Historical Events
- 1st edition of illegal opposition newspaper Free Netherlands
- German occupiers in Netherlands begin soap rationing
- RAF Fighter Command loses 39 aircraft against Luftwaffe's 41
- US National Guard assembles
Famous Birthdays
- Alain Calmat, French figure skater (Olympic silver 1964), born in Paris, France
- Jack Thompson [John Payne], Australian actor (Breaker Morant, The Man from Snowy River), born in Sydney, New South Wales
- Wilton Felder, American jazz-fusion saxophonist and bassist (The Crusaders), born in Houston, Texas (d. 2015)
Famous Weddings
Vivien Leigh & Laurence Olivier
"Wuthering Heights" actor Laurence Olivier (33) weds "Gone With The Wind" actress Vivien Leigh (26)
Vince Lombardi
Football player and coach Vince Lombardi (27) weds Marie Planitz at Our Lady of Refuge Church in Bronx, New York
Famous Deaths
- George Gauthier, French Canadian Roman Catholic Bishop of Montreal and rector of the Université de Montréal, dies at 68
- Johanna "Annie" Bakker, Dutch revue-artist, singer and actress, dies at 58
Died in 1940 1940 Highlights
About August 31, 1940
Day of the Week: Saturday
How Long Ago? 83 years, 8 months and 2 days
Leap Year: Yes
Generation: Silent Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Dragon
Star Sign: Virgo
