Big Manhunt is On – 2-3
Claims of British Pilots Now Need No Witnesses – 3
Observers Thrill to the Air Fights – 3
German Success and German Failure in Aerial Warfare (photo) – 4
The International Situation – 5
Raid Milan, Turin – 5-6
Nazi Air Siege Called ‘Main Bout’; Result Is in Doubt, Seversky Holds – 6-7
Roosevelt Makes Plans To See Up-State Games – 7
Senate Lifts Pay in Army to $30 to Aid Enlisting – 7-8
Dancing Ban in Germany May Be Blitzkrieg Sign – 8
Italy is Indignant Over British Raids – 9
Italians in Africa Shelled From Sea – 11
Empty Seats Halt Guard Bill Vote – 11
Hollywood Stars Accused as Reds Before Grand Jury – 12-13
Blind Man Robbed; Brother Arrested – 13
2 Small Nazi Ships are Reported Sunk – 14
Program For Today at the World’s Fair * – 15
The Texts of the Communiques Issued in Day on the Conflict in Europe – 17-18
* This program for the World’s Fair is in the paper 7 days a week, and has been since the fair opened. I never printed it before because no article I wanted was next to it. Today it was on page 22, next to the Hollywood stars story so I coughed up an extra quarter and got the program. So that’s why it is here.
http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1940/aug40/f15aug40.htm
British radar stations not targeted
Thursday, August 15, 1940 www.onwar.com
From Berlin... Goring takes two significant decisions. He decides that because the RAF has been so reduced in strength it is wasting effort to continue to attack any radar stations. This seems to contradict his other decision that the escorting fighters must fly a considerable portion of their strength very close to the bomber formations because of bomber casualties and poor morale among their crews. This drastically reduces the fighter’s effectiveness and increases the number needed to escort each raid. It is strongly resented by the fighter pilots.
Over Britain... The Germans fly almost 1800 sorties, the greatest number they will achieve during the battle, and the RAF almost 1000. The attacks of Kesselring and Sperrle from northern France are joined according to plan by Stumpff’s forces from Norway and Denmark which send attacks against targets in northeast England. The distances to be flown here prevent any Me109s from giving cover, and the Me110s which are sent to fill the escort’s role have to be fitted with extra fuel tanks in lieu of the rear gunners, further reducing their already limited combat capability. The Luftwaffe believes that because of the earlier attacks Dowding will have been forced to station all his few remaining fighters in the south and will have nothing left to meet this assault. In fact the Germans suffer heavily, losing 23 aircraft from a force of about 150, shooting no enemy aircraft down and doing little damage with their bombs. In the south the day’s events are much less one-sided. In several engagements the RAF comes off worse but not all. By the end of the day the overall score shows the RAF as having lost 34 planes, all fighters, and the Germans 75 altogether. Several RAF airfields have been damaged but not yet seriously enough to prevent rapid repairs.
In East Africa... The British forces begin to pull out of their positions around Tug Argan in British Somaliland after a notable defense.