US NAVY
Women's
Naval Reserve (WAVES) (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) is
established (see 2 August).
PACIFIC—Submarine Grenadier (SS-210) torpedoes
Japanese tanker San Clemente Maru off Truk, 07°02'N, 151°15'E.
GULF OF MEXICO—German submarine U-166 attacks convoy
TAW 7 about 25 miles southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River, and sinks
U.S. passenger ship Robert E. Lee, 28°40'N, 88°30'W. Submarine chasers PC-566
and SC-519, and civilian tug Underwriter rescue survivors;
none of the six man Armed Guard are lost (see 1 August).
ATLANTIC—U.S. freighter Cranford is sunk by German
submarine U-155 about 250 miles east-southeast of Barbados,
12°17'N,55°11'W. U-155 treats two injured American sailors and then
provides the survivors with navigational information, matches, a line, and
water. Running short of provisions, U-155 can spare none. Cranford's surviving
complement (including 6 of 8 Armed Guard sailors) are eventually picked up
later the same day by Spanish tanker Castillo Alemenara.
US ARMY AIR FORCE
US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—During 30/31 Jul, B‑24’s bomb
convoy in Pylos Bay claiming hits on 2 merchant ships. B‑17’s hit Tobruk
harbor.
TENTH AF—The Japanese send about 120 airplanes against the
base at Hengyang from which CATF is harassing the Yangtze Valley. The attacks
last about 36 hrs. Fierce opposition by US P‑40’s prevents major damage to the
base. 17 Japanese aircraft are shot down, 4 of them at night. 3 P‑40’s are
lost.
FIFTH AF—B‑17’s attack shipping in Solomon Sea E of Huon
Gulf and S of New Britain.
SOUTH PACIFIC—B‑17’s of 11th Bomb Group begin arriving at
Espiritu Santo where they are to constitute a reconnaissance and strike force
over Guadalcanal-Tulagi-Gavutu area in preparation for amphibious assault by US
Marines on Guadalcanal on 7 Aug.
ELEVENTH AF—1 LB-30, 3 B‑17’s and 3 B‑24’s fly photo reconnaissance
and bombing missions to Tanaga and Kiska. Missions are unsuccessful due to
weather.
US ARMY
UNITED STATES—Women’s
Reserve is established by law in Navy and called WAVES from expression “Women Accepted
for Volunteer Emergency Service.”
PACIFIC OCEAN AREA—Admiral Turner issues Operation Plan No.
A3–42 to Solomons Amphibious Force.
NEW GUINEA—Company C of Australian 39th Battalion completes
march to Demki.
NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES—Japanese invade Aru, Kei, and
Tanimbar Islands.
EGYPT—General Auchinleck decides to remain on the defensive
until reinforcements arrive.
USSR—German Army Group A establishes bridgehead
across Manych River SW of Proletarskaya; Army Group B continues
reduction of Kalach bridgehead across the Don W of Stalingrad. On central
front, Soviet forces begin attacks in Rzhev area.
US MARINE CORPS
—
