January 22nd, 1943 (FRIDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: The first North American B-25 'Mitchell' light bombers in the service of the RAF make their operational debut today in an attack on oil refineries in Belgium, flying from Foulsham, Norfolk. (22)
Submarine HMS Varne launched.
GERMANY: Rastenburg: Hitler orders that tank production must take priority over shipbuilding.
U-775 laid down.
U.S.S.R.: The Red Army begins its final attacks at Stalingrad.
The Luftwaffe airbase at Salsk, in the Caucasus, falls.
The Italian Alpini divisions, Julia and "Cuneense" clash with Soviet forces at Novo-Georgievka and Valuiki. (Francesco Dall'Aglio)
NEW GUINEA: Papua is cleared of Japanese troops.
SOLOMON ISLANDS: Since the request on January 12 for tank support to suppress the "Gifu" on Guadalcanal, engineers have been scratching out a road for them. Of 3 tanks inherited from the Marines, now manned by the 25th Div. Reconnaissance Squadron, only one reaches the area in operational condition. Commanded by Capt. Ted Deese the attack begins at 10:30 am. He makes two penetrations destroying 8 pillboxes and breaching a gap of almost 200 yards. This gap allows the 2nd Btn to occupy a new line inside the outer rim of pillboxes.
CANADA: Tug HMCS Glenora laid down Owen Sound, Ontario.
U.S.A.: Submarine USS Archerfish laid down.
ATLANTIC OCEAN: Leutnant zur See Wilhem Deutsch of was lost by washing overboard. (When U-268 was sunk four weeks later only 44 men were killed, instead of the normally reported figure of 45 men)