UNITED KINGDOM: RAF Bomber Command: 4 Group (Whitley). Bombing - oil targets at Gelsenkirchen and Dorsten. 58 Sqn. Six aircraft. All bombed from low-level (2 - 8,000 feet). Severe opposition. 77 Sqn. Two aircraft. Both bombed, one badly damaged by Flak. 102 Sqn. Four aircraft. Extremely severe opposition, one FTR.

Churchill makes his first broadcast as Prime Minister, calling Nazism "the foulest and most soul-destroying tyranny that has ever darkened and stained the pages of history."

NORWEGIAN CAMPAIGN: (Mark Horan) At 0800 the three carriers were at position 70.27N, 15.47E, but weather conditions were such that no operations could be flown on this date. At 1115 word arrived that Bardufoss would be ready to receive the Gladiators of 263 Squadron on HMS Furious on 22 May, while Skaanland landing ground would not be ready for 46 Squadrons Hurricanes on HMS Glorious until 26 May.

On her first patrol, U-122 transported material to Trondheim during the Norwegian campaign - one 88-mm Flak with ammunition, some bombs, 90 cbm (some 750 barrels) fuel for aircraft and motor oil.

The Wehrmacht High Command announced:

The Luftwaffe has effectively supported the Army advance. Its main stress has continued to be on the enemy's rear communications, traffic installations and paths of retreat. Bombs dropped on several airfields destroyed hangars, repair sheds and aircraft on the ground.

The Germans today have a pause and re-organisation. Because of this, "enemy pressure against us was not very strong", as Billotte declared in the afternoon to Georges, and his armies carried out the withdrawal decided upon the day before without much difficulty. The Belgian Army took up positions on the canal at Terneuzen (between Terneuzen and Ghent) and on the Escaut as far as Audenarde. The British Army withdrew to the Escaut between Audendarde and the French frontier (Maulde), and the First Army to the Escaut at Conde, Valenciennes and Bouchain.

Further, on the extreme right of No. 1 Army Group, the British formed a hooked defence line facing south, in the triangle formed by Arras, Doullens, and Saint-Pol, to protect their lines of communication. The mechanised divisions of the French Cavalry Corps were ordered to re-group on the right flank of the BEF in the Arras-Douai area.

The only French offensive action is an attack by 4 Armoured Div., towards the Serre, 9 miles to the north. Colonel de Gaulle started the action at dawn with the intention of seizing the bridges at Pouilly, Crecy, and Mortiers, and cutting the Germans route to La Fere.

Meeting no opposition at first, the armoured division only came to grips with the Germans at the Serre, the crossings of which were heavily defended by Germans, supported by heavy artillery. Without infantry and sufficient artillery, the division was incapable of forcing a crossing.

GERMANY: U-357 laid down.