Get new blog posts sent directly to your email inbox!

Today in World War II History

Read Today's Article

Today in World War II History—June 21, 1944

Friday, June 21, 2024 by Sarah Sundin
B-17s en route to Poltava, USSR, June 1944 (US Air Force photo)

B-17s en route to Poltava, USSR, June 1944 (US Air Force photo)

80 Years Ago—June 21, 1944: US Eighth Air Force flies its first shuttle mission to USSR; B-17 bombers leave bases in England, bomb targets in Germany, and land at Poltava in Ukraine. That night the Luftwaffe bombs Poltava, destroying 47 of 72 B-17s on the ground.

Germans launch the one-thousandth V-1 buzz bomb; Britain has now moved 192 antiaircraft guns & 480 barrage balloons to protect London.

US B-17s under attack by German aircraft at Poltava, Jun 21, 1944 (Imperial War Museum: 72483)

US B-17s under attack by German aircraft at Poltava, Jun 21, 1944 (Imperial War Museum: 72483)

Share

Comments are closed.

Embers in the London Sky cover
“Another masterful installment in Sundin’s roster of WWII novels.”
—Booklist starred review for Embers in the London Sky
NOW AVAILABLE!

A Free Gift for You

Make It Do - The US Home Front in World War II

When you subscribe to my monthly enewsletter, you’ll also receive “Make It Do – The US Home Front in World War II,” a collection of my popular blog posts. As a subscriber, you’ll also be the first to learn about my upcoming novels.