How the Home Front Became a Light During World War II Blackouts
As the world was engulfed in the turmoil of World War II, nations mobilized their resources and populations in an unprecedented effort to secure victory. Amidst the sacrifices and cooperation demanded by the war effort, one aspect of civilian life stood out as both symbolic and crucial: the blackout.
Executive Order 9066 and the Japanese American Incarceration
This photo, taken by Dorothea Lange in March, 1942 shows a sign put up by aJapanese American store owner in Oakland, CA after the attack on PearlHarbor. The store was […]
No Mail, Low Morale: The Exploits of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion
By 1944, a significant shortage of soldiers to manage the postal service created a vast backlog of mail and packages in the European Theater. Officials knew that the undelivered mail was hurting morale, but were unsure how to solve the problem.
Charles Audet and the 509th Paratroopers: Unsung Heroes of World War II
The following is a guest post written by author Amy Zuckerman, edited in conjunction with Wright Museum staff. Charles Audet and all the surviving World War II veterans of the […]
Fighting on Two Fronts
This post contains an excerpt from “Fighting on Two Fronts: A Condensed History of the Tuskegee Airmen,” a StoryMap project created by Wright Museum intern Noah Eckert during the winter […]
Surprise Visitors for Christmas Eve
On December 16th, 1944, Adolf Hitler launched a surprise attack against the Allied soldiers in Belgium’s dense Ardennes Forest in what became known as the Battle of the Bulge. The […]
The 587th Bomber Aviation Regiment
Part 3 of our series on women in the Soviet air forces focuses on the 587th Bomber Aviation Regiment.
The 586th Fighter Aviation Regiment
The 588th Night Bomber Regiment wasn’t the Soviet Union’s only all-female flying regiment to fight during World War II…
The Soviet Night Witches
What was one of the most horrifying sounds a German soldier on the Russian front could hear in the dead of night – a sound that would turn his heart to jelly? The soft “whooshing” of the wind off the struts of a Night Witch’s jerry-rigged biplane bomber; described as the sound of a witch’s broom as it silently glided in to drop its payload of bombs.
Wolfeboro During World War II
Wolfeboro was incorporated as a town in 1770 and over the years became a popular summer vacation destination for people from all over the United States. During World War II, Wolfeboro’s husbands, wives, sons, and daughters left home to serve in the military. Have you ever wondered what it was like to live or vacation in Wolfeboro during the war?
Breaking Barriers: Benjamin O. Davis Sr. and Jr.
The first two Black generals in the U.S. military were father and son: Benjamin O. Davis, Sr. and Benjamin O Davis, Jr. They broke barriers and were instrumental in the eventual desegregation of the U.S. military.
Baseball and WWII
With the 2020 baseball season finally underway, here’s a special look at some of the baseball related items in our collection! In the 1940’s baseball was the most popular sport […]