Monday, December 20, 2021

Saturday December 20, 1941. First combat mission of the Flying Tigers, German winter clothing drive


On this day in 1941, the American Volunteer Group, the "Flying Tigers", flew their first combat mission.

This really surprised me as I thought the band of aviation soldiers of fortune had been in China in combat prior to December 7.  Obviously not so.  I also thought it was immediately folded into the United States Army Air Corps with the arrival of the war.  Also, not so. That would wait until July, 1942.

This I ran into first here:  

Today in World War II History—December 20, 1941

More can be read about this mission here:

20 December 1941

As also listed there, the Japanese landed on Mindanao, Borneo, Celebes and the Moluccas.

And they sunk a freighter off of Cape Mendocino, California, a frightening thing for coast residents.  It was, of course, a submarine attack.

Ernest King was appointed CiC of the US Navy.

Lindbergh wrote Hap Arnold and volunteered to serve in the U.S. Army.

Goebbels commenced a winter clothing drive for German troops, an effort which was disguised as a patriotic home front type of thing, but which likely fooled few.

The Belgian government in exile declared war on Japan.

And another letter home.

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