The Battle of Britain began. In its opening phase the Luftwaffe attacked coastal targets and shipping convoys in the English Channel with the goal of reducing Britain’s air defences and naval supply lines ahead of a general air offensive.
Battle of Britain: The Luftwaffe has mounted a series of attacks on shipping convoys (“Kanalkampf”) off the southeast coast of England. This was the first major assault by the Luftwaffe and is considered the beginning of the “Battle of Britain”.
Today is considered by the British to be the first day of the Battle of Britain. This is despite the fact that there have been growing Luftwaffe attacks since mid-June, and that the “official” Luftwaffe operation did not begin until 13 August. The intensity of the Luftwaffe raids definitely do pick up today, with more mass attacks as opposed to scattered penetrations by small groups of bombers at individual targets.
Up to now, losses of aircraft have been fairly even. On many days, the Luftwaffe has shot down more planes than it lost. However, the scales begin to tip against it now with its new aggressive tactics. This is a day of massive dogfights with the sky full of planes.
Weather: Heavy cloud at 9/10ths covered most of Britain. Rain was widespread over most of the west, the midlands and the north. Showers were prevalent over the south and the south-east and over the Channel.
Royal Air Force Fighter Command
Order of Battle — July 10th, 1940 [battleofbritain1940 web site]
11 Group
SECTOR
— SQN — AIRCRAFT — BASED AT — COMMANDER
Biggin Hill
— 32 — Hurricane — Biggin Hill — S/L John Worrall
— 141 — Defiant — Biggin Hill — S/L William Richardson
— 610 — Spitfire — Gravesend — S/L A.T.Smith
— 600 — Blenheim — Manston — S/L David Clark
North Weald
— 56 — Hurricane — North Weald — S/L Minnie Manton
— 151 — Hurricane — North Weald — S/L Teddy Donaldson
— 85 — Hurricane — Martlesham — S/L Peter Townsend
— 25 — Blenheim — Martlesham — S/L K.A.McEwan
Kenley
— 64 — Spitfire — Kenley — S/L N.C.Odbert
— 615 — Hurricane — Kenley — S/L Joseph Kayll
— 111 — Hurricane — Croydon — S/L John Thompson
— 501 — Hurricane — Croydon — S/L Harry Hogan
Hornchurch
— 65 — Spitfire — Hornchurch — S/L Henry Sawyer
— 74 — Spitfire — Hornchurch — S/L Francis White
— 54 — Spitfire — Rochford — S/L James Leathart
Tangmere
— 43 — Hurricane — Tangmere — S/L John Badger
— 145 — Hurricane — Tangmere — S/L John Peel
— 601 — Hurricane — Tangmere — S/L Max Aitken
Debden
— 17 — Hurricane — Debden — S/L R.I.G.McDougal
Northolt
— 1 — Hurricane — Northolt — S/L David Pemberton
— 604 — Blenheim — Northolt — S/L Michael Anderson
— 257 — Hurricane — Hendon — S/L H.Harkness
10 Group (Originally formed part of 11 Group until 21st July)
SECTOR
— SQN — AIRCRAFT — BASED AT — COMMANDER
Filton
— 92 — Spitfire — Pembury — S/L F.J.Saunders
— 87 — Hurricane — Exeter — S/L John Dewar
— 213 — Hurricane — Exeter — S/L H.D.McGregor
— 234 — Spitfire — St Eval — S/L R.E.Barnett
Middle Wallop
— 609 — Spitfire — Middle Wallop — S/L Horace Darley
— 238 — Hurricane — Middle Wallop — S/L Harold Fenton
12 Group
SECTOR
— SQN — AIRCRAFT — BASED AT — COMMANDER
Duxford
— 264 — Defiant — Duxford — S/L Philip Hunter
— 19 — Spitfire — Fowlmere — S/L Philip Pinkham
Coltishall
— 66 — Spitfire — Coltishall — S/L Rupert Leigh
— 242 — Hurricane — Coltishall — S/L Douglas Bader
Kirton-in-Lindsay
— 222 — Spitfire — Kirton — S/L H.W.Mermagen
Digby
— 46 — Hurricane — Digby — F/L A.D.Murray
— 611 — Spitfire — Digby — S/L J McComb
— 29 — Blenheim — Digby — F/L J.S Adams
Wittering
— 229 — Hurricane — Wittering — S/L H.J.McQuire
— 266 — Spitfire — Wittering — S/L R.L.Wilkinson
— 23 — Blenheim — Collyweston — S/L L.C.Bicknell
Church Fenton
— 73 — Hurricane — Church Fenton — S/L J.W.C.More
— 616 — Spitfire — Church Fenton — S/L M.Robinson
— 249 — Hurricane — Leconfield — S/L John Grandy
13 Group
SECTOR
— SQN — AIRCRAFT — BASED AT — COMMANDER
Catterick
— 41 — Spitfire — Catterick — S/L H.West
— 219 — Blenheim — Catterick — S/L J.H.Little
Usworth
— 607 — Hurricane — Usworth — S/L J.Vick
— 72 — Spitfire — Acklington — S/L Ronald Lees
— 152 — Spitfire — Acklington — S/L Peter Devitt
Turnhouse
— 79 — Hurricane — Turnhouse — S/L Hervey Heyworth
— 253 — Hurricane — Turnhouse — S/L Tom Gleave
— 245 — Hurricane — Turnhouse — S/L E.W.Whitley
— 603 — Spitfire — Turnhouse — S/L G.Denholm
— 602 — Spitfire — Drem — S/L Sandy Johnstone
— 605 * — Hurricane — Drem — S/L W.Churchill
Dyce
— 263 — Hurricane — Grangemouth — S/L H.Eeles
Wick
— 3 — Hurricane — Wick — S/L S.F.Godden
— 504 — Hurricane — Castletown — S/L John Sample
- This was a non-operational squadron
The heavy clouds of the dawn along with the driving rain made most of the pilots turn over and take advantage of a ‘lie-in’. In these conditions, the Germans made the most of the cloud cover and made photographic reconnaissance flights over possible and probable targets, but the Dornier 17s that usually made these flights often suffered heavy losses. But being as no ‘scramble’ calls were made during the early hours of this day by Fighter Command it was believed that the German Luftwaffe enjoyed the freedom of the skies although most kept out over the sea but keeping the distant English coastline in sight.
0730 hours (7.30 AM): 66 Squadron (Spitfires, Coltishall) got a ‘scramble’ call and one section took off into the driving rain after the Chain Home radar station at West Beckham had picked up a blip on the radar. (RAF aircraft carried a sensor unit attached underneath the fuselage which would show up on the radar screens as a friendly aircraft). The section was led by Pilot Officer Charles Cook and soon as they climbed first through the driving rain, then through the thick cloud they broke out into brilliant sunshine at about 10,000 feet. P/O Cook was given a vector bearing that led them in the direction to where the enemy aircraft was last spotted. It was radar that gave the RAF the upper hand in the Battle of Britain, it was an early warning system that informed Fighter Command that not only were enemy aircraft approaching the English coast, but it also told them the exact location, direction and with the aid of the Observer Corps, type of aircraft and about how many. Very often in the early stages of the war, the Germans could not understand as to why, whenever they were on a mission, the RAF was always there to meet them before they could reach their targets.
0815 hours (8.15 AM): 66 Squadron finally spots the enemy, a lone Dornier 17z of Kampfgeschwader 3 (KG3) possibly on one of those recon missions. As the Spitfires peeled off one by one, engines roaring, the crew of the Dornier spotted them and soon it was weaving and sliding in a desperate effort to evade the gunfire from the Spitfires. The gunners in the Dornier tried in vain in warding off the Spits but to no avail, the Spitfires continued to harass the bomber and in the melee P/O Cookes windscreen was hit and a hole developed in the canopy letting in extremely cold air. Then one of the Spitfires came up from underneath firing at the Dornier with all eight Browning’s and went in close and the Dornier went into a banking glide bellowing smoke until it hit the sea between Yarmouth and Harwich. A couple of hours later, the three Spitfires of Pilot Officer C.A.Cooke, Pilot Officer J.A.P.Studd and Sgt F.N.Robertson landed back at Coltishall and rejoiced at their success.
Prior to July 10th when the RAF was busy regrouping, London was preparing its barricades and defenses and indeed a quiet time for all, the Germans as mentioned previously were busy probing the RAF by attacking small convoys and other shipping in the Channel hoping that they would lure the fighters into battle. But at about 1030 hours (10.30 AM): Weather was still inclement, wet and miserable with shallow visibility, a Dornier on a recon flight and with an escort of about 20+ Bf109s was picked up on both Dover CH and Foreness CHL radar stations. 74 Squadron Hornchurch (Spitfires), in conditions that now seemed to be improving, were directed to the location where the enemy had been spotted. But the damage had been done, the Dornier had spotted a very large convoy (The convoy was code named “Bread”) in the Channel heading towards the Dover Straits.
Immediately the German radio operator dispatched a message giving the location of the convoy, size and its present course. The Spitfires of 74 Squadron (Hornchurch) located the Dornier and the Bf109s and as was the usual course, headed for the slower Dornier first, but not before the highly maneuverable 109s turned and got the Spitfires in their sights. Two of the Spitfires were hit, but not bad enough to put them right out of action, but they kept their course and as they approached firing range of the Dornier opened fire. Immediacy the front cockpit of the bomber exploded in smoke and flame, there would have been little chance of survival of the pilot and any other member who was with him. (There is actually no account of this Dornier crashing in the sea, but Len Deighton in his book “Battle of Britain” states that the Dornier, although damaged got home safely). The Dornier went down low and the Spitfires weaved and turned and engaged in combat with the Messerschmitt escort. Two Spitfires that were hit and were forced to return to Hornchurch while the other four remained for a while where only one Bf109 was hit and received only minor damage. The enemy was reinforced by another group of about 12 aircraft later just as the Spitfires of 610 Squadron, (Gravesend) arrived and the remaining four Spitfires of 74 Squadron returned back to base. 610 Squadron scored no ‘kills’ but managed to stop the 109s and they headed back towards the French coast.
In this combat, 74 Squadron Hornchurch had two of its Spitfires damaged during operations over the Channel while one Spitfire of 610 Squadron had to make a force landing at Hawkinge after being hit during the same combat.
The transmission that the Dornier made at 1030 hours must have been received loud and clear, because at 1350 hours (1.50 PM): British radar picks up a strong signal that indicated that a German formation had been detected coming across the French coast just west of Calais and heading in the general direction of Folkestone. It seemed obvious what they were after, this was the largest number of bombers ever seen coming across the Channel. The main force was 24 Dornier 17s spread in three groups, 30 escorting Bf110s and 20+ Bf109s. The ‘scramble’ order went out to Manston, Biggin Hill, Croydon, Hornchurch and Kenley. Manston dispatched the Hurricanes of 56 Squadron (North Weald) who had been operating there, Biggin Hill dispatched 32 Squadron (Hurricanes), Croydon dispatched 111 squadron (Hurricanes), Hornchurch dispatched the Spitfires of 74 Squadron while Kenley sent out six Spitfires of 64 Squadron towards the closing stages of the battle.
The Dorniers turned and headed for the Channel convoy code named ‘Bread’ just as 74, 56, 32 and 111 Squadrons arrived on the scene. The Spitfires of 74 Squadron and the Hurricanes of 56 and 32 Squadrons engaged combat with the Bf109s and the Bf110s while the Hurricanes of 111 Squadron went straight in and attacked the Dorniers. The skies off the coast at Folkestone became a maze of vapor trails snaking in all directions. It was a tough dogfight with neither side gaining the upper hand, Flying Officer J Mungo-Park in a Spitfire swept past a Dornier and the resulting ‘hit’ saw the bomber drift down towards the waters of the Channel, another Spitfire of 74 Squadron scored a ‘hit’ on one of the Bf109s and saw it head in the general direction of France and safety. As the dogfight continued, the Dornier formation started to break up as many of the fighters began to harass them like dogs snapping at their tails, Flying Officer Tom Higgs of 111 Squadron took to a lone Dornier firing many rounds towards the weaving bomber that was desperately trying to evade the ensuing Hurricane, but Higgs went in closer than his firing range, and still with thumb on the firing button clipped the Dornier with his wing before spinning seawards out of control with one wing missing. The Dornier also spun out of control and hurtled to what seemed a watery grave. Both aircraft crashed into the Channel and a rescue launch that was soon on the scene picked up the pilot of the Dornier and another member of the crew, but there was no sign of the rest of the bombers crew or of Tom Higgs. This was the first major battle of the Battle of Britain, and considering the amount of aircraft that were in the air Higgs was the only British fatality, three Hurricanes were damaged as well as four Spitfires, two Dorniers were shot down and ten of the escort fighters. As far as the convoy “Bread” was concerned, only one ship was sunk the rest were not even attacked and continued their journey.
1530 hours (3.30 PM): But it was a different story in the west. Hugo Sperrle dispatched 60+ Ju88 bombers to attack the targets of Swansea in Wales and Falmouth in Devon. 10 Group in the west at this stage had not been formed, so there really was no fighter protection in this part of England. But 92 Squadron from Pembury scrambled too late to avoid the bombing by the German bombers. An ammunitions factory was badly damaged at Swansea and Falmouth also suffered considerable damage. Shipping was also hit hard as was destruction to a power station.
A few sporadic raids took place over the Scottish coast and were not intercepted by the RAF.
During the night 12 Luftwaffe raids occurred between Firth of Tay and Beachy Head. Owing to adverse weather, no RAF fighters took to the air. Bombs were dropped on Guisborough, Canewdon, Hertford, Isle of Grain, Tobermory (Isle of Mull, West Coast of Scotland), Colchester, Welwyn and Ely.
RAF Statistics for the day: 200 patrols were flown involving 641 aircraft. Luftwaffe casualties: Fighters – 8 confirmed, 11 unconfirmed; Bombers – 4 confirmed, 6 unconfirmed. RAF casualties: 2 Hurricanes confirmed. 2 Hurricanes crashed on landing.
RAF Casualties: (July 10th 1940)
0700hrs. Hurricane P3359. 253 Sqn. Kirton-on-Lindsay. (Aircraft destroyed)
Sgt I.C.C. Clenshaw. Killed. (Lost control in bad visibility)
1300hrs. Hurricane P3671. 111 Sqn Croydon. (Aircraft destroyed)
F/O T.P.K. Higgs. Killed. (Collided with Do17 off coast near Folkestone. Bailed out but drowned. Body found in Norway 15.8.40)
RAF Squadron 310, which is composed of the First Free Czech fighter squadron, forms at Duxford. It will become operational on 17 August, led by Squadron Leader František ‘Dolly’ Dolezal.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 40 Blenheims to attack French airfields at Amiens and St Omer during the day. 6 aircraft lost. 107 Squadron lost 5 out of the 6 planes it sent to Amiens.
The RAF sends Blenheim bombers against Tobruk, hitting oil storage tanks. The British also attack Macaac airfield.
The Italian Air Force attacks Sidi Barrani with twelve SM-79 bombers.
The Italians continue their air raids on the King’s African Rifles at Moyale, Kenya.
At Malta, there is an air raid against Grand Harbour at 07:45. There is one death, three wounded. The attackers lose three aircraft. Another raid at 21:55 near the entrance to Grand Harbour and nearby locations also causes some damage.
Inspection of a Me109 fighter which was shot down, confirmed that the aircraft was armed with 2 cannon, 1 in each wing, and 2 machine guns firing through the airscrew [propeller]. Previous reports that this aircraft carried 3 cannon were incorrect.
The French National Assembly voted 569–80 to give plenary power to the Vichy government. Philippe Pétain assumed authoritarian powers. French National Assembly votes to end the Third Republic. This was considered the start of the Vichy regime. The French National Assembly, dazed by defeat and maneuvered by Vice-Premier Pierre Laval, meets in the resort town of Vichy and votes 569 to 80 to grant Premier Henri Philippe Petain full emergency and constitution-making power. (Vichy France attempts to consummate a “National Revolution” of a corporate nature — eliminating divisive political party and class strife, encouraging family growth and cohesion, and favoring church and patriotic organizations. Under pressure from the Germans, anti-Semitic measures are gradually enacted and enforced.)
The Pope today urged Germany and Italy to abstain from taking revenge on France and to conclude a fair peace. Clemency alone, he said, can prevent the fostering of the hatred that inevitably follows the imposition of harsh terms on the vanquished.
The British Union of Fascists was banned. Not everybody in the UK is certain about the wisdom of fighting the Germans, though of course, later accounts portray public opinion as monolithic. England is a land of long-standing class divisions, and some question fighting to preserve such privilege. The recent bans on spreading false rumors and defeatist talk are partially aimed at worries about this issue. A clerk, for instance, is sentenced to a year in prison for saying, “We are fighting to provide dividends for the ruling class.” Free speech rights take a serious hit everywhere during the war.
This clerk conviction supports a pet theory of Hitler’s, that the “plutocrats” are mistreating the workers who will rise up against their rich masters. There is a kernel of truth to this view, but only a kernel. Hitler wildly overestimates the degree of this sort of sentiment and plans bombing raids to heighten a sense of disproportionate sacrifice, such as by targeting worker tenements and not the mansions of the rich. This is detrimental to the overall Luftwaffe campaign.
The British government is aware of this undercurrent of sentiment and does not want to publicize this potential issue at all by passing laws directly aimed at it. Instead, it takes subtle steps to combat the appearance of privilege and excess, such as the ban on “false rumors.” One of these is a new law that bans “luxury eating” at restaurants, which remain outside the ration limits. For instance, restaurant meals may have only one meat/fish course, and no iced cakes. This may seem petty, but there is a larger purpose behind such restrictions.
In a comment on this general topic that seems uncannily prescient for political rhetoric in the 21st Century, George Orwell comments about the wealthy that “Nothing will ever teach them that the other 99% of us exist.”
British Lieutenant Hubert Nicolle, who had been conducting reconnaissance in the Channel Island of Guernsey, returned to Britain. he reported that there were 469 German soldiers on the island, mainly in St. Peter Port, with machine gun posts 2 to 5 miles away along the coast. He estimated that a commando raid would have 20 minutes to wipe out the machine gun posts before reinforcements from St. Peter Port would arrive.
A reliable source in a neutral country reported to the British that a marked change in highly placed Germans in Germany during the last ten days, from one of extreme optimism to one of hesitation. It was reported that ten days ago the Germans were confident that England would be invaded almost at once and that it would quickly be compelled to seek and armistice. It was reported that the Germans were now doubtful when an invasion would take place and they were becoming increasingly doubtful whether, if attempted, the operation would succeed. It was reported that the RAF’s constant air attacks by RAF Bomber Command were making it difficult to assemble troops and stores.
British Prime Minister Churchill, of course, is right on top of this. In a “secret” memorandum to the Chief of the Imperial General Staff, circulated to the War Cabinet, he concludes that the prospects of a German landing depend upon the strength of the Royal Navy. In the memo, he notes that the battleships HMS Nelson and HMS Barham would soon be ready for sea and would enable the creation of further battle groups that could break up any invasion force. He further states that the largest German ships are under the close surveillance of the RAF and would be unable to stage a surprise breakout. For these reasons, he concludes that an invasion is unlikely. His only worry is the need for the ‘strong air support’ necessary to protect the Royal Navy during daylight hours.
Churchill, as a 2x former First Lord of the Admiralty, knows the overwhelming dominance of the Royal Navy prevents an invasion. That and the protection afforded by the RAF — a bit less certain — are the keys to the kingdom which Hitler does not have. However, Churchill tells his cabinet that he does not want to downplay the chances of invasion to the public, but rather wants war fears to remain strong so that the people remain motivated.
The German Ambassador in Lisbon informs Berlin that the Duke of Windsor believes that the bombing of England would help bring about a negotiated peace with Germany
The British authorities put 200 Italian prisoners of war, 251 German prisoners of war, 55 British Nazi sympathizers, and 2,036 civilians from Germany (mostly Jewish refugees), collectively categorized as “enemy aliens”, on the British troop ship Dunera whose intended passenger capacity was only 1,600. Over the next 57 days, while en route to Australia, these people would be robbed, beaten, and in one case bayoneted by the British guards while many of them suffered from dysentery. Several of the guards were later court-martialed, including Lieutenant Colonel William Scott.
This is a very serious matter. It is easy for POWs to get word back to their own governments about mistreatment through the International Red Cross. Proper treatment of POWs is of intense interest to both sides throughout the war, and it is easy for one side to take reprisals against the other for violations of the Geneva Convention and other international agreements. As a general matter, POW treatment is one of the few areas where the warring sides (at least in the ETO) maintain close and continuing contact throughout the war, with generally satisfactory and humane results.
Hitler meets with Prime Minister Count Pál Teleki of Hungary and promises to support Hungarian territorial demands against Rumania. Teleki has no desire to pursue those claims or enter the war at this time but instead is more concerned with establishing his own credentials back home as someone acceptable to the Germans. In return for German support and protection, though, Hitler wants a full alliance. A final solution of territorial revision was deferred for the time being. It was said that Hungary was informed that the Axis powers did not wish the equilibrium of the Balkans disturbed while they were busy with Britain.
Rome observers believed Russia had agreed to do nothing in the Balkans that would cripple the Axis attack against Britain.
The Turkish Government called an emergency session of the National Assembly for tomorrow to consider demands-one of them probably for a share of control of the Dardanelles-expected from Russia. Russian warships were reported off Varna, Bulgaria, perhaps with orders to force a passage through Bulgaria for an attack on the Straits if Turkey did not yield.
A diplomatic report that could not be confirmed in official British quarters circulated in London today to the effect that Soviet Russia had asked Iran for a strip of territory along the Soviet-Iran border.
Italian forces from Ethiopia renew attack against 1st King’s African Rifles at Moyale, Kenya.
1st East African Light Battery arrives at Berbera, British Somaliland.
U-34, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Wilhelm Rollmann, sank Finnish steamer Petsamo in 51-08N, 09-22W. At 1426 hours the Petsamo (Master Eric Hjelt) was hit in the engine room by one torpedo from U-34, broke in two and sank within 20 minutes. Four stokers on watch below were killed. The U-boat had needed six hours to get into a favorable firing position and sank the ship in sight of the Irish coast. In the evening, the master and 33 crew members made landfall at Baltimore, Ireland. The 4,596-ton Petsamo was carrying maize and grain and was headed for Cork, Ireland.
U-61, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Jürgen Oesten, sank Dutch steamer Alwaki (4533grt) of convoy OA.180, 10 miles northeast of Cape Wrath in 58° 46’N, 4° 46’W. At 1306 hours the unarmed Alwaki (Master Johan Martijn Schlögl) in station #63 of convoy OA.180 was hit on the port side by two dud torpedoes from U-61 about 10 miles northeast of Cape Wrath. The convoy was en route in two columns and passed almost directly over the submerged U-boat, which found itself between the columns and hastily attacked and then submerged as they were in danger of being rammed. The two G7e torpedoes were fired from a distance of just over 200 meters, too close for the warheads to arm until they penetrated the hull of Alwaki as second ship of the starboard column. In absence of an explosion the escorts were unaware of the attack and the U-boat escaped undetected. After the ship shuddered from the impacts the crew stopped the engines to investigate her for damage and she immediately developed a list to port as the torpedoes had punched holes of about two feet in the engine room and #2 hold through which the ship was slowly flooded. The crew was unable to reach the leaks because one was behind auxiliary machines and the other in a hold filled with coal and to make things worse a bulkhead could not be closed. Most of the crew and ten Iraqi passengers abandoned ship in three lifeboats while the officers tried to save the vessel and were soon joined by a boarding party of HMCS St. Laurent (H 83) (Cdr H.G. De Wolf, RCN). At 1415 hours, they all had to abandon ship because the list increased to over 45° when the coal in the hold began to shift. The survivors were picked up by the rear ship of the convoy, the Harmonic and landed at Cardiff on 13 July. Tugs HMS Bandit and HMS Thames were sent to assist. The tug HMS Bandit (W 69) tried to salvage the ship, but she foundered at 2207 hours. The Admiralty investigated the case and came to the erroneous conclusion that sabotage was probably the cause of her loss. Destroyers HMS Zulu, HMS Maori, and HMS Berkeley departed anti-submarine exercises to join the convoy. Destroyers HMS Tartar, HMS Ashanti, HMS Bedouin, and HMS Mashona exercising at Scapa Flow were ordered to search in the area. Destroyers Bedouin and Mashona remained in the vicinity of Cape Wrath until the evening of 11 July when a westbound convoy had passed the area. The destroyers then proceeded to Scapa Flow. The 4,533-ton Alwaki was carrying ballast.
Minelayers HMS Menestheus, HMS Port Napier, HMS Port Quebec, and HMS Southern Prince departed Loch Alsh at 1100/10th and laid minefield SN 1 north of Rona at 2025 to 2234 on the 10th, escorted by destroyers HMS Inglefield (D.3), HMS Imogen, HMS Atherstone, HMS Hambledon, and HMS Fernie. Anti-aircraft ship HMS Coventry departed Scapa Flow at 1238 to rendezvous with the minelaying force. After the minelay, the I’s went to Scapa Flow arriving at 1645 on the 11th and the three Hunts arrived at Loch Alsh at 1100/11th. The Hunts departed Loch Alsh at 1430/11th and proceeded to Liverpool.
Nine Skuas of 801 Squadron departed Hatston for Sumburgh in preparation for an attack on Bergen. Leaving Sumburgh, they encountered poor visibility and returned to Sumburgh before proceeding half way to the objective.
British tanker Tascalusa (6499grt) was sunk by German bombing in Falmouth Harbor, alongside the Northern Arm. Greek steamer Mari Chandris (5840grt), which had been towed to Falmouth in June after a collision, was set afire by Tascalusa. The entire crew of the Greek steamer was rescued. Tascalusa was refloated on 29 August and beached at Mylor Flats for scrapping.
British steamer Waterloo (1905grt) was sunk by German bombing two and a half miles NE of Smith’s Knoll Bouy. The crew was rescued.
Dutch steamer Bill S. (466grt) was badly damaged by German bombing six miles 260° from Dungeness from convoy CW.3, escorted by destroyer HMS Versatile. The steamer sank 6.7 miles 67° from Dungeness. The entire crew was rescued.
British tanker British Chancellor (7085grt) was damaged by German bombing off Falmouth.
Submarine HMS Pandora arrived at Gibraltar after patrol off Algiers.
Aircraft carrier HMS Eagle launched nine Swordfish of the 813 Squadron on an air attack on Augusta. Italian destroyer Leone Pancaldo was sunk in Harbor, but was salved on 26 July 1941 and returned to duty. A fleet oiler was damaged.
Italian submarine Scire sank French steamer Cheik (1058grt) 54 miles 310° from Semaphore d’Asmare.
German armed merchant cruiser Widder sank British steamer Davisan (6433grt) in the Central Atlantic at 18-09N, 54-40W, four hundred and fifty miles north, northeast of Guadalope. The entire crew was made prisoners of war.
Aircraft carrier HMS Hermes was damaged in a collision at 0302 with Armed merchant cruiser HMS Corfu 130 miles west, northwest of Freetown at 9-10N, 15-48W. Heavy cruiser HMS Dorsetshire was in company of Hermes and stood by these ships. Corfu had been escorting convoy SL.39 which continued on without her. The two ships were locked together for just under an hour and a half during which Corfu was almost completely abandoned, 141 crew being taken aboard Hermes. There were no casualties in either ship. The armed merchant cruiser was later reboarded by crew in Hermes’ cutter. Aircraft carrier Hermes arrived at Freetown at 1800 that day. Dorsetshire attempted to tow Corfu. Sloop HMS Milford arrived at Freetown at 1200/10th and after refuelling, sailed at 0520/11th to escort heavy cruiser Dorsetshire and the armed merchant cruiser. Dutch tug Donau departed Freetown at 0600/11th. Heavy cruiser Dorsetshire arrived at Freetown at 1700/12th. Armed merchant cruiser Corfu with sloop Milford and Dutch tug Donau anchored outside Harbor during the night of 12/13 July. Armed merchant cruiser Corfu, towed stern first by tug Donau and escorted by sloop Milford arrived at Freetown at 1330/13th. Armed merchant cruiser HMS Dunvegan Castle was allocated to escort convoy SLF.39, but sailed to escort SL.39. Convoy SLF.39 when it did sail proceeded unescorted, after a local one day escort of sloop Milford.
Aircraft carrier HMS Hermes after emergency repairs departed Freetown on 5 August and arrived at Simonstown on 17 August with convoy RS.5, joined at sea by Light cruiser HMS Dragon. Hermes had been designated to participate in Operation MENACE in September, but was still under repair at Simonstown at that time. Hermes did not leave Simonstown until 18 November and she arrived back at Freetown for operations on 30 November. Armed merchant cruiser Corfu was under repair at Freetown. She was intentionally run aground on 19 August to facilitate repairs to her bow. She was finally repaired in early 1941.
The convoy which had sailed from Malta and which led to the Battle of Calabria on the 9th reaches Alexandria. A second, slower convoy departs from Malta today at about 21:00, escorted by HMS Kirkland, Masirah, Novasli, Tweed, and Zeeland.
Convoy OA.182 departed Methil escorted by destroyer HMCS Skeena and corvette HMS Gardenia from 10 to 14 July.
Convoy MT.107 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 11th.
Convoy FS.218 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer HMS Winchester and sloops HMS Lowestoft and HMS Weston. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 11th.
Convoy HG.38 of six ships departed Gibraltar. The convoy was escorted by destroyer Volunteer from 10 to 18 July. Destroyer HMS Volunteer returned to Gibraltar on the 10th to make good defects and was relieved by destroyer HMS Vidette. Destroyer Volunteer then returned to the convoy and Vidette returned to Gibraltar. The convoy was given escort by British corvette HMS Gladiolus from 21 to 27 July. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 27th.
The War at Sea, Wednesday, 10 July 1940 (naval-history.net)
Minelayers MENESTHEUS, PORT NAPIER, PORT QUEBEC, and SOUTHERN PRINCE departed Loch Alsh at 1100/10th and laid minefield SN 1 north of Rona at 2025 to 2234 on the 10th, escorted by destroyers INGLEFIELD (D.3), IMOGEN, ATHERSTONE, HAMBLEDON, and FERNIE. Anti-aircraft ship COVENTRY departed Scapa Flow at 1238 to rendezvous with the minelaying force.
After the minelay, the I’s went to Scapa Flow arriving at 1645 on the 11th and the three Hunts arrived at Loch Alsh at 1100/11th. The Hunts departed Loch Alsh at 1430/11th and proceeded to Liverpool.
Nine Skuas of 801 Squadron departed Hatston for Sumburgh in preparation for an attack on Bergen.
Leaving Sumburgh, they encountered poor visibility and returned to Sumburgh before proceeding half way to the objective.
Convoy OA.182 departed Methil escorted by destroyer HMCS SKEENA and corvette GARDENIA from 10 to 14 July.
Convoy MT.107 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 11th.
Convoy FS.218 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer WINCHESTER and sloops LOWESTOFT and WESTON. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 11th.
U-34 sank Finnish steamer PETSAMO (4596grt) in 51‑08N, 09‑22W.
Four crew were killed on the Finnish steamer.
U-61 sank Dutch steamer ALWAKI (4533grt) of convoy OA.180, 10 miles northeast of Cape Wrath in 58‑46N, 04‑46W.
Canadian destroyer HMCS ST LAURENT reported the steamer’s damage at 1234.
Destroyer ST LAURENT and escorting aircraft indicated the explosion was internal, probably sabotage.
British steamer HARMONIC (4558grt) rescued the crew of eight from the Dutch ship.
Tugs BANDIT and THAMES were sent to assist.
Destroyers ZULU, MAORI, and BERKELEY departed anti-submarine exercises to join the convoy.
Destroyers TARTAR, ASHANTI, BEDOUIN, and MASHONA exercising at Scapa Flow were ordered to search in the area.
Destroyers BEDOUIN and MASHONA remained in the vicinity of Cape Wrath until the evening of 11 July when a westbound convoy had passed the area. The destroyers then proceeded to Scapa Flow.
British tanker TASCALUSA (6499grt) was sunk by German bombing in Falmouth Harbour, alongside the Northern Arm. Greek steamer MARI CHANDRIS (5840grt), which had been towed to Falmouth in June after a collision, was set afire by TASCALUSA. The entire crew of the Greek steamer was rescued. TASCALUSA was refloated on 29 August and beached at Mylor Flats for scrapping.
British steamer WATERLOO (1905grt) was sunk by German bombing two and a half miles NE of Smith’s Knoll Bouy. The crew was rescued.
Dutch steamer BILL S. (466grt) was badly damaged by German bombing six miles 260° from Dungeness from convoy CW.3, escorted by destroyer VERSATILE.
The steamer sank 6.7 miles 67° from Dungeness.
The entire crew was rescued.
British tanker British CHANCELLOR (7085grt) was damaged by German bombing off Falmouth.
Submarine PANDORA arrived at Gibraltar after patrol off Algiers.
Aircraft carrier EAGLE launched nine Swordfish of the 813 Squadron on an air attack on Augusta.
Italian destroyer LEONE PANCALDO was sunk in harbour, but was salved on 26 July 1941 and returned to duty. A fleet oiler was damaged.
Italian submarine SCIRE sank French steamer CHEIK (1058grt) 54 miles 310° from Semaphore d’Asmare.
Convoy HG.38 of six ships departed Gibraltar. The convoy was escorted by destroyer VOLUNTEER from 10 to 18 July. Destroyer VOLUNTEER returned to Gibraltar on the 10th to make good defects and was relieved by destroyer VIDETTE. Destroyer VOLUNTEER then returned to the convoy and VIDETTE returned to Gibraltar. The convoy was given escort by British corvette GLADIOLUS from 21 to 27 July. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 27th.
German armed merchant cruiser WIDDER sank British steamer DAVISAN (6433grt) in the Central Atlantic at 18‑09N, 54‑40W, four hundred and fifty miles north, northeast of Guadalope.
The entire crew was made prisoners of war.
Aircraft carrier HERMES was damaged in a collision at 0302 with Armed merchant cruiser CORFU 130 miles west, northwest of Freetown at 9‑10N, 15‑48W.
Heavy cruiser DORSETSHIRE was in company of HERMES and stood by these ships. CORFU had been escorting convoy SL.39 which continued on without her.
The two ships were locked together for just under an hour and a half during which CORFU was almost completely abandoned, 141 crew being taken aboard HERMES. There were no casualties in either ship. The armed merchant cruiser was later reboarded by crew in HERMES’ cutter.
Aircraft carrier HERMES arrived at Freetown at 1800 that day. DORSETSHIRE attempted to tow CORFU. Sloop MILFORD arrived at Freetown at 1200/10th and after refueling, sailed at 0520/11th to escort heavy cruiser DORSETSHIRE and the armed merchant cruiser. Dutch tug DONAU departed Freetown at 0600/11th.
Heavy cruiser DORSETSHIRE arrived at Freetown at 1700/12th.
Armed merchant cruiser CORFU with sloop MILFORD and Dutch tug DONAU anchored outside harbour during the night of 12/13 July.
Armed merchant cruiser CORFU, towed stern first by tug DONAU and escorted by sloop MILFORD arrived at Freetown at 1330/13th.
Armed merchant cruiser DUNVEGAN CASTLE was allocated to escort convoy SLF.39, but sailed to escort SL.39. Convoy SLF.39 when it did sail proceeded unescorted, after a local one-day escort of sloop MILFORD.
Aircraft carrier HERMES after emergency repairs departed Freetown on 5 August and arrived at Simonstown on 17 August with convoy RS.5, joined at sea by Light cruiser DRAGON. HERMES had been designated to participate in MENACE in September, but was still under repair at Simonstown at that time. HERMES did not leave Simonstown until 18 November and she arrived back at Freetown for operations on 30 November.
Armed merchant cruiser CORFU was under repair at Freetown. She was intentionally run aground on 19 August to facilitate repairs to her bow. She was finally repaired in early 1941.
In Washington today, President Roosevelt sent to Congress a request for additional appropriations of $4,848,171,957 for national defense. After a conference with administrative and legislative officials, he announced his approval of a plan to incorporate in the proposed excess profits tax a system permitting national defense industries to amortize over a five-year period their investments in plant and equipment. He witnessed the swearing in of Henry L. Stimson as Secretary of War.
The Senate passed the 70 percent Naval Expansion Bill, confirmed the nomination of Colonel Frank Knox as Secretary of the Navy, received the Lodge bill to provide a standing Army of 750,000 men and recessed at 5:22 PM, until noon tomorrow. The Military Affairs Committee resumed hearings on the Burke-Wadsworth Compulsory Military” Training Bill and a Judiciary subcommittee heard Earl Browder oppose the bill for registration of foreign-dominated organizations.
The House passed the Hatch bill prohibiting State employees paid in part by Federal funds from participation in politics, passed a bill appropriating $40,000,000 to establish a marine and war risk insurance program and adjourned at 6:25 until noon tomorrow. The Military Affairs Committee opened hearings on the Burke-Wadsworth bill.
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt submitted a request to the U.S. Congress for additional appropriations for defense. Roosevelt outlined his objectives as proceeding with the naval expansion program, equip a land force of approximately 1.2 million men, and procure 15,000 additional planes for the Army and 4,000 for the Navy. President Roosevelt, declaring the country must prepare for “total defense,” asked congress for $4,848,171,957 additional for the army and navy today and proclaimed this two-fold policy: “We will not send our men to take part in European wars. “But, we will repel aggression against the United States or the western hemisphere.” The huge outlay, which would bring the session’s appropriations and contract authorizations for the armed forces to $10,100,078,270, is designed to give the nation a start on its “two-ocean” navy, a combined total army-navy air force of about 36,000 planes and modern weapons and equipment for a land force of 2,000,000 men.
A measure authorizing the “two-ocean” navy was approved by the Senate late today, after one hour’s debate. The Senate approved today, with a few minor changes, after only a few minutes of debate and without a record vote, the House bill authorizing a “two-ocean” navy by 1946. The Senate amendments would add $75,000,000 to the specific authorizations and would make three slight changes in language, so that there appeared to be no prospect of any serious difference of opinion between the two houses. It had generally been estimated that the proposed enlargement of the Navy by 70 percent of the currently authorized tonnage would cost $4,000,000,000. In an explanatory statement, Senator Walsh, chairman of the Committee on Naval Affairs, told the Senate that the projected “two-ocean navy” would cost the taxpayers about $10,000,000,000.
Henry L. Stimson takes office as United States Secretary of War. The Senate approved President Roosevelt’s choice of Colonel Frank Knox, Chicago newspaper publisher and Republican Vice Presidential candidate in 1936, to be Secretary of the Navy. The vote was 66 to 16, indicating much less opposition than was shown yesterday to Henry L. Stimson, nominee for Secretary of War, who was confirmed 56 to 28. A number of Senators who opposed Mr. Stimson on the ground that he is an “interventionist” voted for Colonel Knox. Among them were Senators Johnson of Colorado and Murray, Danaher, Taft, and Vandenberg. While the Senate was confirming Colonel Knox, Mr. Stimson was taking the oath of office before President Roosevelt in the latter’s office in the White House, the oath being administered by Percy Nelson, Assistant Controller of the White House. Arrangements were made to have Colonel Knox sworn in at the White House tomorrow by Justice Frankfurter, an old friend.
The Administration removed today one of the big obstacles to speedy fulfillment of the national defense program when it decided to couple with the new excess profits tax legislation a provision eliminating the present 8 percent profit limitation on ship and airplane contracts and permitting accelerated depreciation of plants and equipment built for defense industries. Announcement of the program was made at the White House after a conference of President Roosevelt with representatives of the Treasury, the Federal Loan Administration, the National Advisory Defense Commission and Congressional leaders. Agreement was reported that the proposed legislation was certain to result in an appreciable acceleration of the defense program. The conferees emphasized also that there was no intention to sacrifice government revenue.
The House by a vote of 243 to 122 passed today the Hatch bill to extend the prohibition against pernicious political activities to State employees paid wholly or in part from Federal funds. As adopted, the bill would become effective immediately upon final approval so that it would apply to the coming political campaign. The House-approved measure differs in several particulars from the Senate version, thus calling for further Senate consideration or conference. If finally approved, the measure would make unlawful in any political campaign the activity of state employees paid from federal funds, and would subject them to loss of their jobs or even a fine and imprisonment if found guilty. The law already embraces federal employees. The major changes made by the House in the Senate version were: the inclusion of a provision limiting the expenditures of and contributions to any political committee or party to $3,000,000 in a single year, and another which would outlaw such fund-raising ventures as the Democratic campaign yearbooks by making it unlawful to buy goods, merchandise, or advertising when the proceeds of the sales would be used for political purposes.
The international executive board of the United Automobile Workers of America, second largest affiliate of the Congress of Industrial Organizations, tonight adopted unanimously a resolution urging President Roosevelt to run for a third term and, “if necessary,” that he be drafted by the Democratic national convention. The U.A.W. resolution was in direct contrast to recent statements by John L. Lewis, C.I.O. head who repeatedly has denounced the idea of a third term and who predicted that should the president run again he would be defeated “ignomimousy.”
Representative Martin Dies, Texas Democrat, said tonight he would turn soon to an investigation of reported Communist-sponsored strikes in the maritime and possibly the motion picture industry of California.
The first group of British child evacuees arrives in New York.
An expansion of the British Purchasing Commission in the United States, both in personnel and power, is expected to take place soon.
Jack Harris, 14-year-old pupil at an Atascadero, California, school for “maladjusted” boys, confessed he fatally beat and attacked 8-year-old Gayle Jones in a ranch canyon last night, District Attorney A. H. Brazil announced late today. Nude and unconscious, with her head battered and bleeding, the little girl was found in the canyon near the school. She died at a hospital early this morning. Physicians said she had been criminally assaulted.
While the Canadian Parliament has been debating higher taxes, its Department of Munitions has been actually spending those taxes faster than Parliament can vote for them.
President Jose Felix Estigarribia promulgated tonight a new constitution for Paraguay. The constitution, according to a statement issued by the minister of government and labor, Alejandro Marino Inglesias, widens considerably the administration’s powers in the social and the economic spheres and centralizes full charge of the country’s affairs In the hands of the government.
The Japanese naval commander at Shanghai associated himself with the current anti-American campaign by issuing a statement in which he said that “violence and insults from American Marines toward Japanese gendarmes are barbarous acts beyond description.” A mass meeting of Japanese civilians in Shanghai demanded an official American apology. The trouble started over the arrest of sixteen Japanese gendarmes by United States Marines; the Japanese say the gendarmes were beaten, the Marines deny it.
Anti-American agitation based on recent arrest of Japanese gendarmes by United States marines in Shanghai culminated tonight in a mass meeting at which Japanese residents demanded official apology for the “insult.” It was a sober gathering, however, devoid of extravagant speeches, and some observers gathered the impression Japanese officials were beginning to soft-pedal the excitement.
Japan pressed her demands against Britain today and was reported to have informed the British they must give a pledge to stop shipments to Nationalist China through British-controlled territories “in the very near future or suffer the consequences.”
The Japanese deployed the new A6M Zero fighters against Chinese forces. Mitsubishi A6M “Zero” fighters (pre-series of 15 A6M2) go into operation with the 12th Rengo Kōkūtai in China on about this date.
Captain Laurence Wild relieved Captain Edward W. Hanson as Governor of American Samoa and Commandant of Naval Station, Tutuila, Samoa.
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 121.49 (-0.11)
Born:
Gene Alley, MLB shortstop and second baseman (All-Star, 1967, 1968; World Series Champions-Pirates, 1971; Pittsburgh Pirates), in Richmond, Virginia.
Pete Craig, Canadian MLB pitcher (Washington Senators), in LaSalle, Ontario, Canada.
Larry Hand, NFL defensive end and defensive tackle (Detroit Lions), in Paterson, New Jersey.
Helen Donath, American soprano, in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Mills Watson, American actor (“Harper Valley PTA”, “BJ & Bear”), in Oakland, California.
Tom Farmer, Scottish entrepreneur, in Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom.
Naval Construction:
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Type IXC U-boat U-128 is laid down by AG Weser, Bremen (werk 991).
The Royal Australian Navy Bathurst-class minesweeper-corvette HMAS Gouldburn (J 167) is laid down by the Cockatoo Docks and Engineering Co Ltd (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia).
The Royal Navy Thornycroft 73 foot-class motor torpedo boat HMS MTB 28 is commissioned.
The Nihon Kaigun (Imperial Japanese Navy) munition ship HIJMS Kashino (樫野) is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Captain Murao Jiro.
History Diaries 