October 30th, 1942 (FRIDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: USAAF 336th Fighter Squadron transfers to Debden, Essex.
Destroyers HMS Obedient, Racehorse and Wensleydale commissioned.
Destroyer HNLMS Tjerk Hiddes commissioned.
NETHERLANDS: During the day, three RAF Bomber Command Mosquitos bomb two targets with the loss of one aircraft: two bomb Leeuwarden Airfield, 2.2 miles (3,5 kilometers) south of the town, and one bombs the port area at Den Helder .
During the night of 30/31 October, three RAF Bomber Command Wellingtons lay mines in the Frisian Islands without loss.
GERMANY: U-991, U-992 laid down.
EGYPT: Alexandria: The Bletchley Park codebreakers who have been unable to read the U-boat Enigma cipher for almost a year must thank the self-sacrifice of two men who died today retrieving an Enigma machine and its key settings from a sinking submarine. Lieutenant Francis Anthony "Tony" Blair Fasson (b. 1913), Able Seaman Colin Grazier (b. 1920) and a third sailor boarded U-559 (Type VIIC) as she was being scuttled after an attack by destroyers HMS Pakenham (G 06), HMS Petard (G 56) and HMS Hero (H 99), the escort destroyers HMS Dulverton (L 63) and Hurworth (L 28), and an RAF Wellesley Mk. I of No. 47 Squadron based at Shandur, Egypt, 83 nautical miles (153 kilometres) north-northeast of Port Said, Egypt at position 32.30N, 33.00E. They passed their prize to safety, but were unable to escape before the U-boat sank, taking them with her. In total there were seven dead and 38 survivors.
Lt. Francis Anthony Blair Fasson (b.1913) and A/S Colin Grazier (b.1920), both of HMS PETARD, boarded a crippled U-boat and, aware of the danger, recovered valuable documents and instruments until the vessel suddenly sank, taking them both. (George Crosses)
The British Eighth Army renews the assault on the north flank of XXX Corps during the night of 30/31 October. The Australian 9th Division drives north to the sea, then pushes east, trapping a large Axis force. Allied planes provide excellent tactical support, attacking accurately in small area to neutralize Thompson's Post. Most of the pocketed Axis force subsequently succeeds in escaping when tanks from the west break through to assist.
US Army, Middle East Air Force B-25 Mitchells attack landing grounds at Fuka-Bagush and El Daba while P-40s fly escort.
NEW GUINEA: The Australian advance up the Kokoda Track reaches Alola, New Guinea. This is 10 miles from Kokoda. One Brigade will proceed directly up the track, the other will advance more easterly to Oivi.
NEW CALEDONIA: A "Glen" seaplane (Yokosuka E14Y1, Navy Type 0 Small Reconnaissance Seaplane) is launched from Japanese submarine HIJMS I-9 and reconnoiters Nouméa, New Caledonia Island.
SOLOMON ISLANDS: USMC F4F Wildcats from Guadalcanal make a dawn attack on the Rekata Bay Seaplane Base on Santa Isabella Island. The Marine pilots shoot down three "Rufe" seaplane fighters (Nakajima A6M2-N, Navy Type 2 Fighter Seaplanes) and two "Pete" biplanes (Mitsubishi F1M2, Navy Type 0 Observation Seaplane) at 0515 hours.
USAAF Fifth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses bomb the harbor and shipping at Buin on southern Bougainville Island.
USN Task Group 64.2 (Rear Admiral Norman Scott), comprising light cruiser USS Atlanta (CL-51) and four destroyers, bombards Japanese positions at Point Cruz, Guadalcanal.
PACIFIC OCEAN: US cruisers and destroyers shell Japanese positions on Santa Cruz Island.
The Japanese fleet is reported to have withdrawn from the Solomons.
ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: A USAAF Eleventh Air Force B-24 Liberator twice flies reconnaissance over Agattu and Japanese-held Kiska Islands; there are no bombing mission as all bombers are on alert for possible naval targets.
CANADA: Corvettes HMCS Regina, Moose Jaw and Algoma departed St John's as UK convoy escort and eventual Operation Torch Duty.
U.S.A.: Submarine USS Flier laid down.
Destroyer USS Cony commissioned.
Submarine USS Hake commissioned.
ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-520 (Type IXC) is sunk east of Newfoundland, at position 47.47N, 49.50W, by depth charges from a Canadian Digby aircraft (RCAF Sqdn 10/742). 53 dead (all crew lost).
U-658 (Type VIIC) is sunk east of Newfoundland, at position 50.32N, 46.32W, by depth charges from a Canadian Hudson aircraft (RCAF Sqdn. 145/Y). 48 dead (all crew lost). (Alex Gordon)
U-659 sank SS Bullmouth and damaged SS Tasmania and Corinaldo in Convoy SL-125.
U-129 sank SS West Kabar.
U-203 sank SS Corinaldo in Convoy SL-125.
U-409 dank SS Silverwillow and damaged SS Bullmouth in Convoy SL-125
U-509 sank SS Brittany in Convoy SL-125
German submarine U-604 torpedoes and sinks the 11,898 ton troopship, SS Président Doumer, an ex-French passenger liner now a Ministry of War Transport, about 151 nautical miles (280 kilometers) north of Portugal’s Madeira Islands, in position 35.08N, 16.44W; 260 people aboard are lost. The ship is sailing in Convoy SL-125 from Freetown, Sierra Leone, to the U.K.
U-604 also sinks the SS Baron Vernon in convoy SL-125.
Destroyer HMCS Columbia attacked by U-522 Kptlt Schneider, CO. Torpedo missed.