Air Operations, Europe

The RAF successfully bombs the Skoda arms plant at Pilsen, Czechoslovakia among other targets in a massive night raid.

Axis Diplomacy

At 2100 hours the Italians tell the Germans of their decision to invade Greece.

Battle of Britain

Day 110

Weather - Cloudy and overcast for most of the day throughout the country.

Combat - The Luftwaffe renews its persistent raids of bomb-carrying Me-109's on London and selects targets in the southeast throughout the day.

Just after 0730hrs and for nearly two hours wave after wave of Me-109 raids sweep across Kent heading for Biggin Hill, Kenley and London. Hurricanes of No: 46, 249, 253, 257, 501, 605 and 615 Squadrons and Spitfires of No: 66, 74, 92, 222, 602 and 603 Squadrons are scrambled to intercept the raiders. Only the Spitfires of No: 66 and 74 Squadrons and Hurricanes of No: 605 Squadron, from Croydon, manage to engage the Me-109's of JG53 and JG54.

At 1130hrs, another series of raids starts crossing the east coast of Kent heading for Dartford and the docklands of London and although sighted by R.A.F. fighters, the raiders are too high to intercept. By 1230hrs the second wave of Me-109's crosses the Kent and Sussex coasts. Interceptions are made by Hurricanes of No: 145 Squadron, scrambled from Tangmere, near Hastings and by Hurricanes of No: 501 Squadron, scrambled from Kenley, over Kent.

Shortly before 1330hrs more Me-109's cross the coast at Dungeness and are engaged by Spitfires of No: 603 Squadron, scrambled from Hornchurch, over the Maidstone area. During this dogfight No: 603 Squadron loses 3 Spitfires and 2 pilots.

At 1630hrs two large raids are approaching their respective targets with formations of Ju-88, He-111 and Do-17 bombers with Me-109 fighter escorts. The first raid crosses North Foreland and over the Thames Estuary into East Anglia whereby the airfields at Martlesham Heath and Coltishall along with the docks in Harwich are attacked. Hurricanes of No: 17, 242, 249, 257 and 310(Czech) Squadrons and Spitfires of No: 19 Squadron, from Duxford, are scrambled to intercept the raid.

The second raid of Ju-88's and Me-109's is made against the Southampton and Portsmouth areas. Hurricanes of No: 56, 145, 213, 238 and 607 Squadrons and Spitfires of No: 152, 602 and 609 Squadrons are scrambled to intercept.

Before the main bombing raids of the night are launched, several small raids were made, at about 1830hrs, against the airfields of Leconfield, Feltwell, Driffield, Kirton-in-Lindsey and Martlesham. Hurricanes of No: 1, 17 and 85 Squadrons make interceptions on the Do-17's and He-111's over Norfolk and Lincolnshire.

During the night raids are made on London, Liverpool and the Midlands. Mines are dropped off Harwich, in the Thames Estuary and along the coast of eastern England up to the Firth-of-Forth.

R.A.F. Losses: 12 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 6 pilots killed and 1 wounded.

Luftwaffe Losses: 30 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 21 pilots and aircrew killed or missing and 5 wounded.

NOTE: Losses include non-combat patrols and accidents.

Battle of the Atlantic

The Italian submarine Nani sinks the Swedish steamer Meggie (1583t) 70 miles southeast of Santa Maria, Azores. The entire crew is rescued.