Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 132

Today in World War II History—May 28, 1942

Panzer III and Rommel’s command vehicle in the western desert at the time of the Gazala battles, 1942 (German Federal Archives: Bild 101I-784-0246-22A)

80 Years Ago—May 28, 1942: British attack at Gazala forms “The Cauldron,” surrounding German troops on three sides.

Germans close pocket southeast of Kharkov in Ukraine, taking 200,000 Soviet POWs.

Premiere of recruiting film Winning Your Wings, starring James Stewart.

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Today in World War II History—May 27, 1942

US poster, 1943, honoring Dorie Miller, recipient of the Navy Cross for his actions at Pearl Harbor

80 Years Ago—May 27, 1942: Czech resistance fighters shoot German Gen. Reinhard Heydrich in Prague, deputy chief of the SS and Deputy Protector of Bohemia and Moravia; he dies June 4.

German Gen. Erwin Rommel launches an offensive against the British at Gazala, Libya.

Doris “Dorie” Miller becomes the first African-American to receive the Navy Cross, for actions at Pearl Harbor.

Guide Dogs for the Blind is founded in Los Gatos CA, to help returning servicemen.

Movie premiere of Prelude to War, the first of Frank Capra’s Why We Fight propaganda films.

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Today in World War II History—May 26, 1942

Northrop P-61 Black Widow night fighter, 1940s (US Air Force photo: 021002-O-9999G-008)

80 Years Ago—May 26, 1942: Anglo-Soviet 20-year mutual aid agreement signed—Britain and the USSR agree not to seek separate peace with Germany.

First flight of prototype Northrop P-61 Black Widow night fighter, Hawthorne, CA.

US Armed Forces Radio Service is established, the forerunner of Armed Forces Network.

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Today in World War II History—May 25, 1942

Camp Stoneman, Pittsburg, CA, June 1942 (US National Archives)

80 Years Ago—May 25, 1942: US Army opens Camp Stoneman in Pittsburg, CA, to process soldiers heading to the Pacific.

Andrew Higgins’s landing craft competes with Navy landing craft at Norfolk, VA; the Higgins boat wins in all categories and will be produced as the LCVP (Landing Craft, Vehicle or Personnel).

US troops approach Omaha Beach in an LCVP landing craft, Normandy, France, 6 June 1944 (US Naval History and Heritage Command: 26-G-2340)

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Today in World War II History—May 24, 1942

Soviet partisans in Belarus, 1943 (public domain via Russian State Archive)

80 Years Ago—May 24, 1942: Germans launch offensive against Soviet partisans in Bryansk-Vyazma rail line area.

Canada orders rationing of tea and coffee.

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Today in World War II History—May 23, 1942

US Navy Grumman F6F-3 Hellcats, May 1943 (US National Museum of Naval Aviation: 2011.003.274.018)

80 Years Ago—May 23, 1942: US Navy orders production of Grumman F6F Hellcat fighter aircraft.

Coastal Picket Patrol (civilian “Hooligan Navy”) is established under control of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary.

San Francisco emergency vehicles are requested not to use sirens due to confusion with air raid alarms.

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Today in World War II History—May 22, 1942

US poster, WWII

80 Years Ago—May 22, 1942: Mexico declares war on Germany, Japan, and Italy after many ships are lost to German U-boats.

United Steel Workers of America is formed, combining smaller unions.

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Today in World War II History—May 21, 1942

US F-5 photo reconnaissance aircraft and C-47 cargo planes at Amchitka in Aleutian Islands, 7 May 1942 (public domain via WW2 Database)

80 Years Ago—May 21, 1942: Japanese land in Leyte Gulf in the Philippines and occupy Leyte and Samar.

North Pacific Force established under Rear Adm. Robert Theobald for all US Army, US Navy, and Canadian forces in the Alaska area.

Boston Red Sox star Ted Williams hits his 100th home run; he will end the season with the Triple Crown, with a .356 batting average, 36 home runs, and 137 RBIs—the following day he enlists in the Naval Reserve, where he’ll serve as aviator.

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Today in World War II History—May 20, 1942

Gen. Joseph Stilwell marching out of Burma, May 1942 (US Army Center of Military History)

80 Years Ago—May 20, 1942: Japanese complete conquest of Burma.

US Gen. Joseph Stilwell arrives in Imphal, India, from Burma with 100 military personnel and civilians, including missionary Dr. Gordon Seagrave and 19 nurses, after 150-mile march.

Last Japanese-Americans are evacuated from San Francisco.

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Today in World War II History—May 19, 1942

US poster honoring Jimmy Doolittle, WWII

80 Years Ago—May 19, 1942: Lt. Col. James Doolittle receives the Medal of Honor, revealing who led the US air raid on Tokyo.

New York City discontinues night baseball games for the duration.

The post Today in World War II History—May 19, 1942 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.