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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