Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 238
December 15, 2017
Today in World War II History—Dec. 15, 1942
Silver Star
75 Years Ago—Dec. 15, 1942: For the US Army, Congress authorizes the Silver Star to be awarded for gallantry not warranting the Medal of Honor or the Distinguished Service Cross.
First Loch Ewe, Scotland, to Russia (JW) convoy departs, resuming Allied Arctic convoys.
December 14, 2017
Today in World War II History—Dec. 14, 1942
US troops crossing Japanese-built footbridge to Buna Mission over Entrance Creek, Papua New Guinea, December 1942.
75 Years Ago—Dec. 14, 1942: US and Australian troops occupy Buna, New Guinea.
On sub USS Grayback in the Bismarck Islands, an appendectomy is performed by Pharmacist’s Mate First Class Harry B. Roby, second of three such operations performed on US subs in WWII.
December 13, 2017
Today in World War II History—Dec. 13, 1942
German Enigma code machines captured from U-505, Chicago Museum of Science and Industry (Photo: Sarah Sundin, September 2016).
75 Years Ago—Dec. 13, 1942: Montgomery’s British Eighth Army launches offensive at El Agheila, Libya, takes Mersa Brega.
British cryptographers at Bletchley Park crack German Enigma 4-rotor Triton (“Shark”) U-boat code after ten months.
US Fifth Air Force B-17s & B-24s attack a Japanese convoy off Buna, New Guinea—Japanese will make no further attempts to reinforce Buna and Gona.
December 12, 2017
Today in World War II History—Dec. 12, 1942
US War Bond poster, 1942
75 Years Ago—Dec. 12, 1942: Germans under Gen. Erich von Manstein launch offensive in attempt to relieve encircled troops at Stalingrad.
UCLA football team beats USC for the first time, 14-7; a war bond drive at the game raises $2 million.
December 11, 2017
Today in World War II History—Dec. 11, 1942
Commandos in canoes rowing toward Bordeaux, December 1942 (Royal Marines photo)
75 Years Ago—Dec. 11, 1942: “Cockleshell Heroes” Raid: British commandos, who had landed in France from a submarine on Dec. 7 and canoed up the Gironde River, damage six ships in Bordeaux; two of the ten commandos survive.
First US military personnel arrive in Iraq and Iran.
December 10, 2017
Today in World War II History—Dec. 10, 1942
At the Army Air Force School of Air Evacuation at Bowman Field, KY, student flight nurses learn how to handle patients with the aid of a mock-up fuselage of a Douglas C-47 transport. (National Museum of the USAF)
75 Years Ago—Dec. 10, 1942: Germans strike at Medjez el Bab, Tunisia, but fail to take town.
The first US Medical Squadrons, Air Evacuation Transport (the 801st-806th) are activated at Bowman Field, Kentucky. Read more: “Medical Air Evacuation in World War II.”
December 9, 2017
Today in World War II History—Dec. 9, 1942
Thurleigh Army Air Field becomes first RAF field to be turned over for US Army Air Forces use on Dec. 9, 1942; the US 306th Bombardment Group flew B-17s from Thurleigh (US Army Air Force photo)
75 Years Ago—Dec. 9, 1942: US Marines under Lt. Gen. Alexander Vandegrift turn over operations on Guadalcanal to US Army under Maj. Gen. Alexander Patch.
Thurleigh Army Airfield, home of the US 306th Bombardment Group, becomes the first British base officially turned over to the US Army Air Forces.
December 8, 2017
Today in World War II History—Dec. 8, 1942
US poster, WWII
75 Years Ago—Dec. 8, 1942: Gen. Hans-Jürgin von Arnim replaces Gen. Walther Nehring over German forces in Tunisia.
Germans disarm French in Tunisia and seize ships.
Eight US PT boats (torpedo boats) turn back eight Japanese destroyers attempting to reinforce Guadalcanal.
In the US, production of artificial rubber is given top priority above other war production programs.
December 7, 2017
Today in World War II History—Dec. 7, 1942
Submarine USS Bowfin, Pearl Harbor (Photo: Sarah Sundin, 7 Nov 2016)
75 Years Ago—Dec. 7, 1942: US forces on Guadalcanal shell Japanese positions to mark Pearl Harbor anniversary.
German U-boat U-515 sinks British troopship Ceramic off the Azores; 654 killed, including nurses and 12 children.
Submarine USS Bowfin is launched at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Maine, nicknamed the “Pearl Harbor Avenger,” now a museum ship at Pearl Harbor. (See pictures from my tour of the USS Bowfin).
December 6, 2017
Today in World War II History—Dec. 6, 1942
Panzer VI Tiger I in Tunisia, January 1943 (German Federal Archive: Bild 101I-554-0872-35)
75 Years Ago—Dec. 6, 1942: Germans victorious in tank battle at Djebel el Guessa, Tunisia.
