Sunday, 30 August 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—TG 8.8 lands Army occupation forces on Adak, Aleutians, to begin construction of an air and naval base.

           High speed transport Colhoun (APD-2) is bombed and sunk by Japanese planes off Kukum Point, Guadalcanal,09°24'S, 160°01'E.

           Small reconnaissance seaplane from Japanese submarine I-19 reconnoiters Santa Cruz Island, Solomons.

ATLANTIC—U.S. tanker Jack Carnes, bound for Aruba, is shelled by German submarine U-705. After Armed Guard gunfire compels the Germans to submerge, U-705 torpedoes the tanker, 42°00'N, 28°05'E; 24 merchant seamen and four Armed Guard sailors man one lifeboat, while 18 merchant sailors (including the ship's master) and 10 Armed Guard sailors take to the other (see 31 August and 5 September 1942).

           U.S. freighter Star of Oregon, bound for Trinidad, is torpedoed by German submarine U-162, and abandoned; one workaway sailor is killed in the attack. U-162 then shells and sinks the freighter, 11°48'N, 59°45'E, before questioning the crew and then leaving the area. The entire 38 man crew and 14 man Armed Guard sailors survive the loss of the ship; a U.S. patrol craft rescues them.

           U.S. freighter West Lashaway is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-66 approximately 375 miles east of Trinidad, 10°30'N, 55°10'E; the rapidity with which the ship sinks prevents boats from being launched. Some 42 of the 56 souls on board (including a woman missionary and four children among the passengers) manage to reach four rafts (see 2, 13, 18 and 24 September 1942).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑24’s bomb docks and jetties in Tobruk Harbor.

TENTH AF—Myitkyina, northernmost Japanese supply depot and airfield in Burma, from which fighters could hit Dinjan (terminus of Assam-Burma Ferry), is bombed for first time by 8 China-based B‑25’s.

FIFTH AF—B‑17’s attack shipping in Saint George Channel.

ELEVENTH AF—US troops occupy Kuluk Bay, amidst a terrific storm and start building a runway. 5 B‑24’s photograph Kiska but do not bomb due to overcast, and then fly patrol and photo reconnaissance over Amchitka and Tanaga. P‑38’s fly patrol between Great Sitkin and Little Tanaga.

US ARMY

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS—U.S. occupation force lands on Adak without opposition.

GUADALCANAL—Japanese bombers attack shipping off coast and sink Colhoun (APD). Rear echelon of MAG 23 (12 dive bombers and 18 fighters) arrives at Henderson Field.

NEW GUINEA—After quiet day, Japanese attack at night in effort to secure No. 3 airstrip but are repulsed and retreat at dawn of 31st, leaving many dead. Enemy continues to gain ground in overland drive on Port Moresby.

EGYPT—During night 30–31, Axis forces open offensive against El ‘Alamein Line, making main effort against 13 Corps, British Eighth Army, on S while conducting a unsuccessful diversionary thrusts against 30 Corps.

US MARINE CORPS

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