military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) (09/13/90)
From: military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) Friday, 13 September, 1940 Despite poor weather, Germany renews air raids over British; Buckingham Palace is struck by 5 bombs, and its chapel ruined. Germany claims that the intended target was an oil dump near the palace. As British forces increase their readiness for the German invasion, the battleships Nelson and Rodney and the battlecruiser Hood rebase to Rosyth. HMS Revenge is based in Plymouth. Italian forces advance into Egypt; 5 divisions are at the front, with another 8 in reserve. General O'Connor's Western Desert Force withdraws before the Italian army. Italian troops also advance a short distance into Kenya. Germany begins plans to evacuate children from Berlin to safer areas. President Roosevelt adds aviation fuel and anything required to produce aircraft or aircraft engines to the list of items banned from export to Japan. The Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" fighter makes its debut escorting bombers to Chungking; 13 Zeros are attacked by over 20 Chinese fighters. All the Chinese craft are downed, with 4 Zeros damaged. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Bill Thacker military@att.att.com Send submissions for "50 Years Ago" to military-request@att.att.com "Should British resistance make impossible the use of the German Army in an invasion venture, it may be expected that these millions will not remain idle." - Maj. Gen. Stephen O. Fuqua, U.S.A., Ret.