Thursday, 10 September 1942

US NAVY

ATLANTIC—German submarine U-69 lays mines at mouth of Chesapeake Bay.

            U.S. freighter American Leader is shelled, torpedoed, and sunk by German auxiliary cruiser Michel (Schiffe 28) in the South Atlantic approximately 800 miles west of the mouth of the Cape of Good Hope, 34°26'S, 02°00'E. Michel recovers the survivors, 39 of 49 merchant seamen and eight of nine Armed Guard sailors, and ultimately transports them to Singapore where they are turned over to the Japanese. Of that group, 14 will perish as POWs.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

ELEVENTH AF—Weather, photo reconnaissance, and patrol missions are flown during morning over Tanaga, Nazan Bay, Adak, and Amchitka. Poor weather is encountered at Kiska, Attu, and Agattu.

US ARMY

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US MARINE CORPS

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Wednesday, 9 September 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Small reconnaissance seaplane from Japanese submarine I-25 drops incendiary bombs on forest near Mount Emily, ten miles northeast of Brookings, Oregon, in an attempt to ignite forest fires. It is the first time a Japanese aircraft has bombed the continental United States during World War II. The bombing is reported by a forest ranger (see 29 September 1942).

            Japanese submarine I-30 reaches Penang, Malaya, having *successfully run the Allied blockade of Lorient, France (see 13 October 1942).

            District patrol craft YP-346 is sunk by Japanese light cruiser Sendai and three destroyers off Guadalcanal.

ATLANTIC—Coast Guard weather ship Muskeget (WAG-48) is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-755 between Norfolk, Virginia, and Iceland.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

UNITED STATES—Japanese airplane, launched from sub off coast, drops incendiary bomb on mountain slope near Brookings, causing small forest fire. This comprises total bombing of continental US by enemy aircraft during World War II.

ARMY AIR FORCES—General Arnold submits to the CoS a plan (AWPD-42) estimating size of air force necessary to attain air ascendancy over the enemy and outlining suggestions for use of these forces in the several theaters. This plan, which by 17 Nov has been approved by WD and the President, includes buildup of depleted Eighth AF in UK and contains the seeds of the Combined Bomber Offensive (CBO).

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

FIFTH AF—P‑40’s strafe Galaiwa Bay area on Goodenough Island. A‑20’s, in support of encircled Australian ground forces, strafe and bomb troops in Efogi Spur area.

ELEVENTH AF—1 B‑26 patrols Tanaga and Adak.

US ARMY

UNITED STATES—Japanese plane, launched from submarine off coast, drops incendiary bomb on mountain slope near Brookings, Oregon, causing small forest fire. This is sole bombing by plane of continental U.S. during the war.

NEW GUINEA—25th Brigade of Australian 7th Division is rushed toward Owen Stanley Range front. 16th Brigade of Australian 6th Division is ordered to Port Moresby.

MADAGASCAR—British forces of East Africa Command renew offensive in order to insure safety of certain military objectives and gain air and sea control of Mozambique Channel. 29th Independent Infantry Brigade makes surprise landing, night 9–10, on W coast in vicinity of Majunga and seizes Majunga virtually unopposed. After being passed through by E African 22d Brigade Group, which starts toward Tananarive, 29th begins re-embarking for another landing. As diversion for Majunga landing, small landings are made on Nosy Be Island., off NW coast, and at Morondava, on W coast; forces on N part of island move southward along W and E coasts.

GERMANY—RAF Bomber Command, during heavy attack on Duesseldorf, night 10–11, drops first 2-ton incendiary bomb.

US MARINE CORPS

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Tuesday, 8 September 1942

US NAVY

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US ARMY AIR FORCE

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑24’s attack shipping and harbor at Suda Bay.

FIFTH AF—P‑400’s bomb and strafe Efogi area where Australian forces are hard pressed by the Japanese. B‑17’s and RAAF Hudsons attack cruisers and a destroyer N of the D’Entrecasteaux Islands.

ELEVENTH AF—1 B‑24 and 1 B‑26 fly photo reconnaissance over Agattu, Attu, and Kiska.

US ARMY

GUADALCANAL—Provisional Battalion composed of depleted 1st Raider and 1st Parachute Battalions moves E from Lunga Pt by sea to destroy enemy force at Tasimboko, near Taivu Pt. Debarking E of Tasimboko, the Battalion moves W, clashing with outposts of strong enemy force that has landed recently near Taivu Pt. Japanese holding force is driven from Tasimboko. Raiders sustain 8 casualties and kill 27 Japanese. Henderson-based aircraft support raiders. Japanese in Taivu Pt area constitute main body of new assault force, smaller group of which is in vicinity of Kokumbona.

NEW GUINEA—General Horii, with 5 reinforced Battalions in assault, attacks 21st Brigade of Australian 7th Division on Efogi Spur, forcing 2/27th Battalion off trail and encircling 2/14th and 2/16th Battalions.

US MARINE CORPS

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Monday, 7 September 1942

US NAVY

INTERNATIONAL—U.S. and Cuba conclude agreement for naval and military cooperation.

PACIFIC—Submarine Growler (SS-215) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Taika Maru 20 miles northwest of Keelung, Formosa, 25°31'N, 121°38'E.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—7 B‑17’s of 29 dispatched, ineffectively raid the Wilton shipyards at Rotterdam in bad weather. 2 Heavy Bombers seek targets of opportunity in vicinity of Utrecht. Heavy fighter opposition is successfully repulsed with bomber crews claiming 12 destroyed.

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑24’s bomb convoys at sea, hit other shipping, and attack Maleme airfield and Suda Bay.

FIFTH AF—A‑20’s and P‑400’s strafe and bomb positions at Myola Lake and Efogi in Owen Stanley Range. P‑40’s and RAAF Hudsons, Beauforts, and Beaufighters attack cruiser and destroyer 17 mi ENE of Cape Karitahua. Organized Japanese resistance in Milne Bay sector ends.

ELEVENTH AF—3 B‑24’s patrol and bomb Kiska Harbor and camp area and also patrol Tanaga. They are attacked by 3 sea fighters of which at least one is downed.

US ARMY

NEW GUINEA—Organized resistance in Milne Bay sector ceases; stragglers are eventually mopped up by Australians. Decisive defeat of Japanese removes threat to Port Moresby from Milne Bay area, but enemy drive along trail over Owen Stanley Range toward Port Moresby is still unchecked.

EGYPT—General Montgomery halts battle of ‘Alam el Halfa before original positions have been restored, leaving enemy in possession of 4–5 mile stretch of desert on S flank. Lull ensues in ground action during which British Eighth Army prepares intensively for offensive. Deceptive measures are taken on a comprehensive scale to conceal plans from enemy.

USSR—Soviet forces continue stubborn resistance to Army Group B in Stalingrad area and to Army Group A in vicinity of Novorossisk.

US MARINE CORPS

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Sunday, 6 September 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—District patrol craft YP-74 is sunk by collision with merchant vessel Derblay off the Aleutian Islands, 54°23'N,164°10'W.

            Battleship South Dakota (BB-57) is damaged when she fouls a coral reef in Lahai Passage, Tonga Islands.

            Japanese submarine I-11 is damaged by gunfire, location unspecified.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

USSR—Germans announce capture of Novorossisk, key Soviet port on Black Sea since fall of Sevastopol.

EIGHTH AF—30 B‑17’s strike Avions Potez aircraft plant at Meaulte, while a smaller force bombs 2 airfields near Saint- Omer. 12 DB‑7’s attack Abbeville/Drucat airfield. 2 B‑17’s are shot down over Meaulte by fighters, marking VIII Bomber Command’s first loss of aircraft in combat.

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—P‑40’s fly offensive sweep over battle area near Rayil Dayr Ar Depression, claiming 3 Ju-87’s shot down. P‑40’s also escort RAF bombers and fly 2 interceptor missions.

FIFTH AF—P‑400’s, A‑20’s, and B‑17’s strafe and bomb positions, troops, and shipping at Myola, Mubo, Kokoda, Myola Lake, Eora Creek, and Milne Bay. Australian ground forces continue to clear enemy from Milne Bay area while Australian troops in the Owen Stanley Range fall back to vicinity of Efogi Spur beyond Gap Mountain where defensive positions already established.

ELEVENTH AF—A B‑24 flying patrol and armed reconnaissance over Tanaga sinks a mine layer and strafes a tender as well as nearby tents and buildings.

US ARMY

NEW GUINEA—Australian 18th Brigade continues to clear enemy from Milne Bay against light, scattered resistance.

            In Owen Stanley Range 2/14th and 2/16th Battalions of 21st Brigade, Australian 7th Division, fall back to Efogi Spur, beyond The Gap, where 2/27th Battalion of same brigade is already established.

EGYPT—13 Corps, British Eighth Army, continues offensive, making slow progress southward against firm opposition.

USSR—Germans announce capture of Novorossisk, leading port on E coast of Black Sea. Fierce fighting continues around Stalingrad.

US MARINE CORPS

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Saturday, 5 September 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Japanese troops are withdrawn from their tenuous beachhead at Milne Bay.

            High speed transports Gregory (APD-3) and Little (APD-4) are sunk by Japanese destroyers Yudachi, Murakumo, and Hatsuyuki off Lunga Point, Guadalcanal, 09°20'S, 160°01'E.

            Submarine Seal (SS-183) sinks Japanese merchant passenger-cargo ship Kanju Maru southeast of Cam Ranh Bay, French Indochina, 11°00'N, 109°32'E.

ATLANTIC—British steamship City of Capetown rescues 19 survivors of U.S. freighter California, sunk by Italian submarine Reginaldo Giuliani on 13 August 1942 (see 14 September 1942).

            One lifeboat with 28 survivors of U.S. tanker Jack Carnes, torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-705 on 30August 1942, reaches Terceira, Azores. The other 28 survivors (18 merchant seamen and 10 Armed Guard sailors) are never recovered.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—Because of General Spaatz’s convincing protests, General Eisenhower changes his mind concerning his recent orders to suspend Eighth AF operations from UK in order to devote total air effort to support of Twelfth AF and the forth coming African campaign. General Eisenhower informs General Marshall that he considers air operations in UK and in Africa mutually complementary. 31 B‑17’s bomb the locomotive depot at Rouen-Sotteville marshalling yard. This is largest force of Eighth AF Heavy Bombers to attack to date. Almost 1/5 of the HE bombs burst within the marshalling yard.

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑24’s strike shipping and dock area in Candia Bay. P‑40’s escort RAF bombers over battle area SE of Alam-el-Halfa ridge near Rayil Dayr Ar Depression as enemy offensive falters and is pushed back.

FIFTH AF—General Walker becomes CG V Bomber Command. P‑400’s strafe Kokoda, Kaile, Isurava, Alola, Buna, Sanananda, and Buna-Kokoda trail. airfield at Buna is strafed and bombed by P‑400’s and A‑20’s. As Japanese withdraw from Milne Bay area, Australian ground forces capture Wagga Wagga supply dump.

ELEVENTH AF—3 B‑24’s abort bombing of Kiska due to overcast.

US ARMY

U.S.-U.K.—Final decision is made that TORCH is to include landings at Algiers and Oran in Algeria and at Casablanca, Morocco.

SOUTH WEST PACIFIC AREA—U.S. 32d and 41st Divisions are assigned to General Eichelberger, CG U.S. I Corps.

NEW GUINEA—Japanese continue evacuation of Milne Bay under cover of darkness. About 1,300 of original force of some 1,900 are withdrawn by sea. Australians, following withdrawal closely, capture supply dump at Waga Waga.

EGYPT—Enemy opposition to 13 Corps, British Eighth Army, as it continues battle to close gap in mine field is unabated.

US MARINE CORPS

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Friday, 4 September 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Growler (SS-215) sinks Japanese ammunition ship Kashino in Formosa Straits, about 50 miles northeast of Keelung, Formosa, 25°43'N, 122°38'E.

            Submarine Guardfish (SS-217), operating off northeast coast of Honshu, sinks merchant cargo ships Kaimei Maru and Chita Maru at 40°14'N, 141°51'E, and passenger cargo ship Tenyu Maru at 40°12'N, 141°49'E, off Kuji Bay, Iwate Prefecture, Japan.

            Submarine Pompano (SS-181) sinks guard boat No.27 Nanshin Maru northeast of Honshu, Japan, 35°22'N, 151°40'E.

            Japanese merchant cargo ship Suki Maru is sunk by mine in Bangka Strait, N.E.I.

ATLANTIC—Unidentified German U-boat comes across one boat containing 19 survivors of U.S. freighter California, sunk by Italian submarine Reginaldo Giuliani on 13 August 1942 and provides rations and navigational assistance before departing (see 5 and 14 September 1942).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑24’s, in conjunction with RAF and RN, attack convoy at sea. 2 merchant ships are reported sunk and 1 left burning. B‑25’s and RAF Bostons, repelling counterattacks during Alam-el-Halfa battle, hit troop concentrations and vehicles, while P‑40’s, operating with RAF, escort bombers and engage in combat over battle area, claiming 1 fighter destroyed.

FIFTH AF—P‑40’s bomb and strafe forces in Milne Bay area at Goroni, Wagga Wagga, Ahioma, and N of Lilihoa. Australian ground forces pushing E along Milne Bay reach Goroni; Japanese begin evacuation of the area.

ELEVENTH AF—2 bombers and 1 P‑38 bomb and patrol Nazan and Kuluk Bays, but bombing of Kiska is canceled due to weather.

US ARMY

SOLOMON ISLANDS—1st Raider Battalion patrols Savo Island., finding it free of enemy, and returns to Guadalcanal. U.S. destroyer-transports Little and Gregory are sunk by enemy warships in Sealark Channel, night 4–5.

NEW GUINEA—Continuing E along Milne Bay, Australians reach Goroni. After nightfall, Japanese place wounded on board ship for withdrawal.

EGYPT—13 Corps, British Eighth Army, is still strongly opposed as it attempts to close gap in mine field.

US MARINE CORPS

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