World War II in real time

Day 363 of World War II, August 28th 1940

Battle of Britain

he Luftwaffe concentrates on destroying RAF No. 11 Group airfields in southeast England. Two heavily escorted bomber formations crossed the Kent coast just after 09:00 hours after the Eastchurch, Rochford and Kent area. He-111s of II and III./KG 53 and Do 17s of I./KG 3 escorted by Bf109s of I and III./JG 51 proceeded north near Sandwich. Fighter Command again "scrambled" 79 Squadron Biggin Hill (Hurricanes), 85 Squadron Croydon (Hurricanes), 615 Squadron Kenley (Hurricanes) and poor 264 Squadron Hornchurch (Defiants) who were using the satellite station of Manston and were preparing to disband and withdraw the squadron up north to Kirton on Lyndsay. They were unable to prevent the Dorniers from reaching Eastchurch and Heinkels from raiding Rochford. Eastchurch was seriously damaged with two Battles destroyed and two damaged. Eight RAF fighters and six pilots were lost for five enemy aircraft brought down. Made a prisoner of war was Arthur Dau of JG 51, who, with seven victories, ended his career on English soil. JG 51’s Kommodore, Major Mölders downs two more Allied warplanes, a Spitfire and a Curtiss, bringing his score to twenty-nine. RAF No. 264's Defiants which were involved in combat over the area proved no match for the Luftwaffe fighters and three of the twelve that were originally scrambled were shot down.

A second raid some two hours later by Do17s from 1./KG 2 attacked the southern Essex airfield at Rochford for the second time that day but did little damage and the airfield remained operational. Rochford had some buildings damaged but the bombers failed to catch 264 Squadron on the ground. Spitfires of 54 Squadron positioned at 30,000 feet dived upon the escort, Flt. Lt. Deere claiming a Bf109, Flt. Lt. George Gribble another at the end of an 11-aircraft line, and Sqn. Ldr Leathart a Dornier. In a quite astonishing chase of a Bf109 Gribble and Norwell ended the fight so low that Gribble's shooting killed a cow. After landing he discovered pieces of a tree lodged in his Spitfire, Deere was less fortunate and had to bail out. As the raiders were approaching Rochford, Hurricanes on No.1 Squadron downed a Do17 of 6./KG 3 on Rochford aerodrome, its crew becoming PoWs.

The third raid was a fighter sweep over South East corner of Kent and into the Thames Estuary at 25,000 ft and above. Seven Gruppen of Bf 109s from JG 2, JG 3, JG 26, JG 27, JG 51, JG 54 and Epr.Gr 210 were used in the attacks. The battle resulted in a wasteful fighter-versus-fighter encounter with 16 aircraft lost on both sides. Park told his Squadron Controllers in no uncertain terms that unless these enemy formations were proving a threat, they must not allow valuable fighter squadrons to be drawn into fighter to fighter combat.

Some of the losses for the Luftwaffe included Oblt. Hans-Theodore Griesebach of 2./JG 2, who failed to return from the mission and was listed as missing. A Ju 88A-1 from I./KG 54 crashed near Dieppe, France on the return flight from England. Eight victory Experte Georg Beyer of JG 26 was shot down and captured, ending his career as a prisoner of the Allies. From JG 3, Hans-Herbert Landry was shot down and severely injured. The five victory Experte was made a prisoner of war.

Liverpool was now selected for the first really heavy raid of the war. 160 Luftwaffe bombers including Heinkels of KG 27, Ju 88s of LG 1 and Ju 88s of KGr 806 were sent to raid the harbour at Liverpool along with twenty-three Do 17s from KGr 606 that attack the Bristol area during the night. The attack was not successful as few bombs fell on the cities. At Avonmouth (Bristol) the Shell Mex installations and the National Smelting Co. works were hit, Coventry shops and houses were damaged and in Altrincham (Cheshire) a 50,000 gallon oil tank at the Anglo-American oil depot caught fire. Other raiders from Luftflotten 2 and 3 attacked other major Midland cities.

During the afternoon, Winston Churchill was visiting Dover and was staying at Dover Castle. It was while he was there, the air raid siren sounded and Churchill and his entourage watched as fighters clashed with German bombers over the town. A spokesman for the War Office stated later:

"It was while we were at Dover, that we saw the approaching German bombers and just a short distance away they were met by British fighters. Mr Churchill seemed mesmerized as the air battle took place almost overhead. We saw maybe two German bombers crash into the sea and some fighters with smoke trailing from them as they spiraled away from the main dogfight. Later that afternoon, we had to drive to Ramsgate and on the way we saw a smoldering aircraft in a field, and Churchill asked the driver to pull off the road and get as close to the wreckage as he could. There was firemen, soldiers and ARP men standing around and I walked with the Prime Minister towards the aircraft. Even though I warned Mr Churchill about the dangers of being out in the open during an air raid, he said that he must have a look, and when he saw the tangled mess he said 'Dear God, I hope it isn't a British plane.' He was reassured that it was not."

Another gift from the Luftwaffe falls into British hands. A Gotha Go 145 communications aircraft lifted off from its base in Cherbourg for a flight to Strasbourg. Navigation problems caused the pilot to fly over the Channel and eventually land the plane on a racecourse in southern England. Captured by the British the plane was soon part of the inventory of RAF No. 1426 Captured Enemy Aircraft Flight, also known as the 'Rafwaffe', and used for evaluation.

Photo: Boulton Paul Defiant Mk Is of No. 264 Squadron RAF based at Kirton-in-Lindsey, Lincolnshire, August 1940. The squadron was withdrawn from the front line on 28 August 1940 after the loss of 11 aircraft (including L7026 PS-V and N1535 PS-A), five pilots, and nine air gunners. The Defiant was never committed to daylight operations within range of enemy fighters again.



Germany

The second night attack of the war by the British against Berlin succeeds in causing the first causalities in the German capital. Ten civilians were killed and twenty-nine injured in the city that Reichsmarschall Göring assured would never be bombed by enemy aircraft.

Adolf Hitler ordered troops to prepare for an occupation of Romania should war break out in that country.

Vichy France

Radio broadcast in Vichy France announced that laws protecting Jews in France had been removed.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-101 (Kptlt. Fritz Frauenheim), operating out of Kiel, stalks Convoy SC 1 west of Ireland. At 04:25, it torpedoes and sinks 3868 ton Finnish freighter Elle. There are 27 survivors and 2 crew perish. The ship doesn't sink right away, so sloop HMS Leith sinks it with gunfire.

U-28 (Kptlt. Günter Kuhnke), on its fifth patrol, is about 200 nautical miles west of the Outer Hebrides stalking Convoy HX 66. At 21:00, it torpedoes and sinks 3946 ton British freighter Kyno. There are 32 survivors and 5 crew perish.

Dutch grain freighter SS Driebergen is sailing with the daily food convoy from Methil to the Tyne when it sinks off Northumberland in the North Sea after colliding with British freighter Port Darwin, perhaps trying to avoid Luftwaffe attack. Everybody survives, and the damaged Port Darwin makes it to port.

British 202 ton trawler Flavia goes missing in the North Sea, perhaps hitting a mine - both sides are heavily mining the area.

Convoy FN 265 departs from Southend, Convoy MT 153 departs from Methil, Convoy FS 265 departs from the Tyne, Convoy HX 69 departs from Halifax and other ports,

British minelayers HMS Plover and Willem van der Zaan lay minefield BS 36 i the North Sea, while four other minelayers put down a field in the St. George's Channel.

U-94 is commissioned.

Destroyer HMS Eglington (L 87, Commander Emile F. V. Dechaineux) is commissioned.

United States

US Army transport “American Legion”, with destroyers USS “Biddle” and USS “Blakeley” in escort, arrived from Petsamo, Finland to New York City, United States with Norwegian Crown Princess Martha. Also aboard was a 40-millimeter Bofors gun, smuggled in for the US Navy.

Canada

In Canada, Colonel Burns again proposes a parachute force. General Harry Crerar rejects it as being unimportant at the present.

Finland

In Finland Simo Häyhä was promoted from the rank of corporal directly to the rank of second lieutenant by Field Marshal Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim.

North Africa

Brazzaville, Congo - Commandant De Lange leads his battalion in a march on the Government Palace. General Husson yields power without resistance but in protest. General de Larminat arrives by boat from Leopoldville, Belgian Congo to take power in the name of Free France.

Bangui, Ubangi - Governor de Saint Mart receives telegram reporting events in Brazzaville and declares the colony’s adhesion to Free France. The local garrison threatens a coup d’etat but de Larminat arrives by airplane and to defuses the situation with an offer to return Pro-Vichy officers to Dakar.

Battle of the Mediterranean

British submarine HMS Pandora, which has been delivering supplies to Malta, torpedoes and sinks Italian cargo ship Famiglia about just east of Haniya, Libya.

Italian bombers raid El Qantara and Port Said during the night.

At Malta, there are two air raid alerts, but, as is often the case, the Italian planes turn back before getting close to the coastline. In other news, Governor Dobbie and the War Office continue wrangling over additional anti-aircraft guns for the island, with the War Office dragging its feet despite hinting at big plans for upgraded air forces there.

Day 365 of World War II, August 30th 1940

Battle of Britain

This day, Germany launched a total of 1,310 sorties against Britain. It appeared that Kesselring was intent on attacking with everything that he had. Many times over the last few days, fighter sweeps by Bf109s failed to attract Fighter Command into the air as Park was not going to be drawn into unnecessary fighter combat. So Kesselring sent over numbers of bombers, working in conjunction with the Bf109s. He was adamant that somehow he would get the RAF fighters into the air.

Despite the fine weather of the morning period, the only raids were on shipping in the Thames Estuary. These shipping strikes had been left alone for the last couple of weeks and Fighter Command regarded them as once again being lures to attract RAF fighters into the air. 100+ German aircraft arrived in the Deal-Dungeness area at 07:36 hours, Do 17s escorted by Bf110s of ZG 76 and heading for a convoy sailing from the Thames at Methil. Hurricanes of RAF No. 111 Squadron and Spitfires of RAF No. 54 Squadron engaged the Do 17s and bf 110s over the Thames Estuary.

The Bf 109s of JG 26 made a freie jagd over the English countryside in the morning that failed to provoke a response. The first sign of major activity occurred at 10:30 hours when a formation was picked up off the coast near Cape Griz Nez. Three separate groups were detected which turned out to be separate formations of He 111s which in all totaled about 120 aircraft. The Luftwaffe were now, for the first time using a smaller number of Bf109s as close escort, and with a larger number flying at about 25,000 feet.

In an effort to slow the loss rate, the RAF had restricted its fighters from engaging the escorting Messerschmitts of bomber formations, waiting until the escorts were low on fuel and turned to leave the area before attacking. AVM Park also instituted the famed cry "Tally Ho" to help the British fighters know where attacking bombers and fighters were and at what strength instead of spreading his forces too thin. It took awhile before this actually worked with some fighter pilots shouting out the cry but without giving strength, altitude and course. Because of this, no less than nineteen Gruppen of bombers were able to attack RAF airfields around Kent and the Thames Estuary for two hours unmolested, causing serious destruction. One direct hit on the power supply line took out the radar stations at Dover, Rye, Pevensey, Foreness, Beachy Head and Whitstable and they they were off the air for a critical three hours. Biggin Hill was attacked twice by 109s and Ju88s within a few hours and major damage was done with the result that some 40 people were killed. Kenley, Shoreham, Tangmere and Rochford were also targeted where the story was much the same. Hangars, buildings and the airfields themselves receiving devastating damage.

Fighter Command was finally forced to get some of its fighters into the air. RAF No.43 Squadron Tangmere (Hurricanes), 79 Squadron Biggin Hill (Hurricanes), 85 Squadron Croydon (Hurricanes), 111 Squadron Debden (Hurricanes), 222 Squadron Hornchurch (Spitfires) 253 Squadron Kenley (Hurricanes), 603 Squadron Hornchurch Spitfires), 610 Squadron Biggin Hill (Spitfires) and 616 Squadron Kenley (Spitfires) were released by Fighter Command cope with the incoming formations. Park dispatched his squadrons in two waves, as the German bombers were coming across the Channel in three separate formations. RAF Nos. 43, 79, 253, and 603 Squadrons went in first to intercept the first wave of bombers just prior to them reaching the English coast between Deal and Folkestone. 85 Squadron Croydon (Hurricanes) met up with the leading Heinkels and decided on a head on attack.

The skies over the south coast became a pattern of vapour trails as some of the RAF fighters got tangled up with 109s. Most of the fighters tried in vain to straffe the bombers, but it all became a melee of all sorts. The casualties started to fall from the sky, Spitfires, Bf 109s, Hurricanes, Heinkels and Dorniers. Many were badly shot up, others just collided into each other.

"I saw his contortions, then I saw him straighten and fly straight into the German aircraft; both crashed and Percy was killed. I was close enough to see his letters, as other pilots must have been and who also confirmed this incident, which in itself caused me to realize my young life and its future, if any, had jumped into another dimension."

South African pilot, P/O E.J.Morris went into a head on attack with a Heinkel for the first time in his career. RAF No. 79 Squadron Biggin Hill (Hurricanes) engaged a formation of Heinkel 111s and while some peeled off to exhert their attack from above, many decided to make a head on attack. Morris was one of them. He pressed the firing button, banked sharply only for the Heinkel to ram the underbelly of his Hurricane. His aircraft was cut to pieces, but Morris, still strapped in his seat managed to pull the ripcord and parachuted to safety. His injuries were just a broken leg...and a bit of confidence. He said afterwards;

"I thought they were supposed to break formation if we pressed home a frontal attack".

He was told that;

'...not if the pilot is dead, you are supposed to make allowances for that'.

Morris replied;

"Then how the hell are you supposed to know if he is dead or not?"

The way you did, he was politely told.

At 11:15 hours the Observer Corps further reported that 40 plus Heinkel He111s and 30 Do17s escorted by 100 plus Bf109s and Bf110s were approaching the coast. By now, the first wave of bombers had pushed on over Ashford still in combat with the British fighters. With the first wave of He111s and Do17s crossing the Kent coast, what radar was working was picking up sightings that stretched right back to the French coast. AVM Park at Fighter Command Group HQ decided to place nearly sixteen squadrons at readiness with two squadrons from 12 Group sent in to give cover to Biggin Hill and Kenley. But by the time that they managed to take off and gain height, the German bomber formation was well over Kent and heading towards London. The He111s and the Do17s broke into two formations, and once again Park was quick to realize that his Sector Stations were under attack once more. One eyewitness said of this day, that no matter where you looked over Kent, Surrey or South London, you could see nothing but bombers and fighter planes fighting it out.

During this period of combat, one pilot stood out for his courageous actions. Squadron Leader Tom Gleave, flying a Hurricane of RAF No. 253 Squadron, scrambled from Kenley with two other pilots, F/L George Brown and P/O Douglas Francis. As they gained height above Maidstone, Gleave caught sight of a massive formation of Bf109s. The Hurricanes dived and attacked directly at the Bf109s without loss to themselves. It was during the resulting dogfights, that Sqn. Ldr. Gleave successfully shot down 5 Bf109s.

With squadrons engaging the first wave of bombers, and also the second wave, reports were still coming in to Fighter Command that more formations were over the Channel and heading for the Kent coast. Park had no option but to put all his squadrons into the air. Two squadrons that had been covering Biggin Hill were moved forward into the attack, and Park called on 12 Group to send squadrons down covering Biggin Hill and Kenley. Once again, Biggin Hill was hit, the two squadrons from 12 Group failing to sight the Ju88s coming in from the south. Many of the bombs fell wide and the town of Biggin Hill suffered as did the village of Keston. Kenley suffered much the same fate with many buildings hit and many stationery wounded aircraft on the ground receiving further damage. RAF No.79 Squadron Biggin Hill (Hurricanes) along with 74 Squadron Hornchurch (Spifires) were pulled back to guard the aerodromes of Biggin and Kenley because once again, the 12 Group squadrons had failed to show. Two sections of Hurricanes tried to keep the Bf109s occupied, while two sections engaged the bombers. As well as Biggin Hill and Kenley suffering badly in the raid, the airfields of Croydon and Detling were also hit.

Again Keith Park was on the phone to 12 Group asking;

'...where in the hell were your fighters that were supposed to have protected my airfields?"

The answer was that the 12 Group fighters could not find the enemy, to which Park 'politely' told them that they were not supposed to be going looking for the enemy, they were supposed to be at the South London airfields waiting for the enemy to come to them.

By 13:15 hours many of the original He111s, Do17s and Bf109s were heading for home, that is, if they hadn't been shot down. The pressure was building and before the squadrons completed their turn-rounds Kesselring dispatched small groups of bombers protected by many fighters and crossing the Kent coast from 13:00 at around 15,000 feet at 20-minute intervals, and largely unplotted because power supplies to radar stations had been cut during the morning raids. This time, their strength was much smaller. Coming in in three waves, they all veered into different direction once over the Kent coastline headed for their own particular target. These attacked the forward airfields of Hawkinge and Manston.

For over two hours the Luftwaffe roamed over south-east England. Five fighter squadrons responded, among them RAF No. 222 Squadron, which was to operate three times during the day and have eight of its Spitfires put out of use, lose five, have a pilot killed and two injured. Twelve of 222 Squadron's Spitfires on patrol at 16,000 feet over Lympne sighted 15 escorted He-111s near Canterbury and as they attacked were set upon by the Messerschmitts. They claimed a Bf 110 damaged but P/O Asheton was forced to land on the obstructed Bekesbourne airfield, Sergeant Baxter had to put down at Eastchurch and P/O Carpenter baled out of P9378 near Rochford. RAF No. 43 Squadron Tangmere (Hurricanes) engaged the bombers. Although the airfield received minor damage, all the bombers made just the single run before turning back over the Channel.

At around 1600 hours, more waves of heavy German bombers came across the Kent countryside and from the direction of the Thames Estuary. 13 squadrons were scrambled to deal with them. RAF Nos.56 Squadron North Weald (Hurricanes), 79 Squadron Biggin Hill (Hurricanes), 222 Squadron Hornchurch (Spitfires) 253 Squadron Kenley (Hurricanes), 501 Squadron Gravesend (Hurricanes) and 603 Squadron Hornchurch (Spitfires) were among the squadrons dispatched to intercept. Many of these squadrons had been in combat practically non stop since 10:30 hours. 19 Gruppen in total headed for Hawker's at Slough, the Hurricane and Spitfire repair centres at Oxford, for Luton and three vital airfields - North Weald, Kenley and Biggin Hill. One small formation, intercepted by only one squadron, managed to put Detling out of use for 15 hours. Now for the first time, AVM Park - for the second time this day having every one of his squadrons airborne - called in 12 Group and this time requested them to engage in combat and not just protect 11 Group airfields. One of the squadrons to be sent down in the combat area was RAF No. 242 Squadron Duxford (Hurricanes) led by S/L Douglas Bader who had just brought his squadron down from Coltishall that morning. Bader, had been longing for action for months, but up until now had not seen any, with the exception of intercepting a lone aircraft while on patrol. But according to Bader;

"....that is not action, my twelve Hurricanes against fifteen or so of theirs, that's what I call action!"

So if Bader was calling fifteen enemy aircraft 'action', then he was now going to be thrown right into it, because, being vectored close to North Weald there were seventy enemy aircraft to be met. Led by Bader (P3061) they tackled raid X33, a diamond formation of KG 1s He 111s which had already braved 54 rounds of heavy AA fire, which shot down two.

Around 16:10 hours, 20 He-111s of II./KG 1 escorted by Bf110s flew across Southend and then North Weald bound for Luton's industrial area. Although some of the German raiders dropped their loads outside the city of Luton, despite the efforts from the Hurricanes of RAF Nos. 1, 56, 242 and 501 Squadrons - Nos. 1 and 56 each destroying a Heinkel - , many more continued on and dropped bombs on Vauxhall, believing it to be a plane parts factory. The major factories in Luton made women's hats and truck parts. The Vauxhall Motor Works at Luton was hit resulting in over fifty-three people killed and one hundred and forty injured. No public warning had sounded and horrific scenes followed the destruction of the factory's main internal stairway.

For the second time that day, Biggin Hill was bombed and almost put out of action. Detling airfield was the first to get hit by at least fifty HE bombs. Oil tanks were hit and set ablaze, the main electricity cable was hit and cut the power to all buildings and with hangars and roadways cratered it was anticipated that the airfield would be out of action for at least two days. Nine Ju88 bombers managed to get though the British defences and took everybody by surprise and struck Biggin Hill with a low level bombing attack dropping 1000 lb bombs causing mayhem. The transport yard was destroyed, storerooms, the armoury and both officers and sergeants messes were severely damaged, two hangars were wrecked earlier in the day and now another hanger was almost flattened, and the telephone and communication lines were severed, gas and water mains were ruptured. Casualties amounted to thirty-nine personnel killed and thirty five injured.

It had been a busy day for Fighter Command, over 22 squadrons had been in action for most of the day, many of them doing up to four sorties. But as night fell, there was to be no let up.

Liverpool was again raided by 130 plus bombers of the Luftwaffe. He 111s of II. and III./KG 27, Ju 88s of I. and III./LG 1 and Ju 88s of II./KG 51 attacked the city with ten of the bombers dropping their loads on Bristol at night. Do17s and He111s made raids on London and Portsmouth, Manchester was bombed as was Worcester. The bombers of 8 Staffel of KG 55 lost a He 111 to anti-aircraft fire on another night mission to Liverpool. It crashed returning to base at Sens, France. But the Kampfgeschwader lost several aircrews to mishaps rather than battle. Two He 111s from 5 and 6 Staffeln collided during a formation flight near Paris and crashed killing all the crews. Another pair of He 111s, this time from 8 Staffel and the Erganzungsstaffel of KG 55 collided near Versailles killing most of their crews.

At 0200 hours 100 incendiary bombs were dropped on Hawarden Aerodrome, slightly damaging one aircraft.

It had been one of the worst days for the RAF, 39 aircraft were destroyed, eight of these were Spitfires from 222 Squadron Hornchurch. Over 50 RAF personnel had been killed (39 of these at Biggin Hill) with nearly 30 seriously injured. Some 200 civilians had been killed in the air raids and along with the radar stations of Pevensey, Beachy head and Foreness sustaining damage, Biggin Hill was made virtually unoperational, and the control of its sector was transferred over to Hornchurch. On the German side, a total of 41 fighters and bombers had been destroyed. But they too, during the hours of darkness felt the brunt of an Bomber Command offensive as well. More that 80 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys attack cities in Holland and Belgium. Berlin is attacked by 149 Squadron Bomber Command. 50 Squadron attacked oil refineries near Rotterdam. Of these, only four RAF bombers are lost.

RAF No. 303 (Polish) Sqdrn entered the battle for the first time. In the course of a training interception with six Blenheims in the afternoon, ‘B’ Flight contacted with some 60 German bombers, 60 fighters and British fighters having a running battle near Hatfield. F/O Paszkiewicz brought down one Do. 17. (Destroyed) while the rest of the fighters escorted the Blenheims safely back to Northolt.

In the morning battles Oblt. Werner Machold of 1./JG 2 brought his score to fourteen with the destruction of an RAF Hurricane near London. Later at 1800 hours he destroyed a Hurricane and a Spitfire over Gouldhurst to bring his score to sixteen victories. But his Geschwader lost several Messerschmitts during the day including those of Ofw. Harbauer of II./JG 2 and Uffz. Rieh of III./JG 2. Another pilot from II./JG 2 was shot down and captured, becoming a prisoner of war.

In a H.Q. Fighter Command letter dated 29th August, 1940 addressed to H.Q. No.12 Group advised that RAF No. 307 (Polish) Squadron was to be equipped with Defiant Aircraft and not Hurricane Aircraft as previously advised.

Photo: A Heinkel He 111 of KG 1 lies in a Surrey field at mid-day. The aircraft was one of a large formation that caused heavy damage to Biggin Hill, but was intercepted by Nos. 79 and 610 Squadrons. The crew of five were captured but one died from injuries.



United Kingdom

No. 303 (Polish) Squadron RAF was deemed operational in Britain.

Air War over Europe

The personnel of Hptm. Ensslen’s II./JG 52 move their Bf 109s from Jever to Husum.

British RAF Bomber Command aircraft attacked oil refineries near Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

RAF Bomber Command aircraft attacked Berlin, Germany.

Eastern Europe

A German sponsored conference concludes in Vienna. Hungary and Bulgaria have been recently trying to pick a quarrel with Romania so that, following the example of the USSR, they can seize portions of Romanian territory. The Germans do not wish their grain and oil supplies to be threatened by a Balkan war and, therefore, intervene to adjudicate the dispute. In exchange for a German guarantee of security, Romania ceded the region of Dobrudja to Bulgaria and ceded Transylvania to Hungary. This move was forced on Romania by Hitler in an effort to prevent a possible war between Romania and Hungary.

Battle of the Atlantic Ocean

German submarine U-32 sank three ships of Allied convoy HX-66A four miles off Isle of Lewis, Scotland, United Kingdom between 0200 and 0248 hours. British ship “Mill Hill” was sunk with the entire crew of 34 lost. British ship “Chelsea” was sunk with 24 lost and 11 rescued by armed trawler HMS “Lord Cecil”, and Norwegian ship “Norne” was sunk with 17 lost and 11 survivors rescued by corvette HMS “Hibiscus”. Several hours later, German submarine U-59 attacked two ships of Allied convoy OB-205 70 miles northwest of Ireland between 0934 and 0953 hours. British tanker “Anadara” was damaged but remained float and without any casualties, and would be towed to the Clyde in Scotland by tug HMS “Schelde”. Greek ship “San Gabriel” also took on damage without sinking, but suffered 2 kills (she would later be declared a loss and her remaining 22 survivors would be taken off by destroyer HMS “Warwick”). Finally, also on this date, German submarine U-25 sank with all hands near Terschelling, the Netherlands after one of her own mines exploded.

United States

Rear Admiral Charles S. Freeman relieved Rear Admiral Edward B. Fenner as the Commandant of the US Navy Thirteenth Naval District and as the Commandant of the Puget Sound Navy Yard in Bremerton, Washington, United States.

Battle of the Mediterranean

The brand-new armored aircraft carrier, HMS “Illustrious”, and a powerful escort left Gibraltar. Although her air group was small (only 15 fighters and 18 bomber aircraft), “Illustrious” was one of the first warships to be fitted with air-warning radars which gave her a big advantage in fleet defence, as she could detect and track hostile aircraft and give her aircraft time to gain altitude. With both “Illustrious” and “Eagle” under his command, Admiral Cunningham could now take the offensive.

China

The Japanese-sponsored puppet state Manchukuo established a flight school in Fengtien Province to train military and civilian pilots.

Vichy France

Vichy France signs the Matsuoka-Henry Pact and yields to Japanese demands for an end to shipments of war material to the Chinese nationalists via the Hanoi - Kunming railway, grants Japanese forces transit rights and access to military facilities in Indochina and the right to station troops in Tokinchina. Japan agrees to recognize continued French sovereignty over Indochina. Vichy reciprocates with formal recognition of Japan’s "pre-eminent" role in the Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere. French Ambassador to Tokyo Arsène Henry announced to the Japanese that the French government would allow 6,000 Japanese troops to station in Indochina and would allow the military use of ports, airfields, and railroads in the region. However, the French government attempted to delay on the implementation of the plan as long as they could. The Japanese military begins its occupation of ports, airfields and railroads in northern Indochina as agreed to by Vichy France.

The Vichy French government, alarmed at recent successes by the Free French in Africa, dispatches submarine Sidi Ferruch from patrol to Libreville to shore up the Vichy authorities there.

Germany

Hitler announces that he will make a decision on Operation Sealion (the invasion of England) about September 10th. This will mean that the landings will be on September 21st.

Day 367 of World War II, September 1st 1940

Battle of Britain

The "Bad Weekend" continued as the Luftwaffe resumed its assault on RAF airfields with the bases at Biggin Hill, Detling, Tilbury and Eastchurch heavily attacked. The day held the same usual pattern as did many of the preceding days, quiet early, but at mid morning a build up of German aircraft was detected by the radar stations at Dover, Foreness and Pevensey. The Luftwaffe kept to their standard pattern of sending in a small formation of Bf 109s first as a diversionary, but as usual they were ignored by Fighter Command. These were followed by sixty bombers that consisted of formations of Dornier Do17s and Bf 110s with a fighter escort of Bf 109s at higher altitude.

At 1050 hours the German aircraft crossed the coast near Dover and other raids followed. Just prior to reaching the Kent coast, they broke up into a number of smaller formations, each designated to a different target. Again it was the airfields of Fighter Command that bore the brunt of the Luftwaffe attacks, Eastchurch, Rochford, Detling and once again Biggin Hill. A total of ten British fighter squadrons were given the order to readiness, and once again, it seemed as though 11 Group would be stretched to the limit as the German bombers were heading for four different areas at the same time. By 1100 hours about one hundred and twenty warplanes from Luftflotte 2 were over Kent and the Thames Estuary. Some penetrated to Biggin Hill, Kenley, Gravesend, Hornchurch and North Weald.

Fourteen British fighter squadrons were scrambled and vectored to intercept the German formations as they crossed the coast from Dungeness to Margate, and as others entered the Thames Estuary and headed due west along the River Thames towards London. Fierce dogfights occurred over the eastern half of Kent. Most of these were in separate pockets scattered in different areas. RAF No. 54 Sqd (Spitfires) and RAF No. 72 Sqd (Spitfires) were vectored towards the Maidstone area. Here, they engaged a formation of Dorniers after they had crossed the coast near Beachy Head. As RAF No. 54 Sqd. intercepted the Dornier formation, they were joined by RAF No.1 Sqd (Hurricanes) while RAF No. 72 Sqd. made their approach on the bombers from the west. As they lined up their attack, they were jumped on by Bf 109s who tore into the squadron with deadly accuracy. A Spitfire from RAF No. 72 Sqd. and a Hurricane from RAF No.1 Sqd. were shot down by fighters from JG 52. Both British pilots were killed.

The sector station at Biggin Hill was again so badly damaged that equipment was moved out into the open so that operations could continue. Returning British fighter squadrons were ordered away from the cratered airfield to Croydon and others. Biggin Hill was again temporarily out of business. Just as the Spitfires and Hurricanes landed and refueled at Croydon, a formation of one hundred and fifty German aircraft headed inland to attack Hawkinge, Lympne, Detling and Biggin Hill again. Hit for the second time in a day, Biggin Hill was completely demolished. Hornchurch was bombed with incendiary bombs at 1140 hours but no damage or casualties occurred.

The dock areas of London now came under attack by the German bombers that had managed to get through the British fighters. The attack on Tilbury demonstrated the ludicrousness of Göring's order of 24 August when three Geschwader of fighters from JG 52, JG 53 and JG 54 were forced to escort only eighteen He 111 bombers of II./KG 1 against the docks and airfield. Considerable damage was done. The railway station was hit and both up and down lines blocked; gas and water mains were broken; the premises of Harland Wolff received a direct hit; dockside buildings and workshops were also affected; a number of private houses were demolished and ten shops damaged. Casualties reported were five dead and 28 injured. During the air battle, Alfred Grislawski of JG 52 and Fw. Werner Stumpf of 7./JG 53 each gained their first kills of the war. One of the German pilots lost was Oblt. Anton Stangl of 5./JG 54 who crashed over England and was taken prisoner. He had five victories with JG 54. Killed was Oblt. Oskar Bauer from III./JG 53.

Another raid at 1105 hours over Gravesend resulted in three houses demolished and fifty damaged. Gas and water mains were fractured and there was slight damage to the gas and electricity works but the production was not affected. Ofw. Erich Rudorffer of 2./JG 2 claimed his thirteenth British aircraft over Dover during this raid.

At 1340 hours some seventy German aircraft crossed the Coast between Dover and Dungeness in the second major raid of the day. A second wave of about eighty aircraft followed. The British fighters of the morning raids had hardly returned to their bases, rearmed and refueled when they were once again placed at readiness as the large formations had been detected coming in over Dover. It was all a carbon copy of the earlier raid and the German bombers again broke into smaller groups with some approaching London over Dover and Ashford while another headed north and came in following the Thames. The first interceptions were made between Folkestone and Hastings but they could do nothing to slow down the advance of the Luftwaffe bombers which were 150 plus strong and consisted of Do17s, Bf 110s and Bf 109s.

Biggin Hill and Kenley were the objectives again. This was now the sixth raid on Biggin Hill in three days. During the day, they had been trying to hold a funeral service at a cemetery just outside the airfield for the fifty or so personnel that were killed in the earlier raids on the station. All the coffins were lined up next to the graves, some were draped with flags, but many were not as there were not enough of them to go round. The service was in progress as the air raid siren sounded. Inside the airfield, everything seemed to be in disaster mode. Hangars were hit, as were mess halls, workshops and the telecommunications system. Bf 110s came in low and bombed with accuracy, Do17s at a higher altitude dropped high explosive bombs. Damage was extensive.

The attack continued on to Kenley where Do17s of KG 76 came in low. One of them was shot down by the Hurricanes of RAF No. 84 Sqd. It tried to return towards the coast hoping that it could get back to base, but with both engines in flames the bomber crashed near Dungeness. Three of the crew managed to bale out and were captured, but a fourth was killed when the aircraft crashed. A Bf 110, after completing its bombing run on Biggin Hill, was shot down by P/O P.F. Mayhew of RAF No. 79 Sqd and it exploded as it hit the ground at Brasted, killing both crew on board. Another Bf 110 was attacked by the Hurricanes of RAF No. 85 Sqd. over Biggin Hill. Damaged by machine gun fire, it managed to keep flying. It was finally shot down by P/O C.E. English of RAF No. 85 Sqd. hitting the 110 in its only remaining engine. It made a forced landing at Ham Street where both of the crew were captured.

But the glory experienced by RAF No. 85 Sqd. was to be short lived. Over the Kenley area, as the British tore into the Zerstörers, they were jumped on by a number of Bf 109s from JG 26, cutting the squadron to pieces. Four Hurricanes of RAF No. 85 Sqd. were shot down with all four pilots killed including one who was so severely injured that he died in hospital in February of 1941. Two other RAF squadrons involved, RAF No. 79 and RAF No. 72, lost seven fighters destroyed or badly damaged. Major Adolf Galland of Stab./JG 26 got his twenty-seventh kill. Oblt. Eberhard Henrici of 1./JG 26 claimed two Hurricanes destroyed during the dogfight.

At 1530 hours five raids totaling seventy Luftwaffe aircraft again crossed the Coast between Dover and Dungeness. Their course was the same as the two earlier raids. One of these formations, containing about twenty aircraft, circled on the Coast line but others penetrated towards Maidstone and the Thames Estuary. This time they started to bomb targets along the way. At 1540 hours one formation of Bf 109s dropped bombs on Hawkinge and Lympne airfields while another formation made their attack on Detling and Chatham. No buildings at Hawkinge were damaged and the aerodrome was still serviceable. Bf 110s also decided to strafe the Dover balloon barrage along the way. Two balloons of the Barrage were shot down.

A formation of Do17 bombers headed towards South London and it was at 1730 hours that Biggin Hill realized that they were again to be the target. A direct hit on the operations rooms put them completely out of action. All telephone lines were cut and the Teleprinter Network was destroyed by a single 500lb bomb. One of the workshops was on fire and four Spitfires were destroyed on the ground and the station armory was ablaze. Biggin again was declared unoperational temporarily. Six squadrons of RAF fighters could not stop this final attack, although RAF No. 603 Sqd managed to claim one Bf 109 that crashed at Chilham.

The heavy airbattles in the afternoon saw many scores of the Jagdflieger rise. Oblt. Wilhelm Herget and Oblt. Hans-Joachim Jabs made claims of three British fighters each, flying Bf 110s for 6./ZG 76. Getting a double kill was Oblt. Gustav Rödel of 4./JG 27 to bring his score to eight victories. Other prominent Experten were Hptm. Gerhard Schöpfel of Stab III./JG 26 (14 kills total), Oblt. Hans Philipp of 4./JG 54 (10 kills), Hptm. Günther von Maltzahn of Stab II./JG 53 (5 kills) and Hptm. Wolf-Dietrich Wilcke of Stab III./JG 53 (4 kills).

German activity at night was much reduced compared with that of the previous nights and the areas attacked were quite different. Only a small number of isolated raids went to the Industrial Midlands. Main raids were confined to three areas only: Kent, Bristol Channel and South Wales and Tyne/Tees. Many early raids were plotted over Kent and into the Thames Estuary. Attacks were on Detling Aerodrome, Dunkirk and Rye. Two attacks were made on Detling Aerodrome at 1630 hours and 2300 hours, with the result that the wireless mast was damaged, Officers' Mess demolished, and the aerodrome became unserviceable.

Four Ju 88s of I./KG 51, six Ju 88s of II./KG 51 and two Ju 88s of III./KG 51 along with nine He 111s of I./KG 55 and ten He 111s of III./KG 55 raided Liverpool and Bristol between the hours of 2100 and 0300 causing little damage as the bombs were scattered from Avonmouth, across Stoke Bishop and the City Centre to Redfield killing nine and injuring fourteen civilians. One of the Heinkels carrying a former Lufthansa employee from Croydon, England was hit as it withdrew across the English coast and crashed in France.

The Naval oil depot at Llandarcy was hit and was reported to be burning so furiously that no action to stop the fire could be taken until daylight. High explosive bombs were dropped at Newton Downs, Porthcawl Aerodrome at 2240 hours. There was damage.

During these and in other operations twenty-five German aircraft were destroyed (plus 24 damaged). British casualties were fifteen aircraft totally destroyed and six pilots killed or missing. The RAF was beginning to feel the loss of its fighters and was on the verge of collapse. The British were suffering badly; they were losing more aircraft than were being produced, which meant that if things continued like this, the resources of Fighter Command would soon be depleted. Pilots, too, were becoming an even more serious issue. Since the Battle of Britain had begun, Dowding had lost some 75% of his squadron commanders and nearly 400 pilots had either been killed or seriously wounded. RAF No 111 Squadron at Croydon and RAF No 151 Squadron at Stapleford were down to just seven pilots each, available for operations while the two Hurricane squadrons at North Weald could count on only two Hurricanes as serviceable. By the evening of 1 September, RAF No 54 Squadron was removed from operations.

Photo: a Supermarine Spitfire Mk I of No. 19 Squadron being re-armed between sorties at Fowlmere, near Duxford, September 1940.



German Military

The Luftwaffe Operations Staff, Section 1A, issues instructions to Luftflotten 2 and 3 in France regarding quality targets. It includes a list of 30 factories in England thought to be involved in aircraft production. In fact, this list includes some factories that have nothing to do with anything war-related - the Luftwaffe appears to be consulting guidebooks and the like.

Battle of the Atlantic

Italian submarines have been operating off the Azores and Canary Islands for about two months with results that have under-performed expectations but still hold promise. For submarines based in Italy, these patrol stations require passage through the Straits of Gibraltar, which the British are trying to close down. Aside from the British presence, this also involves a lengthy, tiring and time-consuming transit to and from patrol stations in the Atlantic.

To avoid the dangers of such transits and coordinate training of the under-performing Italian submarine crews, the Regia Marina Italiana now establishes a base at Bordeaux capable of holding up to 30 submarines at a time (with 1/3 of submarines in port, 1/3 in transit to or from patrol stations, and 1/3 on patrol stations, this works out to supporting a fleet of up to 90 submarines, which is roughly how many the Italians have operational). This operation goes under the acronym BETASOM.

As usual with Axis joint operations, there is an involved command structure that places ultimate control over the BETASOM project in a German officer, in this case Konteradmiral (Rear Admiral) Karl Dönitz. Doenitz now is the effective "Commander of the Submarines" (Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote) for both the German and Italian submarine fleets in the Atlantic - and the Italian fleet there potentially is even larger than the German one. This has the potential of tipping the scales of the Battle of the Atlantic decidedly in favor of the Axis. However, the effectiveness of the Italian submarines must be increased substantially for them to make a worthwhile contribution to the war effort. As part of that effort, the Italian Navy also establishes a frogmen training academy at Livorno, commanded by Lieutenant Wolk.

In the day's battle itself, results are slightly better than many recent ones for the Royal Navy, but hardly wonderful. The Texel Disaster concludes with the scuttling of the destroyer HMS Ivanhoe during the afternoon and recovery of the badly damaged HMS Express, which has lost its entire bows. It will require major repairs, a virtual reconstruction of a third of the ship.

U-101 (Kptlt. Fritz Frauenheim), on her third patrol and first out of Lorient, finds a straggler from Convoy OB 205 northwest of Ireland. It is 3867-ton Croatian (maybe now Greek?) freighter Efploia. Frauenheim puts a torpedo into the Efploia which badly damages it. The ship is later scuttled by destroyer HMS Anthony, which rescues the entire crew.

U-32 (Oblt.z.S. Hans Jenisch) torpedoes British cruiser HMS Fiji northwest of Ireland, near Convoy HX 67. The Fiji, seriously damaged, proceeds back to base at Greenock in the Clyde at a reduced speed of 10 knots, escorted by several destroyers. HMS Fiji has been participating in the opening stages of Operation Menace and is replaced by cruiser HMAS Australia.

British submarine HMS Tigris torpedoes and sinks Vichy French trawler Sancte Michel in the Bay of Biscay.

British submarine HMS Sunfish collides with Royal Navy launch HMML Mesme at Grangemouth, Stirlingshire. All three men aboard perish.

Royal Navy trawler HMT Royalo hits a mine and sinks off Penzance, Cornwall. All seven men aboard perish as the small ship explodes.

Royal Navy cruiser HMS Galatea hits a mine off the Humber as it is returning to port. The explosion beside B-turret is against the gunbelt and causes only minor damage.

British submarine HMS Tuna spots what it believes is a submarine in the North Sea and attacks, but without results.

Convoy FN 269 departs from Southend, Convoy MT 157 departs from Methil, Convoy FS 269 departs from the Tyne, Convoy OB 207 departs from Liverpool, Convoy HX 70 departs from Halifax, Convoy BHX 70 departs from Bermuda, Convoy SLS 46 departs from Freetown, Convoy BS 3A departs from Suez.

Photo: Germans troops on parade on Dam Square in Amsterdam



Battle of the Mediterranean

Operation Hats, the intricate Royal Navy operation to run ships to Malta, continues.

At 03:25, Royal Navy carrier HMS Ark Royal launches nine Swordfish to attack Caligari as part of the deception operations (Operation Squawk) to draw attention away from the Malta convoy. The planes attack at 06:00 - Swordfish are very slow, particularly in a headwind - and are back on the carrier by 08:00. After some evasive maneuvers, Admiral Somerville takes Force H toward the Sicilian Narrows (between Sicily and Tunisia). Late in the, he splits his fleet, half turning back toward Caligari and the rest (Force F) continuing eastward for a junction with the Mediterranean fleet coming from Alexandria.

The Mediterranean fleet coming from Greek waters, for its part, has had its reconnaissance planes spot the Italian fleet off Taranto. The Italians, however, apparently unaware of the British dispositions, heads back to base.

A British flotilla led by Cruisers HMS Orion and HMAS Sydney bombards Dodecanese islands of Scarpanto (now Karpathos) and Stampalia (now Astypalea) as part of the overall deception plan. Italian motor torpedo boats MAS 536 and 537 respond by attacking the Royal Navy ships. Royal Navy destroyer HMS Ilex, operating with Admiral Cunningham's force out of Alexandria, rams and sinks Italian motor torpedo boat MAS 536 in the Aegean, but the other Italian attack boat gets away (some accounts place this on 3 September).

At Malta itself, a Hudson on reconnaissance is spotted by aircraft from HMS Illustrious, part of Force H coming from Gibraltar. Rather than a happy meeting, the Illustrious Fairey Fulmars mistake the RAF plane for an enemy one and attack the Hudson. They force it to crash-land in Tunisia, where the Vichy French intern the crew. Malta reconnaissance planes also shadow the Italian fleet returning to Taranto. The arrival of the convoy coming from Gibraltar is expected with eagerness on the morrow.

Kenya

A minor Italian offensive occupies Buna in northeast Kenya.

German/Soviet Relations

Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov remains furious about the Second Vienna Award - suggesting that the Soviets itself had further plans for Romania. He privately remonstrates with the Germans, but can't go public with his aggravation because his complaint is that the German interference in eastern Europe is contrary to the secret protocols of the August 1939 Ribbentrop/Molotov Pact.

German Military

Otto Skorzeny receives a promotion to Oberscharführer (senior squad leader, roughly equivalent to a Sergeant 1st Class in the US) and joins 2nd SS Division "Das Reich." Skorzeny is a former civil engineer who has become a promising SS officer, gaining some renown for designing ramps to load tanks on ships - a potentially very useful invention should Operation Sea Lion proceed.

US Military

The House of Representatives passes the conscription bill, reinstating the draft once President Roosevelt signs it. There is furious grass-roots opposition to the draft in peacetime, a first in American history.

The Navy institutes a small force at Midway Island, part of the Hawaiian Island chain, called the US Marine Corps Midway Detachment of the Fleet Marine Force.

Soviet Military

Lieutenant General Ivan Vasilievich Boldin, who led the 9th Army during the occupation of Romanian Bessarabia, is promoted to Deputy Commander in Chief, Special Western Military District.

Romania

The fascist Iron Guard, which until recently was outlawed, agitates for the abdication of King Carol II.

Ecuador

The new President is Carlos Alberto Arroyyo.

Day 369 of World War II, September 3rd 1940

Battle of Britain

The Luftwaffe's main effort consisted of two attacks in East Kent and the Thames Estuary areas. There was also a considerable amount of high flying reconnaissances of convoys, especially round the North and East Coasts and Wales. Most of the action commenced from 0900 hours onwards as the British fighters engaged a mixture of Bf 110s and Bf 109s. And for the first time, the Luftwaffe began to target during the day, the aircraft factories of Britain in obedience of the order from 1 September.

Between 0700 and 0800 hours four Luftwaffe raids were in the Channel off the Isle of Wight, Portland and Beachy Head. At 1615 hours two German aircraft flew over the Isle of Wight. A British section sent up did not make an interception.

At 0915 hours activity developed into an attack by about 150 German aircraft. One group of eighty aircraft flew into the Estuary and on towards Eastchurch, Hornchurch, North Weald and Debden, and the other of seventy aircraft crossed near Lympne and flew towards Biggin Hill. Hurricanes of RAF No. 111 Squadron scrambled from Croydon and RAF No. 253 Squadron, scrambled from Kenley. RAF No. 66 Squadron Kenley (Spitfires) were vectored to the Thames Estuary as was RAF No. 72 Squadron Croydon (Spitfires). The Bf 109s of the Eastchurch force stuck to their task well, keeping the Hurricanes and Spitfires at bay and allowing a number of the Bf 110s to get to Eastchurch where again the airfield was attacked. A number of bombs made deep craters in the runway and some stores were damaged. Most of the German aircraft soon turned and by 0945 hours were re-crossing the coast.

At 0934 hours, the second German formation, headed to Biggin Hill. Fighter Command released a number of fighter squadrons towards the Dover area but some excellent defensive action by the British fighters stopped most of the Bf 110s from getting through. The remaining bombers made it to the Aerodrome at Lympne, which was attacked but did not suffer any damage of importance, although the harbour and the barrage balloons came under fire. Most of the damage at the airfield were a number of bombs hit buildings and again the aerodrome was cratered.

During their withdrawal a force of thirty Luftwaffe aircraft patrolled off North Foreland in addition to the usual hostile patrols in the Straits. The balloons at Dover continued to be shot up. RAF No. 111 Squadron, even though they forced the Bf 109s to retreat did lose two of their pilots, both over the Channel off Folkestone. Oblt. Werner Machold and Oblt. Otto Bertram of 1./JG 2 claimed both kills.

Fighter units engaged in these actions were from JG 2, JG 3, JG 51 and JG 54. Several notable pilots claiming kills were Fw. Erich Rudorffer and Uffz. Kurt Bühligen of 2./JG 2, Oblt. Richard Leppla of 3./JG 51, Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob of 9./JG 54 and Uffz. Hans Hahn of 4./JG 2. Hptm. Wilhelm Balthasar of Stab III./JG 3 destroyed his twenty-fourth Allied aircraft southeast of London before being severely wounded. He made it back to England but was out of war operations until February 1941. Oblt. Karl Müller of 6./JG 2 failed to return from a sortie and was listed as missing in action.

At 1235 hours five German bombers were over Dover and at 1258 hours an attack developed. Radar at Dover and Rye detected a wide formation coming across the Channel for the midday attack. By 1305 hours some 300 aircraft crossed the English coast on a wide front between Dover and Littlehampton at 20,000 feet. This consisted of about fifty Heinkel He 111s, thirty Dornier Do 17s and 200 Bf 109s. Again they split into small groups and headed towards five different targets. The bulk flew over Kent and Sussex but had begun to disperse by 1400 hours. Some however flew over the Thames Estuary and near Gravesend but drew off at 1340 hours. A third section of about fifty aircraft flew along the Coast to west of Shoreham as if making for Kenley but quickly turned back.

RAF No.43 Squadron Tangmere (Hurricanes) were ordered up giving protection along the Sussex coast. RAF No.46 Squadron Stapleford (Hurricanes) were to patrol the Thames Estuary, 66 Squadron Kenley (Spitfires) who had already been up once that morning, 72 Squadron Croydon (Spitfires) also up for a second time, 79 Squadron Biggin Hill (Hurricanes), 222 Squadron Hornchurch (Spitfires), 249 Squadron North Weald (Hurricanes), 234 Squadron Middle Wallop (Spitfires), 253 Squadron Kenley (Hurricanes), 601 Squadron Tangmere (Hurricanes), 602 Squadron Westhampnet (Spitfires) and 603 Squadron Hornchurch (Spitfires) were all scrambled for this biggest build up of the day. The British Squadrons were divided as two separate formations came in from two different parts of the English coast. Heavy dogfighting action took place over northern Kent and as usual, in the Thames Estuary with the skies over Kent and Sussex chaos. Vapor trails now hung like heavy white clouds as two thirds of RAF No. 11 Group battled it out at 20,000 feet. But 11 Group were further reinforced by RAF No.73 Squadron (Hurricanes) who had been transferred from Church Fenton to Debden, 41 Squadron (Spitfires) came down from Catterick and found their new home at Hornchurch.

What radar did not pick up was a low flying formation of Bf 110s that were following the railway line from Hindhead to Guildford until it was too late. This small formation of fourteen Bf 110s managed to get through the British defenses and was not intercepted until just north of the town of Guildford which is to the south-west of London. They were met by RAF No. 253 Squadron (Hurricanes) who had reasonable success, even though a couple of Bf 110s did get through. Although the target was the Hawker factory at Brooklands, they mistakenly hit the Vickers Armstrong Works aircraft factory at Brooklands, Weybridge where Wellington bombers were made. Following the rail line into Brooklands, the bombers burst onto the aircraft factory. As the bombers approached, the anti-aircraft defenses were made ready and immediately shot down two of the Zerstörers, throwing the rest of the formation into confusion. Through the AA fire, six bombers managed to drop their loads on the factory, killing eighty-eight people, injuring 600 and completely stopping production of Wellington bombers for four days. Considerable damage was done to the erecting shop and plant. Heavy calibre bombs were dropped outside the hangars causing some damage but it was believed that the casualties would have been greater but for the fact that the attack was made during the lunch hour. The Hawker factory nearby escaped unscathed. A total of six of the Bf 110s were destroyed prior to the bombing of the Vickers factory, while another nine were destroyed as they turned for home. Another raid reached Rochester where the Short Bros factory producing the new four-engined Stirling bombers was damaged.

German Military

Reichsmarschall Hermann Goering convenes his Luftlotten commanders along the Channel (Kesselring, Sperrle) and others at the Hague on 3 September 1940. Apparently, Hitler either is in attendance or following the discussion closely elsewhere. The topic is future strategy against England. Goering first asks for suggestions (as he has in the past, without ever taking anyone's advice). This is a common German command method at such conferences, and not just in the Luftwaffe: to ask for opinions before announcing a decision already made by the high command.

Kesselring advocates bombing London. Sperrle, however, contends that the attacks on airfields are of primary importance, are working, and must continue. Everyone gets into a violent argument.

To reach a resolution, Luftwaffe intelligence provides its estimate of British fighter strength. Staff officer (and Goering crony) German Intelligence Chief Oberst Josef ‘Beppo’ Schmid, claims the RAF only has 100-350 fighters left. This may be based on a combination of wishful thinking and anecdotal reports from pilots, but it certainly is not based on solid intelligence. Goering accepts the estimate and announces that there is to be a change in the air objective (Zielwechsel). Since the RAF is finished, he orders, the final destruction of the British economy and morale will commence with terror bombings of London.

Initiating terror bombing on London, of course, is a decision that only Hitler can make, pursuant to his 16 July Fuhrer Directive. The best reading of this conference is that Hitler already has made the decision to bomb London in private with Goering, and the Hague conference is just a formality. Goering would have known Schmid's figures going in, so they add nothing to the discussion. In such situations, the only chance to influence the patently bad decision made here (and this happens at several key junctures of the war) is for the local commanders to express unanimous opposition. Since Kesselring (unwisely) favors the change to terror bombing, as he has in the past with even less foundation, that does not happen. There always is someone at these conferences who supports the decision, no matter how profoundly stupid it may be.

Since the opposition to the change in direction is split, the change of tactics is implemented (as it likely would have even in face of unanimous opposition). London is to be bombed. Aside from Hitler and Goering, the blame here lies with lousy Luftwaffe intelligence and with Kesselring, who places far too much faith in the power of terror bombing due to his experiences at Warsaw and Rotterdam. Kesselring throughout the war has a well-known reputation for being very optimistic (he is known to both sides as "Smiling Albert"). This serves him quite well at times, and is usually considered an admirable trait in a leader. However, in this specific case it hurts the German war effort. Hugo Sperrle, on the other hand, who receives virtually no press, displays sound judgment throughout the war but is forced into bad tactics by dreadful orders and declining forces.

Adolf Hitler regards the conference's decision with satisfaction (since it ultimately is his decision) and states:

The British air force is down to its last reserves, they cry for pity, and I will give them pity. I will wipe London from the face of the earth! I want fire everywhere, thousands of them and then they will unite into one gigantic area of conflagration.

Hitler also reaches a decision on Operation Sea Lion based on this discussion, or at least flowing from the decision announced at it. Operation Sea Lion is on. Hitler's orders provide that the Wehrmacht will be given 10-days lead time before the invasion. The new earliest date for Operation Sea Lion landings now is moved from 15 September to 21 September (S-Day), with the ships to sail on 20 September.

The plan now (it has gone through numerous revisions) is to land two airborne divisions first, followed by nine other divisions. Included will be 250 panzers. The 16th Army will land four divisions at Folkestone, while 9th Army will and 2 divisions at Eastbourne and 3 divisions at Brighton. They would face a dozen British divisions of varying states of readiness. The UK has an inventory of roughly 350 Valentine and Matilda tanks (Prime Minister Churchill having just sent off several shiploads to the Middle East) and 500 antitank weapons - a strong, but not overwhelming, defensive force. The 9 picked Wehrmacht divisions against the assorted British divisions would be a fair fight.

With the benefit of omniscience derived from hindsight, knowing the true state of affairs on both sides as of 3 September 1940, the decision to invade England probably already is too late. The British military has recovered, strengthened its defenses, and fought the Luftwaffe to a standstill. RAF Fighter Command is bowed but not broken; even after large recent losses, it has 600-700 fighters ready to defend the beaches - not the 100-350 believed by the Luftwaffe. The Royal Navy remains amply able to defend the Channel. More importantly, the British (via Churchill's rapport with Roosevelt) have solidified their arrangements with the Americans and made them virtual allies in the war. An invasion in July 1940, with a maximum Luftwaffe effort to establish temporary local air superiority rather than frittering away strength on other attacks, would have made infinitely more sense despite the obvious risks.

However, as it stands in early September, if Sea Lion is ever to be attempted, it should be done immediately. The imminent arrival of the 50 destroyers from the United States (see below) would turn the naval equation solidly and permanently against the Germans, but those ships will take time to arrive. Having Luftwaffe bases established on both sides of the Channel before their arrival would largely nullify their local impact.

It is now or never for the Wehrmacht in terms of defeating England by frontal assault (as opposed to either economic strangulation at sea or a peripheral strategy in the Mediterranean, neither of which have worked against the British previously). At least making the effort with a reasonable possibility of success would be worth any number of losses. Leaving the British undefeated at your back - especially if you have some half-cocked notions of starting new wars in the East - is never a winning proposition. The British must be finished off once and for all, and any price is worth paying once they have their hands around your neck. Peace terms must be slapped down on the throne at Buckingham Palace quickly or the British will never go away and ultimately find a way to beat you: there is 300 years of history to prove that, going back to Philip II. Napoleon would nod in agreement.

Operation Sea Lion is a huge gamble, and Hitler is the biggest military gambler of the millennium. The attempt seems worthwhile - but right away, not in 1941. Time is the Wehrmacht's enemy. This decision is perhaps the biggest of the war.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-57 (Oblt.z.S. Erich Topp), returning from her 11th patrol, collides with Norwegian freighter Rona at Brunsbüttel (northwest of Hamburg at the entrance to the Kiel Canal). There are six deaths and 19 crew survive. The U-boat sinks in shallow water where it can be recovered.

U-60 (Oblt.z.S. Adalbert Schnee), on her 8th patrol, torpedoes and sinks 1401 ton British freighter Ulva northwest of Donegal, Ireland. There are three deaths and 17 crew survive.

Royal Navy submarine HMS Truant stops German wheat freighter Tropic Sea in the Bay of Biscay. The crew of the Tropic Sea scuttles the ship. The submarine takes the Captain and some others, and a fishing boat and a Short Sunderland flying boat rescue the other crew. The Tropic Sea had been captured by the German raider Orion, and among the prisoners on the ship are some crew from the Haxby.

British 880 ton British collier Philotus collides with the SS Lublin and sinks about 8km northwest of St. Govan's lighthouse off Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire.

The RAF bombs and sinks 3077 ton Norwegian ship Anna Sofie at Haugesund, Norway. The ship settles in shallow water and can be salvaged.

U-101 (Kptlt. Fritz Frauenheim) undergoes a depth charge attack (five passes) northwest of Ireland. U-101 survives, but with some flooding.

Convoy FN 271 departs from Southend, Convoy MT 159 departs from Methil, Convoy FS 271 departs from the Tyne, Convoy OB 208 departs from Liverpool, Convoy SL 46 departs from Freetown.

British submarine HMS Upright (N 89, Lt. Francis J. Brooks) is commissioned.

U-455, a longer Type VIIC submarine, is laid down in Kiel.

Battle of the Mediterranean

Operation Hats winds down. The convoy ships (Force P, Garland, Gallant, Griffin, Greyhound and Hotspur) have made their deposits at Malta and quickly scurried back for Alexandria. Admiral Somerville’s Force H returns safely to Gibraltar early in the day. The Mediterranean fleet, reinforced by Force F (split off from Force H), sails back through the Aegean north of Crete looking for targets.

Light cruisers HMS Orion and HMAS Sydney, accompanied by destroyers, bombard the Italian bases at Scarpanto (Karpathos) and Port Valecana in Stampala in the Dodecanese. Italian motor boats VAS 356 and VAS 537 attack the force off Stampal, with destroyer Ilex sinking MAS 357. (Some accounts place this action on 1 September).

At Malta, an Italian MAS (Motor Torpedo Boat) buzzes the island at dawn, but makes a clean getaway despite attempted interceptions by the RAF. An Italian submarine also is reported northeast of the island, but depth charge attacks produce no result.

Battle of the Pacific

Australian cargo ship Coraline runs aground on Point Kialla, New South Wales (Jervis Bay) and is wrecked. There are six survivors and one crewman perishes.

US/Anglo Relations

Newspaper:Daily Mirror



Subsequent to the exchange of notes between US Secretary of State Cordell Hull and British Ambassador Lord Lothian on 2 September 1940, President Roosevelt sends a message to Congress setting forth the terms of the exchange of US destroyers for British bases:

- "The right to bases in Newfoundland and Bermuda are gifts";

- "in exchange for fifty of our over-age destroyers."

- "act of preparation for continental defense in the face of grave danger."

The British bases to be turned over to the US, most under 99-year leases, are set forth as:

- on the eastern side of the Bahamas,

- the southern coast of Jamaica,

- the western coast of St. Lucia,

- the west coast of Trinidad in the Gulf of Paria,

- in the island of Antigua and in British Guiana within fifty miles of Georgetown.

President Roosevelt emphasizes throughout his official communication that the bases are important for the defense of the Western Hemisphere - though why the defense from those locations would be better in the hands of the neutral US military occupying those bases and not the Royal Navy and Air Force is not explained. Some things are better left to the imagination.

US Rear Adml J. W. Greenslade, along with his team ("the Greenslade Board"), boards the cruiser USS St. Louis at Norfolk to inspect British bases acquired under the deal. They head toward Bermuda first.

Photo: "Two destroyers, HMS CASTLETON (formerly American Wikes Class destroyer USS AARON WARD) and HMS CLARE (formerly Clemson Class, USS ABEL P UPSHER), sit moored alongside each other alongside the Devonport Dockyard, September 1940. They still show their US Navy pennant numbers. Dockyard workers are aboard preparing the ships for service in the Royal Navy." © IWM (A 724). You can see that the "dockyard workers" (probably British sailors) have cans of paint at the ready. They don't look that over-age.



US Military

Cruisers USS Wichita (CA 45) and Quincy (CA 39) depart from Buenos Aires, Argentina for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as part of their "Show the Flag" mission.

Soviet/German Relations

Responding to Soviet Foreign Minister Molotov's complaints about the Second Vienna Award, German Foreign Minister Ribbentrop denies any German wrongdoing. In addition, he accuses the Soviets of breaching the pact in the Baltic States.

Romanian/Hungarian Relations

Many Romanians in northern Transylvania are not happy about the Second Vienna Award and stage demonstrations. There also are reports of incidents between Romanian and Hungarian troops as the Hungarians move in to occupy the region.

Romania

The fascist Iron Guard agitates to have Ion Antonescu appointed Prime Minister. Antonescu is considered a somewhat moderate figure - among those in the far right - since he is a member of the elite and thus (presumably) not interested in any "death ride" military campaigns. However, Antonescu does sympathize with the aim of restoring the borders of "Greater Romania" in the East. King Carol refuses.

Vichy France

Pierre Laval issues orders to arrest anyone who poses a threat to national security, with priority given to communists.

China

The Nationalist 18th Army moves to block the Communist advance under Mao Tse-tung along the Yangtze River in Jiangsu Province. Heretofore, the two forces have had an uneasy alliance or at least co-belligerency against the Japanese.

German Homefront

The government releases figures showing that the unemployed number only 32,000. This type of number typically suggests a labor shortage - and with millions of men in the Wehrmacht, that is understandable. In 1932, right before Hitler came to power, the figure was around 5 million and 30% of the workforce was unemployed. Those mystified by Hitler's popularity - and he was popular across a broad swathe of the country - should take note. In addition, the low number hints as to why the Nazis embraced forced/slave labor.

The Germans seize the French television service, which has a television antenna on the Eiffel Tower. 

   Lordroel

Day 372 of World War II, September 6th 1940

Battle of Britain

In a final effort to destroy the RAF, day-light attacks on London commenced with the code-name "Loge". Believing that England was down to her 'last fifty Spitfires', Hitler and Göring were confident that one heavy attack on the British capital would bring England to her knees. And they were not far from the truth. The Luftwaffe had pounded and pounded at the RAF, and now it appeared that victory was within their grasp. Six out of seven sector airfields were heavily damaged. Another five advanced airfields were also destroyed. Telephone and communication lines were disrupted or totally destroyed and the general destruction was confusing the handling of squadrons in the air. The fighter losses from the day before again exceeded aircraft production. And Fighter Command could call upon only about 700 pilots.

But the Luftwaffe also had its problems. Air crews were becoming fatigued and the Bf 110 and the Ju 87 had proven to be useless against the Hurricanes and Spitfires of the British. The third phase of the battle – 24 August to 7 September - had cost the Luftwaffe 378 aircraft destroyed and 115 aircraft damaged while RAF losses amount to 262 aircraft lost. It had taken the German war machine much longer than they had anticipated, mainly due to their own mistakes, but slowly they were grinding away at Fighter Command, and slowly Fighter Command was weakening. Adolph Hitler was now firm in his beliefs that by concentrating on an all out bombing campaign on the British capital, Britain would collapse, and that the bombing should continue until Britain submitted under the strain. In between missions to England by day and by night during September 5th and the 6th, the Luftwaffe was busy in its preparations of strengthening all bomber units and moving Bf 110 and Bf 109 units to specific locations close to the French coast. An all out bombing campaign on London was to commence.

The Saturday started with a strange deadly quiet, experienced by all the radar stations along the south coast. The CRTs were all blank, not a sign of the enemy. Some took advantage of the mild balmy early morning to stroll outside, something that had not been done for weeks. But it was at Wittering that the first contact was made with the Germans. A single blip had been detected and RAF No. 266 Squadron was sent to intercept. Three Spitfires took off and made for their vectored position at twenty-eight thousand. All three aircraft were at full boost trying to catch the enemy aircraft, and one of them had to turn back because the engine started to become erratic. The German aircraft was a Dornier 215 and it was not until they were well out over the North Sea close to the Dutch border that they managed to make their first attack. Their shots went wide and they came under some accurate gunfire from the German aircraft. A second attack was more successful with the Dornier exploding in a ball of flame.

Across the Channel at 10:30 hours, Göring, Albert Kesselring and the commander of II Fliegerkorps, Bruno Loerzer drove through the French countryside towards the township of St Omer. Göring, who had now pronounced himself as the leader of the Luftwaffe operations wanted to see for himself the beginning of the final stage of the battle, and had invited Loerzer and Kesselring along. They were to position themselves at the closest point of the French mainland to the English coast, as it would be from here that they could witness what they thought would be the greatest onslaught that Britain would ever endure.

Along the way they found time to have breakfast, and called in to some of the Luftwaffe fighter stations, one of them being the Lehrgeschwader of Bf 109s based at Calais-Marck, where a midday banquet was held. Here, Göring in his open heavy leather coat that displayed all his war medals talked and chatted with the many pilots. He spoke of his days as a fighter pilot when air combat was fought with open cockpit biplanes. He was in a sort of jovial, yet somewhat cocky mood. After lunch, the procession of three Mercedes escorted by motorcycle police made their way to the high picnic grounds at Cape Blanc Nez, where a team of noncommissioned officers with almost a precision like mentality set out tables and white table linen, and hastily set out the sandwiches, biscuits and champagne. There was a war on, the British were lazily sitting around almost bored with themselves, the German pilots were preparing to deploy themselves on the greatest attack yet, and Göring was going to have a picnic.

At 11:55 hours the radar at Dover and Pevensey picked up the first significant blips of the day, a small formation just off the coast. They appeared to be content on staying just within striking distance of the English coastline but made sure that they did not cross the coast. RAF No. 66 Squadron (Spitfires) who were on a routine patrol were sent to intercept. It was a small formation of about fifty Bf 109s with twelve of the Messerschmitts carrying bombs in the 'Jabo' role, possibly trying to draw the British fighters out, just as they had done during the early Channel attacks in July. Being as the Germans were content in staying out there, Fighter Command decided that as long as they kept their distance from the coast, no other squadrons would be sent to intercept.

The raid was plotted approaching Dover, which subsequently split and bombed Hawkinge airfield and Dover causing light damage. RAF No.66 Sqd engaged combat, but after two of its aircraft had to return to base, they decided to break off the action. One of the Spitfires did not make it back to Kenley, instead the pilot P/O Bodie decided to crash land the aircraft close to Hawkinge when losing height rapidly. The other Spitfire made it back to Kenley and also made a crash landing.

The third attack at 1745 hours, of two raids with some fifty German aircraft each, crossed the coast between Maidstone towards the Thames Estuary. The main target was Hornchurch but the formations turned back through Maidstone. The raid had split up and headed south as Spitfires of RAF No. 222 Squadron, scrambled from Hornchurch engaged the Bf109s and Hurricanes of RAF No. 111 Squadron, scrambled from Croydon, chased down the bombers. Little damage was done. One of the more unusual events was a Bf 109 which landed at Hawkinge when it ran out of fuel. This could possibly be Uffz. Hans-Georg Schulte of 7./JG 53, an eight victory Experte who claimed a Spitfire at 1910 hours and then crash landed, becoming a Prisoner of war.

But the most unusual was an incident that happened about this time. At 1720 hours, a German soldier dressed in civilian clothes, was captured at Denton, (Northants). He was in possession of a loaded automatic, receiving and transmitting wireless set, Swedish passport and British identity card. He reported that on landing with a parachute at 0300 hours he was injured by crashing on his wireless set. He was discovered in a ditch by a farmer. As part of his duties upon landing he was to report on damage to British airfields and aerodromes. Gosta Catroli, a Swedish national trained by the German Secret Service "Abwerh", had parachuted from a Dornier Bomber and landed near Yardley, Hastings.

Numerous Jägdflieger made kills against the RAF during the day especially during the first attack of the day. The most notable being Major Werner Mölders, Kommodore of Stab./JG 51 who downed a Spitfire over Folkestone during a fighter sweep over the English coast for his thirty-third kill along with Major Adolf Galland, Kommodore of Stab./JG 26 who destroyed a Hurricane near Tonbridge for his twenty-ninth score. Close behind the two Kommodoren was Oblt. Helmut Wick of 6./JG 2 who got his twenty-fourth victory. Confirmed double kills were awarded to Oblt. Herbert Ihlefeld of 2.(J)/LG 2, Oblt. Hans Hahn of 4./JG 2, Oblt. Walter Schneider of 6./JG 26 and Lt. Julius Meimberg of 4./JG 2. Famous pilots adding to their score were Hptm. Otto Bertram of 1./JG 2, Lt. Horst Ulenberg of 2./JG 26, Lt. Karl Borris of 5./JG 26, Oblt. Kurt Ebersberger of Stab II./JG 26, Lt. Gustav Sprick of 8./JG 26, Oblt. Joachim Müncheberg of 7./JG 26, Oblt. Gustav Rödel of 4./JG 27, Oblt. Max Dobislav of 9./JG 27, Oblt. Hermann-Friedrich Joppien of 1./JG 51, Hptm. Walter Oesau of Stab III./JG 51 and Hptm. Heinz Bretnütz of 6./JG 53.

By the end of the first week in September, Fighter Command was in a desperate situation. By now, the British commanders were at their lowest ebb, with exhausted pilots and squadrons. Spitfires and Hurricanes were still being lost at a far greater rate than they were being replaced. In the last week of August, for example, only 91 Spitfire and Hurricanes were produced while losses reached 137 destroyed and 11 seriously damaged. In just two weeks Fighter Command had lost 295 planes with 171 badly damaged. 103 pilots had been killed while 128 had been wounded. Squadrons were now weakened by only having 16 pilots attached instead of the normal 26. Experienced pilots numbered no more than 500 – less than one-half of Fighter Command’s strength. One squadron, RAF No. 85, based at Croydon, had fourteen of its eighteen pilots shot down in two weeks, two of them twice.

On the ground the persistence of the German attacks was beginning to take effect. Air superiority over Kent and Essex, at least for a week or two, was in the Luftwaffe’s grasp. As far as the airfields were concerned, Lympne and Manston were out of action while Biggin Hill which had suffered immensely could only operate one squadron at a time. Six of the seven sector airfields were extensively damaged, the telecommunication links to and from the operations blocks proving especially vulnerable. Radar stations were being patched up the best that they can, and communications was only at 75% efficiency. The RAF was faced with the real possibility of withdrawing 11 Group to bases north of London. The aim of Adlerangrif was near to being realized.

YouTube (Beaten Back (1940)



British Military

The Home Forces Headquarters under General Sir Alan Brooke on 6 September 1940 issues preliminary Alert No. 3. It cautions than an invasion is probable within three days.

Air Vice Marshal Dowding does something that the Germans will have to do in a few years: he begins categorizing Fighter Command units by their level of combat-worthiness. In an alphabetical scheme, "A" units are those in the front line, "B" units are those held in reserve for the "A" units, and "C" units are those which are no longer fit for combat. This kind of categorization is a sign of a military on the verge of collapse, as losses in some units simply cannot be made up with the resources available. It is military triage, with assets moved to the units in the best shape and those in the worst shape not helped.

German Military

Reichsmarschall Hermann Goering, operating from his command train Asia parked near Cap Gris Nez, announces that he is taking personal command of Luftwaffe operations against England. He makes a radio broadcast during the evening stating this and adds, and not in a shy way, that it is a "historic" moment. This is because Hitler has decided to retaliate against the attacks on Berlin with a "mighty blow" against London. Goering, of course, wants to be seen as being in charge for this "mighty blow."

One must assume that Goering makes such a big show of taking command today because he assumes the Battle of Britain is all but won. All that remains is the Luftwaffe's destruction of English cities against diminishing RAF operation - he would never act so boldly and publicly if he thought the Luftwaffe was in any danger of losing the battle.

Battle of the Atlantic

The Luftwaffe attacks Convoy SL 44A east of Peterhead, Aberdeenshire in the North Sea. They bomb and sinks 4647 ton British freighter Saint Glen. Three of the crew perish. Another freighter, 1336 ton Gannet, is damaged in the attack and has to be towed into Peterhead.

An escort of Convoy OA 207 collides with British freighter Marsa in the Irish Sea near Altacarry Head, County Antrim in Northern Ireland. Royal Navy corvette HMS Godetia (925 tons) sinks, with the loss of 32 crew and 15 survivors. The Marsa makes it back to port.

Small Norwegian freighter O.C. hits a mine and sinks near the mouth of the Hemnfjorden in the general vicinity of Trondheim. There are two survivors, and five crew perish.

British Submarine HMS Tribune spots a U-boat 15 nautical miles off of St. Kilda of the Outer Hebrides and launches torpedoes which miss. It turns out to be U-56 (Oblt.z.S. Otto Harms), transiting the area at the time. The U-56 does not notice and proceeds on its way back to Kiel.

The Luftwaffe damages trawlers Iwate and Ilfracombe off the west coast of England. Also damaged are British freighter Merchant Star and Greek freighter Aegeon.

German minelayers with heavy escort set up minefield SW 0 in the southwest North Sea. This is one of the few actual operations conducted in preparation of Operation Sealion, the invasion of England.

A flotilla led by aircraft carrier HMS Furious and battleship Nelson departs from Scapa Flow to attack Axis shipping off Trondheim.

A wolfpack begins assembling in the mid-Atlantic to attack Convoy SC 2 out of St. Johns, Newfoundland. In all, four U-boats (U-28, U-47, U-65, U-99) will be involved. U-65 is the first boat there and guides U-47 there first. The two boats prepare to attack during the night.

A large flotilla from Force H departs Gibraltar as part of Operation Menace. It is led by aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal and battleships HMS Barham and Resolution. Italian spies in Algeciras spot the flotilla and mistakenly report it as heading into the Mediterranean. The Italian fleet sorties out of its port of Taranto, led by battleships Veneto, Littorio, Cesare and Duilo.

Convoys OA 210 and MT 162 depart from Methil, Convoy FN 274 departs from Southend, Convoy FS 274 departs from the Tyne.

British Corvette HMS Campanula (K 18, Lt.Cdr. Richard Vere Essex Case) is commissioned.

Battle of the Mediterranean

The Royal Navy attempts to cut the undersea cable between Syracuse and Tripoli across the Sicilian Narrows, but fails.

British carrier HMS Argus delivers 30 Hurricane fighters to Takoradi in the Gold Coast, from where they will fly to RAF Abu Sueir northeast of Cairo in Egypt. With the RAF under serious pressure in England, this is a gutsy move authorized by Prime Minister Churchill.

At Malta, a full day is spent disarming a German 500kg SD Spreng Dickenwand armor-piercing bomb at Kalafrana. Two RAF officers inspect the bomb, and then the authorities blow it up where it lays - effectively doing the Italian bombers' job for them. It creates a crater 12-feet deep and 25 feet in diameter.

A representative of General de Gaulle, Commandant Robert, arrives on Malta. After conferring with Governor Dobbie, he sends a telegram to the Spears Mission at Whitehall in which he suggests that some French in Tunis might be open to joining the Free French movement. However, he cautions that this might just lead to Italian intervention to support the Vichy commanders in Tunisia, which could lead to a large battle over the key territory. He further suggests that propaganda to Algeria and Morocco could pay dividends.

Battle of the Indian Ocean: The Italian submarine fleet scores a victory in the Red Sea when the Guglielmotti torpedoes and sinks 4008 ton Greek tanker Atlas. Everyone aboard survives. The Atlas is a straggler from Convoy BN 4.

Another attack in the Red Sea by Italian aircraft on Convoy BN 4 is beaten off, with two planes shot down.

German Government

Adolf Hitler meets with Grand Admiral Erich Raeder to discuss Operation Sealion. Raeder throws cold water on the whole idea, which he was the first to bring up months ago. Instead, he proposes a "peripheral campaign" against the British that targets Gibraltar, the Suez Canal, the Vichy French base at Dakar, Azores, Canary Islands, and Cape Verde Islands

British Government

King and Queen travel to Bentley Priory, Stanmore in Middlesex to inspect RAF Fighter Command headquarters.

Spy Stuff

At 03:00, a Luftwaffe Dornier bomber drops a spy dressed in civilian clothes at Yardley, Hastings. He has a radio, is armed and has both Swedish and British identity cards. The only reason he is caught by a farmer around 17:20 - found sleeping in a ditch, heck he was up all night dropping into England - is because he injured himself during his parachute drop (landing on his radio). The man is Gösta Caroli, a Swede trained by Admiral Canaris' Abwehr to spy on British airfields. He is brought to London for interrogation, where he provides quite useful information, including the news that there is another spy like himself in England.

Anglo/US Relations

The first tranche of US destroyers heading to England pursuant to the "Destroyers for Bases" deal arrives at Halifax, Nova Scotia. They are met there by Royal Navy seamen. This group of destroyers includes:

USS Aaron Ward,
USS Buchanan,
USS Crowninshield,
USS Hale,
USS Abel P. Upshur,
USS Welborn C. Wood,
USS Herndon, and
USS Welles

Finnish/Soviet Relations

Under pressure, Helsinki grants the Soviets transit rights to their base at Hango, won during the Winter War. In practical terms, this means that Soviet soldiers will now be allowed to take the train from Vyborg to Hango.

Romania

King Carol II formally abdicates, and his 19-year-old son Michael ascends to the throne (as he had once previously) as Michael II. The ministers prepare a royal decree for Michael to sign which confers virtually unlimited powers on new Prime Minister Ion Antonescu and relegates the monarchy to a ceremonial role. The decree makes Antonescu "Conducător," which is comparable to Fuehrer in Germany or dictator in the rest of the world.

Former King Carol and his mistress Elena Lupescu wisely go into exile. Antonescu orders the royal train protected when the fascist Iron Guard attacks it.

It is easy to bemoan the fall of the monarchy and the horrible things done to the former king. However, it is widely believed that the regime of King Carol was one of the most corrupt in Europe. Carol can be characterized as escaping with - stealing - a large part of the nation's treasury. It is all deposited in numbered accounts in Switzerland. The Antonescu government tries to retrieve this money, to no avail. The lack of a treasury is a serious problem for Antonescu.

The Germans are thrilled. Via Ambassador Fabricius, they immediately endorse the change and laud Antonescu's working relationship with Horia Sima, the leader of the Iron Guard. No longer needing the title of Prime Minister, Antonescu has the king dissolve parliament. He rules as a dictator. The entire government is about to be restructured along dictatorial lines, with the Iron Guard effectively the only political party. However it is not an ideal situation, as Antonescu - a member of the elite with a sense of fiscal responsibility and an intention to govern in a rational way - and the Iron Guard to not agree on everything. While fascist, there is a strong undercurrent of socialism in the Iron Guard, but you need money to be socialist.

King Michael, meanwhile, retreats to his new ceremonial role. Antonescu largely ignores him from this point forward. Michael is useful in this role, serving as a royal representative of Romania to Germany. He also retains an aura of legitimacy, something that Antonescu, widely viewed as an usurper, never will have.

German occupied Channel Islands

The new Nazi military governor is Rudolf von Schmettow, replacing Oberstleutnant Albrecht Lanz. Lanz has just received the Knight's Cross (on 4 September) for operations surrounding the crossing of the River Lys in Belgium. A popular commander, Lanz eventually is headed for new commands in the East.

Palestine

The Italians raid Haifa, but, as with many of their raids on Malta, accomplish nothing but be annoying.

Vichy France

The authorities under Pierre Laval arrest General Maurice Gamelin under accusations of treason. Basically, the Vichy regime is charging all the leaders associated with the fall of France with treason - with the exception, of course, of Vichy France figurehead leader Henri Petain.

General Huntziger, who signed the peace treaties with Germany and Italy, becomes Minister of War.

US Military

The first production Douglas SBDs aka the "Dauntless" are delivered to US Navy units.

The US Army Air Corps issues contracts to Boeing for the first two B-29 (XB-29) and B-32 prototype bombers. These are originally intended to defend the United States by bombing hostile ships at sea, not operate on offensive missions.

First flight of the Vultee P-66 Vanguard fighter. 144 of these have been ordered by Sweden, and there are no orders from the USAAC or British. These currently have the designation V-49C.

Cruisers USS Wichita and Quincy make port in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as part of the "Show the Flag" mission.

New US Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox arrives in Pearl Harbor aboard a XPB2Y-2 patrol bomber for an inspection tour.

China

The large Communist forces heading south along the Yangtze River brush aside the Nationalist Chinese brigade sent to stop them in Jiangsu Province.

In fact, the decision to bomb London that he announces a few breaths later assures the Luftwaffe's ultimate defeat. This is a major turning point in World War II.