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• Weather data for 18 Dec 1939

• 24 British Wellington bombers were launched to attack German shipping during daylight; only 22 flew to the target area because 2 developed technical problems shortly after takeoff. Flak quickly broke up the bomber formation, then the German Bf 109 and Bf 110 fighters that came to the ships' defense shot down 12 of the 22 bombers. German pilots claimed 34 kills for the loss of 2 fighters during combat and another crashed at landing; the German Air Ministry confirmed only 26. British pilots also overestimated their kills, claiming 13 definite and 12 probable. ww2dbase [CPC]
• Soviet 273rd Infantry regiment retreated in the face of attacks from Finnish 40th Infantry Regiment. ww2dbase [Main Article | TH]
• The first Canadian troops arrived in Britain. ww2dbase [CPC]

• Chinese troops captured Longhua, near Yicheng, Hubei Province, China. To the south, Chinese 5th Division captured Kunlunguan Pass in Guangxi Province. ww2dbase [Main Article | CPC]

• F5 was recommissioned into service. ww2dbase [Main Article | CPC]
• Vidkun Quisling met with Adolf Hitler in Berlin, Germany. ww2dbase [Main Article | CPC]

• Lavrentiy Beria ordered first mass deportation of Poles to Soviet Union. ww2dbase [Main Article | TH]

• The first Canadian troops arrived in England, United Kingdom. ww2dbase [TH]

18 Dec 1939 Interactive Map