Thursday, June 11, 2026

Monday, 8 June 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Tug Vireo (AT-144) is damaged by grounding, Midway.

            British armed merchant cruiser HMS Alcantara embarks survivors from damaged U.S. freighter George Cylmer; attempts to scuttle the freighter prove futile and Alcantara must leave on 12 June with the American ship still stubbornly afloat.

ATLANTIC—Brazilian tanker Santa Maria rescues the two sailors from U.S. tanker M.F. Elliott that had been held briefly as prisoners of war when their ship had been sunk by German submarine U-502 on 3 June.

CARIBBEAN—U.S. tanker Franklin K. Lane, en route to Aruba, N.W.I., in convoy TA 5, is torpedoed by German submarine U-502 approximately 35 miles northeast of Cape Blanco, 11°22'N, 69°38'W. Four crewmen perish in the attack; 31 merchant seamen and the six man Armed Guard survive to be rescued by British destroyer HMS Churchill [ex-U.S. destroyer Herndon (DD-198)] (see 9 June).

            Coast Guard cutter Nemesis (WPC-111) rescues the 27 survivors of U.S. freighter Suwied, sunk by German submarine U-107 on 7 June.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS US ARMY—ETO established by presidential directive. General Chaney is designated commander of all US forces of ETOUSA.

ELEVENTH AF—1 LB-30 flies armed patrol over Kiska and Umnak and discovers Japanese naval units in Kiska Harbor.

US ARMY

SOUTH WEST PACIFIC AREA—As a result of the successful Midway action, General MacArthur proposes to General Marshall that a limited offensive to regain positions in Bismarck Archipelago be undertaken.

NEW GUINEA—Small party of Americans and Australians flies from Port Moresby to reconnoiter Milne Bay area for air base site. Such a base would strengthen defenses of Port Moresby.

LIBYA—Indecisive fighting continues in vicinity of Knightsbridge and Bir Hacheim. Free French, stubbornly defending Bir Hacheim, are forced to yield some ground; their supply situation is critical.

UNITED KINGDOM—European Theater of Operations, U.S. Army (ETOUSA) is established under command of General Chaney, superseding U.S. Army Forces in British Isles (USAFBI).

US MARINE CORPS

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