Air Operations, Bonin Islands

11 11th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Chichi Jima.

Air Operations, Carolines

17 of 20 73rd Very Heavy Bomb Wing B-29s dispatched from the Marianas attack submarine pens at Truk.

Air Operations, CBI

• 8 10th Air Force B-25s attack bridges at two locations.
• 1 B-25 attacks Indaw.
• More than 80 10th Air Force P-47s support Allied ground forces at Myothit and attack several dumps, rail targets, two bridges, and the airfields at Nawnghkio and Sinlanzu.

• 14th Air Force fighter-bombers mount more than 100 effective sorties against targets of opportunity around Lungling and Mangshih and numerous other targets throughout southeastern China and northern French Indochina.

• 14th Air Force fighter-bombers attack a bridge at Dara.

Air Operations, East Indies

During the night, FEAF B-24s attack the port area at Makassar, Celebes.

Air Operations, Europe

There is a great air battle over the Leuna synthetic oil plant at Merseburg. The 8th Air Force claims 183 fighters including 4 jets for a loss of 40 bombers and 28 fighters which includes losses due to flak. During the night the RAF sends 992 bombers to Düsseldorf and small forces to other targets. 20 planes are lost in all operations.

• 184 Lancasters of No. 3 Group carry out a G-H attack on the oil plant at Homberg. Large fires and a thick column of smoke are seen.
• 3 Lancasters are lost.

• 2 Wellingtons fly RCM sorties without a loss.

• 992 aircraft including 561 Lancasters, 400 Halifaxes and 31 Mosquitos are sent Düsseldorf. This heavy attack falls mainly on the northern half of Düsseldorf. More than 5,000 houses are destroyed or badly damaged. 7 industrial sites are destroyed and 18 are seriously damaged, including some important steel firms. This is the last major Bomber Command raid of the war on Düsseldorf.
• 11 Halifaxes and 8 Lancasters are lost, 4 of the losses being crashes behind Allied lines in France and Belgium.

• 42 Mosquitos are sent to Osnabrück and 9 to Hallendorf, only 1 of which reaches the target, and there are 51 Mosquito patrols and 37 RCM sorties.
• There are no losses.

Air Operations, Japan

• 4 28th Composite Bomb Group B-24s attack Onnekotan and Suribachi.
• 4 B-25s attack Torishima Island and Hayakegawa.
• A Saipan-based F-13 of the 20th Air Force’s 3rd Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron becomes the first American airplane to fly over Tokyo since the Doolittle Raid of April 1942.

Air Operations, Pacific

Over the next 2 days the Japanese attempt to reduce enemy airpower by attacking US airstrips at Tacloban, Leyte, and at Saipan and Tinian in the Mariana Islands. The attacks are extremely costly for the Japanese, many of the aircraft being brought down by accurate anti-aircraft fire.

Air Operations, Philippines

• In separate attacks, 24 5th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s and and 33 49th Fighter Group P-38s attack a Japanese reinforcement convoy in Ormoc Bay, Leyte. 1 Japanese Navy transport is sunk by the B-24s.
• V Bomber Command B-25s attack the Davao, Libby, Likanan and Matina airfields on Mindanao.
• P-38s operating over Leyte attack San Enrique and motor vehicles between Ormoc and Valencia.
• 49th Fighter Group P-38s down 20 Japanese fighters over the Ormoc Bay area between 0825 and 0900 hours, and 5 Japanese fighters over Ormoc Bay between 1020 and 1100 hours.
• 2 VF-7 F6Fs down a J1N 'Irving' fighter at sea at at 1115 hours.
• 49th Fighter Group P-38s down 3 Ki-43 'Oscar' fighters over Ormoc Bay at 1205 hours.
• 8th Fighter Group P-38s down 5 Japanese fighters over Ormoc Bay and the Camotes Islands at 1215 hours.
• An 8th Fighter Group P-38 downs a Ki-43 'Oscar' fighter over Ormoc Bay at 1315 hours.
• A 475th Fighter Group P-38 downs a Ki-43 'Oscar' fighter over western Leyte at 1355 hours.
• 49th Fighter Group P-38s down 2 Ki-43 'Oscar' fighters and 1 J2M 'Jack' fighter over Ormoc Bay between 1400 and 1405 hours.

Burma

In the northwest, the 5th Indian Div of the British XXXIII Corps eliminates a Japanese strongpoint known as 'Vital Corner', south of Tiddim.

Eastern Front

Tito's Partisan forces take Zadar. the 2nd Panzer Army consolidates its position along the Drina River west of Belgrade. Russian tanks reach the outskirts of Budapest, but they pull back.

On the Dalmatian coast Tito's partisans take Zadar.

Italy

The headquarters of the US 5th Army issues directives, in confirmation of verbal orders given on October 30, for future operations during the unavoidable winter lull, reminding formations of the necessity of consolidating the Bologna salient. Casseta south of Bologna is taken in the Allied advance.

In the British 8th Army sector the 128th Bde of the 46th Div replaces the 10th Indian Div, which is sent into reserve.

Palau Islands

As weather conditions improve, the Americans renew their attacks to eliminate the Japanese pocket on Mount Umurbrogol, Peleliu, but without success.

Philippines

With the occupation of the whole of Leyte Valley in the northeast of the island, the Americans complete the second phase of their campaign. To the north, in the X Corps sector, the 1st Cav Div and 24th Inf Div converge on Carigara, on the north coast, near the northern entrance to the valley leading to the big Japanese base of Ormoc on the west coast. In the central northern sector, where the XXIV Corps is operating, the 382nd Inf of 96th Div is engaged with the Japanese in lively actions west of Dagami; units of the 7th Inf Div reach Baybay, on the west coast, late in the evening.

United States, Home Front

Roosevelt sends Donald M. Nelson, former chief of the War Production Board, to reorganize Chinese war production.

Western Front

The fighting on Walcheren continues to be most intense. The British 157th Bde of the 52nd Div relieves the units of the Canadian 2nd Div of II Corps. Flushing falls to the attacking troops of 52nd Div after an intense preparatory bombardment. The 104th Div establishes a bridgehead in the area of Standdaarbuiten.

The British 7th Arm Div from 2nd Army renews the activity on that front with a short advance intended to drive the enemy from the Canal du Nord. On the entire front the forces are getting ready for the great offensive planned for the coming days. Gen Jean de Lattre de Tassigny, commanding the French 1st Army, prepares to carry out Operation INDEPENDENCE against Belfort. There is also an attack on the US 3rd Army front and on the Channel coast, in the rear of the main attacks, Zeebrugge and Heyst are cleared.

Images from November 2, 1944

Infantry and carriers of the 15th (Scottish) Division, during the assault on Liesel, Holland, 2 November 1944.

Men of the 15th Division

Churchill Tanks of 6th Guards Tank Brigade in NW Europe, 2 November 1944

Invasion of Walcheren Island - Vehicles on the Beach, 2 November 1944

41 Royal Marine Commando, Walcheren Island, 2 November 1944

US troops of the 28th Infantry Division troops advance through the Hürtgen Forest; Germany - 2 November 1944

US Troops in the Hürtgen Forest

Churchill tanks of 6th Guards Tank Brigade move up in support of 15th (Scottish) Division during the assault on Liesel, 2 November 1944

Tanks Supporting the Infantry

US Soldiers Struggling up a Hill in the Hürtgen Forest, 2 November 1944

US Jeeps Being Towed through Italian Streets because of Heavy Rains, 2 November 1944