Saturday, 7 November 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—SBDs (VMSB 132), TBFs (VT 8), Marine F4Fs, and USAAF P‑39s from Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, attack Japanese convoy, damaging destroyers Naganami and Takanami.

            Off Guadalcanal, miscellaneous auxiliary Majaba (AG-43) is torpedoed by Japanese midget submarine Ha.11(launched from submarine I‑20) off Lunga Point. Destroyers Lansdowne (DD‑486) and Lardner (DD‑487) depth charge I‑20, but the submarine escapes destruction. Ha.11, her mission completed, is scuttled.

MEDITERRANEAN—Transport Thomas Stone (AP‑59) is torpedoed by German submarine U‑205, western Mediterranean, 37°32'N,00°01'E.

            Italian submarine Antonio Sciesa is sunk by USAAF aircraft off coast of Libya, 32°05'N, 23°59'E.

ATLANTIC—U.S. freighter La Salle is torpedoed and sunk with all hands (including 13 Armed Guard) by German submarine U‑159 about 350 miles southeast of the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa, 40°00'S, 21°30'E. When the merchantman, which is carrying ammunition, explodes, the cataclysmic blast rains debris on her assailant's decks nearby, wounding three German submariners.

            U.S. freighter West Humhaw, en route from Freetown, Sierra Leone, to Takoradi, Gold Coast, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U‑161 at 04°21'N, 02°42'W. There are no casualties among the 39 man merchant crew, the 16 man Armed Guard, and the five passengers. British ML 281 rescues all hands and transports them to Takoradi.

            U.S. freighter Nathaniel Hawthorne, enroute to New York in convoy TAG 19, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U‑508 at 11°34'N, 63°26'W; the merchantman sinks with a rapidity that does not allow lifeboats to be launched. For his bravery as he directs his men to safety, Lieutenant Kenneth Muir, the Armed Guard commander, is awarded the Navy Cross (posthumously) (see 9 November).

            British trawlers rescue two boatloads of survivors from U.S. freighter William Clark, sunk by German submarine U‑354 on 4 November; HMS St. Elstan rescues 26; HMS Cape Palliser 15. The third boat, with 23 men, is never seen again; 18 of 41 merchant seamen are lost, as are 13 of the 30 man Armed Guard.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—34 Heavy Bombers attack U-boat pens at Brest.

TWELFTH AF—Air movement of Twelfth AF from UK to N Africa begins. Other elements of Twelfth moving from UK and US are aboard Allied ships approaching Algerian and Moroccan coasts.

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—376th Bomb Group begins move from Palestine to Egypt.

FIFTH AF—A‑20’s bomb and strafe forces at Kakandeta in Owen Stanley Range. B‑25’s attack shipping at Maklo Island and seaplanes at Lasonga Island.

ELEVENTH AF—6 B‑24’s and 2 B‑26’s attack submarine base in Kiska Harbor, lightly damaging float fighters and a seaplane beached by storm. A B‑17 flies reconnaissance over airfield W of Holtz Bay, and bombs submarine base and a previously-damaged freighter in Gertrude Cove.

US ARMY

GUADALCANAL— 164th Infantry enveloping force completes northward movement along E bank of the Nalimbiu to Koli Pt and joins 7th Marines. Combined force then moves E along coast without opposition to within a mile of Metapona River.

CHINA BURMA INDIA—General Stilwell, with approval of Foreign Minister T. V. Soong, sends for General Wheeler to survey Chinese supply situation in preparation for projected campaign in spring of 1943.

EGYPT—British pursuit of enemy is delayed in Matruh area as heavy rainfall immobilizes supporting vehicles. Enemy seizes opportunity to withdraw some forces. By this time, 4 German and 8 Italian divisions are ineffective as fighting units. British have taken 30,000 prisoners, among them 9 generals.

NW AFRICA—General Giraud arrives at Gibraltar for conference with General Eisenhower, having traveled from France by submarine and plane. TORCH invasion armada from U.S. and U.K. closes in along North African coast. U.S. transport Thomas Stone is torpedoed off SE Spain and disabled; troops aboard are transferred to landing boats but do not reach Algiers until after its surrender.

US MARINE CORPS

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Friday, 6 November 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Grayling (SS‑209) is damaged by Japanese aerial bombs off Truk, 06°44'N, 151°25'E.

            Submarine Haddock (SS‑231) damages Japanese army cargo ship France Maru, 33°46'N, 127°28'E.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑24’s hit harbors of Tobruk and Bengasi, scoring hits on 2 vessels. Heavy rains delay British pursuit of retreating enemy in Matruh area.

FIFTH AF—A single B‑25 attacks destroyer off S tip of New Ireland. No hits are scored. General MacArthur arrives in Port Moresby, where AD VON of GHQ opens to direct operation.

ELEVENTH AF—Weather airplane is forced back near Kiska.

US ARMY

GUADALCANAL—7th Marines establishes bridgehead on E bank of Nalimbiu. 164th Infantry (-) continues toward Koli Pt, 3d Battalion reaching it after nightfall. Aola Force transports complete unloading operations and withdraw.

NEW GUINEA—General MacArthur arrives at Port Moresby, where advance echelon of GHQ opens, to direct operations.

EGYPT—10 Corps, British Eighth Army, continues close pursuit of enemy, advance elements approaching Matruh bottleneck as heavy rains begin.

USSR—Fighting continues in Stalingrad area but on a diminishing scale. In the Caucasus, Red Army is strongly countering enemy efforts to reach Ordzhonikidze.

US MARINE CORPS

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Thursday, 5 November 1942

US NAVY

MEDITERRANEAN—British submarine HMS Seraph, under the temporary command of U.S. Navy Captain Jerauld Wright, embarks General Giraud and a party of French officers in the Gulf of Lyons. The general will transfer to a Catalina on the 7th for further transportation to Gibraltar.

ATLANTIC—PBY (VP 84) sinks German submarine U‑408 off Iceland, 67°40'N, 18°32'W.

            U.S. tanker Meton, enroute to Cienfuegos, Cuba, in convoy TAG 18, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U‑129 at 12°25'N, 69°20'W; one merchant seaman dies in the attack. Dutch motor torpedo boat MTB 23 rescues the survivors (37 merchant seamen and the 12 man Armed Guard).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—General Montgomery announces victory of British Eighth Army in Egypt. 10 Corps, pushing rapidly W, overcomes rearguard action near Fuka. As Field Marshal Rommel retreats W from El Alamein, P‑40’s bomb targets on Fuka road and patrol Sidi Hanaish area. B‑25’s also bomb motor transports.

TENTH AF—IATF heavy bombers carry out raid on Rangoon.

FIFTH AF—B‑25’s unsuccessfully attack schooner near Arawe.

ELEVENTH AF—Weather reconnaissance is flown over Kiska and Little Kiska.

US ARMY

GUADALCANAL— 164th Infantry (- 1st Battalion) crosses flooded Nalimbiu about 3,500 yards S of Koli Pt and drives N along E bank in effort to outflank enemy facing 7th Marines.

NEW GUINEA—Australian 16th Brigade continues attack on Oivi against determined resistance. Australian 25th Brigade moves against Gorari from Kokoda.

INDIA—Reconnaissance of Ledo area, terminus of Ledo Road to Myitkyina, Burma, and base from which operations in N Burma, RAVENOUS, are to start, is begun.

MADAGASCAR—Hostilities cease at 1400.

EGYPT—British Eighth Army regroups and continues pursuit of enemy. 10 Corps, now consisting of 1st and 7th Armored and New Zealand  2d Divisions, pushes rapidly W, overcoming rear guard resistance near Fuka. 30 Corps takes up positions between El ‘Alamein and Matruh. 13 Corps is given task of mopping up battle zone.

NW AFRICA—As convoys from U.S. and U.K., with assault forces for TORCH, continue toward NW Africa, General Eisenhower flies to Gibraltar and establishes AFHQ CP. U.S.-British staff consists of: Admiral Sir Andrew B. Cunningham, naval CinC; Brigadier General James H. Doolittle, U.S. air forces; Air Marshal Sir William L. Welsh, British air forces (Eastern Air Command); Lt General K. A. N. Anderson, British ground forces.

US MARINE CORPS

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Wednesday, 4 November 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—TG 65.4 cruisers and destroyers bombard Japanese positions near Koli Point, Guadalcanal.

            Small reconnaissance seaplane from Japanese submarine I‑31 reconnoiters Suva, Fiji Islands; small reconnaissance seaplane from I‑9 reconnoiters Nouméa, New Caledonia.

            Japanese submarine RO-65 is sunk when she accidentally dives into a reef while seeking to avoid attack, Kiska harbor, 51°58'N, 177°33'E.

MEDITERRANEAN—Submarines Shad (SS‑235), Gunnel (SS‑253), Herring (SS‑233), Barb (SS‑220), and Blackfish (SS‑221) are deployed to reconnoiter French North African waters off Rabat, Fedala, Casablanca, Safi, and Dakar, in advance of Operation TORCH.

ARCTIC CONVOYS—U.S. freighter John H. B. Latrobe, proceeding independently from Reykjavik, Iceland, to Archangel, USSR, is attacked by HE 115s at 74°37'N, 02°00'E. Withering Armed Guard gunfire disrupts the attack by the enemy floatplanes and none of the seven torpedoes launched strike home; strafing, however, slightly damages the merchantman, and 3 of the 25 man Armed Guard are wounded. John H.B. Latrobe returns to Reykjavik for repairs.

            U.S. freighter William Clark, proceeding independently from Hvalfjordur, Iceland, to Murmansk, USSR, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U‑354 at 71°05'N, 13°20'W. Survivors abandon ship into three lifeboats (see 7 November 1942).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—9 B‑24’s bomb Bengasi harbor, hitting 3 ships and claiming 1 enemy fighter shot down. B‑25’s and P‑40’s attack motor transports and troops retreating W from El Alamein battleline with British in pursuit. 10 Corps armor clashes with rear-guard S of Ghazal. General Andrews replaces General Maxwell as CG USAFIME.

FIFTH AF—B‑17’s and B‑25’s bomb town and harbor of Salamaua; A‑20’s hit troop concentrations at Oivi, where Australian attack meets firm resistance; and B‑26’s bomb Aileu. Transports fly most of the remainder of 128th Infantry, 32d Division, to Wanigela.

ELEVENTH AF—Bad weather at Umnak and Dutch Harbor and flooded field at Adak preclude missions. New Adak runway permits an air alert.

US ARMY

GUADALCANAL—Lunga perimeter command is reorganized and garrison is reinforced. 2 sectors are established, the commander of each being responsible to division hq. Brigadier General William H. Rupertus, Asst CG of 1st Marine Division, is assigned sector E of Lunga River and Brigadier General Edmund B. Sebree, Asst CG of Americal Division, the W sector. 8th Marines, reinforced, of 2d Marine Division debarks from naval TF in Lunga-Kukum area and is attached to 1st Marine Division. 1st Marine Division halts westward offensive short of Kokumbona because of enemy threat E of perimeter. 2d Marines (- 3d Battalion), reinforced by 1st Battalion of 164th Infantry, after driving 2,000 yards W of Pt Cruz, breaks off attack and digs in at Pt Cruz; 5th Marines and Whaling Group return to positions E of the Matanikau. E of perimeter, General Rupertus and Hq and 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, arrive in Koli Pt area to assist 2d Battalion, 7th Marines. 164 Infantry (- 1st Battalion) and Company B of 8th Marines march to W bank of Nalimbiu in region S of 7th Marines and elements start N along the river. Meanwhile, the naval TF transporting 8th Marines lands forces at Aola Bay to establish airfield. Aola Force (1st Battalion of 147th Inf; elements of 2d Raider Battalion; 5th Defense Battalion detachment; Battery K of 246th FA Battalion, Americal Div; and 500 naval construction troops) establishes beachhead a little E of Aola River without opposition. Work is begun at once on airfield, but site is later found unsuitable. 2d Raider Battalion is ordered to Koli Pt.

NEW GUINEA—Australian 16th Brigade begins attack on Oivi and finds enemy prepared for firm stand. Col. Sverdrup by this time has cleared sites for 3 more airfields in general vicinity of Dyke Ackland Bay, the most important of these at Pongam. Fifth Air Force completes movement of rear elements of 128th Infantry, U.S. 32d Division, to Wanigela.

MADAGASCAR—Governor General again seeks peace terms and accepts those rejected on 17 September.

MIDDLE EAST—Lt General Frank M. Andrews relieves General Maxwell as CG USAFIME. General Maxwell becomes CG SOS USAFIME.

EGYPT—Enemy, now in full retreat, is pursued W by British Eighth Army and harassed by aircraft. 10 Corps armor clashes with Axis rear guards S of Ghazal.

US MARINE CORPS

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Tuesday, 3 November 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Haddock (SS‑231) sinks merchant cargo ship Tekkai Maru in the East China Sea between Shanghai and Korea, 32°02'N, 126°13'E.

            Submarine Seawolf (SS‑197) sinks Japanese transport Sagami Maru off Davao, P.I., 07°02'N, 125°33'E.

            Submarine Tambor (SS‑198) sinks merchant cargo ship Chikugo Maru in Tonkin Gulf, northwest of Hainan Island,21°18'N, 108°39'E.

ATLANTIC—U.S. tanker Hahira, in convoy SC 107, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U‑521 approximately 400 miles south of Cape Farewell, 54°15'N, 41°57'E; two crewmen and one Armed Guard sailor are killed in the attack. British rescue ship Southport rescues the 36 surviving crewmen and 17 Armed Guard sailors.

            U.S. freighter East Indian is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U‑181 300 miles southwest of the Cape of Good Hope; 17 of the 47 man crewmen and 6 of the 12 passengers perish (see 16 November 1942).

            U.S. freighter George Thatcher, torpedoed by German submarine U‑126 on 1 November 1942 and abandoned, eventually sinks.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑25’s bomb tanks, motor transports, landing ground, ammo dumps, mainly in Rahman Track area and on road between Fuka and El Daba, and also hit town of Fuka and Ghazal station. P‑40’s fly several escort and fighter bomber missions, attacking round targets in support of British Eighth Army. Allied aircraft fly more than 400 sorties against troops retreating along coastal road. During 3/4 Nov, British and Indian troops outflank and break enemy tank screen in sector S of Tell el Aqqaqir.

FIFTH AF—B‑26’s bomb Dili. B‑17’s bomb airfield and wharf at Lae, and attack ship S of Gasmata.

US ARMY

GUADALCANAL—5th Marines completes reduction of Japanese pocket at Pt Cruz. 2d Marines takes the lead, 1st Battalion and Whaling Group attacking W of Pt Cruz. E of Lunga perimeter, 2d Battalion of 7th Marines encounters enemy moving W along coast from Tetere and is forced to retire to W bank of Nalimbiu River and await reinforcements. When information of enemy landing reaches division hq in afternoon, naval and air support is provided immediately; 1st Battalion of 7th Marines is dispatched by landing craft to Koli Pt.

CHINA BURMA INDIA—Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek agrees conditionally to plans formulated during recent conference in India, promising 15 divisions from Yunnan, provided Allies furnish strong sea and air forces. General Stilwell is to command Chinese Army in India (CAI) during Burma operations. Chiang’s promise of the Yunnan divisions leads to accelerated planning for reorganization of Yunnan force, called Y-Force.

EGYPT—1st Armored Division of 10 Corps, British Eighth Army, is unable to penetrate enemy’s Anti Tank screen. Since enemy is obviously withdrawing, General Montgomery orders attack to outflank the screen. During night 3–4, 51st Division and brigade of Indian 4th Division drive quickly to Rahman track S of Tel el Aqqaqir, breaking through the screen in S sector and forcing enemy to turn it. Allied aircraft fly over 400 sorties against enemy retreating along coastal road.

US MARINE CORPS

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Monday, 2 November 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Fleet Air Wing 6 (Captain Douglass P. Johnson) is established at Seattle, Washington, for multi-engine aircraft training.

            Small reconnaissance seaplane from Japanese submarine I‑8 reconnoiters Efate Island, New Hebrides.

            Destroyer Conyngham (DD‑371) and transport Fuller (AP‑14) are damaged in collision in Sealark Channel, Guadalcanal.

            Submarine Seawolf (SS‑197) sinks Japanese water tender Gifu Maru west-southwest of Cape San Augustin, Mindoro, P.I., 06°14'N, 126°07'E.

            Submarine Tambor (SS‑198) lays mines in Hainan Strait, Tonkin Gulf.

            Submarine Tautog (SS‑199) sows mines south of Cape Padaran, French Indochina.

            USAAF B‑17s sink Japanese army cargo ship Yasukawa Maru off Buna, New Guinea, 07°16'S, 156°00'E.

ATLANTIC—Dutch motorship Zaandam is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U‑174 at 01°25'N, 36°22'W. Lost with the ship are men who have survived the loss of U.S. freighters: 18 (12 merchant seamen and 6 Armed Guard sailors) from Chickasaw City (sunk 7 October 1942), 15 sailors from Swiftsure (8 October 1942), 6 men from Coloradan and 15from Examelia (9 October 1942) (see 24 January 1943).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—CG VIII Air Support Command states that the effort expended and personnel lost in organizing Twelfth AF and preparing for its move from UK to N Africa has severely retarded organization of his HQ and staff.

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—British Eighth Army opens assault (SUPERCHARGE) W of Tell el-Eisa, with 2d New Zealand  Division in lead. B‑25’s bomb track extending S from Rahman as British 9th Armored Brigade establishes bridgeheads across the track. Other B‑25’s attack tanks and other targets in support of the assault. P‑40’s fly escort and strafing missions in battle area. B‑17’s bomb shipping and jetties in Tobruk harbor.

FIFTH AF—B‑26’s bomb Dili. B‑17’s attack shipping NE of Buna while B‑25’s strike at convoy S of New Britain. In Owen Stanley Range, Australian ground forces seize Kokoda with its airfield after long days of fighting. This will greatly facilitate supply and reinforcement of troops in this area as they push over the mountains toward Buna-Gona area.

US ARMY

GUADALCANAL—5th Marines envelops enemy on coast at Pt Cruz. 3d Battalion joins 1st Battalion in coastal battle E of Pt Cruz while 2d Battalion, on left, drives N to coast W of Pt Cruz and turns E, trapping enemy. 2d Marines (- 3d Battalion) moves forward on left of 5th Marines to continue westward attack. Stores, ammunition, and 1 Army and 1 Marine Corps 155-mm gun battery arrive at Lunga Pt. The 2 batteries are the heaviest U.S. artillery to reach the island and the first capable of countering enemy fire effectively. E of Lunga perimeter, 2d Battalion of 7th Marines crosses Metapona River mouth and establishes itself near Tetere village. During night 2–3, Japanese 17th Army lands supplies and about 1,500 men E of Koli Pt to supply and reinforced Japanese already there; orders an airfield constructed.

NEW GUINEA—Australian 25th Brigade, which has reentered battle for Kokoda Trail, seizes Kokoda and its airfield, greatly facilitating supply and reinforcement of Australians in this area. Piecemeal movement by night of 128th Infantry, U.S. 32d Division, less elements still at Port Moresby, by lugger from Wanigela to Pongani and Mendaropu is completed by this time and supplies are being accumulated. General MacArthur sets 15 November as tentative date for attack to reduce Buna-Gona beachhead and agrees to proposal by General Blarney that troops be transferred by air to Pongani.

EGYPT—British Eighth Army’s 30 Corps opens breakout assault, called SUPERCHARGE, at 0100. New Zealand 2d Division, in the lead, advances W under cover of artillery barrage and secures new corridor through enemy mine fields. 9th Armored Brigade passes through corridor in mine field and establishes bridgehead across track extending S from Rahman. At daybreak, the Armored brigade meets furious opposition from enemy Aniti Tank  screen and sustains over 75% casualties, but maintains the bridgehead. 10 Corps armor begins debouching through the bridgehead, and 1st Armored Division becomes strongly engaged near Tel el Aqqaqir.

US MARINE CORPS

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Sunday, 1 November 1942

US NAVY

GENERAL—Patrol Wings are redesignated Fleet Air Wings.

PACIFIC—District patrol craft YP‑205 is lost after grounding off Saba Island, 18°30'N, 65°00'W.

            Japanese merchant cargo ship Biwa Maru is lost to unknown cause, 13°30'N, 109°21'E.

ATLANTIC—U.S. freighter George Thatcher, bound for French Equatorial Africa, is torpedoed by German submarine U‑126,01°45'S, 07°30'E, and abandoned; five crewmen and five Armed Guard sailors, as well as eight soldier passengers, perish in the attack. Free French corvettes rescue the survivors (34 merchant seamen, 10 Armed Guard sailors and four Army passengers) and transport them to their original destination, Port Noire (see 3 November 1942).

 

US ARMY AIR FORCE

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑24’s strike airfield and dispersal areas at Maleme. P‑40’s escort bombers and hit ground targets in battle area. An air depot, 2 service groups, and 1 MP co are assigned to USAMEAF.

FIFTH AF—B‑25’s bomb airfield and dump area at Lae. B‑17’s strike shipping in Buin-Faisi-Tonolai area. Kahili AF on Bougainville is also attacked.

US ARMY

GUADALCANAL—1st Marine Division, with artillery, naval gunfire, and air support, launches attack toward Poha River. 5th Marines, followed by 2d Marines (less 3d Battalion) in reserve, crosses footbridges over Matanikau River and drives W about 1,000 yards in 2 columns to positions short of Pt Cruz, 1st Battalion, the right flank column, meeting considerable delaying opposition along coast. Whaling Group (3d Battalion of 7th Marines and scout-sniper detachment) crosses the river upstream and advances W on inland route to protect left flank of 5th Marines. To forestall expected enemy landings in Koli Pt area, E of Lunga perimeter, 2d Battalion of 7th Marines starts E toward Metapona River.

USSR—Close combat between Soviet garrison of Stalingrad (62d and 64th Armies) and German 6th and 4th Pz Armies of Army Group B continues, but the garrison has proved itself capable of weathering maximum effort of enemy. In the Caucasus, Red Army has frustrated every enemy effort to reach Grozny and is containing attacks toward Tuapse, but German Army Group A captures Alagir, blocking Ossetian Highway, which extends from Alagir to Kutais.

US MARINE CORPS

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