Video: '1942: UChicago’s race to the first nuclear reaction'

(Wednesday, December 2, 1942, 3:25 p.m. CST, part of the Manhattan Project, during World War II) — The Atomic Age was born today when scientists at the Metallurgical Laboratory demonstrated the first artificially created, self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction at a laboratory inside an enormous tent on a squash court under the stands of the University of Chicago’s Stagg Field. Continue reading Scientists demonstrate first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction at at the University of Chicago 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 2 1942) →

Video: 'Alaskan Highway documentary' (Nov. 20, 1942, at 33:45)

(Friday, November 20, 1942) — The Alaska Highway constructed during World War II to connect the contiguous United States to Alaska across Canada, was dedicated today at Soldier’s Summit in the Yukon Territory. Continue reading Alaska Highway dedicated at Soldier’s Summit in Yukon Territory 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 20 1942) →

Video: 'The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal: How the US Won a Strategic Victory | Battle 360 | History'

(Friday, November 13, 1942, 1:48 a.m. Solomon Islands Time) — The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, the decisive engagement in a series of naval battles between Allied (primarily American) and Imperial Japanese forces during the months-long Guadalcanal Campaign, part of the Solomon Islands campaign of the Pacific Theater of World War II, began early this morning when the Japanese destroyers Akatsuki and Hiei turned on large searchlights and illuminated the American light cruiser Atlanta only 3,000 yards away – almost point-blank range for the battleship’s main guns. Continue reading World War II Naval Battle of Guadalcanal begins in Solomon Islands 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 13 1942) – all five Sullivan brothers killed →

Video: '168 - Axis and Allies Both Invade France - WW2 - November 13, 1942' (Operation Torch at 1:11)

(Sunday, November 8, 1942, during Operation Torch, part of the North African Campaign of World War II) — Operation Torch, an amphibious military invasion of French North Africa, in particular the French-held territories of Algeria and Morocco, began today as more than 400,000 U.S. and British forces went ashore in French North Africa. Continue reading Operation Torch: Allies invade French North Africa in first mass involvement of US troops in European–North African Theatre of World War II 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 8 1942) →

Video: 'The World at War: The Desert: North Africa - 1940-1943 (8 of 26)' (Nov. 4, 1942, at 49:41)

(Wednesday, November 4, 1942, 5:30 p.m. Eastern European Time; during the Second Battle of El Alamein, part of Western Desert Campaign of World War II) — German Field Marshall Erwin Rommel disobeyed Adolf Hitler’s orders today and began a retreat from El Alamein in North Africa. Continue reading Rommel disobeys Hitler’s orders and retreats from El Alamein in North Africa 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 4 1942) →