Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 182
April 28, 2019
Today in World War II History—April 28, 1944
USS LST-289 after being damaged by German torpedo boats off Slapton Sands on 28 April 1944 (US National Archives, via US Naval History and Heritage Command)
75 Years Ago—April 28, 1944: During Exercise Tiger D-Day practice off Slapton Sands in England, German torpedo boats sink two American tank landing ships (LST-507 and LST-531) and damage USS LST-289; 749 are killed; US 4th Infantry Division suffers greater losses in this disaster than on D-day.
Merrill’s Marauders (US) and Chinese troops under US Gen. Joseph Stilwell begin offensive toward Myitkyina, Burma.
Lt. Gen. Joseph Stilwell awarding a Silver Star to a Chinese soldier near Laban, northern Burma, 28 April 1944 (US Army photo)
April 27, 2019
Today in World War II History—April 27, 1944
US soldiers practicing for D-day at Slapton Sands, Lyme Bay, England, 27 April 1944 (Library of Congress)
75 Years Ago—April 27, 1944: Countdown to D-day: in Exercise Tiger, a rehearsal for D-day, US 4th Infantry Division begins landing at Slapton Sands in Dorset, England.
US Ninth Air Force in England flies its first mission with Douglas A-20 Havoc light bombers.
Douglas A-20 Havocs over France, WWII (USAF photo)
April 26, 2019
Today in World War II History—April 26, 1944
Southwick House, England, September 2017 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)
75 Years Ago—April 26, 1944: Countdown to D-day: Allied Naval Command Expeditionary Force staff move to Battle Headquarters for D-day at Southwick House, Hampshire, England.
Federal troops seize Montgomery Ward plant after Sewell Avery refuses to sign with CIO as ordered by War Labor Board; Avery is carried out by soldiers.
To learn more about Southwick House and see pictures from my tour, please see “The Sea Before Us—Tour of Southwick House.”
April 25, 2019
The Governess of Penwythe Hall, by Sarah E. Ladd
Delia Greythorne enjoys serving as a governess for the five Twethewey children, but when their father dies, the children are sent from Yorkshire to live with their uncle, Jac Twethewey, at Penwythe Hall in Cornwall. Delia never wanted to return to her native Cornwall and the memories of her husband and baby daughter, who died. Even worse, her former in-laws are still there. They hold Delia responsible for her husband’s death – and want information they believe she has.
Jac Twethewey has his hands full trying to make his estate’s apple orchards and new cider press successful, and the arrival of Mrs. Greythorne and his five nieces and nephews only makes his life more complicated. Especially since Mrs. Greythorne is so attractive. But she seems to be harboring secrets which could endanger all he holds dear.
Set on the dramatic Cornish coast, The Governess of Penwythe Hall is more than a Regency-governess story. Danger! Secrets! Smugglers! The combination of romance and intrigue makes for a fun tale, and once again Sarah Ladd shows the effect of growing industrialization on rural England, a historical touch that I enjoyed. Delia and Jac are endearing characters, and the themes of overcoming grief and guilt add depth. I highly recommend this novel.
Today in World War II History—April 25, 1944
Pre-invasion Bombing of Pointe du Hoc by US Ninth Air Force A-20 light bombers, spring 1944. (US Army Center for Military History)
75 Years Ago—April 25, 1944: US Seventh Air Force B-24s make first land-based air attack on Guam.
Countdown to D-day: due to damage from a US Ninth Air Force raid, German gun crews at Pointe du Hoc move surviving guns 0.8 miles south of the battery site and place telegraph poles in original positions.
April 24, 2019
Today in World War II History—April 24, 1944
Tadji Airstrip at Aitape, New Guinea, April 1944 (US Army Center of Military History)
75 Years Ago—April 24, 1944: US secures Aitape, New Guinea, and opens Tadji Airstrip at Aitape.
Movie premiere of Double Indemnity, starring Fred MacMurray & Barbara Stanwyck, which will be nominated for 7 Oscars.
April 23, 2019
Today in World War II History—April 23, 1944
Sikorsky YR-4B at NACA Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory, Hampton, VA, 29 March 1945 (NASA photo)
75 Years Ago—April 23, 1944: Countdown to D-day: Air Plan for Operation Overlord is issued.
US Sixth Army secures Hollandia, New Guinea.
A helicopter is used for combat air rescue for the first time—a Sikorsky YR-4B helicopter of the US 1st Air Commando Group rescues four downed airmen in the Burma jungle, two at a time.
April 22, 2019
Today in World War II History—April 22, 1944
US Signal Corps cameramen Carl Weinke and Ernest Marjoram at Hollandia, New Guinea, 22 Apr 1944 (US National Archives)
75 Years Ago—April 22, 1944: US Sixth Army lands at Hollandia and Aitape, New Guinea with little opposition.
In the US, typewriters are removed from rationing. Read more: “Make It Do—Metal Shortages in World War II.”
US poster, WWII
April 21, 2019
Today in World War II History—April 21, 1944
Gen. Hans-Valentin Hube with the 16th Panzer Division outside Stalingrad, 23 August 1942 (Public domain via Wikipedia)
75 Years Ago—April 21, 1944: German Gen. Hans-Valentin Hube is killed in a plane crash at Berchtesgaden; Gen. Erhard Raus replaces him over German First Panzer Army.
US Navy Task Force 58, with 12 aircraft carriers, begins bombing and bombardment of Hollandia, Wakde, Sawar, and Sarmi areas of New Guinea in preparation for the next day’s landings.
April 20, 2019
Today in World War II History—April 20, 1944
Hawker Hurricane of RAF No.42 Squadron piloted by Flying Officer “Chowringhee” Campbell, attacking a bridge in Burma on the Tiddim Road near Imphal (Imperial War Museum: CF 175)
75 Years Ago—April 20, 1944: British relieve siege at Kohima, India, but Japanese retain town of Kohima and maintain the siege of the critical Imphal area.
W. Somerset Maugham’s best-selling novel The Razor’s Edge is published.
