CHURCHILL SAYS BRITISH GIRD FOR 1942, WILL FIGHT EVEN IF LONDON IS IN ASHES (7/15/40)

Microfiche-New York Times archives, Monterey Public Library | 7/15/40 | James B. Reston, Hanson W. Baldwin

[Homer_J_Simpson]

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents World War II Plus 70 Years: Seminar and Discussion Forum
First session: September 1, 2009. Last date to add: September 2, 2015.
Reading assignment: New York Times articles delivered daily to students on the 70th anniversary of original publication date. (Previously posted articles can be found by searching on keyword “realtime” Or view Homer’s posting history .)
To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by freepmail. Those on the Realtime +/- 70 Years ping list are automatically enrolled. Course description, prerequisites and tuition information is available at the bottom of Homer’s profile.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Winston S. Churchill, Their Finest Hour

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Bars Submission – 2
The International Situation – 2
Text of Prime Minister Churchill’s Talk – 3-4
Russian Sees Britain Ready for Long War – 4
French Line Denies Quitting Business – 4
7 Raiders Downed – 5
Air Battle is Broadcast ‘Blow-byBlow’ to British – 5
Bonds with Nazis Defended in Spain – 6
British Bomber Watches a Blazing German Tanker (photo) – 7
Guns Against Britain – 8
Texts of the Day’s War Communiques - 9

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1940/jul40/f15jul40.htm

Italians advancing in Kenya

Monday, July 15, 1940 www.onwar.com

In East Africa... After a brief resistance against attacking Italian forces the outnumbered garrison of Moyale, Kenya withdraws from the town.

In the Baltic States... Plebiscites conducted in Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia are announced to show a unanimous desire for union with the USSR.

In the United States... The Democratic Party convention at Chicago opens.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/month/thismonth/15.htm

July 15th, 1940

UNITED KINGDOM: RAF Bomber Command: 4 Group (Whitley). No ops due to bad weather. This lasts until the 18th.
Plymouth: Britain’s latest commando raid has ended in farce. A team of untrained men designated as special forces of No. 3 Commando was to raid Guernsey airport. Compass failure sent it in error to tiny Sark. Other men hit undefended points on Guernsey to no purpose. As they withdrew, their commanding officer slipped and fired his revolver, alerting the enemy. Three men said that they could not swim to the pick-up boat.

Spilsby, Lincolnshire: The rector of Old Bolingbroke, Lincolnshire, was sentenced to four weeks’ jail today for ringing his church bell. He claimed that he did not know of the order prohibiting the ringing of church bells except as warning of an airborne invasion. It came into force a month ago, on 14 June. PC Peck said that he found the rector in his belfry pulling the bell rope on 16 June.

The rector, the Rev Robert Grant Colvin Graham, insisted that he was a loyal citizen. He had not then read the letter from his bishop banning bell-ringing.

Corvette HMS Godetia commissioned.

Corvette HMS Mignonette laid down.

Destroyer HMS Panther laid down. (Dave Shirlaw)

ENGLISH CHANNEL: A force of 15 Do17s attempt to bomb a convoy but are driven off by Hurricanes from Nos. 56 and 151 Squadrons.

United States Marine Detachment, London is activated from the 12th Marine Company. (Gordon Rottman)

FRANCE: The Germans demand that they be granted unrestricted access through French North Africa. (Louis Capdeboscq)

Battleship FS Richelieu is commissioned. (Dave Shirlaw)

GERMANY: U-108 is launched. (Dave Shirlaw)

BALTIC STATES: Plebiscites held yesterday in Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia are said to show unanimous support for union with the USSR.

Some regions register more than 100% support.

The plebiscites were rigged and conducted under heavily intimidating circumstances to ensure that the Soviets got the 99+% approval.

(Mikko Härmeinen)

PORTUGAL: The cruiser USS Trenton (CL-11) sails from Lisbon, Portugal for the Annapolis, Maryland, USA, with members of the royal family of the Duchy of Luxembourg on board. (Jack McKillop)

U.S.A.: Chippewa Falls: Robert Pershing Wadlow, the worlds tallest man at 8 ft 11inches, dies of complications brought on by a foot infection.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: SS Evdoxia was sunk 40 miles SW of Bull Rock, Ireland by U-34. (Dave Shirlaw)

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://worldwar2daybyday.blogspot.com/

Day 319 July 15, 1940

Battle of Britain. Low cloud and rain keep most aircraft grounded. German bombers attack industrial and dock areas along the Scottish coast but do little damage and Westland Aircraft aircraft works at Yeovil, Somerset is bombed (1 runway and 1 hangar are damaged. Convoy “Pilot” is spotted by a reconnaissance aircraft in the Thames Estuary but Dornier bombers sent out to attack are headed off by British fighters.

140 British commandos are taken to Guernsey by destroyers HMS Scimitar and Saladin but Operation Ambassador goes badly. 40 men from No.3 Commando are ferried ashore in launches but find German barracks empty and re-embark leaving behind 3 men who cannot swim back to the launches. They become German POWs. Other launches crash on rocks or go to the wrong island, Sark.

At 3.21 AM, U-34 sinks Greek steamer Evdoxia 40 miles southwest of Ireland (1 dead, 22 survivors). http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/424.html

Estonian steamer Merisaar, captured by U-99 on July 12, is sunk by German bombing off Cobh, County Cork, Ireland. The German prize crew is rescued and taken prisoner.

[CougarGA7]

Battle of Britain Campaign Diary

Date: 15 July 1940

• Weather: Low cloud.
• Day: Shipping attacked off Norfolk coast and the Channel. Yeovil bombed.
• Night: Minelaying.

  Enemy action by day

  There was very little enemy activity, probably owing to bad weather. A few raids occurred in the Cardiff, Swansea, Portsmouth and Southampton areas, off the Thames Estuary and Norfolk Coast. One raid also visited Drem. A certain amount of activity was also experienced over convoys on the south and east coasts.

  South and South West

  In the early morning a raid crossed the coast near Shoreham and bombs were dropped on Brighton and Hove. Shortly after 0900 hours enemy aircraft passed over Portland, flew direct to Cardiff and bombed Barry. Later a reconnaissance was made over a convoy in the Thames Estuary by a Do215. No. 151 Squadron intercepted, but the enemy escaped. Bombs were dropped at Pembroke Dock and Poling. Shipping in the vicinity of Portland Bill was also visited. Between 1600 and 1800 hours a raid crossed the Cornish coast. Two aircraft were sent to intercept but no details have been received of any contact being made. A raid started near Liverpool and flew over Wales and Gloucester. This raid dropped four unexploded bombs on St Athan. Between 1800 and 2100 hours a raid of two Dorniers flew over Portsmouth and Southampton. One of these aircraft was probably shot down by Blue Section of No. 145 Squadron. Later one raider dropped bombs in the sea of Southend.

  East Coast

  One raid was made off the Norfolk coast from 0600 to 0800 hours. Fighters were despatched but no contact is reported. Between 0900 and 1600 hours several enemy reconnaissances were made over the Norflk coast and upon shipping off this coast. A convoy was attacked at 1413 hours by ten enemy aircraft, probably Dornier 215s. A fighter escort to the convoy (Blue Section of No. 56 Squadron) shot down one Do215 and probably shot down another.

  Scotland

  Between 1600-1800 hours one raid was made over Drem. Later in the evening another raid crossed the coast flying east just north of Aberdeen. No further news was reported of this raid.

  By night

  Very slight activity was encountered during the night, the weather still being very bad. One enemy aircraft, thought to be a Dornier, appeared off Kinnaird's Head. At about 2300 hours, 6 to 8 raids crossed the coast between Newcastle and Flamborough Head, and proceeded to Liverpool Bay. These aircraft are suspected of minelaying. One raider dropped a bomb near Berwick. Later, about 12 raids appeared between the Norfolk coast and the Tyne, 6 of which crossed the coastline and the remainder cruised around as though minelaying. These aircraft later returned to Borkum.

  

  ________________________________________

  Statistics

  Casualties:

• Enemy:

• Fighters - nil
• Bombers - 1 confirmed, 3 unconfirmed
• AA claims destruction of one bomber in above totals.

• Own:

• No. 213 Squadron - 1 Hurricane (in combat off Plymouth).
• No. 145 Squadron - 1 Hurricane (crashed on landing, Swales Farm, Wickham).
• No. 249 Squadron - 1 Hurricane (crashed and burned out near York at 0053 hours).
• No. 249 Squadron - 1 Hurricane (crashed on landing).

  Patrols:

• 154 patrols despatched involving 470 aircraft.

  Balloons:

• Flying 1122. Casualties 21.

  Aerodromes:

• Acklington unserviceable.

  Organisation:

• No changes

  Air Intelligence Reports

• A confirmed report has been received that among the German troops there is a healthy respect for, coupled with a fear of, the RAF due to the ferocity of their fighters and the accuracy of their bombers.

  Home Security Reports

• Period: 14/15th July 1940.

• General Summary

• During the 15th July there was a certain amount of enemy activity over Coastal areas of the South and South-West of England and South Wales. There was considerable damage to property in the Brighton and Hove area.

• Detailed Summary

• Further reports received after the publication of yesterday's summary state that the Avonmouth area was subjected to attacks on three occasions during the night of 14/15th July. The first attack has previously been detailed, in the second attack, three HE and two IB were dropped on open ground near the National Smelting Works without damage or casualties being caused. The third attack occurred at 0117 hours on the 15th and no incidents have so far been reported.
• Further information as to incendiary bomb on Dover (see yesterday) is that thirty to fifty bombs were dropped on the Duke of York's School at Guston near Dover, now in military occupation. Damage was slight, no casualties.
• During the evening of 15th July, bombs were dropped near Carew Cheriton Aerodrome and on St Athan Aerodrome. Also on the RAF Station Llandow where damage was caused to underground internal cables.
• At 1341 hours on the 15th July, bombs were dropped at Mount Batten, Plymouth.
• The Naval Air Station at Yeovilton near Ilchester was bombed at 1355 hours on the 15th July, slight damage being caused to hangars and one aircraft.

  Battle of Britain

[CougarGA7]