Date: 17 July 1940 The Battle of Britain. Weather: Dull with occasional rain. Day: Search for shipping off Scottish and east coasts. Night: Targets attacked in south-west. Minelaying. Enemy action by day Weather hampered our fighters in their action against enemy air activity which was again on a reduced scale. Raids were plotted off the Scottish, East and South coasts, apparently searching for shipping. An attack was made on shipping off Dundee and trawlers were attcked off Beachy Head. One or two raids crossed the coast and bombs were dropped in Surrey, Kent, at Portland and in Ayrshire. South and South-West A number of raids apparently in search of shipping were plotted during the day and a vessel was reported attacked 13 miles from Dartmouth at 1540 hours. One raid, a Do17, crossed the coasts at 1136 hours and came inland as far as Kenley. It was intercepted and chased out to sea over Pevensey, being damaged by our fighters. This raid dropped bombs near Kenley. Two attacks were reported on trawlers off Beachy Head, and three aircraft plotted South East of this point at 1515 hours are reported to be responsible for the bombs which were dropped near Ashford and Lydd. At 1540 hours three Heinkels were reported over Portland and appeared to attack the Mere Oil Fuel Depot, dropping six bombs. Slight damage was done to a railway and cloud enabled the raiders to achieve surprise. Although our fighters encountered a Junkers 88, which they attacked, off the Isle of Wight. Two of our Hurricanes were damaged during the day and one Spitfire which was on patrol off Beachy Head is reported missing. East Coast Up to 2100 hours eight raids were plotted off the East Coast and a reconnaissance of a convoy was made although no subsequent attack on this convoy is reported. Two of the raids crossed the coast in the Humber area. Scotland Four raids were plotted off the Scottish Coast and Orkneys. One crossed from Peterhead to the west Coast and dropped bombs at Ardeer ICI factory doing little damage. Of the remainder two carried out a reconnaissance of the Orkneys at 0721 hours and were intercepted but without successful results. French Coast Tracks were frequently reported coming into or going out from the Cherbourg peninsular. These tracks were not seen any distance out to see. It seems probable that aircraft are going to and coming from an unknown destination in the west as the tracks frequently start or stop at short distances off the Cherbourg peninsular. By night At 2232 hours nine raids, which first of all proceeded towards Cherbourg, having come over the coasts of Northern France, Belgium and Holland, turned northwards heading towards south-west England. Some of the raids crossed the coast covering the Bristol Channel area. At 0026 hours a further number of raids approached South West England, some again crossing to the Bristol Channel area. Bombs are reported to have been dropped at Port Talbot, and near Swansea and near Radstock. Mine laying is suspected in the Bristol Channel and off the Plymouth coast. Between 2200 and 0235 hours some 19 raids were plotted off the east coast, of which probably seven were minelaying. None reported further north than the Wash. A few crossed the coast and bombs are reported to have been dropped at Queenborough near Rochester, Felixstowe, Harwich, Chatham, near Barking and at Gillingham. Not more than 40 in all enemy aircraft are estimated to have operated during the night. Statistics Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 17 July 1940 Blenheim - 67 Spitfire - 237 Hurricane - 331 Defiant - 20 Total - 659 Casualties: Enemy: Fighters - nil; Bombers - 2 unconfirmed. Own: 2 Hurricanes (Nos. 145 and 615 Squadrons), 1 Spitfire (No. 64 Squadron); category unknown, pilot wounded. Patrols: 70 patrols despatched involving 266 aircraft. Balloons: Flying 1166. Casualties 20. Aerodromes: Catterick unserviceable. Organisation: No 238 Squadron from Middle Wallop to Warmwell. No 32 Squadron from Biggin Hill to Hawkinge No 65 Squadron from Hornchurch to Manston. Air Intelligence Reports None. Home Security Reports 16th/17th July 1940 General Summary During the 17th July there was little enemy activity. Slight bomb dropping was widely dispersed but no serious damage has been reported. [*]Detailed Summary Further information on 3 HE dropped at Fraserburgh is that damage was done to a small naval store and contents. Casualties at Fraserburgh and Portsoy now number 26. No reports have been received of bombs dropped on aerodromes during the 17th July. Near Ashford (Kent) bombs dropped demolished three houses and damaged the railway track which was, however, quickly repaired. Considerable damage was done to the ICI works at Ardeer (Ayrshire) but there is no serious interference with production.
July 18, 1925 Mein Kampf is published On this day in 1925, Volume One of Adolf Hitler's philosophical autobiography, Mein Kampf, is published. It was a blueprint of his agenda for a Third Reich and a clear exposition of the nightmare that will envelope Europe from 1939 to 1945. The book sold a total of 9,473 copies in its first year. Hitler began composing his tome while sitting in Landsberg prison, convicted of treason for his role in the infamous Beer Hall Putsch in which he and his minions attempted to stage a coup and grasp control of the government in Bavaria. It ended in disaster, with some allies deserting and others falling into the hands of the authorities. Hitler was sentenced to five years' imprisonment (he would serve only nine months). His time in the old fortress at Landsberg was hardly brutal; he was allowed guests and gifts, and was treated as something of a cult hero. He decided to put his leisure time to good use and so began dictating Volume One of his opus magnus to Rudolph Hess, a loyal member of the German National Socialist Party and fellow revolutionary. The first part of Mein Kampf, subtitled "A Reckoning," is a 400-plus page diatribe on the problems besetting Germany-the French, who wished to dismember Germany; the lack of lebesraum, "living space," and the need to expand east into Russia; and the baleful influence of "mongrel" races. For Hitler, the state was not an economic entity, but a racial one. Racial purity was an absolute necessity for a revitalized Germany. "[F]or men do not perish as the result of lost wars, but by the loss...of pure blood." As for leadership, Hitler's Third Reich would mimic the Prussian ideal of absolute authoritarian rule. "There must be no majority decisions, but only responsible persons.... Surely every man will have advisers...but the decision will be made by one man." So there it was: War with France, war with Russia, the elimination of "impure" races, and absolute dictatorship. Hitler laid out his political agenda a full 14 years before the outbreak of war. Volume Two of Mein Kampf, focusing on national socialism, was published in 1927. Sales of the complete work remained mediocre throughout the 1920s. It was not until 1933, the first year of Hitler's tenure as chancellor of Germany, that sales soared to over 1 million. Its popularity reached the point where it became a ritual to give a newly married couple a copy.
Date: 18 July 1940 The Battle of Britain. Weather: Occasional rain in southern districts. Straits of Dover cloudy. Cool. Day: Shipping off south and east coasts attacked. Night: Very little activity. Enemy action by day Less activity centred on attacks on shipping but at 0930 hours a force of some 30 aircraft assembled behind Calais and flew towards Deal. An attack on a convoy did not develop. One fighter squadron was operating off Deal and two other squadrons were patrolling nearby as reserves. Interception took place under cloudy conditions. No enemy aircraft was brought down, but a Spitfire of No. 610 Squadron is missing. Enemy aircraft bombed a coastguard station and sank the East Goodwin Light Vessel. South and South-West Between 0740 and 0830 hours, 4 raids crossed the coast between Portland Bill and Bournemouth, penetrating inland to railway junctions at Castle Cary and Bruton (Somerset), Netheravon, Upavon, Abingdon and Upper Heyford. Two of these raids returned via Ventnor and Shoreham. No bombs were dropped. At about 1145 hours a Ju88 penetrated to Bristol and Cardiff and Penarth was bombed. The aircraft was intercepted and the rear gunner is believed to have been killed. The aircraft escaped across the south coast. At 1240 hours raids appeared off Selsey Bill and at about 1300 hours No 145 Squadron shot down a He111. Off the Isle of Wight at about 1300 hours No. 609 Squadron intercepted enemy aircraft and two Spitfires are reported as casualties, but the pilots are safe. Further raids were plotted, of which one crossed the coast towards Bristol at about 1715 hours. Bombs were dropped at Alverstoke (Gosport) and near Ringwood and Newport, but no damage was caused. At St Atham's [?] Aerodrome, however, minor damage and casualties occurred, also at Burnham-on-Sea and Axbridge. At St Atham's [?] one fatal, three serious and several minor casualties took place. A Heinkel 111 was reported to be brought down near Christchurch, but the report so far lacks confirmation. South-East Coast No. 111 Squadron probably brought down one Henschel 126 over the Channel at about 1520 hours. East Coast Shipping reconnaissance took place off the East Coast and fifteen enemy aircraft were reported east of Bawdsey at about 1500 hours. There unconfirmed reports of dive-bombing on trawlers. Scotland At 0942 hours a Heinkel 111 bombed Montrose Aerodrome, diving as low as 500 feet. Some aircraft received slight splinter damage and five casualties, two fatal, were suffered by RAF personnel. Montrose was bombed at 1030 hours. Between 1300 and 1800 hours four raids appeared off north-east Scottish coasts while activity was increase up to 2100 hours. A convoy was continuously attacked and minelaying in its vicinity is suspected. No reports have been received of damage to convoy, but Anstruther RDF Station was bombed and the nearby coastal town of Crail (South of Fifeness). No interceptions were made. Patrols Twenty-four fighters escorted 18 Blenheims on a raid on Boulogne between 1900 and 1912 hours, and report no enemy aircraft was seen. By night Enemy activity began at about 2350 hours and was directed mainly North of a line Humber to Liverpool. Ten to twelve raids at least were plotted in this area. Several crossed the coast proceeding westward and fading off the West coast. Minelaying is suspected off Cumberland, Westmoreland and Lancashire as far south as Liverpool. Several of the raids were picked up returning eastwards. Belfast was given the Yellow warning on account of one raid traced across from the East coast to the West to St Abb's Head where it faded but was later picked up off West Belfast Lough at about 0105 hours proceeding north-west, and again picked up in about the same position flying south-east at about 0130 hours. Some raids did not cross the coast and minelaying is suspected off the Yorkshire coast and Southwards. There was some activity at about 0030 hours in the Straits of Dover and along the coast of Norfolk and Suffolk, one raid going inland as far as Kings Lynn. Very little activity was reported from the South Coast and no reports have been received. Statistics Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 18 July 1940 Blenheim - 62 Spitfire - 232 Hurricane - 323 Defiant - 23 Total - 640 Casualties: Enemy: Fighters - nil; Bombers - 1 confirmed, 2 unconfirmed. Own: 3 Spitfires (from Nos. 152, 609 and 610 Squadons). Patrols: 166 patrols despatched involving 583 aircraft. Balloons: Flying 1168. Casualties 34. Aerodromes: Catterick and Leconfield unserviceable. Organisation: No changes. Air Intelligence Reports There is evidence of an increase of bomber-reconnaissance aircraft in Norway, which may indicate that it is the intention to attack seaborne targets out of the range of British fighter aircraft. Home Security Reports 17th/18th July 1940 General Summary During the 17th July there was moderate enemy air activity over coastal areas, chiefly in South East England, South Wales and East Scotland. No reports of very serious damage have been received. [*]Detailed Summary Bombs were dropped on Aerodromes at St Athan and Crail, but did no damage of importance. Montrose Aerodrome was attacked by one enemy aircraft at 1029 hours on July 18th. Eighteen lightweight HE bombs and eight incendiary bombs were dropped, most of which fell on the landing ground. There was some damage to aircraft on the ground and slight damage to the oil store. Four houses were wrecked and others damaged at Gillingham in a raid at 0110 hours on July 18th. At 0200 hours on 18th July bombs were dropped on Jersey Marine, near Swansea. Some damage was done to the railway, level crossing, electric cables and telegraph wires. At 1152 hours bombs were dropped on Penarth causing damage to houses, telephones and water mains. Bombs dropped at Leith at 1927 hours on July 18th caused damage to docks and telephone cables. Traffic is only slightly affected and repairs are being put in hand.
18 July 1943 The United States Goodyear airship K74, on patrol off Florida, attacks a surfaced U-boat. The U-134 fights back and shoots down the airship, one of whose crew is killed by a shark. This is the only airship lost to enemy action during the Second World War. U-134 is damaged and forced to return to base.
July 19, 1943 America bombs Rome On this day in 1943, the United States bombs railway yards in Rome in an attempt to break the will of the Italian people to resist-as Hitler lectures their leader, Benito Mussolini, on how to prosecute the war further. On July 16, President Franklin Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill appealed to the Italian civilian population to reject Mussolini and Hitler and "live for Italy and civilization." As an "incentive," American bombers raided the city, destroying its railways. Panic broke out among the Romans. Convinced by Mussolini that the Allies would never bomb the holy city, civilians poured into the Italian capital for safety. The bombing did more than shake their security in the city-it shook their confidence in their leader. The denizens of Rome were not alone in such disillusion. In a meeting in northern Italy, Hitler attempted to revive the flagging spirits of Il Duce, as well as point out his deficiencies as a leader. Afraid that Mussolini, having suffered successive military setbacks, would sue for a separate peace, leaving the Germans alone to battle it out with Allied forces along the Italian peninsula, Hitler decided to meet with his onetime role model to lecture him on the manly art of war. Mussolini remained uncharacteristically silent during the harangue, partly due to his own poor German (he would request a translated synopsis of the meeting later), partly due to his fear of Hitler's response should he tell the truth-that Italy was beaten and could not continue to fight. Mussolini kept up the charade for his German allies: Italy would press on. But no one believed the brave front anymore. Just a day later, Hitler secretly ordered Field Marshal Erwin Rommel to take command of the occupied Greek Islands, better to "pounce on Italy" if and when Mussolini capitulated to the United States. But within a week, events would take a stunning turn.
I.J.N. KIYONAMI (July 19/20, 1943) Japanese troop transport which had helped in the sinking of the USS Gwin. The Kiyonami was sunk by American B-25 bombers, forty miles northwest of Kolombangra. The ship was in the process of rescuing the crew of the sinking destroyer Yugure when spotted and bombed. There were no survivors from either vessel, a total of 468 men died.
Date: 19 July 1940 The Battle of Britain. Weather: Showery with bright intervals in most cases. Channel winds light - fair. Day: Dover raided. Defiant squadron largely destroyed. Night: Some activity between Isle of Wight and Plymouth, Thames Estuary and Harwich. Enemy action by day Two major engagements took place off Dover, the first at 1215 hours and the second at 1600 hours. An enemy bomber was shot down off Shoreham in the morning and another in the evening, whilst one Hurricane (pilot saved) was shot down near East Grinstead. Glasgow was bombed in the morning by 2 Do17s and small vessels were attacked east of Clacton and south of the Isle of Wight. South and South-West At 0703 hours a Do17 which had carried out a reconnaissance over Croydon, Northolt and Brooklands was shot down by a Hurricane off Shoreham. At 1431 hours Hurricanes encountered 12 Me109s off Selsey Bill and one Me109 was shot down (unconfirmed). One Hurricane is missing. At about 1735 hours one Hurricane landed in flames at West Grinstead following enemy action. It was a total loss but the pilot is safe. At 1803 hours a Heinkel 111 which had penetrated inland was shot down off Shoreham. Other raids were reported in the Bristol Channel, Portsmouth and Swanage areas during the day and minesweepers were attacked off the Isle of Wight. It is noticeable that approximately six raids of some strength approached our coasts chiefly in the Channel and North Eastern area but when fighters were sent up they turned away before contact as established. South-East Coast About 30 enemy aircraft assembled behind Cap Gris Nez and approached Dover at 1215 hours. A squadron of Defiants (No. 141), one of Hurricanes and one of Spitfires took off to intercept. No. 141 Squadron was ordered to a position over Cap Gris Nez where it was attacked by 12 Me109s. Three Defiants were shot down immediately and another three crashed while returning to Hawkinge. (4 pilots killed, 2 injured; 5 air gunners missing). One Me109 was shot down by the Defiants. The Hurricanes shot down 2 Me109s (confirmed) and one Me109 (unconfirmed) and Anti-aircraft at Dover shot down one Do215. The Spitfires apparently failed to make contact with the enemy. At 1600 hours about 36 enemy bombers and fighters again approached Dover. One squadron of Hurricanes and two of Spitfires were sent up. 6 Me109s and one Ju87 were shot down (unconfirmed). In addition one section of Spitfires shot down 2 enemy seaplanes (unconfirmed) near Calais. One Hurricane crashed (pilot safe). East Coast Meteorological reconnaissance was carried out over the North Sea. A raid attacked some naval units 40 miles off Clacton and several reconnaissances were reported. North-East Coast One raid of two Do17s crossed the coast north of Aberdeen and bombed Glasgow at 1013 hours. 42 people were injured. France The enemy maintained 15 patrols over the Calais/Dunkerque area. By night Considerable enemy activity from 2330 until 0230 hours. 33 raids were directed against the coast west of the Isle of Wight as far as Plymouth, 5 or 6 of which crossed to the Bristol Channel. Minelaying is suspected. There were about 15 raids in the Thames Estuary - Harwich area, many of which are suspected of minelaying. One raid made an attack on Manston Aerodrome in the vicinity of which bombs were dropped, but no serious damage has been reported. Several raids appeared north of Harwich as far as Aberdeen and minelaying is suspected at various places along the coast including the Hull area, Firth of Forth and a number of aircraft crossed to the Firth of Clyde, presumably minelaying. Bombs are reported dropped north west of Kilmarnock and Abbotsinch. At about 0030 hours, Blenheims on patrol encountered and shot down an enemy seaplane at 0107 hours (confirmed). It was seen to fall into the sea in flames near Harwich. Statistics Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 19 July 1940 Blenheim - 62 Spitfire - 227 Hurricane - 331 Defiant - 22 Total - 642 Casualties: Enemy: Fighters - 3 confirmed, 8 unconfirmed; Bombers - 3 confirmed, 1 unconfirmed; Seaplanes -1 confirmed, 2 unconfirmed. Own: 6 Defiants confirmed (all No. 141 Squadron), 3 Hurricanes confirmed (Nos. 1, 32 and 43 Squadron) plus one unconfirmed (No. 43 Squadron; crashed on landing). AA claims one bomber confirmed in above totals. Patrols: 175 patrols despatched involving 735 aircraft. Balloons: Flying 1178. Casualties 66. Aerodromes: Catterick and Dyce aerodromes are unserviceable during the hours of darkness. Organisation: No. 602 Squadron (Spitfires) "A" Flight at Montrose. No. 615 Squadron (Hurricanes) moved from Kenley to Hawkinge. No. 609 Squadron (Spitfires) moved from Middle Wallop to Warmwell. No. 65 Squadron (Spitfires) moved from Hornchurch to Manston. No. 151 Squadron (Hurricanes) moved from North Weald to Rochford. No. 73 Squadron (Hurricanes) "A" Flight moved from Church Fenton to Prestwick. Nos. 245 and 72 Squadrons (Hurricanes) operational by day only. Air Intelligence Reports None. Home Security Reports 18th/19th/20th July 1940 General Summary During the 19th July, enemy aircraft activity was again confined to almost entirely to coastal areas. With the exception of an attack on Glasgow, there is little to report. [*]Detailed Summary It is now learned that six bombs were dropped on July 17th at Nutfield Aerodrome (near Godstone, Surrey) at 1155 hours. No damage was caused. At about 1040 hours on the 19th July, 8 HE were dropped in the Govan and Scotstoun areas of Glasgow. Tenements were seriously damaged and an occupied communal shelter was blown up. Windows of the Royal Ordnance Factory, Cardonald, were broken by splinters and blast, but the factory was not otherwise damaged. At about 0603 hours on the 19th July, bombs were dropped on the Norfolk and Norwich Aerodrome at Norwich. A hangar, used for the storage of AFS appliances, was hit and the clubhouse was burnt out. During the July 19th, bombs were also dropped on Milton Aerodrome (near Pembroke) at 1245 hours and on Manston Aerodrome at 2320 hours. No damage has been reported. At 1720 hours on the 19th July, a boy's school was demolished when bombs were dropped on Polruan, near Fowey. At 0120 hours on July 20th bombs were dropped at Abbotsinch Aerodrome (Renfrew). At 0220 hours on the 20th July, bombs were dropped on Stirling. Two houses were demolished and minor damage caused to adjacent buildings.
BARTOLOMEO COLLEONI (July 19, 1940) A fast Italian light cruiser of 5,069 tons, launched in 1930, was said to be capable of 40 knots. She was completely taken by surprise in the misty light of dawn by the Australian cruiser HMAS Sydney and four destroyers north-west of the island of Crete. Captain J. Collins of HMAS Sydney was concerned that they may be heavy 8-inch cruisers, but he decided to attack and opened fire first on the Bartolomeo Colleoni's sister ship, the Giovanni Delle Bande Nere at 20,000 yards. The Australian cruiser then fired salvoes at Bartolomeo Colleoni and the destroyers fired their torpedoes. Both the Italian ships made smoke turned away believing that the destroyers were also cruisers. HMAS Sydney and the destroyers chased both Italian ships for about one hour with the Sydney concentrating her gunfire on the Colleoni. Hit repeatedly by shells, Colleoni soon became a blazing wreck and was "bow down" and had to be abandoned by her crew. The destroyers moved in for the final kill as the Sydney went after the Giovanni Nere After the torpedoes struck, the cruiser capsized and sank six miles off of Cape Spada, taking 125 crewmembers to the depths. British destroyers rescued a total of 525 survivers from the sea including her commander, Captain Umbarto Novaro, who unfortunately died two days later from his injuries and was buried in Alexandria. (He was posthumously awarded the Italian Golden Medal) German propaganda broadcaster and ex-British patriot, Lord Haw Haw (William Joyce) gave the German account of the Battle of Cape Spada: "Two British heavy armed cruisers and a large force of destroyers attacked two Italian light cruisers off the coast of Crete and in the ensuing battle the two British cruisers were heavily damaged. Slight damage was inflicted on one of the Italian cruisers.
July 20, 1944 Assassination plot against Hitler fails On this day in 1944, Hitler cheats death as a bomb planted in a briefcase goes off, but fails to kill him. High German officials had made up their minds that Hitler must die. He was leading Germany in a suicidal war on two fronts, and assassination was the only way to stop him. A coup d'etat would follow, and a new government in Berlin would save Germany from complete destruction at the hands of the Allies. That was the plan. This was the reality: Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, chief of the army reserve, had been given the task of planting a bomb during a conference that was to be held at Berchtesgaden, but was later moved to Hitler's "Wolf's Lair, a command post at Rastenburg, Prussia. Stauffenberg planted the explosive in a briefcase, which he placed under a table, then left quickly. Hitler was studying a map of the Eastern front as Colonel Heinz Brandt, trying to get a better look at the map, moved the briefcase out of place, farther away from where the Fuhrer was standing. At 12:42 p.m. the bomb went off. When the smoke cleared, Hitler was wounded, charred, and even suffered the temporary paralysis of one arm-but he was very much alive. (He was even well enough to keep an appointment with Benito Mussolini that very afternoon. He gave Il Duce a tour of the bomb site.) Four others present died from their wounds. As the bomb went off, Stauffenberg was making his way to Berlin to carry out Operation Valkyrie, the overthrow of the central government. In Berlin, he and co-conspirator General Olbricht arrested the commander of the reserve army, General Fromm, and began issuing orders for the commandeering of various government buildings. And then the news came through from Herman Goering-Hitler was alive. Fromm, released from custody under the assumption he would nevertheless join the effort to throw Hitler out of office, turned on the conspirators. Stauffenberg and Olbricht were shot that same day. Once Hitler figured out the extent of the conspiracy (it reached all the way to occupied French), he began the systematic liquidation of his enemies. More than 7,000 Germans would be arrested (including evangelical pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer), and up to 5,000 would wind up dead-either executed or as suicides. Hitler, Himmler, and Goering took an even firmer grip on Germany and its war machine! . Hitler became convinced that fate had spared him-"I regard this as a confirmation of the task imposed upon me by Providence"-and that "nothing is going to happen to me.... [T]he great cause which I serve will be brought through its present perils and...everything can be brought to a good end."
20 July 1941 RAF Ferry Command is formed, under the command of Air Chief Marshal Sir Frederick Bowhill. This new formation takes over the work of the Atlantic Ferry Organisation, which is tasked with ferrying aircraft from the USA to the United Kingdom.
Date: 20th July 1940 The Battle of Britain. Weather: Occasional thunderstorms. Straits of Dover cloudy clearing to bright intervals. Day: Convoys off shipping at Dover attacked. Night: Widespread minelaying from the Needles, Isle of Wight, to Land's End; Bristol Channel and eastern coastal waters. Enemy action by day Our fighters were again mainly engaged in the south against enemy formations despatched to attack convoys and shipping in Dover Harbour. These attacks were preceded by reconnaissance flights up to mid-day. Our fighters engaged the enemy, inflicting casualties and turning him away from his objective before serious damage could be done. On several occasions, however, the enemy did not wait to meet our fighters but turned back on sighting them or on hearing our RT. South and South-West Several raids were plotted along the south coast during the morning. Fighter patrols were flown over the convoys and two attacks were made on convoys in this area during the afternoon. The enemy were engaged by our fighters on each occasion. 3 Me109s and one seaplane were shot down for certain and 3 Me109s probable. 3 of our aircraft are missing. In addition, one He59 was probably shot down off the Isle of Wight during the afternoon. One raid plotted from Shrewsbury out over the Isle of Wight was reported as a four-engined Dornier. South-East Coast At 0900 hours, 4 raids, each consisting of 3+ aircraft approached the Kent coast. Fighters were despatched and the tracks became confused. No combat reports have been received. Just after 1500 hours dive-bombers escorted by Messerschmitts carried out an attack on Dover Harbour. These were intercepted and one Jaguar-ME was shot down for certain and one probable. Pilots of No. 32 Squadron responsible for this success report that they caught up the enemy aircraft in a straight chase at 2-3,000 feet within 12 miles. Our aircraft were flying at full boost at about 300 miles per hour and were not fitted with Rotol Air Screws. The enemy aircraft were camouflaged pale and dark blue and silver. Later in the afternoon 2 raids of 30+ and 20+ approached Dover from Calais but turned back on perceiving our fighters. One, however, made a quick attack on a convoy and was engaged. 2 Me109s were shot down for certain, 3 Me109s and 3 Jaguar-ME's were possible casualties. 3 of our own aircraft were lost. East Coast Up to mid-day, several reconnaissance flights were made off the Norfolk coast and one Ju88 was shot down. At about 1315 hours, three raids apparently attacked a convoy but no bombing reports have been received. Fighters were despatched and one Do17 was a probable casualty. North-East Coast Only three raids were plotted in this area. One approached Peterhead and turned back on the arrival of our fighters. The remaining two were probably meteorological flights. One was intercepted and a Do17 shot down off Kinnaird's Head. France Normal activity in the Cap Gris Nez area was reported during the day. By night Very extensive mining operations were carried out by the enemy between 2200 and 0200 hours, and included the areas of the Needles to Land's End - Bristol Channel - Norfolk - Suffolk - Humber, Tees with special concentration upon Harwich and the Thames Estuary. One raid crossed to the Mersey. Some enemy activity took place between the Orkneys and Kinnaird's Head, probably in search of shipping, but no reports of attacks have been received. A few raids came inland and bombs were are reported to have been dropped on Hartlepool, Silloth, Rochford, Eastchurch, Swansea and near Wells, Lechlade and Chatham; but no reports of serious damage have been received. One enemy aircraft is reported shot down 3 miles off Margate. Statistics Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 20 July 1940 Blenheim - 62 Spitfire - 224 Hurricane - 308 Defiant - 11 Total - 605 Casualties: Enemy: Fighters - 6 confirmed, 10 unconfirmed; Bombers - 2 confirmed, 1 unconfirmed; Seaplanes -1 confirmed, 1 unconfirmed; Type unknown - 1 unconfirmed. Own: 5 Hurricanes confirmed (Nos. 32 (2 aircraft), 43, 238 and 501 Squadrons), 1 Spitfire confirmed (No. 610 Squadron). AA claims one bomber confirmed in above totals. Patrols: 191 patrols despatched involving 655 aircraft. Balloons: Flying 1168. Casualties 44. Aerodromes: Catterick aerodrome unserviceable during the hours of darkness. Organisation: No. 229 Squadron (Hurricane) moved from Wittering to Turnhouse. No. 3 Squadron (Hurricane) "B" Flight moved from Wick to Sumburgh. No. 64 Squadron (Spitfire) Red and Blue Sections are non-operational at Kenley. No. 245 Squadron (Hurricane) moved from Turnhouse to Aldergrove. No. 141 Squadron (Defiants) non-operational at West Malling. Air Intelligence Reports None. Home Security Reports 19th/20th July 1940 General Summary Enemy activity during the day of the 20th July was mainly in the Straits of Dover and over Dover Harbour, where bombs dropped, fell in the harbour and sea and only minor damage was caused. During the night 20th/21st July, enemy aircraft were reported at West Hartlepool, and in the Sunderland area, near Lowestoft, Harwich and Barling (Essex). In South Wales, Mountain Ash and Jersey Marine were targets attacked. In no case has serious damage been reported. [*]Detailed Summary With reference to the bomb attacks on 19th July in the Plymouth area, it is now believed that a total of 24 HE bombs were dropped, of which five did not explode. Further reports of damage by bombs which fell on Stirling at 0220 hours on 20th July, state that damage was done to three sheds and some vehicles at the Royal Ordnance Factory, Forthside.
Montgomery abandons OPERATION GOODWOOD after the loss of 500 tanks and over 4000 men, for an advance of only 8 miles. The start of OPERATION COBRA delayed because of bad whether and no air cover.
July 21, 1944 Hitler to Germany: "I'm still alive." On this day in 1944, Adolf Hitler takes to the airwaves to announce that the attempt on his life has failed and that "accounts will be settled." Hitler had survived the bomb blast that was meant to take his life. He had suffered punctured eardrums, some burns and minor wounds, but nothing that would keep him from regaining control of the government and finding the rebels. In fact, the coup d'etat that was to accompany the assassination of Hitler was put down in a mere 11 1/2 hours. In Berlin, Army Major Otto Remer, believed to be apolitical by the conspirators and willing to carry out any orders given him, was told that the Fuhrer was dead and that he, Remer, was to arrest Joseph Goebbels, Minister of Propaganda. But Goebbels had other news for Remer-Hitler was alive. And he proved it, by getting the leader on the phone (the rebels had forgotten to cut the phone lines). Hitler then gave Remer direct orders to put down any army rebellion and to follow only his orders or those of Goebbels or Himmler. Remer let Goebbels go. The SS then snapped into action, arriving in Berlin, now in chaos, just in time to convince many high German officers to remain loyal to Hitler. Arrests, torture sessions, executions, and suicides followed. Count Claus von Stauffenberg, the man who actually planted the explosive in the room with Hitler and who had insisted to his co-conspirators that "the explosion was as if a 15-millimeter shell had hit. No one in that room can still be alive." But it was Stauffenberg who would not be alive for much longer; he was shot dead the very day of the attempt by a pro-Hitler officer. The plot was completely undone. Now Hitler had to restore calm and confidence to the German civilian population. At 1 a.m., July 21, Hitler's voice broke through the radio airwaves: "I am unhurt and well.... A very small clique of ambitious, irresponsible...and stupid officers had concocted a plot to eliminate me.... It is a gang of criminal elements which will be destroyed without mercy. I therefore give orders now that no military authority...is to obey orders from this crew of usurpers.... This time we shall settle account with them in the manner to which we National Socialists are accustomed."
Date: 21 July 1940 The Battle of Britain. Weather: Fine and fair early, clouding over during the morning. Fair in the evening. Day: Raids on convoys in Channel and Straits of Dover. Night: Targets chiefly at Merseyside. Enemy action by day The main activity of the day was centred in the Channel and the Straits of Dover, convoys being the objectives. A few isolated raids penetrated inland. South and South West In the morning, the enemy carried out shipping reconnaissance in the Channel and shortly afterwards made two unsuccessful attacks on convoy "Peewit". At 1458 hours another large raid approached this convoy but retired when three squadrons were despatched to intercept. On Spitfire is reported lost whilst on convoy patrol at about 0930 hours. At 1520 hours, 9+ aircraft were approaching Portland; this formation turned 90° and attacked "Peewit". In the engagement one Me109 was shot down certain and one Hurricane of the escorting flight is missing. Meanwhile, one flight of Hurricanes sent to Portland to intercept, chased and shot down 10 miles from the French coast 1 Me110 confirmed, and 1 Me110 unconfirmed. Several other large formations approached convoys but retired after our fighters had been sent up. Of the raids which penetrated inland, on Me110, which shot down a Hector near Old Sarum, was shot down by Hurricanes near Goodwood. Hurricanes also shot down a Do17 near Blandford. North and East Coasts There was little enemy activity off the North and East coasts. The enemy carried out reconnaissance work off Wick and East Anglia. France Numerous patrols were maintained over the Calais - Dunkerque area, particularly over Calais. By night Enemy operations appear to have been on a smaller scale than usual, but cover a large area. Minelaying was suspected in Plymouth area, Thames Estuary and immediately north of it and in the Tyne area. Attacks on the West Country seem to have started mostly from Cherbourg district. Some 6 or 8 raids crossed the coast between 2330 and 0300 hours at various places. Two raids went as far as Barrow-in-Furness and returned via Liverpool and over Yorkshire. Other isolated raids went over Leeds, Church Fenton, Tyneside, over Norfolk and Wiltshire. Bombs are reported to have been dropped in Tyneside, near Derby, Driffield and Hornsea, but no serious damage has been so far reported. It is reported at 0520 hours that an unsuccessful attempt was made on a convoy off the Lincolnshire coast. Statistics Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 21 July 1940 Blenheim - 65 Spitfire - 236 Hurricane - 309 Defiant - 21 Total - 620 Casualties: Enemy: Fighters - 3 confirmed, 1 unconfirmed; Bombers - 1 confirmed. Anti-Aircraft at Plymouth claims one aircraft (type unknown) unconfirmed. [*]Own: 1 Hurricane confirmed (No. 43 Squadron), 1 Spitfire confirmed (No. 54 Squadron). Additional Information From information since received, enemy casualties reported yesterday are now: 15 confirmed and 8 unconfirmed [fighters and bombers]. In addition, 1 He111, 1 Do17 and one Ju88 were shot down by anti-aircraft fire. Patrols: 190 patrols despatched involving 596 aircraft. Balloons: Flying 1142. Casualties 60. Aerodromes: All serviceable Organisation: No. 152 Squadron (Spitfire) has moved from Warmwell to Middle Wallop. No. 64 Squadron (Spitfire) "Blue" Section now operational, "Red" Section non-operational. No. 229 Squadron (Hurricane) has not yet moved to Turnhouse. No. 263 Squadron (Hurricane) 4 aircraft only operational. No. 605 Squadron (Hurricane) 3 aircraft only operational. No. 253 Squadron (Hurricane) moved to Turnhouse. No. 3 Squadron (Hurricane) 8 aircraft moved to Sumburgh. Air Intelligence Reports Nil Home Security Reports 17-20th July 1940. General Summary During the 19th July, enemy aircraft activity was again confined to almost entirely to coastal areas. With the exception of an attack on Glasgow, there is little to report. [*]Detailed Summary It is now learned that six bombs were dropped on July 17th at Nutfield Aerodrome (near Godstone, Surrey) at 1155 hours. No damage was caused. At about 1040 hours on the 19th July, 8 HE were dropped in the Govan and Scotstoun areas of Glasgow. Tenements were seriously damaged and an occupied communal shelter was blown up. Windows of the Royal Ordnance Factory, Cardonald, were broken by splinters and blast, but the factory was not otherwise damaged. At about 0603 hours on the 19th July, bombs were dropped on the Norfolk and Norwich Aerodrome at Norwich. A hangar, used for the storage of AFS appliances, was hit and the clubhouse was burnt out. During the July 19th, bombs were also dropped on Milton Aerodrome (near Pembroke) at 1245 hours and on Manston Aerodrome at 2320 hours. No damage has been reported. At 1720 hours on the 19th July, a boy's school was demolished when bombs were dropped on Polruan, near Fowey. At 0120 hours on July 20th bombs were dropped at Abbotsinch Aerodrome (Renfrew). At 0220 hours on the 20th July, bombs were dropped on Stirling. Two houses were demolished and minor damage caused to adjacent buildings.
Date: 22 July 1940 The Battle of Britain Weather: Straits fair; Channel cloudy. Light westerly winds in both. Bright intervals between showers in the east. Day: Shipping off the south coast attacked. Night: Minelaying the whole length of the eastern seaboard. Enemy action by day Enemy activity by day was on a considerably reduced scale. Just prior to the opening of the period covered by this summary, two convoys were attacked by enemy aircraft off the East Coast. One of these attacks was referred to in the previous summary (21st July) but it is now reported that fighters intercepted and claim one Do17 as a probable casualty. Thereafter some 14 raids were detected. These appear to have been mainly engaged in meteorological and shipping reconnaissance flights off the East and South coast; although convoys were approached, no resultant attacks were reported. Convoy and shipping protection patrols were flown by our fighters and possibly accounted for the apparent reluctance on the part of the enemy to attack by daylight. A few raids crossed our coasts; one was plotted between Bristol and the Sussex coast, flying very high. Another Do17 crossed the coast near Selsey Bill and was intercepted and shot down off Tangmere. A raid of three aircraft was plotted 10 miles off Selsey Bill and appeared to have been intercepted but no combat reports have been received. France A number of hostile raids were plotted in the Calais - Boulogne - Dunkirk - St Omer areas and several raids went from Cherbourg to mid-Channel in the late evening, but these faded and nothing more was heard of them. By night Considerable enemy activity again took place over a wide area. Shortly after 2100 hours, raids commencing down Channel from the Boulogne/Calais area turned north, north of Cherbourg towards Portland and Land's End, minelaying being suspected, and some crossing the coast. From 2200 hours until about 0200 hours, a number of raids approached the North-East, East and South-East Coasts. Another group, presumably from Norway, attacked objectives in Scotland. Minelaying throughout the whole of the East coast is suspected, particularly in the Thames Estuary, and to a lesser extent, in the Tees, off the Norfolk coast, Humber and Tyne areas. A number of raids came inland and bombs were reported to have been dropped in the following districts:- Thames Estuary, North Kent, near Manston, South Essex, Norfolk, Kidderminster, Welshpool, Brough, Edinburgh, near Drem and South Wales. At about 2347 hours, it is reported that a Do 17 was shot down off Selsey Bill. No reports of serious damage or casualties have been received. Statistics Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 22 July 1940 Blenheim - 63 Spitfire - 228 Hurricane - 357 Defiant - 21 Total - 669 Casualties: Enemy: Fighters - nil; Bombers - 2 confirmed, 1 unconfirmed. Own: Nil. Anti-Aircraft at Plymouth claims one aircraft (type unknown) unconfirmed. Patrols: 208 patrols despatched involving 637 aircraft. Balloons: Flying - 1193. Casualties - 36. Aerodromes: All serviceable. Organisation: No. 238 Squadron (Hurricanes) is at Warmwell No. 141 Squadron (Defiants) is at West Malling and is operational. No. 615 Squadron (Hurricanes) is at Hawkinge. Air Intelligence Reports The German Air Force (GAF) is up against an efficient fighter defence organisation for the first time, and in the face of this it constantly varies the composition of its tactical forces. The present scale of operations against this country can be accounted for by the following facts: i. The GAF is not fully prepared for major operations ii. In order to maintain service and civilian morale it is necessary to carry out operations on some scale iii. This interim period is an opportunity for tactical experiments against efficient air defence. Home Security Reports 22nd/23rd July 1940 General Summary Reports in addition to those mentioned show that bombs also fell in East Yorkshire and Suffolk and on Leith, early on 22nd July. During the day and the night of 22nd/23rd July, bombs fell in Banffshire, where casualties resulted, in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, and in the coastal areas of Kent, Suffolk, Essex and Monmouthshire. Fifeshire, South Wales, South Hampshire and Lincolnshire were among the widely separated areas where bombs fell during this period, but no material damage or casualties have been reported from these areas. [*]Detailed Summary Slight damage to property was caused at Cramlington (Northumberland) where 2 HE fell at 0030 hours on the 22nd July. Bombs which fell on a farm at Skipsea (East Yorkshire) at 0145 hours, 22nd July, causing damage to electricity supply, are described as a "supposed new type containing petrol, paraffin and other oils." Nine HE bombs fell in a field at Troston (2 miles from Honington) at 0225 hours, 22nd July, causing damage to windows and glasshouses. Four HE and many IB were dropped at Leith at 0559 hours, 22nd July, causing considerable damage to a fire station and a pressure main. A 1,000lb bomb fell near the Albert Dock, and some sidings and mains were damaged, but main traffic is unaffected and rolling stock was not hit. One dead and six injured people are reported. Six German prisoners were killed, and eighteen injured, by HE bombs which fell on Duff House, Banff, at 0922 hours. The house was severely damaged. Margate reported eight HE bombs at 2235 hours, one house being demolished. The electricity supply failed and gas mains were fractured. It is reported that 15-20 HE fell near Manston aerodrome at 2230 hours. The Maldon district of Essex was attacked with HE bombs at 2340 hours but no reports of damage have been received. Edinburgh reported bombs early 23rd July and damage by fire to store buildings was caused. Slight damage to Sheerness Pier was caused by bombs at 0128 hours, 23rd July, and bombs fell at Pembrey, Milford Haven, near Emsworth and Cleethorpes, but no damage or casualties are reported.
22 June 1940 The French Government signs an armistice in the Forest of Compiegne. The ceremony is conducted in the same railway carriage in which German representatives had signed the armistice that ended the First World War.
22 June 1940 Flight Lieutenant George Burge of the Royal Air Force, flying a Gloster Sea Gladiator nicknamed Faith, claims the first Italian bomber aircraft destroyed over Malta. Faith is one of three crated Sea Gladiators left on Malta by the Fleet Air Arm, which are hurriedly assembled at the outbreak of hostilities with Italy. For some time they represent the only fighter defence of the naval dockyard and the island. They are quickly nicknamed Faith, Hope and Charity.
July 22, 1942 Deportations from Warsaw ghetto to Treblinka begin On this day in 1942, the systematic deportation of Jews from the Warsaw ghetto begins, as thousands are rounded up daily and transported to a newly constructed concentration/extermination camp at Treblinka, in Poland. On July 17, Heinrich Himmler, head of the Nazi SS, arrived at Auschwitz, the concentration camp in eastern Poland, in time to watch the arrival of more than 2,000 Dutch Jews and the gassing of almost 500 of them, mostly the elderly, sick, and very young. The next day, Himmler promoted the camp commandant, Rudolph Hoess, to SS major and ordered that the Warsaw ghetto, (the Jewish quarter constructed by the Nazis upon the occupation of Poland, enclosed first by barbed wire and then by brick walls), be depopulated-a "total cleansing," as he described it and the inhabitants transported to what was to become a second extermination camp constructed at the railway village of Treblinka, 62 miles northeast of Warsaw. Within the first seven weeks of Himmler's order, more than 250,000 Jews were taken to Treblinka by rail and gassed to death, marking the largest single act of destruction of any population group, Jewish or non-Jewish, civilian or military, in the war. Upon arrival at "T. II," as this second camp at Treblinka was called, prisoners were separated by sex, stripped, and marched into what were described as "bathhouses," but were in fact gas chambers. T.II's first commandant was Dr. Irmfried Eberl, age 32, the man who had headed up the euthanasia program of 1940 and had much experience with the gassing of victims, especially children. He compelled several hundred Ukrainian and about 1,500 Jewish prisoners to assist him. They removed gold teeth from victims before hauling the bodies to mass graves. Eberl was relieved of his duties for "inefficiency." It seems that he and his workers could not remove the corpses quickly enough, and panic was occurring within the railway cars of newly arrived prisoners. By the end of the war, between 700,000 and 900,000 would die at either Treblinka I or II. Hoess was tried and sentenced to death by the Nuremberg Tribunal. He was hanged in 1947.
Date: 23 July 1940 The Battle of Britain Weather: Slight haze in the Straits of Dover. Cloudy with occasional rain in other districts. Day: East coast shipping raided. Night: Minelaying from Dover to the Tyne and Forth Estuary. Enemy action by day Enemy activity appeared to have further decreased and those aircraft with few exceptions approaching the coast seemed to devote their attention to reconnaissance of shipping and to attacks when opposition was not immediately encountered but turned away when fighters were in the vicinity. While patrolling a convoy off Yarmouth in the early morning, Hurricanes shot down a Ju86[?] and it is a probable casualty. A 'help' message from a convoy some distance off Lowestoft was received at about 0809 hours but only one bomb is reported to have been dropped from a great height. Later, a raid penetrating inland as far as Kenley dropped bombs during the flight. It at once retraced its track on the approach of fighters. At 1120 a force of six aircraft approached North Foreland and bombed trawlers. Two fighter squadrons intercepted without conclusive results. During the morning, various other aircraft were detected around the coast from the North of Scotland southwards. No contact was made by fighters. During the afternoon activity was still further reduced but in a raid near Kinnaird's Head a Do215 was intercepted and is confirmed as having been shot down by Spitfires at 1540 hours. At 1530 hours a raid of nine aircraft appeared without being tracked in RDF 50 miles east of Harwich. A naval vessel is reported to have been bombed. Another raid appeared inland near Yarmouth at 1640 hours and re-crossed the coast near Bawdsey after dropping bombs at Pulham Market. It evaded fighters in the clouds. Fighters were sent up to a raid which appeared inland over North Scotland after 1800 hours but the enemy aircraft escaped east at great speed. France Hostile tracks were plotted along the French coast and to mid-Channel but few approached nearer to our coasts. By night Enemy activity again was again at somewhat on a lesser scale and almost exclusively confined to coastal flights, presumably minelaying. The chief activity was along the east coast from Dover to the Tyne and Forth Estuary, with one or two raids as far north as Kinnaird's Head and considerably less concentration in the Thames Estuary and the South Coast. It is reported that one He111 was shot down for certain at 0040 hours by a Spitfire near Dunbar. About eight raids visited the West Country picking out Falmouth, Plymouth and Bristol and four raids were lost going north off the Welsh Coast., but were picked up in the Liverpool area where anti-aircraft guns were in action and they claim one enemy aircraft (type unknown) unconfirmed. At about 0043 hours a smoke screen about 100 yards long and thirty feet high was reported by the Observer Corps off Dover. From information received during the late evening it would appear that attempts were being made to intercept our bombers, an attack upon one having been reported. It was noticeable too that that throughout the night there were only two or three isolated raids which crossed the coast, one over Middlesborough proceeding south of Catterick and one over Cornwall and South Wales. The only report of any bombs having been dropped is near Hartlepool. Statistics Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 23 July 1940 Blenheim - 62 Spitfire - 243 Hurricane - 282 Defiant - 12 Total - 599 Casualties: Enemy: Fighters - 1 unconfirmed; Bombers - 2 confirmed. Own: Nil. Patrols: 182 patrols despatched involving 495 aircraft. Balloons: Flying - 1205 Casualties - 34. Aerodromes: No changes. Organisation: No. 43 Squadron (Hurricanes) has moved from Tangmere to Northolt. No. 1 Squadron (Hurricanes) has moved from Northolt to Tangmere No. 264 Squadron (Defiants) has moved from Duxford to Kirton in Lindsey. No. 141 Squadron (Defiants) have arrived at Prestwick and are non-operational. Air Intelligence Reports Nil. Home Security Reports Date General Summary Additional reports of districts affected by enemy bomb attacks early on July 23rd show that East Yorkshire, Berwickshire, Isle of Wight, Gloucestershire and the Swansea area were all visited, but very little damage was caused and casualties were slight. During the day and night of 23/24 July, enemy bombing activity was very slight, but some bombs were dropped in parts of Norfolk, Kent and West Sussex; apart from structural damage at Pulham (Norfolk), the effects were negligible. [*]Detailed Summary Montrose aerodrome reports one HE bomb which fell in the landing ground at 0043 hours without causing damage or casualties. Eleven HE bombs were dropped near Ternhill Aerodrome at 0133 hours, the only damage caused being the partial blocking of a road for which repairs are now in hand. No casualties are reported. HE and IBs fell at Tetney near North Coates in the early morning, without causing damage or casualties. Bombs fell at Yarmouth and Brightstone (Isle of Wight) at 0045 hours causing slight damage to one house. The HE did considerable damage to six houses in Willerby (East Yorkshire) at 0122 hours, and a signal arm on the railway was wrecked. The track was undamaged and four slight casualties resulted. At 0838 bombs fell on the beach and inland at Worthing, and at 0935 whistling bombs were dropped in a field at Itching Field (Horsham). In neither of these incidents was there any damage. Air Ministry property at Pulham (Norfolk) suffered structural damage at 1648 hours when sixteen HE fell, but there were no casualties. There are unconfirmed reports of bombs at West Hartlepool at 0100 hours (24 July).
