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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.

Selections from West Point Atlas for the Second World War
German Fighter Range and British Radar Deployment
Marcks’ Plan, August 5, 1940
The Far East and the Pacific, 1941 – The Imperial Powers, 1 September 1939

Plus a special guest map from Michael Korda’s, “With Wings Like Eagles,” showing the air defenses of England and Wales, August 1940.

For the rest of the story:

. .

"When Stalin signed the non-aggression pact with Nazi Germany in 1939, the Communist Party turned from fighting fascism to advocating peace. The Washington Commonwealth Federation newspaper {"Washington New-Dealer"} vigorously promoted this new line. May 23, 1940"

2ND PHOTO: August 8, 1940

Battle of Britain Campaign Diary

Date: 3rd September 1940

Weather: Fine and warm. Some cloud and drizzle in the north, haze in the Channel and Straits.
Day: Further heavy airfield attacks.
Night: Liverpool bombed once again. Harassing raids on South Wales and the south-west coast.
Enemy action by day
The enemy's effort was directed to one main attack in East Kent and the Estuary in the morning, and to one minor attack in the early afternoon. In these engagements twenty-five enemy aircraft were destroyed (plus 11 probable and 10 damaged). Our casualties were 15 aircraft and 7 pilots killed or missing.
North and East
At 1610 hours two reconnaissances took place off East Anglia reporting on convoys, and at 1700 hours two other single aircraft reported on convoys East of Skegness and East of Yarmouth.
South East
At about 0830 hours one aircraft at 22,000 feet made a reconnaissance to North Foreland, along the Kentish Coast to Eastchurch, and out by Dungeness. At 0915 hour, 40 minutes after assembly south and East of Calais, 20+ aircraft at 20,000 feet approached Deal but appeared to be intercepted by one squadron off North Foreland. A further formation of about eighty aircraft flew up the North side of the Estuary at 25,000 feet. These were followed by other raids composed by thirty Dos and fifty Me110's and the objective was North Weald where damage was caused. One of our squadrons had just landed there from a previous patrol and was refuelling. Pilots were unable to gain height in sufficient time to attack the enemy. Splits from this raid flew towards Debden, Hornchurch and Thames Haven. One small raid made towards Maidstone and one of fifteen aircraft towards Biggin Hill but no definite objective was singled out.
At 1115 hours when the attacking forces were dispersing two other raids consisting of thirty aircraft in all went inland at Deal and North Foreland. They penetrated only a short distance before returning. Manston however was bombed at this time but no damage was caused. Casualties were inflicted by fighters.
At 1300 hours two raids of 12+ aircraft flew from Calais towards Foreness but were driven off by one fighter squadron. At 1400 hours six enemy raids were active off the Kent Coast and one of these entered the Estuary. Four squadrons engaged them and enemy aircraft were destroyed.
South and West
At 0830 hours one aircraft made a reconnaissance flight to within 15 miles South of the Needles. At 1130 hours three high level reconnaissances by single aircraft were tracked in the Bristol, Liverpool, and Birmingham areas. At 2055 hours aircraft approached Start Point and Portland. No interceptions were made.
By night
Enemy activity was on a similar scale to that of recent nights but confined almost entirely to the Liverpool, South Wales and Kentish areas. Very little attention was paid to the Industrial Midlands. From 2100 hours a steady stream of raids from the Brest and Cherbourg areas was plotted to South Wales and Bristol. Many aircraft flew on to Liverpool and a few as far as Barrow-in-Furness. Successive waves followed to Liverpool and whilst the rest of the country was almost clear by 0100 hours raids were still passing towards Liverpool at 0230 hours.
Extensive mine-laying is suspected along the whole of the East Coast from Aberdeen to the Thames Estuary and along the South Coast as far as Poole. Some of these raids penetrated a short distance inland in the Tyne, Tees, Yorkshire, and Kent areas. Others were suspected of mine-laying in the Bristol Channel and in Liverpool Bay.
________________________________________
Statistics
Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 3rd September 1940
Blenheim - 53
Spitfire - 221
Hurricane - 400
Defiant - 25
Gladiator - 8

Total – 707

Casualties:

	Enemy Losses
	By Fighters
Destroyed	Probable	Damaged
6 Me109	1 Me109	1 Me109
11 Me110	8 Me110	7 Me110
2 Do17
1 Ju88		1 Ju88
4 Do215	2 Do215	1 Do215
1 He113
25	11	10

Own:
20 aircraft with 10 pilots killed or missing.
Patrols:
Own
During the night of 2nd/3rd September - 29 patrols involving 29 sorties.
During the day of 3rd September - 123 patrols involving 729 sorties.
Enemy
It is estimated that about 150 enemy aircraft operated over Great Britain during the night 2nd/3rd September and 600 during the day of 3rd September.
Balloons:
No reports.
Aerodromes:
North Weald, Biggin Hill. Unserviceable during hours of darkness.
Attacks on Aerodromes
North Weal, Manston, West Malling.
Organisation:
Whole of No 92 Squadron is now at Pembrey.
No 501 Squadron is now at Gravesend.
No 257 Squadron is now at Debden.
(Czech) No 310 Squadron is now at Duxford.
Whole of No 229 Squadron is now at Wittering.
Whole of No 41 Squadron is now at Hornchurch.
Whole of No 219 Squadron is now at Catterick.
No 64 Squadron is now at Leconfield.
No 66 Squadron is now at Kenley.
No 616 Squadron is now at Coltishall.
No 54 Squadron is now at Catterick.
No 85 Squadron moved from Croydon to Castle Camp.
No 111 Squadron moved from Castle Camp to Croydon.
No 312 (Czech) Squadron (Hurricanes) is now forming at Duxford with effect from 29th August.
No 306 (Polish) Squadron (Hurricanes) is now forming at Church Fenton with effect from 29th August.
Home Security Reports
Date: 3rd September 1940
General Summary
During the day enemy aircraft made attacks on South East England and the Thames Estuary.
Activity was renewed at about 2100 hours when attacks were made on the following areas: South East England, Bournemouth, Southampton, Bristol Channel, South Wales, Liverpool, Newcastle, Firth of Forth and the East Coast of Scotland.
Detailed Summary
RAF Stations
North Weald was bombed at 1045 hours by twenty five to thirty Do215 or Do17 with an escort of fifty Me110. Two hangars, several MT lorries, two Hurricanes and one Blenheim were damaged by fire and the main stores and living quarters received a certain amount of damage. A part of the old Operations Room was demolished, but there was no damage when a direct hit was registered on the new Operations Room. A certain amount of damage is reported to communications. The landing ground is serviceable but for the South and South West areas where craters and unexploded bombs remain.
Manston was bombed at 1140 hours by three enemy aircraft which dropped five bombs but did no damage. There was one unexploded bomb in the middle of the aerodrome.
Great Shefford, an Emergency Landing Ground, was hit by eight small HE but not damage is reported.
West Malling is reported to have been bombed at 1555 hours, but there is no damage to report as yet.
Elsewhere
Birmingham: it is reported that the explosion of a delayed action bomb which fell 400 yards from the works of the Dunlop Rubber Co at Erdington destroyed the Company's telephone communications, but production is not affected. The blast from the same bomb damaged the roof of the premises of Messrs. Arthur Scrivenors Ltd, Tyburn Road and has temporarily stopped production, but there is no damage reported to plant or machinery.
Llandarcy: Further information received regarding the recent oil tank fires shows that there are three distinct fires which were started as follows:
No 1 Middle tank in group of 3 which contained 600 tons of benzol. Fire is almost out.
No 2 No 1 Tank, which is smoking at top and is burning out nicely. It is expected to burn out tomorrow. The surrounding earth is very hot.
No 3 Tank 405, which is burning fiercely. Two other tanks holed by splinters are feeding this fire. This is the most dangerous fire of the three.
Bristol: The Manager of the ICI Works at Metham reports that five bombs were dropped on the site during the raid on 1st September. Part of the boundary wall was demolished but material damage was confined to the heating chamber and sulphuric acid store tank, which was hit by splinters. One area was evacuated owing to an unexploded bomb, involving temporary suspension of work of certain plants and in certain workshops, but it will not seriously affect supply of product.
Dunchurch: Night 2nd/3rd September 1940. Two HE bombs were dropped on the LMS Leamington - Rugby line near Dunchurch station causing damage to the track and a goods train was derailed.
Casualties on the Ground by Enemy Action:
To RAF Personnel - Nil killed, Nil injured.
To others - 37 killed, 112 injured.
Battle of Britain