February 18th, 1944 (FRIDAY)
FRANCE: Amiens: Nineteen RAF Mosquito VIs of Nos. 21, 464 and 487 Squadrons flew out of winter snow at treetop height today to hurl 500-pound bombs against the walls of Amiens jail. The explosions blasted gaps in the western outer wall, which is 20 feet high and three feet thick, and sliced open the main prison block.
This was the top-secret Operation JERICHO, to snatch Resistance leaders 24 hours before they were due to face a firing squad. Their message to rescuers led by the Australian Group-Captain P. Charles Pickard was "better blown up by British bombs that shot by Nazis."
The first three bombers missed the outer wall. The next two lowered their aim and scored as the next pair hit the guards' dining room. Finally, there was uproar as the main block was bombed in an effort to blast open cell doors without bloodshed.
But this ambitious operation has had one embarrassing result. Of 258 men freed, 179 are criminals. Some 56 Resistants died, many shot by guards as they ran for the gap. The most valuable man to get out was Louis Vivant, the Maquis leader in the Somme, but the 74 men left in the prison include the prominent patriot, Dr. Mans. The RAF dead include Pickard himself, a veteran of many special operations, including the Bruneval raid, and a "star" in the 1941 film Target for Tonight. (22)
ITALY: Anzio: At 0658, light cruiser HMS Penelope was hit by one torpedo from U-410 (Oberleutnant zur See Horst-Arno-Fenski) and sank rapidly after being hit at 0716 by a coup de grāce 35 miles west of Naples at 40 55N 13 25E. There are 415 casualties, but 85 survivors. She was returning from bombarding enemy positions during the Operation Shingle, the landings at Anzio, in which she was part of the Gunfire Support Group TG 81.8, comprising of light cruiser USS Brooklyn and destroyers USS Woolsey, Mayo, Trippe, Ludlow and Edison. (Alex Gordon and Dave Shirlaw)(108)
U.S.S.R.: Moscow: Gen Ivan S Konev, the commander of the Second Ukrainian Front, is promoted to marshal of the USSR for driving the Germans out of Korsun. General Eisenhower is awarded the Order of Suvorov, First Class.
Soviet forces takes Staraya-Russa and Shimsk.
MARSHALL ISLANDS: US forces land on Engebi Island.
In Eniwetok Atoll in the Marshall Islands, the 22d Marine Regiment lands on Engebi Island at the northern tip of the atoll at 0845 hours. This is part of Operation CATCHPOLE. There are over 1,200 Japanese Okinawans and Koreans on the island. Organized resistance ceases at 0800 hours local tomorrow; only 16 of the occupiers are captured. American casualties are 85 KIA and MIA and 521 WIA.
CAROLINE ISLANDS: Task Force 58 (TF 58) under Vice Admiral Raymond A. Spruance repeats a strike on Japanese installations and vessels at Truk; TF 58 planes sink destroyer HIJMS Fumizuki; submarine chaser Ch 29; and motor torpedo boat Gyoraitei No.10.
BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: Destroyer Squadron 23 or Task Group 39.4 under Captain Arleigh A. Burke bombards Japanese positions at Kavieng on New Ireland Island; on New Britain Island, Destroyer Squadron 12 under Captain Rodger W. Simpson shells Rabaul, Japanese installations on the Crater Peninsula, and bivouac and supply areas at Vunapope and Cape Gazelle.
In the Indian and Pacific Oceans, 4 Japanese ships are sunk by an RN submarine and USAAF and USN aircraft.
CANADA:
Corvette HMCS Trentonian departed Halifax for workups at Bermuda.
Corvette HMCS Riviere Du Loup returned to Halifax from workups at Bermuda.
U.S.A.:
Destroyer escort USS Tabberer launched.
Frigate USS Pocatello commissioned.
Escort carrier USS Petrof Bay commissioned.
Minesweeper USS Opponent commissioned.
ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-406 is sunk in position 48.32N, 23.36W, by depth charges from the British frigate HMS Spey. 12 dead and 45 survivors. (Alex Gordon)
U-7 sank west of Pillau, in position 54.52N, 19.30E in a diving accident. 29 dead (all hands lost).