Monday 26 October, 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Battle of Santa Cruz Islands occurs as TF 16 (Rear Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid) and TF 17 (Rear Admiral GeorgeD. Murray) engage a numerically superior Japanese force (Vice Admiral Nagumo Chuichi). Although the Japanese achieve a tactical victory, the failure of their simultaneous land offensive on Guadalcanal means that they cannot exploit it to its fullest. The dwindling number of Japanese carrier planes cannot eliminate Henderson Field, while fuel shortages compel the Combined Fleet to retire on Truk. Americans control the skies above the sea routes to Guadalcanal.

            The victory, however, does not come cheaply in this, the fourth major carrier battle of 1942, for Enterprise (CV‑6) is damaged by planes from carriers Junyo and Shokaku; Hornet (CV‑8) is damaged by planes from Junyo, Shokaku, and Zuikaku; battleship South Dakota (BB‑57) and light cruiser San Juan (CL‑54) are damaged by planes from Junyo; destroyer Smith (DD‑378) is damaged by a crashing carrier attack plane; during the operation of fighting Hornet’s fires and taking off her survivors, destroyer Hughes (DD‑410) is damaged in collision with the doomed carrier (as well as by friendly fire earlier in the action). The attempt to scuttle the irreparably damaged Hornet, by gunfire and torpedoes from destroyers Mustin (DD‑413) and Anderson (DD‑411) fails; destroyer Porter (DD‑356) is accidentally torpedoed by battle-damaged and ditched TBF (VT 10), and, deemed beyond salvage, is scuttled by destroyer Shaw (DD‑373).

            SBDs (VS 10) from Enterprise damage carrier Zuiho; SBDs (VB 8, VS 8) from Hornet damage carrier Shokaku and destroyer Terutsuki; TBFs (VT 6) from Hornet damage heavy cruiser Chikuma.

            Battle of Henderson Field ends as marines repulse Japanese land and air attacks.

            U.S. liner President Coolidge, chartered for use as a troop transport, blunders into U.S. minefield off Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides; the ship is beached to facilitate salvage, but slips into deep water and sinks. Four of the 5,050 Army troops are lost in the accident, as is one of the 290 man merchant complement. There are no casualties among the 51 man Armed Guard.

            Submarine S‑31 (SS‑136) sinks Japanese transport Keizan Maru off Paramushiro, 50°10'N, 155°36'E.

INDIAN OCEAN—U.S. freighter Anne Hutchinson is torpedoed and shelled by German submarine U‑504 some 90 miles off East London, South Africa, 33°12'S, 29°03'E; three crewmen are killed in the attack. The rest of the ship's complement (37 merchant sailors and the 17 man Armed Guard) take to two lifeboats (see 27, 28, and 31 October 1942).

ATLANTIC—British motor torpedo boat rescues 39 merchant seaman and the 10 man Armed Guard from U.S. freighter Reuben Tipton, sunk by German submarine U‑129 on 23 October 1942, and are transported to Barbados.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—Momentum of British drive decreases in El Alamein battle. 30 Corps takes Kidney Ridge, and General Montgomery decides to regroup for a break-out assault. Allied aircraft continue strong support to ground forces and disperse enemy concentrations preparing for attack. B‑25’s hit transport, troop concentrations, and tanks. P‑40’s fly sweeps over El Daba area and attack motor transport and other targets. Enemy air action increases and considerable aerial combat ensues. US fighters claim 4 airplanes shot down. More than 30 B‑17’s and B‑24’s attack shipping off coast of Libya.

TENTH AF—Japanese again hit airfields in Assam connected with India-China transport route, concentrating on Sookerating. A freight depot, containing food and medical supplies for China, is destroyed but no US airplanes are lost. Due to lack of warning, no fighters intercept the attacking force. CATF Medium Bombers move to W China to carry out neutralization of Lashio, where the Japanese have aircraft they are using against the Dinjan area. P‑40’s continue to hit Hong Kong-Canton area, using dive-bombing tactics for first time in the area.

FIFTH AF—B‑25’s hit Salamaua and airfield at Lae. A‑20’s, escorted by P‑40’s, bomb and strafe trails in Missima- Kaile-Deniki area.

SOUTH PACIFIC—Carrier aircraft from the Hornet a Enterprise fight fierce air action with TF in Rattle of Santa Cruz Islands. B‑ 17’s also attack the TF but report no hits. With 3 of his carriers hit and almost 100 airplanes lost, Vice Admiral Nagumo retires toward Truk. Hornet is severely damaged a is sunk the following day by Japanese aircraft and destroyer with bombs and torpedoes.

US ARMY

NEW HEBRIDES—172d Regiment of U.S. 43d Division arrives at Espiritu Santo, but vessel bringing it, President Coolidge, is sunk off coast by U.S. mines.

BATTLE OF SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS—Admiral Kinkaid’s naval force, upon learning of presence of Japanese naval units near Santa Cruz Islands., moves forward and engages in naval air battle. 3 Japanese carriers and 2 DD’s are damaged and 100 planes are destroyed. Cost is high, however, since carrier Hornet and DD Porter are sunk; 4 vessels, one of them the carrier Enterprise, are damaged; 20 planes are lost to enemy and 54 from other causes. This is the last time during the Guadalcanal Campaign that Japanese use carrier aircraft in close support.

GUADALCANAL—Operational aircraft on Henderson Field now total 29.

EGYPT—El ‘Alamein battle continues but with decreasing momentum. 30 Corps, British Eighth Army, improves positions in vicinity of Miteiriya Ridge and during night 26–27 succeeds in taking Kidney Ridge. General Montgomery decides to regroup for next phase, the breakout attack, and withdraws New Zealand 2d Division into reserve. Allied planes continue effective support of ground operations and disperse enemy force concentrating for attack. Enemy air action, which has been rather light thus far, increases.

USSR—Hard fighting continues in Stalingrad.

            In the Caucasus, Nalchik falls to Army Group A.

UNITED KINGDOM—TORCH troop convoy leaves for Africa.

US MARINE CORPS

—Naval Battle of Santa Cruz Island. U. S. force sustains heavy loss, but checks Japanese movement toward Guadalcanal.

Sunday 25 October, 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Whale (SS‑239) lays mines off Honshu, Japan, at entrance to Inland Sea.

            Second division of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Three, consisting of motor torpedo boats PT-37, PT-39, PT-45, andPT-61, arrives at Tulagi.

            Off Guadalcanal, tug Seminole (AT-65) and district patrol craft YP‑284 are sunk by gunfire of Japanese destroyers Akatsuki, Ikazuchi, and Shiratsuyu; submarine Amberjack (SS‑219), which has arrived that morning to deliver her cargo and passengers at Tulagi, is unable to attain a firing position to help Seminole and YP‑284. Later, high speed minesweeper Zane (DMS‑14) is damaged by the same trio of enemy warships in Sealark Channel. Japanese destroyers, however, do not emerge from the day's action unscathed. Off Lunga Point, Marine shore batteries (and VMF 121 F4Fs) damage Akatsuki, while USMC F4Fs (VMF 121) damage Ikazuchi; USAAF P‑39s damage Samidare and Akizuki. Amberjack later disembarks USAAF enlisted men (67th Fighter Squadron and 347th Fighter Group), 200 100-pound bombs and 9,000 gallons of aviation gasoline at Tulagi. Released from duty under ComAirSoPac, Amberjack sets course for Brisbane.

            USAAF B‑17s sink Japanese auxiliary minelayer Kotobuki Maru at Rabaul.

            Japanese light cruiser Yura, damaged by SBD (VS 71) and USAAF B‑17 or P‑39 off Santa Isabel, Solomons, is scuttled by destroyers Harusame and Yudachi, 08°40'S, 160°00'E.

            Dutch submarine O 23 damages Japanese army cargo ship Shinyu Maru off Penang, Malaya, 05°28'N, 99°56'E.

ATLANTIC—Master and one merchant seaman from U.S. freighter Reuben Tipton, sunk by German submarine U‑129 on 23October 1942, are recovered by PBM and transported to Trinidad (see 26 October 1942).

CARIBBEAN—U.S. freighter Daniel Boone strikes mine while off coast of Panama; there are no casualties to the 42 man crew and11 man Armed Guard, and the ship reaches port under her own power.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—Battle of El Alamein continues as General Montgomery decides to make main effort on N flank of 30 Corps. Australian 9th Division drives N toward coastal road to Rahman. B‑25’s disperse motor transport and other targets in support of ground forces. P‑40’s on escort attack vehicles and other targets. Fighters claim several airplanes destroyed in combat. Heavy Bombers sent to bomb Bengasi harbor and a convoy at sea fail to reach targets as bad weather prevails.

TENTH AF—Japanese aircraft attack airfields connected with the India-China air transport route, heavily bombing Dinjan and Chabua fields and scoring hits also at Mohanbari and Sookerating. 10 US airplanes are destroyed and 17 badly damaged; 9 Japanese aircraft are downed. 12 B‑25’s and 7 P‑40’s of CATF, led by Col Merian C Cooper, hit Kowloon Docks at Hong Kong. 21 airplanes intercept. 1 B‑25 and 1 P‑40 are shot down. This marks the first loss of a CATF B‑25 in combat. The Japanese interceptors are virtually annihilated. During 25/26 Oct 6 B‑25’s, on first CATF night strike, continue pounding Hong Kong, bombing North Pt power plant which provides electricity for the shipyards. 3 other B‑25’s bomb the secondary target, Canton warehouse area, causing several large explosions and fires.

FIFTH AF—B‑17’s bomb shipping at Rabaul. A‑20’s bomb and strafe Isurava-Kokoda trail, W bank of Kumusi River, and area N of Asisi as Australian ground forces push toward Kokoda in the Owen Stanley Range.

SOUTH PACIFIC—Japanese ground assaults on def lines around Henderson Field are again thrown back. Marine and AAF fighters continue to inflict telling losses on Japanese Navy aircraft. During the afternoon, a B‑17 on sea-search mission sights powerful TF NW of Santa Cruz Islands, heading for Guadalcanal.

ELEVENTH AF—Alert only as weather permits.

US ARMY

BERMUDA—Air group for TORCH (carriers) sails for North Africa.

GUADALCANAL—Japanese artillery and aircraft are very active during day but ground attacks are withheld until night 25–26, when 2 enemy regiments attack 1st Battalion of 7th Marines and 3d Battalion of 164th Infantry on S flank of Lunga perimeter and other enemy forces attack 2d Battalion of 7th Marines E of Hill 67 and Matanikau River. Both attacks are repulsed and lull in ground action follows.

EGYPT—As El ‘Alamein battle continues, General Montgomery decides to make main effort on N flank of 30 Corps and withhold attacks of 13 Corps in order to preserve strength of 7th Armored Division. On N flank of 30 Corps, Australian 9th Division drives N toward coastal road to Rahman; 1st Armored Division, attempting to push W in Kidney Ridge area, is unable to advance. Series of determined enemy counterattacks with strong tank support is repulsed. In 13 Corps sector, 50th Division attempts to improve positions in Munassib area with little success.

US MARINE CORPS

—Marines and Army troops fight off heavy ground attacks of major Japanese counteroffensive.

Saturday 24 October, 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Nautilus (SS‑168) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Kenun Maru about 20 miles east of Shiriya Zaki, off northern tip of Honshu, 41°24'N, 141°50'E.

            Submarine Trigger (SS‑237) damages Japanese oiler Nissho Maru in Bungo Channel, 32°06'N, 132°34'E.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑25’s support British Eighth Army Offensive W of El Alamein between Mediterranean Sea and Qattara Depression as 30 Corps, with 4 divisions in assault, secures 2 corridors through enemy mine-fields on British N flank, while 13 Corps on S flank breaks through mine-fields N of Himeimat and establishes small bridgehead. The Medium Bombers hit troop concentrations, tent areas, gun emplacements, and vehicles. P‑ 40’s, working with RAF and SAAF, escort Medium Bombers and Light Bombers and hit motor transports and tanks.

FIFTH AF—B‑25’s hit Lae airfield. Organized Japanese resistance on Goodenough Island ceases.

SOUTH PACIFIC—Marine and AAF fighters at Henderson Field continue to inflict damaging losses upon Japanese naval air force. Japanese ground forces, attacking aggressively, are again repulsed by defenses around Henderson area.

ELEVENTH AF—3 B‑17’s hit Kiska submarine base. Results not observed. Weather reconnaissance flight is made over Attu.

US ARMY

UNITED STATES—Final detachment of Western Naval Task Force sails from Hampton Roads for North Africa. Covering group of warships sails from Casco Bay, Maine.

GUADALCANAL—Japanese column is observed E of the Matanikau on foothills of Mt Austen in afternoon and bombarded by artillery and aircraft with unobserved results. Shortly after midnight 24–25, regiment of main Japanese assault force attacks S flank of Lunga perimeter, where 1st Battalion of 7th Marines is thinly spread along 2,800-yard front, 2d Battalion having been withdrawn to plug gap between Lunga perimeter and forward positions along the Matanikau. Marines, assisted by fire of adjacent troops—2d Battalion of 164th Inf—and reinforced during night by 3d Battalion of 164th Infantry, hold against repeated attacks, and enemy retires morning of 25th.

NEW HEBRIDES—2 U.S. naval carrier forces, based on Enterprise and Hornet, rendezvous NE of New Hebrides and come under command of Rear Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid.

NEW GUINEA—Organized resistance on Goodenough Island. ceases; 250 Japanese are withdrawn to Rabaul by DD after nightfall. After exhausting overland journey, head of 2d Battalion, 126th Infantry, U.S. 32d Division, reaches Jaure. From there the force is to move to Buna area via Natunga and Bofu, Aniti Tank and Cannon Companies protecting its rear and harassing enemy in Wairopi area.

EGYPT—30 Corps, with 4 divisions in assault, secures 2 corridors through enemy mine fields on N flank of British Eighth Army, Australian 9th and British 51st Divisions gaining one on N and New Zealand 2d and South African 1st Divisions one on S. 10 Corps armor then begins passing through 1st Armored Division, debouching through N corridor, breaks through mine field during night 24–25, but 10th Armored Division, using S corridor, is unable to reach W edge of mine field. On Eighth Army S flank, 13 Corps’ 7th Armored and 44th Divisions succeed in breaking through mine fields N of Himeimat, night 24–25, and establish small bridgehead; to S, Free French 1st Brigade pushes W but is driven back.

ITALY—RAF Lancasters, after flight of some 1,400 miles from Britain, attack Milan in force. This is the first daylight attack on Italy by British planes from home bases.

US MARINE CORPS

—Marines and Army troops fight off heavy ground attacks of major Japanese counteroffensive.

Friday 23 October, 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Kingfish (SS‑234) sinks Japanese gunboat Seikyo Maru at entrance to Kii Suido, Honshu, 33°20'N,135°27'E.

            USAAF B‑17s damage Japanese submarine chasers Ch 31 and Ch 32 at Rabaul.

            Japanese submarine I‑7 shells Espiritu Santo.

ATLANTIC—U.S. freighter Reuben Tipton, bound for Trinidad, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U‑129; three merchant seamen are killed in the attack (see 25 and 26 October 1942).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑17’s and B‑24’s sent to attack Candia and Bengasi turn back short of target due to bad weather. El Alamein offensive by British Eighth Army begins at 2140 with artillery barrage by more than 1,000 guns aimed at enemy batteries. At 2200 barrage switches to enemy forward positions as British troops move forward. Heavy fighting continues during 23/24 Oct.

FIFTH AF—A‑20’s bomb and strafe Deniki and Deniki-Kokoda trail. B‑17’s thoroughly pound shipping at Rabaul.

SOUTH PACIFIC—Henderson Field is again made operational by Seabees, and Marine and AAF fighters begin to inflict heavy losses on naval aircraft. Japanese ground forces assault def lines around the airfields but are thrown back.

ELEVENTH AF—Armed reconnaissance by 7 bombers, escorted by 6 P‑38’s, is flown over Kiska installations, chiefly the submarine base and Main Camp. Visibility is excellent and direct hits are scored, including 1 on submarine base.

US ARMY

UNITED STATES—Forces from U.S. begin movement to North Africa in preparation for TORCH. First detachment of Western Naval Task Force, under Rear Admiral Henry K. Hewitt, sails from Hampton Roads, Virginia.

GUADALCANAL—After quiet day, Japanese artillery opens up at 1800 with heaviest fire to date, after which assault force (tank co and infantry regiment) makes determined but futile efforts to cross Matanikau River mouth and overrun 3d Battalion of 1st Marines. Japanese sustain heavy losses: 600 are estimated killed and at least 8 tanks are knocked out. 1st Marines casualties are 25 killed and 14 wounded. Main enemy enveloping force, which was to have attacked simultaneously with coastal force, is not yet in position and postpones for another day its attack on S perimeter.

EGYPT—British Eighth Army opens El ‘Alamein offensive at 2140. More than 1,000 guns pound enemy batteries until 2200, then switch to enemy forward positions as British troops move forward, 30 Corps on N making main effort and 13 Corps conducting diversionary actions on S. Heavy fighting continues throughout night.

US MARINE CORPS

—Marines and Army troops fight off heavy ground attacks of major Japanese counteroffensive.

Thursday 22 October, 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Naval Air Facility, Otter Point, Alaska, is established.

            Destroyers Mahan (DD‑364) and Lamson (DD‑367), detached from TF 16 to "shoot up the Japanese picket boat line” west of the Gilberts, sink gunboat Hakkaisan Maru southwest of Tamana, 03°30'S, 175°15'E.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

TWELFTH AF—First echelon of HQ begins move from UK to N Africa.

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—Adv US Air HQ, previously attached to RAF Advanced Air HQ, Western Desert, to gain field experience, becomes HQ of DATF, located at Burg el Arab, with General Brereton as CG and General Adler attached with advance HQ of ASC. CoS of DATF is General Strickland. B‑25’s bomb dispersed aircraft. P‑40’s escort bombers, attack tent areas and motor transport along coastal road near El Hammam, fly reconnaissance and fighter sweeps W of El Daba, and bomb artillery positions. P‑40’s claim 2 fighters destroyed. B‑17’s sent to hit Candia abort because of weather.

SOUTH PACIFIC—Henderson Field is out of operation again as result of enemy action.

ELEVENTH AF—Weather reconnaissance aircraft reports submarine at 52-08N 177-21W. Navy airplane later makes contact and drops depth bomb. Result unknown.

US ARMY

GUADALCANAL—Japanese postpone attack on Lunga perimeter until 23d, since main assault force is still short of line of departure, but continue artillery fire against Marine positions along Matanikau.

NEW GUINEA—To secure NE coast of Papua, 2/12th Battalion of Australian 18th Brigade embarks in 2 DD’s at Milne Bay and during night 22–23 lands at a points on Goodenough Island., from which submarines have withdrawn 60 of the 353 Japanese stranded there on 25 August.

INDIA—Combined planning staff conference opens to consider offensive in Burma.

ALGERIA—In preparation for TORCH, Maj General Mark W. Clark, deputy commander to General Eisenhower, and small U.S. party arrive in Algeria by submarine under cover of darkness to meet secretly with pro-Allied French party headed by Brigadier General Charles E. Mast. During the meeting General Mast assures General Clark and U.S. Consul General Robert Murphy that French will co-operate under leadership of General Henri Giraud.

EGYPT—U.S. advanced base hq becomes Desert Air Task Force Hq under command of General Brereton. British Eighth Army moves secretly into assault positions during night 22–23.

UNITED KINGDOM—TORCH cargo convoy leaves for Africa.

US MARINE CORPS

—Marines and Army troops fight off heavy ground attacks of major Japanese counteroffensive.

Wednesday 21 October, 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Destroyer Grayson (DD‑435) is damaged in collision with fleet tug Vireo (AT-144) during efforts to salvage the latter, Solomons area, 12°08'S, 161°04'E. Salvage party from Grayson ultimately brings the tug (abandoned on 15 September 1942) and its tow safely into Espiritu Santo after a 400 mile voyage.

            Japanese carrier Hiyo is damaged by engine room fire after departing Truk; she thus cannot participate in the Battle of Santa Cruz (see 26 October 1942).

            Submarine Guardfish (SS‑217) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Nichiho Maru about 120 miles north-northeast of Formosa, 27°03'N, 122°42'E.

            Submarine Gudgeon (SS‑212), attacking Japanese convoy in the Bismarck Sea, sinks transport Choko Maru about 110 miles west-northwest of Rabaul, 03°30'S, 150°30'E.

MEDITERRANEAN—In advance of the North African landings, Major General Mark W. Clark, USA; Brigadier General Lyman M. Lemnitzer, USA; two additional Army officers; and Navy Captain Jerauld Wright are landed at Cherchel, French North Africa, from British submarine HMS Seraph to meet with a French military delegation to ascertain French attitudes toward impending Allied operations. Among issues discussed is the French request for an American submarine to evacuate General Giraud from occupied France. Since none is available for that mission, a British submarine under temporary U.S. command will be substituted (see 5 November 1942).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—VIII Bomber Command flies its first mission against submarine bases. 15 B‑17’s hit U-boat pens at Lorient—Keroman. 8 Heavy Bombers strike at Cherbourg/Maupertus airfield. The strike against the sub pens is flown at 17,500-ft level, 5,000 to 10,000 ft lower than usual. 36 FW-190’s intercept; 3 US bombers are shot down.

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑24’s dispatched against shipping at Bengasi fail to locate target because of bad weather. During return flight, several Heavy Bombers bomb tent areas along coast and also hit landing grounds. B‑25’s, cooperating with RAF, bomb landing ground and tent area.

TENTH AF—B‑24’s of IATF stage through Chengtu to bomb Lin-hsi coal mines. The plan is to blast nearby power stations and pumping facilities and flood the mines. The attack fails to flood the mines but inflicts considerable damage to the target area. This marks the first use of Heavy Bombers in China and the first AAF strike N of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers.

FIFTH AF—B‑25’s hit Luscan Harbor on S coast of New Britain.

ELEVENTH AF—Weather reconnaissance aircraft returns twice due to fog.

US ARMY

UNITED STATES—Admiral King informs Admiral Nimitz that Joint Chiefs of Staff have agreed to strengthen air forces in S Pacific by 1 January 1943.

GUADALCANAL—Japanese coastal force, with support of artillery and 9 tanks, attempts to cross to E bank of the Matanikau but pulls back after losing a tank to U.S. fire.

NEW GUINEA—From Jaure, 50-man patrol of cannon company, U.S. 32d Division, sets out for Kumusi River Valley, where it subsequently establishes defense line and is joined by Medendorp’s main group, the entire force being called Wairopi Patrol. Australians maintain pressure on enemy along Kokoda Trail, slowly gaining ground in flanking attacks.

US MARINE CORPS

—Marines and Army troops fight off heavy ground attacks of major Japanese counteroffensive.

Tuesday 20 October, 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Heavy cruiser Chester (CA‑27) is torpedoed by Japanese submarine I‑176, 120 miles southeast of San Cristobal, Solomons, 13°31'S, 163°17'E.

            Submarine Drum (SS‑228), attacking Japanese convoy off southern Honshu, sinks merchant cargo ship Ryunan Maru,34°09'N, 136°46'E.

            Submarine Finback (SS‑230), attacking Japanese convoy off west coast of Formosa, damages army passenger-cargo ship Africa Maru and cargo ship Yamafuji Maru, 24°26'N, 120°25'E. Both sink the next morning.

            Submarine Gar (SS‑206) mines the approaches to Bangkok, Thailand.

            Submarine Tautog (SS‑199) sinks merchant trawler Nanshin Maru, 06°59'N, 119°20'E.

ATLANTIC—Remainder of crew (35 merchant seamen and nine Armed Guard sailors) from U.S. freighter Steel Scientist, sunk by German submarine U‑514 on 11 October 1942, reach Paramaribo, British Guiana, in three lifeboats.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—General Eisenhower issues directive reflecting immediate urgency of TORCH as the currently important item of Allied strategy and requiring Eighth AF, as a matter of first priority, to protect movement of men and supplies from UK to N Africa by attacking German submarine bases on W coast of France, with shipping docks on the French W coast as secondary targets for these missions and with German aircraft factories and depots in France as second priority.

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—Air action is intensified with aim of attaining strong air superiority preceding General Montgomery’s El Alamein offensive. B‑17’s and B‑24’s sent to attack shipping at Tobruk fail to locate target due to bad weather and poor visibility. 3 of the B‑17’s bomb coastal road near Bardia during return trip. B‑25’s, in conjunction with RAF, attack landing grounds.

SOUTH PACIFIC—Admiral Halsey sends 147th Infantry to Guadalcanal and also institutes construction of another bomber strip to be located at Koli Pt, 12 mi SE of Henderson Field.

ELEVENTH AF—6 B‑24’s take off for Kiska but return due to weather. Reconnaissance is flown to 70 mi E of Attu. A negative search is made for a missing C‑53.

US ARMY

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA—General Vandegrift, reporting to Admiral Halsey aboard his flagship in Nouméa harbor, requests and is promised more support for Guadalcanal. Admiral Halsey orders 147th Infantry, which had been earmarked for invasion of Ndeni, Santa Cruz Islands, to Guadalcanal. The Ndeni operation is never undertaken.

GUADALCANAL—Japanese attack is postponed to 22d, since main enveloping force has not yet reached line of departure, but patrol of supporting coastal force is taken under fire at mouth of Matanikau River and retires after 1 of its 2 tanks is hit.

NEW GUINEA—16th Brigade of Australian 6th Division enters fight for Kokoda Trail, relieving 25th Brigade of Australian 7th Div; continues action to clear Eora Creek area. U.S. 32d Division party under Capt Medendorp, having left elements at Laruni, where dropping ground is staked out, arrives at Jaure, where Capt Boice’s party is searching for airfield sites.

CHINA BURMA INDIA—Chinese troops begin moving by air into India to meet Ramgarh requirements. Chinese 22d and 38th Divisions are being brought up to strength.

IRAQ—General Connolly reaches Basra, where he assumes command of PGSC, replacing Col Shingler, who remains as acting chief of staff until relieved by Col Stanley L. Scott on 20 November. Strength of PGSC at this time is about 400 officers and men of SOS and AAF and just under 1,000 American civilians.

EGYPT—Allied air action is intensified in effort to attain high degree of air superiority before General Montgomery’s El ‘Alamein offensive opens. Air superiority is achieved by assault date, 24 October.

US MARINE CORPS

—Marines and Army troops fight off heavy ground attacks of major Japanese counteroffensive.