October 29th, 1941 (WEDNESDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: Minesweeper HMS Stratford launched.
GERMANY:
U-822 launched.
U-355 commissioned.
U.S.S.R.: The line west of Moscow receives a division from Siberia, the first of these reserve divisions.
COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: Colonel H. George, A-4 (supply) under Major General Lewis H. Brereton, submits a request to Hugh Casey ( MacArthur"> MacArthur's engineer) to devise plans as soon as possible for the construction of housing for 339 officers and 2,743 enlisted men at Del Monte airfield, Mindanao.
CANADA: Minesweeper HMCS Stratford laid down Toronto, Ontario.
UNITED STATES: The Japanese ambassador in Washington, D.C., WAKASUGI Kaname, sends the following message to the Foreign Office in Tokyo: "U. S.-Japanese relations are now fast approaching a critical crossroad. In view of the fact that the times are indeed grave, I am waiving formality and, though it may seem very presumptuous of me, am reporting to you my views on the general attitude of the United States after coming in contact with its representatives on several occasions." The last paragraph of the message is, "The United States has expressed its interest in continuing with the talks after she has been advised of the attitude and policy of the newly formed Cabinet of Japan. I urge, therefore, that the new Cabinet establish its basic policy as speedily as possible, so that we may lay our cards on the table for them to see. I sincerely believe that would be to our best interests."
The Intelligence Branch of the War Department issues a memorandum based on "information received from the Orient" stating: "Mr. HIROTA, a presiding officer at directors' meeting of the Black Dragon Society, told of an order issued by War Minister TOJO (now premier) "to complete full preparation to meet any emergency with United States in the Pacific. All guns to be mounted in the islands of the Pacific under Japanese mandate. The full preparation to be completed in November." HIROTA and others are said to have stated: "War with United States would best begin in December or in February." "Very soon," they say, "the Cabinet will be changed. The new Cabinet would likely start war within sixty days."
USN Patrol Squadron Eighty Two (VP-82) receives the first of a planned full complement of Lockheed PBO-1 Hudsons at NAS Norfolk, Virginia. Assignment of these aircraft, actually destined for the British and painted with British markings, is the beginning of what becomes an extensive use of land planes by patrol squadrons during the war and, although it is not yet apparent, is the first move toward the eventual elimination of the flying boat from patrol aviation.
ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-577 was attacked by a Blenheim bomber in the North Atlantic, suffering slight damage.
USN Task Unit 4.1.3 escorts convoy HX 156 (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, to U.K.); destroyer USS Hilary P. Jones (DD-427) carries out a depth charge attack on a suspicious contact. TU 4.1.6 screens convoy ON 28 (U.K. to North America). During the day, destroyers USS Lea (DD-118), DuPont (DD-152), MacLeish (DD-220), and Sampson (DD-394) depth charge suspected U-boat contacts.