1940 NCAA Golf Championship
LSU and Princeton shared the team championship, the first for both programs. Dixon Brooke from Virginia captured the individual title. The Tigers from LSU were coached by Mike Donahue and the Tigers from Princeton by Walter Bourne.


1940 NCAA Golf Championship
John P. Burke (Georgetown), with a score of 143, was the tournament's medalist.


1940 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
The consensus 1940 College Basketball All-American team, as determined by aggregating the results of four major All-American teams. To earn "consensus" status, a player must win honors from a majority of the following teams: the Helms Athletic Foundation, Converse, and Madison Square Garden.


1940 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships
The 1940 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships were contested March 29, 1940 at the Payne Whitney Gymnasium at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut at the fourth annual NCAA-sanctioned swim meet to determine the team and individual national champions of men's collegiate swimming and diving in the United States.


1940 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships
For the fourth consecutive year, Michigan topped the team standings, edging out hosts Yale by three points. It was the Wolverines' fourth title in program history and the fourth for coach Matt Mann.


1940 NCAA Track and Field Championships
The 1940 NCAA Track and Field Championships was the 19th NCAA track and field championship. The event was held at the University of Minnesota's Memorial Stadium in June 1940. The University of Southern California won its sixth consecutive team title.


1940 NCAA Track and Field Championships
The meet took place during a two-day downpour that flooded the stadium and forced the field events to be moved indoors at the Minnesota field house.


1940 NCAA Track and Field Championships, Field events, Long jump
1. Jackie Robinson, UCLA - 24 feet, 10¼ inches2. Billy Brown, LSU3. Welles Hodgson, Minnesota4. Pat Turner, UCLA5. William Lacefield, UCLA


1940 NCAA Track and Field Championships, Field events, High jump
1. Don Canham, Michigan - 6 feet, 6⅜ inches1. John Wilson, USC - 6 feet, 6⅜ inches3. Alfred Flechner, Idaho4. Don Boydston, Oklahoma A&M4. Joshua Williamson, Xavier of New Orleans4. Russell Wulff, Stanford


1940 NCAA Track and Field Championships, Field events, Pole vault
1. Kenny Dills, USC - 13 feet, 10 inches2. Quinn Smith, California3. George Hoffman, Fresno State4. Ralph Ross, Army5. William Williams, Wisconsin


1940 NCAA Track and Field Championships, Field events, Discus throw
1. Archie Harris, Indiana - 162 feet, 4½ inches2. Jack Hughes, Texas - 161 feet, 6 inches3. Al Blozis, Georgetown - 161 feet, 5 inches4. A. Cornet, Stanford5. Edsel Wibbels, Nebraska


1940 NCAA Track and Field Championships, Field events, Javelin
1. Martin Biles, California - 204 feet, 10 inches2. Herbert Grote, Nebraska3. Boyd Brown, Oregon4. Nick Vukmanic, Penn State5. Clarence Gehrke, Utah


1940 NCAA Track and Field Championships, Field events, Shot put
1. Al Blozis, Georgetown - 56 feet, 1/2 inch 2. Stan Anderson, Stanford3. Herb Michael, California4. Don McNeil, USC5. John Mazyk, Pitt


1940 NCAA Wrestling Championships
The 1940 NCAA Wrestling Championships were the 13th NCAA Wrestling Championships to be held. The University of Illinois in Champaign, Illinois hosted the tournament at Huff Gymnasium.


1940 NCAA Wrestling Championships
Oklahoma A&M took home the team championship with 24 points and having two individual champions.


1940 NCAA baseball season
The 1940 NCAA baseball season, play of college baseball in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) began in the spring of 1940. Play largely consisted of regional matchups, some organized by conferences, and ended in June. No national championship event was held until 1947.


1940 NCAA baseball season, Conference winners
This is a partial list of conference champions from the 1940 season.


1940 NCAA football rankings
One human poll comprised the 1940 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) football rankings. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, does not bestow a national championship, instead that title is bestowed by one or more different polling agencies. There are two main weekly polls that begin in the preseason—the AP Poll and the Coaches' Poll. The Coaches' Poll began operation in 1950; in addition, the AP Poll did not begin conducting preseason polls until that same year.


1940 NCAA football rankings, AP Poll
The final AP Poll was released on December 2, at the end of the 1940 regular season, weeks before the major bowls. The AP would not release a post-bowl season final poll regularly until 1968.


1940 NFL Championship Game
The 1940 National Football League Championship Game, sometimes referred to simply as 73–0, was the eighth title game of the National Football League (NFL), played at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C. on December 8, with a sellout capacity attendance of 36,034.


1940 NFL Championship Game
The Chicago Bears (8–3) of the Western Division met the Washington Redskins (9–2), champions of the Eastern Division. Neither team had played in the title game since 1937, when the Redskins won a close game at Chicago's Wrigley Field. For this game in Washington, the Bears entered as slight favorites.


1940 NFL Championship Game
The Bears scored eleven touchdowns and won 73–0, the most one-sided victory in NFL history. The game was broadcast on radio by Mutual Broadcasting System, the first NFL title game broadcast nationwide.


1940 NFL Championship Game, Background
Washington had defeated Chicago 7–3 in a regular season game three weeks earlier in Washington. After the contest, Redskins owner George Preston Marshall told reporters that the Bears were crybabies and quitters when the going got tough. As the Bears prepared for the rematch, Chicago head coach George Halas fired up his team by showing them newspaper articles containing Marshall's comments, then said, "Gentlemen, this is what George Preston Marshall thinks of you. Well, I think you're a GREAT football team! Now, go out there and prove it!"


1940 NFL Championship Game, Background
Before the game, Halas's friend Clark Shaughnessy, who was concurrently coaching the undefeated Stanford Indians, helped the Bears' gameplan. Shaughnessy devised several counters for linebacker shifts that he had noted the Redskins using.


1940 NFL Championship Game, Game summary
The Bears controlled the game right from the start, using the T formation as their primary offensive strategy. On their second play from scrimmage, running back Bill Osmanski ran 68 yards for a touchdown. Washington then marched to the Chicago 26-yard line on their ensuing drive, but wide receiver Charlie Malone dropped a sure touchdown pass in the end zone that would have tied the game. The field goal attempt on 4th down was missed as well.


1940 NFL Championship Game, Game summary
Later in the first quarter, Bears quarterback Sid Luckman scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to increase the lead 14–0. On their third drive, Joe Maniaci ran 42 yards for the Bears' third touchdown of the game.


1940 NFL Championship Game, Game summary
The Bears held a 28–0 halftime lead and then continued to crush the Redskins, scoring 45 points during the second half. After Halas took the team's starters out, the backup players continued to pile on the points. The Bears ended up recording 501 total yards on offense, 382 total rushing yards, and 8 interceptions—returning 3 for touchdowns, all in the third quarter.


1940 NFL Championship Game, Game summary
So many footballs were kicked into the stands after touchdowns that officials asked Halas to run or pass for the point after touchdown on the last two touchdowns.


1940 NFL Championship Game, Game summary
This game also marked the last time that an NFL player (Bears end Dick Plasman) played without a helmet.


1940 NFL Championship Game, Game summary
Reportedly, after the final gun went off, a sports writer jokingly yelled, "Marshall just shot himself!" Marshall's only statement to the press was, "We needed a 50 man line against their power."


1940 NFL Championship Game, Game summary
Redskins quarterback Sammy Baugh was interviewed after the game, and a sportswriter asked him whether the game would have been different had Malone not dropped the tying touchdown pass. Baugh reportedly quipped, "Sure. The final score would have been 73–7."


1940 NFL Championship Game, Legacy
As of 2021, Chicago's 73 points is the most scored by one team in any NFL game, regular season or postseason. The margin of victory is not only the largest-ever in the NFL, but in any major American professional team sport; the closest anyone has come is the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers, who demolished the Miami Heat in 1991 by 68 points (148–80). Chicago's seven rushing touchdowns is the second-most touchdowns (by both teams in one game) in league history and the most ever in a postseason game.


1940 NFL Championship Game, Legacy
The First Fifty Years, a 1969 book that chronicles the first half century of the NFL, listed the game as one of "Ten [Games] That Mattered" to the growth of pro football in the United States. "On a Sunday in the 1940 December," the book states, "the Chicago Bears played perfect football for a greater percentage of the official hour than any team before or since.


1940 NFL Championship Game, Legacy
In the championship game, as an underdog to the team which had just beaten them, the Bears made an eleven-touchdown pile and used it as a pedestal to raise the NFL to view in all corners of the country.... Pro football, the T-formation and the Chicago Bears were the sudden sports news of the year."


1940 NFL Championship Game, Officials
The NFL had only four game officials in 1940; the back judge was added in 1947, the line judge in 1965, and the side judge in 1978.


1940 NFL Championship Game, Players' shares
The net gate receipts from the sellout were over $102,000, a record, and each Bear player received $874 while each Redskin saw $606.


1940 NFL Draft
The 1940 National Football League Draft was held on December 9, 1939, at the Schroeder Hotel in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.


1940 NFL season
The 1940 NFL season was the 21st regular season of the National Football League. The season ended when the Chicago Bears defeated the Washington Redskins in the NFL Championship Game, 73–0. This game still stands as the most one-sided victory in NFL history. The Pittsburgh Pirates were renamed the Pittsburgh Steelers before the 1940 season.


1940 NFL season, Draft
The 1940 NFL Draft was held on December 9, 1939 at Milwaukee's Schroeder Hotel. With the first pick, the Chicago Cardinals selected halfback George Cafego from the University of Tennessee.


1940 NFL season, Final standings
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.


1940 NFL season, NFL Championship Game
Chi. Bears 73, Washington 0, at Griffith Stadium, Washington, D.C., December 8, 1940


1940 NSWRFL season
The 1940 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the thirty-third season of Sydney’s top-level rugby league club competition, Australia’s first. Eight teams from across the city contested the premiership during the season, which lasted from April until August, culminating in Eastern Suburbs’ victory over Canterbury-Bankstown in the final.


1940 NSWRFL season, Season summary
For this season St. George returned to Hurstville Oval as their home ground.


1940 NSWRFL season, Finals
In the two semi finals, minor premiers Eastern Suburbs defeated St. George whilst fourth-placed Canterbury-Bankstown beat second-placed Newtown. Eastern Suburbs then beat Canterbury-Bankstown in the Final to collect their eighth premiership.


1940 NSWRFL season, Finals, Premiership Final
Led by their standard-setting captain-coach Dave Brown, the Tricolours continued their strong season performance with a semi-final victory over St George to gain a Final berth.


1940 NSWRFL season, Finals, Premiership Final
Although Brown was ruled out on the morning of the decider with a leg injury, replacement Bill Brew slotted into the side and scored a try after backing up second rower Sid “Joe” Pearce who also scored the next try. The young Easts team, who averaged twenty years of age, overcame Canterbury by six tries to two.


1940 NSWRFL season, Finals, Premiership Final
Eastern Suburbs 24 (Tries: Pierce 2, O'Loan, Brew, Pearce, Clarke. Goals: Dunn 2 )


1940 NYU Violets football team
The 1940 NYU Violets football team was an American football team that represented New York University as an independent during the 1940 college football season. In their seventh year under head coach Mal Stevens, the team compiled a 2–7 record.


1940 National Football League All-Star Game (December)
The 1940 National Football League All-star Game (December) was the professional football league's third all-star game. The game pitted the Chicago Bears, the league's champion for the 1940 season, against a team of all-stars.


1940 National Football League All-Star Game (December)
The game was played on Sunday, December 29, 1940, at Gilmore Stadium in Los Angeles, California before an overflow crowd of 21,000, with members of the Stanford and Nebraska football teams also in attendance; the two were scheduled to play in the Rose Bowl, with Nebraska using the All-Star Game to research the Bears' T formation, which was being used by Stanford head coach and former Bears assistant Clark Shaughnessy. The Bears defeated the All-Stars by a score of 28–14.


1940 National Football League All-Star Game (December)
The Bears were an 8–5 favorite over the All-Stars after crushing the Washington Redskins 73–0 in the championship game a few weeks prior. Luke Johnsos coached the Bears in place of George Halas, who was hospitalized following an appendectomy. The All-Stars were coached by Ray Flaherty of the Washington Redskins. John Olds was the referee for the game.


1940 National Football League All-Star Game (December)
Quarterback Ace Parker of the Brooklyn Dodgers was voted into the game, but declined participation due to ankle and shoulder injuries he suffered during the season. His decision sparked a clash with NFL President Carl Storck, who warned him of potential expulsion from the league should he not play until Dodgers owner Dan Topping successfully pulled him out without consequence. Rather than the All-Star Game, Parker decided to play two charity games in Virginia over the following weeks.


1940 National Football League All-Star Game (January)
The 1940 National Football League All-star Game was the professional football league's second all-star game. The game pitted the Green Bay Packers, the league's champion for the 1939 season, against a team of all-stars. The game was played on Sunday, January 14, 1940, at Gilmore Stadium in Los Angeles, California in front of 18,000 fans. The Packers defeated the all-stars by a score of 16–7. The game was originally scheduled to be played on the previous Sunday, but it was delayed due to rain.


1940 National Football League All-Star Game (January)
The players on the all-star squad were selected by a national poll of fans. Wilbur Crowell was the referee for the game.


1940 National Invitation Tournament
The 1940 National Invitation Tournament was the 1940 edition of the annual NCAA college basketball competition.


1940 National Invitation Tournament, Selected teams
Below is a list of the six teams selected for the tournament.


1940 Navy Midshipmen football team
The 1940 Navy Midshipmen football team represented the United States Naval Academy during the 1940 college football season. In their second season under head coach Swede Larson, the Midshipmen compiled a 6–2–1 record and outscored their opponents by a combined score of 106 to 46.


1940 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
The 1940 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Nebraska in the Big Six Conference during the 1940 college football season. In its fourth season under head coach Biff Jones, the team compiled an 8–2 record (5–0 against conference opponents), won the Big Six championship, was ranked No. 7 in the final AP Poll, and lost to Stanford in the 1941 Rose Bowl. The Cornhuskers outscored opponents by a total of 183 to 75. The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.


1940 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
Two Nebraska players received honors on the 1940 All-America team. Guard Warren Alfson was named to the first team by the Associated Press and International News Service and to the second team by the United Press and Central Press Association. Tackle Forrest Behm was named to the first team by the Newspaper Enterprise Association.


1940 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
Five Cornhuskers received first-team honors from the United Press on the 1940 All-Big Six Conference football team: Alfson; Behm; halfback Harry Hopp; Walter Luther; and Ray Prochaska.


1940 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Before the season
Coach Jones returned to add another chapter to the up and down story of his Nebraska head coaching career. After a promising conference championship first year, a record-setting second year of losses and disappointments, and then a strong return last year which included wins over Minnesota and Pittsburgh in the same year for the first time ever, sights were set on once again taking aim at the conference title and returning to the top of the league.


1940 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Roster
Abel, George #47  GAlfson, Warren #22  GBehm, Forrest #33  TBlue, Wayne #39  HBBradley, Dale #42  HBBryant, William #29  GBunker, Willard #46  EBurruss, Robert #49  CFrancis, Vike #38  FBGreenlief, Francis #18  GHazen, Jack #32  EHerndon, Clarence #34  THopp, Harry #37  FBKahler, Robert #35  HBKahler, Royal #54  TKathol, Gerald #12  EKelly, Howard #56  CKnight, George #21  QBLeik, Francis #52  TLudwick, Robert #30  E


1940 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Roster
Luther, Walter #27  HBMeier, Fred #20  CMetheny, Fred #36  QBMuskin, Leonard #53  TMyers, Lynn #48  GPetsch, Roy #13  QBPreston, Fred #50  EProchaska, Ray #31  ERohn, Henry #15  FBRohrig, Herman #25  HBRubottom, Don #10  HBSchleich, Victor #57  TSchwartzkopf, Ed #17  GSimmons, Kenneth #19  HBThompson, Marvin #44  EThompson, Theos #26  HBVincent, Jack #23  HBVonGoetz, Herbert #48  GWhitehead, Ralph #16  TZikmund, Allen #59  HB


1940 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Minnesota
The Cornhuskers faced the ultimate test to start their season, going up against the #1 Minnesota Golden Gophers in Minneapolis. The Gophers already had played one game to tune up. The scoreless draw was broken open when Minnesota put one touchdown in before the half. It wasn't until the third quarter that Nebraska scored a touchdown to tie it up, but the Gophers quickly responded to keep their lead. When the Cornhuskers answered later in the third on a long reverse play, the tying score was called back on an offsides penalty and Nebraska was unable to put the ball over again as they fell to 4-16-2 in the series.


1940 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Indiana
Indiana arrived in Lincoln to open Nebraska's home schedule, and quickly found themselves scrambling to keep up as the Cornhuskers jumped out to a 13-0 lead by halftime. The Hoosiers did manage one third quarter score, but were unable to come up with enough to get the win. Indiana remained winless against Nebraska all time, at 0-3-2.


1940 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Kansas
Nebraska absolutely unloaded on Kansas in Lawrence, seemingly running into the end zone at will and rolling up 53 points. It was the most points scored and tied the record largest margin of victory since Grinnell fell to Nebraska 58-0 in 1927. Kansas managed to avoid the shutout only by the grace of a Cornhusker kicker slipping in the end zone to give up a safety. Nebraska was now 35-9-3 in the series, and had kept Kansas winless in 24 straight tries. Nebraska appeared at #18 in the AP Poll.


1940 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Missouri
Nebraska took back the Missouri-Nebraska Bell with their defeat of defending Big 6 champion Missouri in Lincoln. If not for a successful play in the last sixty seconds of the game, the Tigers would have been forced to suffer the additional indignity of a shutout. As it was, they still had to live with their 8-23-3 record against Nebraska all-time. The win boosted Nebraska to #12 in the AP Poll.


1940 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Oklahoma
The Cornhuskers dealt another hand of disappointment to the Sooners, overcoming their own weak line play in the first half. It wasn't until 20 seconds remaining in the 2nd quarter that Nebraska found the scoreboard. After the break, both teams again pushed each other back and forth with nothing to show for their troubles until the fourth when the Cornhuskers used a big play to put the game out of reach and shut out Oklahoma in Norman. Nebraska was now 14-3-3 against the Sooners to date, but the win was not enough to move Nebraska up from their #12 AP Poll ranking.


1940 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Iowa
On a wet field, Nebraska struggled slightly at first, giving up a fumble to stall the first potential scoring drive. Undaunted, the Cornhuskers came back with two touchdowns in a row, though the Hawkeyes answered with a score of their own before the break. No further points would be tallied in the second half, and the win was Nebraska's fourth straight over Iowa as they improved to 19-7-3 all time and gained one spot in the AP Poll.


1940 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh was not at all accustomed to playing Nebraska from the perspective of avenging a loss, but after having their 12-game streak over the Cornhuskers broken the previous year, sights were set on putting Nebraska back in their place as they were brought to Pitt Stadium. The Cornhuskers scored first in a bid to prove that 1939 was no fluke, but the Panthers answered right back soon after. As Nebraska had failed to convert, Pittsburgh now held a 7-6 lead and fought to a standoff until halftime.


1940 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Pittsburgh
Before the end of the third quarter, though, the Cornhuskers managed to punch in a field goal to go ahead, and successfully held off the Panthers for the rest of the game. It was the first time Nebraska had defeated Pittsburgh twice in a row in all 15 tries, and the victory moved the Cornhuskers up to #8 in the AP Poll, though they still lagged in the series at 3-9-3.


1940 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Iowa State
Perhaps Nebraska was feeling overconfident after their win in Pittsburgh, but whatever the reason was, Iowa State promptly had the Cornhuskers on their heels early on. After an initial Cyclone touchdown broke the ice, Iowa State blocked and recovered a Nebraska punt, successfully converting it into a second touchdown to lead the Cornhuskers 12-0 by halftime.


1940 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Iowa State
Words in the locker room at the break probably had much to do with the storm that emerged in the second half, as Nebraska blasted the line and racked up 21 unanswered points to take the game back from the Cyclones and improve to 29-5-1 against Iowa State to date. This was Nebraska's 100th conference victory, dating back to the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association which preceded the Big 6. The AP Poll was not impressed by the somewhat weak victory, and kept Nebraska at #8.


1940 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Kansas State
Nebraska scored without serious challenge in each of the first three quarters while also keeping the Wildcats off the board despite all efforts by Kansas State to try to avoid the shutout that was due to be dealt. With the win, Nebraska completed the Big 6 conference slate with all wins and took home the conference championship banner again after a two-year drought. It was the fifth straight Nebraska win over Kansas State as the Cornhuskers moved up to #7 in the AP Poll and continued to own the series, which was now advanced to 21-2-2.


1940 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Stanford
Nebraska, undefeated all season save for the loss to #1 Minnesota, was invited to the program's first ever postseason game to play #2 Stanford in the Rose Bowl. So momentous was the occasion that classes were canceled as celebrations spilled out across the campus after the announcement. In Pasadena, after the formalities and parades were completed, the football teams set to the business of deciding the Rose Bowl title for the 1940 season. The Cornhuskers struck first and momentarily set Stanford back, but it did not take the Indians very long to answer.


1940 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Stanford
In the second quarter, Nebraska again punched in some points, but this time Stanford's answer left the Cornhuskers a point short after due to a missed Nebraska place kick. Stanford's defensive adjustments stymied Nebraska afterwards, and when Nebraska was pinned on their own 1 in the third quarter, the Cornhuskers opted to punt out of danger. Fate stepped in and handed Stanford a punt return for touchdown on that play, and with no more points scored on the day, the game was decided. This was the only time Nebraska ever met Stanford.


1940 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, After the season
Nebraska achieved two key accomplishments over the previous season, outdoing the high mark of 1939's same-season defeats of Minnesota and Pittsburgh, by regaining the championship of the Big 6 and also by participating in the Nebraska football program's first ever bowl game at the storied Rose Bowl. Since coach Jones was unbeaten on the Big 6 slate, his conference record moved up to 14-4-2 (.750), as his Nebraska career record rose to 24-9-4 (.703). He helped improve the program's overall record to 294-98-31 (.732) and the Big 6 record to 101-15-11 (.839). The future at Nebraska seemed to be bright indeed, but the shadows of the growing war in Europe were beginning to grow and darken the world.


1940 Nebraska gubernatorial election
The 1940 Nebraska gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1940, and featured newspaper publisher and former state legislator Dwight Griswold, a Republican, defeating Democratic nominee, former U.S. Representative Terry Carpenter.


1940 Nevada Wolf Pack football team
The 1940 Nevada Wolf Pack football team was an American football team that represented the University of Nevada as an independent during the 1940 college football season. In their second season under head coach Jim Aiken, the team compiled a 4–4–1 record.


1940 Nevada Wolf Pack football team, Previous season
The Wolf Pack finished the 1939 season 5–4 and 3–0 in the final FWC play to finish in first place.


1940 New England hurricane
The 1940 New England hurricane moved off of the U.S. East Coast and Atlantic Canada in August and September 1940, producing strong winds and torrential rainfall. The fourth tropical cyclone and third hurricane of the season, the storm originated from a well-defined low-pressure area in the open Atlantic Ocean on August 26. Moving slowly in a general west-northwest motion, the disturbance intensified, reaching tropical storm strength on August 28 and subsequently hurricane intensity on August 30. The hurricane passed within 85 mi (135 km) of Cape Hatteras before recurving towards the northeast.


1940 New England hurricane
The hurricane continued to intensify, and reached peak intensity as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 961 mbar (hPa; 28.38 inHg), though these statistical peaks were achieved at different times on September 2. Afterwards, the hurricane began a weakening trend as it proceeded northeastward, and had degenerated into a tropical storm by the time it made its first landfall on Nova Scotia later that day. The storm transitioned into an extratropical cyclone the next day while making another landfall on New Brunswick. The extratropical remnants persisted into Quebec before merging with a larger extratropical system late on September 3.


1940 New England hurricane
Despite not making landfall on the United States, the hurricane caused widespread damage. Extensive precautionary measures were undertaken across the coast, particularly in New England. The heightened precautions were due in part to fears that effects from the storm would be similar to that of a devastating hurricane that struck the region two years prior. Most of the damage associated with the hurricane occurred in New Jersey, where the combination of moisture from the hurricane and a stationary front produced record rainfall, peaking at 24 in (610 mm) in the town of Ewan.


1940 New England hurricane
This would make the storm the wettest in state history. The resultant floods damaged infrastructure, mostly to road networks. Damage in the state amounted to $4 million. Farther north in New England, strong winds were reported, though damage remained minimal. Although the storm made two landfalls in Atlantic Canada, damage there too was minimal, and was limited to several boating incidents caused by strong waves. Overall, the hurricane caused seven fatalities.


1940 New England hurricane, Meteorological history
The origins of the hurricane can be traced to a compact and slow-moving low-pressure area in the open Atlantic Ocean in late August 1940. As the system progressed in a west-northwest direction, its center of circulation became more organized. As a result, the disturbance was classified as a tropical depression between the Greater Antilles and Bermuda at 1200 UTC on August 26. Operationally, the storm was analyzed to have undergone tropical cyclogenesis on August 30. However, a reanalysis of the storm conducted in 2012 found that the system was already organized prior.


1940 New England hurricane, Meteorological history
In its initial stages, the depression remained weak, with few ships reporting abnormally strong winds in association with the storm. Continuing in a slow west-northwest movement, the disturbance gradually intensified, and was analyzed to have attained tropical storm intensity by 1800 UTC on August 28. At 0600 UTC on August 30, the tropical storm strengthened further into the equivalent of a modern-day Category 1 hurricane, roughly 225 mi (360 km) east of the Florida peninsula. At the same time, the hurricane began to intensify and move quicker than it had previously. Later that day, a ship within the periphery of the storm reported winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a barometric pressure of 979 mbar (hPa; 28.90 inHg).


1940 New England hurricane, Meteorological history
At 1200 UTC on September 1, the hurricane attained modern-day Category 2 intensity. Ships continued to report strong winds and low pressures associated with the storm. Early on September 1, the hurricane passed 85 mi (135 km) of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, before recurving towards the northeast and away from the coast. That same day, two ships reported hurricane-force winds.


1940 New England hurricane, Meteorological history
At 0200 UTC on September 2, the American steamboat Franklin K. Lane reported a barometric pressure of 965 mbar (hPa; 28.50 inHg) while located within the hurricane's radius of maximum wind; this would be the lowest pressure measured in association with the tropical cyclone and the lowest measured in the entire North Atlantic Ocean in September 1940. Based on the ship observation, the storm was analyzed to have reached peak intensity on September 2 with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 961 mbar (hPa; 28.38 inHg).


1940 New England hurricane, Meteorological history
However, stronger winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) were analyzed to have been present in the hurricane earlier. As it traversed though more northerly latitudes, the storm began to gradually weaken. The storm made landfall slightly northwest of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia at 2100 UTC later on September 2 as a tropical storm with winds of 70 mph (110 km/h). After quickly passing over Nova Scotia, the weakening tropical storm transitioned into an extratropical storm over the Bay of Fundy at 0000 UTC on September 3.


1940 New England hurricane, Meteorological history
At the same time, the cyclone made a second landfall on New Brunswick as a slightly weaker storm with winds of 65 mph (100 km/h). The extratropical system progressed over the Gulf of Saint Lawrence before it was absorbed by a larger extratropical storm at 1800 UTC later that day in Quebec just north of Anticosti Island.


1940 New England hurricane, Preparations, impact, and aftermath
As the hurricane approached the United States East Coast on August 31, the United States Weather Bureau advised extreme caution to ships between Cape Hatteras and southern areas of New England. Storm warnings were issued for coastal regions between Wilmington, North Carolina and the Virginia Capes. These warnings were later extended northward to the Delaware Breakwater. Strong winds exceeding gale-force were expected for much of the East Coast, particularly for Cape Hatteras. On September 1, hurricane warnings were ordered for areas from Hatteras, North Carolina to Pamlico Sound, while previously issued storm warnings remained in place.


1940 New England hurricane, Preparations, impact, and aftermath
On September 2, gale warnings extended further north into Nantucket, Massachusetts. In Norfolk, Virginia, city department heads were ordered to stand by for potential emergency duties. United States Coast Guard personnel were also dispatched along the North Carolina coast. United States Navy personnel were detained in New London, Connecticut until the storm passed. In Westhampton, New York, a mass evacuation occurred, involving 10,000 residences. Air traffic to and from Mitchel Air Force Base was cancelled, and 100 airplanes stationed at the base were fastened to the ground.


1940 New England hurricane, Preparations, impact, and aftermath
Police and firemen evacuated a 50 mi (80 km) stretch of the Rhode Island coastline. This included Roy Carpenter's Beach, where 1,000 families were forced to evacuate. In Narragansett Bay, boats were sent back to harbors or towed to shore. The extensive precautionary measures undertaken occurred in part due to fears that the storm would cause similar effects to a destructive hurricane which swept through areas of New England two years prior.


1940 New England hurricane, Preparations, impact, and aftermath
On September 1, the Venezuelan tanker Acosta relayed an SOS signal while near the hurricane 200 mi (320 km) southeast of the Frying Pan Shoals. United States Coast Guard stations in Norfolk, Virginia and Morehead City, North Carolina dispatched cutters to aid the ship. Off of the East Coast, an offshoot of the hurricane resulted in the drownings of two people. In the Mid-Atlantic states, the passing hurricane's outflow interacted with a cold front that had become quasi-stationary over the area.


1940 New England hurricane, Preparations, impact, and aftermath
The cyclone's flow pattern enhanced the moisture environment over the region, resulting in locally heavy rainfall, particularly in New Jersey, where precipitation peaked at 24 in (610 mm) in Ewan in a nine-hour period on September 1. This would make the hurricane the wettest tropical cyclone in state history. Most of the rain was in western portions of the state, however, with minimal rainfall at the coast. The floods caused small rivers to overflow, breaching dams. An overflowed creek inundated parts of Lumberton Township, rendering 2,000 people homeless.


1940 New England hurricane, Preparations, impact, and aftermath
Rail service between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and areas of southern New Jersey was suspended as a result of washed out tracks. Resulting damage to infrastructure totaled $4,000,000 in the southwestern quarter of New Jersey alone. Damage to roads in Burlington County amounted to $2,500,000. In Camden County, damage was estimated at $1 million. Four fatalities were reported as a result of the floods. In Delaware, rainfall was comparatively less. However, rough seas generated by the hurricane offshore caused $50,000 in damages and one death. Further north, strong gusts were reported across New England. Winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) were recorded by a weather station in Nantucket. Peak winds in Massachusetts were estimated at 65 mph (100 km/h). In Eastport, Maine, winds of 45 mph (70 km/h) were reported.


1940 New England hurricane, Preparations, impact, and aftermath
After the storm, New Jersey state health department investigators from Trenton were dispatched to study the possibility for an increase in typhoid fever in flooded areas. In Woodbury, where the city pumping station was flooded, water was rationed. Gas service was also limited in Woodbury, Pedricktown, Penns Grove. As a result of a gas plant becoming inundated in Glassboro, electricity was rationalized in Hammonton, forcing residents to eat uncooked food. Police were forced to transport residents of Mount Holly to work via boat due to the high floodwaters.


1940 New England hurricane, Preparations, impact, and aftermath
Despite making two separate landfalls in Atlantic Canada on September 2 and September 3, the hurricane caused minimal damage. Effects in Nova Scotia were limited to boating incidents. In Lake Milo, near Yarmouth, six yachts capsized due to the strong winds. In New Brunswick, damage was also minimal. A car accident associated with the storm injured a man near Barnesville.


1940 New Hampshire Wildcats football team
The 1940 New Hampshire Wildcats football team was an American football team that represented the University of New Hampshire as a member of the New England Conference during the 1940 college football season. In its fourth year under head coach George Sauer, the team compiled a 5–3 record, outscoring their opponents 121–86. The team played its home games at Lewis Field (also known as Lewis Stadium) in Durham, New Hampshire.


1940 New Hampshire Wildcats football team, Schedule
The 1940 game remains the last time that the Saint Anselm and New Hampshire football programs have met.


1940 New Hampshire Wildcats football team, Schedule
New Hampshire captain Matthew Flaherty was inducted to the university's athletic hall of fame in 1983. Flaherty served in World War II, was a teacher and basketball coach at nearby Dover High School, and later became a high school principal; he died in November 2004 at age 86.


1940 New Hampshire earthquakes
The 1940 New Hampshire earthquakes struck on December 20 and again on December 24. Both shocks had an estimated Ms magnitude of 5.6, and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VII (Very strong). These doublet earthquakes were the largest to hit the state in several hundred years. Damage included minor fractures or knocked over chimneys in a zone extending through New Hampshire and four other states: Maine, New York, Vermont and Massachusetts.


1940 New Hampshire earthquakes, History
While not known for earthquakes, New Hampshire has been dotted with both major and minor events. Two examples of strong earthquakes occurred in the 17th century. One was the 1638 earthquake; the other significant event to strike the state was the 1663 Charlevoix earthquake, originating in the Saint Lawrence River fault zone. The extent of the earthquake is not firm, at least in the state, as the population was composed largely of colonial settlers who had left the east coast. The 1663 earthquake felled chimneys, oscillated houses, and threw pewter from shelves in the Massachusetts Bay area.


1940 New Hampshire earthquakes, Geography
Reports of the 1940 earthquake extended as far north as Montreal and Quebec in Canada, and included Maine, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, northeastern Delaware, Massachusetts, Vermont and Rhode Island. The epicenter was next to the Ossipee Mountains, near the town of Ossipee, New Hampshire. These mountains are the remains of an ancient volcanic ring dike. A similar ring dike can be seen in southern New Hampshire at Pawtuckaway State Park.


1940 New Hampshire earthquakes, Damage
Both earthquakes had surface magnitudes estimated at 5.5 and a Mercalli intensity of VII, and spawned waves of minor damage. There were reports of fractured pipes, walls, and furniture, as well as "fallen plaster" near the epicenter. The number of chimneys damaged totaled 20, in addition to fallen ones. The earthquake caused damage to wells, turning the water brown and displayed strength by movement, causing five monuments to shift from their original position at a cemetery, and moving one old house in the village of Wonalancet roughly 12 inches (30 cm). The earthquake additionally shifted objects as heavy as stoves. Aftershocks of the earthquake occurred over the next several months.


1940 New Hampshire gubernatorial election
The 1940 New Hampshire gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1940. Republican nominee Robert O. Blood defeated Democratic nominee F. Clyde Keefe with 50.74% of the vote.


1940 New Jersey gubernatorial election
The 1940 New Jersey gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1940. Democratic nominee Charles Edison defeated Republican nominee Robert C. Hendrickson with 51.38% of the vote.


1940 New Mexico A&M Aggies football team
The 1940 New Mexico A&M Aggies football team was an American football team that represented New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts (now known as New Mexico State University) as a member of the Border Conference during the 1940 college football season. In its first year under head coach Julius H. Johnston, the team compiled a 3–6 record (1–4 against conference opponents), finished sixth in the conference, and was outscored by a total of 200 to 95. The team played its home games at Quesenberry Field in Las Cruces, New Mexico.


1940 New Mexico Lobos football team
The 1940 New Mexico Lobos football team represented the University of New Mexico in the Border Conference during the 1940 college football season. In their fourth season under head coach Ted Shipkey, the Lobos compiled a 5–4 record (4–2 against Border opponents), finished fourth in the conference, and outscored all opponents by a total of 167 to 96. After compiling a 1–4 record in the first six games, the team won its final four games, including victories over rivals New Mexico Agricultural and Arizona and an upset victory over previously undefeated and No. 18-ranked Texas Tech.


1940 New Mexico Lobos football team
Three New Mexico players were selected as first-team players on the All-Border Conference football team selected by the Albuquerque Journal: halfback Avery Monfort; tackle Austin O'Jibway; and guard Wilbur Gentry. Gentry was named captain of the all-conference team. Halfback Jack Morrissey and guard Luksich were placed on the team.


1940 New Mexico gubernatorial election
The 1940 New Mexico gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 1940, in order to elect the Governor of New Mexico. Incumbent Democrat John E. Miles won reelection to a second term.


1940 New York Film Critics Circle Awards
The 6th New York Film Critics Circle Awards, announced on 30 December 1940, honored the best filmmaking of 1940.


1940 New York Giants (MLB) season
The 1940 New York Giants season was the franchise's 58th season. The team finished in sixth place in the National League with a 72–80 record, 371⁄2 games behind the Cincinnati Reds.


1940 New York Giants (MLB) season, Player stats, Batting, Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in


1940 New York Giants (MLB) season, Player stats, Batting, Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in


1940 New York Giants (MLB) season, Player stats, Pitching, Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1940 New York Giants (MLB) season, Player stats, Pitching, Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1940 New York Giants (MLB) season, Player stats, Pitching, Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1940 New York Giants season
The 1940 New York Giants season was the franchise's 16th season in the National Football League.


1940 New York Giants season, Standings
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.


1940 New York Yankees season
The 1940 New York Yankees season was the team's 38th season in New York and its 40th overall. The team finished in third place with a record of 88–66, finishing two games behind the American League champion Detroit Tigers and one game behind the second-place Cleveland Indians. New York was managed by Joe McCarthy. Their home games were played at  Yankee Stadium.


1940 New York Yankees season, Player stats, Batting, Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen Bases


1940 New York Yankees season, Player stats, Batting, Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At Bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases


1940 New York Yankees season, Player stats, Pitching, Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1940 New York Yankees season, Player stats, Pitching, Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1940 New York Yankees season, Player stats, Pitching, Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1940 New York state election
The 1940 New York state election was held on November 5, 1940, to elect three judges of the New York Court of Appeals, a U.S. Senator and two U.S Representatives-at-large, as well as all members of the New York State Assembly and the New York State Senate.


1940 New York state election, Background
After the increase of the gubernatorial term to four years, by an amendment to the State Constitution in 1937, this was the first presidential-election year without a gubernatorial election since 1892. From 1938 on, the New York gubernatorial elections have been held at the same time as the United States midterm elections.


1940 New York state election, Background
In November 1939, Associate Judge Irving Lehman was elected Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals to take office on January 1, 1940. Republican Charles B. Sears was appointed to fill the vacancy temporarily. Sears reached the constitutional age limit at the end of 1940, and thus could not run for election.


1940 New York state election, Background
On November 30, 1939, Associate Judge Irving G. Hubbs tendered his resignation effective December 31. Republican Edmund H. Lewis was appointed to fill the vacancy temporarily.


1940 New York state election, Background
On December 7, 1939, Associate Judge John F. O'Brien tendered his resignation, due to ill health, effective December 31. He died on December 25, and Democrat Albert Conway was appointed to fill the vacancy temporarily.


1940 New York state election, Nominations
The Socialist Labor state convention met on April 27 at the Cornish Arms Hotel at 311, West Twenty-third Street in New York City and nominated Emile Mass for the U.S. Senate; Aaron M. Orange and Jacob Berlin for Congress at-large; and O. Martin Olson, Bronko Papadopolos and Benjamin F. Orange for the Court of Appeals. However, the party did not gather enough signatures to file a petition to nominate candidates, and did not appear on the ballot.


1940 New York state election, Nominations
The Prohibition Party filed a petition to nominate candidates for presidential electors and Congress only. They nominated Dr. Stephen W. Paine, President of Houghton College, for the U.S. Senate; and Neil D. Cranmer and Helen G.H. Estelle for Congress at-large.


1940 New York state election, Nominations
The Republican state convention met on September 27 at White Plains, New York, and re-nominated the incumbents Lewis and Conway (Dem. ); and Supreme Court Justice Benjamin B. Cunningham for the Court of Appeals; Congressman Bruce Barton for the U.S. Senate; and Messmore Kendall and Mary H. Donlon for Congress at-large.


1940 New York state election, Nominations
The American Labor state convention met on September 28, and nominated Leo J. Rosett and Alexander Kahn for the Court of Appeals. They also endorsed Democrats Conway, Mead, Merritt and O'Day. Rosett and Kahn declined the nomination and withdrew in favor of Democrat Desmond and Republican Lewis.


1940 New York state election, Nominations
The Democratic state convention met on September 30, and re-nominated the incumbents Lewis (Rep.), Conway, Mead, Merritt and O'Day; and completed the ticket with Supreme Court Justice Charles S. Desmond for the Court of Appeals.


1940 New York state election, Result
The whole ticket nominated by Democrats and American Laborites was elected.


1940 New York state election, Result
The incumbents Lewis, Conway, Mead, Merritt and O'Day were re-elected.


1940 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election
The New Zealand Labour Party leadership election, 1940 was held on 4 April 1940 to choose the fourth leader of the New Zealand Labour Party. The election was won by Wellington Central MP Peter Fraser.


1940 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election
It followed the death of incumbent Labour leader and Prime Minister Michael Joseph Savage.


1940 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election, Background
Despite governing with a healthy majority, Labour was facing antagonism from within its own ranks. The Labour Party had been overtly socialist at its inception, it had gradually drifted away from its earlier radicalism under Savage. Labour MP, John A. Lee, whose outlooks were a combination of socialism and social credit theory, arose as a vocal critic of the party's leadership, accusing it of acting dictatorially and of betraying the party's founding ideals.


1940 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election, Background
After a long and bitter dispute, Lee was expelled from the party by Fraser, establishing the breakaway Democratic Labour Party. Only one other sitting Labour MP, Bill Barnard joined, though many others were sympathetic and gave serious consideration.


1940 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election, Candidates, Peter Fraser
Fraser had been an MP since 1918. He had served as Michael Joseph Savage's deputy since 1933 and by Savage's death he was effectively holding the office of Prime Minister during the former's battle with colon cancer.


1940 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election, Candidates, Gervan McMillan
Gervan McMillan was nominated for the leadership by his close colleague and friend from Otago, Arnold Nordmeyer. He was a staunch supporter of John A. Lee in an increasingly divided caucus. McMillan was of the opinion that Labour's leadership was too conservative and cautious, especially on financial issues. Like Lee, he sponsored a greater use of credit and to further encourage local industries.


1940 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election, Candidates, Clyde Carr
Carr had previously served as Labour's party president (1936–1937). After Labour won office in 1935, Carr was not given any ministerial portfolios. As a result, he had become somewhat of a dissident in the Labour caucus. Carr, like McMillan, was also an open sympathiser of John A. Lee's


1940 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election, Result
The election was conducted through a caucus vote by the then parliamentary MPs. Arnold Nordmeyer had proposed a private ballot, however the idea was rejected. Peter Fraser won, with a total of 33 votes, well over half the caucus, while McMillan gained 12 votes and Carr just 3.


1940 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election, Aftermath
Peter Fraser would lead Labour until he, himself died in 1950. Upon his election, Fraser had to give the party's caucus the right to elect people to Cabinet without the leaders's approval, a practice which has continued as Labour Party policy to this day. Gervan McMillan would later resign from all his parliamentary responsibilities and did not seek re-election in 1943. Carr continued on as a Labour MP, declining to join Lee's splinter party, the Democratic Labour Party. He was later to serve as the Chairman of Committees (1947–1949) and Deputy Speaker (1946–1950) in Fraser's caucus. Bill Barnard joined (and then later resigned from) the Democratic Labour Party but remained as Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives until he was defeated in the 1943 general election (standing as an independent, not for the DLP).


1940 New Zealand National Party leadership election
The 1940 New Zealand National Party leadership election was held to determine the future leadership of the New Zealand National Party. The election was won by Christchurch North MP Sidney Holland.


1940 New Zealand National Party leadership election, Background
In July 1940, Hamilton together with Gordon Coates joined the new "War Cabinet" after receiving invitations from Labour Prime Minister Peter Fraser. Sidney Holland together with several other National MPs began to question in caucus whether Hamilton could still carry out the role of Leader of the Opposition in an attempt to oust him. After considerable discussion, the party's dominion executive unanimously decided in November 1940 that Hamilton should be asked to resign. A long discussion in caucus ensued lasting all day which was inconclusive. The next day Hamilton announced he would resign as leader, but would offer himself for election once again in the ensuing ballot.


1940 New Zealand National Party leadership election, Candidates, Adam Hamilton
Hamilton was recognized by his peers and the public as being diligent, transparent and experienced, however he lacked the drive needed for the leadership of a party in opposition. He had never been able to truly establish himself as a leader in his own right, being seen by many as a "seat warmer" for Coates, his previous leader. Hamilton also carried the unpopular legacy of being a senior minister in the coalition government.


1940 New Zealand National Party leadership election, Candidates, Sidney Holland
Holland had for several years had been acting as Hamilton's private secretary. He was regarded as more dynamic personality that could bring much needed vigour to the opposition benches. In addition, as he had only been an MP since 1935 he did not (in contrast to Hamilton) have any association with the now negatively viewed coalition government from the depression.


1940 New Zealand National Party leadership election, Result
The election was conducted through a members ballot by National's parliamentary caucus. The following table gives the ballot results:


1940 New Zealand National Party leadership election, Aftermath
Holland served as Leader of the Opposition for nine years until the National Party won their first general election in 1949 where he became Prime Minister. Hamilton remained a part of the War Cabinet, which ironically was later joined by Holland, but stayed with National, unlike Coates who became an independent MP. Hamilton contested the 1943 election as a National candidate but did not seek re-election in 1946 choosing to retire.


1940 New Zealand rugby league season
The 1940 New Zealand rugby league season was the 33rd season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand.


1940 New Zealand rugby league season, International competitions
New Zealand played in no international matches due to World War II.


1940 New Zealand rugby league season, National competitions, Northern Union Cup
West Coast again held the Northern Union Cup at the end of the season. They successfully defended it against Inangahua 7-5.


1940 New Zealand rugby league season, Club competitions, Auckland
Richmond won the Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial Trophy, Roope Rooster and Norton Cup. North Shore won the Rukutai Shield and Stormont Shield while Otahuhu won the Sharman Cup.


1940 New Zealand rugby league season, Club competitions, Auckland
Bob Banham was Mount Albert's player-coach before returning to Sydney in September 1940 with the intention of joining the Australian forces. He played several games for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in 1941.


1940 New Zealand rugby league season, Club competitions, Wellington
St George won the Wellington Rugby League's championship. During the year Will Appleton was elected president of the Wellington Rugby League. He would serve until 1958 and present the League with the Appleton Shield.


1940 New Zealand rugby league season, Club competitions, Other competitions
Blackball won the West Coast Rugby League competition and received no challenge for the Thacker Shield.


1940 Newcastle upon Tyne North by-election
The Newcastle upon Tyne North by-election, 1940 was a parliamentary by-election held on 7 June 1940 for the British House of Commons constituency of Newcastle upon Tyne North.


1940 Newcastle upon Tyne North by-election, Previous MP
The seat had become vacant on when the constituency's Conservative Party Member of Parliament (MP), Sir Nicholas Grattan-Doyle, had resigned from Parliament on 10 April, aged 77. He had been the constituency's MP since its creation for the 1918 general election.


1940 Newcastle upon Tyne North by-election, Candidates
During World War II, unopposed by-elections were common, since the major parties had agreed not to contest by-elections when vacancies arose in seats held by the other parties; contests occurred only when independent candidates or minor parties chose to stand. In keeping with the agreement, neither the local Labour Party and Liberal Party fielded a candidate in Newcastle North.


1940 Newcastle upon Tyne North by-election, Candidates
The Conservative Party candidate was Henry Grattan-Doyle, whose selection split the local Conservative Association. A group broke away to form the Newcastle North (1940) Conservative Association, and they fielded Sir Cuthbert Headlam as an "Independent Conservative" candidate.


1940 Newcastle upon Tyne North by-election, Candidates
Headlam had been MP for Barnard Castle from 1924 to 1929 and from 1931 to 1935, and had held several junior ministerial posts. He had also contested the Gateshead by-election in 1931, coming a close second in what had been a safe seat for Labour.


1940 Newcastle upon Tyne North by-election, Results
On a very low turnout, the result was an overwhelming victory for Headlam, who took 71% of the votes. Returned to the House of Commons, he promptly took the Conservative Whip, and held the seat as a Conservative until he retired from Parliament at the 1951 election.


1940 Newcastle upon Tyne West by-election
The Newcastle upon Tyne West by-election of 1940 was held on 5 July 1940. The by-election was held due to the death of the incumbent Conservative MP, Joseph Leech. It was won unopposed by the Conservative candidate William Nunn.


1940 Niagara Purple Eagles football team
The 1940 Niagara Purple Eagles football team was an American football team that represented Niagara University in the Western New York Little Three Conference (Little Three) during the 1940 college football season. Niagara compiled a 6–1–1 record (2–0 in the Little Three), won the Little Three championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 102 to 31. Joe Bach was the head coach for the fourth year.


1940 North Carolina Secretary of State election
The North Carolina secretary of state election of 1940 took place on November 5, 1940. The incumbent Secretary of State, Thad A. Eure, chose to run for reelection and defeated A. I. Ferree with 75.71% of the vote. Eure won his second of thirteen terms.


1940 North Carolina Tar Heels football team
The 1940 North Carolina Tar Heels football team represented the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill during the 1940 college football season. The Tar Heels were led by fifth-year head coach Raymond Wolf and played their home games at Kenan Memorial Stadium. They competed as a member of the Southern Conference.


1940 North Carolina Tar Heels football team
Paul Severin was selected as a first-team All-American end by the Associated Press for a second straight year, as well as by the NEA, Newsweek, and Football Digest. He is remembered for a game-saving tackle of Steve Lach in UNC's win against rival Duke.


1940 North Carolina gubernatorial election
The 1940 North Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1940. Democratic nominee J. Melville Broughton defeated Republican nominee Robert H. McNeill with 75.70% of the vote.


1940 North Carolina lieutenant gubernatorial election
The 1940 North Carolina lieutenant gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1940. Democratic nominee Reginald L. Harris defeated Republican nominee Halsey B. Leavitt with 75.64% of the vote.


1940 North Dakota Agricultural Bison football team
The 1940 North Dakota Agricultural Bison football team was an American football team that represented North Dakota Agricultural College (now known as North Dakota State University) in the North Central Conference (NCC) during the 1940 college football season. In its 12th season under head coach Casey Finnegan, the team compiled a 1–8 record (0–5 against NCC opponents) and finished in seventh place out of seven teams in the NCC. The team played its home games at Dacotah Field in Fargo, North Dakota.


1940 North Dakota Fighting Sioux football team
The 1940 North Dakota Fighting Sioux football team, also known as the Nodaks, was an American football team that represented the University of North Dakota in the North Central Conference (NCC) during the 1940 college football season. In its 12th year under head coach Charles A. West, the team compiled a 5–4 record (4–1 against NCC opponents), finished in second place out of seven teams in the NCC, and was outscored by a total of 110 to 102.


1940 North Dakota gubernatorial election
The 1940 North Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1940. Incumbent Democrat John Moses defeated Republican nominee Jack A. Patterson with 63.11% of the vote.


1940 Northampton by-election
The Northampton by-election of 1940 was held on 6 December 1940. The by-election was held due to the resignation of the incumbent Conservative MP, Mervyn Manningham-Buller. It was won by the Conservative candidate Spencer Summers.


1940 Northern Illinois State Huskies football team
The 1940 Northern Illinois State Huskies football team represented Northern Illinois State Teachers College in the 1940 college football season. There were no divisions of college football during this time period, and the Huskies competed in the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. They were led by 12th-year head coach Chick Evans and played their home games at the 5,500 seat Glidden Field, located on the east end of campus.


1940 Northwestern Wildcats football team
The 1940 Northwestern Wildcats team represented Northwestern University during the 1940 Big Ten Conference football season. In their sixth year under head coach Pappy Waldorf, the Wildcats compiled a 6–2 record (4–2 against Big Ten Conference opponents), finished in third place in the Big Ten Conference, and were ranked #8 in the final AP Poll. Their only losses came against #1 Minnesota and #3 Michigan.


1940 Norton Fitzwarren rail crash
The Norton Fitzwarren rail crash occurred on 4 November 1940 between Taunton and Norton Fitzwarren in the English county of Somerset, when the driver of a train misunderstood the signalling and track layout, causing him to drive the train through a set of points and off the rails at approximately 40mph. 27 people were killed. The locomotive involved was GWR King Class King George VI which was subsequently repaired and returned to service. A previous significant accident occurred here on 10 November 1890 and the Taunton train fire of 1978 was also within 2 miles.


1940 Norton Fitzwarren rail crash, Overview
The house of the driver, Percy Stacey, had been bombed the previous night. He had gone to work as usual. Further bombing on the night of the accident and other disruptions had made the train an hour late by the time it reached Taunton.


1940 Norton Fitzwarren rail crash, Overview
The crash occurred at a point on the railway where four tracks were reduced to two. On the four-track section, the up and down fast lines were in the centre between the up and down slow lines. Instead of the usual practice of locating all signals on the same side of their respective tracks (GWR practice was to commonly put them to the right of the track, the same side their drivers stood on the locomotive), the Relief Line signals were on the left, and the Main Line signals were on the right.


1940 Norton Fitzwarren rail crash, Overview
Stacey's train left Taunton station observing the indications of the right-hand signals (all green, indicating "proceed" for the Down Main line), not realizing his train was travelling on the Down Relief (left-hand) track and the signals were showing clear for another train coming from behind on the adjacent track. Wartime blackout conditions at night contributed to this misapprehension. The driver only realised his mistake when the other train overtook him, by which time it was too late to stop before the track ended. As trap points were in place, the train was derailed rather than running onto the fast line and colliding with the other train. The fireman and 26 passengers were killed.


1940 Norton Fitzwarren rail crash, Overview
The guard in the end vehicle of the overtaking train was alarmed by strange noises, which later turned out to be ballast thrown up by the derailing train alongside. He applied his own brakes to check what might be the problem, the train was stopped at Victory Siding, the next signalbox to the west, and he discovered the sides of the last vehicles were scored from flying ballast, and there were broken windows. The derailing "King" locomotive had nosed down off the end of the overrun siding and then swung across the main tracks, what must have been feet behind the overtaking train.


1940 Norton Fitzwarren rail crash, Overview
Also, the signalman at Taunton station had initially cleared the starting signal for the usual route at the west end of the platform, to cross over to the Down Main line, which was showing when the train stopped at the platform. While the train was stopped the signalman was offered the faster non-stopping train, so restored the signal, changed the route of the crashed train from the Down Fast to the Down Slow, and cleared the Down Slow signal.


1940 Norton Fitzwarren rail crash, Overview
The driver was on the opposite side of the locomotive to the signal, and the fireman, who performed a second check at departure, reported as usual "it's clear". Because of the slow speed of departure, in blackout conditions, the driver never noticed they were now continuing on the Down Relief line and not taking the crossover to the Down Main.


1940 Norton Fitzwarren rail crash, Overview
The signals had been badly placed as an economy measure. If at least one pair of signals had been placed as usual – requiring a gantry or a bracket – then the driver of the train would have been more likely to recognise which track he was on and which signals related to it.


1940 Norton Fitzwarren rail crash, Overview
The extra space between the Fast lines was a holdover from the wide track centres of Brunel's broad gauge.


1940 Norton Fitzwarren rail crash, Overview
The signals at Norton Fitzwarren railway station were fitted with the GWR Automatic Train Control (ATC) which alerted the driver, in the cab, audibly that the approaching distant signal is at "caution". A warning signal has to be acknowledged or the brakes are applied. Unfortunately, drivers can be so used to cancelling the warning, that they may do this subconsciously. This would especially happen if the driver is reading the wrong green signal.


1940 Norton Fitzwarren rail crash, Overview
Although the ATC equipment was working correctly, wartime deferred maintenance had meant that in a number of cases the ATC ramps were not working correctly and were giving false "caution" alerts when the signals were clear, supposedly a correct failure mode but one which led to crews believing that a warning when they saw clear signals was just another maintenance issue.


1940 Norton Fitzwarren rail crash, Inquiry
The inquiry was conducted by the Chief Inspecting Officer of the Railway Inspectorate, Sir Alan Mount. He concluded that although the position of the signals was confusing, the "sole cause was an unaccountable lapse on the part of Driver P.W. Stacey" despite his excellent record of 40 years of service. He suggested that operating under conditions of blackout and the general strain of the war, including Stacey's own house being bombed the previous night, may have been a factor in this lapse.


1940 Norton Fitzwarren rail crash, Wartime Censorship
This accident was reported soon after in newspapers in far off Australia. The cause was attributed to a culvert washaway caused by recent heavy rains, and no mention was made that the locomotive was a namesake of the reigning monarch, which would not be a good omen.


1940 Norton Fitzwarren rail crash, Aftermath
Despite a considerable amount of sympathy for Driver Stacey, he never forgave himself for the accident. When asked for a comment by the press, he said "don't talk to me, I'm a murderer". He died just over a year later for no apparent medical reason.


1940 Norwegian Football Cup
The 1940 Norwegian Football Cup was the 39th season of the Norwegian annual knockout football tournament. This was the last cup until the end of Second World War, due to a sports strike against competition organized by Vidkun Quisling. The tournament was open for all members of NFF, except those from Northern Norway. The final was played at Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo on 13 October 1940, and was contested by the last year's losing finalist Skeid and the four-time former winners Fredrikstad. Fredrikstad secured their fifth title with a 3-0 win in the final. Sarpsborg were the defending champions, but were eliminated by Fredrikstad in the semifinal.


1940 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team
The 1940 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame during the 1940 college football season.


1940 Nottingham Central by-election
The Nottingham Central by-election, 1940 was a parliamentary by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Nottingham Central on 19 July 1940. The seat had become vacant when the Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) Sir Terence O'Connor had died on 7 May 1940. O'Connor had held the seat since a by-election in 1930.


1940 Nottingham Central by-election
The Conservative party selected as its candidate Sir Frederick Sykes, the former Governor of Bombay who had been MP for Sheffield Hallam from 1922 to 1928. The parties in the war-time Coalition Government had agreed not to contest vacancies in seats held by other coalition parties, so Sykes was returned unopposed. He was defeated at the 1945 general election.


1940 Nova Scotia hurricane
The 1940 Nova Scotia hurricane swept through areas of Atlantic Canada in mid-September 1940. The fifth tropical cyclone and fourth hurricane of the year, it formed as a tropical depression east of the Lesser Antilles on September 7, though at the time weather observations in the area were sparse, so its formation was inferred. The disturbance gradually intensified throughout much of its early formative stages, attaining tropical storm strength on September 10; further strengthening into a hurricane north of Puerto Rico occurred two days later.


1940 Nova Scotia hurricane
Shortly thereafter, the hurricane recurved northward, and reached peak intensity the following day as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (160 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of at least 988 mbar (hPa; 29.18 inHg). The cyclone steadily weakened thereafter before making landfall on Nova Scotia on September 17 with winds of 85 mph (135 km/h). Moving into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence later that day, the storm transitioned into an extratropical cyclone. The remnant system curved eastward and passed over Newfoundland before dissipating over the Atlantic on September 19.


1940 Nova Scotia hurricane
While off the United States East Coast, the hurricane caused numerous shipping incidents, most notably the stranding of the Swedish freighter Laponia off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina on September 16. Two other boat incidents resulted in two deaths. The hurricane also brought strong winds of tropical storm-force and snow over areas of New England. In Atlantic Canada, a strong storm surge peaking at 4 ft (1.3 m) above average sunk or damaged several ships and inundated cities. In New Brunswick, the waves hurt the lobster fishing industry. In Nova Scotia, strong winds disrupted telecommunication and power services.


1940 Nova Scotia hurricane
The winds also severely damaged crops. Roughly half of apple production in Annapolis Valley was lost during the storm, resulting in around $1.49 million in economic losses. Strong winds in New Brunswick caused moderate to severe infrastructural damage, and additional damages to crops occurred there. Overall, the hurricane caused three fatalities, with two off the United States and one in New Brunswick.


1940 Nova Scotia hurricane, Meteorological history
The origins of the system can be traced to a tropical depression roughly midway between the Lesser Antilles and the west coast of Africa at 1800 UTC on September 7. Though initially believed to have developed on September 11, the disturbance was found to have formed earlier in post-season reanalysis, based on data from the International Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set. In its early developmental stages, the disturbance remained a tropical depression with little change in intensity. At 0600 UTC on September 10, it intensified into a tropical storm while still east of the Lesser Antilles. Closer to the islands, ships reported a quickly intensifying tropical cyclone with low barometric pressures, strong winds and heavy thunderstorms, although most of the activity occurred to the east of its center.


1940 Nova Scotia hurricane, Meteorological history
At 1800 UTC on September 12, the storm intensified into the equivalent of a modern-day Category 1 hurricane to the north of Puerto Rico. The following day, the hurricane began to recurve northward, attaining  Category 2 intensity at 1200 UTC. Numerous vessels in its vicinity reported hurricane-force winds; the S.S. Borinquen observed a minimum peripheral pressure of 988 mbar (hPa; 29.18 inHg), the lowest observed pressure associated with the hurricane. At the time, the storm had maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (160 km/h), which it maintained throughout its duration as a Category 2 system.


1940 Nova Scotia hurricane, Meteorological history
Progressing rapidly into more northerly latitudes, the storm weakened to a Category 1 hurricane by 1800 UTC on September 15. By the next day, two warm fronts began extending eastward from the cyclone as the wind field expanded in size, indicating the start of an extratropical transition. At 0200 UTC, the hurricane made landfall near Lockeport, Nova Scotia, with winds of 85 mph (135 km/h). The storm fully transitioned into an extratropical cyclone over the Gulf of Saint Lawrence by 1200 UTC on September 17. In the gulf, the system turned eastward, causing it to move ashore Newfoundland just north of Cape Race during the evening of September 18. After passing over the island, the extratropical storm reentered the Atlantic Ocean, where it gradually weakened before dissipating on September 19.


1940 Nova Scotia hurricane, Preparations and impact, Offshore United States
Though initially perceived to be a potential threat to The Bahamas and Florida due to its westward motion, the hurricane curved northward on September 13, mitigating any evacuation procedures. Despite the storm's change in track, the United States Weather Bureau cautioned shipping interests in the outlying islands of the Bahamas. Pan American World Airways was forced to postpone two transatlantic flights from New York City to Portugal due to the storm.


1940 Nova Scotia hurricane, Preparations and impact, Offshore United States
After the hurricane recurved, the Weather Bureau advised caution to areas of the New England coast, particularly in Nantucket and Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where strong winds and waves were anticipated. Storm warnings were posted for coastal areas from Hatteras, North Carolina to Eastport, Maine on September 16. The warnings were discontinued after the hurricane passed the warned areas.


1940 Nova Scotia hurricane, Preparations and impact, Offshore United States
On September 16, strong waves produced by the hurricane disabled the Swedish freighter Laponia, which at the time was located 300 mi (480 km) east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. The ship was initially en route for Rio de Janeiro carrying cargo for the Bethlehem Steel Company. As a result of the stranded ship, the SS President Roosevelt was forced to divert its course in order to render aid. The United States Coast Guard cutters USCGC Sebago (WHEC-42) and USCGC Carrabasset (WAT-55) were sent from the Virginia Capes in order to provide assistance.


1940 Nova Scotia hurricane, Preparations and impact, Offshore United States
In addition, a coast guard plane was dispatched from Elizabeth City, North Carolina. The ships remained on standby to monitor the Laponia for three hours before conditions were considered safe to tow the stricken ship back to shore. Two fishing vessels capsized off Barnegat, New Jersey and Edgemere, New York, with both incidents resulting in a fatality. A cabin cruiser was sent to rescue occupants of the capsized boat off Edgemere, though it was also disrupted by rough seas. The ship was later able to rescue the other surviving crew members.


1940 Nova Scotia hurricane, Preparations and impact, Offshore United States
Numerous other small craft off Long Island signaled distress calls to the US Coast Guard due to strong waves offshore. Eventually passing east of New England, the storm's large size resulted in heavy rainfall near Nantucket Island, Massachusetts. A weather station on the island reported maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (70 km/h). In Eastport, Maine, a weather station recorded a minimum barometric pressure of 993 mbar (hPa; 29.33 inHg) and wind speeds of 33 mph (53 km/h). In Maine, power lines were downed, damaging communications. In Bar Harbor, strong winds caused five fires, which were later extinguished. The schooner George Dresser ran aground on the port's coast. The hurricane also produced slight snowfalls in northern areas of the state.


1940 Nova Scotia hurricane, Preparations and impact, Nova Scotia
Most of the hurricane's damage occurred in Nova Scotia, where the storm made landfall early on September 17. As was the case off the United States East Coast, rough seas generated by the hurricane caused various ship incidents. Tides were 4 ft (1.3 m) above average. The abnormally high sea level inundated areas of Lockeport, isolating it from the rest of Nova Scotia and creating a temporary island in the process. One home in the city was flooded by the waves. Off Shelburne, a breakwater was destroyed by rough seas. In Halifax, two yachts were damaged.


1940 Nova Scotia hurricane, Preparations and impact, Nova Scotia
Another boat in East Ferry was destroyed. The strong waves grounded a schooner in Bridgewater, damaging a wharf. In Jordan Bay, two boat houses and a barn were toppled, while a wharf was washed away. Further north near Anticosti Island, the British steamer Incemore became stranded. Though not directly a result of the storm surge, ten boats in Lake Milo near Yarmouth were severely damaged.


1940 Nova Scotia hurricane, Preparations and impact, Nova Scotia
Strong winds were also felt throughout Nova Scotia. Winds peaked at 70 mph (115 km/h) in Lockeport, the strongest winds observed in the Canadian province. In Yarmouth, the storm's gusts were clocked at 60 mph (100 km/h) in Yarmouth. Trees were uprooted as a result of the strong winds. One tree fell into a home in Melville Cove, damaging the home's roof. Cabins were damaged in Summerville, and the garage of a lodge in Digby was blown out. A barn and associated equipment were destroyed in Pembroke.


1940 Nova Scotia hurricane, Preparations and impact, Nova Scotia
The strong winds also blew down numerous communication lines, disrupting telecommunication services across Nova Scotia. Downed wires in Halifax caused a fire which scorched five buildings. Traffic in the city was also disrupted by the winds. In addition to infrastructure, crops were also heavily damaged. In Digby County, grain and corn plantations were damaged. Grain crops in Cumberland County also saw heavy losses. In Annapolis Valley, an important agricultural region in western Nova Scotia, 600,000 barrels of apples were lost, resulting in CA$1.5 million in damages.


1940 Nova Scotia hurricane, Preparations and impact, Nova Scotia
The lost apple production accounted for roughly half of the entire apple yield for the agricultural region. Despite the hurricane's rapid movement through the Canadian Maritimes, the storm still produced heavy rainfall. In Halifax, 3 in (75 mm) of rain was reported over the duration of the hurricane. However, 3.5 in (90 mm) of rain fell in Yarmouth in a 24-hour period.


1940 Nova Scotia hurricane, Preparations and impact, New Brunswick
Damage from the hurricane was comparatively less in New Brunswick than in Nova Scotia, but was still considerable. The rough seas impacted ships offshore the province, disrupting the lobster industry. Two groups of lobster fishermen went missing in the Northumberland Strait; they were later found. Thousands of lobster traps and several wharves were either damaged or destroyed in the strait. Hundreds of boats were set adrift or sunk in the strait as well. Several boats in Rothesay and Westfield were also lost. A man in Dixon Point lost CA$1,000 of live lobsters due to the storm.


1940 Nova Scotia hurricane, Preparations and impact, New Brunswick
A wharf in Shediac was washed away. Fifty boats were sunk off Cap-Pelé, while in Greville, four scows were destroyed. The rising seawater inundated a bridge crossing the Millstream River under 3 ft (0.9 m) of water. A bridge crossing the Little River and another bridge in Cocagne were also damaged. Dykes in the Baie Verte area were damaged, resulting in thousands of dollars in damages. Further inland, winds caused infrastructural and agricultural damage. Winds peaked at 85 mph (135 km/h) at Lakeburn Airport. The strong winds disrupted power and telecommunication services in Moncton.


1940 Nova Scotia hurricane, Preparations and impact, New Brunswick
Streets were blocked by trees blown down by strong winds. Offshore, three yachts were destroyed. A tree fell onto the Gagetown United Church as a result of the winds, causing considerable damage. Grain and apple crops were also destroyed in Gagetown. In Saint John, chimneys were toppled. Flying debris injured several people, and power outages also greatly affected the city. High waves in conjunction with strong gusts scattered boats in the nearby Saint John River. Tents in the Sussex Military Camp were destroyed. The hurricane's effects resulted in a car accident which injured eight people. Though no fatalities were confirmed in New Brunswick, a person went missing in Bathurst, who was later presumed dead.


1940 Oglethorpe Stormy Petrels football team
The 1940 Oglethorpe Stormy Petrels football team represented Oglethorpe University in the sport of American football as a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) during the 1940 college football season. This was the last large team from Oglethorpe before the war drafted so many students. Despite doing poorly, they had a strong schedule for an independent team. Practices were conducted at the North Fulton High School's field.


1940 Ohio Bobcats football team
The 1940 Ohio Bobcats football team was an American football team that represented Ohio University as an independent during the 1940 college football season. In their 17th season under head coach Don Peden, the Bobcats compiled a 5–2–2 record and outscored opponents by a total of 89 to 32.


1940 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 1940 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented Ohio State University in the 1940 Big Ten Conference football season. The Buckeyes compiled a 4–4 record and were outscored 99–113.


1940 Ohio gubernatorial election
The 1940 Ohio gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1940. Incumbent Republican John W. Bricker defeated Democratic nominee Martin L. Davey with 55.55% of the vote.


1940 Oklahoma A&M Cowboys football team
The 1940 Oklahoma A&M Cowboys football team represented Oklahoma A&M College in the 1940 college football season. This was the 40th year of football at A&M and the second under Jim Lookabaugh. The Cowboys played their home games at Lewis Field in Stillwater, Oklahoma. They finished the season 6–3–1, 4–1 in the Missouri Valley Conference.


1940 Oklahoma Sooners football team
The 1940 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the 1940 college football season. In their fourth year under head coach Tom Stidham, the Sooners compiled a 6–3 record (4–1 against conference opponents), finished in second place in the Big Six Conference, and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 121 to 105.


1940 Oklahoma Sooners football team
No Sooners received All-America honors in 1940, but four Sooners received all-conference honors: tackle Roger Eason, end Bill Jennings, guard Harold Lahar, and back John Martin.


1940 Oklahoma Sooners football team, NFL draft
The following players were drafted into the National Football League following the season.


1940 Ole Miss Rebels football team
The 1940 Ole Miss Rebels football team represented the University of Mississippi in the 1940 college football season. The Rebels were led by third-year head coach Harry Mehre and played their home games at Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi. They finished with a record of 9–2 (3–1 SEC), to finish third in the Southeastern Conference.


1940 Orange Bowl
The 1940 Orange Bowl was a college football postseason bowl game between the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the Missouri Tigers.


1940 Orange Bowl, Background
The Yellow Jackets tied for first in the Southeastern Conference, their first conference title since winning the Southern Conference in 1928, which was also their last bowl appearance. Missouri won the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association title for the first time since 1927. This was Missouri's first bowl game since 1924


1940 Orange Bowl, Game summary
Paul Christman gave the Tigers a 7-0 lead on his touchdown plunge, but Howard Ector responded with a touchdown run of his own to culminate a 63-yard drive and tie the score at 7 at the end of one quarter. Rob Ison dashed for the second Jacket touchdown to make it 14-7. Early Wheby made it 21-7 on his touchdown gallop of 34 yards as Georgia Tech won their first Orange Bowl.


1940 Orange Bowl, Aftermath
The Yellow Jackets have made six subsequent appearances in the over 70-year span since this game, including three in the next 12 years. The Tigers returned to the Orange Bowl 20 years later.


1940 Oregon Ballot Measure 7
Oregon Ballot Mesure 7 (1940) was an initiative proposed for the general election on the November 5, 1940, ballot to repeal the present liquor law, and allow private sales, with regulation and tax. The official ballot title states its intention as "BILL REPEALING PRESENT LIQUOR LAW; AUTHORIZING PRIVATE SALE, LICENSED, TAXED." It was defeated with 309,183 no votes, to only 90,681 votes in favor.


1940 Oregon Ballot Measure 7
After the repeal of prohibition by the Twenty-first Amendment to the United States Constitution on December 5, 1933, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) was established to regulate and control the sales and consumption of alcoholic liquor in Oregon. At the time, the law stated that: "only the liquor control commission can import, purchase and sell alcoholic liquor containing over seventeen percent of alcohol, and that such liquor may not be consumed on the premises".


1940 Oregon Ballot Measure 7
The ballot measure attempted to ratify the OLCC's dominance of liquor and "permit liquor being consumed both on and off the premises where sold, depending on vendor's license." The commission, according to the proposed bill, was to issue numerous classes of wholesale and retail liquor licenses, while "levying privileges of sales taxes on the various classes of liquor business".


1940 Oregon Ballot Measure 7
Measure 7 details the licenses that would be created, vendor qualifications, fees, enforcement and violations, and reserves all this to the pre-existing Oregon Liquor Control Commission. A similar ballot measure, Measure 6, was proposed as a referendum and companion measure and was entitled "BILL TO FURTHER REGULATE SALE AND USE OF ALCOHOLIC LIQUOR." This measure was also defeated, but with a closer margin of 158,004 votes in favor and 235,128 votes in opposition.


1940 Oregon State Beavers football team
The 1940 Oregon State Beavers football team represented Oregon State College in the 1940 college football season. The Beavers ended this season with five wins, three losses, and one tie. The Beavers scored 128 points and allowed 80 points. The team was led by head coach Lon Stiner.


1940 Oregon State Beavers football team, Schedule
The Beavers finished the season with a 5–3–1 record, 4–3–1 in the Pacific Coast Conference. Ranks are based on the time the game was played.


1940 Oregon Webfoots football team
The 1940 Oregon Webfoots football team represented the University of Oregon in the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC) during the 1940 college football season. In their third season under head coach Tex Oliver, the Webfoots compiled a 4–4–1 record (3–4–1 in PCC, fifth), and outscored their opponents, 100 to 58.


1940 Oregon Webfoots football team
Three home games were played on campus at Hayward Field in Eugene and one at Multnomah Stadium in Portland.


1940 Országos Bajnokság I (men's water polo)
1940 Országos Bajnokság I (men's water polo) was the 34th water polo championship in Hungary. There were ten teams who played one-round match for the title.


1940 Országos Bajnokság I (men's water polo), Final list
* M: Matches W: Win D: Drawn L: Lost G+: Goals earned G-: Goals got P: Point


1940 Ottawa Rough Riders season
The 1940 Ottawa Rough Riders finished in 1st place in the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union with a 5–1 record and won the Grey Cup.


1940 Ottawa municipal election
The city of Ottawa, Canada held municipal elections on December 2, 1940.


1940 PGA Championship
The 1940 PGA Championship was the 23rd PGA Championship, held August 26 to September 2 at Hershey Country Club in Hershey, Pennsylvania, east of Harrisburg. Then a match play championship, Byron Nelson won his first PGA Championship, defeating Sam Snead 1 up in the 36-hole final. It was the third of Nelson's five major titles; he won the PGA Championship again in 1945. From 1939 to 1945, Nelson made five of the six finals, missing only in 1942 (not held in 1943).


1940 PGA Championship
Defending champion and host professional Henry Picard lost in the third round to Gene Sarazen. Also out in the third round was five-time champion Walter Hagen, age 47, in his last PGA Championship match. He gained his last win in the second round over Vic Ghezzi, the champion the following year in 1941. Hagen ended his career with a 40–10 (.800) match record in the event. He played one last time at age 49 in the qualifier in 1942, but did not advance to match play.


1940 PGA Championship
Heavy rains on Saturday stopped play halfway through the semifinals which were completed on Sunday; the final round was pushed back to Monday, which was Labor Day.


1940 PGA Championship
Dick Metz was the medalist in the stroke play qualifier at 140 (−6); he lost 2 & 1 in the third round to Nelson. Two-time champion Denny Shute qualified at 151, but was rushed to a local hospital for an emergency appendectomy that night.


1940 PGA Championship, Format
The match play format at the PGA Championship in 1940 called for 12 rounds (216 holes) in seven days:


1940 Pacific Tigers football team
The 1940 Pacific Tigers football team represented the College of the Pacific (COP) during the 1940 college football season.


1940 Pacific Tigers football team
COP competed in the Far Western Conference (FWC). The team was led by head coach Amos Alonzo Stagg, and played home games at Baxter Stadium in Stockton, California. This was Stagg's 51st year as a head coach and his eighth at College of the Pacific. The Tigers finished as champion of the FWC, with four wins and five losses (4–5, 2–0 FWC). Overall, the Tigers were outscored by their opponents 81–94 for the season.


1940 Pacific Tigers football team, Team players in the NFL
No College of the Pacific players were selected in the 1941 NFL Draft.


1940 Pacific hurricane season
The 1940 Pacific hurricane season ran through the summer and fall of 1940. Before the satellite age started in the 1960s, data on east Pacific hurricanes was extremely unreliable. Most east Pacific storms were of no threat to land. During this season, there is a former typhoon that crossed into central north Pacific.


1940 Pacific hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane One
Late on June 17, west-northwest of Acapulco and close to the coast of Mexico, an area of thunderstorms formed into a tropical cyclone. The system was very small, and eventually became a hurricane. It headed west-northwest or northwest, and was last detected early on June 18. A ship in the eye measured a pressure of 97.90 kPa (28.91 inHg).


1940 Pacific hurricane season, Systems, Tropical Storm Two
On July 20, a tropical depression was observed southwest of Acapulco. Historical Weather Maps show this depression near 17N 102W. It intensified into a tropical storm on July 21, tracked northwest, and dissipated on July 24. A depression/remnant low was tracked until July 26. The low was last seen near 24N 129W on the 27th. The lowest pressure reported by a ship was 100.66 kPa (29.72 inHg).


1940 Pacific hurricane season, Systems, Tropical Cyclone Three
On July 29, a tropical cyclone was noticed. It traveled west-northwest or northwest, and dissipated sometime after July 30. A ship reported a pressure of 96.95 kPa (28.63 inHg).


1940 Pacific hurricane season, Systems, Tropical Cyclone Four
South of Acapulco, a tropical cyclone was spotted on August 3. Historical Weather Maps (HWM) show a low on August 2 near 11N 109W. It rapidly tracked to the west-northwest, and was last seen on August 5. The low is carried on HMW until August 9 near 17N 135W. It is possible that this system retained tropical storm-force winds until approximately August 7. A ship reported a pressure of 100.54 kPa (29.69 inHg).


1940 Pacific hurricane season, Systems, Tropical Cyclone Five
On September 4, a tropical cyclone was reported. It moved westward, and was lost track of on or after September 5. The lowest reported pressure was 100.31 kPa (29.62 inHg).


1940 Pacific hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane Six
A tropical cyclone was detected on September 22. The next day, it had intensified into a hurricane. By September 24, the hurricane was close to the Revillagigedo Islands. After that, no further observations were reported. A ship reported a pressure of 98.34 kPa (29.04 inHg) in association with this hurricane.


1940 Pacific hurricane season, Systems, Tropical Cyclone Seven
A tropical cyclone existed well out to sea from October 6 to 11. It traveled northwesterly, and had a lowest recorded pressure of 29.25 inHg (99.1 kPa).


1940 Pacific hurricane season, Systems, Tropical Cyclone Eight
Another tropical cyclone existed from October 26 to 28 off the coast of Central America. A ship recorded a pressure reading of 98.27 kPa (29.02 inHg).


1940 Pacific hurricane season, Systems, Tropical Cyclone Nine
A tropical cyclone well southwest of Manzanillo was tracked from November 1 to 3. Due to a blocking area of high pressure, it took an unusual southwesterly track. Its lowest recorded pressure was 100.47 kPa (29.67 inHg).


1940 Pacific hurricane season, Systems, Other systems
Around October 21, a former typhoon that had previously impacted Wake Island crossed into the central north Pacific. It headed eastwards north of Midway Island. It gradually wheeled around to the southwest. It dissipated just east of Midway around October 22.


1940 Pacific typhoon season
The 1940 Pacific typhoon season marked an interruption in meteorological records in both the Philippines and Hong Kong due to the start of World War II. There were 43 reported tropical cyclones, including 27 that attained typhoon status. The first storm was observed in February, and the first typhoon formed two months later, killing three people along Mindanao. Several storms formed in June and July, including reports of a typhoon in the newspapers that killed 52 in South Korea, and another typhoon reported in newspapers that killed one person on Samar after dropping heavy rainfall. The strongest typhoon of the season originated in July and attained a minimum pressure of 927 mbar (27.4 inHg), as reported by a ship northeast of the Philippines.


1940 Pacific typhoon season
On August 18, a typhoon moved near or over northeastern Luzon, killing nine people. In early September, a typhoon passed through the Bonin Islands south of Japan and later moved near Kyushu; heavy rainfall caused a reservoir to collapse in Ōita Prefecture, killing 50 people. On September 18, a typhoon caused a tram collision in Tokyo due to poor visibility, killing 20. Another typhoon struck southern Taiwan on September 29, causing 50 fatalities. On October 19, Wake Island recorded typhoon-force winds for the first time since observations began five years prior.