Today in World War II History—October 24, 1939 & 1944

Submarine USS Tang departing from Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA

75 Years Ago—Oct. 24, 1939: Benny Goodman records “Let’s Dance.”

70 Years Ago—Oct. 24, 1944: Fifty black sailors are convicted of mutiny in the controversial Port Chicago case; after only 80 minutes deliberation, all 50 men given 15-year sentences [Read about the trial in my blog post]. Off Formosa, sub USS Tang sinks a ship in a Japanese convoy, having sunk 5 ships with only 9 torpedoes, but Tang is sunk by her own torpedo.