1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

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EGYPT—Br Eighth Army clears Halfaya Pass.
ALGERIA—Adm François Darlan broadcasts from
Algiers order for Fr forces in N Africa to cease resistance.
Troops of 1st Div and of CCB, 1st Armd Div,
converge on Oran; RCT 16 has leading elements
within the city by 0830; CCB columns enter Oran
from S before French CG surrenders at 1230.
MOROCCO—French resistance in Port-Lyautey
area ends. By noon, Twelfth Air Force fighters are
landing on airfield from USS Chenango. U.S. forces
from Fedala close in on Casablanca and prepare for
concerted assault at dawn on 11th. CCB, 2d Armd
Div, breaks off drive toward Marrakech from Safi
area and marches toward Mazagan in order to conserve
strength for attack on Casablanca.
11 November
GUADALCANAL—Westward offensive toward
Kobumbona is halted because of strong indications
of an all-out enemy attempt to recover Lunga area.
After reaching positions a little beyond those gained
on 4 November, assault force begins withdrawal
across the Matanikau. E of Lunga perimeter, 2d Bn
of 164th Inf closes gap on S flank of U.S. line about
enemy along Gavaga Creek and drives N to beach
while 7th Marines closes in from E and W. Naval
force bringing reinforcements and supplies from
New Hebrides arrives and begins unloading; when
the 3 transports of the force are damaged by enemy
aircraft, the group retires to join naval forces approaching
from New Caledonia.
NEW GUINEA—Hq of 126th Inf, 32d Div, is flown
to Pongani.
EGYPT–LIBYA—10 Corps, Br Eighth Army, drives
last of enemy from Egypt and enters Libya, taking
Bardia without opposition. 1st and 7th Armd Divs
continue pursuit of enemy in Libya. NZ 2d Div
pauses at frontier to reorganize.
NW AFRICA—In response to Adm Darlan’s order
of 10th, all resistance of Fr forces in NW Africa
ceases by 0700.
MOROCCO—Western Task Force cancels attack
on Casablanca because of armistice; 3d Div enters
city at 0730. CCB of 2d Armd Div receives surrender
of Mazagan and establishes bridgehead at
Azemmour without opposition. Enemy torpedoes
and sinks U.S. transport off coast.
ALGERIA—Br First Army lands elements of 36th
Brig, 78th Div, at Bougie, 110 miles E of Algiers,
without opposition. Hart Force—mobile TF based
on 11th Brig of 78th Div—moves out of Algiers toward
Bône, traveling overland.
FRANCE—Axis troops march into unoccupied
France.
[ 11–12 NOVEMBER 1942 ]
12 November
GUADALCANAL—Enemy pocket along Gavaga
Creek is completely eliminated. The action has cost
Japanese 450 killed, and the few who have eluded
the trap are being harassed, while retiring toward
Mt Austen, by Col Carlson’s 2d Raider Bn marching
W from Aola Bay. Kokumbona assault force completes
withdrawal across the Matanikau. Transports
and cargo ships from New Hebrides and New
Caledonia arrive off Lunga Pt and begin unloading;
withdraw at 1815 under DD escort after all troops,
totaling about 6,000 and including RCT 182 of
Americal Div, and part of the supplies are ashore,
because of news that heavy Japanese naval force,
including 2 BB’s, is moving S toward the island.
Warships remain to engage enemy.
NAVAL BATTLE OF GUADALCANAL—During night
12–13, Japanese warships are located by radar between
Savo and Cape Esperance and naval battle
ensues during which 2 enemy DD’s are sunk and 4
damaged. Japanese retire northward without having
accomplished mission of neutralizing Henderson
Field before arrival of transport force. U.S. losses
are heavy: AA cruisers Atlanta and Juneau and DD’s
Barton, Cushing, Laffey, and Monssen are sunk; 5 other
vessels are seriously damaged.
NEW GUINEA—Gorari falls to Aus 25th Brig. Japanese
succeed in withdrawing main forces across
flooded Kumusi R, night 12–13. 2d Bn of 126th Inf,
U.S. 32d Div, moves toward Gora and Bofu, Co E,
in the lead, reaching Bofu. 3d Bn of 126th, upon
reaching Pongani by air, starts toward Natunga.
CBI—Gen Stilwell, in memorandum to Foreign
Minister Soong, suggests that a commander be
chosen at once for Y-Force; that units to participate
in offensive be designated and reorganized; that
available 75-mm guns be sent to Yunnan; and that
incompetent commanders be removed.
MIDDLE EAST—U.S. Ninth Air Force is established
by order of Gen Andrews, CG USAFIME.
Gen Brereton activates Hq Sq, Ninth Air Force, and
IX Air Service Command. Hq and Hq Sq of 19th
Bombardment Wing arrive by sea.
MOROCCO—U.S. transports Hugh L Scott and
Edward Rutledge are lost off Morocco to enemy torpedoes.
ALGERIA—Br First Army takes Bône, 150 miles
E of Bougie, without opposition, but enemy planes
make damaging attacks later in day. 6th Cdos land
by sea and secure port. U.S. transport planes drop 2
cos of 3d Para Bn at Duzerville airdrome, 6 miles
SE of Bône. Paratroop Task Force (60th Troop Carrier
Gp and 2d Bn of U.S. 509th Para Inf) is placed
under operational control of Br First Army at
Algiers.