Air Operations, Bonin Islands

14 30th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack shipping at Chichi Jima and Haha Jima.

Air Operations, Carolines

494th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s based at Angaur mount their unit’s first attacks of the war against bypassed Japanese bases in the Yap Atoll and on Koror Island in the Palaus.

Air Operations, CBI

• 44 58th Very Heavy Bomb Wing B-29s based near Calcutta, India, attack rail facilities at Malagon. Approximately 45 B-29s attack alternate targets.
• 14 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s and 14 RAF Liberators attack rail facilities in Rangoon.
• 12 10th Air Force B-25s and 18 P-47s attack the airfield at Nawnghkio.
• More than 90 10th Air Force fighter-bombers attack bridges, Japanese Army ground forces, occupied towns, and targets of opportunity.
• 14th Air Force fighter-bombers attack a rail bridge near Lashio.

• Nearly 70 14th Air Force fighter-bombers attack numerous targets on the Burma Road front and across southeastern China.
• A 234d Fighter Group P-51 downs 2 A6M Zeros over Amoy harbor at 1430 hours.
• The Chinese Army’s Y Force captures Lungling on the Burma Road, thanks in large part to support from the 14th Air Force.

• 51st Fighter Group fighter-bombers attack rail lines at Hongay.

Air Operations, East Indies

During the night, FEAF aircraft mount harrassment strikes against Japanese airfields on Halmahera and northeastern Celebes.

Air Operations, Europe

• 1 Wellington flies an uneventful RCM sortie.

• 55 Mosquitos are sent to Berlin, and 9 to Herford, only 3 of which reach the target.
• There are no losses.

• More than 140 9th Bomb Division B-26s and A-20s attack rail bridges at four locations and a railway overpass.

• Fewer than 50 unescorted 15th Air Force B-17s and B-24s brave extremely bad weather conditions to mount individual attacks against an aircraft factory ant Klagenfurt, an oil refinery at Moosbierbaum, and ordnance depot near Vienna, the cities of Graz and Innsbruch, a rail line near Graz, and a marshalling yard at Munich, Germany.

Air Operations, Marianas

• A 6th Night Fighter Squadron P-61 crew downs a G4M 'Betty' bomber near Saipan at 0135 hours.
• A 318th Fighter Group P-47 downs a P1Y 'Galaxy' bomber over Pagan Island at 0545 hours.

Air Operations, Philippines

• V Bomber Command B-25s attack the Alicante airfield on Negros.
• V Fighter Command P-40s attack a fuel dump and Japanese Army reinforcements near Ormoc, Leyte.
• 15 49th Fighter Group strafes a motor-vehicle convoy between Ormoc and Valencia.
• 18th Fighter Group P-38s down 4 Ki-43 'Oscar' fighters over the Alicante and Bacoclod airfields between noon and 1245 hours.
• During the night, FEAF aircraft mount harrassment strikes against Japanese airfields in the central Philippines.

CBI

On the Chinese Salween front, the Chinese 1st Division retakes Lung-ling after heavy fighting.

In the NCAC area, the Chinese 22nd Division reaches the Irrawaddy near Schwegu.

Eastern Front

The slow retreat of the formations of the German Army Group E in the Balkans continues. The Red Army's southern fronts continue their pressure in Hungary, and in the northern sector the German Army Group North is still cut off in northern Latvia and the island of Saaremaa, and on smaller islands in the Gulf of Riga.

The 46th Army enters the outer defenses around Budapest, having broken through the positions of the 22nd SS Cavalry Division, near Soroksar. Soviet troops are now just 4 miles from the city. Elements of the 8th SS Cavalry Divsion and 12th Hungarian Division counterattack but fail to push the Soviets back.

Germany, Planning

Senior German generals are briefed on a plan for a winter offensive against the British and Americans. This is a product of Hitler's personal inspiration and is intended initially to break through the lightly defended Ardennes Forest area and reach the Meuse near Liège and Namur, where the logistics support area for the 12th Army Group is located. From there, German forces will push to Antwerp, splitting British and American forces and occupying the major supply port of the Allies. Three German armies are allocted for this offensive. The attack is intended to advantage of the bad weather and heavy forest cover to minimize exposure to Allied aircraft. Hitler's generals oppose the plan as far beyond the current capabilities of the forces and seek more reasonable and limited objectives. Hitler dreams of the heady days of 1940, believing he can recreate the master stroke that gave the German army a rapid victory over France and Britain.

Italy

Lt-Gen Sir Richard McCreery replaces Lt-Gen Sir Oliver Leese as commander of the British 8th Army.

In the V Corps area, a local attack by the 4th Division brings such sharp enemy reaction that it is decided to attack in strength when weather conditions improve. Positions across the Ronco are gradually strengthened during the next few days in preparation for renewing the offensive.

Marianas

Japanese aircraft begin a series of raids on the US bases on Saipan and Tinian, where the heavy bombers that attack Japan are based.

Pacific

• The US light cruiser Reno (CL-96) is damaged by a submarine torpedo in the Leyte area of the Philippine Islands.
• The Japanese destroyer Akikaze is sunk by the US submarine Pintado (SS-387) in the South China Sea.
• The US submarine Gurnard (SS-254) attacks a Japanese convoy in the South China Sea and sinks the merchant cargo ship Taimei Maru (6923t) about 275 miles west of Labuan, Borneo.

Philippines

Japanese reinforcements moving up the Ormoc Valley are hit with good effect by aircraft.

The US 6th Army issues orders for the final phase of the Leyte operation, a converging drive on Ormoc by the X and XXIV Corps. The Ormoc Calley is to be cleared of Japanese forces by a double envelopment. The X Corps moves south into the valley along Highway 2. The XXIV Corps attacks north into the valley from Baybay to Ormoc City, then advances another 12 miles to link with X Corps.

In the X Corps area, the 34th Infantry of the 24th Division takes Capoocan with ease and continues toward Pinamopoan until held up by an enemy strongpoint.

In the XXIV Corps area, the 1st Battalion of the 382nd Infantry, 96th Division, attacks west of the Dagami toward a ridge, later called Bloody Ridge, moving through a rice paddy, but is so heavily opposed that it withdraws after nightfall. One 2nd Battalion column advances to Patok and another moves up to reinforce the 1st Battalion. The 1st Battalion withstands a strong counterattack during the night.

United States, Command

Adm Nimitz announces that Rear-Adm Walden L. Ainsworth is now Commander, Cruisers, and Commander, Destroyers, Pacific Fleet. As a veteran of every major naval action in the south Pacific area since December 1942, Ainsworth replaces Rear-Adm James L. Kauffman.

Western Front

The fighting at Breskens in Holland comes to an end. The long battle has cost the Canadians 2,077 men (314 killed, the rest missing and wounded), while some 12,500 Germans have been taken prisoner. Over the river at Walcheren the battle is still very fierce but the British and Canadian assault forces manage to advance a little more. The 104th Div extends its bridgehead, while the Polish 1st Div establishes a bridgehead near Zevenbergen on the right flank of the II Corps and the Canadian 4th Arm Div improves its positions in the same sector.

In the 1st Arny area the 112th Infantry Regiment of the 28th Infantry Division captures Schmidt in the Hürtgen Forest.[WE]

Images from November 3, 1944

US Convoy in Italy

Success Bridge Ready for Use

Battle in the Hürtgen Forest

Battle in the Hürtgen Forest

All Souls Battle

All Souls Battle

Artillery Action in Burma

B-29 of the 462nd Bomb Group