70 Years Ago Today: Wednesday, July 14, 1943 US Home Front: For Whom the Bell Tolls opens in theaters. This adaptation of Ernest Hemmingway’s book by the same name, tells the story of an American working with the Republicans, during the Spanish Civil War, and finding romance during a desperate mission to blow up a strategically important bridge. The film stars Gary Cooper and Ingrid Bergman . European Theater: 8th Air Force Mission 73 – 111 B-17s and five YB-40s are dispatched to the aircraft works at Villacoublay, France, while 64 B-17s are sent to Amiens/Glisy Airfield and another 84 B-17s bomb LeBourget Airfield in Paris. Eight B-17s are lost, with 79 men listed as killed or missing. 163 aircraft, 63 percent of the total force, are damaged or lost on this mission. During the night, eight RAF Mosquitos carry out a nuisance raid on Berlin, losing one aircraft and crew. Eastern Mediterranean: Desert Air Task Force B-24s, from the 9th Air Force, and RAF heavy bombers hit the railroad marshalling yard, harbor, and oil storage facilities at Messina, Sicily, while B-25s attack the Enna and Palermo areas, and P-40s patrol Licata and attack the Lentini area. Western Mediterranean: Northwest African Air Force B-17s, B-26s, B-25s and fighters, from the12th Air Force, hit Naples, Italy and Messina, Enna, Marsala, and Randazzo, and numerous targets of opportunity in Sicily. Meanwhile, other aircraft continue sea patrols, reconnaissance, and convoy protection. On the ground in Sicily, British forces attempting to establish a bridgehead at the Primosole bridge on the Simeto River near Lentini continue to face strong opposition, while the Canadian 51st (Highland) Division captures Vizzini, Sicily. Elements of the 68th Reconnaissance Group moves from Tunisia to Sicily, and the 31st Fighter Group, flying Spitfires, moves from Malta to Sicily; both are stationed at Ponte Olivo, Sicily. During the night, RAF Wellingtons hit airfields and docks at Naples, Italy, while light and medium bombers bomb Palermo, Sicily, and fly armored reconnaissance, attacking roads and convoys, over extensive areas of Sicily. South Pacific Area: 13th Air Force B-25s and P-40s strike small craft in Hunda Cove and Beagle Channel off New Georgia Island, while B-24s and B-17s pound airfields on Ballale Island, Buka Island and at Kahili, on Bougainville Island. An airfield on Woodlark Island, is ready for use by C-47s. Southwest Pacific Theater: 5th Air Force A-20s bomb and strafe the Orodubi area, while a single B-17 bombs Lae, and B-24s hit Koepang, on Timor Island.
Posted on: Sat, 13 Jul 2013 01:33:58 +0000
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