Air Operations, Europe
During the night 129 RAF bombers attack Berlin.
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]Battle of Britain
Day 76
Weather - Conditions fine over the country.
Combat - Between 0930hrs and 1000hrs two large formations of Me-109's, totalling nearly 200, cross the Kent coast and head toward London. Over twenty Fighter Command squadrons are scrambled to meet the raid, but only a few succeed in engaging the raiders. Hurricanes of No: 73, 229, 257 and 303 Squadrons along with Spitfires of No: 41, 72, 92 and 603 Squadrons are engaged in dogfights over Kent, Sussex and the Channel for nearly one hour.
The Hurricanes of No: 73 Squadron, scrambled from Debden, suffer the loss of four aircraft to the Me-109's with three of the pilots severely wounded.
At about 1100hrs, Spitfires of No: 234 Squadron scramble from St. Eval and intercept a small raid of Me-109's off the coast of Cornwall.
Just after 1300hrs Spitfires of No: 41 Squadron scramble from Hornchurch to escort an Anson reconnaissance plane off Dover. They are attacked by Me-109's, of JG23, subsequently forcing the Anson to land before the Spitfires chase them back towards Calais.
Two raids are plotted approaching the Thames Estuary and Folkestone at 1730hrs whereby quick attacks are made on the areas of Sheppey, Rye and along the east coast of Kent. Although several squadrons are scrambled to engage the raids, no interceptions are made.
During the night more raids are made on London with bombs also dropping on Newmarket, near Duxford, Digby, Liverpool, Preston, the Midlands, South Wales and the Bristol area. Mines are dropped along the East coast from the Humber to Scotland.
R.A.F. Losses: 13 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 1 pilot killed and 6 wounded.
Luftwaffe Losses: 22 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 17 pilots and aircrew killed or missing and 1 wounded.
NOTE: Losses include non-combat patrols and accidents.
[ | ]Battle of the Atlantic
British submarine H-49 sinks the German steamer Heimdal (2186t) 7 miles northwest of Terschelling.
[ | ]The Blitz
Liverpool is bombed by the Luftwaffe.
[ | ]Britain, Home Front
The George Cross and the George Medal are instituted for civilian bravery.
[ | ]Czechoslovakia, Politics
A provisional government is formed in London and is recognized by Britain. Dr Eduard Beneš is president and Mngr Jan Sramek is prime minister.
[ | ] General Spears and General de Gaulle on the Westernland |
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French West Africa
British and Free French forces try to bring the port of Dakar over to the Allied cause. The operation is code named Menace. The British are led by Admiral John Cunningham and French by General de Gaulle. The forces involved three small Free French warships but the main power is provided by two British battleships and one carrier. There are 3,600 Free French troops aboard the various transports and a further 4,300 British who, for political reasons, are not to be used unless absolutely necessary. The Vichy forces include the battleship Richelieu (unfinished), two cruisers and some destroyers and submarines. Adm Landriau commands these vessels and Governor Pierre Boisson is in overall charge. On the first day of the operation there are talks between de Gaulle and the Vichy representatives, but these fail to reach any agreement. At 10:50a.m. it is the Dakar coastal batteries and the ships at anchor in the port that open fire on the British ships. The Free French attempt to land but their efforts are quickly checked. Barham, Resolution and the cruiser Cumberland are damaged. 1 Vichy destroyer, the Audacieux and 2 submarines, the Persee and the Ajax, are sunk. Also sunk in the action is the Danish steamer Tacoma (5905y) which had been captured by Vichy forced in July. The total French casualties number 563.
HMAS Australia, Firing on the Forts at Dakar |
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]Indochina
The Vichy French garrison at Da Nang in central Vietnam offers fierce resistance to the Japanese occupation forces.
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