on which we can help our Greek allies."
The operation is given the code name Compass.
In the Atlantic, U-31 earns the distinction of being sunk for the second (and this time, final) time, by the destroyer HMS Antelope with help from Coastal Command aircraft. She was sunk for the first time on March 11th by an RAF Blenheim bomber.
As the output of Spitfires continues to reach the squadrons, the FAA Goshawks have been stood down in the north of England to be replaced by regular RAF formations; in the south the Hurricanes are being withdrawn - it is intended to send these to the RAF in the Middle East. The navy is happy with the new arrangements, as it needs the planes for the new escort carriers arriving during the winter and spring, and the constant operations, while increasing the combat expertise of the more experienced pilots, has left the training of some of the fresh replacements lacking in some of the specialist skills the Navy needs, like navigation.
However on a far more controversial note, the RAF announces (internally), that Court-Martial proceedings will commence against the first two of the pilots who left their desk jobs without permission to fly Goshawks to defend the North. As usual, although supposedly secret, this information spreads rapidly through the RAF.
3rd November
HMS Furious is loaded with Hurricanes for shipment to the Middle East. She will sail with the next Gibraltar convoy and then continue to West Africa. It is intended to make at least two more of these runs to build up fighter strength in the Middle East. Meanwhile Hurricanes are being crated up for the longer voyage around the cape, to go with the next troop and equipment convoy to Egypt.
In addition, Wellington bombers are to be staged through Malta. These planes have been squeezed out of a reluctant Bomber command, who wanted them for bombing raids over Germany. Coastal command is also requesting more Wellingtons to help in convoy protection.
5th November
Franklin D. Roosevelt is reelected President for a third term, his new vice-president is Henry A Wallace. He wins a resounding victory over Wendell Wilkie, receiving 27,200,000 votes to Wilkie's 22,300,000, gaining a majority in 39 of the 48 states of the Union
In the UK, the decision by the Air Ministry to court-martial two officers is causing massive opposition both inside the RAF and outside it. The squadrons themselves are appalled; as one squadron commander put it, 'punishing an officer who left his desk to defend his country in the air is against all the tradition we have been trying to impart to our pilots'. Most of the comments are less printable. The Navy and Army watch with bemusement. While officially the officers were in the wrong, they cannot understand how anything other than a reprimand is suitable. Unfortunately for the Air Marshals, the news of the action reaches Churchill, not through channels but oddly via Lord Beaverbrook (whose son is a serving pilot in a frontline squadron). Churchill's reaction is reported to be 'volcanic'.
Inside the Air Ministry, an attempt to close ranks comes to grief when Dowding is asked to approve the action. He replies that he is no longer in charge of Fighter Command, personally thinks the action deplorable (pointing out he himself begged for the officers concerned to be allowed to do officially what they did without orders), then calmly announces that as he is no longer in their line of command, he has offered to stand as Prisoners Friend (in civilian terms, the defence council) for the first officer charged. One of the Air Ministry Air Marshalls goes so far as to call this treasonous. Dowding merely regards him calmly, and then suggests that if they wish, he will resign. And stand as Prisoners Friend.
In North Africa, the Free French have been having talks with Wavell. They are aware of his shortage of aircraft, and have offered the use of two Squadrons of US-built Martin Maryland bombers. These were purchased as part of
The operation is given the code name Compass.
In the Atlantic, U-31 earns the distinction of being sunk for the second (and this time, final) time, by the destroyer HMS Antelope with help from Coastal Command aircraft. She was sunk for the first time on March 11th by an RAF Blenheim bomber.
As the output of Spitfires continues to reach the squadrons, the FAA Goshawks have been stood down in the north of England to be replaced by regular RAF formations; in the south the Hurricanes are being withdrawn - it is intended to send these to the RAF in the Middle East. The navy is happy with the new arrangements, as it needs the planes for the new escort carriers arriving during the winter and spring, and the constant operations, while increasing the combat expertise of the more experienced pilots, has left the training of some of the fresh replacements lacking in some of the specialist skills the Navy needs, like navigation.
However on a far more controversial note, the RAF announces (internally), that Court-Martial proceedings will commence against the first two of the pilots who left their desk jobs without permission to fly Goshawks to defend the North. As usual, although supposedly secret, this information spreads rapidly through the RAF.
3rd November
HMS Furious is loaded with Hurricanes for shipment to the Middle East. She will sail with the next Gibraltar convoy and then continue to West Africa. It is intended to make at least two more of these runs to build up fighter strength in the Middle East. Meanwhile Hurricanes are being crated up for the longer voyage around the cape, to go with the next troop and equipment convoy to Egypt.
In addition, Wellington bombers are to be staged through Malta. These planes have been squeezed out of a reluctant Bomber command, who wanted them for bombing raids over Germany. Coastal command is also requesting more Wellingtons to help in convoy protection.
5th November
Franklin D. Roosevelt is reelected President for a third term, his new vice-president is Henry A Wallace. He wins a resounding victory over Wendell Wilkie, receiving 27,200,000 votes to Wilkie's 22,300,000, gaining a majority in 39 of the 48 states of the Union
In the UK, the decision by the Air Ministry to court-martial two officers is causing massive opposition both inside the RAF and outside it. The squadrons themselves are appalled; as one squadron commander put it, 'punishing an officer who left his desk to defend his country in the air is against all the tradition we have been trying to impart to our pilots'. Most of the comments are less printable. The Navy and Army watch with bemusement. While officially the officers were in the wrong, they cannot understand how anything other than a reprimand is suitable. Unfortunately for the Air Marshals, the news of the action reaches Churchill, not through channels but oddly via Lord Beaverbrook (whose son is a serving pilot in a frontline squadron). Churchill's reaction is reported to be 'volcanic'.
Inside the Air Ministry, an attempt to close ranks comes to grief when Dowding is asked to approve the action. He replies that he is no longer in charge of Fighter Command, personally thinks the action deplorable (pointing out he himself begged for the officers concerned to be allowed to do officially what they did without orders), then calmly announces that as he is no longer in their line of command, he has offered to stand as Prisoners Friend (in civilian terms, the defence council) for the first officer charged. One of the Air Ministry Air Marshalls goes so far as to call this treasonous. Dowding merely regards him calmly, and then suggests that if they wish, he will resign. And stand as Prisoners Friend.
In North Africa, the Free French have been having talks with Wavell. They are aware of his shortage of aircraft, and have offered the use of two Squadrons of US-built Martin Maryland bombers. These were purchased as part of
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