This Date in History: October 14th.1943
Mission #32 Schweinfurt Second Mission 
The Second Schweinfurt Raid bombed World War II ball bearing factories to reduce production of these vital parts for all manner of war machines.
Named
"Black Thursday" because the loss of aircrewmen was the highest for any USAAF mission.
The American Official History of the Army Air Forces in the Second World War acknowledged losses had been so heavy
that the USAAF would not return to the target for four months;
"The fact was that the Eighth Air Force had for the time being, lost air superiority over Germany". The film Twelve O'Clock High (1949) dramatized a similar, but fictitious, air raid.
Colonel Budd Peaslee’s B-17
"Equipose" leading the Fortresses of the 92nd Bomb Group en-route
to the vital ball bearing factories at Schweinfurt. High over Germany, beyond the range of Allied fighter cover,
the unprotected B-17s fight off savage attacks from enemy fighters. Losses are high, but undeterred,
the valiant crews press on to the target, their relentless determination
and courage on that
“Black Thursday” forever etched into aviation folk lore.
Here's a few link;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Raid_on_Schweinfurthttp://memories.384thbombgroup.com/index...&Itemid=107---------------------------------------------------------------------
This Date in History: October 14th.1944
Battle of Formosa and the USS Houston
USS Houston (CL-81), a Cleveland-class light cruiser, was the third vessel in the United States Navy named after the city of Houston, Texas.
She was active in the Pacific War for several months, then crippled in an attack in October 1944.
She was launched by Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Newport News, Virginia on 19 June 1943,
sponsored by Mrs. C. B. Hamill. Originally named "Vicksburg", her name had been changed on 12 October 1942
in honor of her fallen predecessor USS Houston (CA-30). The ship commissioned on 20 December 1943, with Captain William W. Behrens, USN, in command.
In the Battle of Formosa, the US naval air force did much to destroy Japanese bases for the island battles still to come.
Japanese forces retaliated with heavy and repeated land-based air attacks. Houston splashed about four aircraft in one attack on 12 October,
and helped repel another attack next day, in which USS Canberra was hit by an aerial torpedo.
Taking Canberra's old station on 14 October, Houston and other ships encountered another heavy air raid.
Her gunners shot down three of the attacking torpedo bombers, but a fourth's torpedo hit her engine room,
causing the loss of propulsive power. Captain Behrens requested a tow, which was undertaken by USS Boston.
Torpedo-equipped Imperial Japanese Army Ki-76 "Peggy" bombers attack the USS Houston, CL-81
at sunset on 14 October, 1944 off the coast of Formosa. One aerial torpedo found its mark, seriously damaging the Houston,
beginning an ordeal that included being hit by another aerial torpedo
two days later as the heavily damaged ship was under tow by the Navy tug Pawnee,
which was attempting to tow the Houston to the US Navy fleet anchorage at Ulithi Atoll.
Fifty-five of the ship's complement were killed and many wounded during their epic struggle to save their ship.
After making the Ulithi anchorage and undergoing temporary repairs, the Houston, winner of three Battle Stars,
continued on to the New York Navy Yard for final repairs. CL-81 was the second US Navy cruiser to bear the name "Houston",
the first was lost in a fierce naval battle off Guadalcanal in 1942.
Here's a link;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Houston_(CL-81)
Cheers mates
David
