Air Operations, Europe

During the night the RAF raid the Gelsenkirchen oil plant in the Ruhr.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-137 attacks Convoy OB-244 and sinks the Swedish steamer Veronica (1316t) and the British steamer Saint Germain (1044t) north-northwest of Tory Island. The Vernica loses 17 or her 20-man crew. All 18 of the Saint Germain are picked up by the British corvette Mallow.

A British Cruiser tank is unloaded at a port in Egypt, on November 17, 1940. It is one of a large number which had just been shipped there by British forces. (AP Photo)

Unloading Tanks in Egypt

The Blitz

There are heavy night raids on Southampton by 150 aircraft.

Britain, Command

Air Marshal Hugh Dowding is replaced at Fighter Command by Air Marshal Sholto Douglas. Dowding is sent to work for the Ministry of Aircraft Production in the section dealing with orders for American planes. Later he will be denied the promotion to Marshal of the Royal Air Force which his distinguished services during the Battle of Britain more than entitle him to expect.

Air Marshal Keith Park will also be treated in a shabby fashion and will shortly be replaced at 11 Group by Leigh-Mallory. Park will receive no comparable command in the future. A new RAF Command for army Cooperation is created, to be led by Air Marshal Arthur Barratt.

Mediterranean

Operation WHITE is an attempt by the British to deliver 12 Hurricane fighters and 2 Skua dive bombers to reinforce besieged Malta. Because of bad weather combined with the flight distance only 5 Hurricanes and 1 Skua made it to Malta. Most of the others ran out of fuel and ditched in the sea. Skua fighter (L2987) that crash landed near Syracuse, Sicily, after the ill-fated Operation White, on November 17, 1940.

Skua Fighter Crash