GERMANY: Albert Speer, Chancellor Adolf Hitler's chief architect and minister for armaments and war production, asks for 30,000 Soviet prisoners of war to use as slave labourers to begin a massive Berlin building program. These slave labourers will come in handy for Hitler's "new" Berlin. Speer wants to begin construction even as the war wages. Despite the drain on resources Hitler agrees. Speer beguiles the Fuhrer with models of a Great Hall for the Chancellery and a grand office for Goring. But as the war turns against Germany, the rebuilding plans are scrapped. When the war is over, Hitler is dead, and Speer is tried as a war criminal at Nuremberg, the site of his grand parade, and sentenced to 20 years in Spandau prison in Berlin.

One of Germany's leading air aces, Oberst (Colonel) Werner Mölders, is killed when the plane, an HE-111 bomber in which he is a passenger, hits a factory chimney in fog and rain near Breslau, while on his way to the state funeral of General Ernst Udet, Chief Air Inspector General of the Luftwaffe who committed suicide on 17 November. Mölders, who has achieved 115 kills, 68 of which were achieved in the western theatre, is replaced by the fighter ace Adolf Galland (103 kills) who retains the post until January, 1945.

JAPAN: The Foreign Ministry sends the following message to the Japanese Embassy in Berlin, German: "At present, the possibility of peace between Germany and the Soviet Union seems remote. However, it may be that Germany would prefer to avoid being faced with a long term resistance by the U.S.S.R., so that she-Germany-may transfer her entire fighting forces to some other part. On the Soviet side, it seems possible that sentiment for peace may develop when she views the situation from the standpoint of reconstruction. Our relations with the United States may have considerable effect on our southward program, depending, of course, on what turns those relations take. In other words, our relationship with Great Britain and the United States has a great bearing on the future of our national greatness. For this reason, we would like to avoid the rise of any violence at this time. At the same time, we would like to break up the policy of British-U.S.-U.S.S.R. joint action. We would, therefore, welcome, if anything, peace between Germany and the Soviet Union. For the purpose of enhancing our position, we would not be opposed to mediating in a peace, if such a course is possible. Will you, therefore, bearing the above in mind, keep an eye on developments."

The four submarines of the 1st Submarine Unit, Advance Group, Pearl Harbor Strike Force, depart Kure today. Each submarine is carrying a Glen  seaplane (Kugisho E14Y1, Navy Type 0 Small Reconnaissance Seaplane). On 7 December, these four submarines will be stationed about 70 nautical miles (130 kilometers) north of Oahu, Hawaiian Islands.

FEAF plan submitted to Sutherland, who opposed the movement of the B-17's to Mindanao. Persistence of FEAF Chief of Staff, Colonel Francis M Brady, swayed Sutherland and he agreed to a temporary shift of these airplanes to the south.

The Navy Department sends the following message to the Commanders of the Asiatic and Pacific Fleets. "Have been informed by Dutch Legation that they have received a dispatch as follows: "According to information received by the Governor General of The Netherlands East Indies a Japanese expeditionary force has arrived in the vicinity of Palau. Should this force, strong enough to form a threat for The Netherlands Indies or Portuguese Timor, move beyond a line between the following points Davao (Philippine Islands) Waigeo (Island, Netherlands East Indies) Equator the Governor General will regard this as an act of aggression and will under those circumstances consider the hostilities opened and act accordingly." Inform Army authorities of foregoing. Request any information you may have concerning development of this Japanese threat against the Dutch East Indies and your evaluation of foregoing information."

ICELAND: U.S. Lend-Lease is extended to Iceland.

FRANCE: During the night of 21/22 November, RAF Bomber Command dispatches 30 bombers to lay mines off five ports in the Bay of Biscay: eight lay mines in the River Gironde Estuary, six each lay mines off Bayonne and Lorient, five lay mines off St. Nazaire and two lay mines off St. Jean de Luz.

At Stalingrad, the situation in the rear of 6.Armee is deteriorating fast, not least owing to the fact that Army HQ is being relocated which leads to serious disruptions in communications with the troops in and outside the city.

ALGERIA: Axis aircraft again hit Algiers, damaging several aircraft and destroying a B-17 Flying Fortress.

LIBYA: Fourteen USAAF Ninth Air Force B-24 Liberators bomb Tripoli harbour, scoring a direct hit on a warehouse and during the night of 21/22 November, RAF bombers follow the U.S. raids with staggered attacks. P-40s patrol the battle area south of Bengasi.

TUNISIA: Elements of the British Hart Force (mobile task force based on the 11th Brigade, 78th Division), succeed in rejoining the 36th Brigade of the 78th Division, British First Army. The Axis forces withdraw to the east bank of the river at Medjez, but the 78th Division is too weak to follow up and is ordered to await reinforcements. The 2d Battalion of U.S. 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment withdraws from Gafsa to Fériana, 40 miles (64 kilometers) north.

CHINA: Twenty nine USAAF Fourteenth Air Force 29 P-40s strafe over 100 sampans and small boats on Tungting Lake in the Li-Chou-Changte-Ansiang area; 12 P-40s attack five vessels, 20 houses, and 100 men at Shihmen and between Shihmen and Li-Chou; eight other P-40s hit troops and small river boats near Tsowshih. Twelve P-40s and four B-25 Mitchells bomb the town of Tzeli while four other B-25s on shipping sweeps over the South China Sea damage a freighter and blast buildings at Taiping-hsu Airfield.

The Japanese surprise raid at Scarlet Beach, near Lae, Papua New Guinea, is narrowly held by American and Australian defenders.

In Northeast New Guinea, USAAF Fifth Air Force A-20 Havocs again hit the Finschhafen area while B-25 Mitchells and B-24 Liberators hit shipping and other targets on Aroe Island and off Manokwari sinking a transport.

PACIFIC OCEAN: USAAF Fifth Air Force B-25 Mitchells and RAAF Beaufighters sink a Japanese fishing vessel off Maluku Island, Netherlands East Indies and RAAF Bostons sink a small Japanese cargo vessel off south coast of New Britain Island, Bismarck Archipelago.

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: USAAF Fifth Air Force B-24 Liberators bomb Gasmata on New Britain Island.

On Makin Atoll, Boat Landing Team (BLT) 2, 165th Infantry Regiment, attacks on Butaritari Island., after air and artillery preparation, and overruns the fortified area between West and East Tank Barriers as it pushes eastward to Stone Pier. BLT 1 mops up in the western part of the island and eliminates a pocket near the West Tank Barrier. A reconnaissance detail lands on Kuma Island early in the day, reconnoitres, and withdraws.

On Tarawa Atoll, Marines on Betio Island continue to meet grim opposition but strengthen their hold on the island with assistance of aircraft, artillery, and naval gunfire. Further reinforcements are landed, bringing the total battalions ashore to seven. Regimental Combat Team (RCT) 6 is released from V Amphibious Corps reserve to 2d Marine Division and its 1st Battalion lands on Green Beach, on the western end of the island. The rest of the 8th Marine Regiment lands on Beach Red 2. The 3d Battalion of RCT 2 secures the entire western end of Betio (Green Beach), while the 1st and 2d Battalions of RCT 2, from Red 2 and 3, push across the airfield to the south coast, splitting the Japanese forces. The 2d Battalion of RCT 8, on Red 3, makes little progress during the day. Meanwhile, artillery and naval gunfire are directed against the eastern end of Betio to prevent the Japanese from escaping to next island (Bairiki), and the 2d Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment lands on Bairi ki after preliminary bombardment that kills the few Japanese there. While fighting is in progress on Betio, Company D of the 2d Tank Battalion starts reconnoitring other islands of Tarawa Atoll.

On Apamama Atoll, the V Amphibious Corps'   Reconnaissance Company lands from the USN submarine USS Nautilus (SS-168) and begins reconnoitring the atoll under naval gunfire cover.

MARSHALL ISLANDS: Following yesterdays amphibious landings on Tarawa Atoll and Makin Island in the Gilbert Islands, the USAAF Seventh Air Force resumes operations against the Marshall Islands, in support of the base-development phase of Operation GALVANIC (the assault on the Gilbert Islands) and in preparation for invasion of the Marshall Islands [Operation FLINTLOCK (operations against Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls) and Operation CATCHPOLE (operations against Eniwetok and Ujelang Atolls)].

NAURU ISLANDS: USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24 Liberators from the Ellice Islands bomb Nauru Island. Nauru Island is a 21 square kilometer (8 square mile) island in the South Pacific Ocean, located about halfway between the Gilbert and Solomon Islands. The island is rich in phosphate deposits and was occupied by the Japanese on 25 August 1942.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: A few USAAF Thirteenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells on a shipping search strafe Kieta on the west coast of Bougainville Island.

WESTERN EUROPE: The USAAF Eighth Air Force flies Mission 721: seven B-17 Flying Fortresses and five B-24 Liberators drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and Germany during the night. (Hack McKillop)

The USAAF Ninth Air Force's 9th Bombardment Division hits rail bridges and defended areas at several points including Bergstein, Echtz, Sinzig, Neuwied, and Derichsweiler, Germany; fighters escort the B-26 Marauders and also USAAF Eighth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses (to Merseburg), fly area cover, sweeps, and dive-bombing missions in western Germany, and support the US 1st, 8th, and 104th Infantry Divisions in the Hurtgen area and the XII and XX Corps between Merzig and Sarreguemines, France.

NETHERLANDS: In the British Second Army's XII Corps area, the 49th and 51st Divisions advance steadily toward Venlo. The 53d Division attacks at 1930 hours to clear the Roermond bridgehead. XXX Corps makes little headway as the attack continues in a downpour of rain against strong German opposition.

USAAF Eighth Air Force bombers flying Mission 720 hit two targets as targets of opportunity: 11 bomb Leeuwarden Airfiedl and one bombs Wangerooge Island.

In the U.S. Third Army's XII Corps area, the 80th Infantry Division expands its Nied bridgehead and makes contact with XX Corps. Combat Command A of 6th Armored Division and the 137th Infantry Regiment of the 35th Infantry Division, in a co-ordinated drive, take Fremestroff and Hellimer. The 104th Infantry Regiment of the 26th Infantry Division takes Montdidier and Albestroff, the latter an important road center, but elements in Albestroff become isolated and are destroyed. From Dieuze, a Task Force of Combat Command B, 4th Armored Division, drives eastward to Loudrefing.

The U.S. Seventh Army permits either XV or VI Corps to take Strasbourg, previously the objective of VI Corps, which is making slower progress than XV. Both corps are to be prepared to cross the Rhine if the opportunity to do so with ease presents itself. In the XV Corps area, one Task Force of Combat Command D, French 2d Armored Division, drives through La Petite Pierre to the Alsatian Plain at Bouxwiller, but the other is unable to clear Phalsbourg; pushing through Wolfsberg Pass, a column of Combat Command L emerges on the Alsatian Plain at Birkenwald. The 44th Infantry Division takes Sarrebourg, which has been outflanked. In the VI Corps area, the 100th Infantry Division takes Moyenmoutier without a fight and advances toward Senones. The 3d Infantry Division expands the Meurthe bridgehead, taking St Jean d'Ormont. German positions in St Die become untenable as the 103d Infantry Division gains the heights commanding the town. The 36th Infantry Division crosses the 143d Infantry Regiment over the Meurthe River at St Leonard and the 141st Infantry Regiment near Clefcy and advances toward Fraize. Combat Command A, 14th Armored Division, which has been attached to corps, is driving forward on the north flank toward Schirmeck to cut the German escape routes to the northeast.

In the French First Army area, I Corps is almost halted by a violent German counterattack that forces the 5th Armored Division troops from Suarce and Lepuix and severs the Delle-Basle road near Courtelevant, endangering French forces in the vicinity of the Rhine and Mulhouse Rivers. In the Alps Sector, the U.S. 44th Antiaircraft Artillery Brigade takes over the area previously held by the U.S. 1st Airborne Task Force. It will defend the right flank along the Franco-Italian border.

In the British Second Army's XXX Corps area, efforts of the U.S. 84th Infantry Division to reach the villages of Muellendorf, Wurm, and Beeck fail. Permission is requested and received to use the 405th Infantry Regiment, U.S. 102d Infantry Division, to protect the southeast flank.

In the U.S. Ninth Army area, XIX Corps begins the final phase of drive to the Roer River. Combat Command B, 2d Armored Division, seizes the heights around Gereonsweiler and undergoes a strong counterattack on a hill 1,000 yards (914 meters) north of Gereonsweiler; here, within sight of the Roer, Combat Command B halts. Combat Command A advances to about 1,000 yards (914 meters) beyond both Ederen and Freialdenhoven. The 116th Infantry Regiment, now on the northern flank of the 29th Infantry Division, seizes Engelsdorf, from which the 3d Battalion attacks for Koslar; the 2d Battalion of the 175th Infantry enters Bourheim after the German garrison, scheduled for relief, withdraws, but is forced out when the German relief force moves into the town after dark. The 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division, assisted by the 743d Tank Battalion, thrusts quickly to Fronhoven, within 4 miles (6,4 kilometers) of the Roer.

On the northern flank of the 1st Infantry Division, the 47th Infantry Regiment masses fire of 20 battalions of weapons on Hill 187 in an effort to break the resistance on Hamich Ridge and interdicts the hill with fire through the night of 21/22 November; the 18th Infantry Regiment, after repelling counterattack in Heistern and clearing the rest of the village, commits its reserve battalion and continues toward Langerwehe astride Wehe Creek until stopped abruptly at Hills 207 and 203; the 26th Infantry Regiment advances slowly toward Merode. In the V Corps area, after a preparatory bombardment by the 8th Infantry Division and corps artillery plus some guns of VII Corps, the 121st Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division, attacks through the12th Infantry Regiment of the 4th Infantry Division (VII Corps) on a plateau southwest of Huertgen, where the Ger mans have checked previous efforts to advance. Progress is limited by thick woods containing numerous obstacles.

In the U.S. Third Army's XX Corps area, Combat Command A of the 10th Armored Division, attacks north through Task Force Polk toward Saarburg with Task Force Standish on the left and Task Force Chamberlain on the right but is soon halted by the obstacles of the Orscholz Switch Line; Combat Command B, now on the defensive west of Merzig, falls back a little under a German counterattack, and its sector is quiet for the next few days.

The USAAF Eighth Air Force flies Mission 720: 1,291 bombers and 954 fighters are dispatched to make pathfinder force attacks using H2X on oil targets in Germany; they claim 73-7-25 Luftwaffe aircraft; 25 bombers and 15 fighters are lost: 192 aircraft bomb the I.G. Farben synthetic oil refinery at Merseberg with the loss of 12 aircraft; 174 hit the Rhenania oil refinery and 171 attack the Wilhelms oil refinery, both in Hamburg with the loss of four aircraft; 161 bomb the marshalling yard at Osnabruck; 79 hit the marshalling yard at Giessen with the loss on one aircraft; 60 hit the industrial area at Wetzlar; 24 bomb the marshalling yard at Meppen; 23 attack the Mosel marshalling yard at Koblenz; 22 bomb the marshalling yard at Friedber; and 200 aircraft bomb 22 targets.

During the day, RAF Bomber Command sends 160 Lancasters to attack the Homberg oil refinery; three Lancasters are lost. The bombing is scattered at first but then becomes very concentrated, culminating, according to the Bomber Command report, in "a vast sheet of yellow flame followed by black smoke rising to a great height." This is a very satisfactory raid after several previous attempts by Bomber Command to destroy this oil refinery.

During the night of 21/22 November, this is a night of mainly good visibility in which RAF Bomber Command operations are directed strictly according to priorities given in recent directives.

- 274 Lancasters and nine Mosquitos bomb Aschaffenburg; two Lancasters are lost. The object of this raid is to destroy the local railway yards and lines. The local report says that 50 bombs fall in the railway area, causing much damage to the marshalling yards and railway workshops but the main through lines are not cut. Many other bombs fall in the centre and north of the town. About 500 houses are destroyed and 1,500 seriously damaged. Many old buildings are hit, including the local castle, the Johannisburg, which is hit by five high-explosive bombs and had a 4,000-pound (1 814 kilogram) "blockbuster" burst near by; the roof and upper stories of the castle are burnt out.

- 273 aircraft, 176 Halifaxes, 79 Lancasters and 18 Mosquitos, hit Castrop-Rauxel; four Halifaxes are lost. The target is the oil refinery. The local report says that 216 high-explosive bombs, 78 duds and many incendiaries hit the oil plant and caused such a large fire that the firefighters could do little more than allow it to burn itself out. It is believe that the refinery produces no more oil after this raid. Bombs fall in many other places, including some important industrial and coal-mining premises.

- 270 aircraft, 232 Halifaxes, 20 Mosquitos and 18 Lancasters, attack Sterkrade: two Halifaxes are lost. The target is again the synthetic-oil refinery. Bomber Command's report says that the plant is not damaged, though some labour barracks near by are hit.

- 138 Lancasters and six Mosquitos bomb the Mittelland Canal. 2 Lancasters are lost. The canal banks are successfully breached near Gravenhorst. Later photographs show that water drained off over a 30 mile (48 kilometers) stretch and that 59 barges are stranded on one short section alone.

- 123 Lancasters and five Mosquitos hit the Dortmund-Ems Canal without loss. The canal near Ladbergen is attacked, some of the Lancasters coming down to 4,000 feet (1 219 meters) to get beneath the cloud. A breach is made in the only branch of the aqueduct here which has been repaired since the last raid and the water once again drains out of the canal.

Bomber Command also dispatches Mosquitos to bomb four cities: 25 bomb Stuttgart, 24 hit Hannover, 17 attack Worms and four bomb Wesel.

NORWAY: RAF Bomber Command dispatches 24 Halifaxes and 18 Lancasters to lay mines off Oslo; 41 drop their mines with the loss of one Lancaster.

ITALY: In the British Eighth Army's Polish II Corps area, the 3d Carpathian Division begins an attack on the Mt. Fortino-Mt. Ricci ridge south of Faenza, taking Mt. Fortino and pushing northward. V Corps opens a general offensive toward Faenza with close air support. The Indian 10th Division, on the north flank, is pinned down along the Montone River west of Villafranca. The 4th Division, in the center, gets elements across the river in the region north of Highway 9 but is forced to withdraw them. On the southern flank, the 46th Division continues to clear the Cosina River loop north of Castiglione.

USAAF Twelfth Air Force B-25 Mitchells attack defenses and troop concentrations in the Faenza area as the British Eighth Army's V Corps opens a general offensive north towards that town. Fighter-bombers hit targets in the US Fifth Army battle area south of Bolonga, in the Po Valley, and in northeast Italy; particularly good results are achieved against supply dumps and a rail line in the Brenner Pass is cut in three places.

YUGOSLAVIA: Twenty six USAAF Fifteenth Air Force B-24 Liberators bomb troop concentrations, railroad, and highways at Novi Pazar and one bombs a target of opportunity; 155 P-38 Lightnings dive-bomb communications lines in southern Yugoslavia, destroying several vehicles, blasting roads at Vucitrn, Rogatica, Tvrdosevo, and Duga Poljana, hitting bridges at Vrbasici, and Kukavica and causing a landslide at Pavlica; 87 P-51 Mustangs strafe communications over wide areas of southern Yugoslavia; other fighters fly reconnaissance missions.

BURMA: USAAF Major General George Stratemeyer Commanding General AAF, India-Burma Sector, CBI Theater and commander of the Eastern Air Command, South East Asia Command, inactivates the Third Tactical Air Force so that the RAF 221 Group may provide close support for the British Fourteenth Army and the RAF 224 Group can support the British XV Corps for the Arakan offensive.

On the Northern Combat Area Command (NCAC) front, the Chinese 38th Division continues to close in on Bhamo. The 114th Regiment, bypassing a Japanese outpost at Subbawng, which detachment of 113th Regiment is containing, drives into Shwekyina.

Twenty eight USAAF Tenth Air Force P-47 Thunderbolts support ground forces in the Pinwe and Bhamo areas while 37 others hit supply areas, troop concentrations and strongholds at Langwa, Pinmalut, Hlebwe, Mutawng, and Nawnghkem. Fifteen P-47s hit targets of opportunity while sweeping the Kyaukme- Namyao road and ten B-25 Mitchells knock out bridges at Hsipaw and Bawgyo.

CHINA: Major General Albert C. Wedemeyer Commanding General China Theater, U.S. Army, and Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek's Chief of Staff, formally presents his recently formulated ALPHA Plan--to concentrate Chinese forces in the Kunming area as quickly as possible and place them under command of China's best general in order to avert a threat to Kunrning to Chiang Kai-shek. General Chen Cheng is recommended for command of ALPHA forces, but Chiang Kai-shek prefers General Ho Ying-chin. American assistance will consist of maximum air support and liaison officers to advise the Chinese Army.

Forty two USAAF Fourteenth Air Force P-51 Mustangs and P-38 Lightnings on armed reconnaissance attack fuel supplies and the town area at Ishan and road and rail traffic and other targets of opportunity north of Wanling, Burma and in the Chiuchiang area, south of Foochow, and at Hsuchang, Sincheng, and Sheklung.

The USAAF Twentieth Air Force's XX flies Mission 17: 13 B-29 Superfortresses from Chengtu, China, bomb Shanghai as a target of opportunity and several others hit alternates.

JAPAN: The USAAF"> USAAF Twentieth Air Force's XX Bomber Command flies Mission 17: 61 B-29 Superfortresses from Chengtu, China, bomb an aircraft plant at Omura, Kyushu Island. B-29 gunners claim 27-19-24 Japanese fighters downed; one B-29 is lost and six are missing.

In the Kurile Islands, two light cruisers, and nine destroyers of Task Force 92 bombard Japanese naval air installations on Matsuwa Island.

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES: USAAF Far East Air Forces B-25 Mitchells hit Langoan and Mapanget Airfields on Celebes Island while B-24 Liberators in the Kendari area bomb Ambesia Airfield.

BONIN AND VOLCANO ISLANDS: USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24 Liberators from Guam bomb shipping and naval shore installations at Chichi Jima and Haha Jima Islands in the Bonin Islands. During the night of 21/22 November a lone B-24 on a snooper mission bombs Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands.

The USN submarine USS Sealion (SS-315) is on patrol north of Formosa. At 0220 hours, radar contact is made with two Japanese battleships, HIJMS Kongo and Haruna, two cruiser and three destoryers. By 0257 hours, the submarine is in position and fires six torpedoes at Haruna but they miss and three hit the destroyer HIJMS Urakaze. After a series of explosions, Urakaze simply blows apart and in less than two minutes, the vessel sinks taking her entire crew of 14 officers and 293 men with her. At 0259 hours, Sealion fires three additional torpedoes and one strikes the battleship HIJMS Kongo. Kongo had been badly damaged by air attacks on 25 October during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. A gash on her starboard side opened up 15 oil tanks, the contents of which poured into the sea. The damage forced the Kongo to attempt a return voyage to Japan for repairs. The torpedo hit causes Kongo to list 20 degrees. Heading for the nearest port on northern Formosa, the list increase s to 45 degrees. It becomes obvious that the Kongo is sinking and the order is given to abandon ship. When the list accelerates past 60 degrees, tragedy strikes. At 0525 hours local, her forward 14-inch (35,6 centimeter) magazine explodes with horrifying results and the Kongo rolls over and slips beneath the waves about 67 nautical miles (123 kilometers) north of Taipei, Formosa, in position 26.07N, 121.36E. Some 1,250 officers and men are lost. Two of her escorts, the destroyers HIJMS Hamakaze and Isokaze rescue survivors, Hamakaze picking up seven officers and 139 men and Isokaze rescued six officers and 85 men, a total of 347 survivors.

Sealion, unusually, was  carrying a recording device in her conning tower during this patrol and  some others.  Audio recordings (in places hard to make out) of the  conning-tower conversations during this attack, and another sinking on a  later patrol, are on-line at the Historic Naval Ships Association website at http://www.hnsa.org/sound/ww2home.htm

There is a detailed  analysis of this attack by Anthony Tully on the Nihon Kaigun website  created by him and list member Jon Parshall.  Among other things,  this piece indicates that the battleship with Kongo was actually Nagato, not  Haruna as stated in other  sources.

http://www.combinedfleet.com/Kongo01.html  (Keith Allen)

USAAF Fifth Air Force B-24 Liberators sink a Japanese ship in Makassar Strait off Dutch Borneo.

TERRITORY OF ALASKA: ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: Advance Headquarters USAAF Eleventh Air Force is established on Shemya Island, with Brigadier General Harry A Johnson as Deputy Commander. Five B-24 Liberators fly air coverage for naval units but another fleet coverage mission by ten B-25 Mitchells is cancelled due to weather. Before clearance can be obtained from the Soviets through diplomatic channels, a B-24 air-drops provisions to a marooned B-24 crew which force landed on Kamchatka Island, U.S.S.R. on 17 November.