World War II Chronicle

World War II Chronicle: June 30, 1942

Chris Carter

Click here for TODAY’S NEWSPAPER

Page four reports that U.S. Army Air Force bombers have leveled Japan’s facilities on Wake Island in perhaps the longest overwater bombing raid to-date.

Meehan at West Point

The report lists Col. Art W. Meehan, a former West Point quarterback, as one of the pilots. Meehan commanded the 431st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) during this period. PacificWrecks.com shows that three 7th Air Force LB-30 bombers (an export variant of the Consolidated B-24 Liberator) targeted Wake on the night of June 26/27. Meehan was lost during a raid on Rabaul on Nov. 16, 1942….

George Fielding Eliot column on the battle for Egypt on page 11… Lt. Gen. Henry H. “Hap” Arnold presented a medal to Brig. Gen. James H. Doolittle (page 14)… Sports section begins on page 15

Arnold (left) and Doolittle on June 27, 1942

While not published in today’s paper, Adm. Chester Nimitz nearly died in a plane crash. Stay tuned for details.

Meanwhile in baseball, Mort Cooper just wrapped up one of the best months of the season. The Cardinal’s big right-hander won seven games, going the distance for six and shutting out his opponents four times — including a 11-0 victory over the league-leading Dodgers. He finishes the month with an 11-3 record and a 1.24 ERA and after today’s game. St. Louis now sits 8.5 games behind the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Mort’s career took off when brother Walter (left) became his battery mate.

Mort’s brother Walter was named the Cardinals’ full-time catcher in 1942 and both Coopers are headed to the All-Star Game next week. There is at least one Cooper brother in the all-star lineup from 1942-1950.

Evening star. (Washington, D.C.), 30 June 1942. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1942-06-30/ed-1/

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