Today in World War II History—July 4, 1942

Cover of Ladies’ Home Journal for the “United We Stand” campaign, 4 July 1942

80 Years Ago—July 4, 1942: British First Sea Lord Dudley Pound orders beleaguered Arctic Convoy PQ-17 to scatter; 22 of 33 merchant ships will be sunk en route to Murmansk, Russia, over the next week.

First official US Eighth Air Force operation: 6 US crews join 6 RAF crews flying 12 RAF Bostons to bomb four Dutch airfields, but 3 Bostons are lost (2 US, 1 British).

US AVG (Flying Tigers) is disbanded and absorbed into the new US China Air Task Force; only 5 AVG pilots agree to join the CATF—the AVG had destroyed over 300 aircraft with only 50 P-40s & 9 pilots lost.

Over 100 magazines show US flag on cover for the “United We Stand” campaign.

First American Red Cross Service Club opens in London, the Washington Club.