Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 270
March 2, 2017
Today in World War II History—Mar. 2, 1942
Connie Haines, Maxie Rosenbloom, Ben Lyon, Morton Downey and Joan Blondell at the Stage Door Canteen in New York, 20 August 1943 (public domain via Wide World Photos).
75 Years Ago—Mar. 2, 1942: In Australia, all adult civilians are liable for compulsory war service.
US Army reorganizes into three autonomous commands—Ground Forces, Army Air Forces, and Services of Supply.
Stage Door Canteen opens on Broadway in 44th St. Theater, where stars entertain and serve servicemen.
March 1, 2017
Today in World War II History—Mar. 1, 1942
HMS Exeter under attack, Battle of the Java Sea, 1 Mar 1942 (Japanese Navy Photo)
75 Years Ago—Mar. 1, 1942: In the Battle of Sunda Strait off Java, Japanese ships sink heavy cruiser USS Houston, light cruiser HMAS Perth, and Dutch destroyer Evertsen; US ships sink 6 Japanese transports and other ships.
In Battle of the Java Sea, Japanese cruisers sink heavy cruiser HMS Exeter and destroyers HMS Encounter and USS Pope.
Off Newfoundland, a PBO Hudson bomber sinks U-656, the first U-boat sunk by the US Navy in WWII.
“Command Performance” radio show premieres from New York, starring Eddie Cantor taking requests from servicemen.
February 28, 2017
Today in World War II History—Feb. 28, 1942
Destroyer USS Jacob Jones, 1930s (US Navy photo)
75 Years Ago—Feb. 28, 1942: Japanese land on Java in East Indies.
Off Delaware coast, German U-boat U-578 sinks US destroyer Jacob Jones—138/149 killed.
February 27, 2017
Today in World War II History—Feb. 27, 1942
Seaplane tender USS Langley being abandoned after being damaged by Japanese bombs, Battle of Java Sea, 27 Feb 1942 (US Naval History and Heritage Command)
75 Years Ago—Feb. 27, 1942: Battle of Java Sea begins—Allied ships fail to prevent Japanese landing at Java, take heavy losses.
Nazis order construction of gas chambers at Auschwitz.
Seattle school board accepts forced resignation of Japanese-American teachers.
February 26, 2017
Today in World War II History—Feb. 26, 1942
Ribbon for the Army’s Distinguished Unit Citation
75 Years Ago—Feb. 26, 1942: Army Distinguished Unit Citation authorized, worn above right breast pocket.
3000 Japanese residents of San Pedro and Terminal Island, CA ordered to leave in 3 days.
Academy Awards: best picture How Green Was My Valley, best actress Joan Fontaine in Suspicion, best actor Gary Cooper in Sergeant York, best director John Ford for How Green Was My Valley, first Oscars awarded for documentaries.
February 25, 2017
Today in World War II History—Feb. 25, 1942
Antiaircraft fire over Los Angeles, CA, 24-25 February 1942 (California State Archives)
75 Years Ago—Feb. 25, 1942: “Battle of Los Angeles”: In Los Angeles, false reports of enemy planes (actually a rogue weather balloon) lead to firing of antiaircraft guns during night of Feb. 24-25; 5 civilians die from resulting car accidents or heart attacks.
British Gen. Sir Archibald Wavell named Commander in Chief, India.
President Roosevelt bans racial discrimination in defense industry.
February 24, 2017
Today in World War II History—Feb. 24, 1942
TBD-1 Devastator bomber over Wake Island during American attack, 24 Feb 1942 (US National Archives)
75 Years Ago—Feb. 24, 1942: Soviet sub ShCh-213 sinks Bulgarian passenger ship Struma; 766 Jewish refugees die after having been refused admission to Palestine and Turkey.
Canada orders removal of all Japanese-Canadians from west coast to inland communities.
USS Enterprise group strikes Wake Island, sinking two Japanese guard boats.
February 23, 2017
Today in World War II History—Feb. 23, 1942
US B-17 Flying Fortress “Swamp Ghost” undergoing restoration at the Pacific Aviation Museum. (Photo: Sarah Sundin, 7 Nov 2016)
75 Years Ago—Feb. 23, 1942: US Fifth Air Force B-17s, based in Townsville, Australia make first attack on Rabaul; 1 crash-lands in New Guinea swamp—Swamp Ghost now in Pacific Aviation Museum at Pearl Harbor.
Japanese sub I-17 fires at Bankline Oil Refinery at Ellwood near Santa Barbara CA; little damage; first attack on US mainland in war.
US Army Air Forces approve “winged star” emblem in shape of a V for victory. 
February 22, 2017
Today in World War II History—Feb. 22, 1942
Air Marshal Sir Arthur Harris, 1943 (National Archives, United Kingdom)
75 Years Ago—Feb. 22, 1942: Air Marshal Sir Arthur “Bomber” Harris takes command of RAF Bomber Command.
President Roosevelt orders Gen. Douglas MacArthur to leave Bataan for Australia.
New car sales end in the US.
February 21, 2017
Today in World War II History—Feb. 21, 1942
San Francisco Examiner headlines, San Francisco, CA, 22 Feb 1942 (US National Archives)
75 Years Ago—Feb. 21, 1942: House of Representatives begins hearings about removal of Japanese-Americans from West Coast.
German spy Bernard Julius Otto Kuehn convicted of espionage for sending information about Pearl Harbor to the Japanese before and during the attack.
New song in Top Ten: “I Don’t Want to Walk Without You.”
