Thursday, 2 July 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Plunger (SS-179), attacking Japanese convoy off the mouth of the Yangtze, sinks army cargo ship No.3 Unyo Maru, 30°44'N, 123°09'E.

           Japanese guard boats No.1 Kaiyo Maru and No.2 Kaiyo Maru are wrecked (cause unknown) off Guadalcanal.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

INTERNATIONAL—CCS approve of Arnold-Portal-Towers agreement.

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑17’s and B‑24’s bomb Tobruk harbor during 2/3 Jul.

TENTH AF—CATF B‑25’s and P‑40’s hit Hankow dock area for second consecutive day. This raid, more successful than the first, causes considerable damage. The Japanese retaliate during the night by attacking Hengyang but fail to hit the airfield.

ELEVENTH AF—7 B‑24’s and 1 B‑17 fly photo and bombing missions to Attu—which appears deserted—and to Kiska and Agattu. Near misses are scored on a transport and a destroyer at Agattu.

US ARMY

UNITED STATES—Joint Chiefs of Staff issue directive prescribing occupation of New Britain-New Ireland- New Guinea area. Offensive is to be conducted in 3 phases, during which the following are to be secured and occupied: (1) lower Solomons (Santa Cruz Islands., Tulagi, and adjacent positions) (Task One); (2) rest of Solomons and NE coast of New Guinea (Task Two); (3) Rabaul, New Britain, and adjacent positions in New Guinea-New Ireland area (Task Three). Target date is set as 1 August but subsequently postponed to 7 August. Navy is to command first phase and Army the second and third. Boundary between SWPA and S Pacific is to be altered to place lower Solomons within S Pacific zone.

AUSTRALIA—Australian 7th Brigade is directed to move to Milne Bay, New Guinea.

CHINA BURMA INDIA—Chiang Kai-shek names General Stilwell CinC of Chinese Army in India, but Stilwell’s power over the troops is restricted.

MAYOTTE ISLAND—British and E African troops land on island, at N end of Mozambique Channel, and secure it for seaplane base.

EGYPT—British Eighth Army wrests initiative from Rommel as 13 Corps, on S flank, counterattacks northward in rear of enemy. With close air support, 13 Corps maintains pressure on enemy throughout month, gaining some ground and easing pressure against N and central sectors. Enemy makes repeated efforts to break through but is unable to do so; gradually extends positions S and E of 13 Corps to Qattara Depression.

US MARINE CORPS

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