Today in World War II History—Oct. 5, 1940 & 1945

Poster for the College Graduates’ Naval Reserve Officers Training Program, WWII
80 Years Ago—Oct. 5, 1940: French police conduct mass arrests of communists in Paris.
US Navy and US Marine Corps place reserve divisions and aviation squadrons on call for active duty.

Lt. Louis Zamperini, bombardier of B-24D Liberator ‘Superman’ inspects hole from a 20mm shell over Nauru, Apr 20 1943; photo taken at Funafuti, Gilbert Islands (US National Archives: 342-FH-3A42819-23927AC)
75 Years Ago—Oct. 5, 1945: Lt. Louis Zamperini (Unbroken) returns home, over two years after his plane ditched in the Pacific.
Meet the Press premieres on the radio.
“Hollywood Black Friday”: a six-month-long set decorators’ strike erupts in a riot at the gates of Warner Brothers’ studio in Burbank, CA; 40 injured.