Battle of Britain Day 19. At 1.35 PM, 100 German aircraft in 5 groups cross the Straits of Dover and are engaged by 4 Squadrons of British fighters off “Hellfire Corner”. 5 Messerschmitt Bf109s and 2 Heinkel bombers are shot down with the loss of two Spitfires. Luftwaffe wins a significant strategic victory, forcing Royal Navy to withdraw all destroyers from Dover to Portsmouth during daylight, as warships are vulnerable to divebombing by Stukas. Overnight, there is widespread minelaying along the coast and bombing of targets in England, Wales and Scotland.
At 5.57 AM, 80 miles West of Ireland, U-99 sinks British MV Auckland Star (carrying 10,700 tons of general cargo from Australia to Britain via the Panama canal). All 74 crew escape in lifeboats and reach the Irish shore. http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/438.html
740 miles East of Brazil, near the island of Trindade, German and British armed merchant cruisers exchange fire. British HMS Alcantara is hit by 3 shells (2 killed, 7 wonded) while chasing German raider Thor, causing Alcantara to slow down. As Thor turns away to break off, Alcantara hits her with 2 shells (3 killed). Both ships survive and will be repaired. http://www.amhinja.demon.co.uk/archive/Alcantara.htm
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