SprueStack Zero Hour: WW2 day by day

26 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 sourced entries for this date.

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Entries

French Somaliland

Fighting French farce from British Somaliland moves into French Somaliland to seize 2 rail bridges and thus insure safety of rail line from port of Djibouti to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Action is accomplished without bloodshed.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
Heavy fighting continues on Guadalcanal, now focused on Mount Austen in the west.

Source Wikipedia (opens external site)
Guadalcanal

After arty and air preparation, 3d Bn of 132d Inf renews attack to S, making limited progress against strong opposition from Gifu strongpoint. 3d and 1st Bns, latter on E, dig in for night on line between Hill 31 and Gifu.

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

On Urbana front, 127th Inf renews attack to open corridor to sea. Co C is prevented by stubborn opposition from reaching Cos A and F near the coast, but patrol gets through.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
China-Burma-India Theater

THOR mission records show at least 34 Allied sorties (3 recorded unit missions) in the China-Burma-India Theater on 1942-12-26, flown by RAF, 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 (3 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1942-12-26, flown by USAAF 9th 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 15 Allied sorties (8 recorded unit missions) in the Pacific Theater on 1942-12-26, flown by USAAF 5th Air Force, RAAF. Targets included NEW GUINEA, BISMARK ARCHIPELAGO, TIMOR.

Source US Air Force THOR (opens external site)

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

Sources listed with each entry. Spotted an error? Tell us.

26 December in other years 1939 1940 1941 1943 1944

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26 December 1942

Entries

Fighting French farce from British Somaliland moves into French Somaliland to seize 2 rail bridges and thus insure safety of rail line from port of Djibouti to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Action is accomplished without bloodshed.

Heavy fighting continues on Guadalcanal, now focused on Mount Austen in the west.

After arty and air preparation, 3d Bn of 132d Inf renews attack to S, making limited progress against strong opposition from Gifu strongpoint. 3d and 1st Bns, latter on E, dig in for night on line between Hill 31 and Gifu.

On Urbana front, 127th Inf renews attack to open corridor to sea. Co C is prevented by stubborn opposition from reaching Cos A and F near the coast, but patrol gets through.

THOR mission records show at least 34 Allied sorties (3 recorded unit missions) in the China-Burma-India Theater on 1942-12-26, flown by RAF, USAAF 10th Air Force. Targets included BURMA.

THOR mission records show at least 0 Allied sorties (3 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1942-12-26, flown by USAAF 9th Air Force. Targets included TUNISIA.

THOR mission records show at least 15 Allied sorties (8 recorded unit missions) in the Pacific Theater on 1942-12-26, flown by USAAF 5th Air Force, RAAF. Targets included NEW GUINEA, BISMARK ARCHIPELAGO, TIMOR.

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