Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 54

Today in World War II History—May 20, 1944

Men of US 163rd Infantry Regiment hit the beach from Higgins boats during the invasion of Wakde Island, New Guinea, 18 May 1944 (US National Archives: 111-SC-190968)

80 Years Ago—May 20, 1944: US troops secure Wakde Island off New Guinea.

Iceland holds referendum: 99.5% will vote to sever ties with Denmark and establish a new republic.

Polish resistance captures an intact German V-2 rocket and will ship the parts to England in July.

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Today in World War II History—May 19, 1944

B-17G Flying Fortress “Miss Donna Mae II” drifting under another bomber over Berlin, 19 May 1944 (US National Archives: 342-FH-3A20850-54775AC)

80 Years Ago—May 19, 1944: Final German U-boat victory in the Mediterranean as U-453 sinks British freighter Fort Missanabie off Taranto, Italy.

On US Eighth Air Force mission to Berlin, B-17 Miss Donna Mae II of the 94th Bomb Group is lost when bombs fall on her from above.

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Today in World War II History—May 18, 1944

Polish soldiers inside the ruins of the Monte Cassino monastery, Italy, 18 May 1944 (public domain via Wikipedia)

80 Years Ago—May 18, 1944: Polish troops take Monte Cassino and the abbey; British take Cassino town.

First air evacuation from Myitkyina Airfield in Burma: Japanese planes strafe the C-47 cargo planes on the ground, many are wounded, but two flight nurses are unharmed.

US Sixth Army secures Manus—the Admiralty Islands in the Pacific are now in Allied hands.

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Today in World War II History—May 17, 1944

P-51B Mustang “Old Crow” of the US 357th Fighter Group in invasion stripes for D-day (Imperial War Museum, Roger Freeman Collection: FRE 3121)

80 Years Ago—May 17, 1944: Countdown to D-day: Allied Expeditionary Air Force approves “invasion stripes” for Allied aircraft for D-day, not announced yet to maintain security (black & white stripes to prevent friendly fire).

Chinese troops and Merrill’s Marauders (US guerillas) take Myitkyina airfield, the only hard-surfaced field in northern Burma.

US 879th Engineer Aviation Battalion arrives at Myitkyina Airfield by gliders and opens airstrip that night.

Chinese crew of a 105-mm howitzer at Myitkyina, Burma, May 1944 (US Army Center of Military History)

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Today in World War II History—May 16, 1944

Allied World War II poster

80 Years Ago—May 16, 1944: US, Britain, USSR, and the governments-in-exile of Belgium, Norway, and the Netherlands sign an agreement concerning the administration of countries as they are liberated.

The post Today in World War II History—May 16, 1944 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.

Secondary Target by Angela Carlisle

Corina Roberts, her father, and her German shepherd, Houston, have a nice life in the small town of Kincaid, Kentucky, where Corina has opened a western goods store. However, the forces that drove them to flee to Kincaid after the murders of Corina’s mother and brother have resurfaced, and it becomes clear the killer has found them – and is targeting Corina.

Corina’s former boyfriend, Bryce Jessup, is back in Kincaid after serving in the Army. The last thing he wants is to see Corina again – but he also can’t resist the urge to protect her. The more Corina and Bryce investigate, the more sinister the threats and attacks become. And when they uncover a family secret, Corina realizes the killer won’t stop until she and her father are destroyed.

What a riveting debut novel from Angela Carlisle! The story starts with a rush and never lets up until the thrilling ending. Corina and Bryce are strong and smart, vulnerable and wounded, and I felt their frustration and their fear. With a sweet second-chance romance and touches of humor, Secondary Target is a compelling read all around.

The post Secondary Target by Angela Carlisle first appeared on Sarah Sundin.

Today in World War II History—May 15, 1944

Gen. Bernard Montgomery and King George VI at Montgomery’s headquarters in Britain, 22 May 1944 (Imperial War Museum: H 38734)

80 Years Ago—May 15, 1944: Countdown to D-day: General Dwight Eisenhower accepts the final mission plans for Overlord and a conference is held in London for all the top commanders with King George VI and Prime Minister Winston Churchill in attendance.

Nazis begin deporting Hungary’s 440,000 Jews to Auschwitz.

Sergius I, Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, dies, age 76.

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Today in World War II History—May 14, 1944

US troops entering Santa Maria Infante, Italy, 14 May 1944 (US Center of Military History)

80 Years Ago—May 14, 1944: In Italy, US II Corps breaks German Gustav Line, opening the route to Rome.

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Today in World War II History—May 13, 1944

Publicity photo of Roy Rogers and Trigger (public domain via Wikipedia)

80 Years Ago—May 13, 1944: In drive for Rome, French troops break through Gustav Line into Aurunci Hills.

In a raid off the English coast, German torpedo boat S-141 is sunk and Klaus Dönitz, the only surviving son of Adm. Karl Dönitz, is killed.

Movie premiere of Cowboy and the Senorita, starring Roy Rogers and Dale Evans in their first film together.

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Today in World War II History—May 12, 1944

Monte Cassino (US Army Center of Military History)

80 Years Ago—May 12, 1944: Operation Diadem: US Fifth & British Eighth Armies launch offensive on Gustav Line in Italy, crossing Rapido River and assaulting Cassino.

German Oblt. Oskar Kusch, former commander of U-boat U-154, is executed for anti-Hitler views, betrayed by his second in command—who was killed in the sinking of U-193 on April 24.

Frederick Schiller Faust, American author of 400 Western novels under the name of Max Brand, is killed in Operation Diadem.

Liberty ship SS Juliette Low is launched, named after the founder of the Girl Scouts.

The post Today in World War II History—May 12, 1944 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.