World at War 1939-1940 Group Build

The News from 12 August, 1939—Saturday

 The world premiere of the film “The Wizard of Oz” is held in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin; this unlikely location is chosen as a test-site for the film, before the movie goes into world-wide release; music composer Herbert Stothart was a native of Milwaukee; Meinhardt Raabe, who plays the coroner Munchkin was born in Watertown, Wisconsin

Southern Pacific Railroad’s streamliner “The City of San Francisco,” derails near Harney, Nevada, and falls into the Humboldt River; 24 people are killed and 121 injured; a coroner’s jury and a railroad hearing board determine that the wreck was caused by sabotage; no one is ever charged with the crime

At Wrigley Field in Chicago, the Cubs defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 6 to 4

After meeting with New York City Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia, US President Franklin Roosevelt leaves on board USS Tuscaloosa for a Canadian cruise

John F. Kennedy (with Torbert Macdonald) leaves London for a trip to Germany

George Hamilton (actor) is born in Memphis, Tennessee; his screen credits will later include: “Lone Star (1952),” “All the Fine Young Cannibals (1960),” “Where the Boys Are (1960),” “The Victors (1963),” “The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing (1973),” the TV miniseries “Roots (1977),” “The Godfather Part III (1990),” and many less memorable endeavors

 Oliver Ford Davies (actor) is born in Ealing, Middlesex, UK; he would later appear as Sio Bibble in “Star Wars:  Episodes I, II and III,” and as Dr. James Sheppard in “Poirot:  The Murder of Roger Ackroyd”

 Britain, France and the Soviet Union begin negotiations for an alliance as a deterrent to Nazi Germany’s expansionism; the talks will be suspended on 17 August because of Polish objections; and permanently ended by the Soviets on 25 August, 1939

 There are 19 days of peace remaining.

The News from 13 August, 1939—Sunday

A Sikorsky S-43 aircraft flown by Pan American crashes into Rio de Janeiro’s Guanabara Bay; en route to Miami, Florida, 14 of the 16 people on board are killed

The New York Yankees shut out the Philadelphia Athletics, 21-0, assisted by 2 home runs from Joe DiMaggio

Adolf Hitler, Joachim von Ribbentrop and Count Ciano meet at Obersalzberg to discuss the political situation regarding Poland

 Eighteen days of peace remain

hobby link japan seems to have the best price but i haven't compared shipping. i may wait until they get a couple of the fall releases in and do a big order (1/72 JGSDF PATRIOT, TANK TRANSPORTER W/ TYPE 74, 1/35 SOVIET SS-23, SA-8, TOS-1 and  PLA 120mm breech loading mortar on 6x6 armored vehicle).

The News from 14 August, 1939—Monday

The White Sox win their first-ever home night game, over St. Louis, 5-2. 

 Released this date and carried in the September issue of “Soviet Russia Today” is a letter addressed to “All Active Supporters of Democracy and Peace”;  it is signed by 400 “leading Americans”; and calls for “closer cooperation with the Soviet Union” and “greater unity of the anti-fascist forces”; among those who sign are Dashiell Hammett, writer, Ernest Hemmingway, writer, and Sam Jaffe, actor

There are seventeen days of peace left.

The News for 15 August, 1939--Tuesday

 MGM’s musical film “The Wizard of Oz” premieres at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood

 At Yankee Stadium, the NY Yankees beat the Washington Senators, 3-2; three times at bat, Joe DiMaggio gains no hits and no runs

 There are sixteen days of peace left.

Checkmate

I love the news updates and count down.  It's interesting and reminds me of the start date.

Steve

Lt. I too love the updates, seems eerie. Very original.

Thanks, Steve and jibber.  I've enjoyed doing the research.  

For me, it's been a reminder that every day life and culture go on, and people continue to do the average things--like attend movies and baseball games--all the while other forces and events are moving toward a cataclysm.  

Calling all Bf 109 aficionados!! Is there any cosmetic differences in the E-3 to E-4 other than the added head armor? Thanks!

ajd3530

Calling all Bf 109 aficionados!! Is there any cosmetic differences in the E-3 to E-4 other than the added head armor? Thanks!

The E-4 didn't have the engine mounted gun, so the spinner didn't have the hole through the middle. The canopy was re designed with heavier framing. The E-4 also has faster firing 20mm cannon in the wings, but I think visually these were the same as the E-3.

Is it true that alot of the E-3s were re-fitted with the newer canopy? I had actually planed on back dating an E-4 to an E-3, so that doesn't sound too difficult.

I believe so and I think some E-3 had the new spinner fitted as well. But if you want to be accurate, you would really need pics of the aircraft your doing to see what that had fitted. You can get vacform E-3 canopies, what scale are you doing.

The canopy would be the main thing to change to back date to an E3.   It's the style with rounded edges on the top side.  These would be gradually replaced during the summer of 1940.

Pilot armour was introduced in the final stages of the battle for France.  

As far as I know (and can find), all Emils had the same type of spinner.   The cap was likely introduced around the same time as the E4.   Again another item that could be retro-fitted.

regards,

Jack

Well after alittle searching, I rediscovered that I had an E-3 in the stash.. Might still try to back date from an E-4, as I have a handful of them and only one E-3.

And the only real defference in an E-1 to an E-3 were they had MGs in the wingsinstead of cannons, thus no underwing bulges, correct?

You got it, backdating to the  E-1 would involve removing the underside bulges and re-introducing the detail that said bulge covered.  You would have to putty over the boxed outline on the leading edge  where the cannons were. Note too, that the wing MGs would be placed slightly more inward and require an ejection chute for each weapon.

On the Tamiya kit, you can actually see most of the chute underneath the cannon bulge, and there is a circular engraving on the wing leading edge where the machine guns would have been.

regards,

Jack

Luckily, the on the Hobbycraft kit the buldges come as a seperate part, so I've got that covered.

The News for 16 August, 1939--Wednesday

 Carole Shelley (actress) is born in London; she will portray Gwendolyn Pidgeon in “The Odd Couple” on Broadway)

 Sir Trevor Mcdonald (British television newsreader) is born in Trinidad

Valeri V Ryumin (cosmonaut on Soyuz 25 and 32) is born

 New York City’s Hippodrome closes its doors for the last time; built in 1905, it was the venue for many vaudeville acts, including magician Harry Houdini; blame for the closing is placed on the growing popularity of motion pictures

 The Philadelphia Phillies beat the Boston Bees, 3 to 2; the Bees, known as the Braves before 1935, will return to the name Braves in 1940

 Lawrence Steinhardt, US ambassador to the Soviet Union, reports to President Roosevelt that he is personally convinced that the Soviet Union would seek to avoid participation in the early phase of a European conflict

 There are fifteen days of peace left

The News for 17 August, 1939--Thursday

 “The Wizard of Oz” opens at Loew’s Capitol Theater in New York City.

 US President Roosevelt continues to sail the waters off Newfoundland on USS Tuscaloosa

 At Yankee Stadium, the NY Yankees beat the Washington Senators, 9 to 8; four times at bat, Joe DeMaggio scores a home run

“The Wireless World” magazine publishes an article describing “colour television”

 HMS Formidable (aircraft carrier) is launched in the UK

 Adolf Hitler orders Admiral Canaris (head of German Intelligence) to find some Polish military uniforms for a “special SS operation"

The prototype Douglas DB-7 attack bomber flies at Los Angeles Municipal Airport

In her syndicated column, “My Day,” Mrs. Franklin (Eleanor) Roosevelt writes:  “You can never develop your own interests, it seems to me, unless you know how to read and write, and if you don't discipline yourself and your mind as a child by learning arithmetic and some other subjects which may not seem so useful at the time, you will be handicapped in many of life's situations.  You may realize later in life that the mastery of certain subjects has given you the necessary discipline to do correctly and well an uncongenial task, and life is filled with uncongenial tasks.”

 There are two weeks left of peace

CMK

Sign me up for this build. I'm going to build Academy's 1/350 USS Indianapolis. She was commissioned in 1932 and received 10 battle stars for her participation in WW2 from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

Will do, Js.  She was a great ship.  If I remember rightly, she carried one of the atomic bombs, was sunk by a Japanese submarine, and her surviving crew barely survived, due to shark attacks; and her CO (whose name escapes me) eventually committed suicide.

At 1/350, that's going to be a major project.  I look forward to watching your progress.

I've updated the participant's list.

Welcome aboard!  Glad you could join us.

The News for 18 August, 1939—Friday

RKO Pictures releases “In Name Only,” with Carole Lombard, who receives top billing over Cary Grant

The Chicago White Sox defeat the Cleveland Indians, 1-0, at Comiskey Park

Joe Azcue (baseball player), Johnny Preston (singer), Molly Bee (actress), Harald Heide-Steen Jr. (Norwegian actor and comedian), Robert Horton (British businessman) are born

In London, signs appear asking:  “What price Churchill?”; The Times publishes a letter urging Prime Minister Neville Chamberlin to include Winston Churchill in his cabinet; it is signed by 375 academics

HMS Pintail, a patrol vessel, is launched

Admiral Doenitz sends 18 U-boats to the eastern Atlantic Ocean and 17 to the Baltic Sea, preparing for operations against Poland and perhaps the Soviet Union

Georgi Zhukov reports that he is ready to begin a counter-offensive against the Japanese (Lake Khasan and Khalkin-Gol)

W.B. Yeats dies in the south of France (Irish poet and playwright)

Louis Armstrong and his orchestra record “Jeepers Creepers” for Decca Records

Thirteen days of peace remain.

The News for 19 August, 1939—Saturday

Adolf Hitler orders the Kriegsmarine to prepare for Fall Weiss, the invasion of Poland; Admiral Graf Spee and Deutschland (pocket battleships) leave for their assigned positions

Joseph Stalin allegedly makes a speech to the Politburo describing Soviet strategy in the present geo-political climate; in the speech, Stalin reportedly claims that a European war would weaken the West and provide the Soviets with an opportunity for territorial expansion; Stalin denies the veracity of the report, and historians will continue to debate the issue

The German-Soviet Credit Agreement is signed in Berlin

The St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds reach a tie, 3-3, at Crosley Field

Neville Chamberlin is fishing in Scotland; Winston Churchill is in France, inspecting defenses there

Corvettes HMS Hollyhock, Sunflower, Apostolis and Hyacinth are launched

In Luxembourg, the Chamber of Deputies grants the Grand Duchess and her cabinet full executive and legislative powers for the duration of the approaching war

Soviet Minister of Foreign Affairs Molotov produces a draft memorandum for a Soviet-German pact; he invites German Foreign Minister von Ribbentrop to Moscow on the 26 or 27 August

Twelve days of peace remain.

The News for 20 August, 1939—Sunday

In Berlin, Hjalmar Schacht, president of the Reichsbank, is dismissed from office

The Battle of Khalkhin Gol, between Japanese and Soviet forces, enters its final stages; Soviet commander Zhukov wins a decisive victory

At Yankee Stadium, the Philadelphia Athletics defeat the NY Yankees, 5-4

The Boston Red Sox defeat the Washington Senators, 10 to 5

The first black bowling league is formed in the US (National Bowling Association)

The announcement of the German-Soviet trade agreement is a surprise to most of the world

An advertisement in the Minneapolis Star-Journal reveals that “9 out of 10 screen stars use Lux Toilet Soap”; the advertisement features RKO radio star Anne Shirley

There are eleven days of peace remaining.

The News for 21 August, 1939—Monday

Joseph Goebbels blames the Jews for the attitude of the US toward Nazi Germany

American swimmer Eleanor Holm is featured on the cover of TIME magazine

British cargo ship Sire runs aground in the St. Lawrence River; she is refloated later in the day

The Cincinnati Reds defeat the Philadelphia Phillies, 7-0

The Brooklyn Dodgers defeat the St. Louis Cardinals, 7-1

Orson Welles signs a contract with RKO Pictures to write, direct, produce and act in two movies for the studio

Cowboy actor and singer Gene Autry performs at the Paramount Theater in Glasgow, Scotland

In Alexandria, Virginia, attorney Samuel W. Tucker and six African-Americans stage a “sit-in” at the Barrett Branch of the Alexandria library, after being denied library cards

Peace remains for ten days.

The News for 22 August, 1939—Tuesday

Fearing a German invasion, Holland puts border guards into position; Dutch prime minister DeGeer summons home Dutch vacationers from Germany’s Black Forest

In Obersalzberg, Adolf Hitler delivers a speech to German commanders-in-chief; the speech includes information about the upcoming invasion of Poland and his sinister plans for the Polish population

In the UK, The Times reports German troops massing on the Polish border

With a rousing speech broadcast by the BBC, Prime Minister Chamberlain renews the British government’s pledge to support Poland; an appeal is sent to the German government for a truce to prevent open war; the government indicates a willingness to discuss German claims in exchange for peace in eastern Europe

Prime Minister Chamberlain summons Parliament to meet on 24 August

The passenger ship SS Normandie leaves LeHavre; she carries a boatload of Americans heading for the US before the outbreak of war

At Comiskey Park, the Chicago White Sox are defeated by the NY Yankees, 14-5

The Brooklyn Dodgers beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 8-5, at Ebbets Field

George Orwell records in his journal that German Foreign Minister von Ribbentrop will fly to Moscow on 23 August, to sign a non-aggression pact between Germany and the Soviet Union

England plays a touring West Indies team at the conclusion of a three-day cricket match; England wins the series, 1-0

TV actress Valerie Harper is born

There are nine days of peace remaining.

The News for 23 August, 1939—Wednesday

A non-aggression treaty, the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, is signed in Moscow between Nazi Germany and Communist Soviet Union; the world is stunned; a secret protocol provides for the division of Poland betwenn the two nations

King George leaves Balmoral and returns to London

Lloyd’s of London increases war-risk insurance premiums

HMS Kelly (destroyer) is launched

US President FDR is returning to New Jersey from Halifax, Nova Scotia, aboard USS Tuscaloosa; FDR writes to Italian king, Victor Emmanuel:  “The Government of Italy and the United States can today advance those ideals of Christianity which of late seem so often to have been obscured.  The unheard voices of countless millions of human beings ask that they shall not be vainly sacrificed again.”

France begins mobilization; French citizens are advised to leave Paris; Winston Churchill leaves France and returns to England

Belgium proclaims her neutrality

In Italy, Benito Mussolini offers his services as a mediator

At Khalkin-Gol, Russian troops kill 600 Japanese soldiers in hand-to-hand fighting; Soviet commander Zhukov begins to “reduce” trapped Japanese forces

Responding to fears of war, the Dow Jones in New York drops $3.25 (US dollars) at closing

The NY Yankees again defeat the Chicago White Sox, 16-4

John Cobb from the UK drives 365.85 MPH (593.48 KPH) at Bonneville Flats

There are eight days of peace remaining.

The News for 24 August, 1939—Thursday

Details of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact become public; Ribbentrop returns to Germany from the USSR and immediately meets with Adolf Hitler

In the UK, Parliament convenes and passes a War Powers Act

The Royal Navy (UK) is ordered to prepare for war; all leaves are cancelled; naval and coast defense reserves are called up

The governments of both France and Great Britain order their citizens to return home from Germany

HMS Juno (destroyer) is commissioned

Lord Lovat is mobilized as captain in the “Lovat Scouts,” Territorial Army

Herman Goering meets with Birgir Dahlerus (Swedish businessman), proposing he (Dahlerus) should act as a mediator between Germany and Great Britain

Sidney Cotton, flying a modified Lockheed Electra, flies the last British civilian flight out of Berlin; while departing, he manages to photograph the German fleet at Wilhelmshaven; Cotton will become head of the RAF Photo Reconnaissance Unit (PRU) when the war begins, but will be sacked quickly, after conflicts with higher-ups in the RAF

In the USSR, Marshal Voroshilov goes duck hunting

US President FDR telegraphs Adolf Hitler, saying:  "I appeal to you in the name of the people of the United States, and I believe in the name of peace-loving men and women everywhere, to agree to the solution of the controversies existing between your Government and that of Poland through the adoption of one of the alternative methods I have proposed.”

In her column, “My Day,” Eleanor Roosevelt writes:  “A government salary does not necessarily represent an incompetent individual. Salaries are low in government circles. “

From the Vatican, Pope Pius XII says:  "The danger is imminent, but there is still time. Nothing is lost with peace; all can be lost with war. Let men return to mutual understanding! Let them begin negotiations anew, conferring with good will."

Albert Forster, National Socialist leader in the free city of Danzig, proclaims himself the city’s “supreme head”

Leader of “Murder, Incorporated,” an association of hit-men employed by the Mafia and others, surrenders to newspaper columnist Walter Winchell in New York City; Winchell then turns him over to FBI director J. Edgar Hoover

In New South Wales, convicted axe murderer John Trevor Kelly becomes the last man executed there by hanging

The Pittsburgh Pirates defeat the New York Giants, 4-3 

The Brooklyn Dodgers defeat the Cincinnati Reds, 4-2

 One week of peace remains.

The News for 25 August, 1939—Friday

The film, “The Wizard of Oz,” opens in theaters throughout the US; the film will not be passed by the British Board of Film Censors until November, 1939—and only then with an adult permit, "because the Witch and grotesque moving trees and various hideous figures would undoubtedly frighten children" 

 The Agreement of Mutual Assistance is signed between the UK and Poland

 Germany cuts off all telegraph and telephone communications with the outside world, in compliance with the plan of Fall Weiss

 Originally scheduled to begin the invasion of Poland on 26 August at 0430, Adolf Hitler postpones Fall Weiss for five days; he has received a message from Benito Mussolini, informing him that Italy will not honor the Pact of Steel if Germany attacks Poland—unless Germany assists Italy with armaments; Hitler is also perplexed by the agreement between Britain and Poland and that the announcement of the German-Soviet non-aggression pact has not caused the fall of Chamberlain’s government in Britain, as he expected

 A bomb planted by the Irish Republican Army explodes in Coventry, England; five people are killed

 US President FDR again urges Adolf Hitler to find a peaceful solution to impending crisis in Europe

 In her newspaper column, “My Day,” Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt writes:  “Days like the present, where you pick up a newspaper every day wondering what you will find and trying to understand what lies back of the news you read, require of all educated people disciplined minds and disciplined characters. Blindly to ask for peace is no help in the present situation, for peace may be bought today at too high a cost in the future. It may be wise to buy it, but you must do so knowing what your objectives are for the future and accept the conditions which are a part of the price which is paid. None today can afford to allow a prejudice or a one-sided point of view to dominate their minds, they must examine every side of a question and must be sure they are not allowing any personal considerations to enter into the ultimate standards which they decide to set up for themselves and for their nation.

 “According to the newspapers, by six o'clock this evening, one man may decide to plunge Europe into war. Undoubtedly he hopes to achieve what he desires without war. The thing which must appall every citizen in a democracy is the fact that this important decision rests with one man.”

 In Germany, that “one man” meets with the British ambassador; he again demands that Britain give him a free hand to deal with Poland

 In Poland, the number of border “incidents” continues to increase; German soldiers take over the courthouse and railway station in Makeszowa, near Katowice; Polish troops wreck the offices of a German newspaper; Polish reserves are called up; cars and horses are requisitioned

 Yugoslavia grants autonomy to Croatia

 The German ship Deutschland leaves Wilhelmshaven for station in the North Atlantic

 Six days of peace remain.

The News for 26 August, 1939—Saturday

The first major league baseball game is broadcast on television (W2XBS New York City, owned by NBC); Red Barber announces; the double-header is split between the Cincinnati Reds and the Brooklyn Dodgers

 The football season opens in the UK

 The military chiefs of staff in the UK advise the cabinet that 1 September is the earliest possible date for any ultimatum to Germany

 In Europe, Belgium mobilizes

 The Kriegsmarine orders all German-flagged merchant ships to move immediately to German ports

 Some German troops along the Polish border, uninformed that Hitler has postponed Fall Weiss, launch attacks against objectives in Poland

 U-43 is commissioned in Germany

 French Premier Daladier appeals to Hitler for a peaceful resolution of the Danzig-Polish crisis

 In France, horses, cars and certain property are requisitioned

At Khalkin-Gol, a Japanese attempt to relieve trapped forces is repulsed by the Soviets; over the last two days, the Soviet air force claims 74 Japanese aircraft destroyed

 Canada mobilizes certain army units, including many militia units

 There are five days of peace remaining