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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