German Warplanes Firebomb London

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Contents 1 400 German Warplanes Firebomb London 2 Soviet Planes Bomb Helsinki 3 Beirut Bombed by British Planes 4 British Cruiser Goes Down Flaming After Mass Stuka Attack 5 Heavy Smoke Pours Skyward from Pearl Harbor 6 R.A.F. Raids German Shipping and Inland Targets 7 Russian Bombers Blast Rumanian Oil Refineries

400 German Warplanes Firebomb London

400 German Warplanes Firebomb London

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London, Special Cable to The New York Times, Thursday, April 17, 1941: [Late Wednesday night, U.S. time.] London was battered for eight hours last night and early today by German bombers who unloaded explosive and fire bombs over all parts of the capital in what is believed to be the longest concentrated attack since the war began. [Hitler had ordered a terror raid to avenge an April 9th raid on Berlin by British bombers.] ... The merciless parade of raiders began soon after the dinner hour and continued for eight hours with the never-ending, uneven drone of German planes always to be heard. A short breathing spell here meant that other people were being blasted there. Then once again would come the breath-taking whistle of bombs and a roar while the building rocked and glass crashed. ... When the steady note of "All clear" sounded it seemed unbelievable. Everywhere was crushed glass, doors oftener than not blown in, and everything covered in the black soot that forms a kind of war patina for London. Even the air itself was dusty. ... This was the case where bombs came near but did not strike. No one knows or dares to guess yet what has happened throughout London where the incendiaries landed and heavy explosives pulverized brick and wood in homes, public buildings, offices, and industrial plants. ... Suffice to say now that the capital has undergone a long punishment which for intensity on so great a scale surpasses anything yet endured. The fire raid on the eve of the new year was more spectacular, the destruction of the docks last September more violent, but the whole of London has experienced no such plastering as this night's. ... Flames rose everywhere, casting a sunset glow against the blackout. They were no sooner smothered by fire fighters than other forked tongues could be seen licking up to frame London's slender church spires, the Houses of Parliament, and other historic land marks which though probably untouched did appear fantastic in this setting. ... Smoke lay across the capital as a thin veil only visible when flares floated down or flames shot up. The fires were brought quickly under control, but the smoke rolled on, filling the great city with a pungent smell.

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Soviet Planes Bomb Helsinki

Soviet Planes Bomb Helsinki

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Helsingfors (Helsinki), United Press, The Merced (California) Sun-Star, Thursday, November 30, 1939: Soviet Russia invaded Finland by land, sea, and air today, raining death-dealing explosives on Helsingfors, Viborg, and a half a dozen other cities. Red airplanes roared out of the cloudy skies throughout the day and in mid-afternoon unloaded a hail of thermite bombs on the dazed population of Helsingfors, destroying public buildings and apartment houses, starting fires in the center of the capital and inflicting hundreds of casualties. Three big fires burned in downtown Helsingfors tonight and at least three suburban homes in Viborg were set afire. ... Unofficial estimates of the dead were as high as 200, with many more wounded. Rescue forces still dug into the wreckage in search of bodies and survivors. ... Finland's reply to the undeclared war was given by roaring anti-aircraft guns that bought down one and perhaps two Soviet planes, by stubborn return fire in the frontier areas, especially at Kivena, and an official decree declaring a state of war existed against the Soviet Union. ... The raid on Helsingfors, a city of 268,000 population, caught mid- afternoon crowds in the streets as bombs aimed at the railroad station, the harbor, and airport exploded with terrific force in the center of the city. ... Finnish authorities directed rescue work speedily and efficiently but the people appeared to be stupefied by the swift onslaught from the air. Instead of diving for shelters, many stood watching the Soviet planes dart in and out of the clouds while bombs fell. ... Most of the fires started by the bombardment were quickly extinguished but three big blazes still lighted the sky in the downtown district tonight. The fire department announced they were under control. ... The population was calmer than might have been expected after the raid, and police said it was not even necessary to put cordons around the burning buildings as the people were self-disciplined and avoided congestion ... The hotel lobbies and travel bureaus were thronged with foreigners seeking to leave the country quickly. ... Darkness descended at 4 and the city presented an eerie scene, with flashlights winking in the dusk and the flare of burning buildings across the sky. The population, nevertheless, returned quickly to normal business pursuits. ... The government's messages showed that the Soviet invasion was from all sides. ... It was established the Soviet air squadron which attacked Helsingfors today consisted of 11 planes flying in groups of three each with two planes leading the squadron. ... The planes approached at a great height but dived much lower before releasing their bombs.

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Beirut Bombed by British Planes

Beirut Bombed by British Planes

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Beirut, Lebanon, United Press, The New York Times, Sunday, June 22, 1941: The Harbor of Beirut was bombed twice today by British planes at 9:30 A.M. and 3:30 P.M. Some damage was done. ... It was announced that 11 persons had been killed and 20 wounded in a British raid on Beirut Saturday night. ... ... Cairo, Egypt, United Press, The New York Times, Sunday, June 22, 1941: "Local gains to our credit" on all fronts in Syria, following Allied occupation of Damascus, was announced today by British Middle East Headquarters. ... ... The New York Times, Sunday, June 22, 1941: Authoritative quarters said heavy fighting was in progress at Merdjayoun, southwest of Damascus.

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British Cruiser Goes Down Flaming After Mass Stuka Attack

British Cruiser Goes Down Flaming After Mass Stuka Attack

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London, Associated Press, The New York Times, Tuesday, May 27, 1941: "It was the hottest fire I've ever been under," said the pilot of one of the United States-built Catalina long- range flying boats which shadowed the German battleship Bismarck to her fatal rendezvous with the British Fleet today. ... The pilot looked thoughtfully tonight at the several holes in the hull of his boat, holes put there by the terrific salvos from the Bismarck during the brief interval while the plane slipped from one cloud to another. Even so, the plane continued its dogged pursuit for ten hours after an overall flight of 24 hours, the Air Ministry's news service said. ... "There was lots of cloudy weather and a misty haze," related the Catalina's pilot. "We ducked into a cloud and were trying to edge around the Bismarck. Suddenly we came to the end of the cloud and found ourselves bang over the ship, which was only 400 yards away. I thought they had us. The Bismarck put up the worst barrage I've ever seen. She seemed one big flash from bow to stern and must have been turning loose on us everything she had. The Bismarck apparently thought we were going to bomb her because she turned a full 90 degrees. I really don't know how we managed to dodge all that stuff she threw up. It was a ticklish moment and we were lucky to get back into a cloud." ... The pilot of another Catalina described the Bismarck's anti-aircraft fire as "very unhealthy." "Despite the haze, the Bismarck was an impressive sight, doing more than 20 knots in a heavy sea, which had the bow running under water." ... ... Alexandria, Egypt, Associated Press, The New York Times, By Larry Allen, Tuesday, May 27, 1941: Britain's Mediterranean Fleet has fought its way back to base with heavy losses, yet with task proudly done, through the fury of Nazi Germany's supreme Blitzkrieg at sea. [The Fleet's mission to] reinforce the British and Greeks who are fighting against airborne invaders of Crete and prevent seaborne invasion of the island, its officers say, [was] accomplished. ... [In the attack on the Fuji, the cruiser] flung everything at the Stukas. Plummeting down like stones, the dive bombers dropped several sticks smack upon the bridge, amidships, and astern of the Fuji. She flopped over like a turtle and went down, flaming, after a terrific explosion. ... [In another area] "Germany's Air Force was out in tremendous numbers," said the commander of a cruiser. "We were bombed incessantly from daylight, May 22 onward, the Germans combining both dive bombing and high-level bombing. Some of our guns were firing until they were red hot. We had to change course almost constantly and swing our forward armament around to meet the high-level attacks while the pom-poms and other guns dealt with the diving Nazis. Splinters fell about us like hailstones. They tore gaps in the superstructure, and near-misses from 1,000- pound bombs gave us terrific shaking. One seaman tallied 186 crashes about us within two hours." [In an attack on fishing boats ferrying Nazis] "we sank four caiques, each of them carrying 100 Nazi soldiers. Disorganized, the whole convoy turned tail northward."

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Heavy Smoke Pours Skyward from Pearl Harbor

Heavy Smoke Pours Skyward from Pearl Harbor

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Extra Edition, Merced (California) Sun- Star, United Press, Washington, Sunday, December 7, 1941, War Bulletin: The White House announced today that Japanese airplanes have attacked Pearl Harbor, principal American base in the Hawaiian Islands. ... Extent of the damage was not disclosed nor was it made public whether there were casualties. ... The announcement was made public at mid- afternoon by White House Secretary Stephen Early. He said President Roosevelt had given him this statement: "The Japanese have attacked Pearl Harbor from the air. They have attacked all navy and military activities on the island of Oahu, principal American base in the Hawaiian Islands. A second attack is reported. This one on army and navy bases in Manila." ... President Roosevelt immediately ordered the Army and Navy to execute "all previously prepared orders" working to the defense of the United States. ... The attacks came, Early said, when both countries were "at peace, within an hour or so of the time the Japanese Ambassador Nomura and the special envoy Kurusu had handed Secretary of State Cordell Hull Japan's reply to the secretary's memorandum of Nov. 26." ... At 3:20 p.m. E.S.T., Early issued a supplementary statement saying: "So far as the President's information goes, and so far as we know at the moment, the attacks are still in progress." ... First word of the bombings was received by the War and Navy Departments and flashed immediately to the President, Early said. "So far as is known, they came without warning," he told reporters. ... High Navy and Army officials deserted golf courses and other sabbath recreations to hasten to their offices. ... Congressional leaders immediately were advised of the crisis. Critics of the President's foreign policies appealed for national unity. ... Attaches of the Japanese embassy began burning documents in the embassy yard. A group of reporters stood by watching and after a few minutes were ordered to leave. ... As word spread through the capital of the air attacks, large crowds began gathering in front of the embassy. Special police were assigned there. ... Ranking naval officers studied a steady stream of reports of air attacks coming in from the Far East. ... The F.B.I. announced that it is "completely mobilized and ready" to deal with Japanese espionage and sabotage. ... All Army and Navy officers were called to duty. ... Los Angeles: Radio Tokyo, in its Monday morning broadcast, made no mention of what had happened in Hawaii and the Philippines. A special announcement said that Premier Tojo would make a special address to the Imperial Rules Assistance Association. ... San Francisco: The overseas superintendent of Pacific Telephone and Telegraph said telephone communications to Manila have been disrupted since about 1 p.m. P.S.T. ... London: Reports said a naval battle was in progress near Hawaii, with the Japanese fleet 3,400 miles from its home base. ... New York: The N.B.C. observer at Honolulu reported untold damage to Pearl Harbor naval base and the city of Honolulu. ... The U.S.S. Oklahoma, a battleship, was set afire in today's attacks, an N.B.C. broadcast from Honolulu said. ... Planes clearly bearing the insignia of the Rising Sun swarmed over the Hawaiian base in the dawn attack, apparently from aircraft carriers at sea.

Extra Edition, Merced (California) Sun- Star, United Press, Honolulu, Sunday, December 7, 1941, War Bulletin: Japanese bomber squadrons and torpedo planes attacked the great naval and air base at Pearl Harbor today, blasting furiously at warships and war installations. ... A great number of planes, with first estimates running from 50 to 150, participated in the attack, apparently from aircraft carriers at sea. ... American defense forces went into action immediately as the attacking craft, showing the red symbol of the rising sun on their wing tips, flashed over the island mountains and dived down. Heavy anti- aircraft fire shook the Pearl Harbor sector. ... Dive bombers, light bombers, and torpedo planes were reported among the attacking fleet, which was 3400 miles from its home base and carrying out an assault that seemed designed to touch off long-threatened hostilities in the Pacific. ... This correspondent saw one dive bomber swoop down in attack, the red ball on its wing tip clearly discernible. ... Army officials confirmed that the planes bore Japan's insignia. ... With the first burst of anti-aircraft fire, policemen and firemen were summoned by radio to army and navy posts. ... Heavy smoke from anti-aircraft guns drifted from the Pearl Harbor Navy yard and from Hickam field, army bomber base. Spectators also reported fires in Ford island, in the middle of Pearl Harbor. Fifty planes were said to have attacked the navy yard. ... Civilians were ordered off the streets but many gathered on the hills nearby to watch the attack. ... Gov. Joseph B. Poindexter declared a state of emergency. His first order to the public was to keep calm and stay off the streets. ... Merrit Laws, who saw the beginning of the attack on Pearl Harbor said: "I was returning home from work and was above Pearl Harbor when I saw a bomb fall on Ford island, in the middle of the harbor. I saw two planes dive over the mountains and down to the water and let loose torpedoes at a navy ship. This warship was attacked again and again. I saw what looked like dive bombers coming over in single file. Some of the planes dived down very low over the water to aim bombs at warships." ... One bomber was shot down, falling in back of the courthouse at Wahiawa. It had the numerals 3133-5 on its fuselage. The plane exploded and burned as it hit. The pilot's body was burned. There were reports that a number of other planes were shot down. ... ... New York: A National Broadcasting Company observer reported from Honolulu that 350 men had been killed in a direct bomb hit at Hickam Field. The observer was quoted that the battle had been going on for three hours.

Honolulu, Associated Press, The New York Times, Sunday, December 7, 1941: Wave after wave of Japanese bombers streamed through the cloudy sky, shattering the morning calm, in a surprise aerial attack that seemed to center against Hickam Field, huge army airport, and Pearl Harbor, where the islands' heaviest fortifications are located. ... Most of the attackers flew high, but a few came low. Five came down to under 100 feet elevation to attack Pearl Harbor. An oil tank there was seen blazing and smoking. Other attackers apparently headed directly for Hickam Field to drop bombs. ... Japanese Consul General Sajao Kita expressed doubt that the attackers were Japanese planes. ... Spectators said they saw the Japanese Rising Sun emblem on low- flying planes. ... Army officials announced that two Japanese planes had been shot down in the Honolulu area. ... Several fires were started in the city area. ... Viewed from hills back of Honolulu, where many city folk went to witness the fighting, columns of heavy black smoke went skyward from Pearl Harbor. ... Soon, the sky was filled with puffs of smoke showing anti-aircraft batteries had gone into action. ... There was a report from one person who came past Pearl Harbor that one ship there was lying on its side in the water and four others were on fire. ... United States planes took to the air and spectators on the hills back of the city could see dogfights over the area. ... Perhaps the first to die was Robert Tyce, owner of a civilian airport near Honolulu, who had started to spin the propeller of a plane when the enemy came over. One plane swooped down, machine-guns blazing, and Mr. Tyce fell dead. ... United States destroyers were seen steaming full speed from Pearl Harbor. ... ... Washington, Special to The New York Times, By Frank L. Kluckhorn, Dec. 7, 1941: The initial attack in Hawaii caused widespread damage and death. Reports indicated that Hawaii had no warning of the attack. It was followed by others. ... Guam was also assaulted from the air, as were Davo, on the island of Mindanao, and Camp John Hay, in Northern Luzon, both in the Philippines. Lieut. Gen. Douglas MacArthur, commanding the United States Army of the Far East, reported there was little damage, however. ... The War Department reported 104 soldiers died and 300 were wounded as a result of the attack on Hickam Field. ... Japanese submarines, ranging out over the Pacific, sank an American transport carrying lumber 1,300 miles from San Francisco, and distress signals were heard from a freighter 700 miles from that city. ... President Roosevelt ordered war bulletins released at the White House as rapidly as they were received. A sentence or two was added to the story of the surprise attack every few minutes for several hours. ... Because of the time difference, the first news of the bombing was released in Washington at 2:22 P.M. [a little more than an hour after the first attacks]. Subsequently it was announced at the White House that another wave of bombers and dive bombers had come over Oahu Island, on which Honolulu is situated, to be met by anti-aircraft fire again. ... Secretary of the Treasury, Henry Morganthau, announced that his department had invoked an absolute United States embargo on Japan. ... Robert P. Patterson, Under-Secretary of War, called on the nation to put production on a 24- hour basis. ... Administration circles forecast that the United States might soon be involved in a world-wide war, with Germany supporting Japan, an Axis partner. The impression gained from Axis diplomats was that they believed it represented a victory for the Nazi attempt to divert lend-lease aid from Britain, a Berlin objective ever since the legislation was passed. ... President Roosevelt arranged at a White House conference Sunday night to address a joint session of Congress at noon, Monday, presumably to ask for a declaration of war. ... After leaving the White House conference, Attorney General Francis Biddle said that "a resolution" would be introduced in Congress, tomorrow. He would not amplify or affirm that it would be a declaration of war. ... Congressional leaders predicted "action" within a day. ... The President told those at Sunday night's meeting that "doubtless very heavy losses" were sustained by the Navy and also by the Army on Oahu. ... A report from Admiral C.C. Block, commander of the naval district at Hawaii, expressed the belief that "there has been heavy damage done in Hawaii and there had been heavy loss of life." ... It was impossible to obtain conformation or denial of reports that the battleships Oklahoma and West Virginia had been damaged or sunk, together with six or seven destroyers, and that 350 United States airplanes had been caught on the ground. ... The White House took over control of the bulletins, and the Navy Department, therefore, said it could not discuss the matter or answer any questions on how the Japanese were able to penetrate the Hawaiian defenses or appear without previous knowledge of their presence in those waters. ... Censorship was established on all messages leaving the United States by cable and radio. ... A nation-wide round-up of Japanese nationals was ordered by Attorney General Biddle through cooperation by the FBI and local police forces. ... Action was taken to protect defense plants, especially in California, where Japanese are particularly numerous. ... Senator Connally, as head of the powerful Foreign Relations Committee, said "Japan has now declared war on the United States and Great Britain. We shall resist with all the resources of our country. We shall wreak vengeance on these violators of the peace with multiple bombs from the air." ... ... The New York Times, Sunday, December 7, 1941: The national committee of the Communist party of the United States, 35 E. 12th St., commenting on the attack by Japan on the United States, issued late [Sunday] afternoon a statement declaring that the "Communist party pledges its loyalty, its devoted labor, and last drop of its blood in support of our country in this greatest struggle that ever threatened its existence." ... ... The statement was issued after the committee met at the Fraternal Club House, 110 W. 48th St. It [also] said: "Everything for national unity! Everything for victory over world-wide fascist slavery!"

Los Angeles, Associated Press, The New York Times, Sunday, December 7, 1941: The National Broadcasting Company's listening post said today that a Tokyo news broadcast at 6:20 A.M. (Monday, Japan time) [4:20 P.M., Sunday, Eastern Standard Time] had made no mention of the Japanese attack in the Pacific and had been followed by a lecture on "Good Morals" by a Tokyo university professor. These broadcasts were the first of the day from Tokyo.

Tokyo, Associated Press, The New York Times, Monday, December 8, 1941: [December 7, U.S. time] Japan went to war against the United States and Britain today with air and sea attacks against Hawaii, followed by a formal declaration of hostilities. Japanese Imperial headquarters announced at 6 A.M. [4 P.M. Sunday, Eastern Standard Time; 10:30 A.M. Sunday, Hawaii time] that a state of war existed in the Western Pacific, as of dawn. ... Soon afterward, Domei, the Japanese official news agency, announced that "naval operations are progressing off Hawaii against Pearl Harbor," the American naval base in the islands. ... Japanese bombers were declared to have raided Honolulu at 7:35 A.M. Hawaii time [1:05 P.M. Sunday, Eastern Standard Time; 3:05 A.M. Monday, Japanese time] ... Premier and War Minister General Hideki Tojo held a 20-minute Cabinet session at 7:00 A.M. ... Soon afterward it was announced that both the United States Ambassador, Joseph C. Grew, and the British Ambassador, Sir Robert Leslie Craigie, had been summoned by Foreign Minister Shigenori Togo. ... The Foreign Minister, Domei said, handed to Mr. Grew the Japanese Government's formal reply to the Nov. 26 note sent to Japan by United States Secretary of State Cordell Hull. ... Sir Robert was summoned by Foreign Minister Togo 15 minutes after Mr. Grew was called. ... At the Cabinet session Premier Tojo reported on the progress of war plans against the British and American forces, according to Domei, and outlined the Japanese policy.

Los Angeles, United Press, The New York Times, Sunday, December 7, 1941: Japanese Premier Hideki Tojo, in an address to the Japanese Empire as heard here by the National Broadcasting Company's Far Eastern listening post, announced that Emperor Hirohito had declared war on the United States and Great Britain. ... "Japan has done her utmost to prevent this war," General Tojo said, "but in self-protection and for self-existence we could not help declaring war, considering the past attitude and acts of the United States." ... General Tojo said that the rise or fall of East Asia "depends on this fight." He asserted that in 2,600 years of Japanese history, Japan has never lost a war." ... "We therefore ask your cooperation," he said. "I hereby promise you that the final victory will be that of Japan. I ask that every individual in the island empire do his utmost to defend our country." ... Urging the nation to be calm and collected, Premier Tojo said "there is nothing to fear in this war."

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R.A.F. Raids German Shipping and Inland Targets

R.A.F. Raids German Shipping and Inland Targets

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London, Wireless to The New York Times, By Craig Thompson, Tuesday, April 15, 1941: [Late Monday. U.S. time.] British Royal Air Force attacks on German shipping off the Netherlands and another raid on Merignac Airport near Bordeaux, used by the Germans as a base for the bombing of Atlantic shipping, were followed [Monday] by a series of Nazi air attacks over many parts of Britain. ... [Monday] night the R.A.F. bombers blasted again the docks at Brest where Nazi sea raiders Gneisenau and Scharnhorst are tied up, a brief official statement early today said. It was the seventh raid on Brest since March 31. ... German bombers during the night struck at two towns on the coast of Northwest England. Many incendiary bombs were dropped on one of the towns. Reports early today said that at neither town was the damage heavy. ... British anti-aircraft fire was said to have driven off one Nazi raiding force and to have kept all of the enemy planes high. ... The daylight raids over Britain were apparently single planes. They machine-gunned some towns, but these attacks were "entirely ineffective," British officials said. ... The R.A.F. attack on the Merignac airdrome was the third in four nights. The size of the British force that struck there Sunday night was not believed to have been large. ... The R.A.F. pilots reported that buildings and hangers at Merignac had been left burning and that the docks at Bordeaux were also attacked. The communique said no British aircraft were missing from the operations. ... During daylight Sunday British bombers attacked shipping off the German North Sea coast. Pilots reported a Nazi supply ship of 1,500 tons twice hit by bombs and then machine-gunned. A German naval patrol vessel and a supply ship of 2,000 tons were also attacked by bombs and machine-gun fire, but no claims of sinkings were made. ... A Nazi bomber was destroyed in North Wales early [Monday] by crashing into a mountain near Aber, Carnarvonshire. Of the five-man crew, one was killed, two badly hurt, another slightly hurt, and the other uninjured. The uninjured German walked to Aber, gave himself up, and led a party to the scene of the crash. ... At a town in Northwest England during the afternoon [Sunday] a Nazi plane skimmed the rooftops and machine-gunned holiday makers. People in the streets ducked for cover and some of them saw small bombs leave the plane. The plane had apparently approached by shutting off its motors and gliding. The bombs were said to have done little harm and anti-aircraft fire was believed to have damaged the departing plane. ... A town in Eastern England was raided by a single German. Its bombs killed one person and damaged the village Postoffice. ... Similar attacks were made on two towns in East Anglia, on the south coast, and in Southwest England. ... The British Admiralty reported that the trawler Kingston Amber shot down a Heinkel 111 Sunday, presumably on North Sea patrol. A Junkers 88 was shot down Saturday by a "Free French" subchaser.

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Russian Bombers Blast Rumanian Oil Refineries

Russian Bombers Blast Rumanian Oil Refineries

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Instanbul, Turkey, United Press, The New York Times, Sunday, July 20, 1941: Russian bombers have demolished the Rumanian Unirea oil refinery at Ploesti, north of Bucharest, formally the property of the British Phoenix Oil Company and one of the largest refineries in Rumania, according to diplomatic reports from Rumania. ... The refinery, producing high-grade lubricants vital to the German and Rumanian mechanized forces was said to have been destroyed on July 13. The Phoenix Company's tank installations at Constanta on the Black Sea previously had been destroyed.

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