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HISTORY Film Corps
The HISTORY Film Corps program seeks out and preserves footage from America's past.
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Battle of White Plains
(Oct. 28, 1776), in the U.S. War of Independence, indecisive action forcing American withdrawal, part of the British campaign of 1776 to defeat American Gen.
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Inch'on Landing
In September 1950, U.S. and South Korean forces made an amphibious landing at the port of Inch'on, near the South Korean capital, Seoul.
American volunteer pilots recruited by Claire L. Chennault, a retired U.S. Army captain, to fight the Japanese in Burma (Myanmar) and China during 1941–42, at a time when Japan's control over China's ports and transportation system had almost cut off China's Nationalist government from the outside world. Facing chronic shortages of fuel, parts, and pilots, this small company of air fighters nevertheless scored victory after victory over the far larger and better-equipped Japanese air force. They flew supplies, provided air cover for the Burma Road, succeeded in protecting the Chinese capital of Chungking, and fought the Japanese over southwestern and other parts of China. Surprise, mobility, precision flying, and unorthodox tactics enabled the Tigers to outwit the Japanese and inflict considerable damage on their air and ground forces. On July 4, 1942, members of the unit who wished were absorbed into the U.S. 10th Air Force and became the nucleus of the China Air Task Force (reorganized in March 1943 as the 14th Air Force), still under the command of Chennault, who was later promoted to brigadier general (1942) and major general (1943).
Copyright © 1994-2009 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. For more information visit Britannica.com.
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This Day in History
May 27
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Bismarck sunk by Royal Navy, 1941
On May 27, 1941, the British navy sinks the German battleship Bismarck in the North Atlantic near France. The German death toll was more than 2,000. On…
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