On this day.....

Luftman129 · Post by **Luftman129** » 31 May 2006 01:09

May 30th 1940

Allied fighting retreat toward the coast continued. Wounded men and troops not in immediate engagement evacuated from Dunkirk with Allied naval assistance.

Withdrawal and evacuation screened by Royal Air Force whose planes were ceaselessly engaged against the Germans.

Dunkirk defenses reinforced by flooding southwest and northeast.

Paris announced that vanguard of First French Army, cut off at Cassel, fought its way out and arrived at Dunkirk. Germans reported that they supposedly captured the commander, General Prioux.

War Office claimed that small British force sent last week to hold the port of Calais had rendered invaluable aid to main body of British Expeditionary Force retreating towards by heroic refusal to surrender in face of violent and continuous attack.

Admiralty reported that Royal Navy destroyers 'Grafton', 'Grenade', and 'Wakeful' had been sunk off France as well as small transport 'Abukir' and certain auxiliary craft.

Thanks,
Chris

wright61 · Post by **wright61** » 31 May 2006 08:35

31st may 1940

E-Boats S23 and S36 sink the French Destroyer Sirocco

31st May 1943
Three ME110s attack a DC-3 over the Bay of Biscay believing that Churchill is aboard.

U Boats U440 and U563 are sunk by aircraft of Coastal Command.

31st May 1944
US Destroyer England sinks Japanese Submarine RO105

Max Williams · Post by **Max Williams** » 31 May 2006 08:36

31 May 1942.
Himmler flies to Prague to visit Heydrich in hospital and then flies on to the Wolfsschanze in order to update Hitler on Heydrich's condition and the current situation in the Protectorate.

Jon G. · Post by **Jon G.** » 31 May 2006 09:14

May 31st 1945

Globocnik, a notorious SS leader in the Nazi genocidal program in the east, commits suicide when arrested by British soldiers.

End of Japanese organized resistance on the Negros islands in the Philippines.

Simes · Post by **Simes** » 31 May 2006 14:38

MAY 31 1941

Germany conquered Crete after beginning their invasion on May 20.

British troops surrounded Baghdad forcing the end to the Iraqi revolt.

and finally....It's Clint Eastwoods birthday

Luftman129 · Post by **Luftman129** » 01 Jun 2006 00:36

May 31st 1940

Admiralty reported that British warship 'Curfew' had been sunk by bombing off of Norway.

French regained western part of Abbeville. At another point near Somme estuary they established a foothold on north bank of river.

Relays of Royal Air Force bomber aircraft continued to presure enemy lines of communication, and formations of fighters still patrolled the Dunkirk area. Other bombers attacked against military objectives in northwest Germany.

The evacuation of Allies troops from Dunkirk was successful due to remarkable coordination on part of all 3 Allied services.

Thanks,
Chris

Jon G. · Post by **Jon G.** » 01 Jun 2006 10:05

June 1st 1945

American forces advance through the Cagayan Valley north of Quezon City on Luzon.

USAAF B-29s firebomb Osaka.

The British 12th Army in Burma is declared operational.

wright61 · Post by **wright61** » 01 Jun 2006 10:27

1st June 1941
Cruiser HMS Calcutta is sunk during the allied evacuation of Crete.
British forces enter Baghdad
1st June 1942
1039 aircraft of Bomber Command raid Essen.

1st June1944
First coded messages announcing the D Day landings is broadcast by the BBC to the french resistance in the form of poetry.
In Italy the Americans breach the Caeser line.

Luftman129 · Post by **Luftman129** » 02 Jun 2006 01:01

June 1st 1940

It was announced that embarkation from Dunkirk had been sped up, craft of every size, naval and merchant, being engaged in non-stop ferry service to Britain.

Lord Gort was awarded the Grand Commander of the Order of the Bath in London upon return from Flanders.

Royal Air Force continued rearguard support actions of Allied Armies and embarkation from Dunkirk. Other formations attacked German-occupied Dutch harbors.

The Luftwaffe bombed Marseilles, Lyons and other industrial towns in the Rhone Valley. Forty-six people were killed and more than 100 injured.

It was reported that the Fascist government of Italy had broken off the negotiations of the contraband agreement between the U.K. and Italy.

Thanks,
Chris

Jon G. · Post by **Jon G.** » 02 Jun 2006 07:05

June 1st 1943

2nd Tactical Air Force is formed in Britain.

500,000 US coal miners go on strike.

June 2nd 1945

US forces complete mopping-up the Ipoh area north of Manila.

USN aircraft from TF 38 raid Kamikaze air bases in mainland Japan.

wright61 · Post by **wright61** » 02 Jun 2006 08:53

2nd June1944
The French National Liberation Commitee re-forms as the Provisional Government of the French republic.
The final siege of Myitkyina in Burma begins.

Luftman129 · Post by **Luftman129** » 03 Jun 2006 00:57

June 2nd 1940

Embarkation of Allied troops had proceeded steadily despite intense bombardment by German artillery in Dunkirk.

Mr. Eden, War Secretary, reported that more than four-fifths of the British Expeditonary Force had arrived safely in the U.K., together with thousands of French troops.

Air Ministry reported that 78 Luftwaffe planes were shot down over the Dunkirk beaches.

Further raids on the towns in the Rhone valley.

Nearly half-hundred thousand kids evacuated from southeastern and eastern parts of England.

Thanks,
Chris

Jon G. · Post by **Jon G.** » 03 Jun 2006 08:12

June 3rd 1945

On Okinawa, the Japanese now only hold a defensive perimeter on the Oroku peninsula on the southern part of the main island. On the same day, US forces land on the small island of Iheya Jima north of Okinawa in one of the war's last assault landings. There are no Japanese defenders.

French forces evacuate Damascus under British escort.

Luftman129 · Post by **Luftman129** » 04 Jun 2006 00:44

June 3rd 1940

Dunkirk withdrawal continues though at a diminished rate. Enemy continued fierce attacks with an increase of artillery bombardments on the beaches.

Admirally reported that 222 naval and 665 merchant craft and boats took part.

Three more destroyers announced lost off the French coast: 'Basilisk', 'Keith', and 'Havant'. Of more than 170 lesser war vessels engaged while withdrawing, 24 were lost.

Zeebrugge blocked and other ports made useless by the enemy.

Royal Air Force bombers made attacks in series on enemy gun emplacements and communications; others attacked airfields and objectives in northwest Germany.

The first enemy raid on Paris and its outskirts dropped over 1,000 bombs. Casualties totalled 906, including 254 killed. Twenty-five planes shot down with 75 crew killed or taken prisoner.

Thanks,
Chris

Jon G. · Post by **Jon G.** » 04 Jun 2006 10:45

June 4th 1945

Two regiments of the USMC make an assault landing on Oroku in an attempt to outflank the Japanese defenses across the southern part of Okinawa. Japanese resistance is stiffer than expected once the marines are ashore, and General Buckner shortens the front covered by the 3rd Amphibious Corps as a result.

Voters in Northern Ireland vote in favour of continued British rule.