Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 64
February 13, 2024
Today in World War II History—February 13, 1944
US Eighth Air Force B-17s bombing Berlin, 1944 (USAF photo)
80 Years Ago—Feb. 13, 1944: Allied Combined Chiefs of Staff issue Combined Bomber Offensive directive of targets for Allied bombers: 1) aircraft production and ball bearings, 2) “Crossbow” (V-weapon) targets, 3) Berlin and industrial targets when weather is bad.
The post Today in World War II History—February 13, 1944 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.
February 12, 2024
Today in World War II History—February 12, 1944
US troops firing a bazooka near Cassino, Italy (US Army Center of Military History)
80 Years Ago—Feb. 12, 1944: Allies repel German counterattack at Anzio, but ground has been lost.
First Battle of Monte Cassino in Italy ends in Allied failure.
Adm. Wilhelm Canaris is dismissed as the head of the German Abwehr (military intelligence).
In the Indian Ocean, Japanese submarine I-27 sinks British transport Khedive Ismail—1297 killed, including 77 nurses & Wrens, the 3rd worst Allied shipping disaster and the worst loss of Allied female service personnel of the war. Destroyer HMS Petard then sinks I-27, making Petard the only ship to sink a German, an Italian, and a Japanese submarine in WWII.
The post Today in World War II History—February 12, 1944 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.February 11, 2024
Today in World War II History—February 11, 1944
Lt. Richard Peterson, Maj. Leonard “Kit” Carson, Maj. John England, and Lt. Clarence “Bud” Anderson, the highest scoring aces of the US 357th Fighter Group (Imperial War Museum, American Air Museum: UPL 6845)
80 Years Ago—Feb. 11, 1944: First mission of the US 357th Fighter Group in P-51 Mustangs from England—this group would produce the most aces (42) in the US Eighth Air Force, including Leonard “Kit” Carson, Clarence “Bud” Anderson, and Chuck Yeager.
Soviets take Shepetovka, rail center west of Kiev in Ukraine.
The post Today in World War II History—February 11, 1944 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.February 10, 2024
Today in World War II History—February 10, 1944
Troops of Indian 7th Division at the Ngakyeduak Pass near Sinzweya, Burma, 6 February 1944 (Imperial War Museum IND 2994)
80 Years Ago—Feb. 10, 1944: Japanese surround Indian 7th Division on the Arakan peninsula in Burma; Allies keep the 7th Division supplied through air drops.
Movie premiere of Lady in the Dark, starring Ginger Rogers & Ray Milland.
The post Today in World War II History—February 10, 1944 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.February 9, 2024
Today in World War II History—February 9, 1944
Ruins of Aprilia, Italy, WWII (US National Archives)
80 Years Ago—Feb. 9, 1944: In counterattack at Anzio, Italy, Germans retake Aprilia (“the Factory”).
The post Today in World War II History—February 9, 1944 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.February 8, 2024
Today in World War II History—February 8, 1944
Soviet artillerymen firing at German fortifications, Nikopol, Jan 1944 (Photo: mil.ru Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation)
80 Years Ago—Feb. 8, 1944: In counterattack at Anzio, Italy, Germans retake Carroceto and secure Buonriposo Ridge.
Soviets take important manganese center of Nikopol in Ukraine.
The post Today in World War II History—February 8, 1944 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.February 7, 2024
Today in World War II History—February 7, 1944
US 56th Evacuation Hospital after an air raid, 1944 (US Army Medical Department)
80 Years Ago—Feb. 7, 1944: US secures Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands.
At Anzio, Italy, US 95th Evacuation Hospital is accidentally bombed when a German fighter pilot jettisons bombs under Allied fighter attack; 28 hospital personnel and patients killed, including 3 nurses and the first female American Red Cross worker to be killed in action in WWII; the German pilot is shot down and treated in the same hospital. Read more: “Courage under Fire – US Army Hospitals at Anzio.”
John Hersey’s best-selling novel A Bell for Adano is published; it will win the Pulitzer Prize.
The post Today in World War II History—February 7, 1944 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.February 6, 2024
Embers in the London Sky Release Day Giveaway!
To celebrate the release of Embers in the London Sky, I’m giving away a prize pack of items related to the story!
English teas in tins shaped like Big Ben, a British phonebooth, and a double-decker busDutch Stroopwafel cookies in honor of my Dutch heroine, Aleida van der Zee MartensThe Secret Garden Devotional by Rachel Dodge , since The Secret Garden inspired the hero of my story, Hugh Collingwood
The giveaway is open February 6-11, 2024. US mailing addresses only, please. The winner will be announced here on my blog on February 13, 2024, and will be notified by email.
Come join me on Facebook Live Video on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, at 11 am PST/2 pm EST where I’ll describe the items and their significance to the story! The video will be available for viewing afterward as well.
Enter the giveaway in the Rafflecopter form below. To enter please subscribe to my email newsletter (current subscribers count!).
The post Embers in the London Sky Release Day Giveaway! first appeared on Sarah Sundin.Today in World War II History—February 6, 1944
P-47 Thunderbolt piloted by Capt. Raymond Walsh of the US 406th Fighter Group is silhouetted against the exploding ammunition truck he just strafed, France, 23 Jun 1944 (US National Archives)
80 Years Ago—Feb. 6, 1944: Soviets make major breakthrough in Ukraine and reach the Dnieper River near Nikopol.
US Eighth Air Force sends out its first fighter aircraft ground strafing mission.
The post Today in World War II History—February 6, 1944 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.February 5, 2024
Today in World War II History—February 5, 1944
Poster for the Captain America film serial, 1944 (Republic Pictures, public domain via Wikipedia)
80 Years Ago—Feb. 5, 1944: Germans deploy the first U-boat with a “Schnorchel” to increase time a submarine could stay submerged.
New songs in Top Ten: “Besame Mucho” and “Mairzy Doats.”
Movie premiere of first of 15-part Captain America serial, starring Dick Purcell & Lorna Gray.
Submarine USS U-3008 (former German sub U-3008) with snorkel raised, Key West, FL, 25 July 1947 (US Navy photo: 80-G-442938)
The post Today in World War II History—February 5, 1944 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.
