Posted on 08/06/2010 4:30:01 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
Winston S. Churchill, Their Finest Hour
http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1940/aug40/f06aug40.htm
Italians mine Sicilian Channel
Tuesday, August 6, 1940 www.onwar.com
In the Mediterranean... The Italians place extensive minefields in the Sicilian Channel.
In the English Channel... There are German attacks on shipping.
In East Africa... Odweina is taken by the Italians.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/month/thismonth/06.htm
August 6th, 1940
UNITED KINGDOM: RAF Fighter Command: Weather, cloudy, windy. Little Luftwaffe activity, some attacks against shipping. Heavy raids on Swansea and Midlothian
Off East Anglia three 85 Sqn. Hurricanes led by Sgt. Geoffrey Allard shot down a Do 17 of III/KG 3..
Losses: Luftwaffe, 1; RAF 1.
London: The first contingent of airmen from Southern Rhodesia arrived in Britain today to add its strength to the increasingly international air force which is waging war on Germany. The men join not only British and Polish pilots but also airmen from Canada, Australia and New Zealand - not to mention volunteers from Ireland and the USA.
Throughout the Empire, towns, islands, colonies and even tribes are donating money for individual planes to the mother country. Soon more airmen will arrive from the colonies to pilot the planes that their fellow countrymen have donated. Already Canada is training hundreds of fighter pilots. More generally, India has 500,000 men under arms; Australasia 225,000; Canada 200,000, and South Africa 80,000.
ASW trawlers HMS Morris Dance, Saltarelo launched.
Rescue tug HMS Prudent launched.
Destroyer HMS Blencathra launched.
Corvette HMS Gentian launched.
Corvette HMS Salvia launched. (Dave Shirlaw)
GERMANY: U-219, 220, 301, 302, 359, 360, 445, 446, 447, 448, 707, 708 ordered. (Dave Shirlaw)
FINLAND: The US Army transport American Legion arrives at Petsamo, Finland to embark US citizens that had been living in European countries, e.g., Finland, Estonia, Lativa, Lithuania, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands. (Jack McKillop)
COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: Quezon asks the US War Department for a subsidy of $100 per soldier. This was rejected on the advice of High Commissioner Sayre, who analyzed it as a money-making scheme for the Commonwealth.
AUSTRALIA: Minesweeper HMAS Toowoomba laid down. (Dave Shirlaw)
U.S.A.: The Secretary of State, Cordell-Hull, calls for a massive build-up of arms to dissuade enemy attacks.
In the U.S., Columbia Records cut the prices of its 12-inch (30.48 cm) classical records. The records are priced to sell at US$1 (US$11.76 in year 2000 dollars). Within two weeks, RCA Victor did the same and ended a record-buying slump brought on by disinterested consumers. (Jack McKillop)
Destroyer USS Madison commissioned. (Dave Shirlaw)
Date: 6 August 1940
Enemy action by day
Enemy activity was on a small scale. In the early morning the RAF station at Llandow was bombed.
An enemy aircraft reconnoitring shipping was shot down off Lowestoft.
A number of individual raids were plotted along the South and East Coasts. Misty weather and cloud conditions made interceptions difficult.
South and West
One enemy aircraft crossed the South Coast near Portland and flew to South Wales where it bombed the RAF station at Llandow. There was a ground fog in places and some haze; conditions which accounted for the failure to intercept. Damage caused to the station was slight and there were no casualties.
Nine raids of single aircraft or small formations were plotted off the South Coast between Dungeness and Portland and in mid-Channel. Fighters sent up to intercept some of these raids failed to do so since cloud and mist favoured the enemy's tactics.
South East and East
At about 0630 hours No 85 Squadron (Hurricanes) intercepted and claim one Do17 (confirmed). This enemy aircraft had reported the position of a convoy east of Lowestoft.
No 72 Squadron (Spitfires) intercepted one He111 off Blyth (Northumberland) and chased it out to sea.
Individual raids were plotted off Harwich and the Humber. Fighters sighted one Ju88 off Flamborough Head which evaded combat in favourable cloud conditions.
France
During the afternoon enemy patrols were plotted in the Calais area.
By night
Despite the fact that our own aircraft reported low haze and poor visibility in the south east, enemy activity has been exceptionally light overland.
The usual raids developed off East Anglia, but few were plotted crossing inland. Minelaying or attempts to intercept our outgoing bombers is suspected.
About twelve raids flew from the Cherbourg area to the West Country. Some appeared to lay mines off the Cornish coast. Of the others, one was plotted as far as Liverpool Bay and back, and the rest operated in the Bristol Channel area.
A few raids were plotted from Norway towards North East Scotland, and two crossed inland in the Firth of Forth area.
Other minelaying is suspected in the Thames Estuary and Beachy Head to Isle of Wight areas.
________________________________________
Statistics
Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 6 August 1940
Casualties:
Patrols:
Balloons:
Aerodromes:
Organisation:
Air Intelligence Reports
Home Security Reports
http://worldwar2daybyday.blogspot.com/
Day 341 August 6, 1940
Battle of Britain Day 28. Another quiet day, with wind and low clouds deterring much flying. At 6.30 AM, Hurricanes of 85 Squadron intercept and shoot down a Dornier Do17 bomber reconnoitering a shipping convoy East of Lowestoft, Suffolk. However, 1 British pilot, H.W.A Britton of 17 Squadron, is killed when his Hurricane crashes on takeoff and catches fire. In a prelude to the coming Phase 2 of the battle, a German aircraft bombs the RAF station at Llandow, South Wales.
British submarine HMS Sealion is rammed by German antisubmarine vessel UJ-123, running at periscope depth attacking a convoy 20 miles off the South coast of Norway. Sealion with return to the Tyne August 15, undergoing repairs until October 23.
Operation Tube. British submarine HMS Pandora reaches Malta from Gibraltar with ground equipment and spare parts for the Hurricanes delivered by aircraft carrier HMS Argus August 2 in Operation Hurry.
My, we’re up early today.
Yeah, I woke up and started thinking about my thesis research and couldn’t get back to sleep. I don’t typically go to bed until two a.m. so this is REAL early.
I see that Colonel William “Wild Bill” Dovovan is already embarking on secret missions...at least to the Navy.
I just noticed something about #8. If you just look at the bottom photo, it could easily be one of Matthew Brady’s from the Civil War. Those guys aren’t preparing for the last war, as the cliche goes. They are preparing for the one before the one before the last war.
General Hugh Drum conducting war games in NY. In 1938, FDR had passed him over for Army Chief of Staff in favor of George Marshall.
General Drum’s father Captain John Drum had died in the Spanish-American war. Captain Drum wrote the following to his oldest son:
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/hadrum.htm
“My Dear Son:
“By the time this reaches you it will be near your birth-day which on the 15th inst. makes you a man. You will then have attained your 21st year, and I hope it will reach you in time and find you well both in body and mind.
“I will say here that your mother and myself have done all we could for your education and welfare, and that I know you have appreciated our efforts, and that we will continue to help you until we can see you started on your career.
“As you will soon be your own master I will say a few words to you. Never forget your Father and Mother. Never cease to help your Mother if she needs it. Never forget your brothers and sister, and as you are the eldest be their friend and Mentor. Stand by them through thick and thin. Unite them. In union there is strength, and certainly with six of you much should be accomplished if you are one in sentiment and feelings. I should have put it first, never forget our God or religion. Keep out of bad company or society. Be sober, honest, truthful and industrious. Be slow to take offence, but protect yourself and family from insult. Be charitable, and always take the part of the poor and lowly not running to extremes.
“You are a native citizen of the greatest and freest nation on the earth. You will have a say in the government more then I ever had, or could have had and I tell you now guard well the freedom handed down to you. Support the constitution as handed down by the fathers of the Republic. Vote as your conscience tells you. Oppose all measures looking to any change in the government from its present free standard. Watch men, and oppose them, who would try to break it up or would attempt to take away any of the rights of the poor, lowly or uneducated, for the rich and educated can always defend themselves. If you should enter political life, try to bring back its tone, and the men who lead to the simple life and the sterling worth of the days of Jefferson, and Jackson, so that riches and luxury may not sap the foundation of our government. Oppose any man who attempts to stir up religious strife no matter what his politics may be. Never oppose man on account of his religious views if he is otherwise patriotic, pure, hones and a believer in the Republic, and that all citizen have the same rights and are equally protected.
“At last, never forget that you are of Celtic blood and that your ancestors came from Ireland. Never forget that poor old Mother land, and if you can ever help her, consistent with your duties as an American, do not fail to do so.
“And now I will close by sending you my blessings and wishing you a long and prosperous, honorable and happy life. God bless you my son. John Drum”
What a wonderful gift Captain Drum left to his son. It must have paid dividends. If Hugh preserved the letter for posterity I imagine he did his best to live by its words, and went far as a result.
Senator Pittman of Nevada, chairman of the important Foreign Relations Committee, suggestd a trade of United States destroyers for British battleships as a solution to the question of law and self-defense involved in the proposed outright sale of fifty over-age destroyers to help Britain arm for the expected invasion.
It might work, but we would have to move the steering wheels on the battleships over to the other side. How many BB's do you think we should ask for 50 DD's?
It sure appears that way doesn't it. But take heart, its just a matter of upgrading their equipment. It's like Lt. General Drum says in the article:
"...the American people are motor minded. I have no qualms about the country being able to adapt itself to modern mechanization and motorization requirements. They are doing it every day in civil life."
A little over a year from now General Somervell who will be in charge of equipping the troops will put it even better when he says:
"For, when Hitler put his war on wheels he ran it straight down our alley. When he hitched his chariot to an internal combustion engine, he opened up a new battle front - a front that we know well. It's called Detroit."
I'm sure most of the horses will go away along with the wooden machine guns.
LOL! That would be a heck of a refit, but if you don't do it, the captain will keep creeping to the wrong side of the buoys. I would have to say a 10 to one ratio might work. That would mean 5 battleships.
There is a long discussion of these curious events in Joseph E. Persico's 2001 book: "Roosevelt's Secret War."
Long story short: "Wild Bill" went to Britain to check things out for President Roosevelt. His main interests were such questions as:
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.