The Armed Forces Radio Service, predecessor of the Armed Forces Network, was formed.
More on the AFN:
AFN - 80 Years of History
AFN: Keeping Military Troops, Families Informed Since 1942
The Soviet Union and the United Kingdom entered into a twenty year treaty of friendship. It stated:
HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF GREAT BRITAIN, IRELAND AND BRITISH DOMINIONS BEYOND THE SEAS, EMPEROR OF INDIA, AND THE PRESIDIUM OF THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS:
Desiring to confirm the stipulations of the agreement between His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for joint action in the war against Germany signed at Moscow, July 12, 1941, and to replace them by formal treaty:
Desiring to contribute after the war to the maintenance of peace and to the prevention of further aggression by Germany or the States associated with her in acts of aggression in Europe;
Desiring, moreover, to give expression to their intention to collaborate closely with one another as well as with the other United Nations at the peace settlement and during the ensuing period of reconstruction on a basis of the principles enunciated in the <declaration made Aug. 14, 1941, by the President of the United States of America and the Prime Minister of Great Britain, to which the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics has adhered;
Desiring finally to provide for mutual assistance in the event of attack upon either high contracting party by Germany or any of the States associated with her in acts of aggression in Europe;
Have decided to conclude a treaty for that purpose and have appointed as their plenipotentiaries:
His Majesty the King of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions Beyond Seas, Emperor of India, for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland:
The Right Hon. Anthony Eden, M. P., His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs;
The Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics:
M. Vyacheslaff Mikhailovitch Molotoff, People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs,
Who, having communicated their full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed as follows:
PART ONE
ARTICLE I
In virtue of the alliance established between the United Kingdom and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the high contracting parties mutually undertake to afford one another military and other assistance and support of all kinds in war against Germany and all those States which are associated with her in acts of aggression in Europe.
ARTICLE II
The high contracting parties undertake not to enter into any negotiations with the Hitlerite Government or any other government in Germany that does not clearly renounce all aggression intentions, and not to negotiate or conclude, except by mutual consent, any armistice or peace treaty with Germany or any other State associated with her in acts of aggression in Europe.
PART TWO
ARTICLE III
1. The high contracting parties declare their desire to unite with other like-minded States in adopting proposals for common action to preserve peace and resist aggression in the post-war period.
2. Pending adoption of such proposals, they will after termination of hostilities take all measures in their power to render impossible the repetition of aggression and violation of peace by Germany or any of the States associated with her in acts of aggression in Europe.
ARTICLE IV
Should either of the high contracting parties during the postwar period become involved in hostilities with Germany or any of the States mentioned in Article III, Section 2, in consequence of the attack by that State against that party, the other high contracting party will at once give to the contracting party so involved in hostilities all military and other support and assistance in his power.
This article shall remain in force until the high contracting parties, by mutual agreement, shall recognize that it is superseded by adoption of proposals contemplated in Article III, Section 1. In default of adoption of such proposals, it shall remain in force for a period of twenty years and thereafter until terminated by either high contracting party as provided in Article VIII.
ARTICLE V
The high contracting parties, having regard to the interests of security of each of them, agree to work together in close and friendly collaboration after re-establishment of peace for the organization of security and economic prosperity in Europe.
They will take into account the interests of the United Nations in these objects and they will act in accordance with the two principles of not seeking territorial aggrandizement for themselves and of non-interference in the internal affairs of other States.
ARTICLE VI
The high contracting parties agree to render one another all possible economic assistance after the war.
ARTICLE VII
Each contracting party undertakes not to conclude any alliance and not to take part in any coalition directed against the other high contracting party.
ARTICLE VIII
The present treaty is subject to ratification in the shortest possible time and instruments of ratification shall be exchanged in Moscow as soon as possible.
It comes into force immediately on the exchange of instruments of ratification and shall thereupon replace the agreement between the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom signed at Moscow July 12, 1941.
Part One of the present treaty shall remain in force until the re-establishment of peace between the high contracting parties and Germany and the powers associated with her in acts of aggression in Europe.
Part Two of the present treaty shall remain in force for a period of twenty years. Thereafter, unless twelve months' notice has been given by either party to terminate the treaty at the end of the said period of twenty years, it shall continue in force until twelve months after either high contracting party shall have given notice to the other in writing of his intention to terminate it.
In witness whereof the above-named plenipotentiaries have signed the present treaty and have affixed thereto their seals.
Done in duplicate in London on the twenty-sixth day of May, 1942, in the Russian and English language, both texts being equally authentic.
Axis forces in North Africa commenced an offensive operation, Operation Venice, with the goal of taking Tobruk.
On this war torn Tuesday of 1942 my father had his 13th birthday. He would have gone to Mass.
Not because it was his birthday, but because this is the Feast of the Ascension, a Holy Day of Obligation for Catholics.
In most diocese in the United States, this Holy Day has been transferred to a Sunday. But in Nebraska it has not. At this time, he would have been living principally in Scottsbluff, and therefore it would have been a Holy Day. My guess is that his family would have caught an early morning Mass.
