Florida in WW2 History | World War II Database

19 Mar 1883

United States

Joseph Stilwell was born in Palatka, Florida, United States. ww2dbase [Joseph Stilwell | Palatka, Florida | CPC]

14 Feb 1922

United States

Douglas MacArthur married Louise Cromwell Brooks at the Cromwell family estate in Palm Beach, Florida, United States. ww2dbase [Douglas MacArthur | Palm Beach, Florida | CPC]

2 May 1924

United States

A Douglas DT-2 torpedo bomber was launched from the carrier USS Langley, while the ship was at anchor in Pensacola Bay, Florida, United States. ww2dbase [Langley (Langley-class) | Pensacola Bay, Florida | AC]

29 Mar 1927

United States

American-born motor-racer Henry Segrave became the first man to exceed 200mph, breaking the world road speed record, at Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. ww2dbase [Daytona Beach, Florida | AC]

5 Feb 1931

United States

Malcolm Campbell broke the World land speed record by achieving 246.09 miles per hour at Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. For this achievement he would be knighted by King George V on his return to Southampton, England, United Kingdom. ww2dbase [Daytona Beach, Florida | AC]

7 Sep 1940

Photo(s) dated 7 Sep 1940

The first aircraft, an N3N-3 Canary, to have landed at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida, United States, 7 Sep 1940

27 Apr 1941

United States

Jack Kleiss completed flight training at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, United States. ww2dbase [Jack Kleiss | Pensacola, Florida | CPC]

6 Feb 1942

United States

The US Navy established the Gulf Sea Frontier (GULFSEAFRON) with headquarters at Key West, Florida, United States. Captain Russell S. Crenshaw was named its first commanding officer. ww2dbase [Key West, Florida | CPC]

17 Jun 1942

United States

The US Navy Gulf Sea Frontier (GULFSEAFRON) headquarters was moved from Key West to Miami, both of which were in Florida, United States. ww2dbase [Miami, Florida | CPC]

18 Jun 1942

United States

German submarine U-584 landed four German saboteurs at Ponte Vedra Beach near Jacksonville, Florida, United States; the four men would soon board trains for Chicago, Illinois and Cincinnati, Ohio. ww2dbase [Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida | CPC]

7 Jul 1942

United States

German submarine U-571 sank British ship Umtata, in tow by US tug Edmund J. Moran, 10 miles off Miami, Florida, United States at 0900 hours; all 92 aboard survived. ww2dbase [Second Happy Time | Miami, Florida | CPC]

8 Jul 1942

United States

German submarine U-571 damaged US tanker J. A. Moffett, Jr. 4 miles off of the Florida Keys, Florida, United States at 0616 hours, killing 1 of 42 aboard; the tanker ran aground to prevent sinking, but she would later be declared a total loss. ww2dbase [Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico Campaigns | Florida | CPC]

12 Aug 1942

United States

German submarine U-508 sank Cuban freighters Santiago de Cuba (10 were killed, 19 survived) and Manzanillo (23 were killed) 10 miles south of Key West, Florida, United States at 1355 hours. ww2dbase [Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico Campaigns | Key West, Florida | CPC]

14 Aug 1942

Photo(s) dated 14 Aug 1942

Shore launch test of the Mousetrap anti-submarine rocket system, Key West, Florida, United States, 14 Aug 1942

26 Sep 1942

Photo(s) dated 26 Sep 1942

Mousetrap Anti-Submarine rocket system being installed on United States Navy sub chaser SC-274 for testing, Key West, Florida, United States, 26 Sep 1942. Photo 1 of 7.

See all photos dated 26 Sep 1942

11 Dec 1942

Photo(s) dated 11 Dec 1942

OS2U Kingfisher scout plane with five Mousetrap anti-submarine rockets mounted under one wing for testing purposes, Banana River, Florida, United States, 11 Dec 1942. Photo 1 of 4.

24 Feb 1943

Photo(s) dated 24 Feb 1943

Instrument panel of a Martin PBM-3R Mariner stationed at the Naval Air Station Banana River, Florida, United States, 24 Feb 1943. Photo 1 of 3.

Instrument panel of a Martin PBM-3R Mariner stationed at the Naval Air Station Banana River, Florida, United States, 24 Feb 1943. Photo 2 of 3.

Instrument panel of a Martin PBM-3R Mariner stationed at the Naval Air Station Banana River, Florida, United States, 24 Feb 1943. Photo 3 of 3.

6 Mar 1943

United States

Swedish steam tanker Sveadrott landed the master and nine survivors of Norwegian motor merchant Leif at Key West, Florida, United States. Leif was sunk by German submarine U-653 on 28 Feb 1942. ww2dbase [Key West, Florida | HM]

9 Apr 1943

Photo(s) dated 9 Apr 1943

Lieutenant Walter A. Haas in the cockpit of a F2A Buffalo aircraft, Miami, Florida, United States, 9 Apr 1943

US Navy ordnanceman loading .50 caliber ammunition for a F2A Buffalo fighter, Naval Air Station Miami, Florida, United States, 9 Apr 1943

1 May 1944

United States

USS Sterlet departed Key West, Florida, United States. ww2dbase [Sterlet | Key West , Florida | CPC]

12 Jul 1944

Photo(s) dated 12 Jul 1944

US Navy officers train in ordnance maintenance at Jacksonville, Florida, United States, Jul 12, 1944. In this case, they are installing a Browning M2 .50 caliber machine gun into the right wing of an F4U Corsair fighter.

24 Dec 1944

United States

USS Hackleback arrived at the Fleet Sonar School at Key West, Florida, United States. ww2dbase [Hackleback | Key West, Florida | CPC]

1 Jun 1945

Photo(s) dated 1 Jun 1945

Detachment One of US Navy Lighter Than Air Utility Squadron ZJ-1 sit for a group photograph in front of airship K-28 control car, Meacham Field, Key West, Florida, United States, June 1, 1945.

22 Mar 1952

United States

USS Cero arrived at Key West, Florida, United States. ww2dbase [Cero | Key West, Florida | CPC]

11 Apr 1952

United States

USS Bluefish arrived at Key West, Florida, United States and joined Submarine Division 41. ww2dbase [Bluefish | Key West, Florida | CPC]

4 Nov 1954

United States

USS Sennet departed Key West, Florida, United States for a tour in the Mediterranean Sea. ww2dbase [Sennet | Key West, Florida | CPC]

2 Dec 1963

United States

George Brett passed away at the hospital at Orlando Air Force Base in Orlando, Florida, United States. ww2dbase [George Brett | Orlando, Florida | CPC]

11 Feb 1967

United States

USS Wasp arrived at Pensacola, Florida, United States. ww2dbase [Wasp (Essex-class) | Pensacola, Florida | CPC]

12 Feb 1967

United States

USS Wasp departed Pensacola, Florida, United States. ww2dbase [Wasp (Essex-class) | Pensacola, Florida | CPC]

19 Feb 1967

United States

USS Wasp arrived at Mayport, Florida, United States. ww2dbase [Wasp (Essex-class) | Mayport, Florida | CPC]

20 Feb 1967

United States

USS Wasp departed Mayport, Florida, United States. ww2dbase [Wasp (Essex-class) | Mayport, Florida | CPC]

10 Dec 1969

United States

USS Wasp completed a period of carrier qualifications off Jacksonville, Florida, United States. ww2dbase [Wasp (Essex-class) | Jacksonville, Florida | CPC]

9 Aug 1977

United States

George Kenney passed away in Bay Harbor Islands, Florida, United States. ww2dbase [George Kenney | Bay Harbor Islands, Florida | CPC]

11 May 1984

United States

Maynard Smith passed away in St. Petersburg, Florida, United States. ww2dbase [Maynard Smith | St. Petersburg, Florida | HM]

30 Mar 2005

Photo(s) dated 30 Mar 2005

PBY-5A Catalina aircraft on display at the National Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola, Florida, United States, 30 Mar 2005

Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis

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