US NAVY
PACIFIC—Small reconnaissance seaplane from Japanese
submarine I‑19 reconnoiters Nouméa, New Caledonia.
Destroyer O'Brien
(DD‑415), damaged by submarine torpedo on 15 September 1942, breaks in two
and sinks en route to United States for repairs, 53 miles north-northwest of
Tutuila, Samoa, 13°30'S, 171°18'E.
Submarine Amberjack
(SS‑219) arrives at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, assigned temporarily to
Commander, Aircraft, South Pacific, for duty. Over the next three days, two of
the submarine's fuel tanks will be cleaned and converted to carry aviation
gasoline. She will also take on board 100-pound bombs and embark USAAF enlisted
ground crew for transportation to Guadalcanal.
SBDs (VS
71, VMSB 141, VB 6) from Henderson Field attack three Japanese destroyers north
of Guadalcanal, damaging Uranami.
Submarine Grampus
(SS‑207) lands Australian coastwatchers on Choiseul Island, Solomons.
ATLANTIC—U.S. freighter Steel Navigator, straggling
from convoy ON 137, is attacked by German submarine U‑610; Steel Navigator briefly
drives off the shadower with 5-inch gunfire, but the U‑boat returns and
torpedoes and sinks the freighter at 49°20'N, 32°00'W. Hastily launched motor
boat swamps in heavy seas; no.3 lifeboat swamps as the ship plunges and spills
its 35 occupants into the sea. U‑610 surfaces and approaches the
survivors' boats and rafts; when questions shouted by the submarine's commander
fail to get answers, the enemy threatens to cut a raft in two. After answers
are given in the brief interrogation, the Germans refuse to provide a course to
the nearest land and depart. Subsequently, survivors right no.3 boat and
redistribute themselves; the boats become separated (see 27 October1942).
Fishing
boat (nationality not determined) tows no.1 lifeboat, with 25 men on board,
from U.S. freighter Coloradan, which had been torpedoed and sunk by
German submarine U‑159 on 9 October 1942, into Thorne Bay, South Africa;
the Americans reach Cape Town the next day (see 2 November 1942).
Master and
radio operator in gig from U.S. freighter Steel Scientist, sunk by
German submarine U‑514 on 11 October1942, reach Tarlogie, British Guiana
(see 20 October 1942).
US ARMY AIR FORCE
EIGHTH AF—HQ VIII Air Support Command moves from Membury to
Sunninghill Park, Berkshire.
US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—Air offensive preliminary to
the British Eighth Army ground attack W of El Alamein begins as B‑25’s hit landing
ground and B‑24’s score direct hit on vessel at Tobruk.
ELEVENTH AF—A B‑17 flies weather reconnaissance and bomb
runs over Attu, Semichis, Kiska, and Amchitka. 6 B‑24’s dispatched to bomb
Kiska abort mission due to weather.
US ARMY
UNITED STATES—War
Department agrees to equip 30 more Chinese divisions.
PACIFIC OCEAN AREA—U.S. 25th Division is alerted for
movement to Guadalcanal.
NEW GUINEA—Col Sverdrup’s reconnaissance party completes march
along Kapa Kapa trail, which is so poor that it is rejected as a possible route
of advance, to upper Musa River, where Abel’s Field is already in use; searches
for additional airfield sites.
MADAGASCAR—Troops of British E African Command continue to
clear S part of island and in 2 pronged attack overcome opposition at
Andriamanalina.
US MARINE CORPS
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