SprueStack Zero Hour: WW2 day by day

1 October 1942

What happened on this day in the Second World War, from 1939 to 1945, with a source for every entry.

About this page

Each day we list events from the Second World War that happened on that date, from 1939 to 1945. Every entry names its source and links to it, so you can read further. Entries are sourced and machine-screened before they go up, a subset is human-reviewed, and we add more over time.

8 of 12 sourced entries for this date, chosen by the editor.

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Entries

New Guinea

GHQ issues plan for encirclement and reduction of Buna-Gona beachhead. Upon securing Kumusi R line from Wairopi southeastward, Goodenough I, and N coast from Milne Bay to Cape Nelson, concerted assault is to be made on Buna-Gona area.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
Admiral William "Bull" Halsey is given command of the South Pacific naval forces.

Source Wikipedia (opens external site)
The US 100th Infantry Battalion, a force of over 1,400 predominantly Nisei became active.

Source Wikipedia (opens external site)
British bombers target Genoa, Italy, destroying the airport and hitting the city center, residential areas, hospitals and churches.

Source Wikipedia (opens external site)
USS Grouper torpedoes Lisbon Maru, not knowing that she is carrying British prisoners of war from Hong Kong.

Source Wikipedia (opens external site)
China-Burma-India Theater

THOR mission records show at least 2 Allied sorties (2 recorded unit missions) in the China-Burma-India Theater on 1942-10-01, flown by USAAF 10th Air Force. Targets included BURMA, CHINA.

Source US Air Force THOR (opens external site)

THOR is a secondary compilation with known gaps, not a complete record.
Mediterranean Theater

THOR mission records show at least 17 Allied sorties (2 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1942-10-01, flown by RAF, USAAF 9th Air Force. Targets included LIBYA, GREECE.

Source US Air Force THOR (opens external site)

THOR is a secondary compilation with known gaps, not a complete record.
Pacific Theater

THOR mission records show at least 7 Allied sorties (4 recorded unit missions) in the Pacific Theater on 1942-10-01, flown by USAAF 5th Air Force, RAAF. Targets included NEW GUINEA, SOLOMON ISLANDS.

Source US Air Force THOR (opens external site)

THOR is a secondary compilation with known gaps, not a complete record.

The full list for this date is being cleaned and will return soon.

Sources listed with each entry. Spotted an error? Tell us.

1 October in other years 1939 1940 1941 1943 1944

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1 October 1942

Entries

GHQ issues plan for encirclement and reduction of Buna-Gona beachhead. Upon securing Kumusi R line from Wairopi southeastward, Goodenough I, and N coast from Milne Bay to Cape Nelson, concerted assault is to be made on Buna-Gona area.

Admiral William "Bull" Halsey is given command of the South Pacific naval forces.

The US 100th Infantry Battalion, a force of over 1,400 predominantly Nisei became active.

British bombers target Genoa, Italy, destroying the airport and hitting the city center, residential areas, hospitals and churches.

USS Grouper torpedoes Lisbon Maru, not knowing that she is carrying British prisoners of war from Hong Kong.

THOR mission records show at least 2 Allied sorties (2 recorded unit missions) in the China-Burma-India Theater on 1942-10-01, flown by USAAF 10th Air Force. Targets included BURMA, CHINA.

THOR mission records show at least 17 Allied sorties (2 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1942-10-01, flown by RAF, USAAF 9th Air Force. Targets included LIBYA, GREECE.

THOR mission records show at least 7 Allied sorties (4 recorded unit missions) in the Pacific Theater on 1942-10-01, flown by USAAF 5th Air Force, RAAF. Targets included NEW GUINEA, SOLOMON ISLANDS.

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