70 Years Ago Today: Monday, October 18, 1943 UK Home Front: The Dark Tower opens in theaters. This drama tells the story of a retired hypnotist who falls in love with a circus performer. The film stars Ben Lyon, Anne Crawford and David Farrar. North Pacific, Aleutian Islands: 11th Air Force sends the 406th Bomb Squadron (Medium) back to the US, where it will transition from B-25s to B-24s and later be sent to England. European Theater, Strategic (Pointblank): During the night, 360 RAF Lancasters are ordered to attack Hannover, losing 18 aircraft and crews. The raid was scattered, with most bombs falling in open country. Meanwhile, 30 Mosquitos attack Duisburg, Berlin and four other targets, while six Wellingtons lay mines off Texel, and 12 other aircraft fly training missions. One of the Lancasters lost on the Hannover raid was the 5,000th Bomber Command aircraft lost on operations since the start of the war. By the end of this night, Bomber Command had flown approximately 144,500 sorties, losing 5,004 aircraft over enemy territory, crashing in the sea or shot down over England, by German intruders or “friendly fire.” 8th Air Force adds the 369th Fighter Squadron, with P-47s, which arrives in England from the US. European Theater, Tactical (Overlord): 9th Air Force sends 228 B-26s to bomb four airfields in France, but the mission is recalled because of unfavorable weather conditions. Major General Elwood R “Pete” Quesada becomes Commanding General of the IX Fighter Command. Mediterranean Theater: 12th Air Force B-25s bomb the marshalling yard at Skoplje, Yugoslavia, as P-38s follow with a strafing mission, damaging or destroying several locomotives and other vehicles. In Italy, A-36s hit the Venafro railroad yards, and other fighter-bombers hit gun positions, troops, and railway stations in or near Boiano, Petacciato, and Vairano. Meanwhile, fighters strafe airfields around Rome, hit Viterbo, Grosseto, the seaplane base at Bracciano, and attack trains on the Rome-Orte and Rome-Naples, Italy railroad lines. Other Allied light bombers attack the road and railway near Cassino, the town of Carpinone, the road junction at Castiglione della Valle, and roads, bridges, and motor transport near Minturno and Chieti. On the ground in Italy, the 3rd and 34th Infantry Divisions continue toward Dragoni, and prepare to make concerted effort to take Dragoni and bridges beyond. To block the enemy escape route from Dragoni, the 34th Infantry Division begins a second crossing of the Volturno River and takes the railway-highway bridge. The Nazis begin the “resettlement” of Italian Jews to death camps in Poland. The 12th Photo Squadron (Light), based in Tunisia with F-4s and F-5s, sends a detachment to Corsica. South Pacific Area: Air Command North Solomons begins intensive attacks on Bougainville airfields in preparation for the invasion, sending 28 B-24s, from the 13th Air Force, and over 40 Navy dive bombers, with cover of over 50 fighters, to attack the airfield on Ballale Island. Elsewhere, 14 P-39s join over 20 Navy aircraft in a strike on Kakasa village and a tent area on Choiseul Island. The 70th Fighter Squadron, flying P-39s, transfers from Guadalcanal Island to New Georgia Island. Southwest Pacific Theater: 5th Air Force sends about 80 B-24s and fighters to attack Rabaul on New Britain Island, but bad weather forces them to hit alternate targets at Cape Hoskins, Cape Gloucester and Sio, New Guinea. Another formation of over 50 B-25s manage to slip beneath the low clouds to pound Rabaul airfields and shipping from a low level, sinking two vessels and destroying over 70 planes on the ground and in the air, while other B-25s bomb and strafe a road at Bogadjim, New Guinea.
Posted on: Fri, 18 Oct 2013 11:11:16 +0000
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