Air Operations, CBI

• Using an attack by 10 Kweilin-based 11th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s against the Hong Kong port to goad Japanese fighters aloft, 21 23d Fighter Group P-40 escortS down 23 Japanese fighters in a swirling engagement over Canton at about 1030 hours. No US aircraft are lost, although two damaged P-40s are forced to make emergency landings short of the airfield at Kweilin. Also, the B-25s are credited with sinking two small freighters.

Air Operations, Europe

• 6 Bostons are sent in low-level pairs to Belgium and Holland; 3 bomb various targets; there are no losses.

• 32 Lancasters and Stirlings are sent to Stettin.
• The raid is recalled and the planes drop their bombs in the North Sea.
• 10 aircraft are sent to lay mines in the Gironde River and off Texel, Gdynia and Danzig; the more distant locations are not reached.
• There are no losses.

Air Operations, Far East

US B-25s and P-40s hit the docks and shipping at Canton and rout the defending Japanese fighters.

Air Operations, Greece

376th Heavy Bomb Group B-17s attacking the harbor at Portolago Bay, Leros Island, claim hits on 2 Axis vessels.

Air Operations, New Guinea

22nd Medium Bomb Group B-26s attack targets throughout the Buna area.

Air Operations, North Africa

There is a heavy RAF raid on Tripoli.

Battle of the Atlantic

The US freighter Jeremiah Wadsworth is torpedoed and sunk by U-178 about 270 miles south of Cape Agulhas, South Africa with no casualties. 43-crewmen and 14-man Armed Guard will be picked up December 5 and 6.

Eastern Front

The VI Tank Corps is unable to advance farther due to difficulties supplying its units. German counterattacks threaten to sever the corps' communications as the Soviets attempt to push their infantry through to support. Fierce battles rage as the 39th and 22nd Armies attempt to force their way forward. Ferocious fighting results in heavy casualties to both sides. Heavy fighting around Belyi continue as the 41st Army attacks. There is also very heavy fighting around Velikiye Luki as the 3rd Shock Army attempt to destroy the isolated Germans.

While Manstein constructs his defenses, the Stavka plan to expand the offensive. While Stalin has decided the main priority is the destruction of the 6th Army he also aims to destroy German and allied forces along the line of the Don from Voronesh to Azov Sea. Operation SATURN is to follow the success of URANUS. At Stalingrad the 21st Army is transferred to the Don Front.

France

At dawn the German II SS Pzr Corps occupies Toulon but the French Fleet is scuttled by order of Adm Jean de Laborde. 2 battle-cruisers, the Dunkerque and the Strasbourg, 1 battleship, the Provence, 7 cruisers, Algérie, Colbert, Dupleix, Foch, La Galissonnière, Marseillaise and Jean de Vienne, 30 destroyers, 16 submarines and the seaplane carrier Commandant Teste and 16 other craft go down. 4 other submarines are able to put to sea and reach freedom; the Iris to internment in Spain and 3 others to North Africa. The Italian Navy subsequently salvages and repairs 5 destroyers.

Vichy French Scuttle Ships at Toulon

French Light Cruiser Marseillaise

Guadalcanal

Adm Tanaka is ordered to resupply with all the means at his disposal. 4 destroyers move into Shortland from Rabaul, loaded with drums of food and medical supplies. The first effort to make a run thru The Slot will be on November 30 and will use 8 destroyers. 2 will be heavily armed, while the others sacrifice armament to accommodate more supplies.

North Africa

Tebourba, 20 miles west of Tunis, is captured by the 11th Brigade, British 78th Div, but they are driven out again by German armor and Stukas. Another Allied column approaches Bizerta. The US 1st Armd Div is transferred from the US II Corps in the Oran sector to the British 1st Army.

Australians Approach German Strong Point