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Montana During World War II

March 1944 in Montana

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• March 1 – A huge snowfall blocked many rural roads. The Red Cross began a fund-raising drive.

• March 3 – One man was killed and two were injured in an explosion during construction of the Northern Pacific Railroad tunnel east of Bozeman.

• March 4 – Doolittle Raider David Thatcher was interviewed on a radio program on the Blue Radio network.

• March 6 – Two civilians flying an Aeronca trainer were injured after they struck a power line and crashed near Apgar. Minus 16 degrees recorded in Glasgow.

• March 14 – A five-year-old Billings boy lost a leg after being run over by a train.

• March 19 – A 7th Ferrying Group pilot was killed in the crash of his light bomber at Stockett.

• March 24 – A gasoline explosion at a Baker garage destroyed eight cars and caused $40,000 damage.

• March 30 – The Montana Hotel in Helena was damaged by fire. All 19 guests were evacuated safely.

• March 31 – The old grandstand at Anaconda was destroyed by fire.

Montana History Calendar 1942

Montana History Calendar 1941

Montana History Calendar 1930s

February 1944 in Montana

April 1944 in Montana

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Montana During World War II

October 1943 in Montana

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October 1943

• October 1 – Start of a statewide scrap drive. Nine men were killed when their B-17 bomber crashed east of Big Sandy.

• October 7 – A pilot was killed when his fighter plane crashed east of Stockett.

• October 9 – Antelope season ended after 657 antelope were harvested statewide.

• October 11 – Three Gore Field fliers were killed in a B-24 crash at Colorado Springs.

• October 13 – Italy declared war on Germany.

• October 14 – One passenger died, and 58 were injured when the Milwaukee Road Olympian train derailed near Miles City after the tracks washed out. Most of the victims were servicemen and WACs.

• October 16 – A fire in Billings caused $170,000 damage to the Stockman’s Bar, the Elks Club, and the Midland Bank Building.

• October 20 – Two dead, two injured in a Billings house fire.

• October 23 – A fighter pilot was killed in a crash near Lewistown. A hit-and-run driver killed a Billings woman.

• October 28 – Havre hosted 400 Farm Union delegates.

Montana History Calendar 1942

Montana History Calendar 1941

Montana History Calendar 1930s

September 1943 in Montana

November 1943 (coming soon)

Learn more about what was happening October 1943 in Montana and check out  Montana’s Home Front During World War II

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Montana During World War II

September 1943 in Montana

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• September 2 – Ten men from the 612th Bomb Squadron stationed at Great Falls were killed in a B-17 crash five miles east of Ft. Benton during a training exercise.

• September 3 – British forces invaded southern Italy. Thousands viewed the pet and doll parade in Great Falls.

• September 8 – The surrender of Italy was announced.

• September 9 – The U.S. Fifth Army landed at Salerno, Italy and the Third War Bond drive began.

• September 10 – Convicted murderer Philip Coleman was executed at the Missoula County Jail. Two aviation instructors and two students were killed in a collision of their planes near the Missoula airport.

• September 12 – Australian troops and the 163rd Infantry captured Salamaua, New Guinea. The Italian dictator Mussolini was freed from captivity by Nazi commandos.

• September 13 – Gen. Chiang Kai-shek was declared president of China.

• September 16 – Australian troops on New Guinea captured Lae.

• September 24 – A 7th Ferrying Group pilot was killed in an air crash at Great Falls. The Germans evacuated Smolensk. A welder started a fire that resulted in $60,000 damages to the American Crystal Sugar Co. in Missoula.

• September 25 – Duck season opened.

• September 26 – O.F. Goddard, former chief justice of the Montana Supreme Court, died in Billings at age 90.

• September 27 – Residents of Naples revolted against German occupiers upon the approach of British troops.

• September 30 – Silk recycling was halted because it had been so successful.

Montana History Calendar 1942

Montana History Calendar 1941

Montana History Calendar 1930s

August 1943 in Montana

October 1943 (coming soon)

Learn more about what was happening September 1943 in Montana and check out  Montana’s Home Front During World War II

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