May 4th, 1944 (THURSDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: Minesweeper
HMS Elgin was disabled when an acoustic mine exploded 150 feet from her
stern in the English Channel 9 miles East of Portland at 50 28N 02 11W. She
was towed to Plymouth but a survey showed the damage to be so great that she
was not repaired. There are no casualties. (Alex Gordon)(108)
Corvette HMCS St Thomas commissioned South Bank-on-Tees.
GERMANY: U-825, U-1019 commissioned.
MEDITERRANEAN SEA: U-371 sunk at 0409 in the Mediterranean north of Constantine, in position 37.49N, 05.39E, by depth charges from destroyer escorts USS Pride and Joseph E. Campbell, the French Senegalais and destroyer HMS Blankney. 3 dead and 49 survivors.
INDIA: Assam: Capt. John Neil Randle (b.1917), Royal Norfolk Regt., led his company with great valour after his commander was wounded, and died seizing an enemy bunker single-handed. (Victoria Cross)
Air Commando Combat Mission N0.52 3:10 Flight Time. Hailakandi, Assam to Hopin, Burma. Bombed village that contained Japanese troops and supplies.
Note. Did not keep notes as to our weather, but believe this is the reason we have not been flying since April 27th. The powers that be have set up a small PX (Post Exchange then BX today) and we can now get a few necessities. They have Zippo lighters but you can't buy one unless you win one at a drawing. For the uninformed Zippos were very popular due to be able to use most any kind of gasoline in them and most of us smoked in those days. (Chuck Baisden)
NEW GUINEA: US reinforcements land at Aitape.
CANADA: Tug HMCS Marysville raised and went to Prince Rupert for refit.
Minesweepers HMCS Maple Lake and Oak Lake laid down Meteghan , Nova Scotia.
U.S.A.: Most cuts of meat are removed from rationing in the US. Steaks and other choice cuts for roasting remain rationed.
Destroyers USS English and Killen commissioned.
ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-846 sunk in the Bay of Biscay north of Cape Ortegal, Spain, in position 46.04N, 09.20W, by depth charges from an RCAF 407 Sqn Wellington aircraft. 57 dead (all hands lost)