Air Operations, Bismarcks

In their unit's combat debut, 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack the Kavieng airfield on New Ireland.

Air Operations, Europe

• 6 OTU sorties are flown to France without a loss.

Air Operations, New Guinea

v Bomber Command B-25s and A-20s attack targets in the Buna area.

Air Operations, Solomons

VMD-154 PB4Y reconnaissance bombers confirm the existence of a new, nearly complete, cleverly camouflaged Japanese Navy airfield at Munda Point on New Georgia. Intent upon denying the Japanese an aerial toehold so close to Guadalcanal, an immediate offensive against the Munda Point airfield by the the Cactus Air Force is planned.

Atlantic

The British anti-submarine trawler Bengali, the naval trawler Canna and the anti-submarine trawler Spaniard are sunk in an explosion at Lagos, Nigeria. The Bengali loses 1 crewman, the Canna 12 and the Spaniard 2.

A 1942 Santa arriving by tank instead of "outdated sleigh." Sgt. Hiram Prouty playing Santa for British children. December 5, 1942. Perham Downs, England. M-3 Tank of 1st Tank Group. Sgt. Prouty, member of 175th Infantry.

Santa Arriving by Tank

Eastern Front

Heavy fighting continues along the Chir, around Kotelnikovo and at Stalingrad.

Mediterranean

The German hospital ship Graz is torpedoed and sinks off the Libyan coast.

New Guinea

The Australian 21st Bde is still in action in the Gona area. A reinforced Australian battalion tries to prevent the landing of enemy supplies near Basabua, while another battalion advances westwards to hole up the Japanese who have landed at the mouth of the Kumusi River. The road-block on the Soputa-Sanananda track is surrounded by the Japanese and cannot be supplied.

Combat groups called Urbana and Warren Forces are thrown into the attack on the village of Buna and get within 50 yards of the houses. Gen Waldron is wounded and the command of the US 32nd Div is taken over by Gen Clovis E. Byers. Heavy losses are suffered in the actual fighting and to heat prostration and malaria.

North Africa

Activity by the air forces of both sides result in 14 British and 10 Axis planes being shot down. After receiving approval from the Combined Chiefs of Staff for his plan of attack, Eisenhower fixes December 9th as the date for the general offensive. The British 1st Army, however, is in trouble through the lack of advanced airfields and because its supply lines have become too long. While preparations are being made for the attack, Allied aircraft are conducting strikes against ports to limit the enemy's build-up.

6-pdr anti-tank guns towed by ‘Quad’ artillery tractors, 5 December 1942.

6-pdr Anti-tank Guns

Pacific

The US Navy Department Report on the Pearl Harbor Raid and salvage operations is released: Arizona (BB-39), the only battleship totally beyond repair; Oklahoma (BB-37) is still submerged, keel up; Maryland (BB-46), Pennsylvania (BB-38) and Tennessee (BB-43) and cruisers Helena (CL-50), Honolulu (CL-48) and Raleigh (CL-7) repaired and returned to service; 50% of machinery of the sunken destroyers Cassin (DD-372) and Downes (DD-375) salvaged; heavily damaged destroyer Shaw (DD-373) repaired and re-commissioned. Naval and Marine Corps casualties: 2,117 killed, 960 missing, i.e. bodies still not recovered, 876 wounded. US Army casualties: 226 killed, 396 wounded.

Soviet Union, Home Front

A huge new blast furnace is lit at Magnitogorsk in the Urals.