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WWII Descendant
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WWII Descendant
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German PaK40 75mm gun 1/35 scale model

We have all read the horror stories of the dreaded 88mm German guns that were used so effectively…
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scenes from Normandy, france today: pointe du hoc

Normandy Today - March 2012 | By ERWIN LEYDEKKERS, The Netherlands  To see more new photography taken in March  from Pointe Du Hoc, Carentan, Sainte Mere Eglise and other locations in and around Normandy France click on the photo above or go here. To view the Airborne Museum in Sainte-Mere-Eglise, France, please enter here. The La Cambe German War Cemetary, France slideshow can be viewed by proceeding here.

world at war: may in europe

E U R O P E A N   T H E A T E R   O F   O P E R A T I O N S
May 2nd Berlin, Germany; 1945: The Battle of Berlin ends »  Only fitting that the final major battle of the ETO in World War II would also prove to be the costliest. Soviet and Polish forces numbered 2.5 million as compared to 767 thousand German troops. Eisenhower determined that western Allied involvement was not needed due to the increased chances of friendly fire would increase casualties as the Allies would draw closer to Soviet forces. Fighting would continue however, as German forces fought their way westward in order to surrender to Allied Forces rather than surrender to Soviet troops.

May 7thRheims, France; 1945: Germany signs the Instrument of Surrender » The armistice was signed on 7 May and formally ratified on 8 May 1945 which ended the War in Europe. More than one million people celebrated in the streets of cities around the world. President Harry Truman would dedicate the victory to the memory of Franklin Delano Roosevelt who would pass away just a month previous on 12 April in Warm Springs, Georgia. Overall, the number of lives lost during WWII is staggering: 61 million from the Allied nations and 12 million from the Axis Powers, military and civilian included.

May 18th Cassino, Italy; 1944: Allied Forces complete victory at Monte Cassino » The four battles involved the U.S., U.K., Canada, Poland, New Zealand and others against the German Army and air forces. Allied forces reached a strength of twenty divisions, but the four-month long battle would see a huge loss of Allied lives and its overall battle efficiencies remain in debate by historians. The ancient abbey at Monte Cassino was destroyed from Allied bombing, of which its necessity is still debated. More controversy surrounded the competition between British and American commanders to be the first to liberate Rome after the Battle of Anzio.

 

world at war: may in the pacific

P A C I F I C   T H E A T E R   O F   O P E R A T I O N S
May 4th The Coral Sea; 1942: Battle of the Coral Sea »  Widely regarded as the pivotal naval battle which helped to turn the tide of the war in the Pacific, the Battle of the Coral Sea was viewed as a victory by Japan in terms of US ships sunk. This victory by Japan may have been seen as a tactical victory, however in terms of overall strategy the Battle of the Coral Sea was a strategic victory by the Allied Forces. The Battle of Midway which was fought one month later ended in victory for the Allies due to the weakening in Japanese naval forces in the Coral Sea. These two naval battles are regarded as turning the tide for the Allies in the Pacific.
May 6th Corregidor Island, The Philippines; 1942: The Fall of Corregidor »  In what would become one of the more controversial topics from the Pacific Theatre was the fall and surrender of Corregidor Island and the Philippines. The years of discussion by historians centered around the medal of honor awarded General Douglas MacArthur for his defense of the Philippines. MacArthur was ordered to escape the Philippines by boat to Austrailia, leaving Lt. General Jonathan Wainwright to surrender to the Japanese.

May 11th Attu Island; Alaska; 1943: The Battle of Attu Island, Alaska »  US and Canadian forces combined to retake the Island of Attu in the Alaskan Aleutian Island chain. Debate among historians of World War II would ask why Japan felt the need to take such inhospitable land in Alaska. The only logical answer has been its proximity to the US mainland as well as extending its immense Pacific defense perimeter. The battle would see one of the largest banzai charges of the Pacific War. The Allies would ultimately prevail.

May 29th Shuri Castle, Okinawa; 1945: The Conquest of Shuri Castle »  During the Battle of Okinawa, the conquest of Shuri Castle by the US Marine and Army forces was considered both a strategic win and psychological blow to the occupying Japanese forces in May of 1945. The battle would see Marine Major General Pedro del Valle earn the Distinguished Service Medal and Army General Simon Buckner Jr. lost to Japanese artillery fire on 18 June 1945.

 

world at war: may in c-b-i

C H I N A  -  B U R M A  -  I N D I A   T H E A T E R
May 4th Republic of China; 1942 The Flying Tigers at Kunming »  The 1st AVG, or American Volunteer Group also known as the "Flying Tigers" would see action in China from December 1941 to July 1942. Chinese ground forces were able to hold off the Japanese 56th Division's drive to Kunming with air support from the AVG, or "Flying Tigers". Largely comprised of American fighter pilots, these "volunteers" were key in successes over the Japanese Air Force during May of 1942. Actual numbers are disputed of enemy aircraft destroyed by the Flying Tigers, but even with conservative numbers used the AVG had superior ratios of air victories.

May 8th Burma, Southeast Asia; 1944: Merrill's Marauders take Myitkyina » Merrill's Marauders, fought in Burma against the Japanese forces and were the Army's first Ranger unit. Led by Major General Frank Merrill, the unit was made up of experienced jungle fighters exclusively. In March and subsequent months of 1944 while vastly outnumbered, the unit advanced 750 miles through some of the harshest jungle terrain in the world.

May 17th Myitkyina, Burma; 1944: General Joseph Stilwell  Four-star General Joseph Stilwell was best known for his service in the China and Burma Theatre during World War II. He had earned the nicknames "Uncle Joe" and "Vinegar Joe" for his tough personality and his caring attitude for the enlisted men in his command. His popularity would be tested in Burma operations and the Battle of Myitkyina.

 

Forum

M-36B1 "Jackson" Tank Destroyer 1/35 scale model

Started by David Nemeyer in WAR IN EUROPE. Last reply by Scott Lyons on Sunday. 2 Replies

When the allies landed in Europe they brought with them the best armor they had at the time to do battle with the Panzer Divisions and their lethal Panther, Tiger I, and King Tiger tanks.  They quickly learned how outgunned their own armor was against the powerful punch and heavy armor of their adversaries.  Massive slaughters like the British 7th Armoured Division losing fourteen tanks and fifteen vehicles to the Tigers of Michael Wittmann's SS Panzer Battalion 101 in the Villers-Bocage were…Continue

M4A1 Sherman

Started by David Nemeyer in LATEST NEWS May 5. 0 Replies

This is an older 1/35 scale Italeri kit of an M4A1 Sherman that I modeled a few months back after it has been sitting on my shelf un-built since the early 1990s. Not my finest work by any means as I missed a few details because the kit was over 20 years old and the plastic was brittle on the fine detail parts like hatch handles and antennas. The M4A1 Sherman and its' 76mm gun was an upgrade over the initial M4 Shermans that either had the 105mm howitzer or the 75mm gun as their main weapon.…Continue

Oregon Paratrooper's remains found in the Netherlands

Started by David Nemeyer in WAR IN EUROPE May 2. 0 Replies

I found this article in the local news paper this morning about an 82nd Airborne Paratrooper who died during Market Garden and how his remains were recently unearthed by a Dutch farmer.  It is one of those classic stories of a family that never was able to have the closure of their loved ones body brought home from where he fell in battle.  You have to wonder how many more will be found just like this, who are still out there in their solemn resting places waiting to be found so that they can…Continue

Air Corps Training Base early war photo of part of the flightline

Started by David Nemeyer in ARMY AIR CORPS May 2. 0 Replies

Found this old, unmarked photo in a randomly mixed box of family photos, so we are not sure if it is one of my dad's uncles or my grandfather on my mom's side.  Both served in the Army Air Corps, but my guess is that this is likely my grandfathers; he was at a training base near Savannah, Georgia, where he worked as a mechanic.  I think it might be what they called "Hunter Field" but Grandpa has been gone now since 1997 and with him the exact places he served are also lost.  I will never forget…Continue

Invasion of Guam

Started by David Nemeyer in USMC. Last reply by David Nemeyer May 3. 4 Replies

Good afternoon,I am new to this page and would like to commend all of you for such a wonderful adventure in the history of our world.  My grandfather's brother was killed during the invasion of Guam and with that there is a deep hole in our family history that I am trying to fill.  Currently I am looking for any suggested reading specifically to the Guam operation.  I have spent hours on amazon and in a wonderful local book store called Powell's in Portland, Oregon but have still came up empty…Continue

 
 
 

WWII NEWS: THE TELEGRAPH

Pilot of lost Second World War plane to be buried

The family of an RAF fighter pilot who crash landed in the Sahara desert during the Second World War have spoken of their renewed hope of finally finding his lost body.

Lost Second World War pilot's family hope to lay him to rest after plane found

The family of an RAF fighter pilot who crash landed in the Sahara desert during the Second World War have spoken of their renewed hope of finally finding his lost body.

A victim of the Second World War is still lost - but not forgotten

The Kittyhawk found crashed-landed near El Alamein retains some of its tragic secrets, says James Holland.

Family of 'The Pianist' composer take author to court of Gestapo allegations

The widow and son of Wladyslaw Szpilman, the Polish Jewish composer immortalised in the Oscar winning film The Pianist, have taken the author of a book alleging Szpilman collaborated with the Gestapo to court.

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top wwii documentaries

Updated! From the website: "Lost Airmen of Buchenwald is a documentary that chronicles the little-known story of Allied airmen imprisoned at the Buchenwald Concentration Camp in the waning months of World War II. In the summer of 1944, 168 airmen from the US, England, Canada and other Allied countries were captured in Paris by the German Gestapo and sent to the ...   Read more »     

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"in the company of heroes"

Dr. Guy LoFaro Lectures on the 82nd Airborne Division's Contribution during WWII

By SCOTT LYONS
Winter 2012

Historian and author Guy LoFaro, former West Point professor and alumnus, recently presented to a full audience at the North Atlanta-area independent bookseller ‘Acworth Bookstore’ on the research behind his 2011 book 
The Sword of St. Michael: The 82nd Airborne Division in World War II.
 Full Story»

"With the Old Breed" Conversations of Wartime with a WWII-era US Marine

By SCOTT LYONS
Winter 2012

I had the recent privilege of listening to World War II history first-hand from Mr. and Mrs. H. Paul Bailey, through in-person interviews. Paul was a U.S. Marine from 1943 to 1946, who fought in the same division, 1st Marine Division (3/7), on Okinawa as Eugene Sledge (3/5), author of
With the Old Breed and subject of HBO’s
The Pacific.
 Full story »

 

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