British Military Aviation in 1940 - Part 3

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3 June
The Luftwaffe bombs communications and airfields in the Paris area.

The evacuation of Allied forces from Narvik in Norway begins

Headquarters of No.71 Wing, Advanced Air Striking Force, moves to the Marseilles area to prepare two airfields for use by RAF Bomber Command aircraft for attacks on Italian targets, should Italy enter the Second World War.

4 June
Operation Dynamo comes to an end. Commenting on Dunkirk, Prime Minister Winston Churchill says, "Wars are not won by evacuation but there was a victory inside this deliverance, which should be noted. It was gained by the Air Force."

6 June
Inspired by the success of the Luftwaffe's airborne forces in Norway and France, the Prime Minister called for the creation of "a corps of at least 5,000 parachute troops."

7 June
A converted Farman NC2234 civilian transport aircraft (F-AIRN 'Jules Verne'), operated by French Navy squadron B5, bombs Berlin. This is the first Allied air raid on the German capital during the Second World War, and the only such raid to be carried out on Berlin before France falls. According to one account of this raid, the aircrew threw incendiary bombs out of the passenger entry door. One enraged French airman even went so far as to pull his shoes off and throw them out as well!

8 June
The Royal Air Force (RAF) contingent is evacuated from Norway. In the early hours of 8 June, the ten surviving Gloster Gladiators and seven Hawker Hurricanes of No.263 and No.46 Squadrons are embarked upon the aircraft carrier HMS Glorious, the first time that either the Hurricanes or their pilots have landed on a carrier deck. Despite this, the landings are carried out without undue difficulty.

During the return journey the Glorious and her escorting destroyers Ardent and Acasta are sighted at 1545hrs on the afternoon of 8 June by the German battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau. After a gallant struggle, during which the Scharnhorst is damaged by a torpedo from the Acasta, all three Royal Navy warships are sunk. A total of 1,519 British personnel lose their lives, and of the Royal Air Force airmen aboard Glorious, only two, Squadron Leader Cross and Flight Lieutenant Jameson, survive.

9 June
Norway surrenders to Germany.

10 June
Italy declares war on the Allies.

11 June
The Italian Air Force (the Regia Aeronautica) carries out its first operation against the Royal Air Force of the Second World War. 35 Savoia Marchetti SM79 Sparviero (Hawk) bombers, escorted by Macchi MC200 Saetta (Lightning) fighters, attack the airfield at Hal Far and the seaplane base at Kalafrana in Malta. One Italian aircraft is damaged by defending Gloster Sea Gladiators.

26 Bristol Blenheims from Nos. 44, 55 and 113 Squadrons, operating from Egypt, attack the Italian airfield at El Adem in Libya.

Operation Haddock: a detachment from No.99 Squadron, RAF Bomber Command, arrive at the airfield at Salon near Marseilles to commence bombing operations against Italy. The Haddock detachment attempts to mount its first operation on the night of 11/12 June; however, disagreements between the British and French High Commands with regard to the policy of attacking Italy lead to the runway being blocked by French lorries!

11 June
36 Armstrong Whitworth Whitleys of Nos. 10, 51, 77 and 102 Squadrons make the first attack on Italy. The aircraft operate from the United Kingdom, refuelling in the Channel Islands. Due to bad weather, only thirteen attack Turin and Genoa with two aircraft failing to return.

12 June
In a desperate attempt to support French troops fighting in Normandy, a further two divisions (the 52nd Lowland Division and the 1st Canadian Division) are landed at Cherbourg.

14 June
German forces enter Paris, which had been declared an open city.

15 June
Following the events of 11-12 June, RAF Bomber Command aircraft in France mount their first operation against an Italian target. Vickers Wellingtons of No.99 and No.149 Squadrons take off from Salon en route to Genoa, however, due to violent thunderstorms only one aircraft attacks the target. The final attack by the Haddock force is mounted on the following night, 22 Wellingtons are despatched with fourteen aircraft bombing the target.

16 June
The Night Interception Committee decides to form a ground radio interception unit, to work in collaboration with specialist aircraft to investigate German navigation aids, with a view to developing radio counter-measures (RCM). This decision marks the beginning of RCM development in the United Kingdom.

17 June
The French Government asks for an armistice.

The last British Army formations in France are evacuated via Cherbourg. When the last ship sails from the port at 1600hrs in the afternoon of 18 June, a total of 160,000 British and Allied troops and more than 300 guns have been embarked.

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