10/01 Wed. United States, British, and Russian representatives conclude
3-day conference in Moscow on aid to Russia.
10/17 Fri. Destroyer KEARNY (DD-432)is torpedoed and damaged southwest
of Iceland.
Navy orders all United States merchantmen in Asiatic waters
to put into friendly ports.
Gen. Hideki Tojo becomes Japanese Premier as Konoye
Government resigns.
10/19 Sun. United States merchant ship LEHIGH is torpedoed and sunk by
German submarine off West Africa.
10/20 Mon. Carrier HORNET (CV-8) is commissioned at Norfolk, Va.
10/30 Thu. Oiler SALINAS (AO-19) is torpedoed about 700 miles east of
Newfoundland; there are no personnel casualties and the ship
makes port.
10/31 Fri. Destroyer REUBEN JAMES (DD-245) is torpedoed and sinks off
western Iceland with loss of about 100 lives; this is the
first United States naval vessel to be lost by enemy action
in World War II.