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.

• 210 1st Bomb Division B-17s attack a synthetic-oil plant at Merseburg.
• 107 1st Bomb Division B-17s attack a synthetic-oil plant at Sterkrade.
• 172 2nd Bomb Division B-24s attack a bridge at Bielefeld.
• 131 2nd Bomb Division B-24s attack a synthetic-oil plant at Castrop.
• 383 3rd Bomb Division B-17s attack a synthetic-oil plant at Merseburg.

• 78 B-17s and 24 B-24s attack secondary targets and targets of opportunity.
• In the heaviest air battles since September, the bomber force is attacked by an estimated 400 Luftwaffe fighters.
• 40 heavy bombers and 16 of 873 escort fighters are lost.
• VIII Fighter Command fighter pilots down a record 136 Luftwaffe fighters over Germany between 1210 and 1415 hours.

• 147 8th Bomb Division bombers attack rail bridges at five locations in western Germany.

• 7 15th Air Force B-17s attack an oil refinery and airdrome at Moosbierbaum.

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.

Indian Ocean

The US tanker Fort Lee (10,198t) is torpedoed and sunk by U-181 in the middle of the Indian Ocean losing 10 of the 26-man Armed Guard. Survivors are rescued by 3 different vessels over the next 2 weeks.

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.

Pacific

• The US submarine Barbero (SS-317) sinks the Japanese army cargo ship Kuramazan Maru (1995t) in Makassar Strait.
• The US submarine Pomfret (SS-391) attacks a Japanese convoy between Formosa and Luzon and sinks the transport Hamburg Maru (5271t) and damages the transport Atlas Maru (7347t) in Luzon Channel.
• The British submarine Tantalus attacks a Japanese Singapore-to-Manila convoy and sinks the cargo ship Hachijin Maru (1918t) about 225 miles east of Singapore.
• The British submarine Terrapin sinks the Japanese netlayer Kumano Maru (872t) in the Strait of Malacca.

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.

Gen Omar Bradley give Lt-Gen Hodge's 1st Army the task of attack toward Cologne to establish a bridgehead over the Rhine, in accordance with Eisenhower's plan laid out on October 28. 1st Army, in turn, give Maj-Gen Collins's VII Corps the task of making the main attack. However, Hodges requires the Hürtgen Forest to be cleared out to protect the VII Corps flank. The V Corps, commanded by Maj-Gen Leonard T. Gerow, is ordered to clear Hürtgen. The VII Corps offensive is intended to begin on November 5, but poor weather prevents air supprt and the attack is delayed. The battle for Hürtgen begins with an advance by the 28th Infantry Division to capture the town of Schmidt. The division attack stalls before minefields and German fortifications. No gains are made.

Images from November 2, 1944

Men of the 15th Division

Churchill Tanks of 6th Guards Tank Brigade

Invasion of Walcheren Island

41 Royal Marine Commando

US Troops in the Hürtgen Forest

Tanks Supporting the Infantry

US Soldiers in the Hürtgen Forest

US Jeeps Being Towed