Air Operations, Europe
The RAF sends a raid against the armament works at Leuna. Although at this stage of the war the RAF intends to hit only military targets, it cannot achieve the necessary accuracy in night bombing.
[
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]Battle of Britain
Day 39
Weather - Fine in most areas and the Channel with haze and some cloud in the east.
Combat - A very quiet Saturday with only a few raids being plotted throughout the day that are mainly reconnaissance. While Fighter Command keeps regular patrols without enemy contact, a Royal Navy vessel successfully shoots down one raider in the Channel.
During the night several raids are plotted around the country of which many made inland targets.
R.A.F. Losses: 2 aircraft damaged or destroyed (accidents) with 1 pilot wounded.
Luftwaffe Losses: 2 aircraft damaged or destroyed with no casualties.
NOTE: Losses include non-combat patrols and accidents.
[ | ]Germany, Policy
- Hitler announces a 'total blockade' of the British Isles. This is in reply to the 'British hunger blockade against German women and children'. All ships, Allied or neutral, in British waters are to be sunk on sight.
- The German Foreign Minister, Joachim von Ribbentrop, brusquely switches off the anti-Greek campaign launched three days earlier by the Italian Foreign Minister, Galeazzo Ciano. Hitler does not want any military involvement in the Balkans, at least for the moment.
| ]Greece
Following recently increased tension with Italy, the Greek armed forces are partially mobilized with a call-up of certain categories in the districts of Tsamuria, Epirus and western Macedonia. Among the provocations is the sinking of the Greek cruiser, Helle by an Italian submarine.
[]Mediterranean
Adm Cunningham leads 3 battleships, the Warspite, the Malaya and the Ramillies, and several other vessels of the British Mediterranean Fleet to bombard the Italian positions at Bardia and Fort Capuzzo. Italian bombers attack the ships but are driven off. 12 bombers are lost.
[ | ]West Indies
The Duke of Windsor is sworn in as Governor of the Bahamas.