Today in World War II History—Feb. 17, 1944

POSTED: Sunday, February 17, 2019 by Sarah Sundin

US Marines landing on Eniwetok, 17 February 1944 (US Marine Corps Photo)

US Navy SBD Dauntless bombers over Truk Atoll, 16-18 February 1944 (US National Archives)

75 Years Ago—Feb. 17, 1944: US Army & Marines land on Eniwetok Atoll in Marshall Islands.

Soviets close Korsun pocket and take 18,000 German POWs; 28,000 Germans break out of the pocket, but thousands drown crossing a swollen river.

US Navy carriers strike Japanese base at Truk in the Pacific, sinking 37 ships, shooting down 121 Japanese fighter planes (the highest one-day total in the Pacific war to date), and destroying 150 Japanese planes on the ground.

Today in World War II History—Feb. 16, 1944

POSTED: Saturday, February 16, 2019 by Sarah Sundin

Ruins of Abbey of Monte Cassino, 1944 (US Army Center of Military History)

75 Years Ago—Feb. 16, 1944: New Zealanders launch assault on Monte Cassino after previous day’s bombing, but fail to take it.

Germans launch “Fischfang” offensive at Anzio; the first use of German Panther tanks in the west fails in the mud.

Movie premiere of Passage to Marseille, starring Humphrey Bogart & Claude Rains.

Today in World War II History—Feb. 15, 1944

POSTED: Friday, February 15, 2019 by Sarah Sundin

Bombing of the Abbey of Monte Cassino, 15 Feb 1944 (US Army Center of Military History)

75 Years Ago—Feb. 15, 1944: Allied bombing destroys Abbey of Monte Cassino in Italy, 400 refugees killed. German troops occupy abbey ruins that night.

In the South Pacific, New Zealanders occupy Green Islands, only 100 miles from crucial Japanese base at Rabaul.

Today in World War II History—Feb. 14, 1944

POSTED: Thursday, February 14, 2019 by Sarah Sundin

WASP C-47 flight crew: Pilot Joanna Trebtoske (Jenks), left, and Copilot Marjorie Logan (Rolle) at Romulus Army Air Field, MI (US Air Force photo)

75 Years Ago—Feb. 14, 1944: WASP (Women’s Airforce Service Pilots) “Santiago Blue” uniform is authorized.

The Sky Above Us Release Day Giveaway – Winner!

POSTED: Wednesday, February 13, 2019 by Sarah Sundin

Thank you so much to all of you who helped me celebrate the release of The Sky Above Us and who spread the word about The Sky Above Us Release Day Giveaway. We had 2044 entries! I’m thrilled to see so much interest!

And now to announce the winners . . .

Victoria La Pere
Joy Neal Kidney
Jeana Owens Sealock

I’ll send you each an email in order so you can choose your prize package and I can mail your package. If a winner who does not respond within a week, a new winner will be chosen.

Thank you again, dear readers, for all your support!

Today in World War II History—Feb. 13, 1944

POSTED: Wednesday, February 13, 2019 by Sarah Sundin

US Eighth Air Force B-17s bombing Berlin, 1944 (USAF photo)

75 Years Ago—Feb. 13, 1944: Allied Combined Chiefs of Staff issue Combined Bomber Offensive directive of targets for Allied bombers: 1) aircraft production and ball bearings, 2) “Crossbow” (V-weapon) targets, 3) Berlin and industrial targets when weather is bad.

Today in World War II History—Feb. 12, 1944

POSTED: Tuesday, February 12, 2019 by Sarah Sundin

US troops firing a bazooka near Cassino, Italy (US Army Center of Military History)

75 Years Ago—Feb. 12, 1944: Allies repel German counterattack at Anzio in Italy, but ground has been lost.

First Battle of Monte Cassino in Italy ends in Allied failure.

In the Indian Ocean, Japanese submarine I-27 sinks British transport Khedive Ismail—1297 killed, including 77 nurses & Wrens, the 3^rd worst Allied shipping disaster and the worst loss of female service personnel of the war. Destroyer HMS Petard then sinks I-27, making Petard the only ship to sink a German, an Italian, and a Japanese submarine in WWII.

The Lieutenant’s Bargain by Regina Jennings

POSTED: Monday, February 11, 2019 by Sarah Sundin

All Hattie Walker wants is a chance to prove herself as a real artist. Longing to paint the luscious landscapes of the Rocky Mountains – and for recognition – she takes a stagecoach to Denver. However, her stagecoach is attacked by gunmen, and Hattie is rescued by friendly Arapaho – but she doesn’t realize they’re friendly.

Lt. Jack Hennessy has made a name for himself in the US Cavalry based in Fort Reno, and he’s put his all into earning the trust of the Native American tribes. When he’s sent to retrieve a rescued woman – who is most definitely not behaving herself – he’s stunned to find himself face-to-face with Hattie, the girl he pined over back at home.

No longer bumbling and scrawny, Jack sees the chance to finally prove himself worthy of the beautiful Hattie, but things go awry. Jack and Hattie strike a bargain to save face, but if he lets her go to fulfill her dreams, he’ll have to abandon his life’s work, his reputation, and the woman he has always loved.

Featuring a charmingly bookish and clueless hero and a clueless-in-her-own way heroine, The Lieutenant’s Bargain is full of Regina Jennings‘s trademark humor. Even better is the character transformation as Jack gains the last bit of confidence he needs and Hattie opens her heart to see beauty and worth where she never had before. I adored this novel and highly recommend it.

Today in World War II History—Feb. 11, 1944

POSTED: Monday, February 11, 2019 by Sarah Sundin

Lt. Richard Peterson, Maj. Leonard “Kit” Carson, Maj. John England, and Lt. Clarence “Bud” Anderson, the highest scoring aces of the US 357th Fighter Group (Imperial War Museum, American Air Museum)

75 Years Ago—Feb. 11, 1944: First mission of the US 357th Fighter Group in P-51 Mustangs in England—this group would produce the most aces (42) in the US Eighth Air Force, including Leonard “Kit” Carson, Clarence “Bud” Anderson, and Chuck Yeager.

Soviets take Shepetovka, rail center west of Kiev in Ukraine.

Today in World War II History—Feb. 10, 1944

POSTED: Sunday, February 10, 2019 by Sarah Sundin

Troops of Indian 7th Division at the Ngakyeduak Pass near Sinzweya, Burma, 6 February 1944 (Imperial War Museum IND 2994)

75 Years Ago—Feb. 10, 1944: Japanese surround Indian 7^th Division on the Arakan peninsula in Burma; Allies keep the 7^th Division supplied through air drops.

Movie premiere of Lady in the Dark, starring Ginger Rogers & Ray Milland.