May 3rd, 1940 (FRIDAY)
FRANCE:
A Bf109 is captured intact by the RAF. They evaluate it in France fighting mock combats against a Hurricane of 1 Sqn. RAF pilots report the Bf109 as having excellent rearward vision and is unquestionably faster than the Hurricane at high altitude. To offset this, the Hurricane is more manoeuvrable and slightly faster on the deck. After the evaluation the Messerschmitt is flown to Boscombe Down with a heavy escort.GERMANY: Hitler
puts off the date for Fall Gelb until May 6 on account of the weather.In a speech to officer candidates
Hitler asserts:
"The earth is a challenge cup. It is
a challenge cup that passes into the hands of those peoples who deserve it, who
prove themselves strong enough in their struggle for existence, who secure the
basis for their own existence. It is a challenge cup that is taken from those
peoples who become weak, who are not willing, at the risk of the life of one
generation, to secure the life of later generations. ... Strength determines
right on this soil.
... Peoples who start to lose this strength are no longer healthy and therefore
lose their right to this earth" (258 p.
196).
NORWEGIAN CAMPAIGN:
Retiring northwest from Namsos, Tribal class destroyer HMS AFRIDI and the French destroyer 'BISON' are sunk by Ju87s in the Norwegian Sea at 66 14N, 05 45E. The destroyers were protecting a convoy transporting troops withdrawing from Namsos. None of the troop transports are hit and two German planes are shot down. A large number of both crews are rescued, including Captain P L Vian of the AFRIDI. Previously he was captain of her sister ship, HMS Cossack, of Altmark rescue fame. But casualties include 49 crew, 13 soldiers from the York and Lancaster Regiment and more than 30 survivors from the BISON. (Alex Gordon)(108)ASW trawlers HMS ASTON VILLA, HMS GAUL and HMS ST. GORAN are bombed and sunk off Norway.
All Allied troops are evacuated except for a small force at Narvik.
The RAF continues bombing of strategic German airfields in Norway and Denmark.
The two carriers arrive at Scapa at 1030. HMS Glorious hastily refuels and then departs at 1630 bound for Greenock, flying off 803 Squadron en-route (including the single unused Roc she had acquired on 30 April). HMS Ark Royal also refuels and re-provisions, while Ark sends off her five Rocs to RNAS Hatston. (Mark Horan)SWEDEN: Stockholm: Intensive and highly secret diplomatic talks are taking place between Sweden and Germany for the safe return of Sweden’s crown jewels and gold reserves, which were taken by train for safe-keeping in Oslo six months ago. Sweden believed that it was under threat from its old antagonist Russia, or from Germany which coveted its iron ore reserves.
Many believe that the principal bargaining lever is permission for German troops to cross neutral Sweden into Norway and an assurance that ore supplied to Germany will not be cut.
U.S.A.: The motion picture "Saps At Sea" is released in the U.S. Directed by Gordon Douglas, the film stars Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. While working in a horn factory, Ollie has a breakdown and attempts to relax sailing on a small boat with Stan.
GREENLAND: The government appeals to the USA for military protection.