Air Operations, East Africa

RAF and the South African Air Force raid targets in Italian East Africa.

Axis Diplomacy

Demands upon Greece are issued by Germany and Italy. Among the demands are the transfer of land to Italy and Bulgaria, use of air bases by the Axis, and a new sympathetic government in Athens.

Battle of Britain

Day 101

Weather - Mainly foggy over the country and Channel.

Combat - Although no large scale attacks were made by the Luftwaffe on this day, single aircraft raids and reconnaissance continued across the counties of southern England.

One successful interception for Fighter Command was by the Hurricanes of No: 229 Squadron, scrambled from Northolt, who intercepted some Ju-88's over Kent as they approached London.

The poor weather conditions created many accidents for both sides as pilots & crews became disorientated in the fog. One tragic incident involved the Polish pilots of No: 302 Squadron. Whilst on patrol they became lost over Surrey and ran out of fuel forcing emergency landings, subsequently losing four Hurricanes and pilots.

During the night raids were made on London, Bristol, Birmingham, Liverpool, Southampton and East Anglia. Mine laying was carried out around the Thames Estuary areas.

R.A.F. Losses: 9 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 4 pilots killed and no wounded.

Luftwaffe Losses: 24 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 18 pilots & aircrew killed or missing and 6 wounded.

NOTE: Losses include non-combat patrols and accidents.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British submarine H-49 is sunk by German auxiliary submarine chasers UJ-116 and UJ-118 off Terschelling with the loss of 26 of her crew.
• U-48 sinks the British steamer Sandsend (3612t) from Convoy OB-229 254 miles west-northwest of Rockall with the loss of 5 of her crew. 34 survivors are picked up by the British corvette Hibiscus.
• U-123 damages the British steamer Shekatika (5458t) ahead of Convoy SC-7. U-100 damages the British steamer with another torpedo an hour later. U-123 finally sinks her early the next morning. The entire 36-man crew is rescued by the British sloop Fowey.
• In attacks Convoy SC-7 U-46 sinks the British steamer Beatus (4885t) and the Swedish steamer Convallaria (1996t) 100 miles southwest of Barra Head. The entire crew of the Beatus is picked up by the Dutch steamer Boekolo and that of the Convallaria by the British sloop Fowey. U-101 sinks the British steamer Creekirk (3971t) east-northeast of Rockall with the loss of her entire crew of 36. U-99 sinks the British steamer Empire Miniver (6055t) about 100 miles southwest of Barra Head with the loss of 3 crewmen. 35 survivors are picked up by the British corvette Bluebell. U-46 also sinks the Swedish steamer Gunborg (1672t) 150 miles west of the Hebrides. Her 23 survivors are picked up by the Bluebell. U-99 also sinks the Greek steamer Niritos (3854t) with the loss of 1 of her crew. 27 survivors are picked up by the Bluebell. U-99 sinks the British steamer Fiscus (4815t) east of Rockall with the loss of 38 crewmen. The lone survivor is picked up by the British corvette Clematis.

Britain, Home Front

Malcolm MacDonald, Minister of Health, announces that, to this point, 489,000 children have left the London area.

Mary Couchman a 24 year old warden shields three little children as bombs fall October 18, 1940.

Air Raid Warden Shields Children

China

The Burma Road is reopened to the passage of militaery supplies to Chiang Kai-shek's forces. The trucks return with tungsten, oil, wood and tin for export to the US.

Mediterranean

• The British destroyers Firedrake, Wrestler and Vidette sink the Italian submarine Durbo off Alboran Island. 48 survivors are picked up by the British ships and taken to Gibraltar.
• The Italian steamer Cuma (6463t) sinks on a mine off Gela/Licata, Sicily.

Vichy France

Anti-Semitic laws are introduced whereby Jews are to be excluded from public service and from positions of authority in industry and the media.