The nighttime Battle of Vella Gulf was fought between destroyers of the U.S. Navy and the Imperial Japanese Navy, the latter of which was better at night fighting.
U.S. Navy Task Group 31.2, consisting of a group of six destroyers, waited in Vella Gulf for the Japanese who were planning to land troops and supplies at Vila, Kolombangara with four destroyers. All four Japanese destroyers were surprised by U.S. torpedoes, sinking three. 1,500 Japanese sailors went down with their ships.
The action was the first one in the Pacific in which US destroyers were authorized to operate independently from a cruiser force
The Germans commenced the liquidation of the Vilna Ghetto. It was resisted.
U.S. and Free French forces prevailed at Toina, Sicily.
