Today in World War II History—January 9, 1941 POSTED: Saturday, January 9, 2021 by Sarah Sundin Avro Lancaster bombers of RAF No.44 Squadron, 29 September 1942 (Imperial War Museum: TR 197) 80 Years Ago—Jan. 9, 1941: British & Australian troops surround Italians at Tobruk, Libya. First flight of prototype RAF Avro Lancaster bomber.