Today in World War II History—September 17, 1939 & 1944
Sinking of HMS Courageous, 17 September 1939 (public domain via WW2 Database)
85 Years Ago—Sept. 17, 1939: The Soviet Union (allied with Germany) invades Poland, surrounding Polish troops.
Over 150 Polish military and civilian planes fly to Romania; the pilots will make their way to Britain to fight again.
Off the Irish coast, German U-boat U-29 sinks British aircraft carrier HMS Courageous, 518 killed, the first British capital ship sunk in WWII and the world’s first carrier lost in combat.
US C-47 Skytrains towing Waco CG-4 gliders over Bergeijk, Holland en route the Operation Market Garden landings near Eindhoven, 17 September 1944 (US National Archives)
80 Years Ago—Sept. 17, 1944: Operation Market Garden begins: 20,000 US and British paratroopers land in Nijmegen, Eindhoven, and Arnhem in the Netherlands, with a British ground offensive designed to link with the airborne units.
In Italy, US Fifth Army breaks the German Gothic Line at Il Giogo Pass.
Britain relaxes blackout regulations except along coast—half-lighting, with blackout only when air raid alarm sounds.
