WWII

WWII

Pointe du Hoc: D Plus 60 Years

By Kevin M. Hymel

The gunfire has receded with the tide. One of the most valuable pieces of real estate in Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944, which once crawled with American GIs and German soldiers, now welcomes peaceful visitors from around the world. Read more

U.S. landing craft churn through the rough waters of the English Channel toward the coast of Normandy. The morning haze and the smoke ofå battle blow across the beaches, while some soldiers have already disembarked and wade the last few feet to shore.

WWII

“We’ll Start the War from Here”

By Roy Morris Jr.

Peering through the predawn darkness at the slowly emerging shoreline 300 yards away, the little man with the famous name prepared once again to set foot in France as a soldier of the liberation. Read more

Residents of an English town gather around an Army band to listen to their favorite songs in Band Concert by Olin Dows. Many of the songs that were written and performed during World War II are standards today.

WWII

World War II Music

By Sheldon Winkler

Some of the most memorable and enduring popular music of the 20th century was written during World War II. Read more

WWII

General Andrei Vlasov

Dear Editor:

I was considering whether to renew my subscription to WWII History. I then received the January 2004 issue and noticed the article, “Free French Stand at Bir Hachiem,” by Edward L. Read more

WWII

Japanese Aircraft Carrier

Dear WWII History:

There was a significant identification error on page 78 of the November 2003 issue. The Japanese aircraft carrier shown in the photograph was identified as the Hiryu, whereas, in fact, it is the Kaga. Read more

WWII

P-38 Lightning Restored

By Jim Opalka

Only a few months after the attack on Pearl Harbor a 24-four-year-old pilot, Lieutenant Brad McManus, scanned the sky as he was taught to do as an air cadet. Read more

WWII

Colonel Charles Hunter

Dear Editor,

I would like to make some corrections to Michael Hull’s otherwise excellent article, “Frank Merrill’s Jungle Trek” (July 2003). Read more

Before finishing it off, famed Japanese ace Saburo Sakai surveys the B-17 bomber flown by young Lieutenant Colin Kelly. Flying the nimble Zero fighter, Sakai is credited with 64 aerial victories.

WWII

Bomber Pilot Colin Kelly

By Wil Deac

The days following Pearl Harbor were grim ones for the United States. Headlines screamed of one Japanese victory after another. Read more

WWII

The B-26 Marauder

By Sam McGowan

Of all the better-known Allied aircraft of World War II, the most controversial was Martin’s B-26 Marauder, a twin-engine cigar-shaped medium bomber that was loved by some and hated by many. Read more

WWII

USS Houston

Dear WWII History:

My compliments on your fine article by John Wukovits in the November 2003 issue, “Heroic Fight Against Long Odds,” describing the last battle of the Australian light cruiser HMAS Perth and the American heavy cruiser USS Houston (CA 30). Read more

Fire from the guns of the Australian cruiser HMAS Perth splits the darkness in the opening moments of the Battle of Sunda Strait on February 25, 1942. The Australian vessel and the American cruiser Houston were lost in action against the Japanese.

WWII

Heroic Fight Against Long Odds

By John Wukovits

The haggard American sailors aboard the limping cruiser hoped that the journey upon which they had just embarked was the long-expected voyage back to the United States. Read more