Today in World War II History—January 11, 1940 & 1945
Women pilots of the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) in flying kit at Hatfield, 10 Jan 1940 (Imperial War Museum: C 381)
85 Years Ago—Jan. 11, 1940: British Women’s Section Air Transport Auxiliary delivers its first plane in ferrying operations; during WWII, 166 women will fly for ATA, one-eighth of all ATA pilots, and 15 will die in service.
Sergei Prokofiev’s ballet Romeo and Juliet premieres in Leningrad.
First performance of the Ballet Theatre in New York City (future American Ballet Theatre).
Movie premiere in US of comedy His Girl Friday, starring Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell.
Columbia Pictures theatrical poster for the release of the 1940 film His Girl Friday (public domain via Wikipedia)
80 Years Ago—Jan. 11, 1945: Japanese submarines begin operation Kongo, employing suicide torpedoes (kaiten) at Ulithi Atoll, damaging two American ships.
On Luzon in the Philippines, Filipino guerrillas take Aguilar and Santa Barbara, linking with US troops.
Kaiten Type 1 test launch from Japanese cruiser Kitakami, 28 Feb 1945 (Imperial Japanese Navy)
