October 3rd, 1940 (THURSDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: Battle of Britain:There is rain and drizzle in the Channel with visibility down to 500 yards (457 meters) in places. During the day, London and the Midlands appear to be the main objectives of the Luftwaffe but mention must be made of the number of aerodromes that have been attacked. St Eval Aerodrome appears to have received most damage. A single Ju 88 hits the de Havilland factory at Hatfield, destroying the Technical School and assembly shop where much of the work for the early Mosquitoes was promptly destroyed, before the bomber was brought down by light AA. Slight damage is done to the BBC Station at Tatsfield. The main hangar at General Aircraft's Feltham works, where Hurricanes were being repaired, was damaged. During the night German activity is on a very much smaller scale by comparison with raids of previous nights. London is visited and also the South East of England, but there is no report of the Midlands or the North having been bombed. RAF Fighter Command made no claims and none of their aircraft are lost.
RAF Bomber Command: Seven RAF bombers make daylight raids on Rotterdam, Dunkirk and Cherbourg. Last night 81 bombed targets in Germany, Eindhoven airfield and the Channel ports.
Westminster: Chamberlain resigns on grounds of ill health as Lord President of the [British] Council stating that ". . . it has become evident to me that it will still be a long time before I could hope to be able to perform the duties which are essential for a member of the War Cabinet."Kingsley-Wood and Ernest Bevin join the war cabinet.
Herbert Morrison today becomes Home Secretary and Minister of Home Security. He announces plans to install a million bunks and sanitation in the shelters and tube stations of London.
Corvette HMS Hyacinth commissioned.
Corvette HMS Freesia launched.
VICHY FRANCE: Jews are banned from public employment and the army.
GERMANY: U-76 launched.
POLAND: Warsaw: All Jews are ordered to move into the Jewish district.
CANADA: Minesweeper HMCS Clayoquot launched Prince Rupert, British Columbia.
Minesweeper HMCS Rimouski launched Lauzon, Province of Quebec.
U.S.A.: Baseball.
Navy Department orders all dependents in the Far East be sent home. Hart ordered to keep this secret.
Lieutenant-Colonel George Patton is promoted to general. (Marc James Small)