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October 23rd, 1942
UNITED KINGDOM: Convoy HX-212 arrived Liverpool having lost 5 of its 43 ships to U-boats. U-436, KpLt Günther Seibicke, Knights Cross, CO, sank 2 ships and shared in the sinking of a third. U-606 and U-624 each sank a ship and shared in the sinking of another.
Destroyer HMS Limbourne commissioned. (Dave Shirlaw)
NORTH AFRICA: The invasion transports are bound from the US and UK for the “Torch” landings. There are 21 German U-Boats operating in the Gibraltar area. Due to their pre-occupation with convoy SL-125 they do not sight the invasion ships.
ALGERIA: General Mark Clark is landed by submarine to see French General Mast. Mast agrees to accept the authority of General Giraud, who is to be smuggled out of Vichy France and into North Africa. This compromise, like most, turns out to be unworkable.
FRENCH MOROCCO: Admiral Darlan arrives in Rabat to rally Vichy colonies.
EGYPT: Montgomery launches the Second Battle of El Alamein with a heavy artillery barrage.
BURMA: Advance units of British forces reach Buthidaung. A brief skirmish with the Japanese, who have advanced from Akyab, leaves the Japanese units in control of Buthidaung.
SOLOMON ISLANDS: General Vandegrift leaves Guadalcanal for a conference with Admiral Halsey at Noumea. General Gieger, USMC, is in charge. General Gieger has been in command of the Cactus Airforce and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. A raid of 12 Zeros on a fighter sweep and then16 Bettys with 17 Zeros escorting is intercepted by 24 Wildcats and 4 P-39s, commanded by Lt. Col. Harold Bauer, USMC, MOH. Losses: 6 Zeros; 1 Betty; 1 Wildcat scrapped and 6 more damaged. Capt. Joe Foss, USMC, MOH claims 4 and lands with a “dead stick” in one of the damaged Wildcats. Capt. Foss will later serve as Governor of South Dakota.
The Japanese soldiers south of Henderson Field drop their packs and move out for the starting points. Many scouts fail to return, others report jungle in every direction. By midafternoon, most advance units are still in thick jungle. General Kawaguchi changes his part of the attack plan, moving east. Maruyama orders no changes allowed. Kawaguchi argues. Maruyama dismisses him from command.
At dusk, the Japanese artillery barrage begins. The attack at the mouth of the Matanikau begins with tanks moving out. Marine anti-tank guns take on the tanks. 4 batteries of Marine Artillery respond. This attack is held. The attacks by Col. Oka and General Maruyama which are supposed to start at the same time do not. They are still fighting the jungle.
PACIFIC OCEAN: Submarine USS Kingfish (SS-234) sinks a converted gunboat at 33-12 N, 135-14 E. (Skip Guidry)
NEWFOUNDLAND: Corvettes HMCS Ville de Quebec, Summerside and Alberni departed St John’s for Liverpool with Convoy HX-212 and subsequent support of Operation Torch, North African Landings. (Dave Shirlaw)
U.S.A.:
AA cruiser USS Flint laid down.
Minesweeper USS Knave laid down.
AA cruiser USS Oakland launched. (Dave Shirlaw)
ATLANTIC OCEAN: The Canada Atlantic Transit Co. merchantman Canatco (2,415 GRT), was lost when she grounded on Gannet Rock and sank off the Labrador coast, in position 53.56N, 056.25W. She was proceeding as part of convoy LN-11 at the time of her loss. The Flower-class corvette HMCS Arrowhead rescued the crew. There was no loss of life in this incident.
U-129 sank SS Reuben Tipton.
U-161 damaged HMS Phoebe.
U-504 sank SS City of Johannesburg.
U-615 sank SS Empire Star.
U-621 sank SS Empire Turnstone in Convoy ONS-136. (Dave Shirlaw)
“Capt. Joe Foss, USMC, MOH claims 4 and lands with a “dead stick” in one of the damaged Wildcats. Capt. Foss will later serve as Governor of South Dakota.”
Gov. Foss is also the man who at the age of 86 at Phoenix Airport was stopped and questioned for 45 minutes by Homeland Security regarding The Congressional Medal of Honor he was carrying. He was on his way to give a speech at West Point and the screeners didn’t know what it was, and kept debating whether the sharp edges could be used as a weapon.