Saturday, 1 August 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Vice Admiral Robert L. Ghormley, Commander South Pacific Force, establishes his headquarters afloat on board auxiliary Argonne (AG-31) at Nouméa, New Caledonia.

            Submarine Narwhal (SS-167), attacking Japanese shipping south of Shiraya Zaki, off northeast tip of Honshu, sinks merchant cargo ship Meiwa Maru, 41°12'N, 141°36'E, and oiler Koan Maru, 41°03'N, 141°28'E.

PACIFIC—Naval Base, Galapagos Islands; Naval Station, Taboga Island, Canal Zone; Naval Auxiliary Air Facility and Motor Torpedo Boat Base, Salinas, Ecuador, are established.

GULF OF MEXICO—Coast Guard J4F bombs and sinks German submarine U-166, 28°31'N, 90°45'W.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—General Eaker describes the mission of VIII Bomber Command as the destruction of carefully chosen strategic targets in Europe.

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—During 1/2 Aug, B‑24’s hit convoy in Mediterranean, scoring 3 direct hits on a large merchant ship which last aircraft reports sinking. 1 B‑24 is lost in crash-landing at base.

FIFTH AF—B‑17’s attack installations at Gona and shipping 75 mi E of Salamaua in Huon Gulf.

ELEVENTH AF—Weather and photo reconnaissance is flown by 1 B‑24 and 1 LB-30 over Korovin Bay and North Cape.

US ARMY

CHINA—Chiang Kai-shek formally approves General Stilwell’s proposal of 18 July for offensive and modifies the 3 demands of 29 June.

EGYPT—Activity on both sides is confined to patrolling, artillery exchanges, and preparations for renewing offensive.

USSR—German Army Group A, to which 1st Pz Army reverts, is fanning out S of Rostov and has cut Novorossisk–Stalingrad Railroad with capture of rail junction of Salsk; forward elements reach Kuban River. Heavy fighting continues in Don bend opposite Stalingrad as German Army Group B continues efforts to isolate Soviet forces. Red Army continues local attacks in Rzhev sector.

US MARINE CORPS

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Friday, 31 July 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Grunion (SS-216) torpedoes Japanese transport Kashima Maru off Kiska, Aleutians, but is sunk by gunfire from her quarry, 10 miles north of Segula Island.

            PBYs attempt to bomb Japanese bases in Tulagi-Gavutu area is aborted because of bad weather.

ATLANTIC—German submarine U-751 lays mines off Charleston, South Carolina.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

UNITED KINGDOM—Units of Provisional Troop Carrier Command are organized in UK.

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—The complete air echelon of 57th Fighter Group, commanded by Col Frank H Mears, has arrived in Palestine by this date; 12th Bomb Group commanded by Col Charles G Goodrich, is now arriving in Palestine. Thus USAMEAF has P‑40’s and B‑25’s to add to its B‑24’s and B‑17’s.

FIFTH AF—B‑17’s hit Gona and a nearby transport which had been previously damaged, and bomb Kukum Beach and Lunga landing strip on N coast of Guadalcanal as US invasion forces leave Fiji Islands for the Solomons.

SOUTH PACIFIC—Col LaVerne G Saunders leads 9 B‑17’s of his 11th Bomb Group from Efate on strike against Guadalcanal, bombing landing strip and area about Lunga Pt. From this date until 7 Aug, the 11th Group flies 56 strike and 22 search sorties in support of the invasion of Guadalcanal.

SEVENTH AF—1 B‑17, from Midway, flies photo reconnaissance of Wake. The Heavy Bomber is intercepted by 6 fighters. In the ensuing fight US gunners claim 4 fighters destroyed.

ELEVENTH AF—1 B‑24 and 1 Light Bomber-30 fly weather and photo reconnaissance. Weather cancels combat mission to Kiska.

US ARMY

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA—Admiral Turner’s Amphibious Force, covered by Admiral Noyes’ Air Support Force and Admiral McCain’s TF 63, begins voyage to the Solomons from Fiji Islands. B–17’s of TF 63, from New Hebrides bases, start 7 days of attacks on Guadalcanal and Tulagi in preparation for invasion.

NEW GUINEA—Additional elements (Company A of Australian 39th Battalion) of Maroubra Force reach Deniki.

US MARINE CORPS

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Thursday, 30 July 1942

US NAVY

            Women's Naval Reserve (WAVES) (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) is established (see 2 August).

PACIFIC—Submarine Grenadier (SS-210) torpedoes Japanese tanker San Clemente Maru off Truk, 07°02'N, 151°15'E.

GULF OF MEXICO—German submarine U-166 attacks convoy TAW 7 about 25 miles southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River, and sinks U.S. passenger ship Robert E. Lee, 28°40'N, 88°30'W. Submarine chasers PC-566 and SC-519, and civilian tug Underwriter rescue survivors; none of the six man Armed Guard are lost (see 1 August).

ATLANTIC—U.S. freighter Cranford is sunk by German submarine U-155 about 250 miles east-southeast of Barbados, 12°17'N,55°11'W. U-155 treats two injured American sailors and then provides the survivors with navigational information, matches, a line, and water. Running short of provisions, U-155 can spare none. Cranford's surviving complement (including 6 of 8 Armed Guard sailors) are eventually picked up later the same day by Spanish tanker Castillo Alemenara.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—During 30/31 Jul, B‑24’s bomb convoy in Pylos Bay claiming hits on 2 merchant ships. B‑17’s hit Tobruk harbor.

TENTH AF—The Japanese send about 120 airplanes against the base at Hengyang from which CATF is harassing the Yangtze Valley. The attacks last about 36 hrs. Fierce opposition by US P‑40’s prevents major damage to the base. 17 Japanese aircraft are shot down, 4 of them at night. 3 P‑40’s are lost.

FIFTH AF—B‑17’s attack shipping in Solomon Sea E of Huon Gulf and S of New Britain.

SOUTH PACIFIC—B‑17’s of 11th Bomb Group begin arriving at Espiritu Santo where they are to constitute a reconnaissance and strike force over Guadalcanal-Tulagi-Gavutu area in preparation for amphibious assault by US Marines on Guadalcanal on 7 Aug.

ELEVENTH AF—1 LB-30, 3 B‑17’s and 3 B‑24’s fly photo reconnaissance and bombing missions to Tanaga and Kiska. Missions are unsuccessful due to weather.

US ARMY

UNITED STATES—Women’s Reserve is established by law in Navy and called WAVES from expression “Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service.”

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA—Admiral Turner issues Operation Plan No. A3–42 to Solomons Amphibious Force.

NEW GUINEA—Company C of Australian 39th Battalion completes march to Demki.

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES—Japanese invade Aru, Kei, and Tanimbar Islands.

EGYPT—General Auchinleck decides to remain on the defensive until reinforcements arrive.

USSR—German Army Group A establishes bridgehead across Manych River SW of Proletarskaya; Army Group B continues reduction of Kalach bridgehead across the Don W of Stalingrad. On central front, Soviet forces begin attacks in Rzhev area.

US MARINE CORPS

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Wednesday, 29 July 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—PBYs (VP 23) bomb Japanese bases in Tulagi-Gavutu area.

            Survivors (47 in number, two merchant seamen having died during the 32 day ordeal in the 25-foot lifeboat) from U.S. freighter Potlatch, torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-153 on 27 June, reach Great Inagua Island, Bahamas group; their search for water will take them thence to Little Inagua, and thence to Aklins Island. Ultimately picked up by steamship Vergermere, they reach Nassau on 1 August.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FIFTH AF—A‑24’s, with P‑39 escort, and RAAF aircraft attack shipping off Gona, partially frustrating Japanese attempts to land more troops and supplies. Japanese recapture Kokoda, which they temporarily lost the previous day.

ELEVENTH AF—4 B‑24’s and 5 B‑17’s bomb vessels and installations in Kiska Harbor area with unobserved results due to clouds.

US ARMY

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA—General Harmon shifts USAFISPA CP from Suva, Fiji Islands., to Noumea, New Caledonia.

NEW GUINEA—Japanese recapture Kokoda, again forcing defenders back to Deniki. Lull ensues as Japanese consolidate and strengthen positions. Allied planes frustrate efforts of 2 enemy transports to unload troops and supplies on N coast. One returns to Rabaul without unloading. The other is disabled and subsequently sinks; troops embarked reach Giruwa by small craft.

CHINA BURMA INDIA—General Stilwell broadens plans for offensive with “Pacific Front” proposal calling for recapture of Burma by Allied forces from Yunnan and Manipur.

US MARINE CORPS

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Tuesday, 28 July 1942

US NAVY

ATLANTIC—Unarmed U.S. fishing trawler Ebb is shelled and sunk by German submarine U-754 45 miles east of Cape Sable, Nova Scotia, 43°18'N, 63°50'W; five of the 17 man crew are killed, seven are wounded. British destroyer HMS Witherington rescues the 12 survivors.

            British merchantman Winchester Castle rescues the 40 survivors of U.S. freighter Honolulan, sunk by German submarine U-582 on 22 July.

ARCTIC—U.S. freighter Winston Salem, the last straggler from convoy PQ 17, arrives at the port of Molotovsk. PQ 17 has lost 24 ships in the course of its ordeal.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

USSR—Soviet High Command admits Rostov’s fall to the Germans.

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑17’s hit Tobruk during 27/28 Jul, while B‑24’s attack convoy in Mediterranean, claiming hits on 2 merchant ships.

EIGHTH AF—HQ VIII Fighter Command opens at Bushey Hall following move from temporary HQ at High Wycombe. General Hunter, designated CG VIII Fighter Command on 14 May in US, assumes command in England. General Candee, CG VIII Ground Air Support Command, announces staff assignments and begins organization of his command in UK.

FIFTH AF—1 B‑26 bombs installations at Gona. General Kenney, commander-designate of Allied AF, arrives in Australia.

ELEVENTH AF—Air coverage survey for Army ground operations to Adak and Tanaga Islands is flown. Weather cancels bombing mission to Kiska.

US ARMY

PACIFIC—General Harmon arrives at New Caledonia. General Kenney, commander-designate of Allied Air Forces, arrives in Australia. Expeditionary Force (TF 61) begins rehearsal at Koro, Fiji Islands., for invasion of Solomons. Admiral Fletcher issues Operation Order No. 1-42 to TF 61.

JAPAN—Tokyo orders all-out offensive for E New Guinea, including amphibious assaults on Milne Bay and attack on Port Moresby by land and sea.

NEW GUINEA—Maroubra Force recaptures Kokoda in counterattack, but this position is in great danger as Japanese reinforcements move forward from beachhead.

CHINA—Japanese campaign in Chekiang Province, conducted in retaliation for Doolittle raid on Japan, ends.

 

US MARINE CORPS

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Monday, 27 July 1942

US NAVY

GENERAL—Army-Navy Petroleum Board is established.

PACIFIC—TF 8 approaches Kiska to bombard Japanese positions but limited surface visibility results in the operation being postponed. During the retirement, however, high speed minesweeper Lamberton (DMS-2) accidentally rams highspeed minesweeper Chandler (DMS-9). While investigating that collision, destroyer Monaghan (DD-354) and highspeed minesweeper Lamberton (DMS-12) collide; both of those ships suffer damage as well.

            Light cruiser Boise (CL-47) departs Pearl Harbor to proceed, via Midway, toward the Japanese home islands to emit enough radio traffic to create the impression of an approaching American task force, as well as to locate and destroy small patrol vessels operating off Honshu.

            USAAF B-26s damage Japanese transport Kotoku Maru off Buna, New Guinea (see 8 August).

            Submarine Spearfish (SS-190) damages Japanese submarine depot ship Rio de Janeiro Maru 95 miles east of Cam Ranh Bay, French Indochina, 11°28'N, 110°52'E.

            Dutch submarine O-23 damages Japanese coaster No.2 Shofuku Maru south of Penang, Malaya, 05°07'N, 98°50'E.

ATLANTIC—U.S. freighter Stella Lykes is torpedoed and shelled by German submarine U-582 off the west coast of Africa at 06°46'N, 24°55'W, and abandoned with no casualties. U-582 takes two POWs, provides the Americans with cigarettes and medical supplies, and then scuttles her quarry with demolition charges before departing (see 6 August).

GULF OF MEXICO—German submarine U-166 completes mining the waters off the Mississippi River Passes.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—HQ VIII Bomber Command issues order establishing 1st Bomb Wing at Brampton Grange (replacing 1st Bomb Wing, Provisional, established there on 15 Jun) and 2d Bomb Wing at Old Catton. 1st Wing is commanded by Col Claude E Duncan, 2d Wing by Col Newton Longfellow. US aircraft of 97th Bomb Group and 1st Fighter Group land at Prestwick, thus completing first series of flights in BOLERO, air movement across N Atlantic ferry route. 97th Bomb Group becomes first US Heavy Bomber group complete with air and ground echelons in UK. General Eaker and officers of RAF Fighter Command agree to use Spitfire IX’s as high fighter cover for B‑17’s of VIII Bomber Command until VIII Fighter Command is ready for escort duty. This also will provide test of Spitfire IX’s against FW-190’s at high altitude.

FIFTH AF—B‑26’s and A‑24’s hit Gona and targets along Buna trail.

SOUTH PACIFIC—General Millard Harmon arrives at Noumea to assume command of USAFISPA with responsibility for training all army (air and ground) personnel. Air units in the theater are under operational control of COMAIRSOPAC.

US ARMY

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA—S Pacific commanders of island bases are informed by COMSOPAC that General Harmon will be responsible for training Army ground and air personnel. TF 61 sails to Koro, Fiji Islands, to rehearse for invasion of Solomons.

NEW GUINEA—Australian Oivi force, having broken through enemy during night 26–27, joins elements of Maroubra Force at Deniki. New Guinea Force, upon learning of evacuation of Kokoda, recalls 2 air transports bound for Kokoda with reinforcements and supplies.

EGYPT—30 Corps, British Eighth Army, continues attack but is unable to make progress. 13 Corps, in support of 30, feints and patrols.

USSR—German Army Group B continues to clear Don bend near Stalingrad. 6th Army begins battle to reduce Soviet bridgehead across the Don at Kalach, W of Stalingrad.

US MARINE CORPS

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Sunday, 26 July 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Destroyer Worden (DD-352) and oiler Platte (AO-24) rescue survivors of Dutch motorship Tjinegara, which had been sunk by Japanese submarine I-169 about 75 miles southeast of Nouméa, New Caledonia, 23°10'S, 165°00'E, on 25 July.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—Lt Col Albert P Clark, Executive Officer of 31st Fighter Group, is shot down while flying an RAF fighter on a sweep over France, thus becoming the first Eighth AF fighter pilot to be shot down in ETO. He survives and is taken prisoner by the Germans.

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—During 25/26 Jul, B‑17’s and B‑24’s bomb harbor at Tobruk.

FIFTH AF—A B‑25 strike against Gasmata is repulsed by fighter interception. B‑26’s attack destroyer off Gona but fail to score hits. Australian troops flown into Kokoda fail to halt Japanese advance and Kokoda is evacuated.

US ARMY

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA—General Harmon takes tactical command of all U.S. Army forces in S Pacific and establishes provisional CP at Suva, Fiji Islands. Solomons Expeditionary Force (TF 61), except for party bringing 3d Defense Battalion across the Pacific, assembles SE of Fiji Islands.

NEW GUINEA—New Guinea Force flies 30 men from Company D, Australian 39th Battalion, to Kokoda; 15 of these are sent forward to Oivi. After Japanese surround Oivi position, small defense force at Kokoda (platoon of Company B and 15 men of Company D) abandons it for prepared positions at Deniki.

EGYPT—30 Corps, British Eighth Army, launches attack on N flank after nightfall.

US MARINE CORPS

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Saturday, 25 July 1942

US NAVY

—

US ARMY AIR FORCE

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—Reinforcements begin arriving from US as air echelon of 344th Squadron of 98th Bomb Group reaches Palestine.

FIFTH AF—B‑25’s, and P‑39’s pound barges and concentrations at Gona and troops on the Gona and Kokoda trails. Japanese forces push to Oivi, within 6 mi of Kokoda.

SOUTH PACIFIC—Daily search missions over S Solomons are begun from New Caledonia.

US ARMY

UNITED STATES—Combined Chiefs of Staff agree upon command setup for TORCH, as GYMNAST is renamed.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA—Admiral McCain issues orders for Solomons offensive to TF 63. 26th Squadron of 11th Heavy Bombardment Group arrives at Efate, New Hebrides.

NEW GUINEA—Japanese cross Kumusi River over improvised bridge and outflank Maroubra Force, which falls back to Oivi, 6 miles from Kokoda.

USSR—Germans claim capture of Novocherkassk, NE of Rostov.

US MARINE CORPS

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Friday, 24 July 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Narwhal (SS-167) sinks Japanese guard boat No.83 Shinsei Maru, Utasutsu Bay, Hokkaido, 44°53'N,147°09'E, and merchant cargo ships Nissho Maru off Etorofu, 45°09'N, 147°31'E, and Kofuji Maru off Oito, 45°14'N,147°31'E.

ARCTIC—Survivors of U.S. freighter Carlton (sunk by U-88 on 5 July) reach North Cape, Norway, where they become POWs. During the ordeal in the lifeboat, one man dies shortly before they make landfall.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

UNITED STATES—JCS issue statement that Heavy Bomber and Medium Bomber groups will be shifted from BOLERO assignments to Africa for TORCH. BOLERO resources are further depleted by decision to send 15 combat groups to Pacific theater.

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—During 23/24 Jul, B‑17’s attack Tobruk harbor. B‑24’s hit harbor at Bengasi. A B‑24 crashes on return to base, killing 1 crew member.

FIFTH AF—B‑26’s, A‑24’s, and fighters continue to pound AA positions and enemy troops at Gona as Japanese continue to push inland toward Kokoda.

US ARMY

FIJI ISLANDS—431st Squadron of 11th Heavy Bombardment Group arrives.

NEW GUINEA—Lt Col William T. Owen, CO Australian 39th Battalion, flies to Kokoda, which is in imminent danger. Outnumbered Maroubra Force, fighting delaying action as it falls back toward Kokoda, crosses Kumusi River and destroys Wairopi bridge across it.

USSR—Rostov falls to German Army Group A.

US MARINE CORPS

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Thursday, 23 July 1942

US NAVY

ATLANTIC—Unarmed U.S. freighter Onondaga, bound for Havana, Cuba, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-129 five miles north of Cayo Guillermo, 22°40'N, 78°40'W. Nineteen of the 33 man crew die in the attack, as does the sole passenger, the former master of U.S. freighter Thomas McKean (sunk by German submarine U-505 on 29 June).Cuban fishing boat Laventina rescues the 14 survivors.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—98th Bomb Group is assigned to USAMEAF.

FIFTH AF—B‑17’s, B‑26’s, A‑24’s, and fighters pound shipping, landing barges, storage dumps, AA positions, and troop concentrations at Buna and Gona as the enemy pushes inland along Kokoda trail. Fighters also hit harbor at Salamaua.

SOUTH PACIFIC—11th Bomb Group B‑17’s in New Caledonia begin photo reconnaissance of Guadalcanal-Tulagi-Gavutu area.

SEVENTH AF—3 B‑17’s, staging through Canton Island, carry out photo reconnaissance of Makin.

US ARMY

NEW CALEDONIA—42d Squadron of 11th Heavy Bombardment Group arrives.

NEW GUINEA—Continuing along Kokoda Trail, Japanese clash with Australian Maroubra Force near Awala, forcing Australians back toward Wairopi.

US MARINE CORPS

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Wednesday, 22 July 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—USAAF planes (B-17s, B-25s and B-26s are utilized in the attacks) attack Japanese shipping off Buna, New Guinea, damaging destroyer Uzuki and sinking army cargo ship Ayatosan Maru, 08°50'S, 148°50'E.

            U.S. freighter William Dawes is torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-24 off the coast of Australia at 36°47'S, 150°16'E; four of the 15 man Armed Guard, and one (of five) Army passengers are killed in the attack, but there are no casualties among the 40 merchant seamen who make up the ship's complement. Survivors row toward the coast, where fishing boats tow them the remainder of the way. The burning William Dawes sinks the next day.

ATLANTIC—Unarmed U.S. freighter Honolulan is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-582 off the west coast of Africa at 08°41'N, 22°12'W. U-582 provides the Americans with cigarettes and question them briefly before departing. There are no casualties among the 39 man crew and one stowaway (see 28 July).

            Norwegian freighter Triton rescues survivors from U.S. freighter William F. Humphrey, sunk by German auxiliary cruiser Michel (Schiffe 28) in the South Atlantic on 16 July.

ARCTIC—German submarine rescues last survivors from lifeboat from U.S. freighter Honomu, sunk on 5 July 1942. Nine of the19 men in the lifeboat have perished of exposure during their ordeal.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑24’s bomb Suda Bay claiming hits on 2 vessels. B‑17’s hit Tobruk.

FIFTH AF—P‑40’s and P‑39’s hit shipping and landing barges at Gona as Japanese forces continue to land in NE New Guinea with ultimate aim of pushing across the Owen Stanley Range to the Allied base at Port Moresby.

ELEVENTH AF—Of 8 B‑24’s and 2 B‑17’s dispatched to Kiska only 8 reach target and due to fog drop only 7 bombs with unobserved results. 1 B‑24 missing on return flight.

US ARMY

PACIFIC—98th Sq of 11th Heavy Bombardment Group lands in New Caledonia. Solomons Amphibious Force, with 1st Marine Division embarked, sails from Wellington, New Zealand. 3d Defense Battalion, final reinforcing unit, begins voyage from Pearl Harbor to join 1st Marine Division.

NEW GUINEA—Allied planes continue to attack enemy shipping off N coast, setting fire to a transport. Upon landing, Japanese Navy units move to Buna and Army forces to Giruwa. Advance force pushes inland at once from Giruwa to reconnoiter trail to Port Moresby and reaches Soputa area. General MacArthur orders General Morris, commander of New Guinea Force, to reinforce Kokoda as quickly as possible.

EGYPT—British Eighth Army continues attack, gaining some ground but failing to break through enemy line. 23d Armored Brigade, which has recently arrived from England, passes through gaps made by infantry in mine fields but is unable to gain ground and loses many tanks. New Zealand 6th Brigade and Battalion of Indian 161st Brigade are virtually destroyed by enemy counterattacks.

USSR—German Army Group A opens all-out assault against Rostov.

UNITED KINGDOM—British refuse U.S. proposal to launch Operation SLEDGEHAMMER.

US MARINE CORPS

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Tuesday, 21 July 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Japanese forces occupy Buna, New Guinea, having been frustrated in their attempt to capture Port Moresby by sea (first at Lae-Salamaua and then at the Battle of the Coral Sea) in the first step of an overland campaign to take the same objective.

            U.S. freighter Coast Farmer is sunk by Japanese submarine I-11 in the South Pacific at 35°23'S, 151°00'E. RAAF crash boat rescues the 40 survivors (who include the 7 man Armed Guard).

GULF OF MEXICO—U.S. freighter William Cullen Bryant, in convoy TAW 4J, is torpedoed by German submarine U-84 in the Straits of Florida, 24°08'N, 82°23'W; all hands (40 man crew, 12 man Armed Guard, and 2 USN signalmen) abandon ship but later reboard the freighter; salvage vessel Willett (ARS-12) and civilian tug Moran tow William Cullen Bryant to Key West, Florida. She subsequently returns to service.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

UNITED STATES—Roosevelt calls Admiral Leahy, Ambassador to France and former Chief of Naval Operations, to serve as CoS to CinC of US Army and Navy.

EIGHTH AF—General Eisenhower assigns to Eighth AF the mission of carrying out, in collaboration with RAF, the degree of air ops with the view of attaining air domination over W France by 1 Apr 43.

FIFTH AF—B‑26’s attack convoy off Salamaua as invasion force heads for Buna, where it begins landings during 21/22 Jul. This move by the enemy forestalls Allied ops which were to have secured the same general area.

SOUTH PACIFIC—Initial squadron of B‑17’s of 11th Bomb Group arrives at Plaines des Gaiacs from Hawaii.

ELEVENTH AF—4 B‑24’s fly search and bomb missions over Kiska but make no contact because of weather.

US ARMY

PACIFIC—Solomons Expeditionary Force (TF 61) is ordered to rendezvous SE of Fiji Islands. on 26 July. Allied planes sight and attack enemy convoy approaching New Guinea, despite poor visibility, which prevents Japanese naval planes at Lae, however, from supporting enemy. After naval gunfire bombardment of Buna, Japanese begin landing near Gona, night 21–22, forestalling Allied Operation PROVIDENCE, which was to have secured the same general area. Japanese naval forces at Salamaua provide diversion by raiding Mubo and Komiatum, and enemy submarines become increasingly active.

EGYPT—British Eighth Army opens attack against center of enemy’s line late in day, employing infantry to clear mine fields for passage of armor.

US MARINE CORPS

Japanese land at Buna, New Guinea.

Monday, 20 July 1942

US NAVY

GENERAL—Admiral William D. Leahy reports to President Roosevelt as Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy.

PACIFIC—Naval Operating Base and Naval Air Facility, Dutch Harbor, Alaska, are established.

ATLANTIC—German submarine U-66 mines the waters off Castries, St. Lucia.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—Hal Bomb Squadron and 9th Bomb Squadron (19 B‑24’s and 9 B‑17’s) are organized as 1st Provisional Group under Col Harry A Halverson’s command at Lydda.

TENTH AF—3 B‑25’s bomb docks and warehouses at Chinkiang on the Yangtze River. 4 escorting P‑40’s strafe junks on the river. This is last CATF bombing raid of Jul.

ELEVENTH AF—General Butler moves adv HQ to Umnak. 3 B‑17’s bomb Kiska (especially barracks) with incendiaries and demolition charges. 4 P‑38’s try to intercept 4 fighters reported by Navy aircraft. No contact made.

US ARMY

PACIFIC—USAFIA, largely a supply organization, is discontinued, and U.S. Army Services of Supply, Southwest Pacific Area (USASOS SWPA) is established under command of General Richard Marshall. GHQ SWPA moves forward in Australia from Melbourne to Brisbane to be nearer scene of offensive. Maj General Alexander A. Vandegrift, CG 1st Marine Division, issues tactical orders for invasion of Solomons.

CHINA BURMA INDIA—Dr. Lauchlin Currie arrives in China to discuss U.S.-Chinese relations with Stilwell and the Chinese.

US MARINE CORPS

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Sunday, 19 July 1942

US NAVY

ATLANTIC—Carrier Ranger (CV-4) in TF 22 ferries 72 USAAF P-40s (earmarked for ultimate delivery to Burma) to Accra off the Gold Coast of Africa.

            With the successful operation of convoys off the East Coast of the United States, Admiral Doenitz orders the last U-boats deployed there (U-89, U-132, U-402, U-458, and U-754) reassigned to other hunting grounds.

            Unarmed U.S. tug Keshena is sunk by mine east of Okracoke Island, North Carolina, 35°00'N, 75°45'E, while engaged in salvage work on torpedoed and mined Panamanian-flag tanker J.A. Mowinkel. Two men perish in the explosion, but the surviving crew (14 men and 1 woman) is rescued by a launch and taken to the Coast Guard station at Okracoke.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑24’s hit Bengasi while B‑17’s attack Tobruk in continuing effort to disrupt movement of supplies.

TENTH AF—In response to a Chinese request, 2 B‑25’s strike in pt of Chinese ground forces at Linchwan, a Japanese-held city under siege for some time. The Chinese CO later reports that the raid broke the stalemate and the city was entered the next day.

ELEVENTH AF—Search missions are flown over Attu and Agattu.

US ARMY

SOUTH WEST PACIFIC AREA—From Rabaul, Japanese invasion force of about 1,800 men sails for Buna, New Guinea. Lugger arrives at Buna with supplies and machine guns of Company B, Australian 39th Battalion.

CHINA BURMA INDIA—General Stilwell submits to Chiang Kai-shek a plan, dated 18th, calling for Allied co-operation in regaining Burma as a necessary preliminary to getting aid to China.

US MARINE CORPS

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Saturday, 18 July 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Amphibious Force, South Pacific Area (Rear Admiral Richmond K. Turner) is established.

NORTH RUSSIA—British minesweeper and escort vessel rescue 22 survivors from U.S. freighter Honomu, sunk on 5 July (see 22 July).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

INTERNATIONAL—Hopkins, General Marshall, Admiral King, Churchill, and British COS begin conference in London on proposed invasion of N Africa (TORCH) .

TENTH AF—3 B‑25’s from Kweilin bomb Tien Ho airfield.

ELEVENTH AF—A B‑17 flying weather and photo reconnaissance over Kiska crashes on Umnak Island.

US ARMY

USSR—Continuing southward on broad front, Germans take Voroshilovgrad, coal and coke center of Donets basin, and to SE reach the Don at Tsimlyansk.

US MARINE CORPS

Amphibious Force, South Pacific Area, is established under command of Rear Admiral Turner.

Friday, 17 July 1942

US NAVY

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US ARMY AIR FORCE

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—Halverson Det is redesignated Hal Bomb Squadron. B‑24’s bomb Bengasi harbor. B‑17’s hit Tobruk.

FIFTH AF—B‑17’s bomb harbor at Rabaul.

ELEVENTH AF—3 B‑17’s and 7 B‑24’s fly weather, bombing and photo missions. Shipping is bombed- North and South Heads of Kiska are photographed. Fighters down 1 B‑17.

US ARMY

SOUTH WEST PACIFIC AREA—Movement order for Operation PROVIDENCE, occupation of Buna area, New Guinea, is issued. Serial One is to leave Port Moresby on 31 July. D Day is to be 10–12 August.

UNITED KINGDOM—General Marshall, Admiral King, and Harry Hopkins arrive in England to urge that SLEDGEHAMMER be undertaken in 1942.

US MARINE CORPS

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Thursday, 16 July 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Seadragon (SS-194), attacking Japanese convoy off coast of French Indochina, sinks merchant cargo ship Hakodate Maru north of Cape Varella, 12°55'N, 109°29'E.

ATLANTIC—Advanced Group, Amphibious Force, Atlantic Fleet (Rear Admiral Andrew C. Bennett) is established to conduct amphibious training in Great Britain.

            Unarmed U.S. fishing boat Gertrude is sunk (demolition charge or gunfire) by German submarine U-166 approximately 30 miles northeast of Havana, Cuba, 23°32'N, 82°00'E (see 19 July).

            U.S. freighter William F. Humphrey battles German auxiliary cruiser Michel (Schiffe 28) in the South Atlantic about 800 miles west of the mouth of the Congo River, 05°37'S, 00°56'E, but is sunk by gunfire and torpedoes (the latter fired by motor torpedo boat Elsan (LS 4) after a gallant fight. Of the seven man Armed Guard, two sailors are killed while a third is wounded; Michel recovers 26 merchant seamen and 3 Armed Guard sailors, but the rest of the survivors manage to avoid capture (see 22 July).

            U.S. steamship Fairport, in Persian Gulf-bound convoy AS 4, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-161 at 27°12'N, 64°30'W; destroyer Kearny (DD-432) rescues all hands: 43 man crew, 16 man Armed Guard, and 66 passengers.

            Survivors (17 crewmen and one passenger) from unarmed U.S. freighter Raphael Semmes, sunk by German submarine U-332 on 28 June, are rescued by U.S. freighter Explorer.

GULF OF MEXICO—U.S. tanker Pennsylvania Sun's master and three of his officers and a salvage party reboard their ship (torpedoed the previous day by U-571) and, aided by salvage vessel Willett (ARS-12) quell the remaining fires and save the ship, which is towed to port. Repaired, she subsequently returns to service.

CARIBBEAN—Survivors of U.S. freighter Tachira, sunk by German submarine U-129 on 12 July, reach Punta Herrera, Mexico.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

TENTH AF—4 B‑25’s from Kweilin, with P‑40 escort, bomb storage area at Hankow, starting a fire that is later reported to have burned 3 days. The Medium Bombers land at Hengyang during return flight to refuel, but are attacked by Japanese airplanes and have to take off immediately. Amidst the confusion a P‑40 pilot mistakes a B‑25 for a Japanese aircraft and shoots it down, the first bomber lost since CATF began operations in China. The crew is saved.

FIFTH AF—1 B‑17 bombs Salamaua.

SEVENTH AF—B‑17’s of 11th Bomb Group begin leaving Hickam Field for S Pacific.

US ARMY

UNITED STATES—Breaks off consular relations with Finland, effective 1 August 1942. General Harmon, with small forward echelon of USAFISPA, starts air journey from Washington to S Pacific.

PACIFIC—Admiral Ghormley issues Operation Plan No. 1-42, covering Task One of projected offensive. TF’s 61 and 63 are formed. TF 61, under Vice Admiral Frank J. Fletcher, is the Solomons Expeditionary Force, which includes Air Support Force under Rear Admiral Leigh Noyes and Amphibious Force commanded by Rear Admiral Richmond K. Turner. TF 63, under Admiral McCain, consists of all Allied land based aircraft in S Pacific.

EGYPT—30 Corps of British Eighth Army enlarges salient W of El ‘Alamein with capture of ridge 3 miles W of railway station. 13 Corps exerts pressure against S flank of enemy.

US MARINE CORPS

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Wednesday, 15 July 1942

US NAVY

UNITED STATES—Naval Air Transport Service Squadron (VR 3) is established at Kansas City, Kansas, for operations in the U.S.

PACIFIC—Submarine Base, Midway Island, is established.

            Submarine Grunion (SS-216) sinks Japanese submarine chasers Ch 25 and Ch 27 west of Sredni Point, Kiska, Aleutians, 52°02'N, 177°42'E.

            Salvage party, transported to Akutan Island in district patrol vessel YP-72, continues salvage of ZERO fighter discovered on 10 July.

ATLANTIC—German submarine U-576 attacks convoy KS 520, torpedoing U.S. bulk carrier Chilore about 20 miles east of Okracoke Inlet, North Carolina, 34°45'N, 75°29'W, as well as Panamanian freighter J.A. Mowinkel and Nicaraguan merchantman Bluefield. Chilore later blunders into a U.S. minefield, fouling two mines and receiving further damage. Two of her 42 man crew are lost when a lifeboat capsizes; there are no casualties among the 9 man Armed Guard. U-576's time to savor her triple triumph, however, is short, for an OS2U (VS 9) and U.S. merchant vessel Unicoi combine to sink that U-boat off the North Carolina coast, 34°51'N, 75°22'W. Chilore later capsizes and sinks at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay.

GULF OF MEXICO—U.S. tanker Pennsylvania Sun is torpedoed by German submarine U-571 about 125 miles west of Key West, Florida,

            24°05'N, 83°42'W; the crew (42 merchant seamen and the 17 man Armed Guard) abandon the burning ship. Destroyer Dahlgren (DD-187) rescues the survivors and transports them to Key West (see 16 July).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑24’s strike harbor and ships at Bengasi during 15/16 Jul.

TENTH AF—India-China Ferrying Command is activated to replace Assam-Burma-China Command.

ELEVENTH AF—3 B‑24’s on a bombing mission to Kiska turn back due to weather.

US ARMY

SOUTH WEST PACIFIC AREA—Plan is drawn up for Operation PROVIDENCE, occupation by Allied forces of Buna area on N coast of New Guinea.

CHINA BURMA INDIA—India-China Ferry Command is activated.

EGYPT—In tank-supported counterattack, enemy recovers part of ground lost in Ruweisat Ridge area.

USSR—Russians admit loss of Boguchar and Millerovo. German Army Group A continues rapidly toward Rostov, 1st and 4th Pz Armies reaching Kamensk, on the Donets.

US MARINE CORPS

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Tuesday, 14 July 1942

US NAVY

ATLANTIC—Last 13 survivors (a 14th man had perished in the interval between the loss of the ship and the survivors' making landfall) from U.S. freighter Thomas McKean, sunk by German submarine U-505 on 29 June, reach the Dominican Republic.

NORTH RUSSIA—German submarine U-376 comes upon survivors of U.S. freighter Carlton (sunk by U-88 on 5 July). While the German offer of medical help is turned down, the U-boat sailors give the Americans rations, blankets and cigarettes (see 24 July). One boat full of survivors of U.S. freighter Alcoa Ranger, sunk by German submarine U-255 on 7 July, reaches Cape Kanin, USSR. Russian patrol craft subsequently take all of the survivors to Archangel.

PACIFIC—Unarmed U.S. freighter Arcata, steaming from Bethel, Alaska, to Seattle, Washington, is shelled and sunk by Japanese submarine I-7 at 53°35'N, 157°40'W. Seven of the 29 man crew perish; three Navy and one civilian passenger survive the attack. I-7 machineguns the life rafts; one sailor suffers mortal wounds. Destroyer Kane (DD-235) rescues 11 of Arcata’s survivors; fishing boat Yukon picks up 14.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

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US ARMY

PACIFIC—Maj General Millard F. Harmon is named commander of U.S. Army Forces in South Pacific Area (COMGENSOPAC). In preparation for invasion of the Solomons, ships from SWPA (TF 44) leave Brisbane, Australia, for New Zealand, where all except 1 CA, which becomes part of Air Support Force, are assigned to Solomons Amphibious Force. TF 42 (submarines) is to interdict enemy shipping in Rabaul area. Admiral Ghormley alerts 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, on Samoa to be prepared to sail for the Solomons on 4 days’ notice.

EGYPT—British Eighth Army makes limited attack along and to S of Ruweisat Ridge and gains some ground.

USSR—German Army Groups B and A continue rapidly toward Stalingrad and Rostov, respectively. 4th Pz Army is assigned to Army Group A for operations S of Rostov.

US MARINE CORPS

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Bx-11/12 Raised Roof Renumberings

 The Santa Fe modified most of its Bx-11 and Bx-12 fleet during the early years of WWII to increase capacity.  The initial design raised the roof by six inches, increasing cubical capacity of the modified cars from 3550 to 3712, equivalent to the Bx-27/28/31 all steel cars.  Inside height increased from 9’5 to 10’.  An unknown number of Bx-11 received this original mod, along with 39 Bx-12 which are listed below:

 

Bx-12 with 6 inch sidewall extension

 

126118, 126205, 126247, 126296, 126410, 126529, 126675, 126816, 126855, 126930, 126938, 127156, 127472, 127535, 127599, 127769, 127867, 127956, 128047, 128065, 128113, 128119, 128175, 128181, 128294, 128319, 128346, 128375, 128553, 128735, 128736, 128782, 128840, 129114, 129228, 129255, 129288, 129290, 129372

 

Source: ATSF Freight Car Folio 211/4, Sheet B-10, dated November 29, 1948

 

Raising the roof was a good idea and a success, but the standard for new and rebuilt cars on the Santa Fe had increased to 10’6.  The upgrade program shifted to an even taller side panel extension that raised the roof by a foot.  All of these conversions took place in 1941-1944 when sheet steel was in short supply.  Santa Fe increased cubic capacity even further with this greater roof raising, to 3898, slightly larger than the Bx-37 and later steel rebuilds of the Bx-2.  At least 961 Bx-11 and 3213 Bx-12 received this modification.  Initially, the cars retained their original numbers and were not broken out in the ORER listing.  Starting in 1945, Santa Fe re-numbered cars with the 12 inch extensions into the 210000-211049 (Bx-11) and 211051-214549 (Bx-12) series.  211050 was a Bx-12 experimentally re-sheathed in plywood, increasing cubical capacity to 3942 with the thinner side walls.

  

Up to 250 Bx-12s were not rebuild with either raised roof.  If a Bx-12 not in the 39 listed above still had it’s original number after 1952, it had the original roof height.  Here’s an example that Stan Kistler caught in LA in 1968.  With a 1953 reweigh date, it hadn’t been in revenue service since the mid-50’s, but it was soldiering on for the RR in it’s original form.  

 

Monday, 13 July 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine S-16 (SS-121) is accidentally damaged by USAAF plane off coast of Panama.

            Submarine Seadragon (SS-194) sinks Japanese auxiliary vessel Shinyo Maru 10 miles northeast of Cape Varella, French Indochina, 13°05'N, 109°29'E.

            PBYs (VP 71) attempt daylight bombing of Japanese base at Tulagi-Gavutu, but bad weather forces a second straight cancellation of the mission.

            Japanese transport No.3 Mikage Maru is sunk in collision three miles south of Tsuru Jima, Japan, 33°00'N, 133°00'E.

            Japanese Combined Fleet is reorganized in the wake of the disastrous defeat suffered at Midway.

ATLANTIC—Naval Air Facility, Grand Cayman, British West Indies, is established.

            German submarine U-153, damaged by submarine chaser PC-458 and USAAF plane off coast of Panama, is sunk by destroyer Lansdowne (DD-486), 09°56'N, 81°29'W.

            Unarmed U.S. freighter Oneida, straggling from convoy NG 359, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-166 approximately two miles north of Cape Maysi, Cuba, at 20°17'N, 74°06'W. Six crewmen perish; the 23 survivors reach the Cuban coast in two life rafts.

            Survivors from U.S. freighter Andrew Jackson, sunk by German submarine U-84 the day before, reach Vavendero, Cuba, by life boat.

GULF OF MEXICO—U.S. tanker R.W. Gallagher is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-67 approximately 80 miles from Southwest Pass, Louisiana, 28°32'N, 90°59'W, and abandoned. Eight of the ship's 40 man merchant complement die in the attack, as do two of the 12 man Armed Guard. Coast Guard cutter Boutwell (WPC-130) rescues survivors; two men later die of their injuries.

NORTH RUSSIA—Survivors of U.S. freighter Carlton (sunk by U-88 on 5 July) receive rations dropped by a British plane (see 14 and 24July).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—During 13/14 Jul, B‑17’s bomb Tobruk harbor, and B‑24’s hit ships and harbor at Bengasi. Heavy AA fire accounts for loss of Island B‑24.

US ARMY

PACIFIC—Operation Plan TULSA-II A is drawn up. U.S. 32d Division begins movement from Adelaide to camp near Brisbane, Australia. Maj General George C. Kenney, CG of Fourth Air Force, is directed to take command of Allied Air Forces, replacing General Brett.

US MARINE CORPS

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Sunday, 12 July 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Seadragon (SS-194) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Nichizan Maru off Cam Ranh Bay, French Indochina, 13°47'N, 109°33'E.

            Salvage party from VP 41, transported to Akutan Island in district patrol vessel YP-151, begin salvage of ZERO fighter discovered on 10 July. Their initial efforts reveal more work will be required (see 15 July).

ATLANTIC—Twelve survivors from U.S. freighter Thomas McKean, sunk by German submarine U-505 on 29 June 1942, reach Antigua (see 14 July).

            U.S. freighter Andrew Jackson is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-84 approximately 20 miles off Cardenas, Cuba, 23°32'N, 81°02'W. Three of the 38 man crew perish; there are no casualties among the 11 man Armed Guard (see 13 July).

CARIBBEAN—U.S. freighter Tachira, en route to New Orleans, Louisiana, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-129 at18°15'N, 81°54'W. Four of the 32 man crew perish, as does one of the six man Armed Guard; U-129 briefly interrogates survivors and then provides medical assistance and directs them toward the nearest land (see 16 July).

ARCTIC—Survivors from U.S. freighter Peter Kerr (sunk on 5 July) are rescued by Russian motor torpedo boat and taken to Murmansk. Russian whaler rescues survivors of U.S. freighter Washington (also sunk on 5 July). Toward the end of their journey in lifeboats, Washington's survivors (one of whom dies of exposure on 28 July at Archangel) had subsisted on rations scrounged from U.S. freighter Winston-Salem that had been beached by her crew and abandoned on the shores of Novaya Zemlya. British armed trawler HMS Ayrshire rescues survivors from U.S. freighter Fairfield City, (dispersed from convoy PQ 17 and sunk on 5 July) from Novaya Zemlya.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—6 Bostons flown by US crews attack Abbeville/Drucat airfield.

ELEVENTH AF—3 B‑24’s dispatched on weather, photo, and bombing missions to Kiska abort due to weather.

US ARMY

AUSTRALIA—U.S. 41st Division, which has been training near Melbourne, starts to Rockhampton.

NEW GUINEA—Company B, Australian 39th Battalion, advancing overland from Port Moresby, reaches Kokoda.

US MARINE CORPS

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Saturday, 11 July 1942

US NAVY

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US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—First formal decoration ceremony held in Eighth AF takes place when General Spaatz pins DSC on Maj Charles C Kegelman for extraordinary gallantry and heroism during the raid of 4 Jul.

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑24’s attack harbor and shipping at Bengasi during 11/12 Jul.

ELEVENTH AF—4 B‑24’s taking off for weather, bombing and photo mission to Kiska are attacked by seaplane fighters. No losses. A cruiser is bombed with unobserved results.

US ARMY

USSR—Continuing drive on Rostov, Army Group A overruns Lisichensk, on the Donets.

US MARINE CORPS

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