Songs That Won the War: 1940s Wartime Favorites

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Instructions: When the boys shipped overseas, America kept its chin up with songs full of longing, love, and hope — and these wartime melodies still stir something deep and proud in the heart.

1.
Bing Crosby's 'White Christmas' became the best-selling physical single in recording history. Which legendary songwriter wrote it?
A
Cole Porter
B
Irving Berlin
C
Johnny Mercer
D
Hoagy Carmichael
2.
The Andrews Sisters introduced 'Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy' in which 1941 Abbott and Costello comedy film?
A
Buck Privates
B
In the Navy
C
This Is the Army
D
Keep 'Em Flying
3.
Bing Crosby first performed 'White Christmas' in which 1942 Hollywood film?
A
Going My Way
B
Blue Skies
C
Road to Morocco
D
Holiday Inn
4.
British singer Vera Lynn, whose recordings comforted troops and families throughout the war, earned what cherished nickname?
A
The Singing Nightingale
B
Britain's Songbird
C
The Forces' Sweetheart
D
The Bluebird of England
5.
Glenn Miller's swinging instrumental 'In the Mood' — one of the most recognizable tunes of the Big Band era — was first recorded by his orchestra in which year?
A
1937
B
1939
C
1941
D
1943
6.
Glenn Miller's hit 'Chattanooga Choo Choo' was recorded for which 1941 motion picture?
A
Sun Valley Serenade
B
Orchestra Wives
C
Iceland
D
Springtime in the Rockies
7.
Songwriter Frank Loesser wrote 'Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition' in 1942, inspired by a phrase reportedly heard during which event?
A
The invasion of Guadalcanal
B
The Battle of Midway
C
The fall of the Philippines
D
The attack on Pearl Harbor
8.
The tender 1945 ballad 'It's Been a Long Long Time,' which celebrated the end of the war, was recorded by Harry James and His Orchestra featuring which vocalist?
A
Helen Forrest
B
Jo Stafford
C
Kitty Kallen
D
Dinah Shore
9.
The V-Disc program provided special recordings to American troops serving overseas during World War II. What did the V in V-Disc stand for?
A
Volunteer
B
Victory
C
Valor
D
Veteran
10.
The Andrews Sisters — stars of 'Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy' and 'Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree' — consisted of LaVerne, Maxene, and which third sister?
A
Patty
B
Betty
C
Carol
D
Helen
11.
Beloved bandleader Glenn Miller disappeared on December 15, 1944, when his plane vanished over the English Channel. He was traveling to which city to entertain Allied troops?
A
London
B
Brussels
C
Amsterdam
D
Paris
12.
Vera Lynn first recorded 'We'll Meet Again' — the song that became the anthem of wartime hope and reunion — in which year?
A
1937
B
1938
C
1939
D
1940
13.
Both 'Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy' and 'Chattanooga Choo Choo' were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 1942 ceremony — but which song took home the award?
A
White Christmas
B
The Last Time I Saw Paris
C
Blues in the Night
D
Be Honest with Me
14.
In 1942, RCA Victor presented Glenn Miller with a landmark honor to celebrate over 1.2 million copies sold of 'Chattanooga Choo Choo.' What was this milestone?
A
The first gold record
B
The first platinum record
C
The first diamond certification
D
The first chart-topper medallion
15.
Which 1943 Bing Crosby hit, sung from the viewpoint of a serviceman stationed overseas, ends with the wistful line 'if only in my dreams'?
A
Silent Night
B
I'll Be Home for Christmas
C
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
D
White Christmas

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