Saturday, 8 August 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Marines wrest control of Tulagi, Gavutu, and Tanambogo, Solomons, from tenacious Japanese resistance. Unfinished airstrip on Guadalcanal is captured and named "Henderson Field" in honor of the late Major Lofton R. Henderson, USMC, who was killed while leading VMSB 241 in the gallant but unsuccessful attack on Japanese carrier Hiryu at Midway on 4 June 1942. Coastwatchers report incoming raid. During fierce Japanese aerial assault by land attack planes (4th and Misawa Kokutais) on invasion shipping: destroyer Jarvis (DD-393) and transport George F. Elliott (AP-13), 09°10'S, 160°10'E are torpedoed. The latter, also crashed by a Japanese plane, is later scuttled by destroyer Hull (DD-350). Another crashing bomber damages transport Barnett (AP-11), 09°13'S, 160°01'E.

            Submarine Narwhal (SS-167) sinks Japanese crab boat Bifuku Maru southeast of Shiriya Zaki, at northeast tip of Honshu. 41°14'N, 141°32'E.

            Submarine S-38 (SS-143), despite presence of escorting minesweeper W.21, sinks Japanese transport Meiyo Maru at southern entrance of St. George Channel, between New Britain and New Ireland, 04°52'S, 152°42'E.

            Submarine Silversides (SS-236), attacking Japanese convoy emerging from Kobe harbor, torpedoes and sinks merchant cargo ship Nikkei Maru in Kii Suido, near Ichiya Zaki, 33°33'N, 135°23'E.

            Destroyers Mustin (DD-413) and Morris (DD-417) are damaged in collision during night maneuvers in Hawaiian Operating Area.

ATLANTIC—German submarine U-98 mines waters off Jacksonville, Florida.

            U.S. freighter Kaimoku, en route to Liverpool in convoy SC 94, is torpedoed and sunk by shellfire of German submarine U-379 at 56°32'N, 32°15'W. Two of the 36 man crew die in the attack, as do two of the 14 man Armed Guard. Canadian corvette HMCS Battleford rescues survivors.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

TENTH AF—B‑25’s hit Canton area, bombing Tien Ho airfield and other targets in the vicinity and claiming 2 interceptors shot down.

FIFTH AF—P‑400’s dive-bomb Kokoda and Yodda. B‑17’s, B‑25’s and B‑26’s bomb runways and targets of opportunity at Lae and Salamaua.

SOUTH PACIFIC—From this date through 23 Aug, B‑17’s fly search mission covering the lower Solomons in order to detect any attempt to make surprise attack on the forces consolidating the Guadalcanal beachhead.

ELEVENTH AF—1 LB-30, 3 B‑24’s, and 8 P‑38’s on photo and bombing missions over Kiska cannot attack but Navy Catalinas also operating over and off Kiska hit freighters and transport, claiming 1 transport sinking, and score many hits on North Head and Main Camp.

US ARMY

ALLIED COMMAND—President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill agree on General Eisenhower, CG ETO, as commander of TORCH.

SOLOMON ISLANDS—Japanese planes continue to attack Allied shipping, destroying USS George F. Elliott (AP) and damaging USS Jarvis (DD). Jarvis heads for Noumea but is never heard from again. Abandoning thrust toward Mt Austen on Guadalcanal, 1st Marine Division advances W in 2 columns. 1st Battalion of 5th Marines crosses Lunga River and secures coastal village of Kukum. To S, 1st Battalion of 1st Marines takes airfield and reaches E bank of Lunga River. Both Kukum and the airfield are found to have been hastily evacuated. On Tulagi, 1st Raider Battalion and 5th Marines finish clearing the island by 1500. On Gavutu-Tanambogo, 1st Parachute Battalion, assisted by 3d Battalion of 2d Marines from division reserve, completes capture of Gavutu-Tanambogo.

BATTLE OF SAVO ISLAND—During night 8–9, Japanese naval force of cruisers and DD’s attacks Allied warships off Savo Island. and inflicts heavy damage before retiring to Rabaul. As a result of the action, HMAS Canberra and USS Astoria, Quincy, and Vincennes are lost and other vessels are damaged.

EGYPT—General Alexander flies to Cairo, where he learns that he is to relieve General Auchinleck as CinC MEF. Lt General W. H. E. Gott, CG of British 13 Corps, who was to have been given command of British Eighth Army, is killed in airplane accident.

USSR—Surovikino, W of Stalingrad, falls to German Army Group B.

US MARINE CORPS

1st MarDiv wins control of Tulagi, Gavutu, Tanambogo and captures airfield on Guadalcanal.