military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) (07/13/90)
From: military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) Saturday, 13 July, 1940 The 302nd Fighter Squadron is formed in Britain, the first Free Polish squadron. The Polish volunteers fly Hawker Hurricanes. Hitler issues Directive No. 15, which outlines the future conduct of the war against Britain. Specifically, the Luftwaffe is to destroy the RAF by concerted attacks beginning 5 August. 2700 aicraft are available for the task, distributed between 3 Air Fleets (Luftflotten). Generaloberst Stumpf's Luftflotte 5, based in Norway, will attack targets in northern England and Scotland; Luftflotte 3, commanded by Generalfeldmarschall Sperrle, is to attack southwestern Britain from its bases in western France; and Luftflotte 2 , under the control of Generalfeldmarschall Kesselring, will base in northern France and the Low Countries and strike at eastern and central Britain. Hitler also turns down an Italian offer to participate in Operation Sealion. Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia hold elections to ratify their new form of government. Only one choice, the Communist ticket, appears on the ballot. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Bill Thacker military@att.att.com Send submissions for "50 Years Ago" to military-request@att.att.com "I'm glad you're praying for our boy." "I'm sorry to disappoint you, honey, but I'm not praying for our boy, I'm praying for the British Navy and the Bank of England." - San Antonio TX mayor Maury Maverick, speakig of his "conversion from virtual pacifism to practical militarism."