Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Wednesday, 17 June 1942

US NAVY

ATLANTIC—German submarine U-202 puts four agents ashore on Ponte Vedra Beach, south of Jacksonville, Florida; fishermen discover the landing. Subsequently, Federal Bureau of Investigation agents capture the Germans.

           U.S. freighter Columbian is attacked by what she believes is a German submarine at 07°18'N, 41°03'W; although the ship is damaged by shell fragments and machine gun fire, Armed Guard gunfire drives off her attacker without further incident. Columbian suffers no casualties among her 42 man merchant complement or 17 man Armed Guard.

           U.S. freighter Millinocket is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-129 off the north coast of Cuba,23°12'N, 79°58'W; nine of 29 merchant seamen perish, as do 2 of the 6 man Armed Guard. U-129's captain briefly questions the survivors and then provides the Americans with a first aid kit for the wounded (see 18 June).

           U.S. collier Santore, in convoy KS 511, strikes mine laid by German submarine U-701 off Virginia Beach, Virginia, 36°52'N, 75°51'W; three merchant seaman are lost. Survivors (34 merchant sailors and the 9 man Armed Guard) are rescued by the Coast Guard.

CARIBBEAN—Survivors (37 merchant seamen and 13 Armed Guard sailors) from U.S. freighter West Hardaway, torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-502 on 15 June, reach Margarita Island, Venezuela.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

HALPRO—The det is ordered to vicinity of Cairo to report to General Russell L Maxwell, designated CG USAFIME.

SEVENTH AF—P‑40’s of 73d Fighter Squadron aboard the Saratoga are flown off the carrier at Midway to replace Navy airplanes lost in the Battle of Midway. The P‑40’s begin dawn and dusk patrols which continue until the P‑40’s are relieved on 23 Jun 43.

ELEVENTH AF—A Kiska Harbor bombing mission is canceled due to weather as is patrolling mission by Heavy Bombers.

US ARMY

UNITED STATES—German submarine lands 4 enemy agents on Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

MIDDLE EAST—Maj General Russell L. Maxwell accepts appointment as head of USAFIME.

LIBYA—Enemy gains control of coastal road to Bardia, completing isolation of Tobruk.

US MARINE CORPS

No comments:

Post a Comment