Posted on 09/23/2010 5:20:31 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
Plus a special guest map from Michael Korda’s, “With Wings Like Eagles,” showing the air defenses of England and Wales, August 1940.
Winston S. Churchill, Their Finest Hour
http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1940/sep40/f23sep40.htm
Anglo-French mission to Dakar
Monday, September 23, 1940 www.onwar.com
French West Africa... British and Free French forces try to bring the port of Dakar over to the Allied cause. The operation is code named Menace. The British are led by Admiral J. Cunningham and the French by General de Gaulle. The forces involved include three small Free French warships but the main power is provided by two British battleships and one carrier. There are 3600 Free French troops aboard the various transports and a further 4300 British who, for political reasons, are not to be used unless absolutely necessary. The Vichy forces include the battleship Richelieu (unfinished), two cruisers and some destroyers and submarines. Admiral Landriau commands these vessels and Governor Boisson is in overall charge. On the first day of the operation there are talks between de Gaulle and the Vichy representatives, but these fail to reach any agreement and the Vichy warships begin an exchange of fire. There is damage done on both sides and one Vichy submarine sunk. An attempt by the Free French forces to land in Rufique Bay is beaten off.
Over Germany... During the night of September 23-24th the RAF bombs Berlin.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/month/thismonth/23.htm
September 23rd, 1940
UNITED KINGDOM:
Battle of Britain:
RAF Bomber Command: 4 Group. 10 Sqn. Whitley P4946 damaged by flak. Plt Off Bridson and crew unhurt. 77 Sqn. P5046:O Missing from Berlin and ditched in North Sea. Two men found in dinghy on 26th, one dead. Plt Off A.W. Dunn and Sgts D.A. Gibbons and B.L. Saville missing. Sgt D.B. Allen dead. Sgt G.H. Riley rescued injured. 77 Sqn. P4992:L belly landed at Appleton Yorks. Plt Off A.C. Akroyd-Stuart and crew safe.
Bombing - Calais docks - industrial targets at Berlin - ‘Razzling’.
10 Sqn. Three aircraft to Calais. All bombed.
51 Sqn. Nine aircraft to Berlin. Primary obscured, all bombed alternatives.
77 Sqn. Six aircraft to Berlin. One returned early, rest bombed with good results. One ditched on return, one man rescued.
78 Sqn. Nine aircraft to Berlin. Seven bombed primary, two bombed alternatives at Wismar and Hamburg.
RAF Fighter Command: Luftwaffe fighter sweeps towards London. At night raids on London on Merseyside.
London was under Red Alert from 19:56 to 05:27 and fire engulfed Clarnico’s, trapping over 100 in the factory’s basement shelter. By midnight 24 serious fires were burning in West Ham. Searchlights were exposed 220 times, 7 times illuminating raiders for 42 AA sites which loosed off 5,565 rounds. A Vickers Twin Mk 8 firing from Waltham Cross exploded a descending mine, and SM11 guns brought down a He-111H-3 of KG26 at Chobham.
Losses: Luftwaffe, 9; RAF, 11.
London: King George has instituted a new decoration, to be called the George Cross, for “deeds of valour by civilian men and women in all walks of life”. It will rank with the Victoria Cross and be worn in front of all other decorations.
The King himself announced the award in a broadcast from Buckingham Palace during an air raid last night. “It is London that is for the time being bearing the brunt of the enemy’s spite,” he told the nation. “I am speaking to you now from Buckingham Palace, with its honourable scars, to Londoners first of all. The Queen and I have seen many of the places which have been most heavily bombed.”
He thanked the ARP workers of the capital “who work on regardless of danger, though the sirens have sounded, and all who night after night uncomplainingly endure discomfort, hardship and peril in their homes and shelters. The walls of London may be battered but the spirit of the Londoner stands resolute and undismayed.” The George Medal is also being instituted for civilians, to rank with decorations for gallantry. Bomb disposal men are expected to be among those to receive the GC.
Holders of the Empire Gallantry Medal can now also exchange their EGM’s for GCs.
Destroyers HMS Hamilton, Bath, Brighton, Charlestown, Georgetown, Roxborough, St Albans and St Marys commissioned.
Light cruiser HMS Nigeria commissioned.
Destroyer HMCS Iroquois launched Newcastle-on-Tyne. (Dave Shirlaw)
GERMANY:
Himmler orders that all gold teeth are to be removed from dead camp inmates, the proceeds to go into an SS account in the Reichsbank under the name of Max Heiliger.
Berlin: - Last night an old German acquaintance dropped in on me. He’s in the Luftwaffe now, and for the last three weeks has been a member of the crew of a night bomber which has been working on London. He had some interesting details. ...
My friend says quite frankly that they have the highest admiration for their British adversaries - for their skill and their bravery. They’re particularly fond of one British fighter pilot, he relates, who roars into a fight with a cigarette stuck at a smart angle between his lips. If this man is ever shot down on the German side, the German airmen have sworn to hide him and not to hand him over as a prisoner of war.
Berlin Diary by William Shirer.
In naval grid BF 17 U-48 and U-99 search for a crashed German He 111 aircraft. (Dave Shirlaw)
WEST AFRICA:
Dakar Expedition - Operation ‘Menace’.
Because of Dakar’s strategic importance to the North and South Atlantic routes, an expedition is mounted to acquire the port for Allied use. Free French troops led by Gen. de Gaulle are carried in ships escorted and supported by units of the Home Fleet and Force H under the command of Vice-Adm John Cunningham. They include battleships HMS Barham and HMS Resolution, carrier HMS Ark Royal, three navy cruisers and other smaller ships including Free French. Naval forces at Dakar include the unfinished battleship ‘Richelieu’ and two of the cruisers recently arrived from Toulon.
Attempts to negotiate fail and as Vichy French ships attempt to leave harbour, shore batteries open fire, damaging heavy cruiser HMS Cumberland and two destroyers. Shortly afterwards, the Vichy submarine Persee is sunk by gunfire and large destroyer L’Audacieux disabled by HMAS Australia and beached. A Free French landing is beaten off.
FRENCH INDOCHINA:
Hanoi. With just two hours to go before its ultimatum expired, Japan has gained a strategic foothold in French Indochina, allowing it to station troops and aircraft in Tonking so that it can prevent supplies reaching China from the south.
The decision by the governor-general, Admiral Decoux, to capitulate to Japanese demands led to an immediate protest from China. Under the deal Japan can use three airbases in Indochina and station 62,000 troops there.
CANADA: The 2nd group of 8 “overage” USN destroyers to be turned over to the RN in exchange for bases in the Western Hemisphere are transferred to RN crews at Halifax, Nova Scotia. (Jack McKillop)
USS Abbot (DD-184), commissioned as HMS Charlestown (I-21), USS Foote (DD-169), commissioned as HMS Roxborough (I-07), USS Hopewell (DD-181), commissioned as HMS Bath (I-17), and USS Doran (DD-185), commissioned as HMS St Marys ( I-12), USS Maddox (DD-168), commissioned as HMS Georgetown (I-40), USS Thomas (DD-182), commissioned as HMS St Albans (I-15), and USS Kalk (DD-170), commissioned as HMCS Hamilton (I-24), as part of the destroyers-for-bases deal. (Ron Babuka)
Armed yacht HMCS Elk arrived Bermuda and assigned America and West Indies Station. (Dave Shirlaw)
AUSTRALIA: The government agrees to form the 9th Division in the U.K. around the 18th and 25th Brigades. The 24th Brigade had been formed in July and assigned to the 8th Division but it is transferred to the new 9th Division. Australian Lieutenant General Thomas Blamey is critical of forming a new division with two highly trained brigades and another, the 27th, yet to be formed.
The War Cabinet agrees to send the 7th Division to the Middle East after receiving a request from British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
Minesweeper HMAS Mildura laid down. (Dave Shirlaw)
http://worldwar2daybyday.blogspot.com/
Day 389 September 23, 1940
Battle of Britain Day 76. Fine weather brings 2 raids of 200 Luftwaffe fighters at 9.30 AM and 100 at 5.30 PM. These are both repulsed by RAF and do not reach London. Luftwaffe loses 10 Messerschmitt Bf109s and 1 Bf100, while RAF loses 11 fighters (2 pilots killed, 6 wounded, 1 crashes in the Channel near France and taken prisoner). Overnight, London is bombed by German bombers flying from France, Belgium and Holland. Liverpool is also bombed.
Operation Menace. General Charles de Gaulle attempts a peaceful landing of 3600 Free French troops at Dakar, French West Africa (now Senegal), to persuade Vichy French forces to join the Allied cause. They are supported by 4300 British troops (held in reserve in case of resistance) and a flotilla including British aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal and battleships HMS Barham and Resolution. However, Vichy spirit has been strengthened by the recent visit of French warships (indicating that Vichy had learned of de Gaulle’s plans). 2 Free French aircraft from HMS Ark Royal land at Dakar airport, where the crews are taken prisoner. de Gaulle sends emissaries into the port under a white flag and French tricolour but they are fired on (2 wounded). At 10 AM, British warships close in to prevent Vichy ships leaving harbour and are shelled by shore batteries (damaging cruisers HMS Cumberland [1 killed] & Dragon and destroyers HMS Foresight [3 killed] & Inglefeld). The British ships withdraw out of range at 11.30 AM, unable to hit the French guns due to fog. Vichy submarine Persee is sunk attempting to torpedo cruiser Dragon. In the afternoon, cruiser HMAS Australia shells Vichy destroyer L’Audacieux, which catches fire and is beached (81 crew killed). de Gaulle then attempts to land his troops at Rufisque Bay, 10 miles East of Dakar, but the attack becomes confused in the fog and the beach is well defended. de Gaulle withdraws, not wanting to “shed the blood of Frenchmen for Frenchmen”. When Churchill learns of the failure, he urges “having begun we must go on to the end. Stop at nothing”.
7 old US Navy destroyers are handed over to the British Royal Navy at Halifax, Nova Scotia, as part of the “destroyers for bases” deal. British submarine H-49 sinks German steamer Heimdal 7 miles Northwest of Terschelling Island, Holland.
I have London cousins whose families went through the Blitz. Most Americans have little knowledge of what it was like to those living there at the time.
I forward these WW2 threads to them, so I'm grateful to you, Homer, for making this vivid history available to us.....and to my British relatives, as well!
Leni
Reading these newspapers today, it becomes very clear that a long time ago a lot of stuff happened.
Gotta love the French. Can’t even beat themselves!
So much tragedy- wonder whatever happened to the children who survived that night?
Date: 23rd September 1940 
Enemy action by day
A major attack by some 200 enemy aircraft developed over East Kent, the Estuary and South Essex at 0930 hours. It was broken up by Fighters and the London area was not penetrated.
At about 1730 hours a second attack of lesser importance and covering a more restricted area, involving about 100 enemy aircraft, took place in East Kent.
Reconnaissance activity was on a minor scale and was confined to the East Anglian Coast and Southwards to Cornwall.
During the day's operations 11 enemy aircraft were destroyed (plus 6 probable and 6 damaged). In addition AA guns at Dover claim 1 probable and 1 damaged. Our losses amounted to 11 aircraft and 3 pilots killed or missing.
East Coast
Between 1030 and 1300 hours reconnaissance flights were made off the East Anglian Coast.
South East Coast
Between 0600 and 0900 hours three reconnaissances were made in the North Foreland - Dungeness area.
At 0926 hours a formation numbering 100 enemy aircraft crossed the coast at Dover. This was joined at 0941 by 3 other raids totalling 80 enemy aircraft.
At 0935 hours a section of 9 aircraft detached itself from the main body and flew West along the South Coast to Hastings.
The remainder spread out from Dover towards Maidstone and over the Estuary into Essex.
At about 1015 hours a formation of 12 enemy aircraft came out from Dunkirk heading for the North Foreland but turned South West joining other enemy aircraft leaving Rye. None of the above raids entered the London area. Twenty-four Fighter Squadrons were detailed to the attack and casualties were inflicted.
At 1330 hours an Anson spotting for big guns firing from Dover and escorted by two Spitfires, was attacked by 9 Me109s. The Anson was compelled to land, but the fighters shot down one Me109 and damaged another.
At 1730 hours 40 enemy aircraft flew to the North Foreland, turned into the Estuary, crossed inland at Sheppey and flew South to Rye. At about the same time 55 aircraft crossed the coast between Folkestone and Dover.
The attack lasted for only a short time and was confined to the area East of a line Sheppey - Rye.
Twelve Fighter Squadrons were detailed to the attack, but no casualties on either side were reported.
At 1930 hours two raids by single aircraft flew to Northolt from Beachy Head, recrossing the coast at Shoreham.
South Coast
Between 0900 and 1030 hours four tracks were plotted in the Devon - Cornwall area flying North.
At 1300 hours reconnaissances were made in the Isle of Wight area Eastwards, including a single aircraft reported to have been active in the Beachy Head area.
At 1605 hours a reconnaissance by one aircraft was made over Portsmouth.
Channel and Straits
In the early morning and again between 1300 and 1700 hours considerable activity took place off the French Coast and as far North as the Dutch Islands.
By night
At 1945 the usual stream of enemy aircraft started from East of Baie De la Seine area, crossing coast at Beachy Head. At the same time a number of enemy tracks also appeared from the direction of Antwerp, crossing coast at Harwich and spreading out inland towards Bury St Edmunds where they turned South West towards London area.
From 2100 - 2300 hours intense hostile activity continued from the French, Belgian and Dutch Coasts. During this period, 10 raids originated from Cherbourg, 22 from Le Havre and 10 from Dieppe, all crossing the coast between Beachy Head and Selsey Bill, and converging on West and Central London via Kenley and Biggin Hill.
From the Belgian coast about 10 raids and from Antwerp area 12 raids originated, mostly entering North of Harwich and spreading over most of East Anglia, penetrating to Digby, Duxford, East and North London.
After 2300 hours there was a lull in raids originating from Belgium but others began to come across from Holland, the tracks being intermingled with our returning bombers. One raid is reported to have attacked Newmarket. Activity from the French Coast also decreased in intensity, but a constant stream was maintained from this direction.
About 2030 hours there were about 6 raids in the Liverpool area.
Subsequently isolated raids visited this area and also the Midlands, including one or two as far as Preston.
Only minor activity occurred in South Wales and the West Country.
Minelaying from Humber to Firth of Forth is suspected.
By 0345 hours only one raid remained in the London area, and a few between London and the South Coast.
Elsewhere activity had almost ceased.
________________________________________
Statistics
Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 23rd September 1940
Casualties:
| Enemy Losses | ||
| By Fighters | ||
| Destroyed | Probable | Damaged |
| 10 Me109 | 6 Me109 | 5 Me109 |
| 1 Me110 | ||
| 1 Potez | ||
| 11 | 6 | 6 |
| By Anti-Aircraft | ||
| 1 Me109 | ||
| Nil | 1 | Nil |
Patrols:
Balloons:
Attacks on Aerodromes:
Organisation:
Home Security Reports
This story really got to me (never heard it before) so I googled the ship (which was named S.S. City of Benares). Several articles about survivors came up from last week’s 70th anniversary:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-11332108
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/hampshire/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_9008000/9008831.stm
Also this one about the last reunion of the surviving children in 2005:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/programmes/timewatch/diary_codv_01.shtml
I'll add to the mix with J Edgar Hoover's speech on war preparedness.
Interesting front page story about Joe Kennedy. Kennedy talked freely to reporters about how much he detested Churchill and wanted to return home. Kennedy was increasingly ignored by his friend FDR, with whom he disagreed on war aid to Britain.
I hope you enjoy today's news. And tell your British cousins - Hold on, folks. The Yanks be getting into this scrap one way or another. When? That's the question, isn't it?
I’m not sure I’d use the word “friend” in reference to Joseph Kennedy and FDR’s relationship. They both power brokers of the Northeast who ran in the same circles. FDR often referred to Joseph Kennedy as “a pain in the neck” which I’ve always taken with a sense of irony.
The invasion and occupation of French Indo-China by the Japanese is a pivotal moment of the war. They have effectively outflanked the Philippines and given themselves the bases they need to attack Malaya, Singapore and the Dutch East Indies.
It’s an overt hostile act against the Allies and the United States. Had the British been more perceptive and moved to install a Free French government in Indo-China it would have complicated the Japanese war effort enormously.
This is really quite interesting in several respects. Many of us have an understanding that Japanese occupation of Indochina as a major step towards the war between the United States and Japan. But if you think in terms of the occupation most would think of July of next year as the date of the event. It was on the 24th that the Vichy acquiesced to the Japanese occupation of all of Indochina, and there was a pretty severe reaction as a result. So to see this develop beginning with an occupation of the northern portion of the country almost a year before the decision to occupy the rest of the country shows another level of the slowly increasing strain of the situation in the Pacific that many books don’t really capture.
Kennedy had been indispensable to FDR in 1932 as his finance chairman. He was running against much better funded opponents in Al Smith and Herbert Hoover. Kennedy money made him competitive. FDR owed Kennedy and both knew it. By 1940, he was planning his son Joe, Jr.’s political career.
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