SprueStack Zero Hour: WW2 day by day

5 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 8 sourced entries for this date, chosen by the editor.

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Entries

New Guinea

In Gona area, Aus 21st Brig maintains pressure on enemy; Aus 25th Brig withdraws for Port Moresby.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
S Pacific

AAF units in S Pacific are to be designated Thirteenth Air Force, although this air force has not yet been formally activated.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
Tunisia

Combined Chiefs of Staff approve Gen Eisenhower’s plan to attack on 9 December. Br First Army is handicapped by lack of advanced airfields, overextended supply lines, and lack of reserves.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
Mediterranean Sea

1942 convoy to Malta in WWII.

Source Wikidata (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 1942-12-05, flown by RAF. 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 16 Allied sorties (2 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1942-12-05, flown by USAAF 12th Air Force. Targets included TUNISIA.

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 43 Allied sorties (10 recorded unit missions) in the Pacific Theater on 1942-12-05, flown by USAAF 5th Air Force. Targets included NEW GUINEA, 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.

5 December in other years 1939 1940 1941 1943 1944

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5 December 1942

Entries

In Gona area, Aus 21st Brig maintains pressure on enemy; Aus 25th Brig withdraws for Port Moresby.

AAF units in S Pacific are to be designated Thirteenth Air Force, although this air force has not yet been formally activated.

Combined Chiefs of Staff approve Gen Eisenhower’s plan to attack on 9 December. Br First Army is handicapped by lack of advanced airfields, overextended supply lines, and lack of reserves.

1942 convoy to Malta in WWII.

THOR mission records show at least 6 Allied sorties (1 recorded unit missions) in the China-Burma-India Theater on 1942-12-05, flown by RAF. Targets included BURMA.

THOR mission records show at least 16 Allied sorties (2 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1942-12-05, flown by USAAF 12th Air Force. Targets included TUNISIA.

THOR mission records show at least 43 Allied sorties (10 recorded unit missions) in the Pacific Theater on 1942-12-05, flown by USAAF 5th Air Force. Targets included NEW GUINEA, BISMARK ARCHIPELAGO.

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