Category Archives: 1940s

Japanese warplanes raid Darwin, Australia, killing at least 243 people 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDate #OTD (Feb 19 1942)


Video: 'Bombing of Darwin'

(Thursday, February 19, 1942, 9:58 a.m. Australian Central Daylight Time; during the Bombing of Darwin, part of the Pacific War, part of World War II) — 242 Japanese aircraft, in two separate raids, attacked Darwin, Australia, ships in Darwin’s harbor and the town’s two airfields today in an attempt to prevent the Allies from using them as bases to contest the invasion of Timor and Java during World War II. Continue reading Japanese warplanes raid Darwin, Australia, killing at least 243 people 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDate #OTD (Feb 19 1942)

Defeated British garrison paraded before triumphant Japanese troops in Singapore 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 16 1942)

Video: 'The World At War Episode 6 HD - Banzai!: Japan (1931–1942)' (Feb. 16, 1942, at 51:38)

(Monday, February 16, 1942; during the Japanese occupation of Singapore, part of the Second World War) — One day after the fall of Singapore, the foremost British military base and economic port in Southeast Asia and key to British interwar defense planning for the region, resulting in the largest British surrender in history, the British suffered a last humiliation: the garrison was paraded today before the triumphant Japanese. Continue reading Defeated British garrison paraded before triumphant Japanese troops in Singapore 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 16 1942)

Singapore falls in ‘worst disaster’ in British military history 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 15 1942)


Video: '130 - Britain's Worst Defeat - Singapore Falls - WW2 - February 20, 1942' (Feb. 15, 1942, at 0:52)

(Sunday, February 15, 1942, just after 6:00 p.m. MALT, during the Fall of Singapore, part of the Malayan campaign of the Second World War) — Singapore — an island city-state in maritime Southeast Asia nicknamed Britain’s “Gibraltar of the East,” a mighty marine fortress that ties India with Australia — fell to the Japanese today when Lieutenant-General Arthur Ernest Percival formally surrendered, resulting in the largest British surrender in history. Continue reading Singapore falls in ‘worst disaster’ in British military history 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 15 1942)

‘Blues in the Night (My Mama Done Tol’ Me)’ by Woody Herman peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 14 1942)

(Saturday, February 14, 1942) — “Blues in the Night (My Mama Done Tol’ Me)” by Woody Herman And His Orchestra (with brief cameo vocal appearances by composer Harold Arlen) peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for one week. Continue reading ‘Blues in the Night (My Mama Done Tol’ Me)’ by Woody Herman peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 14 1942)

Monkees singer and bassist Peter Tork born in Washington, D.C. 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 13 1942)


Video: 'R.I.P Peter Tork (Tribute video)'

(Friday, February 13, 1942) — American musician, composer, and actor Peter Tork, best known as the keyboardist and bass guitarist of The Monkees and a co-star of the TV series The Monkees (1966–1968), was born Peter Halsten Thorkelson today at the former Doctors Hospital in Washington, D.C. Continue reading Monkees singer and bassist Peter Tork born in Washington, D.C. 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 13 1942)

First gold record presented to Glenn Miller for ‘Chattanooga Choo Choo’ 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 10 1942)

(Tuesday, February 10, 1942) — The first gold record was presented today to Glenn Miller for “Chattanooga Choo Choo” by Glenn Miller and his Orchestra, featuring vocals by Tex Beneke, Paula Kelly and the Modernaires, with sales of 1.2 million copies. Continue reading First gold record presented to Glenn Miller for ‘Chattanooga Choo Choo’ 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 10 1942)

Battle of Singapore begins with Japanese amphibious assault 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 8 1942)


Video: '129- German Army Surrounded: You Did Nazi That Coming! - WW2 - February 13, 1942' (Battle of Singapore at 2:34)

(Sunday, February 8, 1942, shortly before 8:30 p.m. MALT; during the Fall of Singapore, part of the Malayan campaign, the Pacific War and the Second World War) — The Fall of Singapore, also known as the Battle of Singapore, began tonight when the first wave of Japanese troops from the 5th Division and 18th Division began crossing the Johor Strait towards the island city-state nicknamed Britain’s “Gibraltar of the East.” Continue reading Battle of Singapore begins with Japanese amphibious assault 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 8 1942)

‘A String of Pearls’ by Glenn Miller and his Orchestra peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 7 1942)

(Saturday, February 7, 1942) — “A String of Pearls” by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for two non-consecutive weeks (Feb. 7/21, 1942). Continue reading ‘A String of Pearls’ by Glenn Miller and his Orchestra peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 7 1942)

Nazi officials formalize plans for ‘Final Solution to the Jewish question’ at Wannsee Conference 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 20 1942)


Video: 'The House of the Wannsee Conference'

(Tuesday, January 20, 1942, approximately noon-1:30 p.m. Central European Summer Time; during The Holocaust, part of World War II) — 15 high-ranking Nazi Party and German government officials gathered today at a villa in the Berlin suburb of Wannsee to discuss and coordinate the implementation of what they called the “Final Solution of the Jewish Question,” an attempt to exterminate the entire Jewish population of Europe, an estimated 11 million persons. Continue reading Nazi officials formalize plans for ‘Final Solution to the Jewish question’ at Wannsee Conference 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 20 1942)

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt officially approves project to make first atomic weapons 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 19 1942)


Video: 'The Birth of the Manhattan Project - WW2 Special'

(Monday, January 19, 1942; during World War II) — Responding to a Nov. 27, 1941, recommendation by Vannevar Bush that “an atomic bomb WAS feasible,” U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, spurred on by the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor, replied today with a brief handwritten note, “V. B. OK — returned — I think you had best keep this in your own safe FDR.” Continue reading U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt officially approves project to make first atomic weapons 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 19 1942)