Week 19: 9th May – 15th May 1943

 

Here’s what’s going on in the world this week in 1943

• Francisco Franco, the fascist dictator of Spain, which remained neutral during World War II, spoke in favor of world peace, “declaring that neither the Axis nor the Allies could destroy the other”. 
• A German Junkers Ju 88 fitted with the new Lichtenstein radar set was secretly flown from Norway to Scotland by a crew of defectors (possibly led by a British intelligence agent). 
• U.S. Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox inadvertently gave a clue that Allied forces intended to use Sicily for an invasion of Europe, potentially undermining the British disinformation campaign of Operation Mincemeat to convince the Germans that the attack would on Greece and Sardinia. Ironically, Knox’s comment that “Possession of Sicily by the Allies would obviously be a tremendous asset” was interpreted as an clumsy attempt at deception.
• The first wartime conference between U.S. President Roosevelt and U.K. Prime Minister Churchill, began in Washington, D.C., and continued for 16 days. Churchill and his entourage had arrived in Washington from New York the night before after being secretly transported across the North Atlantic Ocean on the RMS Queen Mary.
• The North African Campaign came to an end after nearly three years, as the 164th Infantry Division of Germany’s Afrika Korps laid down its weapons and its commander, Major General Kurt Freiherr von Liebenstein became the last of the Axis officers to surrender in Africa. 
• At an airbase at Carlsbad, New Mexico, Dr. Louis Fieser, the chemist who had developed napalm, conducted the first test of the experimental “bat bomb”, with a timed 0.6 ounce explosive attached to a Mexican free-tailed bat. After a demonstration with dummy bombs showed that the bats would, as planned, seek shelter in buildings, Dr. Fieser attached live explosives to six dormant bats for a demonstration in front of cameras. The bats woke up before detonation, then flew towards the wooden control tower, barracks, and other buildings and set a fire that destroyed much of the base.

And here’s what was keeping Peggy busy in the ATS:

Sunday 9th May 1943
Went to dance at Nursling – NBG. Quite nice – but nothing exceptional. On duty – S/P all morning – maintenance – getting ready to move tomorrow.

Monday 10th May1943
All packed and ready to go at 0930. Didn’t go until 22.15 – convoy to Totton. Travelled overnight and day arrived Whitby 11.20. Tired out. Poured with rain all day.

The Angel Hotel, Whitby. Now a Wetherspoons!

Tuesday 11th May 1943
Got here 11.20. Not a bad dump nice billets – in house, everyone else at Angel Hotel. Meals there. Hear reveille at 0500!! Looks like plenty hard work.

Wednesday 12th May 1943
Blimey – 199 steps up to Gun Park. ??een times times a day. My poor feet! Had an exam with IFC 28/30. On sets after dinner. Went out evening. Met some K.R.R. (Kings Royal Rifle corps?) on dodge ‘cas?

Thursday 13th May 1943
On fatigues in billet. Nice cup of tea in the middle of the morning. Got the fire going – Maintenance 6-7. Paid quarter to eight. Went out – just to eat! Very tired.

Friday 14th May 1943
Big inspection by Major etc. Up Gun Park at 09.00. Oh these steps. Very warm and tiring. Finished for morning at 11.00. Did some shopping. Went out at night – but didn’t do much.

Saturday 15th May 1943
Very warm. My poor feet are so sore! Up at Gun Park all morning. Went out in the evening and met some KRR’s. Had a good time.