Friday 23 October, 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Kingfish (SS‑234) sinks Japanese gunboat Seikyo Maru at entrance to Kii Suido, Honshu, 33°20'N,135°27'E.

            USAAF B‑17s damage Japanese submarine chasers Ch 31 and Ch 32 at Rabaul.

            Japanese submarine I‑7 shells Espiritu Santo.

ATLANTIC—U.S. freighter Reuben Tipton, bound for Trinidad, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U‑129; three merchant seamen are killed in the attack (see 25 and 26 October 1942).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑17’s and B‑24’s sent to attack Candia and Bengasi turn back short of target due to bad weather. El Alamein offensive by British Eighth Army begins at 2140 with artillery barrage by more than 1,000 guns aimed at enemy batteries. At 2200 barrage switches to enemy forward positions as British troops move forward. Heavy fighting continues during 23/24 Oct.

FIFTH AF—A‑20’s bomb and strafe Deniki and Deniki-Kokoda trail. B‑17’s thoroughly pound shipping at Rabaul.

SOUTH PACIFIC—Henderson Field is again made operational by Seabees, and Marine and AAF fighters begin to inflict heavy losses on naval aircraft. Japanese ground forces assault def lines around the airfields but are thrown back.

ELEVENTH AF—Armed reconnaissance by 7 bombers, escorted by 6 P‑38’s, is flown over Kiska installations, chiefly the submarine base and Main Camp. Visibility is excellent and direct hits are scored, including 1 on submarine base.

US ARMY

UNITED STATES—Forces from U.S. begin movement to North Africa in preparation for TORCH. First detachment of Western Naval Task Force, under Rear Admiral Henry K. Hewitt, sails from Hampton Roads, Virginia.

GUADALCANAL—After quiet day, Japanese artillery opens up at 1800 with heaviest fire to date, after which assault force (tank co and infantry regiment) makes determined but futile efforts to cross Matanikau River mouth and overrun 3d Battalion of 1st Marines. Japanese sustain heavy losses: 600 are estimated killed and at least 8 tanks are knocked out. 1st Marines casualties are 25 killed and 14 wounded. Main enemy enveloping force, which was to have attacked simultaneously with coastal force, is not yet in position and postpones for another day its attack on S perimeter.

EGYPT—British Eighth Army opens El ‘Alamein offensive at 2140. More than 1,000 guns pound enemy batteries until 2200, then switch to enemy forward positions as British troops move forward, 30 Corps on N making main effort and 13 Corps conducting diversionary actions on S. Heavy fighting continues throughout night.

US MARINE CORPS

—Marines and Army troops fight off heavy ground attacks of major Japanese counteroffensive.

Thursday 22 October, 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Naval Air Facility, Otter Point, Alaska, is established.

            Destroyers Mahan (DD‑364) and Lamson (DD‑367), detached from TF 16 to "shoot up the Japanese picket boat line” west of the Gilberts, sink gunboat Hakkaisan Maru southwest of Tamana, 03°30'S, 175°15'E.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

TWELFTH AF—First echelon of HQ begins move from UK to N Africa.

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—Adv US Air HQ, previously attached to RAF Advanced Air HQ, Western Desert, to gain field experience, becomes HQ of DATF, located at Burg el Arab, with General Brereton as CG and General Adler attached with advance HQ of ASC. CoS of DATF is General Strickland. B‑25’s bomb dispersed aircraft. P‑40’s escort bombers, attack tent areas and motor transport along coastal road near El Hammam, fly reconnaissance and fighter sweeps W of El Daba, and bomb artillery positions. P‑40’s claim 2 fighters destroyed. B‑17’s sent to hit Candia abort because of weather.

SOUTH PACIFIC—Henderson Field is out of operation again as result of enemy action.

ELEVENTH AF—Weather reconnaissance aircraft reports submarine at 52-08N 177-21W. Navy airplane later makes contact and drops depth bomb. Result unknown.

US ARMY

GUADALCANAL—Japanese postpone attack on Lunga perimeter until 23d, since main assault force is still short of line of departure, but continue artillery fire against Marine positions along Matanikau.

NEW GUINEA—To secure NE coast of Papua, 2/12th Battalion of Australian 18th Brigade embarks in 2 DD’s at Milne Bay and during night 22–23 lands at a points on Goodenough Island., from which submarines have withdrawn 60 of the 353 Japanese stranded there on 25 August.

INDIA—Combined planning staff conference opens to consider offensive in Burma.

ALGERIA—In preparation for TORCH, Maj General Mark W. Clark, deputy commander to General Eisenhower, and small U.S. party arrive in Algeria by submarine under cover of darkness to meet secretly with pro-Allied French party headed by Brigadier General Charles E. Mast. During the meeting General Mast assures General Clark and U.S. Consul General Robert Murphy that French will co-operate under leadership of General Henri Giraud.

EGYPT—U.S. advanced base hq becomes Desert Air Task Force Hq under command of General Brereton. British Eighth Army moves secretly into assault positions during night 22–23.

UNITED KINGDOM—TORCH cargo convoy leaves for Africa.

US MARINE CORPS

—Marines and Army troops fight off heavy ground attacks of major Japanese counteroffensive.

Wednesday 21 October, 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Destroyer Grayson (DD‑435) is damaged in collision with fleet tug Vireo (AT-144) during efforts to salvage the latter, Solomons area, 12°08'S, 161°04'E. Salvage party from Grayson ultimately brings the tug (abandoned on 15 September 1942) and its tow safely into Espiritu Santo after a 400 mile voyage.

            Japanese carrier Hiyo is damaged by engine room fire after departing Truk; she thus cannot participate in the Battle of Santa Cruz (see 26 October 1942).

            Submarine Guardfish (SS‑217) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Nichiho Maru about 120 miles north-northeast of Formosa, 27°03'N, 122°42'E.

            Submarine Gudgeon (SS‑212), attacking Japanese convoy in the Bismarck Sea, sinks transport Choko Maru about 110 miles west-northwest of Rabaul, 03°30'S, 150°30'E.

MEDITERRANEAN—In advance of the North African landings, Major General Mark W. Clark, USA; Brigadier General Lyman M. Lemnitzer, USA; two additional Army officers; and Navy Captain Jerauld Wright are landed at Cherchel, French North Africa, from British submarine HMS Seraph to meet with a French military delegation to ascertain French attitudes toward impending Allied operations. Among issues discussed is the French request for an American submarine to evacuate General Giraud from occupied France. Since none is available for that mission, a British submarine under temporary U.S. command will be substituted (see 5 November 1942).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—VIII Bomber Command flies its first mission against submarine bases. 15 B‑17’s hit U-boat pens at Lorient—Keroman. 8 Heavy Bombers strike at Cherbourg/Maupertus airfield. The strike against the sub pens is flown at 17,500-ft level, 5,000 to 10,000 ft lower than usual. 36 FW-190’s intercept; 3 US bombers are shot down.

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑24’s dispatched against shipping at Bengasi fail to locate target because of bad weather. During return flight, several Heavy Bombers bomb tent areas along coast and also hit landing grounds. B‑25’s, cooperating with RAF, bomb landing ground and tent area.

TENTH AF—B‑24’s of IATF stage through Chengtu to bomb Lin-hsi coal mines. The plan is to blast nearby power stations and pumping facilities and flood the mines. The attack fails to flood the mines but inflicts considerable damage to the target area. This marks the first use of Heavy Bombers in China and the first AAF strike N of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers.

FIFTH AF—B‑25’s hit Luscan Harbor on S coast of New Britain.

ELEVENTH AF—Weather reconnaissance aircraft returns twice due to fog.

US ARMY

UNITED STATES—Admiral King informs Admiral Nimitz that Joint Chiefs of Staff have agreed to strengthen air forces in S Pacific by 1 January 1943.

GUADALCANAL—Japanese coastal force, with support of artillery and 9 tanks, attempts to cross to E bank of the Matanikau but pulls back after losing a tank to U.S. fire.

NEW GUINEA—From Jaure, 50-man patrol of cannon company, U.S. 32d Division, sets out for Kumusi River Valley, where it subsequently establishes defense line and is joined by Medendorp’s main group, the entire force being called Wairopi Patrol. Australians maintain pressure on enemy along Kokoda Trail, slowly gaining ground in flanking attacks.

US MARINE CORPS

—Marines and Army troops fight off heavy ground attacks of major Japanese counteroffensive.

Tuesday 20 October, 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Heavy cruiser Chester (CA‑27) is torpedoed by Japanese submarine I‑176, 120 miles southeast of San Cristobal, Solomons, 13°31'S, 163°17'E.

            Submarine Drum (SS‑228), attacking Japanese convoy off southern Honshu, sinks merchant cargo ship Ryunan Maru,34°09'N, 136°46'E.

            Submarine Finback (SS‑230), attacking Japanese convoy off west coast of Formosa, damages army passenger-cargo ship Africa Maru and cargo ship Yamafuji Maru, 24°26'N, 120°25'E. Both sink the next morning.

            Submarine Gar (SS‑206) mines the approaches to Bangkok, Thailand.

            Submarine Tautog (SS‑199) sinks merchant trawler Nanshin Maru, 06°59'N, 119°20'E.

ATLANTIC—Remainder of crew (35 merchant seamen and nine Armed Guard sailors) from U.S. freighter Steel Scientist, sunk by German submarine U‑514 on 11 October 1942, reach Paramaribo, British Guiana, in three lifeboats.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—General Eisenhower issues directive reflecting immediate urgency of TORCH as the currently important item of Allied strategy and requiring Eighth AF, as a matter of first priority, to protect movement of men and supplies from UK to N Africa by attacking German submarine bases on W coast of France, with shipping docks on the French W coast as secondary targets for these missions and with German aircraft factories and depots in France as second priority.

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—Air action is intensified with aim of attaining strong air superiority preceding General Montgomery’s El Alamein offensive. B‑17’s and B‑24’s sent to attack shipping at Tobruk fail to locate target due to bad weather and poor visibility. 3 of the B‑17’s bomb coastal road near Bardia during return trip. B‑25’s, in conjunction with RAF, attack landing grounds.

SOUTH PACIFIC—Admiral Halsey sends 147th Infantry to Guadalcanal and also institutes construction of another bomber strip to be located at Koli Pt, 12 mi SE of Henderson Field.

ELEVENTH AF—6 B‑24’s take off for Kiska but return due to weather. Reconnaissance is flown to 70 mi E of Attu. A negative search is made for a missing C‑53.

US ARMY

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA—General Vandegrift, reporting to Admiral Halsey aboard his flagship in Nouméa harbor, requests and is promised more support for Guadalcanal. Admiral Halsey orders 147th Infantry, which had been earmarked for invasion of Ndeni, Santa Cruz Islands, to Guadalcanal. The Ndeni operation is never undertaken.

GUADALCANAL—Japanese attack is postponed to 22d, since main enveloping force has not yet reached line of departure, but patrol of supporting coastal force is taken under fire at mouth of Matanikau River and retires after 1 of its 2 tanks is hit.

NEW GUINEA—16th Brigade of Australian 6th Division enters fight for Kokoda Trail, relieving 25th Brigade of Australian 7th Div; continues action to clear Eora Creek area. U.S. 32d Division party under Capt Medendorp, having left elements at Laruni, where dropping ground is staked out, arrives at Jaure, where Capt Boice’s party is searching for airfield sites.

CHINA BURMA INDIA—Chinese troops begin moving by air into India to meet Ramgarh requirements. Chinese 22d and 38th Divisions are being brought up to strength.

IRAQ—General Connolly reaches Basra, where he assumes command of PGSC, replacing Col Shingler, who remains as acting chief of staff until relieved by Col Stanley L. Scott on 20 November. Strength of PGSC at this time is about 400 officers and men of SOS and AAF and just under 1,000 American civilians.

EGYPT—Allied air action is intensified in effort to attain high degree of air superiority before General Montgomery’s El ‘Alamein offensive opens. Air superiority is achieved by assault date, 24 October.

US MARINE CORPS

—Marines and Army troops fight off heavy ground attacks of major Japanese counteroffensive.

Monday 19 October, 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Small reconnaissance seaplane from Japanese submarine I‑19 reconnoiters Nouméa, New Caledonia.

            Destroyer O'Brien (DD‑415), damaged by submarine torpedo on 15 September 1942, breaks in two and sinks en route to United States for repairs, 53 miles north-northwest of Tutuila, Samoa, 13°30'S, 171°18'E.

            Submarine Amberjack (SS‑219) arrives at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, assigned temporarily to Commander, Aircraft, South Pacific, for duty. Over the next three days, two of the submarine's fuel tanks will be cleaned and converted to carry aviation gasoline. She will also take on board 100-pound bombs and embark USAAF enlisted ground crew for transportation to Guadalcanal.

            SBDs (VS 71, VMSB 141, VB 6) from Henderson Field attack three Japanese destroyers north of Guadalcanal, damaging Uranami.

            Submarine Grampus (SS‑207) lands Australian coastwatchers on Choiseul Island, Solomons.

ATLANTIC—U.S. freighter Steel Navigator, straggling from convoy ON 137, is attacked by German submarine U‑610; Steel Navigator briefly drives off the shadower with 5-inch gunfire, but the U‑boat returns and torpedoes and sinks the freighter at 49°20'N, 32°00'W. Hastily launched motor boat swamps in heavy seas; no.3 lifeboat swamps as the ship plunges and spills its 35 occupants into the sea. U‑610 surfaces and approaches the survivors' boats and rafts; when questions shouted by the submarine's commander fail to get answers, the enemy threatens to cut a raft in two. After answers are given in the brief interrogation, the Germans refuse to provide a course to the nearest land and depart. Subsequently, survivors right no.3 boat and redistribute themselves; the boats become separated (see 27 October1942).

            Fishing boat (nationality not determined) tows no.1 lifeboat, with 25 men on board, from U.S. freighter Coloradan, which had been torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U‑159 on 9 October 1942, into Thorne Bay, South Africa; the Americans reach Cape Town the next day (see 2 November 1942).

            Master and radio operator in gig from U.S. freighter Steel Scientist, sunk by German submarine U‑514 on 11 October1942, reach Tarlogie, British Guiana (see 20 October 1942).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—HQ VIII Air Support Command moves from Membury to Sunninghill Park, Berkshire.

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—Air offensive preliminary to the British Eighth Army ground attack W of El Alamein begins as B‑25’s hit landing ground and B‑24’s score direct hit on vessel at Tobruk.

ELEVENTH AF—A B‑17 flies weather reconnaissance and bomb runs over Attu, Semichis, Kiska, and Amchitka. 6 B‑24’s dispatched to bomb Kiska abort mission due to weather.

US ARMY

UNITED STATES—War Department agrees to equip 30 more Chinese divisions.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA—U.S. 25th Division is alerted for movement to Guadalcanal.

NEW GUINEA—Col Sverdrup’s reconnaissance party completes march along Kapa Kapa trail, which is so poor that it is rejected as a possible route of advance, to upper Musa River, where Abel’s Field is already in use; searches for additional airfield sites.

MADAGASCAR—Troops of British E African Command continue to clear S part of island and in 2 pronged attack overcome opposition at Andriamanalina.

US MARINE CORPS

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Sunday 18 October, 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Vice Admiral William F. Halsey Jr. relieves Vice Admiral Robert L. Ghormley as Commander South Pacific Area and South Pacific Force, on board auxiliary Argonne (AG-31) at Nouméa, New Caledonia.

            Submarine Grampus (SS‑207) torpedoes Japanese light cruiser Yura, 07°47'S, 157°19'E, but her "fish" fails to explode.

            Submarine Greenling (SS‑213) sinks Japanese transport Hakonesan Maru close inshore off northeast coast of Honshu, 38°46'N, 142°03'E.

ATLANTIC—U.S. freighter Angelina, straggling from New York-bound convoy ON 137, is again torpedoed by German submarine U‑618 at 49°39'N, 30°20'W, and abandoned; an "exceptionally heavy sea" claims 33 crewmen and 13 Armed Guards; British rescue ship Bury rescues six men (one of whom dies later) from a raft and three from a lifeboat. Only four merchant seamen and four Armed Guards thus survive the ship's loss.

            U.S. freighter Steel Navigator, also straggling from convoy ON 137, takes on 40° list as her sand ballast shifts; Armed Guard volunteers shovel ballast for 30 hours without relief (reducing the list to 12°) until financial bonus offered by ship’s master induces reluctant merchant sailors to lend a hand in the arduous work (see 19 October 1942).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FIFTH AF—B‑25’s hit Wairopi bridge in Owen Stanley Range, village of Mubo, and dock and occupied area on Pilelo Island. B‑17’s attack shipping and aircraft in Faisi area, schooners and buildings at Lorengau on Manus, Kahili airfield, and shipping off Kahili, Pupukuna Pt, and Buin. Fifth AF completes air movement of most of 128th Infantry, 32d Division, to Wanigela.

SOUTH PACIFIC—Admiral Halsey succeeds Admiral Ghormley as COMSOPAC.

ELEVENTH AF—4 B‑24’s bomb Main Camp, score near misses on beached vessel in Trout Lagoon, and hit gasoline storage area. Weather aircraft flies reconnaissance over Attu, Segula, Little Sitkin, and Gareloi.

US ARMY

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA—Admiral Halsey succeeds Admiral Ghormley as Commander, South Pacific Area.

NEW GUINEA—Air movement of most of 128th Infantry, U.S. 32d Division, to Wanigela is completed. Elements are left at Port Moresby temporarily when Wanigela field becomes unserviceable because of rains. Hard fighting continues on Kokoda Trail in vicinity of Eora Creek.

US MARINE CORPS

—Vice Admiral Halsey relieves Vice Admiral Ghormley as Commander South Pacific Area and South Pacific Force.

 

Saturday 17 October, 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Trigger (SS‑237) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Holland Maru close inshore near the mouth of Bungo Suido, off Kyushu, 32°21'N, 132°04'E.

ATLANTIC—U.S. freighter Angelina, straggling from New York-bound convoy ON 137, is torpedoed by German submarine U‑618 at 49°39'N, 30°20'W (see 18 October 1942).

            U.S. freighter Winona, torpedoed the day before by German submarine U‑160, arrives at Port of Spain, Trinidad, under her own power.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

ELEVENTH AF—5 B‑24’s bomb Kiska Main Camp area and beached vessel in Trout Lagoon. Results unobserved due to clouds. 1 B‑24 flying weather reconnaissance finds no trace of 2 destroyers, confirming their sinking on 16 Oct.

US ARMY

NEW GUINEA—Bitter fighting is in progress on Kokoda Trail at Eora Creek, where Japanese commit reinforcements. Abel’s Field at Fasari, on upper Musa River near Mt Sapia, becomes operational. Field is named for Cecil Abel, a missionary who constructed it with assistance of native labor and equipment dropped by Fifth Air Force. First luggers reach Wanigela and continue toward Pongani with men and supplies.

UNITED KINGDOM—Convoys for TORCH begin assembling at Firth of Clyde.

US MARINE CORPS

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Friday 16 October, 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Japanese surface force (Rear Admiral Omori Sentaro, with heavy cruisers Maya and Myoko, and Rear Admiral Tanaka Raizo, with light cruiser Isuzu and seven destroyers) shells Henderson Field.

            TF 17, formed around carrier Hornet (CV‑8) (Rear Admiral George D. Murray), strikes Japanese troops on Guadalcanal, and seaplane base at Rekata Bay, Santa Isabel, Solomons.

            Seaplane tender (destroyer) McFarland (AVD‑14) is damaged by Japanese dive bombers, Lunga Roads, Guadalcanal, 09°24'S, 160°02'E.

            After attacks by PBYs fail, USAAF B‑26s (11th Air Force) sink Japanese destroyer Oboro about 20 miles northeast of Sirius Point, Kiska, 52°17'N, 178°08'E, and damage destroyer Hatsuharu.

            Submarine Thresher (SS‑200) mines the approaches to Bangkok, Thailand, in the first U.S. Navy submarine mine plant of World War II.

ATLANTIC—U.S. freighter Winona, in convoy bound for Rio de Janeiro, is torpedoed by German submarine U‑160 at 11°00'N, 61°10'W; and veers out of line, grazing the stern of steamship Austvangen. One merchant seaman and two Armed Guard sailors suffer injuries in the attack, but there are no fatalities among the 42 man crew or 15 man Armed Guard (see 17 October 1942).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑24’s bomb shipping in Bengasi harbor. B‑17’s and B‑24’s dispatched to attack Tobruk and Bengasi are forced by bad weather to abort.

FIFTH AF—A‑20’s and B‑25’s hit village of Pawaia, trails in Kokoda area, Buna-Kokoda trail, and villages at mouth and along Mambare River; B‑25’s also bomb Mubo-Salamaua trail. B‑17’s bomb airfield at Rabaul and attack targets in the Solomons, including airfield at Buin, and shipping off Moila Pt and Shortland Islands.

SOUTH PACIFIC—Seabees on Guadalcanal patch up Henderson Field runways enough for use by fighters. Marine fighters and AAF P‑400’s and P‑39’s begin pounding invasion force landing at Kokumbona-Doma Reef area just 8 mi away. However, the enemy continues to bombard Henderson by air strike and artillery and to land troops.

ELEVENTH AF—1 B‑17, 6 B‑26’s, and 4 P‑38’s bomb Kiska and low-level bomb and sink 2 destroyers just N of there. Duds hit large freighter beached off Trout Lagoon. 1 B‑26 is shot down.

US ARMY

GUADALCANAL—Japanese begin march along narrow trail from Kokumbona assembly area toward attack positions E of Lunga River. Japanese artillery shelling of Lunga perimeter increases in volume and accuracy. U.S. patrol craft attack enemy coastal positions from Kokumbona to Cape Esperance. Operational aircraft number 66 after arrival of 20 F4F’s and 12 SBD’s. Seaplane tender MacFarland is seriously damaged by enemy aircraft in Sealark Channel but is salvaged by crew.

US MARINE CORPS

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Thursday 15 October, 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Base, Fremantle-Perth, Australia, is established.

            Patrol Wing 14 (Captain William M. McDade) is established at San Diego, California, for operations in Western Sea Frontier.

            Heavy cruiser Portland (CA‑33) bombards Japanese shipping and installations at Tarawa, Gilberts.

            Japanese heavy cruisers Chokai and Kinugasa (Vice Admiral Mikawa Gunichi) bombard Henderson Field, covering the movement of six destroyers and eleven transports to Tassafaronga, Guadalcanal. Planes from Henderson Field, including USMC and Navy SBDs (VMSB 141, VB 6, other unidentified units), USAAF B‑17s and P‑39/P‑400s, Navy F4Fs (VF 5), and USMC PBY (personal "flag" plane of Commanding General 1st Marine Aircraft Wing), conduct a succession of attacks upon Japanese supply convoy off Tassafaronga undamaged by VS 3's strike the previous day. USAAF B‑17s damage transport Azumasan Maru which, along with merchant cargo ship Kyushu Maru, is run aground, where uncontrollable fires destroy both ships. Air attacks also sink Sasago Maru and damage destroyer Samidare.

            Off San Cristobal, Solomons, destroyer Meredith (DD‑434) takes on board the crew of tug Vireo (AT-144) at approach of planes from Japanese carriers Shokaku and Zuikaku. Before Meredith can scuttle the tug with a torpedo to prevent her from falling into enemy hands, however, the destroyer is overwhelmed and sunk in the ensuing air attack, by bombs and aerial torpedoes; Vireo and her tow (a gasoline barge), though, having been abandoned, drift off, untouched by the enemy. Some Meredith survivors reach safety on board the tug (see 21 September 1942).

            Submarine Skipjack (SS‑184) engages Japanese auxiliary Kifuku Maru at 04°36'N, 146°59'E. Skipjack's torpedoes miss; Kifuku Maru returns fire with her guns and escapes into a rain squall.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FIFTH AF—A‑20’s and P‑40’s pound forces S of Templeton’s Crossing and at Popondetta. B‑25’s bomb Salamaua and hit targets in Owen Stanley Range and in area around bridge at Wairopi. A single B‑17 attacks shipping near Treasury Islands.

SOUTH PACIFIC—Aviation fuel arrives at Henderson Field from Espiritu Santo by aircraft and ship.

ELEVENTH AF—3 B‑26’s bomb and 1 B‑24 flies photo reconnaissance over Kiska and Attu. The B‑26’s hit a large cargo ship in Gertrude Cove, starting fire, and hit buildings on Attu. AA claims 1 B‑26.

ZONE OF THE INTERIOR—AAF Antisub Command is activated to take over antisub operations of I Bomber Command, which is inactivated.

US ARMY

GUADALCANAL—Japanese 17th Army issues tactical orders for assault on Lunga Pt, setting date tentatively for 18th. 5 escorted enemy transports unload final elements of assault force (3,000–4,000 men) and most of cargo at Tassafaronga. Aircraft from Guadalcanal and New Hebrides join in attacks on enemy, sinking 2 vessels and damaging others. Vitally needed gasoline arrives from Espiritu Santo on Army and Marine transport planes and on seaplane tender MacFarland.

US MARINE CORPS

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Wednesday 14 October, 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Motor torpedo boats PT-60, PT-38, PT-46, and PT-48 (Lieutenant Commander Alan R. Montgomery) engage Japanese surface force (Rear Admiral Kurita Takeo) comprising battleships Haruna and Kongo, light cruiser Isuzu, and seven destroyers bombarding Henderson Field, Guadalcanal. Destroyer Naganami turns back the motor torpedo boats; Japanese bombardment destroys 48 of 90 planes at the field, putting the facility temporarily out of action. PT-60 is damaged by grounding on coral reef off Guadalcanal.

            SBDs (Guadalcanal-based VS 3) attack six-ship Japanese convoy escorted by eight destroyers heading southward toward Guadalcanal between Santa Isabel and Florida Islands, 08°50'S, 160°00'E, but inflict no damage.

            Japanese submarine I‑7 shells Espiritu Santo.

            Submarine Finback (SS‑230), attacking Japanese convoy, sinks army transport Teison Maru about 20 miles off Tansui harbor, on northwest tip of Formosa, 25°20'N, 121°25'E.

            Submarine Greenling (SS‑213) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Takusei Maru six miles off Todo Zaki, off northeast coast of Honshu, 39°33'N, 142°15'E.

            Submarine Grampus (SS‑207) lands Australian coastwatchers on coast of Vella Lavella (see 19 October 1942).

            Submarine Sculpin (SS‑191) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Sumiyoshi Maru 75 miles southwest of Kavieng, New Ireland, 03°51'S, 151°21'E.

            Submarine Skipjack (SS‑184) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Shunko Maru about 450 miles west-southwest of Truk,05°35'N, 144°25'E.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑17’s hit shipping at Tobruk, scoring 2 direct hits on a large vessel and demolishing a smaller ship moored alongside. P‑40’s fly patrols, reconnaissance and interception missions between El Alamein and Burg el Arab.

FIFTH AF—B‑25’s attack Lae, a bridge 40 mi N of Port Moresby, and area of Wairopi bridge. On Kokoda trail Japanese offer fierce resistance to Australians pushing NE in vicinity of Templeton’s Crossing. Fifth AF airplanes begin flying a force of Australians and Americans to Wanigela.

SOUTH PACIFIC—B‑17’s which have been temporarily operating out of Henderson Field are evacuated. Field is again pounded by artillery and naval bombardment, and by afternoon is out of operation. Aviation fuel supply is low.

ELEVENTH AF—9 B‑24’s, 6 B‑26’s, 1 B‑17 and 12 P‑38’s bomb and strafe Kiska installations and shipping. Fire bombs are dropped on hangars and Main Camp area where a large fire is started. 2 torpedo attacks on shipping in Gertrude Cove score no hits. The P‑38’s destroy 3 float-planes on water. 1 P‑38 is shot down.

US ARMY

GUADALCANAL—Further enemy bombardment of Henderson Field puts it out of action temporarily, forcing aircraft to use Fighter Strip No. 1, a rough runway SE of Henderson. Strength of operational aircraft is reduced during 13th and 14th from 90 to 42. Supply of aviation gasoline is critically low, but SBD’s and P–39’s take to the air in effort to halt enemy convoy of transports escorted by DD’s proceeding toward Guadalcanal. The planes fail to stop the convoy but sink a transport and set another vessel on fire.

NEW GUINEA—Fifth Air Force begins f lying coastal force (128th Infantry of U.S. 32d Division and 2/6th Australian Independent Company, under command of Brigadier General Hanford MacNider) to Wanigela. Australians advancing along Kokoda Trail are meeting stubborn opposition in vicinity of Templeton’s Crossing.

US MARINE CORPS

—Japanese battleships and cruisers bombard Henderson Field.

Tuesday 13 October, 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—1st Marine Division is reinforced by 164th Infantry Regiment of Americal Division, the first major U.S. Army unit to reach Guadalcanal.

            Small reconnaissance seaplane from Japanese submarine I‑7 reconnoiters Espiritu Santo.

            Japanese submarine I‑30 is sunk by mine, three miles east of Singapore (see 9 September 1942).

NORTH RUSSIA—German torpedo bombers attacking convoy PQ.18

ATLANTIC—U.S. freighter Susana, in convoy SC 104 and bound for Cardiff, Wales, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U‑221, 53°41'N, 41°23'W; 27 of the 42 man crew perish with the ship, as do 10 of the 16 man Armed Guard. British rescue ship Gothland rescues the six Armed Guard survivors and the 15 merchant seamen who survive Susana's loss.

            U.S. freighter West Humhaw rescues 18 survivors of freighter John Carter Rose, sunk by U‑201 and U‑202 on 8October 1942. Argentinean tanker Santa Cruz picks up the remainder of those who survive the merchantman's loss.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—P‑40’s fly fighter sweep, patrol, and interception missions W of El Alamein. Fighters claim 2 Me-109’s destroyed and 1 damaged.

FIFTH AF—B‑17’s again pound Rabaul, concentrating on Vunakanau and Lakunai airfields. A B‑17 bombs Buna.

SOUTH PACIFIC—6 B‑17’s bomb Buka and Tonolai. Japanese aircraft from Rabaul pound Henderson Field during the day and hit troops of the American Division disembarking at Lunga Pt. Artillery also begins shelling the airstrip. During 13/14 Oct the battleships Kongo and Haruna hit Henderson with a terrific bombardment. The field is damaged severely and many airplanes are destroyed or damaged.

ELEVENTH AF—A search mission is not completed due to weather.

US ARMY

GUADALCANAL—Japanese aircraft, long-range artillery from Kokumbona area, and naval TF that includes 2 BB’s alternate in bombarding Henderson Field during day and throughout night 13–14, severely damaging field and sharply reducing U.S. air strength. First ground force units of U.S. Army, 164th Infantry of Americal Division, arrive on McCawley and on Zeilin, which also bring 210 men of 1st Marine Air Wing and 85 Marine casuals plus weapons and supplies. Unloading despite air attacks, the vessels embark 1st Raider Battalion and sail for New Caledonia. Troop strength of 1st Marine Division is thus brought up to 23,088, excluding forces on Tulagi. 1st Marine Division CG divides Lunga perimeter into 5 regimental sectors, massing greatest strength on W.

CHINA—General Stilwell presents to Chiang Kai-shek President Roosevelt’s reply of 12 October to the Generalissimo’s 3 demands.

US MARINE CORPS

—164th Infantry Regiment of Americal Division arrives to reinforce 1st Marine Div.

Monday 12 October, 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Battle of Cape Esperance continues as TG 64.2 engages Japanese cruiser and destroyer force. As the result of damage received in the battle, Japanese heavy cruiser Furutaka sinks, 09°02'S, 159°34'E; destroyers Murakumo and Shirayuki rescue survivors of Rear Admiral Goto's ships sunk in the engagement with TG 64.2.

            Despite efforts of a salvage party from destroyer McCalla (DD‑488), destroyer Duncan (DD‑485) sinks as a result of damage received off Cape Esperance. McCalla also conducts unsuccessful attempt to sink Japanese submarine I‑2 off Guadalcanal.

            Destroyers Gwin (DD‑433), Nicholas (DD‑450), and Sterett (DD‑407) shell Japanese artillery positions on Guadalcanal.

            SBD (VS 71) sinks Japanese destroyer Natsugumo off Savo Island; destroyer Murakumo, after being damaged by TBF (VT 8), Navy and Marine SBDs (VS 3, VS 71, VMSB 141) and Marine F4Fs (VMF 121, VMF 212, and VMF 224) off New Georgia, Solomons, is scuttled by destroyer Shirayuki.

            Submarine Nautilus (SS‑168) is damaged by depth charges off northern Honshu, 41°05'N, 141°58'E, but remains on patrol.

            Motor torpedo boats PT-38, PT-46, PT-48 and PT-60 arrive at Tulagi, having been towed from Espiritu Santo to a point 300 miles south of that place by high-speed minesweepers Southard (DMS‑10) and Hovey (DMS‑11).

            Transport Mount Vernon (AP‑22) is stranded by storm, Sydney, Australia, harbor, but is not damaged in the accidental grounding.

ATLANTIC—U.S. freighter Pan Gulf, in convoy TAG 18S, blunders into U.S. minefield at 10°01'N, 61°50'16"W; she returns to Trinidad under her own power. There are no casualties among the 38 man merchant complement and 21 man Armed Guard.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—VIII Fighter Command is made responsible for preparation and movement of air echelons of Twelfth AF from UK to N Africa.

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—Bomber Command USAMEAF is organized at Cairo with Col Patrick W Timberlake as CO. This step comes about as part of a move to preserve Arnold-Portal-Towers agreement that US combat units in theaters of British strategic responsibility are to be organized in homogeneous ‘American formations’ and under ‘strategic control only’ of a British CinC. B‑17’s hit shipping at Tobruk harbor.

FIFTH AF—A‑20’s hit village of Isivita and targets on trail near Wairopi. B‑25’s bomb Buna, Wairopi bridge, and targets along Buna-Kokoda trail.

SOUTH PACIFIC—5 B‑17’s bomb installations at Buka.

ELEVENTH AF—2 B‑24’s abort bombing of Kiska due to overcast and instead fly shipping search W of Attu.

US ARMY

BATTLE OF CAPE ESPERANCE—Henderson-based planes conclude action against retiring enemy naval force, sinking DD’s Murakumo and Natsugumo.

SOLOMON ISLANDS—4 boats of MTB Sq 3, the first naval craft to be permanently based at Tulagi except for harbor patrol boats, are towed in.

CHINA BURMA INDIA—General Stilwell requests that a second 30 Chinese divisions be equipped.

US MARINE CORPS

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Sunday 11 October, 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Japanese transport force (Rear Admiral Joshima Koji), formed around seaplane carriers Chitose and Nisshin and six destroyers, reaches Tassafaronga, Guadalcanal, to disembark elements of the Japanese Army's 2d Infantry Division. Three heavy cruisers and two destroyers (Rear Admiral Goto Aritomo, his flag in heavy cruiser Aoba) are to provide cover by shelling Henderson Field. Battle of Cape Esperance commences shortly before midnight, however, as naval surface force TG 64.2 (Rear Admiral Norman Scott) bars Goto's way. Heavy cruiser Salt Lake City (CA‑25) and light cruiser Boise (CL‑47) are damaged, but combine to cripple Japanese heavy cruiser Furutaka; destroyers Duncan (DD‑485) and Farenholt (DD‑491) are also damaged by Japanese gunfire, the latter possibly by friendly fire from either Boise or Helena (CL‑50). American cruiser and destroyer gunfire sinks Japanese destroyer Fubuki (09°06'S,159°38'E) and damages heavy cruiser Aoba (Rear Admiral Goto is killed on board his flagship) and destroyer Hatsuyuki.

            Japanese submarine I‑25, homeward bound from her deployment off the U.S. West Coast, torpedoes and sinks Russian submarine L 16 (bound from Dutch Harbor, Alaska, to San Francisco, California), 46°41'N, 138°56'E.

            Submarine Searaven (SS‑196) torpedoes German blockade runner Regensburg in Sunda Strait, N.E.I.

            British destroyer HMS Active rescues 23 survivors from No.2 lifeboat from U.S. freighter Coloradan, which had been torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U‑159 on 9 October 1942 (see 19 October 1942).

ATLANTIC—U.S. freighter Steel Scientist, en route to Paramaribo, British Guiana, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U‑514, 05°48'N, 51°39'W; one crewman is killed in the attack. Survivors (who include 37 merchant seamen and the 9 man Armed Guard) take to a gig and three lifeboats (see 19 and 20 October 1942).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑24’s attack convoy in the Mediterranean, hitting 1 vessel and claiming 1 fighter shot down.

SOUTH PACIFIC—B‑17’s sight Task Force of cruisers and destroyers bearing down on Guadalcanal in the afternoon. During 11/12 Oct, in the Battle of Cape Esperance, Adm Scott’s cruisers drive away the vessels. Search has been and continues to be the most useful service of the B‑17’s in SOPAC.

ELEVENTH AF—Kiska is hit by 3 bombing and strafing missions flown by 10 B‑24’s and 3 B‑17’s. The B‑17’s make no contact. The B‑24’s blast harbor targets and Main Camp.

US ARMY

BATTLE OF CAPE ESPERANCE—After Japanese naval force moving toward Guadalcanal is spotted by U.S. planes in afternoon, Task Force of 4 cruisers and 5 DD’s under Rear Admiral Norman Scott, standing off Rennell Island to protect convoy bringing elements of Americal Division to Guadalcanal, moves toward Cape Esperance to engage enemy and at 2346 opens fire. During 34-minute battle, the Task Force sinks Furutaka (CA) and Fubuki (DD) and damages Aoba and Kinugasa (CA’s). Enemy retires northward, leaving DD’s Natsugumo and Murakumo to rescue survivors. U.S. losses are light: Duncan, Boise, Salt Lake City, and Farenholt are damaged; of these, only the DD Duncan sinks, on 12th.

MADAGASCAR—General Platt, CG E African Command, relinquishes command on island to Maj General Smallwood, General Officer Commanding Islands Area.

US MARINE CORPS

—Naval Battle of Cape Esperance. U. S. forces under Admiral Spruance engage Japanese ships of the “Tokyo Express. ”

 

Saturday 10 October, 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Amberjack (SS‑219) damages Japanese transport Tenryu Maru and auxiliary Tonan Maru off Kavieng, 02°36'S, 150°48'E.

            Submarine Seadragon (SS‑194) sinks Japanese transport Shigure Maru off Samarinda, Borneo, 01°01'S, 117°22'E.

            Submarine Wahoo (SS‑238) sinks Japanese collier Kamoi Maru off Bougainville, Solomons.

            Japanese submarine chaser Ch 14 is damaged by planes (USAAF B‑24s and B‑17s, accompanied by P‑38s, bomb shipping in Trout Lagoon and off South Head) off Kiska, Aleutians.

            U.S. tanker Camden, torpedoed by Japanese submarine I‑25 on 4 October 1942, catches fire and sinks off the mouth of the Columbia River, 46°46'38"N, 124°31'15"W.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑24’s bomb shipping and dock area at Bengasi, while B‑25’s hit landing grounds.

FIFTH AF—B‑17’s pound Rabaul and nearby Lakunai airfield. A‑20’s hit target along Buna-Kokoda trail and, with P‑ 400’s, strike villages in area of Asisi and Sanananda.

ELEVENTH AF—10 B‑24’s, 7 B‑17’s, and 4 P‑38’s fly 4 missions to Kiska. Third mission (3 B‑17’s) does not make contact. The others bomb and strafe Main Camp area, hit shipping in Trout Lagoon and off South Head, where gun positions and installations are also blasted. Fires are started in the Main Camp and hangar areas.

US ARMY

GUADALCANAL—In anticipation of enemy counteroffensive, marines strengthen defense positions and patrol aggressively. 3 Battalions of 1st and 7th Marines plus elements of Special Weapons Company take responsibility for E bank of the Matanikau, where permanent positions are established at river mouth. By this time, 12 P–39’s of 67th Fighter Squadron are at Henderson Field. B–17’s are occasionally staging through the field.

NEW GUINEA—Main body of 2d Battalion, 126th Infantry, U.S. 32d Division, with supporting units, leaves Kalikodobu on foot for Jaure.

US MARINE CORPS

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Friday 9 October, 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—U.S. troop convoy, TG 62.6, consisting of transports McCawley (AP‑10) and Zeilin (AP‑9) and eight high speed transports (Rear Admiral Richmond K. Turner) sails from Nouméa, New Caledonia, for Guadalcanal with the U.S. Army 164^th Infantry Regiment embarked.

            Auxiliary aircraft carrier Copahee (ACV 12) ferries 20 USMC F4Fs (VMF 121) to Henderson Field, Guadalcanal.

            Small reconnaissance seaplane from Japanese submarine I‑7 reconnoiters Espiritu Santo.

            Submarine Drum (SS‑228) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Yawatasan Maru, 33°27'N, 136°01'E.

ATLANTIC—U.S. freighter Coloradan is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U‑159 approximately 214 miles southwest of Cape Town, South Africa, 35°47'S, 14°34'E; six crewmen are killed in the attack. Survivors (who include 33 merchant seamen and the 15 man Armed Guard) divide themselves between two lifeboats; the men in lifeboat no.1 are questioned by the Germans and are given a course to Cape Town (see 11 and 19 October and 2 November 1942).

            German submarine U‑505 is damaged by aircraft off Trinidad, B.W.I.

            U.S. freighter Examelia is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U‑68 20 miles south of the Cape of Good Hope,34°52'S, 18°30'E; U‑boat officers question the survivors before the enemy submersible leaves the area. U.S. freighter John Lykes subsequently rescues the survivors (30 of 38 merchant sailors and 10 of the 13 man Armed Guard) (see 2 November 1942).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—B‑24’s join air assault in first US mission in which more than 100 bombers are dispatched from UK. The principal targets are the steel and engineering works of the Compagnie de Fives at Lille and the locomotive and freight car works of Ateliers d’Hellemmes at Lille, which are attacked by 69 B‑17’s and B‑24’s. Other targets attacked (by 10 Heavy Bombers) are Courtrai/Wevelghem and Saint-Omer airfields and the city of Roubaix.

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑24’s strike shipping and harbor facilities at Bengasi. P‑40’s fly escort and strafe a landing ground W of El Daba and emplacements in battle area W of El Alamein.

FIFTH AF—14 B‑25’s hit airfield at Lae. 30 B‑17’s pound numerous targets at Rabaul.

ELEVENTH AF—7 B‑17’s and 10 B‑24’s escorted by 6 P‑38’s and 4 P‑39’s bomb Kiska Harbor, installations and shipping 6 times. Targets include shipping in Gertrude Cove, small cargo vessels in Kiska Harbor, installations at North Head, hangar, Main Camp area (hit several times), and various shore facilities.

US ARMY

GUADALCANAL—Rear echelon of 2d Marines, 2d Marine Division, arrives. 164th Infantry of Americal Division sails to Guadalcanal from Nouméa, New Caledonia. Whaling Group and 7th Marines force cross the Matanikau and, with artillery assistance of 11th Marines, drive N to coastal area; retire eastward across Matanikau River mouth, covered by 5th Marines, concluding 3-day action during which Japanese lose nearly 700 men as against 65 marines killed and 125 wounded.

FRANCE—In heaviest daylight raid to date, about 100 U.S. heavy bombers with strong RAF and U.S. fighter support attack industrial targets at Lille. Many enemy planes are encountered and more than 100 are damaged or destroyed.

US MARINE CORPS

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Thursday 8 October, 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Japanese guard boat Toyohama Maru is wrecked (cause unspecified), Wotje Atoll.

            Submarine Drum (SS‑228) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Hague Maru, 34°06'N, 136°22'E.

INDIAN OCEAN—U.S. tanker Swiftsure is torpedoed by German submarine U‑68 approximately 25 miles southeast of the Cape of Good Hope, 34°40'S, 18°25'E, and after firefighting efforts prove futile, is abandoned. There are no casualties among the 31 man crew, and all hands are rescued by a British minesweeper that comes out from Cape Town, South Africa (see 2 November 1942).

ATLANTIC—U.S. freighter John Carter Rose is torpedoed by German submarine U‑202 at 10°27'N, 45°37'W; fires triggered by the explosions make abandoning ship difficult. Five the 45 man crew perish, as do 3 of the 20 man Armed Guard. U‑201 returns, but a second dud torpedo fails to damage the merchantman. The U‑boat then shells John Carter Rose, after which time the Germans provide the survivors with cigarettes, medical supplies and food (see 13 October 1942).

            British corvette HMS Rockrose picks up 42 survivors (32 merchant seamen and 10 Armed Guard sailors) of U.S. freighter Chickasaw City, sunk the previous day by German submarine U‑172 (see 2 November 1942).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

USSR—German High Command abandons attempt to storm Stalingrad; announces plans to take city by artillery siege.

EIGHTH AF—In letter to General Stratemeyer, General Eaker indicates plans for developing highly-skilled intruder force capable of using bad weather as a cloak for small blind-bombing operations. These missions are also to serve purpose of keeping the enemy from resting during periods of bad weather when big strategic missions cannot be flown.

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑24’s of 343d and 344th Squadrons, 98th Bomb Group, fail to reach target at Bengasi because of bad weather. Hal Bomb Squadron manages to attack shipping at Bengasi.

FIFTH AF—B‑25’s bomb Buna area while A‑20’s pound Buna-Kokoda trail. Japanese withdrawal NE across Owen Stanley Range slows as they prepare to make a stand at Templeton’s Crossing N of Myola.

ELEVENTH AF—9 B‑24’s, 3 B‑17’s, and 12 P‑38’s blast Kiska Harbor installations (starting fires in Main Camp), and strafe AA positions, hangars, a corvette (silencing her guns), and a freighter.

US ARMY

GUADALCANAL—Marine attack across Matanikau River is postponed because of heavy rains, but 5th Marines and raiders reduce enemy bridgehead on E bank in costly fighting. When Japanese plans for counteroffensive are discovered, 1st Marine Division CG changes plan of attack. Instead of driving toward Kokumbona and the Poha, marines are to raid Pt Cruz area in force and return to Lunga perimeter.

NEW GUINEA—Japanese withdrawal across Owen Stanley Range toward Kokoda slows as preparations are made for stand at Templeton’s Crossing, N of Myola.

CHINA BURMA INDIA—General Chennault delivers to Wendell L. Willkie a letter for President Roosevelt asking for increased authority and air power in order to destroy Japanese Air Force in China, then attack Japanese Empire.

US MARINE CORPS

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Wednesday 7 October, 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Amberjack (SS‑219) sinks Japanese supply ship Senkei Maru, southern Carolines, 01°55'N, 153°01'E.

            Submarine Sculpin (SS‑191) sinks Japanese army transport Naminoue Maru off Rabaul, 03°14'S, 150°01'E.

            Japanese merchant cargo ship Midori Maru founders and sinks above Woosung, China.

ATLANTIC—U.S. freighter Chickasaw City is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U‑172 approximately 85 miles south-southwest of Cape Town, South Africa, 34°00'S, 17°16'E; 5 of the 37 man crew, 1 of the 11 man Armed Guard and the sole passenger perish in the attack (see 8 October and 2 November 1942).

            U.S. freighter John Carter Rose is attacked by German submarine U‑201; one dud torpedo fails to damage the merchantman and Armed Guard gunfire drives off the ship's assailant (see 8 October 1942).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑24’s score 7 direct hits on a tanker and 8 on fuel installations at Suda Bay. 66 P‑40’s escort bombers over battle area W of El Alamein.

ELEVENTH AF—3 B‑24’s taking off to bomb Kiska and patrol Near Islands abort mission due to mechanical failure and instead fly reconnaissance over Agattu, Attu, and Semichi Islands with negative results.

US ARMY

GUADALCANAL—1st Marine Division, with air and artillery support, opens offensive to extend perimeter westward beyond artillery range of Henderson Field, moving 3 columns forward toward the Matanikau, line of departure, from Kukum area. While 5th Marines (less Battalion) moves along coast to conduct holding action at Matanikau River mouth, 7th Marines (less Battalion), followed by Whaling Group (3d Battalion of 2d Marines and division scout-sniper detachment under Col William J. Whaling), advances SW with mission of crossing river and enveloping Pt Cruz. 5th Marines column soon meets opposition and drives enemy back almost to Matanikau River mouth. The other 2 columns reach Hill 65, overlooking Matanikau River, with little difficulty and halt for the night. After nightfall, attack preparations are simulated at river mouth and 5th Marines is reinforced by company of 1st Raider Battalion.

NEW GUINEA—U.S. 32d Division force (platoon of Company E, 126th Infantry; Anti-Tank and Cannon Companies; native carriers) under Capt Alfred Medendorp begins difficult march from Kalikodobu, 40 miles SE of Port Moresby, toward Jaure. The force is dependent upon airdrops for most of its supplies.

US MARINE CORPS

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