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http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1940/nov40/f25nov40.htm

Irgun destroys transport in Haifa

Monday, November 25, 1940 www.onwar.com

In the Mediterranean... The SS Patria is blown up and sunk at the port of Haifa, in Palestine, by members of the Zionist terrorist organization Irgun Zvai Leumi to prevent the use of the ship to deport Palestinian Jews.

Over Britain... The prototype of the De Havilland Mosquito makes its maiden flight from Hatfield, despite limited German air activity over southeast England.

Over Germany... RAF Bomber Command raids Kiel and Wilhelmshaven during the night (October 25-26).

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/month/thismonth/25.htm

November 25th, 1940

UNITED KINGDOM:
RAF Bomber Command: 2 Group: 101 Sqn. attacks the oil refinery at Wanne Eickel. one aircraft makes a crash landing injuring the crew.

The prototype De Havilland D.H. 98 Mosquito, RAF s/n E0234, msn 98001, makes its first flight at Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England, piloted by Geoffrey de Havilland. (Jack McKillop)

Arthur Harris is appointed Deputy Chief of the Air Staff for the RAF.

The first success of mine sweepers against German acoustic mines; three are exploded.

Minesweeping trawler HMS Conquistador sunk in a collision in the Thames Estuary.

Minesweeping trawler HMS Kennymore mined and sunk in a collision in the Thames Estuary. (Dave Shirlaw)

VICHY FRANCE:

On Dupuy’s first visit to Vichy he meets Petain, Darlan, Huntziger and Chevalier over the next 11 days. Petain assures Dupuy that ‘I am obliged officially to maintain the balance between both sides, but you know where my sympathies lie.’

Petain seemed willing to contemplate surrendering colonial bases to the Germans , regarding this as only ‘passive’ collaboration.

GERMANY:

U-92, U-177 laid down. (Dave Shirlaw)

EUROPE:
Bulgaria responds to Soviet pressure and refuses to join the Axis pact.

The German puppet government of Slovakia signs the Tripartite Pact.

PALESTINE: 1,800 Jewish refugees from Germany, Czechoslovakia and Austria, were being transferred from three hulks anchored in Haifa to the French boat Patria with a view to their shipment to Mauritius. The Jewish Agency arranged for saboteurs to put the engines out of working order, but a miscalculation with the explosives results in the sinking of the ship and the death of over 250 people.

CANADA: Corvettes HMCS Cobalt and Orillia commissioned. (Dave Shirlaw)

U.S.A.: The first Martin Model 179, USAAF B-26-MA Marauder, s/n 40-1361, msn 1226, makes its first flight at the Martin Airport in Middle River, Maryland, piloted by William K. Ebel, the chief engineer of the Glenn L. Martin Company. (Jack McKillop)

Walter Lanz releases Knock Knock, an Andy Panda cartoon. One of the characters that debuts is Woody Woodpecker. (Jack McKillop)