Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 326
October 13, 2015
Today in World War II History—Oct. 13, 1940 & 1945
Vickers Wellington Mk.I medium bomber (British government photo)
75 Years Ago—Oct. 13, 1940: Indian National Congress launches program of anti-war civil disobedience. Britain’s Princess Elizabeth (age 14) makes her first radio broadcast, on BBC’s Children’s Hour, to evacuees.
70 Years Ago—Oct. 13, 1945: Last British Vickers Wellington bomber rolls off the production line.
October 12, 2015
Today in World War II History—Oct. 12, 1940 & 1945
President Harry Truman awarding the Medal of Honor on conscientious objector Desmond Doss, 12 October 1945 (US government photo)
75 Years Ago—Oct. 12, 1940: In Africa, Free French invade Vichy French-held Gabon from Cameroon and Congo. First use of radar in naval combat: off Malta in Battle of Cape Pessaro, British cruiser Ajax damages Italian destroyers Artigliere and Aviere; sinks Italian torpedo boats Ariel and Airone. All Japanese required to join neighborhood associations for social control.
70 Years Ago—Oct. 12, 1945: PFC Desmond Doss, a medical corpsman, becomes the first conscientious objector in US history to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor, for saving lives at great peril on Okinawa.
October 11, 2015
Today in World War II History—Oct. 11, 1940 & 1945
75 Years Ago—Oct. 11, 1940: Movie premiere of musical Down Argentine Way, starring Don Ameche, Betty Grable, and Carmen Miranda.
70 Years Ago—Oct. 11, 1945: US Marines land at Tsingtao, China to slow Communist advances; Japanese troops in Tsingtao surrender to US.
October 10, 2015
Today in World War II History—Oct. 10, 1940 & 1945
75 Years Ago—Oct. 10, 1940: Hitler starts Führer-Sofortprogram to build air-raid shelters in German cities.
70 Years Ago—Oct. 10, 1945: Soviet code clerk defects to US and reveals extent of Soviet spy ring in US. In World Series, Detroit Tigers defeat Chicago Cubs 4 games to 3.
October 9, 2015
Today in World War II History—Oct. 9, 1940 & 1945
USS Ocelot aground in Buckner Bay, Okinawa, with her stern severed by USS Nestor after Typhoon Louise ravaged that port 9 October 1945. Nestor’s bow is in the center of this photo. (US Naval History & Heritage Command)
75 Years Ago—Oct. 9, 1940: Luftwaffe bomb pierces dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, destroying the high altar. Germans begin occupying Romanian oil fields. President Roosevelt releases policy allowing blacks to serve as officers for black units; Army begins to recruit black nurses and doctors to care for black patients only.
70 Years Ago—Oct. 9, 1945: Typhoon Louise hits Okinawa, killing 36 and destroying hundreds of US ships, the most damaging storm encountered by the US Navy.
October 8, 2015
Today in World War II History—Oct. 8, 1940 & 1945
American pilots of No 71 ‘Eagle’ Squadron rush to their Hurricanes at Kirton-in-Lindsey, 17 March 1941. (Imperial War Museum)
75 Years Ago—Oct. 8, 1940: RAF forms Eagle Squadrons for volunteer American fighter pilots. RAF ace, Czech pilot Jozef Frantizek (28 kills), killed in crash in Surrey. First Indian Air Force pilots arrive in UK. In World Series, Cincinnati Reds defeat Detroit Tigers 4 games to 3.
70 Years Ago—Oct. 8, 1945: Nazi Rudolf Hess (who stole plane May 10, 1941 and flew to Scotland in unauthorized attempt to negotiate peace with Britain) is flown from England for Nuremberg Trials.
October 7, 2015
Today in World War II History—Oct. 7, 1940 & 1945
Maj. Gen. Lucian Truscott, Dec. 1944 (US Army Center of Military History)
75 Years Ago—Oct. 7, 1940: German troops enter Romania at request of Fascist Gen. Ion Antonescu. Japanese protest US embargo on vital materials as “unfriendly act.”
70 Years Ago—Oct. 7, 1945: Gen. Lucian Truscott assumes command of US Third Army, replacing Gen. George Patton, who has been transferred to command US Fifteenth Army due to his criticism of US “de-Nazification” program for German officers.
October 6, 2015
Today in World War II History—Oct. 6, 1945
70 Years Ago—Oct. 6, 1945: International Military Tribunal hands down indictments on 24 top Nazis at Nuremberg. Tavern owner “Billy Goat” Sianis buys seat for goat at World Series and is escorted out, he casts “goat curse” on Chicago Cubs.
October 5, 2015
Today in World War II History—Oct. 5, 1940 & 1945
75 Years Ago—Oct. 5, 1940: US Naval Reserve and US Marine Corps reserve divisions and aviation squadrons are placed on call for active duty.
70 Years Ago—Oct. 5, 1945: Lt. Louis Zamperini (Unbroken) returns home, over two years after his plane ditched in the Pacific. Meet the Press premieres on the radio.
Lt. Louis Zamperini, bombardier of B-24D Liberator ‘Superman’ inspects hole from a 20mm shell over Nauru, Apr 20 1943; photo taken at Funafuti, Gilbert Islands. (US National Archives)
October 4, 2015
Today in World War II History—Oct. 4, 1940 & 1945
US poster, WWII
75 Years Ago—Oct. 4, 1940: Movie premiere of Knute Rockne, All American, starring Pat O’Brien & Ronald Reagan, in South Bend IN.
70 Years Ago—Oct. 4, 1945: US War Production Board and Civilian Production Administration ordered to be terminated.
