Posted on 07/13/2010 5:03:51 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
* Remember Marlboro Man, from the war in Iraq? Heres a photo of the Wehrmacht version.
http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1940/jul40/f13jul40.htm
Italians invade Kenya
Saturday, July 13, 1940 www.onwar.com
In East Africa... The Italian forces in Abyssinia move over the border into Kenya to attack the small town of Moyale.
From Berlin... Hitler issues Directive 15 on the air war with Britain. The offensive is to begin at full strength on August 5th. Goring in fact will not be able to have his planes ready by this date. This lack of efficiency will waste vital days in the fine summer weather. The RAF is to be rapidly driven from the skies and the air supremacy necessary if an invasion is to be attempted is to be achieved. Also, in a conversation with some of his generals Hitler makes his first real mention of the future necessity to attack the Soviet Union. He suggests that England is only fighting on because of the hope of Soviet help.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/month/thismonth/13.htm
July 13th, 1940
UNITED KINGDOM: RAF Bomber Command: 4 Group (Whitley). Bombing - Industrial targets at Mannheim, Leverkusen and Gravensbruk.
10 Sqn. Three aircraft to Mannheim. All bombed.
51 Sqn. Three aircraft to Mannheim. Two bombed. One hit by flak, landed Honington.
58 Sqn. Ten aircraft to Leverkusen and Gravensbruk. Eight bombed.
77 Sqn. Seven aircraft to Mannheim. Six bombed, two hit by flak. One landed at Martlesham Heath and one at Duxford.
The first Free Polish fighter squadron of the RAF is formed. This was No. 302 “Poznanski” Squadron at Leconfield, Yorkshire. (Jack McKillop)
London: Lord Beaverbrooks appeal to the women of Britain to “Give us your aluminium and we will turn your pots and pans into Spitfires and Hurricanes, Blenheims and Wellingtons” has brought an amazing response. Women, keen to help the RAF pilots who are defending them, have rushed to the depots set up by the Womens Voluntary Service to hand over some of their cooking utensils. A typical response to the Minister of Aircraft Productions appeal was that of a woman aged about 80 who walked a mile and a half to donate a saucepan. “It is very useful,” she said, “but I give it gladly to the country.”
Hundreds of tons have already been collected although the appeal is only a couple of days old. In one town so much was collected that a steam roller was used to flatten the utensils in order to make more room. As well as pots and pans, tennis racket presses and cigarette cases, an artificial leg and a racing car with an aluminium body are among the possessions that their owners hope will be turned into fighters and bombers.
GERMANY: Berlin: Hitlers Directive no. 15 orders the Luftwaffe to destroy the RAF in preparation for Operation Sealion - the invasion of Britain.
While Hitler still hopes that Britain will make peace, he has already set in train preparations for invasion. On 2 July he ordered a study of the idea, and today he has issued a military directive to the effect that Germany must gain air superiority over the RAF before an invasion can take place. Hitler tells his generals that Britain is only fighting because of hope that Russian assistance. He goes further in confiding that it may become necessary to invade Russia.
Today Grand Admiral Erich Raeder, the German naval commander, stated that invasion should be regarded as a last resort to make Britain sue for peace. He believes, however, that Britain can be brought to her knees more effectively by throttling its maritime trade and bombing its cities.
Hitler writes to Mussolini declining his offer of Italian troops and aircraft for the invasion of Britain.
Hitler has said that the invasion will begin on August 5th.
Mediterranean and Arabia: Italian aircraft raid the British possessions of Malta and Aden.
The Regia Aeronautica continues its heavy raids on the Royal Navy’s Mediterranean Fleet under Admiral Cunningham as it continues its retirement from Malta towards its base Alexandria. Despite the contributions the four Sea Gladiators of HMS Eagle’s 813 Fighter Flight had made in breaking up raids on 11 July, a decision was made to rely solely on the massed AA guns of the fleet during the 14 raids on 12 July. However, as, 13 July saw the Sea Gladiators again intercepting several of the seven raids made on the fleet off Crete throughout the morning and early afternoon. In a series of sharp actions, Eagle’s Commander Flying, Commander Charles Lindsay Keighly-Peach, RN claimed one S-79 and shared another with his wingman, Lieutenant (A) L. K. Keith, RN. Later, Lt. Keith downed an S-81. Again, losses were not the whole tale, as the valiant fighters broke up several of the attacks, and the Italians were unable to obtain any hits. The day marked the end of three days of intense air activity that had seen some three hundred bombing sorties achieve but a single hit on HMS Gloucester on the 11th.(Mark Horan)
http://worldwar2daybyday.blogspot.com/
Day 317 July 13, 1940
Battle of Britain Day 4. Görings strategy of Kanalkampf (Channel battles), harassing shipping and bombing coastal facilities, continues. However, coastal fog prevents flying for most of the morning. Convoy CW5 is attacked leaving Dover by German bombers. Escort destroyer HMS Vanessa is damaged by near misses and towed by destroyer HMS Griffin to Sheerness for repairs (completed November 4). Convoy Bread is again attacked off the Dorset coast. Hurricanes from 56 & 238 Squadrons and Spitfires of 64 Squadron respond and shoot down 6 German bombers. Several British fighters are shot down and 3 pilots are killed.
While U-boats prowl the busy sea lanes around Britain and the Mediterranean, armed merchant cruisers (surface raiders) are more effective in the wide open Ocean spaces using lookout to spot smokestacks of their victims. In the Indian Ocean 500 miles South of Ceylon, German raider Atlantis sinks British steamer Kemmendine bound for Burma filled with whisky (57 crew, 25 passengers taken prisoner). 200 miles Northeast of Antigua, raider Widder sinks British steamer King John (taking prisoner 5 crew and 21 survivors from the Panamanian ship Santa Margarita sunk by U-29 July 2). Widder now has 100 prisoners, so most are put into King Johns lifeboats & set towards the West Indies. http://ahoy.tk-jk.net/MaraudersWW2/2Atlantis.html
Date: 13 July 1940
Enemy action by day
During the day the enemy focussed his attention primarily on shipping and many bombs were dropped on convoys but no hits are reported. Major fighter engagements were as follows:
Attack on Shipping in Portland Area
At 1420 hours 20 enemy aircraft attacked shipping off Portland. No 238 Squadron (Hurricanes) and No 609 Squadron (Spitfires) intercepted and shot down 3 Me110s and one Do17 confirmed and one Me110 and one Do17 unconfirmed. Our casualties - one Hurricane.
Attack on Dover Harbour
At about 1730 hours a mixed formation of Ju87s and Me109s attacked Dover Harbour and a convoy south of Dover. 64 Squadron (Spitfires) intercepted and shot down 2 Me109s unconfirmed. One Spitfire was slightly damaged by AA fire but landed safely. AA guns claim one Ju87 which was later seen to fall into the sea. This has not been confirmed.
Engagement off Calais
At about 1800 hours, 56 Squadron (Hurricanes) intercepted a mixed force of 6 Ju87s and 12 Me113s about 15 miles off Dover. In the ensuing encounter, 3 Ju87s and 2 He113s were shot down for certain and one Ju87 probable. Our casualties - 2 Hurricanes.
South Coast
During the early morning 2 raids approached the Isle of Wight crossing the Hampshire and Dorset coasts. In spite of heavy clouds 501 Squadron (Hurricanes) shot down a Do17 west of Southampton. At 1114 hours an He111 which appeared over Spithead was shot down by 43 Squadron (Hurricanes).
East Coast
During the day 8 raids were reported off the East Coast, two of which attacked convoys. No hits have been reported.
Bombing
Bombs were dropped in the following areas:- Dundee, Warmwell, 4 miles NE Lulworth Cove.
By night
Fighters were despatched to intercept a few enemy raids but no interceptions were effected. There was little enemy activity. Minelaying is suspected in the Thames Estuary and between Middlesborough and The Wash.
Bombing
No reports of bombing have been received. An explosion occurred at 2310 hours in High Duty Alloys Factory at Slough in which one man was killed and 45 injured (23 slightly). Cause is at present unknown.
Patrols over France
Nil.
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Statistics
Casualties:
Patrols:
Balloons:
Aerodromes:
Organisation:
Air Intelligence Reports
Home Security Reports
Michael Korda, With Wings Like Eagles: The Untold Story of the Battle of Britain
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