Today in World War II History—January 26, 1940 & 1945
Jane Wyman and Ronald Reagan arriving at the movie premiere of Tales of Manhattan in Los Angeles, CA, 5 Aug 1942 (public domain via Los Angeles Times photographic archive, UCLA Library)
80 Years Ago—January 26, 1940: US-Japan Trade Treaty of 1911 lapses—US refuses to negotiate while Japanese troops are in China.
Brooms in Britain are to be made with square handles to save timber.
Frank Sinatra performs for the first time with Tommy Dorsey’s band (had previously performed with Harry James).
Actor Ronald Reagan marries actress Jane Wyman in Glendale, CA.
Lt. Audie Murphy, 1945 (public domain via WW2 Database)
75 Years Ago—Jan. 26, 1945: Lt. Audie Murphy single-handedly repels a German tank attack near Colmar in France, for which he later receives the Medal of Honor.
Soviets reach the Prussian coast at Elbing, cutting East Prussia off from Germany.
Sandakan Death March begins: Japanese march 470 Indonesian civilians and Australian POWs 164 miles across North Borneo, only 6 will survive the war.
Reagan appears to be wearing the summer khaki colored service coat. I always forget that one existed as we usually see the dark olive one instead.
In LA in August, the cotton service coat would be WAY better than wool 🙂