World War II Database

• Home
• » Events
• » WW2 Timeline
• » 24 Oct 1940

• The British government declared that the daylight-savings Summer Time was to be continued throughout the coming winter winter. ww2dbase [CPC]
• Operation DNU: British battlecruisers HMS Hood and HMS Repulse, 2 cruisers, and 8 destroyers conducted a sweep off the Norwegian coast in search of German shipping. German weather trawler WBS5 was sunk by destroyers HMS Somali, HMS Matabele, and HMS Punjabi 30 miles off the Stadlandet Peninsula; she would be the only target destroyed during the operation. ww2dbase [CPC]

• Adolf Hitler met with Philippe Pétain and Pierre Laval at Montoire-sur-le-Loir, France, agreeing in principle with collaboration but Pétain refused to declare war on Britain. ww2dbase [Philippe Pétain | Montoire-sur-le-Loir, Centre | TH]

• British destroyer HMS Mendip suffered an accidental depth charge detonation in Scapa Flow, Scotland at 1135 hours, ripping off her stern. She would survive the explosion and would be undergoing repairs for the next four months. ww2dbase [Scapa Flow | Scapa Flow, Scotland | CPC]
• During hte day, poor weather restricted German efforts against Britain, limiting missions to that of reconnaissance only; one Do 17 bomber was shot down on such a mission. Overnight, London and Birmingham were bombed. ww2dbase [Battle of Britain | England | CPC]

24 Oct 1940 Interactive Map