October 30th, 1941 (THURSDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: No. 607 Squadron RAF goes into action with the Hawker Hurricane fighter-bomber known as the Hurribomber. They will take over the 'Channel Stop' anti-shipping operations from No. 2 Group. (22)
Submarine HMS Tireless laid down.
GERMANY:
U-602 launched.
U-640 laid down.
NORWAY: RAF Hudson bombers have struck a body blow at the German Navy's supply system in the northern seas. A raid on the Norwegian port of Aalesund is thought to have left six supply ships irreparably damaged. The Hudsons flew through driving snow over the North Sea to find a target lit by moonlight. One pilot described how he hit his target from 30 feet before flying across the town at rooftop height, firing machine guns. He then put incendiary bombs through a factory roof. Norwegians resent occupation more than the raids.
U.S.S.R.: The German advance on Moscow halts. Until winter fully sets in, the soft muddy ground will not allow them sufficient mobility to continue.
German Army Group Center reports heavy fighting in the Volkolamsk, Mozhaisk and Kaluga areas. Although successful in these battles, the Germans call a temporary halt in their advance on Moscow as Soviet counter attacks, depleted supply levels, and the worsening weather conditions make attack difficult.
Elements of the German 11th Army close on Sevastopol, beginning a siege, which would last for nine months.
CANADA: Douglas DC-3-277B, msn 2207, registered NC25663 by the U.S. airline American Airlines, crashes near St. Thomas, Ontario, at 2210 hours local. This is American Flight 1 from New York City to Detroit, Michigan via Buffalo, New York and Chicago, Illinois, carrying 17 passengers and three crew; all 20 aboard are killed. The aircraft circled a wooded area three or four times looking for a landing spot before stalling and diving into a plowed field. The cause of the crash is never determined.
Minesweeper HMCS Drummondville commissioned.
Minesweeper HMCS Thunder arrived Halifax from builder Toronto, Ontario.
U.S.A.: President Franklin D. Roosevelt sends a letter to Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin offering the Soviets US$1 billion (US$12.8 billion in year 2004 dollars) credit without interest payments, the return to begin five years after the war's end and to be completed in a ten-year period.
Douglas DC-3A-269, msn 2124, registered NC21712 by the U.S. airline Northwest Orient Airlines, crashes in fog and mist near Moorehead, Minnesota, at 0204 hours local. This is Northwest Flight 5 en route from Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Fargo, North Dakota, carrying 13 passengers and a crew of two; the pilot, Clarence Bates, is thrown clear of the wreckage and is the lone survivor. The accident report states that the aircraft crashed due to accumulation of ice on the wings and other surfaces of the airplane, increasing the stalling speed and the drag of the airplane on the power required to maintain flight. The action of the captain in descending to attempt a landing at Fargo with known icing conditions and critical ceiling conditions instead of proceeding to an available alternate is to blame.
Destroyer USS Abner Read laid down.
Minesweeper USS Pioneer laid down.
Destroyer USS Laffey launched.
ATLANTIC OCEAN: At 0712 hours GMT, USN oiler USS Salinas (AO-19), in convoy ON-28 (U.K. to North America), is struck by two torpedoes fired by German submarine U-106 about 607 nautical miles (1 125 kilometers) east of St. John's, Newfoundland in position 46.56N, 37.46W. The first torpedo strikes portside at her number 9 tank; a second torpedo follows hitting the ship portside at tanks 2 and 3. At 0730 hours GMT, a surfaced submarine fires three torpedoes at the oiler but all miss. Only one of Salinas's crew is injured. Task Unit 4.1.6, screening ON-28, attacks sound contacts; destroyer USS Bernadou (DD-153) carries out five depth charge attacks and fires at what is most likely U-67, forcing her to submerge; USS DuPont (DD-152) carries out three depth charge attacks; USS MacLeish (DD-220) and Sampson (DD-394) one apiece. USS Lea (DD-118) escorts Salinas (which will reach St. John's under her own power); they will be joined en route by Coast Guard cutter USCGC Campbell (65) and tug USS Cherokee (AT-66).
U-81 was attacked and severely damaged by the Catalina aircraft Z from 209 RAF Sqn.