November 19th, 1940 (TUESDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: RAF Fighter Command: A Bristol Beaufighter Mk I of 604 Squadron, based at Middle Wallop, Hants, claims the first enemy aircraft shot down at night using AI Mk IV radar, a Ju88.RAF Coastal Command: Over the Atlantic a Sunderland flying boat use air-to-surface-vessel (ASV) radio-location gear for the first time to detect a U-boat nearing a convoy.
Corvette HMS Collingwood commissioned.
Corvettes HMS Freesia and Hollyhock commissioned.
GERMANY: Chancellor Adolf Hitler tells Spanish Foreign Minister Serano Suner to make good on an agreement for Spain to attack Gibraltar. This would seal off the Mediterranean and trap British troops in North Africa. But the Spanish dictator, General Francisco Franco, did not want to commit his country to the war, even as he allowed German subs to refuel in Spanish ports and German spies to keep tabs on British naval forces in Gibraltar and he had instructed Suner to stall for time. .
POLAND: Warsaw: The German authorities execute a Pole for throwing bread over the wall of the Jewish ghetto.
SWITZERLAND: The government bans the pro-Nazi Swiss National Movement.
ITALY: Rome: Mussolini addressing Italian authorities blames the war exclusively on England for refusing all of Germany's attempts for a rapprochement.
He is adamant that Italy will defeat Greece despite the British intervention.
GREECE: The Italians are driven back behind the River Kalamas.
RAF No. 80 Squadron, equipped with Gladiator Mk. II biplane fighters, arrives at Trikkala from Egypt. This is the third RAF squadron to arrive in Greece.
EGYPT: Four Gladiator Mk. II biplane fighters of the Australian No. 3 Squadron, based at Mersa Matruh, are attacked by 18 Italian CR-42 Falco biplane fighters. The RAAF pilots claim six Italian aircraft shot down with the loss of one Gladiator and its pilot.
U.S.A.: The US Navy places a production contract for the Consolidated PB2Y Coronado, flying boat. In all 210 are built.
ATLANTIC OCEAN: At 0051hrs Kptlt Schepke on U-100 sighted a British convoy. Three hours later U-47 reached the reported convoy and fired five torpedoes, but all missed.
ARCTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-104 reports for the last time today when about 84 nautical miles (155 kilometers) west of Bergen, Norway, in approximate position 60.30N, 02.30E. She is never heard from again and all 47 crewmen are listed as lost. There is a possibility that she was lost to mines from minefield SN 44 which was laid on 8 November northwest of Tory Island as her last reported position was very close to that field.