Air Operations, Asia

Lt-Col Takeo Kato, Japanese AAF fighter 'ace' with 58 victories, disappears in his Nakajima fighter over the Bay of Bengal.

Air Operations, Europe

In minor operations, 27 Halifaxes are sent to bomb St Nazaire but cloud cover prevents all but 3 from bombing. 31 aircraft are sent to lay mines off St Nazaire and the Baltic Coast. There are no losses.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• 5th Air Force B-17s attack the Rabaul/Lakunai and Rabaul/Vunakanau airfields and shipping in Rabaul harbor.

• 22nd Medium Bomb Group B-26s attack shipping at Lae.

Caribbean

The unarmed US tanker William Royce Thompson (7061t), en route to Curacao, NWI, is torpedoed by U-558. There are no casualties and the ship reaches port under her own power.

Diplomatic Relations

Mexico declares war on Germany, Japan and Italy.

Canadian Merchant Ship Frank B. Baird

Eastern Front

The 23rd and 3rd Panzer Divisions attack from Andreyevka and Balakleya, while the III Panzer pushes up from the south. By the end of the day, the Barvenkovo pocket has been sealed. Timoshenko tries to counterattack immediately with the 38th Army in an effort to relieve the pocket, but his forces are unable to move in time. At the same time he orders the 6th and 57th Armies and Group Kostenko to break out.

New Guinea

The 21st Troop Carrier Squadron begins the movement of some 300 troops and supplies to Wau to reinforce the weak Australian group, called Kanga Force, defending the Bulolo Valley. Kanga Force consists largely of troops of the New Guinea Volunteer Reserve (NGVR).

Secret War

US intelligence reveals Japanese plans for attacks on Midway Island ant the Aleutian Islands.

Stjepan Filipovic Hanged by the Fascists