#OnThisDay 1944
On September 21, 1944, the 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade some 1,568 men under Major General Stanisław Sosabowski finally dropped near Driel on the south bank of the Lower Rhine.
This was directly across from the 1st Airborne's shrinking perimeter at Arnhem.
They were supposed to have dropped on September 19 but had been delayed by weather and British bureaucracy. Landing under fire and with 20% casualties in the drop itself.
The Poles found themselves separated from the surrounded 1st Airborne by the broad, fast-flowing Lower Rhine with no boats available for a crossing.
A handful of men swam the river at night.
The drop that was intended to reinforce Arnhem instead watched helplessly from the wrong bank as the 1st Airborne was destroyed piece by piece.
#WWII #Aviation #MilitaryHistory #PolishParatroopers #Sosabowski #Arnhem #MarketGarden #BridgeTooFar
#OnThisDay 1940
September 15, 1940 is commemorated as Battle of Britain Day because it was the climax of the entire campaign.
The Luftwaffe launched two massive waves of over 200 aircraft in the first and over 300 in the second against London.
Churchill visited Air Vice-Marshal Park's 11 Group operations room at Uxbridge and watched as every available RAF squadron was scrambled, each light on the board moving from 'available' to 'engaging enemy.'
When all the lights were on, Churchill turned to Park: 'What other reserves do we have?'
Park replied: 'There are none, sir.' The Luftwaffe was met by 31 RAF squadrons; 60 German aircraft were shot down for 31 RAF losses.
The RAF claimed 185 kills which was an exaggeration, but the psychological effect was enormous.
Two days later, Hitler postponed Operation Sea Lion indefinitely.
#WWII #Aviation #MilitaryHistory #BattleOfBritain #BattleOfBritainDay #Churchill #RAFvsLuftwaffe #11Group
Unleash your inner rebel with our newest collection! Explore our bold tees that shout untamed attitude and embrace all things grumpy. Express your unique style and leave others wondering. Head over to https://t.co/LxCt6IzZFD to shop today!
#OnThisDay 1939
At 11:00 AM on September 3, 1939, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain broadcast to the British nation: 'This country is at war with Germany.'
France followed at 17:00.
But the RAF had not waited: even as the declaration was being prepared, a Bristol Blenheim of 139 Squadron was already airborne on the first British operational sortie of the war, a reconnaissance of German North Sea ports.
One hour after Chamberlain's broadcast, air raid sirens wailed across London, a false alarm caused by a French aircraft.
The following day, September 4, Blenheims of 107 and 110 Squadrons attacked German warships in the Schillig Roads; five of the eleven attacking aircraft were lost, and not a single German ship was sunk.
It was a portent of what daylight bombing without fighter escort would cost.
#WWII #Aviation #MilitaryHistory #BritainAtWar #RAF #Chamberlain #September1939 #WW2Begins
Thinking about a funny gift or just want to make a statement check out what the Baba Grump shop has to offer.
F-Caw-F Funny Chicken T-Shirt | Sarcastic Minimalist Bird Art Tee | Rude Humour Gift https://t.co/EfmJ4cEHbt via @Etsy