On This Day
1944 > WW2
On This Day - 1944
- August 29, 1944
HMAS Bathurst sailed for Australia, ending almost 3½ years Indian Ocean-Red Sea service.
- August 24, 1944
LEUT L. E. Yock, RANVR, led a section of motor torpedo boats in an attack on two German torpedo boats, and two coasters, at Cape d’Antifer, France. Yock’s boats came under heavy shore fire but pressed the attack, leaving one enemy torpedo boat on fire and the other silenced.
- August 22, 1944
The services reconnaissance department (SRD) craft HMAS TIGER SNAKE, (LEUT W. K. Witt, RAN), was commissioned.
- August 21, 1944
The Fremantle-based US Submarines RAY, HADDO, and GUITARRO, employed wolf-pack tactics to sink four Japanese transports off Mindoro. RAY torpedoed the TAKETOYO MARU, HADDO the KINRYO MARU and NORFOLK MARU, and GUITARRO the UGA MARU.
- August 18, 1944
The Fremantle-based US Submarines RASHER and RAY, sank two Japanese tankers, an escort aircraft carrier, and a transport. RASHER torpedoed the OTAKA, (escort carrier), the TEIYO MARU, (tanker), and the EISHIN MARU, (transport), in Luzon Strait. RAY torpedoed the NANSEI MARU, (tanker), in the Sulu Sea.
- August 14, 1944
ML430, (LEUT A. A. Wordsworth, RANVR), was mistaken for an enemy submarine, and was sunk by gunfire from ML819, (LEUT R. A. E. Moore, RANVR), north of Biak. No lives were lost.
- August 13, 1944
The air/sea rescue vessel AIR MASTER, (SBLT N. Shield, RANVR), was commissioned.
- August 12, 1944
HMAS SWAN, (sloop), bombarded Japanese positions at Wide Bay, New Britain. The shooting was directed by Coastwatcher LCDR. Mckenzie.
- August 11, 1944
HMS ALBATROSS, (former seaplane carrier HMAS ALBATROSS), was torpedoed off Courseulles, France. Casualties exceeded 100, of whom 50 were killed. The ship reached port safely.
- August 10, 1944
The air/sea rescue vessel AIR CHIEF, (SBLT R. Vaughan, RANR), was commissioned.