Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 390

Today in World War II History – April 24, 1944

Tadji Airstrip at Aitape, New Guinea, April 1944 (US Center of Military History)

70 Years Ago—Apr. 24, 1944: US secures Aitape, New Guinea, and opens Tadji Airstrip at Aitape. Movie premiere of Double Indemnity, starring Fred MacMurray & Barbara Stanwyck.

Book Beat – A Sky Without Stars

In 1951, recent widow Frankie Chasing Bear wants to make a better life for herself and her ten-year-old son, Harold, while teaching him to value their Lakota heritage. In Arizona, she meets federal agent Nick Parker, who struggles to balance his half-Lakota background with his “white man’s job.” Frankie and Nick are drawn to each other, but she distrusts his faith in the Christian God. When a string of thefts at the Indian School endangers Frankie’s dreams of an education and Nick’s boss pressures him to do something he know will be wrong for the Navajo, both Frankie and Nick need strength. As Frankie works on Harold’s Lakota Star quilt, she seeks wisdom from her grandmother’s teachings – but what if her grandma’s faith in God is what she needs most?

Linda S. Clare and Sarah Sundin at Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, April 2014

In A Sky Without Stars, Linda S. Clare paints a touching picture of two wounded people seeking identity and strength. Particularly poignant are Frankie’s struggles with her son and Nick’s turmoil as he tries to navigate two worlds. The details of life for Native Americans in the 1950s are fascinating and troubling. Beautiful writing, unique characters, and an appealing romance make this novel especially compelling. I highly recommend this story.

Today in World War II History – April 23, 1944

Sikorsky R-4B Helicopter at National Museum of the United States Air Force (USAF photo)

70 Years Ago—Apr. 23, 1944: US Sixth Army secures Hollandia, New Guinea. Helicopter used for air evacuation for first time—Sikorsky YR-4B helicopter of the US 1st Air Commando Group rescues 4 downed airmen in Burma.

Today in World War II History – April 22, 1944

US Signal Corps cameramen Carl Weinke and Ernest Marjoram in New Guinea stream, 22 Apr 1944
(US National Archives)

70 Years Ago—Apr. 22, 1944: US Sixth Army lands at Hollandia and Aitape, New Guinea with little opposition. In the US, typewriters are removed from rationing.

Today in World War II History – April 21, 1944

Gen. Hans-Valentin Hube, 1942 (Public domain)

70 Years Ago—Apr. 21, 1944: German Gen. Hans-Valentin Hube killed in plane crash at Berchtesgaden; Gen. Erhard Raus replaces him over German First Panzer Army.

Today in World War II History – April 20, 1944

Gurkha troops on Imphal-Kohima Road (US Library of Congress)

70 Years Ago—Apr. 20, 1944: British relieve siege at Kohima, India, but Japanese maintain the siege of the critical Imphal area.

Today in World War II History – April 19, 1944

70 Years Ago—Apr. 19, 1944: Japanese launch Ichi-Go offensive in China to open corridor to Hanoi and to capture US airbases. In the US, shortening, salad & cooking oils are removed from rationing, but butter & margarine are still rationed.

Today in World War II History – April 18, 1944

Indian troops loading a jeep into an RAF
Douglas Dakota to resupply Imphal

70 Years Ago—Apr. 18, 1944: Allies begin air supply to besieged British and Indian troops at Imphal, India.

Today in World War II History – April 17, 1944

Lockheed C-69 Constellation, 9 January 1943 (US Navy photo)

70 Years Ago—Apr. 17, 1944: Howard Hughes and Jack Frye fly a Lockheed C-69 Constellation transport plane from Burbank, CA to Washington, DC in 6 hr, 57 min, a new cross-country record.

Today in World War II History – April 16, 1944

US Fifth Air Force bombing of Hollandia (USAF Photo)

70 Years Ago—Apr. 16, 1944: In the Crimea, Soviets drive Germans back to Sevastopol and take Yalta. “Black Sunday” for US Fifth Air Force—after successful bombing of Hollandia, New Guinea, 26 planes are lost in heavy weather, the unit’s highest non-combat losses in war.