Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 391

Today in World War II History – April 15, 1944

Marshal Nikolai Vatutin

70 Years Ago—Apr. 15, 1944: Marshal Nikolai Vatutin, commander of Soviet Voronezh Front, dies after being wounded in ambush by Ukrainian insurgents on February 28.

Today in World War II History – April 14, 1944

Aftermath of Fort Stikine explosion, Bombay (public domain photo, Wikipedia)

70 Years Ago—Apr. 14, 1944: At Bombay, India, British ammunition ship Fort Stikineexplodes, killing 1300, and destroying 27 ships. Chinese launch offensive across border into Burma.

Today in World War II History – April 13, 1944

The Memphis Belle and her crew, May 1943 (USAF Photo)

70 Years Ago—Apr. 13, 1944: Movie premiere in Hollywood of the documentary Memphis Belle, directed by William Wyler, about the famous B-17 Flying Fortress’s 25th mission.

Today in World War II History – April 12, 1944

Prince Umberto of Italy, 1944 (UK government photo)

70 Years Ago—Apr. 12, 1944: Germans begin evacuating the Crimea. King Vittorio Emanuele of Italy transfers most powers to his son Prince Umberto but retains the throne.

Today in World War II History

German battleship Tirpitz in Alta Fjord, Norway
(US Naval History and Heritage Command)70 Years Ago—Apr. 3, 1944: In Alta Fjord, Norway, aircraft from British carriers Victoriousand Furious damage German battleship Tirpitz (438 killed). In case of Smith v. Allwright, the US Supreme Court declares all-white primaries in the South are unconstitutional.

Today in World War II History

B-29 Superfortress (USAF photo)70 Years Ago—Apr. 2, 1944: Soviets enter Romania. First US B-29 Superfortress arrives at Kharagpur, India, near Calcutta

Today in World War II History

B-17s of the US 3rd Bombardment Division over
Europe (USAF photo)70 Years Ago—Apr. 1, 1944: Allied Combined Bomber Offensive officially ends as Allies achieve air superiority over Europe. US Fifteenth Air Force based in Italy begins operations to evacuate partisans, women, and children from Yugoslavia.

Book Beat - Death by the Book

A cozy English village, a charmingly eccentric cast of characters - and a set of dastardly murders! When Drew Farthering visits his solicitor and finds the man dead, with a cryptic note attached to his chest with an antique hatpin, this amateur sleuth won't rest until he solves the case.

As others turn up dead, Drew and his girlfriend, Madeline Parker, try to figure out the connection between the crimes as the murders get closer and closer to home - before it's too late.

I thoroughly enjoyed Julianna Deering's Death by the Book . Although it's the second book in the series, I didn't feel lost - although now I want to read Rules of Murder to get to know the characters better. The setting in the English countryside in 1932 is well drawn, the characters are quirky but realistic (Aunt Ruth is a kick!), and the mystery kept my guessing until the end. Those who enjoy classic mysteries will enjoy this story.

Today in World War II History

Adm. Mineichi Koga
(public domain)70 Years Ago—Mar. 31, 1944: Vice Adm. Mineichi Koga, Commander-in-Chief of Japanese Combined Fleet, is killed in a plane crash on Mindanao.

Today in World War II History

British Lancaster bombers, 1944
(Imperial War Museum)70 Years Ago—Mar. 30, 1944: RAF loses 96 of 795 bombers on raid on Nuremberg, its heaviest loss in war. Japanese surround major British base of Imphal, India.