Wednesday, 19 August 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—USAAF B-17s, flying from Espiritu Santo, bomb Japanese destroyers Kagero, Hagikaze and Maikaze off Guadalcanal, damaging Hagikaze off Tulagi.

            Small reconnaissance seaplane from Japanese submarine I-29 reconnoiters the Seychelles.

CARIBBEAN—German submarine U-162 continues stalking convoy TAW (S) attacked the previous day, and again torpedoes unarmed U.S. freighter West Celina, which is abandoned by the 39 man crew and the convoy commodore's staff of four men; the convoy commodore, however, is lost (see 21 and 22 August). German submarine U-564 attacks the convoy as well, torpedoing and sinking two British ships: tanker British Consul and freighter Empire Cloud. Escorting ships will, however, frustrate further attacks by the U-boats.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—22 B‑17’s drop 34 tons of bombs on Abbeville/Drucat airfield causing extensive damage. This mission is flown to occupy enemy fighters and prevent them from opposing an invasion by over 5,000 Allied troops, mostly Canadians, who raid Dieppe. 2d Lt Samuel F Junkin Jr of 309th Fighter Squadron, 31st Fighter Group, flying a Spitfire in support of the amphibious raid on Dieppe, shoots down a German fighter. this being the first aerial victory won by an Eighth AF fighter pilot flying from the UK.

FIFTH AF—B‑17’s bomb shipping at Faisi on Shortland Island.

ELEVENTH AF—Mechanical failure prevents a B‑24 from flying reconnaissance over Tanaga.

US ARMY

GUADALCANAL—5th Marines, in limited offensive, clears coastal villages of Matanikau and Kokumbona, then returns to Lunga Pt. Companies L and B attack Matanikau from E and S. Company Island, moving forward by sea, clears Kakumbona. While patrolling to locate enemy radio station, Company A of 1st Marines encounters and virtually wipes out party of 34 Japanese— recently landed Army forces—near Taivu Pt.

NEW BRITAIN—Japanese reinforcements, about 1,500 in 4 transports screened by DD’s, leave Rabaul for Guadalcanal.

NEW GUINEA—Leading elements of Australian 7th Division (21st Brigade) arrive at Port Moresby, from which they start at once toward Isurava to bolster Maroubra Force.

EGYPT—General Alexander directs General Montgomery to hold current positions at El ‘Alamein while preparing for offensive.

FRANCE—Canadian (Canadian) and British troops, 5,000 strong, raid Dieppe for 9 hours, damaging military installations at great cost in casualties. 50 U.S. Rangers accompanied the expedition; of these, 6 were wounded and 7 were reported missing. Many German planes are destroyed by supporting Allied fighters.

US MARINE CORPS

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