Air Operations, Bismarcks

38th Medium Bomb Group B-25s on an antishipping patrol attack but miss a schooner near Arawe, New Britain.

Air Operations, CBI

In their unit's first combat unit since transitioning to B-24s, several bombers of the 7th Heavy Bomb Group's 436th Heavy Bomb Squadron attack Rangoon, Burma.

Air Operations, Solomons

27 G4M 'Betty' bombers and an unknown number of A6M Zeros attack Guadalcanal without opposition.

Eastern Front

The German attacks south of the Terek in the Caucasus are being worn down, but the advance still goes on and has now reached nearly to Ordzhonikidze.

Ruins of part of the city of Stalingrad, on November 5, 1942, following huge battles, with wrecked shells of buildings on either side. (AP Photo)

Ruins in Stalingrad

Guadalcanal

The 164th Infantry, less the 1st Battalion, is ordered to cross to the east bank of Nalimbiu, and advance north to Koli Point to destroy the Japanese in front of the 7th Marines. The 3rd Battalion crosses the flooded Nalimbiu about 3,500 yards south of Koli Point, and then swings north to advance along the east bank. They only meet occasional rifle and machine-gun fire. The 2nd Battalion follows on the right and rear of the 3rd.

2 reinforcing companies of Raiders and army garrison troops are landed at Aola Bay by American destroyers. Carlson's orders are to march across Guadalcanal and attack the new Japanese infantry regiment that has landed at Kamimbo and Tassafaronga.

These Japanese prisoners were among those captured by U.S. forces on Guadalcanal Island in the Solomon Islands, shown November 5, 1942. (AP Photo)

Japanese POWs

Madagascar

(11/4?)The Vichy forces ask for an armistice. Hostilities between the British and the Vichy French cease officially at 2:00p.m. Gen Guillemet and Governor-Gen Annet accept the Allied terms and are signed on November 6th.

New Guinea

The Australian forces begin attacks against Oivi. The Japanese intend to fight a rearguard action here while their main force retires across the Kumusi River.

North Africa

EGYPT

Rommel retreats from Fuka. Axis forces are still retiring and British and Dominion troops adavnce on a broad front. The main pursuit is held up by lack of fuel and by an old minefield which in fact is a dummy laid months previously by the British themselves. Some of the Italian infantry in particular take heavy punishment. The Germans have managed to withdraw 70,000 of the 90,000 men who made up their expeditionary force. The Allies have taken 20,000 Italian prisoners and 10,000 Germans. The Folgore Div has already reached the end of its powers of resistance. The Brisith XXX Corps takes Fuka, half-way between El Alamein and Mersa Matruh.

Lt General Bernard Montgomery, GOC 8th Army, standing in front of his personal Grant tank, 5 November 1942.

Lt General Bernard Montgomery

Operation TORCH

As the convoys that have sailed from Britain and the United States, headed for Northwest Africa, draw near to their objective, Gen Eisenhower arrives in Gibraltar and sets up his headquarters. The British Adm Sir Andrew Cunningham will command the naval forces. The American Gen James H. Doolittle and Air Marshal Sir William Welsh will command their two countries' air forces. Lt-Gen K. A. N. Gen Anderson will lead the British 1st Army which will be the main ground formation.

Convoy Bound for North Africa

United States, Home Front

George M. Cohan, song writer, dies at the age of 63.