June 5th, 1941 (THURSDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: London: Speaking at the Labour Party's annual conference, MP, Manny Shinwell says: 'Roosevelt">Roosevelt's statement on our shipping losses did not disclose all the facts. It was a triumph of understatement. The position is much worse than he said. Unless we can speedily repair our vessels ... and replace ships lost ... I do not know whether victory is within sight, because ultimate victory rests upon the inviobility of seapower.'SYRIA: Three British Blenheims raid Aleppo airfield, where a number of Italian CR.42 fighters and SM.79 transport aircraft had been observed. One aircraft and a hangar were demolished. Three French Morane 406 fighters tried in vain to ward off the attack.
PALESTINE: General Wilson directs that Maj-Gen Lavarack and HQ 1st Australian Corps will take over the direction of the Syrian campaign after Damascus and Beirut have been secured. Until then, Wilson proposes to command the invasion himself from the King David Hotel in Jerusalem. Brig Rowell (Australian BGGS in Palestine) protests that this is not feasible and that 1st Aust Corps should command the invasion from the start. Wilson disagrees but later events will force the adoption of Rowell’s proposal.
Anticipating this, HQ 1 Aust Corps moves to Nazareth. (Michael Alexander)
CANADA: Corvettes
HMCS Buctouche and Sherbrooke are
commissioned.
U.S.A.: Washington: The Roosevelt">Roosevelt administration asks Congress for $10,400 million for defence spending in 1942, in the army appropriation. [This is equivalent to US $ 122.4 billion in Year 2000 dollars ]
ATLANTIC OCEAN: