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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