Today in World War II History—October 27, 1939 & 1944

Poster for US Navy Day, 27 Oct 1944
80 Years Ago—October 27, 1939: US consul meets with British at Gibraltar to protest protracted British detention of US merchant ships.

British Achilles tank destroyer crossing the River Savio, Italy, 24 October 1944 (Imperial War Museum)
75 Years Ago—Oct. 27, 1944: In Italy, Gen. Maitland Wilson orders halt to Allied offensive for the winter due to fatigue, heavy rains, and flooding; US Fifth Army drive halts 9 miles short of Bologna.
Tacloban Airfield opens on Leyte, and the first US aircraft land in the Philippines since 1942.
US celebrates Navy Day.