Winston Churchill addresses the nation in a radio broadcast. Soaring into his usual rhetorical heights, he says:
“If this invasion is going to be tried at all, it does not seem that it can be long delayed. The weather may break at any time. Besides this, it is difficult for the enemy to keep these gatherings of ships waiting about indefinitely while they are bombed every night by our bombers and very often shelled by our warships which are waiting for them outside.
“Therefore, we must regard the next week or so as a very important week for us in our history. It ranks with the days when the Spanish Armada was approaching the Channel and Drake was finishing his game of bowls, or when Nelson stood between us and Napoleon’s Grand Army at Boulogne. We have read about all this in the history books, but what is happening now is on a far greater scale and of far more consequence to the life and future of the world and its civilization than those brave old days of the past. Every man and woman will therefore prepare himself and herself to do his duty whatever it may be, with special pride and care.”
After an entire morning without attacks, 300 German bombers flew across Kent in southern England, United Kingdom and up the Thames Estuary in 2 waves at about 1500 hours. British figthers from No. 11 Group RAF engaged the escorting fighters, while British fighters of No. 12 Group RAF attacked the bombers. Some of those bombers got through and bombed the East End of London. On the same day, Portsmouth and Southampton were also bombed. Off Ramsgate, Kent, destroyers HMS Atherstone and HMS Fernie were attacked in the Strait of Dover, badly damaging HMS Atherstone, which also suffered 6 deaths. Overnight, London and Liverpool were bombed.
Buckingham Palace was hit by a bomb but none of the Royal Family was hurt. A heap of rubble now lies beneath the windows of the Queen’s sitting room and the swimming pool built for the Princesses in the old conservatory wing is in ruins. Under four plane trees on the grounds where royalty receives its guests at its annual garden party there is a crater fifteen feet deep and twenty feet in diameter where the bomb exploded. The King and Queen were both absent when the bomb landed and buried itself deep in the earth at a corner of the swimming pool, under which the palace staff had its air-raid shelter. However, they returned to survey the damage and plan rebuilding as soon as they learned what had happened.
Weather over Great Britain: The heavy cloud cover was expected to disperse overnight giving way to a fine day in most areas, occasional cloud and some local showers in the midlands and the north with the exception of the English Channel and south-eastern England where cloud was expected to continue.
This was the day that Hitler had planned to invade Britain. But in reality, Germany ws nowhere nearer ready for an invasion than they were three or four weeks previous. Britain’s coastal defenses still stood firm along the southern and eastern coastlines, naval ports and other small seaports that were being used by the Royal Navy along the southern coast of England were still intact and most of Britain’s Civil Defence forces were just waiting for the word that would put them into action. On top of this, RAF Bomber Command had been continually bombing ports from Calais to Boulogne and along the Dutch coast destroying many of the barges that were to be used in “Operation Sea Lion”.
RAF Fighter Command was now known to Luftwaffe Intelligence that it had not been defeated and that most aerodromes were on standby. Adolph Hitler had no option but to re-schedule the warning of the invasion which had been scheduled for September 14th, and by bombing London and other important centers it would be regarded as a strategic as well as a tactical concept, and would break the will of the British people and bring the British fighters out to fight a final pitched battle. Hitler now decided that the next warning of the planned invasion would be September 24th 1940.
“The effort of the Germans to secure daylight mastery of the air over England is of course the crux of the whole war. So far, it has failed conspicuously…..for him (Hitler) to try to invade this country without having secured mastery in the air would be a very hazardous undertaking.
“Nevertheless, all his preparations for invasion on a great scale are steadily going forward. Several hundreds of self-propelled barges are moving down the coasts of Europe, from the German and Dutch Harbors to the ports of northern France, from Dunkirk to Brest, and beyond Brest to the French Harbors in the Bay of Biscay.”
- Winston Churchill broadcast September 11th 1940
At the time, the postponement by Hitler was not known, as stated here by Churchill to the people, that an attempted invasion was imminent. The sector controllers had received notification from Keith Park that it was obvious that the Germans had changed tactics from two or three separate attacks during the course of the day, to mass raids of 300 to 400 aircraft that were coming across the Channel in two waves in quick succession. He further informed them that with this change in tactics, that they were not to place too many squadrons to intercept the first wave, and that enough aircraft had to be held back to intercept the second wave which so far had proven to be larger in number than the first.
He told the controllers that paired squadrons were to be used wherever possible. Spitfires were to concentrate of the enemy fighters that were at higher altitude while the Hurricanes are to attack the bombers and close fighter escort. With the two German waves, generally only fifteen minutes apart, Park ordered that those squadrons brought to ‘readiness’ first were to attack the first wave and their escorts. The squadrons available and at “Readiness fifteen minutes” were to attack the second wave. Squadrons held in reserve and ‘Available thirty minutes” were to be vectored to reinforcements to those squadrons requiring assistance and to provide protection to industrial centres and sector airfields.
The morning period was just as quiet as previous mornings of the last four days, and it appeared that things were to take the usual practice of large formations of bombers coming over at about 1700hrs. It was a fine morning, not as warm as many other mornings but pleasant, and many pilots just lazed around outside their dispersal’s doing what they usually done. Some read old newspapers or magazines, many tried to write letters home while the rest fell asleep taking full advantage of the lull in activities. But after lunch, their afternoon ‘siesta’ was interrupted by radar detection of a large build-up from Calais to Ostend. The Luftwaffe were to come early today.
1445 Hours: Most of the radar stations along the Kent coast detected and followed the course patterns of a number of German formations that were building up from Calais along to Ostend. Information as quickly dispatched to Fighter Command headquarters and to 11 Group, where Keith Park ordered his sector controllers to place a number of their squadrons at readiness. As on previous occasions, which was now becoming a regular occurrence, the Duxford Wing of 19, 242 and 310 squadrons was also placed at readiness.
1515 Hours: After the crossing of the Channel, large formations are sighted by the Observer Corps at Foreness, Dover, Folkestone and Bognor. The largest of these crosses the coast near Ramsgate. Estimated as two large formations of one hundred and fifty bombers each making a total of three hundred in total, escorted by Bf 109s and Bf 110s head towards the Thames Estuary and the River Thames. One formation crosses between Ramsgate and Deal while the other is further out over the sea. The Observer Corps also report of a large formation of bombers and escorts that appear to be heading towards Portsmouth or Southampton. Park releases squadrons at Tangmere and Westhampnett from 11 Group activities so that 10 Group can deal with the impending operations over Southampton and Portsmouth.
1530 Hours: Now, most of 11 Group squadrons are airborne. 1(RCAF) Squadron Northolt (Hurricanes) along with 222 Squadron Hornchurch (Spitfires) and 238 Squadron Middle Wallop (Hurricanes) are in action over central Kent, 17 Squadron Debden (Hurricanes), 46 Squadron Stapleford (Hurricanes), Spitfires of 72 Squadron Croydon, 73 Squadron Debden (Hurricanes), 249 Squadron North Weald (Hurricanes) and 266 Squadron Wittering (Spitfires) were involved in heavy combat action spread over the Thames Estuary. 19 Squadron Duxford (Spitfires), 74 Squadron Coltishall (Spitfires) and 266 Squadron had been brought down as usual from 12 Group to protect Hornchurch and North Weald and all of them became involved in action over southern and eastern areas of London.
41 Squadron Hornchurch (Spitfires) covered a large area between the Thames Estuary and the Channel while 92 Squadron Biggin Hill (Spitfires) gave cover to the Channel areas over Dover and Folkestone. Other squadrons airborne were 253 Squadron Kenley (Hurricanes), 303 Squadron Northolt (Hurricanes) and 605 Squadron Croydon (Hurricanes).
It had been estimated that over 300 enemy aircraft in two separate formations and both covered by their Bf 109 escorts flying at higher altitude had crossed the coast between Deal and Foreness then turned 45 degrees over the Thames Estuary and followed the usual pattern of using the River Thames as their flight path. Over the Estuary between Herne Bay and Shoeburyness and Gravesend and Tilbury and huge melee of high altitude dogfights began to develop creating long twisting spirals of vapor trails. Many of the bombers continued on towards London escorted mainly by Bf 110s, the Bf 109s being contained by British fighters. But time was on the side of Parks fighters, the 109s were now at the critical stage of their fuel supply.
The leading bombers had now been spotted by the fighters from 12 Group. At 23,000 feet, they now could attack with the required height advantage. Bader’s 242 Squadron had been given a rest, so now it was up to 19, 74 and 266 Squadrons to fly the flag for Leigh-Mallory’s group.
Between London and Gravesend, AA fire drew their attention to an enemy force of some 150 aircraft flying generally north at 20,000 feet. The Germans were flying in waves of tight formations of Dorniers, Heinkels and Junkers 88s, with protecting fighters. Me 110s were behind the bombers and a formidable force of Me 109s behind them at about 24,000 feet. It had been arranged that the two Spitfire squadrons in the lead (composite 19/266 and 611) were to attack the fighter escort, while 74 Squadron aimed at the bombers. As 74 Squadron went for the force of Junkers 88s, they met fighters diving on them, but they gamely continued their policy of striking for the main formation. For once, Douglas Bader was not in the scrap!
Eight aircraft of 19 Squadron and six of 266 Squadron were leading the Wing. They dived in line astern for a head-on attack on the leading Heinkel 111s and their screening Messerschmitt 110s. After this first insurgence, Red 1, Sqn Ldr B.E. Lane, broke off to port and saw the enemy turning south-east over Sittingbourne in Kent. He went for the nearer of two 110s, blowing bits off its starboard engine and then setting it alight. The other Me 110 opened its throttle and left. Discretion being the better part…. Red 1 tried for the Heinkels and saw some flames emerging jaggedly from one, but nothing more.
Sergeant Jennings as Red 2 finished off a Heinkel, and moved on to the end one of 15 Me 110s. It fell out of the force and crashed in a wood somewhere remote between Sittingbourne and Maidstone. Red 3 was Sergeant H.A.C. Roden. He took on 30 Me110s, endeavoring to form a circle. Pieces flew from the port wing of one and it took a shallow dive — inconclusively.
Flt Sgt Hawin at Red 4 knocked lumps off both engines of a Heinkel 111 from a mere 50 yards. The bomber went into a tell-tale spiral. Then a Dornier decided to go for him — unlikely but true. It shattered his windscreen and registered a hit on his engine. The Spitfire was not in good shape. Hawin switched off his engine and forced-landed in Kent with no drastic damage to either the fighter or himself.
- John Frayn Turner Battle of Britain Airlife 1998 p118
In the same melee, Green Section did not have the best of luck. F/O L.A.Haines flying Green 1 climbed to attack some 40 Bf 110s at a higher altitude than the Heinkels. As usual they went into a defensive circle, but F/O Lane decided to go straight into one of them. As he did so, a Bf 109 came down on him and the Spitfire was hit in both wings and was forced to crash land his aircraft. Green 2 was F/O F.Dolezal and he took aim at one of the Bf 109s, and as it went into a slow dive belching black smoke Dolezal followed it down but was hit by a descending Bf 109 and its gunfire ripped open the side of the Spitfire and the pilot sustained injuries in the knee and leg. He managed to get the aircraft back to base and land safely.
In the meantime, two heavily escorted Luftflotte 3 formations from Cherbourg and Seine Bay were heading towards Southampton and Portsmouth and 10 Group released squadrons from Tangmere, Westhampnett and a flight from Middle Wallop. Most of the British fighters intercepted the enemy off the coast at Selsey Bill and intense combat ensued. Although some of the bombers managed to get through the fighter defense, both the towns of Portsmouth and Southampton received bomb damage. But most of the formations and their escorts were scattered and were forced to turn back.
In all, it had not been the best of days to either side. RAF Fighter Command would have to be commended for the effort that they made in defense, but it came at a price. For the first time, Fighter Command casualties exceeded that of the Luftwaffe. Many of the bombers managed to get through with London again suffering considerable damage. The Woolwich Arsenal was hit as well as much of the dockland areas again. Finsbury, Holborn, Bermondsey and Central London were hit once again.
A black day for Fighter Command was September 11 with combat losses exceeding those of the Luftwaffe. Two major coordinated attacks by the Luftwaffe were launched, both in the afternoon. The first, comprising He 111s of KG 1 and KG 26 headed up the Thames Estuary towards London, with a fighter escort 200 strong. The defending squadrons made little impression on the escorts at first and lost heavily; some of them had been scrambled too late and were caught on the climb. As on the 7th, the 110s formed a holding pattern in the Croydon area, while the single-seaters ran themselves low on fuel. As a result, the Heinkels were quickly left without an escort and suffered in consequence, losing 10, plus four more which force landed in France, while a further 120 were damaged.
Meanwhile Luftflotte 3 mounted a raid on Portsmouth and Southampton, causing little damage. Luftwaffe combat losses for the day totaled 21, and another six force-landed. Of these, only four were Bf 109s, although a fifth crashed as a result of a midair collision over France. Collisions were not that unusual; four Ju 87s were lost to this cause on a training mission also. Six Spitfires and nineteen Hurricanes were lost and a further six fighters crash landed. Twelve pilots were killed and four severely injured. This was an exchange rate that Fighter Command could not afford.
- Mike Spick Battle of Britain Salamander 1990 p134
In another account, Wood and Dempster while painting a similar picture of the events of the day, come up with different figures as regards the casualty rate, and they lead us into the evening raids by the German bombers:
In all this widespread activity, Fighter Command flew 678 sorties. The scoreboard at the end of the day was in reality depressing, R.A.F.losses being 29 aircraft, 17 pilots killed and 6 wounded, compared with German casualties for the 24 hours of 25 aircraft. K.G.26 was the worst hit, with eight He 111s shot down. At the time it was estimated German losses were far higher, but the red in the British balance sheet on the final reckoning is accounted for by the fact that many squadrons became entangled with the escorting formations who attacked from above.
As the evening drew on jamming of British radar became more general, and four stations reported interference before darkness fell. Throughout the night harassing raids moved up and down the country, while London was receiving a heavy attack from 180 bombers. Merseyside was the secondary target, while single aircraft were over Scotland, the Bristol Channel, Lincolnshire and Norfolk with Fliegerdivision IX minelaying on the south and east coasts in preparation for invasion.
- Wood and Dempster The Narrow Margin McCraw-Hill 1961 p346
One of the most notable observations made by strategists and historians ws the fact that the German Luftwaffe was making no attempt to make any attack on British military targets. As long as the bombers were over London, they dropped their bombs at random and being as the city’s population occupied a greater percentage of the area than military installations it was obvious that the Luftwaffe was targeting the civilian areas with no thought regarding innocent people and property. But we must not lose track of reality, because in their night raids over enemy territory, RAF Bomber Command were bombing German cities, although the greatest percentage of damage was being done to military or industrial targets. In any case, innocent civilians would not always avoid being killed or injured in any form of bombing raid.
On both sides of the Channel, the thought of the invasion of Britain was still to be given a date and become a reality. Adolph Hitler was to call a meeting and this was now expected to happen within the next few days. Churchill, on the other hand was emphasizing to his military leaders that they must prepare themselves as if the invasion was to happen on the very next day. Regarding the invasion, Winston Churchill made a broadcast to the people, as was the normal policy that the British Prime Minister had implemented in keeping the people informed.
Again London was pounded by night bombing from 2100 hours until 0430 hours the following morning, and still the RAF had no answer to these night attacks. Hundreds of searchlights picked out the invading bombers but it all seemed in a lost cause because of the high altitudes that they were flying at. London’s dockland is again hit as well as parts of Central London and Buckingham Palace sustains damage and gives reason for the Queen (now the Queen Mother) to state “….now the palace has been bombed, I feel now that I can look at the people of the East End straight in the eye”. But this attack on London was a disaster for the Luftwaffe. A formation of He IIIs from KG 26 were bombing the northern areas of London, notably Paddington, Finsbury and Islington when they were intercepted by Hurricanes and Spitfires from 249 Squadron North Weald (Hurricanes), 609 Squadron Hornchurch (Spitfires) and 41 Squadron Hornchurch (Spitfires). The fighters broke up the formation who tried desperately to evade the deadly Spitfires while the Hurricanes kept the Bf 110 escort at bay and who were fighting desperately for their own survival. 7 Heinkels were shot down in this battle, while 12 more limped back towards home nursing burning aircraft, smoking engines and air conditioned cockpits.
Other areas that were the targets of the German bombers were Merseyside, Bristol Channel and South Wales, as well as isolated raids on towns in Norfolk, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire.
RAF Casualties:
1100 Hours: Stapleford. Hurricane P3525. 46 Squadron Stapleford
Sgt S. Andrews killed. (Crashed and burnt out for reasons unknown after an uneventful patrol)
1530 Hours: Thames Estuary. Hurricane V7232. 46 Squadron Stapleford
Sgt W.A. Peacock listed as missing. (Failed to return after combat action. Presumed crashed into the sea)
1600 Hours: Romney Marsh. Hurricane P3770. 504 Squadron Hendon
P/O A.W. Clarke listed as missing. (Crashed and burnt out near Newchurch after combat over coast)
1600 Hours: Croydon. Spitfire II P7298. 611 Squadron Digby
Sgt F.E.R. Shepherd killed. (Caught fire during combat. Pilot Bailed out but aircraft crashed into houses)
1600 Hours: Off Selsey Bill. Hurricane V6667. 213 Squadron Tangmere
Sgt A. Wojcicki listed as missing. (Shot down in Channel during combat with Bf 110s. Body never recovered)
1615 Hours: South London. Hurricane V6665. 303 Squadron Northolt
F/O A. Cebrzynski died of injuries 19.9.40 (Shot down during combat. Made a failed attempted crash landing)
1615 Hours: Romney Marshes. Hurricane R2682 238 Squadron Middle Wallop
Sgt S. Duszynski listed as missing. (Last seen pursuing Ju 88 over Romney. Aircraft crashed at Lydd)
1615 Hours: Dungeness. Spitfire K9793. 92 Squadron Biggin Hill
P/O F.N. Hargreaves listed as missing. (Failed to return after combat action. Presumed crashed into the sea)
1615 Hours: Tunbridge Wells. Hurricane V7240. 238 Squadron Middle Wallop
Fl/Lt D.P. Hughes listed as missing. (Last seen intercepting Ju 88s. Failed to return to base)
1620 Hours: Off Selsey Bill. Spitfire N3282. 602 Squadron Westhampnett
Sgt M.H. Sprague killed. (Shot down by Bf 110s over Channel. Pilots body washed ashore at Brighton 10.10.40)
1625 Hours: South London. Hurricane V7242. 303 Squadron Northolt
Sgt S. Wojtowicz killed. (Crashed and burnt out at Westerham after being shot down by Bf 109s)
1730 Hours: Channel area. Blenheim. 235 Squadtron Thorney Island
P/O P.C. Wickins-Smith listed as missing.
P/O A.W.V. Green listed as missing
Sgt R.D.H. Watts listed as missing. (Believed shot down by Bf 109 during escort mission to Calais)
1730 Hours: Channel area. Blenheim. 235 Squadron Thorney Island
P/O N.B. Shorrocks listed as missing.
Fl/Lt F.W. Flood listed as missing
Sgt B.R. Sharp listed as missing. (Failed to return from escort mission to Calais)
1900 Hours: Smeeth (Kent). Spitfire P9464. 92 Squadron Biggin Hill
P/O H.D. Edwards killed. (Shot down by Bf 109 during combat action and crashed into woods)
Hans-Joachim Marseille scored his third kill when he shot down a British Hurricane fighter over the French coast at 1705 hours. His fighter received heavy damage and he was forced to crash land at Wissant, France.
Losses for the day are roughly even in the mid-20s, with many accounts putting RAF losses slightly higher for a change. While the Luftwaffe bombers suffer heavy losses over London, the British fighters and bombers also incur losses. The RAF loses half a dozen Spitfires and 19 Hurricanes, which is a pretty bad day. Worst of all for the RAF, it loses a dozen pilots killed and another four badly wounded.
While the Luftwaffe has a good day, more troublesome facts about its equipment are becoming apparent. The Bf 109 fighters, the only air superiority fighter in the Luftwaffe, operate at the extreme limits of its range over London. Many fighter pilots find they must choose between combat or returning back to France before their fuel runs out. Landings on French beaches by fighters that have run out of fuel or sustained damage are not uncommon.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 9 Blenheims on a daylight sea sweep and ports reconnaissance; 1 aircraft bombed a convoy off’ Dutch coast.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 133 aircraft overnight to 8 targets in Germany and to the Channel ports. 2 Hampdens and 1 Wellington lost. 8 further Hampdens laid mines in the Rivers Elbe and Gironde without loss. Bomber Command bombs Berlin again, damaging railway installations and the airfield. Other targets are the north German ports (Bremen, Wilhelmshaven, Hamburg), warehouses at Hamm, Cologne, Coblenz, Ehrang and Mannheim), a munitions plant in Frankfurt, oil installations at Monheim, and the usual airfields in northwestern Europe.
Winston Churchill gave a radio address saying that a German invasion of Britain could not be delayed for much longer if it was to be tried at all, so “we must regard the next week or so as a very important week for us in our history. It ranks with the days when the Spanish Armada was approaching the Channel and Drake was finishing his game of bowls, or when Nelson stood between us and Napoleon’s Grand Army at Boulogne. We have read about all this in the history books, but what is happening now is on a far greater scale and of far more consequence to the life and future of the world and its civilization than those brave old days of the past. Every man and woman will therefore prepare himself and herself to do his duty whatever it may be, with special pride and care.”
The coastal guns at “Hellfire Corner” open up again, exchanging bombardments that hit Dover and Cap Gris Nez.
The Lord Mayor of London starts an Air Raid Relief Fund. It quickly receives massive support.
The Nederlandsche SS (Dutch SS) was formed.
Adolf Hitler meets with Vidkun Quisling and Reichskommissar for Norway Josef Terboven. With all political parties in Norway outlawed except for Quisling’s pro-German party, Quisling has become a key player in maintaining peace in the country.
Generalfeldmarshall Fedor von Bock begins taking his Army Group B headquarters east in preparation for Operation BARBAROSSA.
Former French Interior Minister Georges Mandel, who was held in Morocco for conspiring with the British to continue fighting, has joined General Maurice Gustave Gamelin and former Premiers Edouard Daladier and Paul Reynaud in “administrative internment” in the medieval fortress of the Chateau de Chazeron near Vichy.
At 0835 hours, six French warships passed through the Strait of Gibraltar at the speed of 25 knots. Belatedly realizing they were heading for Dakar in French West Africa, HMS Renown and three destroyers departed at 1600 hours in an attempt to intercept. Overnight, the French fleet stopped at Casablanca to refuel. All but one of the cruisers arrive at Dakar just as Operation MENACE is about to get underway. Admiral Sir Dudley North, Flag Officer, North Atlantic at Gibraltar is held responsible for allowing their passage. He is relieved of his command.
The fact that the British let the powerful flotilla pass through the straits without incident amazes both the French and British governments since the cruisers are easy targets without air cover and with minimal escorts. They easily could have been attacked by air, sea and land bombardment. Gibraltar commander Admiral Sir Dudley North is relieved of his command. Ultimately North is exonerated since the true blame lies with Whitehall. However, the smell of this incident lingers due to subsequent events, and North’s career essentially is over.
The Italian advance from Libya toward Egypt continues. By most accounts, they have not yet crossed the border. There are air battles overhead as the RAF tries to slow them down.
In Malta, it is a quiet day. Governor Lt. General Dobbie sends a request for more anti-aircraft guns in addition to the 60 already “on order,” making a total request of 92 in all. He also requests searchlights and sound locators. A patrolling Skua reports spotting two Italian destroyers at Augusta, another destroyer outside Messina, and other small craft in Syracuse harbor.
U-28, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Günter Kuhnke, in attacks on convoy OA.210 damaged British steamer Harpenden (4678grt) and sank Dutch steamer Maas (1966grt) in 55-34N, 15-56W. Between 0326 and 0328 hours U-28 fired torpedoes at the convoy OA.210 and observed hits on two ships and heard a detonation on a third. However, the Maas was sunk and the Harpenden severily damaged. The 1,966-ton Maas was carrying ballast and was headed for Rimouski, Quebec.
The Harpenden was taken in tow and arrived five days later at the Clyde, where she was beached in Kilchattan Bay. The 4,678 ton-Harpenden was carrying ballast and was bound for St. Lawrence, Quebec.
U-28 also attacked a tanker in the convoy and claimed damage to her, but no confirmation is available.
U-99, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Otto Kretschmer, sank steamer Albonic (2468grt) northwest of Ireland. Albonic had departed Wabana, Newfoundland on 31 August and was later declared missing with the loss of all hands. At 0716 hours the unescorted Albionic (Master Harry Thompson) was hit by one torpedo from U-99 and sank within 20 seconds south-southeast of Rockall. The master, 23 crew members and one gunner were lost. The 2,468-ton Albionic was carrying iron ore and was headed for Liverpool, England.
Destroyer HMS Jackal and HMS Electra departed Greenock for Loch Alsh at 1530/9th, while destroyers HMS Versatile and HMS Vimy were ordered to Loch Alsh on the 9th. The four ships then departed Loch Alsh at 0730/11th with minelayers HMS Southern Prince, HMS Port Napier, HMS Port Quebec and HMS Menestheus on minelaying operation SN 41. After its completion the ships arrived back at Loch Alsh at 1300/12th, the destroyers departed for Scapa Flow at 1945 and arrived at 0630/13th.
Destroyers HMS Matabele, HMS Ashanti, HMS Tartar, and HMS Punjabi departed Scapa Flow at 0600 for Rosyth.
Destroyers HMS Duncan and HMS Maori arrived in the Tyne at 1800/11th to escort store carrier Kyle Fisher (520grt) to Rosyth. They departed the Tyne at 1200/12th. Destroyer HMS Somali took over the escort at Rosyth, and departed with Kyle Fisher at 1500/14th for Scapa Flow.
Destroyers HMS Wolverine, HMS Vanoc, HMS Saladin, and HMS Volunteer conducted a BOARD sweep off the French coast during the night of 11/12 September.
Submarine HMS Porpoise laid minefield FD.26, 48 mines along a 1.2 mile line 205° from 46-24-48N, 01-59-45W.
Destroyers HMS Atherstone and HMS Fernie were escorting convoy CW.11 when attacked and bombed by German aircraft off Ramsgate. Atherstone was badly damaged near South Edinburgh Buoy, with six ratings killed. Fernie continued with the convoy, while tug HMS Turquoise towed Atherstone to Chatham, where her repairs were completed in early January.
Destroyers HMS Campbell, HMS Garth, and HMS Vesper patrolled off the Dutch coast during the night of 11/12 September.
Dover was bombed and shelled. MTB.71 was set afire and MTB.29 damaged. MTB.71 required four months to repair, but MTB.29 was quickly returned to service.
In a British attack on Calais, an Albacore of 826 Squadron force landed after being damaged by German fighters. Lt A S. Downes was slightly wounded, and together with S/Lt C. R. Mallett, rescued by a MTB. Naval Airman J. A M. Stevens was killed in the attack. In a second aircraft, S/Lt T. Winstanley and S/Lt (A) J. D. Watson were wounded, but got back, and in a third, S/Lt E. G. Brown and Naval Airman R. E. Mathews were badly wounded, with S/Lt A M. Tuke escaping unscathed.
Steam trawler Beathwood (209grt) was sunk by German bombing one mile east of Montrose Coast Guard Lookout. Seven crewmen were lost, and there were two survivors.
Steam trawler Respondo (209grt) was lost off Old Head of Kinsale to unknown cause.
British steamer Norman Queen (957grt) and the Swedish Torkel (1236grt) were damaged by German bombing in the Port of London.
Tanker Alexia (8016grt) was damaged by German bombing in 57-26N, 02-02E, and assisted by tug Buccaneer.
German steamer Cordoba (4611grt) was sunk on a mine off Le Havre.
ENCOUNTER WITH VICHY FRENCH NAVY FORCE Y
At 0512, destroyer HMS Hotspur, which was submarine hunting with destroyers HMS Griffin, and HMS Encounter, sighted French cruiser Force Y. Battlecruiser HMS Renown (presumably in Gibraltar) signaled the French commander and asked their destination, adding that they would not be allowed to enter a German port.
The French replied that they were southbound. The British commander ordered them into Casablanca and that if they proceeded further they would be stopped. Soon after this, HMS Hotspur lost contact, and HMS Griffin was sent into Gibraltar to refuel.
HMS Renown with destroyers HMS Griffin and HMS Vidette departed Gibraltar at 1600 to intercept French force Y. Destroyer HMS Velox, which was refueling when Renown departed, sailed when refueling was completed and joined her at sea.
At 0800/12th, destroyers HMS Hotspur, HMS Encounter, and HMS Wishart, which after refueling had sailed at 2100/11th from Gibraltar, joined the HMS Renown force.
At that time, destroyer HMS Wrestler was at Gibraltar, destroyers HMS Gallant, ORP Garland and HMS Firedrake were under repairs there, and the remaining Gibraltar destroyers were employed on Operation MENACE.
Submarine HMS Triad departed Gibraltar on the 11th for patrol, as did submarine HMS Truant on the 12th for patrol off Gibraltar.
French Force Y put into Casablanca but the light cruisers left the following morning at 0400. The large French destroyers later departed on the 16th for Dakar arriving on the 19th.
HMS Vidette off Casablanca sighted and fired upon French large destroyer Milan at 0405, but no damage was done and the French ship retired under smoke towards Casablanca.
French submarine Amphitrite sighted HMS Vidette but did not attack her. Submarines Amazone and Sybille, also on patrol off Casablanca, made no contact with the British ships.
Anti-aircraft cruiser HMS Coventry joined convoy BS.4 which was being bombed in the Red Sea, and remained in company until the 13th off Massawa.
Convoy OB.212 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyer HMS Warwick, sloop HMS Enchantress, and corvette HMS Coreopsis. Anti-submarine trawler HMS Arab joined on the 12th and minelayer HMS Southern Prince on the 13th. Arab and Southern Prince detached on the 13th, Warwick and Coreopsis on the 14th, and Enchantress on the 16th.
Convoy FN.278 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers HMS Wallace and HMS Wolfhound, and arrived in the Tyne on the 13th.
Convoy MT.166 departed Methil, and arrived in the Tyne on the 12th.
Convoy FS.278 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyers HMS Vivacious and HMS Woolston, and arrived at Southend on the 14th.
Convoy SL.47 departed Freetown escorted by armed merchant cruiser HMS Carnarvon Castle until the 26th, when destroyers HMS Harvester, HMS Highlander, HMS Hurricane, armed merchant cruiser HMS Mooltan, sloop HMS Fowey, plus corvettes HMS Anemone, HMS Mallow, and HMS Peony joined. Sloop HMS Weston joined on the 27th, with destroyer HMS Sabre only joining the escort for the 28th. On that date, all the escorts except Mooltan and Weston were detached, and they left on the 30th, when anti-aircraft ship HMS Curacoa and corvette HMS Primrose joined. The convoy arrived on 1 October.
Today in Washington, President Roosevelt made his first “political speech” of the campaign to the convention of the Teamsters’ Union. He returned from Hyde Park this morning. received a confidential report from a naval mission on new hemispheric defense sites; received members of Canadian-American Defense Commission; heard some reports on the political situation and witnessed the swearing in of Frank C. Walker as Postmaster General.
The Senate passed a bill granting $500,000,000 to the Export-Import Bank for loans to Latin America and heard the farewell speech of Senator Ashurst, defeated for re-election. The Finance Committee reported a sharply revised version of the House excess profits and amortization bill.
The House approved a conference report on a bill banning interstate shipment of prison-made goods and passed a bill codifying and revising the naturalization laws. Its committee investigating the National Labor Relations Board heard several witnesses.
A joint Senate and House committee approved tonight a compromise version of a peacetime conscription bill making approximately 16,500,000 men from 21 to 35 years old, inclusive, immediately liable to call for a year’s military training. The revised measure, to be polished up finally by the committee tomorrow, goes first to the senate, with quick action predicted there. The house then is expected to give final legislative approval before the end of the week. Both houses previously had passed the bill in different forms. Striking out a house provision to delay the draft for 60 days while attempts were made to fill the army’s quota of 400,000 trainees by voluntary enlistments, the joint committee voted to fix the age limits of those subject to draft at from 21 to 35, inclusive. The House had adopted a 21 to 44, age bracket after the Senate had fixed the ages from 21 to 30, inclusive.
The Senate approved legislation today to provide $500,000,000 of loans through the Export-Import bank to bolster South American economy against Nazi influence. The loans, proposed by President Roosevelt in a message to congress July 22, are designed to assist in “orderly marketing” of Latin America’s surplus products in the war-disrupted European markets, promote United States trade with the republics to the south, and develop sources in this hemisphere for critical materials such as tin and rubber.
Urged by President Roosevelt to act with “as little delay as possible,” the House passed with a chorus of “ayes” today legislation designed to help rout “fifth columnists” and prevent alien Communists, Nazis and Fascists from becoming United States citizens. The measure, a proposed new nationality code, now goes to the senate. Not one word of opposition was voiced in House debate. Chairman Sabath, Illinois Democrat, of the Rules Committee placed in the record a letter from Mr. Roosevelt which said: “I am informed that the opinion is entertained in some quarters that its enactment might serve to curb certain fifth column activities.”
Flatly approving the conscription of non-cooperative industries for national defense purposes President Roosevelt delivered a major address of his 1940 campaign tonight and made of it an appeal for the support of organized labor. He spoke, in the first place, before a convention of the Teamsters union, which earlier in the day had endorsed him for a third term, he recited the gains for labor which he contended were the result of new deal legislation, and, emphatically, he asserted that national defense needs require no relaxation of these reforms. “I am convinced,” he said, “that a breakdown of existing labor and social legislation would weaken rather than increase our efforts for defense. Continuance of them means the preservation of the efficiency of labor. It means the return to work of several million still unemployed.”
Characterizing the third term as one of the most important issues of the campaign, Wendell L. Willkie said this afternoon that he would probably make his anti-third term speech at Amarillo next Tuesday. It will be Constitution Day in Texas when the Republican nominee visits the city and he regards it as an appropriate day in which to attack the growth of centralized power in the office of President.
The United States Navy ordered the construction of six Cleveland-class light cruisers for fiscal year 1941. All six ships were to be built by the William Cramp & Sons Shipbuilding Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.
The very first 1/4-ton reconnaissance and liaison car or “Jeep”, as built by the first producer, American Bantam Car Co., was delivered to the U.S. Army Holabird Quartermaster Depot.
Major League Baseball:
At Ebbets Field, Dizzy Dean makes a triumphant return to the Cubs, setting down the Dodgers, 3–2, in game 2 of a doubleheader. Reiser homers in the 7th against Diz, now pitching sidearm. The Cubs also win the opener, 8–5, behind the pitching of Claude Passeau.
With their aces, Bucky Walters and Paul Derringer, operating effectively, the Cincinnati Reds said their 1940 farewells to the Bees today by sweeping a doubleheader, 8–0 and 3–1. It was the nineteenth victory for each pitcher.
There were two ninth-inning homers at the Polo Grounds yesterday, but neither benefited the Giants, who dropped a doubleheader to the Cardinals, 7–4 and 3–2. Clyde Shoun and Bill McGee got the wins for the Cardinals.
Pittsburgh combined a walk with five straight hits for five runs in the ninth inning to turn what had been a tight game into a decisive 9-to-3 victory over the Phillies today. Paced by Debs Garms, Arky Vaughan, and Maurice Van Robays, the Pirates took the lead in the third inning and were never behind, although the Phils tied the count in the fifth.
In a doubleheader, the Yankees’ first-game win at Cleveland puts them atop the American League, as Ernie Bonham beats Bob Feller, 5–3. A 2nd game loss, 5–3, aided by Babe Dahlgren’s costly error, drops them out of first, and they will never reach first again. Joe McCarthy will hold this error against Babe, contending that it cost them the pennant. He whispers to many that Dahlgren is a marijuana user, and will trade him after the season. The Dahlgren family will for years maintain that McCarthy essentially blackballed him out of the game and defamed him, though his .253 over 5 seasons might have played a part.
The Tigers rout the Red Sox 11–7, collecting 18 hits, to briefly take over first place in the American League. Three teams will hold first place today. Hank Greenberg and Bobby Doerr homered for the Tigers.
The White Sox, beaten five straight times by Washington’s Dutch Leonard, turned loose a sixteen-hit attack against the knuckleball hurler today to defeat the Senators, 7–4. Joe Kuhel led the way with his twenty-third home run, a triple and two singles. It was the fourteenth victory for Johnny Rigney.
Philadelphia’s effort to pull up from the cellar was foiled today, 3–0, by the St. Louis Browns, who thus widened their margin over the Athletics to two games. Each team got only five hits, but the St. Louis quintet off George Caster included triples by George McQuinn and Elden Auker, a double by Rip Radcliff and Harlond Clift’s eighteenth home run.
Chicago Cubs 8, Brooklyn Dodgers 5
Chicago Cubs 3, Brooklyn Dodgers 2
Cincinnati Reds 8, Boston Bees 0
Cincinnati Reds 3, Boston Bees 1
Washington Senators 4, Chicago White Sox 7
New York Yankees 3, Cleveland Indians 1
New York Yankees 3, Cleveland Indians 5
Boston Red Sox 7, Detroit Tigers 11
St. Louis Cardinals 7, New York Giants 4
St. Louis Cardinals 3, New York Giants 2
Pittsburgh Pirates 9, Philadelphia Phillies 3
Philadelphia Athletics 0, St. Louis Browns 3
Severe fighting, which began in the last week of August when Chinese forces raided and demolished the Shinkiachwan-Taiyuan railway in Eastern Shansi in half a dozen places, still is continuing and now is admittedly a continuous battle that has lasted more than a fortnight. Official Japanese sources declare all the tracks have been repaired except one break, across which passengers and freight are transshipped, but the repairs have been carried out under continuous machine-gun and artillery fire.
On the eastern part of the railway, the Japanese claim to have gained the upper hand after an all-night battle Tuesday. They say the Chinese forces broke into rapid retreat with Japanese forces in hot pursuit. This protracted struggle is said to have disarranged Japanese plans for an Autumn offensive against the Eighth Route Chinese Army in Northern Shansi.
Japanese Army Major General Issaku Nishihara reported to Tokyo, complaining that French authorities were delaying negotiations regarding Indochina matters.
Travelers from Indo-China reported today that the situation there was most critical, and that Governor General Admiral Jean Decoux had sent three telegrams to President Roosevelt pointing out the seriousness of the Japanese demands. These demands were said to include:
- Three airdromes in Tonkin, each accommodating a personnel of 8,000 men;
- Free use of the French naval base at Cam Ranh Bay;
- Passage of 60,000 troops through Tonkin.
Reportedly, General Issaku Nishihara called on Admiral Decoux at midnight with the Japanese demands, and that Admiral Decoux, who was in bed, replied:
“I am not getting up. If the Japanese want to declare war, they can do it tomorrow morning.”
A Chinese military spokesman announced today that Chinese troops had destroyed the 150-yard Yunnan railway bridge spanning the Red River at the Indo-China-Yunnan border and were proceeding with the destruction of the “entire railway line,” which is French-owned, in Chinese territory. The action was said to have been taken to balk a Japanese invasion of China over the railway by Japanese troops passing through Indo-China.
Okuda Ojiro was appointed acting consul general to Hawaii. Okuda was in charge of reporting on movements of U.S. ships in the harbor, much of which appeared in American newspapers.
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 129.36 (-0.25)
Born:
Brian De Palma, film director and screenwriter (“Carrie”, “Body Double”, “Dressed to Kill”), in Newark, New Jersey.
Robert Palmer, American businessman and last CEO of Digital Equipment Corporation, in Gorman, Texas.
Theodore Olson, American attorney (42nd Solicitor General of the United States, 2001-04), in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2024).
Jackie Hernández, Cuban MLB shortstop and third baseman (World Series Champions-Pirates, 1971; California Angels, Minnesota Twins, Kansas City Royals, Pittsburgh Pirates), in Central Tinguaro, Cuba (d. 2019).
Larry Bearnarth, MLB pitcher (New York Mets, Milwaukee Brewers), in New York, New York (d. 2000).
Bernie Dwyer, British rock drummer (Freddie and The Dreamers — “I’m Telling You Now”), in Manchester, England, United Kingdom (d. 2002).
Ajit Singh, economist, in Lahore, British India (d. 2015).
Died:
Issy Smith, 49, Australian-born British soldier and recipient of the Victoria Cross (coronary thrombosis).
Naval Construction:
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Type IXC U-boat U-507 is laid down by Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg (werk 303).
The U.S. Navy Gato-class submarine USS Drum (SS-228) is laid down by the Portsmouth Navy Yard (Kittery, Maine, U.S.A.).
The U.S. Navy tranport USS McCawley (AP-10) [later attack transport USS McCawley (APA-4)] is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Harry Dickinson McHenry USN
The Royal Canadian Navy patrol vessel HMCS Cougar (Z 15) (ex yacht Breezin’ Thru) is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Lieutenant William Reid Kirkland, RCNR.
The Royal Navy Flower-class corvette HMS Asphodel (K 56) is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Lieutenant Commander (retired) Kenneth Warden Stewart, RN.
History Diaries 