US NAVY
ATLANTIC—Transport Wakefield (AP-21) is extensively
damaged by fire while en route from River Clyde to New York in convoy TA 18.
Light cruiser Brooklyn (CL-40), destroyers Mayo (DD-422), Madison
(DD-425), Niblack (DD-424) and Charles F. Hughes (DD-428)
provide assistance; all hands (1500 men) are saved. Niblack stands by
with a salvage party. Wakefield will not return to service until
February 1944.
PACIFIC—Japanese minelayer Tsugaru is damaged by
aircraft, Solomons area.
Submarine Seal
(SS-183) damages Japanese merchant passenger-cargo ship Kanju Maru southeast
of Cape Kanji Indochina, 11°00'N, 109°00'E.
US ARMY AIR FORCE
US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑24’s attack convoy at sea. B‑25’s
hit troop concentrations, vehicles, and airfield installations in battle area
of Alam-el-Halfa and behind enemy lines. P‑40’s, mostly operating with RAF,
escort bombers and engage fighters in combat, claiming at least 1 shot down.
TENTH AF—1 B‑25 dumps bombs and pamphlets on Hanoi in first
US raid against that city. Munitions, supplies, and several parked aircraft are
destroyed or damaged. 9 interceptors pursue the Medium Bomber for about 30 mi but
fail to make contact. For the next 3 weeks, bad weather and inaccurate Chinese
weather forecasts severely limit bomber operations.
FIFTH AF—General Kenney assumes command of Fifth AF in
Brisbane, where the Fifth’s HQ is remanned. General Kenney retains command of
Allied AF. P‑400’s bomb and strafe Kokoda Pass area, hitting airfield at Kokoda
and in the vicinity of Alola, Isurava, and Missima. B‑25’s and A‑20’s pound
Mubo-Busama-Salamaua area. A B‑ 17 strafes seaplanes at Faisi Island.
ELEVENTH AF—The 21st Bomb Group arrives at Umnak. Of 6 bombers
and 5 P‑38’s off to bomb Kiska and flying air cover over Kuluk Bay, 5 bombers
and 3 fighters abort due to weather. The others strafe seaplanes and boats in Kiska
Harbor and nearby installations. Between 1 and 4 seaplanes are claimed
destroyed on the water. This is the longest over-water attack flight thus far
in World War II. The 2 fighters which reach the target area return from the
1,260 mi round trip with only 40 gals of fuel.
US ARMY
SOUTH WEST PACIFIC AREA—General
Kenney, Commander Allied Air Forces, makes Fifth Air Force, the U.S. component,
a separate command in order to achieve greater efficiency. Fifth Air Force is
given responsibility for operations in NE area; RAAF is to defend the
Australian continent, particularly the Darwin area.
EGYPT—Aircraft continue to harass enemy, who begins to fall
back, concentrating on supply transport, which Axis can ill afford to lose.
During night 3–4, attack of 13 Corps to close gap in mine field is begun by New
Zealand 2d Division, reinforced, and evokes furious opposition.
USSR—Germans continue to push toward Stalingrad, Grozny,
and Novorossisk against stubborn resistance; are reported at W suburbs of Stalingrad.
US MARINE CORPS
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