R. A. F. BOMBS BERLIN AND NORTH ITALY; CHURCHILL ASKS FRENCH TO AID BRITAIN (10/22/40)

Microfiche-New York Times archives, Monterey Public Library | 10/22/40 | Raymond Daniell, James B. Reston

[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 Mediterranean Basin (Map 33)
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]

Gordon W. Prange, At Dawn We Slept

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Raids Hit at Axis – 2
2D ‘Freedom’ Station in Reich Herd Here – 2
The International Situation – 3
Briton Broadcasts – 4
Nazis Ban All War News from 11 P.M. to 6 A.M. – 4
Text of Churchill’s Talk to French – 5
Nazis Widen Raids on British Plants – 6
The Texts of the Day’s Communiques on the War – 7-8

[iowamark]

Accommodations in the West of England for the “Black Move”?

Was the "Black Move" a plan for the evacuation of London?

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1940/oct40/f22oct40.htm

Luftwaffe raids weakening

Tuesday, October 22, 1940 www.onwar.com

Over Britain... The shortest night raid since the beginning of “The Blitz” is recorded. A large department store is destroyed in the attack.

In Italian East Africa... South African air force planes attack Birikau for the fifth time.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/month/thismonth/22.htm

October 22nd, 1940

UNITED KINGDOM: Battle of Britain: In foggy weather, five German crashes lead to the loss of several senior officers.
Losses: Luftwaffe, 11; RAF, 5.

FRANCE: Montoire: Hitler discusses France’s role in Europe’s “new order” with the vice-premier, Pierre Laval.

GERMANY: Rhineland: 5,000 German Jews are deported to camps in France.

U-68 launched.

U-108 commissioned. (Dave Shirlaw)

RED SEA: Italian destroyer ‘Nullo’ is destroyed as she lies aground by RAF Blenheims.

U.S.A.: Richardson protests the unreality of the existing War Plans to Stark.

The USAAC ordered that the national star insignia was to be (1) placed on the fuselage and (2) removed from the top of the right wing and the bottom of the left wing. The USAAC also ordered that rudder stripes were to be removed. (Jack McKillop)

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Canadian destroyer HMCS Margaree is lost in collision with merchantman SS Port Fairy as she escorts Liverpool-out convoy OL8 450 miles to the west of Ireland at 53 24N, 22 50E. Cut in half the forward half of the ship sinks immediately, the after half remaining afloat is eventually sunk by gunfire from the Port Fairy. She sinks with 142 casualties, but 31 crew survive. Compounding the tragedy, 86 of those lost are survivors of the Fraser disaster. Margaree is the second destroyer lost due to collision within four months. This is the last of the short lived fast OLs from Liverpool. (Alex Gordon)(108)

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://worldwar2daybyday.blogspot.com/

Day 418 October 22, 1940

Battle of Britain Day 105. Widespread fog in the morning restricts Luftwaffe to reconnaissance flights. In the afternoon, fog clears to rain and Luftwaffe sends 2 fighter sweeps, 1 over Kent and 1 over Southeast London and Thames Estuary (3 Bf109s shot down, 6 REF fighters shot down with 4 pilots killed). 2 minesweeping trawler hits mines and sink. HMT Joseph Button sinks 6 miles off Aldeburgh, Suffolk, (5 killed) and HMT Hickory sinks in the English Channel, South of Weymouth (24 killed). Night bombing of London is light but Liverpool is attacked and Coventry is heavily bombed from 8-10 PM, starting 150 fires and causing much damage.

Canadian destroyer HMCS Margaree, escorting convoy OL-8, collides with freighter Port Fairy 300 miles West of Ireland and sinks (142 crew lost, 34 rescued by Port Fairy). HMCS Margaree had previously been in the Royal Navy as HMS Diana and had been commissioned into the Canadian Navy on September 6. Most of the crew had survived the sinking of destroyer HMCS Fraser on June 25 after a collision with cruiser HMS Calcutta.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Was the "Black Move" a plan for the evacuation of London?

Only of "essential" civil servants. See the the first memo on reply #4 from September 14 for Churchill's explanation.

September 14 thread

[iowamark]

Thank you.

[CougarGA7]

Battle of Britain Campaign Diary

Date: 22nd October 1940

• Weather: Widespread fog in the south, clearing to rain later.
• Day: Quiet morning and afternoon.
• Night: London, Coventry and Liverpool attacked.

  Enemy action by day

  Enemy activity was confined principally to limited coastal reconnaissances in the forenoon, with slightly increased activity later in the day, due to better weather conditions. It culminated in two fighter sweeps, one over Kent and the other toward South-East London and the Estuary.

  Inter-communication irregularities, referred to in yesterday's report, continued to affect the reports of plottings over the eastern half of the South Coast. Our fighters destroyed three enemy fighters, plus one damaged. We lost six aircraft but only four pilots.

  Main Attacks

  At 1425 hours a formation of 30 enemy aircraft crossed the coast at Dungeness and flew towards Redhill and Kenley, where it circled. Three other raids totalling 40 remained in the Straits: of these 9 aircraft eventually flew to North Foreland and Hornchurch passing over two convoys. Both formations turned South and the area was clear by 1520 hours.

  At 1615 hours one raid of 18 aircraft again made a landfall at Dungeness while 4 other raids amounting to 60+ aircraft remained in mid-Channel. Those crossing the coast pursued a course for Hornchurch finally turning South to Biggin Hill, re-crossing the Coast at about 1655 hours.

  Eight fighter squadrons were despatched to meet these attacks.

  Reconnaissances

  North East and East Coast

  Reconnaissances by single aircraft were made in the morning off Berwick and the Wash, the latter flying inland towards Wittering.

  South East Coast

  Up to 1230 hours some 30 tracks were plotted round North Foreland to Beachy Head. In one case a Dornier flew low inland and over Manston.

  Interceptions were much hampered owing to fog and low cloud. Enemy patrols continued in the afternoon, two penetrating inland, one towards Redhill and one towards Northolt.

  Between 1700 and 1730 hours considerable activity developed in the Straits by patrols of from 2 to 6 aircraft but no attack or penetration inland was made.

  South and West Coasts

  A few raids were tracked off the South Coast, while others were plotted off Lands End and Cardigan Bay. Single aircraft also appeared in the North West and in the Midlands.

  Night Operations - 22nd/23rd October 1940

  Raids were on a very much reduced scale. London and the Home Counties, the Midlands, Liverpool and South Wales were attacked.

  1830 Hours to 2100 Hours

  The first enemy aircraft crossed the coast at 1830 hours, and 40 raiders were tracked in up to 1900 hours, coming from France and Holland; thereafter activity slackened. It was noted that several enemy aircraft turned back before reaching the coast. The majority concentrated on London, and the Birmingham-Coventry area; a few raids penetrated to the Liverpool, Bristol and South Wales areas. One attacked a convoy in the Thames Estuary. By the end of the period there were very few new tracks entering the country.

  2100 Hours to 2330 Hours

  Activity continued on a small scale. 11 raids from France and seven from the Scheldt were plotted to London and the environs, one to Bicester and one to Amersham. Three raids visited Liverpool, six were in the Birmingham area, and three in South Wales. At 2330 hours the country was clear of enemy aircraft.

  2330 Hours to 0600 Hours 23/10/40

  At 0038 hours one enemy aircraft left the Scheldt and flew to the Thames Estuary and London, leaving at 0125 hours.

  There was no further activity until 0515 hours, when two raids from Brittany flew to South Wales, and one was plotted over Devon at 0550 hours. These were still in progress at 0600 hours.

  

  ________________________________________

  Statistics

  Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 22nd October 1940

• Blenheim - 40
• Spitfire - 234
• Hurricane - 402
• Defiant - 19
• Gladiator - 7
• Total – 702

  Casualties:

  	Enemy Losses
  	By Fighters – By Day
  Destroyed	Probable	Damaged
  3 Me109	1 Me109	1 Me109
  3	1	1

• Own:

• 6 aircraft with 4 pilots killed or missing.

  Patrols:

• Own

• During the night of 21st / 22nd October - 24 patrols involving 24 aircraft.
• During the day of 22nd October - 70 patrols involving 360 aircraft.

• Enemy

• It is estimated that about 70 enemy aircraft operated over or near our coasts during the day of 22nd October.

  Balloons:

• No report.

  Serviceability of Aerodromes:

• Luton, Gatwick, Debden and Biggin Hill unserviceable owing to fog.

  Organisation:

• No 242 Squadron moved from Coltishall to Duxford.

  Home Security Reports

• General Summary

• Date: 22nd October 1940

• During daylight several small scale bombing attacks were reported in Devon, Sussex, Surrey and Kent. No bombs fell in London.
• After dark the enemy considered London of secondary importance, and launched their main attacks against the Midlands causing considerable damage in Coventry. There were also some minor incidents reported in Essex.

• Detailed Summary

• RAF Stations 22nd October 1940

• Brockworth: Bombs were dropped at 1435 hours on the 21st. One oil bomb fell on the roof of a tool shed and 3 HE fell on the airfield doing no damage. Casualties reported are 2 killed and 32 injured. It is now reported that at 1645 hours on the 16th an enemy aircraft dropped bombs and machine-gunned balloon sites. No Home Office warning was received.
• Coventry: 2 IB were dropped at 1941 hours on the 21st causing no damage.
• Stapleford: One 750lb bomb was dropped at 2030 hours on the 21st. It fell inside the perimeter 100yds from Southern boundary, causing no damage to aircraft or personnel.
• Cranfield: An enemy aircraft attacked the Aerodrome at 0001 hours on the 22nd but was driven off by Lewis gun fire.

• Elsewhere

• Coventry: Raids commenced at 1958 hours and ceased at 2155 hours causing widespread fires and considerable damage. Fires are reported at Cornercroft Ltd, Armstrong Siddeley, Morris Bodies, Smith Molesworth, Coventry Brace Co, Rotherham's Ltd, GEC, LMS Goods Yard, shops and residential property. St Mary's Hall, the Queen's Hotel, and a Public Shelter were hit by HE and a number of people trapped, but all have since been extricated alive. The spare parts department of the Daimler Works was hit, and an unexploded bomb is also suspected. A further unexploded bomb was removed from Riley's and full production resumed. The situation is well in hand and all fires (150) were brought under control by 2200 hours. It is reported that during this raid about two hundred persons have been rendered homeless.
• Birmingham: A few HE were dropped in the City and suburbs at 2100 hours, causing fires and slight damage.
• Eastbourne: One HE and 10 anti-personnel bombs were dropped at 1025 hours, causing 18 casualties of which 2 were fatal. Five houses were demolished and other extensive damage to property caused.
• Folkestone: Attacks were delivered at 1152 hours, 1330 hours and 1616 hours. There were a few casualties, and the gas and water mains were damaged.
• Hull: The 2 parachute mines dropped last night exploded with characteristic results. 10 houses were seriously damaged, 400 damaged in one way and another, and 70 persons injured.
• Windsor Castle: At 1920 hours on the 22nd one oil bomb and a suspected unexploded bomb fell in the grounds 300yds South of the Castle, near Frogmore House. No damage and no casualties.
• Seal: At 1500 hours on the 22nd an officer was attempting to remove the fuse from an unexploded bomb which fell about three weeks ago, when it exploded, and no trace of him has since been found.

• The following roads are now open:

• Chelsea Embankment.
• Gunnersbury Avenue.
• Cheapside.
• Baker Street, at York Street.
• Whitechapel High Street.
• Watford By-pass.

• Enemy Shelling

• Between 0750 and 0904 hours Dover was again shelled. Two shells fell on the land and one in the sea. Thirty houses were slightly damaged and four persons slightly injured. Road A259 to Folkestone is partially blocked but is reported to be available for single line traffic.

  Battle of Britain