Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 121

Today in World War II History—September 4, 1942

US Army rank insignia for technician third class, WWII

80 Years Ago—Sept. 4, 1942: US Marines scout Savo Island off Guadalcanal, find it free of Japanese soldiers, and secure it.

US Army adds “T” to chevrons for technician third, fourth, and fifth class.

Movie premiere of Orchestra Wives, starring Glenn Miller and his orchestra.

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Today in World War II History—September 3, 1942

Patch of the US Fifth Air Force, WWII

80 Years Ago—Sept. 3, 1942: US Fifth Air Force is reactivated (formerly Far East Air Force), under Lt. Gen. George Kenney in Brisbane, Australia, for US forces in Australia and New Guinea.

First US cargo flight to Guadalcanal—R4D cargo plane brings Brig. Gen. Roy Geiger then evacuates wounded.

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Today in World War II History—September 2, 1942

German bomb exploding near HMS Ashanti, HMS Wheatland, and HMS Eskimo, escorting Allied convoy PQ-18, Sep 1942 (Imperial War Museum: A 12022)

80 Years Ago—Sept. 2, 1942: Allied convoy PQ-18 departs Scotland for USSR, the first Arctic convoy with an escort carrier, HMS Avenger, and the first since the PQ-17 disaster; 13/40 ships will be lost.

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Today in World War II History—September 1, 1942

Japanese-American children playing with scale model of their home at Tule Lake Relocation Center, Newell, CA, 11 Sep 1942 (US National Archives)

80 Years Ago—Sept. 1, 1942: In Egypt, British lure German tanks into soft sand between Alam Halfa and Ruweisat Ridges and then attacks.

In Egypt, Luftwaffe fighter pilot Hans Marseille shoots down 16 RAF fighters in 3 missions.

Federal judge in California upholds detention of Japanese-Americans.

German Army Group A reaches the Black Sea in the Caucasus and takes port of Anapa.

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Today in World War II History—August 31, 1942

Australian troops at Milne Bay, New Guinea, shortly after the unsuccessful Japanese invasion attempt, 1 Oct 1942 (Australian War Memorial: 013335)

80 Years Ago—Aug. 31, 1942: Australians launch offensive against the Japanese at Milne Bay, New Guinea.

A general strike breaks out in Luxembourg as the Germans conscript men ages 20-24.

Canada requires unemployed men and women to take war work.

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Today in World War II History—August 30, 1942

US 54th Fighter Squadron P-38s, Adak, Alaska, 1942 (US Army Air Forces photo)

80 Years Ago—Aug. 30, 1942: In Egypt, the Battle of Alam Halfa Ridge begins near El Alamein as German troops under Rommel attempt to outflank the British.

US Army lands unopposed on Adak in the Aleutian Islands to build air and naval bases.

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Today in World War II History—August 29, 1942

Papuan carriers evacuate Australian casualties near Isurava, 30 Aug 1942 (Australian War Memorial: 013286)

80 Years Ago—Aug. 29, 1942: In New Guinea, Japanese break through “Gap” at Isurava on way to Port Moresby.

Australia begins sugar rationing, 2 pounds per 2 weeks.

New song in Top Ten: “At Last.”

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Today in World War II History—August 28, 1942

Poster commemorating capture of U-94 by HMCS Oakville, 28 Aug 1942 (public domain via Wikipedia)

80 Years Ago—Aug. 28, 1942: Japanese daylight attempt to reinforce Guadalcanal fails due to US air attack; they turn to nighttime missions, dubbed the “Tokyo Express” by the Americans.

First school for WAVES officers opens at Smith College in Northampton, MA (USS Northampton); 125 women are commissioned in “fast-track” one-month course.

Off Haiti, US PBY Catalina and Canadian corvette Oakville capture German sub U-94, but sub sinks; this loss will lead the Germans to withdraw Type VII U-boats from the Caribbean and the Gulf.

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Today in World War II History—August 27, 1942

Battleship USS Iowa ready for launching, New York Navy Yard, NY, Aug 1942 (US National Archives: 80-G-K-13507)

80 Years Ago—Aug. 27, 1942: In Portuguese East Africa, Japanese and British exchange one thousand interned Allied civilians for Japanese diplomats, supplies, and Red Cross parcels for Allied POWs.

Battleship USS Iowa is launched, New York Navy Yard, NY (currently a museum ship in Long Beach, CA).

Movie premiere of drama Somewhere I’ll Find You, starring Lana Turner & Clark Gable, his last film before enlisting.

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Today in World War II History—August 26, 1942

Douglas C-47 Skytrain of US Air Transport Command, 1940s (US Air Force photo)

80 Years Ago—Aug. 26, 1942: Mussolini’s oldest son, Benito, whom he denied, is murdered in an asylum in Mombello, Italy, where he’d been forcibly interned, age 26.

First US Army Air Force C-47 cargo planes depart for Britain (51st Troop Carrier Wing).

In Bulgaria, Jews are required to wear the yellow star, but noncompliance is high and enforcement low; most Bulgarian Jews survive the war.

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