1940
British and French governments agree to land an expeditionary force in northern Norway without regard for Norway’s neutrality in order to aide Finland, although it was never carried out.
First sinking of a U-boat by a lone British destroyer: in convoy OA-84 off Land’s End, HMS Antelope sinks U-41.
1941
An advanced column of armoured cars from the 7th Armoured Division intercept the Italian retreat about 70 miles south of Benghazi.
Battle of Beda Fomm begins: British and Australian troops encircle bulk of Italian army in Libya.
US Navy designates new class of ship—the auxiliary aircraft vessel (AVG), later known as escort carriers—able to be constructed quickly on merchant ship hulls.
1942
First US C-47 cargo plane lost in combat, strafed by Zeros on Bathurst Island, Australia.
Japanese begin bombarding Singapore from Malaya.
US National Naval Medical Center is established in Bethesda, MD.
US Far East Air Force renamed Fifth Air Force; Caribbean AF renamed Sixth AF; Hawaiian AF renamed Seventh AF; Alaskan AF renamed Eleventh AF.
1943
Mussolini sacks his son-in-law, Count Ciano from Foreign Ministry and takes control himself.
1944
U.S. troops reach the outskirts of Cassino, but are repulsed.
The ‘Chindits’ begin moving towards Indaw, 100 miles behind the Japanese lines in Burma.
1945
Red Army troops approach Elbing and Marienburg in East Prussia.
RAF balloon command to be disbanded as the air raid threat lessens. 278 V1’s have been claimed by balloons.
US Seventh and French Armies link, splitting the Colmar pocket in France.
MacArthur orders a containment in the northern Philippines, as the main effort is directed to the capture of Manila. The Australians land on the Japanese stronghold of New Britain, East of New Guinea.