US NAVY
PACIFIC—Submarine Saury (SS-189) sinks Japanese
aircraft transport Kanto Maru approximately 30 miles off the west coast
of the Celebes, in central Makassar Strait, 03°15'S, 118°27'E.
On board
submarine Seadragon (SS-194), en route to her war patrol station in the
South China Sea, Pharmacist's Mate First Class Wheeler B. Lipes performs
successful appendectomy on Seaman First Class Darrell D. Rector, USNR. Captain
James Fife, Commander, Submarine Squadron 2, later writes that he "hoped
that his [Lipes's] success will not encourage others to take unnecessary
risks..." in such cases in the future (see 14-15 December and 22 December
1942).
USAAF
B-17s and RAAF Hudsons sink Japanese destroyer Yayoi about 15 miles east
of Normanby Island, D'Entrecasteaux Islands.
US ARMY AIR FORCE
US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—P‑40’s fly uneventful sweep
with RAF during lull after Battle of Alam-el-Halfa.
FIFTH AF—A‑20’s and B‑26’s hit Efogi and Menari in the Owen
Stanley Range and airfield at Buna. B‑17’s, along with RAAF Hudsons, attack 2
destroyers 20 mi E of Normanby Island. A B‑17 scores a direct hit on stern of the
destroyer Yayoi, which later sinks.
SOUTH PACIFIC—Island combat control groups are authorized
for New Caledonia and Fiji. These units, under immediate control of
COMGENSOPAC, are to take over local operational direction of fighter aircraft
and all other units in the island combat team.
ELEVENTH AF—343d Fighter Group, constituted on 3 Sep, is
activated on this day and immediately begins to operate. It is composed of the
11th, 18th, 54th, and, as of 10 Oct, 344th Fighter Squadrons. A weather, photo,
and patrol aircraft draw AA fire over Chichagof Harbor and also covers Tanaga,
Amchitka, and Semichi.
US ARMY
ALEUTIAN ISLANDS—Completion
of runway on Adak permits stepped up air offensive against Kiska, some 250
miles distant.
GUADALCANAL—From 29 August to date, about 6,000 Japanese
have arrived, landing mostly at night from DD’s and destroyer-transports.
NEW GUINEA—General MacArthur submits to General Blarney a
plan for accelerating operations. While Australians, upon receiving
reinforcements, are to attack to drive enemy back along Port Moresby–Kokoda
trail, an RCT of U.S. 32d Division is to execute wide flanking movement to E to
get behind Japanese at Wairopi and thus hasten their expulsion from New Guinea.
Australian 2/14th and 2/16th Battalions break through enemy forces and fall
back to Nauro; then yield Nauro under pressure and take up positions on ridge N
of Ioribaiwa, where 2/1st Pioneer Battalion and 3d Battalion of 14th Brigade are
established.
US MARINE CORPS
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