Chronology of World War II

December 1942

Tuesday, December 29


Air Operations, Algeria

A 52nd Fighter Group Spitfire pilot downs a Bf-109 near Bone.

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Air Operations, Bismarcks

90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s mount single-plane missions against the Gasmata airfield on New Britain.

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Air Operations, CBI

BURMA
  • 12 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack shipping at and near Rangoon.
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Air Operations, Europe

BOMBER COMMAND
Daylight Ops:
  • 6 Mosquitos attack various targets in France without a loss.
Evening Ops:
  • 3 Oboe Mosquitos attack Essen in complete cloud conditions; bombs fall about 500 yard east of the Krupp factory. 14 Lancasters lay mines in the Gironde River.
    • There are no losses.
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Air Operations, New Guinea

  • 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s mount single-plane missions against the airfield at Lae.
  • 3d Light Bomb Group A-20s attack Japanese Army ground forces at Lokanu and along the Amboga River.
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Air Operations, Solomons

  • Marine Corps light bombers and 6 347th Fighter Group P-39s attack cargo ships near New Georgia.
  • Despite ongoing Allied air attacks, the Japanese complete work on the airfield at Munda Point, New Georgia.
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Air Operations, Tunisia

  • XII Bomber Command B-17s, escorted by P-38s, attack the harbor at Sousse.
  • 12th Air Force A-20s attack bridges at La Hencha, and escorting P-40s strafe a locomotive and rail cars at Ste.-Juliette.
  • XII Fighter Command P-38s attack a German Army tank depot near Pont-du-Fahs, followed by an attack on the same target by A-20s.
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Eastern Front

After bitter street fighting the Russians retake Kotelnikovo, southwest of Stalingrad. The town was the starting point of the German attack to relieve the 6th Army and part of the 4th Pzr Army which are now surrounded in Stalingrad.

SOUTHERN SECTOR

The II Guards Tank Corps attempts to break out from Tatsinskaya. Heavy fighting rages as the Soviet and German armored forces clash. Other Soviet forces penetrate to within 7 miles of Morozovsk but XVII Corps moves up and halts the Soviet attack. The 11th and 6th Panzer Divisions follow the Soviet break out, hitting their forces on the Bystraya.

2 panzer divisions will inflict heavy losses on the forces of the 3rd Guards Army.

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Guadalcanal

At a conference at Gen Patch's Command Post, the decision is made to continue the attack on Mount Austen. A patrol of the 1st Battalion, 132nd Infantry, finds a safe route to Hill 27, south of Gifu.

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New Georgia

Despite the Allies continual air attacks the Japanese complete the building of an airfield at Munda.

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New Guinea

Gen Yamagata, given the task of directing the withdrawal from Buna to Giruwa, arrives at Giruwa. The Americans reach the sea southeast of Buna Mission, cutting the only road by which the Japanese still there can retreat overland. Warren Force attacks northward toward the coast in the area between the Simemi stream and Giropa Point with tank support, but makes little progress in the face of firm Japanese resistance.

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North Africa

LIBYA

Armored cars of the 4th Arm Bde of the British 8th Army arrive outside Buerat and find it already evacuated by Axis troops. Italian aircraft carry out repeated raids on French columns advancing on Tripoli across the Sahara from Chad.

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Pacific

  • The US high speed minesweeper Wasmuth (DMS-15) sinks during a gale in the Aleutian Islands area when two of her own depth charges explode.
  • A mine laid by the US submarine Tambor (SS-198) on November 2 sinks the Japanese merchant cargo ship Fukken Maru (2538t) off the northwest coast of Hainan Island.
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[December 28th - December 30th]