Sanford in Seminole County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

World War II

1939-1945

Photographed by Glenn Sheffield, December 30, 2011

1. World War II Marker

Inscription. World War II began in September 1939 when Germany, under Adolph Hitler, invaded Poland. England and France declared war on Germany. Italy, led by Benito Mussolini, allied with Germany and most of Europe quickly came under the control of invading German troops. The Germans were unable to invade England because of the English Channel and England's superiority in the air. The United States entered the war after the Japanese attacked the US Navy fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941. Japan, under Emperor Hirohito, had been expanding its empire since 1931 with an invasion of China. The United States sent forces to Europe and the Pacific. On June 6, 1944, American and British forces landed in Normandy, France and began to reclaim Europe. Germany surrendered on May 8, 1945. The Japanese did not surrender until August 14, 1945 after atomic bombs were dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 418,500 Americans died in World War II

(captions)
(left) National Guard Lt. Gen. Joseph C. Hutchinson of Sanford accepted the surrender of Mindanao from Japanese Lt. Gen.Gyosaku Morozumi on September 8, 1945.

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

Gen. Hutchinson was the commander of the 62nd Infantry of the 31st Division of the US Army in the South Pacific during World War II.

(center) Cmdr. F. Massie Hughes (on left), the first commander of NAS Sanford, and Lt. Cmdr J.D. Greer. Naval Air Station Sanford opened in November 1942 as an auxiliary training base for US Navy carrier pilots. The station had four 6,000 foot runways and more than 2,000 Navy and civilian personnel. About half of all pilots in the South Pacific during World War II received some training in Sanford. The first aircraft to arrive at the station were 34 PV1 Ventura bombers. The Orlando-Sanford International Airport now occupies the site of NAS Sanford.

(right) The Sanford Chamber of Commerce building on East First Street was built for the USO during World War II. The building was dedicated in July 1943.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is May 8, 1945.

Location. 28° 48.921′ N, 81° 16.078′ W. Marker is in Sanford, Florida, in Seminole County. It can be reached from Seminole Boulevard north of North Park Avenue, on the right when

Photographed by Glenn Sheffield, December 30, 2011

2. World War II Marker

Marker photo of Lt. Gen. Joseph C. Hutchison accepting the surrender of Mindanao from Japanese Lt. Gen. Gyosaku Morozumi.

traveling west. The marker is one of several located in the City of Sanford's Veterans Memorial Park, which extends along a pier at the shore of Lake Monroe. It is found along the boardwalk on the east side of the pier, facing the marina. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Sanford FL 32771, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Orlando

and in Central Florida.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: City of Sanford World War Memorial (here, next to this marker); The U.S. Navy Enlisted Bombardier/Navigator (a few steps from this marker); Korean War (a few steps from this marker); World War I (a few steps from this marker); Vietnam War (a few steps from this marker);

Photographed by Glenn Sheffield, December 30, 2011

3. World War II Marker

Marker photo of Naval Air Station Sanford's first commander, Cmdr. F. Massie Hughes (left)

War of 1812 (within shouting distance of this marker); Civil War (within shouting distance of this marker); American Revolution (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sanford.

Photographed by Glenn Sheffield, December 30, 2011

4. World War II Marker

Marker photo showing Sanford's World War II USO headquarters (present-day Chamber of Commerce)

Photographed by Glenn Sheffield, December 30, 2011

5. World War II Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 10, 2014, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. This page has been viewed 735 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 10, 2014, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.