Air Operations, Europe

9 Halifaxes and 7 Stirlings are sent to bomb the Tirpitz in Trondheim. Only 2 aircraft reach the Norwegian coast and bomb ships there. 1 Stirling is lost on the raid.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The US Coast Guard cutter Alexander Hamilton (PG-34) (2,000t) is sunk off Reykjavik by U-132 with the loss of 20 of her crew. Over 100 survivors are picked up by the British destroyer Gwin and an Icelandic fishing trawler.
• The Norwegian steamer Bjornvik (812t) is sunk by German bombing about 3 miles east of Lizard Head in the English Channel with the loss of 16 crewmen. 3 are rescued.

Britain, Home Front

Despite British military setbacks, Churchill wins a Parliamentary Vote of Confidence, 464-1.

Winston Churchill Wins Vote of ‘Confidence’

The first broadcast of 'Desert Island Discs' airs. It will become the BBC's longest-running program.

Diplomatic Relations

Britain and the USSR sign a treaty of alliance with Iran by which Iran pledges to remain neutral. British and Russian troops will be withdrawn from the country six months after the end of the war with the Axis powers. Many supplies from the Western Allies later use this route to Russia. It will be called the 'Persian corridor'.

The 'Persian Corridor'

Allied Supply Train Carrying Persian Oil

Ecuador severs relations with the Axis powers.

Dutch East Indies

The Japanese land at Bandoeng and at Mampawan in the Celebes, and in Dutch Borneo they occupy the west coast town of Pontianak.

Eastern Front

In the central sector the Russians extend the salient splitting the German armies southwest of Kaluga, and retake Sukhinichi, inflicting heavy losses on the enemy in men and materials.[MORE]

Fiji

American troops arrive to garrison the islands.

Indian Ocean

• I-64 sinks the American steamer Frances Luckenbach (5048t) east of Chennai, India. There are no casualties among the 38-man crew and all hands reach Madras by lifeboat.
• The Dutch steamers Boelongen (1053t), Buyskes (1800t), Elout (1797t) and Poelau Tello (9272t) are sunk by Japanese bombing at Padang, Sumatra.

Malaya

The British continue their withdrawal to Singapore. Units of the British 18th Div arrive on the island with about ten light tanks, the only armor sent to Malaya.

North Africa

Rommel takes Benghazi at first light and continues to advance pursuing the 4th Indian Div as it retires on Derna. Hitler promises Rommel the rank of Generaloberst (Colonel-General).

Pacific

The Chief of Staffs Committee sets up the ANZAC, Australia and New Zealand Army Corps, sector with command of naval operations in the South Pacific going to the Americans.

Philippines

Americans and Filipinos continue to hold out against increasing pressure from the Japanese. After a heavy artillery barrage, they succeed in wiping out the Japanese bridgehead at Point Longoskawayan.

United States, Command

Maj-Gen Millard Harmon becomes Chief of Staff, USAAF, succeeding Gen Carl Spaatz who will now lead Air Force Combat Command.

United States, Home Front

The government announces the establishment of relocation camps for Japanese Americans.