UNITED KINGDOM: Corvette HMCS Hespeler (ex-HMS Guildford Castle) launched Leith, Scotland.
Frigates HMS Cranstoun and Brathwaite commissioned.
Minesweepers HMS Combatant and Chance commissioned.
Frigate HMS Thornborough launched.
Submarine HMS Vampire commissioned.
(Dave Shirlaw)
VICHY FRANCE: The Nazis stop Marshal Petain broadcasting to the nation. Unable to act as premier he goes on strike.
GERMANY:
U.S.S.R.: Having captured Zhitomir, the Soviets begin moving north toward Korosten.
ITALY: While the British 8th Army continues its advance, capturing Atessa; General Clark advises Alexander that the US 5th Army's attacks should be halted.
GREECE: Aegean:
Destroyer
HMS Dulverton is in the Aegean north of Rhodes looking for landing forces when
she is hit by an Hs.293 glider bomb and sinks within two hours. There are 109
survivors. Same location as Rockwood entry above. (Alex Gordon)(108)
MANCHURIA: Mukden: A Red Cross
official is allowed by the Japanese to make the first visit to the PoW camp. He
meets only with Major Robert Peaty (British army) and the senior American
officer, Major Stanley H. Hankins. Major Peaty notes that the question and
answer session is "very limited". (151)(Linda
Goetz Holmes)
US B-17s strike Tarawa in the first attack in preparation for the upcoming invasion.
SOLOMON ISLANDS:
Torokina :The remainder of the US 37th Division and 21st Marines
lands on Bougainville.
There is continued Allied concern at the failure of Marine engineers to
establish a fighter airstrip at Torokina. The knee-deep swamp conditions are to
blame for the lack of progress and the snail's pace Allied advance.
Offshore the light cruiser USS
Denver takes a torpedo for damage.
At 0430 hours local, VMF(N)-531 scored its first victory when a the crew of PV-1 number 54 shot down a , Navy Type 1 Attack Bomber (Allied Code Name "Betty") about 50 miles (80.5 km) southwest of Torokina Point on Bougainville Island.
The standard procedure for intercepts was that the pilot had to fly within 150 to 700 feet (46 to 210 meters) to visually identify the unknown aircraft ("bogey") before opening fire; this prevented the accidental shooting down of a friendly aircraft with a malfunctioning IFF system.
This Marine Squadron was commissioned November 16, 1942 and this is the first Marine night fighter squadron in action. (Jack McKillop)
CANADA: Frigate HMCS Matane arrived Halifax from builder Montreal, Province of Quebec. (Dave Shirlaw)
U.S.A.:
Destroyer escort USS Forster launched.
Frigate USS Carson City launched.
Destroyer escort USS Pride commissioned. (Dave Shirlaw)
ATLANTIC OCEAN: The milkcow U-488 took on two ill crewmembers from U-193 and U-530. (Dave Shirlaw)