On August 25, 1944the Free French Second Armored Division rolled into Paris, with the American Fourth Infantry Division close behind. Rapturous crowds jammed the streets to greet the Allies, who encountered "15 solid miles of cheering, deliriously happy people waiting to shake your hand, to kiss you, to shower you with food and wine," as a U.S. Army major recalled.

Battle of Britain timeline

Monday 26 August 1940

Dover, Folkestone, and airfields in Kent and Essex were attacked. Lesser raids in the Solent.

German Losses:
Airmen: 44 | Aircraft: 42

British Losses:
Airmen: 7 | Aircraft: 29

The Japanese Surrender in Tokyo Bay, September 2, 1945

https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/japanese-surrender-tokyo-bay-september-2-1945

ABATTBQ87 said:

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1943 World War II: Operation Tidal Wave also known as "Black Sunday", was a failed American attempt to destroy Romanian oil fields. Why 'Black Sunday'? 177 planes left, only 88 returned.

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SSGT Robert Clarence Elliott, A&M Class of 1942, was assigned to the 343rd Bombardment Squadron, 98th Bombardment Group, 9th Air Force. On Aug. 1, 1943, the aircraft on which Elliot worked as an assistant engineer was hit by enemy anti-aircraft fire and crashed during Operation TIDAL WAVE, the largest bombing mission against the oil fields and refineries at Ploesti, north of Bucharest, Romania. Elliott's remains were not identified following the war. The remains that could not be identified were buried as Unknowns in the Hero Section of the Civilian and Military Cemetery of Bolovan, Ploiesti, Prahova, Romania.

UPDATE: On February 8, 2023, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) identified the remains of Staff Sergeant Robert C. Elliott, missing from World War II.

Staff Sergeant Elliott entered the U.S. Air Corps from Kansas and served in the 343rd Bombardment Squadron, 98th Bombardment Group. On August 1, 1943, Operation TIDAL WAVE, a bombing raid against the oil refineries around Ploieti, Romania, was launched. One hundred and seventy-seven B-24 Liberators took off from Benghazi, Libya, for the raid. SSG Elliott was an assistant engineer on a Liberator nicknamed "Four Eyes/Damfino" (serial number 42-40655-5) that was one of fifty-one planes that failed to return. His remains were not identified following the war. Operation TIDAL WAVE, while successfully damaging the Ploieti oil refineries, cost the lives of hundreds of USAAF airmen, many of whom were interred by Romanian citizens into the Bolovan Cemetery in Ploieti. During postwar operations there, the American Graves Registration Command exhumed unknown remains, eventually reinterring those that could not be identified at the Ardennes American and Henri-Chapelle American Cemeteries in Belgium. In 2017, DPAA began exhuming those unknowns for comparison with the unaccounted-for airmen lost during Operation TIDAL WAVE. The laboratory analysis and the totality of the circumstantial evidence available established an association between one set of these unknown remains and SSG Elliott.

Staff Sergeant Elliott is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at the Florence American Cemetery in Impruneta, Italy.

Today marks the official beginning of World War II, when both England and France declared war on Germany for the German invasion of Poland two days earlier.

The first Allied casualty of war was the liner SS Athenia. She was a British passenger liner on a voyage from Glasgow to Montreal via Liverpool and Belfast, carrying 1,103 passengers (~500 Jewish refugees, 469 Canadians, 311 US citizens, 72 British subjects, and 315 crew). Of those, 117 perished, including 28 Americans. Germany feared the sinking would bring America into the war on the side of the British and French, but FDR declared that the United States would remain neutral. The Athenia was sunk by the Kriegsmarine U-Boat U-30 under the command of Oberleutnant Fritz-Julius Lemp.

It was not until 1946, during the Nuremberg trials, when German officials - Admiral Raeder - admitted that Germany was responsible for the sinking and had gone to great lengths (falsifying the sub's logs and swearing the crew to secrecy) to cover up their role in the sinking.

8 Sept 1944: Nazi #Germany launches the first V-2 rockets. The first hit Paris, the second #London and third Epping, England. Over 3,000 were launched at the #Allies during World War II. #WWII #history #ad https://t.co/7C85xi0dq7 pic.twitter.com/wKJmKe7Pdr

— Today In History (@URDailyHistory) September 8, 2025

• 1900 Galveston Hurricane of 1900: a powerful hurricane hits Galveston, Texas killing about 8,000 people.
• 1926 Germany is admitted to the League of Nations. This move shows how well participation in international organizations can stave off open warfare.
• 1930 3M begins marketing Scotch transparent tape.
• 1935 US Senator from Louisiana and former Louisiana governor Huey Long, nicknamed "Kingfish", is fatally shot in the Louisiana capitol building. He was a "progressive" democrat. How progressive? He was to the LEFT of FDR. One of his proposals was to tax all income over a million dollars at 100%.
• 1941 World War II: Siege of Leningrad begins. German forces begin a siege against the Soviet Union's second-largest city, Leningrad. The Russians are forced to bake bread with flour mixed with sawdust to survive.
• 1943 General Eisenhower announces unconditional surrender of Italy in WW II.

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1900 Galveston Hurricane of 1900: a powerful hurricane hits Galveston, Texas killing about 8,000 people

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The Galveston hurricane aka "Isaac's Storm" struck Galveston in the evening 125 years ago today --- Sept. 8, 1900. Maximum wind velocities reached 120 m.p.h. and the high-water mark was almost 16 feet above mean tide. Galveston had 28000 residents at the time, and between 6-8000… pic.twitter.com/wPwdxKvbBn

— Traces of Texas (@TracesofTexas) September 8, 2025

nortex97 said:

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8 Sept 1944: Nazi #Germany launches the first V-2 rockets. The first hit Paris, the second #London and third Epping, England. Over 3,000 were launched at the #Allies during World War II. #WWII #history #ad https://t.co/7C85xi0dq7 pic.twitter.com/wKJmKe7Pdr

— Today In History (@URDailyHistory) September 8, 2025

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But sometimes I hit London.

Death of a Communist Dictator

1/ On this day in 1976, Mao Zedong, the founding father of the People’s Republic of China and longtime leader of the Chinese Communist Party, died at age 82 from complications of a heart attack in Beijing. His death ended an era of radical policies… pic.twitter.com/NhAIfS3wKA

— Manifest History (@ManifestHistory) September 9, 2025

4/ Beyond these, Mao’s earlier land reforms (1949-1953) and anti-rightist campaigns (1957) added to the toll through executions and purges, killing hundreds of thousands. Overall estimates place Mao’s responsibility for 40-80 million deaths in peacetime—exceeding those attributed… pic.twitter.com/KeH7LLuxAI

— Manifest History (@ManifestHistory) September 9, 2025

Mercifully, the greatest murderer in history died. 40-80 million is a conservative estimate from everything I have read.

I'm a few days early to this mind-numbing anniversary, Sept 15th, 1944: battle of Peleliu begins.

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Shaped like a lobster claw, Peleliu measures at most five miles long by two miles wide. Because the island is so small, Marine Corps Major General William Rupertus predicted it would be subdued in a few days, despite the 11,000 Japanese troops and at least 3,000 Korean and Okinawan forced laborers ready to defend it. In fact, the battle, code-named Operation Stalemate II, ended up dragging on for more than two months. The marines were reinforced, and later relieved, by 11,000 soldiers from the U.S. Army's 81st Infantry Division. Over the course of the battle, the Americans unleashed an astounding barrage of munitions. Navy ships anchored offshore fired almost 6,000 tons of shells. Navy and marine aircraft dropped at least 800 tons of bombs. In their month on the island, the marines expended almost 16 million rounds of ammunition, including 116,000 hand grenades. The toll on the Americans was greatat least 1,600 died on Peleliu. For the Japanese, the toll was catastrophic. Fewer than 100 soldiers survived. And, in the end, it was all for nothing. The invasion of the Philippines started on October 20, even as the battle for Peleliu raged on.

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Peleliu is now barely remembered by comparison with more strategically consequential World War II engagements such as Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima, but its battlefield is the best preserved of the entire Pacific Theater. Since the war's end, the island's residents have generally avoided the areas where combat was most intense, which were left littered with human remains and unexploded munitions, and which are hilly and obscured by thick foliage. (See "Peleliu's Battle.") For Knecht and a team of fellow archaeologists who have carried out two surveys of the battlefieldaccompanied by demining experts who disabled and removed dangerous explosivesPeleliu has offered a rare opportunity to document the experience of soldiers on the front lines of the battle for the Pacific. "There are skulls and helmets and all the soldiers' stuff lying there just as it was left after the battle," says Knecht. "It's gruesome and horrible, but war is gruesome and horrible. Short of going into combat, Peleliu is probably the closest experience to being on a World War II battlefield."

The project, which was initiated by Palau's Bureau of Arts and Culture and carried out in cooperation with government representatives as well as traditional chiefs on Peleliu, has explored hundreds of sites on the island. Several stand out as illustrative of the battle's three phases: the American invasion and struggle to gain a foothold in the island's low-lying western plain, the drawn-out period in which the Americans slowly ground away at the Japanese defenses in the island's mountainous north, and the point when the Japanese leaders recognized their cause was lost. Archaeologists have also found personal items that, in some cases, they have been able to link to individual soldiers by name. And, they uncovered an inscription that offers insight into the mindset of young men willing to fight to the last.

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More at the link. An absolutely gruesome battle.

9/11/01 was a remarkable day. One example of the absolute concern in the nation/world;

September 11th, 2001 - Boeing E-4B NAOC callsign ADDIS77 scrambled from Andrews AFB. While ATC was calling them “VENUS” which is a typical callsign used at Andrews, you can hear the urgency of the pilot wanting to get airborne. The E-4 orbited over Washington DC for a while… pic.twitter.com/v1YnkVXYyV

— Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) September 11, 2025

On September 14, 1814, the Battle of Fort McHenry inspired Francis Scott Key to write "The Star-Spangled Banner."

https://www.history.com/articles/the-star-spangled-banner

https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/separating-fact-from-fiction-about-the-star-spangled-banner

George D Keathley, A&M College of Texas Class of 1937

Medal of Honor recipient for action on September 14, 1944

Citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty, in action on the western ridge of Mount Altuzzo, Italy. After bitter fighting, his company had advanced to within 50 yards of the objective, where it was held up due to intense enemy sniper, automatic, small-arms, and mortar fire. The enemy launched three desperate counterattacks in an effort to regain their former positions, but all three were repulsed, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides.

All officers and noncommissioned officers of the 2d and 3d platoons of Company B had become casualties, and S/Sgt. Keathley, the guide of the 1st platoon, moved up and assumed command of both the 2nd and 3rd platoons, which had been reduced to 20 men. The remnants of the two platoons were dangerously low on ammunition, so S/Sgt. Keathley, under deadly small-arms and mortar fire, crawled from one casualty to another, collecting their ammunition and administering first aid. He then visited each man of his two platoons, issuing the precious ammunition he had collected from the dead and wounded, and giving them words of encouragement.

The enemy now delivered their fourth counterattack, which was approximately two companies in strength. In a furious charge, they attacked from the front and both flanks, throwing hand grenades, firing automatic weapons, and assisted by a terrific mortar barrage. So strong was the enemy counterattack that the company was given up for lost. The remnants of the 2d and 3d platoons of Company B were now looking to S/Sgt. Keathley for leadership. He shouted his orders precisely and with determination, and the men responded with all that was in them.

Time after time, the enemy tried to drive a wedge into S/Sgt. Keathley's position and each time they were driven back, suffering huge casualties. Suddenly, an enemy hand grenade hit and exploded near S/Sgt. Keathley inflicted a mortal wound in his left side. However, hurling defiance at the enemy, he rose to his feet. Taking his left hand away from his wound and using it to steady his rifle, he fired and killed an attacking enemy soldier, and continued shouting orders to his men. His heroic and intrepid action so inspired his men that they fought with incomparable determination and viciousness.

For 15 minutes, S/Sgt. Keathley continued leading his men and effectively firing his rifle. He could have sought a sheltered spot and perhaps saved his life, but instead he elected to set an example for his men and make every possible effort to hold his position. Finally, friendly artillery fire helped to force the enemy to withdraw, leaving behind many of their number either dead or seriously wounded. S/Sgt. Keathley died a few moments later. Had it not been for his indomitable courage and incomparable heroism, the remnants of three rifle platoons of Company B might well have been annihilated by the overwhelming enemy attacking force. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.

Born: March 10, 1917, Olney, Young County, Texas, United States

Buried: A.B.M.C. Florence Cemetery (MH) (D-11-26 , Florence, Italy

This exchange highlights what Churchill had said on August 20, 1940 - Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.

Churchill was so very correct in that assessment before the battle was even done. My take on the Battle of Britain is that the RAF was very nearly knocked out of the war. The Luftwaffe had them on the ropes, so to speak, having greater numbers of aircraft and airmen so that every RAF loss was critical. But then a strategic mistake came when Hitler wanted to exact revenge upon the British cities for an RAF bomber dropping ordnance on Berlin. The Luftwaffe then started bombing British cities, leaving RAF airfields alone for a period of time during which the RAF was able to regroup sufficiently (barely) to put up enough of a defense to allow for the events of September 15 to happen.

September 15, 1949

On this date in 1947, the US Air Force was officially formed as an independent service branch

In honor of my late Father-in-law, Major Marvin Dale Bentley, I want to wish a Happy birthday to the US Air Force.

Maj Bentley was a US Army Veteran, a US Army Air Corps Veteran, a US Army Air Force Veteran, and finally, a US Air Force Veteran. RIP Mr. B

The battle of Chickamauga begins today 162 years ago. Largely unknown, its second to Gettysburg in total number of casualties.

Tomorrow, a GGG Uncle of mine will be killed in action while serving as 1SG of Company K, 5th Texas during the 2nd day of battle.

If you've never been I highly recommend visiting. Beautiful visitor center, the battle was little confusing to follow at first, but the maps there and tour layout really help. Plus if your there, head over to Lookout Mountain for the view, it's only 20 minutes away at Chattanooga.