Saturday, 29 August 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Transport William Ward Burrows (AP-6) is damaged when she runs aground on Sylvia Reef off Tulagi, Solomons,09°07'S, 160°10'E.

           Australian destroyer HMAS Arunta sinks Japanese submarine RO-33 ten miles southeast of Port Moresby, New Guinea, 09°36'S, 147°06'E.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—12 B‑17’s attack Courtrai/Wevelghem airfield, an FW-190 base.

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑24’s fail to locate shipping near Crete and return without bombing. B‑25’s bomb landing ground during 29/30 Aug.

TENTH AF—B‑25’s pound Lashio, scoring numerous hits on the airport and starting 3 large fires in warehouse area SE of the city.

FIFTH AF—B‑26’s and P‑400’s hit airfield at Buna; B‑17’s pound airfield at Rabaul, and P‑40’s hit facilities in Milne Ray area as enemy ground forces continue drive over the Owen Stanley Range toward Port Moresby.

ELEVENTH AF—A Navy Catalina reports force of 3 cruisers and 4 destroyed s NW of Umnak. Thereupon all aircraft of the Eleventh go on attack alert. Surface force then identifies itself as friendly.

US ARMY

NEW GUINEA—Orders for Australian 18th Brigade to clear N shore of Milne Bay are revoked when another enemy convoy is detected approaching that area. 775 Japanese reinforcements are unloaded from the convoy. Fighting continues along overland trail to Port Moresby, but because of situation at Milne Bay and in the Solomons, South Seas Detachment is ordered to halt upon reaching S foothills of Owen Stanley Range. Australian 21st Brigade relieves 39th Battalion and elements of 53d Battalion.

US MARINE CORPS

—

Friday, 28 August 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—USMC and Navy SBDs (VMSB 232, VS 5) bomb and sink Japanese destroyer Asagiri off Santa Isabel, Solomons, and damage destroyers Shirakumo, Yugiri, and Amagiri, preventing reinforcements (elements of the Kawaguchi Detachment) from landing on Guadalcanal.

           Light minelayer Gamble (DM-15) sinks Japanese submarine I-123 near Guadalcanal, 09°21'S, 160°43'E.

ATLANTIC—U.S. freighter Topa Topa, bound for the Gold Coast, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-66 at 10°16'N,51°30'W; 18 of the 42 man crew perish, as do seven of the 15 man Armed Guard. All three passengers survive. British merchantman Clan MacInnes rescues the 35 survivors and transports them to Trinidad.

           Freighter Harjurand rescues some of the survivors from U.S. freighter Arlyn, torpedoed by U-165 the day before; the rest row to shore. A total of 22 merchant sailors, the 14 man Armed Guard, and the sole passenger survive Arlyn’s loss. U-517 finishes off the abandoned Arlyn with a torpedo at 51°53'N, 55°48'W.

CARIBBEAN—PBY (VP 92) and Canadian corvette HMCS Oakville sink German submarine U-94 at 17°54'N, 74°36'W. Destroyer Lea (DD-118) and Oakville pick up survivors.

           U.S. tanker Esso Aruba, in convoy TAW 15, is torpedoed by German submarine U-511 approximately 120 miles south-southeast of Guantanamo Bay, 17°54'N, 74°47'W; U-511 also torpedoes British tanker San Fabian and Dutch tanker Rotterdam, both of which sink. Esso Aruba, however, suffers no casualties (convoy commodore and his five man staff, 41 man merchant complement and 13 man Armed Guard), remains in convoy and reaches her destination the same day without further incident.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—11 B‑17’s bomb airplane factory of Avions Potez at Meaulte, an important repair depot for German fighters.

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—2 B‑24 squadrons bomb docks, shipping, and jetties in Tobruk harbor.

TENTH AF—8 B‑25’s hit barracks and ammo dumps at Hoang Su Phi and a fuel dump at Phu Lo. This is the largest force of Medium Bombers used by CATF to date, and the first Medium Bomber mission flown without escort.

FIFTH AF—B‑26’s pound forces at Milne Bay.

ELEVENTH AF—Of 3 B‑17’s bombing Kiska, 1 fails to return. All available B‑24’s and 2 flts of P‑38’s fly naval cover at Nazan Bay. An attack mission to Attu is canceled due to weather.

ZONE OF THE INTERIOR—Lt Col Harold L Neely takes command of Twelfth AF.

US ARMY

GUADALCANAL—1st Battalion of 5th Marines, in flanking movement without enemy contact, returns with Company I of 3d Battalion to Kukum area.

NEW GUINEA—Milne Force withstands determined frontal assaults against No. 3 airstrip. Australian 7th Brigade, reinforced by Americans of 709th Airborne AA Battery and of 43d Engineers, staunchly defends the strip. Other Australians continue fighting withdrawal across Owen Stanley Range.

USSR—German Army Group A begins assault on Novorossisk, on Black Sea.

US MARINE CORPS

—

Thursday, 27 August 1942

US NAVY

ATLANTIC—German submarine U-165 attacks convoy SG 6 off Belle Isle Strait, torpedoing oiler Laramie (AO-16) at 51°44'N,55°40'W; four sailors are killed. U-165 also torpedoes U.S. freighter Arlyn at 51°53'N, 55°48'W; 12 of the 34 man crew die (see 28 August).

           German submarine U-517 attacks convoy SG 6F off Belle Isle Strait, torpedoing Army transport Chatham at °51'N,55°49'W; seven of the 106 man crew perish, as do seven of the 428 passengers. There are no casualties among the 28 man Armed Guard. The majority of the men who survive the sinking pull to shore in a dozen life boats; the remainder, who embark in nine rafts, are rescued by destroyer Bernadou (DD-153), Coast Guard cutter Mojave (WPG-47), and Canadian corvette HMCS Trail.

CARIBBEAN—German submarine U-511 attacks convoy TAW 15 (see 28 August 1942).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—7 Heavy Bombers attack Wilton shipyards on outskirts of Rotterdam. These yards, the most modern in the Netherlands, are fully employed by the Germans for servicing vessels. 92d Bomb Group completes nonstop flight of the last of its 4 squadrons from Newfoundland to UK without a loss. A Combat Crew Replacement Center, the first in Eighth AF, is established at Bovingdon.

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑24’s bomb a convoy, hitting 1 merchant ship which is reported sinking.

FIFTH AF—B‑26’s and P‑400’s bomb airfield at Buna while P‑40’s strafe beachhead and fuel dumps at Milne Bay.

ELEVENTH AF—4 B‑17’s, 6 B‑24’s, and 2 P‑38’s fly weather, reconnaissance and patrol missions over Kiska and Atka. Enemy begins to transfer Attu garrison to Kiska, which is completed on 16 Sep 42.

US ARMY

GUADALCANAL—1st Battalion of 5th Marines lands about 1,000 yards W of Kokumbona and starts E along shore while Company I of 3d Battalion pushes W from Kukum by overland trail to intercept enemy withdrawal inland. 1st Battalion is halted by enemy fire about 1,500 yards E of Kokumbona. 9 more P–400’s of 67th Fighter Sq arrive at Henderson Field.

NEW GUINEA—Fresh AIF troops (2/10th Battalion of 18th Brigade) advance unopposed to K. B. Mission during day. After nightfall, Japanese, with tanks, renew attack and split defending force, which withdraws. Japanese overland drive on Port Moresby continues, with Australians falling back gradually. Reinforcements (21st Brigade) are moving to forward area to assist Australians.

USSR—German Army Group B continues battle for Stalingrad; Army Group A presses closer to oil prize of Grozny, seizing Prokhladny and reaching Terek River.

US MARINE CORPS

—

Wednesday, 26 August 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Japanese land at Milne Bay, New Guinea; USAAF B-17s, B-25s, B-26s, P-40s, along with RAAF Hudsons, attack beaches and transports while Australian troops attack the invaders.

           SBDs (VS 71) from carrier Wasp (CV-7) damage Japanese submarine I-17, Solomons area, 09°25'S, 162°47'E.

           Japanese occupy Ocean Island.

           Submarine Haddock (SS-231) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Teishun Maru off China coast, about 100 miles north-northwest of Keelung, Formosa, 26°27'N, 121°23'E.

           Seaplane tender (destroyer) Williamson (AVD-2) is damaged by explosion of bombs jarred loose from PBY being towed by the ship.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

USSR—Russians make 7 counterattacks NW of Stalingrad.

TENTH AF—B‑25’s, which have moved temporarily from C China to Yunnani, bomb Lashio, an important rail center, highway junction, and air base. Covering P‑40’s strafe numerous targets of opportunity and shoot down at least 2 fighters.

FIFTH AF—P‑40’s, B‑25’s, B‑26’s, and B‑17’s, plus RAAF Hudsons, pound forces in Milne Bay. A large transport is damaged and most of the supplies on the beachheads E of Rabi are destroyed. P‑400’s strafe airfield at Buna.

ELEVENTH AF—Photo mission aborted over Atka due to weather.

US ARMY

GUADALCANAL—5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, prepares for limited attack to eliminate resistance on W flank of Lunga perimeter.

NEW GUINEA—Planes from Milne Bay and Port Moresby attack Japanese in Milne Bay, destroying most of their supplies on shore and damaging large transport. After nightfall, enemy convoy bringing rest of 1,170-man force from New Ireland arrives safely in Milne Bay. Japanese make another night attack, 26–27, to W, forcing Australian militia back to Gama River line; at dawn of 27th Japanese retire once more to landing point. Meanwhile, Japanese forces in Isurava area renew overland drive on Port Moresby at dawn and force Australians (depleted 39th Battalion, 30th Brigade Hq, 2 companies of 53d Battalion) back steadily by overwhelming pressure. Japanese supply lines, which are becoming overextended, are frequently attacked by air.

INDIA—Training center for Chinese troops is activated at Ramgarh, Bihar Prov, with Col Frederick McCabe as commandant.

US MARINE CORPS

—

Tuesday, 25 August 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—USAAF B-17s sink Japanese destroyer Mutsuki off Santa Isabel, Solomons, as she stands by the sinking transport Kinryu Maru, damaged by planes from Enterprise (CV-6) north of Guadalcanal, 07°47'N, 160°13'E. USMC SBDs (VMSB 232) from Henderson Field damage light cruiser Jintsu and destroyer Uzuki off Guadalcanal.

                                                       Submarine Growler (SS-215) sinks Japanese gunboat Sen-Yo Maru 20 miles south of Takao, Formosa, 22°33'N,120°10'E, and survives several ensuing depth-chargings.

                                                       Submarine Seawolf (SS-197) sinks Japanese cargo ship Showa Maru off northeast coast of Borneo, 03°55'N,118°59'E.

                                                         Japanese occupy Nauru, Gilberts, and Goodenough Island, off southeast coast of New Guinea.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—Units of Provisional Troop Carrier Command, organized in UK on 31 Jul pending arrival of VIII Troop Carrier Command, are transferred to VIII Ground Air Support Command after plans to organize VIII Troop Carrier Command have been abandoned.

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑25’s bomb shipping and landing grounds. B‑24’s attack Corinth Canal.

FIFTH AF—Amphibious forces bound for Milne Bay from Buna are stranded on Goodenough Island when P‑40’s from Milne Bay destroy all of their beached barges. P‑40’s also attack a convoy proceeding from New Ireland toward Milne Bay but are hampered by bad weather and fail to halt landings at 3 points E of Rabi during 25/26 Aug. P‑400’s hit airfield and AA positions at Buna.

SOUTH PACIFIC—The invasion force sailing toward Guadalcanal (see 24 Aug) is hit hard by Marine dive bombers 125 mi from the island at 0835. B‑17’s from Espiritu Santo sink the destroyer Mutsuki as it is attempting to sink the damaged transport Kinyru Maru. By noon the force is heading N in retreat. The enemy has lost about 90 aircraft in the battle.

ELEVENTH AF—Photo reconnaissance airplane flies over Kiska, Attu, and Adak, then turns back because of mechanical failure.

US ARMY

BATTLE OF EASTERN SOLOMONS—U.S. carrier forces are unable to locate enemy fleet units, but U.S. Marine and Army land-based bombers attack Japanese transport force continuing toward Guadalcanal and cause it to delay landings and retire northward. Enemy transport and DD are sunk and cruiser is damaged.

NEW GUINEA—Enemy amphibious force bound for Milne Bay from Buna is stranded on Goodenough Island., D’Entrecasteaux Islands., when P–40’s from Milne Bay destroy all 7 of their beached barges. Aircraft from Australia and Milne Bay attack enemy convoy proceeding from New Ireland toward Milne Bay but are hampered by weather conditions and fail to stop it. After shelling beaches, Japanese begin landing, night 25–26, at 3 points E of Rabi, their intended landing site, and push W at once. Elements of Australian 61st Militia Battalion stationed at K. B. Mission, E of Rabi and in path of Japanese advance, engage enemy who retires at dawn of 26th to landing point. Other elements of 61st Battalion are moving from Ahioma to head of Milne Bay at Gili Gili by sea and lose to the enemy 1 of 2 ketches loaded with troops.

MIDDLE EAST—Col Shingler is directed by General Maxwell to take responsibility for construction, maintenance, supply, and administration of installations in new PGSC area, which comprises Iraq, Iran, and parts of Saudi Arabia bordering on Persian Gulf.

US MARINE CORPS

Naval Battle of Eastern Solomons.

Monday, 24 August 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Battle of the Eastern Solomons occurs as TF 61 (Vice Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher), supported by USMC and USAAF planes from Henderson Field, turns back major Japanese attempt to recapture Guadalcanal and Tulagi. Carrier Enterprise (CV-6) is damaged by dive bomber (08°38'S, 163°30'E) and destroyer Grayson (DD-435) is damaged by strafing and near-miss, but SBDs and TBFs (VB 3, VS 3, VT 8) from Saratoga (CV-3) sink carrier Ryujo (06°10'S, 160°50'E) and damage seaplane carrier Chitose. SBD (VMSB 232) damages light cruiser Jintsu north of Malaita Island, Solomons.

            Submarine Saury (SS-189) torpedoes Japanese army transport Otowasan Maru west of Luzon, 14°15'N, 120°19'E.

            Submarine Guardfish (SS-217) torpedoes and sinks Japanese merchant passenger-cargo ship Seikai Maru off entrance to Sendai harbor, on northeast coast of Honshu, 38°12'N, 141°30'E.

            Japanese transport Cuba Maru, stranded south of Sakhalin Island, Kurils, sinks, 48°00'N, 142°30'E.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—12 Heavy Bombers hit the shipyard of Ateliers et Chantiers Maritime de la Seine at Le Trait. General Spaatz reports RAF attitude towards US daylight precision bombing seems to be changing from one of skepticism to one of tentative approval.

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑24’s attack Tobruk harbor.

FIFTH AF—B‑17’s hit town of Gasmata and airfields at Rabaul. Japanese amphibious forces leave Buna in barges and New Ireland in transports, heading for Milne Bay. Barges are detected by Australian coast-watcher during the afternoon.

SOUTH PACIFIC—In the Battle of the Eastern Solomons, 7 B‑17’s and USN dive and torpedo-bombers from the Enterprise and Saratoga attack a TF covering a transport formation heading for Guadalcanal; Navy airplanes sink the carrier Ryujo. During the night 4 warships shell the airstrip on Guadalcanal.

ELEVENTH AF—404th Bomb Squadron begins to operate from Umnak. Photo reconnaissance sortie is canceled due to overcast.

ZONE OF THE INTERIOR—XII Fighter Command is assigned to Twelfth AF.

US ARMY

BATTLE OF EASTERN SOLOMONS—American naval TF’s, centering about CV’s Enterprise and Saratoga, intercept Japanese fleet units (3 carriers, 8 BB’s, 4 CA’s, 2 CL’s .and 21 DD’s, plus the 4 transports with reinforcements for Guadalcanal) well E of Guadalcanal. Major air battle ensues (U.S. carrier planes being assisted by a few land-based planes), and Japanese sustain heavy losses before retiring northward. Japanese carrier Ryuju, 1 CL, and 1 DD are sunk, and other vessels are damaged. Japanese lose 90 planes; Americans, 20 planes.

GUADALCANAL—Henderson Field is subjected to almost daily air attacks and Lunga perimeter is bombarded from sea at frequent intervals. Marine fighters intercepting enemy aircraft over Henderson Field shoot down 21 for loss of 3. 11 dive bombers from the Enterprise land on the field and remain for 3 months.

NEW GUINEA—General Horii orders general offensive. Japanese amphibious forces leave for Milne Bay, those from New Ireland in a transports and the force from Buna in 7 large landing barges. Barges are detected by coastwatcher in afternoon.

US MARINE CORPS

Naval Battle of Eastern Solomons.

Sunday, 23 August 1942

US NAVY

ATLANTIC—Heavy cruiser Tuscaloosa (CA-37), escorted by destroyers Rodman (DD-456) and Emmons (DD-457) and British destroyer HMS Onslaught, arrives at Murmansk, Russia, and disembarks men and unloads equipment from two RAF Bomber Command squadrons that have been transferred to North Russia. The ships depart the following day to return to the British fleet base at Scapa Flow, Orkneys.

PACIFIC—Japanese light cruiser Yubari, accompanied by four destroyers and supporting ships, shells Nauru Island, Gilberts, in preparation for landings there.

            Destroyer Blue (DD-387), damaged on 22 August, is scuttled by her crew, 09°17'S, 160°02'E.

            Submarine Skipjack damages Japanese oiler Hayatomo southwest of Ambon, N.E.I., 03°52'N, 127°54'E.

            PBY (VP 23) attacks (in daylight!) Japanese heavy cruiser Furutaka, Solomons.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

SIXTH AF—German sub, U-654, is sunk off Panama, 12-00N 79-56W, by aircraft of 45th Bomb Squadron.

ZONE OF THE INTERIOR—XII AFSC is activated at MacDill Field, under Maj John L Cheesebrough.

FIFTH AF—A lone B‑17 bombs Buka Island.

ELEVENTH AF—Fog cancels photo mission.

US ARMY

USSR—German Army Group B presses in steadily on Stalingrad, spearhead reaching the Volga; Army Group A gains additional ground along E coast of Black Sea and captures Elbrus.

US MARINE CORPS

—