SprueStack Zero Hour: WW2 day by day

21 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.

Join us on Discord (opens external site)

Entries

Guadalcanal

Ordered to cut Maruyama Trail, Co C of 132d Inf pushes 1,000 yards S without making contact with enemy or finding trail.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
Libya

Light forces of Br Eighth Army, pursuing enemy westward, overtake rear guard at Sirte and are halted.

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

From Napapo, Gen Oda and his staff arrive at Giruwa. On Sanananda front, Australians continue to batter enemy positions in front of track junction. 49th Bn succeeds in entering the roadblock and protects supply line to it.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
Dieppe Raid

Ismay also asked that Churchill not include his minute of 21 December 1942 where he criticised the Jubilee plan in The Hinge of Fate, saying that Mountbatten did not want it published.

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 1942-12-21, 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 0 Allied sorties (6 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1942-12-21, flown by unidentified Allied air units. 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 21 Allied sorties (7 recorded unit missions) in the Pacific Theater on 1942-12-21, flown by USAAF 5th Air Force, RAAF. 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.

21 December in other years 1939 1940 1941 1943 1944

Talk about it

Discuss each day's entries and suggest sources in the Zero Hour community.

Join us on Discord

21 December 1942

Entries

Ordered to cut Maruyama Trail, Co C of 132d Inf pushes 1,000 yards S without making contact with enemy or finding trail.

Light forces of Br Eighth Army, pursuing enemy westward, overtake rear guard at Sirte and are halted.

From Napapo, Gen Oda and his staff arrive at Giruwa. On Sanananda front, Australians continue to batter enemy positions in front of track junction. 49th Bn succeeds in entering the roadblock and protects supply line to it.

Ismay also asked that Churchill not include his minute of 21 December 1942 where he criticised the Jubilee plan in The Hinge of Fate, saying that Mountbatten did not want it published.

THOR mission records show at least 6 Allied sorties (1 recorded unit missions) in the China-Burma-India Theater on 1942-12-21, flown by USAAF 10th Air Force. Targets included BURMA.

THOR mission records show at least 0 Allied sorties (6 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1942-12-21, flown by unidentified Allied air units. Targets included TUNISIA.

THOR mission records show at least 21 Allied sorties (7 recorded unit missions) in the Pacific Theater on 1942-12-21, flown by USAAF 5th Air Force, RAAF. Targets included NEW GUINEA, BISMARK ARCHIPELAGO.

Talk about it