Air Operations, Europe

Battle of Heligoland Bight. 50 Me-109s & Me-110s destroy 12 of 24 Wellington bombers sent on armed reconnaisance to Wilhelmshaven attacking naval targets. 4 fighters are lost. As a result of this action, daylight bombing strategies are thoroughly revised to incorporate fighter protection. Night raids become the norm for much of the war.

Battle of the Atlantic

For the second day in a row the Luftwaffe attack North Sea shipping off the British coast. 2 British trawlers are sunk: the Active (185t) 35 miles northwest of Rattray Head with 1 crewman lost; and the Trinity N B (203t) off Kinnaird Head with the loss of 2 of her crew.

Finland - Winter War

Day 19

At Summa, Russian tanks again penetrate the Finnish defenses but the infantry assaults are repulsed in all sectors. The Soviets take the village of Oinala southeast of Muolaanjärvi. On the Ladoga Karelia Detachment Pennanen continues its advance towards Ägläjärvi int the Tolvajärvi sector. The offensive runs out of steam because of bad weather and exhaustion of the troops. Near Kollaa the Soviet offensive gets bogged down. Because of the difficult terrain the use of tanks and artillery is ineffective. In northern Finland troops under Maj Perksalo defeat a Russian regt at the parish village of Pelkosenniemi west of Salla. The Russians break off contact and head for Savukoski. At the same time the Russian 122nd Div is halted at Joutsijärvi.

Other Finnish troops simultaneously halt the offensive by the main force of the 122nd Division at Joutsijärvi. Photo: SA-KUVA Finnish Troops Halt the Offensive

German Raiders

Crewmen from the Admiral Graf Spee arriving at Buenos Aires, Argentina aboard the tugs Gigante, Coloso and the Chata Chiriguana The Crew of the Admiral Graf Spee

Aboard the Tug Gigante