Today in World War II History—July 14, 1940 & 1945
Battleship USS Indiana, battleship USS Massachusetts, and cruiser USS Quincy bombarding Kamaishi, Japan, 14 Jul 1945 (US National Archives: 80-G-K-6035)
80 Years Ago—July 14, 1940: BBC broadcasts its first live coverage of the Battle of Britain, with reporter Charles Gardner.
75 Years Ago—July 14, 1945: French celebrate first Bastille Day since 1939.
US Third Fleet warships fire directly on Japan for the first time; first shot is fired by battleship USS South Dakota.
US Task Force 38 carrier aircraft fly 1381 sorties to Hokkaido and northern Honshu, sinking 34 ships, including 7 train ferries, severing transportation between the two islands.
Movie premiere of musical Anchors Aweigh, starring Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, and Kathryn Grayson, famous for Kelly’s dance with animated mouse Jerry.
