Today in World War II History—Aug. 16, 1940 & 1945
Sunday, August 16, 2020 by Sarah Sundin
A summary of the life of Charles Drew by artist Charles Alston, 1943 (US National Archives 535693)
Coat of arms of US 29th Infantry Regiment
80 Years Ago—Aug. 16, 1940: Test platoon of 48 volunteers from 29th Infantry Regiment makes first US Army parachute jump from an aircraft at Fort Benning, GA.
American Red Cross begins collection of blood plasma in “Plasma for Britain” program under Dr. Charles Drew, an African-American.
Movie premiere of Hitchcock’s Foreign Correspondent, starring Joel McCrea & Laraine Day.
75 Years Ago—Aug. 16, 1945: Japanese parliament resigns.
Churchill first uses term “iron curtain” in speech to House of Commons: “the iron curtain which at the moment divides Europe in twain.”
