Diary WW2

Diary for Thursday, August 16, 1945: Home Fronts Japan: Emperor issues Imperial Rescript (decree) at 4pm Tokyo time ordering all Japanese forces to cease-fire. Cabinet resigns; Prince Higashikuni forms ‘caretaker’ […]

Diary for Thursday, August 15, 1940: Air War Battle of Britain (Day 37): GÖRING EMPLOYS THREE ‘AIR FLEETS’ (Luftflotten 2, 3 and 5) IN MASSED DAYLIGHT RAIDS on airfields from

Diary for Wednesday, August 15, 1945: Home Fronts Britain and USA: VJ-DAY (‘Victory over Japan’). National holiday in Britain. King opens new British Parliament. Japan: EMPEROR HIROHITO BROADCASTS to Japanese

Diary for Wednesday, August 14, 1940: Air War Battle of Britain (Day 36): Widespread small raids on airfields and railway lines. Me 109Es strafe Dover balloon barrage; E. Goodwin lightship

Diary for Tuesday, August 14, 1945: Politics Japan accepts Allied demand for Unconditional Surrender.

Diary for Tuesday, August 13, 1940: Air War ADLERTAG (EAGLE DAY): Launching of great Luftwaffe offensive planned to destroy RAF Fighter Command in four days begins amid confusion. Goring postpones

Diary for Monday, August 13, 1945: Air War Pacific: Sub.-Lt. Saburo Sakai, one-eyed Zero ‘ace’ (64 victories), shoots down B-29 Superfortress near Tokyo (night August 13-14). Occupied countries Germany: French

Diary for Monday, August 12, 1940: Air War Heavy German raids on shipping off English South Coast, radar stations (inc. Ventnor), and airfields. Losses: German, 32; British, 21. 5 Hampdens

Diary for Sunday, August 12, 1945: Korea Russians invade North Korea by land and sea. Sea War Pacific: Battleship USS Pennsylvania damaged by Japanese torpedo plane, off Okinawa.

Diary for Sunday, August 11, 1940: Air War Battle of Britain (Day 33): Highest daily losses up now. While German fighters stage diversions over Dover, Ju 88‘s and He 111s

Diary for Saturday, August 11, 1945: Politics Allies reject Japanese pre­conditions on surrender question. Home Fronts Britain: Queen Mary docks at Southampton.

Diary for Saturday, August 10, 1940: Air War First flight of Macchi-Castoldi C.202 Folgore powered by imported Daimler-Benz engine – designed to replace obsolete fighters of Italian Regia Aeronautica (enters

Diary for Friday, August 10, 1945: Home Fronts Japan: Radio Tokyo announces that Japan is willing to surrender provided future status of the Emperor can be assured.

Diary for Friday, August 1940: Air War Sunderland shipyard bombed (raider shot down). Widespread night raids over Britain. RAF raid Guernsey airfield.

Diary for Thursday, August 9, 1945: Air War Pacific: DESTRUCTION OF NAGASAKI. B-29 Superfortress ‘Bock’s Car‘ drops 20-kilotonne atomic bomb (‘Fat Man‘). Area of 4 sq km destroyed. Atomic Bomb

Diary for Thursday, August 8, 1940: Air War Battle of Britain (Day 30): Large formations of Ju 87 Stukas, with heavy fighter escort, make three separate attacks on 18-ship convoy

Diary for Wednesday, August 8, 1945: Politics RUSSIA DECLARES WAR ON JAPAN (as from August 9). Home Fronts Yugoslavia: King Peter gives wide-ranging powers to Tito.

Diary for Wednesday, August 7, 1940: East Africa Last reinforcements (2nd Battalion Black Watch) reach British Somaliland.

Diary for Tuesday, August 7, 1945: Home Fronts Japan: First flight of Nakajima Kikka (‘Orange Blossom’), jet­-propelled attack bomber (copy of Me 262).

Diary for Tuesday, August 6, 1940: Sea War Mediterranean: Italians lay extensive minefields in Sicilian Channel in which two British destroyers are sunk: Hostile (August 23, 1940) and Gallant (January