October 28th, 1943 (THURSDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: An RAF Photographic Reconnaissance Unit (PRU) aircraft today brought back a photograph of a German V1 "flying bomb" launch site at Abbeville, in northern France. Although the British have reasonable knowledge of the V2 rocket, it is only in the last two months that they have become aware that the Germans have been working on the V1.
This photographic sortie was mounted as a result of a report by a local French agent and confirms that the Germans are constructing launch sites in northern France for a V1 offensive against England.
This illustrates only too clearly the value of photographic reconnaissance as an intelligence gathering asset. The RAF PRU itself was formed at Heston by Wing-Commander Sidney Cotton in April 1940. Cotton had been a civilian pilot before the war and worked for a company developing colour photography. Together with Group Captain Frederick Winterbotham of the Secret Intelligence Service he had pioneered cover PR over Germany in the months leading up to the outbreak of war.
The PRU is under the control of RAF Coastal Command although it works for the admiralty, the war office and other agencies as well. It is equipped with specially-adapted Spitfires - the Mark IV-PR, powered by 1,440hp Merlin 45 engines and carrying more fuel than the normal fighter versions. Its surfaces have been polished to improve its aerodynamic performance. It has a range of 1,700 miles and, unarmed, relies on stealth to fulfil its mission. It uses a 20-inch lens camera.
The RAF Photographic Interpretation Unit at Wembley in north-west London then uses stereoscopic viewing instruments for significant intelligence breakthroughs.
Corvette HMS Arabis launched.
U.S.S.R.:
Black Sea Fleet and Azov Flotilla: Submarine
loss."A-3" - by surface ASW ships at Karkinitski
Gulf
Black Sea Fleet and Azov Flotilla:HS "Orel" -
mined on Anapa stead (Sergey
Anisimov)(69)
ITALY: In the U.S. Fifth Army's British X Corps area, the 46th and 7th Armoured
Divisions begin an attack on Mt. Massico and Mt. St. Croce. In the U.S. VI Corps area, the 168th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division finds that the Germans has abandoned the hill south of Ailano.
In the British Eighth Army area, heavy rainfall forces General Bernard Montgomery commander of the Eighth Army, to postpone a planned attack by XIII Corps along the axis Vinchiaturo-Isernia. V Corps continues unsuccessful efforts to expand the Trigno bridgehead in the coastal sector.
Weather prevents most USAAF Twelfth Air Force operations planned for the day. No missions are flown by the XII Bomber Command but XII Air Support Command A-36 Apaches hit several highways and bridges in advance of the the battleline and attack gun positions in the Vairano area and transportation targets in the Rome area.
CHINA: Seven USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-24 Liberators bomb Mangshih; six P-40s strafe a warehouse and revetments at Yoyang Airfield; and three B-25 Mitchells and seven P-38 Lightnings hit a barracks at Ft Bayard.
NEW GUINEA: In Northeast New Guinea, USAAF Fifth Air Force P-47 Thunderbolts strafe the area from Sio to Fortification Point.
NEW ZEALAND: Butter rationing is introduced in the country.
SOLOMON ISLANDS: The US 2nd Marine Parachute Btn is landed by sea on Choiseul Island (Treasury Islands) at Voza. Operation Blissful is intended to be a diversion for the landings on Bougainville, further north in the Solomons. There are several short, sharp actions before they are withdrawn in a few days.
USAAF Thirteenth Air Force P-40s and P-39 Airacobras join 19 TBF Avengers, 38 SBD Dauntlesses and 46 fighters in attacks on Kara Airfield on Bougainville Island and 21 TBFs, 38 SBDs and 32 fighters hit Ballale Airfield on Ballale Island. Kara airfield is also bombed by 19 B-24 Liberators.
BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: On New Britain Island, USAAF Fifth Air Force P-40s hit Gasmata Airfield while P-47 Thunderbolts attack barges at Talasea (Cape Hoskins) and strafe surrounding area.
PACIFIC OCEAN: In the South China Sea, two USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells on a shipping sweep damage two freighters near Saint John Island and sink a junk west of Kwangchow Wan.
CANADA: Frigate HMCS Jonquiere launched Quebec City, Province of Quebec.
U.S.A.: The Army Air Forces (AAF) School of Applied Tactics at Orlando AAB, Orlando, Florida, is redesignated the AAF Tactical Center.
Submarine USS Veto laid down.
Destroyer USS Maddox laid down.
Minesweeper USS Rebel launched.
ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-220 (Type XB) is sunk in the North Atlantic at position 48.53N, 33.30W by depth charges from two Avenger aircraft of the US escort carrier USS Block Island. 54 dead. (Alex Gordon)
U-712 accidentally struck the seabed and sustained some damage.