Picture: Bristol Blenheim Mk IF fighters. Soon after this picture was taken they acquired the world's first airborne radar and operated mainly at night.

TUESDAY, JULY 23, 1940

Home Front Britain: Local Defence Volunteers renamed Home Guard. 1,300,000 men have volunteered since May 14; recruiting officially terminated. Third War Budget: income tax raised to 8s 6d. in £, 1d on pint of beer. New Purchase Tax retitled 'Merchant Sales Tax' (title later dropped).

Neutrals, Hungary: Pro-Nazi demonstrations in Budapest.

Occupied Czechoslavakia: (MAIN EVENT) Provisional Czechoslovak Government established in London by members of former 'Czechoslovak National Committee', with Benes (President) and Masaryk (Foreign Minister). Britain recognizes new Government.

East Africa: General Legentilhomme Free French-commander in French Somaliland, replaced by pro-Vichy General Germain. French troops abandon vital Jirre pass, July 27 - thereby exposing British Somaliland to Italian invasion.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 1940

Sea War: Repatriation steamer Meknes carrying 1,277 French sailors to Marseilles, sunk by German MTB S-27 off Portland (383 dead).

Neutrals, Rumania: Rumanian Government takes over Astra-Romana Oil Company (Shell).

THURSDAY, JULY 25, 1940

Sea War: Stukas and German MTBs launch series of attacks (repeated July 26) on Convoy CW.8: eight coasters sunk, five coasters and destoyers Boreas and Brilliant damaged.

Picture: German MTB S-Boat, called E-baot (enemy boat) by the Allies. It was a nearly perfect design for it's class and very dangerous.

Neutrals, Switzerland: General Guisan, the CinC, addresses all Army officers on the Ruetli Meadow - the birthplace of Swiss independence in 1307 - and exhorts them to be ready, at a moment's notice, to defend Swiss independence and liberties.

FRIDAY, JULY 26, 1940

Air War: RAF daylight raid on Dortmund power station.

Diplomacy: M. Avenol resigns as Secretary-General of League of Nations.

SATURDAY, JULY 27, 1940

Air War: 50 Stukas attack Convoy 'Bacon' in English Channel. Destroyer Codrington sunk at Dover and destroyer Wren off Aldeburgh (Suffolk).

Sea War: Following loss of HMS Codrington, all British destroyers are temporarily withdrawn from Dover.

SUNDAY, JULY 28, 1940

Air War: Battle of Britain (Day 19). Air battle over Straits of Dover. 'Sailor' Malan wounds Moelders - German fighter 'ace' - who crash-lands his Me109.

Picture: Squadron Leader 'Sailor' Malan, burn in South Africa, achieved 35 air victories in WW2.

Picture: German fighter ace Werner Moelders. During the Battle of Britain he achieved 55 of his final 115 air victories.

Sea War Atlantic: Three Italian subs begin operations in Azores-Madeira area, sinking two ships.
British armed merchant cruiser Alcantara (22,200 t) fights German disguised raider Thor off Brazil; Alcantara hit in engine room (9 casualties) and forced to put into Rio de Janeiro.

Diplomacy: Act of Havana. USA and 20 Latin American Republics in conference at Havana agree to take immediate action if any European colony in the Americas is threatened with aggression.