SprueStack Zero Hour: WW2 day by day

4 December 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 9 sourced entries for this date, chosen by the editor.

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Entries

Italy

20 B-24’s of IX BC, in first attack by U.S. bombers on Italy, damage docks and shipping at Naples.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
New Guinea

Japanese maintain pressure against block on Soputa-Sanananda trail, Col McCreary is replaced by Col John E. Grose as commander of Urbana Force.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
The first US bombing of mainland Italy --Naples.

Source Wikipedia (opens external site)
Carlson's patrol during the Guadalcanal campaign ends.

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

THOR mission records show at least 6 Allied sorties (1 recorded unit missions) in the China-Burma-India Theater on 1942-12-04, flown by USAAF 10th Air Force. Targets included BURMA.

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 38 Allied sorties (5 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1942-12-04, flown by USAAF 9th Air Force, RAF. Targets included ITALY, TUNISIA, LIBYA.

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 36 Allied sorties (6 recorded unit missions) in the Pacific Theater on 1942-12-04, flown by RAAF, USAAF 5th Air Force. Targets included NEW GUINEA, AUSTRALIA, 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.

4 December in other years 1939 1940 1941 1943 1944

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4 December 1942

Entries

20 B-24’s of IX BC, in first attack by U.S. bombers on Italy, damage docks and shipping at Naples.

Japanese maintain pressure against block on Soputa-Sanananda trail, Col McCreary is replaced by Col John E. Grose as commander of Urbana Force.

The first US bombing of mainland Italy --Naples.

Carlson's patrol during the Guadalcanal campaign ends.

THOR mission records show at least 6 Allied sorties (1 recorded unit missions) in the China-Burma-India Theater on 1942-12-04, flown by USAAF 10th Air Force. Targets included BURMA.

THOR mission records show at least 38 Allied sorties (5 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1942-12-04, flown by USAAF 9th Air Force, RAF. Targets included ITALY, TUNISIA, LIBYA.

THOR mission records show at least 36 Allied sorties (6 recorded unit missions) in the Pacific Theater on 1942-12-04, flown by RAAF, USAAF 5th Air Force. Targets included NEW GUINEA, AUSTRALIA, BISMARK ARCHIPELAGO.

Talk about it