Air Operations, CBI

1 11th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25 attacks the reputed location of a Japanese Army headquarters in Tengchung, China.

Air Operations, Europe

• 285 aircraft including 137 Wellingtons, 52 Lancasters, 38 Halifaxes, 34 Stirlings and 24 Hampdens are sent to bomb the dock area at Wilhelmshaven. Photographs show that most of the bomb loads fall in open country west of the target. There is damage to some houses and a variety of businesses in Wilhelmshave. 25 people are killed and 170 are injured. 5 planes are lost including 3 Wellingtons, 1 Halifax and 1 Lancaster.
• In minor operations, 5 Halifaxes make leaflet flights to France without a loss.

Air Operations, Libya

During the night, USAMEAF B-24s attack harbor facilites and shipping at Benghazi, and 9th Heavy Bomb Squadron B-17s attack Tobruk harbor.

Allied Planning

Adm Nimitz issues his operational plans. The American South Pacific naval forces are to take Santa Cruz Islands and the islands of Tulagi and Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands.

Arctic

The Panamanian freighter El Capitan (5255t) rescues 22 survivors from the John Witherspoon which was sunk July 6. German bombers, however, sink the El Capitan. Survivors from this attack are rescued by the British armed trawler Lord Austin.

Battle of the Atlantic

The US tanker J. A. Moffett, Jr (9788t) is torpedoed by U-571 3 miles south of Tennessee Reef, Florida Straits and is run aground on Tennessee Reef to prevent the ship's loss. Only 1 of the crew is lost; 42 survivors are rescued by the Coast Guard craft Mary Jane, Southbound and Nike (WPC-112). The ship is later salvaged, but declared a total loss.

Britain, Home Front

In a broadcast to Europe, Cardinal Hinsley, declares that in Poland alone the Nazis have massacred over 700,000 Jews.

China

Gen Chennault takes over command of American air forces in China. The bravery of his pilots earns them the nickname the 'Flying Tigers'.

Eastern Front

The evacuation of Stary Oskol, southeast of Kursk is announced by the Russians. Unable to push on beyond Voronezh, the Germans detach the 6th Army from this sector and send it south, along the right bank of the Don, to attack Stalingrad.

The 4th Panzer Army begins to release units from Voronezh for the drive south along the western bank of the Don. Bock, however, is reluctant to send the entire strength of the 4th Panzer south, as he believes there remain a threat posed by the Bryansk and Voronezh Fronts.

Farther south, the Soviets withdraw from Oskol as the 6th Army advances. The 1st Panzer Army crosses the Donets after meeting negligible resistance, the South Front falling back a little too rapidly before the German attacks.

Malta

The heavy Axis air raids continue.

Occupied Greece

Marshal Franchet d'Esperey dies at the age of 86. He was the hero of the Salonika Campaign where he crushed the German-Bulgarian forces in 10 days in September, 1918.

Pacific

The US submarine S-37 (SS-142) torpedoes and sinks the Japanese transport Tenzan Maru about 30 miles west of Rabaul. Escorting submarine chaser CH-30 attacks without success.