RAF Wellington bomber L7842 was lost on 6 February 1941 while in service with No. 311 Squadron, RAF, on a mission to Boulogne. Wellingtons were famously robust and the Germans were able to restore it for testing.

RAF Wellington Bomber

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-107 sinks the Canadian steamer Maplecourt (3388t) 120 miles west of Rockall with the loss of her entire crew of 38.
• The British steamer Angularity (501t) is sunk by German motor torpedo boat S-30 off the east coast between Ipswitch and Newcastle with the loss of 2 crewmen.

German Command

Hitler receives Gen Erwin Rommel in Berlin, who is to command the Afrika Korps, which is being sent to support the Italian army in Libya. Rommel is technically under the command of Gen Albert Kesselring, commander of the southern operational sector which includes Italy and the Mediterranean, but he will have direct access to Hitler.

North Africa

Benghazi is taken by Australian units following the Italian retreat. The Italian forces are streaming back along the coast road to Beda Fomm and during the day they make desperate attacks on the British blocking force there. These attacks are repulsed with heavy loss but the small British force is compelled to give some ground. In this day's action more than 80 Italian tanks are destroyed. Annibale Bergonzoli and 6 senior generals are among many thousands of prisoners taken.

United States, Politics

J. G. Winant succeeds Joseph Kennedy as US Ambassador in London.