OBJECTIVE: Staggered single-aircraft night raids to harass Canton airfields and prevent JAAF from flying night bombing missions
RESULTS: Three B-25s bomb Tien Ho airfield. One B-25 bombs Canton itself after an accidental bomb release. One B-25 bombs an unidentified town east of Canton when the crew cannot locate Tien Ho airbase. Damage to targets is unknown, but incendiary bombs start fires in godowns near Tien Ho airbase.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~8:44 to 10:55 p.m.
In Stanley heavy July rain has been soaking the internees but at least providing some relief from the summer heat.
In rural Devon a former internee is preparing her thoughts for a 1.30 talk.
Heavy rain early morning.
The No. 43 very prominent in dreams last night.
Showery.
Brick-work & wood chopping.
News excellent. Japs getting hot in Bonin & Saipan Islands. Several hundreds of plane. Germans driven west of Podolsk & Minsk (4th) & Germans evacuated positions in Normandy. Everyone very optimistic now.
No rations or Canteen gear arrived.
Eggs Y2.65 3/1d each & bananas 65sen 10d each.
Yap raided 4th.
Wind to the E pm.
With Steve pm. He is much better today.
OBJECTIVE: Staggered single-aircraft night raids to harass Canton airfields and prevent JAAF from flying night bombing missions
RESULTS: B-25s bomb Tien Ho and White Cloud airbases. Damaged is unknown, but bombs ignite a large fire in godowns near Tien Ho.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~9:24 to 11:00 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Four B-25J from 491st Bomb Squadron (341st Medium Bomb Group)
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Major Main; Lt. Biswell; Lt Ley; Lt. Strom
Fine, hot.
Brick work & wood chopping.
Kovel evacuated by Germans. Advances made by us in France & Italy, Finnland & Russia. Saipan Island surrendered 30th June. Described in Chinese paper as “Peace Overtures”. Japs trying to softsoap Chungking now that things are going against them. Burma, Bonins & Saipan not mentioned today.
Firewood rationing cancelled in town. Something else the Japs couldn’t control blast’em.
Death of prison officer George Bertram Foster from typhus at the age of 48.
OBJECTIVE: Bomb military targets in Canton
RESULTS: Eleven aircraft bomb the primary target, military facilities near Chungshan University. Six aircraft are unable to locate the primary target. Four of these planes bomb White Cloud airbase, and two bomb Tien Ho airbase.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~9:00 to 10:55 p.m. depending on the squadron
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Seventeen B-24J from 373rd, 374th, 375th, and 425th Bomb Squadron (308th Heavy Bomb Group)
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW:
G. B. Foster died (typhus)
Death – G.B. Foster (48), Prin. Officer,Prison Dept. (typhus)
Ballet music (Drown, Heasman, Talbot)
B.O.
Hot, windy & cloudy.
Foster died 11am.
Canteen gear arrived at last.
Russians advance in Finnland & Poland. Advance made by us in Italy. German CinC. relieved in Normandy (due to ill health?) More raids on Bonin & Guam. US raided Canton last night 9pm. Japs holding brass barter in town which proves how poorly they are off in Japan for that and other metals too no doubt.
Attended Foster’s funeral. With Steve after.
Getting squally pm.
Surprise roll-call 11pm.
30 years ago I arrived in the colony.
At 4.15 p.m. Admiral Turner declares Saipan secured. The Allies are now about 1300 miles from the main Japanese islands.
One Japanese admiral said, ‘Our war was lost with the loss of Saipan’. Most of the Japanese garrison of 30,000 are killed and at least 1,000 civilians commit suicide to avoid capture.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Saipan#Battle
Rain squalls & strong wind all day. Tiles from roof.
All gear ready now for construction of water boiler.
No paper in today. No news.
Saw Denton & boyfriend re malicious gossip.
With Steve pm.
Lousy weather pm.
Squally.
Building water boiler. Rice grinding.
10day oil issue. No rations arrived today.
Japan (Kyushu) again raided 2am 8th. Canton raided 10pm 8th. Allies advanced up to Volterra nr Pisa in E & W line with Florence 7th. Russians advancing on Vilna 7th.
With Steve pm.
Weather cleared somewhat.
Food situation getting rather tight. Japs issued 150lbs beans in lieu of veg. etc. which works out at about 1oz per head for 24hrs.
Black-out off.
Better day. Few showers.
Canteen 132.
Lousy food today.
News very good. Pressure by us on all fronts including Burma. Japs say only 2 houses burnt on our raid of the 8th on Kyushu.
With Steve pm.
Sat with Webbers a while.
Oh! for a really good meal. Fish .96oz. Veg (nil food value) 8.5oz per head daily.