Discover what was happening on this day in history during the Second World War in Northern Ireland, from troops movements, to plane crashes and royal visits.
2nd January 1942
January each year marks the anniversary of the arrival of the U.S. Army to the European Theater of Operations. The first contingent arrived in Belfast in 1942.
24th February 1946
In February 1946, a group of young Holocaust survivors arrived in Northern Ireland, travelling onwards to the safe haven of the farm in Millisle, Co. Down.
16th March 1942
In March 1942, press photographers documented members of the U.S. Army in downtime at barracks and the recovery of damaged Royal Air Force planes in Co. Down.
7th April 1941
April 1941 brought the devastation and reality of war to Ulster as the Luftwaffe launched attacks on Belfast, Derry~Londonderry, Bangor, and Newtownards.
1st May 1941
In May, we recall the tragic events of The Fire Raid of the Belfast Blitz that took place on 4th-5th May 1941, as well as the happier times of V.E. Day in 1945.
30th June 1943
In June 1943, U.S. Army Major General Russell P. Hartle wrote from A.P.O. 305 responding to an invitation from the Ulster Kerry Blue Terrier Club in Belfast.
26th July 1943
In July 1943, the Royal Air Force completed the handover of Toome Airfield to the United States Army Air Force who renamed the site U.S.A.A.F. Station 236.
4th August 1944
On 23rd-24th August 1945, General Eisenhower made a historic visit to Belfast where he received the Freedom of the City from Lord Mayor Sir Crawford McCullagh.
3rd September 1939
In Northern Ireland, the weather turns colder and the days grow shorter in September. But that did not stop the ongoing training and toughening up of troops.
8th October 1941
October during the Second World War in Northern Ireland saw soldiers help bring in harvests, royal visits, inspections, and more tough training for troops.
13th November 1939
November 1942 saw Lieutenant Bainbridge and his War Office camera focus on soldiers of The Pioneer Corps and a possibly unique company of the Ulster Home Guard.
20th December 1943
In December 1943, a Vickers Wellington bomber came down in Co. Kerry, Éire. The graves of the six Polish crew members of R.A.F. 304 Squadron are in Belfast.
