Wednesday, 5 August 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Light cruiser Boise (CL-47), in the course of her deception mission, launches two SOCs to search the area. Despite repeated efforts to do so, however, the planes do not find the ship upon their return. Radio silence is broken, thus compromising the operation, and the ship returns to Pearl Harbor, but the Japanese believe that a major U.S. task force is close to the homeland.

            Submarine Greenling (SS-213), attacking Japanese shipping about 150 miles north-northwest of Truk, sinks transport Brazil Maru, 09°50'N, 150°38'E, and merchant passenger-cargo ship Palau Maru, 09°04'N, 150°54'E.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—VIII Fighter Command dispatches its first mission—11 aircraft of 31st Fighter Group on a practice run over France.

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—General Brereton, in his first strategic estimate of the Middle Eastern war, indicates that the 3 major objectives for the Allied AFs are to assist in the destruction of Rommel’s Afrika Korps by support to ground troops, secure sea and air comm on and over the Mediterranean, and carry out a sustained air offensive against Italy and against oil installations at Ploesti and in the Caucasus, if the latter should fall under Axis control.

TENTH AF—Japanese aircraft again attack US airfield at Kweilin. Notified well in adv by the Chinese warning net (previously set up under General Chennault while he was head of AVG), P‑40’s meet the Japanese over the target, shooting down 2, and another is downed by ground fire.

US ARMY

USSR—German Army Group A establishes bridgehead across the Kuban in Armavir- Nevinnomyssk area, threatening Maikop oil fields; claims capture of Kropotkin. Red Army units continue to fight losing battle inside Don bend near Stalingrad.

US MARINE CORPS

—

Tuesday, 4 August 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Destroyer Tucker (DD-374), uninformed of its presence, is sunk in U.S. minefield laid the previous day by Gamble (DM-15), Breese (DM-18), and Tracy (DM-19), in Segond Channel, Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides. Chartered transport President Coolidge is also lost as the result of striking a mine in the same field.

            Submarine Narwhal (SS-167) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Fukuyama Maru, 40°26'N, 141°50'E.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑24’s strike convoy in Mediterranean during 4/5 Aug, claiming hits on 2 merchant ships.

TENTH AF—P‑40’s sweep Japanese HQ at Linchwan and bomb HQ buildings and barracks and strafe transports.

ELEVENTH AF—1 LB-30 flies a photo mission and 2 B‑17’s and 3 B‑24’s covered by 8 P‑38’s escort Navy tenders to Nazan Bay. 2 4-engine seaplane bombers and a possible third are downed near Atka by 2 of the P‑38’s, in their first aerial combat in any theater. Weather cancels bombing mission to Kiska.

US ARMY

SOUTH WEST PACIFIC AREA—General Kenney assumes command of Allied Air Forces, succeeding General Brett.

US MARINE CORPS

—

Monday, 3 August 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Light minelayers Gamble (DM-15), Breese (DM-18) and Tracy (DM-19) lay minefield off western entrance of Segond Channel, Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides.

            Submarine Gudgeon (SS-211) sinks Japanese transport Naniwa Maru, 07°37'N, 150°11'E.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FIFTH AF—P‑40’s strafe Oivi and Kokoda.

ELEVENTH AF—3 B‑17’s, 2 B‑24’s, and 1 LB-30 fly bombing and photo reconnaissance mission to Tanaga and Kanaga and also bomb Kiska. 4 of the aircraft have mechanical trouble but all return.

US ARMY

USSR—German Army Group A continues rapidly southward into Kuban area, where it is attempting to establish bridgehead, and overruns Voroshilovsk. Soviet forces continue to resist Army Group B in Don bend opposite Stalingrad and to attack Germans in Rzhev sector.

US MARINE CORPS

—

Sunday, 2 August 1942

US NAVY

Lieutenant Commander Mildred H. McAfee, who received the first WAVES commission, becomes the first WAVES commandant.

PACIFIC—Dutch submarine O 23 sinks Japanese army cargo ship Zenyo Maru off Penang, Malaya, 05°36'N, 99°53'E.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FIFTH AF—1 B‑17 flies unsuccessful strike against cargo vessel 5 mi S of Salamaua while another bombs Gona.

US ARMY

—

US MARINE CORPS

—

Saturday, 1 August 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Vice Admiral Robert L. Ghormley, Commander South Pacific Force, establishes his headquarters afloat on board auxiliary Argonne (AG-31) at Nouméa, New Caledonia.

            Submarine Narwhal (SS-167), attacking Japanese shipping south of Shiraya Zaki, off northeast tip of Honshu, sinks merchant cargo ship Meiwa Maru, 41°12'N, 141°36'E, and oiler Koan Maru, 41°03'N, 141°28'E.

PACIFIC—Naval Base, Galapagos Islands; Naval Station, Taboga Island, Canal Zone; Naval Auxiliary Air Facility and Motor Torpedo Boat Base, Salinas, Ecuador, are established.

GULF OF MEXICO—Coast Guard J4F bombs and sinks German submarine U-166, 28°31'N, 90°45'W.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—General Eaker describes the mission of VIII Bomber Command as the destruction of carefully chosen strategic targets in Europe.

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—During 1/2 Aug, B‑24’s hit convoy in Mediterranean, scoring 3 direct hits on a large merchant ship which last aircraft reports sinking. 1 B‑24 is lost in crash-landing at base.

FIFTH AF—B‑17’s attack installations at Gona and shipping 75 mi E of Salamaua in Huon Gulf.

ELEVENTH AF—Weather and photo reconnaissance is flown by 1 B‑24 and 1 LB-30 over Korovin Bay and North Cape.

US ARMY

CHINA—Chiang Kai-shek formally approves General Stilwell’s proposal of 18 July for offensive and modifies the 3 demands of 29 June.

EGYPT—Activity on both sides is confined to patrolling, artillery exchanges, and preparations for renewing offensive.

USSR—German Army Group A, to which 1st Pz Army reverts, is fanning out S of Rostov and has cut Novorossisk–Stalingrad Railroad with capture of rail junction of Salsk; forward elements reach Kuban River. Heavy fighting continues in Don bend opposite Stalingrad as German Army Group B continues efforts to isolate Soviet forces. Red Army continues local attacks in Rzhev sector.

US MARINE CORPS

—

Friday, 31 July 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Grunion (SS-216) torpedoes Japanese transport Kashima Maru off Kiska, Aleutians, but is sunk by gunfire from her quarry, 10 miles north of Segula Island.

            PBYs attempt to bomb Japanese bases in Tulagi-Gavutu area is aborted because of bad weather.

ATLANTIC—German submarine U-751 lays mines off Charleston, South Carolina.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

UNITED KINGDOM—Units of Provisional Troop Carrier Command are organized in UK.

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—The complete air echelon of 57th Fighter Group, commanded by Col Frank H Mears, has arrived in Palestine by this date; 12th Bomb Group commanded by Col Charles G Goodrich, is now arriving in Palestine. Thus USAMEAF has P‑40’s and B‑25’s to add to its B‑24’s and B‑17’s.

FIFTH AF—B‑17’s hit Gona and a nearby transport which had been previously damaged, and bomb Kukum Beach and Lunga landing strip on N coast of Guadalcanal as US invasion forces leave Fiji Islands for the Solomons.

SOUTH PACIFIC—Col LaVerne G Saunders leads 9 B‑17’s of his 11th Bomb Group from Efate on strike against Guadalcanal, bombing landing strip and area about Lunga Pt. From this date until 7 Aug, the 11th Group flies 56 strike and 22 search sorties in support of the invasion of Guadalcanal.

SEVENTH AF—1 B‑17, from Midway, flies photo reconnaissance of Wake. The Heavy Bomber is intercepted by 6 fighters. In the ensuing fight US gunners claim 4 fighters destroyed.

ELEVENTH AF—1 B‑24 and 1 Light Bomber-30 fly weather and photo reconnaissance. Weather cancels combat mission to Kiska.

US ARMY

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA—Admiral Turner’s Amphibious Force, covered by Admiral Noyes’ Air Support Force and Admiral McCain’s TF 63, begins voyage to the Solomons from Fiji Islands. B–17’s of TF 63, from New Hebrides bases, start 7 days of attacks on Guadalcanal and Tulagi in preparation for invasion.

NEW GUINEA—Additional elements (Company A of Australian 39th Battalion) of Maroubra Force reach Deniki.

US MARINE CORPS

—

Thursday, 30 July 1942

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

—