Date: 1944

 

Description: This issue of the Sioux City Journal was published June 6, 1944, more commonly known as D-Day. D-Day of course was one of the most decisive battles of World War II, where Allied troops landed at Le Havre in Normandy and pushed German troops back, finally establishing an Allied foothold on the European continent in enemy territory. In this issue, local politics and issues are posted alongside major national and international issues of the day. Sioux City was as entrenched in these affairs as any of the major cities of the United States and the world.

 

Sioux City was most important in World War II as a base for the Army Air Corps. The municipal airport was brand new at the time, and when the United States joined the war effort it was quickly converted to a base for the Corps. Thousands of pilots, navigators, gunners, and bombardiers from all over the nation received their training here before heading off to war. The air base was fitted with wartime airplanes such as the B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24 Liberator and B-29 Super Fortress to be used for training. At the war’s peak, 940 officers and 5,183 enlisted soldiers were assigned or attached to the air base. Today, The Sioux Gateway Airport continues to service our nation with the 185th Air Refueling Wing, a unit of the Iowa Air National Guard.

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