08-1940

Diary for Sunday, August 18, 1940: Air War Heavy raids on RAF bases and other targets in south and southeast England. 19 Ju 87 Stukas lost; 8 of 50 escorting […]

Diary for Saturday, August 17, 1940: Sea War Mediterranean: Battleships Warspite, Malaya and Ramillies bombard Bardia and Fort Capuzzo, Libya. Italian bombers (12 lost) attack bombardment force, August 18. Politics

Diary for Friday, August 16, 1940: Air War Ju 87 Stukas (7 lost) wreck Tangmere Airfield (Hants); seven other airfields bombed. Secret War Luftwaffe Command Staff estimate that RAF now

Diary for Thursday, August 15, 1940: Air War Battle of Britain (Day 37): GÖRING EMPLOYS THREE ‘AIR FLEETS’ (Luftflotten 2, 3 and 5) IN MASSED DAYLIGHT RAIDS on airfields from

Diary for Wednesday, August 14, 1940: Air War Battle of Britain (Day 36): Widespread small raids on airfields and railway lines. Me 109Es strafe Dover balloon barrage; E. Goodwin lightship

Diary for Tuesday, August 13, 1940: Air War ADLERTAG (EAGLE DAY): Launching of great Luftwaffe offensive planned to destroy RAF Fighter Command in four days begins amid confusion. Goring postpones

Diary for Monday, August 12, 1940: Air War Heavy German raids on shipping off English South Coast, radar stations (inc. Ventnor), and airfields. Losses: German, 32; British, 21. 5 Hampdens

Diary for Sunday, August 11, 1940: Air War Battle of Britain (Day 33): Highest daily losses up now. While German fighters stage diversions over Dover, Ju 88‘s and He 111s

Diary for Saturday, August 10, 1940: Air War First flight of Macchi-Castoldi C.202 Folgore powered by imported Daimler-Benz engine – designed to replace obsolete fighters of Italian Regia Aeronautica (enters

Diary for Friday, August 1940: Air War Sunderland shipyard bombed (raider shot down). Widespread night raids over Britain. RAF raid Guernsey airfield.

Diary for Thursday, August 8, 1940: Air War Battle of Britain (Day 30): Large formations of Ju 87 Stukas, with heavy fighter escort, make three separate attacks on 18-ship convoy

Diary for Wednesday, August 7, 1940: East Africa Last reinforcements (2nd Battalion Black Watch) reach British Somaliland.

Diary for Tuesday, August 6, 1940: Sea War Mediterranean: Italians lay extensive minefields in Sicilian Channel in which two British destroyers are sunk: Hostile (August 23, 1940) and Gallant (January

Diary for Monday, August 5, 1940: Neutrals USA: Roosevelt proposes legislation to combat ‘fifth column’ activities, following exhaustive inquiries by J. Edgar Hoover and FBI.

Diary for Sunday, August 4, 1940: Sea War Atlantic: Force H leaves Gibraltar for home waters to counter German invasion threat.

Diary for Saturday, August 3, 1940: East Africa Italians invade British Somaliland. Camel Corps fights delaying actions.

Diary for Friday, August 2, 1940: Sea War Mediterranean: Operation Hurry. Force H approaches Sardinia and Swordfish aircraft from Ark Royal attack Cagliari; 8 Italian submarines sent in vain pursuit.

Diary for Thursday, August 1, 1940: Sea War Hitler sets provisional date for Operation Sea lion to September 15. Italian destroyer Vivaldi rams British submarine Oswald and captures the crew.

Diary for Saturday, August 31, 1940: Air War German raids on Biggin Hill, Debden, Hornchurch and Eastchurch airfields and Croydon Airport. Losses: German, 38; British, 34. 140 bombers raid Liverpool

Diary for Friday, August 30, 1940: Politics The Vienna Award: Hitler imposes settlement of territorial dispute between Hungary and Romania, under which the former is to receive northern Transylvania. Air