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Free Republic University, Department of History presents World War II Plus 70 Years: Seminar and Discussion Forum
First session: September 1, 2009. Last date to add: September 2, 2015.
Reading assignment: New York Times articles delivered daily to students on the 70th anniversary of original publication date. (Previously posted articles can be found by searching on keyword “realtime” Or view Homer’s posting history .)
To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by freepmail. Those on the Realtime +/- 70 Years ping list are automatically enrolled. Course description, prerequisites and tuition information is available at the bottom of Homer’s profile.

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William L. Shirer, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich

Goebbels:

“You have only oone more battle to win and then the bells of peace will ring.”

That is until Barbarossa is launched and you freeze to death in the winter.

Battle of Britain Campaign Diary

Date: 19 July 1940

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.
Battle of Britain