Sunday, 9 August 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Battle of Savo Island: Japanese force of seven cruisers and one destroyer (Vice Admiral Mikawa Gunichi) approaches west of Savo Island, Solomons, undetected. The defeat is one of the worst ever inflicted on the U.S. Navy. Allied ships depart Guadalcanal area. Japanese vessels temporarily control waters around Guadalcanal. Heavy cruiser Astoria (CA-34) is sunk by gunfire of Japanese heavy cruisers Chokai, Aoba, Kinugasa, and Kako. Quincy (CA-39) is sunk by gunfire of heavy cruisers Aoba, Kako, and Furutaka and light cruiser Tenryu and is torpedoed by light cruiser Yubari. Vincennes (CA-44) is sunk by gunfire and torpedo from heavy cruiser Chokai, and gunfire from Kako, Aoba, and Kinugasa, and light cruiser Yubari. The fourth Allied ship lost off Savo is Australian heavy cruiser HMAS Canberra which, badly damaged by Japanese gunfire, is scuttled by destroyer Selfridge (DD-357).

            U.S. ships damaged are heavy cruiser Chicago (CA-29) by Kako; destroyer Ralph Talbot (DD-390) by Furutaka, Yubari, and Tenryu; and destroyer Patterson (DD-392) by Yubari and Tenryu. U.S. gunfire damages Chokai (from Quincy and Astoria); Kinugasa (by Vincennes); Aoba (by Quincy) and Tenryu (by Chicago and Patterson).

            Destroyer Jarvis (DD-393), damaged the previous day, is mistaken as an "Achilles-class cruiser" and attacked by Japanese land attack planes (Misawa Kokutai) and torpedoed 200 nautical miles southeast of Tulagi, 09°42'S,158°59'E. Jarvis puts up a stout fight, splashing two of the attacking planes; a third ditches due to battle damage. There are, however, no survivors from the destroyer, which is lost with all hands.

ATLANTIC—German submarine U-98 completes laying mines off mouth of St. Johns River, east of Jacksonville, Florida.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

TENTH AF—P‑40’s of the 23d Group continue to support Chinese ground forces by harassing the Japanese at Linchwan. 4 B‑25’s and 3 P‑40’s from Kweilin-Hengyang area, staging through Nanning, bomb docks and warehouses at Haiphong, causing considerable damage and claiming a freighter sunk in the harbor; this is first CATF raid over Indochina.

FIFTH AF—B‑17’s bomb shipping and airfields at Rabaul and Gasmata while B‑26’s hit harbor area at Salamaua.

ELEVENTH AF—6 bombers fly armed reconnaissance over Kiska and Attu and hit Kiska.

US ARMY

SOLOMON ISLANDS—Amphibious and Air Support Forces of TF 61 retire, former with more than half the 60 days’ supplies and elements of landing force still embarked. Of the original landing force of over 19,000, almost 17,000 are now ashore. Guadalcanal beachhead is being consolidated and work is begun on uncompleted airstrip, where air warning system is established. During 8 and 9, 2d Marines completes northern attack with occupation of Mbangai, Makambo, and Kokomtambu islets.

NEW GUINEA—Maj General Sydney F. Rowell, CG Australian I Corps, is designated to command New Guinea Force.

USSR—Krasnodar and Maikop fall to German Army Group A.

US MARINE CORPS

Battle of Savo Island forces U. S. ships to retire from Guadalcanal area, leaving control of waters temporarily to Japanese.

Saturday, 8 August 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Marines wrest control of Tulagi, Gavutu, and Tanambogo, Solomons, from tenacious Japanese resistance. Unfinished airstrip on Guadalcanal is captured and named "Henderson Field" in honor of the late Major Lofton R. Henderson, USMC, who was killed while leading VMSB 241 in the gallant but unsuccessful attack on Japanese carrier Hiryu at Midway on 4 June 1942. Coastwatchers report incoming raid. During fierce Japanese aerial assault by land attack planes (4th and Misawa Kokutais) on invasion shipping: destroyer Jarvis (DD-393) and transport George F. Elliott (AP-13), 09°10'S, 160°10'E are torpedoed. The latter, also crashed by a Japanese plane, is later scuttled by destroyer Hull (DD-350). Another crashing bomber damages transport Barnett (AP-11), 09°13'S, 160°01'E.

            Submarine Narwhal (SS-167) sinks Japanese crab boat Bifuku Maru southeast of Shiriya Zaki, at northeast tip of Honshu. 41°14'N, 141°32'E.

            Submarine S-38 (SS-143), despite presence of escorting minesweeper W.21, sinks Japanese transport Meiyo Maru at southern entrance of St. George Channel, between New Britain and New Ireland, 04°52'S, 152°42'E.

            Submarine Silversides (SS-236), attacking Japanese convoy emerging from Kobe harbor, torpedoes and sinks merchant cargo ship Nikkei Maru in Kii Suido, near Ichiya Zaki, 33°33'N, 135°23'E.

            Destroyers Mustin (DD-413) and Morris (DD-417) are damaged in collision during night maneuvers in Hawaiian Operating Area.

ATLANTIC—German submarine U-98 mines waters off Jacksonville, Florida.

            U.S. freighter Kaimoku, en route to Liverpool in convoy SC 94, is torpedoed and sunk by shellfire of German submarine U-379 at 56°32'N, 32°15'W. Two of the 36 man crew die in the attack, as do two of the 14 man Armed Guard. Canadian corvette HMCS Battleford rescues survivors.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

TENTH AF—B‑25’s hit Canton area, bombing Tien Ho airfield and other targets in the vicinity and claiming 2 interceptors shot down.

FIFTH AF—P‑400’s dive-bomb Kokoda and Yodda. B‑17’s, B‑25’s and B‑26’s bomb runways and targets of opportunity at Lae and Salamaua.

SOUTH PACIFIC—From this date through 23 Aug, B‑17’s fly search mission covering the lower Solomons in order to detect any attempt to make surprise attack on the forces consolidating the Guadalcanal beachhead.

ELEVENTH AF—1 LB-30, 3 B‑24’s, and 8 P‑38’s on photo and bombing missions over Kiska cannot attack but Navy Catalinas also operating over and off Kiska hit freighters and transport, claiming 1 transport sinking, and score many hits on North Head and Main Camp.

US ARMY

ALLIED COMMAND—President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill agree on General Eisenhower, CG ETO, as commander of TORCH.

SOLOMON ISLANDS—Japanese planes continue to attack Allied shipping, destroying USS George F. Elliott (AP) and damaging USS Jarvis (DD). Jarvis heads for Noumea but is never heard from again. Abandoning thrust toward Mt Austen on Guadalcanal, 1st Marine Division advances W in 2 columns. 1st Battalion of 5th Marines crosses Lunga River and secures coastal village of Kukum. To S, 1st Battalion of 1st Marines takes airfield and reaches E bank of Lunga River. Both Kukum and the airfield are found to have been hastily evacuated. On Tulagi, 1st Raider Battalion and 5th Marines finish clearing the island by 1500. On Gavutu-Tanambogo, 1st Parachute Battalion, assisted by 3d Battalion of 2d Marines from division reserve, completes capture of Gavutu-Tanambogo.

BATTLE OF SAVO ISLAND—During night 8–9, Japanese naval force of cruisers and DD’s attacks Allied warships off Savo Island. and inflicts heavy damage before retiring to Rabaul. As a result of the action, HMAS Canberra and USS Astoria, Quincy, and Vincennes are lost and other vessels are damaged.

EGYPT—General Alexander flies to Cairo, where he learns that he is to relieve General Auchinleck as CinC MEF. Lt General W. H. E. Gott, CG of British 13 Corps, who was to have been given command of British Eighth Army, is killed in airplane accident.

USSR—Surovikino, W of Stalingrad, falls to German Army Group B.

US MARINE CORPS

1st MarDiv wins control of Tulagi, Gavutu, Tanambogo and captures airfield on Guadalcanal.

Friday, 7 August 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Operation WATCHTOWER: 1st Marine Division (Major General Alexander A. Vandegrift, USMC) lands on Florida, Tulagi, Gavutu, Tanambogo, and Guadalcanal, in the first American land offensive of the war. Amphibious Force, South Pacific (Rear Admiral Richmond K. Turner) lands the leathernecks under cover of naval surface and air forces (Vice Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher). Landings are supported by carrier and shore-based aircraft (Rear Admiral Leigh Noyes and Rear Admiral John S. McCain). Overall commander is Vice Admiral Robert L. Ghormley, Commander South Pacific Force; officer in tactical command is Vice Admiral Fletcher. During Japanese air attacks on the transport force and its escorts off Guadalcanal, destroyer Mugford (DD-389) is damaged by carrier[dive] bomber (2nd Kokutai), 09°00'S, 160°00'E. Following shore bombardment operations in Tulagi Bay, light cruiser San Juan (CL-54) is damaged by explosion in one of her forward 5-inch gun mounts.

            TG 8.6 (Rear Admiral William W. Smith) bombards Kiska, Aleutians.

            Submarine Tambor (SS-198) sinks Japanese auxiliary netlayer Shofuku Maru off Wotje, Marshalls, 09°25'N, 170°11'E.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—Col Harry A Halverson relinquishes command of Hal Bomb Squadron, to be succeeded by Lt Col George F McGuire.

FIFTH AF—13 B‑17’s of 19th Bomb Group, led by Lt Col Richard H Carmichael, hit Vunakanau airfield in coordination with Marine landings on Guadalcanal. B‑26’s attack Lae, and a B‑17 and a B‑25 each attack a submarine in Gulf of Papua.

SOUTH PACIFIC—First Marine Division invades Guadalcanal.

ELEVENTH AF—3 B‑24’s dispatched to bomb Kiska return with their bombs due to solid overcast. 4 more B‑24’s also depart for Kiska. 1 turns back with mechanical trouble, the others abort mission over target due to undercast. 1 B‑24, 4 P‑38’s and an LB-30 fly 2 air coverage missions at Nazan Bay for Navy tenders.

US ARMY

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS—Kiska undergoes its first bombardment by surface forces. TF of cruisers and destroyers under Rear Admiral W. W. Smith, part of Admiral Theobald’s North Pacific Force (TF 8), bombards shore installations with unobserved results. This action had been planned for 2d July but was postponed because of weather conditions.

SOLOMON ISLANDS—After preparatory bombardment of landing areas, U.S. 1st Marine Division (—7th Marines), reinforced, invades S Solomons with close air and naval support. Unloading operations are delayed by enemy air attacks during which USS Mugford (DD) is damaged. At 0910, 5th Marines (—2d Battalion) lands unopposed on N coast (Beach Red) of Guadalcanal about 6,000 yards E of Lunga Pt and establishes beachhead between Tenaru and Tenavatu Rivers. 1st Marines and supporting weapons follow 5th Marines ashore. 1st Battalion of 5th Marines drives W along coast toward Lunga River; 1st Marines pushes SW toward Mt Austen. Advance halts for night after each of the assault forces has gained about a mile, 1st Battalion of 5th Marines reaching mouth of Ilu River. At 0740, 1st Battalion of 2d Marines begins landing on S coast of Florida Island., Company B near Haleta and rest at Halavo. The Battalion meets no opposition and is later withdrawn. At 0800, 1st Raider Battalion, followed by 2d Battalion of 5th Marines, lands on S coast (Beach Blue) of Tulagi without opposition. Marines clear NW end of island without difficulty, but Raiders meet bitter opposition from enemy in caves and dugouts on SE end in afternoon and are forced to halt some 1,000 yards from SE tip. Company G of 5th Marines helps hold this perimeter against enemy attacks. At noon, 1st Parachute Battalion invades twin islets of Gavutu and Tanambogo, which are joined by causeway, E of Tulagi; clears most of the islets despite enemy fire. From Florida Island., Company B of 2d Marines makes unsuccessful attempt to land on N coast.

NEW GUINEA—Activity is confined to patrol clashes. By this time all 5 rifle companies of Australian 39th Battalion are at the front and Maroubra Force contains 480 men. Because of Solomons offensive, Japanese recall convoy heading for Buna from Rabaul.

EGYPT—Prime Minister Churchill visits British Eighth Army front.

US MARINE CORPS

1st Marine Division lands on Florida, Tulagi, Gavutu, Tanambogo, and Guadalcanal in Southern Solomons to launch first U. S. offensive of the war.

Thursday, 6 August 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Tautog (SS-199) sinks Japanese army transport Ohio Maru in South China Sea about 250 miles east-northeast of Cam Ranh Bay, French Indochina, 13°51'N, 113°15'E.

ATLANTIC—Unarmed U.S. schooner Wawaloam, en route to St. John's, Newfoundland, is sunk by shellfire of German submarineU-86 at 39°18'N, 55°44'W, but suffers no casualties to the six man crew and the sole passenger (see 12 August).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

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

TENTH AF—B‑25’s bomb Tien Ho airfield, causing heavy damage to the runways and destroying several parked airplanes.

FIFTH AF—B‑25’s and B‑26’s pound airfields at Lae and Salamaua.

ELEVENTH AF—3 B‑24’s, 2 B‑17’s, and 10 P‑38s. provide air coverage for Navy tenders to Nazan Bay. Photo reconnaissance is flown over Attu.

US ARMY

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA—Allied invasion force continues toward Solomons undetected.

NEW GUINEA—New Guinea Force takes command of all Australian and U.S. forces in Australian New Guinea (Papua and NE New Guinea).

CHINA BURMA INDIA—Dr. Currie leaves China for Washington to present General Stilwell’s “Pacific Front” plan and Chiang Kai-shek’s modified demands to President Roosevelt and Combined Chiefs of Staff.

USSR—On Novorossisk-Stalingrad Railroad, Germans claim capture of Tikhoretsk and Russians admit loss of Kotelnikov: German Army Group A overruns Armavir, on Kuban River. Soviet resistance to Army Group B in Don bend near Stalingrad is growing weaker.

US MARINE CORPS

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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

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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

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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

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