Saturday, July 11, 2026

Wednesday, 8 July 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine S-37 (SS-142) torpedoes and sinks Japanese transport Tenzan Maru about 30 miles west of Rabaul, 04°00'S, 151°50'E. Escorting submarine chaser Ch 30 depth-charges S-37 without success.

ARCTIC—Ordeal of dispersed USSR-bound convoy PQ 17 to German submarines and planes continues: 19 survivors (16 merchant seamen and three Armed Guard sailors) of U.S. freighter John Witherspoon (sunk by German submarine U-255 on 6 July) are rescued by Panamanian freighter El Capitan. German bombers, however, attack the latter and sink her. British armed trawler HMS Lord Austin rescues the 19 John Witherspoon men and takes them to Archangel (see 9July).

ATLANTIC—U.S. tanker J.A. Moffett, Jr. is torpedoed by German submarine U-571 three miles south by west of Tennessee Reef, Florida Straits, 24°47'N, 80°42'W; and is run aground on Tennessee Reef to prevent the ship's loss. The ship's master is the only fatality; the survivors (36 merchant seamen and the 6 man Armed Guard) are rescued by Coast Guard auxiliary craft Mary Jane and Southbound and cutter Nike (WPC-112). Later salvaged, J.A. Moffett, Jr. is written off as a total loss.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑24’s bomb harbor and shipping at Bengasi during 8/9 Jul, while B‑17’s hit harbor at Tobruk.

TENTH AF—A single B‑25 piloted by Col Caleb V Haynes, bombs Japanese HQ at Tengchung near Burma border. Bad weather, pilot fatigue, and maintenance halt major operations for several days.

ELEVENTH AF—404th Bomb Squadron arrives in the Alaskan Theater with B‑24’s—originally destined for N Africa. 1 B‑24 flies 2 photo missions over S shore of Kiska and over Little Kiska. Bombing mission canceled due to weather.

US ARMY

PACIFIC—General MacArthur and Admiral Ghormley recommend that offensive be postponed until SW and S Pacific forces can be strengthened. Admiral Nimitz issues his final plan of attack, ordering S Pacific Force to seize Santa Cruz Islands. and Tulagi- Guadalcanal area in the Solomons.

CHINA BURMA INDIA—General Chennault takes command of CATF.

USSR—Russians announce evacuation of St Oskol, SE of Kursk.

US MARINE CORPS

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