Battle of the Atlantic

• U-94 sinks the British steamer Empire Statesman (5306t), a straggler from Convoy SLS-56, west of Ireland with the loss of her entire crew of 32.
• In attacks on Convoy HX-92 U-96 sinks the British steamer Rotorua (10,890t) and the Dutch steamer Towa (5419t) about 100 miles west of St Kilda. 22 are lost from the British ship. 110 survivors are picked up by the British minesweeping trawler Varanga, the British minelayer Alsey and the British minesweeping trawler Ebor Wyke. 18 crewmen are lost from the Dutch ship. 16 survivors are picked up by the British destroyer Matabele.

The Blitz

There is a heavy night raid on Birmingham by 278 aircraft from both Luftflotten. They drop high explosives and 25,000 incendiaries. Fires start in both residential and industrial areas. Among the plants hit are the Fisher and Ludlow Works and the W. T. Avery Factory. 6 churches, 11 schools and several hundred houses are damaged. 100 people are killed and another 235 are seriously injured.

Death and destruction in Carrow Vale, Norwich

Bomb Damage in Norwich

North Africa

Sollum is bombarded by ships from Cunningham's fleet. Italian troops resist Wavell's forces bravely at Fort Capuzzo and Sidi Omar. Wavell's attacks have ruined five of the seven Italian divisions they have met and they are all rapidly retreating from Egypt. Surrendering to the British are the 4th Blackshirt and the 1st and 2nd Libyan divs. Some 14,000 more prisoners are taken, many of whom come from the Catanzaro Division which is expelled from positions near Buq Buq.

Captured Italian soldiers being marched away to prison near Buq Buq

Italian Captives