Air Operations, Crete

USAMEAF B-24s attack Maleme Airdrome.

Air Operations, Egypt

57th Fighter Group P-40s escort RAF bombers on tactical strikes and attack ground targets of opportunity behind the El Alamein front.

Air Operations, Europe

• 6 Bostons are sent to St Omer airfield.
• 3 bomb the airfield, another 3 hit the docks at Calais, an alternate target
• 1 Boston is lost.

Battle of El Alamein

Montgomery's SUPERCHARGE Operation gets under way. The infantry attacks to clear the final minefields for the armor to follow are slowed by enemy fire.

American Sherman tanks moving at speed across the northern Egyptian desert as the Axis forces retreating on November 1, 1942 during the Second Battle of El Alamein

American Sherman Tanks

Air Operations, New Guinea

V Bomber Command B-25s attack the airfield and a supply dump at Lae. 2 49th Fighter Group P-40s down 2 A6M Zeros near Lae at 0745 hours.

Air Operations, Solomons

V Bomber Command B-17s attack the Kahili airfield on Bougainville and shipping in the Buin-Faisi-Tonolei area.

Battle of the Atlantic

The US freighter George Thatcher (7176t), bound for French Equatorial Africa, is torpedoed by U-126 and abandoned. 5 crewmen, 5 Armed Guard sailors and 8 passengers die in the attack. Free French corvettes rescue the survivors, 34 crewmen, 10 Armed Guard sailors and 4 passnegers.

Brazil, Home Front

Currency changes: Cruzeiro of 100 Centavos replaces the Milreis of 1,000 Reis.

Eastern Front

The German advance in the Caucasus region stumbles on. Alagir, an important road junction 30 miles west of Ordzhonikidze and southeast of Nalchik, is taken by 1st Pzr Army.

The fighting at Stalingrad between the Soviet 62nd and 64th Armies and the German 6th Army and 4th Panzer Army continues as fiercely as ever. The German dream of capturing the entire city is, however, beginning to fade before the Russians' indomitable resistance.

Elements of the 64th Army penetrate into Kuporosnoye but are brought to a halt by withering German Fire.

Guadalcanal

With artillery, naval gunfire and air support, the 1st Marine Division launches an attack toward the Poha River. The 5th Marines, followed by the 2nd Marines, less the 3rd Battalion in reserve, crosses footbridges over the Matanikau River and drives west about 1,000 yards in 2 columns to positions short of Point Cruz. The 1st Battalion, in the right flank column, meets considerable delaying opposition along the coast. The Whaling Group, the 3rd Battalion of the 7th Marines and the scout-sniper detachment, crosses the river upstream and advances west on an island route to protect the left flank of the 5th Marines. To forestall expected enemy landings in Koli Point area, east of the Lunga perimeter, the 2nd Battalion of the 7th Marines starts east toward the Metapona River.

During the next 12 days the Japanese destroyer force bringing supplies to the island is especially active. Nearly 70 missions are run by it various ships. The force is known to the Americans as the 'Tokyo Express'. Adm Tanaka takes command of these operations on November 5th.[MORE]