Today in World War II History—June 1, 1942

William Baldwin, the first African-American US Navy recruit for General Service, 2 Jun 1942 (US National Archives)

75 Years Ago—June 1, 1942: RAF launches 1000-bomber raid on Essen, Germany.

Nazis open Treblinka concentration camp in Poland.

US Navy lets blacks enlist in services other than mess—but not as officers, and only in segregated groups.