New Zealanders with the Royal Air Force (Vol. II)

Appendix I — PRINCIPAL EVENTS OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR — 1943–45

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Appendix I

PRINCIPAL EVENTS OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR
1943–45

(With particular reference to air operations in Europe)
1943
January
14–24 Conference between Prime Minister, President Roosevelt, and
their Chiefs of Staff at Casablanca.
21 Casablanca directive issued by the Combined Chiefs of Staff
defining the primary objects of the combined bomber offensive.
27 First USAAF air raid on Germany – Emden and Wilhelmshaven
attacked by Fortresses and Liberators.
30 Mosquitos made their first daylight attack on Berlin (during
Goebbels' and Goering's addresses at the 10th anniversary
celebrations of Hitler's regime.)
February
Main Allied bombing effort directed against U-boat bases and
factories. Heavy RAF attacks on Lorient and St. Nazaire.
2 Remaining German forces trapped at Stalingrad capitulated.
14 Russian forces recapture Rostov.
25 Allied air forces commence ‘round-the-clock’ bombing. Over
2000 sorties in next 48 hours.
28 Norwegian commandos from Britain destroy German heavy-
water installations connected with atomic research at Norsk
Hydro, near Ryukan in Norway.
March
3 Knaben molybdenum mines in Norway attacked by Mosquitos
of Bomber Command.
5–6 Bomber Command's Battle of the Ruhr commences with an
attack on Essen. 442 aircraft despatched – first full-scale use of
‘Oboe’ results in the first effective attack on Essen.
25 Formation of RAF Transport Command.
30 The Battle of the Atlantic at its height. Record shipping losses
on convoy routes especially in North Atlantic, but long-range
aircraft achieve increasing success in that area.
April
Fighter Command now mainly employed on escort duties but
attack on enemy rail and shipping targets continues.
1 General Sir F. E. Morgan appointed Chief of Staff to Supreme
Allied Commander to begin planning for the invasion of
NW Europe.
Battle of the Ruhr continues with fifteen major raids by Bomber
Command in April–May.

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May
Heavy attacks by U-boat packs in North Atlantic now defeated.
Aircraft of Coastal Command have destroyed 36 U-boats since
beginning of year.
12–27 Conference between Prime Minister and President Roosevelt
in Washington.
13 Allied campaign in North Africa ended.
16–17 Twelve RAF Lancasters attacked and breached the Moehne
and Eder Dams. Wing Commander Guy Gibson of No. 617
Squadron awarded the Victoria Cross.
31 The intense period of duels between Coastal Command aircraft
and U-boats in the Bay of Biscay commenced.
June
1 Formation of Second Tactical Air Force based in UK for
operations connected with invasion of Europe.
10 Combined Chiefs of Staff issued a directive to RAF and
USAAF on the pointblank plan for destruction of the
German aircraft industry.
20 First shuttle-bombing raid by Bomber Command, target
Friedrichshafen. Aircraft landed at Algiers and attacked Spezia
on return journey to UK.
22 Rocket projectiles used for the first time against enemy surface
shipping by Coastal Command.
July
9–10 US and British airborne troops land on Sicily followed by
seaborne forces on 10 July.
17 First aircraft landed on runway cleared of fog by ‘Fido’.
24 First of a series of large-scale raids on Hamburg which ended 3
August. ‘Window’ used for first time by Bomber Command.
25 Heavy RAF raid on Essen marks end of Battle of Ruhr.
August
RAF Mosquitos make 18 night raids on Germany, including
seven on Berlin. Heavy bomber targets include Turin, Milan,
and Genoa.
1 Air attacks on oil refineries and wells at Ploesti and Campina
made by US 8th and 9th Air Forces operating from North
Africa.
3 U-boats in the Bay of Biscay forced to abandon surface passage
owing to heavy casualties inflicted by Coastal Command.
17 US 8th Air Force attack on ball-bearing factories at Schweinfurt
and Regensburg. Of 309 aircraft despatched 60 lost.
17–18 First RAF attack on Peenemunde Air Research and Development Station. 597 heavies despatched, 1938 tons of bombs
dropped – 40 bombers lost.
14–24 Quebec Conference between Prime Minister and President
Roosevelt. cossac plan for cross-Channel invasion approved.
September
Bomber Command targets include aircraft factories at Berlin,
Hanover, Munich, and Dunlop works at Montlucon.
15–16 12,000 lb. HC bombs dropped for first time by Bomber Command (Dortmund–Ems canal).
22–23 First use of ‘Spoof’ raid technique by Bomber Command.
Main target Hanover – ‘Spoof’ target Oldenburg.

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October
8 First Coastal Command units arrived in the Azores (Terceira)
to establish an air base.
8–9 Last operation by Wellingtons of Bomber Command.
14 Further attack on Schweinfurt by US 8th Air Force. 60 out of
224 aircraft lost.
November
10–11 315 aircraft of Bomber Command attacked Modane, on the
Mont Cenis route into Italy.
15 Formation of Allied Expeditionary Air Force under Air Chief
Marshal Sir Trafford Leigh-Mallory.
Fighter Command became Air Defence of Great Britain.
18–19 ‘Battle of Berlin’ opened – fifteen major raids in next three
months by Bomber Command.
28 Teheran Conference began (President Roosevelt, Marshal
Stalin and Mr Churchill).
December
3 Formation of No. 100 (Special Duties) Group RAF.
20 Commencement of attacks on flying-bomb sites.
23 General Eisenhower appointed Supreme Allied Commander
of Expeditionary Forces in UK. Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur
Tedder became Deputy Supreme Commander. General
Montgomery appointed Commander-in-Chief British Group of
Invasion Armies.
1944
January
Attacks by RAF and USAAF against flying-bomb installations
in the Pas de Calais intensified.
21 Air Marshal Sir A. Coningham assumed command of RAF 2nd
Tactical Air Force.
21–22 German Air Force attacks on London recommenced (‘Baby
Blitz’).
February
9 Allied bombing of French railway system began in preparation
for overlord.
15–16 Heaviest attack on Berlin by Bomber Command: 2643 tons of
bombs dropped. 891 aircraft despatched, 806 attacked, 43
missing.
18 RAF Mosquitos attacked Amiens prison to release French
patriots.
23-24 The ‘Big Week’ commenced. RAF and USAAF bombers
dropped 16,506 tons of bombs in a six-day series of raids on
the German aircraft industry.
24–25 Bomber Command and US 8th Air Force attacks on ball-bearing industry at Schweinfurt.

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March
4 First American bomber attack on Berlin.
6 800 aircraft in daylight attack on Berlin.
24–25 Last attack of the bomber ‘Battle of Berlin’.
50 RAF and Dominion Air Forces personnel murdered by
Germans after attempting to escape from Stalag Luft III.
30–31 Bomber Command suffered its heaviest losses in one attack.
95 aircraft missing out of 795 despatched to Nuremberg.
April
Heavy Allied air attacks on French railway system.
5 First of a series of 24 day and night attacks by USAAF and
RAF bombers from the Mediterranean on the oil refineries
at Ploesti. (Last attack 19 August 1944.
9–10 Allied air attacks on French coastal batteries began.
11 RAF Mosquitos attacked the ‘House in the Hague’.
14 Strategic bombing in Europe placed under the control of the
Supreme Commander Allied Expeditionary Force (General
Eisenhower) for operations in support of overlord.
May
Air operations over the Continent intensified in preparation
for invasion. Heavy raids on rail centres, military depots, and
installations.
11 Allied air offensive opened against enemy airfields within
fighter range of Caen.
12 Attacks on German oil industry resumed by US air forces.
30 Allied bombing effort now concentrated against coastal
defences and key centres in Normandy and in Pas de Calais.
June
6 D Day. Allied armies began landing in Normandy closely
supported by both Tactical and Strategic Air Forces.
8–9 First 12,000-pound DP bombs (‘Tallboys’) dropped by Bomber
Command (Saumur railway tunnel).
9 Allied fighters commenced operating from airstrips in France.
10 U-boats, having failed to penetrate Channel defences, began
using ‘Schnorkel’ to avoid detection and attack from the air,
but without success.
12–13 Bomber Command begins heavy attacks against Ruhr oil
targets.
13–14 First flying bombs launched against England.
15–16 Beginning of flying-bomb offensive proper. Between 11.30 p.m.
and 6 a.m. 95 crossed the British coast.
16–17 Bomber Command recommenced attacks against ‘Crossbow’
targets (flying-bomb and rocket sites) – period of intensified
effort lasted until 6 September 1944.

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July
Allied air forces continue to operate intensively in support of
the invading armies.
7 Bomber Command dropped over 2300 tons of bombs on
enemy positions at Caen in 38 minutes.
9 Caen captured by British and Canadian forces.
17 Defences of UK against flying bombs re-deployed. New
deployment subsequently proved highly successful.
18 Bomber Command dropped over 5600 tons of bombs to assist
British offensive south-east of Caen.
20 Attempted assassination of Hitler by German Army officers.
24 Campaign in Normandy officially ended.
24–25 Bomber Command offensive against German industrial cities
resumed (Stuttgart).
25 1500 aircraft of US 8th Air Force dropped 3500 tons of bombs
to assist American offensive in St. Lo area.
30 American troops entered Granville and Avranches.
31 American breakthrough at Avranches.
August
4 Meteor jet aircraft first operational – against flying bombs.
7–8 1018 aircraft of Bomber Command despatched against concentrations south of Caen in support of First Canadian Army.
7–12 Defeat of German counter-attack at Mortain, largely by air
action.
8 500 US heavy bombers attacked targets south of Caen to
prevent German forces escaping from the Falaise pocket.
14 672 Bomber Command aircraft attacked targets north of Falaise
in support of the Canadian Army.
15 Allied forces landed on coast of southern France following a
four-day intensive air bombardment and attacks by airborne
forces.
17 Canadian forces took Falaise. Retreating enemy decimated by
air attacks.
18 The U-boat threat to the sea communications of the Expeditionary Force considered at an end. During the period Coastal
Command aircraft had sunk 30 U-boats and shared in five
further kills with naval forces.
20 First bridgehead across the Seine established by American
forces at Mantes.
23 Paris liberated, organised enemy resistance ceased on 25th.
25 Bridgeheads across the Lower Seine established by British
forces.
27 First daylight attack by Bomber Command aircraft on Ruhr
oil plants.
27–28 Between dusk on 27th and dusk on 28th, defences destroyed
87 flying bombs out of 97 approaching England. Only four
reached London.

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September
Strategic air forces intensify their assault on German industrial
centres and oil plants.
3 British forces liberated Brussels.
4 Antwerp occupied by British troops.
8 First V-2 rockets fired on Western Front fell in the suburbs
of London and Paris.
10 Large-scale attack by Bomber Command on Le Havre; further
attack on 11 September.
11–16 Conference in Quebec between Prime Minister and President
Roosevelt.
15 Strategic air forces in Europe reverted to the control of the
Combined Chiefs of Staff.
17 First Allied Airborne Army landed in Holland at Arnhem and
Nijmegen.
23–24 RAF Bomber Command breached the Dortmund–Ems canal
with 12,000-pound bombs.
25–26 Withdrawal of First Allied Airborne Army from Arnhem –
2163 men returned, about 7000 killed, wounded, and missing.
October
Heavy attacks on Ruhr cities by Bomber Command.
3 RAF Bomber Command breached the Dyke near Westkapelle
on Walcheren.
7 RAF Bomber Command breached Kembs Dam on the Upper
Rhine north of Basle to assist the US Army.
14–15 Heaviest attack of war by Bomber Command on German
territory. 1576 aircraft dropped 5453 tons of bombs – also
largest tonnage on a single target at night, 4547 tons on
Duisburg.
15 AEAF disbanded; Air Staff SHAEF formed. ADGB became
Fighter Command again.
31 Gestapo HQ at Aarhus, Denmark, destroyed by RAF Mos-
quitos.
November
1 Allied amphibious forces attacked Walcheren.
4–5 Dortmund–Ems canal again breached by Bomber Command.
9 Capture of Walcheren completed.
Over 2300 tons of bombs dropped on targets near Metz and
Thionville by Allied Air Forces in support of Third Army
offensive in the Metz-Nancy area.
12 Tirpitz sunk by Lancasters of Bomber Command in Tromso
Fiord with 12,000-pound bombs.
16 American offensive towards Cologne after Duren, Julich, and
Heinsburg had been attacked by RAF Bomber Command, and
Eschweiler and Duren by US 8th Air Force.
28 Port of Antwerp reopened to traffic.

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December
16 German counter-attack in the Ardennes sector opens.
24 RAF and USAAF heavy bombers flew over 2000 sorties against
German airfields.
26 Deepest German penetration during Ardennes offensive –
60 miles (near Celles).
27 Large attacks continued to be made by Allied air forces on the
Ardennes salient. Bastogne relieved.
31 RAF bombed Gestapo HQ in Oslo.
1945
January
Offensive against German oil plants increases.
1 German Air Force attack on Allied airfields in Belgium, 155
British and American operational aircraft destroyed and 135
damaged. 193 enemy aircraft destroyed by air action and by
AA fire.
1–2 Dortmund–Ems canal and the Mittelland canal breached by
Bomber Command.
26 End of Battle of Ardennes.
February
Strategic air forces concentrate their attacks against German
oil and communications.
4–10 Conferences opened at Yalta between Prime Minister, President
Roosevelt, and Marshal Stalin.
13–14 Bomber Command and 8th Air Force attacked Dresden in
support of Russian front and Chemnitz on following night.
20–21 First of 36 consecutive night raids made by RAF Mosquitos
on Berlin.
21 Allied Strategic and Tactical Air Forces began intensified
campaign against enemy transport and communications
preparatory to the Rhine crossing.
March
11 Bomber Command dropped 4680 tons of HE on Essen.
12 Bomber Command attacked Dortmund with 4851 tons of HE.
Heaviest tonnage dropped on one target in one day.
14 RAF attacked and destroyed Bielefeld Viaduct with 22,000-
pound DP bombs (‘Grand Slam’). First time used.
18 Largest daylight raid on Berlin – 1300 sorties by US 8th Air
Force dropping 2500 tons of bombs.
21 RAF Mosquito attack on Gestapo HQ at Copenhagen.
24 Crossing of the Lower Rhine near Wesel preceded by heavy
air onslaught and accompanied by airborne landings – 8000
aircraft and 1300 glider sorties.
27 RAF aircraft attacked U-boat shelters at Farge using 10-ton
bombs.
Last rocket (V-2) fell on England.
31 End of Commonwealth Air Training Scheme announced.

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April
1 Encirclement of Ruhr completed when US Ninth and First
Armies joined forces at Paderborn.
9 Coastal Command anti-shipping Strike Wings used in daytime
to attack surfaced U-boats on passage in the Kattegat.
9–10 Admiral Scheer sunk by Bomber Command during an attack on
Kiel.
11 American forces reached the Elbe.
12 Death of President Roosevelt.
16 Bomber Command daylight attack on Swinemunde resulted in
the sinking of Lutzow.
17 Low-level attack by RAF Mosquitos on Gestapo HQ at Odense
in Denmark.
18 953 RAF bombers attacked the naval base, Heligoland.
20 Last Allied air attack on Berlin.
22 Russian forces fighting in Berlin.
24 First operation on the Continent by RAF jet aircraft (Meteors).
25 Western Allied forces made contact with Russian forces at
Torgau on the Elbe.
25–26 Last attack by Bomber Command against oil storage depot at
Vallo, Norway.
26 First PWs repatriated by air, continued until 1 June, during
which time Bomber Command alone repatriated 75,000 PWs.
29 250 RAF bombers commenced food-dropping operations over
Holland. These operations continued daily with one exception
until 8 May.
May
2 Russian forces captured Berlin.
3 Fall of Hamburg.
7 Unconditional surrender of Germany to the Western Allies
and Russia.
8 VE Day.
June
4 Last patrol by Coastal Command. (Sunderland escort to inward-bound convoy across Atlantic.)

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About this page...

Title: New Zealanders with the Royal Air Force (Vol. II)

Author: Thompson, Wing Commander H. L.

Publication details: Historical Publications Branch, 1956, Wellington

Part of: The Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–1945

This text is the subject of: ‘Something of Them Is Here Recorded’: Official History in New Zealand

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