Today in World War II History—Nov. 8, 1943

Flight nurses of the 807th MAETS show their worn-out shoes after their two-month trek through Albania, 9 January 1944 (US Air Force photo)

75 Years Ago—Nov. 8, 1943: US Marines repulse heavy Japanese offensive at Koromokina Lagoon, Bougainville.

US C-53 cargo plane carrying 13 flight nurses & 13 medics of the 807th Medical Air Evacuation Transport Squadron, plus 4 crewmen, crash-lands in Nazi-occupied Albania; over the next two months, they’ll escape on foot back to Allied territory.