October 7th, 1942 (WEDNESDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: Escort carrier HMS Emperor launched.
GERMANY: U-272 and U-469 are commissioned.
U.S.S.R.: The Tractor Factory at Stalingrad is the scene of fierce fighting.
CRETE: US Army, Middle East Air Force B-24s score 7 direct hits on a tanker and 8 on fuel installations at Suda Bay. In Egypt, 66 P-40s escort bombers over the battle area west of El Alamein.
EGYPT: Sixty six US Army, Middle East Air Force P-40s escort bombers over the battle area west of El Alamein.
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA: The British destroyer HMS ACTIVE sinks U-179 off Cape Town.
NEW GUINEA: In Papua New Guinea, the last of the Australian 21st Brigade’s 2/27th Battalion reaches Port Moresby from the Kokoda Track. Meanwhile, the U.S. 32d Infantry Division force (a platoon of Company E, 126th Infantry Regiment; the anti-tank and Cannon Companies; and native carriers) under Captain Alfred Medendorp begins the difficult march from Kalikodobu, 40 miles (64 kilometers) southeast of Port Moresby, toward Jaure. The force is dependent upon airdrops for most of its supplies.
SOLOMON ISLANDS: The 3rd Battalion 5th Marines advance west from the Lunga Perimeter on Guadalcanal. They meet the Japanese defenders on the east bank of the Matanikau River. Marine reinforcements arrive during the day and push the Japanese back against the river bank. Japanese commanders remain unaware, all day, of the actual situation and issue orders which are unrealistic.
The 1st Marine Division, with air and artillery support, opens an offensive to extend the perimeter westward beyond artillery range of Henderson Field, moving three columns forward toward the Matanikau River, the line of departure, from the Kukum area. While the 5th Marine Regiment (less a battalion) moves along the coast to conduct a holding action at the Matanikau River mouth, the 7th Marine Regiment (less a battalion), followed by the Whaling Group (3d Battalion of the 2d Marine Regiment and the division scout-sniper detachment under Colonel William J. Whaling), advances southwest with the mission of crossing the river and enveloping Point Cruz. The 5th Marine Regiment column soon meets opposition and drives the Japanese back almost to the Matanikau River mouth. The other two columns reach Hill 65, overlooking the Matanikau River, with little difficulty and halt for the night. After nightfall, attack preparations are simulated at the river mouth and the 5th Marine Regiment is reinforced by a company of the 1st Raider Battalion.
TERRITORY OF ALASKA: ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: 3 Eleventh Air Force B-24 Liberators taking off to bomb Kiska Island and patrol Near Island abort mission due to mechanical failure and instead fly reconnaissance over Agattu, Attu, and Semichi Islands with negative results.
U.S.A.: The British and US
governments announce a United Nations Commission to investigate Axis war crimes.
It will be a condition of any armistice that accused war criminals will be
handed over for prosecution.
Washington: Roosevelt says
that a commission will be set up after the war to judge those guilty of
atrocities and mass murder.
Submarine USS Tinosa is launched.
Big Band leader Alton Glenn Miller reports for induction into the US Army. He is immediately assigned to the Army Specialist Corps.
ATLANTIC OCEAN: Stormy weather in
the North Atlantic made life difficult for those at sea. On
U-507 one crewmember crushed
his hand quite seriously. Some 1,000 miles to the north, one of the lookouts on
U-621 broke his arm
U-507 crewmember died after
illness at sea. [Obersteuermann Kurt Warkentin]
U-107 sank
SS Andalucia Star.
U-159 sank SS Boringia.
U-172 sank SS Chickasaw City.
U-172 sank SS Firethorn.
U-202 damaged SS John Carter
Rose.