World Aviation in 1941 - Part 2

Part 1

September
The first operational use of Soviet Polikarpov U2 biplanes as 'night harassment bombers'.

14 September
Messerschmitt Me321 heavy assault transport gliders (sailplanes) of Staffel [GS] 1 are used for the first time in an operational air assault on Saaremaa island in the Baltic, as part of an attempt to capture the fort of Kübarsaare.

16 September
The Luftwaffe begins leaflet raids on Leningrad, threatening immediate destruction unless the city surrenders.

23 September
A Junkers Ju87 pilot, Oberleutnant Hans-Ulrich Rudel, succeeds in hitting the 26,170 ton Soviet battleship Marat at Kronstadt with a 1,000 kilo bomb. The ship is badly damaged and sinks in shallow water in what is probably the greatest success achieved by a dive bomber pilot in the Second World War.

30 September
The Luftwaffe claims to have destroyed more than 4,500 Soviet aircraft since the opening of hostilities.

2 October
The third prototype of the Messerschmitt Me163A rocket fighter, piloted by Heini Dittmar, achieves a speed of 1,004kph (623mph), an unofficial world speed record that remains a secret until the end of the war.

30 October
A Consolidated B24 Liberator, with Major Alva L. Harvey at the controls, completes a round-the world flight, carrying personnel of the Harriman Mission.

1 December
The United States Civil Air Patrol is established to make use of American civilian pilots and their aircraft for wartime duties.

7 December
The principal United States Naval Base in the Pacific, at Pearl Harbour in Hawaii, is attacked by Japanese carrier-borne aircraft at 0755hrs local time (1825hrs GMT). On the evening of 7 December, it is announced in Tokyo that Japan is at war with the United States and Britain.

8 December
The United States declares war on Japan.

8 December
Following heavy air attacks on Royal Air Force (RAF) bases in Malaya and Singapore, the Japanese invade northern Malaya. The United Kingdom declares war on Japan.

10 December
After a heavy air attack on Cavite naval base in the Philippines Japan begins small amphibious landings at Aparri and Vigan in Northern Luzon.

10 December
United States Army Air Force (USAAF) Boeing B17 Flying Fortress bombers, operating from the Philippines, attack Japanese shipping. This is the first American air offensive action of the Second World War.

11 December
Germany and Italy declare war on the United States.

18 December
Following the destruction of his fifth Japanese aircraft over the Philippines Lieutenant 'Buzz' Wagner of the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) becomes the first American 'ace' of the Second World War.

20 December
The German Air Ministry instructs work to begin on the Amerika-Bomber project, with the intention of developing a bomber with transatlantic capability.

28 December
Australian National Airlines begins evacuation of civilians from Rabaul in the Solomon Islands.

Also this year...
The Russian Ilyushin Il-2 becomes the first aircraft to be armed with air-to-ground rockets.

Part 1