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World War II Database

18 Jan 1911

United States
  • Eugene Ely, completing a series of tests, landed a Curtiss pusher aboard the cruiser USS Pennsylvania at anchor in San Francisco, California, United States. Less than one hour later he took off and returned to Selfridge Field, San Francisco. ww2dbase [San Francisco, California | AC]
13 Apr 1918

United States
14 Jun 1918

United States
27 Feb 1919

United States
1 Aug 1923

United States
  • Devol Brett, the oldest son of George Brett, was born at the Letterman Army Hospital at the Presidio, San Francisco, California, United States. ww2dbase [George Brett | San Francisco, California | CPC]
28 Sep 1924

United States
  • Shortly after 0000 hour, while Joseph Rochefort was acting as the officer of the deck, tanker Cuyama and the several destroyers attached to her began drifting into the San Francisco Bay in California, United States, causing minor damage to various ships but causing no casualties. Rochefort would escape blame in the resulting inquiry, receiving only a minor reprimand on his file. ww2dbase [Joseph Rochefort | San Francisco, California | CPC]
7 May 1929

United States
14 May 1929

United States
6 Sep 1929

United States
  • Joseph Rochefort, his wife, and his son boarded the passenger ship President Adams at San Francisco, California, United States, bound for Kobe, Japan. ww2dbase [Joseph Rochefort | San Francisco, California | CPC]
29 Jul 1931

United States
6 Jul 1932

United States
8 Jul 1932

United States
18 Oct 1932

United States
  • Joseph Rochefort arrived at San Francisco, California, United States via the passenger ship President Coolidge. Instead of reporting to Washington DC, United States as ordered, he would request the US Navy to allow him to see his family in the Los Angeles, California area first. ww2dbase [Joseph Rochefort | San Francisco, California | CPC]
9 Nov 1932

United States
3 Jan 1934

United States
9 May 1934

United States
26 Sep 1934

United States
5 Jun 1935

United States
9 Jul 1935

United States
14 May 1936

United States
3 Sep 1936

United States
12 Nov 1936

United States
  • Tatsuta Maru became the first merchant ship to pass under the Bay Bridge between San Francisco and Oakland In California, United States. ww2dbase [Tatsuta Maru | San Francisco, California | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 12 Nov 1936
Tennessee-class battleship entering San Francisco Bay under the nearly completed Golden Gate Bridge on her way to attend the opening of the Oakland Bay Bridge, California, United States, 12 Nov 1936
20 May 1937

United States
27 May 1937

United States
  • The Golden Gate Bridge at San Francisco, California, United States was formally opened. Over 200,000 people crossed on foot on the first day but motor traffic was not permitted until the following day. ww2dbase [San Francisco, California | AC]
7 Jul 1937

United States
2 Sep 1937

United States
25 Dec 1937

United States
7 Jul 1938

United States
25 Aug 1938

United States
12 Jan 1939

United States
20 Sep 1939

United States
18 Jan 1940

United States
  • Tatsuta Maru departed San Francisco, California, United States; 512 civilian seamen from the scuttled German liner Columbus were supposed to be aboard, but they canceled their journeys at the last moment in fear of possible British interception of the liner which might lead to their imprisonment. ww2dbase [Tatsuta Maru | San Francisco, California | CPC]
21 Mar 1940

United States
1 Jun 1940

United States
  • A unit of the newly formed US Marine Corps Defense Battalions completed the Minor Landing and Base Defense Exercise at San Clemente Island, California, United States. ww2dbase [San Francisco, California | CPC]
13 Jul 1940

United States
  • Tatsuta Maru arrived at San Francisco, California, United States; among the passengers disembarked were 40 Jewish refugees from Russia, Austria, Germany, Norway, and Britain. ww2dbase [Tatsuta Maru | San Francisco, California | CPC]
13 Nov 1940

United States
20 Mar 1941

United States
  • Tatsuta Maru arrived at San Francisco, California, United States; among the disembarked passengers was Colonel Hideo Iwakuru, who was dispatched by Prime Minister Hideki Tojo to Washington DC to help the Japanese Embassy in reconciling relations with the United States. ww2dbase [Tatsuta Maru | San Francisco, California | CPC]
21 Mar 1941

United States
4 Aug 1941

United States
  • Tatsuta Maru departed San Francisco, California, United States with US$2,500,000 worth of raw silk and 85,589 gallons of oil, both which was only allowed after Captain Toichi Takahata fought hard for due to the recently passed executive order to freeze Japanese assets in the United States. ww2dbase [Tatsuta Maru | San Francisco, California | CPC]
30 Oct 1941

United States
  • Tatsuta Maru arrived at San Francisco, California, United States and disembarked non-Japanese passengers who departed due to the rapidly deteriorating US-Japan relations, including El Savadorian Consul General Leon Siguenza and Commander P. D. Perkins of the American Foreign Office in Japan. She then embarked Japanese nationals who wished to leave the US for similar reasons, and departed San Francisco. ww2dbase [Tatsuta Maru | San Francisco, California | CPC]
29 Dec 1941

United States
3 Jan 1942

Photo(s) dated 3 Jan 1942
Laffey fitting out at the Bethlehem Steel Company shipyard, San Francisco, California, United States, 3 Jan 1942; note San Francisco
15 Jan 1942

United States
22 Jan 1942

United States
31 Jan 1942

United States
  • USAT Ancon departed San Franciso, California, United States with US military personnel for Brisbane, Australia. ww2dbase [Ancon | San Francisco, California | CPC]
25 Feb 1942

United States
20 Mar 1942

United States
21 Apr 1942

United States
  • The newspaper San Francisco News reported that the city government of San Francisco, California, United States was considering the banning the employment of Japanese-Americans. ww2dbase [San Francisco, California | CPC]
23 Apr 1942

United States
  • USAT Ancon departed San Franciso, California, United States with US military personnel for Adelaide and Sydney in Australia. ww2dbase [Ancon | San Francisco, California | CPC]
25 Apr 1942

Photo(s) dated 25 Apr 1942
A crowd of onlookers on the first day of evacuation of Japanese residents of San Francisco, California, United States, who themselves would be sent to internment camps within three days, 25 Apr 1942Japanese-Americans outside a Civil Control Station at the Japanese American Citizens League Auditorium, San Francisco, California, United States, 25 Apr 1942
26 Apr 1942

United States
  • US Navy Admirals Nimitz and King met in San Francisco, California to discuss Nimitz's plan in the South Pacific. ww2dbase [San Francisco, California | CPC]
31 May 1942

United States
4 Jun 1942

United States
  • Fletcher-class destryer Hoel was laid down at the Bethlehem Shipyard, San Francisco, California, United States. ww2dbase [Hoel | San Francisco, California | DS]
12 Jun 1942

United States
18 Jun 1942

United States
  • USAT Ancon arrived in San Francisco, California, United States. ww2dbase [Ancon | San Francisco, California | CPC]
  • Fred Korematsu was arraigned in San Francisco, California, United States. Despite having posted bail, US military police took custody of Korematsu, refusing to let him go free. Korematsu was taken to the Presidio in northern San Francisco. ww2dbase [Fred Korematsu | San Francisco, California | CPC]
12 Jul 1942

United States
  • Attorney James Purcell filed a habeas corpus petition in the federal district court in San Francisco, California, United States, seeking the release of Mitsuye Endo, who was being held at the Tule Lake War Relocation Center in Newell, California, United States. ww2dbase [Mitsuye Endo | San Francisco, California | CPC]
4 Aug 1942

United States
8 Sep 1942

United States
  • Fred Korematsu was convicted for a violation of Public Law No. 503, which criminalized the violations of military orders issued under the authority of Executive Order 9066, in a federal court in San Francisco, California, United States. He was given the sentence of five years probation and was prepared for deportation to the Tanforan Assembly Center. ww2dbase [Fred Korematsu | San Francisco, California | CPC]
23 Sep 1942

United States
30 Sep 1942

United States
  • Battleships of US Navy Task Force 1 arrived at San Francisco, California, United States. ww2dbase [San Francisco, California | CPC]
26 Oct 1942

United States
28 Nov 1942

United States
  • Joseph Rochefort arrived at the Federal Building in San Francisco, California, United States and reported to the headquarters of the Western Sea Frontier. He would soon be asked to establish and command a naval intelligence center that covered the entire Alaska-California coastline. ww2dbase [Joseph Rochefort | San Francisco, California | CPC]
12 Dec 1942

Photo(s) dated 12 Dec 1942
Bruce McCandless receiving the Medal of Honor from Ernest King aboard USS San Francisco, 12 Dec 1942 in San Francisco, California, United States. The medal was for night actions off Savo Island, Solomons, 12 Nov 1942.
19 Dec 1942

United States
  • Fletcher-class destryer Hoel was Launched at the Bethlehem Shipyard, San Francisco, California, United States with Mrs. Louise Hoel Mills Crane as sponsor. ww2dbase [Hoel | San Francisco, California | DS]
Photo(s) dated 19 Dec 1942
Fletcher-class destroyer Hoel being launched at the Bethlehem Shipyard, San Francisco, California, United States, 19 Dec 1942.
18 May 1943

United States
7 Jun 1943

United States
15 Jul 1943

Photo(s) dated 15 Jul 1943
USS Copahee passing under the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Bay, California, United States, 15 Jul 1943
16 Jul 1943

Photo(s) dated 16 Jul 1943
Escort carrier USS Altamaha transporting a deck load of P-51A Mustang fighters has just left Alameda, passed under the San Francisco Bay Bridge (background) and steams toward the Golden Gate, 16 Jul 1943
29 Jul 1943

United States
  • Fletcher-class destryer Hoel was placed in commission at the Bethlehem Shipyard, San Francisco, California, United States with Commander William Dow Thomas in command. ww2dbase [Hoel | San Francisco, California | DS]
28 Aug 1943

United States
  • Eight of the ten sections USS ABSD-1 began to be towed from San Francisco, California, United States for the South Pacific. ww2dbase [ABSD-1 | San Francisco, California | CPC]
13 Sep 1943

United States
15 Sep 1943

United States
17 Sep 1943

United States
18 Nov 1943

United States
  • Submarine USS Growler arrived at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard in San Francisco, California, United States for an extensive overhaul and refitting. ww2dbase [Growler | San Francisco, California | DS]
10 Dec 1943

United States
12 Dec 1943

United States
22 Jan 1944

United States
26 Jan 1944

Photo(s) dated 26 Jan 1944
Shad at Bethlehem Shipbuilding in San Francisco, 26 Jan 1944
2 Feb 1944

United States
  • USS Tunny completed her repairs at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, San Francisco, California, United States. ww2dbase [Tunny | San Francisco, California | CPC]
15 Apr 1944

Photo(s) dated 15 Apr 1944
USS Essex departing San Francisco Naval Shipyard, California, United States, 15 Apr 1944, photo 2 of 4; note camouflage measure 32 design 6/10DUSS Essex departing San Francisco Naval Shipyard, California, United States, 15 Apr 1944, photo 3 of 4; note camouflage measure 32 design 6/10DUSS Essex departing San Francisco Naval Shipyard, California, United States, 15 Apr 1944, photo 4 of 4; note camouflage measure 32 design 6/10D
9 Jun 1944

Photo(s) dated 9 Jun 1944
USS Intrepid departing San Francisco, California, 9 Jun 1944 packed with vehicles, equipment, and aircraft including SBD Dauntless, F6F Hellcats, C-45 Expeditors, PV-1 Venturas, and P-61 Black Widows. Photo 1 of 3USS Intrepid departing San Francisco, California, 9 Jun 1944 packed with vehicles, equipment, and aircraft including SBD Dauntless, F6F Hellcats, C-45 Expeditors, PV-1 Venturas, and P-61 Black Widows. Photo 2 of 3USS Intrepid departing San Francisco, California, 9 Jun 1944 packed with vehicles, equipment, and aircraft including SBD Dauntless, F6F Hellcats, C-45 Expeditors, PV-1 Venturas, and P-61 Black Widows. Photo 3 of 3
12 Jun 1944

Photo(s) dated 12 Jun 1944
Heavy cruiser USS Chester in San Francisco Bay, California off Hunters Point Naval Shipyard after receiving new paint scheme Measure 32 Design 9D, 12 Jun 1944. Note OS2U Kingfisher aircraft on midship catapults
14 Sep 1944

United States
  • Court martial proceedings against 50 African-American sailors opened on Yerba Buena Island, San Francisco, California, United States. The 50 were charged with mutiny for refusing to resume loading munitions after the Port Chicago explosion of 17 Jul 1944. ww2dbase [Port Chicago Naval Munitions Explosion | San Francisco, California | DS]
26 Sep 1944

United States
25 Oct 1944

United States
28 Nov 1944

United States
29 Nov 1944

United States
24 Dec 1944

United States
15 Jan 1945

United States
19 Jan 1945

Photo(s) dated 19 Jan 1945
With her deck loaded with aircraft, Light Carrier USS Belleau Wood riding at anchor off Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, San Francisco, California, United States, 19 Jan 1945
4 Feb 1945

United States
7 Feb 1945

United States
8 Mar 1945

United States
9 Mar 1945

United States
19 Mar 1945

United States Photo(s) dated 19 Mar 1945
USS Iowa departing San Francisco Naval Shipyard, California, United States, circa 19 Mar 1945
26 Mar 1945

United States
25 Apr 1945

United States
  • Representatives from 46 nations met in San Francisco, California, United States for the United Nations Conference on International Organization. ww2dbase [San Francisco, California | CPC]
4 May 1945

Photo(s) dated 4 May 1945
USS Gunnel off Hunters Point, San Francisco, California, United States, 4 May 1945
14 May 1945

United States
24 May 1945

United States Photo(s) dated 24 May 1945
An aerial view of the San Francisco Naval Shipyard at Hunters Point, San Francisco, California United States, May 24, 1945.
18 Jun 1945

United States
26 Jun 1945

United States
  • The United Nations charter was signed at the Herbst Theatre in San Francisco, California, United States. ww2dbase [San Francisco, California | TH, CPC]
  • As Jan Smuts affixed his signature to the United Nations Charter at San Francisco, California, United States, he became the only person to have signed the documents forming the League of Nations and the United Nations. ww2dbase [Jan Smuts | San Francisco, California | CPC]
  • V. K. "Wellington" Koo led the 8-person Chinese delegation in the signing of the United Nations charter at the Herbst Theatre in San Francisco, California, United States. ww2dbase [Wellington Koo | San Francisco, California | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 26 Jun 1945
Ginling Women
16 Jul 1945

United States
  • The cruiser USS Indianapolis sailed from San Francisco, California, United States with a top secret cargo - components of the atomic bomb to be dropped on Hiroshima unless the Japanese surrendered. The Indianapolis would take 10 days to sail to the island of Tinian, Mariana Islands where US B-29 bombers were waiting. ww2dbase [Indianapolis | San Francisco, California | AC]
5 Sep 1945

United States
11 Sep 1945

United States
24 Sep 1945

United States
5 Oct 1945

United States
15 Oct 1945

United States
20 Oct 1945

United States
  • USS Yorktown (Essex-class) entered San Francisco Bay, California, United States after a non-stop voyage from Okinawa loaded with returning US servicemen, moored at the Alameda Naval Air Station, and began discharging passengers. ww2dbase [Yorktown (Essex-class) | San Francisco, California | DS]
23 Oct 1945

Photo(s) dated 23 Oct 1945
USS Anzio in San Francisco Bay, California, United States, 23 Oct 1945
24 Oct 1945

United States
27 Oct 1945

United States
29 Oct 1945

United States
  • USS Alabama departed San Francisco, California, United States and arrived at San Pedro, which was also in California. ww2dbase [Alabama | San Francisco, California | CPC]
31 Oct 1945

United States
2 Nov 1945

United States
  • USS Yorktown (Essex-class) stood out of San Francisco Bay, California, United States bound for Guam, Mariana Islands on a mission to return of American servicemen to the United States. ww2dbase [Yorktown (Essex-class) | San Francisco, California | DS]
30 Nov 1945

United States
8 Dec 1945

United States
  • USS Yorktown (Essex-class) departed San Francisco, California, United States for the Far East. Initially routed to Samar in the Philippines, but en route she was diverted to Manila, Philippines. ww2dbase [Yorktown (Essex-class) | San Francisco, California | DS]
14 Dec 1945

United States
4 Jan 1946

United States
8 Jan 1946

United States
13 Jan 1946

United States
22 Jan 1946

United States
26 Feb 1946

United States
28 Feb 1946

United States
1 Mar 1946

United States
17 Mar 1946

Photo(s) dated 17 Mar 1946
USS Indiana, USS Massachusetts, and USS Alabama at the Embarcadero, San Francisco, California, United States, 17 Mar 1946
19 Mar 1946

United States
20 Mar 1946

United States
4 Oct 1946

United States
12 Oct 1946

United States
  • Joseph Stilwell passed away from stomach cancer at the Presidio of San Francisco military base in San Francisco, California, United States. ww2dbase [Joseph Stilwell | San Francisco, California | CPC]
30 Apr 1947

United States
1 May 1947

United States
  • USS Sterlet reported to the Pacific Reserve Fleet at San Francisco, California, United States for inactivation. ww2dbase [Sterlet | San Francisco, California | CPC]
29 Sep 1947

United States
  • USS Brill began a scheduled overhaul at San Francisco Naval Shipyard, San Francisco, California, United States. ww2dbase [Brill | San Francisco, California | CPC]
24 Feb 1948

United States
23 Jun 1948

Photo(s) dated 23 Jun 1948
Northrop P-61B Black Widow night fighter with the 317th Fighter Squadron (All Weather) flies above the San Francisco fog over Sausalito, California, United States, Jun 23, 1948.
3 Jan 1950

United States
  • USS Bugara completed a scheduled overhaul at San Francisco, California, United States and returned to Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii. ww2dbase [Bugara | San Francisco, California | CPC]
18 Apr 1951

United States
8 Sep 1951

United States
  • The Treaty of San Francisco was signed by 48 nations at the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco, California, United States. When it would take effect in the following year, WW2 would finally officially end. ww2dbase [San Francisco Peace Conference | San Francisco, California | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 8 Sep 1951
Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida signing the Treaty of San Francisco, California, United States, 8 Sep 1951, photo 1 of 2Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida signing the Treaty of San Francisco, California, United States, 8 Sep 1951, photo 2 of 2
18 May 1953

United States
14 Oct 1953

United States
  • USS Charr completed her overhaul at San Francisco Naval Shipyard, California, United States for overhaul. ww2dbase [Charr | San Francisco, California | CPC]
1 Dec 1955

United States
18 Jun 1956

United States
20 Apr 1960

United States
  • USS Mero was decommissioned from US Navy service at San Francisco, California, United States and was leased to Turkey. ww2dbase [Mero | San Francisco, California | CPC]
22 Jul 1960

United States
23 Sep 1960

United States
15 Nov 1960

United States
5 Dec 1960

United States
12 Dec 1960

United States
9 Nov 1961

United States
10 Jul 1963

United States
20 Feb 1966

United States
30 Sep 1966

Photo(s) dated 30 Sep 1966
USS Hornet, USS Ticonderoga, USS Chicago, USS Hooper, and other ships at Hunter
22 Oct 1966

Photo(s) dated 22 Oct 1966
USS Preston off San Francisco Naval Shipyard, California, United States, 22 Oct 1966, photo 1 of 6USS Preston off San Francisco Naval Shipyard, California, United States, 22 Oct 1966, photo 2 of 6USS Preston off San Francisco Naval Shipyard, California, United States, 22 Oct 1966, photo 3 of 6USS Preston off San Francisco Naval Shipyard, California, United States, 22 Oct 1966, photo 4 of 6
See all photos dated 22 Oct 1966
26 Apr 1971

United States
10 Nov 1983

United States
10 May 1986

United States
28 Sep 1997

United States
29 Mar 2008

Photo(s) dated 29 Mar 2008
Grave of Chester Nimitz, Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California, United States, 29 Mar 2008
25 Nov 2014

Photo(s) dated 25 Nov 2014
Museum ship Pampanito, Fisherman

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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B-25 Mitchell bomber “Peggy Lou” and other B-25s of the 321st Bomb Group flying from Solenzara, Corsica bombing San Michele railroad bridge in the Brenner Pass region of northern Italy, 10 Mar 1945.


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Famous WW2 Quote
"We no longer demand anything, we want war."

Joachim von Ribbentrop, German Foreign Minister, Aug 1939