military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) (08/13/90)
From: military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) Tuesday, 13 August, 1940 Germany opens her air offensive, which is planned to destroy the RAF within 4 days. Today is known as "Adlertag," or Eagle Day. Attacks are launched against Eastchurch and Detling airfields, the Short factory at Belfast, and the Spitfire factory in Birmingham. The rapid repair of the British radar system enables most attacks to be effectively met, and German losses are high at 46 aircraft, compared to 14 British fighters. Nearly 1500 sorties are flown. Losses are especially high among the Stuka dive bombers, which are operating for the first time against stiff fighter opposition. A flight of German aircraft drop parachutes over southern England and Scotland which include phoney operational orders indicating that the invasion has begun; a brief scare is created by the drops. Italy's Foreign Minister, Count Ciano, calls for an invasion of Greece, and summons the Italian commander in Albania to Rome. Italian press charges that the Greek government has expansionist aims in Albania. The US Army issues a contract for construction of 50 new heavy tanks, to be the first part of a fleet of some 400-500 vehicles. Sources describe the tanks as weighing 60-70 tons, mounting a 75mm gun, and capable of speeds up to 50 mph. They are claimed to be the equal of the 70-ton "land battleships" reportedly used by Germany in the French campaign. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Bill Thacker military@att.att.com Send submissions for "50 Years Ago" to military-request@att.att.com "Each of the big German tanks, according to military experts, mounted one three-inch field gun, three 1-1/2 inch guns, several machine guns and flame-throwers, and smoke-bombers. Some of these tanks were reported to be equipped to move on water as well as on land. Each tank was manned by a crew of fourteen men." - New York Times