Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 77

Today in World War II History—October 13, 1943

US self-propelled 105-mm howitzer on a pontoon treadway bridge at the Volturno River, Italy, 1943 (US Army Center for Military History)

80 Years Ago—Oct. 13, 1943: US Fifth Army crosses Volturno River in Italy, securing beachhead and the valley.

Italy declares war on Germany.

Muslim-Indian princess Noor Inayat Khan, an SOE agent for the Allies, is arrested by the Gestapo in Paris.

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Today in World War II History—October 12, 1943

Low-flying US bombers dropping parachute bombs on Vunakanau airfield at Rabaul, 1943 (US Army Center of Military History)

80 Years Ago—Oct. 12, 1943: Neutral Portugal allows the Allies to use air and naval bases in the Azores.

US Fifth Air Force & Royal Australian Air Force begin major assault on Rabaul, New Britain, key to Japan’s South Pacific defense; 349 bombers & fighters strike, sinking 5 ships.

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Today in World War II History—October 11, 1943

Adm. Frank Jack Fletcher, September 1942 (US National Archives: 80-G-14193)

80 Years Ago—Oct. 11, 1943: Vice Adm. Frank Jack Fletcher succeeds Thomas Kinkaid over Allied North Pacific Area.

World Series concludes: New York Yankees defeat St. Louis Cardinals four games to one.

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Today in World War II History—October 10, 1943

Members of Spanish Blue Division fighting for Germany near Leningrad, 1943 (public domain via Wikipedia)

80 Years Ago—Oct. 10, 1943: Gen. Franco of Spain orders “Blue” Division of Spanish volunteers serving in German army back to Spain; a few thousand disobey and remain.

A German time bomb in Naples kills 23 US combat engineers.

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Today in World War II History—October 9, 1943

B-17F Flying Fortress bomber of the US 94th Bombardment Group bombing Focke-Wulf aircraft factory, Marienburg, Germany, 9 October 1943 (US National Archives: 208-YE-7)

80 Years Ago—Oct. 9, 1943: US Eighth Air Force based in England sends 378 B-17 and B-24 bombers to bomb Marienburg, Anklam, Danzig, and Gdynia—their longest mission to date, which allows them to surprise the Germans.

Peak day of the rescue of the Danish Jews: 1,400 arrive in Sweden.

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Today in World War II History—October 8, 1943

Caserta Palace, Italy, WWII (US Army Center for Military History)

80 Years Ago—Oct. 8, 1943: In Italy, US occupies Caserta Palace, future Headquarters of the US Fifth Army.

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Today in World War II History—October 7, 1943

Memorial for the 98 US civilian contract POWs who were executed by the Japanese on 7 Oct 1943; an unidentified prisoner escaped and chiseled “98 US PW 5-10-43” on this rock before he was executed himself (US Air Force photo: 080112-F-2034C-203)

80 Years Ago—Oct. 7, 1943: Japanese execute all 98 US civilian construction POWs on Wake Island in reprisal for US air raids.

German Gestapo arrests 107 Jews in Gilleleje, Denmark—most of them arrested in a church where they’d found refuge, awaiting transport to Sweden.

First German time bomb explodes in Naples, in the main post office, leading to 70 casualties; more bombs will explode over the next 3 weeks.

Movie premiere of Lassie Come Home, starring Roddy McDowall & Donald Crisp.

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Today in World War II History—October 6, 1943

Destroyers USS Selfridge (bow shot off) and USS O’Bannon at New Caledonia for repairs after Battle of Vella Lavella (US Navy photo)

80 Years Ago—Oct. 6, 1943: Naval Battle of Vella Lavella: US fails to prevent Japanese evacuation of the island; US and Japanese each lose one destroyer; last surface engagement in the Solomons and last clear-cut naval victory for the Japanese.

US Fifth Army reaches the Volturno River in Italy.

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Today in World War II History—October 5, 1943

USS Minneapolis, USS San Francisco, and USS New Orleans bombard Wake Island, 5 Oct 1943 (US Naval History & Heritage Command)

80 Years Ago—Oct. 5, 1943: US Navy Task Force 14 strikes Wake Island, and its aircraft destroy 61 Japanese planes.

US Fifth Army declares Naples secure.

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Today in World War II History—October 4, 1943

Pier built by US Army engineers over hull of sunken ship, Naples, 1943 (US Army Center for Military History)

80 Years Ago—Oct. 4, 1943: Only US fleet carrier action in the North Atlantic: in joint action with British Royal Navy, aircraft from USS Ranger attack two German convoys at Bodø, Norway, and sink 5 ships.

Free French secure Corsica.

First US Liberty ship docks at Naples’s wrecked harbor.

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