Today in World War II History—April 10, 1940 & 1945

German WWII-era Messerschmitt Me 262 jet at Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, McMinnville, OR (Photo: Sarah Sundin, March 2019)
80 Years Ago—April 10, 1940: Icelandic parliament grants full powers to Icelandic cabinet, effectively declaring independence from German-occupied Denmark.
Seabiscuit is placed in retirement, horse racing’s all-time leading money winner to date.
75 Years Ago—Apr. 10, 1945: US Eighth Air Force sends 1315 bombers to strike German jet bases, which leads to the essential end of the jet program; ten bombers fall to jets, the highest loss to jets during the war.
In Germany, US Ninth Army takes Hannover, Düren, Gelsenkirchen, Bochum, and Essen.