Friday, June 19, 2026

Saturday, 20 June 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Japanese submarine I-26 shells Estevan Point, Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

           Submarine S-27 (SS-132) crew reach deserted village at Constantine Harbor and inhabit it until rescue comes (see 23 June).

ATLANTIC—U.S. freighter West Ira is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-128 about 120 miles southeast of Barbados,12°04'N, 57°35'W; one man of West Ira's merchant complement of 48 is killed, there are no casualties among the 10 man Armed Guard. Survivors are for the most part rescued between three and five days later; the last survivor comes ashore on 1 July at Barbados.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

UNITED STATES—General Chaney, CG ETOUSA, is recalled from UK and will be replaced by General Eisenhower.

EIGHTH AF—General Marshall’s letter of instruction to General Eisenhower reveals plan to integrate all US air units in UK into Eighth AF. Broad objective of AAF in ETO is to attain ‘air supremacy over Western Continental Europe’ in preparation for future invasion of the Continent.

FIFTH AF—B‑17’s bomb runway at Lae.

SEVENTH AF—General Hale becomes CG Seventh AF, and Col Albert Hegenberger becomes temporary CO VII Bomber Command.

ELEVENTH AF—1 LB-30, 1 B‑17 and 7 B‑24’s take off on a search and bombing mission over Kiska. 3 aircraft abort mission due to weather, 3 bomb through overcast with unobserved results, and 3 others search in vain for B‑24 lost on the preceding day.

US ARMY

UNITED STATES—President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill, in a closed session in Washington, decide upon a northwest African campaign.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA—Maj General Willis H. Hale becomes commander of U.S. Seventh Air Force, although Navy has operational control of the force.

LIBYA—Axis forces, with strong artillery and close air support, open assault on Tobruk and penetrate deeply into the fortress, destroying tanks and artillery of British garrison. General Klopper receives permission to break out but is unable to do so since his transport is cut off in harbor area. 30 Corps sends 7th Armored Division to relief of Tobruk garrison, but it fails to arrive in time to assist.

USSR—Germans reach N shore of Sevastopol harbor and continue assault on last coastal fort in N fortifications.

US MARINE CORPS

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