Air Operations, Europe

• 7 Mosquitos are sent to Holland and the German Frisians; 6 Wellingtons make 'roving commissions of the Ruhr.
• 6 Mosquitos and 1 Wellington bomb various targets.
• 3 Wellingtons and 2 Mosquitos are lost.

Air Operations, New Guinea

3rd Light Bomb Group A-20s attack ground targets in the Owen Stanley Mountains.

Air Operations, Solomons

V Bomber Command B-17s attack ships at sea between Buin and Faisi.

Aleutians

(30th?)Attu Island is occupied by a second Japanese invasion force.

Battle of El Alamein

There are new counterattacks by the Axis in the northern sector of the British XXX Corps. Montgomery, knowing through Ultra intercepts that the mass of the German forces are concentrated in the north, decides to direct his next attack to the south against the Italians. In the morning he is persuaded to alter the direction of the next phase of his attack, SUPERCHARGE, to bear more on the Italians now alone opposite Kidney Ridge. He decides to break through, not westwards along the coast, but southwards, in the sector manned by the already exhausted Italian infantry.

A 6-pdr Anti-Tank Gun in Action in the Western Desert, 29 October 1942

Eastern Front

At Pinsk in the USSR, the Germans massacre 16,000 Jews.

The Rumanian 4th Army becomes operational as Constantinescu's headquarters takes command of the VI and VII Rumanian Corps from 4th Panzer Army. Hoth is left with the IV Corps and the 16th Motorized Division.

Guadalcanal

The Japanese are dismayed by their heavy losses and begin a general retirement on Koli Point and Kokumbona to the west of the American bridgehead. West of the Matanikau River, a patrol captures 2 enemy 75-mm howitzers which are spiked. The 1st Marine Division prepares for an offensive to drive the enemy westward beyond the Poha River. The 2nd Marines less the 3rd Battalion is ordered to Guadalcanal from Tulagi to assist in the offensive. The 3rd Battalion, which has been operating as a mobile reserve in the Lunga area, is to return to Tulagi for garrison duty. November 1st is set as the start date for the attack after outposts have been established west of the Matanikau and foot-bridges have been constructed across the river.

Oct. 29, 1942: US Marines Man a .75mm Gun on Guadalcanal

Scout planes spot 2 Japanese destroyers off Tassafaronga, attack them but make no hits. The destroyers head west of Russell Islands. A second raid on them is again without success. An attack is made on a Japanese seaplane base at Rekata Bay. 3 planes are destroyed but another 8 escape.

Madagascar

400 Vichy troops are captured at Alakamisy by East African troops who take Fianarantsoa, the most important town in the south of the island, and continue their advance toward the final areas of resistance from the Vichy forces.

New Guinea

The Australian forces send in a final attack against the Japanese positions at Eora, forcing the Japanese out only a little before they had intended to retire. Gen George Vasey takes over command of the 7th Australian Div from Gen Arthur 'Tubby' Allen who has been judged to be insufficiently forceful.

United States, Home Front

The 'Alaska Highway' is opened. It runs 2,689 km form Dawson Creek, British Columbia to Fairbanks. The work started in March 1941.