Air Operations, Bismarcks

• V Bomber Command B-25s attack barges near Gasmata and villages near Talasea.
• 22nd Medium Bomb Group B-26s attack the Cape Hoskins airfield on New Britain and 1 B-24 attacks Cape Gloucester. A 49th Fighter Group P-38 downs a Ki-46 'Dinah' reconnaisance plane over Cape Hoskins.

Air Operations, CBI

• 5 14th Air Force P-40 fighter-bombers attack Yangtze River traffic near Chiuchiang.

Air Operations, East Indies

380th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack targets on Amboina Island.

Air Operations, Europe

• 294 Lancasters of Nos. 1, 5 and 8 Groups are sent to Munich along with 2 American B-17s.
• Visibility over the target is clear but the initial marking is scattered. Heavy bombing develops over the southern and southeastern districts of Munich, but later stages of the raid 'creeps back' up to 15 miles along the approach route. Most of this inaccurate bombing comes from No. 5 Group aircraft, who are again attempting their 'time-and-distance' bombing method independently of the Pathfinder marking. The No. 5 Group crews are unable to find Wurmsee, a lake which is to be the starting point for their run.
• 8 Lancasters are lost.

• 8 Mosquitos are sent to Cologne and Gelsenkirchen, 117 aircraft lay mines at various places from Lorient to Heligoland and there are 21 OTU sorties. 1 mine-laying Halifax is lost.

Air Operations, Solomons

42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s and AirSols SBDs attack barges near Vila.

Baltic Sea

German shipping in the area comes under increasing attack from Russian torpedo planes.

Central Pacific

The US 27th Div, which was to have been getting ready for a landing on Nauru, is ordered to prepare plans for the capture of a new objective, suggested by Vice-Adm Spruance to Adm Nimitz

Makin Atoll in the Gilbert Islands.

Eastern Front

The great Russian Smolensk offensive grinds to a stop, midway between Smolensk and Vitebsk-Orsha.

The bitter, two-month long offensive around Smolensk finally dies down, having cost the Kalinin Front 28,000 killed and missing and the West Front 79,500 killed and missing and 253,600 wounded. The two fronts have also lost 863 tanks, 234 arty pieces and 303 aircraft.

A Russian anti-aircraft crew keeps their aerial machine gun trained on German bombers that are attempting to blast a Soviet battery. The Soviet soldier at the left appears to be gazing at a near Nazi bomb miss behind the group, while his companions focus their eyes on the action in the sky.

Russian Anti-Aircraft Crew in Action

Germany, Preparations

Germany infantry divisions are reformed to include 10,708 men each including 2,000 Russian POWs who had volunteered for non-combat duty. There are known as 'Hiwis', short for Hilfswilliger.

Italy

In the US VI Corps sector, the 3rd Div on the left of the line makes for the Volturno River while the 34th and 45th Divs move by separate routes toward Benevento, an important road junction. At the same time the advance units of 78th Div on the east coast cross the Biferno River. During the night Royal Marine Commandos, supported by tanks, make a surprise landing near Termoli and take the harbor and the town. The commander of the German garrision, Maj Rou, is captured in bed. The Germans send 16th Pzr Div from positions on the Volturno to meet this attack. The commandos succeed in joining up with 78th Div as the battle continues.

Infantrymen of the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment advancing through Motta. October 2, 1943, Motta, Italy.

Canadian Soliders in Italy

New Guinea

The Australian 20th Bde captures the village and harbor of Finschhafen after hard fighting and joins up with the 23rd Bde, which has advanced in the meantime from Lae. However, the Japanese still hold 2 strongpoints overlooking the harbor.

Pacific

US submarine begin mining the waters off the Celebes to cut traffic through the Makassar Straig.

Scenes from October 2, 1943

Corporal E.H. Pruner of The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment, who carries both a PIAT anti-tank weapon and a Thompson sub-machine gun, Motta, Italy, 2 October 1943.

Corp E.H. Pruner with an Anti-Tank Weapon and Submachine Gun

German tank unit equipped with Panzer III moving into the new defense line Rudnia-Kritschev west of Smolensk.

German Tank West of Smolensk

Private W.G. Turner, Royal Canadian Regiment, eating a meal during rest period, Motta, Italy, 2 October 1943. Credit: Lieut. Jack H. Smith / Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada. PA-129778

Canadian Soldier Eating in Italy