Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 118

Today in World War II History—October 4, 1942

B-17F Flying Fortress “The Aztec’s Curse” of 26th Bomb Squadron after attack on Ghizo Island in the Solomons, 5 Oct 1942 (US National Archives) and a wood carving my grandfather, Frederick Stewart, made based on this photograph, 1989 (Sarah Sundin collection)

80 Years Ago—Oct. 4, 1942: British commando raid on Sark in the Channel Islands yields one German prisoner.

Germans make fourth major offensive at Stalingrad and attack tractor factory.

US 5th Bomb Group begins operating from Guadalcanal with B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers—the B-17s will be evacuated from the island only 10 days later.

Stalingrad Tractor Factory after German capture, Stalingrad, Russia, 17 Oct 1942 (German Federal Archive: Bild 183-B22437)

The post Today in World War II History—October 4, 1942 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.

Today in World War II History—October 3, 1942

Bette Davis & John Garfield, founders of the Hollywood Canteen, 1942 (public domain via Wikipedia)

80 Years Ago—Oct. 3, 1942: In Stalingrad, Germans push Soviets back to the Volga.

US War Dog Reception and Training Center is established at Fort Robinson, NE.

Hollywood Canteen opens on Cahuenga Blvd., started by Bette Davis and John Garfield, with film stars entertaining and serving Allied troops; unlike other canteens, it’s integrated and open to servicewomen in uniform.

The post Today in World War II History—October 3, 1942 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.

Today in World War II History—October 2, 1942

British troopship HMT Queen Mary returning US troops from Europe, New York, NY, 20 June 1945 (US Navy photo 80-GK-5645)

80 Years Ago—Oct. 2, 1942: Off Northern Ireland, troopship HMT Queen Mary (carrying US 29th Infantry Division to Britain) collides with light cruiser HMS Curacoa, cutting it in half (337/364 killed).

US Marines occupy Funafuti in the Ellice Islands in the Pacific to build an airfield.

The post Today in World War II History—October 2, 1942 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.

Today in World War II History—October 1, 1942

The Poky Little Puppy

80 Years Ago—Oct. 1, 1942: Off Shanghai, submarine USS Grouper sinks Japanese troop transport Lisbon Maru, killing 850/1816 British & Canadian POWs.

Maiden flight of Bell Airacomet XP-59A at Muroc Army Air Field in California, the first US jet to fly.

Golden Books are first sold for 25 cents each; the twelve original titles include Scuffy the Tugboat and The Poky Little Puppy.

The post Today in World War II History—October 1, 1942 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.

Today in World War II History—September 30, 1942

Canadian poster, WWII

80 Years Ago—Sept. 30, 1942: Luftwaffe ace Hans-Joachim Marseille (151 victories) is killed when bailing from his Messerschmitt 109 fighter plane over Egypt.

US begins rationing men’s rubber boots and work shoes (Read more about rubber shortages and shoe rationing: “Make It Do – Tire Rationing in World War II” and “Make It Do – Shoe Rationing in World War II”)

Canada begins draft for men 19 and older (men 21-24 are already subject to draft).

Erwin Rommel and Hans-Joachim Marseille, Libya, 16 Sep 1942 (public domain via WW2 Database)

The post Today in World War II History—September 30, 1942 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.

Today in World War II History—September 29, 1942

“Democracy in Action!” by Charles Henry Alston, 1943, commemorating launch of SS Booker T. Washington (US National Archives: 535671)

80 Years Ago—Sept. 29, 1942: RAF Eagle Squadrons (American volunteers) are officially converted into the US 4th Fighter Group of the Eighth Air Force, flying Spitfires; the group will soon fly P-47s, then P-51s.

Seaplane from Japanese submarine I-25 drops incendiary bombs near Port Orford, Oregon, in an unsuccessful attempt to start forest fires, the second and last bombing of the US in WWII.

Liberty ship Booker T. Washington is launched at Wilmington, DE, the first US merchant ship named after an African-American and the first commanded by a Black captain (Hugh Mulzac); the crew was integrated.

Spitfire MK V of US 4th Fighter Group, 1942; note USAAF insignia overlying the RAF roundel (US Army Air Force photo)

The post Today in World War II History—September 29, 1942 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.

Today in World War II History—September 28, 1942

Australian soldier examines Japanese artillery shells abandoned at Ioribaiwa, New Guinea, Oct. 1942 (Australian War Memorial: 026832)

80 Years Ago—Sept. 28, 1942: Australians take Ioribaiwa in drive back up Kokoda Trail on New Guinea.

The post Today in World War II History—September 28, 1942 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.

Today in World War II History—September 27, 1942

Painting of US Coast Guard personnel evacuating U.S. Marines from near Point Cruz on Guadalcanal under fire during the Second Battle of the Matanikau on Sept. 27, 1942 (public domain via US Coast Guard)

80 Years Ago—Sept. 27, 1942: During the withdrawal from Matanikau on Guadalcanal, Signalman 1C Douglas Munro uses his Higgins Boat to shield Marines at the cost of his life; Munro is the only US Coast Guardsman to receive the Medal of Honor ever.

US Liberty ship Stephen Hopkins sinks German auxiliary cruiser Stier off South Africa, but Stephen Hopkins sinks too; 15 US survivors make a 31-day lifeboat trip to Brazil; the only US ship to sink a German surface warship in WWII.

Glenn Miller and his orchestra perform together for the last time before Miller enters the US Army Air Force, at Central Theater, Passaic, NJ.

Glenn Miller, Billboard Magazine, 16 May 1942 (public domain via Wikipedia)

The post Today in World War II History—September 27, 1942 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.

Today in World War II History—September 26, 1942

US poster, 1943 (US Office of War Information O-520464)

80 Years Ago—Sept. 26, 1942: US War Labor Board issues directive for women to have equal pay for equal work (not implemented until April 1943).

King Christian X of Denmark’s brief reply to Hitler’s lengthy telegram on the king’s 72nd birthday causes the “Telegram Crisis,” in which Hitler will demand changes in the Danish government.

Auxiliary carrier USS Bogue is commissioned, Tacoma, WA.

New song in Top Ten: “Serenade in Blue.”

Auxiliary carrier USS Bogue (ACV-9) underway near Norfolk, VA, 20 June 1943 (US Navy photo: 80-G-71314)

The post Today in World War II History—September 26, 1942 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.

Today in World War II History—September 25, 1942

Girls from Roosevelt High School in Los Angeles, CA, train in marksmanship with the High School Victory Corps, 1942 (US National Archives: 196476)

80 Years Ago—Sept. 25, 1942: Australians launch offensive toward Ioribaiwa on Kokoda Trail, New Guinea.

In first joint US-Canadian mission, US Eleventh Air Force and Royal Canadian Air Force bomb Kiska in the Aleutians.

Camp Pendleton is officially established in California, the main Marine Corps facility on the West Coast.

US establishes High School Victory Corps for wartime training and service.

The post Today in World War II History—September 25, 1942 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.