1 December 1944

UNITED KINGDOM: Shakespeare is stirring patriotic spirits - and attracting cinema queues - in London's West End, thanks to Lawrence Olivier's rousing version of Henry V which has just opened. Olivier has produced and directed the film as well as starring in it; at £475,000 it is the costliest British picture yet.

"In overbright Technicolor and half an hour too long, at its worst it is vulgar and obscure," said the News Chronicle. The People called it the "most ambitious, difficult, annoying, boring, beautiful, exciting, baffling picture yet made." C A Lejeune told the Observer's readers that the French cavalry charge to William Walton's music is "the most exciting sequence I can remember". The parallel between Agincourt in 1415 and Europe in 1944 is not lost on audiences.

The USAAF Eighth Air Force flies Mission 733: seven B-17 Flying Fortresses and seven B-24 Liberators drop leaflet in the Netherlands, France and Germany during the night.

FRANCE: In the U.S. Third Army's XX Corps area, Task Force Fickett, consisting of the 6th Cavalry Group (Mechanized) and the 5th Ranger Battalion, assembles near St Avoid to screen the southern flank of the corps, relieving Task Force Bell, components of which revert to 5th Infantry Division. The 5th Infantry Division, still containing forts in the Metz area, is assigned a narrow front to the right of the 95th Infantry Division in preparation for a drive to the Sarre across the Warndt salient. The 6th Cavalry Task Force is to protect the right of the 5th Infantry Division. In the XII Corps area, Combat Command B of the 4th Armored Division and the 101st Infantry Regiment of the 26th Infantry Division open a co-ordinated drive on Sarre-Union against lively opposition: the 3d Battalion of the 101st Infantry Regiment clears Sarre-Union but, since it cannot take the hill north of the town, pulls back for the night; 1st Battalion clears the Bannholtz woods; Combat Command B secures Hill 318, north of Mackwilier. The 80th and 35th Infantry Divisions and 6th Armored Division are ordered to make a limited attack on 4 December to straighten the left and centre of corps line.

In the U.S. Seventh Army's XV Corps area, the 44th Infantry Division is meeting strong resistance in the vicinity of Tieffenbach. The 45th Infantry Division is likewise opposed in the Zinswiller-Meitesheim area. The 79th Infantry Division, reinforced by 94th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron of the 14th Armored Division, clears Schweighausen. In the VI Corps area, the French 2d Armored Division continues southward along the Rhine River. The 103d and 36th Infantry Divisions are converging on SC)lestat.

In the U.S. Ninth Army's XIII Corps area, Linnich falls to the 406th Infantry Regiment, 102d Infantry Division; the 405th Infantry Regiment gains the objective heights along the Lindern-Linnich highway by a double envelopment. In the XIX Corps area, the 116th Infantry Regiment of the 29th Infantry Division begins an attack to reduce the two enemy positions the west of the Roer River opposite Juelich--one a group of buildings called Hasenfeld Gut and the other the Juelich sportplatz, an athletic field; both are protected by German fire from the commanding ground east of the Roer River and accessible only through open terrain; the assault forces are soon pinned down by German fire.

In the U.S. First Army's VII Corps area, the weather is clear and the USAAF IX Tactical Air Command supports attacks of the 104th and 1st Infantry Divisions with fighter bombers. The 104th Infantry Division's house to house fighting in Inden continues. The 1st Infantry Division makes gains in the forest south of Jungersdorf, but is unable to relieve the two 26th Infantry Regiment companies isolated in Merode. The 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, still trying in vain to get out of the Huertgen Forest, has gained less than 1,000 yards (914 meters) during three days of hard fighting; the 22d Infantry Regiment, committing its reserves, finally emerges to establish a thin line along the woods overlooking Gey. Lieutenant General Joseph Collins, Commanding General VII Corps, orders the attack halted. Since 16 November, the 4th Infantry Division has made a maximum gain of a little more than 3 miles (4,8 kilometres) at exceedingly high cost. In the V Corps area, elements of 28th and 121st Infantry Regiments of the 8th Infantry Division have cleared a portion of Tiefen Creek bottom land on the right flank and of Britishandenberger Wald on the left flank, to provide a measure of safety for an armoured drive along the Kleinhau-Britishandenberg highway, which follows ridge line. (Robert Rush)

In the U.S. Third Army area, XX Corps continues to clear German positions west of the Saar River in preparation for an assault across the river. The 10th Armored Division is overcoming relatively weak opposition in the Merzig sector. The 9oth Infantry Division is rapidly cleaning out its sector south of Merzig. Air preparation precedes the 95th Infantry Divisions attempt to reach arid cross the Saar: medium bombers attack Saarlautern, Ensdorf, and Fraulautern; fighter bombers interdict movement east of the river. Resistance continues stiff, however, as the 95th Infantry Division attacks, making its main effort with the fresh 379th Infantry Regiment: the 377th takes Felsberg and begins clearing Ste Barbara; the 378th gains a hill near Berus but is unable to reach Bisten; the 379th attacks through 377th toward Saarlautern.

One hundred thirty four USAAF Ninth Air Force B-26 Marauders and A-20 Havocs strike defended areas at Fraulautern, Ensdorf, and Saarlautern. Fighters fly sweeps, armed reconnaissance, and bombing missions over western Germany and support US VII Corps elements at Inden and the Huertgen Forest and the 8th Infantry Division of the V Corps at Tieffenbach Creek and Brandenberger Forest.

During the night of 1 /2 December, RAF Bomber Command dispatches 81 Mosquitos to bomb three targets: 69 bombed Karlsruhe, six hit the Hermann Göring steel works at Hallendorf and four attack a coking plant at Hamborn.

The first division of the Russian Liberation Army is formed. It is comprised of Soviet Prisoners of War and will serve with the German army. The division is under the command of General Sergei Buniachenko and the army is under the overall command of General Andrei Vlasov.

CZECHOSLOVAKIA: Soviet troops cross to the west bank of the Ondava River in the vicinity of Humenne and Trebisov.

HUNGARY: South of Budapest the Russian 57th Army continues to advance. The 4th Ukraine Front attacks positions held by the German 1st Panzer Army, northeast of Budapest.

ITALY: In the U.S. Fifth Army area, the British XIII Corps alters their plan of attack because of German withdrawals. The first phase calls for the capture of Mt. Penzola by the 6th Armoured Division.

The British Eighth Army continues preparation for an offensive on 3 December. In the V Corps area, the Indian 10th Division secures the Casa Bettini bridge over the Montone River and is relieved on the right flank by the Canadian I Corps troops. The Canadian I Corps moves assault forces across the Montone River via a bridge at Casa Bettini.

USAAF Twelfth Air Force B-25 Mitchells attack four railroad ridges in the western Po Valley, damaging the bridges at Voghera and Torre Beretti. The XXII Tactical Air Command hits motor transport and train cars at several points in northern Italy and hits rail lines over a widespread area north of the Apennines Mountains, including the Brenner Pass where lines are cut at three points.

During the night of 1/2 December, USAAF Twelfth Air Force A-20 Havocs hit Ghedi Airfield and targets of opportunity in the north central Po Valley and trains on the Brenner line.

CHINA: Major General Albert Wedemeyer, Commanding General U.S. China Theater of Operations and Chief of Staff to Chinese Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek directs Major General Claire Chennault, Commanding General USAAF Fourteenth Air Force, to make the main effort of the Fourteenth Air Force in defense of the air line to China and Service of Supply; in addition to providing logistical support of U.S. military activities, to support certain Chinese forces in the China Theater.

USAAF Fourteenth Air Force fighter-bombers hit trucks, locomotives, and villages in the Chefang area and at Kunlong.

BURMA: Major General George Stratemeyer, Commanding General Army Air Forces, China Theater and Commanding General Eastern Air Command (EAC), issues a general order, effective December, reorganizing EAC.

On the Northern Combat Area Command front, the Chinese 30th Division, with the 90th Regiment in the lead, is moving southward from the Bhamo area toward Namhkam over rough terrain.

Over 30 USAAF Tenth Air Force P-47 Thunderbolts continue support for ground forces in the Bhamo area; town areas. Troops, warehouses, and supply dumps at Myitson, Mingon, Alezeik, Lenaung, and Old Lashioare are attacked by 30+ P-47 Thunderbolts while 17 more hit bridges in northern Burma and eight strafe the Hsenwi landing ground.

Eight USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells destroy three storage buildings and damage six others at Wanling; nine fighter-bombers hit troop positions in the area and destroy or damage several trucks. Several other fighter-bombers hit targets between Lashio and Hsenwi.

COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: On Leyte, the Japanese food supply is exhausted by this time. In the U.S. Sixth Army's X Corps area, after preparatory fire, Company E, 128th Infantry Regiment, 32d Infantry Division, attacks through Company C of the 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, to clear the knolls on the south-eastern end of Kilay Ridge, taking the first. The 1st Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, is ordered to withdraw from the ridge but is unable to do so for several days. The 112th Cavalry Regiment (Special) attempts in vain to clear the ridge southeast of Limon. In the XXIV Corps area, a warning order for an assault on Ormoc is issued.

Major USAAF Far East Air Forces strikes in the Philippine Islands include B-24 Liberator raids on Bacalod Airstrip and Fabrica Aerodrome on Negros Island; a B-25 Mitchell attack, with P-47 Thunderbolt support, on Lahug Airfield on Cebu Island; and B-25 Mitchells attack Cagayan Airfield on Mindanao Island. Other FEAF aircraft maintain armed reconnaissance and sweeps over a wide area of the Philippine Islands.

NEW GUINEA: In Northeast New Guinea, The Australians take over from U.S. troops at Aitape.

EAST INDIES: In the Netherlands East Indies, USAAF Far East Air Forces B-25 Mitchells and fighter-bombers hit several airfields and numerous targets of opportunity on Halmahera Island, Moluccas Islands, during a series of raids. Other FEAF aircraft maintain armed reconnaissance and sweeps over a wide area of the Netherland East Indies.

CAROLINE ISLANDS: In the Palau Islands, elements of the 81st Infantry Division complete the occupation of Kayangel Atoll in the northern Palaus.

VOLCANO ISLANDS: Twenty six USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24 Liberators based on Guam, Mariana Islands, bomb the airfield on Iwo Jima. Islands. During the night of 1/2 December, a B-24 bombs Iwo Jima during a snooper mission.

PACIFIC OCEAN: U-196 reported missing near the Sunda Straits south of Java, exact position unknown, possibly because of a diving accident. 65 dead (all hands lost).

In the South China Sea, six USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-24 Liberators attack targets of opportunity.

TERRITORY OF ALASKA: A small amount of material believed to be from a Japanese bFu-Go Weapon (balloon bomb) lands on St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea. The island is located about 143 nautical miles (267 kilometres) southwest of Nome. The exact date the balloon landed is unknown.

Office of Air-Sea Rescue set up in the Coast Guard. The Secretary of the Navy at the request of the Joint Chiefs of Staff early in 1944 established the Air-Sea Rescue Agency, an inter-department and inter-agency body, for study and improvement of rescue work with the Commandant of Coast Guard as head.

Destroyer USS Richard B Anderson laid down Seattle, Washington.

Submarine USS Diablo launched.

Douglas DC-3-209, msn 1968, registered NC17322 by the U.S. airline Transcontinental and Western Airlines (TWA), crashes and burns in Van Nuys, California, 6.5 miles (10,5 kilometres) northwest of Burbank Airport in dense fog at 0054 hours local. This was TWA Flight 13 from San Francisco, California, to New York City via Burbank. Six of the 14 passengers and all three crew are killed. The accident is blamed on the pilot for his deviation from the standard instrument approach procedure and descent below the established safe minimum altitude. A contributing factor is TWA's failure to enforce adherence to company procedures.