military@cbnews.att.com (09/26/89)
Tuesday, 26 September, 1939
With Warsaw in flames from a continued, massive bombardment by
artillery and aircraft, German infantry begin to assault the city.
A Polish counterattack recaptures the Mokotow Airport, where six
aircraft are repaired and flown out at night.
The first combat flight of the German Ju-88A bomber takes place,
as four planes from the I Gruppe of Kampfgeschwader (Bomber squadron) 90
attack the British carrier Ark Royal and battlecruiser Hood. One hit
is scored on Hood, but duds, and a false hit is claimed on Ark Royal. (1)
The French government outlaws that country's Communist Party.
German raiders, including two "Pocket Battleships", Deutschland and
Admiral Graf Spee, are ordered to commence anti-commerce operations
in the Atlantic. ("Pocket Battleship" is actually an Allied term
for what the Kriegsmarine classifies "Panzerschiffen", or armored
ships. They are comparable to cruisers in size, but carry larger
guns (11"))
References:
(1) William Green, _Warplanes of the Third Reich_
C.Argyle, _Chronology of World War II_
J. Piekalkiewicz, _Tank War 1939-1940_
R.Dupuy and T.Dupuy, _The Encyclopedia of Military History_
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Bill Thacker military@cbnews.att.com
Send submissions for "50 Years Ago" to military-request@att.att.com
"Apart from the destruction of an aircraft carrier, a number of
hits were scored on a battleship." - German High Command, reporting
on the day's Ju-88 raid.