RAF Fighter Command has now fallen 209 pilots below “minimum acceptable strength.” Life expectancy of a British fighter pilot is less than 87 flying hours. Exhaustion takes such a heavy toll on the survivors that many of them routinely fall asleep as they taxi their aircraft to a stop. It is not uncommon for ground crews to remove a sleeping pilot from his plane when he returns from combat.
The Battle of Britain: Luftwaffe activity was on a reduced scale compared with the previous day. The main activity consisted of two attacks. Luftwaffe activity at night was slight.
Weather: Slight haze early, but clear skies and sunny with temperatures above normal. Possibility of cloud coming in from the Channel during the evening.
The morning of the 16th August was slightly overcast with a haze out over the Channel, but the forecast was for the day to become fine. The question for the RAF was, would the fine weather bring on a repeat of the previous day. German intelligence reported that the RAF had suffered considerable losses the previous day, and coupled with the fact that British losses for the first part of August was heavy, and it was estimated that the RAF had only 450 operational aircraft with a further 300 that were classed as serviceable. The truth was that Britain was turning out fighter planes at a far greater rate than ever before, and that now with some 450 Spitfires and Hurricanes being added each month, (against 175 Bf 109s that the Germans were producing during August) the actual strength of Fighter Command was 570 front line fighters, with an additional 100 plus Defiants, Blenheims and Gladiators that could be called upon. What advantage the Luftwaffe had was in the strength of manpower. They could boast 1,560 pilots against the RAF’s 1,380.
Reichmarschall Herman Göring had held a meeting on August 15th 1940 after his Luftwaffe and Fighter Command had built Adler Tag into a crescendo. His plan that the RAF would be destroyed in a matter of days was not going to come true, and a new set of plans was sent to all Luftflotte Commanders.
Trying to lure the British fighters into combat over the Channel by attacking Channel convoys did not bear fruit. Keith Park would not be drawn into sending all his fighters in one large force, in actual fact he sent only selected squadrons keeping many in reserve. The bombing of radar stations also was not working, as soon as it was thought that they were destroyed, Fighter Command had them back in operation within a matter of days. Attacking targets in the north of England and Scotland from bases in Norway and Denmark was proving suicidal, especially by day as it seemed that Fighter Command had many experienced squadrons based there and that their losses on these missions were proving far too costly. The use of the Junkers Ju 87 dive bomber was not proving a success as it was hoped, and the Bf 110 twin-engined fighters were not faring much better either. In all, the Luftwaffe was not making much impression on the RAF at all. After the meeting, he dispatched new orders to all commanders to be effective immediately.
It looked as though it could be a carbon copy of the previous day, the weather was right, and Britain’s pilots were tired after the events of the previous day. But surprisingly, no major attacks were planned by Germany which was a really a mistake on their part because they did at this time have the opportunity in pushing Fighter Command to the brink, and seeing just how far they could hold out.
“I have decided, that in view of the fact that not one of those attacked has been put out of action. From now on we shall waste no more time on the British radar installations.”
- Herman Göring – August 15th 1940
True, the radar stations were back on the air usually within hours, a few days if major damage had been done, but was this a tactical move by the Chief of the Luftwaffe, or was it to be another blunder on the part of the enemy.
1200 hours: Radar picked up formations of enemy aircraft on three fronts coming across the Channel. The first was just off Dover where 100 plus Do 17 bombers and Bf 109 fighters appeared to be heading for the Thames Estuary. A larger force was detected between Brighton and Folkestone while a third had departed from Cherbourg and was heading towards the Southampton/Portsmouth area. 54 Squadron Hornchurch (Spitfires), 56 Squadron North Weald (Hurricanes) and 64 Squadron Kenley (Spitfires) engaged combat with the enemy over the Thames Estuary with only one Hurricane destroyed and a Spitfire of 64 Squadron damaged.
1215 hours: The formation that was approaching the Kent coast between Folkestone and Brighton was larger than the one over the Thames Estuary and Park scrambled three squadrons. 32 Squadron Biggin Hill (Hurricanes), 111 Squadron Croydon (Hurricanes) and 266 Squadron Hornchurch (Spitfires). All three squadrons decided to go in en masse at the middle of the bomber formation hoping to spread the bombers apart. The combat action from here was fierce and ruthless with fighters and bombers weaving this way and that and the sky was nothing but hundreds of black shapes maneuvering in spectacular fashion. But such action often culminates in danger and this was no exception. The Hurricane of F/L Henry Ferris collided with one of the Dorniers and both aircraft exploded in mid-air. The Spitfire of 266 Squadron commander S/L Rodney Wilkinson had two Bf 109s attack him and he went down in flames after it is believed he collided with a Bf 109 in which its pilot Uffz E. Buder Bailed out and was captured. Although the Luftwaffe had lost up to ten aircraft, one Hurricane and five Spitfires were lost in this action.
1300 hours: A large formation of enemy aircraft were detected coming in over the Channel east of the Isle of Wight. 43 Squadron Tangmere (Hurricanes) and 601 Squadron Tangmere (Hurricanes) were scrambled as orders were given to all base personnel that the formation was Ju 87 dive bombers and that they were heading towards Tangmere Aerodrome. Residents of the surrounding villages and personnel on the airfield had a clear view of the gull winged attackers as they made their near vertical dives onto the airfield. Passengers on an electric train that plied the Portsmouth-South Coast railway line also had a clear view of the events, and saw hangars and buildings explode as bombs found their mark. A number of Hurricanes and Blenheim aircraft were destroyed in many of the hangars that were hit. After just fifteen minutes, it was all over with eight Ju 87 aircraft destroyed and many others trailing smoke as they went back across the Channel.
1310 hours: Tangmere also became victim to the Ju 88s of Air Fleet 3 who targeted the airfield with extreme accuracy. Not one building or hangar escaped damage, aircraft were smashed both in the hangars and as they stood out in the open, in fact a total of fourteen aircraft were destroyed.
“I drove over to Tangmere in the evening and found the place in utter shambles, with wisps of smoke still rising from the shattered buildings. Little knots of people were wandering about with dazed looks on their faces, obviously deeply affected by the events of the day. I eventually tracked down the Station Commander standing on the lawn in front of the Officers Mess with a parrot sitting on his shoulder. Jack was covered with grime and the wretched bird was screeching its imitation of a Stuka at the height of the attack! The once immaculate grass was littered with personal belongings which had been blasted from the wing which had received a direct hit. Shirts, towels, socks and a portable gramophone – a little private world for all to see…..Rubble was everywhere and all three hangars had been wrecked.”
- Squadron Leader “Sandy” Johnstone 602 Squadron
Ventnor radar station, now restored since its devastation on August 12th, was the next target for the Luftwaffe. Five Ju 87s hammered the radar station for just five minutes and with accurate bombing it was once again put out of action, but this time considerable damage was done and Ventnor was to be out of action until September 23rd. Across the Solent, the stretch of water that separates the Isle of Wight from the mainland, Ju 88s had attacked with great success the anti-aircraft installations at the entrance to Portsmouth Harbor.
More enemy action was seen over the Naval establishments of Gosport and Lee on Solent. Both these bases, although not belonging to Fighter Command, were targets for the Luftwaffe and they came under constant bombing attacks. 213 Squadron Exeter (Hurricanes) and 249 Squadron Boscombe Down (Hurricanes) were involved in combat over Southampton and Portland with both squadrons losing aircraft. Ju 88s and Bf 110s dived down on Gosport seriously damaging a number of buildings and killing a number of people.
1345 hours: Later, three Ju 88s were visually spotted over the Solent. One of the pilots that spotted the threesome was Flight Lieutenant James Nicolson flying his Hurricane of 249 Squadron based at Boscombe. Nicolson had seen many enemy aircraft, but this was the first time that he had been close enough to make an attack. It happened so fast, he turned and dived to improve his position, but lost the formation. Then he saw a squadron of Spitfires attacking the Ju 88s and again made a turn to join in the combat. But suddenly, while he was concentrating on the melee in front of him a burst of cannon fire ripped his canopy apart. He was partially blinded by the sudden rush of cold air that was now engulfing him, plus the fact that blood was seething out of a wound on his forehead and running into his eyes.
Momentarily dazed, and not knowing that a Bf 110 had been on his tail he was again hit, this time by another cannon burst that split open his reserve fuel tank and in a sheer split second the Hurricane was engulfed in flame. Again he was hit, this time by gunfire and this time as bullets cut into the whole length of the plane he was hit in the left leg and that portion of his trousers was ripped right off. Losing speed, he tried in vain to blindly turn the aircraft away from the pursuing German fighter bomber when the Bf 110 had overshot him. Nicolson straightened the Hurricane and still bellowing smoke and flame and with a damaged cockpit cover dived and set chase for the German. He was now only 200 yards from the 110 and within striking distance. Flame and smoke wrenched from the instrument panel with glass popping from the instruments.
1350 hours: He then got the 110 in his sights, he lined it up and with his finger rock hard on the firing button blasted away at the bandit, his badly injured hand taking all the pain that it could. Suddenly, the 110 was engulfed in smoke, and it then turned, went into a gentle dive and spiraled down into the sea below.
He tried desperately to disengage the harness from his body, and pulled a useless left leg up towards him, then dived head first out of the burning ball of flame that once was his Hurricane. It is said that he actually fell some 5,000 feet before realizing that he had to pull the ripcord. His left eye, now completely blinded with blood, his other eye closed as if to it was a relief to rest them as he gently descended towards solid ground.
Once landed, he saw with his good eye, that blood was pouring through the lace holes of his left boot, his flying jacket showed signs of being burnt, and the glass on his wrist watch had melted. It was actions such as this that typified the courage and determination of the fighter pilot, it was actions such as this that brought out the emotions of Churchill, and it was Dowding who said that “…the pilots are doing their best.” Believe me, each and every one of them was giving 150%. For his actions, James Nicolson was awarded the Victoria Cross, the only one to be offered to a RAF fighter pilot.
1730 hours: 1 Squadron Northolt (Hurricanes), 610 Squadron Biggin Hill (Spitfires) and 615 Squadron Kenley (Hurricanes) are vectored towards Sussex after a formation of He 111 bombers and an escort of Bf 110s are detected coming in across the Channel. By the time that the squadron engaged the enemy, they are well inland and combat operations take place on the Surrey/Sussex border. Four He 111s were reported to have been destroyed also two Bf 110s, while another Bf 110 was reported to have been damaged in this action crashed in France. Four of the 1 Squadron Hurricanes received damage, but all returned to base with no loss of pilots, and all aircraft repairable. 610 Squadron lost a Spitfire while 615 had one Hurricane damaged.
1735 hours: Late afternoon action saw 234 Squadron Middle Wallop (Spitfires) in combat with Bf 109s over Portsmouth and the Solent. The a lone He 111 was rammed by an unarmed Anson trainer by a sergeant pilot. It will never be known as to whether the sergeant pilot rammed it intentionally or by accident will never be known as both aircraft plunged earthwards joined together.
1750 hours: Flying back to Duxford from Coltishall, 19 Squadron Duxford (Spitfires) were given mid-air instructions to proceed to a vectored position just off the east coast at Clacton-on-Sea Essex. At first there was no sign of the raiders, but it was not long before a flight made contact with 70 He 111 and about 50 Bf 110s just south of Harwich. Joined by another flight, a strong and intense battle emerged with weaving planes and long glowing lines of tracer above the coastline. One He 111 was brought down over the sea, but a number of Bf 110s crashed into the Essex countryside.
After dark, the Luftwaffe bombs the Bristol area, including the Filton airfield, Avonmouth docks, and a searchlight battery at Bristol.
RAF Statistics for the day: 163 patrols were flown involving 895 aircraft. Luftwaffe casualties: Fighters – 31 confirmed, 11 unconfirmed, 7 damaged; Bombers – 35 confirmed, 18 unconfirmed, 25 damaged; Unknown – 9 shot down and 9 damaged for a total of 145 casualties with 3 being a result of antiaircraft. RAF casualties: 22 fighters of which 7 pilots killed or missing. Change in German fighter tactics: The fighters fly closer to the bomber formation, instead of above it.
RAF Casualties:
1235 hours: Off Deal. Spitfire R6768. 266 Squadron Hornchurch
S/L R.L.Wilkinson Killed. (Believed collided with Bf 109 over Channel/Some authorities say shot down)
1240 hours: Calais (France) Spitfire N3240 266 Squadron Hornchurch
Sub Lt H.L.Greenshields Killed. (Chased Bf 109 across Channel, crashed and burnt in Calais suburb)
1245 hours: Adisham. Spitfire N3095. 266 Squadron Hornchurch
P/O N.G.Bowen Killed. (Shot down and aircraft burst into flames during combat with Bf 109)
1245 hours: Marden (Kent). Hurricane R4193. 111 Squadron Croydon
F/L H.M.Ferris Killed. (Collided with Do 17 during a head-on attack on enemy formation)
1300 hours: Bognor Regis. Hurricane P3358. 601 Squadron Tangmere
P/O W.M.L.Fiske Died of Injuries next day. (Damaged by gunfire from Ju 87 and crashed on landing)
1300 hours: Portland. Hurricane 213 Squadron Exeter
P/O J.E.P.Larichelieere. Listed as missing. (Failed to return after combat over Portland)
1355 hours: Southampton. Hurricane P3616. 249 Squadron Boscombe Down
P/O M.A.King Killed. (Shot down by Bf 110 and pilot Bailed out but parachute collapsed on descent)
1715 hours: Dungeness. Spitfire R6802. 610 Squadron Biggin Hill
F/Lt W.H.C.Warner Listed as missing. (Last seen in combat with Bf 109 over Channel. Failed to return)
1730 hours: Off Deal. Spitfire K9915. 65 Squadron Hornchurch
P/O L. L. Pyman Killed. (Crashed into Channel during combat)
You will notice above that one of the casualties is P/O W.M.L.”Billy” Fiske. “Billy” was and today still is known as the only American killed during the Battle of Britain. He is buried at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.
In Germany, the 5th Directive (intelligence section) of the German Luftwaffe High Command reported the RAF Fighter Command only had about 300 fighters left; in actuality, it had about 400 Hurricane fighters and 200 Spitfire fighters available at the time, which was twice of the estimate.
Oblt. Karl Ebbighausen, Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 26 is KIA, replaced by Hauptmann Erich Bode. Staffelkapitän of 4./JG 2 Oblt. Walter Möckel is shot down and becomes a prisoner.
Adolf Galland received the Pilot’s Badge in Gold with Diamonds from Hermann Göring.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 6 Blenheims on an uneventful daylight sea sweep.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 150 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys overnight to the Ruhr and Frankfurt, to the distant targets of Jena, Leuna and Augsburg, and to airfields in Holland. 118 aircraft reported bombing successfully; 7 aircraft —4 Whitleys, 2 Hampdens, 1 Wellington — lost.
The RAF attacked the Fiat manufacturing plant in Turin.
The Italians bomb Alexandria and sink local dockyard vessel Moorstone in shallow water where it can be salvaged.
The RAF attacks Tobruk.
At Malta, there is an air raid alert at 07:41 which involves Italian aircraft offshore which do not attack. The War Office informs Governor Dobbie that Malta soon will be the base for seaborne raiders, but the size and scope of the force is not known yet. Dobbie is concerned about supplying them, as supplies already are quite tight on the island.
The RAF attacks Italian positions at Zeila and Adadleh in British Somaliland.
Today perfectly illustrates the confusion that permeates the German planning process. There are false estimates of British strength, plans drafted with great care for operations that cannot be made, and internal arguments.
Oberkommando der Luftwaffe (OKL) has little real information to go by other than pilot reports and confirmed kills. Today, the intelligence section of the OKL (“Section 5”) estimates today that the RAF is down to 300 fighters defending England. The actual number is roughly 600, of which 200 are Spitfires.
The wrangling over Operation SEA LION continues. Hitler orders the Army and the Navy to reach some sort of compromise. The Army wants a broad front, the Navy a narrow one. The Army began the process wishing to land 40 divisions but now concedes that it can make do with 13.
Wilhelm Keitel issued the order that, per Adolf Hitler’s decision, the landing area in the invasion plan for Britain was to be slightly narrowed as a compromise between the Army (which wanted a wide front) and the Navy (which lacked the warships to secure too many landing sites).
Hitler approves a plan for Operation FELIX, the conquest of Gibraltar. No invasion of Gibraltar can be performed without Spanish intervention in the war, and that does not appear to be forthcoming any time soon.
A small force of Norwegians begins military training in Dumfries, Scotland.
Hitler meets with Vidkun Quisling, who is out of power and has been hosting a radio program.
Two nights of dancing per week are allowed in the Reich, relaxing a previous war-time ban.
The last neutral ship allowed to leave, the U.S. Army Transport American Legion, departs from Petsamo, Finland for New York. It carries Crown Princess Martha and military supplies.
Pioneering ‘Blood for Britain’ program sending blood plasma for WWII wounded from the U.S., headed by Charles R. Drew, officially begins in Britain
The Spanish Surrealist artist Salvador Dalí and wife Gala arrived in New York to escape the war in Europe. They would not return to Europe for eight years.
Irish Gardaí detectives Richard Hyland and Patrick McKeown are shot dead by the Anti-Treaty IRA during a Garda Special Branch raid.
The British begin pulling out of British Somaliland. British troopships Chakdina, Changala, Laomedon, Akbar, and Vita begin evacuating British troops from Berbera to Aden. Some of the Royal Navy ships are damaged slightly by air attack, but all continue operating. Tug Queen sinks during the operation. The Italians approach the British rearguard but do not attack.
The Italians are proceeding with circumspection in British Somaliland because of rumors of peace talks with the English via the Vatican. The Duke of Aosta, in overall command in Abyssinia, is said to be temperate in the pace of Italian operations as a result.
Hungary and Rumania began negotiating over Transylvania, which Hungary wished to take over from Rumania. The negotiation soon turned into a deadlock.
A wolfpack — a collection of U-boats operating as a group — is northwest of Ireland along the normal convoy route. Today, it scores several successes against convoy OB.197.
U-30, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Fritz-Julius Lemp, sank British steamer Clan Macphee in 57-30N, 17-14W. At 1932 hours the Clan Macphee (Master Thomas Philip B. Cranwell) in convoy OB.197 was hit by one torpedo from U-30 and sank about 350 miles west of North Uist, Outer Hebrides. The master and 66 crew members were lost. 41 survivors were picked up by the Kelet, which was sunk by U-A (Cohausz) on 19 August 1940. Six survivors from the Clan Macphee were lost, the remaining 35 survivors were picked up by the Norwegian steam merchant Varegg and landed at Galway on 26 August. Sloop HMS Wellington of convoy OG.41 picked up twenty one survivors of Kelet and thirteen survivors of Clan Macphee and arrived with them at Gibraltar on 2 September. The 6,628-ton Clan Macphee was carrying general cargo and was headed for Bombay, India.
U-46, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Engelbert Endrass, damaged Dutch steamer Alcinous from convoy OB.197 in 57-16N, 17-02W. At 1302 hours, U-46 fired three torpedoes on three ships (two passenger ships and one freighter) which partially overlapped in convoy OB.197 about 150 miles southwest of Rockall and observed a hit on the freighter, which was clearly damaged, as the bow was deeper in the water. The Alcinous was hit on the port side by one torpedo and caught fire, which could be extinguished after long work. HMS Rochester (L 50) (Cdr G.F. Renwick, RN) supported the damaged ship, which was later towed to Gourock by a British tug. The ship was reparied and returned to service. Endrass could not identify his victim, but U-30 (Lemp) had heard the distress signals from the Alcinous. The 6,189-ton Alcinous was carrying general cargo and was bound for Java.
U-48, commanded by Korvettenkapitän Hans Rudolf Rösing, sank Swedish steamer Hedrun in 57-10N, 16-37W. At 1203 hours the Hedrun in convoy OB.197 was hit amidships by one torpedo from U-48 and sank after three minutes about 70 miles west of Rockall. The master, his wife and five crew members were lost. 16 crew members and one passenger (the wife of the chief engineer) were picked up by the British steam merchant Empire Soldier and four crew members were rescued by a British warship. The 2,325-ton Hedrun was carrying coal and was headed for Newport, Rhode Island.
U-100, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Joachim Schepke, sank British steamer Empire Merchant in 55-23N, 13-24N. At 0927 hours the unescorted Empire Merchant (Master Benjamin Walton Smith) was hit on the starboard side by two G7e torpedoes from U-100 while steaming on a zigzag course at 16 knots about 186 miles west of Bloody Foreland. The first torpedo struck in the empty #4 hold and the second slightly more forward. The flooding of the after holds caused the ship to settle by the stern with an immediate list of 5° to starboard. The crew of 45, two gunners (the ship was armed with one 4in and one 12pdr guns) and nine passengers, including women and children, immediately began to abandon ship in both starboard lifeboats, while the master and a wireless operator remained behind to send a distress signal and then jumped overboard. Two sailors had managed to launch one of the port lifeboats and they picked up a crew member that had inadvertently been left behind. The ship slowly turned over to starboard and sank vertically by the stern about 15 minutes after being torpedoed in 55°23N/13°24W. Six crew members and one gunner were lost.
The survivors spotted the U-boat surfacing nearby and wondered why they were not questioned by the Germans. They apparently did not observe how U-100 suddenly dived again due to a handling error and Schepke, standing alone on the bridge, was forced to shut the conning tower hatch from outside. He clung to the periscope block until the boat surfaced again. Schepke assumed in the war diary that it must have been a funny sight for the survivors in the lifeboats to see a German U-boat commander in such an embarrassing situation. The BdU was not amused. Some survivors were transferred to the almost empty boat and about two hours later a Sunderland flying boat appeared, which dropped its depth charges and then tried to rescue the women and children despite a heavy swell but broke its starboard float in the landing attempt and had to leave them. The boats then set sail towards Ireland and were separated during the second night. In the early morning on 18 August, the boat in charge of the second officer was spotted by the Yugoslavian steam merchant Supetar, which picked up its 21 occupants, including a woman and six children and transferred them to an armed trawler in the Irish Sea as the ship was en route to Buenos Aires.
They were eventually landed at Moville during the afternoon. In the morning on 18 August, the eleven men in the boat of the chief officer were picked up by HMS Warwick (D 25) (LtCdr M.A.G. Child, RN), escorting the convoy OB-199 and were landed at Liverpool on 23 August. The 17 people in the boat of the master observed aircraft on several occasions and even saw a convoy but were not seen until an aircraft spotted them after having sailed 168 miles during the afternoon on 18 August and alerted the nearby HMS Salvonia (W 43) (Lt G.M.M. Robinson, RNR), which picked them up and landed them at Greenock. The 4,864-ton Empire Merchant was carrying general cargo and mail and was headed for Kingston, Jamaica.
U-51 (Kptlt. Dietrich Knorr) is spotted about 170 miles northwest of Tory Island by a Coastal Command Short Sunderland flying boat. A depth charge attack seriously damages it. While little is known about what happened afterward, it appears the U-51 could not submerge after this and headed back to Kiel.
Destroyers HMS Inglefield (D.3), HMS Firedrake, HMS Javelin, and HMS Jaguar departed Scapa Flow at 0700 to join Minelayers HMS Southern Prince, HMS Port Napier, HMS Port Quebec, and HMS Menestheus departed Loch Alsh at 0530/17th to lay minefield SN.12. Destroyer HMS Echo departed Scapa Flow at 1030/18th to relieve destroyer Firedrake which went to Scapa Flow. Anti-aircraft cruiser HMS Cairo provided anti-aircraft protection. After the operation, destroyers Inglefield and Echo remained at Loch Alsh for the next operation. Destroyers Javelin and Jaguar arrived at Scapa Flow at 0630/18th.
Battlecruiser HMS Hood and destroyers HMS Cossack (D.4), HMS Sikh, HMS Maori, and HMS Vortigern departed Scapa Flow at 0620 for Rosyth. The Tribal destroyers were to reinforce the Rosyth Escort Force and the Vortigern went on to the Humber for duty in the Nore Command.
Because of continued heavy German air bombing, light cruisers HMS Southampton and HMS Birmingham were ordered moved from Sheerness to Rosyth and light cruiser HMS Cardiff was ordered moved from Harwich to the Humber.
After a loop crossing in the Firth of Forth, destroyers HMS Vimera and HMS Wolfhound and sloop HMS Londonderry carried out an unsuccessful search.
Temporary S/Lt (A) H. L. Greenshields RNVR, flying a Spitfire of RAF 266 Squadron Hornchurch, was killed when he was shot down near Deal.
The first successful attack on a German submarine by British Coastal Command aircraft occurred when U-51 was seriously damaged in an air attack on the 16th 170 miles northwest of Tory Island. U-51 was sunk, while returning to port from her fourth war patrol, in the Bay of Biscay in 47-06N, 04-51W by submarine HMS Cachalot on the 20th. All forty three crewmen on the German submarine were lost.
British minefield BS.32 was laid by minelayer HMS Teviotbank and destroyers HMS INTREPID and HMS Impulsive.
British steamer Meath (1598grt) and British examination vessel Manx Lad (24grt), which was alongside steamer Meath, were sunk on a mine six to seven cables northeast of Breakwater Rock Light House. The entire crew of steamer Meath was rescued.
Probationary Temporary Acting S/Lt (A) D. Drane RNVR, was badly injured when his Shark of 755 Squadron crashed into a hillside three miles north of Ardrossan. Drane died in hospital.
British steamer Clan Forbes (7529grt) was damaged by German bombing at Tilbury Dock.
Minesweeping trawler HMS Regardo (248grt) was damaged by German bombing in Osbourne Bay. The trawler was towed to Cowes by minesweeping trawler HMS Cape Spartel (346grt) for repair.
Auxiliary steamer Loch Ryan (210grt) was damaged by German bombing forty miles northwest by north of Longships Light.
British steamer City Of Birmingham (5309grt) was sunk on a mine 5 1/2 miles 115° from Spurn Point in 53-32-26N, 00-15-30E. The entire crew was rescued.
Italian steamer Morea (1968grt) was sunk on the Durazzo-Bari route fifty miles from Durazzo by submarine Osiris.
Aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, light cruiser HMS Enterprise, destroyers HMS Hotspur, HMS Gallant, HMS Greyhound, HMS Encounter, and HMS Wrestler departed Gibraltar to carry out aircraft practices, then meet with battleship HMS Renown returning from England.
Dockyard mooring vessel Moorstone was sunk in shallow water by Italian bombing at Alexandria and later salved. One crewman was killed.
On the 16th, 17th, 18th, British troops at Berbera, Italian Somaliland, were evacuated to Aden. The evacuation was conducted by armed boarding vessels Chakdina (3033grt) and Chantala (3129grt) and steamers Laomedon (6491grt), Akbar (4043grt), and steamer Vita (4691grt) which was being employed as a hospital ship. The evacuation was covered by Australian light cruiser HMAS Hobart, light cruisers HMS Ceres and HMS Caledon, anti-aircraft cruiser HMS Carlisle, destroyers HMS Kimberley and HMS Kandahar, sloops HMS Shoreham, HMAS Parramatta, HMS Auckland and HMIS Hindustan, minesweeper HMS Derby, and net layer HMS Protector. On 17 August, light cruiser Ceres bombarded Italian targets and temporarily halted the Italian advance. On 18 August, light cruiser Caledon and destroyer Kandahar bombarded Bulhar and Berbera roads. The evacuation was completed on the 18th with 5690 troops, 1266 civilians, 184 sick cases evacuated for a total of 7140. Tug Queen was lost in the evacuation. Light cruiser Hobart departed Berbera early on the 19th for Aden with remaining personnel and the demolition parties.
Convoy FN.254 departed Southend. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 18th.
Convoy MT.142 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day.
Convoy FS.254 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyers HMS Vega and HMS Westminster. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 18th.
Convoy OA.200 departed Methil. No escorts were listed.
Convoy OB.199 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyer HMS Warwick and corvette HMS Mallow from 16 to 20 August an destroyers HMS Anthony, HMS Arrow, HMS Achates, and HMS Harvester from 18 to 20 August. The convoy was dispersed on the 20th. Destroyer Warwick and corvette Mallow were detached to convoy HX.64.
Convoy HX.66 departed Halifax escorted by Canadian destroyers HMCS Assiniboine and HMCS Ottawa at 1523. The destroyers were detached on the 17th.
Convoy SHX.66 departed Sydney, CB escorted by Canadian destroyer HMCS Saguenay and joined HX.66 at sea. The destroyer was detached on the 18th. At 1750, the convoy was turned over to Armed merchant cruiser HMS Ausonia, but HMCS Assiniboine remained with the convoy until 2020. The armed merchant cruiser was detached on the 27th.
Convoy BHX.66 departed Bermuda on the 15th escorted by ocean escort armed merchant cruiser HMS Alaunia. The convoy rendezvoused with convoy HX.66 on the 20th and the armed merchant cruiser was detached. Destroyer HMS Highlander, escort ship HMS Jason, and corvette HMS Hibiscus joined on the 27th. The destroyer was detached later that day. The other two escorts arrived with the convoy at Liverpool on the 31st.
Convoy RS.5, escorted by light cruiser HMS Dragon arrived at Capetown on the 15th. They sailed the next day and arrived at Durban on the 19th.
In Washington today, President Roosevelt announced that he was negotiating with Great Britain for naval and air bases in the Western Hemisphere, appointed Nelson Rockefeller coordinator of cultural relations between the American republics for the Council of National Defense, and left tonight for Ogdensburg, New York, to attend war maneuvers.
The Senate was in recess but its Foreign Relations Committee approved an amendment to the Neutrality Act to permit United States ships to transport refugee children from belligerent countries.
The House also was in recess. The Ways and Means Committee approved changes in the proposed excess profits tax bill which would alter the method of computing average earnings of corporations for taxation purposes.
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, in a press conference, announced that the U.S. government was discussing with the British government for the acquisition of naval and air bases to defend the Western Hemisphere and the Panama Canal. Secrecy, however, continued to shroud the ongoing discussions concerning the transfer of destroyers to the British. Placing emphasis heavily upon “defense of the American hemisphere” and especially the Panama canal President Roosevelt announced today he was negotiating with Great Britain for naval and air base sites, presumably in the southern Caribbean. Although he simultaneously cautioned newspaper correspondents against coupling the deal with proposals to deliver American over-age destroyers to England, he said a quid pro quo was under discussion.
A few hours after he spoke, General George C. Marshall, army chief of staff, endorsed the idea of acquiring bases and, in addition, told reporters the United States faced a “critical” situation as a result of developments in the European war. The Army has tentative plans to put into immediate service and training enough men to bring the land forces of the United States to 900,000 men if Great Britain is defeated, he said.
Wendell L. Willkie inspected his five Indiana farms today and then put the final touches on the speech in which he will accept the Republican presidential nomination tomorrow in his home town of Elwood.
Unanimous approval by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee cleared the way for final action on an amendment to the neutrality act which would permit American ships to bring child refugees from European war zones. The committee acted after making minor changes in legislation already approved by the house. As reported to the Senate, the measure would permit American ships to enter combat zones and bring out children under 16 years of age provided they had sponsors. Chairman Pittman, Nevada Democrat, of the committee said he would ask unanimous consent to bring the bill before the senate Monday, temporarily displacing the compulsory military training bill, in order to speed up final action. “In view of the fact that there is no opposition to the legislation,” his announcement said, “unanimous consent probably will be granted.”
When President Roosevelt arrives tomorrow in Ogdenburg, New York, to inspect the First Army he will see one of the greatest peacetime demonstrations of military pomp and power ever held for any Commander in Chief of the United States Army. Nearly 90,000 officers and men are assembled here in the nation’s largest peacetime maneuvers. Regimental colors, many of them heavy with battle ribbons bearing such names as Cerro Gordo, Gettysburg, Big Horn, Santiago, and the Meuse-Argonne, will drop in salute to the President. Nine separate twenty-one gun salutes will be fired during the ceremonies. The President will be accompanied on his tour of inspection by Governor Lehman, Secretary Stimson and Lieut. Gen. Hugh A. Drum, commander of the First Army and director of the maneuvers.
President Roosevelt will confer tomorrow night with Prime Minister Mackenzie King of Canada on the problems of mutual defense which have already been explored in preparatory diplomatic conversations.The meeting was announced half an hour after Mr. Roosevelt left Washington tonight to attend manoeuvres of the First Army near the Canadian border. Mr. Mackenzie King will go from Ottawa to Ogdensburg, accompanied by J. Pierrepont Moffatt, American Minister to Canada, and will board the Presidential train overnight. On Sunday morning he will attend Army field services with Mr. Roosevelt and then return to Ottawa.
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt created an American republics office under the Advisory Commission to the Council of National Defense. Nelson A. Rockefeller, son of John D. Rockefeller Jr., was appointed as its head.
The U.S. Army Transport American Legion departed Petsamo, Finland, for New York. On board was Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Martha of Norway and her three children, who have been invited to come to the United States by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The last neutral ship permitted to leave Petsamo, the American Legion also carried a crated twin-mount 40-millimeter Bofors gun “with standard sights…spare parts, and 3,000 rounds of ammunition. Shipment of the gun, an almost Herculean effort that involved trucking the weapon the entire length of Sweden, had required the cooperation of the British, Swedish, and Finnish governments.
A “Test” Platoon led by Major William Lee and consisting of 48 volunteers from the U.S. 29th Infantry Regiment made the first US Army parachute jump from an aircraft in order to explore the prospect of bringing troops and equipment into battle by air.
Salvador Dali, previously based in Spain, arrives in New York for an extended stay.
The Alfred Hitchcock-directed spy thriller film “Foreign Correspondent,” starring Joel McCrea, was released.
Major League Baseball:
Jimmie Foxx hits two round trippers, the second of which, in the bottom of the tenth inning, carries Boston to a 7–6 victory over the Senators, and moves him ahead of Lou Gehrig on the all-time list with a total of 495. Foxx has 31 on the season. Jack Wilson got the win in relief for the Sox after pitching a scoreless tenth.
The Browns pounded Bob Feller for six hits and two runs in the first two innings today, but the Cleveland ace settled down and posted his twenty-first victory of the year. The 8–3 triumph enabled the Indians to widen their American League lead over Detroit to three games. Feller allowed twelve hits and one walk and fanned three batters, running his season strike-out total to 200. He has lost six games. The victory was the Tribe’s fifth in a row.
The White Sox, scoring nine runs in the eighth inning and belting three pitchers for fourteen hits, beat the Tigers, 13–4, in the opener of a three-game series today. Chicago thus tied the idle Yanks for fourth place.
The Bees sting the Dodgers in twelve innings, winning 2–1. Ex-Dodger Buddy Hassett singles in Eddie Miller with the deciding run. Vito Tamulis allows just six hits but takes the loss; Nick Strincevich bests him, allowing only five.
The Reds snapped out of their long hitting slump today, banging twenty-seven hits off four pitchers for a double victory over the Cubs, 9–4 and 6–3. The Reds, whose first-place margin had slipped from nine to five games in recent weeks, collected fourteen hits in the first game and thirteen in the second as they ran Chicago’s record to seven losses in nine games. Cincinnati pushed across the winning run of the second game in the seventh inning on Bill Werber’s single, a sacrifice and Linus Frey’s single. The Reds added two in the ninth. Whitey Moore was ahead of the Cubs all the way in the first game, shutting them out until the eighth, when Hank Leiber connected for a two-run homer, his fourteenth of the season.
The Pirates and Cardinals divided a doubleheader today, Pittsburgh taking the first game, 6–5, and St. Louis the second, 9–5. The Cardinals took over fifth place from the Cubs. Each team made eleven hits in the second game. Inability of four Pittsburgh hurlers to locate the plate brought about the Pirates’ downfall. The Cards drew nine passes and seven figured in the scoring. Two important triples by Enos Slaughter, another by Joe Orengo and a double by Johnny Mize paced the Redbirds’ second-game attack.
The Giants came back from a 3–0 deficit to beat the Phillies, 5–3. Hal Schumacher went the distance after some early trouble and got his tenth win of the season. He also scored the deciding run on Burgess Whitehead’s single.
Washington Senators 6, Boston Red Sox 7
Boston Bees 2, Brooklyn Dodgers 1
Cincinnati Reds 9, Chicago Cubs 4
Cincinnati Reds 6, Chicago Cubs 3
St. Louis Browns 3, Cleveland Indians 8
Chicago White Sox 13, Detroit Tigers 4
Philadelphia Phillies 3, New York Giants 5
Pittsburgh Pirates 6, St. Louis Cardinals 5
Pittsburgh Pirates 5, St. Louis Cardinals 9
Lt. Cdr. Henry “Harry” George Dewolf, RCN, was posted ashore to HMCS Stadacona for reassignment to NSHQ, Ottawa, after a tour of duty as the Commanding Officer of HMCS St Laurent, a River-class destroyer, which he had held since 1937. In Ottawa he served as the Director of Plans and Secretary to the Chiefs of Staff Committee. He returned to sea duty in 1943 as the Commanding Officer of the Tribal-class destroyer HMCS Haida. Known as a very able tactician, Dewolf earned the moniker ‘Hard Over Harry’ for his aggressive ship handling style. He participated in Dunkirk evacuations, North Atlantic convoy duty, two Arctic convoys to Russia, and in numerous night surface actions in the English Channel. Haida, while under his command, was responsible for the destruction of 14 enemy vessels, including three destroyers and one U-boat, totaling 36,000 tons of shipping. Ultimately reaching the rank of Vice-Admiral, Harry Dewolf was Canada’s most decorated sailor from the Second World War. As the Chief of Naval Staff, he earned a reputation as an effective strategic leader that was able to hold his own in the complex world of politics, inter-service rivalries, and international alliances. In addition to his wartime exploits, he was known as superlative staff officer with particular skill in naval, joint, and combined operations planning. Although largely educated in the Royal Navy, he was a proud Canadian and was dedicated to the Canadianization of the naval service.
The Canadian Armoured Corps forms.
A lecturer at the University of British Columbia, Professor Henry Angus, accurately predicts a Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Evidence is developing in many many sources in Shanghai and Tokyo that Japan not only will obstruct in every possible way the turning over of the downtown Shanghai British defense sector to United States Marines, but also will press for the removal from China of all American defense forces. At the press conference tonight the Japanese naval spokesman declared Rear Admiral Moriji Takeda had “demanded, as a matter of course,” that the Japanese forces here take over all of the defense sector in the International Settlement the British would shortly abandon. The spokesman then continued: “It is unnecessary to reiterate that the International Settlement has been utilized as a base of activity by Chungking elements. On account of military necessities, the Japanese now demand the taking over of defense of the Settlement, and Thursday’s vote of the commanders of the foreign defense forces allotting a portion of the British sector to the United States Marines is not final.” When asked if this statement implied that the American defense forces should be withdrawn, the Shanghai spokesman said: “We hope to defend the International Settlement, but whether the hope will be realized immediately or not is a separate question.”
German armed merchant cruiser Orion captured Vichy French steamer Notou (2489grt) in the Pacific at 23-50S, 164-10E. Twenty six natives were landed at Emirau Island on 21 December. The Europeans on the steamer were made prisoners of war.
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 121.28 (-1.76)
Born:
Bruce Beresford, Australian film director (“Driving Miss Daisy”; “Tender Mercies”), in Paddington, New South Wales, Australia.
(Thomas) “Sean” Bonniwell, American rock guitarist and singer-songwriter (The Music Machine – “Talk, Talk”), in San Jose, California (d. 2011).
Alix Dobkin, American folk and feminist singer-songwriter (Lavender Jane Loves Women), in New York, New York (d. 2021).
Died:
Henri Desgrange, 75, French cyclist, journalist and founder of the Tour de France.
Naval Construction:
The Royal Navy Bar-class boom defense vessel HMS Barsound (Z 89) is laid down by W. Simons & Co. Ltd. (Renfrew, Scotland).
The Royal Navy “S”-class (Third Group) submarine HMS Seraph (P 219) is laid down by Vickers Armstrong (Barrow-in-Furness, U.K.).
The Royal Navy minesweeping trawler HMS Liberia (FY 1826) is commissioned. Her first commander is T/Skipper Thomas Fisher Bunce, RNR.
History Diaries 