Posted on 10/30/2010 5:57:13 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/oct40/f30oct40.htm
Escorts avenge liner sinking
Wednesday, October 30, 1940 www.onwar.com
In the North Atlantic... German U-32 is sunk during an attack on a British convoy by escorting destroyers HMS Harvester and HMS Highlander. Meanwhile, the destroyer HMS Sturdy is wrecked off the coast of Hebrides, Scotland.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/month/thismonth/30.htm
October 30th, 1940
UNITED KINGDOM: Battle of Britain:
Unsuccessful attempt to penetrate to London by day.
George Crosses gazetted today:
Lt Robert Selby Armitage (1910-82), RNVR, did very dangerous work in September and October, once tackling a mine in a tree with no chance of escape if the fuse was activated.
Maj. Herbert John Leslie Barefoot (1887-1958), Royal Engineers, showed great courage as a bomb-disposal pioneer during September and October.
Flt-Lt Wilson Hodgson Charlton (1907-53) dealt with over 200 unexploded bombs while on bomb disposal duty during September and October.
Sub-Lt William Horace Taylor (b. 1908), RNVR, showed great gallantry in mine disposal throughout September and October, in particular regarding an operation at RAF Uxbridge in Middlesex.
Losses: Luftwaffe, 8; RAF, 5.
The weather was bad on this day with low clouds and continuous drizzle in all areas of the UK. The first Luftwaffe aircraft were picked up on radar at 1130 hours local. At 1200 hours, 80 Luftwaffe aircraft flew into the Thames Estuary and at 1215 hours, 2 waves of 50 and 60 aircraft entered British airspace at Dymchurch. Six of the 10 RAF fighter squadrons on patrol sighted the German and attacked. The next raid consisting of about 130 Luftwaffe fighters crossed the coast at about 1615 hours and some reached London. The RAF shot down 8 aircraft and the Luftwaffe shot down 5.
The first night raiders crossed the coast soon after dark but the weather was bad and all were gone by 2400 hours. (Jack McKillop)
Destroyers HMS Norman, Heythorp, Marne, Nonpareil launched.
ORP Kujawiak is launched. (Dave Shirlaw)
NORTH SEA: WW1 vintage destroyer HMS Sturdy, local Western Approaches escort for Halifax/UK convoy SC8, runs aground off the west coast of Scotland on Tiree Island. She is a total loss and there are 3 casualties.
FRANCE: VICHY FRANCE: Marshal Petain has called upon the French people to collaborate with Germany. This represents a major change from the originally announced purpose of Petain’s government, which sought peace with Germany, not alliance, and results from Laval and Petain’s meetings with Hitler at Montoire.
GERMANY:
U-591, U-592 laid down.
U-67 launched.
U-146 commissioned. (Dave Shirlaw)
GIBRALTAR: An Italian attempt to attack British shipping in the harbour with “human torpedoes”, fails.
GREECE: Italy bombs Patras five times.
AUSTRALIA: Destroyer HMAS Arunta launched. (Dave Shirlaw)
U.S.A.: Washington: President Roosevelt, fighting off a surge by his Republican opponent in the Presidential election, promised in Boston last night: “I shall say it again and again: your boys are not going to be sent into any foreign wars.”
As polls showed Wendell Wilkie, the Republican candidate, cutting into his lead, the President has stressed his reluctance to lead America into war. A week ago in Philadelphia he attacked the “fantastic misstatement” that he had made secret alliances. Wilkie has cut Roosevelt’s lead in the polls to four points.
ATLANTIC OCEAN: Destroyers HMS Harvester and HMS Highlander sink U-32 northwest of Ireland at 55.37N, 12.19W during a convoy attack. They use depth charges. There are 9 dead and 33 survivors.
http://worldwar2daybyday.blogspot.com/
Day 426 October 30, 1940
Battle of Britain Day 113. Despite low cloud and continuous drizzle, there are a few German reconnaissance flights over South England and patrols in the English Channel. Luftwaffe sends 2 sweeps of 130-150 fighters over Kent and London at 11.30 AM and 3.40 PM. Some RAF squadrons cannot take off due to the weather and consequently bombs are dropped in Kent and Southeast London. 8 Messerschmitt Bf109 fighters and 1 Heinkel He111 bomber are shot down. RAF loses 5 fighters (4 pilots killed). Overnight, London and towns in Southeast England are heavily bombed from 6.30 – 9 PM and then sporadically until 1 AM. Towns in the Midlands are also attacked but all German planes have returned to base by 3.30 AM.
2 days after sinking liner Empress of Britain, U-32’s captain Hans Jenisch attacks British SS Balzac in a rainstorm 100 miles Northwest of Ireland. At 12.40 PM, U-32 fires a torpedo which explodes prematurely. Balzac’s radio alert is picked up 45 miles away by destroyers HMS Harvester and Highlander, escorting convoy SC-8. Highlander arrives as U-32 is preparing to fire another torpedo. U-32 dives and tries to torpedo Highlander but is damaged by depth charges. At 7.08 PM, U-32 surfaces hoping to escape in the rain and darkness but is shelled by the destroyer (killing 9 crew). Unable to dive again, the crew abandons ship and scuttles U-32 (29 crew rescued by HMS Harvester and 4 by HMS Highlander). To hide the capture of Hans Jenisch (U-boat ace, Knights Cross recipient and celebrated sinker of Empress of Britain), German propaganda broadcasts a fake account of his triumphant return home.
2 British destroyers come to grief in stormy weather off Scotland. At 00.41, HMS Fearless collides with steamer SS Lanark off Gourock, causing heavy damage to her bow which will take until the end of the year to repair. HMS Sturdy runs aground and is wrecked on Tiree, an island in the Inner Hebrides (5 sailors drown swimming ashore and are buried on the island in the Soroby burial ground).
Joe Kennedy’s endorsement was something of a surprise to reporters who had listened to his constant criticisms of FDR. Roosevelt had reportedly promised to support Joseph Kennedy, Jr. for Lt. Governor of Massachusetts in 1942.
Date: 30th October 1940
Enemy action by day
The enemy made two fighter sweeps over South East England, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. A few single reconnaissance aircraft were reported in other parts of the Country.
Our fighters destroyed 9 enemy aircraft (plus 8 probable and 7 damaged), and our losses were 5 aircraft and 4 pilots killed or missing.
First Attack - 1130-1245 Hours
It is estimated that about 150 aircraft operated in three waves. In the first wave about 60 aircraft came in over North Foreland to Shoeburyness, where they turned South and flew out over Kent. This was followed by a second wave of about 40 aircraft which turned south over North Foreland and passed out over Hawkinge. A third wave crossed the Coast at Hastings but turned back at Ashford. Some bombs were dropped in Kent by these raids. Ten bombs were dropped in Kent by these raids. Ten Squadrons of 11 Group were sent up, of which 6 sighted the enemy; three Squadrons intercepted and destroyed 3 enemy aircraft (plus one probable and 6 damaged).
Second Attack - 1540-1650 Hours
This attack was divided into two phases. In the first about 80 enemy aircraft approached Maidstone of which 40 continued North West to South East London, where a few bombs were dropped; these latter aircraft were then intercepted and split up by two of our Squadrons. In the second phase five small formations totalling about 50 aircraft crossed the Coast between Dover and Beachy Head, and one formation of 12 reached Harwich. Several of these formations were intercepted and quickly retired. In all, ten Squadrons were detailed to meet these raids and 5 enemy aircraft were destroyed (plus 7 probable and one damaged). 12 Group were grounded on account of bad weather conditions.
Reconnaissances
During the morning the usual reconnaissances were reported in the Straits and Channel. In the afternoon single aircraft were plotted off Exeter, Portland and in the Firth of Forth. Attempts to intercept these aircraft were not successful. One He111, which dropped bombs near Skegness, was destroyed.
Night Operations - 30th/31st October 1940
During the early evening London and the South East Counties were the recipients of a major attack, with minor raids in the Midlands; whilst in marked contrast, the remainder of the night passed comparatively quietly, activity at times sinking to zero. The "All Clear" was sounded in Central London at 0337 hours.
1830 Hours to 2100 Hours
Enemy activity began with the converging on London district of approximately 60 raids from the usual sources. Only a remarkably small proportion penetrated to Central London area, however, and the major activity was over South Eastern Counties.
Approximately 4 raids made landfall in Portsmouth district and proceeded to Nottingham/Sheffield areas, returning via London.
Minelaying is suspected off North Foreland, the Estuary and Harwich; 12 raids in all.
By 2100 hours, hostile activity was decreasing rapidly.
2100 Hours to 0100 Hours 31/10/40
During this period Midlands area continued to receive some attention.
About 20 sporadic raids from the Somme/Dieppe area visited the environs of the Capital and the South East Counties, only odd ones penetrating to Central London. A few of these raids continued North to the Duxford/Debden areas. All returned on approximately reciprocal courses.
A few minelaying raids flew into the Estuary, ex Belgian and Dutch Coasts.
0100 Hours to 0600 Hours
Activity declined to practically nothing by 0100 hours, and by 0400 hours the Country was clear of raids.
________________________________________
Statistics
Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 30th October 1940
Casualties:
| Enemy Losses | ||
| By Fighter – By Day | ||
| Destroyed | Probable | Damaged |
| 8 Me109 | 8 Me109 | 7 Me109 |
| 1 He111 | ||
| 9 | 9 | 7 |
Patrols:
Balloons:
Serviceability of Aerodromes:
Organisation:
Air Intelligence:
Home Security Reports
The Stratoliner was a Boeing 307 with about 33 seats in normal configuration, developed from the B-17 for civilian transport use. It competed in the pre-war 4 engine market with the larger Douglas DC-4. TWA worked with Lockheed on the Constellation pre-war to replace the 307.
Hope the Greeks do well.
That is the funniest thing I've read all day. You are so right.
The Italians in WW2 were perhaps the best at retreating and surrendering if ever an army were.
The French were pretty good at that as well, against German troops at any rate.
Note it says "only 4 hours and 21 minutes to Chicago."
Presumably, that would be from today's LaGuardia to Midway airports.
So yes, today's jets are faster, but by the time you travel to & from more distant airports, go through airport security on one end, and baggage claims on the other, how really much quicker is today's travel time?
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.