4 December 1939

JAPAN: U.S. Ambassador to Japan Joseph C. Grew reports a rumour of a German-Japanese military agreement stating that ". . . the Soviet Government has indisputable evidence that a military agreement exists."

SWEDEN: Lieutenant-colonels Carl August Ehrensvärd, Magnus Dyrssen and Viking Tamm found the Finlandskommittén (the Finland committee) to organize the volunteer movement. Initially the Swedish government tried to strictly regulate the actions on the committee, but finally it had to bow to the popular pressure to help Finland. It was promised that regular officers going to Finland would be released from service for the duration of the war, and that a maximum of 5000 reservists and conscripts would be free to go to Finland. (203)

FINLAND: Mannerheim relieves Maj. Gen. Juho Heiskanen from the command of IV Corps in northern Karelia. Heiskanen's corps (two infantry divisions and the three battalions of Group Karelia) had faced the Soviet 8th Army (six divisions and one tank brigade). Mannerheim had been very unhappy with what he thinks is Heiskanen's passivity, and ordered him to counter-attack. On 3 Dec the counter-attack fails miserably.

Heiskanen is relieved by Maj. Gen. Woldemar Hägglund. Incidentally the commander of the Soviet 8th Army also changes on this same day, I. N. Habarov is replaced by V. N. Kurdjumov.

U.S.S.R.: Moscow: the Soviet Union rejects a Swedish offer to mediate in the war with Finland.
Molotov explains that the Soviet government already has a good relationship with the government that represents the true interests of the Finnish people, Kuusinen's People's Government. Molotov states that "The U. S. S. R. is not at war with Finland and does not threaten the Finnish nation with war. Consequently reference to Article 11, paragraph 1, is unjustified. Soviet Union maintains peaceful relations with the Democratic Republic of Finland, whose Government signed with the U. S. S. R. on December 2, Pact of Assistance and Friendship. This Pact settled all the questions which the Soviet Government had fruitlessly discussed with delegates of former Finnish Government now divested of its power. By its declaration of December 1 the Government of the Democratic Republic of Finland requested the Soviet Government to lend assistance to that Republic by armed forces with a view to the joint liquidation at the earliest possible moment of the very dangerous seat of war created in Finland by its former rulers." (Mikko Härmeinen & Jack McKillop)

CANADA: French submarines Stax and Casablanca departed Halifax escort for Convoy HX-11.

Returning home from the hunt for the German battle-cruisers after the sinking of HMS Rawalpindi, HMS Nelson (28) is damaged by a mine laid by U-31 off Loch Ewe, northwest Scotland.

Britain and Turkey sign a trade agreement to "bring about a considerable increase in trade through commercial exchanges."

GERMANY: The High Command announces that U-boats have sunk 15 ships in a convoy 400 miles west of Ireland and that a flight of planes have attacked British ships in the Channel sinking one and damaging several others.

U-552 commissioned.

ALBANIA: Greek troops, advancing from the Pindus, capture the town of Premeti.

ROMANIA: The army manages to contain the civil unrest which has been going on for a week.

ITALY: Italian dictator Benito Mussolini instructs Dino Alfieri, the Italian Ambassador to Germany, to fly to Berlin and request German assistance in the invasion of Greece. German Chancellor Adolf Hitler sees no choice but to assist Italy. The Italian Fascists know their pride has now been broken once they ask for help. The military's confidence in Mussolini is now beginning to disappear due to his hasty and ignorant orders.

EGYPT: Major General Richard O'Connor, Commander, Western Desert Force, moves to his battle headquarters in preparation for Operation Compass (the attack against Italian troops in North Africa).

Corvette HMCS Collingwood arrived Halifax from builder Collingwood, Ontario.

Corvettes HMCS Brantford, Midland, Timmins, Vancouver (ex-Kitchener), New Westminster and Dundas ordered.

Minesweeper HMCS Thunder laid down Toronto, Ontario.

Corvette HMCS Drumheller laid down Collingwood, Ontario.

Corvette HMCS Amherst launched Saint John, New Brunswick.

Oiler HMCS Moonbeam commissioned. Built by George T Davie Lauzon,, Province of Quebec. Launched 1913, 180x32, 676 tons, Originally Mand F. Hopper Barge No.1, renamed circa 1930 D.M. Hopper Barge No.1, Mills No. 033250, Propulsion Steam, #134364, rebuilt 1940 Yard#89, at Marine Industries Ltd, Sorel, Province of Quebec, 676 tons, 178x33.5x12ft, 6kts, crew 2/18, fuel oil carrier east coast, and St. John's Nfld. When more modern and capacious tankers became available, she reverted to a static fuel depot ship. Pendants (Z43)>(J43) Post WW.II, sold 1946, renamed Birchbranch, renamed circa 1951 David Richard, B.L.I.24, 1960, broken up, and register closed 1968. The RCN's pre-war strategy of local defence and restricted pre-war budgets prevented the development of oilers as part of its force structure. A lack of fuel and fuel storage facilities in St. John's were serious limitations for early escort operations, which were partially addressed through the use of depot vessels requisitioned from trade and loaned from the RN. By Jun 41, the St. John’s base, HMCS Avalon, included Moonbeam, submarine depot ship HMS Forth, fleet stores ship HMS City of Dieppe, tankers Teakwood and Clam as well as the Great Lakes overnight passenger steamer Georgian used as a floating barracks and renamed Avalon II.

AMC HMCS Prince Henry commissioned.

U.S.A.: Douglas DC-3A-197, msn 2175, registered NC25678 by the U.S. airline United Air Lines, crashes while attempting to land at Midway Airport, Chicago, Illinois, at 1748 hours local killing the three crew and seven of the 13 passengers. This is United Flight 21 flying from LaGuardia Airport, New York City, to Midway Airport. The crash investigation blames the pilot for not exercising that degree of caution and skill required to avert a stall while approaching for a landing on the short northwest runway. A substantial contributing factor to the accident is the error in judgment of the pilot in choosing the short runway for his landing.

Admiral William D. Leahy, USN (Retired) tenders his resignation as Governor of Puerto Rico effective the following day.

Destroyer USS Eberle commissioned.

UNITED KINGDOM: Parliament passes a new national Service Bill. It includes compulsory direction and conscription for female labour. Unmarried women are to be called up to serve in the police, fire services and armed services under rules announced by the prime minister. Those affected are aged between 20 and 30. Married as well as single women up to the age of 40 are to register as available labour which might be directed to industry.

Mr Churchill describes the new arrangement as "another instalment of toil and sweat". The age of call-up for men is down to 18 years and six months, while those aged between 41 and 50 are also liable for armed service. Boys and girls aged 16 must register their names as a first step toward uniform, and boys aged 16 are being encouraged to join the Home Guard as cadets. As Mr. Churchill sees it: "We must be careful that our boys do not run loose."

Single women with illegitimate or adopted children, and other special hardship cases, are exempt. Female conscientious objectors can claim exemption even though women do not serve in most combat units. Among men, lay preachers and farm workers are among those whose "reserve occupations" keeps them out of uniform. Yet the potential pool of labour resulting from the new rules will contain nearly 1.7 million single women and 70,000 youths.

U.S.S.R.: The Finns take Hango, and German Army Group Centre presses hard on the Moscow Front.

Moscow: Poland's exiled premier, General Wladyslaw Sikorski, signs a mutual assistance pact with Stalin.

CHINA: Two units of the Japanese Navy's Malaya Invasion Group (Vice Admiral OSAWA) of the Southern Force, sail from Samah Bay, Hainan Island, China. The two units are (1) the Escort Unit (Rear Admiral KURITA) consisting of the heavy cruisers HIJMS Kumano, Mikuma, Mogami and Suzuya and three destroyers; and (2) the Kota Bharu Cover Unit (Vice Admiral Ozawa) consisting of the heavy cruiser HIJMS Chokai and a destroyer. Both units were east of Kota Bharu, Malaya, on 8 December.

Two units of the Japanese Navy's Distant Cover Group (Vice Admiral KONDO) of the Southern Force, sail from Mako, Pescadores Islands today. (The Pescadores Islands are located in the Formosa Strait between Formosa and mainland China.) The Main Unit (Vice Admiral KONDO) consists of the battleships HIJMS Haruna and Kongo, the heavy cruisers HIJMS Atago and Takao and ten destroyers. The Supply Unit consists of five oilers, a patrol craft tender and a transport.

HONG KONG: USN river gunboat USS Mindanao (PR-8) sails from Hong Kong, British Crown Colony, for Manila, Philippine Islands. She is the last USN ship to depart Chinese waters prior to war. The Luzon Stevedoring Company tug Ranger follows subsequently, carrying spare parts and 800 3-inch (76 mm) shells for Mindanao's main battery (previously stored ashore at Hong Kong). Only two U.S. naval vessels remain in Chinese waters: river gunboat USS Wake (PR-3) at Shanghai to maintain communications until a radio station is established at the Consulate General with Navy equipment, and river gunboat USS Tutuila (PR-4) at Chungking, where she furnishes essential services to the U.S. Embassy.

BONIN ISLANDS: The Japanese Navy's Guam Invasion Group, South Seas Force, departs Haha Jima at 0900 hours. This force consists of nine transports, four each heavy cruisers, destroyers and submarine chasers, three gunboats, two each coastal minesweepers and netlayers, and one each minelayer, oiler and seaplane tender. These ships arrive off Guam at 0100 hours on 8 December.

COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: MacArthur "> MacArthur orders Brereton to initiate air patrols to north of Luzon and to disperse aircraft. Brereton uses fighters for this mission. Patrols continue to December 8, 1941.
Patrols spotted a formation of between nine and 27 bombers over Luzon after dark.
21^st Pursuit Squadron at Nichols receives 24 P-40E’s, turns its 17 P-35A’s over to the 34^th at Del Carmen.
Del Monte Field sufficiently developed to be used by B-17's.
(Marc Small)

following message is sent from the U.S. Army Forces Far East to the Army's Adjutant General in Washington, D.C.: "Replying your radio of November twenty eight and your radio six four seven on same subject all practical steps within the limits of the facilities of this command are being taken to protect all air and ground installations."

USN river gunboats USS Luzon (PR-7) and Oahu (PR-6), followed later by submarine rescue vessel USS Pigeon (ASR-6) and minesweeper USS Finch (AM-9), reach Manila.

EAST INDIES: The following message is sent from the U.S. Embassy in Batavia, Netherlands East Indies, to the State Department in Washington, D.C.: "War Department at Bandoeng claims intercepted and decoded following from Ministry Foreign Affairs Tokyo: "When crisis leading to worst arises following will be broadcast at end weather reports: one east wind rain war with United States, two north wind cloudy war with Russia, three west wind clear war with Britain including attack on Thailand or Malaya and Dutch Indies. If spoken twice burn codes and secret papers.' Same re following from Japanese Ambassador Bangkok to Consul General Batavia: "When threat of crisis exists following will be used five times in texts of general reports and radio broadcasts: one Higashi east America, two Kita North Russia, three Nichi west Britain with advance into Thailand and attack on Malaya and Dutch Indies.' Thorpe and Slawson cabled the above to War Department. I attach little or no importance to it and view it with some suspicion. Such have been common since 1936."

PACIFIC OCEAN: Under extremely poor weather and wave conditions, Admiral Nagumo's Hawaiian attack force manages to replenish its fuel stores. The replenishment ships head for the return leg rendezvous point and the carriers turn south for their final run to Hawaii.

That same day, a routine scouting flight from the USN aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) en route from Wake Island to Hawaii, sights Honolulu-bound tug USS Sonoma (AT-12) with Pan American Airways barges PAB No. 2 and PAB No. 4 in tow. USS Sonoma, armed with only two 30-caliber (7.62 mm) machine guns, will eventually reach Honolulu on 15 December, with her tows.

WAKE ISLAND: The USN aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6), part of Task Force 8, flies off 12 Grumman F4F-3 Wildcats, a detachment of Marine Fighting Squadron Two Hundred Eleven (VMF-211), to the island. The Marine fighters are launched when the Enterprise is 75 nautical miles (139 kilometers) north of the island. Task Force 8 then turns east and heads back to Pearl Harbor where they are due to arrive on 6 December. (Dave Shirlaw & Jack McKillop)

A Japanese "Nell" bomber (Mitsubishi G3M2, Type 96 Attack Bomber) of the Chitose Kokutai (Naval Air Corp) based on Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands, reconnoitres Wake Island undetected.

Communication Intelligence Summary, 4 December 1941: General.-Traffic volume normal with fair receiving conditions. Takao Radio today instituted a fleet broadcast system using the prefix UTU in heading so that there are now two fleet broadcasts in operation. So far only a few messages have been placed on the Takao broadcast. There were a large number of urgent messages, today, most of these from Tokyo to the major commanders. Among others Tokyo Intelligence originated a seven part message to Chiefs of Staff China Fleet, Combined Fleet, Third Fleet, South China Fleet, French Indo-China Force and Sama. In all, this activity sent twelve messages to the major commanders.

- Combined Fleet.- The outstanding item of today's traffic is the lack of messages from the CinC. Second Fleet and CinC. Third Fleet. These previously very talkative commanders are now very quiet. While the Fleet calls are not yet well identified, the lack of traffic from these commands cannot be ascribed to that. These two commands are still prominent as addressees. It is now believed that the CinC. Second Fleet is in the vicinity of Takao and that the apparently conflicting evidence is due to traffic destined for the Tokyo UTU broadcast which CinC. Second Fleet is still copying. The CinC. Combined Fleet sent one message to an unidentified unit for information to Third Base Force Palao, CinC. Second Fleet and CinC. Third Fleet.

- Fourth Fleet.- The CinC. Fourth Fleet sent a message to Chief of Staff Combined Air Force, information to Eleventh Air Corps, Chitose Air, Air Squadron Twenty-four, Third Base Force at Palao and Fourth Base Force at Truk. No further check could be made today on the presence of Fourth Fleet units in the Marshalls. Jaluit appeared many times in today's traffic being associated with Commander Submarine Force, Tokyo Radio and MUSI 88 (which is believed to be an oil tanker).

- South China.- Bako continues as an active originator addressing many messages to Sama and Saigon. Except for traffic between South China Commanders, all units in that area quiet.

U.S.A.: The firefighting role of the Quartermaster Corps of the United States Army is transferred to the Corps of Engineers.

The Engineers acquired fire stations staffed with professional civilian fire fighters and Army acquired fire apparatus as well as the Quartermaster Corps fire apparatus designers, fire apparatus in the procurement stage and the policies and procedures applicable to peacetime. (Jean Beach)

NETHERLANDS: During the night of 4/5 December, 22 RAF Bomber Command aircraft lay mines in the Frisian Islands.

BALTIC SEA: During the night of 4/5 December, two RAF Bomber Command aircraft lay mines off the Danish island of Bornholm off the south-eastern tip of Sweden.

POLAND: In Warsaw, a group of Polish Christians put their own lives at risk when they set up the Council for the Assistance of the Jews led by two women, Zofia Kossak and Wanda Filipowicz. The fates of Kossak and Filipowicz are unclear so it is uncertain whether their mission is successful, but the very fact that they established the Council is evidence that some brave souls are willing to risk everything to help persecuted Jews. Kossak and Filipowicz are not alone in their struggle to help; in fact, only two days after the Council is established, the SS rounds up 23 men, women, and children, and locked some in a cottage and some in a barn-then burned them alive. Their crime: suspicion of harbouring Jews.

During the night of 4/5 December, one RAF Bomber Command aircraft lays mines off Gdynia.

ITALY: Submarine HMS Traveller is lost after being sent on a reconnaissance to the harbour approaches in the Gulf of Taranto. This is in preparation for Operation Principal- an attack by chariots on the Italian ports. Traveller is believed to have been mined. There are no survivors. (Alex Gordon)(108)

One cruiser is sunk in the harbour at Naples during airstrikes of the US 9th Air Force. This is the first US strike on mainland Italy. One Montecuccoli-class light cruiser Muzio Attendolo, was sunk. Cruiser MONTECUCCOLI was badly damaged. Cruiser EUGENIO DI SAVOIA and four destroyers were less seriously damaged. (Ric Pelvin)

EGYPT: Cairo: In the first US raid on Italy's mainland, twenty USAAF Ninth Air Force B-24 Liberator bombers today attacked Naples, sinking the cruiser R.N. MUZIO ATTENDOLO and damaging two other light cruisers R.N. Raimondo Montecuccoli and Eugenio di Savoia, and four destroyers. Hits are also scored on numerous harbour installations and a railroad yard. Some 159 people died and 358 were injured. The raid by long-range Liberators has changed the Mediterranean strategic scene. Naples has been free of raids since Rommel took Allied coastal airfields in North Africa six months ago. Now its back in range.

TUNISIA: Chougui: Acting Wing-Cdr. Hugh Gordon Malcolm (b.1917) was shot down and killed while leading ten Blenheim Vs of No. 18 Squadron RAF to attack the airfield at Chougui. He had led his bomber squadron with great daring in previous weeks.
As they approached the airfield, they were attacked by a large number of German aircraft and all were shot down. (Victoria Cross)(22)

USAAF Twelfth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses bomb shipping and docks at Bizerte while B-26 Marauders, with fighter escort, attack the same target 30 minutes later. B-17s and F-4 and P-38 Lightnings fly reconnaissance, while other P-38s attack vehicles and troop concentrations, mainly in the Gabes and Sfax area.

ALGERIA: Algiers: Admiral Darlan claims the leadership of the imperial council of France on the grounds that Marshal Petain is a prisoner of the Germans.

NEW GUINEA: In Papua New Guinea, the Japanese maintain pressure against the block on the Soputa-Sanananda trail. Advance elements of the 127th Infantry Regiment, U.S. 32d Infantry Division, reach Dobodura. Lines on Urbana Force (two battalions of the U.S. 126th and 128th Infantry Regiments, 32d Infantry Division) and Warren Force (based on U.S. 128th Infantry Regiment, 32d Infantry Division) fronts are rearranged to permit units operating under battalions other than their own to return to parent battalions.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: Guadalcanal: US 2d Marine Raider Battalion (Carlson's Raiders), reach the Lunga perimeter, having marched west from Aola Bay and complete a month of foraging in which they killed 400 Japanese at the cost of 17 of their own number.

TERRITORY OF ALASKA: ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: Seven USAAF Eleventh Air Force B-24 Liberators and nine B-26 Marauders escorted by 16 P-38 Lightnings takeoff based on a Navy PBY Catalina report of a surface force southeast of Amchitka Island. At the interception point, the area is searched without results. The PBY pilot later reports he saw "clouds." Reconnaissance is flown over Attu, Agattu, Semichi, Kiska and Amchitka Islands.

U.S.A.: 244 US Congressmen present a petition for the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine to President Roosevelt.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered the dismantling of the Works Progress Administration, which had been created to provide jobs during the Depression.

USAAF Ninth Air Force directive establishes Operation CROSSBOW (operations against German V-1 missile launching sites) for the IX Bomber Command and provides a list of targets to be attacked immediately.

HQ USAAF Ninth Air Force activates HQ IX Air Support Command at Aldermaston Court, Berkshire, England.

NETHERLANDS: Hawker Typhoons of Nos. 198 and 609 Squadrons RAF shoot down 11 Do-217s near Eindhoven in one sweep. This is the last pure fighter operation of the Typhoon. (22)

Sixteen P-47D Thunderbolts of the USAAF Eighth Air Force's VIII Fighter Command dive-bomb Gilze-Rijen Airfield near Gilze. Two fighter groups escort and a third group carries out a fighter sweep.

During the night of 4/5 December, 31 RAF Bomber Command aircraft lay mines in the Frisian Islands with the loss of one Stirling.

FRANCE: During the night of 4/5 December, the USAAF Eighth Air Force's VIII Bomber Command flies Mission 148: four B-17 Flying Fortresses drop 800,000 leaflets on Le Mans, Orleans, Tours and Laval at 2037-2125 hours. Nine RAF Bomber Command aircraft also drop leaflets over the country.

GERMANY: During the night of 4/5 December, seven RAF Bomber Command Mosquitos bomb Duisburg: two hit the city and five bomb the Vereinigte Stahl steel factory.

U-399 launched.

U-319, U-804 commissioned.

ITALY: In the U.S. Fifth Army's British X Corps area, the 56th Division is unable to regain Monastery Hill but seizes Hills 683 and 655. In the U.S. II Corps area, a German counterattack forces the Canadian/U.S. 1st Special Service Force from Mt. la Remetanea to Mt. Ia Difensa. The 1st Regiment moves up to assist the 2d in clearing the Mt. Ia Remetanea-Mt. Ia Difensa ridge. The 142d Infantry Regiment, U.S. 36th Infantry Division, maintains positions on Mt. Maggiore. In the VI Corps area, the 135th Infantry Regiment, U.S. ,34th Infantry Division relieves all elements of the 168th Infantry Regiment on Mt. Pantano. The 168th has suffered heavy casualties.

YUGOSLAVIA: There is a Partisan announcement of a provisional Yugoslav government under Tito at Jajce. (Glenn Steinberg)

In a convent hall decorated with large pictures of Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt, 54 delegates from Yugoslavia's partisan liberation committees today solemnly declared themselves to be the "anti-fascist council of national liberation of Yugoslavia."

Their leader, Josip Broz - the man known to the world as Tito - was elected general secretary and given the rank of marshal.

Tito's provisional government has settled for an unusually non-controversial programme which allows for individual rights, private property and free elections after the war. Tito, a dedicated communist, has been urged by Stalin to present a popular front. A non-communist Ivan Ribar, is president. The question of what to do about King Peter, the exiled Yugoslav monarch, remains open.

The partisans now control at least one-sixth of Yugoslavia. With an army of more than 200,000. Tito is now seen by the Allies as a vital force in the re-conquest of Europe, tying down at least a dozen of Hitler's divisions. Partisan ranks have been swollen by former Italian occupying troops, and Brigadier Fitzroy Maclean's British mission is now organizing the airlifting of weapons and military advisors into the country.

U.S.S.R.: Black Sea Fleet and Azov Flotilla: (Sergey Anisimov)(69)Submarine loss."D-4" - by German surface ASW ships UJ-102 and UJ103, close to cape Tarhankut. All hands are lost.

Units of German 11.Armee begin an offensive to eliminate the Soviet bridgehead at Kerch in the eastern Crimea.

EGYPT: Today Churchill and Roosevelt meet with President Inönü of Turkey at the second Cairo conference. (Gene Hanson)

IRAN: Tehran: Making his first journey outside Russia since the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, Stalin came to Tehran to hear Churchill and Roosevelt explain their plans for a cross-Channel invasion of France in the spring or summer of next year. A communiqué from the conference, which ended on 1st December, says that the three leaders "have concerted plans for the destruction of the German forces. We have reached complete agreement as to the scope and timing of the operations which will be undertaken from the east, west and south." This makes it clear that the Italian campaign will continue, though resources may be diverted to the French campaign. Stalin was not too pleased when Churchill said a landing in France depended upon Germany being prevented from bringing up substantial reinforcements during the first two months after the assault. The Soviet leader wondered aloud whether an invasion would ever happen.

Roosevelt was gratified to hear Stalin promise that "the moment Germany is defeated" the Soviet Union would join the war against Japan. This promise is judged to be so sensitive that the three leaders decided not to enter it in the record of the Tehran talks.

CHINA: The handful of survivors of the Japanese invasion of the central Chinese city of Changteh surrendered today. As the Chinese capitulated, Japanese troops set fire to the city to flush out the few remaining defenders who have managed to survive a week despite bombings and a poison-gas attack.

The survivors - 18 Chinese and two US radio operators who hid in a bank vault as they relayed target information to the US 15th Army Air Force - are all that are left of the Chinese 57th Brigade which was ordered by Chiang Kai-shek to defend the city to the last man. Chiang today praised them, but threatened his surrendering commander with execution for disobeying orders.

The ancient city of Changte lies in China's vital rice-growing regions, in the Tung-ting Lake area. Its loss may be preliminary to a fourth battle for Changsha, the capital of Hunan province in central China, which the Japanese have often reached but never held.

Eleven USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells and 12 P-40s bomb Changte, which was taken by the Japanese earlier in the day. Eleven more B-25s and 24 P-40s follow with two more attacks on Changte while other P-40s drop ammunition to Chinese troops on Tehshan Mountain.

JAPAN: The submarine USS Sailfish torpedoes the Japanese escort carrier Chuyo in Empire Waters.

BURMA: Pte Joseph Henry Silk (b.1916), Somerset Light Infantry, rolled onto an accidentally-ignited grenade to shield his comrades; he was killed instantly. (George Cross)

During the night of 4/5 December, five USAAF Tenth Air Force B-24 Liberators mine the Rangoon River while 12 others mine the Salween River at Moulmein.

NEW GUINEA: In Northeast New Guinea, 12 USAAF Fifth Air Force A-20 Havocs hit villages and supply dumps in the Finschhafen area while 30+ P-40s sink an oil laden lugger and two barges off Bogia and bomb a bridge near Bogadjim.

USN Task Force 50 (Rear Admiral Charles A. Pownall) attacks Japanese installations on Kwajalein and Wotje Atolls. Planes from the aircraft carrier USS Lexington (CV-16) sink a collier, a cargo ship, an auxiliary submarine chaser, and a guardboat and damage light cruisers HIJMS Nagara and Isuzu, a stores ship, an auxiliary vessel, and three transports. Other aircraft carriers involved in the attacks are Bunker Hill (CV-17), Enterprise (CV-6), Essex (CV-9) and Yorktown (CV-10) and small aircraft carrier USS Cowpens (CVL-25). Between 0705 and 0940 hours, USN fighters shoot down 34 "Zeke" fighters (Mitsubishi A6M, Navy Type 0 Carrier Fighters) and four "Betty" bomber (Mitsubishi G4M, Navy Type 1 Attack Bombers) over Kwajalein Atoll. Around 1200 hours, eight "Kate" torpedo bombers (Nakajima B5N, Navy Type 97 Carrier Attack Bombers) are shot down by antiaircraft fire over the fleet. Beginning at about 2000 hours, an estimated 30 to 50 "Betty" bombers and "Kate" torpedo bombers organized into 14 flights or individually attempt to sink the U.S. ships. At 2323 hours, a "Betty" bomber launches an aerial torpedo which strikes the aircraft carrier USS Lexington on the starboard side about 360 nautical miles (668 kilometers) northeast of Kwajalein Atoll. The torpedo knocks out her steering gear. Settling 5 feet (1,5 meters) by the stern, the carrier begins circling to port amidst dense clouds of smoke pouring from ruptured tanks aft. An emergency hand-operated steering unit is quickly devised, and Lexington makes for Pearl Harbor for emergency repairs. Two other ships are damaged, light cruiser USS Mobile (CL-63) when one of her 5-inch (12,7 centimetre) mounts accidentally fires into one of her own 40-millimeter mounts, and destroyer USS Taylor (DD-468) by friendly fire from light cruiser USS Oakland (CL-95). Strikes scheduled for tomorrow are cancelled and TF 50 returns to Pearl Harbor. This retirement costs the cautions Admiral Pownall his command. (Massimiliano Stola)

Thirty four USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24 Liberators from the Ellice Islands and Canton Islands bomb Mili Atoll; 20+ others abort due to bad weather.

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: Nearly 50 USAAF Fifth Air Force bombers hit Cape Gloucester airfield and attack shore targets from Rottock Bay to Rein Bay on New Britain Island while Australian Beauforts of No. 71 Wing attack Rabaul.

GILBERT ISLANDS: On Tarawa Atoll, Captain Jackson R. Tate, USN, Commander, Advanced Base, Tarawa, takes command, relieving Major General Julian Smith, USMC. During December and January, air bases are constructed in the Gilberts.

NAURU ISLAND: Eight USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24 Liberators from Funafuti Atoll in the Ellice Islands attack the island. Nauru Island is a 21 square kilometre (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.

BOUGAINVILLE: US Marines expand and solidify their perimeter after receiving reinforcements. The 1st Marine Parachute Regiment arrives and is soon committed to help advance the outpost line.

PACIFIC OCEAN: USN submarine USS Sailfish (SS-192) torpedoes and sinks Yokosuka, Japan-bound Japanese escort aircraft carrier HIJMS Chuyo about 280 nautical miles (519 kilometers) southeast of Tokyo, Honshu, Japan, in position 32.27N, 143.49E. There are about 1,250 Japanese crewmen aboard and only 160 survive. Unbeknown to Sailfish, Chuyo is carrying 20 survivors from her sister ship USS Sculpin (SS-191) which was damaged and scuttled about 154 miles north of Truk Atoll, Caroline Islands, on 19 November. Only one of the USN sailors survives.

U.S.A.: The Governments shuts down the Work Projects Administration (WPA). WPA was inaugurated as a part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal legislation in 1935 as the Works Progress Administration (the name changed to Works Projects Administration in 1939), the WPA was charged with the task of creating jobs for workers idled by the Depression. Fuelled by US$11 billion of the government's money, the program set Americans to work on an array of projects, including the construction 650,000 miles (1 046 megameters) of road and 125,000 public buildings. The WPA also focused its attention on employing the country's creative workers, serving as an umbrella for federal programs that set writers, actors, and artists to work on various public arts projects.

Destroyer escort USS Dennis launched.

Minesweeper USS Graylag launched.

Escort carrier USS Hoggat Bay launched.

Destroyers USS Longshaw and Bryant commissioned.

Submarine USS Sailfish torpedoes escort carrier HIJMS Chuyo in Empire Waters.

Escort carrier USS Kasaan Bay (CVE-69) commissioned. The USN now has 33 CVEs in commission.

Minesweeper USS Salute commissioned.

Submarine USS Bang commissioned.

UNITED KINGDOM: The prototype Bristol Brigand torpedo-bomber makes its maiden flight. (22)

The first de Havilland Mosquito PR 34, very long range, reconnaissance model makes its maiden flight. With a range of 3,500 miles it is intended for use in the S E Asia theatre. (22)

During the night of 4/5 December, the USAAF Eighth Air Force flies Mission 737: ten B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators drop leaflets in the Netherlands, France and Germany during the night.

FRANCE: In the U.S. Third Army's XII Corps begins final the drive toward the Sarre and West Wall. The 80th Infantry Division, with the 318th Infantry Regiment in assault, attacks after an intense, effective artillery preparation and takes Farebersviller and the hills to the northeast. Combat Command A, 6th Armored Division, attacks toward Mont de Cadenbronn. The 35th Infantry Division attacks across the Maderbach before dawn, taking the Germans by surprise: the 134th Infantry Regiment seizes Puttelange; the 320th Infantry Regiment, to the right, is soon checked by German fire. The 104th Infantry Regiment, 26th Infantry Division, eliminates German remnants in the Sarre-Union during a methodical mop-up. The 4th Armored Division, learning of the German retreat, begins a pursuit across Eichel Creek, Combat Command B crossing in the advance force at Voellerdingen; Combat Command A comes under accurate fire at Domfessel.

In the U.S. Seventh Army's VI Corps area, the 103d and 36th Infantry Divisions finish clearing Sélestat.

NETHERLANDS: The last German pocket west of the river Maas is cleared by the British 2nd Army.

GERMANY: The US 3rd Army ends the recent offensive toward the Ruhr. Units of the US XX Corps quickly advance towards an intact bridge at Saarlautern, in the 3rd Army sector.

In the U.S. Ninth Army area, the XIII Corps has cleared its sector west of the Roer River except for Wurm and Muellendorf and suspends offensive until 18 December.

In the U.S. First Army's VII Corps area, the 104th Infantry Division improves the bridgehead across Inde River. Upon completion of bridges, supporting weapons cross. In the V Corps area, the 8th Infantry Division withholds an armoured attack on Bergstein while awaiting reinforcements, but infantrymen continue to clear the flanks of the Brandenberg-Bergstein ridge. Task Force Boyer of the 5th Armored Division eliminates the Vossenack strongpoint.

In the U.S. Third Army's XX Corps area, the 95th Infantry Division regroups hastily to exploit the capture of the Saarlautern bridge; 3d Battalion, 379th Infantry Regiment, crosses the bridge and begins prolonged struggle for the suburb of Fraulautern, which is within the West Wall; the 1st and 3d Battalions repel a tank-infantry counterattack; the 378th Infantry Regiment takes Lisdorf, on the Sarre River just south of Saarlautern. The 10th Infantry Regiment, 5th Infantry Division, withstands a counterattack on the south flank of the corps; 3d Battalion, 11th Infantry Regiment, takes up positions to the right of the 10th and begins an attack to clear the region between the Roselle and Sarre Rivers.

The USAAF Eighth Air Force flies Mission 736: 1,191 bombers and 977 fighters are dispatched to make pathfinder force attacks on marshalling yards (M/Ys) in Germany; three bombers and three fighters are lost: 221 bomb the M/Y at Kassel, 218 hit the M/Y at Mainz, 198 hit the Bebra M/Y, 188 attack the Soest M/Y, 118 bomb the Friedburg M/Y, 77 hit the Lutzel M/Y at Koblenz, 62 attack the Giessen M/Y, 24 bomb the industrial area at Fulda, 20 hit the M/Y at Wetzler and 24 bomb targets of opportunity.

USAAF Ninth Air Force fighters fly armed reconnaissance and support the U.S. 1st, 8th, and 104th Infantry Divisions at Luchem, Bergstein, and east of the Inde River; and the XII and XX Corps in drive toward the Saar River and around Saarlautern.

During the day, 156 Lancasters carry out a G-H raid on Oberhausen but no results could be seen because of cloud. Two Lancasters are lost. In a second raid, 28 Lancasters and Mosquitos carry out the first of several raids on the large reservoir dam at Urft in the Eifel. The destruction of which is required so that the Germans could not release water to flood the areas through which American troops wished to advance. The series of raids did blast 13 feet (4 meters) off the top of the dam but no large breach is ever made and the Germans are able to release large quantities of water whenever they wish to interfere with American advances being attempted further downstream.

During the night of 4/5 December, RAF Bomber Command dispatches 535 aircraft, 369 Lancasters, 154 Halifaxes and 12 Mosquitos, to bomb Karlsruhe; 514 bomb the target with the loss of one Lancaster and a Mosquito. The marking and bombing are accurate and severe damage is caused, particularly in the southern and western districts of the city. Among individual buildings destroyed are the important Durlacher machine-tool factory, the main Protestant church and the concert hall. In a second raid, 282 Lancasters and 10 Mosquitos are sent to bomb Heilbronn; 255 bomb the city and railroad facilities and 29 hit the marshalling yard with the loss of 12 Lancasters. This is a crushing blow on Heilbronn which stands on a main north-south railway line but is otherwise of little importance. It is the first and only major raid by Bomber Command on this target. A total of 1,254 tons (1 138 metric tonnes) of bombs fell in a few minutes and the post-war British Bombing Survey Unit estimated that 351 acres (142 hectares), 82 percent of the town's built-up area, are destroyed, mainly by fire. Much investigation by various people resulted in the reliable estimate that just over 7,000 people died. Most of these victims would have died in fires so intense that there was probably a genuine firestorm. Mosquitos are also active with 51 bombing Hagen, 11 hitting Bielefeld, five attacking Hamm and one bombing Gelsenkirchen.

In the U.S. Fifth Army's British XIII Corps area, the 6th Armoured Division, jumping off during the night 4/5 December, clears most of M. Penzola.

In the British Eighth Army area, the Polish II Corps takes Montecchio. In the Corps area, the British 46th Division is attacking toward the Pideura ridge against strong resistance. The Canadian I Corps takes Ravenna and reaches the Lamone River, cutting Highway 16 where it crosses the river; the Canadian 1st Division begins an attack across the Lamone River during the night of 4/5 December.

USAAF Twelfth Air Force B-25 Mitchells hit defences in the Bagnaeavallo and Faenza areas and an ammunition dump at Tortona; XXII Tactical Air Command aircraft hit targets in the US Fifth Army battle area south of Bologna in the Apennines Mountains and communications to the north of the battle zone.

Four USAAF Fifteenth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators drop supplies in northern Italy and P-38 Lightnings and P-51 Mustangs fly reconnaissance and escort missions. Bad weather prevents heavy bomber operations.

YUGOSLAVIA: Soviet and Yugoslav troops clearing region between the Danube and Sava Rivers overrun Mitrovica.

Twenty six USAAF Fifteenth Air Force P-38 Lightnings bomb a railroad bridge at Zenica.

Fifty one RAF aircraft of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group drop supplies to partisans during the day.

GREECE: Martial Law is declared in Athens after the events of yesterday. Communist backed political demonstrations have degenerated into open fighting in the streets.

CHINA: In the course of reorganizing the government to make it more progressive and efficient, Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek names T. V. Soong premier as well as foreign minister.

U.S. Major General Albert Wedemeyer, Commander in Chief US China Theater of Operations and Chief of Staff to Chiang Kai-shek, asks that USAAF XX Bomber Command's B-29 Superfortresses, which are a strain on Hump tonnage, be moved from China. He suggests redeploying the aircraft to the Mariana Islands.

USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells, supported by P-40s, hit bridges, buildings, and river, road, and rail traffic at Saiping, Hsiangcheng, Lingling, the Kweilin area, between Minkiang, and Sinantien, and between Sinyang and Saiping; 90+ fighter-bombers on armed reconnaissance pound numerous targets of opportunity from Hsenwi, Burma to Nanning. Fighter-bombers on armed reconnaissance pound numerous targets of opportunity across southern China from the Burma border to Amoy.

INDIA: The RAF 3rd Tactical Air Force, which is tasked with supporting the British Fourteenth Army in Burma, is dissolved and replaced by Headquarters RAF Bengal and Burma. Two groups, No. 221 Group RAF supporting the Indian IV Corps and No. 224 Group RAF supporting the Indian XV Corps, are assigned.

BURMA: Twenty eight USAAF Tenth Air Force P-47 Thunderbolts attack and damage bridges at Kawnghka, Namyao, Nampawng, Namhkai, and Hsenwi and demolish the main bridge at Ho-kho; Eight P-47s support ground forces in the Bhamo area; 60+ fighter-bombers hit Japanese-held positions, troop concentrations, supply areas, warehouses, and general targets of opportunity at Man Mau, Nwegyo, Mogok, Hkayanzatkon, Pangpong, Namahokgyi, Kyu-sa, Man Maw, Mongnaw, and Man Htam.

USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells, supported by P-40s, hit bridges, buildings, and river, road, and rail traffic at several points at Lashio, Kutkai and Namhkai. Fighter-bombers on armed reconnaissance pound numerous targets of opportunity at Namhkai,.

FRENCH INDOCHINA: USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells, supported by P-40s, hit bridges, buildings, and river, road, and rail traffic at several points. Fighter-bombers on armed reconnaissance pound numerous targets of opportunity at Lang Son.

VOLCANO ISLANDS: During the night of 4/5 December, snooper missions continue as two Mariana Islands-based USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24 Liberators bomb Iwo Jima.

COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: The US 457th FA, A Battery, parachutes into Leyte in Manarawat to establish a gun position. (Mike Yared)

USAAF Seventh Air Force bombers begin harassing night attacks on Luzon airfields.

On Leyte, Lieutenant General Walter Krueger, Commanding General Sixth Army, orders an attack tomorrow to destroy the Japanese in the Ormoc area, with the X Corps moving southward astride Highway 2 to support the XXIV Corps. In the X Corps area, the 1st Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, begins a withdrawal from the Kilay Ridge toward Pinamopoan. The 112th Cavalry Regiment (Special) continues futile efforts to clear the ridge southeast of Limon. The XXIV Corps prepares for an assault on Ormoc with the 7th Infantry Division by land and the 77th Infantry Division by sea. The 184th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, gets patrols as far north as Balogo. The 776th Amphibious Tank Battalion after dark moves to waters 1,000 yards (914 meters) west of Balogo.

SOUTH CHINA SEA: USS Flasher sinks Japanese destroyer Kishinami and damages a merchant ship. Flasher is only US submarine to sink over 100,000 tons of enemy shipping in World War II.

MARCUS ISLAND: Three USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24 Liberators from Guam bomb the island. Marcus Island is located in the North Pacific about 768 nautical miles (1 422 kilometers) west-northwest of Wake Island and is used as a refuelling point for Japanese aircraft en route to the Central Pacific.

MARIANA ISLANDS: Headquarters of the USAAF Twentieth Air Force's XXI Bomber Command arrives at Harmon Field, Guam, from the US.

Tug HMCS Glenvalley commissioned.

ASW towing vessel HMCS Eastwood assigned to Cornwall, Nova Scotia.

ASW towing vessel HMCS Greenwood assigned to Saint John, New Brunswick.

Tug HMCS Kayville assigned to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Corvette HMCS Stellarton departed workups in Bermuda for St John's to joining EG C-3.

U.S.A.:

Submarine USS Odax laid down.

Escort carrier USS Point Cruz laid down.

Frigates USS Annapolis and Evansville commissioned.

Destroyer USS Soley commissioned.

Submarine USS Bullhead commissioned.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Operation Deadlight: Former Kriegsmarine U-boats U-218, U-299, U-539 and U-778 are sunk by the Royal Navy.