Friday, 21 August 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Cuttlefish (SS-171) damages Japanese ammunition ship Nichiro Maru, 31°00'N, 130°00'E.

            Submarine Tambor (SS-198) sinks Japanese collier No.6 Shinsei Maru off Ponape Island, 06°45'N, 158°10'E.

            Motor vessel Lakatoi, commissioned at Nouméa, New Caledonia, on 15 August and manned by a crew made up of survivors of the sunken transport George F. Elliott (AP-13) sinks in storm at 18°55'S, 167°40'E.

CARIBBEAN—One group of 19 survivors from U.S. freighter West Celina, torpedoed by German submarine U-162 on 18 and 19 August, reaches Manzanillo Bay, Venezuela (see 22 August).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—At General Arnold’s request, General Eisenhower gives General Spaatz additional duties as Air Officer for ETOUSA and head of the air section of its staff, thus assuring active participation by Eighth AF in theater planning. 12 airplanes are dispatched to bomb shipyards at Rotterdam, but mission is aborted due to attack by 25 Me-109’s and FW-190’s. Lack of proper coordination with Spitfire escort is major factor in failure of mission.

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑24’s from 2 squadrons hit convoy SW of Crete, claiming 2 ships probably sunk. Fighters attack straggling B‑24 and force it to crash-land at sea.

ELEVENTH AF—1 B‑24 trying to fly reconnaissance over Kiska aborts due to weather.

US ARMY

GUADALCANAL—In predawn attack toward airfield, about 200 Japanese attempt to gain W bank of Ilu River; the few who succeed are killed or driven back by 2d Battalion of 1st Marines. Japanese remaining E of the Ilu are surrounded and destroyed in concerted attacks by 2d and 1st Battalions, 1st Marines. 1st Battalion crosses river upstream and attacks enemy from rear while 2d, with light tank platoon spearheading, attacks at river mouth. Japanese sustain almost 800 casualties;

15 of the enemy are captured; 35 marines are killed and 75 wounded. Lunga garrison, already strengthened by raiders and parachutists, is further increased by 2d Battalion of 5th Marines from Tulagi. Rations and aviation supplies in limited quantities are landed.

SOUTH WEST PACIFIC AREA—Operation Plan TULSA II-B is drawn up as planning for offensive continues.

NEW GUINEA—Japanese convoy reaches Basabua and lands reinforcements, completing quota for overland drive on Port Moresby. Australian 18th Brigade reaches Milne Bay, where it joins Australian 7th Brigade, CMF, which reached there in July.

USSR—Elements of German Army Group A, clearing E coast of Black Sea, overrun Krymskaya.

US MARINE CORPS

Marines turn back first major Japanese attack on Guadalcanal in Battle of the Tenaru.