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July 20th, 1940
UNITED KINGDOM: Whilst escorting Channel convoy CW7, Destroyer HMS Brazen is attacked by a large force of German bombers off Dover at 51 01N 01 17E. She is taken in tow, but later sinks. (Alex Gordon)(108)
RAF Bomber Command: 4 Group (Whitley). Bombing - industrial plant at Dusseldorf and Dornier factory at Wismar.
10 Sqn. Nine aircraft to Dusseldorf. Eight bombed. Opposition severe. One hit by flak.
51 Sqn. Three aircraft to Wismar. All bombed. Opposition severe.
58 Sqn. Eight aircraft to Wismar. Six got off, one returned early, four bombed primary, one bombed alternate. Two hit by flak.
78 Sqn. One aircraft to Wismar. Bombed, but hit by flak.
The buying and selling of new cars is banned.
Now that the so-called “phoney war” is over, women all over Britain are expecting to be asked to play a larger part in the war effort - whether they want to or not.
For many, work in a munitions factory, even on a part-time basis, seems out of the question. Caring for children and elderly relatives, just keeping a home together, takes even more time and energy now than in peacetime. There are long queues for essential provisions; little economies around the home to make things last longer and go further all take time. Many are also taking the full responsibility of raising families alone with their husbands away.
The reluctance felt by many women about taking jobs outside the home is reinforced by their men-folk’s disapproval. There have been public outcries over every new opening, however small, for women that the war has created. The Land Girls have been seen as a threat to agricultural training programmes and moral standards, the women pilots of the Air Transport Auxiliary have been accused of taking the jobs not “for the sake of doing something for the country but for the sake of publicity.”
Add these popular beliefs to the very real burdens of caring for a family in war time, and it’s no wonder that many women prefer to remain at home.
Submarine HMS P-612 launched. (Dave Shirlaw)
MEDITERRANEAN SEA: Tobruk: While HMS Eagle is in Alexandria with the main portions of the Mediterranean Fleet, 824 Sqn, FAA was detached to Sidi Barrani Aerodrome to continue operations against Italian shipping. In the late evening of 20 July, six Swordfish I aircraft, carrying torpedoes, departed to attacking shipping known to be in Tobruk harbor, 95 miles away. In a daring attack in the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire they succeeded in torpedoing and sinking the destroyers Nembo and Ostro. (Mark Horan)
Submarine HMS Parthian landed an agent on Crete. (Dave Shirlaw)
CANADA: Patrol vessel HMCS Ambler departed refit Quebec City for Riviere du Loup patrol duties.
Corvette HMCS Trail laid down North Vancouver British Columbia.
Patrol craft HMCS Norsal (ex yacht Norsal) hired from the Powell River Co. Built Vancouver, British Columbia, 168/21, 122.3x19x10.5ft, 10kts, crew 3/17, 1-.303mg. Returned to owners 1945. Renamed 1973 Maui Lu. (Dave Shirlaw)
U.S.A.: “Billboard” magazine publishes its first listing of best-selling single records. Ten tunes are listed. (Jack McKillop)
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Day 324 July 20, 1940
Battle of Britain Day 11. Enjoying fine flying weather, Germans attack convoys along the South and East coast of England and the East coast of Scotland. Germans bomb a convoy near Dover, sinking Steamer SS Pulborough (trawler Lady Philomena takes off 17 survivors) and badly damaging destroyer HMS Brazen (taken in tow by tug Lady Brassey). Brazen’s anti-aircraft guns claim 3 German aircraft shot down. http://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4356.html Destroyer HMS Acheron is bombed and damaged by near misses, 10 miles off the Isle of Wight. Acheron will go to Portsmouth for repairs. Another costly day for the RAF losing 5 Hurricanes, 1 Spitfire and 1 Blenheim (7 pilots and 1 gunner killed). Germans lose at least 6 fighters, 2 bombers and a seaplane.
Following Battle of Cape Spada yesterday, 6 Swordfish torpedo bombers from aircraft carrier HMS Eagle at Sidi Barrani, Egypt, seek Italian cruiser Giovanni dalle Bande Nere at the Italian naval base at Tobruk, Libya. Bande Nere is not there so they sink Italian destroyers Ostro & Nembo and steamer Sereno instead. Italy will soon abandon Tobruk as a sea base but guns from the sunken destroyers will be saved and used in the defense of Bardia.