NAZIS INTENSIFY AIR RAIDS ON BRITAIN AS 500 PLANES POUND AT STRONGHOLDS (8/13/40)

Microfiche-New York Times archives, Monterey Public Library | 8/13/40 | Robert P. Post, C. Brooks Peters, Harold Callender, Yates Stirling Jr.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[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]

Selections from West Point Atlas for the Second World War
German Fighter Range and British Radar Deployment
Marcks’ Plan, August 5, 1940
The Far East and the Pacific, 1941 – The Imperial Powers, 1 September 1939

Plus a special guest map from Michael Korda’s, “With Wings Like Eagles,” showing the air defenses of England and Wales, August 1940.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Winston S. Churchill, Their Finest Hour

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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Michael Korda, With Wings Like Eagles: The Untold Story of the Battle of Britain

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Portsmouth is Hit – 2-3
Stronger Nazi Beer Gives Joy to Berlin – 3
The International Situation – 3
Hore-Belisha Urges a 100-Division Army – 3
Nazi Flier Finds ‘Heaven’ As a Captive in Britain – 3
Berlin Hails Gain – 4
Want Bridges Case Left Up to Jackson – 4
The Commander in Chief Inspects Latest Addition to Submarine Fleet (photo) – 5
Italy Reinforcing on Egypt’s Border – 6
Defense is Pushed at Base in Hawaii – 7
France Makes City a Diplomatic Post – 7
Pacific is Stressed in U.S. Navy Policy – 8
Britain Reveals Secret of ‘Scarecrow Patrol’ – 10
The Texts of the Day’s Communiques on the War – 11-12
982 Nazi Planes Downed By French, Who Lost 306 - 12

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1940/aug40/f13aug40.htm

Luftwaffe launches offensive on Britain

Tuesday, August 13, 1940 www.onwar.com

Over Britain... This is Adlertag (Eagle Day) which is to mark the beginning of the all-out Luftwaffe offensive against the RAF. The German objective is to cripple the British defenses and clear the sky over southern England within four days and, then, to eliminate RAF resistance completely within four weeks. The events of Eagle Day go strongly in favor of the RAF. The Germans fly about 1500 sorties, 1000 by fighters, and the British about 700 exclusively by fighters. The Germans lose 45 planes, the British only 13 and from these six pilots are able to return to their units and new machines.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/month/thismonth/13.htm

August 13th, 1940

UNITED KINGDOM: Battle of Britain: ‘Adlertag’ [Eagle Day]. The Luftwaffe launches Adlertag too early as the weather is dull and cloudy and postponement orders do not reach all units.

A Do17P was shot down at 06:20 off Kent by Sq. Ldr. A.G. Malan partnered by Flg. Off. J.C. Mungo Park (74 Sqn.)

As early as 05:30 radar stations identified two forces, about 60 aircraft, assembling over France, so 11 Group ordered two squadrons, Nos. 64 and 111, to protect damaged Hawkinge and Manston, assuming the enemy would, logically, hit them again.

Hurricanes from North Weald took station over a Thames convoy, while others watched over Tangmere.

Another 100 Luftwaffe aircraft were detected off Dieppe and soon about 40 more off Cherbourg before a smaller group was found by radar near the Channel Islands.

In total about 120 fighters were sent up to face about 300 attackers.

Escort for the first wave of 80 Luftlotte 2 Do17Zs had been cancelled successfully but the bombers, fitted with different radio crystals pressed on to England. The thick cloud served to hide them until they split, one group to Eastchurch Coastal Command airfield, a smaller group to Sheerness dockyard. They were then intercepted by 74 and 151 Squadron. Hurricane L1750, the first cannon-armed Hurricane, flown by Flt. Lt. R. Smith scored a certain success, 111 Sqn then joined in and forced KG 2 to jettison its load. 100 bombs were dropped on Eastchurch killing 16 men, injuring 48 and destroying one Spitfire of 266 Sqn. The station was fully operational by evening. Five Do 17s were shot down.

Later in the afternoon two groups of Ju88s attacked Farnborough and Odiham but were forced to abandon the operation.

The major attack came around 16:00 with 40 Ju88s on course for Southampton and Middle Wallop; to their west were 30 Ju87s of II/StG 2, with 50 more Ju87s escorted by JG27. Forward support was provided by Bf109s of JG53 which swept between the Isle of Wight and Lyme Bay until they ran low on fuel.

At least 23 bombs fell on Southampton docks killing 5 and injuring 25. But when the Stuka’s of II/StG 2 arrived at Portland their escort, short of fuel, left for home allowing the Spitfires of 609 Squadron to destroy six of them, the day being noted as the ‘glorious 13th’ in the Squadron’s records. Another attack on Middle Wallop strayed and attacked Andover instead.

Later in the day 40 Ju87s of LG 1 devastated Detling, killing 67 and destroying 22 aircraft. The station was functional the next day.

Night: He-111s of Kgr 100 equipped with the X-Gerat navigational system attack the Spitfire factory at Castle Bromwich, Birmingham.

KG 54 attacks the aerodromes at Odiham and RAE Farnborough, but the formations are broken up by RAF fighters. Large-scale Luftwaffe attacks follow during the afternoon, with the loss of 45 aircraft.

RAF Bomber Command: 4 Group (Whitley). Bombing - Fiat works at Turin and Caproni aircraft factory at Milan.
10 Sqn. Ten aircraft to Turin. Two returned early, eight bombed primary. One damaged by fighter and ditched in Channel on return with two killed.
51 Sqn. Ten aircraft to Turin. One damaged by Flak and returned early, nine bombed primary.
58 Sqn. Ten aircraft to Milan. Three returned early, four bombed primary, three bombed alternative targets.

The London Evening News reported:
One of the greatest aerial battles ever to take place, happened this afternoon off the southeast and southern coasts. However, well informed experts doubt that the present raids represent the beginning of a blitzkrieg against England, and instead believe their true purpose is to reconnoitre the strength of the RAF before the Germans mount even more vigorous air attacks.

RAF Headquarters announced:
On Sunday night to early Monday morning, the “industrial squadrons” of the RAF chiefly attacked petroleum installations in Germany. The raids on each target were carried out by several squadrons at defined intervals, beginning shortly before midnight; the return flight did not start until 3:00 A.M.
Also reported was unknown German aircraft dropping a miscellany of objects at various places in the English Midlands and the Lowlands of Scotland. The objects included a parachutes, wireless transmitters, small quantities of high explosive, maps, photographs, lists of addresses of prominent people and instructions to imaginary agents defining their role when the invaders came.

An experimental British radar, using the cavity magnetron which was developed only six months earlier, tracks a man on a bicycle for the first time — though his radar cross-section is enhanced by the tin lid from a box of biscuits. (Cris Wetton)

Minesweeping trawler HMS Elizabeth Angela is bombed and sunk in the English Channel.

Corvette HMS Columbine is launched. (Dave Shirlaw)

FRANCE: VICHY FRANCE: In a move aimed against the Freemasons, all secret societies are banned.

GERMANY: The Luftwaffe makes 1,485 sorties to mark Adlertag [Eagle Day] - the start of full scale bombing of England.
Berlin: The German News Bureau reported:
Aerial dogfights are continuing over the southern coast of England. More and more fresh formations of German bombers and dive bombers are flying against the English coast. The German bomber wings, which make their approach in compact formations at a fairly high altitude, are almost
invariably escorted by Me109 and Me110 fighters. So far it has not once been observed that a German bomber formation was forced by the English to turn around before reaching its target. It has struck our attention that the fighting spirit of the English fighter pilots - especially the Spitfire pilots - has fallen off markedly since yesterday. According to reports received so far, 38 British aircraft were destroyed in aerial combat today (Tuesday) and 15 were destroyed on the ground.

Corvette HMS Columbine launched. (Dave Shirlaw)

CANADA: Minesweeper HMCS Mahone laid down. (Dave Shirlaw)

U.S.A.: President Franklin D. Roosevelt confers with Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox, Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson, Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau, and Undersecretary of State Sumner Welles concerning the transfer of destroyers to Britain. Consequently, Roosevelt informs British Prime Minister Churchill (in telegram sent from Acting Secretary of State Sumner Welles to Ambassador Joseph Kennedy, Sr.) that among other items previously sought “it may be possible to furnish to the British Government... at least 50 destroyers...” Roosevelt states, though, that such aid could only be given provided that “the American People and the Congress frankly recognized in return...the national defence and security of the United States would be enhanced.” The President thus insists that (1) should British waters be rendered untenable the British Fleet would be sent to other parts of the Empire (and neither turned over to the Germans nor sunk) and (2) that the British government would grant authorization to use Newfoundland, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Trinidad and British Guiana as naval and air bases, and to acquire land there through 99-year leases to establish those bases. (Jack McKillop)

ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-60 sank SS Nils Gorthon in Convoy HX-62. (Dave Shirlaw)

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://worldwar2daybyday.blogspot.com/

Day 348 August 14, 1940

Battle of Britain Day 35. Believing they have crippled British radar warning systems, Luftwaffe launches Adlertag (Eagle Day) to mark the start of large bomber raids against RAF airfields. The objective is to clear the sky over Southern England within 4 days. Despite cloudy weather, there are heavy raids along the South coast of England. As the weather clears through the afternoon, Luftwaffe launches a massive attack of 300 aircraft at 3 PM to bomb RAF airfields, including Detling in Kent where 68 men are killed by a direct hit on the mess hall. However, Eagle Day goes badly for Germany as many bomber raids are beyond the range of their fighter support. Germans lose 40 bombers & 36 fighters, while RAF losses are 2 Spitfires & 11 Hurricanes (remarkably, only 3 pilots are killed). At 7.50 PM, a Spitfire crashes during night flying practice (pilot is killed baling out). Minesweeping trawler HMT Elizabeth Angela is sunk by German bombing off Dover (1 killed). http://www.battleofbritain1940.net/0025.html http://www.raf.mod.uk/bob1940/august13.html

Royal Navy contributes to the defense of British Somaliland. British cruiser HMS Carlisle shoots down an Italian aircraft attacking Berbera. 40 miles West of Berbera, destroyer HMS Kimberley and sloop HMS Auckland shell the port of El Sheikha, now in Italian hands. Italian troops again attack British defenses at Tug Argan but are held off.

At 9.47 PM, 10 miles North of Ireland, U-60 sinks Swedish steamer Nils Gorthon, carrying wood pulp (5 dead, 16 survivors). http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/459.html

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Clicking on the magazine cover in #9 it doesn’t show me what is in the Aug. 19 issue. I think the link is broken.

[CougarGA7]

Battle of Britain Campaign Diary

Date: 13 August 1940

• Weather: Mainly fair. Early morning mist and slight drizzle in places and some cloud in the Channel.
• Day: Opening of 'Eagle Day' misfires. Heavy raid on Eastchurch followed by afternoon raids on Portland, Southampton and airfields in Kent and Hampshire. 1,485 German sorties.
• Night: Light attacks on Midlands, Wales and the West Country.

  'Adler Tag' ('Eagle Day') - the original date set by Hitler for the invasion of Britain.

  Enemy action by day

  The main effort of the enemy was directed to attacks all along the South Coast from Weymouth to the Thames Estuary. Heavy attacks were made:

• i. About 0530 hours on the South East Coast. Aircraft crossed the coast from Dungeness to North Foreland and some penetrated to the Thames Estuary.
• ii. At 0600 hours, when the coast was crossed west of Beachy Head. These raids split up into several sections which flew about 25 miles inland.
• iii. At 0612 hours on Southampton and its vicinity. The attack lasted for one hour.
• iv. Commencing at 1525 hours from Portland along the coast to the Thames Estuary. Massed attacks appear to have been timed to take place simultaneously at 1600 hours.

  All these raids were intercepted by our fighters which suffered very few losses but inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy.

  South West and South

  At 0612 hours, four raids totalling 250 aircraft made for Portsmouth on a front stretching from the Isle of Wight to Selsey Bill. The attack lasted for one hour and the aircraft finally dispersed at 0720 hours. Fighters intercepted and casualties were inflicted.

  At 1205 hours, a raid of ten aircraft came in east of Portland at 20,000 feet and was joined by another raid of 12 aircraft and went inland for about five miles. Casualties were again inflicted by our fighters.

  At 1600 hours, six raids, consisting of some 150 aircraft, approached Poole, Portland and Portsmouth. These aircraft flew towards Middle Wallop and around the district and one raid flew on to Bristol. These raids were made in conjunction with other s further east (see South East below). A big battle ensued and the enemy suffered severely.

  Southampton is reported to have been heavily bombed and an attack was also made on Andover Aerodrome.

  South East

  At about 0530 hours, raids crossed the coast between Dungeness and North Foreland, some aircraft flying up the Thames Estuary and towards a convoy.

  At 0600 hours, other raids crossed the coast west of Beachy Head where they split up into sections which flew inland some 25 miles on a northerly and north-westerly course.

  At 0951 hours, a reconnaissance was made off Dungeness.

  At 1600 hours, some 150 aircraft in conjunction with the raids further west (see South West and South above) made for Deal and Dover. Many aircraft passed inland and were active over the East Kent area. Detling Aerodrome was attacked by dive bombers and Eastchurch Aerodrome was also bombed. Damage was also caused to both places.

  Elsewhere inland, material damage was also inflicted. Oil bombs with a splash of 75 yards are reported to have been dropped at Ramsgate. Fighters intercepted these raids with good effect.

  At 1839 hours, a raid was tracked into the Thames Estuary as far as Sheppey but the aircraft, after being pursued by fighters, evaded them in clouds.

  At 1920 hours, a report was received that seaplanes were flying very low in the neighbourhood of Dover, probably searching for surface vessels.

  East

  Between 0935 and 0955 hours, the reconnaissance flights were plotted off East Anglia.

  At 1725 hours, a convoy was shadowed off Flamborough Head but the enemy aircraft evaded fighters in the clouds.

  At 1936 hours, enemy aircraft which attacked a convoy off East Anglia were engaged by our fighters.

  By night

  Many small raids of 1 and 1+ aircraft were distributed over most parts of the country. One raid crossed the coast near Cromer and made an extensive patrol over North Norfolk and Digby districts. There were about 11 raids in an area north east of Duncansby Head to Kinnaird's Head and Aberdeen and about 10 raids were in the Thames Estuary and the area south of Harwich. Raids were also over Wiltshire and the Birmingham districts and one or two penetrated into Wales. At 035 hours, a "Help" signal was received from a convoy 5 miles north of Kinnaird's Head.

  

  ________________________________________

  Statistics

  Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 13 August 1940

• Blenheim - 71
• Spitfire - 226
• Hurricane - 353
• Defiant - 26
• Gladiator - 2
• Total – 678

  Casualties:

  		Enemy Losses
  By Squadron No.	Destroyed	Probable	Damaged	Time
  74 Sqn (Spitfires)	4 Do17	3 Do17	2 Do17	0535
  	2 Do215
  43 Sqn (Hurricanes)	1 He111	2 Ju88	1 Me110	0625
  	1 Me109	1 Do17	5 Ju88
  	3 Ju88
  	1 Do17
  64 Sqn (Spitfires)	1 Do215		2 Do215	0640
  151 Sqn (Hurricanes)	3 Do215	1 Do215		0521
  601 Sqn (Hurricanes)	3 Ju88	7 Ju88	4 Ju88	0630
  			5 Do215
  111 Sqn (Hurricanes)	5 Do215		5 Do215	0630
  257 Sqn (Hurricanes)			1 Ju88	0617
  601 Sqn (Hurricanes)	5 Me110	3 Me110	6 Me110	1150
  145 Sqn (Hurricanes)	1 Ju88			1617
  65 Sqn (Spitfires)	3 Me109	3 Me109	3 Me109	1455
  56 Sqn (Hurricanes)	4 Me110		5 Me110	1550
  43 Sqn (Hurricanes)	1 Ju88		5 Me110	1600
  	1 Do17
  257 Sqn (Hurricanes)	1 Ju88			1509
  601 Sqn (Hurricanes)	5 Me110	4 Me110	2 Me110	1535
  			1 Ju88
  			1 He113
  87 Sqn (Hurricanes)	1 Ju88			0642
  213 Sqn (Hurricanes)	1 Ju88			1158
  	1 Me109
  238 Sqn (Hurricanes)	4 Me110	2 Me110		1155
  213 Sqn (Hurricanes)	3 Me109		1 Me109	1526
  	1 Me110
  238 Sqn (Hurricanes)	3 Me110		4 Me110	1528
  	1 Me109
  609 Sqn (Spitfires)	4 Me109	2 Ju87	2 Ju87	1533
  	9 Ju87	1 Me109	1 Me110
  			1 Me109
  152 Sqn (Spitfires)	1 Me110	2 Me110		1500
  92 Sqn (Spitfires)	1 Ju88			1545
  By AA	2 Ju86	2 unknown
  	2 unknown
  TOTAL	78	33	49

• Own:

• No 74 Squadron - 2 Spitfires, pilots safe
• No 43 Squadron - 1 Hurricane, pilot safe
• No 601 Squadron - 1 Hurricane, pilot safe
• No 56 Squadron - 4 Hurricanes, 2 pilots safe, 2 pilots wounded
• No 238 Squadron - 3 Hurricanes, 2 pilots safe
• No 87 Squadron - 1 Hurricane
• No 213 Squadron - 1 Hurricane

  Patrols:

• 192 patrols despatched involving 916 aircraft.

  Balloons:

• Flying 1501. Casualties 41.

  Aerodromes:

• Abbotsinch and Hartlepool are unserviceable by night.

  Organisation:

• No 602 Squadron has moved from Drem to Tangmere
• No 607 Squadron is operational by day only

  Air Intelligence Reports

• No reports.

  Home Security Reports

• Date: 13 August 1940

• General Summary

• Since early on the 13th August, enemy aircraft activity over this country has been on a scale far in excess of anything hitherto carried out. It extended over a wide area from Aberdeenshire to Wigtownshire as far west as Stranaer - possibly to Belfast - to Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Devonshire and South Wales.
• Attacks continued from the first hours of that day throughout the early morning and were renewed in the afternoon and again renewed at approximately 2200 hours and continued into the early hours of the 14th August.
• Aerodromes, shipping and industrial centres have been the principal targets and attacks have been attended with probably more enemy success than hitherto, although not considered to be proportionate to the reported number of aircraft engaged.
• Apart from aerodromes attacked, it would appear that the most serious effect of bombing has occurred at Southampton and in the neighbourhood of Birmingham where the Nuffield Aero Works has suffered considerable damage.

• Detailed Summary

• The absence of fully detailed information precludes a reliable account of the effect of enemy attacks.

• Southampton

• At 1623 hours on the 13th August, major damage was caused to the docks and several fires were started in which were involved Pickford's Depository, Raleigh Cycle Works and the cold storage depot at the Old Docks; the latter is understood to be completely destroyed. Casualties so far reported to be very slight.

• Erdington (Birmingham)

• The Nuffield Aeroplane Factory was hit by several bombs reported to have been dropped by 10 Heinkel aircraft at 2310 hours on the 13th. Considerable damage was caused to three blocks of buildings but to what extent is not yet fully known nor is the result on production yet ascertained. Casualties reported to be approximately 30.

• Aerodromes

• It would appear from reports to hand that Detling suffered the most severely. Several buildings were hit - 8 Blenheims are reported to have been destroyed and the casualties are said to be 10 killed and more than 40 injured.
• Andover was also attacked at 1700 hours on the 13th when approximately 12 bombs were dropped. Headquarters offices and officer's quarters were extensively damaged. One aircraft also damaged. The casualties are reported to be 2 killed and 1 injured.

• Eastchurch

• A heavy scale attack was reported and approximately 12 large craters and 6 small ones were made on the aerodrome. Aircraft at dispersal points were undamaged.

• Further reports will be issued as and when details are to hand.

• Casualties on Ground by Enemy Action:

• To RAF Personnel - 12 killed, 41 injured.
• To others - 23 killed, 177 injured.

  Battle of Britain

[CougarGA7]

I tried it too. It didn’t work. I’ll sent the NYT an e-mail. I was really hoping I could read the next issue 6 days early. Guess I’ll have to wait until next Thursday.

[dfwgator]

I could only imagine living in England at that time, having a front-row seat at the dog fights overhead, and literally knowing that the fate of your country was being decided.

[CougarGA7]

Good to see that Chamberlain is out of the hospital. At least now we know what’s wrong with him. An intestinal blockage is probably pretty painful. I’m betting he got it from eating all that crap that Hitler served him.

[CougarGA7]

Here's another picture of the Tautog that, though its not dated, I'd bet is from the same day. The men are now lined up at the back of the ship now and it looks like a PR photo.

[GreenLanternCorps]

Good to see that Chamberlain is out of the hospital. At least now we know what’s wrong with him. An intestinal blockage is probably pretty painful. I’m betting he got it from eating all that crap that Hitler served him.

It's more than a blockage, it's bowel cancer. He'll be dead in three months.

Chamberlain was a good man, who genuinely wanted to prevent war. But he was unprepared to deal with a man like Hitler who actively wanted the death and destruction of a European war.

[CougarGA7]

I forgot NavSource has a tendency of making it appear that a picture is being posted only for it to not show up for others.

Here is a link the the SS 199 that I was talking about.

Tautog

[CougarGA7]

Lol. No sooner did I post that, did it show up again. Oh well, now there is both methods of viewing.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

After I went to the link it this one magically started working too. Computer juju.

Here's another picture of the Tautog that, though its not dated, I'd bet is from the same day.

Maybe even the same 10 minute period. That could be the same vessel moving in the background, just a short distance farther along. The wind direction looks to be identical, too. It looks like the crew formed up aft as normal, then somebody remembered the CIC would be conducting his review from ashore and so they moved closer. The photographer was set up in the same spot in both picture.

[CougarGA7]

That’s what I was thinking too. The Times picture is not clear enough to really tell for sure, but I also think that may be the same ship behind the sub. If that’s the case it’s moved only a few hundred yards or so between the pictures. The angle of the photo is definitely identical.

[BroJoeK]

"Stronger Nazi Beer Gives Joy to Berlin – 3"

Not certain what "malt content" refers to exactly, but presumably some relation to alcohol:

• increased "grain" (wheat?) production reduces the need for barley in bread.
• more barley for beer means a higher "malt content" -- here increased from 6% to 10%.
• more malt no doubt means more alcohol.

The articled notes that at the end of the First World War, malt content fell to 3% and:

"spirits of the beer drinkers of that period likewise reached an all-time low."

Of course, Hitler blamed Germany's defeat on a "stab in the back" by the Jews.
But I suspect the real reason is right here: 3% beer.
No self-respecting German would fight for that. ;-)