Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 327
October 2, 2015
Today in World War II History—Oct. 2, 1940 & 1945
75 Years Ago—Oct. 2, 1940: Due to U-boat danger, Britain suspends Children’s Overseas Reception Board, which had been formed to evacuate children to Canada.
70 Years Ago—Oct. 2, 1945: US Fifth Army in Italy is inactivated.
October 1, 2015
Today in World War II History—Oct. 1, 1940 & 1945
Office of Strategic Services (OSS) emblem
75 Years Ago—Oct. 1, 1940: Pennsylvania Turnpike, the United States’ first long-distance highway, opens.
70 Years Ago—Oct. 1, 1945: The US Army Air Forces in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (AAF/MTO) is inactivated. US Office of Strategic Service (precursor to CIA) is disbanded.
September 30, 2015
Today in World War II History—Sept. 30, 1940 & 1945
Gun camera footage from a Spitfire Mk I fighter of No. 609 Squadron RAF, hitting a German He 111 over Bristol, England, 25 Sep 1940. (Imperial War Museum)
75 Years Ago—Sept. 30, 1940: Luftwaffe launches last major daylight raid on London, switches to night raids.
70 Years Ago—Sept. 30, 1945: US Marines land at Tientsin, China. US ends War Savings Time (year-round Daylight Savings Time).
September 29, 2015
Today in World War II History—Sept. 29, 1940 & 1945
Hall of Transportation and Palace of Fine and Decorative Arts, Golden Gate International Exposition, Treasure Island, CA. (Library of Congress)
75 Years Ago—Sept. 29, 1940: Golden Gate International Exposition in San Francisco closes (on Treasure Island).
70 Years Ago—Sept. 29, 1945: British troops land in Java to combat Indonesian nationalists.
September 28, 2015
Today in World War II History—Sept. 28, 1940 & 1945
British poster, WWII (Imperial War Museum)
75 Years Ago—Sept. 28, 1940: Britain renews call to evacuate mothers and children from London (489,000 evacuated by Oct. 17). First of 50 old US destroyers traded to Britain arrives in the UK. Uruguay cracks down on Nazi infiltrators, expels 13 German spies.
70 Years Ago—Sept. 28, 1945: US Office of Censorship is disbanded. Indonesians riot against Dutch.
September 27, 2015
Today in World War II History—Sept. 27, 1940 & 1945
Japanese embassy in Berlin with German, Japanese, and Italian flags, September 1940 (German Federal Archive: Bild 183-L09218)
75 Years Ago—Sept. 27, 1940: Germany, Italy, and Japan sign the Tripartite Pact. Joseph Kennedy, the US ambassador to Britain, says the outlook for Britain is bad and he’s glad the US is not in the war. Movie premiere of Busby Berkeley musical Strike up the Band, starring Judy Garland & Mickey Rooney.
70 Years Ago—Sept. 27, 1945: US Air Transport Command begins “Sunset Project”: return of planes, crews, & passengers from Pacific. Robert Patterson becomes US Secretary of War.
September 26, 2015
Today in World War II History—Sept. 26, 1940 & 1945
Lt. Col. Peter Dewey (US Army photo)
75 Years Ago—Sept. 26, 1940: In Luftwaffe raid on London, the Cabinet War Rooms take a direct bomb hit, but the bomb doesn’t penetrate the thick concrete ceiling.
70 Years Ago—Sept. 26, 1945: First US casualty in Vietnam (French Indochina)—OSS (precursor to CIA) officer Lt. Col. Peter Dewey is killed by Viet Minh in Saigon, mistaken for a Frenchman.
September 25, 2015
Today in World War II History—Sept. 25, 1940 & 1945
Vidkun Quisling, 1919 (National Archives of Norway)
75 Years Ago—Sept. 25, 1940: Quisling government (Nazi controlled) is officially formed in Norway. Nouméa, New Caledonia sides with Free French.
70 Years Ago—Sept. 25, 1945: The Nazi party is declared illegal. Last Soviet forces depart from Norway.
September 24, 2015
Today in World War II History—Sept. 24, 1940 & 1945
Flag of Malta, featuring the George Cross, awarded to Malta during WWII.
75 Years Ago—Sept. 24, 1940: King George of England institutes the George Cross and George Medal for civilian valor. Vichy France launches air raid on British Gibraltar.
70 Years Ago—Sept. 24, 1945: Movie premiere of Mildred Pierce, starring Joan Crawford, who will win an Oscar for her performance.
September 23, 2015
Today in World War II History—Sept. 23, 1940
Bantam jeep, towing a 37 mm Gun M3 piece, jumping over a small hill, New River, NC, 1941 (Library of Congress)
75 Years Ago—Sept. 23, 1940: Free French and British attempt to land at Dakar in French West Africa, but are repelled by Vichy forces. The design for the jeep is submitted to the US Army by Bantam, originally called the Pilot.
