14 Aug 1937 | World War II Database

14 Aug 1937

After capturing Bilbao the Spanish Nationalist forces in the north of Spain switched their offensive towards Santander. The Nationalists, who were led by General Fidel Dávila, advanced westward through the Cantabrian Mountains. Spanish Republican resistance was weak, despite the large number of troops General Mariano Gamir Ulibarri had under his command, because of poor training and a shortage of weapons. ww2dbase [The Spanish Civil War | AC]
Henley was commissioned into service. ww2dbase [Henley | CPC]

China

18 Type 96 G3M bombers of the Japanese Kanoya Air Group took off from the Matsuyama Airfield in Taihoku (now Songshan Airport in Taipei), Taiwan to bomb Jianqiao Airfield at Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province and Guangde Airfield in Anhui Province in China. Fighters of the Chinese 4th Pursuit Group, led by Captain Gao Zhihang, rose to intercept from Jianqiao and shot down 3 bombers without any losses. Cheng Xiaoyu's 22nd Squadron, also of the Chinese 4th Pursuit Group, rose to meet the other group attacking Guangde Airfield, shooting down another. Anti-aircraft crews claimed a further two bombers destroyed. Gao's downing was the first Republic of China Air Force victory of WW2. In 1939, the Chinese Nationalist government would declare 14 Aug as a holiday, Air Force Day, as an instrument to raise morale. ww2dbase [Bombing of Shanghai, Chongqing, and other Cities | Jianqiao Airfield | Gao Zhihang | Hangzhou, Zhejiang | CPC]
The Manchukuo Film Association Limited was established in the Japanese-sponsored puppet state of Manchukuo; it was a joint-venture between the government of Manchukuo and the South Manchurian Railway Company. ww2dbase [CPC]
Liu Cuigang, commanding officer of the 24th Pursuit Squadron of the Chinese 5th Pursuit Group flying a Hawk III fighter, claimed the squadron's first victory, an E8N seaplane, near Shanghai, China; Japanese records showed no E8N aircraft lost on that date. ww2dbase [Liu Cuigang | Shanghai | CPC]
Liu Zhesheng, flying a Hawk III fighter, shot down a G3M bomber of Japanese Kanoya Air Group near Shanghai, China. He shared this victory with fellow pilot Li Guidan or his wingman Lieutenant Wang Wenhua. ww2dbase [Second Battle of Shanghai | Liu Zhesheng | Shanghai | CPC]
A Chinese aircraft, en route to attack Japanese warships off Shanghai, China, accidentally released a bomb over the international section of Shanghai. The bomb hit the Cathay and Palace Hotels near the waterfront at 1627 hours, killing many Chinese and western civilians. The killed included American citizens Robert Reischauer, Frank Rawlinson, Hubert Honigsberg, and Mrs. Honigsberg. ww2dbase [Second Battle of Shanghai | Shanghai | CPC]