Battle of Britain
Day 95
Weather - Fog and mist in most areas, clearing later.
Combat - As with previous days the majority of the raids are carried out by high altitude, bomb carrying, Me-109's and waves of these start crossing the coast from 0900hrs. One of these raids manages to reach and bomb London during the morning while others reach the areas of Biggin Hill and Hornchurch.
At about 1000hrs a large raid is intercepted over north Kent by Hurricanes of No: 249 and 257 Squadrons, both scrambled from North Weald. The Biggin Hill Spitfires of No: 72 and 92 Squadrons are also in action over Kent with the Me-109's of LG2.
While aerial battles are being fought over Kent and London, Hurricanes of No: 145 Squadron, scrambled from Tangmere, engage more Me-109's of LG2 over Hastings and southern areas of Kent and Sussex.
Successive raids continue into the afternoon and reach areas of Hertfordshire, Surrey, Essex, Kent, and Sussex. One raid of Me-109's is met by Hurricanes of No: 605 Squadron, scrambled from Croydon, at about 1300hrs over Maidstone.
Slightly later at about 1530hrs and for nearly 1 hour raids of Ju-88's and Me-109's approach the Kent and Sussex coastline. Spitfires of No: 602 Squadron, from Westhampnett, engage the bombers off the coast near Beachy Head whilst the Me-109's are intercepted by Hurricanes of No: 257 and 615 Squadrons and Spitfires of No: 41 and 92 Squadrons.
By 1700hrs the raids have subsided and only reconnaissance aircraft are being detected by radar. One such aircraft, an Arado Ar-196, is intercepted and shot down over the Channel by Hurricanes of No: 145 Squadron.
During the night heavy bombing continues on London and the Midlands with other raids reported over East Anglia and the Northeast.
R.A.F. Losses: 16 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 4 pilots killed and 3 wounded.
Luftwaffe Losses: 11 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 6 pilots and aircrew killed or missing and 3 wounded.
NOTE: Losses include non-combat patrols and accidents.
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]Battle of the Atlantic
- U-48 sinks the Norwegian steamer Davanger (7102t) from Convoy HX-77 about 300 miles west of Broadhaven, Ireland with the loss of 17 crewmen. 12 survivors make it to Ireland in a lifeboat.
- U-59 sinks the British steamer Pacific Ranger (6895t) from Convoy HX-77 about 130 miles northwest of Bloody Foreland. The entire crew of 55 is rescued.
- U-101 sinks the Canadian steamer Saint Malo (5779t), a straggler from Convoy HX-77, northwest of Ireland with the loss of 28 of her crew. 16 crewmen are rescued.
| ]The Blitz
Children During the Blitz |
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| ]Germany, Planning
Operation Sealion is deferred until the spring of 1941. His priorities are now elsewhere and Göring has been unable to achieve the vital air superiority. It will never take place.
Göring issues orders to give priorities for the German night aerial Blitzkrieg against Britain. The priorities are firstly London, secondly aircraft factories and third, the industrial zones in the Midlands and all air bases.
[ | ]Italy, Planning
Mussolini learns that Hitler has occupied the Rumanian oil fields in order 'to protect them'. Mussolini is infuriated who says to Ciano: 'Hitler always presents me with a fait accompli, but this time I shall pay him back in his own coin. When he reads the papers he'll see that I've occupied Greece, and that will make us all square.' Ciano asks him, 'What will Badoglio say?' Mussolini replies, 'He doesn't know yet, but I'll soon get rid of anyone who finds any difficulty in fighting the Greeks.' The Italian War Council makes the final decision for an attack on Greece. Hitler is not to be told beforehand and instead is to be presented with a fait accompli. The Italians hope for the campaign to be over within two weeks. Operations will start at the end of the month.
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Mediterranean
The Italian submarine Tazzoli sinks the Yugoslavian steamer Orao (5135t) with the loss of 2 crewmen.
[ | ]United States, Policy
In Dayton, Ohio President Roosevelt rejects appeasement and vows to protect the United States and her interests against aggression.
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