Air Operations, Bismarcks

V Bomber Command B-17s and B-25s attack shipping from Arawe to the northern Solomon Islands.

Air Operations, CBI

In their unit's first combat mission since switching from B-17s, 6 B-24s of the 7th Heavy Bomb Group's 9th Heavy Bomb Squadron attack the marshaling yards at Mandalay, Burma.

Air Operations, Europe

• 222 aircraft are sent to Stuttgart: 97 Lancasters, 59 Wellingtons, 39 Halifaxes and 27 Stirlings.
• A thin layer of clouds and some ground haze prevent the Pathfinders from marking the city center; the bomb loads are dropped to the southwest and south of the center and in the residential districts of Vaihingen, Rohr, Mohringen and Plieningen which are all about 5 miles from the city center; 88 houses are destroyed and 334 seriously damaged; 28 people are killed and 71 injured.
• 5 Lancasters, 3 Wellingtons and 2 Halifaxes are lost.

• 1 OTU makes a leaflet flight over France and returns safely.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• 22nd Medium Bomb Group B-26s attack targets around Buna, B-17s and B-25s attacl the airfield at Lae and landing barges between Lae and Salamaua, and A-20s attack trails in the Sanananda area.
• 35th Fighter Group P-400s down 3 A6M Zeros over Buna at 1105 hours, and 49th Fighter Group P-40s down 2 Zeros near Buna between 1720 and 1740 hours.

Britain, Home Front

Sir Stafford Cripps becomes Minister of Aircraft Production.

Eastern Front

The two branches of the Soviet pincer close at Kalach, trapping the German 6th Army and part of the 4th Panzer Army along with some smaller formations. Included in the encirclement are 250,000 men, 100 tanks, 1,800 guns and over 10,000 vehicles.

German Artillery Continues to Bombard Leningrad

Advancing rapidly, Rodin's XXVI Tank Corps closes upon Kalach. The lead tanks audaciously gain control of the bridge over the Don, but an attack upon the town is repulsed by elements of the 71th Infantry Division. Later in the day the main body of the XXVI Tank Corps captures Kalach after the IV Tank Corps has moved up to provide support. The 24th Army launches new attacks against the XI Corps, aiming to isolate the Germans between itself and the 65th Army. Volskii's IV Mechanized Corps takes Sovetski as it pushes up from the southeast.

The 6th Army is in imminent danger of isolation in Stalingrad. Paulus, having only just moved his headquarters to Nizhne Chirskaya, is ordered back to Gumrak. Hitler is suspicous that Paulus will order a retreat from the Volga on his own initiative. Paulus believes that the only viable course of action is the abandonment of Stalingrad and, informing Army Group B, stresses the urgent need for supplies. Weichs forwards the request, and an assessment of the situation, to Hitler, who does not respond until after hsi journey from Berchtesgaden to Rastenburg.

Hoth's 4th Panzer Army is under heavy attack following the collapse of the 4th Rumanian Army. Left with the few Rumanian soldiers fleeing before the 57th and 51st Armies and the IV Corps, Hoth's army rapidly breaks apart. The IV Corps has become separated, being forced away from the retreating Rumanians. As the pocket is slammed shut on the 6th Army the IV Corps is handed over to Paulus.

Guadalcanal

The 182nd and 164th Regiments again meet strong resistance while attempting to push west and are unable to advance. The 8th Marines prepares to attack through the 164th Infantry.

New Guinea

While the Australian 25th Bde pushes on in the direction of Gona, the US 126th Regt attacks in the Sanananda sector. Other American units advancing from Soputa cross to the east bank of the River Girua on Pontoon bridges.

North Africa

Thrusts by strong British columns in the Agedabia area, in Libya, are temporarily checked by the Germans.

Searching for Mines along the Desert Railway

The 36th Brigade, 78th Div, British 1st Army, repels an attack at Djebel Abiod. The 11th Brigade of the 78th Div completes its concentration at Bédja. French and US troops occupy Gafsa.