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SprueStack Zero Hour: WW2 day by day

20 November 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.

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

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Entries

  1. Guadalcanal

    Japanese attack left flank of 1st Bn, 182d Inf, early in day and force it back, but 1st Bn recovers lost ground with assistance of air and arty and drives forward until stopped by enemy fire just W of Pt Cruz. Enemy retains Pt Cruz itself.

    Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)

  2. New Guinea

    Advance elements of Aus 25th Brig enter Gona but are driven out after nightfall. 126th Inf of U.S. 32d Div, upon reaching Popondetta, is sent on to Soputa to assist Aus 16th Brig.

    Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)

  3. Tunisia

    Fr 19th Corps units, together with British and attached U.S. forces, withdraw from Medjez el Bab to Oued Zarga, 10 miles W, where forward elements of Blade Force, Br First Army, are located.

    Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)

  5. China-Burma-India Theater

    THOR mission records show at least 21 Allied sorties (3 recorded unit missions) in the China-Burma-India Theater on 1942-11-20, 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.

  6. Mediterranean Theater

    THOR mission records show at least 73 Allied sorties (3 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1942-11-20, flown by RAF. Targets included ITALY.

    Source US Air Force THOR (opens external site)

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

  7. Pacific Theater

    THOR mission records show at least 2 Allied sorties (2 recorded unit missions) in the Pacific Theater on 1942-11-20, flown by RAAF. Targets included BISMARK ARCHIPELAGO.

    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.

20 November in other years 19391940194119431944

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