Thursday, 24 September 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Japanese land on Maiana, Gilberts.

            SBDs (VMSB 231, VS 3) from Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, damage Japanese destroyer Umikaze while the ship engages in resupply operations.

            USAAF B‑17 damages Japanese seaplane carrier Sanuki Maru off Shortlands Island, Solomons.

INDIAN OCEAN—U.S. freighter Losmar is sunk by Japanese submarine I-165 about 250 miles west of Cape Comorin, India, 07°40'N,74°15'E; of the ship's 9 man Armed Guard detachment, 3 are lost when she sinks. British ship Louise Moller will rescue 14 survivors on 5 October; seven survivors will reach the west coast of Ceylon by boat on 17 October 1942.

ATLANTIC—U.S. freighter John Winthrop, straggling from convoy ON 131, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-619 at 56°00'N, 31°00'W. There are no survivors from the 39 man merchant complement or the 13 man Armed Guard.

            U.S. freighter West Chetac is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-175 north of British Guiana, 08°06'N, 58°12'W; only 17 of the 39 man crew and two of the 11 man Armed Guard reach the rafts that float free of the ship as she sinks in heavy seas. U-175 conducts a brief interrogation of the survivors before departing (see 2 or 3 October1942).

            U.S. freighter Antinous, torpedoed the previous day, is reboarded by the rest of the crew and is taken in tow by British rescue tug HMS Zwarte Zee. Soon thereafter, however, Antinous is torpedoed by U-512. Again, Antinous is abandoned, and all hands are picked up by Zwarte Zee and HMS Busy. The freighter sinks later that day.

            West Indian fishing boat rescues last two survivors (one of whom subsequently dies of exposure) of U.S. freighter West Lashaway (sunk by German submarine U-66 on 30 August 1942). All told, only 12 of the 38 man merchant complement, one of the 9 man Armed Guard, and five of nine passengers survive West Lashaway's loss.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

TWELFTH AF—XII Ground Air Support Command is redesignated XII Air Support Command.

FIFTH AF—B‑17’s bomb shipping at Rabaul. P‑40’s and A‑20’s hit Mubo while B‑17’s bomb wrecked vessel at Gona. P‑40’s hit airfield at Kokoda and targets along Kokoda-Wairopi trail, including bridge at Wairopi.

ELEVENTH AF—3 B‑24’s bomb Main Camp, storage dumps, and dock areas, starting several fires.

US ARMY

GUADALCANAL—1st Battalion of 7th Marines engages in fire fight with enemy on NW slope of Mt Austen.

US MARINE CORPS

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Wednesday, 23 September 1942

US NAVY

ATLANTIC—U.S. freighter Antinous is torpedoed by German submarine U-515 off Georgetown, British Guiana, 08°58'N, 59°33'W; Armed Guard gunfire forces U-515 to submerge. All hands abandon Antinous; a volunteer crew returns to the ship to try and get her underway (see 24 September 1942).

            U.S. freighter Penmar, straggling from convoy SC-100 and steering toward Cape Farewell, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-432 at 58°12'N, 34°35'W. One man dies as the ship is being abandoned, but 38 merchant sailors and the 22 man Armed Guard are rescued by Coast Guard cutter Bibb (WPG-31) and transported to Iceland.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

TWELFTH AF—General Doolittle assumes command of Twelfth AF in Great Britain.

FIFTH AF—P‑40’s, P‑39’s, P‑400’s, and B‑17’s hit tanks, buildings, and airfield at Buna, Wairopi bridge and targets of opportunity on Buna-Kokoda trail, and Taupota Mission near Goodenough Bay.

SOUTH PACIFIC—72d Bomb Squadron (B‑17’s) of 5th Bomb Group joins 11th Bomb Group on Espiritu Santo.

SEVENTH AF—Movement of 72d Bomb Squadron to SOPAC, plus subsequent movement of other squadrons of 5th Bomb Group to SOPAC, makes it difficult for some time to maintain the minimum force of 35 Heavy Bombers considered necessary for defense of the Hawaiian Islands. This situation is relieved by 90th Bomb Group, which stops in Hawaii while en route to SWPA, and by 307th Bomb Group, which is assigned to Seventh AF for a time.

ELEVENTH AF—Weather causes mission abort to Kiska. Photo reconnaissance over Attu confirms abandonment by enemy. A Navy PBY escorted by 2 P‑38’s lands off Amchitka with a scouting party which determines that the island is unsuited as an airfield. The P‑38’s also bomb a radio shack and sink a submarine at Amchitka.

US ARMY

GUADALCANAL—1st Marine Division begins limited operation to W of Lunga perimeter to eliminate enemy within striking distance of Henderson Field: 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, is directed to advance along N slopes of Mt Austen, cross the Matanikau, and push W to Kokumbona; 1st Raider Battalion is to establish patrol base at Kokumbona at point where inland trails intersect coastal road.

NEW GUINEA—General Blarney arrives in Port Moresby to take direct command of New Guinea forces. Lt General Edmund F. Herring becomes Commander, Advance New Guinea Force, succeeding General Rowell. 128th Infantry of U.S. 32d Division reaches Port Moresby by air and is assigned to garrison force under operational control of Australian 6th Division.

MADAGASCAR—East African 22d Brigade enters Tananarive, which has been declared an open city.

USSR—German Army Group B continues to make slow progress in Stalingrad against bitter opposition. Army Group A assembles an assault force for drive on Black Sea port of Tuapse.

US MARINE CORPS

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Tuesday, 22 September 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Amberjack (SS-219), en route to patrol the waters off Kieta, Bougainville, is damaged when she runs aground on an uncharted coral head off Oema Island, 06°31'31"S, 155°59'E. She remains on patrol.

INDIAN OCEAN—U.S. freighter Paul Luckenbach is torpedoed and sunk by Japanese submarine I-29 approximately 800 miles from the coast of India, 10°03'N, 63°42'E; although the four lifeboats containing the entire 44 man complement and 17 man Armed Guard become separated during the 16-to-21 day voyages, all hands reach safety.

ATLANTIC—U.S. tanker Esso Williamsburg is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-211 approximately 500 miles south of Cape Farewell, Greenland, 53°12'N, 41°00'W; there are no survivors from the 42 man crew and 18 man Armed Guard.

NORTH RUSSIA—U.S. freighter Bellingham, in convoy QP 14, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-435 approximately 45miles west of Jan Mayen Island, 71°23'N, 11°03'E; escort vessels rescue the ship's complement: 39 merchant seamen, the 10 man Armed Guard, and 26 passengers (survivors from freighters Pan Kraft and Pan Atlantic, sunk on 5 and 6 July 1942, respectively, in the ill-fated PQ 17 convoy).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

TWELFTH AF—General Cannon takes command of XII Ground Air Support Command.

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑24’s bomb shipping in Bengasi harbor. Direct hits are made on 1 large vessel while a smaller vessel and other targets receive lesser hits.

FIFTH AF—A‑20’s bomb and strafe occupied areas at Menari, Efogi, Nauro, Yodda, and Kokoda. P‑40’s strafe AA positions, huts, and barges at Buna and Salamaua and bomb and strafe Wairopi bridge, strafe buildings at Yodda, airfield at Buna, and AA positions and other targets along Buna-Kokoda trail. 1 B‑25 bombs N end of Buna airfield and coastal end of Sanananda track. B‑17’s bomb airfield and shipping at Rabaul.

ELEVENTH AF—9 B‑24’s, 2 B‑17’s, and 1 LB-30, accompanied by 15 P‑39’s and 20 P‑40’s, abort Kiska bombing mission due to weather. Photo reconnaissance suggests that Chichagof Harbor is abandoned.

US ARMY

UNITED STATES—Combined Chiefs of Staff approve plan drawn up in Washington by SOS, “The Plan for Operation of Certain Iranian Communication Facilities between Persian Gulf Ports and Tehran by U.S. Army Forces.” The plan gives U.S. direct responsibility for moving supplies through Persian Corridor to USSR.

US MARINE CORPS

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Monday, 21 September 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Grouper (SS-214) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Tone Maru in China Sea, east of Shanghai, 31°18'N,123°27'E.

            Submarine Trout (SS-202) sinks Japanese auxiliary netlayer Koei Maru south of Truk, 06°54'N, 151°51'E.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FIFTH AF—P‑40’s bomb and strafe bridges and targets of opportunity along Buna-Kokoda trail.

ELEVENTH AF—The 21st Bomb Squadron begins to operate from Adak. Bombers fly reconnaissance over Kiska and bomb and fire Constantine Harbor installations at Amchitka.

US ARMY

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US MARINE CORPS

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Sunday, 20 September 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Naval Operating Base, Auckland, New Zealand, is established.

NORTH RUSSIA—U.S. freighter Silver Sword, in convoy QP 14, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-225 at 75°41'N, 03°12'E; rescue ships Rathlin and Zamalek pick up all hands: 32 merchant seamen (one of whom dies later of his injuries), the 11 man Armed Guard, and 18 passengers (crewmen from freighters Peter Kerr and Honomu, sunk on 5 July 1942 in the ill-fated PQ 17 convoy).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FIFTH AF—In Owen Stanley Range, A‑20’s bomb and strafe troops and installations at Sangara, Arehe, and along the Popondetta-Andemba road, and P‑40’s strafe airfield at Kokoda, bridges on trail near Wairopi, and troops at Myola, Efogi, and Kagi.

SOUTH PACIFIC—Adm Fitch becomes COMAIRSOPAC.

US ARMY

NEW GUINEA—127th Infantry of U.S. 32d Division is ordered to Port Moresby.

INDIA—Base Section 2, SOS, at Calcutta, receives its first troops from Karachi.

USSR—Stubborn street fighting is in progress in Stalingrad. Town of Terek falls to German Army Group A.

UNITED KINGDOM—Outline plan for TORCH is issued; D Day is set for 8 November.

US MARINE CORPS

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Saturday, 19 September 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Amberjack (SS-219) sinks Japanese transport Shirogane Maru at northern entrance of Bougainville Strait, 06°33'S, 156°05'E.

ATLANTIC—U.S. freighter Wichita is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-516 about 300 miles northeast of Barbados, 15°00'N, 54°00'W. There are no survivors from either the 40 man merchant complement or 10 man Armed Guard unit.

            Swedish steamship Etna rescues 22 survivors from lifeboat from U.S. tanker Patrick J. Hurley, sunk by German submarine U-512 on 12 September 1942 (see 2 October 1942).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑24’s bomb Pylos Bay area, Pylos Island and Khalones during 19/20 Sep.

TENTH AF—B‑25’s strike Lungling. The raid is ineffective due to bad weather but results in discovery of much Japanese activity which further reconnaissance reveals as part of heavy movement of enemy and supplies along Burma Road toward Salween front.

FIFTH AF—A‑20’s and B‑26’s strafe and bomb airfield at Lae. B‑17’s attack cargo vessels near Umboi (Rooke) Island. Whaling vessel is strafed by fighters off Goodenough Island.

US ARMY

GUADALCANAL—General Vandegrift establishes continuous defense lines, divides Lunga area into 10 sectors.

US MARINE CORPS

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Friday, 18 September 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—7th Marine Regiment reinforces marines on Guadalcanal.

ATLANTIC—German submarine U-455 lays mines off Charleston, South Carolina.

            British destroyer HMS Vimy is detached from convoy to investigate raft containing survivors from U.S. freighter West Lashaway (sunk by German submarine U-66 on 30 August 1942). Vimy, believing the hoisted sail to be part of the disguise of a U-boat, opens fire on the raft. Her gunnery, however, is fortunately bad, and the survivors (who hurriedly strike the sail) are rescued. This group includes among them the woman missionary and four children (see 24 September 1942).

            Laconia Incident: Vichy French sloop Dumont D'Urville takes on board 42 survivors from sunken British transport Laconia that had been rescued by Italian submarine Capellini.

NORTH RUSSIA—German torpedo planes continue attacks upon Archangel-bound convoy PQ 18, sinking U.S. freighter Kentucky approximately 35 miles west of Cape Kanin, USSR; all hands survive the loss of the ship. Two British minesweepers rescue the 38 man merchant complement and the 16 man Armed Guard.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—VIII Ground Air Support Command is redesignated VIII Air Support Command.

TWELFTH AF—12 British units— signal, observer, radar, and air warning—are attached to XII Fighter Command in UK. Col Rosenham River Beam becomes CO XII Ground Air Support Command.

FIFTH AF—1 B‑17 bombs Salamaua while a B‑25 strafes pack trains on Kokoda trail in Andemba-Wairopi-Kokoda area.

US ARMY

GUADALCANAL—Improved Allied supply situation permits restoration of full rations to garrison. TF 65 arrives off Kukum and unloads rest of 1st Marine Div—4,180 of 7th Marines, reinforced—plus vehicles, equipment, ammunition, and supplies. This is the first ammunition to arrive in response to request of 22 August, 3 other vessels unload aviation gasoline. TF 65 retires to Espiritu Santo with 1st Parachute Battalion, American wounded, and 8 Japanese prisoners. Marines are patrolling aggressively from defense perimeter.

NEW GUINEA—Japanese Imperial General Headquarters orders current positions held as long as possible and Buna-Gona beachhead held as primary defensive position. General Horii prepares to thin lines gradually.

AUSTRALIA—Main body of 126th Infantry (less artillery), U.S. 32d Division, embarks at Brisbane for New Guinea.

MADAGASCAR—29th Independent Infantry Brigade of British East African Command lands without opposition on E coast at Tamatave and moves inland toward Tananarive virtually unopposed. East African 22d Brigade continues toward Tananarive from W coast.

US MARINE CORPS

            7th Marines arrive on Guadalcanal.