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Today in
World War II History

Today in World War II History—4 May 1944

Exercise Fabius, Slapton Sands, England, May 1944. US infantry descend into an LCVP during D-day invasion practice. (US Army Center of Military History)

Exercise Fabius, Slapton Sands, England, May 1944. US infantry descend into an LCVP during D-day invasion practice. (US Army Center of Military History)

75 Years Ago—4 May 1944: Countdown to D-day: In Exercise Fabius, a full-scale rehearsal for D-day, Allied troops who will land on Sword, Juno, Gold, and Omaha Beaches make landings on English beaches in the largest amphibious training exercise ever.

Movie premiere of Gaslight, starring Ingrid Bergman, Joseph Cotten, Charles Boyer, and Angela Lansbury in her screen premiere.

St. Louis Browns baseball team drops segregation policy that restricted black fans to the bleachers.

Today in World War II History—3 May 1944

US poster about meat rationing, WWII

US poster about meat rationing, WWII

75 Years Ago—3 May 1944: Movie premiere of Going My Way, starring Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald as Catholic priests.

US Office of Price Administration ends meat rationing, except for steak and choice beef (rationing is tightened again later). Read more: “Make It Do—Meat Rationing in World War II.”

Today in World War II History—2 May 1944

Ted Williams being sworn in to the military, 22 May 1942 (US Marine Corps photo)

Ted Williams being sworn in to the military, 22 May 1942 (US Marine Corps photo)

75 Years Ago—2 May 1944: Countdown to D-day: British teacher Leonard Dawe publishes crossword puzzle in Daily Telegraph using Operation Overlord code word “Utah”; over the next month his puzzles will also contain the words “Omaha,” “Mulberry,” “Overlord,” and “Neptune”—he’s placed under MI5 investigation but is cleared.

Baseball player Ted Williams (Boston Red Sox) earns wings & commission as Marine Corps pilot.

Today in World War II History—1 May 1944

B-24 Liberator of the 705th Bomb Squadron over Orly Airfield, Paris, May 14 1944 (US National Archives)

B-24 Liberator of the 705th Bomb Squadron over Orly Airfield, Paris, May 14 1944 (US National Archives)

75 Years Ago—May 1, 1944: Countdown to D-day: US Eighth Air Force flies first major pre-invasion bombing mission to marshaling yards and rail centers in the Pas de Calais and Normandy areas in preparation for D-day.

First Commonwealth Prime Ministers Conference opens, with prime ministers of Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa in attendance.

Mackenzie King, Jan Smuts, Winston Churchill, Peter Fraser, and John Curtin at the first Commonwealth Prime Ministers Conference, London, 1 May 1944 (Library and Archives Canada)

Mackenzie King, Jan Smuts, Winston Churchill, Peter Fraser, and John Curtin at the first Commonwealth Prime Ministers Conference, London, 1 May 1944 (Library and Archives Canada)

Today in World War II History—April 30, 1944

Japanese naval base at Truk in the Caroline Islands after US naval air attack, 30 April 1944 (US National Archives)

Japanese naval base at Truk in the Caroline Islands after US naval air attack, 30 April 1944 (US National Archives)

75 Years Ago—April 30, 1944: US Naval Task Force 58 strikes targets in the Caroline Islands.

Today in World War II History—April 29, 1944

Men of the 1st Battalion, US 19th Infantry, carrying supplies near Hollandia, New Guinea, April 1944 (US Center of Military History)

Men of the 1st Battalion, US 19th Infantry, carrying supplies near Hollandia, New Guinea, April 1944 (US Center of Military History)

75 Years Ago—April 29, 1944: French Resistance sabotages Dunlop factory at Montluçon.

US secures Hollandia area of New Guinea, cutting off 50,000 Japanese troops in the Wewak area.

Today in World War II History—April 28, 1944

USS LST-289 after being damaged by German torpedo boats off Slapton Sands on 28 April 1944 (US National Archives, via US Naval History and Heritage Command)

USS LST-289 after being damaged by German torpedo boats off Slapton Sands on 28 April 1944 (US National Archives, via US Naval History and Heritage Command)

75 Years Ago—April 28, 1944: During Exercise Tiger D-Day practice off Slapton Sands in England, German torpedo boats sink two American tank landing ships (LST-507 and LST-531) and damage USS LST-289; 749 are killed; US 4th Infantry Division suffers greater losses in this disaster than on D-day.

Merrill’s Marauders (US) and Chinese troops under US Gen. Joseph Stilwell begin offensive toward Myitkyina, Burma.

Lt. Gen. Joseph Stilwell awarding a Silver Star to a Chinese soldier near Laban, northern Burma, 28 April 1944 (US Army photo)

Lt. Gen. Joseph Stilwell awarding a Silver Star to a Chinese soldier near Laban, northern Burma, 28 April 1944 (US Army photo)

Today in World War II History—April 27, 1944

US soldiers practicing for D-day at Slapton Sands, Lyme Bay, England, 27 April 1944 (Library of Congress)

US soldiers practicing for D-day at Slapton Sands, Lyme Bay, England, 27 April 1944 (Library of Congress)

75 Years Ago—April 27, 1944: Countdown to D-day: in Exercise Tiger, a rehearsal for D-day, US 4th Infantry Division begins landing at Slapton Sands in Dorset, England.

US Ninth Air Force in England flies its first mission with Douglas A-20 Havoc light bombers.

Douglas A-20 Havocs over France, WWII (USAF photo)

Douglas A-20 Havocs over France, WWII (USAF photo)

Today in World War II History—April 26, 1944

Southwick House, England, September 2017 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)

Southwick House, England, September 2017 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)

75 Years Ago—April 26, 1944: Countdown to D-day: Allied Naval Command Expeditionary Force staff move to Battle Headquarters for D-day at Southwick House, Hampshire, England.

Federal troops seize Montgomery Ward plant after Sewell Avery refuses to sign with CIO as ordered by War Labor Board; Avery is carried out by soldiers.

To learn more about Southwick House and see pictures from my tour, please see “The Sea Before Us—Tour of Southwick House.”

Today in World War II History—April 25, 1944

Pre-invasion Bombing of Pointe du Hoc by US Ninth Air Force A-20 light bombers, spring 1944. (US Army Center for Military History)

Pre-invasion Bombing of Pointe du Hoc by US Ninth Air Force A-20 light bombers, spring 1944. (US Army Center for Military History)

75 Years Ago—April 25, 1944: US Seventh Air Force B-24s make first land-based air attack on Guam.

Countdown to D-day: due to damage from a US Ninth Air Force raid, German gun crews at Pointe du Hoc move surviving guns 0.8 miles south of the battery site and place telegraph poles in original positions.

Embers in the London Sky cover
“Another masterful installment in Sundin’s roster of WWII novels.”
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