On this day during W.W. 2

USS Robinson DD-562 sails along the beach at Peleliu, her 5” mounts trained landward, wiping out enemy gun emplacements and tumbling snipers out of trees as she blasted enemy positions - September 15, 1944

Naval History & Heritage Command - USN 46648

@captainwalker

Wait, Pelieu? That means Leyte Gulf is coming up soon!

#OTD in 1942, the Japanese sub I-19 fired one of the most damaging torpedo salvos in the history of submarine warfare. The 6 torpedo spread hit and sank the carrier USS Wasp and the destroyer USS O’Brien while severely damaging the battleship USS North Carolina.

@captainwalker

Dang, that was today too? Still legendary after all this time.

Thanks for keeping this thread active.

Also, yesterday (where I live) was the 80th anniversary of the beginning of the Baltic Offensive, where the Soviet Union expelled German forces from most of the Baltic States, cutting off Army Group North in the Courland Pocket where it would stay trapped until the end of thwar.

@captainwalker thanks for that . Just read about the I-19. Was a Remarkable feat. Wonder if the three ships were too close to each other .

80 Years Ago Today;
Paratroopers of the British 1st Airborne Division landing in fields at Renkum, West of Arnhem in the Netherlands during Operation Market Garden - September 17, 1944

Note some gliders are already on the ground

This is landing zone “X” - it was a landing & drop zone for both gliders & paratroopers.

LIFE Magazine Archives
IWM CL 1171 See less

Paratroopers with the US 82nd Airborne Division get last minute instructions at RAF Cottesmore before boarding C-47s for Operation Market Garden - September 17, 1944

US Army Signal Corps - SC 195702
Edgren Photographer

@captainwalker love the Battle of Arnhem. Read a lot about it .

@captainwalker

Market Garden was today? Nice. If only it had succeeded…

Still a bold, unique, ambitious operation. It’ll always deserve a special place in the history of the Western Front.

@SuperbattleshipYamato the Germans threw in every unit they could find. Was a perfect reaction , typifying German resilience and faith in their abilities.
The Allies were unlucky in many ways with the bad weather and , in the case of the 1st Para, hampered by the choice of faraway drop zones.

German Personnel captured by British Airborne Troops near Wolfheze Netherlands during Operation Market Garden - September 17, 1944

IWM - Smith D M (Sgt) Photographer
IWM BU 1166

USAAF C-47s carrying paratroopers flying over Gheel / Geel, Belgium on their way to Holland for Operation Market Garden - September 17, 1944

IWM - Malindine Photographer
IWM BU 918

@Witt

Sounds about right.

A Piat gun of “C” Troop, 1st Airlanding Reconnaissance Squadron, in position behind a tree covering a road near Wolfheze, 18 September 1944.

@captainwalker

Nice.

A Sherman tank of the Irish Guards tore up the pavement while making a tight turn in order to take position on a crossroad (Emmastraat / Goudbergstraat) during Operation Market Garden.
18 September, 1944, Waalre, Noord-Brabant, The Netherlands

Colourised PIECE of JAKE

Photo: Willem van de Poll

British Airborne Personnel dug in with their Sten Mk V SMGs at a Brigade Headquarters during Operation Market Garden - September 18, 1944

The Sten Mk V added a wooden pistol grip & stock, and could be fitted with the spike bayonet for the No 4 Enfield. They were of better quality manufacture & finish than the Mk II and Mk III.

IWM - Smith D M (Sgt) Photographer
IWM BU 1143

@captainwalker

Cool!

British Sergeants J Whawell and J Turl of the Glider Pilot Regiment, search for enemy soldiers in the ULO (Uitgebreid Lager Onderwijs) school in Kneppelhoutweg, Oosterbeek, Netherlands - September 20, 1944

IWM - Smith D M (Sgt) Photographer
IWM BU 1100

Vickers machine-gun teams of 2nd Middlesex Regiment, 3rd Division, fire in support of troops crossing the Maas-Schelde Canal at Sint-Huibrechts-Lille, Belgium - September 20, 1944

IWM - Laing (Sgt) Photographer
IWM B 10144