In the Month of December 1940

US NAVY

Sunday, 1 December 1940

            Headquarters for Alaskan units of Coast Guard is established at Ketchikan.

Tuesday, 3 December 1940

            President Roosevelt embarks in heavy cruiser Tuscaloosa (CA‑37) at Miami, Florida, to inspect base sites acquired from the British under the destroyers‑for‑bases agreement. During the cruise, he will broach the lend‑lease concept that he will implement upon his return to Washington (see 11 March 1941).

            Heavy cruiser Louisville (CA‑28) departs Rio Grande du Sol, Brazil, to pay a return call at Rio de Janeiro, as her goodwill cruise continues in Latin American waters.

Wednesday, 4 December 1940

            Admiral William D. Leahy, USN (Retired) tenders his resignation as Governor of Puerto Rico effective the following day (see 5 December).

Thursday, 5 December 1940

            Admiral Leahy takes oath of office as Ambassador to Vichy France (see 23 December).

            Seaplane tender (destroyer) George E. Badger (AVD‑3) runs aground in high winds off Hamilton, Bermuda, but is refloated without damage.

Friday, 6 December 1940

            Heavy cruiser Louisville (CA‑28) returns to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as she continues to "show the flag" in Latin American waters.

Sunday, 8 December 1940

            Destroyer Sturtevant (DD‑240) stands by while British light cruiser HMS Diomede intercepts German freighter Idarwald. Idarwald's crew, however, scuttles their ship near the Yucatan Channel to prevent her capture by the British.

Tuesday, 10 December 1940

            Naval Air Station, Tongue Point, Oregon, is established; although incomplete when placed in operation, it is being prepared for operation of patrol planes.

Wednesday, 11 December 1940

            German freighter Rhein, having been trailed by destroyer Simpson (DD‑221) and, later, MacLeish (DD‑220), is intercepted by Dutch destroyer leader Van Kinsbergen near the Florida Straits, and is scuttled by her own crew to avoid capture. MacLeish and McCormick (DD‑223) are present as the German ship's bid to escape fails.

Thursday, 12 December 1940

            Rear Admiral John M. Smeallie, Commandant Sixteenth Naval District and Commandant Cavite Navy Yard, is hospitalized at Caracao, P.I., after attempted suicide (see 27 December).

            Admiral Smeallie's worsening condition results in his being ordered to Naval Hospital, Mare Island, California, for further treatment, and ultimately to the naval hospital in Washington, D.C.

            Lord Lothian, British Ambassador to the United States, dies in Washington, D.C. President Roosevelt, at sea in heavy cruiser Tuscaloosa (CA‑37), sends telegram to King George VI of England expressing his regrets at Lord Lothian’s passing. "I am very certain," Roosevelt informs the King, "that if he had been allowed by Providence to leave us a last message, he would have told us that the greatest of all efforts to retain democracy in the world must and will succeed.

Sunday, 15 December 1940

            Headquarters, Eighth Naval District, closed at Charleston, South Carolina, and established at New Orleans, Louisiana; Captain Thaddeus A. Thomson, Jr., is Acting Commandant.

Monday, 16 December 1940

            Patrol Wing 10 is formed in Asiatic Fleet organization.

            Heavy cruiser Louisville (CA‑28) departs Rio de Janeiro, for Bahia, Brazil, as she continues her goodwill cruise in Latin American waters.

Tuesday, 17 December 1940

            Rear Admiral Ernest J. King relieves Rear Admiral Hayne Ellis as Commander Patrol Force, U.S. Fleet, on board battleship Texas (BB‑35).

Wednesday, 18 December 1940

            Heavy cruiser Louisville (CA‑28) arrives at Bahia, Brazil, as she continues to "show the flag" in Latin American waters.

Thursday, 19 December 1940

            Palmyra Island is placed under control of Secretary of the Navy.

Friday, 20 December 1940

            President Roosevelt names a four‑man defense board, to be headed by industrialist William A. Knudsen, to prepare defense measures and expedite aid to Great Britain.

Monday, 23 December 1940

            Admiral William D. Leahy (USN, Retired), newly appointed Ambassador to Vichy France, accompanied by his wife Louise, embarks in heavy cruiser Tuscaloosa (CA‑37) at Norfolk, Virginia, for the transatlantic passage to take up his diplomatic post "at a very critical time in the relations between the United States and France." Destroyers Madison (DD‑425) and Upshur (DD‑144) escort Tuscaloosa on the initial stage of her voyage.

            Naval Air Station, Key West, Florida, is established.

Friday, 27 December 1940

            Captain Eugene T. Oates assumes temporary duty as Commandant Sixteenth Naval District and Cavite Navy Yard (see11 January 1941).

Monday, 30 December 1940

            Heavy cruiser Tuscaloosa (CA‑37) arrives at Lisbon, Portugal, and disembarks Admiral and Mrs. Leahy, who will then proceed to Vichy via Madrid and Barcelona, Spain, and Montpellier, France (see 8 January 1941).

 

In the Month of October 1940

Tuesday, 1 October 1940

US NAVY

            Coast Guard cutter Campbell reports to Chief of Naval Operations for duty. She will then proceed to Lisbon, Portugal (see 18 and 22 October).

Wednesday, 2 October 1940

            Light cruiser St. Louis (CL‑49), with Greenslade Board embarked, arrives at Guantanamo Bay (see 19 October).

Saturday, 5 October 1940

            Secretary of the Navy Knox places all Organized Reserve divisions and aviation squadrons of the Organized Reserve on short notice for call to active duty and grants authority to call fleet reservists as necessary. Before this date, Naval Reserve personnel had been ordered to active duty on a voluntary basis only.

            Fourth group of ships involved in the destroyers‑for‑bases agreement‑‑Branch (DD‑197), Hunt (DD‑194), Mason (DD‑191), Satterlee (DD‑190), Laub (DD‑263), Aulick (DD‑258), Edwards (DD‑265) and McLanahan (DD‑264) ‑‑arrive at Halifax, Nova Scotia (see 6 October).

US MARINE CORPS

            Secretary of the Navy puts all organized Marine reserve ground units and aviation squadrons on short notice for call to active duty.

Sunday, 6 October 1940

US NAVY

            Fourth group of ships involved in the destroyers‑for‑bases agreement are turned over to Royal Navy crews at Halifax. Branch (DD‑197) becomes HMS Beverley, Hunt (DD‑194) becomes HMS Broadway, Mason (DD‑191) becomes HMS Broadwater, Satterlee (DD‑190) becomes HMS Belmont, Laub (DD‑263) becomes HMS Burwell, Aulick (DD‑258) becomes HMS Burnham, Edwards (DD‑265) becomes HMS Buxton, and McLanahan (DD‑264) becomes HMS Bradford.

Monday, 7 October 1940

            Admiral James O. Richardson arrives in Washington for conferences with the President and Navy and State Department officials concerning the retention of the U.S. Fleet in Hawaiian waters as a deterrent to Japan. He will depart to return to the fleet on 11 October (see 1 February 1941).

            Heavy cruiser Louisville (CA‑28) arrives at Recife, Brazil, as she begins her goodwill cruise to Latin American ports.

Tuesday, 8 October 1940

            Legislation approved authorizes the appointment to commissioned rank in the Line of the Regular Navy of those Naval Reserve officers who receive their commissions upon graduation from the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps.

            United States advises American citizens to leave the Far East (see 14 October).

            Japan protests U.S. embargo on aviation gasoline and scrap metal.

US MARINE CORPS

            U. S. advises its citizens to leave Far East.

Thursday, 10 October 1940

US NAVY

            Auxiliary Bear (AG‑29) sails from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for the Antarctic.

Saturday, 12 October 1940

            Commander Atlantic Squadron (Rear Admiral Hayne Ellis), in destroyer Rhind (DD‑404) visits Port‑au‑Prince, Haiti. The timely goodwill visit came in the wake of an extensive cabinet shakeup by the Haitian president the previous day.

            Rear Admiral Ellis later wrote that Rhind's visit had a "very soothing effect on the minds of the people" in the Haitian port.

            Carrier Wasp (CV‑7), off the Virginia capes, launches 24 USAAC P‑40s and 9 O‑47s to gather data on comparative take‑off runs of naval and army aircraft. For the first time Army planes are flown off a Navy carrier.

Sunday, 13 October 1940

            Surveying ship Bowditch (AG‑30) arrives at Placentia Harbor, Newfoundland, to make hydrographic surveys, having transported army engineers who will make a shore requirements survey.

Monday, 14 October 1940

            Heavy cruiser Louisville (CA‑28) departs Recife, Brazil, for Rio de Janeiro, as she continues "showing the flag" in Latin American waters.

            Department of State announces that the U.S. passenger liners Monterey, Mariposa, and Washington are being sent to the Far East to repatriate American citizens from that region in view of prevailing "abnormal conditions" there. This move is made because of the shortage of accommodations on the ships already engaged in the Far East trade. Monterey is to go to Yokohama, Japan, and Shanghai, China; Mariposa will proceed to Shanghai and Chinwangtao, China, and Kobe, Japan.

Tuesday, 15 October 1940

            Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida is established, Captain Charles P. Mason in command.

Wednesday, 16 October 1940

            Sixteen million men register for the draft under Selective Training and Service Act.

            Fifth group of ships involved in the destroyers‑for‑ bases agreement‑‑Twiggs (DD‑127), Philip (DD‑76), Evans (DD‑78), Wickes (DD‑75), McCalla (DD‑253), Rodgers (DD‑170), Conner (DD‑72), Conway (DD‑70), Stockton (DD‑73) and Yarnall (DD‑143) ‑‑arrive at Halifax, Nova Scotia (see 23 October).

Friday, 18 October 1940

            Coast Guard cutter Campbell arrives at Lisbon, Portugal (see 22 October). Heavy cruiser Louisville (CA‑28) arrives at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as she continues "showing the flag" in Latin American waters.

Saturday, 19 October 1940

            Light cruiser St. Louis (CL‑49), with Greenslade Board embarked, departs Guantanamo Bay for San Juan, Puerto Rico (see 20 October).

Sunday, 20 October 1940

            Oiler Ramapo (AO‑12) delivers district patrol craft YP‑16 and YP‑17 at Apra Harbor to augment the local defenses at Guam.

            Light cruiser St. Louis (CL‑49), with Greenslade Board embarked, arrives at San Juan, Puerto Rico (see 21 October).

Monday, 21 October 1940

            Light cruiser St. Louis (CL‑49), with Greenslade Board embarked, departs San Juan for return visit to' Hamilton, Bermuda (see 24 October).

Tuesday, 22 October 1940

            Squadron 40‑T (Rear Admiral David M. LeBreton) is disbanded. Coast Guard cutter Campbell assumes "to a certain extent the duties previously performed by Squadron 40‑T.

Wednesday, 23 October 1940

            Japan gives one‑year notice of abrogation of North Pacific Sealing Convention of 1911.

            Fifth group of ships involved in the destroyers‑for‑bases agreement are turned over to Royal Navy crews at Halifax, Nova Scotia. Twiggs (DD‑127) becomes HMS Leamington, Philip (DD‑76) becomes HMS Lancaster, Evans (DD‑78) becomes HMS Mansfield, Wickes (DD‑75) becomes HMS Montgomery, McCalla (DD‑253) becomes HMS Stanley, Rodgers (DD‑170) becomes HMS Sherwood, Conner (DD‑72) becomes HMS Leeds, Conway (DD‑70) becomes HMS Lewes, Stockton (DD‑73) becomes HMS Ludlow, and Yarnall (DD‑143) becomes HMS Lincoln.

Thursday, 24 October 1940

            Heavy cruiser Louisville (CA‑28) departs Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for Montevideo, Uruguay, as she continues to "show the flag" in Latin American waters.

            Light cruiser St. Louis (CL‑49), with Greenslade Board embarked, arrives at Hamilton, Bermuda (see 25 October).

            German freighter Helgoland sails from Puerto Colombia, Colombia; despite the efforts of destroyers Bainbridge (DD‑246), Overton (DD‑239), and Sturtevant (DD‑240) to pursue her over the ensuing days, Helgoland will make good her attempt to escape the confines of the Caribbean (see 3 November and 30 November).

Friday, 25 October 1940

            Japanese naval land attack planes (13th Kokutai) raiding Chungking, China, follow a course that takes them directly over the U.S. Embassy and river gunboat Tutuila (PR‑4). Due to what is later explained as a malfunctioning release mechanism, Japanese bombs fall north, east, and west of the embassy and the gunboat, the nearest falling 300 yards away. In response to American protests, Japanese naval authorities will advise the air commander in the region "to take necessary steps to prevent the recurrence of such incidents" (see 15 June and 30 July 1941).

            Light cruiser St. Louis (CL‑49), with Greenslade Board embarked, departs Hamilton, Bermuda, for Norfolk (see 27October).

Sunday, 27 October 1940

            Light cruiser St. Louis (CL‑49) arrives at Norfolk, thus winding up her mission transporting the Greenslade Board to evaluate base sites acquired from the British in exchange for the provision of destroyers.

Monday, 28 October 1940

            Italy invades Greece.

            Heavy cruiser Louisville (CA‑28) arrives at Montevideo, Uruguay, as she continues to "show the flag" in Latin American waters.

Wednesday, 30 October 1940

            Because of delay in the arrival of crews assigned to the last of the destroyers to be transferred to the Royal Navy, Commander Destroyers, Atlantic Squadron (Captain Ferdinand L. Reichmuth) departs Halifax, Nova Scotia, in destroyer tender Denebola (AD‑12). Destroyer Russell (DD‑414) accompanies the tender.

Thursday, 31 October 1940

            British forces occupy Crete in response to Italian invasion of Greece.

            German auxiliary minelayer Passat begins laying mines in Bass Strait, the body of water between Australia and Tasmania (see 1, 7, and 8 November).

            German freighter Rio Grande sails from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; she eludes the Neutrality Patrol and ultimately reaches Bordeaux, France, six weeks later.

 

In the Month of September 1940

US NAVY

Tuesday, 2 September 1940

            Secretary of State Hull and British Ambassador Lord Lothian exchange notes concluding the agreement to trade destroyers for bases; the U.S. will provide, by executive agreement, 50 over‑age (World War I Emergency Program) destroyers in return for 99‑year leases on bases in the Bahamas, Antigua, St. Lucia, Trinidad, Jamaica, and British Guiana. The British provide bases at Newfoundland and Bermuda as outright gifts.

Wednesday, 3 September 1940

            President Roosevelt announces the "destroyers‑for‑bases" agreement; Commander Destroyers, Atlantic Squadron (Captain Ferdinand L. Reichmuth) is placed in charge of the transfer operation.

            Light cruiser St. Louis (CL‑49) sails from Norfolk, Virginia; embarked is the board, headed by Rear Admiral John F. Greenslade, which will evaluate base sites recently acquired from the British (see 5 September).

Sunday, 8 September 1940

            Light cruiser St. Louis (CL‑49) departs Hamilton, Bermuda, for Norfolk, with Greenslade Board embarked (see 10September).

Monday, 9 September 1940

            Germany warns that all ships in war zones prescribed by Axis are subject to attack regardless of nationality.

            First eight destroyers are transferred to Britain under destroyers‑for‑bases agreement at Halifax, Nova Scotia. Aaron Ward (DD‑132) becomes HMS Castleton, Buchanan (DD‑131) becomes HMS Campbeltown, Crowninshield (DD‑134) becomes HMS Chelsea, Hale (DD‑133) becomes HMS Caldwell, Abel P. Upshur (DD‑193) becomes HMS Clare, Welborn C. Wood (DD‑195) becomes HMS Chesterfield, Herndon (DD‑198) becomes HMS Churchill, Welles (DD‑257) becomes HMS Cameron.

            Navy awards contracts for 210 new construction ships including 12 aircraft carriers and 7 battleships.

            Aircraft carrier Yorktown (CV‑5) and submarine Shark (SS‑174) are damaged in collision, Hawaiian Operating Area.

            Secretary of the Navy Knox breaks his flag in carrier Enterprise (CV‑6) to observe operations; Enterprise is being used as fleet flagship for a trial period by Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (Admiral J.O. Richardson). Knox will fly into Pearl Harbor in the Enterprise Air Group Commander's SBC to emphasize the rapid pace of modern naval operations.

Tuesday, 10 September 1940

            Light cruiser St. Louis (CL‑49) arrives at Norfolk, with Greenslade Board embarked (see 12 September).

Thursday, 12 September 1940

            Light cruiser St. Louis (CL‑49) departs Norfolk, with Greenslade Board embarked, bound for her ultimate destination on this leg of the voyage, St. John's, Newfoundland (see 16 September).

Monday, 16 September 1940

            President Roosevelt signs Selective Training and Service Act, thus establishing the first peacetime draft in the history of the United States.

            Light cruiser St. Louis (CL‑49), with Greenslade Board embarked, arrives at St. John's, Newfoundland (see 18September).

Tuesday, 17 September 1940

            Special Service Squadron (Rear Admiral H. Kent Hewitt), consisting of gunboats Erie (PG‑50) and Charleston (PG‑51) and destroyers J. Fred Talbott (DD‑156) and Tattnall (DD‑125), is disbanded.

Wednesday, 18 September 1940

            Second group of ships involved in the transfer to Britain‑‑Kalk (DD‑170), Maddox (DD‑168), Cowell (DD‑167), Foote (DD‑169), Hopewell (DD‑181), Abbot (DD‑184), Thomas (DD‑182) and Doran (DD‑185) ‑‑ arrive at Halifax, Nova Scotia (see 23 September).

            Light cruiser St. Louis (CL‑49), with Greenslade Board embarked, shifts from St. John's, Newfoundland, to Argentia (see 21 September).

Thursday, 19 September 1940

            Battleship Oklahoma (BB‑37) collides with U.S. tug Goliath, Puget Sound, Washington.

Friday, 20 September 1940

            Third group of ships involved in the destroyers‑for‑ bases agreement‑‑Mackenzie (DD‑175), Haraden (DD‑183), Williams (DD‑108), Thatcher (DD‑162), McCook (DD‑252) and Bancroft (DD‑256) ‑‑arrive at Halifax, Nova Scotia (see 24 September).

Saturday, 21 September 1940

            Rear Admiral H. Kent Hewitt hauls down his flag as Commander Special Service Squadron; gunboat Erie (PG‑50) is assigned to the Fifteenth Naval District and sistership Charleston (PG‑51) to the Thirteenth.

            Light cruiser St. Louis (CL‑49), with Greenslade Board embarked, departs Argentia for Boston (see 23 September).

Sunday, 22 September 1940

            Vichy France signs pact at Hanoi ceding airfields and agreeing to admit Japanese troops into northern Indochina.

Monday, 23 September 1940

            Second group of ships involved in the transfer to Britain is turned over to Royal Navy crews at Halifax, Nova Scotia. Kalk (DD‑170) becomes HMS Hamilton, Maddox (DD‑168) becomes HMS Georgetown, Cowell (DD‑167) becomes HMS Brighton, Foote (DD‑169) becomes HMS Roxborough, Hopewell (DD‑181) becomes HMS Bath, Abbot (DD‑184) becomes HMS Charlestown, Thomas (DD‑182) becomes HMS St. Albans, and Doran (DD‑185) becomes HMS St. Marys.

            Light cruiser St. Louis (CL‑49), with Greenslade Board embarked, arrives at Boston, but sails for Norfolk the someday (see 25 September).

Tuesday, 24 September 1940

            Defense Communication Board is established; membership includes Director of Naval Communications (Rear Admiral Leigh Noyes).

            Third group of ships involved in the destroyers‑for‑bases agreement are turned over to the Royal Canadian Navy at Halifax, Nova Scotia. Mackenzie (DD‑175) becomes HMCS Annapolis, Haraden (DD‑183) becomes HMCS Columbia, Williams (DD‑108) becomes HMCS St. Clair, Thatcher (DD‑162) becomes HMCS Niagara, McCook (DD‑252) becomes HMCS St. Croix and Bancroft (DD‑256) becomes HMCS St. Francis.

            Operation menace, the British‑Free French attempt to take Dakar, commences this day (see 25 September).

Wednesday, 25 September 1940

            Heavy cruiser Louisville (CA‑28) departs Colon, C.Z., for Recife, Brazil, on the first leg of her goodwill cruise to Latin American ports.

            Light cruiser St. Louis (CL‑49), with Greenslade Board embarked, arrives at Norfolk (see 29 September 1940).

            Operation menace, the British‑Free French attempt to take Dakar, is abandoned as Vichy French resistance proves surprisingly vigorous.

            French port of Nouméa, New Caledonia, sides with Free France.

Friday, 27 September 1940

            Germany, Italy, and Japan sign Tripartite Pact at Berlin, thus establishing the Berlin‑Rome‑Tokyo Axis.

Sunday, 29 September 1940

US NAVY

            Midway Detachment, Third Defense Battalion, Fleet Marine Force (Major Harold C. Roberts, USMC) arrives on Midway Island to begin construction of defenses. The marines are transported by cargo ship Sirius (AK‑15) and light minelayers Pruitt (DM‑22), Sicard (DM‑21), and Tracy (DM‑19).

            Light cruiser St. Louis (CL‑49), with Greenslade Board embarked, departs Norfolk for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (see 2 October).

US MARINE CORPS

            Midway Detachment, FMF arrives at Midway.

 

In the Month of August 1940

US NAVY

Thursday, 1 August 1940

            Navy establishes Alaskan Sector as a military command within the Thirteenth Naval District.

Friday, 2 August 1940

            President Roosevelt and his cabinet have "long discussion" in cabinet meeting concerning "ways and means to sell directly or indirectly" 50 or 60 destroyers to the British. There is no dissent "that the survival of the British Isles under German attack might very possibly depend on their [the British] getting these destroyers." All present agree that legislation to accomplish that goal is necessary.

Saturday, 3 August 1940

            USSR annexes Lithuania as a Soviet Socialist Republic.

            Rear Admiral H. Kent Hewitt relieves Rear Admiral John W. Wilcox, Jr., as Commander Special Service Squadron onboard gunboat Erie (PG‑50).

            Destroyers Walke (DD‑416) and Wainwright (DD‑420) depart Buenos Aires, Argentina, for Santos, Brazil.

Monday, 5 August 1940

            Chief of Naval Operations establishes general ground rules to govern the exchange of scientific and technical information with the British mission under Sir Henry Tizard; arrival of the Tizard Mission begins the Anglo‑American effort to jointly develop a wide range of weapons, sensors, and the technical equipment during the war.

            Lord Lothian, British Ambassador to the U.S., provides President Roosevelt with a note concerning the facilities which the British were prepared to "extend to the United States Government..."

            Rear Admiral John W. Greenslade and French Vice Admiral Georges A.M.J. Robert conclude agreement concerning status of Vichy French warships and aircraft in French West Indies. Ships in question are carrier Bearn, light cruiser Emile Bertin, training cruiser Jeanne d'Arc and auxiliary cruisers Esterelle, Quercy, and Barfleur; aircraft are 44 SBC‑4s, 15 Hawk 75s (export version of USAAC P‑36) and 6 Belgian Brewster fighters (export version of USN F2A) (see2‑3 November).

            Heavy cruisers Wichita (CA‑45) (Rear Admiral Andrew C. Pickens) and Quincy (CA‑39) depart Bahia for Pernambuco, Brazil.

Tuesday, 6 August 1940

            U.S. Army transport American Legion reaches Petsamo, Finland, to embark American nationals returning to the United States from European countries (Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands) in which they had been residing (see 16 August).

            Destroyers Walke (DD‑416) and Wainwright (DD‑420) reach Santos, Brazil.

Friday, 9 August 1940

            Heavy cruisers Wichita (CA‑45) (Rear Admiral Andrew C. Pickens) and Quincy (CA‑39) reach Pernambuco, Brazil.

            Gunboat Erie (PG‑50) (Rear Admiral H. Kent Hewitt, Commander Special Service Squadron, embarked) departs Panama Canal Zone for a goodwill visit to Ecuador (see 12 August).

            Destroyers Walke (DD‑416) and Wainwright (DD‑420) depart Santos, Brazil, for Rio de Janeiro.

Saturday, 10 August 1940

            President Roosevelt inspects Portsmouth (New Hampshire) Navy Yard and then cruises in presidential yacht Potomac (AG‑25), to Nahant, Massachusetts, escorted by destroyer Mayrant (DD‑402), and thence to Boston Navy Yard, which the Chief Executive inspects as well (see 11‑12 August).

            Destroyers Walke (DD‑416) and Wainwright (DD‑420) reach Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

            Japanese naval blockade of coast of China is extended to South China.

Sunday, 11 August 1940

            Presidential yacht Potomac (AG‑25) (with President Roosevelt embarked), escorted by destroyer Mayrant (DD‑402), proceeds from Boston Navy Yard to Mattapoisett, Massachusetts (see 12 August).

Monday, 12 August 1940

            Presidential yacht Potomac (AG‑25) (with President Roosevelt embarked), escorted by destroyer Mayrant (DD‑402), proceeds from Mattapoisett, Massachusetts to Newport, R.I. There the Chief Executive, accompanied by Secretary of the Navy Knox, Senator David I. Walsh and Rear Admiral Edward C. Kalbfus, inspects the Torpedo Station and the Naval Training Station. Later the same day, the President reembarks in Potomac and cruises to the Submarine Base at New London, observing submarine operations en route. Roosevelt inspects the base and the nearby facilities of the Electric Boat Company before reembarking in Potomac for the final leg of the voyage to the Washington Navy Yard, which is reached later the same day.

            Gunboat Erie (PG‑50) (Rear Admiral H. Kent Hewitt, Commander Special Service Squadron, embarked) arrives at Guayaquil, Ecuador, for a goodwill visit.

Tuesday, 13 August 1940

            President Roosevelt confers with Secretary of the Navy Knox, Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson, Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau, and Undersecretary of State Sumner Welles concerning the transfer of destroyers to Britain. Consequently, Roosevelt informs British Prime Minister Churchill (in telegram sent from Acting Secretary of State Sumner Welles to Ambassador Kennedy) that among other items previously sought "it may be possible to furnish to the British Government... at least 50 destroyers..." Roosevelt states, though, that such aid could only begiven provided that "the American People and the Congress frankly recognized in return...the national defense and security of the United States would be enhanced." The President thus insists that (1) should British waters be rendered untenable the British Fleet would be sent to other parts of the Empire (and neither turned over to the Germans nor sunk) and (2) that the British government would grant authorization to use Newfoundland, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Trinidad and British Guiana as naval and air bases, and to acquire land there through 99‑yearleases to establish those bases (see 15 August).

            Commander in Chief Asiatic Fleet (Admiral Thomas C. Hart) shifts flag from heavy cruiser Augusta (CA‑31) to submarine Porpoise (SS‑172), Tsingtao, China, and travels to Shanghai, arriving the next day and transferring to yacht Isabel (PY‑10). It is the first time a CINCAF (a submariner himself) has taken passage in a submarine in this fashion.

            Heavy cruisers Wichita (CA‑45) (Rear Admiral Andrew C. Pickens) and Quincy (CA‑39) depart Pernambuco, Brazil, for Montevideo, Uruguay.

Wednesday, 14 August 1940

            Destroyers Walke (DD‑416) and Wainwright (DD‑420) depart Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for Bahia.

Thursday, 15 August 1940

            British Prime Minister Churchill responds, encouraged and grateful, to President Roosevelt's telegram of 13 August1940; "the worth of every destroyer that you can spare to us is measured in rubies..." The "moral value of this fresh aid from your Government and your people at this critical time will be very great and widely felt."

            Assistant Chief of Naval Operations Rear Admiral Robert L. Ghormley, Major General Delos C. Emmons (USAAC), and Brigadier General George V. Strong (USA) arrive in London for informal staff conversations with British officers.

            Naval Air Station, Miami, Florida, is established, Commander Gerald F. Bogan in command.

            Destroyers Walke (DD‑416) and Wainwright (DD‑420) reach Bahia, Brazil.

Friday, 16 August 1940

            President Roosevelt, in press conference, announces that the U.S. government is discussing with the British government the acquisition of naval and air bases to defend the Western Hemisphere and the Panama Canal. Secrecy, however, continues to shroud the ongoing discussions concerning the transfer of destroyers to the British.

            U.S. Army Transport American Legion departs Petsamo, Finland, for New York; on board is Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Martha of Norway and her three children, who have been invited to come to the United States by President Roosevelt. The last neutral ship permitted to leave Petsamo, American Legion also carries a crated twin‑mount 40‑millimeter Bofors gun "with standard sights...spare parts, and 3,000 rounds of ammunition. Shipment of the gun, an almost Herculean effort that involves trucking the weapon the entire length of Sweden, has required the cooperation of the British, Swedish, and Finnish governments.

Saturday, 17 August 1940

            German government establishes "total blockade" of the British Isles, and warns that all ships will be sunk without warning.

            Destroyers Walke (DD‑416) and Wainwright (DD‑420) depart Bahia, Brazil, for Pará, Brazil.

Sunday, 18 August 1940

            President Roosevelt and Prime Minister MacKenzie King of Canada sign Ogdensburg Agreement, providing for Permanent Joint Board for the Defense of the United States and Canada (see 26 August 1940).

Wednesday, 21 August 1940

            Destroyers Walke (DD‑416) and Wainwright (DD‑420) reach Pará, Brazil.

Thursday, 22 August 1940

            James V. Forrestal, former Administrative Assistant to the President and Wall Street broker, becomes first Undersecretary of the Navy. His office will become the most important coordinating agency for procurement and materiel in the Navy Department.

Friday, 23 August 1940

            Heavy cruisers Wichita (CA‑45) (Rear Admiral Andrew C. Pickens) (Commander, Cruiser Division 7, embarked) and Quincy (CA‑39) arrive at Montevideo, Uruguay.

            Destroyers Walke (DD‑416) and Wainwright (DD‑420) wind up their shakedown/goodwill cruise in Latin American waters, departing Pará for Guantanamo Bay.

Monday, 26 August 1940

            Permanent Joint Board on Defense, United States and Canada, set up by President Roosevelt and Canadian Prime Minister W.L. MacKenzie King on 18 August 1940, convenes in Ottawa, Canada. U.S. representatives are: Fiorello H. LaGuardia (President, U.S. Conference of Mayors), Lieutenant General Stanley D. Embick, USA, (Commanding Fourth Corps Area), Captain Harry W. Hill and Commander Forrest P. Sherman (War Plans Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations), Lieutenant Colonel Joseph T. McNarney, USAAC, and John D. Hickerson (Assistant Chief, Division of European Affairs, Department of State).

Tuesday, 27 August 1940

            President Roosevelt signs joint resolution authorizing him to call Army Reserve components and National Guard into federal service for one year.

            Legislation is enacted authorizing the appointment of naval aviators of the Navy and Marine Corps reserve to the line of the regular Navy and Marine Corps, in order to augment the Naval Academy as a source of regular aviators.

            President Roosevelt confers with Secretary of the Navy Knox, Secretary of War Stimson and Secretary of State Hull concerning a compromise to resolve the impasse that has arisen over the proposed destroyers‑for‑bases agreement. Subsequently, Roosevelt meets with Admiral Harold R. Stark, Chief of Naval Operations, Secretary of the Navy Knox and Secretary of State Hull, and British Ambassador Lord Lothian; these men review the proposal arrived at earlier that day. Admiral Stark certifies that the destroyers involved are no longer essential to the defense of the United States, thus clearing the way for their transfer.

            Attorney General Robert H. Jackson delivers to President Roosevelt a ruling in which the legal framework for the transfer of destroyers to the British can be accomplished.

Wednesday, 28 August

            Destroyers Biddle (DD‑151) and Blakeley (DD‑150) escort U.S. Army transport American Legion on the final leg of her voyage from Petsamo, Finland, to New York City. The 40‑millimeter Bofors gun she carries is subsequently shipped to the Naval Proving Ground at Dahlgren, Virginia.

            Heavy cruisers Wichita (CA‑45) (Rear Admiral Andrew C. Pickens) and Quincy (CA‑39) depart Montevideo, Uruguay, for Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Thursday, 29 August 1940

            Heavy cruisers Wichita (CA‑45) (Rear Admiral Andrew C. Pickens) and Quincy (CA‑39) reach Buenos Aires, Argentina. Rear Admiral John Downes relieves Rear Admiral William C. Watts as Commandant, Ninth Naval District, and Commanding Officer, Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois.

Friday, 30 August 1940

            Rear Admiral Charles S. Freeman relieves Rear Admiral Edward B. Fenner as Commandant Thirteenth Naval District and Commandant Puget Sound Navy Yard.

            Vichy France consents to Japanese military occupation of ports, airfields, and railroads in northern Indochina.

Saturday, 31 August 1940

            President Roosevelt calls 60,000 National Guardsmen into federal service.