1890 (SATURDAY)
FRANCE: Charles de Gaulle is born in Lille but grows up and is educated in Paris.
1935 (THURSDAY)
UNITED STATES: Pan American Airways commences the first trans-Pacific airmail service, flying the Martin M.130 "China Clipper" from Alameda, California, to Manila, Philippine Islands, via Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii; Midway Island; Wake Island; and Guam. About 125,000 people witness the take-off from Alameda. The clipper arrives in Manila on 29 November carrying 110,000 letters and arrives back in Alameda on 6 December carrying 98,000 letters.
1938 (TUESDAY)
FINLAND: The Finnish government dissolves the Patriotic People's Movement (Isänmaallinen kansanliike or IKL), an organization which serves as the spearhead for fascism in the republic. (Jack McKillop and Mikko Härmeineen)
November 22nd, 1939 (WEDNESDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM:A national savings scheme is launched under the slogan "Lend to Defend the Right to be Free."
Navicerts, warrants first issued in 1915 to neutral ships carrying cargoes not harmful to the Allies are reintroduced.
Shoeburyness: At dawn Lieutenant-Commanders Lewis and Ouvry are to defuse an new type of German mine found on this beach. Chief Petty Officer Baldwin and Able Seaman Vearncombe, have brought with them non-magnetic tools to defuse the mine. Ouvry and Baldwin now made their way out to the mine, realising that they had to make it safe before the tide covered it once more. There was also the fear that the mine might be acoustic, and so they had to approach it very gingerly. One detonator and then another were identified and carefully removed, the second ticking very loudly. Luckily for them the clock had jammed. It had been designed to activate the mine hydrostatically when it settled on the seabed.
Once made safe and towed ashore by tractor the mine was taken to HMS Vernon, the Royal Navy's Mine and Torpedo School at Portsmouth.
RAF Fighter Command: reports an unknown number of enemy aircraft attacking shipping in the Shetland area. 1 RAF seaplane is set on fire. 1 enemy aircraft is spotted and off the S.E. coast and shot down by A.A. gunfire.
Minesweeping trawler HMS Aragonite mined in the English Channel off Deal.
Corvette HMS Hydrangea laid down.
Destroyer ORP Kujawiak (ex-HMS Oakley) laid down.
GIBRALTAR: U.S. freighter SS Exmouth is detained at Gibraltar by British authorities.
U.S.A.: Submarine USS Gudgeon laid down.
The USN's miscellaneous auxiliary USS Bear (AG-29) departs Boston, Massachusetts, as part of the U.S. Antarctic Service to investigate and survey the land and sea areas of Antarctica. Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd, USN (Retired) commands this expedition.
ATLANTIC OCEAN: