World War II Chronicle

World War II Chronicle: November 8, 1942

Chris Carter

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American soldiers and paratroopers have landed in Vichy France-controlled areas of North Africa on three separate fronts. Lt. Gen. Dwight Eisenhower is in overall command of the invasion, and Maj. Gen. George S. Patton leads the westernmost force, which is landing around Casablanca, French Morocco. Maj. Gen. Jimmy Doolittle heads the air force component of Operation TORCH.

Patton (left) and Rear Adm. Henry K. Hewitt — commander of Operation TORCH’s naval forces — in November, 1942 aboard the cruiser USS Augusta

Americans and Vichy French forces are currently fighting, but the Allies conducted a daring special operation in October to avoid confrontation. Maj. Gen. Mark W. Clark (Eisenhower’s deputy) boarded a B-17 bomber back on Oct. 21 and flew to Gibraltar where he transferred to a submarine. Off the coast of Tunisia, Clark and three British Special Boat Service commandos paddled off in canoes to the coast where they met with a French general who was sympathetic to the Allies. Read about it in the Nov. 12 Chronicle.

Eisenhower’s broadcast to French forces telling them how to surrender is on page two… Page 20 features a story on the “Big Inch,” a pipeline that will stretch from Texas to New England transporting oil. We discuss the massive project next year… 166th week of the war is summarized on page 32… Gen. Hap Arnold is pictured congratulating 2nd Lt. Clark Gable at his graduation ceremony on page 106

Evening star. (Washington, D.C.), 8 November 1942. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1942-11-08/ed-1/

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