May 18, 1941. Airy Matters.
On this day in 1941, Stalin's government began a purge of Soviet air force officers, which I'm aware of only due to this item:
Today in World War II History—May 18, 1941
By this point in 1941 the signs were there that Germany was getting set to invade the Soviet Union. Eliminating air force officers was a bizarre thing to do, given the risk of impending war. But much about Stalin's reign was bizarre.
Speaking of things airborne, the RAF inserted a company of British troops on the Baghdad road in Iraq by air, using Vickers Valentia's to do so.
The German Navy commenced Operation Rheinübung with the Bismarck. It would prove to be a short sortie.
It's mission was to raid British convoys.
Petty Officer Alfred Sephton would receive the Victoria Cross posthumously for his actions in directing anti aircraft fire on the HMS Coventry on this day in 1941. The Coventry was aiding the Aba, a hospital ship under attack by German dive bombers.
More about that can be found here:
Petty Officer Sephton wins the Victoria Cross
Prince Aimone, the Duke of Aosta, was crowned the King of the Independent State of Croatia. He never went there, however, and refused to do so over the issue of Italian annexation of Dalmatian land, making him a particular odd character in that he was an Italian and an officer in the Italian navy. Following Italy switching sides, he resigned his presumptive kingship and served again in the Italian Navy. He resigned his ducal title upon the fall of the Italian monarchy.
