question. General Gamelin calls an end to the Saar offensive.



September 12th 1940



Battle of Britain - The last main attack imposed on Britain, and especially the City of London itself was on September 7th, and since then attacks had now turned out to be rather spasmodic although the night bombing raids now seemed a regular occurence. The air war of the last week or so had developed into a rather dull sort of plan. It did not matter what the weather conditions were, the days were relatively quiet and to many of the once exhausted fighter pilots, they found time to relax and enjoy time amongst themselves as longer gaps between sorties developed.

Site



September 12th 1941

Tobruk - North Africa


Constant Bombing of Tobruk



September 12th 1942

British Troop Ship 'Laconia' is sunk.



The Laconia, a former Cunard White Star ship put to use to transport troops, including prisoners of war, was in the South Atlantic bound for England when it encountered U-156, a German sub. The sub attacked, sinking the troop ship and imperiling the lives of more than 2,200 passengers.

Site



September 12th 1943

German Commandoes lead by Otto Skorzeny Rescue Benito Mussolini.



Today in 1943, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini was rescued from a mountain retreat in central Italy by German commandoes. This daring raid allowed the fascist leader to set up a government in the north of the country and continue to make life difficult for the Allies until nearly the end of the Second World War in Europe.

Site



September 12th 1944

U.S. Air Force - Mission #167 - Target: Hannover-Misburg

An oil storage depot near Hannover was assigned for attack and at 0315-0415 hours (30) crews were briefed. Take-offs began at 0730 with (28) launching.



Site

Mayo Exile

26th September 1944.

Operation Market-Garden comes to an end in Holland. The remainder of British and Polish airborne troops retreated to the south bank of the Rhine while any left in Arnhem surrender to the Germans. Arnhem itself would not be taken until April 1945.

Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/26/newsid_3523000/3523972.stm

jam_mac_jam

Very obvious one. Pearl Harbour.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16063511

marcsignal

Dec 16th 1944 - The Battle of the Bulge












Without putting too fine a point on it, fighting in this battle must have been freezing, miserable and horiffic to say the very least.

later12

On this day in 1941:

http://www.awm.gov.au/units/event_222.asp

Bardia was the site of the first battle fought by Australian troops in the Second World War.

On the morning of 3 January 1941, troops of the 16th Brigade of the 6th Australian Division attacked and broke through the western face of the defensive perimeter, while the 2/6th Battalion mounted a diversion in the south. Troops of the 17th Australian Brigade joined the fighting later in the morning to clear the southern portion of the Italian defences, while the 16th Brigade advanced toward Bardia itself.

Bardia was captured late in the afternoon of 4 January, but Italian resistance in the southern portion of the perimeter, which had been particularly determined, did not cease until the morning of 5 January; the diversionary force had encountered the toughest fighting of all.

The attack had cost the 6th Division 130 men killed and 326 wounded but netted them approximately 40,000 Italian prisoners and large quantities of arms, rations, equipment, and alcohol. All of which was put to good use by the Australians.

marcsignal

January 9th 1943

Found this today, thought it was interesting

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNr3iFvJObU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLbef1Xl7jE

marcsignal

June 22nd 1941, Operation Barbarossa begins.............

CerebralCortex

marcsignal wrote: »

January 9th 1943

Found this today, thought it was interesting

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNr3iFvJObU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLbef1Xl7jE

There's something wrong in that post, January 9th Stalingrad was still taking place? Sounds like you mean July 9th.

marcsignal

CerebralCortex wrote: »

There's something wrong in that post, January 9th Stalingrad was still taking place? Sounds like you mean July 9th.

Actually, you're dead right CC. In the first one, the reporter is talking about Cassino, but that was a year later.

I found them on a random search of the date, without paying much attention.

marcsignal

1939 - The Outbreak of War in Europe

Artur.PL

marcsignal wrote: »

1939 - The Outbreak of War in Europe

the photo above, the date is the 1st of September, not the 3rd.


the 3rd and 4th of September Bloody Sunday in Polish city Bydgoszcz

The 4th, Polish submarine "Orzel" was spotted by German aircraft when it was at periscope depth. The aircraft dropped 10 depth charges and radioed for ships to come to the area. Later, German sub chasers tried to locate and attacked Orzel twice without success.