Air Operations, Europe

• There are massive 8th Air Force raids on the Leuna oil plant and the Bingen marshalling yards.
• A V-2 hits a crowded Woolworth department store in Deptford, East London, killing 160(164?) people.

• 68 Mosquitos are sent to Nuremberg, 10 to Hagen and 9 each to Erfurt and Stuttgart, and there are 38 Mosquito patrols and 36 RCM sorties.
• 1 Mosquito is lost on the Nuremberg raid.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-1228 sinks the Canadian corvette Shawinigan in the Cabot Strait while she is on independent anti-submarine patrol. All 91 on board are lost.

Britain, Command

Alexander is promoted to Field Marshal.

Burma

Gen Hyotaro Kimura, commander of the Japanese armed forces in Burma, orders the units that have been pinning down the British 36th Div in the Pinwe area, along the Myitkyina-Mandalay railway, to withdraw towards central Burma.

China

Nanning in Kwangsi province is captured by the Japanese.

Eastern Front

The Germans and Hungarians repel Russian attempts to take Csepel Island, an island between two branches of the Danube just south of Budapest.

Italy

The 8th Army crosses the Cosina River.

Pacific

• The US torpedo boat PT-363 is sunk by coastal gunfire in the Netherlands East Indies.
• West of Borneo the US submarine Cavalla (SS-244) sinks the Japanese destroyer Shimotsuki.
• The Japanese coast defense vessel No. 38 is sunk by the US submarine Hardhead (SS-365) west of Luzon in the Philippine Islands area.
• The US submarine Atule (SS-403) sinks the Japanese patrol boat No. 38 in the Luzon strait, Philippine Islands.

Philippines

On Leyte in the US X Corps sector north of Ormoc, the Japanese renew their counterattacks on Kilay Ridge. They also counterattack east of Ormoc, in the central mountains, in the US XXIV Corps sector. The American troops contain their thrust. The US 511th Parachute Regt starts on a difficult mountain march west from Burauen, toward Ormoc; their immediate objective is Mahonag, 10 miles from Burauen.

2 squadrons of aircraft carriers TG 38.2 commanded by Rear-Adm Gerald S. Bogan and TG 38.3 commanded by Rear-Adm Frederick Sherman again attack Luzon and the waters nearby. 7 American cruisers are involved and they sink the cruisers Kumano and Yasoshima. Two Japanese transports are also sunk in the attacks, Nos. 6 and 10. In return kamikaze attacks damage 4 of the carriers, the Essex (CV-9), the Hancock (CV-19), the Intrepid (CV-11) and the Cabot (CVL-28).

After the naval defeat suffered in the Gulf of Leyte, it seems that the task of completing Operation SHO-GOo has been taken over by the Japanese air force in the absence of the navy. Every aircraft still available is sent against the Americans; many of them are flown by kamikaze in daytime attacks on the US ships off Luzon. Damage is caused to the aircraft carriers Essex, Intrepid and Hancock and the light carrier Cabot. Another light carrier, the Independence (CVL-22), is damaged when an American aircraft explodes as it is coming in to land.

V-Weapons

A V-2 rocket hits a Woolworth's store in New Cross, London killing 160 lunchtime shoppers.

Western Front

To the southeast of Aachen US forces from 1st Army advance beyond Hurtgen.

Images from November 25, 1944

The US Navy aircraft carrier USS Essex (CV-9) about to be hit by a Japanese Yokosuka D4Y 'Judy' aircraft during Kamikaze attacks off Luzon, 25 November 1944. The plane, afire from anti-aircraft gun hits, struck near the carrier's forward elevator. Note the Cleveland-class light cruiser in the left distance

US Carrier Hit by Kamikaze

USS Essex Hit by Kamikaze

A scene of devastation following a V-2 rocket attack, somewhere in the south of England. In the foreground, a casualty is being carried away on a stretcher, whilst in the background, Civil Defence workers continue to search through debris and rubble, checking for any other survivors. The remains of a building can also be seen. According to the original caption, the rocket fell here 'about two hours ago'.

V-2 Rocket Damage

German Photograph of a V-2 Rocket in the Initial Stage of Its Flight

Escort ship Yasoshima (ex-Chinese cruiser Ping Hai) under attack by Task Force 38 aircraft, 25 November 1944.

Japanese Ship Under Attack

Gunners aboard USS New Jersey (BB 62) watch flames rising from the USS Intrepid (CV 11), struck by a kamikaze off Northern Luzon, P.I., 25 November 1944.

US Carrier Intrepid Hit by Kamikaze

Dutch Boys Helping British Troops Cleaning an AEC Matador Lorry, 25 november 1944

Troops from the 1st Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment man trenches in the front line in Holland, 25 November 1944.

South Lancashire Regiment in Holland

British supply trucks crossing a Bailey bridge over the Maas in full flood at Maeseyk in Holland, 25 November 1944

Crossing a Bailey Bridge

A Japanese kamikaze pilot in a damaged single-engine bomber, moments before striking the U.S. Aircraft Carrier USS Essex, off the Philippine Islands, on November 25, 1944. (U.S. Navy)

Japanese Kamikaze Pilot Moments before Striking the Essex

A closer view of the Japanese kamikaze aircraft, smoking from antiaircraft hits and veering slightly to left moments before slamming into the USS Essex on November 25, 1944. (U.S. Navy))

Closer View of the Japanese Kamikaze

80-G-421139: USS Intrepid (CV 11), burns furiously after being hit by two Japanese planes off Luzon, Philippines, 25 November 1944. Image taken by USS Iowa (BB 61).

USS Intrepid Burns Furiously