Year 1940

Diary for Saturday, October 12, 1940: Sea War Hitler postpones Operation Sea Lion until Spring 1941. Neutrals Argentina – J M Fangio (World Motor Racing Champion, 1951-57) wins the longest […]

Diary for Friday, October 11, 1940: Sea War Mediterranean: Cruiser HMS Ajax routs force of 7 Italian torpedo boats and destroyers south of Sicily – sinking two and damaging a

Diary for Thursday, October 10, 1940: Sea War Battleship Revenge bombards Cherbourg docks (night October 10-11). Home Fronts Britain: Myra Hess gives her daily piano recital in National Gallery, London,

Diary for Wednesday, October 9, 1940: Home Fronts Britain: Churchill elected Leader of Conservative Party, in succession to Chamberlain.

Diary for Tuesday, October 8, 1940: Air War Battle of Britain (Day 90): Hawker Hurricane flown by Sgt. Frantisek, leading Czech fighter ‘ace’ (17 victories), missing in combat over Sussex.

Diary for Monday, October 7, 1940: Air War Night raids on London by 179 aircraft; Liverpool and Swansea bombed. RAF night raid on Berlin: 42 bombers despatched; 33 (?) attack

Diary for Sunday, October 6, 1940: Sea War Mediterranean: Italian submarine Gemma accidentally sunk by sister craft Tricheco. Air War Brief lull in night Blitz on London due to bad

Diary for Saturday, October 5, 1940: Air War German fighter-bombers, attempting to reach London and southeastern airfields, jettison bombs over Hastings.

Diary for Friday, October 4, 1940: Air War Night raids on London and Southeast England by 130 aircraft. German aircrews raiding London are now frequently accompanied by Italian AF observers,

Diary for Thursday, October 3, 1940: Home Fronts Britain: Chamberlain resigns as Lord President of the Council. Herbert Morrison becomes Home Secretary; Reith, Minister of Works.

Diary for Wednesday, October 2, 1940: Air War Numerous raids over Southeast England by high-flying Me 109E fighter-bombers. Spitfire fighters break up most attacks, but a few bombs fall on

Diary for Tuesday, October 1, 1940: Air War Battle of Britain (Day 83): Fighter-bomber raids on Southeast England. German two-engined bombers (except few fast Ju88s) withdrawn from daylight operations and

Diary for Monday, September 30, 1940: Home Fronts Britain: 50 London firemen killed and 501 injured during September. Germany: The mother of the author of this websites was borne in

Diary for Sunday, September 29, 1940: Air War Hawker Hurricane fighters intercept formation of Heinkel He 111 bombers over Irish Sea: each side loses 3 aircraft.

Diary for Saturday, September 28, 1940: Home Fronts Britain – Mother and Child evacuation scheme: 489,000 leave London by October 17.

Diary for Friday, September 27, 1940: Politics TRIPARTITE PACT: Germany, Italy and Japan make 10-year military, political and economic alliance in Berlin. Convention of Havana: Whereby the Pan American State

Diary for Thursday, September 26, 1940: Air War Supermarine factory at Southampton bombed: Spitfire production halted. Night raids on London and Liverpool (fires in Docks area).

Diary for Wednesday, September 25, 1940: Occupied countries Norway: Quisling Government formed in Norway. Air War Bristol Aeroplane Company’s factory at Filton bombed. Portal becomes RAF Chief of Air Staff.

Diary for Tuesday, September 24, 1940: Air War Vichy French bombers make ineffectual reprisal raids on Gibraltar (September 24 and 25). Strongest French bombing attack since the beginning of WW2.

Diary for Monday, September 23, 1940: Sea War Atlantic – DAKAR EXPEDITION (Operation Menace): Unsuccessful British-Free French attempt to occupy Dakar, Vichy stronghold in West Africa. Vichy battleship Richelieu (partially