November 24, 1943 - Wednesday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS Daly: 

USS Daly (DD-519) - Pacific Ocean

November 21st: At sea all day, at noon, approximately 1000 miles NNW of Pearl Harbor, Hawaiian Islands. Temperatures mid-50s, light breezes.

November 22nd:  At sea all day, at noon, about 450 miles NNW of Pearl Harbor.  Temperatures 60s-70s, light breezes.

November 23rd: Arrived Pearl Harbor at 11 AM; moored rest of day.  Temperatures 70s-80s, very light breezes.

November 24th:  In port all day, temperatures 70s-80s, light breezes.

Daly will be at Pearl Harbor for just over two weeks before sailing for the New Guinea/Solomons theater.

-------------------------

In the Solomons, fighting continues on Bougainville Island.

In the Gilberts, the islands Tarawa and Makin were secured by the 24th, with heavy casualties.  These islands are very near the equator, so the air was hot and muggy; the islands are volcanic, so the ground was very hot as well.  The fighting was hard and at close quarters.  Many who fought there have said that this was as close to Hell as they ever hoped to come.  980 Marines were killed in taking the islands.

On the 24th, escort carrier Liscome Bay was torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-175.  The torpedo ignited the stored bombs onboard, and the ship soon sank after a gigantic explosion and fire.  Most of the crew was killed in the explosions and fire, and debris rained down on nearby ships.  

President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill met with Chinese leader Chiang Kai-shek in Cairo, to discuss the Pacific War.  The leaders were on the way to the Tehran Conference with Stalin.

More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 409-411 . 
• Aleutians, Gilberts and Marshalls, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 120-186.
• Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 330-349.
• Events of November, 1943
  
• Logbooks of the US Navy at the National Archives, USS Daly, DD-519, November, 1943  

 

NEXT POST:  NOVEMBER 28TH

November 20, 1943 - Saturday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS Daly: 

USS Daly (DD-519) - Pacific Ocean

November 17th: In port all day; temperatures in the 30s, light winds.

November 18th:  At sea after 1 PM.  Temperatures in the high 30s, strong breezes in the evening.

November 19th: At sea all day.  Daly is now leaving the Aleutian Islands and headed for Pearl Harbor.  By noon, about 400 miles SE of Adak Harbor.  Temperatures in mid-40s, strong winds most of the day.

November 20th:  At sea all day.  At noon, about 750 miles SSE of Adak Harbor.  Temperatures in the 40s, moderate breezes.

-------------------------

In the Solomons, fighting continues on Bougainville Island.

The invasion of the Gilbert Islands began on the 20th, with landings on Makin and Tarawa Islands. Landings on Tarawa were hampered by an incorrect estimation of the tides on the island; many landing boats were destroyed, and Marines had to wade several hundred yards onto the island, so casualties were high.

A large nighttime air raid was conducted on Berlin on the 19th.

More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 408-409 . 
• Aleutians, Gilberts and Marshalls, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 120-186.
• Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 330-349.
• Events of November, 1943
  
• Logbooks of the US Navy at the National Archives, USS Daly, DD-519, November, 1943  

 

NEXT POST:  NOVEMBER 24TH

November 16, 1943 - Tuesday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS Daly: 

USS Daly (DD-519) - Pacific Ocean - Aleutian Islands, Alaska

November 13th: At sea 8 AM to 5 PM.  At noon, near Adak Island.  Temperatures low-40s, strong breezes through the afternoon.

November 14th:  At sea 9 AM to 6 PM.  Temperatures high-30s, light to moderate breezes through the day.

November 15th: At sea all day after 8 AM.  High-30s, strong breezes in the afternoon.

November 16th:  At sea until 5 PM.  Temperatures in the mid-30s, moderate breezes.

These appear to be routine patrols near Allied bases in the Aleutians.  Daly would soon depart Alaska for Pearl Harbor.

-------------------------

In the Solomons, the fight for Bougainville continued.  Air raids were conducted on Japanese airfields on the island, and also on Rabaul, about 275 miles away.

Naval forces for Operation Galvanic (invasion of Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands) began to converge on the target.  Long-distance bombing raids on the Gilberts were conducted from islands east of the chain.  D-Day for the invasion was set for the 20th.

Further reconnaissance of German installations at Peenemunde reveal the development of the V-1 and V-2 rocket programs.  These weapons were later used to great effect on Allied cities.  A bombing campaign was not effective in slowing the development of these weapons.

More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 407-408. 
• Aleutians, Gilberts and Marshalls, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 114-120.
• Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 330-349.
• Events of November, 1943
  
• Logbooks of the US Navy at the National Archives, USS Daly, DD-519, November, 1943  

 

NEXT POST:  NOVEMBER 20TH

November 12, 1943 - Friday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS Daly: 

USS Daly (DD-519) - Pacific Ocean - Aleutian Islands, Alaska

November 9th: Moored all day.  Temperatures low-40s, light to moderate winds.

November 10th:  Moored all day.  Temperatures low-40s.

November 11th: Moored all day.  Temperatures low-40s, light breezes.

November 12th:  Moored all day.  Temperatures low-40s, strong breezes in morning, lighter breezes in evening.

These appear to be routine patrols near Allied bases in the Aleutians.

-------------------------

In the Solomons,  fighting continued on Bougainville; supply unloading went well and the beachhead on the island was established.  A larger carrier strike on Rabaul on the 11th sank a Japanese destroyer and damaged other ships.

Naval forces for Operation Galvanic (invasion of Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands) had been assembled and were like nothing seen before.  6 fleet carriers, 13 light and escort carriers, 13 battleships new and old, 15 cruisers and 42 destroyers had been organized into 6 different task forces approaching the Gilbert Islands from all sides.  The immense production capacity of the United States had finally entered the war, and it would be decisive, just as Admiral Yamamoto had warned.

President Roosevelt embarked on the battleship USS Iowa to travel to the Tehran Conference, another meeting of the "Big 3" - Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin. 

More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 405-407. 
• Aleutians, Gilberts and Marshalls, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 114-118.
• Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 330-349.
• Events of November, 1943
  
• Logbooks of the US Navy at the National Archives, USS Daly, DD-519, November, 1943
  

 

NEXT POST:  NOVEMBER 16TH

November 8, 1943 - Monday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS Daly: 

USS Daly (DD-519) - Pacific Ocean - Aleutian Islands, Alaska

November 5th: At sea all day, at noon, about 200 miles west of Dutch Harbor.  Temperatures low-40s, light to moderate winds.

November 6th: At sea until 3 PM, at noon, near Adak Island.  Temperatures low-40s, strong gale force winds in the morning, lighter winds in the afternoon.

November 7th: Moored all day.  Temperatures low-40s, strong winds in morning, light winds afternoon.

November 8th:  Moored all day.  Temperatures low-40s, very light winds.

These appear to be routine patrols near Allied bases in the Aleutians.

-------------------------

In the Solomons, as the fighting on Bougainville continued, the Navy learned that a large heavy cruiser force had been sent by the Japanese to Rabaul.  No US cruisers or battleships were in the area to confront this force should it sail south toward the Solomons.  Admiral Halsey ordered a carrier force (Saratoga and new light carrier Princeton) to conduct an air raid at Rabaul.  The raid sank no ships but did damage to several of the cruisers, which was enough to prevent any advance of the cruiser force. 

Plans for Operation Galvanic (invasion of Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands) continued in the Central Pacific.  It would be another week or so before the operation was ready.

Soviet forces captured Kiev, Ukraine and continued west.

More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 403-405. 
• Aleutians, Gilberts and Marshalls, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 92-113.
• Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 323-330.
• Events of November, 1943
  
• Logbooks of the US Navy at the National Archives, USS Daly, DD-519, November, 1943
  

 

NEXT POST:  NOVEMBER 12TH

November 4, 1943 - Thursday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS Daly: 

USS Daly (DD-519) - Pacific Ocean - Aleutian Islands, Alaska

November 1st: Moored all day.  Temperatures low-40s, light winds.

November 2nd: Moored all day.  Temperatures high 30s and low-40s, light winds.

November 3rd: Moored all day.  Temperatures high 30s, light winds.

November 4th: At sea at 6 PM for the rest of the day.  Temperatures high 30s and low-40s, light winds.

These appear to be routine patrols near Allied bases in the Aleutians.

-------------------------

In the Solomons, landings were conducted November 1st on Bougainville Island at Empress Augusta Bay and Cape Torokina on the southwest side of the island.  John's previous ship, the Fullam, supported the landings. 

A Japanese cruiser force was sent to contest the landings and a night battle was fought with US forces.  By this time, the Navy was able to use radar much more effectively that it had earlier in the war.  As a result, the Japanese lost a light cruiser and suffered heavy damage to two heavy cruisers, while the Navy had ships damaged but not sunk.

Plans for Operation Galvanic (invasion of Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands) continued in the Central Pacific.  It would be another week or so before the operation was ready.

Soviet forces continued their advance across Ukraine, and launched a large attack on Kiev, compelling the German army to begin evacuating the city.

More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 401-403. 
• Aleutians, Gilberts and Marshalls, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 92-113.
• Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 296-322.
• Events of November, 1943
  
• Logbooks of the US Navy at the National Archives, USS Daly, DD-519, November, 1943

 NEXT POST:  NOVEMBER 8TH

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

October 31, 1943 - Sunday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS Daly: 

USS Daly (DD-519) - Pacific Ocean - Aleutian Islands, Alaska

October 28th: Moored all day.  Temperatures mid-40s, moderate to strong breezes in the evening.

October 29th:  Moored all day.  Temperatures mid-40s, light breezes.

October 30th: Moored all day.  Temperatures mid-40s, light breezes.

October 31st: Moored all day.  Temperatures mid-40s, light breezes.

These appear to be routine patrols near Allied bases in the Aleutians.

-------------------------

In the Solomons, the invasion of the Treasury Islands was ongoing.  These four days also included final preparations for the landings on Bougainville Island at Empress Augusta Bay and Cape Torokina on the southwest side of the island.

Plans for Operation Galvanic (invasion of Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands) continued in the Central Pacific.  It would be a few weeks before the operation was ready.

Soviet forces continued their advance across Ukraine, fully cutting off German access to Crimea and trapping German forces there.

More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 400-401. 
• Aleutians, Gilberts and Marshalls, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 92-113.
• Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 279-296.
• Events of October, 1943
  
• Logbooks of the US Navy at the National Archives, USS Daly, DD-519, October, 1943

 NEXT POST:  NOVEMBER 4TH

October 27, 1943 - Wednesday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS Daly: 

USS Daly (DD-519) - Pacific Ocean - Aleutian Islands, Alaska

October 24th: At sea at 9 AM for the rest of the day.  At noon, near Unalaska Island.  Temperatures low-50s, light winds.

October 25th:  At sea until 3 PM.  At noon, near Unalaska Island.  Temperatures high-40s, light winds.

October 26th: Moored all day.  Temperatures high-40s, light winds.

October 27th: Moored all day. Temperatures low-40s, light winds.  Money received onboard to pay the crew.

These appear to be routine patrols near Allied bases in the Aleutians.

-------------------------

In the Solomons, landings on Mono Island (Treasury Islands) and on Choiseul Island commenced on the 27th.  Resistance was not heavy during the invasion and Mono Island was fully captured by November 7th.  The Japanese believed this to be a prelude to attacking their base in the Shortland Islands, but the Navy would leapfrog directly to Bougainville.

Plans for Operation Galvanic (invasion of Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands) continued in the Central Pacific.  It would be a few weeks before the operation was ready.

Finschafen, on the eastern edge of the Huon Peninsula in New Guinea, was captured by Allied troops.  This was one of the last maneuvers before the Allies began the advance across the north shore of New Guinea toward the Philippines.

Soviet forces continued their advance across Ukraine, taking the city of Dnipropetrovsk (now Dnipro).

More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 399-400. 
• Aleutians, Gilberts and Marshalls, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 92-113.
• Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 279-296.
• Events of October, 1943
  
• Logbooks of the US Navy at the National Archives, USS Daly, DD-519, October, 1943

 

NEXT POST:  OCTOBER 31ST 

October 23, 1943 - Saturday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS Daly: 

USS Daly (DD-519) - Pacific Ocean - Aleutian Islands, Alaska

October 20th: Deck log does not indicate location for this day.  Temperatures low 50s, light winds.

October 21st:  Anchored after 8 AM.  Position not in log.  Temperatures mid 40s, light winds.

October 22nd: Moored all day, mid-40s, light winds.

October 23rd: Underway 9 AM to 3 PM, moored otherwise.  At noon, near Unalaska Island, Aleutians.

These appear to be routine patrols near Allied bases in the Aleutians.

-------------------------

The Allied Invasion of Italy became stalled approaching the Gustav Line.

A large bomber attack was conducted by the RAF on the German city of Kassel  and caused a firestorm that in some ways was worse than the more well-known fire bombing of Hamburg a few months before.

Soviet troops took Melitopol, Ukraine, in a continuation of an offensive designed to cut off and isolate a German force in Crimea. 

More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 398-399. 
• Aleutians, Gilberts and Marshalls, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 92-113.
• Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 279-293.
• Events of October, 1943
  
• Logbooks of the US Navy at the National Archives, USS Daly, DD-519, October, 1943

 

NEXT POST:  OCTOBER 27TH 

October 19, 1943 - Tuesday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS Daly: 

USS Daly (DD-519) - Pacific Ocean - Aleutian Islands, Alaska

October 16th: At sea all day; at noon, near Kiska Island.  At anchor for a short time mid-day.  Temperatures mid-40s, light winds.

October 17th:  At sea all day; at noon, northwest of Semisopochnoi Island, Aleutians. Temperatures mid-40s, light winds.

October 18th: At sea until 10 AM, anchored rest of day.  At noon, southeast of Atka Island, Aleutians.  Temperatures mid-40s, light to moderate winds.

October 19th: Under way at 9 AM; at noon, near Chugul Island, Aleutians.  Temperatures mid-40s, light winds.

These appear to be routine patrols near Allied bases in the Aleutians.

-------------------------

The Allied Invasion of Italy continued;the Allies were moving toward the Gustav Line, which was directly in front of Monte Cassino.  The monastery at the top of the mountain gave the German defenders a great advantage of sight lines all around.  The Allies would be stymied here for several months.

The Japanese completed the Burma Railway from Bangkok, Thailand to Rangoon, Burma.  Many of the laborers were Allied prisoners of war.  Construction of one of the larger bridges was the subject of the movie The Bridge on the River Kwai.

More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 397-398. 
• Aleutians, Gilberts and Marshalls, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 92-113.
• Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 279-293.
• Events of September, 1943
• Events of October, 1943
  
• Logbooks of the US Navy at the National Archives, USS Daly, DD-519, October, 1943

 

NEXT POST:  OCTOBER 23RD 

 

October 15, 1943 - Friday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS Daly: 

USS Daly (DD-519) - Pacific Ocean - Aleutian Islands, Alaska

October 12th: In port all day, temperatures mid 40s, light breezes.

October 13th:  At sea after 8 AM.  At noon, just north of Adak Island.  Temperatures mid 40s, light breezes.

October 14th: At sea all day, at noon northeast of Attu Island.  Temperatures high 40s, moderate to strong breezes.

October 15th: At sea until 11 AM, returned to sea at 7 PM.  At noon, anchored near Attu Island.  High 40s, light breezes.

These appear to be routine patrols near Allied bases in the Aleutians.

-------------------------

The Allied Invasion of Italy continued;the Allies had breached the second defensive line of the Axis, the Barbara Line.  Heavy fighting continued at the Allies approached the third line, the Gustav Line.  The Italian government declared war on Germany.

Another raid on Schweinfurt, Germany was conducted on October 14th, again targeting the key ball bearing plant in the city.  Nearly 300 B-17 bombers attacked in a daylight raid, with 20% bomber losses.  These losses would cause a long pause in daylight raids.

In the Solomons, as the Navy prepared to move further up the island chain, a large raid was conducted on the large Japanese base at Rabaul, New Britain.

More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 395-397. 
• Aleutians, Gilberts and Marshalls, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 92-113.
• Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 279-286.
• Events of September, 1943
• Events of October, 1943
  
• Logbooks of the US Navy at the National Archives, USS Daly, DD-519, October, 1943

 

October 11, 1943 - Monday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS Daly: 

USS Daly (DD-519) - Pacific Ocean - Aleutian Islands, Alaska

October 8th: At sea all day.  At noon, in Bering Sea, northeast of Kiska Island.  Temperatures mid 40s, light winds.

October 9th:  At sea until 4 PM.  At noon, near Adak Island.  Temperatures mid 40s to low 50s, light winds.

October 10th: Moored except for a few hours mid-day.  Temperatures low 40s, light winds.

October 11th: Moored all day, temperatures 40s and 50s, light winds.

These appear to be routine patrols near Allied bases in the Aleutians.

-------------------------

The Allied Invasion of Italy continued; with fighting continuing along the Volturno line.  German forces were executing a fighting retreat toward the next line (known as the Barbara line).  The Allies were making slower progress at the northeast part of the line near Termoli.

The first daylight bombing raid of Germany was conducted on October 10th, as 236 B-17 bombers attacked Munster.  30 bombers were shot down while 700 people were killed in the city.

In the Solomons, Empress Augusta Bay on the island of Bougainville was selected as the next invasion target.  This island is at the northwest end of the Solomons chain, and the invasion will bypass (leapfrog) several highly fortified Japanese positions on other islands.

More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 394-395. 
• Aleutians, Gilberts and Marshalls, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 92-113.
• Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 279-286.
• Events of September, 1943
• Events of October, 1943
  
• Logbooks of the US Navy at the National Archives, USS Daly, DD-519, October, 1943

 

NEXT POST:  OCTOBER 15TH

 

October 7, 1943 - Thursday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS Daly: 

USS Daly (DD-519) - Pacific Ocean - Aleutian Islands, Alaska

October 4th: At sea all day.  At noon, northeast of Adak Island.  Temperatures high 40s, light breezes.

October 5th:  At sea until 6 PM, then in harbor.  At noon, just northeast of Adak Harbor.  Temperatures high 40s, light breezes.

October 6th: At sea after 11 AM. Temperatures high 40s, light breezes.

October 7th: At sea all day.  At noon, near Attu Island, Aleutians.  Temperatures high 40s, moderate breezes.

These appear to be routine patrols near Allied bases in the Aleutians.

-------------------------

The Allied Invasion of Italy continued; with Naples liberated, the Allies faced 4 Axis defensive lines, each of which stretched across the county south of Rome.  The first was the Volturno line, named for the river that defined its western side.  It ran northeast from the Volturno to the city of Termoli.

US forces fought the battle of Vella Lavella on October 6-7, with the loss of one destroyer on each side.  Vella Lavella Island is evacuated by the Japanese.

The new carriers recently arrived in the Pacific continue air strikes.  A fleet of six carriers with escorts carried out an attack and bombardment of Wake Island on the 6th and 7th.  After this attack, the remaining original US defenders of Wake were summarily executed and buried in a mass grave.

More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 391-394. 
• Aleutians, Gilberts and Marshalls, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 92-99.
• Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 233-252.
• Events of September, 1943
• Events of October, 1943
  
• Logbooks of the US Navy at the National Archives, USS Daly, DD-519, October, 1943

 

NEXT POST:  OCTOBER 11TH

 

October 3, 1943 - Sunday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS Daly: 

USS Daly (DD-519) - Pacific Ocean - Aleutian Islands, Alaska

September 30th: At sea until 4 PM, in port after. 

October 1st:  At sea 10 AM to 4 PM, otherwise in port.

October 2nd: At sea 9 AM to 3 PM, otherwise in port.

October 3rd: At sea 4 AM for the rest of the day.  At noon, west of Tanaga Island, Aleutians.

These appear to be routine patrols near Allied bases in the Aleutians.

-------------------------

The Allied Invasion of Italy continued and Naples was liberated on September 30th.  

Soviet advances continue on the Eastern Front as Smolensk is liberated.

US forces continued to advance up the Solomons chain and the Japanese plan to evacuate the island of Vella Lavella in the next few days.

More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 390-391. 
• Aleutians, Gilberts and Marshalls, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 94-99.
• Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 233-242.
• Events of September, 1943
• Events of October, 1943
  
• Logbooks of the US Navy at the National Archives, USS Daly, DD-519, September, 1943

 

NEXT POST:  OCTOBER 7TH

September 29, 1943 - Wednesday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS Daly: 

USS Daly (DD-519) - Pacific Ocean - Aleutian Islands, Alaska

September 26th: In port all day.  Temperatures in mid 50s, light to moderate winds.

September 27th:  In port all day.  Temperatures low 50s, strong winds in morning.

September 28th: At sea 9 AM to 3 PM, otherwise in port.  Temperatures around 50, moderate winds.

September 29th: At sea after 9 AM.  Low 50s, light winds.

These appear to be routine patrols near Allied bases in the Aleutians.

-------------------------

The Allied Invasion of Italy continued as the Allies moved close to capturing Naples.  Leaders of Italy's government signed surrender documents on British battleship HMS Nelson.

More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 389-390. 
• Aleutians, Gilberts and Marshalls, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 94-99.
• Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 233-242.
• Events of September, 1943  
  
• Logbooks of the US Navy at the National Archives, USS Daly, DD-519, September, 1943

 

NEXT POST:  OCTOBER 3RD

September 25, 1943 - Saturday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS Daly: 

USS Daly (DD-519) - Pacific Ocean - Aleutian Islands, Alaska

September 22nd: In port all day.  Temps high 40s, light breezes.

September 23rd:  At sea from 2 PM. Temps low 50s, light breezes.

September 24th: At sea all day.  At noon, about 450 miles SE of Adak Island.  Low 50s, light winds.

September 25th: At sea until 6 PM, returned to Adak Harbor.  High 40s, moderate winds.  Fueling in the evening.

These appear to be routine patrols near Allied bases in the Aleutians.

-------------------------

The Allied Invasion of Italy continued as Allied troops approached Naples and prepared to attack.  

Fighting also continued in New Guinea as Allied troops advanced north of Lae.on the Huon Peninsula 

The fall of Smolensk, Russia on September 25th to Soviet forces accelerated the German retreat from the Soviet Union.

More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 387-389. 
• Aleutians, Gilberts and Marshalls, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 94-99.
• Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 233-242.
• Events of September, 1943  
  
• Logbooks of the US Navy at the National Archives, USS Daly, DD-519, September, 1943

 

NEXT POST:  SEPTEMBER 29TH

September 21, 1943 - Tuesday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS Daly: 

USS Daly (DD-519) - Pacific Ocean - Aleutian Islands, Alaska

September 18th: In port all day. Temperature low 50s, light winds.

September 19th:  In port all day,  Temperatures in the 40s, gale force winds most of the day.

September 20th: In port all day. Temperatures high 40s, breezy.  Fueling in the afternoon.

September 21st: In port all day. Temperatures high 40s, gale force winds late.

-------------------------

The Allied Invasion of Italy continued as Allied troops moved out of the Salerno beachhead and toward Naples.  

Fighting also continued in New Guinea as Allied troops advanced north of Lae.on the Huon Peninsula

More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 385-387. 
• Aleutians, Gilberts and Marshalls, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 94-96.
• Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 233-239.
• Events of September, 1943  
  
• Logbooks of the US Navy at the National Archives, USS Daly, DD-519, September, 1943

 

NEXT POST:  SEPTEMBER 25TH

September 17, 1943 - Friday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS Daly: 

USS Daly (DD-519) - Pacific Ocean - Aleutian Islands, Alaska

September 14th: In port all day, temperatures low 50s, calm winds.

September 15th:  In port all day, temperatures high 40s, gale force winds mid-day.

September 16th: In port all day, low 50s, light winds. Fueling in late afternoon.

September 17th: In port all day, low 50s, light winds.

-------------------------

The Allied Invasion of Italy continued near Salerno, and by the 17th the Allies had blunted the Axis offensive and had begun to go over to the attack.  Benito Mussolini was taken to meet with Adolf Hitler and plans were made to set up a new Fascist government in Italy.  The new Fascist government was declared on September 15th

More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 384-385. 
• Aleutians, Gilberts and Marshalls, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 94-96.
• Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 233-239.
• Events of September, 1943  
  
• Logbooks of the US Navy at the National Archives, USS Daly, DD-519, September, 1943

 

NEXT POST:  SEPTEMBER 21ST

September 13, 1943 - Monday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS Daly: 

USS Daly (DD-519) - Pacific Ocean - Aleutian Islands, Alaska

September 10th: At sea all day.  At noon, about 550 miles SSE of Adak Harbor.

September 11th:  At sea all day.  At noon, about 380 miles SSE of Adak.

September 12th: At sea until 4 PM, in port for rest of the day.  Fueling in afternoon. 

September 13th: In port all day.

Temperatures are remaining in the low to mid-50s.  Gale force winds on the 10th, otherwise light to moderate breezes during this time.

These appear to be routine patrols around the area between Adak, Attu, and Kiska.

-----------------------

The Allied Invasion of Italy continued near Salerno, with the Germans counterattacking the Allied beachhead.  On the 11th, the Italian naval fleet surrendered to the Allies.  Benito Mussolini, who had been deposed and imprisoned, was rescued by German forces and taken to Munich.

In the Central Pacific, US forces occupy Baker Island, which is close to the Gilbert Islands, in another step toward the start of the Central Pacific campaign.

More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 383-384. 
• Aleutians, Gilberts and Marshalls, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 94-96.
• Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 233-239.
• Events of September, 1943  
  
• Logbooks of the US Navy at the National Archives, USS Daly, DD-519, September, 1943

 

NEXT POST:  SEPTEMBER 17TH

September 9, 1943 - Thursday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS Daly: 

USS Daly (DD-519) - Pacific Ocean - Aleutian Islands, Alaska

September 6th: At sea all day.  At noon, just north of Seguam Island, Aleutians.

September 7th:  At sea all day.  At noon, North Pacific about 250 miles south of the Aleutians.

September 8th: At sea all day.  At noon, North Pacific about 600 miles SSE of Adak Harbor.

September 9th: At sea all day.  At noon, about 420 miles SE of Adak Harbor.

Temperatures are remaining in the 50s with light to moderate breezes during this time.

These appear to be routine patrols around the area between Adak, Attu, and Kiska.

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The Allied Invasion of Italy continued with landings around Salerno.  Although Italian leaders had reached an armistice with the Allies, Axis troops opposed the landings around the Gulf of Salerno.

On the eastern front, Soviet troops enter Donetsk.  As it has become clear that Germany has lost the initiative in the east, Himmler orders a scorched-earth policy on the retreat.

 

More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 381-383. 
• Aleutians, Gilberts and Marshalls, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 22-96.
• Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 233-239.
• Events of September, 1943  
  
• Logbooks of the US Navy at the National Archives, USS Daly, DD-519, September, 1943

 

NEXT POST:  SEPTEMBER 13TH