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

—

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

—

Friday, 25 September 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Sargo (SS-188) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Teibo Maru (ex-Danish Nordbo) off coast of French Indochina, 180 miles east of Saigon, 10°31'N, 109°31'E.

            Japanese land on Beru, Gilberts.

            USAAF B‑17s damage Japanese light cruiser Yura off Shortland Island, Solomons.

            Japanese submarine I-5 is damaged by gunfire off Guadalcanal.

            USAAF P‑39 fighters damage Japanese submarine RO 67 off Kiska, Aleutians.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑24’s fail to locate shipping convoy S of Crete and return without bombing. Other B‑24’s bomb Bengasi.

TENTH AF—4 B‑25’s, with escort of 10 P‑40’s, attack Hanoi. The strike force is intercepted by 10 fighters but the Medium Bombers place several bombs on the runway at Gia Lam airfield. The P‑40’s claim at least 9 fighters shot down. CATF bombers fly 11 missions during remainder of Sep and early Oct to support Chinese ground forces attempting to hold the Japanese on W bank of the Salween.

FIFTH AF—P‑40’s again bomb bridge at Wairopi, scoring direct hit on NE end, which is demolished. Australian ground forces open counteroffensive, attacking strongly toward Ioribaiwa to drive enemy back along Port Moresby-Kokoda trail.

ELEVENTH AF—9 B‑24’s, 1 B‑17, and 1 B‑24 photo airplane, escorted by 11 P‑39’s and 17 P‑40’s, fly first of 2 missions to Kiska. RCAF Kittyhawk, participate in this first combined Canadian-American mission of the Eleventh. Later 2 B‑24’s and a B‑17, escorted by 15 P‑39’s, pound Little Kiska and Kiska. Radar installations at Little Kiska are destroyed and explosions and fires are caused in the Main Camp area. Other targets include shipping, stores, and tents. The P‑39’s also strafe 2 subs. 2 float planes are downed. 5 to 8 biplanes are probably destroyed on the water. 1 large transport vessel is hit and lists badly. 150 personnel are believed killed.

US ARMY

GUADALCANAL—2d Battalion of 5th Marines joins 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, on NW slope of Mt. Austen to continue attack against enemy in Matanikau-Kokumbona area. 2 companies of 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, return to Lunga perimeter. Patrol of 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, reconnoiters Koli Pt without incident.

NEW GUINEA—25th Brigade, Australian 7th Division, opens counteroffensive to drive enemy back along Port Moresby–Kokoda trail, attacking strongly for Ioribaiwa.

MADAGASCAR—East African 22d Brigade establishes contact with 29th Independent Brigade, giving British control of central part of island.

US MARINE CORPS

—

Thursday, 24 September 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Japanese land on Maiana, Gilberts.

            SBDs (VMSB 231, VS 3) from Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, damage Japanese destroyer Umikaze while the ship engages in resupply operations.

            USAAF B‑17 damages Japanese seaplane carrier Sanuki Maru off Shortlands Island, Solomons.

INDIAN OCEAN—U.S. freighter Losmar is sunk by Japanese submarine I-165 about 250 miles west of Cape Comorin, India, 07°40'N,74°15'E; of the ship's 9 man Armed Guard detachment, 3 are lost when she sinks. British ship Louise Moller will rescue 14 survivors on 5 October; seven survivors will reach the west coast of Ceylon by boat on 17 October 1942.

ATLANTIC—U.S. freighter John Winthrop, straggling from convoy ON 131, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-619 at 56°00'N, 31°00'W. There are no survivors from the 39 man merchant complement or the 13 man Armed Guard.

            U.S. freighter West Chetac is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-175 north of British Guiana, 08°06'N, 58°12'W; only 17 of the 39 man crew and two of the 11 man Armed Guard reach the rafts that float free of the ship as she sinks in heavy seas. U-175 conducts a brief interrogation of the survivors before departing (see 2 or 3 October1942).

            U.S. freighter Antinous, torpedoed the previous day, is reboarded by the rest of the crew and is taken in tow by British rescue tug HMS Zwarte Zee. Soon thereafter, however, Antinous is torpedoed by U-512. Again, Antinous is abandoned, and all hands are picked up by Zwarte Zee and HMS Busy. The freighter sinks later that day.

            West Indian fishing boat rescues last two survivors (one of whom subsequently dies of exposure) of U.S. freighter West Lashaway (sunk by German submarine U-66 on 30 August 1942). All told, only 12 of the 38 man merchant complement, one of the 9 man Armed Guard, and five of nine passengers survive West Lashaway's loss.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

TWELFTH AF—XII Ground Air Support Command is redesignated XII Air Support Command.

FIFTH AF—B‑17’s bomb shipping at Rabaul. P‑40’s and A‑20’s hit Mubo while B‑17’s bomb wrecked vessel at Gona. P‑40’s hit airfield at Kokoda and targets along Kokoda-Wairopi trail, including bridge at Wairopi.

ELEVENTH AF—3 B‑24’s bomb Main Camp, storage dumps, and dock areas, starting several fires.

US ARMY

GUADALCANAL—1st Battalion of 7th Marines engages in fire fight with enemy on NW slope of Mt Austen.

US MARINE CORPS

—

Wednesday, 23 September 1942

US NAVY

ATLANTIC—U.S. freighter Antinous is torpedoed by German submarine U-515 off Georgetown, British Guiana, 08°58'N, 59°33'W; Armed Guard gunfire forces U-515 to submerge. All hands abandon Antinous; a volunteer crew returns to the ship to try and get her underway (see 24 September 1942).

            U.S. freighter Penmar, straggling from convoy SC-100 and steering toward Cape Farewell, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-432 at 58°12'N, 34°35'W. One man dies as the ship is being abandoned, but 38 merchant sailors and the 22 man Armed Guard are rescued by Coast Guard cutter Bibb (WPG-31) and transported to Iceland.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

TWELFTH AF—General Doolittle assumes command of Twelfth AF in Great Britain.

FIFTH AF—P‑40’s, P‑39’s, P‑400’s, and B‑17’s hit tanks, buildings, and airfield at Buna, Wairopi bridge and targets of opportunity on Buna-Kokoda trail, and Taupota Mission near Goodenough Bay.

SOUTH PACIFIC—72d Bomb Squadron (B‑17’s) of 5th Bomb Group joins 11th Bomb Group on Espiritu Santo.

SEVENTH AF—Movement of 72d Bomb Squadron to SOPAC, plus subsequent movement of other squadrons of 5th Bomb Group to SOPAC, makes it difficult for some time to maintain the minimum force of 35 Heavy Bombers considered necessary for defense of the Hawaiian Islands. This situation is relieved by 90th Bomb Group, which stops in Hawaii while en route to SWPA, and by 307th Bomb Group, which is assigned to Seventh AF for a time.

ELEVENTH AF—Weather causes mission abort to Kiska. Photo reconnaissance over Attu confirms abandonment by enemy. A Navy PBY escorted by 2 P‑38’s lands off Amchitka with a scouting party which determines that the island is unsuited as an airfield. The P‑38’s also bomb a radio shack and sink a submarine at Amchitka.

US ARMY

GUADALCANAL—1st Marine Division begins limited operation to W of Lunga perimeter to eliminate enemy within striking distance of Henderson Field: 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, is directed to advance along N slopes of Mt Austen, cross the Matanikau, and push W to Kokumbona; 1st Raider Battalion is to establish patrol base at Kokumbona at point where inland trails intersect coastal road.

NEW GUINEA—General Blarney arrives in Port Moresby to take direct command of New Guinea forces. Lt General Edmund F. Herring becomes Commander, Advance New Guinea Force, succeeding General Rowell. 128th Infantry of U.S. 32d Division reaches Port Moresby by air and is assigned to garrison force under operational control of Australian 6th Division.

MADAGASCAR—East African 22d Brigade enters Tananarive, which has been declared an open city.

USSR—German Army Group B continues to make slow progress in Stalingrad against bitter opposition. Army Group A assembles an assault force for drive on Black Sea port of Tuapse.

US MARINE CORPS

—

Tuesday, 22 September 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Amberjack (SS-219), en route to patrol the waters off Kieta, Bougainville, is damaged when she runs aground on an uncharted coral head off Oema Island, 06°31'31"S, 155°59'E. She remains on patrol.

INDIAN OCEAN—U.S. freighter Paul Luckenbach is torpedoed and sunk by Japanese submarine I-29 approximately 800 miles from the coast of India, 10°03'N, 63°42'E; although the four lifeboats containing the entire 44 man complement and 17 man Armed Guard become separated during the 16-to-21 day voyages, all hands reach safety.

ATLANTIC—U.S. tanker Esso Williamsburg is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-211 approximately 500 miles south of Cape Farewell, Greenland, 53°12'N, 41°00'W; there are no survivors from the 42 man crew and 18 man Armed Guard.

NORTH RUSSIA—U.S. freighter Bellingham, in convoy QP 14, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-435 approximately 45miles west of Jan Mayen Island, 71°23'N, 11°03'E; escort vessels rescue the ship's complement: 39 merchant seamen, the 10 man Armed Guard, and 26 passengers (survivors from freighters Pan Kraft and Pan Atlantic, sunk on 5 and 6 July 1942, respectively, in the ill-fated PQ 17 convoy).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

TWELFTH AF—General Cannon takes command of XII Ground Air Support Command.

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑24’s bomb shipping in Bengasi harbor. Direct hits are made on 1 large vessel while a smaller vessel and other targets receive lesser hits.

FIFTH AF—A‑20’s bomb and strafe occupied areas at Menari, Efogi, Nauro, Yodda, and Kokoda. P‑40’s strafe AA positions, huts, and barges at Buna and Salamaua and bomb and strafe Wairopi bridge, strafe buildings at Yodda, airfield at Buna, and AA positions and other targets along Buna-Kokoda trail. 1 B‑25 bombs N end of Buna airfield and coastal end of Sanananda track. B‑17’s bomb airfield and shipping at Rabaul.

ELEVENTH AF—9 B‑24’s, 2 B‑17’s, and 1 LB-30, accompanied by 15 P‑39’s and 20 P‑40’s, abort Kiska bombing mission due to weather. Photo reconnaissance suggests that Chichagof Harbor is abandoned.

US ARMY

UNITED STATES—Combined Chiefs of Staff approve plan drawn up in Washington by SOS, “The Plan for Operation of Certain Iranian Communication Facilities between Persian Gulf Ports and Tehran by U.S. Army Forces.” The plan gives U.S. direct responsibility for moving supplies through Persian Corridor to USSR.

US MARINE CORPS

—

Monday, 21 September 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Grouper (SS-214) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Tone Maru in China Sea, east of Shanghai, 31°18'N,123°27'E.

            Submarine Trout (SS-202) sinks Japanese auxiliary netlayer Koei Maru south of Truk, 06°54'N, 151°51'E.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FIFTH AF—P‑40’s bomb and strafe bridges and targets of opportunity along Buna-Kokoda trail.

ELEVENTH AF—The 21st Bomb Squadron begins to operate from Adak. Bombers fly reconnaissance over Kiska and bomb and fire Constantine Harbor installations at Amchitka.

US ARMY

—

US MARINE CORPS

—