Australia’s War Diary- July 1940

50 Years Ago …

July 1 – Britain, 250 miles (400km) west of Ushant Is. Just after dawn, Sunderland P9603 (RB-H) of 10 Squadron RAAF captained byF/lt W ‘Hoot’ Gibson, bombs a German submarine just after it has crash dived and the U-boat is heaved back onto the surface. Four more bombs buffet the vessel violently and at the same time HMS Rochester closes in. The Germans abandon ship. It is 10 Squadron’s first confirmed U-boat success and the second achieved by Coastal Command. Credit for sinking the U-26 will be shared between HMS Gladiolus, which had damaged it earlier, and Gibson and his crew.

The English Channel Islands are now completely occupied by the Germans. July 2 – Germany. Hitler orders provisional plans for an invasion of England. The German Supreme Command’s operational orders to the Luftwaffe are: 1. The interdiction of the English Channel to merchant shipping. 2. Destruction of the RAF. July 8-Britain. At 6. 15pm, near Lands End, three Spitfires of 234 Squadron, led by F/Lt Pat Hughes, of Haberfield NSW, attack a lone Junkers Ju 88. It is recorded as the unit’s first kill.

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