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.

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.

Burma-China

On the Chinese Salween front the Chinese 1st Div retakes Lung-ling after heavy fighting. The Chinese 22nd Div, in the north, 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.

Italy

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

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.

Philippines

Units of the US 96th Inf Div of XXIV Corps are held up by the firm Japanese resistance west of Dagami on a hill known as Bloody Ridge, and forced to withdraw. During the night a violent Japanese counterattack is repulsed.

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.

Images from November 3, 1944

A convoy of US Army trucks along a road with the bomb damaged town of Monghidoro, Italy in the background on 3 November 1944

US Convoy in Italy

On November 3 the Poles undertook a new attempt. They tried to cross the Markcanal in 2 places more in eastern direction, between Oosterhout and Terheijden. After a day of heavy fights with many casualties a Baileybridge had been built at the end of the day. More than 30 Poles, 3 Englishmen and a Norwegian airman lost their lives. The march to the North could begin

Success Bridge Ready for Use, 3 November 1944

Battle in the Hürtgen Forest: Act 3 - the All Souls Battle, 3 November 1944

Battle in the Hürtgen Forest

Battle in the Hürtgen Forest: Act 3 - North Eifel, 3 November 1944

Battle in the Hürtgen Forest

Battle in the Hürtgen Forest: Act 3 - All Souls Battle, 3 November 1944

All Souls Battle

Battle in the Hürtgen Forest: Act 3 - All Souls Battle, 3 November 1944

All Souls Battle

Artillery, Burma, 3 November 1944

Boeing B-29 of the 462nd Bomb Group Raid on Rangoon, November 3 1944

B-29 of the 462nd Bomb Group