Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Apr. 30, 1941: Germans occupy all of Greece.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Apr. 29, 1941: Heavy Luftwaffe raid on Plymouth, England. Disney animators begin five-month strike.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Apr. 28, 1941: US occupies Greenland to “protect” it for Nazi-occupied Denmark, and establishes air bases. Lindbergh resigns as colonel with Army Air Corps reserve after President Roosevelt condemns his isolationist speech.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Apr. 27, 1941: Germans occupy Athens, and Greek government surrenders.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Apr. 26, 1941: Germans take Corinth, Greece, and paratroopers land in Athens.

The B-17 Flying Fortress, Part 1

B-17 Shoo Shoo Baby of the US Air Force Museum, Dayton OH
 (USAF Photo)

Few World War II airplanes have captured the imagination like the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress.

Next Monday, May 2, I'll have the privilege in taking a flight in Aluminum Overcast, the restored B-17 owned by the Experimental Aircraft Association (http://www.b17.org/). Over the next three weeks, I'll run a three-part series on the legendary Flying Fortress - a starring side character in my novels. Today I'll talk about the plane, next week about the crew, and the following week I hope to share photos and video from my flight.

Development

In 1935, the US Army called for a multi-engine, long-range, high-altitude heavy bomber. On July 17, 1935, Boeing introduced Model 299, which made its maiden flight on July 28, exceeding Army specifications. With plenty of machine guns, it was dubbed the "Flying Fortress" by a reporter. Although Model 299 crashed on an early flight, Boeing received a contract to develop the YB-17 in 1936.

Improvements were made with each successive model - the B-17B in October 1939, the B-17C in July 1940, and the B-17D in February 1941. The C and D models were involved in America's entry into World War II - shot up on the ground in Hawaii and the Philippines and flying early bombing missions. Since a squadron of twelve B-17Ds was expected in Pearl Harbor early on December 7, 1941, when radar showed the approaching Japanese planes, the officer in charge dismissed the warning.



USAF Photo

Combat Models

The B-17E rolled out in September 1941, the first model to sport the distinctive bell-shaped vertical stabilizer (tail fin). This model was used in the Eighth Air Force's first combat missions over Nazi-occupied Europe in late 1942. Further refinements led to the F model in August 1942. One of the most famous B-17Fs was the Memphis Belle, the first plane and crew to finish 25 missions in Europe.

Since no one expected dangerous head-on fighter attacks, the F model had weaker .30 caliber guns in the nose rather than the .50 caliber guns used in the rest of the plane. In addtion, the nose guns could not be trained to twelve o'clock. The Luftwaffe quickly discovered this deficiency and adopted head-on attacks with devastating results to the Eighth Air Force. Desperation and ingenuity led airmen to shatter holes in the nose of the plane and suspend a .50 caliber gun with racks and retractable cords. Later B-17Fs incorporated a factory-installed .50 caliber nose gun and eventually a chin turret with two .50 caliber guns.

The last and most common model, the B-17G, entered combat in September 1943, but further refinements were made throughout the war.

Specifications

With a wing span of 103 feet and a length of 74 feet, the B-17G cut a graceful figure. Powered by four Wright R-1820 Cyclone engines, it could carry a crew of ten and a bomb load of up to 8000 pounds (but less on long-distance missions). The B-17G had a top speed of 302 mph and a ceiling of 36,400 feet. Depending on the model and theater of operations, B-17s carried ten to thirteen machine guns.

The B-17 was the first plane to use turbo-superchargers, which boosted engine performance at high altitude. The plane also featured the Norden bombsight, a complicated piece of machinery that allowed the bombardier to compensate for airspeed, wind speed, and drift when bombing. Purported to drop a bomb in a pickle-barrel, the Norden never reached that accuracy in combat, but did allow successful high-altitude, daylight strategic bombing.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Apr. 25, 1941: German troops under Rommel take Halfaya Pass on Egypt-Libya border and enter Egypt.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Apr. 24, 1941: As Germans advance, British forces in Greece begin evacuation to Crete and Egypt; 50,000 troops will be evacuated.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Apr. 23, 1941: King George of Greece and his government evacuated to Crete as Germans advance. Charles Lindbergh speaks to 30,000 in New York, in the first mass meeting of the isolationist America First Committee; condemns Britain for war.

He Is Risen Indeed!

Do you ever worry that you've heard the Easter story so many times, it might grow to feel stale?

The good thing about maturing as a Christian is ease and comfort with God's love, the bad thing is the danger of taking His love for granted.

The apostle Paul never seemed to take Jesus' sacrifice for granted. In Ephesians chapter 1, he lists God's blessings in long run-on sentences overflowing with enthusiasm and joy. He offers a prayer for the reader to grow in the knowledge of God.

"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 1:18-20).

This Easter weekend, ponder the hope, the inheritance, and the power He gives us. Think about that power. Jesus lay in His grave, His heart still, all metabolic functions stopped, every cell no longer functioning. Friday night, all day Saturday. Then Sunday before dawn, the power of the Father did its mighty work. Jesus' heart jolted awake, the chemicals resumed their flurry of activity, every cell returned to work - but in a new way, different than in our mortal bodies, immortal, never to cease again.

That same power works in us. That same power is available to us. That same power can resurrect a stale faith and bring back joy and enthusiasm.

He is risen! He is risen indeed!

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Apr. 21, 1941: Greek First Army surrenders to Germans in northern Greece.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Apr. 20, 1941: Greek forces in Albania surrender. Riot between Sikhs and Moslems in Bombay, India leads to 400 casualties.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Apr. 19, 1941: Luftwaffe sends 712 bombers to London. British women ages 20-30 are conscripted for war work; mothers of children under 14 are exempt.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Apr. 18, 1941: As Germans advance in Greece, President Alexandros Koryzis commits suicide; King George assumes leadership. British land in Basra in southern Iraq to counteract the new pro-Axis government.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Apr. 17, 1941: Yugoslavia signs armistice with Germany.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Apr. 16, 1941: First US Lend-Lease food arrives in Britain. British destroyers sink all five ships in an Axis convoy off Malta.

Our Hope Is in Him

Webster’s Dictionary defines hope as “to long for with expectation of fulfillment.” Hope can sustain us through suffering, hardships, and waiting. Without hope, the human soul despairs, gives up, and withers.

However, misplaced hope can lead to profound disappointment. When we place our hope in an improved economy, political change, success, or finding the perfect job or mate, we set ourselves up for disappointment. Continual disappointment can lead to despair, apathy, anger, or cynicism. Sound like our world today?

While it’s fine to want these things and work for them, we must be very careful where we place our true hope—the kind that expects fulfillment.

When Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, He seemed to fulfill the people’s hopes of the Messiah. But even those hopes were misplaced—they longed for a savior who would defeat Rome and establish an earthly kingdom. What Jesus gave them was far greater—a Savior who defeated sin and death and established an eternal heavenly kingdom.

Jesus’ triumphal entry fulfilled prophecies of the Messiah riding in on a donkey, a symbol of bringing peace—not war. His life fulfilled dozens of ancient prophecies, and His resurrection proved His divinity. Jesus has made many promises—to cleanse us from sin, to give us eternal life, to be with us always, and to take us to heaven to be with Him. Our deepest longings will be met. Our expectations will be fulfilled. The Lord alone is truly worthy of hope.

“‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Hosanna in the highest!’” (Matthew 21:9).

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Apr. 15, 1941: Germans take Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. Four killed in clash between miners and company officials in Middlesboro KY.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Apr. 14, 1941: King Peter and Yugoslavian government escape to Athens. Kaiser shipyards in Richmond CA lay keel for first ship, the Ocean Vanguard; 747 ships to be built in Richmond.

Book Beat - Delivered with Love

Several years ago at Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, I met Sherry Kyle. She and I both hoped to be published, and have since navigated the world of being contracted and then debut authors together.

This fall her debut book, The Christian Girl's Guide to Style came out (see my review here: Christian Girl's Guide to Style), and this month her debut novel, Delivered with Love, released.

In Delivered with Love, we meet Claire James. After her mother dies, Claire inherits her mother's '72 Volkswagen Bug - and a mysterious love letter to her mother. Out of work, Claire heads to Capitola, California to find the author of the letter and learn more about her mother's past. In Capitola, Claire meets handsome Blake Coombs, stressed-out realtor Michael Thompson, and Michael's mother Geraldine - eighty-going-on-eighteen. As Claire investigates the old letter, secrets unravel...and so do lives.

The cover screams cute beach read, and Delivered with Love is definitely that - you can smell the surf and the interior of that '72 VW. But it's so much more. Sherry Kyle writes from the heart. I cared deeply for the characters as they grappled with identity, forgiveness, and whether or not to reveal their own transgressions. This is a touching story, and I'm looking forward to more novels from Sherry Kyle.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Apr. 13, 1941: USSR and Japan sign five-year nonaggression pact.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Apr. 12, 1941: Germans take Belgrade, Yugoslavia. Germans take Bardia, Libya.

Medications in World War II

Last week I was a guest blogger on Redwood's Medical Edge, a wonderful blog on medical topics for writers, posting a three-part series on medications in World War II.

In Part 1, I discussed general principles of medication use in the 1940s - generic/brand names, dosage forms, administration, and measurements - all very different than in 2011! Medications in World War II - Part 1

In Part 2, I described which medications were used to treat various illnesses - pain and fever; cough, cold, and allergy; gastrointestinal; endocrine and metabolic; dermatologic; respiratory; cardiovascular; and psychiatric. Medications in World War II - Part 2

Part 3 covered the new class of drugs that saved countless thousands of lives during the war - antibiotics. Medications in World War II - Part 3

All of this made me very thankful for the breadth and depth of medications available today!

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Apr. 11, 1941: Italians and Hungarians join German invasion of Yugoslavia. German forces under Rommel surround Australian forces in Tobruk, Libya—siege will last until November 1941. US forms Office of Price Administration to plan wage & price controls. Movie premiere of "Road to Zanzibar," starring Bob Hope & Bing Crosby.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Apr. 10, 1941: US signs agreement with Greenland to aid in its defense. First clash between US and German ships—destroyer USS Niblack drops depth charges on aggressive U-boat. Germans take Zagreb, Yugoslavia and establish puppet state in Croatia.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Apr. 9, 1941: Germans take Salonika, Greece.

Without Love....

Good works. Perseverance. Sound doctrine. Those are good things. But are they enough?

This past week I started a new Bible study on the book of Ephesians, team-teaching with two wonderful women. For the introductory class, we discussed the author and the audience—Paul and the church in Ephesus. The city of Ephesus was a major metropolis of 250,000 in the first century, and became the home of a large, vibrant, and influential church.

Paul wrote his letter to the Ephesians in approximately A.D. 60. He had no words of rebuke for the church. Indeed, they had a reputation for love, zeal, and sound doctrine.

However, thirty years later, John received the vision recorded in the book of Revelation. Jesus gave John seven messages for seven churches, and the first message was for the church in Ephesus. Jesus commends them for their hard work, perseverance, and refusal to tolerate false teachings. Yes, those are good things.

But Jesus had something against them: “‘You have forsaken your first love’” (Revelation 2:4). He says if they don’t repent, He would remove their church. A stiff and sobering warning.

This is the danger for the mature church and the mature Christian. We start off with love and zeal. As we grow and learn, we add sound doctrine and good works, as we should. But if we’re not careful, our love can cool.

“If I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor…but have not love, I gain nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:2-3). Without love, all our good works become busywork. Without love, all our perseverance becomes grumbling stubbornness. Without love, our sound doctrine becomes smug self-righteousness.

What can you do today to keep your love strong?

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Apr. 8, 1941: British take port of Massawa, Eritrea, securing Eritrea (part of modern Ethiopia) and driving Italians from last of Red Sea ports, opening sea to Allied ships.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Apr. 7, 1941: Germans take Derna, Libya, and also capture British generals Richard O’Connor and Philip Neame.

Book Beat - The Deepest Waters

Doesn't the cover of this book grab you? If the cover doesn't, the story will. In The Deepest Waters, Dan Walsh spins a compelling story inspired by a real-life incident.

In 1857, John and Laura Foster are heading to New York on the modern steamship, the SS Vandervere. After a hurricane strikes, the women and children are rescued by a sailing ship while the men flounder on the open sea. Laura believes she's a widow, alone again, mourning her beloved husband. She takes inspiration from Micah, an elderly slave who works on the boat, and his little dog, Crabby. As Laura struggles with despondency, John battles the elements, both believing they'll never see each other again.

Dan Walsh proves his ability to write a gripping, emotional story, as he did in his earlier World War II books, The Unfinished Gift and The Homecoming. The miraculous elements of the story might come across as unbelievable - except those elements came from the real-life steamship sinking! Laura's friendship with Micah is beautiful, and the effect of the disaster on the high-society Foster family is touching.

I highly recommend this lovely novel.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Apr. 6, 1941: Germans invade Yugoslavia and Greece. Luftwaffe bombing destroys Belgrade, Yugoslavia, killing 17,000. British and South African troops take Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, first capital city liberated from Axis.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Apr. 5, 1941: Anti-German Yugoslavian government signs treaty of friendship with USSR.

Make It Do - Stocking Shortages in World War II

For American women, a shortage that affected daily life was the shortage of stockings. Before the war, no well-dressed woman was seen in public without hose, and silk stockings were a necessary part of every woman’s wardrobe.


Nylons Introduced

Nylon was invented by DuPont in 1938, and nylon stockings were demonstrated at the 1939 New York World’s Fair. When they came on the market on May 15, 1940, over 750,000 pairs were sold on the first day. They sold for $1.25 a pair, the same price as silk, but their shrink-proof, moth-proof nature made them very popular.

Silk Shortage

Japan was the sole supplier of silk to the US, and deteriorating trade relations in 1941 cut off the supply. Silk was used for parachutes and was the best material for powder bags for naval guns. When the guns were fired, the silk completely disintegrated without leaving any damaging residue. To protect this precious resource, the Office of Production Management (OPM) seized the nation’s supply of raw silk on August 2, 1941. This set off such a shopping frenzy for silk stockings that most retailers set a purchase limit of two or three pairs. The price of nylon stockings subsequently rose to $10 a pair or more.

Nylon Commandeered

Nylon was produced from chemicals vital to the war effort, and was also needed for parachutes. In addition, nylon was used to make rope stronger and to supplement rubber (which was also short) in tire production. As a result, the War Production Board (formerly the OPM) commandeered DuPont’s stock of nylon on February 11, 1942. From then on, DuPont’s production of nylon went to war materials.

Collection of Stockings

Used stockings were also valuable. Used silk stockings were made into powder bags for the Navy, and used nylon stockings were melted down and re-spun into nylon thread that could be used for parachutes. When stockings developed holes or runs, women were encouraged to turn them in at the hosiery department of their local store.

Making Do

Women treated their remaining stockings with great care, often reserving them for special occasions. Rayon or cotton stockings were worn, but not fondly, as they tended to sag around the knees. The rising popularity of slacks helped, but most women resorted to bare legs, sometimes with ankle socks for more casual wear. To simulate the look of nylons, women used leg makeup from cosmetics companies such as Max Factor. These “liquid stockings” were reported to last up to three days if the woman didn’t bathe. If possible, a “seam” was painted down the back of the leg with an eyebrow pencil by a friend or family member. This leg makeup was endangered when a lady crossed her legs or when it rained.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Apr. 4, 1941: German forces under Gen. Erwin Rommel take Benghazi, Libya.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Apr. 3, 1941: Luftwaffe air raid on Bristol, England.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Apr. 2, 1941: RAF drops 75,000 tea bags in Holland to increase Dutch morale. Clash between union and non-union miners in Harlan KY leaves four dead.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Apr. 1, 1941: In Iraq, Rashid Ali seizes control from Regent Faisal and sets up a pro-Axis government.