military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) (08/31/90)
From: military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) Sunday, 31 August, 1940 Intense air raids strike numerous targets across Britain, including Biggin Hill, Debden, Hornchurch, and Eastchurch airfields. A night raid by 140 bombers hits Liverpool and Merseyside, causing over 100 casualties and scoring a hit on the Prince of Wales. The day's losses are 38 German and 34 British aircraft. The day's air activity reduces RAF capabilities to a dangerous level; the fields at Biggin Hill, Lympne, Hawkinge, West Malling, and Manston are practically useless, and only two Sector Stations remain operational south of the Thames. A flotilla of British destroyers strays into a German minefield near the Texel; two, HMS Esk and Ivanhoe, are sunk, while HMS Express is critically damaged. Force M, including the battleships HMS Barham and Resolution and the carrier HMS Ark Royal, leave Scapa Flow bound for Dakar. The plan is to land 2700 Free French troops under General De Gaulle and gain control of French colonies in Africa. The Vichy French government admits that revolts have broken out in Indo-China and West Africa, but claim that the situation is now under control. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Bill Thacker military@att.att.com Send submissions for "50 Years Ago" to military-request@att.att.com "It may well be for you a choice of guns or sons, of American ships or American lives." - Sir Norman Angell