Today in WW II: 9 Jul 1940 Battle of Calabria [Battle of Punta Stilo, the toe of Italy] fought between the Italian Royal Navy and the British/Australian Royal Navies, 30 miles [48km] east of Punta Stilo. More ?

9 Jul 1943 US-British invasion of Sicily begins [night of 9-10 Jul].
9 Jul 1944 British and Canadian forces capture Caen from the Germans, a critical post-D-Day objective in Normandy, France.
9 Jul 1944 US forces reach the northern end of Saipan, finding thousands of Japanese civilian men, women, and children who commit suicide by leaping off the cliffs rather than be captured.
Visit the Olive-Drab.com World War II Timeline for day-by-day events 1939-1945! See also WW2 Books.

Bantam BRC-40 Jeep

The full story of the development of the original Army Jeep of World War II is on the linked page. See the Bantam BRC-40 page for more details on this prototype jeep. See also the photos of the Checker-built Bantam BRC-40 jeeps.

Find additional photos and hi-res versions of the Bantam BRC-40 jeep at the Olive-Drab Military Mashup.

Bantam BRC-60 Jeep in Photos

Bantam BRC40 4x4 Light Reconnaissance Vehicle.

Bantam BRC-40 with 4 wheel steering.

Bantam BRC-40 undergoing Army testing towing unidentified trailer.

Bantam BRC-40 with .50 cal. anti-aircraft machine gun, Ft. Riley, KS. From Field Artillery Magazine, June 1941.

Loading a Bantam BRC-40 onto a ship, USMC, New River, NC, 1941.

Bantam BRC-40 with DR-5 drum mounted on RL-31 frame attached. The DR-5 drum carries two miles of W-130; Five miles can be carried. Photo: Field Artillery Journal, July 1941.