Today in World War II History—May 1, 1940 & 1945
Men of the Australian 2/48 Infantry Battalion in landing craft, Tarakan, Borneo, 1 May 1945 (Australian War Memorial: 090812)
80 Years Ago—May 1, 1940: In Norway, German troops from Oslo and Bergen link, and the British evacuate Åndalsnes.
British pass union trade agreement allowing women to work in munitions factories.
B-17G Fortress “Liquid-8-Or” of 569th Bomb Squadron dropping cases of “10 in 1” rations into Holland during Operation Chowhound aimed at breaking the famine in western Holland, May 1 or 3 1945 (public domain via WW2 Database)
75 Years Ago—May 1, 1945: Australian forces land at Tarakan off the coast of Borneo.
Leadership of Germany passes to Adm. Karl Dönitz after Hitler’s suicide the day before.
US Eighth Air Force flies first “Chow Hound” mission, dropping food and supplies to Dutch civilians.
Mexican Air Force arrives in Manila with P-47 fighters to fly for the Allies; the “Aztec Eagles” will fly 795 sorties and lose 7 pilots.
