military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) (09/14/90)
From: military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) Saturday, 14 September, 1940 The Luftwaffe scores numerous successes despite cloudy weather over England; Eastbourne, Brighton, Wimbledon, Kingston, and Ipswich are hit, and only 8 German aircraft are lost, compared to 13 British fighters. Goering takes this as a sign that RAF Fighter Command is nearly defeated, but Hitler postpones the decision date for Operation Sea Lion until 17 September. Time for the attack is rapidly running out; the onset of poor weather sets an outer limit, and 8 October will be the last day with suitable tide conditions before the stormy season. After a brief return to the compromise committee, the Burke-Wadsworth Selective Service Bill is quickly passed by the US Senate and House, and sent to the President. The bill provides for registration and conscription of men aged 21-35. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Bill Thacker military@att.att.com Send submissions for "50 Years Ago" to military-request@att.att.com "I say to you that instead of being unusually skilled in international affairs, Franklin Roosevelt has handled the international affairs of the United States in the last several years in a bungling way, in an incompetent way, in fits and starts and with provocative and unnecessary statements." - Wendell Willkie