Friday, 25 September 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Sargo (SS-188) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Teibo Maru (ex-Danish Nordbo) off coast of French Indochina, 180 miles east of Saigon, 10°31'N, 109°31'E.

            Japanese land on Beru, Gilberts.

            USAAF B‑17s damage Japanese light cruiser Yura off Shortland Island, Solomons.

            Japanese submarine I-5 is damaged by gunfire off Guadalcanal.

            USAAF P‑39 fighters damage Japanese submarine RO 67 off Kiska, Aleutians.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑24’s fail to locate shipping convoy S of Crete and return without bombing. Other B‑24’s bomb Bengasi.

TENTH AF—4 B‑25’s, with escort of 10 P‑40’s, attack Hanoi. The strike force is intercepted by 10 fighters but the Medium Bombers place several bombs on the runway at Gia Lam airfield. The P‑40’s claim at least 9 fighters shot down. CATF bombers fly 11 missions during remainder of Sep and early Oct to support Chinese ground forces attempting to hold the Japanese on W bank of the Salween.

FIFTH AF—P‑40’s again bomb bridge at Wairopi, scoring direct hit on NE end, which is demolished. Australian ground forces open counteroffensive, attacking strongly toward Ioribaiwa to drive enemy back along Port Moresby-Kokoda trail.

ELEVENTH AF—9 B‑24’s, 1 B‑17, and 1 B‑24 photo airplane, escorted by 11 P‑39’s and 17 P‑40’s, fly first of 2 missions to Kiska. RCAF Kittyhawk, participate in this first combined Canadian-American mission of the Eleventh. Later 2 B‑24’s and a B‑17, escorted by 15 P‑39’s, pound Little Kiska and Kiska. Radar installations at Little Kiska are destroyed and explosions and fires are caused in the Main Camp area. Other targets include shipping, stores, and tents. The P‑39’s also strafe 2 subs. 2 float planes are downed. 5 to 8 biplanes are probably destroyed on the water. 1 large transport vessel is hit and lists badly. 150 personnel are believed killed.

US ARMY

GUADALCANAL—2d Battalion of 5th Marines joins 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, on NW slope of Mt. Austen to continue attack against enemy in Matanikau-Kokumbona area. 2 companies of 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, return to Lunga perimeter. Patrol of 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, reconnoiters Koli Pt without incident.

NEW GUINEA—25th Brigade, Australian 7th Division, opens counteroffensive to drive enemy back along Port Moresby–Kokoda trail, attacking strongly for Ioribaiwa.

MADAGASCAR—East African 22d Brigade establishes contact with 29th Independent Brigade, giving British control of central part of island.

US MARINE CORPS

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