Battle of the Atlantic

The period between now and October 1940 will become known to the U-boat crews at 'Die Gluckliche Zeit' (the Happy Time). During these months each submarine will sink an average of 8 Allied ships each patrol. By early 1941 this figure will be down to 2 and will only rise again briefly early in 1942. This is the period when the U-boat ace commanders will make their names. Endras, Prien, Schepke and Kretschmer will be the best known. Almost exactly two-thirds of the U-boat successes will be among 'independents'.

From July 17 all convoys bound for the British west coast are routed north of Ireland and any ships going to the east coast will travel north of Scotland. Of course, such radical changes cause problems of organization for the escort forces and congestion in the ports now emphasized.

In July the U-boats sink 38 of a total Allied loss of 105 ships.(Allied Ships Lost to U-boats) There are now 28 operational U-boats with 23 more in training.

Air Operations, Europe

• Hull and Wick in northeast Scotland are bombed by daylight. 12 are killed and 22 injured.
• 12 Hampdens bomb the Kiel naval base. A one-ton bomb is dropped on the town of Kiel by the RAF. It is the largest weapon delivered thus far in the war. The Hampden bomber tries to hit a German warship in the harbor but fails after six runs. The bomb is finally released in a non-military area because of a defective release mechanism.
• During the night Guy Gibson drops a 2,000 pound bomb near the Scharnhorst; the cruiser Prinz Eugen is hit by 2 small bombs.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British corvette HMS Gladiolus and an RAAF Sunderland sink U-26 off Ireland. The entire crew of 44 is rescued by the British sloop Rochester.

  U-26

  Class	Type IA
  CO	Kapitänleutnant Heinz Scheringer
  Location	SW of Bishop's Rock
  Cause	Depth charge
  Casualties	None
  Survivors	48

• The British destroyer Vansittart, escorting the British tug Salvonia to meet the damaged British steamer Zarian, attacks and sinks U-102 with the loss of all 43 crew off Ushant. U-102 was on her first war patrol, had attacked a convoy on 30 June off North Channel.
• U-30 sinks the British steamers Beignon (5218t) Clearton (5219t) of convoy SL-36 about 300 miles west of Ushant. The Beignon had picked up 84 survivors of British steamer Avelona Star. One crewman is lost and two are missing on the Beignon. Three survivors from the Avelona Star are missing. The British destroyer Vesper picks up the survivors of the Beignon. 8 crew are lost on the Clearton. The British destroyers Vesper and Windsor pick up the survivors of the Clearton 240 miles from The Smalls.
• U-29 sinks the Greek steamer Adamastos (5889t) southwest of Ireland. The entire crew is rescued.

Britain, Command

Vice-Adm Sir James Somerville takes command of Force H, a group that will patrol the western Mediterranean consisting of the carrier HMS Ark Royal, battlecruiser HMS Hood, and 2 battleships plus cruisers and destroyers.

Channel Islands

German Soldiers in Jersey

Diplomatic Relations

• Britain warns that she will not permit an Axis occupation of Syria.
• Sir Stafford Cripps, Britain's ambassador to Russia, carries a personal letter from Churchill to Stalin in which the British leader calls for a consultation between them in the face of Germany's intention to dominate all of Europe. Stalin responds candidly saying that Moscow's policy is to avoid conflict with Germany. He does predict, however, that Hitler might decide to attack the Soviet Union in the spring of 1941 if Britain should be out of the fight by then.
• Rome threatens to take military action against Greece, claiming to have proof that British warships were using Greek territorial waters for the purpose of attack against the naval forces of Italy.
• Germany calls on the United States to withdraw its diplomatic missions form Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg by 15 July since Berlin will handle the foreign relations of those occupied countries.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British merchant ship Arandora Star (15,500t) is sunk off the coast of Ireland by U-47. Aboard the ship are 1,500 Italian and German internees and POWs on the way to Canada. Panic-stricken passengers fight for places in lifeboats. 670 are drowned. They are among the 8,000 'enemy aliens' who are to be deported from Britain for internment abroad. (see December 20, 1940)

  Arandora Star

• U-29 sinks the Panamanian tanker Santa Margarita (4919t) southwest of Ireland and badly damages British steamer Athellaird (899rt). 3 crewmen are missing. 21 survivors were picked up by the British steamer King John. 3 of these survivors are missing after the steamer King John sinks on the 13th. The Athellaird sinks on the 3rd. The entire crew is rescued by British sloop Sandwich.

• The British steamer Aeneas (10,058t) in convoy OA-177G is sunk by German bombing 20 miles southeast of Start Point. 18 are missing and 3 are dead. The survivors are picked up by the British destroyer Witherington.

Britain, Home Front

As in the later cases of Japanese-Americans in the United States, the British internment policy is both harsh and foolish. Among those interned in Britain are many Jewish refugees from Hitler, including important scientists and many more who want to work for Britain. Hysterical fears of a Fifth Column are the main reason for the internment policy. It is gradually relaxed after August 1940.

France

Marshal Pétain's government in France moves from Bordeaux to Vichy.

Britain, Planning

There have been some suggestions, supported by Adm Pound, the 1st Sea Lord, that the British Fleet should be withdrawn from the Eastern Mediterranean. The idea is squashed by Churchill. This is a brave decision when it has not yet been established that the Italians are likely to misuse their considerable resources and when the problem of the French Fleet has not yet been resolved.

Britain, Policy

The British government and Admiralty are desperately worried by the status of the French navy and fear that it will fall into German hands. They therefore take action to prevent this. At Plymouth and Portsmouth 2 French battleships, 9 destroyers and many smaller ships are taken over with a little bloodshed in some minor skirmishes.

British forces seize 59 major French warships in British harbors. Among the ships are the battleships Courbet and Paris, and the giant submarine Surcouf. There is fighting aboard the Surcouf and the destroyer Mistral with some casualties.

Naval Battle at Mers-el-Kebir, French Algeria

East Africa

In Italian East Africa, British forces attack the defenses of Metemma. The Italian air force carries out another successful attack on the air and naval base at Aden.

German Raiders

The German auxiliary cruiser Komet leaves Gotenhafen in the Baltic for the Pacific Ocean. The Komet is under the command of Konteradmiral Robert Eyssen. He is to sail around the North Cape of Norway and heading east via the Siberian Sea passage.

Mediterranean

At Mers-el-Kebir naval base in Algeria there is an entirely different story. Here the British Adm Sir James Somerville has been sent with the 2 battleships and 1 battlecruiser of Force H supported by an aircraft carrier. Somerville has been ordered to present various alternative schemes for the demobilization of the French ships and their removal to distant ports.

French Destroyer Mogador in Flames

Air Operations, Mediterranean

The Italians raid Malta and Alexandria.

Battle of Britain

The Luftwaffe along with German MTBs attack Channel convoy OA178 south of Portland and the Stuka bombers sink 5 of the 9 ships involved. One of the ships sunk is the auxiliary AA ship Foyle Bank under Capt H. P. Wilson. 176 men are killed out of a complement of 298.

Also sunk near Portland are the British steamer Elmcrest (4343t) with the loss of 16 of her crew, the British steamer Dallas City (4952t) with no crew losses, the Dutch steamer Deucalion (1796t), the Dutch steamer Britsum (5255t), the Estonian steamer Kolga (3526t) with the loss of 1 crewman, and the British tug Silverdial (55t).

East Africa

The Italians advance from Abyssinia into the Sudan occupying Kassala and Gallabat just over the border. The Italians use more than 2 brigades at Kassala which is defended by only 2 companies of the Sudan Defense Force.

Rumania

King Carol appoints a pro-Axis Cabinet. The prime minister is Ion Gigurtu and the Foreign Minister Mihai Manoilescu who represents the Iron Guard. The policies of the new government are clearly pro-German and anti-Semitic.

United States, Home Front

The British Pavilion at the New York World's Fair

In the wake of that terrible explosion on 4 July 1940, safer methods for removing and dismantling bombs are developed, saving untold lives in the process. Yet New York remains a target for terrorists looking to make a statement about global politics. The message changes, the enemies speak different languages, but for those who pack explosives into crowded tourist attractions, the modus operandi is always the same. 'These things invariably … come back to New York,' said Mayor Michael Bloomberg in the wake of the Times Square attempt.

Air Operations, Europe

There are RAF daylight raids on shipping off the Dutch coast and the Waalhaven airfield. During the night there are raids on Kiel and Wilhelmshaven.

Air Operations, Mediterranean

Vichy French aircraft make an unsuccessful 'reprisal raid' on shipping at Gibraltar. There is no damage. This is the only hostile action by the French in reply to the Mers-el-Kébir operation; the French Minister of Marine, Adm François Darlan, has declared that British ships will only be attacked if they approach within 20 miles of the French coasts.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British destroyer Whirlwind is sunk by U-34 120 miles west of Lands End, southwest England. 57 men are lost on the destroyer. The British destroyer Westcott picks up the survivors.
• U-99 sinks the Canadian steamer Magog (2053t) from convoy HX-52 58 miles west southwest of Fastnet. The entire crew is rescued.

Diplomatic Relations

• The Swedish-German Railways Agreement is established. Germany obtains permission to utilize Swedish railways for the transport of war supplies and troops 'on leave' to and from Norway. (Britain protests 8 July; Norway 17 July)
• The Vichy government breaks off diplomatic relations with Britain in protest of British action against the French navy.
• Rumania, the chief supplier of Germany's oil, declares support fo the Axis powers.

Mediterranean

Vichy French warships and submarines capture 3 British merchant ships in reprisal for the Mers-el-Kébir attack.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The Germans establish their first submarine base in France at Lorient, on the Atlantic coast in Brittany. Construction starts on thick concrete pens to protect the submarines from aerial attack.
• The British steamer Sea of Glory (1964t) is believed to have been sunk by U-30 south of Ireland although her fate is uncertain. There are no survivors.
• U-34 sinks the Estonian steamer Vapper (4543t) south of Cape Clear with the loss of 1 crewman. 32 survivors are picked up by the Canadian destroyer Restigouche.

Germany, Politics

Hitler proposes a peace agreement with Britain based on a partition of the world.

Air Operations, Mediterranean

During the night 11 Italian SM-81 bombers raid Alexandria. 2 are lost.

Atlantic

The battleship Richelieu is attacked in Dakar Harbor, French West Africa, during the night by a small British unit.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-30 enters the new U-boat base at Lorient.

• U-34 sinks the Dutch motor tanker Lucrecia (2584t) 100 miles west of Land's End with the loss of 2 crewmen. 30 survivors are picked up by the Portugese steamer Alferrarede.
• U-99 sinks the Swedish steamer Bissen (1514t) 80 miles south southwest of Cape Clear, Ireland. The entire crew is rescued.

German Raiders

The German armed merchant cruiser Thor sinks the British steamer Delambre (7032t) in the South Atlantic. Some of the crew are made prisoners of war.

Atlantic

The damage done to the battleship Richelieu in Dakar on the previous day is increased by a hit from a torpedo bomber from the carrier Hermes. The Jean Bart in Casablanca is also attacked. Damage inflicted in these attacks is enough to put these ships out of action for several months. De Gaulle criticizes the British for these actions and declares that all Frenchmen are dismayed and saddened. This is the first sign that he will maintain French independence and be a stormy partner.

Battle of the Atlantic

• 2 destroyers and 2 torpedo boats which had been bought by Sweden from Italy and detained by the British in the Faeroe Islands, are bombed in error by British aircraft. The damaged ships reach Sweden 10 July.
• U-99 sinks the British steamer Humber Arm (5758t) from convoy HX-53 60 miles south of Fastnet. The entire crew is rescued.

Britain, Home Front

• The 9 BEF divisions rescued from Dunkirk have now been reorganized.
• Tea rationing begins (2-oz per person per week).

Mediterranean

The destroyer Escort is torpedoed by the Italian submarine Guglielmo Marconi in the western Mediterranean. She founders while being towed.

Air Operations, Europe

12 Blenheims raid Stavanger airfield. 7 are lost and 5 damaged.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British submarine Salmon sinks on a mine off Egersund with the loss of her entire crew of 41.
• U-34 sinks the Estonian steamer Tiiu (1865t) 280 miles west of St Ann's. The entire crew is rescued.
• U-43 sinks the British steamer Aylesbury (3944t) 230 miles southewest of Cape Clear. The entire crew is rescued.

Diplomatic Relations

Rumania is declared to be under the military protection of Germany.

France, Politics

Marshal Pétain is granted powers to make and alter the constitution by vote of the French parliament. He is opposed by only 4 votes, 3 in the Chamber and 1 in the Senate.

German Raiders

• The German disguised raider Komet leaves Bergen for the Pacific via the Northeast Passage assisted by Russian icebreakers.
• The German armed merchant cruiser Thor sinks the Belgian steamer Bruges (4983t) in the South Atlantic. The crew is made prisoners of war.

Mediterranean

The first major naval encounter between the British and the Italians, the Battle of Punta Stilo, occurs off the coast of Calabria. The British force consisting of 1 aircraft carrier, 3 battleships, 5 light cruisers and 6 destroyers is led by Vice-Adm Sir Andrew Cunningham. The Italian squadron of 2 battleships, 6 heavy cruisers, 12 light cruisers and a number of destroyer is under the command of Adm Inigo Campioni.

Italian Battleship Giulio Cesare

Battle of Britain

Day 1

Weather - Overcast with rain over most of Britain, clearing later with showers remaining in the southeast.

Combat - By British reckoning this is the first day of the battle. The main attacks concentrate on shipping. At 1100hrs a convoy is attacked off North Foreland by 1 Do-17 escorted by Me-109's. Spitfires of No. 74 Squadron scramble from Manston and engage the enemy aircraft. At the same time Spitfires of No. 610 Squadron are scrambled from Biggin Hill to intercept Me-109s over Dover. At 1330hrs about 120 enemy aircraft including Do-17's from KG2, Me-109's from JG51 and Me-110's from ZG26 have formed in the Calais area to attack the 'Bread' convoy between Dover and Dungeness. Hurricanes from No. 34, 56 and 111 Squadrons along with Spitfires of No. 74 and 64 Squadrons are scrambled.

Later in the day enemy raids take place along the West, South and East coasts with the largest being nearly 70 Ju-88 bombers attacking the ports of Falmouth and Swansea and the Pembrey Royal Ordnance Factory in South Wales. 36 people are killed. During the night, further raids are plotted with bombs dropped on Guisborough, Canewdon, Hertford, Isle of Grain, Isle of Mull (West Coast of Scotland), Colchester, Welwyn and Ely.

R.A.F. Losses: 8 aircraft damaged or destroyed and 2 pilots killed.

Luftwaffe Losses: 20 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 23 pilots and aircrew killed or missing and 10 wounded.

NOTE: Losses include non-combat patrols and accidents.

Large Formations of Ju-87s Intercepted South of Canterbury

A Second Shot of the Ju-87s

Battle of the Atlantic

• A British minefield, Orkneys-Iceland-Greenland is completed.
• 5 U-boats leave their new base at Bergen, Norway.
• U-34 sinks the Finnish steamer Petsamo (4596t) off the coast of Ireland with the loss of 4 crewmen. 34 survivors make landfall in the evening at Baltimore, Ireland.
• U-61 sinks the Dutch steamer Alwaki (4533t) from convoy OA-180 10 miles northeast of Cape Wrath. All 61 aboard survive.
• The British tanker Tascalusa (6499t) is sunk by German bombing in Falmouth Harbor.
• The British steamer Waterloo (1905t) is sunk by German bombing about 2 miles northeast of Smith's Knoll Buoy. The crew is rescued.

Battle of Britain

Day 2

Weather - Southeast and Channel overcast. Showers and thunderstorms with bright intervals elsewhere.

Combat - Between 0600hrs and 0900hrs small raids are reported. Along the East coast they are met by a single Hurricane (flown by Sqn. Ldr. Douglas Bader) of No. 242 Squadron off Cromer, Hurricanes of No. 85 Squadron off Harwich and Spitfires of No. 66 Squadron off Great Yarmouth. Along the South coast Hurricanes of No. 501 Squadron and Spitfires of No. 609 Squadron are scrambled.

1100hrs and the bad weather subsides enabling a large raid, of 50 plus Ju-87's from SG2 and SG77 and Me-110's from ZG76, to attack Portland and a convoy off the coast. Hurricanes of No. 601 Squadron, scrambling from Tangmere and Spitfires of No. 609 Squadron from Warmwell, meet the raiders.

Later that day, 1745hrs, No. 601 Squadron is involved again with Hurricanes of No. 145 Squadron, when a raid, consisting of He-111's of KG55 and Me-110's of ZG76, attack and bomb Portsmouth.

After 2100hrs raids are reported and bombs are dropped in South Wales, Somerset, Bristol, Portland, Dorchester, Plymouth, Hull, Ipswich, Harrogate, Doncaster, Colchester and Harwich areas.

R.A.F. Losses: 8 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 3 pilots killed or missing and 1 wounded.

Luftwaffe Losses: 25 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 28 pilots and aircrew killed or missing and 10 wounded.

NOTE: Losses include non-combat patrols and accidents.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-34 sinks the Norwegian steamer Janna (2197t), a straggler from convoy HX-54, 115 miles west southwest of Cape Clear. All 25 of the crew are rescued.

Britain, Home Front

Lord Beaverbrook, Minister of Aircraft Production, appeals for aluminum pots and pans, 'to build Spitfires'. Vast quantities are collected but the value of the campaign is negligible.

France, Politics

Pres Lebrun resigns and Pétain forms a new government. His first decree shows his new style and pretensions. It begins 'Nous, Philippe Pétain'.

Pétain and His Government

Battle of Britain

Day 3

Weather - Mainly cloudy everywhere with early morning fog in the Channel. Thunderstorms in many areas.

Combat - Between 0600-0900hrs, raids are reported in the Portland area and off East coast. The largest raid, Do-17's from KG2 and He-111's from KG53, approach a convoy leaving Thames Estuary and are met by Hurricanes of No. 17, 85, 151 and 242 Squadrons and Defiants of No. 264 Squadron. Later that morning a raid off Aberdeen is met by Spitfires of No. 603 Squadron.

The afternoon brings small raids along the South Coast. These are met by Hurricanes of No. 501 Squadron off Portland at 1515hrs, Hurricanes of No. 43 Squadron between the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton at 1555hrs and Hurricanes of No. 243 Squadron at around 1640hrs when bombs are dropped on Weymouth, Falmouth and St. Eval. At 1642hrs Spitfires of No. 74 Squadron are scrambled from Hornchurch to intercept an attack off the Essex coast on a trawler.

During the night bombs were dropped on targets in South Wales and Bristol.

R.A.F. Losses: 12 aircraft damaged or destroyed and 5 pilots killed or missing.

Luftwaffe Losses: 11 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 21 pilots and aircrew killed or missing and 6 wounded.

NOTE: Losses include non-combat patrols and accidents.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-99 sinks the Greek steamer Ia (4860t) southwest of Ireland with the loss of 3 crewmen.
• The British steamer Hornchurch (2162t) is sunk by German bombing off Aldeburgh Light Vessel. The entire crew is rescued by the British patrol sloop Widgeon.

Battle of Britain

Day 4

Weather - Early morning fog over Southern England clearing early afternoon.

Combat - Late morning sees two small raids approach the South Coast, at the Isle of Wight and Spithead, which are intercepted by Hurricanes of No. 501 and 43 Squadrons.

At 1420hrs about 50 enemy aircraft are sighted off Portland. Hurricanes of No. 238 Squadron and Spitfires of No. 609 Squadron intercept the raid while guarding a convoy. A further raid is mounted at about 1530hrs, by Ju-87's of St GI with JG51 providing the escorts, as the convoy passes through the Dover Straits and is met by Hurricanes of No. 56 Squadron who subsequently are attacked by Me-109's.

Dover Harbour is attacked at 1730hrs by Ju-87's and Me-109's and are intercepted by Spitfires of No. 54 and 64 Squadrons. Hurricanes of No. 56 Squadron also meet another raid of about 20 aircraft, at 1800hrs 15 miles off Dover.

A Heinkel He-111 of KG-27 Crash Site on the English Southeast Coast

During the night mines are dropped in the Thames Estuary and between Middlesborough and The Wash.

R.A.F. Losses: 8 aircraft damaged or destroyed and 4 pilots killed or missing.

Luftwaffe Losses: 20 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 13 pilots and aircrew killed or missing and 3 wounded.

NOTE: Losses include non-combat patrols and accidents.

East Africa

The Italian forces in Abyssinia move over the border into Kenya to attack the small town of Moyale. After a brief resistance the outnumbered garrison withdraws.

German Raiders

• The German armed merchant cruiser Atlantis sinks the British steamer Kemmendine (7769t) in the Indian Ocean. 57 crewmen and 25 passengers are made prisoners of war.
• The German armed merchant cruiser Widder sinks the British steamer King John in the Central Atlantic 250 miles northeast of Sombrero Channel. 5 crewmen are made prisoners of war.

Battle of Britain

Day 5

Weather - Conditions fair all day throughout the country.

Combat - The Air Ministry decides to allow Fighter Command to attack enemy rescue seaplanes flying under the Red Cross banner due to suspicions that they are also flying reconnaissance missions on British shipping.

Activity during the morning is low with a few raids reported near Poole, Swanage, Dungeness and Lands End. The action increases into the afternoon with an attack over Dover around 1500hrs and a large attack by Ju-87's of IV/LG1 and Me-109's of III Gruppe from JG3 on a convoy off Eastbourne. These are met by Hurricanes of No. 151 and 615 Squadrons and Spitfires from No. 610 Squadron.

During the night, raids are reported over the country from 2200hrs. Bombs are dropped in the Bristol area, North of the Isle of Wight, Kent and Suffolk.

Mines were thought to have been dropped in the Thames Estuary and off Harwich.

R.A.F. Losses: 2 aircraft damaged or destroyed and 1 pilot died following day from injuries.

Luftwaffe Losses: 5 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 4 pilots and aircrew killed or missing and 1 wounded.

NOTE: Losses include non-combat patrols and accidents.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-A sinks the Norwegian steamer Sarita (5824t) 120 miles southwest of St Vincent. The entire crew of 29 is rescued by the British steamer Dunstan on the 18th.
• U-52 sinks the Greek steamer Thetis A (4111t) west southwest of the Scillies with the loss of 9 crewmen.

Diplomatic Relations

General elections are held in the Baltic republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The 3 nations vote unanimously for union with the USSR.

German Raiders

The German armed merchant cruiser Thor sinks the British steamer Gracefield (4631t) in the South Atlantic. The crew are made prisoners of war.

Battle of Britain

Day 6

Weather - Heavy rain and low cloud throughout the British Isles.

Combat - Once again bad weather hampers the German offensive with a few small raids reported during the morning on Brighton, the Cardiff area and off the Norfolk coast.

The afternoon sees raids over Liverpool, Drem in Scotland, St. Athan in Wales, a convoy off the Norfolk coast, the Westland Aircraft factory near Yeovil is bombed by LG1 and railway lines near Avonmouth. 15 Do-17's of KG2 make one of the largest raids of the day over the Thames Estuary at about 1415hrs. This is intercepted by Hurricanes of No. 56 Squadron scrambled from North Weald.

During the night mines were thought to have been dropped in Liverpool Bay and along the East Coast from Norfolk to Newcastle.

R.A.F. Losses: 5 aircraft damaged or destroyed and 1 pilot killed.

Luftwaffe Losses: 8 aircraft damaged or destroyed and 5 pilots and aircrew killed or missing.

NOTE: Losses include non-combat patrols and accidents.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-34 sinks the Greek steamer Evdoxia (2018t) 40 miles southwest of Bull Rock. 1 crewmen was lost. The Greek steamer Naftilos (3531t) is also sunk by U-34 in the same area. The entire crew is rescued.
• The British steamer Belle Rock sinks on a mine. 17 of the crew are lost.
• The British steamer City of Limerick is sunk by German bombing 100 miles west of Ushant with the loss of 2 crewmen. The survivors are rescued by the Belgian trawler Roger Jeannine.

Air Operations, Europe

The RAF raids airfields in northern France.

Air Operations, Middle East

The base at Haifa, Palestine is bombed by an Italian air formation.

Atlantic

The cruiser Glasgow and the destroyer Imogen collide off northwest Scotland. Imogen sinks off the Pentland Firth.

Battle of Britain

Day 7

Weather - Foggy across Southern England and the Channel.

Combat - A quiet day due to the weather conditions. However, a few raids materialize during the afternoon over the coast at Swanage and Cardiff. The most significant action of the day sees Hurricanes of No. 601 Squadron, from Tangmere, attack a raid of Ju-88's off the Isle of Wight at about 1700hrs.

Late afternoon also sees Spitfires of No. 603 Squadron intercept a raid off the Scottish coast, as Peterhead and Fraserburgh are bombed.

During the night several raids are plotted and are thought to be mine laying operations.

R.A.F. Losses: No losses.

Luftwaffe Losses: 6 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 5 pilots and aircrew killed or missing and 2 wounded.

NOTE: Losses include non-combat patrols and accidents.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-61 badly damages the British tanker Scottish Minstrel (6998t) from convoy HX-55 130 miles northwest of Bloody Foreland with the loss of 9 of her crew. The tanker sinks the next day with 33 of her crew being rescued by the British corvette Gardenia.

German Raiders

The German armed merchant cruiser Thor sinks the British steamer Wendover (5847t) in the South Atlantic with the loss of 4 of her crew. 37 of her crew are made prisoners of war.

Germany, Planning

Hitler issues his Directive 16. It begins, 'I have decided to begin to prepare for, and if necessary to carry out, an invasion of England'. It goes on to explain the importance of the air battles for the achievement of this aim. Some commentators think that the tentative phrasing of the Directive indicates uncertainty in Hitler's mind over the desirability of the operation. This is the official beginning for the preparation of Operation SEALION. It is certainly true that it could have been issued sooner after the end of the Battle of France. At this stage in the planning the German army's views are dominant. They wish the Channel crossing to take place on a wide front from Ramsgate to Lyme Bay, basicly all along the south coast of Britain. They envisage that the force to be employed will be at least 25 divisions and perhaps 40 divisions. The operation will not be launched unless the Luftwaffe has complete air superiority over the English Channel. This is not a very realistic plan.

Battle of Britain

Day 8

Weather - Dull and overcast with occasional rain throughout the country.

Combat - Again, poor weather keeps the action to a minimum. A raid is carried out on the I.C.I. Factory at Ardeer in Ayrshire by He-111's of KG26, which are attacked by Spitfires of No. 603 Squadron. Small raids cross the coast during the afternoon, two of which sees Hurricanes of No. 64 Squadron deal with a Do-17 that dropped bombs near Kenley and Spitfires of No. 92 Squadron attack a Ju-88 over Bristol.

The night brings bombing raids in the Southwest on Port Talbot, near Swansea and Radstock with mines being dropped in the Bristol Channel and along the Plymouth coast. Raids are also plotted in the East with bombs dropping near Rochester, Felixstowe, Harwich, Chatham, near Barking and Gillingham.

R.A.F. Losses: 2 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 1 pilot killed or missing and 1 wounded.

Luftwaffe Losses: 6 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 11 pilots and aircrew killed or missing and 3 wounded.

NOTE: Losses include non-combat patrols and accidents.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-57 sinks the British steamer Manipur (8652t) from convoy HX-55A 8 miles northwest of Cape Wrath with the loss of 14 crewmen. The Canadian destroyer Skeena rescues 64 survivors.
• U-43 sinks the British steamer Fellside (3509t), a straggler from convoy OA-184 135 miles northwest of Bloody Foreland with the loss of 12 crewmen. 21 survivors are rescued and landed at Liverpool.
• U-57 sinks the Swedish steamer O A Brodin (1960t) 15 miles northwest of the Orkneys with the loss of 3 crewmen. The British minesweeping trawler Sicyon picks up 21 survivors.
• The British mooring vessel Steady (758t) sinks on a mine at Newhaven. There are 13 survivors.
• The Estonian steamer Leola is sunk by German bombing 60 miles east of the Scillies with the loss of 2 of her crew. Survivors are rescued by the Belgian trawler Roger Jeannine.

Air Operations, Europe

The Germans attack shipping off southern England. The RAF make daylight raids on invasion barges at Rotterdam and the airfield at St Omer. 3 aircraft are lost. During the night RAF Bomber Command raids the Krupp armament works at Essen, targets at Bremen and the Hamm marshalling yards. 1 aircraft is lost. Coastal Command bomb the naval base at Emden.

Battle of Britain

Day 9

Weather - Occasional rain in South of England. Cloudy over Channel.

Combat - Yet again, unfavorable weather limits the Luftwaffe with their operations. A few raids are plotted during the morning, one between Portland Bill and Bournemouth, a small attack on Montrose airfield by He-111's at about 1000hrs and a Staffel of Me-109's appear near Dover, just after 0900hrs, which attack Spitfires of No. 610 Squadron, from Biggin Hill, that are patrolling a convoy.

The afternoon and early evening sees increased action with Hurricanes of No. 145 Squadron shooting down a He-111, south of Bognor Regis, Spitfires of No. 603 Squadron intercepts two raids by Ju-88's off Peterhead at 1600hrs and Aberdeen at around 1630hrs. Spitfires of No. 609 Squadron are involved in action off the Isle of Wight.

An offensive is launched by the RAF, at about 2100hrs, against Boulogne due to reports of invasion activity and build-up. Hurricanes of No. 111 and 615 Squadrons escort Blenheims from Bomber Command on the raid.

The night proves to be quiet with no reports of bombing but suspect mines being dropped along the east coast from Newcastle to the Humber and off the Lancashire coast.

R.A.F. Losses: 12 aircraft damaged or destroyed and 8 pilots and aircrew (inc. Blenheims) killed or missing.

Luftwaffe Losses: 9 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 17 pilots and aircrew killed or missing and 5 wounded.

NOTE: Losses include non-combat patrols and accidents.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British submarine H-31 attacks 3 trawlers and sinks the German anti-submarine trawler UJ-126 (trawler Steiermark (446t)) northwest of Terscheling.
• U-58 sinks the Norwegian steamer Gyda (1591t) northwest of Ireland with the loss of 11 crewmen. 9 survivors are rescued by the Belgian steamer Ville d'Arlon.
• U-99 sinks the British steamer Woodbury (4434t) 300 miles west of Land's End. All 35 of her crew survive.

Battle of Britain

Day 10

Weather - Occasional bright intervals in-between rain, over most of Great Britain. Conditions fair in the Channel.

Combat - Improved weather conditions also increases enemy activity. Early morning sees Hurricanes of No. 145 Squadron, from Tangmere, shoot down a Do-17, which has penetrated inland to Croydon and Northolt and at about 1000hrs Do-17's dropped bombs on Glasgow.

The afternoon brings some major engagements, which sees Fighter Command suffer its heaviest losses so far, most notably Defiants of No. 141 Squadron. At about 1215hrs a raid is plotted building up in the Calais area and No. 141 Squadron is scrambled to patrol south of Dover and Folkestone. Without warning, Me-109's of JG2 attack and make hits on 7 of the Defiants. As news reaches Hawkinge, Hurricanes of No. 111 Squadron are scrambled at great speed to assist and a large dogfight ensues.

Slightly later at around 1530hrs Hurricanes of No. 32 Squadron intercept a raid on Dover by Ju-87's and are themselves attacked by Me-109's while a Spitfire of No. 64 Squadron shoots down a Heinkel trying to drop mines in the Thames Estuary. Between 1700hrs and 1800hrs, Hurricanes of No. 145 Squadron are again in action against a He-111 off Shoreham along with those of No. 43 Squadron (also from Tangmere) involved in a dogfight with Me-109's off Selsey Bill and a lone Hurricane of No. 87 Squadron attacks Ju-87's bombing the naval base at Portland.

During the night bombs are dropped on Manston airfield, along the coast between Plymouth and the Isle of Wight and near Kilmarnock. Many other raids are plotted around the British coastline, most of which probably drop mines.

R.A.F. Losses: 13 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 11 pilots and aircrew killed or missing and 5 wounded.

Luftwaffe Losses: 6 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 12 pilots and aircrew killed or missing and 2 wounded.

NOTE: Losses include non-combat patrols and accidents.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-62 sinks the British steamer Pearlmoor (4681t) 62 miles west of Malin Head with the loss of 13 of her crew. 26 survivors make it to Gola Island, County Donegal.

Britain, Home Front

Gen Brooke is appointed to be Commander-in-Chief, Home Forces replacing Gen Ironside. This is purely an army position and does not give authority over the other services as the title might suggest. Brooke is more of a success in the job than Ironside and produces more realistic plans for dealing with invasion. Ironside is promoted to Field Marshal.

Diplomatic Relations

• In a speech to the Reichstag Hitler issues what he describes as a 'final appeal to common sense', urging that Britain make peace. Among other things he declares: 'If the struggle continues it can only end in annihilation for one of us. Mr. Churchill thinks it will be Germany. I know it will be Britain. I am not the vanquished begging for mercy. I speak as a victor. I can see no reason why this war must go on. We should like to avert the sacrifices which must claim millions. It is possible that Mr. Churchill will once again brush aside this statement of mine by saying that it is merely born of fear and doubt of victory. In that case I shall relieve my conscience of the things to come.'
• Denmark withdraws from the League of Nations.

Air Operations, Europe

Göring orders the creation of the first specialized night-fighter wing - Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (NJG-1) - under the command of Col Josef Kammhuber. An Me-110 night-fighter achieves the first kill, a Whitley, over northwest Germany.

Battle of Britain

Day 11

Weather - Scattered thunderstorms around the country. Bright intervals during afternoon in southern England with early cloud over the Channel clearing.

Combat - Action starts early for Hurricanes of No. 56 Squadron, scrambles from North Weald, at about 0545hrs to intercept Ju-88's. Although raids are plotted during the morning, from the south coast to Scotland, no more contact is made by RAF fighters until around 1130hrs when Spitfires of No. 603 Squadron attack and shoot down a Do-17 off Peterhead.

Early afternoon sees Hurricanes of No. 238 Squadron intercept Me-109's and a seaplane over Convoy 'Bosom' in Lyme Bay. Hurricanes of No. 43 and 601 Squadrons attack enemy aircraft near the Isle of Wight as the convoy heads east. Later at about 1630hrs Hurricanes of No. 501 Squadron scrambles to meet a raid of Ju-87's and Me-109's heading towards Portland Bill. During the dogfight, Sgt. J.H. 'Ginger' Lacey (highest scoring RAF pilot of the Battle of Britain), with already 5 victories in France, makes his '1st battle kill' by shooting down an Me-109.

At about 1800hrs a large raid, consisting of Ju-87's with Me-109 and Me-110 escorts, approach the Kent coast. Hurricanes of No. 32 and 615 Squadrons along with Spitfires of No. 610 Squadron intercept and a large dogfight follows.

During the night extensive mine dropping is reported from Lands End to Isle of Wight, Bristol channel, Norfolk and Suffolk coastline, the Humber and Tees. Main attention is given to Harwich and the Thames Estuary. Bombs are dropped on Eastchurch, Hartlepool, Rochford, Swansea, near Wells and Chatham.

R.A.F. Losses: 9 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 9 pilots and aircrew killed or missing and 1 wounded.

Luftwaffe Losses: 22 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 26 pilots and aircrew killed or missing and 8 wounded.

NOTE: Losses include non-combat patrols and accidents.

Baltic States

Following resolutions of the Communist-dominated parliaments in each of the Baltic states, the Soviet Union formally annexes all 3 states and they become autonomous republics of the USSR.

Battle of Britain

Day 12

Weather - Fine during early morning. Cloudy late morning and afternoon, but clearing later with the chance of thunderstorms.

Combat - This Sunday is quiet with only a few reconnaissance raids reported early on. About 1030hrs, Hurricanes of No. 238 Squadron intercept and shoot down a Me-110 near Goodwood. The same Red Section of Hurricanes also shoot down a Do-17 over Dorset at about 1430hrs. At the same time, Hurricanes of No. 43 Squadron, along with another section of No. 238 Squadron, are in action against a large raid on a convoy south of the Isle of Wight by Do-17's of KG3 with Me-109 and Me-110 escorts. Me-110's from LG1 are used as fighter-bombers for the first time.

Later in the afternoon, the weather closes in as storms develop across the south of England. Enemy activity subsides until during the night when raids dropping mines are reported in the Plymouth area and the Thames Estuary. Bombs are dropped near Derby, Tyneside and Driffield.

R.A.F. Losses: 4 aircraft damaged or destroyed with 1 pilot killed.

Luftwaffe Losses: 14 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 18 pilots and aircrew killed or missing and 6 wounded.

NOTE: Losses include non-combat patrols and accidents.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-30 sinks the British steamer Ellaroy (712t) 180 miles west of Cape Finisterre. The 16 crewmen are rescued by the Spanish trawler Feliz Montenegro.
• The British steamer Terlings (2318t) is sunk by German bombing 10 miles southwest of St Catherine's Point with the loss of 10 of her crew. The British destroyer Scimitar rescues 18 of the crew.

Diplomatic Relations

Rumania cedes the southern Dobrudja area to Bulgaria.

Air Operations, Europe

The first 'kill' by an RAF night-fighter equipped with AI, Airborne Interception, radar is reported. A Do-17 is shot down south of Brighton by a Blenheim.

Bristol Blenheim Mk IF Fighters

Britain, Planning

The British War Cabinet sets up the Special Operations Executive (SOE) for secret sabotage and intelligence missions in Europe.

Battle of Britain

Day 13

Weather - Fair in the Dover Straits and cloudy in the Channel. Bright intervals with showers in the South East.

Combat - Activity by the enemy is greatly reduced and for once, not by the weather. A few small reconnaissance raids are plotted during the morning with no interceptions or combat made. The first, and only, action of the day comes at about 1300hrs when Hurricanes of No. 145 Squadron shoot down a Do-17 off Selsey Bill.

During the night, however, the number of raids significantly increase with mines being dropped on British ports along the south and east coasts and the Thames Estuary. Bombs are dropped on South Essex, Norfolk, near Manston, Kidderminster, Welshpool, Brough, Edinburgh, near Drem and South Wales. At about 2345 hours, a Do-17 is shot down near Selsey Bill.

R.A.F. Losses: 6 aircraft damaged or destroyed (5 of which were non-combat) and 1 pilot killed.

Luftwaffe Losses: 5 aircraft damaged or destroyed and 7 pilots and aircrew killed or missing.

NOTE: Losses include non-combat patrols and accidents.

Allied War Production

The British Purchasing Mission in the United States reaches agreement that it will be allowed to buy up 40% of the United States' production of aircraft.

Battle of Britain

Day 14

Weather - Light cloud and haze in the Channel with occasional rain across the country.

Combat - Enemy activity once again is kept to a minimum. Occasional plots are made of raids but very few cross the coastlines of Great Britain. Most are probable reconnaissance looking for convoys. The only action during the morning sees a Hurricane of No. 242 Squadron shoot down a Ju-88 off Great Yarmouth. Late morning sees two raids made near Kenley where bombs are dropped and trawlers are attacked off North Foreland. Neither is successfully intercepted.

The afternoon is also quiet with Spitfires of No. 603 Squadron shooting down a Do-17 well off the coast of Aberdeen and two raids are plotted; one over East Anglia and the other off North Scotland with the enemy successfully evading the fighters.

During the night several raids are reported along most British coastlines, most likely dropping mines. The only reported bombs dropped are near Hartlepool.

R.A.F. Losses: 4 aircraft damaged or destroyed (none due to combat) with 1 pilot wounded.

Luftwaffe Losses: 7 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 14 pilots and aircrew killed or missing and 3 wounded.

NOTE: Losses include non-combat patrols and accidents.

Britain, Home Front

The Local Defense Volunteers is renamed the Home Guard. Recruiting is officially terminated since 1,300,000 men have volunteered since 14 May. The Third War Budget is in place: income tax is raised to 8s 6d in the pound, 1d on a pint of beer. The New Purchase Tax is retitled Merchant Sales Tax which is dropped later.

Air Operations, Mediterranean

Italian planes bomb Jerusalem. 46 people are killed.

Mediterranean

The Italian steamer Celio (3872t) hits a mine and sinks east of Tolmeita, Cyrenaica. This is in a minefield laid by the British submarine Rorqual on 21 July.

Battle of Britain

Day 15

Weather - Cloudy over the Channel. Fog in western areas spreading east. Rain expected in most areas.

Combat - The morning sees little action. At about 0630hrs a raid bombs an area of Glasgow and one hour later Spitfires of No. 92 Squadron shoot down a Ju-88 over the southwest of England. The largest raid materializes just before midday when Do-17's, escorted by Me-109's commanded by Adolf Galland, approach Dover and is met by Spitfires of No. 54 (Rochford), 65 (Manston) and 610 (Biggin Hill) Squadrons. A long dogfight follows which covers Kent from Dover up to Margate.

Late afternoon and early evening has very little action apart from a few intrusions over the coast at Dover and Hastings with Spitfires of No. 66 and 74 Squadrons scrambling without interception.

During the night there are no reported raids.

Spitfire Mark Is in 'VIC' Formation

R.A.F. Losses: 6 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 4 pilots killed or missing and 1 wounded.

Luftwaffe Losses: 14 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 21 pilots and aircrew killed or missing and 4 wounded.

NOTE: Losses include non-combat patrols and accidents.

Air Operations, Europe

Aircraft from Kesselring's Luftflotte 2 attack convoy CW-8 in the Dover Straits very fiercely. They have help from German light naval forces. These are driven off during the day but return to do damage during the night. The British lose 11 of 21 ships in the convoy. 5 others are damaged along with destroyers Boreas and Brilliant.

Air Operations, Mediterranean

Italian bombers hit the naval base at Alexandria and the base at Haifa in Palestine.

Battle of Britain

Day 16

Weather - Mist in the Straits of Dover. Settled and fine over British Isles.

Combat - Luftwaffe attacks along the South and East coasts increase with small raids during the morning on shipping near Portland and Portsmouth where Spitfires of No. 152 Squadron intercept Ju-87's and Do-17's and were themselves attacked by Me-109's. It isn't until just after noon that the first big raid approaches Dover with Me-109's flying low to avoid radar. Large dogfights break out involving the raiders and Spitfires of No. 65 Squadron are the first into combat with Hurricanes of No. 32 and 615 Squadrons arriving as another large wave of over 40 Me-109's attack. Soon after another raid, by more than 60 Ju-87's of SG3, approach and Spitfires of No. 54 Squadron are scrambled from Hornchurch to intercept.

A Dornier Do-17Z Refuels

At about 1430hrs 30 Ju-88's of KG4, escorted by over 50 Me-109's, are spotted by Spitfires of No. 64 Squadron from Kenley and attack while Hurricanes of No. 111 Squadron scramble to assist. Also Ju-88's have approached the Isle of Wight and Poole to attack shipping. Later in the afternoon another large raid attacks ships off Folkestone and Dover and Hurricanes of No. 56 Squadron attack the Ju-87's while Spitfires of No. 54 and 64 Squadrons engage the Me-109 escorts.

1830hrs sees another raid approach the southeast coast and is met by Spitfires of No. 610 Squadron scrambles from Biggin Hill. Smaller raids are made along this coastline up until about 2000hrs.

It becomes apparent that heavier escorts of Me-109's and more bombing raids are to encourage Fighter Command to commit more fighters, hence the decision to limit the use of Spitfires and Hurricanes to preserve the already depleting resources.

No bombing is reported during the night but mines are dropped off the Scottish, Northeast and East Anglia coastlines.

R.A.F. Losses: 11 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 5 pilots killed or missing and 1 wounded.

Luftwaffe Losses: 21 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 22 pilots and aircrew killed or missing and 5 wounded.

NOTE: Losses include non-combat patrols and accidents.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The Finnish steamer Ester Thorden (1940t) is taken as a prize by the German heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper on a sweep of the Barents Sea.
• The British steamers Corhaven (991t), Polgrange (804t) and Leo (1140t) are sunk by German bombing all off Dover. The British steamer Henry Moon (1091t) is also sunk by German bombing off Folkstone and the Port Slade (1091t) off Dungeness. The entire crew of the Corhaven is rescued. 2 are lost from the Polgrange. 6 are lost from the Leo, 1 from the Henry Moon and the entire crew of the Port Slade is rescued.

Air Operations, Europe

The RAF raid the Dortmund power stations.

Battle of Britain

Day 17

Weather - Heavy rain and cloud over all areas.

Combat - Due to the poor weather, enemy activity is greatly reduced with small raids along the coastline and on shipping. One raider crosses Beachy Head at about 0600hrs and drops bombs near Hastings without interception. At around 0930hrs Me-109's, off the Isle of Wight, attack a Spitfire of No. 601 Squadron. Later in the morning, after 1100hrs, a raid approaches Portland which is met by Hurricanes of No. 238 Squadron and Spitfires of No. 65 Squadron attack a small raid off the coast of Kent.

The afternoon proves quiet with a large raid, approaching the Isle of Wight, being intercepted and broken up by Spitfires of No. 65 Squadron. Later at about 1700hrs, Spitfires of No. 92 Squadron engage a small raid of Ju-88's off the Pembroke coast.

During the night, a Hurricane of No. 87 Squadron shoots down a Do-17 near Portishead Point after sighting the raider over the Bristol Channel. Other raids are plotted with bombs dropping on Essex, Kent, near Bristol, Frazerburgh and Dyce airfield. Mines are dropped off Aberdeen, Deal, Harwich and the Thames Estuary.

R.A.F. Losses: 8 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 3 pilots killed or missing and 1 wounded.

Luftwaffe Losses: 8 aircraft damaged or destroyed with 6 pilots and aircrew killed or missing.

NOTE: Losses include non-combat patrols and accidents.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-34 sinks the British steamers Accra (9337t) and Vinemoor (4359t) 320 miles west of Bloody Foreland. Accra was carrying 499 passengers and crew. 12 passengers and 12 crewmen are lost. Survivors and the entire crew from Vinemoor are picked up by British sloop Enchantress, the corvette Clarkia, the steamer Hollinside and the Norwegian steamer Loke.
• The British steamer Haytor (1189t) sinks on a mine with the loss of 1 crewman.
• The Norwegian steamer Balzac (963t) sinks on a mine about a mile from the Roker Pier Light, Sunderland, with the loss of 6 crewmen.
• The German steamer Montan (1275t) sinks on an aerial mine off the Ems River moutn.

Air Operations, Europe

Kesselring sends 50 Stukas to attack Convoy 'Bacon' in the English Channel. The destroyer Codington is sunk off Dover and the destroyer Wren off Aldeburgh, Suffolk. 1 other destroyer is damaged.

Battle of Britain

Day 18

Weather - Fair in Dover Straits, cloudy in Channel. Rain over most of country.

Combat - Just after 0800hrs a raid of Ju-87's and Me-109's approach Portland and Swanage and is met by Hurricanes of No. 145 and 238 Squadrons. At about 0930hrs, a convoy is bombed off Lowestoft. Another raid on Swanage at about 0945hrs is met by Spitfires of No. 609 Sqaudron and Hurricanes of No. 145 Sqaudron. Later, Spitfires of No. 234 Squadron engage Ju-88's off Lands End.

An Me-109E-1

Into the afternoon and Dover is bombed at about 1430hrs by Me-109's. This is the first time during the battle a fighter has been used to bomb a target. Another small raid attacks ships off Dungeness at 1600hrs. Neither of these raids is intercepted. Between 1700hrs and 1830hrs two small raids are intercepted, with success, off Dover; one by Spitfires of No. 41 Squadron and the other by Hurricanes of No. 615 Squadron. A third raid succeeds in bombing a Navy destroyer, which sinks, off the Suffolk coast at Aldeburgh.

During the night no bombing raids are reported, but raids are plotted around the British coastline, probably mine-laying.

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

Luftwaffe Losses: 8 aircraft damaged or destroyed and 15 pilots and aircrew killed or missing.

NOTE: Losses include non-combat patrols and accidents.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British destroyer Wren, escorting minesweeping trawlers, is sunk off Aldeburgh by German bombing. 35 of her crew are lost. Survivors are picked up by the British destroyer Montrose, badly damaged in the attack, and the minesweeper Halcyon.
• U-34 sinks the British steamers Sambre (5260t) and Thiara (10,364t) south southwest of Rockall. The British destroyer Winchelsea rescues the entire crew from Sambre but 25 crewmen from Thiara are lost.
• The British tanker Sylvestria (11,938t) sinks on a mine about 3 miles from Inchkeith Light House. 10 of her crew are lost.

Atlantic

• There is an engagement in the South Atlantic between the German auxiliary cruiser Thor and the similar but less well-armed British merchant cruiser Alcantara. Thor is only lightly hit but Alcantara is forced to break off and head for Rio. Only proper British cruisers are adequate to catch and fight such useful German vessels.

  The British Armed Merchant Cruiser Alcantara (F-88)

• 3 Italian submarines begin operations in the Azores-Madeira area sinking 2 ships.

Battle of Britain

Day 19

Weather - Fine conditions early and through the morning with cloud arriving later.

Combat - A quiet Sunday morning sees a few plotted raids off Montrose, Plymouth, Cromer and towards Swanage and Bournemouth. All fail to reach their targets and the various Squadron scrambles make no contact.

Just before 1400hrs a large raid of about 100 aircraft approaches Dover. Spitfires of No. 41 and 74 Squadrons are scrambled to engage the Me-109's along with Hurricanes of No. 111 Squadron to attack the bombers. The 12 Spitfires of No. 74 Squadron are led by the famous South African pilot, Fl-Lt Adolph 'Sailor' Malan (became CO of Squadron in August) who on this day claims 2 Me-109's, one being flown by the equally famous, high scoring ace, Major Werner Molders. The German commander is wounded and crash-lands in France.

Several raids are plotted during the remainder of the afternoon and early evening, but none reach their targets with most turning back upon the approach of R.A.F. fighters. The only combat reported is a Hurricane of No. 257 Squadron being shot down near Maidstone by a Me-109 at about 1830hrs.

During the night bombs are dropped on Perth, Newcastle, near Edinburgh, areas in Essex, Tyne and Wear, Thames Estuary, Crewe, Alnwick, Hungerford, Staplehurst, Sealand, near Gatwick airfield, Edenbridge, near Sittingbourne, Seaford, near Neath, Brixham, Shaftsbury, near Lydd, Lichfield, near Derby, Salford and South Wales.

R.A.F. Losses: 6 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 1 pilot killed and 4 wounded.

Luftwaffe Losses: 16 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 11 pilots and aircrew killed or missing and 17 wounded.

NOTE: Losses include non-combat patrols and accidents.

Air Operations, Europe

Another destroyer, the Delight, is sunk off Portland by German aircraft and the whole eastern half of the Channel is placed out of bounds for RN destroyers in daylight. Mine sweeping operations continue, however, ensuring that access can be gained if necessary. The British Air Ministry announces that German air-sea rescue machines, ususally Heinkel seaplanes, behaving suspiciously will be shot down despite their Red Cross markings. 4 have already been shot down. The day's losses: 11 German, 3 British. In the past 5 days the RAF has lost 18 planes and the Germans 52.

Battle of Britain

Day 20

Weather - Conditions fair over country with slight haze in the Channel.

Combat - The good weather sees early action around 0730hrs with a large raid of over 100 aircraft, mainly Ju-87's and Me-109's, attack Dover. This is met by Spitfires of No. 41 and 64 Squadrons along with Hurricanes of No. 56 and 501 Squadrons and a large dogfight breaks out over the Dover Straits and Kent.

An Me-109E of Stab I.JG51

Throughout the afternoon many raids are made against the South and Southeast coastlines. At about 1300hrs Spitfires of No. 610 Squadron intercept a Do-17 off Dungeness. Just after 1400hrs Hurricanes of No. 145 Squadron attack a Ju-88 off the coast from Portsmouth and Worthing. Between 1500hrs and 1545hrs two raids are intercepted. The first by Hurricanes of No. 85 Squadron who attack a Do-17 off Harwich and the second by Spitfires of No. 66 Squadron along with Hurricanes of No. 17 Squadron intercepting He-111's over the Thames Estuary.

Later, at about 1730hrs, Hurricanes of No. 151 Squadron engage over 30 Me-110's over the Thames Estuary and North Foreland as the raiders approach a convoy.

During the night, mines are dropped off Harwich, Dover and in the Thames Estuary. Bombs are dropped in Wales and near Norwich. A Ju-88 crashes near Bury St. Edmunds.

R.A.F. Losses: 11 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 3 pilots killed and 1 wounded.

Luftwaffe Losses: 17 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 39 pilots and aircrew killed or missing and 2 wounded.

NOTE: Losses include non-combat patrols and accidents.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British destroyer Delight is sunk by German bombing off Portland. 18 of her crew die from the attack.
• U-99 sinks the British steamer Clan Menzies (7336t) about 150 miles west of Loop Head, County Clare with the loss of 6 crewmen. 88 survivors are landed in Ireland.
• The British steamer Gronland (1264t), which had been damaged in an air attack on the 25th, is sunk by German bombing in outer Dover Harbor. 19 crewmen are killed.
• The British steamer Ousebridge (5602t) sinks on a mine in Queen's Channel, Liverpool with the loss of 2 of her crew.
• The British steamer Moidart (1262t) sinks on a mine with the loss of 11 crewmen.

Battle of Britain

Day 21

Weather - Unsettled over the country with low cloud and rain.

Combat - The poor weather once again keeps raids by the Luftwaffe to a minimum. There are, however, a few engagements for Fighter Command with the first involving Spitfires of No. 603 Squadron attacking a small raid of He111's off Montrose with success just after midday. Later, at about 1530hrs Hurricanes of No. 85 Squadron intercept Me-110's off the Suffolk coast near Southwold.

A small raid appears over Surrey during early evening with bombs being dropped on several areas near Esher, Chessington and Tolworth. Also, the same raiders attack a balloon barrage.

The night-time activities also prove very quiet with raids plotted over Plymouth, Dorset, Devon, The Midlands and South Wales. During one of these raids, near Bristol, anti-aircraft fire claims a He-111 bomber.

Battle of Britain

Day 22

Weather - Warm and fair conditions over the country with mist in the Channel.

Combat - Improved weather brings early raids. Hurricanes of No. 111 Squadron intercept one such raid, of Ju-88's, off Dungeness at about 0700hrs. There are no more combat and raids until the afternoon. One particularly large raid, consisting of Me-110's and Me-109's, approach Dover at about 1600hrs and Spitfires of No. 64 and 74 Squadrons along with Hurricanes of No. 501 Squadron are scrambled to intercept.

Not until during the night do raids increase, with bombs dropping on areas near Swansea and South Wales, the Hornchurch, Gravesend and Shoeburyness areas of Kent; Southend and Brentwood areas of Essex; Ipswich, Wattisham, and Martlesham areas of Suffolk and Croydon. In attacks on convoys during July, 18 small steamers and 4 destroyers have been sunk.

R.A.F. Losses: 6 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 2 pilots killed and 1 wounded.

Luftwaffe Losses: 7 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 7 pilots and aircrew killed or missing and 6 wounded.

NOTE: Losses include non-combat patrols and accidents.

A Short Sunderland

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-99 sinks the British steamer Jamaica Progress (5475t) and Jersey City (6322t) 40 miles southwest of Barra Head. 7 are lost on the Jamaica Progress with 30 survivors being picked up by the British trawler Newland. 2 cremen are lost on the Jersey City with 43 survivors being picked up by the British steamer Gloucester City.
• The Norwegian steamer Stalheim (1298t) sinks on a mine a half mile west southwest of South Pier, Port Talbot, with the loss of 5 crewmen.

British War Production

Fighter output for July is found to be 50% above the target figures. Since 1 May 1200 have been produced. This is more than have been made in Germany and the RAF is therefore closing the Luftwaffe's advantage.

German Raiders

The German armed merchant cruiser Pinguin sinks the British steamer Domingo de Larringa (5358t) in the South Atlantic. 8 of the crew are lost and 30 are made prisoners of war.

Germany, Planning

Hitler calls a meeting of the top officers of the navy to discuss the situation. Adm Raeder, the Commander-in-Chief, gives a detailed exposition of the difficulties of crossing the Channel with the means at present available to him. In his judgment it would be expedient to postpone Operation SEALION from 13 September to a date between 19 and 26 September to take advantage of favorable tides, and above all to limit the operations to the Straits of Dover. Finally, he comes back to the idea he has often expressed before, that the operation should be postponed until next spring.