On This Day, September 3: FDR and King George VI
Also featured: Lancaster Bomber Raid.
September 3 Update
This report documents the historical provenance, broadcast scheduling, commercial sponsorship, credited cast, production personnel, alternate circulating titles, and pure narrative synopses for broadcasts transmitting on September 3 across world-altering wartime radio declarations, President Franklin D. Roosevelt's historic fireside chat on European neutrality, French general mobilization bulletins, Bob Trout reading breaking AP wires, John Daly on CBS, and Wynford Vaughan-Thomas's historic combat flight inside an RAF Lancaster bomber over Berlin, FDR (1939), HM King George VI (1939), Bob Trout (1939), John Daly (1942), and Wynford Vaughan-Thomas (1939–1943):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "King George VI Royal Address Excerpts on Outbreak of War" | BBC / Shortwave 1939-09-03 6:00 PM BST |
Sustaining Royal Address |
HM King George VI | BBC Engineers | ["Speech", "WWII", "King George VI", "BBC", "Royal Address"] |
King George VI delivers key excerpts of his royal address from Buckingham Palace urging fortitude across Britain and the Dominions. |
| "French Declaration of War and General Mobilization" | Radio Paris / BBC 1939-09-03 5:00 PM BST |
Sustaining Wartime Bulletin |
Édouard Daladier | Radio Paris Desk | ["News", "WWII", "France", "Edouard Daladier", "Radio Paris"] |
Radio bulletins broadcast Premier Daladier's announcement that France has entered a state of war with Germany following general mobilization. |
| "Fireside Chat on the Outbreak of War in Europe with FDR" | Combined Networks 1939-09-03 10:00 PM EDST |
Sustaining Presidential Address |
President FDR | White House Staff | ["Speech", "WWII", "FDR", "Fireside Chat", "Neutrality"] |
President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivers a radio address from the White House asserting American neutrality while acknowledging national sympathy for democracies. |
| "AP Bulletins on European Diplomatic Breakdown with Bob Trout" | CBS (WABC) 1939-09-03 10:30 AM EDST |
Sustaining CBS News Flash |
Bob Trout (Anchor) | AP Correspondents | ["News", "WWII", "CBS News", "Bob Trout", "Associated Press"] |
Bob Trout reads breaking wire reports recounting the breakdown of Italian mediation efforts immediately prior to Britain's war ultimatum. |
| "Morning Global Battle Reports with John Daly" | CBS (WABC) 1942-09-03 8:00 AM EWT |
Sustaining CBS News Special |
John Daly (Anchor) | CBS War Staff | ["News", "WWII", "CBS News", "John Daly", "Pacific War"] |
CBS correspondents summarize military developments across Guadalcanal, New Guinea, and the Soviet defense of the Caucasus. |
| "RAF Lancaster Bomber Raid Over Berlin with Wynford Vaughan-Thomas" | BBC Home Service 1943-09-03 |
Sustaining Combat Recording |
Wynford Vaughan-Thomas | RAF Bomber Crew | ["Documentary", "WWII", "BBC", "RAF", "Aviation"] |
BBC correspondent Wynford Vaughan-Thomas records an authentic combat mission from inside an RAF Lancaster bomber navigating flak over Berlin. |