SprueStack Zero Hour: WW2 day by day

16 December 1942

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

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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

Burma

In Arakan coastal sector, Eastern Army of India Command, under Lt Gen N. M. S. Irwin, opens limited-objective offensive for Akyab I., at end of Mayu Peninsula, which at this time is lightly held by enemy.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
Guadalcanal

Gen Patch orders 132d Inf, Americal Div, to occupy Mt Austen, which dominates the island, as a preliminary to major offensive to be undertaken in January.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
Libya

Enemy, by breaking into small detachments, is able to withdraw from El Agheila positions after hard fighting, but loses about 20 tanks and some 500 captured.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
UK Parliament

National Service Bill (House of Lords)

Official record of proceedings in the House of Lords, sitting of 1942-12-16: "National Service Bill." Source: Hansard (Open Parliament Licence v3.0)

Source Hansard (UK Parliament) (opens external site)
China-Burma-India Theater

THOR mission records show at least 41 Allied sorties (4 recorded unit missions) in the China-Burma-India Theater on 1942-12-16, 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 27 Allied sorties (3 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1942-12-16, flown by USAAF 9th Air Force. Targets included 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 35 Allied sorties (12 recorded unit missions) in the Pacific Theater on 1942-12-16, flown by USAAF 5th Air Force, RAAF. Targets included NEW GUINEA, TIMOR.

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.

16 December in other years 1939 1940 1941 1943 1944

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16 December 1942

Entries

In Arakan coastal sector, Eastern Army of India Command, under Lt Gen N. M. S. Irwin, opens limited-objective offensive for Akyab I., at end of Mayu Peninsula, which at this time is lightly held by enemy.

Gen Patch orders 132d Inf, Americal Div, to occupy Mt Austen, which dominates the island, as a preliminary to major offensive to be undertaken in January.

Enemy, by breaking into small detachments, is able to withdraw from El Agheila positions after hard fighting, but loses about 20 tanks and some 500 captured.

National Service Bill (House of Lords)

THOR mission records show at least 41 Allied sorties (4 recorded unit missions) in the China-Burma-India Theater on 1942-12-16, flown by RAF. Targets included BURMA.

THOR mission records show at least 27 Allied sorties (3 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1942-12-16, flown by USAAF 9th Air Force. Targets included TUNISIA, LIBYA.

THOR mission records show at least 35 Allied sorties (12 recorded unit missions) in the Pacific Theater on 1942-12-16, flown by USAAF 5th Air Force, RAAF. Targets included NEW GUINEA, TIMOR.

Talk about it