Friday 2 October, 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—5th Defense Battalion, USMC, occupies Funafuti, Ellice Islands.

            Transport St. Mihiel (AP‑32) is damaged when she strikes uncharted underwater object off Turn Island, Alaska.

            USAAF B‑17s bomb Rabaul harbor, damaging Japanese light cruiser Tenryu.

ATLANTIC—USAAF B‑18 (99th Bombardment Squadron) sinks German submarine U‑512 off French Guiana, 06°50'N, 52°25'W.

            U.S. freighter Alcoa Transport is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U‑201 about 100 miles southeast of Trinidad, 09°03'N, 60°10'W. Submarine chaser PC‑490 rescues the surviving 31 merchant seamen (three crewmen are killed; a fourth dies of wounds later) and five man Armed Guard sailors.

            British steamship Loch Dee rescues 23 survivors from lifeboat from U.S. tanker Patrick J. Hurley, sunk by German submarine U‑512 on 12 September 1942. All told, 31 of 44 merchant seamen and 14 of 18 Armed Guard sailors survive the loss of Patrick J. Hurley.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—Avions Potez aircraft factory at Meaulte is bombed by 30 B‑17’s. A small group attacks Saint-Omer/Longuenesse airfield. Some 400 fighter escorts provide cover which is frequently penetrated by German fighters. The B‑17’s show remarkable defensive strength.

FIFTH AF—In Owen Stanley Range, A‑20’s bomb and strafe Japanese campsites around Myola and hit several trails in the area, while P‑400’s strafe bridges at Sirorata and Wairopi and village NE of Wairopi. B‑ 17’s bomb shipping and airfield at Rabaul.

SIXTH AF—German sub, U-512, is sunk off French Guiana, 06-50N, 52-25W, by aircraft of 99th Bomb Squadron.

ELEVENTH AF—11 B‑24’s and 6 P‑39’s bomb 2 cargo ships at Kiska Harbor (no hits observed) drop demolition charges throughout Main Camp area, and hit hangar S of seaplane ramp. 4 float-planes and 1 biplane are shot down. Enemy aircraft bomb Adak airfield without inflicting damage.

US ARMY

ELLICE Islands.—5th Defense Battalion force from Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, occupies Funafuti.

MADAGASCAR—British forces take Antsirabe.

US MARINE CORPS

—5th Defense Battalion occupies Funafuti, Ellice Islands

Thursday 1 October, 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Grouper (SS‑214) torpedoes and sinks Japanese army transport Lisbon Maru 20 miles north of Chushan Island, 29°57'N, 122°56'N. [Unknown to the Grouper, Lisbon Maru was a "hell ship" transporting British Prisoners of War--over 850 of whom were murdered by the Japanese, either shot or drowned locked in the holds.] Submarine Kingfish (SS‑234) torpedoes and sinks merchant cargo ship Yomei Maru off Ichiezaki, Japan, 33°31'N,135°26'E.

            Submarine Nautilus (SS‑168) sinks merchant cargo ship Tosei Maru east of Shiriyazaki, Japan, 41°20'N, 141°35'E.

            Submarine Sturgeon (SS‑187) damages Japanese aircraft transport Katsuragi Maru off Cape St. George, New Ireland,05°51'S, 153°18'E.

ATLANTIC—Advanced Group, Amphibious Forces, Atlantic Fleet becomes Amphibious Forces, Europe under the Commander U.S. Naval Forces Europe (Admiral Harold R. Stark).

            Destroyer Roe (DD‑418), 20 miles off the coast of Trinidad, rescues the 19 men (17 merchant seamen and 2 Armed Guard sailors) from U.S. freighter West Chetac, sunk by German submarine U‑175 on 24 September 1942, and transports them to Port-of-Spain.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑24’s bomb shipping in Pylos Bay, claiming 2 direct hits and several near misses on a large vessel. Other B‑24’s dispatched to bomb convoy at sea fail to find target.

FIFTH AF—B‑17’s and P‑400’s pound forces and comm in Owen Stanley Range, hitting Menari, Kagi; Myola Lake, Kokoda area, Wairopi bridge, and Buna-Wairopi trail.

ELEVENTH AF—A Japanese reconnaissance airplane over Adak establishes US occupation on the island. 7 B‑24’s on a search attack and photo reconnaissance mission over Kiska hit hangars and ramps, starting several fires. 4 fighters appear and are engaged. 1 probable victory is claimed. 2 other B‑24’s take off, after Navy Catalinas contact transport, but cannot locate it.

US ARMY

NEW GUINEA—GHQ issues plan for encirclement and reduction of Buna-Gona beachhead. Upon securing Kumusi River line from Wairopi southeastward, Goodenough Island, and N coast from Milne Bay to Cape Nelson, concerted assault is to be made on Buna-Gona area. Advance will be along 3 routes: Kokoda Trail, where Australians are now pursuing enemy; from S coast to Jaure along either Rigo or Abau track, both of which are being reconnoitered; NW along coast from Milne Bay.

MIDDLE EAST—Letter of Instructions is issued to Brigadier General Donald H. Connolly, commander-designate of PGSC. CG USAFIME is to exercise administrative supervision over PGSC.

USSR—Bitter fighting continues within and near Stalingrad throughout October, German Army Group B making limited progress against determined resistance. Red Army efforts to relieve the besieged city, which is under severe air and artillery bombardment, prove futile. Drives of German Army Group A are virtually halted by Soviet resistance. Red Army contains attacks toward Grozny oil fields.

            In NW sector of this front, fierce battles occur in Novorossisk-Tuapse area along Black Sea coast. German offensive is steadily losing momentum because of fuel shortage, heavy losses in manpower, difficult terrain, and firm opposition.

US MARINE CORPS

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Wednesday, 30 September 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Heavy cruiser San Francisco (CA‑38) and light minelayer Breese (DM‑18) are damaged in collision, New Hebrides area, 15°39'S, 167°39'E.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

TWELFTH AF—General Dunton assumes command of XII AF Service Command.

FIFTH AF—B‑17’s, A‑20’s, and P‑40’s pound occupied areas at Menari, Myola Lake, Kagi, and Efogi and bridge at Wairopi.

ELEVENTH AF—Of 9 B‑24’s off to bomb Kiska and Attu, 2 turn back. The others blast Attu Camp area, and at Kiska Harbor score at least 1 direct hit and near misses on a ship. 8 fighters intercept over Kiska and Little Kiska but inflict no losses.

US ARMY

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS—Enemy makes the first of a number of nuisance raids on Adak.

US MARINE CORPS

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Tuesday, 29 September 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Small reconnaissance seaplane from Japanese submarine I‑25 drops incendiary bombs on a forest in southern coastal Oregon--the second and last time a Japanese aircraft will bomb the continental United States during World War II in an attempt to ignite forest fires.

            Cargo ship Alhena (AK‑26) is damaged by Japanese submarine I‑4, 20 miles south of San Cristobal Island, Solomons,10°47'S, 161°16'E.

ATLANTIC—Open lighters YC‑898 and YC‑899 sink off Key West, Florida, while in tow en route from New Orleans to Key West.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—US pilots who had been members of 3 RAF Eagle Squadrons are taken over by VIII Fighter Command and organized into 4th Fighter Group.

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑24’s hit harbor installations at Suda Bay. P‑40’s fly offensive sweep over battle area, and carry out interception mission against Stukas over front-line near El Alamein.

FIFTH AF—B‑17’s bomb AA positions at Buna and airfield at Salamaua. A single A‑20 bombs Menari area.

ELEVENTH AF—Morning armed reconnaissance mission is flown by an LB‑30 over Semichis and Attu. It strafes a ship at Attu. 3 B‑ 24’s bomb and strafe sea transport, scoring no hits.

US ARMY

SOLOMON ISLANDS—Troop strength of Guadalcanal garrison is now 19,261; 3,260 troops are on Tulagi. 6th Naval Construction Battalion is constructing airstrip.

MADAGASCAR—Continuing S from Tananarive, British forces occupy Fianarantsoa. 2 companies of Pretoria Regiment and a few armored cars from Diego Suarez land on SW coast at Tulear in order to secure the port, airfield, and seaplane base site for patrolling Mozambique Channel.

UNITED KINGDOM—U.S. fliers of 3 RAF Eagle Squadrons are transferred to USAAF.

US MARINE CORPS

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Monday, 28 September 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Nautilus (SS-168) torpedoes and sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship No.6 Tamon Maru east of Japan,40°35'N, 141°50'N.

            Submarine Sculpin (SS-191) torpedoes Japanese seaplane carrier Nisshin east of Kokoda Island; the submarine is damaged by depth charges off New Britain, 03°47'S, 151°36'E but continues her patrol.

            Submarine Trout (SS-202) torpedoes Japanese escort carrier Taiyo east of Truk, 06°59'N, 151°45'E.

ATLANTIC—U.S. freighter Alcoa Mariner is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U‑175 approximately 20 miles off the mouth of the Orinoco River, 08°57'N, 60°08'W; all hands survive the loss of the ship. Canadian motorship Turret Cape rescues 41 merchant seamen and the 13 man Armed Guard.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FIFTH AF—P‑40’s and P‑400’s bomb and strafe Wairopi bridge, village of Kagi, Myola Lake area, and targets of opportunity along Buna-Kokoda trail. 1 B‑17 bombs airfield at Lae. Main body of 126th Infantry, US 32d Division, arrives at Port Moresby and is assigned to New Guinea Force to join Australian advance on Wairopi.

ELEVENTH AF—2 bombing missions are flown to Kiska and Attu by 7 B‑24’s, 1 B‑17, and 1 LB-30, escorted by 17 fighters. Installations on Kiska and a freighter nearby are bombed. 1 of the B‑24’s and the LB-30 bomb village and Chichagof Harbor on Attu and on returning silence AA guns on a freighter. 5 float-planes are shot down, and 1 submarine is sunk. 1 P‑39 is shot down.

US ARMY

NEW GUINEA—Main body of 126th Infantry, U.S. 32d Division, reaches Port Moresby and is assigned to New Guinea Force to assist in advance on Wairopi.

US MARINE CORPS

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Sunday, 27 September 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—1st Battalion, 7th Marines (Lieutenant Colonel Lewis B. Puller) withdraws from Matanikau River, Guadalcanal, area in landing craft; extraction of marines is covered by gunfire from destroyer Monssen (DD-436) and SBD (VMSB). All available Higgins boats (24 in number) are sent to extract the marines, under Signalman 1st Class Douglas A. Munro, USCG. Munro, with a volunteer crew, interposes his boat so as to draw fire away from the five boats that are embarking marines. Munro is killed, two of his three man crew are wounded (one mortally). He succeeds in his object, but at the cost of his own life. For his heroism, Munro is awarded the Medal of Honor, posthumously.

            Japanese land on Kuria, Gilberts.

ATLANTIC—U.S. freighter Stephen Hopkins engages German auxiliary cruiser Stier (Schiffe 23) and supply ship Tannenfels in a surface gunnery action in the central South Atlantic on the shipping lane between Capetown, South Africa, and Paramaribo, Dutch Guiana. Stier sinks Stephen Hopkins but the German raider sinks after having received heavy damage inflicted by the freighter's Armed Guard (Ensign Kenneth Willett, USNR) and civilian volunteer (Cadet Midshipman Edwin J. O'Hara) gunners, 28°08'S, 20°01'W. Tannenfels rescues Stier's survivors (see 27 October 1942). Ensign Willett will receive a posthumous Navy Cross.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

TWELFTH AF—Following a series of command changes between 16 and 27 Sep, Col Thomas W Blackburn becomes CO XII Fighter Command. War Department assigns to XII Air Support Command the units which are to constitute its force for the invasion of N Africa, a fighter wing (2 groups), a bomb wing (1 Light Bomber group and 1 observation group), and 10 signal, service, and engineer units of various sizes.

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑24’s are dispatched to attack an 8,000-ton vessel at Bengasi. No bombs hit target but several straddle a jetty in the harbor.

TENTH AF—4 B‑25’s over SW China blast Mengshih, claiming about 30 trucks and 400 troops destroyed. The Medium Bombers also bomb Tengchung, leaving it aflame. 3 flights of P‑40’s strafe targets of opportunity along Burma Road, claiming 15 trucks destroyed and 5 barracks groups damaged.

FIFTH AF—A‑20’s continue to pound forces N of Ioribaiwa in area between Kagi and Efogi and in Myola and Menari areas. Japanese abandon Ioribaiwa Ridge and are in full retreat under heavy pressure from Australian ground forces.

ELEVENTH AF—Shore and harbor areas of Kiska are bombed: 8 B‑24’s and 1 B‑17, escorted by 1 P‑38, 13 P‑39’s and 4 P‑40’s take off first, and are followed by 6 unescorted B‑24’s. Weather turns back 13 of the fighters. An LB-30 flies photo-weather reconnaissance over Attu, Buldir, the Semichis, Agattu, and Amchitka.

US ARMY

GUADALCANAL—1st Raider Battalion attempts to attack enemy strongpoint in Matanikau village area from rear but is unable to cross river. 2d Battalion of 5th Marines attacks frontally at river mouth but cannot force crossing. 1st Battalion of 7th Marines lands near Pt Cruz and takes ridge inland from beach but is prevented by fire from advancing farther; with naval and air support, returns to shore and re-embarks for Kukum. 2d Battalion, 5th Marines, covers withdrawal of 1st Raider Battalion and returns during night to Lunga perimeter.

NEW GUINEA—Japanese abandon Ioribaiwa Ridge under Australian pressure and are in full retreat.

US MARINE CORPS

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Saturday, 26 September 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Japanese submarine I-33 accidentally sinks while undergoing voyage repairs at Truk, Carolines.

            Japanese weather observation ship No.6 Kyoei Maru is damaged by aircraft (nationality unspecified) off Woodlark Island.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—Approximately 75 Heavy Bombers are dispatched to attack Cherbourg, Maupertus and Morlaix/Poryeau airfields and to execute diversionary sweeps. All bombers return without bombing their targets due to adverse weather.

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑24’s of 3 squadrons sent on shipping strikes fail to locate targets.

TENTH AF—4 B‑25’s devastate village of Luchiangroupa in SW China.

FIFTH AF—A‑20’s bomb and strafe forces N of Ioribaiwa and along Efogi-Menari trail in support of Australian counteroffensive in Papua. A B‑17, along with RAAF airplanes, bombs airfield at Buna. B‑17’s strike shipping and airfield at Rabaul.

ELEVENTH AF—1 destroyer and 1 freighter are bombed at 53-30N 174-20E. 2 near misses are scored on the freighter.

US ARMY

GUADALCANAL—2d Battalion, 5th Marines, and elements of 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, reach the upper Matanikau and push N along E bank, encountering enemy fire from vicinity of Matanikau village. Artillery and aircraft are employed against the enemy position. 1st Raider Battalion passes through 5th Regiment sector to join in attack.

MADAGASCAR—General Platt moves HQ from Majunga to Tananarive.

US MARINE CORPS

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