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October 26, 1944

Revisit the news, notable people, and historical moments connected to this date.

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Headlines from October 26, 1944

ALLIES CUT UP FOE IN WEST HOLLAND; British Hammer Germans in One Area of's Hertogenbosch -- Canadians Tighten Traps

By Clifton Daniel

Gers driven out of all but southwest corner of 's Hertogenbosch; Brit take Boxtel; other forces drive to within 3 mi of Tilburg; Canadians reopen drive on Breda, advancing 2 mi beyond Baarle Nassau; take Rilland and retake Ft Hendrik; gradual Ger withdrawal from western Netherlands seen; Ger strength estimated; US 3d Army cleaning up east of Nancy; US 7th Army repulses counter-attack in Luneville sector; occupies Menarmont, Mortagne and Brifontaine; map

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Notable Births

Jim McCann (musician)

1944Jim McCann, Irish singer and guitarist (died 2015)[†]

James McCann was an Irish entertainer and folk musician. Although a solo artist for most of his career, McCann was a member of the folk group The Dubliners from 1974 until 1979, then later appearing with them in their 2002 reunion and their 50th anniversary tour in 2012.

Notable Deaths

Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom

1944Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom (born 1857)[†]

Princess Beatrice, later Princess Henry of Battenberg, was the fifth daughter and youngest child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Beatrice was also the last of Queen Victoria's children to die, nearly 66 years after the first, her elder sister Alice.

Hiroyoshi Nishizawa

1944Hiroyoshi Nishizawa, Japanese lieutenant and pilot (born 1920)[†]

Lieutenant Junior Grade Hiroyoshi Nishizawa was a Japanese naval aviator and an ace of the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service during World War II. Nishizawa was known to his colleagues as 'the Devil' for his breathtaking, brilliant, and unpredictable aerobatics and superb control of his aircraft while in combat. He was a member of the Tainan Kōkūtai's famous "clean up trio" with fellow aces Saburō Sakai and Toshio Ōta and would see action in the New Guinea campaign as well as in the aerial battles over Guadalcanal and over the Solomon Islands. He was killed in 1944 during the Philippines Campaign while aboard an IJN transport aircraft. It is possible that he was the most successful Japanese fighter ace of the war, reportedly telling his last CO that he had achieved a tally of 86 or 87 aerial victories- post war he was linked with scores of 147 or 103, but both of these scores have been considered inaccurate.

William Temple (bishop)

1944William Temple, English archbishop and theologian (born 1881)[†]

William Temple was an English Anglican priest who served as Bishop of Manchester (1921–1929), Archbishop of York (1929–1942) and Archbishop of Canterbury (1942–1944).

Historical Events

Battle of Leyte Gulf

1944World War II: The Battle of Leyte Gulf ends with an overwhelming American victory.[†]

The Battle of Leyte Gulf 23–26 October 1944, was the largest naval battle of World War II and by some criteria the largest naval battle in history, with over 200,000 naval personnel involved.