Air Operations, East Africa
There are British air raids on Massawa, Asmara and Dessye in East Africa.
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]Air Operations, North Africa
There are British air raids on targets in Cyrenaica.
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| ]Albania
The Italians begin increasing their force in Albania by 40,000 men in preparation for their proposed attack on Greece.
[]Atlantic
Because of all the damage done to shipping in the Port of London on September 7, all ocean-going vessels are banned from London until January 1941.
[ | ]Battle of Britain
Day 63
Weather - Generally cloudy over most areas with some occasional rain.
Combat - For most of the morning there are occasional reconnaissance raids along the South and East Anglian coasts. Single aircraft raids are made on various targets and around midday, the airfield at Tangmere is strafed and Do-17's drop bombs near Great Yarmouth and Norwich without interception by Fighter Command.
Sir Winston Churchill Inspecting Damage |
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Not until late afternoon does any sizeable raid appear on the radar when, at about 1700hrs, a formation of Ju-88's approach the coastline between Dover and Southampton. Portsmouth docks are bombed along with targets at Littlehampton, Farnborough and the airfield at West Malling. The Spitfires of No: 72 Squadron, scramble from Croydon, intercept the raiders over East Grinstead and shoot down at least 3 of the bombers. Another Spitfire Squadron, No: 602, based at Westhampnett suffers the loss of 3 aircraft trying to land at Tangmere after the raid had dispersed at about 2000hrs. This is due to inexperienced pilots trying to land in fading light at dusk.
Sir Winston Churchill on Damage Inspection Tour |
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During the night the bombing of London continues with further raids plotted against Liverpool, the Midlands and South Wales.
R.A.F. Losses: 6 aircraft damaged or destroyed with no losses.
Luftwaffe Losses: 20 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 13 pilots and aircrew killed or missing and 5 wounded.
NOTE: Losses include non-combat patrols and accidents.
[ | ]Battle of the Atlantic
The Norwegian steamer Eli (4332t) is sunk by German bombing 12 miles from Skerryvore Light House with the loss of 1 of her crew.
[ | ]German Raiders
The German armed merchant cruiser Atlantis sinks the British steamer Benarty (5800t) in the Indian Ocean. There are no casualties.
[ | ]Germany, Planning
A Council of War convenes in Berlin. Because the RAF resistance continues and British fighters are still very effective, there is no way to guarantee a landing on the British coast except by surprise. The starting date for Operation Sealion is pushed back to the 14th. Actually, the start date will be the 24th because the German navy needs at least ten days' advance warning to be ready once the command to go is given. The Luftwaffe still has a few more days in which to silence the RAF.
The number of Panzer divisions is to be increased from 10 to 20 for the planned invasion of the Soviet Union scheduled for May 1941.
[ | ]Secret War
A German agent named Schmidt parachutes into Oxon.
[ | ] Air Raid Damage |
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