On This Day
1944 > WW2
On This Day - 1944
- July 13, 1944
Task Force, (TF), 74, including HMA Ships AUSTRALIA and SHROPSHIRE, (cruisers), ARUNTA and WARRAMUNGA, (destroyers), and US Ships AMMEN and BACHE, were ordered to furnish gun support to troops at Aitape, New Guinea.
Lt. D. R. Wilson, RANVR was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for skill, courage and devotion to duty in a successful patrol in HM submarine UNTIRING.
- July 5, 1944
The River class frigate HMAS HAWKESBURY was commissioned. HAWKESBURY was laid down in Mort’s Dock, Sydney, on 7 August 1942, and launched on 24 July 1943.
- July 3, 1944
Task Force 74, HMA Ships AUSTRALIA, (cruiser), ARUNTA, and WARRAMUNGA, (destroyers), and the US Ships MULLANY and AMMEN, withdrew to Hollandia, after bombarding Japanese positions on Noemfoor Island. AUSTRALIA fired 288 rounds of 20.3 cm shells.
- July 2, 1944
HMA Ships AUSTRALIA, (cruiser), ARUNTA and WARRAMUNGA, (destroyers), bombarded Japanese positions on Noemfoor Island in preparation for the landing.
- June 27, 1944
The River class frigate HMAS BURDEKIN, (LCDR T. S. Marchington, RNR), was commissioned. BURDEKIN was laid down in Walker’s Yard, Maryborough, QLD, on 17 January 1942, and launched on 30 June 1943.
- June 23, 1944
HMAS Vendetta embarked three Special Unit (Allied Intelligence Bureau) personnel for passage to Waterfall Bay in New Britain, 80 miles from Japanese occupied Rabaul. The landing was carried out without mishap and using her motorboat towing the whaler, embarked three AIB officers and 53 native guerillas for Langemak
- June 21, 1944
HMAS GAWLER, (minesweeper), landed working parties at Bombay to assist restoration of port facilities, after the British ammunition ship, FORT STIKINE, caught fire and blew up, devastating the port. Three Indian Navy ships and 18 merchant ships were lost in the explosion.
- June 20, 1944
HMAS MATAFELE was sunk. 4 officers, 20 ratings, and 13 native crew lost their lives.
ADML Crutchley, USN, was appointed Officer in Tactical Command of a force of Australian and United States cruisers in the Philippines.
- June 18, 1944
RANVR officers serving with the RN, held the following commands:- 1 destroyer, 1 frigate, 2 corvettes, 1 submarine, 1 fleet minesweeper, 4 flotillas of tank landing craft, and miscellaneous vessels such as landing craft, motor torpedo boats, and motor gunboats. In addition, RANVR officers were serving in HM Ships AJAX, ENTERPRISE, GLASGOW, SCYLLA, ASHANTI, and ESKIMO.
HMAS MATAFELE, (stores carrier), vanished without trace on a voyage from Townsville to Milne Bay, QLD. The vessel carried a crew of 37.
- June 11, 1944
The Fremantle-based USS REDFIN, (submarine), sank the Japanese tanker ASSANGI MARU in the Sulu Sea.