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• The British evaucation of Berbera, British Somaliland was completed after troopships Chakdina, Chantala, Laomedon, and Akbar and hospital ship Vita departed the port, destined for Aden. Australian cruiser HMAS Hobart was left behind to collect stragglers and destroy vehicles, fuel, and stores. Colonial troops of the Somaliland Camel Corps chose to remain in their homeland; their British officers respected their decision and allowed them to keep their weapons. ww2dbase [Invasion of British Somaliland | CPC]
• No. 302 (Polish) and No. 310 (Czechoslovakian) squadrons were activated by the RAF. ww2dbase [CPC]
• Rudolf Betzendahl was made the commanding officer of Togo. ww2dbase [Togo / Coronel | CPC]

• Alessandro Malaspina sighted armed merchant cruiser HMS Circassia in the Atlantic Ocean at 1620 hours. At 1700 hours, at the distance of 800 meters, Circassia suddenly steered toward the submarine, and the Italians dove deeper to avoid being rammed; it was unclear whether Circassia was intending to ram or if she was merely zigzagging. At the distance of 200 meters, Circassia fired three rounds at the submarine's periscope followed by three depth charges, causing some damage with instruments within the conning tower from the vibration. Alessandro Malaspina remained submerged for 30 minutes before extending her periscope again, by which time Circassia had already left the area. ww2dbase [First Happy Time | Alessandro Malaspina | CPC]

• Comandante Cappellini departed La Spezia, Italy at 1000 hours for exercises, returning at 1855 hours. ww2dbase [Comandante Cappellini | La Spezia, Liguria | CPC]

• On this "Hardest Day", German aircraft attacked Kenley and Biggin Hill airfields in southern England in the United Kingdom, among other locations, subjecting the airfields to heavy bombing. Losses on both sides were heavy with the Germans losing 69 aircraft and the RAF Fighter Command 29. ww2dbase [Battle of Britain | England | TH]

• US President Roosevelt and Canadian Prime Minister King signed the Ogdensburg Agreement in Heuvelton, New York, United States, which established the Permanent Joint Board for the Defense of the United States and Canada. ww2dbase [Franklin Roosevelt | Heuvelton, New York | CPC]
• The keel of Columbia was laid down by New York Shipbuilding Corporation in Camden, New Jersey, United States. ww2dbase [Columbia | Camden, New Jersey | CPC]

18 Aug 1940 Interactive Map