military@cbnews.att.com (09/24/89)
Monday, 25 September, 1939 After a twelve-day hiatus to deal with the Bzura counterattack and to carry out an intense campaign of propaganda leafletting, the Luftwaffe bombs Warsaw. About 400 aircraft (Ju-87 Stukas, He-111s, and a /Gruppe/ of clumsy Ju-52 transports) fly repeated sorties from temporary airstrips on Polish territory. By nightfall 500 tons of high explosives, 72 tons of incendiaries, and massed artillery fire leave the city in flames. The Germans deliver a second ultimatum to the Warsaw garrison. Food is short in the city, and typhoid runs rampant. The Royal Navy commences laying of an anti-submarine minefield across the straights of Dover; its completion requires another month. In Germany, bread and flour are rationed, and food ration cards have been distributed to the entire populace. The aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-8) is laid down at Newport News shipyard. Sister ship to Yorktown and Enterprise, already commissioned, she will displace 20,000 tons and carry 96 aircraft upon her completion in October, 1941. Contributing Reporter: Mark Jackson (MJackson.Wbst@Xerox.COM) References: (1) /Airwar/ by Edward Jablonski C.Argyle, _Chronology of World War II_ J. Piekalkiewicz, _Tank War 1939-1940_ R.Dupuy and T.Dupuy, _The Encyclopedia of Military History_ -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Bill Thacker military@cbnews.att.com Send submissions for "50 Years Ago" to military-request@att.att.com "Hitler now gave it out that the governing class and intelligentsia of Poland were to be exterminated, and took steps to use the appropriate instruments to that end." - Walter Goerlitz, _History of the German General Staff_