http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1940/dec40/f21dec40.htm
Survivors put ashore
Saturday, December 21, 1940 www.onwar.com
In the Pacfic... German raiders Komet and Orion land 496 survivors (including 70 women and 7 children) from 10 British and Allied merchant ships (sunk since August) on Emirau Island, near New Guinea. The Royal Australian Navy subsequently rescues the survivors.
Over Italy... British RAF planes conduct a night raid on the Porto Marghera docks and oil installations, near Venice.
In the United States... The renowned writer, F. Scott Fitzgerald, dies in Hollywood at age 44.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/month/thismonth/21.htm
December 21st, 1940
UNITED KINGDOM: Westminster: During today’s meeting with the Ministry of Supply Churchill discusses the state of Britain’s stockpile of mustard gas and the number of gas shells filled and available for use. he stock as of December 9th was 1,485 tons of mustard gas, with an extra 650 tons being made available soon.
Destroyer HMS Hursley laid down
ASW trawler HMS Cotillion launched. (Dave Shirlaw)
SWITZERLAND: Geneva: The Swiss government cuts off diplomatic relations with the USSR.
GERMANY: Berlin: Germany says the US’s pro-British stance is one of “insult, challenge and moral aggression.”
U-173, U-255 laid down
U-651 launched. (Dave Shirlaw)
NORWAY: The chief justice resigns rather than administer the Nazi system of justice.
MEDITERRANEAN SEA: Aircraft from the HMS Illustrious sink two Italian ships off Tunisia.
EGYPT: Cairo: The British Reuters News Agency reports:
The fight for Bardia is continuing. The British are steadily drawing the ring tighter. The Italian defences, which have withdrawn behind the chain of forts that surround the harbour area, are putting up tough resistance; but military experts believe that the resistance must collapse if the British commander orders a decisive raid.
SENEGAL, FRENCH WEST AFRICA: Robert Murphy meets Weygand in Dakar.
AUSTRALIA: Minesweeper HMAS Lithgow launched. (Dave Shirlaw)
CANADA: Corvettes HMCS Oakville and Weyburn laid down Port Arthur, Ontario. (Dave Shirlaw)
U.S.A.: War and Navy Departments (possibly through the Joint Army-Navy Board) adopt “Europe-first” policy and forward it to the White House for approval. First version of “Rainbow” plan adopted. (Marc Small)
“Frenesi” by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra reaches Number 1 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart in the U.S. This song, which debuted on the charts on 3 August 1940, was charted for 23 weeks, was Number 1 for 13 weeks and was ranked Number 2 for the year 1940. (Jack McKillop)
ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-65 sank SS Charles Pratt. (Dave Shirlaw)
RIP Scott Fitzgerald, 70 years ago today.