Video: 'Wartime Nutrition (1943) '
(Saturday, June 13, 1942, during World War II) — U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the Office of War Information (OWI) today to consolidate government information services, and appointed radio news commentator Elmer Davis to be its head.
(Friday, June 12, 1942, 6:45 p.m. EWT) — U.S. President D. Roosevelt called on the American people tonight to dig into their attics, cellars, garages and barns for old rubber articles of every description and sell them to 400,000 neighborhood gasoline filling stations for 1 cent a pound between June 15-30 as a contribution to the nation’s all-out effort to defeat the Axis.
Audio: 'Adeste Fideles' (1942 version)
(Monday, June 8, 1942) — Still in a Christmas mood ten days after recording White Christmas, the best-selling single of all time, singer Bing Crosby recorded new versions of Adeste Fideles and Silent Night today in Los Angeles for Decca Records. Continue reading Crosby records new versions of ‘Adeste Fideles,’ ‘Silent Night’ 70 years ago today (1942)
Video: Yorktown torpedoed (at 5:11)
(Saturday, June 6, 1942, 10:20 p.m. ET, part of the Pacific Theater of World War II) — The Japanese withdrew today on the third day of The Battle of Midway, but the damaged US carrier Yorktown was torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-168. Still, the Yorktown remains afloat. However, a third torpedo from this salvo struck and sank the destroyer USS Hammann, which had been providing auxiliary power to Yorktown. Hammann broke in two with the loss of 80 lives, most due to her own depth charges exploding.
Video: Battle of Midway, June 5, 1942 (at 3:59)
(Friday, June 5, 1942, part of the Pacific Theater of World War II) — On the second day of The Battle of Midway, Japanese heavy cruisers Mogami and Mikuma collide and sustain damage while maneuvering to avoid a submarine attack (Miruma was sunk by air attack on June 6). Two more Japanese carriers are lost: Akagi is scuttled and Hiryu sinks from damage sustained yesterday.
Video: 'Mrs. Miniver' trailer
(Thursday, June 4, 1942) — Mrs. Miniver, a drama film about a British family struggling to survive the first days of World War II, opened today at the Music Hall in New York.
Directed by William Wyler, the film stars Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon, Teresa Wright and Dame May Whitty. The film won six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Director.
Video: Cologne bombed (at 12:06)
(Sunday, May 31, 1942, 12:47 a.m. local time, during World War II) — Three-fourths of Cologne, Germany, was set afire and a great area of the German Rhineland metropolis of 756,000 population was flattened early this morning by tremendous weights of explosives delivered by 1,047 Royal Air Force (RAF) planes tonight in the greatest raid in all aerial warfare to date. Continue reading 1,000 British bombers attack Cologne 70 years ago this hour (1942)
Video: 'Yankee Doodle Dandy' trailer
(Friday, May 29, 1942) — Yankee Doodle Dandy, a biographical musical film about George M. Cohan, known as “The Man Who Owns Broadway,” premiered tonight during a war-bonds benefit at the Hollywood Theatre in New York.
Directed by Michael Curtiz, the film stars James Cagney as George M. Cohan, Joan Leslie, Walter Huston and Richard Whorf. Continue reading ‘Yankee Doodle Dandy’ premieres in New York 70 years ago tonight (1942)
Video: Second Battle of Kharkov (at 12:46)
(Thursday, May 28, 1942, part of the Eastern Front of World War II) — The Second Battle of Kharkov in the eastern Ukraine ended today as Germany scored a victory by knocking out the Russian force threatening Kharkov. In all, 170,958 Soviets were killed, missing or captured since May 12. Continue reading Soviets defeated in Second Battle of Kharkov 70 years ago today (1942)
(Wednesday, May 27, 1942, during World War II) — Navy Cook 3rd Class Doris “Dorie” Miller became the first African-American to receive the Navy Cross today for his “extraordinary courage and disregard for his own personal safety” during Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor. Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, the Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet, presented to Miller on board aircraft carrier Enterprise for his extraordinary courage in battle.
