Sunday, May 15, 2022

Friday, May 15, 1942. WAACs formed.



A couple of big events in regard to the American war effort occurred on this day in 1942.

First one on the Home front.
Today In Wyoming's History: May 151942   Gas rationing limits US motorist to 3 gallons per week, except for those in critical industries.
Three gallons per week. . . 12 gallons per month.

In actuality, it was limited to 17 Eastern states at first.

Gas rationing, by the way, was aimed in the US at reducing rubber tire wear more than conserving gasoline. The US remained a petroleum exporter at the time.  Sarah Sundin, however, reports on her blog that it came into effect in the East, when it did, due to U-boat shipping losses.

Second, the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps was created.


This replicated a move that had been done in World War One, but on a much larger, and ultimately permanent in an evolutionary sense.\

Sundin also reports that this is the date the U.S. dropped a red ball from its aircraft insignia, done in order to prevent U.S. aircraft from being mistaken as Japanese aircraft.

Costa Rica broke diplomatic relations with Hungary and Romania.

Slovakia legalized the deportation of Jews from their territory, following the trail of their German masters.

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