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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