World War II Chronicle: June 12, 1943
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On the heels of the first island fortress to ever surrender to air power alone, another Italian island has folded. Pantelleria — Italy’s “Gibraltar” — held out for 19 days against heavy air and naval attacks, but the smaller sub and air base at Lampedusa, which lies about 75 nautical miles south of Pantelleria, gave in after one day of bombing. According to the article, German radio is reporting the Axis has sunk a troop transport and several landing ships, which is untrue. Meanwhile, British bombers targeted Sicily and American air crews attacked Italy. Lt. Gen. Dwight Eisenhower was aboard one of the ships that bombarded Pantelleria, and Maj. Gen. Jimmy Doolittle discusses the historic significance of the campaign on page three…
The amphibious vehicle pictured on page three is the now-famous DUKW as it undergoes testing in Florida. The 31-foot-long “Duck” can carry over two tons of cargo or haul 24 troops… On the same page, former president Herbert Hoover got bumped from his United Airlines flight from Chicago to Salt Lake City — a military transport pilot had higher priority. Hoover took the train instead… George Fielding Eliot says that Germany’s only hope now lies in its U-boat fleet (see page eight)… Sports begins on page 19 and mentions the Washington Nationals recently beat a Boston Coast Guard baseball team yesterday 9-4…
Johnny Wright, pitcher for the Homestead Grays, takes to the mound against the New York Cuban Stars tomorrow. When the 1943 season ends, Wright’s 18 victories is tops in the Negro National League, and he also has the lowest earned run average (2.54) and most strikeouts (94). In 1945 Branch Rickey signs Wright and Jackie Robinson, who become the first players to break baseball’s color barrier…
Also on page 19, a 20-year-old Pittsburgh Pirate prospect named Ralph Kiner is headed for California to begin pilot training. He signed with the Pirates right out of high school and played with the Toronto Maple Leafs for a few weeks this season before shipping out. The future hall of famer becomes a Martin PBM Mariner aviator, flying anti-submarine missions out of Hawaii during the war. Unlike many other baseball players, most of his time is spent flying and he rarely gets to play.
Evening star. (Washington, D.C.), 12 June 1943. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1943-06-12/ed-1/