Wednesday, 24 June 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Three PBYs bring out remainder of submarine S-27 (SS-132)'s crew from Constantine Harbor.

ATLANTIC—Unarmed tug John R. Williams, bound for Cape May, New Jersey, is sunk by mine laid by German submarine U-373 on 11 June. Only four men from the 18 man crew survive the sinking at 38°45'N, 74°55'W; they are rescued by district patrol vessel YP-334 and taken to Lewes, Delaware.

           U.S. freighter Manuela is torpedoed by German submarine U-404 at 34°30'N, 75°40'W and abandoned. Three of the 36 man merchant complement perish in the attack. The survivors, 33 merchant seamen and the 6 man Armed Guard, are rescued by British armed trawler HMS Norwich City and Coast Guard cutter CG-483. Manuela sinks the following day while being towed to Morehead City, North Carolina.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS US ARMY—General Eisenhower arrives in UK.

HALPRO—B‑24’s bomb Bengasi harbor during 23/24 Jun.

FIFTH AF—B‑17’s hit Vunakanau airfield. Bomb loads include several bundles of incendiaries which cause intense fires.

ELEVENTH AF—Weather cancels bombing. 1 B‑17 flies weather reconnaissance over Kiska. Fighters patrol airfields.

US ARMY

EGYPT-LIBYA—Rommel begins drive into Egypt, pushing rapidly NE and E against ineffective rear guard resistance to vicinity of Sidi Barrani. 10 Corps HQ, which has recently arrived in Egypt from Syria, takes command at Matruh, releasing 30 Corps, which moves E to El ‘Alamein to organize defenses.  10 and 13 Corps constitute mobile elements of British Eighth Army.

USSR—German Army Group South attains its objective in Izyum area, Oskol River line; continues to make progress in battle for Sevastopol.

UNITED KINGDOM—Maj General Dwight D. Eisenhower assumes command of ETOUSA.

US MARINE CORPS

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Tuesday, 23 June 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—PBY on routine search spots submarine S-27 (SS-132) crew at Constantine Harbor; 15 men are transported out (see 24 June).

CARIBBEAN—Destroyer Biddle (DD-151), directed to the scene by PBYs, rescues the 36 survivors of U.S. tanker E.J. Sadler, sunk the day before by German submarine U-159.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—General Spaatz is informed that Operation ROUNDUP for invasion of European continent has been put off until Spring 43. This postponement is due to decision to mount Operation TORCH, which will necessitate diversion of large numbers of aircraft earlier slated for Eighth AF in UK.

ELEVENTH AF—Weather cancels bombing mission. A B‑17 flies reconnaissance mission over Kiska. A P‑40 on defensive patrol crashes at Elmendorf.

US ARMY

CHINA BURMA INDIA—General Brereton is ordered to Middle East with all available bombers because of crisis there. Flight of 24 B–17’s intended for China is diverted at Khartoum, Egypt, for the same reason.

MIDDLE EAST—U.S. Military Mission is redesignated Iran–Iraq Service Command under Hq, USAFIME, effective 24 June. Col Shingler, with HQ at Basra, heads the new command.

LIBYA—Enemy continues preparations for drive into Egypt; forward elements are engaged by 7th Armored Division of 13 Corps, British Eighth Army, near Sollum.

US MARINE CORPS

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Monday, 22 June 1942

US NAVY

CARIBBEAN—Unarmed U.S. tanker E.J. Sadler is shelled by German submarine U-159 about 175 miles south of the Windward Passage, 15°36'N, 67°52'W, and abandoned. After the 36 survivors take to their lifeboats, a boarding party from U-159 sinks the tanker with demolition charges (see 23 June).

GULF OF MEXICO—Unarmed U.S. tanker Rawleigh Warner is torpedoed by German submarine U-67 approximately 40 miles south of South Pass, Louisiana, 28°53'N, 89°15'W; ignition of the ship's cargo of 38,909 barrels of gasoline incinerates the ship and her crew. There are no survivors from the 33 merchant seamen who comprise her complement.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

ELEVENTH AF—A B‑17 weather reconnaissance aircraft flies over Kiska. Fighters fly Air Base patrols. Bombing mission is canceled due to weather.

US ARMY

UNITED STATES—Japanese submarine shells Fort Stevens military reservation in Oregon at mouth of Columbia River, doing no damage. The shelling is the first foreign attack on a continental military installation since the War of 1812 and the only one of World War II.

War Department orders all units and individuals under General Stilwell’s command assigned under a permanent change of station to American Army Forces in “India, China, and Burma” rather than to Army Group, Washington, D.C. This is the first step in the evolution of a U.S. theater of operations on the Asiatic mainland.

SOUTH WEST PACIFIC AREA—Maj General Robert L. Eichelberger is named commander of U.S. I Corps, replacing Maj General Charles F. Thompson. I Corps eventually comes under operational command of General Blarney, Commander Allied Land Forces. General MacArthur authorizes small airfield at Merauke, on S coast of Dutch New Guinea, to protect Port Moresby from the W. Initial force to garrison Milne Bay, New Guinea (2 companies and a machine gun platoon on loan from Australian 14th Brigade at Port Moresby, sails from Port Moresby.

INDIA—First CO of US Army Forces CBI (USAFCBI) SOS Base Section 2 assumes his duties at Calcutta.

EGYPT-LIBYA—British Eighth Army begins withdrawal to Matruh without interference as enemy reorganizes. Small enemy force moves into Bardia. General Auchinleck visits Eighth Army HQ,

USSR—German Army Group South begins limited attack in Izyum area to improve positions E of the Donets; continues battle for Sevastopol. Fall of the last of the northern coastal forts at Sevastopol is announced.

US MARINE CORPS

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Sunday, 21 June 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—PBY (VP 24) recovers two man crew from Enterprise (CV-6) TBD (VT 6) 360 miles north of Midway. Their plane had to land in the water on 4 June; these are the last survivors of the Battle of Midway to be recovered.

           Submarine S-44 (SS-155) sinks Japanese gunboat Keijo Maru 12 miles west of Gavutu, Solomons, 09°00'S, 160°00'E.

           Japanese submarine I-25 shells Fort Stevens, Oregon.

NORTH RUSSIA—U.S. freighter Alcoa Cadet is mined in Kola Inlet, Murmansk, USSR, and breaks in two. Ships in the vicinity rescue the survivors (33 merchant seamen and 10 passengers).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

INTERNATIONAL—Arnold-Portal-Towers agreement is signed. It deals with US air commitments and provides for strong air force for BOLERO.

HALPRO—9 B‑24’s bomb Bengasi harbor after RAF Wellingtons light the target with flares and incendiaries.

ELEVENTH AF—WD authorizes XI AF Service Command—hitherto Provisional Service Command— which is activated at Elmendorf. It is charged with maintaining and supplying all of the Eleventh’s bases. Weather cancels all missions except an armed weather sortie over Kiska. Fighters fly local patrols.

US ARMY

INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS—Arnold-Portal- Towers agreement, stemming from London conference of 26 May and subsequent discussions in Washington, is signed. This agreement, which concerns U.S. air commitments and provides strong air force for BOLERO, is approved by U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff on 25 June and by Combined Chiefs of Staff on a July.

LIBYA—Tobruk falls to enemy. General Ritchie decides to withdraw to Matruh, Egypt, and orders 13 Corps to delay enemy while 30 Corps begins organization of the Matruh position.

US MARINE CORPS

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Saturday, 20 June 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Japanese submarine I-26 shells Estevan Point, Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

           Submarine S-27 (SS-132) crew reach deserted village at Constantine Harbor and inhabit it until rescue comes (see 23 June).

ATLANTIC—U.S. freighter West Ira is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-128 about 120 miles southeast of Barbados,12°04'N, 57°35'W; one man of West Ira's merchant complement of 48 is killed, there are no casualties among the 10 man Armed Guard. Survivors are for the most part rescued between three and five days later; the last survivor comes ashore on 1 July at Barbados.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

UNITED STATES—General Chaney, CG ETOUSA, is recalled from UK and will be replaced by General Eisenhower.

EIGHTH AF—General Marshall’s letter of instruction to General Eisenhower reveals plan to integrate all US air units in UK into Eighth AF. Broad objective of AAF in ETO is to attain ‘air supremacy over Western Continental Europe’ in preparation for future invasion of the Continent.

FIFTH AF—B‑17’s bomb runway at Lae.

SEVENTH AF—General Hale becomes CG Seventh AF, and Col Albert Hegenberger becomes temporary CO VII Bomber Command.

ELEVENTH AF—1 LB-30, 1 B‑17 and 7 B‑24’s take off on a search and bombing mission over Kiska. 3 aircraft abort mission due to weather, 3 bomb through overcast with unobserved results, and 3 others search in vain for B‑24 lost on the preceding day.

US ARMY

UNITED STATES—President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill, in a closed session in Washington, decide upon a northwest African campaign.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA—Maj General Willis H. Hale becomes commander of U.S. Seventh Air Force, although Navy has operational control of the force.

LIBYA—Axis forces, with strong artillery and close air support, open assault on Tobruk and penetrate deeply into the fortress, destroying tanks and artillery of British garrison. General Klopper receives permission to break out but is unable to do so since his transport is cut off in harbor area. 30 Corps sends 7th Armored Division to relief of Tobruk garrison, but it fails to arrive in time to assist.

USSR—Germans reach N shore of Sevastopol harbor and continue assault on last coastal fort in N fortifications.

US MARINE CORPS

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Friday, 19 June 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Vice Admiral Robert L. Ghormley assumes command of South Pacific Area and South Pacific Force with headquarters at Auckland, New Zealand.

           Submarine S-27 (SS-132) runs aground off St. Makarius Point, Amchitka, Aleutians; all hands reach safety ashore. Crew, provisions, clothing, guns, medical supplies are ferried ashore by rubber boat (see 20 June).

           Japanese water carrier Wayo Maru is damaged by aircraft (nationality unspecified), Rabaul.

           Seaplane tender (destroyer) Ballard (AVD-10), directed to the scene by a PBY (VP 11), rescues 35 survivors (one of whom dies shortly after rescue) from Japanese carrier Hiryu that had been scuttled by destroyers Kazegumo and Yugumo on 5 June. They had been members of the engineering department, left below for dead in the abandonment of the ship.

ATLANTIC—District patrol craft YP-389 is sunk by German submarine U-701 five to six miles northeast of Buoy No.4, Cape Hatteras mine area, North Carolina.

CARIBBEAN—U.S. schooner Cheerio is shelled by German submarine U-161 approximately eight miles southeast of Mona Island, Puerto Rico, 18°02'N, 67°40'W; patrol plane interrupts U-161's attack but not in time to prevent the U-boat from inflicting irreparable damage. All hands (nine men) survive the attack; Coast Guard cutter CG-459 rescues them with the help of a second patrol plane that arrives on the scene.

           Tug Crusader Kingston rescues the last three survivors from a raft from U.S. freighter Norlantic, sunk by German submarine U-69 on 13 May.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

US ARMY FORCES IN MIDDLE EAST—General Maxwell, formerly head of US Military North African Mission, assumes command of USAFIME.

FIFTH AF—B‑17’s pound shipping and Vunakanau airfield at Rabaul.

ELEVENTH AF—B‑24’s taking off to bomb Kiska abort due to fog. 1 of them and 2 of its crew are lost when forced to land in the water. A B‑17 is dispatched to attack a reported submarine but makes no contact.

US ARMY

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA—Admiral Ghormley takes command of South Pacific Area and South Pacific Force.

MIDDLE EAST—USAFIME is activated by order of General Maxwell, with HQ in Cairo, Egypt, replacing U.S. North African Military Mission.

US MARINE CORPS

Vice Admiral Ghormley assumes command of South Pacific Area and South Pacific Forces.

Thursday, 18 June 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—USAAF B-17s, B-24s, and an LB-30 (11th Air Force) bomb Japanese shipping in Kiska harbor, sinking fleet tanker Nissan Maru, 51°58'N, 177°40'E.

           Japanese cargo ship Tairyu Maru is stranded and wrecked off Gyoji Island, Korea, 34°33'N, 125°53'E.

ATLANTIC—U.S. freighter Seattle Spirit is torpedoed by German submarine U-124 at 50°23'N, 42°25'W; four merchant seamen perish in the attack. Survivors (33 merchant sailors, the 11 man Armed Guard and seven passengers) are rescued by steamship Perth and Canadian corvette HMCS Agassiz. Agassiz scuttles the irreparably damaged merchantman with gunfire.

           Cuban boats rescue survivors of U.S. freighter Millinocket, torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-129 the previous day.

           Naval Air Facility, La Fe, Cuba, is established.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

INTERNATIONAL—Churchill arrives in Washington for series of conferences (until 25 Jun) with Roosevelt. Subjects discussed include war production, shipping, help for China, diversion of Germany from Eastern Front, and atomic research.

EIGHTH AF—HQ opens in London with General Spaatz commanding. Air Ministry publishes tentative list of 87 airfields to be made ready for Eighth AF.

ELEVENTH AF—1 LB-30, 3 B‑17’s and 4 B‑24’s make a precision high-altitude attack on Kiska Harbor. A transport is left burning and sinking, another is mauled, and 2 scout planes are possibly shot down. 1 B‑24 crashes at sea; part of its crew is saved.

US ARMY

UNITED STATES—Prime Minister Churchill arrives for series of Anglo-American conferences with President Roosevelt in Washington.

LIBYA—Axis forces drive to Gambut. This is a blow to the Tobruk garrison, since air support from forward landing grounds in Gambut area is now denied the garrison.

USSR—Germans report reduction, after 12 days of hard fighting, of northern part of Sevastopol fortifications except for one coastal fort.

UNITED KINGDOM—General Spaatz, in London, takes command of U.S. Eighth Air Force.

US MARINE CORPS

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