Germany, Home Front

The Me-262 fighter flies for the first time powered by a Junkers piston engine. The specified pair of jet engines will not be available until November. (see November 25, 1941)

Greece

The Greek Prime Minister Alexander Korizis commits suicide. King George assumes temporary leadership of the government. Martial law is declared in Athens.

The German XVIII Army (mountain troops) forces the passage of the Aliakmon River against the resistance of the New Zealand 2nd Div. Mount Olympus is surrounded by the Germans and they take the town of Larisa. The XL Motorized Corps completes the encircling operation pressing on Florina and Trikkala. In this way a breach is opened between the left wing of the British expeditionary force and the right wing of the Greek forces. German troops pour through the gap. The rearguard will be considerably harried by the Luftwaffe as they fall back to Thermopylae.

Mediterranean

• The British convoy service ship Fiona (2190t) is lost to a German air attack about 50 miles northwest of Sidi Barrani. 53 of the crew are lost.
• The British steamer British Science (7138t) is sunk by German bombing north of the Kethera Channel. The entire crew are rescued by the British destroyer Hero.
• 2 Greek steamers are lost to German air attacks near Psara, Euboea Island - the Fokion (1158t) and the Leon (968t). The Greek steamer Chios (1121t) is also sunk by German bombers near Chalkis, Eritrea.

United States, Policy

Adm Ernest J. King, Commander-in-Chief, US Atlantic Fleet, orders US ships and planes to attack any Axis ship within 25 miles of the Western Hemisphere on the assumption it is hostile.