This day in the war in Europe 65 years ago

[Njaco]

Glider, I agree. But that was when the Luftwaffe began to remove units from the area and not focus so heavily on the island. Attacks still happened, though not in overwhelming strength and with the almost constant stream of new aircraft from the RAF, the Luftwaffe failed to counter it. To keep the post short, I just mentioned that attacks still continued. But you are correct.

[syscom3]

CANADA: The German submarine U-213 sows mines off St. John's, Newfoundland.

In Canada, the German submarine U-213 lands a German spy near the town
of St. Martins, New Brunswick. The spy, Lieutenant M.A. Langbein, has
documents identifying him as "Alfred Haskins" of Toronto, Ontario and his task is to monitor convoy traffic leaving Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Upon landing, he buried his uniform and supplies, and made his way to Ottawa, Ontario, where he lived on the funds he had been provided. In late
1944, he turned himself into Canadian authorities but was not punished
since he had not conducted any spying.

[102first_hussars]

Originally Posted by syscom3

CANADA: The German submarine U-213 sows mines off St. John's, Newfoundland.

In Canada, the German submarine U-213 lands a German spy near the town
of St. Martins, New Brunswick. The spy, Lieutenant M.A. Langbein, has
documents identifying him as "Alfred Haskins" of Toronto, Ontario and his task is to monitor convoy traffic leaving Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Upon landing, he buried his uniform and supplies, and made his way to Ottawa, Ontario, where he lived on the funds he had been provided. In late
1944, he turned himself into Canadian authorities but was not punished
since he had not conducted any spying.

Why would he turn himself in?

[syscom3]

Guilty conscience about being a Nazi.

[Njaco]

May 14, 1942

NORWAY: The damaged British escort cruiser "Trinidad", returning from Murmansk, was sunk by Luftwaffe dive-bombers off the northern Norwegian coast.

[Njaco]

May 15, 1942

WESTERN FRONT: A Bf 109F belonging to 9./JG 11 made a belly landing in a field 2km from Tarm at 14:50hrs The pilot was unharmed and there was no serious damage to the aircraft. It was soon dismantled and transported back to base by the Luftwaffe.

EASTERN FRONT: The German 11. Armee (von Manstein) captured Kerch in the eastern Crimea, forcing the Soviet forces to withdraw across the straits to the Taman peninsula. At Kharkov, the German 6. Armee (von Paulus) repulsed heavy Soviet attacks.

[syscom3]

RUSSIA: German units, under Manstein capture Kerch, USSR.

US: Gas rationing begins with the amount set for non essential vehicles
at 3 gallons per week. There are 17 states in the US, with rationing in
effect, at this point.

The U.S. star insignia applied to aircraft is modified on all military aircraft by eliminating the red disc in the center of the star. The USN also orders that the red and white rudder stripes be eliminated.

U.S. President Roosevelt signs the bill authorizing the formation of
the Women's Army Auxillary Corps. (WAAC). By the end of the war,
this Corps will become part of the Army as the WAC, utilitzing the skills
of 150,000 women to do non-combat jobs, both in the states and overseas.

[Njaco]

May 16, 1942

EASTERN FRONT: Following a brief attachment to the Stabschwarm of JG 54, Major Gordon Gollob returned to southern Russia as Geschwaderkommodore of JG 77.

[plan_D]

May 17, 1942

Ramrod 33 is flown by 226 Sqn. against Boulgne Docks. Forty 500-lb bombs fall on shipping, the quayside, nearby railway station and south end of tidal basin. Boston III (W8368 'K') flown by Plt. Off. O'Malley is hit by flak and has to belly-land near RAF Manston.
After bombing the over fifteen enemy fighters are spotted near Le Touquet. Kenley Wing giving top cover for the Bostons is vectored to Guines where 602 Sqn. dive upon ten Fw 190s only to be bounced by another fifteen. Sqn. Ldr. Finucane claimed one enemy destroyed while eight RAF fighters were lost. One lost was in the sea of Cap Gris Nez, the pilot Flt. Lt. Major died in the sea before the rescue launch could reach him.

[Njaco]

May 17, 1942

MEDITERRANEAN: 1(F)/122 lost a Ju 88 while on an early morning recon mission to Malta, shot down by Spitfires over Valetta.

EASTERN FRONT: Heeresgruppe Mitte (von Bock) began a counter-offensive against Soviet forces heading toward Kharkov and the Donbas.

[syscom3]

USSR: The Russian advance on Kharkov grinds to a halt as German resistance stiffens.

UK: Bristol: Sir Stafford Cripps, formerly British ambassador in Moscow and now a member of the war cabinet, told his constituents in Bristol tonight that the government, like the public generally, wanted to see a second front in Western Europe.
"The only difference between us is that the public can talk freely about it, whereas we cannot, because we have two responsibilities - to organise it at the proper time and place, and secondly not to give the enemy any information of our intentions. Already the Germans are getting uneasy at the militant offensive spirit of the British and Americans in this matter."

[syscom3]

MALTA: HMS Argus and HMS Eagle ferry 17 Spitfire fighters to Malta. Admiral Harwood assumes command of the British Mediterranean Fleet.

ATLANTIC: Three more unarmed U.S. merchant vessels are sunk by German
submarines. U-156 sinks a freighter east of Barbados while U-125 sinks a tanker and a freighter in the Gulf of Mexico.

CARIBBEAN: The US and Panama sign an agreement concerning the use of Panama defense areas by US forces.

[Njaco]

May 18, 1942

MEDITERRANEAN: After delivering 64 Spitfires on 9 May, the Royal Navy carrier HMS "Eagle" returned to Malta with 17 Spitfires in an operation codenamed "Operation LB". With a total of 76 Spitfires now available for operations, the island was heavily reinforced and marked a turning point for control of the skies over Malta.

EASTERN FRONT: A corridor was established into the Demyansk pocket, ending the mission for the Luftwaffe transport units. The Demyansk airlift was a success as the Luftwaffe kept the German army supplied for the past three months with 24,303 tonnes of supplies. Aircraft losses for this period amounted to 265 aircraft, most from the harsh Russian winter. After the ground breakthrough, KGzbV 8 was disbanded and its planes returned to the training schools.

WESTERN FRONT: The RAF launched a major attack against Mannheim.

[syscom3]

RUSSIA: A strong counterattack at Kharkov in the Ukraine againt the Russians begins.

ATLANTIC: Three more armed U.S. merchant ships are sunk by German submarines. Two freighters are sunk in the Gulf of Mexico, one off Louisiana by U-506 and the second near the Yucatan Channel by U-103. The third freighter
is sunk south of Navassa Island Light in the Caribbean by U-751.

ICELAND: While at anchor at Hvalfjordur, Iceland, some of the crewmen of the U.S. freighter SS Ironclad break into a cargo of liquor that is being shipped to the U.S. Ambassador in Moscow resulting in fights among the
crew. The officer in command of the Armed Guard reports the incident to the battleship USS Washington and a detachment of Marines board the ship and restore order.

CARIBBEAN (6th Air Force): 31st Fighter Squadron, 37th Fighter Group, transfers from Chorrera, Panama to Albrook Field, Canal Zone with P-39's and P-40's.

[Njaco]

May 19, 1942

ENGLAND: 168 tonnes of bombs were dropped in a night attack on Hull. 50 people were killed and 58 seriously injured, with much damage done to the dock area and elsewhere in the city. The Blackburn aircraft factory at Brough (west of Hull) suffered blast damage, with further attacks taking place at Hedon (east of Hull), Hornsea and Withernsea. The attacks cost the Luftwaffe 2 Ju 88s and a Do 217.
....Heavily attacked areas of the city included Scarborough Street, Westborourne Ave., Sutton, Southcoates Lane and Alexandria dock. 4 IB clusters and 74 HE bombs of varying weights, including one 1,000 kg bomb and one 1,800kg were dropped. Fires were started on the dock and Southcoates lane and there was extensive damge in Scarborough street, a densely populated area near Fish dock, where the 1,800kg bomb fell. Elsewhere in the city, industrial, residential and railway properties suffered damage.