Today in World War II History—June 30, 1942

US Coast Guardsman and dog on beach patrol, Parramore Beach, VA, 21 Oct 1943 (US Coast Guard photo)

75 Years Ago—June 30, 1942: Soviets evacuate Sevastopol as Germans advance.

German troops under Rommel reach El Alamein, Egypt.

US begins draft registration for men 18-20.

US Coast Guard’s Beach Patrol Division established under Capt. Raymond Mauerman.

Destroyer USS Fletcher, first in new flush-deck Fletcher class, is commissioned in Kearny NJ.

Technical drawing of a US Fletcher-class destroyer, published in All Hands magazine, 1954; note that the radars are missing (US Navy).