September to December 1940
Editor’s note–Music of the day: “There’s a boy coming home on leave“: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9XZkvZmvL0
Despite the growing threat of war, there was a significant anti-war sentiment in the United States. Eugenics was a popular subject with whites who were looking for pseudo-scientific reasons to justify their racist views—this was the backbone of Hitler’s belief in superior “Aryan race”. Some prominent Americans, like Henry Ford and Charles Lindbergh were outspoken anti-Semites, Hitler supporters, and strongly advocated views of neutrality in the conflict. In September of 1940 they launched the “America First Committee” as a vehicle for persuading Americans to resist becoming involved in the war. Lindbergh would go on to make a number of well publicized speeches espousing his views.
On September 16, the US Congress passes the selective service act to call up 900,000 men between the ages of 20-36 to be drafted each year. (After the U.S. enters the war, the ages cover the span from age 18 to 45).
Meanwhile Germany continued its merciless bombing campaign against Britain, unleashing up to 1000 planes in a single day, but the English were unyielding. Hitler ultimately postponed his planned invasion because the results of his bombing campaign were inconclusive. On September 7 the Italian army invaded Egypt. In mid-September Canada, Great Britain and the Soviet Union all institute a military draft to build up their armies. At the end of the month, the Japanese were invading French Indo-China.
On October 9, another child was born in Liverpool. This boy would also become a musician and would later pair up with Paul McCartney as one of the most influential singer-song writing duos in history. Born in a world bent on self-destruction, he would use his music to call people to imagine that peace and love was the answer to everything. His name was John Lennon.
“Imagine”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVg2EJvvlF8
In October, Cy is transferred with the 27th Bomb Grp. to Savannah, Georgia, where the newly constructed Hunter Field was about to become home for the 48th Bombardment group. They were there a few months and they briefly settled into a new apartment.
On November 5, 1940, FDR is elected to his third term as President of the United States. The Army Air Corps officially constitutes the 47th Bombardment Group. The British and Italians are exacting heavy losses on each other in Mediterranean naval battles. The Germans are constructing a Jewish ghetto in Warsaw Poland where 400,000 people are confined to an area of 1.3 square miles. From here, they are routinely shipped out to various extermination camps. The British begin the western dessert offensive against the Italians in North Africa.
There is one brief letter from Cy in December 1940:
12/?/40
Hotel Floridian
Tampa, Fl.
Hi Honey:
Be home in a week or so. There isn’t much doing. We’re flying over water all day (5 hrs. ea.) and it isn’t a hell of a lot of fun.
How’s everything with both of you (I hope ?)* Don’t write as I may be home by then.
Lots of love, Your Shavetail.
*This comment suggests Marty may believe she is pregnant.
12/21/40: F. Scott Fitzgerald dies of a heart attack.