World War II in real time

Day 349 of World War II, August 14th 1940

Battle of Britain

The weather continued to worsen and prevented the Luftwaffe from following up the raids of the 13th with a large attack, even one at Gruppe strength. Instead several missions were planned but without an all-out effort, not much was achieved.

At 1200 hours, sixteen Bf 110s of Epr.Gr 210 were able to again elude discovery and attack RAF Manston airfield, losing several Zerstörers to the defending anti-aircraft fire. The Messerschmitt of Lt. Brinkmann was hit by the airfield defenses and collided with the Bf 110 of Uffz. Steding, causing both planes to crash to the ground. Everyone on board was killed except for Gefr. Schank, who was captured by the British with severe wounds. Only four bombs hit the airfield destroying a Puss Moth, damaging three Blenheims of No 600 Squadron and four hangars were left blazing at the airfield. Three and a half squadrons of 11 Group (forty-two fighters of RAF Nos. 32, 65, 610 and 615 Sqdrns) were in the area but mainly above cloud dealing with Bf 110s and Bf 109s from JG 26. Fighter Command lost 9 fighters while JG 26 lost one Bf 109.

At 12:00 hours, five raids totalling some 300 aircraft approached the Kentish Coast between North Foreland and Dover. At 12:20 the main Stuka force attacked Hawkinge and Dover, with a detachment sinking the Gate Light Vessel killing two crew. This was the attack that the Bf 109s of JG 26 were escorting when they became entangled with the fighters from 11 Group. The successful intervention of JG 26 allowed only one Ju 87 to be lost from the raid. A mid-afternoon raid by Do 17s on Pevensey was thwarted and the attackers forced to jettison their load, but a later raid on Pevensey put four bombs in the radar station.

Middle Wallop Aerodrome was attacked four times between 17:07 and 19:35 hours. About 20 HE were dropped and two hangars were reported to have been seriously damaged. Three airmen and one civilian were killed. During the same period, Andover Aerodrome was also attacked, 15 HE bombs being dropped which destroyed a transmitting set in the centre of a group of W/T masts, and killed a civilian operator. About 20 HE were dropped in the St Denys area of Southampton at 17:05 hours causing damage to the main railway tracks and to rolling stock. The main line was blocked with debris.

Fighters of II./JG 52 lost three more aircraft and pilots over the Channel. In the afternoon the Ju 88s of I./LG 1 bombed the railway station at Westons Mare and the Whitchurch airport. For alittle over two hours beginning at 15:51 hours, He 111s of III./KG 27 raided the Bristol Aeroplane Company at Filton again and a factory north of Bristol. The bombers were intercepted over the Severn Estuary by Spitfires from RAF No. 92 Squadron. Three He 111s were shot down, two of the bombers crashing in Somerset and the third lost in the Bristol Channel.

Although no operational training units were involved in the battle, No. 7 OTU at Hawarden, Flintshire, formed a battle flight to deal with emergencies. On the 14th, after hearing explosions and gun-fire in the area, Wing Commander Hallings-Pott accompanied by S/L J. S. McLean and P/O P. V. Ayerst, took off in Spitfires and intercepted a He 111, shooting it down near Chester.

In a battle over Dover, Bf 109s of JG 51 engaged British warplanes. Experten of JG 51 adding to their scores were Ofw. Arthur Dau of 7./JG 51 shot down his sixth Allied aircraft – a Hurricane, Hptm. Walter Oesau of 7./JG 51 brought his score to fourteen with a destroyed Hurricane and Oblt. Josef Priller of 6./JG 51 added to his victory total by defeating a British Spitfire.

There was very slight Luftwaffe activity at night, but a He 111, which appeared in North Wales, was subsequently shot down near Sealand by anti-aircraft fire. Oberst Alois Stöckl, Gruppenkommandeur of KG 55, was killed in the He 111 near Wallop and was replaced with Oblt. Hans Körte the next day. There were a few raids in Aberdeenshire and over convoys off Kinnaird's Head.

Newspaper: Daily Hareld



Air War over Europe

There is an unusual air raid alert in Berlin around midnight, only the fourth of the war, but it appears to be a false alarm. The British in fact raid oil installations, airfields and railway targets at Bordeaux, Cologne, and other typical targets in northwestern Europe.

German Government

The debate and confusion about Operation Sea Lion continues within the German high command. Admiral Raeder yesterday told Hitler that the Kriegsmarine cannot protect and supply any landings on a broad front. Today, army Commander-in-chief Field Marshal Heinrich Alfred Hermann Walther von Brauchitsch, who is the projected leader of the operation, has his say. Von Brauchitsch proposes just the opposite of what Raeder suggested was feasible, namely, landings on a broad front with multiple landing sites (similar to what the Allies later did on 6 June 1944). This makes perfectly good sense from an army perspective, stretching out the British defenses and creating multiple opportunities for success. However, it makes no sense whatsoever from a naval perspective because the Kriegsmarine simply doesn't have the ships to supply and defend multiple beachheads.

This illustrates that none of the branches of the Wehrmacht have the slightest understanding of what the others need and are capable of delivering. The confusion is exacerbated by the fact that there is little communication between the German army, navy and air force and even less cooperation (the Luftwaffe, for instance, absolutely blocks the creation of a separate marine air force as an infringement on its own powers). Hitler is fine with all of this - part of his managerial style is to create warring fiefdoms within the Nazi state, with himself as the only one who has all the information and the ability to coordinate solutions - the ultimate arbiter. It is a variant on the Shakespearean "I want around me men who are fat" dictum from "Julius Caesar," and it enables him to maintain absolute power within the Nazi state (Hitler also follows the dictum to the letter with crony Hermann Goering).

The larger planning flaw is that nobody has anticipated being placed in this situation so quickly, with France vanquished and England the next step. The Germans are not used to or comfortable with planning major strategic naval operations - something they had difficulty with during the First World War, too. Wehrmacht staff planning is concentrated in the Heer (army) because Germany by tradition is primarily a land power (not necessarily by choice in 1940, but the restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles had eviscerated the navy). The naval staff and resources are simply inadequate for the job. In essence, the Germans have no idea what they are doing regarding a cross-channel invasion, and they are building castles in the sand with their vapid plans that are pure abstractions without any grounding in experience or reality. It is little wonder that Hitler is casting about for new victims in other directions that he can ravage on good old reliable terra firma.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-59 (Kptl. Joachim Matz) torpedoes and sinks 2,339 ton British rice freighter Betty about 25 miles north of Ireland at 20:34. There are 4 survivors and 30 crew perish in the night.

British destroyers HMS Malcolm and Verity, accompanied by three torpedo boats, attack a German convoy of six Kriegsmarine armed trawlers and three S-boats off of Texel Island, Holland. The German lose a trawler and one of their own S-boats, and also suffer damage to other ships.

The Kriegsmarine conducts minelaying in the North Sea.

Battle of the Mediterranean

British submarine HMS Rorqual sinks Italian freighter Leopard.

On Malta, there are no enemy air raids. Governor-General Dobbie complains to the War Office that he has insufficient men to man his anti-aircraft artillery and requests reinforcements. The War Office, for its part, inquires about two celebrity Italian pilots, General Cagna and Prince Pallavicini, who apparently were KIA.

Battle of the Pacific

German raider Orion is operating off of Nouméa, New Caledonia. It launches its Arado Ar 196 floatplane, but the plane has mechanical issues and lands far away. The Orion eventually finds and recovers it, restoring the raider's "eyes."

British Somaliland

Evacuation of Berbera (capital of British Somaliland) begins. British and Commonwealth troops engaged in heavy fighting with Italian forces near Berbera, British Somaliland. British commander in area Major General Godwin-Austen requested permission to fall back into Berbera and to prepare for evacuation. British and Australian warships take 5,700 troops, 1,500 civilians and sick to Aden and bombard advancing Italian forces who occupy the town on August 19.

Applied Science

Sir Henry Tizard heads a British scientific mission to the United States, carrying with him details of all of Britain's most advanced thinking in several vital fields. There are ideas on jet engines, explosives, gun turrets and above all a little device called the cavity magnetron. This valve is vital for the development of more advanced types of radar, including the versions used in proximity fuses later and the types working on centimetric wavelengths which will be vital at sea in the U-boat war. The US Official History will later describe this collection as the "most valuable cargo ever brought to our shores."

The RAF supposedly is trying to use wire nets called "spaghetti shells" to drop on Luftwaffe planes and destroy them, but this idea does not go very far.

Anglo/US Relations

President Roosevelt and his advisors continue wrangling over the proposed destroyers-for-bases deal with Great Britain. The destroyers will all be Clemson-class and Wickes-class destroyers built circa 1917-1922, manned solely by British seamen. The US Navy already is coordinating with the Royal Navy for their transfer, though nothing is official yet.

US Military

The US military always maintains military plans that seem arcane and improbable - for instance, plans for the invasion of Canada always are locked away in the files - and they go by the designation "Rainbow." Today, President Roosevelt reviews and approves "Rainbow 4," a comprehensive plan to defend the Americas by using every armed man in the United States, including the National Guard, the Reserves, and everyone who can be drafted.

Rainbow 4 assumes the fall of France (already done) and of the UK (still prospective) and a combined German/Italian/Japanese offensive. The initial US response would be to occupy British, French, Dutch and Danish possessions in the Western Hemisphere while trying to avoid conflict in the Pacific. The US fleet would be concentrated in the Caribbean, and the US army would protect only North America and the most northern parts of South America.

Outside the realm of planning and in actual reality, destroyers USS Wake and Wainwright continue their "Show the flag" operation in South America and depart Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for Bahia, Brazil.

Admiral Hart makes it to Shanghai aboard the submarine USS Porpoise and transfers his flag to yacht USS Isabel.

German occupied Luxembourg

Nazi Chief of the Civil Administration Gustav Simon bans all opposition parties, rips up the nation's constitution, and makes German the only authorized language. Even the term "Grand Duchy" is prohibited in official documents. Simon is setting a precedent for future occupations, where the occupying military authorities are relatively benign (save for Einsatzgruppen and the like), but the follow-up civil administrations enact draconian and punitive laws which quickly stoke local anger.

British Homefront

As the day dawns, local citizens in Derbyshire, Yorkshire, and southern Scotland awaken to find large numbers of parachutes on the ground with cryptic military messages and German equipment attached. There also is a report from Creswell Farm of enemy parachutists, which proves false.

This all results from a German propaganda effort to sow confusion and dissension among the British populace by air-dropping items in the British rear which have the appearance of being related to an actual invasion - though to what end is a bit unclear, as there is no follow-up. If you make a feint, but don't use that diversion to actually attack anywhere... what's the point? It also may be counter-productive in the long run, making you look like all talk and no action. For a day or two, though, the operation does create massive fear and even panic among the locals.

Day 351 of World War II, August 16th 1940

Battle of Britain

hough the weather was good for operations, the German attacks started in the late morning. The day was marked by three great assaults. At midday the Germans operated over Kent and the Thames Estuary; a little later they attacked objectives in Sussex and Hampshire; and in the early evening they crossed the coast almost simultaneously at four points between Harwich and the Isle of Wight. Main stream attacks were at Biggin Hill, Kenley, Croydon and the Northolt airfields. Other forces attacked Manston, West Malling, Tangmere, Gosport, Lee-on-Solent, Farnborough and Harwell. The London suburbs of Esher, Malden and Wimbledon were bombed, and other raids on Harrow and Wealdstone, Gravesend and Tilbury. Ventnor radar, although still out of action was bombed again. It was typical, however, of the weaknesses of the German plan, or German intelligence, that only three of the eight airfields attacked were used by Fighter Command.

At 1200 hours a formation of 100 Do 17s and Bf 109s headed to the Thames Estuary. This force was one of three sent to targets in the British Isles. One squadron of Spitfires and two squadrons of Hurricanes were sent to engage the bombers. At 1215 hours a larger formation of bombers crossed the coast at Kent and was intercepted by three squadrons of RAF fighters. All three fighter squadrons decided to attack together at the middle of the bomber formation in an attempt to separate the flight. Soon numerous planes were weaving about the sky as bombers and fighters mixed together. The Hurricane of RAF F/L Henry Ferris, caught up in the confusion, collided with a Dornier bomber and both aircraft crashed to the ground. The Spitfire of S/L Rodney Wilkinson of RAF No. 266 Squadron collided with the Bf 109 of Uffz. E. Buder, who baled out and was captured. S/L Wilkinson was then bounced by two Bf 109s and shot down in flames and killed. Ten Luftwaffe aircraft were lost in the combat against six fighters lost by the RAF. Hptm. Walter Oesau of 7./JG 51 shot down two Spitfires off Cap Gris Nez for his seventeenth and eighteenth victories.

KG 2 's attack coming in over Dover and the North Foreland resulted in 80 bombs falling on West Malling airfield, 66 of them exploding in surrounding farmland. Two Ju 88s attacked the aerodrome at Brize Norton and destroyed 46 training aircraft.

At 1300 hours a third large build-up of enemy aircraft was picked up by the Chain Home RDF stations setting course towards the English coast from Cherbourg. This formation of about 150 aircraft comprised a large formation of fifty-four Ju 87 (Stuka) of StG 2, Ju 88s of KG 54 and escorting Bf109E fighters of II./JG 2 and Bf 110s of III./ZG 76. When the Stukas reached the Nab Tower, east of the Isle of Wight, the leading aircraft fired off signal flares and the force split into three groups; a small group peeled off to attack the Ventnor Chain Home station, a second group set course towards Portsmouth, where later they attacked Gosport, and the largest group headed for RAF Tangmere. Challenged by Hurricanes of RAF Nos. 1, 43 and 601 Squadrons along with 602 Sqn. Spitfires tackling the escort, 17 Stukas were claimed by the RAF, the Luftwaffe admitting to losing 9. Despite being intercepted by the Hurricanes, several Stukas dropped their loads over the airfield, destroying seven Hurricane fighters, six radar-equipped Blenheim fighters of the Fighter Interception Unit and a Magister trainer on the ground. Two hangers were destroyed and three others were badly damaged as well as the workshop, fire hydrants and pumphouse, all of which received direct hits; stores, sick quarters, the officers mess and the command post were partially hit causing severe structural damage A squadron of Hurricanes got past the escort and managed to destroy eight Stukas and damaged six more before the dive-bombers headed for home with several more smoking on the return flight. 43 Squadron lost four Hurricanes on the ground, and another flown by P/O C. A. Woods-Scawen crashed on the Isle of Wight although the aircraft was destroyed, the pilot was unhurt. The Ju 87s claimed two Hurricanes shot down including one from RAF No. 601 Squadron - P/O W. Fiske. William M. Fiske, III - the first American to join the RAF was killed when he force-landed Hurricane P3358, which was then strafed and burnt. He will become the only American buried at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. The inscription reads: "An American citizen who died that England might live."

Ten minutes later, Tangmere airfield was again attacked, this time by Ju 88s from Luftflotte 3. This attack was far more accurate than the earlier one with every building or hanger being hit. Aircraft in the open and in hangers were damaged, totaling fourteen RAF planes destroyed on the ground.

The German attack was not only fought in the air. Second Lieutenant E. P. Griffin of the Royal Engineers Construction Company based at RAF Tangmere, on hearing the air raid warning, went to his battle position and with his Lewis machine gun shot down a Messerschmitt Bf110. The aircraft crashed three-quarters of a mile from the aerodrome, killing the three members of its crew. A few days later his colleagues presented him with a cartoon entitled, “The Glorious 16th of August 1940”.

The Ventnor radar station, out of operation since the attack of 12 August, was attacked by five Ju 87s. After five minutes of bombing the station it was again put out of action though with considerably more damage than before. It would take until 23 September, before the station was back on-line.

More Luftwaffe 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. This raid caused serious bomb damage to HMS Daedalus, three hangers and forty two aircraft were destroyed, 14 people were killed and 5 wounded. Just some of the aircraft damaged in the air raid included the DH 86 AX841 (ex G-ACZO) W9374 Percival Q.6 W9374 (ex G-AFFE) and DH 94 G-AFNY The Grange RAF Station base of Gosport suffered heavily as several buildings were damaged and a number of people killed. RAF No. 213 Squadron Exeter (Hurricanes) and 249 Squadron Boscombe Down (Hurricanes) were involved in combat over Southampton and Portland with both squadrons losing aircraft.

The determination of the British pilots was shown when at 1345 hours a flight of three Ju 88s was bounced by Spitfires over the Solent. Trying to join in the attack with his Hurricane was F/L James Nicholson of RAF No. 249 Squadron. As he turned to join the combat, his plane was hit by cannon fire from a Bf 110. A second cannon burst from the Messerschmitt hit the Hurricane’s fuel tank and engulfed the plane in flames. A third shot of gunfire cut through the length of the aircraft. Wounded in the head and leg, blinded from blood seeping into his eyes and his Hurricane burning fiercely, F/L Nicholson tried to turn away from the twin-engined fighter. As he did so, the Bf 110 overshot the Hurricane and into the gunsights of F/L Nicholson. Using his severely injured hand to fire his guns, he sent a burst into the Bf 110 which burst into flames and spiraled down into the sea. Once the Messerschmitt crashed, F/L Nicholson baled out of his burning aircraft and ended up at hospital. James Nicholson was awarded the Victoria Cross, England’s highest award and the only fighter pilot so honored by the British. After recovering from his severe burns and other injuries (other injuries included being shot in the buttock's by a trigger happy Local Defence Volunteer as he descended in his parachute), Nicholson returned to flying in April 1941 as a Squadron Leader.

On a raid on Heathrow airfield, Middlesex, bombers of KG 55 lost six He 111s, three shot down over Sussex and three more returning to France with battle damage.

At 1730 hours a formation of He 111 bombers escorted by Bf 110 twin-engined fighters attacked the Sussex area. Met by Spitfires of RAF No. 610 Squadron and Hurricanes of RAF No. 1 and 615 Squadron, the flight lost four Heinkels and two Messerschmitts with another Bf 110 crashing upon returning to France. Two Spitfires from RAF No 610 Squadron were shot down with credit going to Hptm. Horst Tietzen for his nineteenth kill and Lt. Hans-Otto Lessing for his fourth Allied aircraft. Both pilots were from 5./JG 51. Five minutes after the battle a lone He 111 was rammed by an unarmed Anson trainer causing both to crash to the ground.

The last of the day’s raids by the Luftwaffe was made at 1750 hours when seventy He 111s with fifty Bf 110s attacked targets in Essex. Flying back to Duxford from Coltishall, RAF No. 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 the He111 and Bf110s 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 He111 was brought down over the sea, but a number of Bf110s crashed into the Essex countryside.

The Fighter Gruppen lost a few pilots during the day’s actions including a promising leader. Oblt. Karl Ebbighausen, Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 26 with nine victories during the war, was killed in action. Hptm. Erich Bode was promoted to Gruppenkommandeur of the Gruppe in his place. Also lost to the Luftwaffe was the Staffelkapitän of 4./JG 2, Oblt. Walter Möckel who failed to return from a sortie over Portsmouth and was listed as missing until it was confirmed he was a prisoner of war. The ‘Richthofen’ Geschwader also lost two Bf 109s from combat with one pilot killed. Fw. Christian Hansen of 2./JG 53 ‘Pik As’ crash landed at Goshill on the Isle of Wight after battle.

Night-time brought bombers over the Filton airfield and the Avonmouth docks. For about four hours - starting at 2330 hours - Heinkels of II./KG 27 raided the two targets along with an attack on the searchlights of Bristol.

Winston Churchill was again watching the outcome of the enemy air raids, this time with Air Vice-Marshal Keith Park at No. 11 Group Headquarters at RAF Uxbridge. On leaving that evening, he was heard to say, “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few” – the words he used in the famous speech he made on the Battle of Britain in the House of Commons four days later.

Photo: Troops guard the wreck of Heinkel He 111P (W.Nr 1582: G1+FR) of 7./KG 55, which was shot down during an attack on Great Western Aerodrome (now Heathrow) and crash-landed at High Salvington near Worthing,



German Government

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.

Hitler intervenes in the quarrel between his army and naval staffs as to whether the invasion of Britain should be conducted on a broad front, as the army prefers or the narrow front more suited to naval limitations. He orders them to reach a compromise. The army has previously talked of using 40 divisions in the first three days of the operation, but now consider using 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).

Battle of the Atlantic

A wolfpack - collection of U-boats operating as a group - is northwest of Ireland along the normal convoy route. Today, it scores several successes.

U-100 (Kapitänleutnant Joachim Schepke) torpedoes and sinks 4864 ton British freighter Empire Merchant in the Western Approaches. There are 49 survivors and seven crew perish. The Empire Merchant is an independent, zig-zagging at a fast 16 knots, and Schepke uses two torpedoes which hit the stern.

U-30 (Kapitänleutnant Fritz-Julius Lemp) torpedoes and sinks 6628 ton British freighter Clan McPhee in the Western Approaches. There are 41 survivors and 67 dead. They are picked up by Hungarian freighter Kelet.

U-48 (Korvettenkapitän Hans Rudolf Rösing) torpedoes and sinks 2325 ton collier Hedrun in the Western Approaches. There are 21 survivors, and 8 crew perish. Hedrun is travelling with Convoy OB 197.

U-46 (Kapitänleutnant Engelbert Endrass) torpedoes Dutch freighter Alcinous in the same area, but she is taken under tow and makes it to port.

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 afterwards, it appears the U-51 could not submerge after this and headed back to Kiel.

British 1598 ton freighter Meath hits a mine and sinks northeast of Breakwater Rock Lighthouse. The 24 ton Manx Lad, a pilot ship, is alongside the Meath and goes down as well. Everybody survives.

British 5309 ton freighter City of Birmingham hits a mine and sinks about 5 miles from the Humber River. Everybody survives. The cargo of copper and tin is quite valuable and worthy of salvage.

Norwegian ship Jaederen hits a mine laid by RN submarine Narwhal in the North Sea.

The British lay minefield BS.32 in the North Sea.

Royal Navy aircraft carrier Ark Royal leaves Gibraltar to conduct practice operations in the Bay of Biscay.

Convoy FN 254 departs from Southend, Convoys MT 142 and OA 200 depart from Methil, Convoy FS 254 departs from the Tyne, Convoy OB 199 departs from Liverpool, Convoy HX 66 departs from Halifax, SHX 66 departs from Sydney, Canada.

Battle of the Mediterranean

British submarine HMS Osiris torpedoes and sinks 1968 ton Italian freighter Osiris in the Adriatic west of Durrës, Albania.

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.

Battle of the Pacific

German raider Orion captures 2489 ton French freighter Notou southwest of Noumea, New Caledonia. After inspecting it and finding war material, the Orion sinks it.

British Somaliland

The British begin pulling out of the country. 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.

The RAF attacks Italian positions at Zeila and Adadleh.

Romanian/Hungarian Relations

Hungary and Romania began negotiating over Transylvania, which Hungary wished to take over from Romania. The negotiation soon turned into a deadlock.

US Government

President Roosevelt announced in a press conference that the United States had engaged with the United Kingdom to acquire land for military bases in the Western Hemisphere. No mention was made regarding the transfer to destroyers from the US to the UK.

US Military

The US 29th Infantry Regiment begins parachute jumps with 48 men lead by Major William Lee as a possible beginning to formation of US airborne units.

Canada

The Canadian Armoured Corps forms.

A lecturer at the University of British Columbia, Professor Henry Angus, accurately predicts a Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour.

Norway

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 programme.

Finland

The last neutral ship allowed to leave, the US Army Transport American Legion, departs from Petsamo for New York. It carries Princess Märtha of Sweden and military supplies.

German Homefront

Two nights of dancing per week are allowed, relaxing a previous war-time ban.

Day 353 of World War II, August 18th 1940

Battle of Britain

Despite the devastation of 15 August, the Luftwaffe would face its toughest test this day over England when careful plans and tactics were dismantled and English ingenuity and desperation were successful. It would be remembered as one of the harshest days the Luftwaffe had ever had to face over the British Isles, as three major attacks were planned against airfields and radar units along the coast. But despite ingenuous plans and execution from the German Air Forces by the end of the day, only one British sector station would be out of action and the RAF airfields damaged for only a few hours while the Luftwaffe realized the folly of using Stukas against British fighters and the difficulties of coordinating large formations.

First Luftwaffe intruders of the day were six reconnaissance aircraft including a Bf 110 of LG 2 which was shot down at 31,000 feet over Manston. The first loss of an aircrew for the Luftwaffe occurred during the early morning hours when a Ju 88 from NJG 1 on an intruder mission, was attacked by a RAF Blenheim. Hit numerous times, the Junkers crashed and killed the entire three man crew.

The plans called for Dornier Do 17s, Junkers Ju 88s, and Heinkel He 111s to attack the airfields at Kenley and Biggin Hill for the first major assault. While the majority of the bombers were to attack in a conventional bombing run; at about 12,000 feet, one Staffel of Dorniers was to fly tree-top level to each target and attack a few minutes after the main forces. The second attack was to be made by Stukas on the airfields at Ford, Gosport and Thorney Island along with the radar site at Poling. The last major assault of the day was for more bombers to attack the airfields at Hornchurch and North Weald. All of the attacks were to be escorted with almost all the Fighter Geschwader of Luftflotte 2 and Luftflotte 3.

The RAF airfield at Kenley was the first targeted for attack by the bombers of KG 76, one of the most experienced Kampfgeschwader in the Luftwaffe. The attack was to be in three phases. First, twelve Ju 88s of II./KG 76 escorted by twenty Bf 109s from JG 51 were to dive-bomb the airfield, attacking the hangers and installations. Five minutes later, twenty-seven Do 17s from I./KG 76 and III./KG 76 escorted by twenty-five Bf 110s from ZG 26 would bomb from 12,000 feet in an attempt to destroy the runway and airfield defenses. Five minutes after this action, nine Do 17s from 9./KG 76 were to run in, unescorted, at low altitude and finish off the attack. The first two attacks were to come in from the south-east while the last tree-hopping attack was to come from the south. At Biggin Hill, the assault was to be made by sixty He 111s of KG 1 at the same time as the Kenley raid with escort provided by forty Bf 109s from JG 54. The whole attack would be preceded by a freie jagd of sixty Bf 109s from JG 3 and III./JG 26. The fighters from JG 26 were led by Oblt Gerhard Schopfel while Major Adolf Galland was at Karinhall on a visit to Göring.

Shortly before noon, the first two attacking formations began to take off and reach altitude. With cloud building up, the bomber formations were given the all clear to take off, some three hours behind the planned commencement of operations. Bombers of KG 1 got away as scheduled and over the French coast met up with their escorts. But heavy cloud cover forced a delay in the rendezvous as several bombers circled the airfields waiting for formations to emerge from the clouds. The Do 17s and Ju 88s of KG 76 had problems with the cloud and found it difficult meeting up with their escorts. Several minutes later the bombers of 9./KG 76, led by Staffelkapitaen Hptm. Joachim Roth took off and flew almost a direct route to the target, first at an altitude of 500 feet but dropping to 60 feet as they approached the Sussex coast, avoiding the British radar. Relatively free of any defensive fire from the British, the Dornier formation approached the airfield at about 1320 hours only to find, not pillars of smoke from the preceding attacks, but clear skies. The problem was that the delay that had occurred with the Ju 88s and Do 17s in negotiating the cloud base on take off, coupled with the fact that flying time was slower than expected, they were running up to ten minutes behind schedule while the nine low flying Do 17s crossing near Beachy Head were on time. Instead of being the third to arrive the nine bombers of 9./KG 76 were the first to arrive at the airfield and were alone.

As the German bombers spread out and selected targets, the British defenses woke up and attacked. RAF No. 111 Squadron Croydon (Hurricanes) were "scrambled" and instructed to vector Kenley, and to 111 commander Squadron Leader John Thompson's surprise, he was told to maintain only 100 feet over the airfield. Quipped Thompson;

"Your bloody mad" "......I could prune trees at that height."

Came the voice over the R/T;

"I repeat, yes repeat.......vector Kenley.....patrol at 100 feet........30 plus low level bandits approaching"

The twelve Hurricanes curved in to attack the formation from above as British anti-aircraft guns opened fire. The first plane to go down was not German but British when one of the attacking Hurricanes spun and dove into the ground. The remaining British fighters pulled up and away from the flak bursts and made for the opposite side of the airfield where the German bombers would exit after attacking the airfield. Despite the murderous fire from below, the Dorniers pressed home their attacks. Soon three hangars were ablaze as bombs scored direct hits. But many of the bombers were severely damaged from the ground fire. Reaching the end of the airfield the German bombers faced another British defense, parachute-and-cable launchers. These were cables shot into the sky and held aloft by small parachutes and weighted with a drag parachute. Launched in rows of nine or more directly in the flight path of a low flying enemy airplane, the cable would create drag on the plane and play havoc with its control, finally forcing it to crash. Upon reaching the edge of the airfield, the Do 17s were greeted with the first salvo of these innovative British defenses. Most of the bombers made it through the cables but one bomber, damaged and on fire from the anti-aircraft guns, was unable to clear the wires. The cables snagged the bomber, the plane stalled and finally crashed to the ground just outside the airfield, killing all on board.

The rest of the bomber formation cleared the cables and airfield only to be bounced by the waiting Hurricanes of RAF No. 111 Sqd. Immediately, two Hurricanes set one bomber on fire and it soon crashed. The rest of the formation scattered and tried to individually make it back to France. Continuing with their attacks as the Dorniers hedge hopped across the English countryside, the Hurricanes were able to seriously damage more of the Dorniers but lost three more fighters to the bomber's defensive fire. Crossing the coast the remaining seven bombers headed to French soil, many smoking, on fire and running on only one engine. Two Dorniers crashed into the Channel on the return flight and two more crashed onto the French coast. One of the bombers that crashed on the coastline was counted to have more than two hundred holes from .303in rounds in its fuselage. Two more landed, wheels down and seriously damaged, at other airfields in France - one piloted by the navigator after the pilot had been killed in his seat. Only one bomber made it back to its airfield at Cormeilles-en-Vexin without serious damage and no injured crewmen.

While the attack by 9./KG 76 was happening, the twenty-seven Dorniers of I./KG 76 and III./KG 76 were having troubles of their own. The first RAF fighters to engage the high flying Dorniers were Hurricanes from RAF No. 615 Sqd. who became entangled with the escorting Messerschmitts of JG 3. The Bf 109s, coming out of the sun, seriously damaged three Hurricanes, killing one of the British pilots. Despite this success, the action allowed the twelve Hurricanes of RAF No. 32 Sqd. to dive and attack the bomber formations of I./KG 76, III./KG 76 and the Zerstörers of ZG 26 unmolested from the Bf 109s. The sudden attacks by the Hurricanes knocked down one Dornier and seriously damaged several others while forcing some of the bombers to miss Kenley and instead drop their loads on rail lines near the airfield and on Croydon airfield. Several Bf 110s were damaged when eight Spitfires of RAF No. 64 Sqd. joined the battle. One of the Zerstörers attacked was that of Rüdiger Proske, who, with his rear gunner wounded and his engines damaged, pretended to 'play dead' in the face of an attack by a Spitfire. Allowing the twin-engined plane to plunge 6,000 feet out of control, Proske regained control and found nobody had followed him down during his death spin. He headed for France.

Instead of being the first to arrive, the twelve Ju 88s of II./KG 76 arrived last to find the target covered in smoke and instead switched to their secondary target, the airfield at West Malling. As the formation passed Biggin Hill, the anti aircraft defense of the airfield damaged a Ju 88 and it was immediately pounced on by RAF fighters. The bomber crashed eight miles south-east of Biggin Hill.

Four Ju 88s and six Do 17s were lost during the attacks on Kenley, with one Ju 88 forcing Flt. Lt. Stanford Tuck, by return fire to bale out of his RAF No. 92 Squadron Spitfire. Despite the heavy attack by KG 76, Kenley was operational again within twenty-four hours. A total of 100 bombs had fallen on the airfield with the result that ten hangers were damaged and fourteen aircraft on the ground destroyed. For the first time the operations room at Kenley was put out of action with the communications cut and nine people killed. Within three days after moving to a new location, operations were back in action.

Before the bombers arrived at Kenley, Oblt Schöpfel's fighter formation was flying twenty-five miles ahead of the Dorniers, clearing the way. As Major Schöpfel recounted;

"We were on a freie jagd. The Gruppe flew over Dover, gaining quite a bit of altitude. Suddenly I saw a squadron of English fighters climbing far beneath us. We had probably been reported and the British were looking for us. The British flew over the water in a broad arc, and then over land, in the direction of Canterbury. I led the Gruppe after them immediately. We were in a favorable position as we approached. Eight aircraft, Hurricanes, flew in front in flights of vees. Behind them was a cover flight. Its fourth aircraft was weaving - flying first left, then right. The English still had not seen us. They now had the more favorable position, since they were higher, but we attacked. I flew toward the weaving aircraft. At 100 meters I had it in front of me, and pressed the button. The fire of my cannon and machine guns literally blew the Hurricane apart. Pieces fell away, smoking and burning. The second aircraft in the cover flight was now in my sights. I repeated the same manoeuvre. I opened fire, and the Hurricane burst into flames. Undisturbed, the others continued spiraling upward. They had no inkling that there were Messerschmitts on their tails. Now I was behind the third aircraft. A short burst, and this one likewise fell apart. Number Three! The Englishmen flew onward; still they had noticed nothing. So I took on the fourth aircraft. This time, however, I approached too closely. When I pressed the button, the Englishman exploded, so near me that pieces hit my crate. It sprayed oil so thickly on the front and right side of my canopy that I could see nothing, and had to break off the battle, which had lasted two minutes."

Map of Kenley 1940



The Hurricanes that Major Schöpfel had come across were fighters from RAF No. 501 Sqd. who, while returning from a patrol, had been ordered to station over Canterbury. Seeing that he had an advantage, Major Schöpfel ordered his Gruppe to hold course and dived on the British fighters alone. In the space of six minutes, Major Schöpfel had added four aircraft to his score. His Gruppe continued with their mission and intercepted RAF No. 17 Sqd. as they prepared to attack the returning bombers. One Hurricane was destroyed and two others crash landed with damage.

The airfield at Biggin Hill was approached by the sixty bombers of KG 1 at about 13:27 hours. Because four of the five RAF fighter squadrons available were attacking the formations over Kenley, only one British fighter squadron, RAF No. 615 Sqd with fifteen Spitfires, attempted to thwart the German bombers. The forty Bf 109s of JG 54 intercepted the Spitfires and allowed the bombers to proceed unmolested to the airfield. At the target, the anti aircraft defenses were told to hold their fire because British fighters were in the area. The Heinkels dropped their loads without any interference from the British. As the bombs dropped on Biggin Hill, the Ju 88s of II./KG 76 began dive-bombing the airfield at West Malling.

After their bombing runs, the aircraft of KG 76 and KG 1 along with their escorting fighters broke away for the return flights to France. More British fighter squadrons were called onto the retreating bombers and by 13:45 hours numerous battles were being fought over the English countryside. Hundreds of aircraft were caught up in separate battles with at one point a Bf 110 being chased by a Hurricane who was also being chased by another Bf 110 with another Hurricane on its tail. Both Messerschmitts were claimed as destroyed by the attacking Hurricane pilots.

Map: British Radar coverage over Britain and Northern France. The system was resilient.



In the largest attack by Stukas, one hundred and nine Ju 87s from StG 3 and StG 77 accompanied by 24 Ju 88s of KG 54 and escorted by 150 Bf 109s, mounted an attack on the RAF airfields at Gosport, Ford and Thorney Island along with the radar station at Poling shortly after 14:00 hours. Crossing the coast the escort fighters split into two groups . . . one to stay above with the dive-bombers on their bombing run and the second diving below to assist when they pulled out of their dives. Poling CH radar station lost two pylons, disabling the station for a week, Ford naval air station was raided losing two hangars destroyed, a third of the quarters and killing 14, Gosport and finally Thorney Island where a hangar was bombed and started a fire. It was at this moment when the RAF struck at the German formations. Eighteen Hurricanes of RAF Nos 43 and 601 Squadrons burst into the formations of dive-bombers from I./StG 77 just as the Stukas were about to dive onto Thorney Island. Several bombers were shot down as the British fighters tagged onto the Ju 87s and followed them through their dives, showering the Junkers with gunfire. More British fighters from RAF Nos. 152 and 602 Squadrons with 234 Squadron taking on the top cover, joined the battle until approximately 300 aircraft were fighting above the English coastline. When the fighting finally subsided, numerous Stukas and crew were destroyed or damaged, a total of thirty dive bombers, nearly 21% of the total force committed in the day's actions. Ten Stukas were destroyed and five seriously damaged out of twenty-eight aircraft from I./StG 77 alone, including the dive-bomber of the GruppenKommanduer Hptm. Herbert Meisel, who was killed. Six bombers were shot down and two seriously damaged from the other three Gruppen involved. The RAF lost four Spitfires and two Hurricanes.

Photo: Junkers Ju 87 Stuka about to crash. Unteroffizer August Dann and Unteroffizer Erich Kohl were killed.



As the German bombers and fighters head out over the Channel, sixteen Bf 109s from I./JG 52 were sent near the Straits of Dover as cover for the returning formations. Led by Oblt. Wolfgang Ewald, the Messerschmitts failed to engage any British fighters. Having plenty of fuel left, Oblt Ewald guided his fighters to the airfield at Manston and strafed the RAF airbase at 15:30. After two passes, two Spitfires were left burning and six others damaged. A Hurricane that was refueling was also destroyed. Two hours later 8 raids crossed over the Essex coast via the Blackwater and Thames estuaries. RAF Nos. 54 and 151 Squadrons came into action to hinder the bombing of North Weald and Hornchurch.

Fourteen victory Experte Lt. Walter Blume of 7./JG 26, was shot down and captured, becoming a prisoner of war as was Oblt. Helmut Teidmann of 2./JG 3, ending the war as a prisoner after having achieved seven victories against the Allies. The 7./JG 26 also lost Lt. Gerhard Müller-Dühe when he was killed in action The most grievous loss for the Luftwaffe this day was the loss of the Staffelkapitän of 5./JG 51, Hptm. Horst Tietzen, when he was reported missing over the Thames Estuary. It is believed that Hptm. Tietzen was shot down by S/L Peter Townsend of RAF No. 82 Squadron. Hptm. Tietzen became the first recipient of the Ritterkreuz to be awarded posthumously.

In air battles over Portsmouth, JG 2 lost three fighters including the Messerschmitt of Oblt. Rudolf Möllerfriedrich of 6./JG 2 who was listed as missing after failing to return from the mission. Two more Bf 109s crashed at Cherbourg returning from combat with both pilots wounded. A Heinkel He 111 from KGr 100, a pathfinder unit working during daylight for the first time, was also destroyed.

In the heaviest day of fighting so far, the Luftwaffe lost 69 planes to the RAF's 33; another 29 RAF machines were wrecked on airfields.

Due to heavy losses, the fighters of II./JG 52 led by Hptm. Hans-Günther von Kornatzki was pulled out of action from Peupelinge and transferred to Jever on the German Bight and start flying defensive missions.

During the night He 111s from KG 27 fly missions to airfields and harbours in the Bristol area.

Photo:  a British serviceman, of a Dornier Do 17 bomber of 9 staffel (Squadron) Kampfgeschwader 76, brought down near RAF Biggin Hill.



Battle of the Atlantic

U-48 (K.Kapt. Hans-Rudolf Rösing) torpedoes and sinks 7,590 ton Belgian freighter Ville de Gand (some sources place the sinking on the 19th).

Armed merchant cruiser Circassia eludes an attack by an unknown U-boat, then counterattacks without success (but claims it sank the U-boat). Nobody has been able to identify the U-boat.

Cruiser HMS Delhi stops Spanish freighter Ciudad de Seville and Portuguese freighter Joao Belo. It sends the former to Freetown and interns six Germans on the latter.

Convoys OA 201 and MT 144 depart from Methil, Convoy FN 256 departs from Southend, Convoy FS 256 departs the Tyne, Convoy OB 200 departs from Liverpool, Convoy SL 44 departs from Freetown, BS 3 departs from Suez.

Battle of the Mediterranean

At Malta, there are no raids. Three Blenheim bombers fly in for operations.

British Somaliland

The British evacuation of Berbera, British Somaliland was completed after troopships Chakdina, Chantala, Laomedon, and Akbar and hospital ship Vita departed the port, destined for Aden. Australian cruiser HMAS Hobart was left behind to collect stragglers and destroy vehicles, fuel, and stores. Colonial troops of the Somaliland Camel Corps chose to remain in their homeland; their British officers respected their decision and allowed them to keep their weapons.

US Military

The keel is laid down on Cleveland-class light cruisers USS Columbia in Camden, New Jersey.

American Homefront

The German-American Bund and the KKK hold an anti-war rally in Camp Nordland, New Jersey, which attracts the attention of protesters.

The founder of the Chrysler Corporation, Walter Chrysler, passes away.

Day 355 of World War II, August 20th 1940

Battle of Britain

Activity was reduced due to deteriorating weather conditions with several reconnaissance raids made during the morning.

At about 1100 hours, Erpro 210 interfered with a convoy off Aldeburgh {East Coast} before striking sharply at Southwold's defences. Spitfires of RAF No 66 Sqd intercepted the Bf 110s as they attacked the airfield at Martlesham Heath.

At 1345 hours a formation of Do 17s was intercepted by Hurricanes from RAF No. 242 Sqd over the North Sea. One of the Hurricanes piloted by Midshipman P.J.Patterson was hit by returning gunfire from Do 17s and he went into a vertical dive and crashed into the sea some miles out of Winterton on the east coast.

The first large raid, of Do 17s and Bf 109s, arrived at 1430 hours over the Thames Estuary. The bombers were engaged by Hurricanes of RAF No 615 Sqd as they approached their target at Eastchurch airfield while Spitfires of RAF No. 65 Sqd fought off the Bf 109 escorts. Heinz Bär of 1./JG 51 destroyed a British Spitfire, bringing his kill total to five Allied warplanes.

At 1530 hours another raid was made on the airfield at Manston. Bombs were dropped and the airfield strafed by Bf 109's but these were driven back by the local ground defenses and Blenheims of RAF No. 600 Sqd. Damage was only minimal although a hangar was damaged, a couple of buildings hit by debris and a Blenheim aircraft of RAF No. 600 Sqd was damaged, but there were no casualties during the incident. RAF No. 65 Sqd (Spitfires) went in to intercept, but were attacked by the Bf 109 escorts in which one Spitfire was damaged by cannon fire and made a forced landing on Foulness Island. The Spitfire I (R6818 ) was badly damaged and written off but P/O K.G.Hart of RAF No. 65 Squadron escaped injury.

The oil tanks at Llanreath at Pembroke Docks which were still burning from the previous days bombing were again attacked. Defense was by anti-aircraft gunfire that failed to hit any of the German bombers, but they did manage to hit a Blenheim of RAF No. 236 Sqd, that although damaged, managed to return to base.

Later in the afternoon Hurricanes of RAF No. 302 Sqd (Polish), in action for the first time, attacked a Ju 88 off the Yorkshire coast on its way to bomb the airfield at Thornaby. Green Section “B” Flight, sighted the Junkers at 1910 hours, flying at 3,000 ft East between Hull and Spurn Point. The Section attacked and the Ju 88 crashed into the sea 6 miles S.W. of Withernsea. 4 prisoners were taken.

A Do 17 was shot down off Suffolk by Hurricanes of RAF No. 257 Sqd.

During the night very few raids were plotted around the country due to heavy cloud and poor visibility.

A Luftwaffe Focke Wulf FW 200C-1 Condor, coded "F8+KH" and assigned to I./KG 40, crashed at 1410 hours local on the lower slopes of Mount Brandon on the Dingle Penninsula in County Kerry, Ireland and became the first German crew interned in that country. This was the second Luftwaffe aircraft to crash in the country during World War II. The Condor had departed Abbeville, France, on a reconnaissance mission over northwestern Ireland and had been damaged by AA fire from a ship. All of the crew survived. A plaque commemorating this event is on the wall of O'Connor's Bar and Guest House in Cloghane, Co. Kerry. Some interesting relics of that and other aircraft can be seen in the bar of these premises. Exactly 48 years later, the pilot and a crewman returned to the spot and met an Irish woman who had helped them on this day.

The Luftwaffe lost fourteen aircraft damaged or destroyed, seventeen pilots and aircrew killed or missing and three wounded. The RAF lost three aircraft damaged or destroyed and one pilot killed. No 242 Squadron Hurricane P2976 Midshipman P.J.Patterson crashed into the sea off Winterton Norfolk at 13:45hrs. Patterson was reported missing, cause unknown.

Photo: P/O Juliusz “Topola” Topolnicki of No. 601 Squadron sits in readiness near Hurricane Mk I, UF-N, in a revetment at RAF Tangmere, August 1940.



United Kingdom

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill made the "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few" speech in the House of Commons in London, England. BBC - School Radio - World War 2 Audio Clips - Winston Churchill's speeches: 'The few'

YouTube (Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few" speech in the House of Commons in London)



British Prime Minister Winston Churchill announces an agreement to lease bases to the United States in exchange for fifty American destroyers.

Germany

The former Staffelkapitän of 5./JG 51, Hptm. Horst Tietzen, who was killed on 18 August, 1940, is posthumously awarded the Ritterkreuz.

Theodor Osterkamp, the commanding officer of Jagdgeschwader 51, was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz). Forty-eight year old Osterkamp was one of only a handful of aviators to see combat in both World Wars. During the Great War he had been awarded both the Knight's Cross of the Royal Hohenzollern House Order with Swords and the Pour le Mérite, and finished the war with thirty kills to his name. In 1940 he added six more victories before his superiors insisted that his further career should be chairbound.

Generalmajor Walter Warlimont, deputy chief in the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW), and his staff present a revised plan for Operation Felix, the proposed invasion of Gibraltar. The plan concludes with the obvious, that everything depends upon Spanish participation, and that is far from certain. Franco wants to have it both ways, appearing to be against the whole thing while actually supporting it - but absent a declaration of war on Great Britain. Clearly, Franco does not want to enter another general war so soon after wining the Spanish Civil War.

Hermann Göring sent peace proposals to Britain via Dutch and Turkish foreign ministries, but the proposals were ignored by the British.

North America

Joseph Stalin's political enemy Leon Trotsky was attacked in his home in Mexico with an ice axe by undercover NKVD agent Ramón Mercader. Trotsky would die on the next day.

Atlantic Ocean

British submarine HMS “Cachalot” torpedoed and sank German submarine U-51 in the Bay of Biscay 100 miles west of St. Nazaire, France, killing the entire crew of 43.

South Pacific

German armed merchant cruiser “Orion” spotted British ship “Turakina” 350 miles east of New Plymouth, New Zealand, finally sinking her with gunfire and one torpedo after a prolonged chase; 38 crew members were killed. Despite knowing the New Zealand Navy might already be on the way, “Orion's” commanding officer nevertheless decided to remain in the area for 5 hours to rescue 21 of “Turakina's” survivors.

Asia

Chinese communist forces launched the Hundred Regiments Offensive in Hebei and Shanxi Provinces in China. The Hundred Regiments Offensive was a major campaign of the Communist Party of China's National Revolutionary Army divisions commanded by Peng Dehuai against the Imperial Japanese Army in Central China. From 20 August to 10 September, communist forces attacked the railway line that separated the communist base areas. They succeeded in blowing up bridges and tunnels and ripping up track, and went on for the rest of September to attack Japanese garrisons frontally. About 600 mi (970 km) of railways were destroyed, and the Jingxing coal mine—which was important to the Japanese war industry—was rendered inoperative for six months. It was the greatest victory the CCP fought and won during the war.

Heavy Japanese bombing raid on Chungking; many thousands made homeless.

Battle of the Mediterranean

Italian Navy to carry out 'total blockade' of Gibraltar, Malta, Suez and other British possessions.

Day 357 of World War II, August 22nd 1940

Battle of Britain

The weather again was to be a deciding factor in the course of the day's events. Rain and strong winds that developed overnight would continue into the day. Heavy seas were to be expected in the Channel with winds reaching gale force at times. Most Luftwaffe units had been grounded for the day, although the RAF reported over 500 sorties. By day, the action was very light for the obvious reasons, but the Luftwaffe stepped up night bombing operations to a number of areas. But the first action of the day was during the morning.

A convoy code named "Totem" was battling heavy seas through the Straits of Dover when they reported that they were under attack. As it turned out, the convoy was under attack by German gun batteries based at Cape Griz Nez. German batteries shelled Dover during a cross-Channel duel which had lasted all day. Their first target was the convoy of ships edging up the English side of the Channel under Royal Navy escort. Then the guns turned on Dover. The Germans had installed 14-inch batteries with a 20-mile range along the coast from Boulogne to Calais as part of the plan to invade England. Those guns were used for the first time when shells sent water spouts 100 feet above the convoy. RN escorts laid smoke to conceal the convoy.The convoy later reported that most of the shells were wide and no damage was done to the ships. The convoy continued on after the eighty minute bombardment without any further enemy attack. But their position had been reported and with the weather postponing any air attacks on the English mainland, it presented a target for the Luftwaffe. With dusk, the guns turned on civilian targets in Dover. During a 45-minute barrage a shell burst through the stained glass window of a church and exploded near the altar. By nightfall the convoy, with its 50,000 tons of food and war material, was snug at anchor.

YouTube (Audio From the Past - Convoy Attack in Straits of Dover with Robin Duff)



At 1230 hours British radar picked up a formation of thirty German aircraft coming across the Channel. The plot showed that it was heading towards convoy "Totem". 11 Group released RAF No. 54 Sqd (Spitfires), RAF No. 610 Sqd (Spitfires) and RAF No. 615 Sqd (Hurricanes). Both RAF No. 54 Sqd and RAF No. 610 Sqd arrived over the convoy in time to see the raiders approaching. They went into action immediately, and just as they approached the Ju 88s, they were attacked by Bf 109s. They managed to turn the bombers back, but not before one of the RAF No. 54 Squadron Spitfires was shot down and crashed into the Channel off the coast of Deal. Sgt G.R.Collett was killed in his Spitfire I (R6708 ). One Ju 88 was damaged and crash landed in France. One of the RAF No. 615 Sqd Hurricanes was accidentally shot down by one of the Hurricanes of the same squadron but the pilot escaped without injury after making a forced landing near Deal.

With the afternoon over, the raids continued. At 1830 hours, a raid of thirty German aircraft crossed the coast near Deal. On a number of occasions, the Luftwaffe sent over waves of Bf 109 fighters, usually to strafe aerodromes and landing strips. This raid, seemed to be one of those. Once it was observed that the formation did not consist of any bombers, Fighter Command released only one squadron of Spitfires to intercept the Bf 109s crossing the coast near Deal and heading towards Manston. But in addition to a freie jagd by fighters, there was also a formation of Bf 110s of EprGr 210 escorted by Bf 109s from JG 26 heading for Manston airfield. RAF No. 616 Sqd drew the short straw on this occasion, and as usual with fighter to fighter combat, just a series of dogfights ensued, but not without casualties. Sgt M.Keymer of No 65 Squadron was shot down and killed in his Spitfire I (K9909) off Dover at 1935 hours. He was attacked by a Bf 109 of JG 26. F/O Hugh Spencer Lisle 'Cocky' Dundas was wounded in the arm and leg when he baled out of his Spitfire I (R6926) after combat with a Bf 109 at 1930 hours. EprGr 210 dropped approximately thirty bombs during the raid on Manston resulting in the destruction of two hangars and two Blenheim aircraft. Some buildings were damaged and the aerodrome was made unserviceable.

RAF No. 302 Sqdrn (Polish) conducted its second engagement. The squadron claimed 2 Ju 88s - one at sea and the other four miles from the coast at 12,000 ft. but both were unconfirmed.

An attack on Bristol at 2300 hours was conducted by Heinkels of KGr 100, the only unit in the Luftwaffe to be equipped with the sophisticated X-Verfahren electronic navigation and bombing aid. The heaviest attack came during the night when Ju 88s dropped more than sixteen tons of high explosive on the aircraft works at Filton seriously disrupting production. The operation against the Bristol Aeroplane Company at Filton involved twenty-three He 111s flying from Vannes, Brittany and all the aircraft returned safely. Two factory buildings were damaged and four people injured.

Possibly the most notable, and in a way controversial were the bombs that were dropped on the township of Harrow and the adjoining Wealdstone. Records have always shown that at 0330hrs on the morning of August 22nd 1940, the first bombs to be dropped on London were at Harrow. Geographically, in 1940 Harrow was in the county of Middlesex, the Greater London area did not extend as far as either Harrow or Wealdstone. But as far as the Civil Defense was concerned, Harrow was included and was within the boundaries of Civil Defense Area No.5 which was classed as the London area. To take the matter further, Harrow and Wealdstone also come under the jurisdiction of the London Metropolitan Police. Yet look in any gazetteer, and you will most certainly see Harrow and Wealdstone listed as being in Middlesex.

SS 'Thorold' (1,689 GRT)a Canadian merchant ship, was bombed and sunk by Do-17 bombers, in the Irish Sea in position 51.46N, 005.38W. From her crew of 23, ten crewmembers were lost.

WESTERN FRONT: Another day of awards given to several Luftwaffe personnel. Major Adolf Galland was promoted to Kommodore of JG 26 in place of Major Gotthardt Handrick. Galland's place as Gruppenkommandeur of III Gruppe was taken by Hptm. Gerhard Schöpfel. Hptm. Rolf Pingel was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 26 in place of Hptm. Kurt Fischer. Generalmajor Theo Osterkamp, formerly of JG 51 and now belonging to Jagdfliegerführer 1 was awarded the Ritterkreuz for his leadership as was Major Max Ibel, Kommodore of JG 27. Obstlt. Harry von Bülow-Bothkamp, Kommodore of JG 2 and a former Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 77 with a total of six enemy aircraft destroyed during World War I, was awarded the Ritterkreuz in recognition of his leadership during the early campaigns in Norway and France despite his not scoring a single victory in World War II.

Goring also took avantage of the brief respite caused by the weather to make some changes with his fighter forces. The three jagdgeschwader of Luftflotte 3 - JG 27, JG 2 and JG 53 were reassigned to Luftflotte 2 and began moving from Cherbourg to Calais.

In a British raid over Daedereide, Holland, S/Lt (A) R. L. G. Davies and Lt N. M. Hearle in a Swordfish of RAF No. 812 Squadron were shot down and made prisoners of war.

Photo: Damage to the steamer Sir John Hawkins at Millbay Docks, Plymouth caused by bombs dropped by enemy aircraft during the early hours



Western Front

Another day of awards given to several Luftwaffe personnel. Major Adolf Galland is promoted to Kommodore of JG 26 in place of Major Gotthardt Handrick. Galland's place as Gruppenkommandeur of III Gruppe is taken by Hptm. Gerhard Schöpfel. Hptm. Rolf Pingel is appointed Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 26 in place of Hptm. Kurt Fischer. Generalmajor Theo Osterkamp, formerly of JG 51 and now Jagdfliegerführer 1 is awarded the Ritterkreuz for his leadership as is Major Max Ibel, Kommodore of JG 27. Obstlt. Harry von Bülow-Bothkamp, Kommodore of JG 2 and a former Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 77 with a total of six enemy aircraft destroyed during World War I, is awarded the Ritterkreuz in recognition of his leadership during the early campaigns in Norway and France despite his not scoring a single victory in World War II.

British Swordfish torpedo bombers of RAF No. 812 Squadron from HMS “Peregrine” bombed German invasion barges at Daedereide, the Netherlands. One Swordfish aircraft was shot down, with its crew of two taken prisoner.

Atlantic Ocean

In the South Irish Sea off Milford Haven, Wales, German aircraft bomb Canadian merchant ship “Thorold”.

North America

James V. Forrestal, former Administrative Assistant to the US President and Wall Street broker, was named the first Undersecretary of the Navy responsible for procurement and materiel in the Navy Department.

Mediterranean

Churchill dispatches a heavily armed convoy with 150 tanks to reinforce the middle east.

Mussolini has his military command secretly preparing plans for the invasion of Greece, but he tells them to stop the planning for the time being.

German Military Intelligence

With little else to do because of the futility of planning an invasion of England that is receding further into the distance every day, the OKH (Army high command) is engaging in meticulous planning for another operation that has little chance of ever happening. This is Operation Felix, the invasion of Gibraltar. Captain Anton Staubwasser of OKH Intelligence gives General Halder his estimates on British forces at Gibraltar:

10,000 British troops.

- Numerous underground tunnels and galleries, even more fortified than the Maginot Line.

- Enough food to last for 18 months.

- 19 RAF bombers, 13 reconnaissance planes, 34 fighters.

- numerous anti-aircraft guns.

These actually are very good estimates that tend to conform with reality (certainly not the case with estimates of Soviet strength being made at the same time). Staubwasser points out some flaws in the defenses - positions are not mutually supporting, some gun positions have been neglected, and the British defenses focus almost exclusively on the narrow isthmus connecting Gibraltar to the mainland - and suggests that the operation would be feasible once the German troops actually get on the rock. However, especially given the poor state of the Spanish military (of which the Germans are well aware given their recent collaboration during the Spanish Civil War), Staubwasser argues against the operation because of the difficulty of doing just that.

Day 359 of World War II, August 24th 1940

YouTube (The Battle of Britain is a Bitch)



Battle of Britain

Since August 18th, things generally were relatively quiet, the lull of the last five days had allowed both sides to regroup and re-establish themselves. So far, all the Luftwaffe had been doing was to cause inconvenience to Fighter Command. The radar stations had been damaged, but in nearly all cases they were back in operation within 24 hours. Some airfields had been damaged, but again, the damage was not enough to make them non-operational. Both sides were losing both pilots and aircraft, and with the Battle of Britain now over two months old, the Luftwaffe had not yet achieved the advantage that it had hoped for, and Göring 's plan that the Royal Air Force would be wiped out in two weeks were hopelessly dashed.

Another directive was issued by Göring:

".......To continue the fight against the enemy air force until further notice, with the aim if weakening the British fighter forces. The enemy is to be forced to use his fighters by means of ceaseless attacks. In addition the aircraft industry and the ground organization of the air force are to be attacked by means of individual aircraft by night and day, if weather conditions do not permit the use of complete formations." Göring went on to add that concentrated attacks were to be made on Royal Air Force airfields. The tactic of trying to lure the fighters of Fighter Command into the air would continue, as "...these fighters must be destroyed if we are to succeed."
The bombers were to fly with a strong fighter escort, very close, in an attempt to lure the RAF fighters up to battle and hopeful destruction. German fighter pilots were still opposed to the fact that they were not being given 'free hunt' instructions and that they could fly above the bombers that they were escorting. The instruction to stay close to the bombers thus giving them full protection continued.

Because of the increasing bomber losses during those German attacks without any fighter escort, the fighters of Luftflotte 3 were redeployed to operate over South East England. But this change left a surplus of bombers in other areas who, without fighter escort, could not conduct daylight raids and decided to carry out night operations. The Luftwaffe also began to shift to the targeting of aircraft production plants and the inland fighter fields instead of coastal airfields although the clear weather of the next few days brought a concentration of bombers on the RAF Group 11 fighter bases, especially those surrounding London.

As Oberst ‘Pips’ Priller of 6./JG 51, who claimed a two Spitfires during the day, later commented;

“In such confused fighting, the claims for aircraft shot down and the loss ratios on both sides are misleading. It was no easy task over England in August 1940. Sometimes the youngsters were the victims of their inexperience and over-enthusiasm. There were times when we heard a plea from someone who was confused and disoriented, and nothing could be done about it. I remember one occasion when a lad who hadn’t, as we used to say, tasted much English air, lost sight of our formation after some frenzied twisting and turning about the sky. But we could see him, he had dived steeply and was over the outskirts of London. He should have stayed with the Staffel instead of chasing off on his own. When he grasped the situation he called for help, “Come quickly! I’m on my own over London”.

It seemed now, that it was going to be a battle of tactics. Previously, the bombing had become far more widespread. In the early stages bombing was only concentrated on the radar stations and some of the production factories in the Southampton and Portsmouth areas with an occasional attack on the midlands, but now destruction by bombing was getting far more intense. Most of the airfields had received some sort of damage, bombing was getting closer to London and in some cases the suburbs had been hit, inland towns and cities in the industrial midlands were now sustaining bomb damage. The Air Ministry and the War cabinet were very concerned at the close proximity the bombing was on the capital itself. Göring had issued instructions that London was not to be bombed except only upon his orders which was a directive that had been passed down from Adolph Hitler.

London was ringed by the Sector Stations that were there to protect it. These were Kenley to the south in the county of Surrey, Biggin Hill also in the south in the county of Kent both just a short drive away from London. Hornchurch to the east, which was a vital airfield because it protected the London Docks, the Thames and the Thames Estuary as well as the large factories at Dagenham and Tilbury. North Weald to the north-east protected much of the Home Counties as well as providing back up for the busy Hornchurch. Northolt in the west of London completed whatever protection London needed.

It was with a tired and exhausted German Air Fleet, that Göring unleashed a savage all out bombing attack on Britain. August 24th was to be the start of a campaign of sustained bombing, sending over the Channel more aircraft that the RAF could cope with. A major difference in tactics was the introduction of 'stepped' raids, with successive formations of aircraft at different altitudes from low level fighter-bomber groups to high-level bombers at 24,000 ft. As one formation sets off so another builds up behind Calais, and the raiders split off into feint attacks as they proceeded, making interception most difficult at all levels and positions.

At 0830 hours a formation of Luftwaffe aircraft developed off the coast of Calais. The formation consisted of over forty Do 17s and Ju 88s with about sixty or more Bf 109s as escort. 12 fighter squadrons went up to intercept and RAF No. 610 Sqd (Spitfires) made contact. The Spitfires had position and height, and dived into the middle of the formation making the bombers scatter and the Bf 109 escort initially had problems with acceleration because of the new orders in keeping with close contact with the bombers. There was no account of bomb damage in the area at the time and the formation was turned back on another unsuccessful mission. But the raid was a feint, and the real attack was timed to catch the British fighters on the ground as they refuelled.

Dover and Folkestone were shelled at approximately 1000 hours. Four shells fell near Hawkinge Aerodrome (Folkestone), but little damage reported otherwise. The interval between the shells fired was about 8 minutes.

At 1130 hours another German formation came across the Channel from Cape Griz Nez which consisted of Ju 88s and an escort of Bf 109s. RAF No. 264 Sqd (Defiants) had been deployed as was RAF No. 151 Sqd (Hurricanes) and RAF No. 501 Sqd (Hurricanes). Deploying the Defiant squadron was a devastating move, especially as RAF No. 141 Sqd (Defiants) had almost been decimated about a month previous. At the time, RAF No. 264 Sqd was at Manston and after so many attacks now was being used mainly as a refueling station rather than a base. RAF No. 610 Sqd (Spitfires) had been vectored to Dover, where they saw nothing for the first 40 minutes.

The Defiants made contact with the bombers who made their first attack on Manston airfield. Although they managed to claim one Ju 88 shot down and another damaged, they suffered in the usual way, even in combat with the Ju 88s. Three Defiants were destroyed while two others sustained damage. RAF No. 610 Sqd managed to intercept a flight of six Bf 109s, but they turned away and headed back towards France having a head start on the pursuing Spitfires. RAF No. 610 Sqd broke off the engagement, except for Sgt R.F. Hamlyn, who chased one Bf 109 back to France, despite orders not to chase enemy aircraft across the Channel. Another Spitfire from RAF No. 610 Squadron was shot down over Ramsgate by Hptm. Josef Fözö of 4./JG 51. Fw. Josef Oglodeck of 1./JG 51 was killed in action shortly after getting his second Spitfire at 1412 hours. Oblt. Josef Priller of 6./JG 51 destroyed two Hurricanes off Margate.

Although Manston had many tunnels and underground shelters, it was now rapidly becoming useless, the result of regular and constant bomb attacks. In three days, RAF No. 264 Sqd had lost some twelve Defiants, fourteen pilots and gunners including the Commanding Officer were killed with most of the others being wounded. Just as the Ju 87 was withdrawn from the Luftwaffe, Fighter Command decided that the end had now come for the Defiant as a front line fighter, and what was left of RAF No. 264 Sqd was transferred back to Kirton-on -Lindsay.

During the afternoon, more waves of bombers were detected heading towards London. But then a change in course, and the bombers took on a course that placed them in a straight line for the Sector Stations of Hornchurch and North Weald.



During the afternoon, more waves of bombers were detected heading towards London. But then a change in course, and the bombers took on a course that placed them in a straight line for the Sector Stations of Hornchurch and North Weald.

With many other squadrons attending skirmishes around the south eastern coastline and with the possibility of more to come, 11 Group was stretched to the limit. RAF No. 32 Sqd (Hurricanes) had been scrambled, as was RAF No. 54 Sqd (Spitfires), RAF No.65 Sqd (Spitfires), RAF No. 151 Sqd (Hurricanes), RAF No. 264 Sqd (Defiants), RAF No.501 Sqd (Hurricanes), RAF No. 610 Sqd (Spitfires) and RAF No. 615 Sqd (Hurricanes). Park sent out a request for assistance from Leigh-Mallory's 12 Group and 12 Group sent in RAF No. 19 Sqd with their cannon armed Spitfires, while three squadrons at Duxford attempted to form a 'big wing', but by the time that they had reached the target area the German bombers were already on their way home leaving a trail of blazing fires around the Thames Estuary, some caused by hastily jettisoned bombs giving an indication as to the ferocity of the combat. Meeting this mass of British fighters were fighter schwarms from I(J)./LG 2, III./JG 3, I and III./JG 26, JG 51, II./JG 2 and I./JG 53.

Thirty Bf 109s bounced Spitfires of RAF No. 616 Sqd and shot down seven of the British fighters in less than 30 seconds. The Defiants of RAF No. 264 Sqd managed to draw away the escorting Bf 109s off of a Dornier bomber formation allowing more Hurricanes to attack the German bombers. During the battle the British lost four Defiants shot down with three British planes falling into the sea off Thanet killing all aboard. Other British fighters were lost when Sgt G.Hill from No 65 Squadron escaped injury when his Spitfire I was shot down off Margate at 15:35 hours. Sgt G.T.Clarke of RAF No 151 Squadron was shot down and wounded by Bf 109's over Ramsgate at 15:55 hours and crash-landed his Hurricane I (P3273). Two Bf 109s from II./JG 2 were destroyed with one pilot killed and the second pilot wounded upon crashing near Le Havre.

P/O W.J.Glowacki from Poland flew with the RAF's No. 501 "County of Gloucester" Squadron flying Hurricanes, became an "Ace in One Day". Flying Hurricane 1 V7234 Glowacki and the rest of his section pounced on a formation of enemy bombers which had just carried out a devastating attack on Manston. Glowacki tore into the Ju 88s and shot down two in quick succession plus one of the escorting Bf 109s. A few hours later he notched up his fifth kill of the day when he downed a Ju 88 near Greystone.

The combat action continued over the Thames Estuary and the north coast towns of Kent. Manston had taken the brunt of the attack, but a number of German bombers managed to get through to their targets of North Weald and Hornchurch where, although considerable damage was done, operations were not affected. But with this attack, and the other raids around south-eastern England, the toll once again began to mount. The RAF was to lose twenty aircraft and eighteen of those damaged were repairable, to the thirty-nine destroyed of the Luftwaffe. Friendly fire also claimed victims. P/O D.N.Woodger of No 235 Squadron and his gunner D.L.Wright were shot down and killed in error by a Hurricane of RCAF No 1 Squadron at 16:45hrs. Their Blenheim IV (T1804) crashed at Bracklesham Bay.

The day was not over yet. Most of the action during the morning was in the Dover, Ramsgate, Thames Estuary and East London area, but by mid afternoon although Ventnor Radar was not in operation, a formation of about fifty heavy bombers were detected east of Cherbourg. Another formation was also detected coming from the south-east. Several squadrons were scrambled, but only RAF No.609 Sqd (Spitfires) made contact with the Germans in most unpleasant circumstances. They spotted the bomber formation 5,000 feet above them, just as the AA coast guns started to fire at the bombers. It was like being caught between 'the devil and the deep blue sea' except in this case it was the thick cloud of a bomber formation and the chilly waters of a cold and bleak English Channel.

Numerous Luftwaffe fighter units were involved in the combat actions after 1500 hours and many Experten increased their scoreboards. Fw. Heinz Bär of 1./JG 51 shot down a British Hurricane for his sixth victory of the war. Oblt. Herbert Ihlefeld of 2(J)./LG 2, Oblt. Erwin Neuerburg of 7./JG 3 and Oblt. Arnold Lignitz of 9./JG 51each shot down two British fighters. But JG 51 lost several pilots. Uffz. Hans Busch and Uffz. Walter Harheim of 2./JG 51 were killed when their Bf 109s collided over Ramsgate. Lt. Franz Achleitner of 9./JG 3 with five victories, was shot down and captured, becoming a prisoner of war.

The Spitfire of American, P/O Andy Mamedoff was hit and, fighting with broken controls, just managed to land the plane in a field. With only a single squadron against seventy plus bombers, it was too much to ask that RAF No. 609 Sqd force the bombers into retreat, and the formations continued on to the City of Portsmouth where they let loose over 200 250 kg bombs. This raid resulted in the largest amount of casualties so far in a single raid during the Battle of Britain. Over 100 people in the city were killed on that afternoon, and 300 sustained serious injuries. Houses, shops, factories, the Naval barracks and the dockyards were all seriously damaged, and for the first time, the newspapers had to print the grim reality of truth in their headlines. For months previously Britons were reading newspaper headlines, "144 down out of 1,000", "25 Spitfires stop 70 Bombers" and "115 Raiders out of 600 Destroyed" figures were very much exaggerated. Now the headlines were to read "Portsmouth Suffers Heavy Bombing", simply that, in an effort to maintain morale the amount of dead and injured was only placed in small print. The destroyer HMS 'Acheron' was damaged by German aircraft during the air raid on Portsmouth.

But the bad news was not to stop with the day raids. No sooner had the bombers began their return journey, another large formation was building up off the Cherbourg Peninsular. This was joined by another formation from the south east and radar tracked them across the Channel. But by this time darkness had fallen and it was an impossibility for any British squadron to be 'scrambled'. With the small amount of night fighters that Fighter Command possessed it would be a disaster to allow them to go up and fly the flag for the RAF. Instead, Britain's only defense for the oncoming bombers would be the searchlights and AA groundfire. This time, the target was London itself. A target that was not to be attacked unless ordered to do so by Göring himself from instruction direct from Adolph Hitler.



Germany

German battleship “Bismarck” was commissioned into service.

Atlantic Ocean

German submarine U-57 attacked Allied convoy OB-202 2 miles north of Ireland just after midnight. British ships “Saint Dunstan” and “Cumberland” were sunk, killing 14 and 4, respectively; British ship “Havildar” was damaged. German submarine U-48 sank British tanker “La Brea”, carrying 9,410 tons of fuel oil, 130 miles west of the Outer Hebrides, Scotland, United Kingdom at 1414 hours, killing 2; 31 survived and made it to the Outer Hebrides on lifeboats. 500 miles west of Ireland, German submarine U-37 sank British ship “Brookwood” at 0314 hours, killing 1; 35 crew and 1 gunner would remain adrift for 5 days before being picked up by British merchant ship “Clan Macbean”. At 2038 hours, U-37 struck again, sinking British sloop HMS “Penzance” escorting Allied convoy SC-1, killing 90; 7 survivors were rescued by British ship “Blairmore”.

Indian Ocean

German armed merchant cruiser “Atlantis” sank British ship “King City”, carrying 7,300 tons of coal and coke for Singapore, 900 miles east of Madagascar, killing 6. “Atlantis” remained in the area, in very rough seas, to pick up the survivors.