August 7th, 1943 (SATURDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: Minesweeper HMS Stawell commissioned. Frigate HMS Bullen launched.
GERMANY: U-827, U-881 laid down.
U-394 commissioned.
ITALY: Beginning yesterday, Italians and Germans meet at Verona, Italy. This meeting will last through tomorrow. Present are the two foreign ministers and the Army Chiefs of Staff. The Italians are intent on persuading the Germans that they are not negotiating with the Allies.
On the ground in Sicily, U.S.
forces improve their positions on the north coast in the San Fratello region
against heavy resistance. During the night of 7/8 August, a small amphibious
force lands on the coast 2 miles (3.2 km) east of Sant' Agata di Militello,
greatly aiding progress along the coast. Other forces begin a drive on Randazzo.
In the air, 150 USAAF Ninth Air Force B-25 Mitchells attack Randazzo; and 140+
P-40s attack shipping at Messina and in the Straits, and shipping and
shore-supply stores along the northeastern coast. Northwest African Tactical
Bomber Force medium and light bombers pound Randazzo, the enemy's key withdrawal
point; Maletto is also bombed; P-40s and A-36 Apaches strafe and bomb small
craft between Sicily and mainland Italy, motor transport near Randazzo, a
warehouse north of Messina, dumps on the toe of Italy, and vehicles and
communications targets in the Sant' Agata di Militello, Bronte, Cesaro,
Tortorici, Castiglione di Sicilia and Riposto areas.
Northwest African Strategic Air
Force B-25s in 2 forces hit the landing ground at Crotone while B-26 Marauders
bomb the railroad bridge at Marina di Cantanzaro and highway bridge over the
Angitola River.
MEDITERRANEAN SEA:
Submarine HMS Parthian is lost after leaving Malta for Beirut. She is
believed to have been mined in the Adriatic. There are no survivors. (Alex
Gordon)(108)
Submarine HMS Saracen was forced to the surface off Bastia on the NE of Corsica by depth charges from Italian corvettes Minerva and Euterpe. Her crew abandoned ship and scuttled the boat.
CHINA: Civil war looms, after clashes between Communists and
Kuomintang troops at Anch'u and Chuhsien, in Shantung province.
SOLOMON ISLANDS: New Georgia:
Six US warships (DDs) sank three Japanese destroyers early today, 48 hours after capturing
key airfields at Munda. Only the Shigure escaped from what is being called the Battle of
Vella Gulf. The Japanese were surprised trying to run supplies to Kolombangara Island, 15
miles from Munda, where the remnants of the 5,000 strong garrison have been evacuated;
1,500 of them were burnt in their bunkers. Strategically, Munda brings Allied bombers 200
miles closer to the main Japanese naval base at Rabaul, in New Britain.
16 B-24s and 40+ B-25 Mitchells of
the USAAF Thirteenth Air Force, plus nearly 30 US Marine Corps aircraft, pound the harbour
and shore areas of Bairoko on New Georgia Island. USAAF P-40 pilots shoot down 3 A6M
"Zekes" in the afternoon.
CANADA: HMC ML 110 commissioned.
Frigate HMCS Grou launched Montreal, Province of Quebec. Minesweeper HMCS New Liskeard laid down.
U.S.A.: Destroyer USS Dortch commissioned.
Escort carrier USS Liscombe Bay commissioned.
Destroyer escort USS Stanton commissioned. Destroyer escort USS Tatum launched. Destroyer USS Wadleigh launched.
Submarine USS Hawkbill laid down.
Frigate USS Uniontown launched.
ATLANTIC OCEAN: Two German U-boats are sunk by US aircraft:
- U-117 is sunk west of the Azores, in position 39.42N, 38.21W while supplying U-66, by depth charges and a Fido homing torpedo from five USN TBF Avengers of Composite Squadron One (VC-1) in the escort aircraft carrier USS Card (CVE-11). All hands, 62 men, on the U-boat are lost.
- U-615 was attacked southeast of Curacao Island, Netherlands Antilles, on 6 August by a PBM-3S Mariner of Patrol Squadron Two Hundred Five (VP-205), based at NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The submarine was on the surface and returned fire shooting down the aircraft with the loss of all hands. A PBM-3C of VP-204, based at NS San Juan, Puerto Rico, then attacks causing moderate damage and forcing the submarine to dive. For the rest of the day and during the night, VP-204 flies continuous patrols over the area forcing the submarine to remain submerged. In the morning, U-615 surfaces and a VP-204 aircraft attacks but is shot down with the loss of all hands.
A second PBM attacks and causes moderate damage to both the sub and the aircraft but the PBM remains in the area until a USN PV-1 Ventura of Bombing Squadron One Hundred Thirty (VB-130), based at Edinburgh Field, Trinidad, arrives and both aircraft conduct a coordinated bombing and strafing attack sinking the sub in position 12.38N, 64.15W. 43 of the 47 crewman survive and are picked up by a US destroyer the next morning.
This was possibly the longest ongoing combat between a U-boat and aircraft. U-615's battle enabled many other U-boats in the Caribbean to surface and escape to the east. The aircraft were from the following squadrons; VP-204 (P-6 and P-8), VP-205 (P-2, P-11 and P-4) and VB-130 (Ventura B-5). (Alex Gordon)
U-566 shoots down two PV-1 Ventura aircraft from VB-128.
U-84 sunk in the North Atlantic, in position 27.55N, 68.03W, by a Mk 24 homing torpedo from a USN VB-105 Liberator. 46 dead (all hands lost).
U-181 sank SS Umvuma.
U-371 sank SS Contractor in Convoy GTX-5.
U-757 sank SS Fernhill in Convoy OS-52.