Posts Tagged: World War II

Sheep in Chutes

Monday, May 23, 2011 by Sarah Sundin

Conducting research for historical fiction is usually interesting, sometimes dull, but occasionally yields an odd or funny story. I found this little story while reading The Army Air Forces in World War II, Volume 1: Plans and Early Operations: September 1939 to August 1942 by Wesley F. Craven and James L. Cate (Washington DC: Office of Air Force History, 1948). When the Italian army invaded Ethiopia in 1935, they fa... Read Article

Cutaway diagram of a B-17G Flying Fortress (Sarah Sundin)

The B-17 Flying Fortress, Part 2 – Crew

Monday, May 2, 2011 by Sarah Sundin

Few World War II airplanes have captured the imagination like the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. Today I have the privilege in taking a flight in Aluminum Overcast, the restored B-17 owned by the Experimental Aircraft Association. This is the second of a three-part series on the legendary Flying Fortress – a starring side character in my novels. Last week I talked about the plane (Part 1), today a... Read Article

Make It Do – Sugar Rationing in World War II

Monday, January 31, 2011 by Sarah Sundin

What could be more American than Hershey bars, homemade cookies, and birthday cake? During World War II these items were hard to come by in the United States. Short on Sugar When the Japanese conquered the Philippines in the early months of 1942, the United States lost a major source of sugar imports. Shipments from Hawaii and Central and South America had to be curtailed 50 percent as cargo vessels were diverted for... Read Article

Lessons from the 1940s – Save and Invest

Monday, October 4, 2010 by Sarah Sundin

The generation that fought World War II on the battlefield and on the Home Front had come through the Great Depression. While we cringe at today’s unemployment figures hovering around 10 percent (as we should), in 1932, 13 million were unemployed – 25 percent of the labor force at a time when most households had only one wage-earner. This generation learned the importance of managing money wisely. During ... Read Article

Lessons from the 1940s – Teamwork

Monday, September 20, 2010 by Sarah Sundin

The brave pilot risking his life for the sake of his country. The soldier and sailor and Marine in combat. These are the people we think about when we think of World War II. Their stories are told in movies and documentaries and books – including mine. But this poster recognizes the truth – teamwork won the war. Even in the armed forces, few men saw combat. In the U.S. Eighth Air Force based in England, t... Read Article

Lessons from the 1940s – Let Boys Be Boys

Monday, August 30, 2010 by Sarah Sundin

My two sons’ favorite TV show is “Mythbusters.” Why do they like it? The scientific investigation of urban legends? Sure. The quirky characters and offbeat humor? Yep. But the primary reason…”They blow things up!” I don’t get this. I’m a girl. Explosions don’t appeal to me, and all I can think about is those poor people on the other boat. This poster does nothing ... Read Article

Lessons from the 1940s – Have Faith

Tuesday, August 10, 2010 by Sarah Sundin

Here’s a poster you wouldn’t see today: “Strong in the strength of the Lord, we who fight in the people’s cause will never stop until that cause is won.” While researching my World War II novels, I was surprised at the religious tone in the writings. Top Ten songs like “Comin’ in on a Wing and a Prayer,” “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition,” and a humbl... Read Article

Lessons from the 1940s – Discretion

Monday, May 17, 2010 by Sarah Sundin

During World War II, posters like these decorated storefronts, train stations, and other public places. Spies were present. An innocent conversation in the barber shop, the grocery, or a phone booth could be overheard and passed to the enemy. Information about troop movements, sailing schedules, and strength of the armed forces was especially guarded. One careless comment could lead to thousands of deaths. Free speec... Read Article

Lessons from the 1940s – Liberty and Justice for All?

Monday, May 10, 2010 by Sarah Sundin

On the morning of December 7, 1941, Mess Attendant Second Class Doris “Dorie” Miller (pictured in the poster) was collecting laundry on board the USS West Virginia in Pearl Harbor. The Japanese attacked. The alarm for general quarters sounded, and Miller reported to his battle station, an antiaircraft battery amidships. It had already been destroyed. A heavyweight boxer, Miller carried wounded sailors to ... Read Article

Lessons from the 1940s Woman – “Grown-Up Culture”

Wednesday, April 21, 2010 by Sarah Sundin

The more I look at this poster, the more I see how our culture has changed. In the 1940s, mother-daughter outfits were popular – the daughter wanted to dress just like her mother. Nowadays, middle-aged mothers dress like their teenaged daughters. Something has flipped in recent generations. In traditional cultures, children couldn’t wait to grow up and have adult responsibilities, and people hoped to live... Read Article

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Posts Tagged: World War II