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1937   (SUNDAY) 

NEW ZEALAND: Pan American Airways Sikorsky S-42B flying boat "Samoan Clipper," msn 4207, registered NC16734, arrives in Auckland after flying from San Francisco, California, USA, via Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, Kingman Reef and Samoa, a distance of about 5,996 nautical miles (11 104 kilometers). [Kingman Reef is located about 799 nautical miles (1 480 kilometers) south of Honolulu.] The return flight is scheduled for tomorrow but due to weather, it is postponed until 2 January 1938.

December 26th, 1939(TUESDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM:

RAF Coastal Command: A squadron of completely trained Royal Australian Air Force personnel disembarked at Pembroke, Wales, for service with the Coastal Command. Number 10 Squadron are equipped with Sunderland flying boats. They are the first Dominion air force unit to be committed to active service in the European war. Australia's air minister J V Fairbairn, told them: "Australia is confident that you will play your part in whatever spheres you may be called upon to serve."

The squadron was formed on 1 July, 1939 in Australia. A detachment of the squadron was sent to England to pick up six Sunderland Mk. 1 flying boats and fly them back to Australia. With the outbreak of war, the Australian War Cabinet offered the squadron for active service in the U.K.

All vessels of the Royal Australian Navy have been placed under British orders since the start of the war, and in September the Australian government decided that a 20,000 strong force, later designated the 6th Division, 2nd Australian Imperial Force, was to be created for service either at home or abroad. Earlier this month an advance party was sent to Palestine under the command of Lieutenant-General Thomas Blamey.

 

RAF Bomber Command: Daylight anti-shipping sweep over North Sea. 77 Sqn. Two aircraft. No enemy shipping sighted. 102 Sqn. Two aircraft. No enemy shipping sighted.

The Royal Navy starts laying a mine barrier from the Moray Firth to the Thames Estuary.

Destroyer HMS Legion launched.

Destroyers HMS Porcupine, Petard and Penn laid down.

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