Air Operations, Aleutians

• 6 28th Composite Bomb Group B-24s, 4 343rd Fighter Group P-38s, and 8 54th Fighter Group P-39s bomb and strafe 7 ships in Kiska harbor. The P-38s and P-39s shoot down 5 Japanese Navy twin-float fighters over Kiska.
• Japanese Navy aircraft attack the US base at Adak, but there is no damage.

Air Operations, New Guinea

5th Air Force B-25s, A-20s, P-40s and 1 B-17 attack ground targets at numerous locations in the Owen Stanley Mountains.

Air Operations, Solomons

27 Japanese A5M Zeros attack US positions on Guadalcanal, but 7 Navy F4F Wildcat fighters manage to shoot down 9 of the attackers while anti-aircraft batteries destroy 2 more about 1250 hours. 1 F4F is downed and another destroyed in an operational accident, but neither pilot is lost. During the night, US Navy and Marine Corps aircraft bomb a Japanese convoy landing troops on Guadalcanal, but no hits are scored.

Aleutians

US troops occupy the Andreanof Islands in the Aleutians.

Eastern Front

In the Caucasus German Army Group A makes some progress towards Grozny as they capture Elkhotovo only 7 miles form Drag Kokh.

The battle for Stalingrad continues, but the Russian position is gradually improving, but at immense cost.

The bitter battle for Orlovka reaches its climax as the 115th Rifle Brigade struggles to hold off the attacks of the XIV Panzer Corps. The isolated battalion in the village suffers heavy casualties under the constant German artillery fire and plan a break out through the Orlovka Gully to the factories. Around the factories, the 308th Rifle Division launches a furious counterattack and pushes the Germans back into the Silikat factory.

Germany, Home Front

The first successful launching of an A4 rocket takes place at Peenemünde. The A4 is the forerunner of the V-2.

First Missile into Outer Space

October 3, 1942: For the first time in history, a missile makes it to outer space - from Peenemünde, on Usedom, an island in the Baltic Sea. The first successful launch of the Aggregat 4 rocket (A4) was one of the most dangerous technical breakthroughs at the time. The rocket reached four times the speed of sound, was able to transport explosives and is considered the prototype for all modern military and civilian booster rockets. It was in the harbor village of Peenemünde that German engineers, physicists and military personnel developed the so called "Vengeance Weapon" or V-2, the better-known name of the A4.

Guadalcanal

The usual noon bombing raid comes in escorted by 27 Zeros. The Americans are warned and climb high before the Japanese force gets there, then attack from above. 9 Zeros are shot down, 2 more are hit by AA fire as they pass too low over Henderson. 2 American planes are lost but no pilots. During the afternoon SBD searchers spot 3 destroyers heading toward Guadalcanal. Another group sights an enemy seaplane tender north of the island escorted by 6 destroyers. The Nisshin, the seaplane tender, is attacked about dusk but, because of intense AA fire the bombers miss their mark. At midnight the Japanese force is at Cape Esperance unloading supplies of tanks, 150-mm howitzers, guns, men and food.

Soviet Union, Home Front

In a written response to the Associated Press, Stalin says Allied aid to the Soviet Union has been of little military value compared to the impact the Russians are having in drawing to themselves the main German forces. 'In order to amplify and improve this aid,' says Stalin, 'one thing is required: that the Allies fulfill their obligations fully and on time.'