On This Day…February 2nd

US soldiers From the 7th Infantry Division position a 37mm M3 anti-tank gun (two M4 Sherman’s in the background on point). This photo was taken on Kwajalein on February 2nd, 1944.

The bloody conquest of Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands (posted previously in this series) in November 1943 was a crucial and bloody learning curve for the US forces. The 5,000-plus Japanese troops on Tarawa mounted a ferocious resistance, killing more than 1,000 U.S. Marines and wounding another 2,100. Nearly all Japanese troops were killed in an example of their ‘never-surrender’ attitude. The plan at Kwajalein was total warfare, pulverise and pound the islands and destroy the air capacity of the Japanese. The Official U.S. Army history of the battle quotes a soldier as saying, “the entire island looked as if it had been picked up 20,000 feet and then dropped." Landing beaches Red 1 and 2 were assaulted morning on 1st February, with the Americans reaching halfway across the runway by sunset. Although the Japanese counterattacked every night, the island was secured by the end of the fourth day.

Private First Class N. E. Carling stands beside the American M4 Sherman medium tank "Killer" on which is mounted a knocked-out Japanese Type 94 tankette / light tank. Taken 2nd February, 1944.

Should perhaps rename this series ‘ This Day in Carrier History...’ This is the USS Saratoga (foreground) and USS Lexington behind (the only two ‘Lexington class Carriers) off Honolulu, Hawaii, with Diamond Head in the background, 2nd February, 1934.

Fist hand report of 2nd February, 1943 of German soldier (Gefreiter Stöcker, 7./Grenadier-Regiment 1) knocking out a Russian T-34. Report reads...

“In the early morning hours I worked my way towards a tank that was standing inside a minefield in front of our positions. I climbed it from behind, so the crew could not hit me with machine guns. Suddenly a Coppola was opened and a head became visible.
I took the AT mine I carried and, as hard as I could, smashed it on the russians head.
I then armed the fuse, threw the mine into the tank and immediately jumped down into a nearby shell crater. In the same moment the mine exploded setting the tank ablaze.”

Airmen of US 74th Fighter Squadron posing in front of a P-40 Warhawk fighter, China, 2nd February, 1943. The 74th were one of the original three 23d Fighter Group that transitioned from 1st American Volunteer Group (AVG) of the Chinese Air Force when the AVG was disbanded. Some members of the AVG joined or rejoined the United States Air Force. The ‘Flying Tigers’ insignia was designed by cartoonists at Walt Disney.

The 74th was one of the original squadrons in the 23d to see combat action in the Far East. The Fighter Group used P-40 Warhawks, and later P-51 Mustangs, to covering massive operational areas and widely varying tactics and combat roles. The area of operation extended beyond China into Burma, Vietnam, and Formosa.

The fighter group excelled in these roles and received the Distinguished Unit Citation for its exceptional performance during the war.

Memorial for the crew of B-24 Liberator, ‘Ruth-less’ (pilot Frank Slough’s girlfriend was named ‘Ruth’) kept in immaculate condition in Eastbourne, England, on the exact site where she came down.a

The ‘Ruth-less’ was heading home on 2nd February, 1943 from a V-1 factory bombing mission (it developed engine trouble and turned home before reaching the target) when the engines cut out, and the aircraft hit a high hill, with the loss of all crew.

Aboard the USS Bennington (CV-20) in February, 1945. May or may not be the 2nd, but with a photo of this quality, who cares...The first raids on Japan by VMF-123 ‘Flying Eight Balls’ and VMF-112 ‘Wolf Pack’. In the Corsair is Captain Donald C. Owen...

Below seen landing in his F4F. Owen was lost just a few weeks after the Corsair photo, in May of ‘45. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with two gold stars, the Air Medal with three gold stars, a Presidential Unit Citation, and a Purple Heart. His name is cited on the ‘Tablets of the Missing’ in Honolulu.