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• USS Phoenix arrived at Callao, Peru. ww2dbase [Phoenix | CPC]
• British destroyer HMS Beagle shot down a German Ju 87 aircraft. ww2dbase [CPC]

• British submarine HMS Clyde fired 6 torpedoes at another British submarine HMS Truant, in the North Sea off Fejeosen, Norway in an episode of mis-identification. All torpedoes missed their target. ww2dbase [North Sea | CPC]

• Canadian corvette HMS Eyebright was launched at Montreal, Quebec, Canada. ww2dbase [Montreal, Quebec | CPC]

• Blenheim bombers of No. 107 Squadron of 2 Group of British RAF Bomber Command attacked Creil, France, starting a large fire. ww2dbase [Bombing of Cities in France and Low Countries | Creil, Picardie | CPC]

• Wolfgang Falck received a call from Hermann Göring, who thanked him for the efforts to create an effective nightfighting unit within the Luftwaffe. ww2dbase [Wolfgang Falck | CPC]
• Whitley bombers of 4 Group of British RAF Bomber Command attacked various targets in Germany; 8 bombers of No. 10 Squadron and 8 bombers of No. 58 Squadron attacked the aircraft factory at Bremen (3 of No. 58 Squadron attacked alternate targets), and 7 bombers of No. 51 Squadron attacked industrial targets in the Ruhr region. ww2dbase [Bombing of Hamburg, Dresden, and Other Cities | CPC]

• Leonardo da Vinci set sail from Naples, Italy at 0930 hours for exercises, returning at 1615 hours. ww2dbase [Leonardo da Vinci | Napoli, Campania | CPC]
• Leonardo da Vinci set sail from Naples, Italy at 0930 hours for exercises, returning at 1615 hours. ww2dbase [Leonardo da Vinci | Napoli, Campania | CPC]

• Japanese luxury ocean liner Hikawa Maru departed Yokohama, Japan for Seattle, Washington, United States. Aboard were 82 Jewish refugees originally from Germany. ww2dbase [Hikawa Maru | Yokohama, Kanagawa | CPC]
• Hideki Tojo was appointed the Army Minister in Japanese Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe's new cabinet. ww2dbase [Hideki Tojo | Tokyo | CPC]
• Prince Fumimaro Konoe became the 38th Prime Minister of Japan. This was his second time in this office. ww2dbase [Fumimaro Konoe | Tokyo | CPC]
• Hachiro Arita stepped down as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. ww2dbase [Hachiro Arita | CPC]

• Soviet submarine Shch-138 was launched. ww2dbase [CPC]

• The British War Cabinet approved the 19 Jul 1940 document by Neville Chamberlain to create the new secrete Special Operations Executive (SOE) organization. ww2dbase [London, England | TH, CPC]
• British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Lord Halifax rejected Adolf Hitler's proposal for peace of 19 Jul 1940. "No one here wants the war to go on for a day longer than is necessary. But we shall not stop fighting until freedom, for ourselves and others, is secure." This was a departure from his previous stance, urging Winston Churchill to negotiate a peace with Germany. ww2dbase [Halifax | London, England | CPC]
• During the day, German Luftwaffe flew only reconnaissance missions over the English Channel, launching no attacks despite of the good weather; British Hurricane fighters of No. 145 Squadron shot down a lone Do 17 bomber off Selsey Bill, West Sussex in southern England, United Kingdom. After sundown, many small German raids bombed coastal towns or lay naval mines off the coast. A radar-equipped Blenheim Mark 1F nightfighter of the British RAF Fighter Command shot down a German aircraft, possibly a Do 17 bomber, in combat over Britain; it was the first victory for this aircraft type. ww2dbase [Battle of Britain | Blenheim | CPC]
• The keel of British minesweeper HMS Lyemun was laid down. ww2dbase [CPC]
• The keel of British minesweeper HMS Lantan was laid down. ww2dbase [CPC]
• While escorting convoy CW7, British B-class destroyer HMS Brazen was heavily damaged by German Ju 87 aircraft. She was placed under tow in an attempt to save her, but she would nevertheless sink at 2040 hours about 10 kilometers (5 miles) southeast of Folkestone, Kent, England, United Kingdom. One member of her crew was killed during her loss. ww2dbase [Battle of Britain | Folkestone, England | CPC]
• The keel of British destroyer HMS Paladin was laid down. ww2dbase [CPC]
• HMT Campina, a newly converted anti-submarine armed trawler, sank after hitting a mine off Holyhead, Anglesey, Wales, United Kingdom whilst on British Admiralty service. Eleven of the 22 crew wre killed in the explosion. ww2dbase [First Happy Time | Holyhead, Wales | HM]

22 Jul 1940 Interactive Map