Air Operations, Aleutians

XI Bomber Command reconnaissance bombers drop demolition charges on targets on Attu and Kiska islands.

Air Operations, Europe

• 6 Mosquitos bomb targets in the small towns of Emmerich, Jüich and Lingen without a loss.

• 65 aircraft lay mines in various places from Lorient to the Frisians; 2 Wellingtons and 1 Stirling are lost; 5 Halifaxes make leaflet flights over France without a loss.

Air Operations, Far East

US bombers raid Bangkok.

Air Operations, New Guinea

V Bomber Command B-25s, 22d Medium Bomb Group B-26s, and 3d Light Bomb Group A-20s operating in support of the US 32nd Infantry Division attack numerous targets at Buna, Giruwa, Gona, Sanananda, and Soputa, including landing barges, troop concentrations, and antiaircraft emplacements.

Guadalcanal

The 4 surviving transports of the Japanese convoy are sighted at Tassafaronga and attacked by artillery, naval gunfire and aircraft from Henderson Field and New Hebrides. All 4 are destroyed and supplies on the beach are fired. The decisive defeat almost isolates the Japanese on Guadalcanal.

Four Japanese transports, hit by both U.S. surface vessels and aircraft, beached and burning at Tassafaronga, west of positions on Guadalcanal, on November 16, 1942. They were part of the huge force of auxiliary and combat vessels the enemy attempted to bring down from the north on November 13th and 14th. Only these four reached Guadalcanal. They were completely destroyed by aircraft, artillery and surface vessel guns. (AP Photo)

Four Japanese Transports Burning at Tassafaronga

Mediterranean

• The Greek submarine Triton is sunk by the German auxiliary submarine chaser UJ-2102 in the Aegean Sea off Kafirea, Euboia Island.
• The British submarine Safari sinks the German steamer Hans Arp (2645t) near Benghazi.

New Britain

The Japanese establish the headquarters of the 8th Army under Gen Hitoshi Imamura at Rabaul. Operating under him also are the 17th Army in the Solomons and the 18th Army in New Guinea.

New Guinea

The Australians and the Americans begin operations against the Japanese beachhead in the Buna-Gona area. The American 32nd Div advances on Buna and the Australian 7th Div moves on Gona and Sanananda. The Allies had expected to find the Japanese disorganized and demoralized, but instead thay are quite ready to put up a vigorous difense, favored by the broken terrain and a line of strongpoints. The Japanese troops are commanded by Col Yokoyama, west of the Girua River, and by Capt Yasuda east of the river. Gen Horii has disappeared during the retreat from the Kokoda track. The American landing south of Buna is held up by Japanese aircraft.

North Africa

The whole country is now occupied by Axis troops. Several thousand German troops form a bridgehead in the Bizerte-Tunis area. The British 1st Parachute Battalion takes Souk el Arba, 30 miles south of Tabarka. The British 36th Bde farther north takes Djebel Abiod. Late in the day the paratroops have reached nearly to Beja. The first engagements between French and German troops take place at Oued Zarga, Mateur and the road between Beja and Djebel Abiod. The French forces drive off the German patrols.

Gen de Gaulle announces that he and his Free French supporters do not accept Darlan's authority. Many British politicians are worried, too, about cooperating with a former member of the Vichy government. The Americans have been always much more ready to favor Vichy than the British and, therefore, see nothing wrong with such a useful arrangement.

First actions in Tunisia, 16-23 November 1942. (Click map for larger image)