Air Operations, Bismarcks

V Bomber Command B-17s attack airfields and shipping in the Rabaul area.

Air Operations, Europe

• 18 Bostons in low-level pairs attack power stations in France; 6 Mosquitos to Ijmuiden steelworks, 4 drop bombs there.
• 2 Bostons are lost.

Air Operations, Libya

USAMEAF B-24s attack Axis shipping in Benghazi harbor and claim hits on a large vessel and several smaller ships.

Air Operations, New Guinea

3rd Light Bomb Group A-20s attack Japanese Army bases at 5 locations in the Owen Stanley Mountains and 1 B-25 attacks the airfield at Buna and Sanananda. In another operation, V Fighter Command P-40s attack antiaircraft installations, barges and buildings at Buna and Salamaua and targets in the Owen Stanley Mountains.

Air Operations, North Africa

US and British bombers raid Benghazi.

Arctic Ocean

The US freighter Bellingham, in Convoy QP-14, is torpedoed and sunk by U-435 about 45 miles west of Jan Mayen Island. Escort vessels rescue the 39-man crew, the 10-man Armed Guard and 26 passengers who were survivors from other sunken ships.

Battle of the Atlantic

The US tanker Esso Williamsburg (11,237t) is torpedoed and sunk by U-211 about 500 miles south of Cape Farewell, Greenland. There are no survivors of the 42-man crew or the 18-man Armed Guard.

Eastern Front

Bitter fighting in Stalingrad continues as the Luftwaffe pounds the city. After a week of bitter fighting the Germans take the Stalingrad grain silo.

German Troops and a Panzer III near the Stalingrad Grain Silo

The Luftwaffe is again active over Stalingrad, while the ground forces fight for every yard of the rubble-strewn city.

Indian Ocean

The US freigher Paul Luckenbach is torpedoed and sunk by the Japanses submarine I-29 about 800 miles from the coast of India. The 44-man crew and 17-man Armed Guard eventually reach safety in 4 lifeboats some 21 days later.

Madagascar

The East African Brigade and artillery break through a well-defended road block at Mahitsy, a few miles west of Tananarive.

United States, Logistics

Plans are approved for shipping US war supplies to the Russians through Iran.

Vichy France

Vichy announces the execution of 70 hostages in Bordeaux in reprisal for acts of sabotage bringing the number to 186 for the week.