TUESDAY, 1 SEPTEMBER 1942
ALASKA (11th Air Force): US forces complete the occupation of Adak ,
Aleutian . During Sep, HQ 343d Fighter Group moves from Elmendorf to Umnak. The detachment of the
11th Fighter Squadron, XI Fighter Command, operating from Ft Randall, Cold Bay,
Alaska with P-40s, returns to base at Ft Glenn.
SOUTH PACIFIC: During Sep, the forward echelon of the 26th Bombardment Squadron
(Heavy), 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy), begins operating from Guadalcanal,
Solomon with B-17s; the squadron is based on Efate , New Hebrides .
(SWPA, 5th Air Force): P-40s hit a Japanese HQ at Wagga Wagga
on Milne Bay while P-400s strafe Kokoda and Kokoda Pass; Australian ground forces continue a slow retreat over the range but make
progress in Milne Bay offensive; and the 89th Bombardment Squadron,
3d Bombardment Group, moves from Charters Towers to Port Moresby with A-20s. Lost is P-400 BX146.
WEDNESDAY, 2 SEPTEMBER 1942
ALASKA (11th Air Force): In the Aleutian , 6 bombers and 12 P-38s fly
cover and photo reconnaissance over Nazan and Kuluk Bays on Adak , and
Amchitka and Semisopochnoi . CARIBBEAN (6th Air Force): The 22d Fighter
Squadron, 36th Fighter Group, based at Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, sends detachments
to operate from Aruba and Curacao, Lesser Antilles with P-39s and P-40s.
HQ AAF (Twelfth Air Force): Colonel Claude E Duncan becomes Commanding Officer
XII Bomber Command.
CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) (10th Air Force): In China, P-40s hit barges and junks
carrying rice in the Poyang Lake region, strafe HQ and runways at Nanchang Airfield,
attack railroad stations and warehouses at Hua Yuan, and sink a launch, damage
4 junks, and wreck a train on Wuchang Peninsula.
SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Joint Chiefs of Staff): The mission of the 67th
Fighter Squadron P-400s on Guadalcanal is shifted from air defense to
close air support for Marine ground forces and attacks on shipping, tasks for
which they are better suited.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): In New Guinea, P-400s bomb and
strafe forces in the Kokoda and Alola areas as the Japanese continue to push
toward Port Moresby.
IJN - 2nd Kokutai Vals attack shipping at Milne Bay. Force landed at Table Bay are: D3A1 3287, D3A1 3114, D3A1 3287.
THURSDAY, 3 SEPTEMBER 1942
ALASKA (11th Air Force): In the Aleutian , of 6 bombers and 5 P-38s
off to bomb Kiska and flying air cover over Kuluk Bay, Adak , 5
bombers and 3 fighters abort due to weather; the others strafe seaplanes and
boats in Kiska Harbor and nearby installations; between 1 and 4 seaplanes are
claimed destroyed on the water; this is the longest over-water attack flight
thus far in World War II; the 2 fighters which reach the target area return
from the 1,260 mile (2,028 km) round trip with only 40 US gallons (151 l) of
fuel; and the 21st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 30th Bombardment Group (under
control of the 28th Composite Group), arrives at Umnak from the US with
B-24s.
CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) (10th Air Force): 1 B-25 dumps
bombs and pamphlets on Hanoi in the first US raid against that city; munitions,
supplies, and several parked aircraft are destroyed or damaged; 9 interceptors
pursue the B-25 for about 30 miles but fail to make contact; for the
next 3 weeks, bad weather and inaccurate Chinese weather forecasts severely
limit bomber operations.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): Lieutenant General George C
Kenney assumes command of the Fifth Air Force in Brisbane, Australia, where
the Fifth's HQ is remanned; General Kenney retains command of the Allied Air
Force. In New Guinea, P-400s bomb and strafe the Kokoda Pass area, hitting the airfield at Kokoda and in the vicinity of Alola, Isurava, and Missima; B-25s and A-20s pound the Mubo-Busama-Salamaua area.
A B-17 strafes seaplanes at Faisi in the Shortland.
FRIDAY, 4 SEPTEMBER 1942
ALASKA (11th Air Force): 2 bombers and 1 P-38 bomb and patrol Nazan and Kuluk
Bays, but bombing of Kiska is cancelled due to weather.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): P-40s bomb and
strafe forces in the Milne Bay area at Goroni, Wagga Wagga, Ahioma, and N of Lilihoa. B-25s search for Japanese ships off Milne Bay. Lost is B-25C "The Queen" 41-12472.
Miline Bay - Australian ground forces pushing E along Milne
Bay reach Goroni; the Japanese begin evacuation of the area.
SATURDAY, 5 SEPTEMBER 1942
ALASKA (11th Air Force): 3 B-24s abort the bombing of Kiska due to an overcast.
PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, 7th Air Force): SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Joint Chiefs
of Staff): Because of Major General Carl Spaatz's convincing protests, Lieutenant
General Dwight D Eisenhower changes his mind concerning his recent orders to
suspend Eighth Air Force operations from the UK in order to devote total air
effort to support of the Twelfth Air Force and the forthcoming African campaign;
General Eisenhower informs General George C Marshall that he considers air operations
in UK and in Africa mutually complementary. Mission 9: 49 bombers and 24 fighters
attack targets in France without loss: 1. 11 of 12 DB-7s attack the port area
at Le Havre at 0932 hours; escort is provided by 24 Spitfires. 2. 31 of 37 B-17s
bomb the locomotive depot at Rouen/Sotteville marshalling yard; this is largest
force of Eighth AF heavy bombers to attack to date; almost 20% of the high explosive
bombs burst within the marshalling yard.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): Brigadier General Kenneth N
Walker becomes Commanding General V Bomber Command as the command is remanned
at Townsville,
Australia. P-400s strafe Kokoda,
Kaile, Isurava, Alola, Buna, Sanananda,
and Buna-Kokoda Trail;
the airfield at Buna is strafed
and bombed by P-400s and A-20s; as the Japanese withdraw from the Milne
Bay area, Australian ground forces capture the Wagga Wagga supply dump.
SUNDAY, 6 SEPTEMBER 1942
ALASKA (11th Air Force): A B-24 flying patrol and armed reconnaissance over
Tanaga , Aleutian , sinks a mine layer and strafes a tender as
well as nearby tents and buildings.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): P-400s, A-20s,
and B-17s strafe and bomb positions, troops, and shipping at Myola, Mubo, Kokoda,
Myola Lake, Eora Creek, and Milne
Bay. Lost is P-400 Airacobra AP-359. Australian troops in the Owen Stanley Range fall back to the vicinity
of the Efogi Spur beyond Gap Mountain, where defensive positions are already
established. Lost on landing at Mareeba Airfield is B-17F 41-24428.
Australian ground forces continue to clear the enemy from the Milne
Bay area while Japanese continue evacuation. Sunk by aerial attack is MV Anshun.
MONDAY, 7 SEPTEMBER 1942
ALASKA (11th Air Force): 3 B-24s patrol and bomb Kiska Harbor and camp area and also patrol Tanaga ; they are attacked by 3 sea fighters
of which at least 1 is downed.
USN - Air Transport Squadron 2, based at Alameda, established a detachment
at Pearl Harbor and began a survey flight to the South Pacific as a preliminary
to establishing routes between San Francisco and Brisbane, Australia.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): In New Guinea, A-20s and P-400s
strafe and bomb positions at Myola Lake and Efogi in the Owen Stanley Range;
P-40s and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Hudsons, Beauforts, and Beaufighters
attack a cruiser and destroyer 17 miles (27 km) ENE of Cape Karitahua; organized
Japanese resistance in the Milne
Bay sector ends, with the last Japanese bombardment of Milne Bay.
TUESDAY, 8 SEPTEMBER 1942
ALASKA (11th Air Force): 1 B-24 and 1 B-26 fly photo
reconnaissance over Agattu, Attu, and Kiska ; the detachment of the 42d
Fighter Squadron, 54th Fighter Group, operating from Kodiak with P-39s begins
a movement to Adak (the squadron is based at Harding Field, Louisiana).
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): In New Guinea, P-400s bomb and
strafe the Efogi area where Australian forces are hard pressed by the Japanese.
B-17s and RAAF Hudsons attack cruisers and a destroyer N of the D'Entrecasteaux.
SOUTH PACIFIC: Lost on a mission over the Solomon Sea is B-17E "Stingaree" 41-9071.
WEDNESDAY, 9 SEPTEMBER 1942
ALASKA (11th Air Force): 1 B-26 patrols Tanaga and Adak . HQ, AAF: Lieutenant
General Henry H "Hap" Arnold, Commanding General AAF, submits to the Chief of
Staff a plan (AWPD-42) estimating the size of the air force necessary to attain
air ascendancy over the enemy and outlining suggestions for the use of these
forces in the several theaters; this plan, which by 17 Nov 42 has been approved
by the War Department and President Roosevelt, includes the buildup of the depleted
Eighth Air Force in the UK and contains the seeds of the Combined Bomber Offensive
(CBO).
WESTERN DEFENSE COMMAND (4th Air Force): A Japanese airplane, launched from
a submarine off the coast, drops an incendiary bomb on a mountain slope near
Brookings, Oregon, causing a small forest fire; this comprises the total bombing
of the continental US by enemy aircraft during World War II.
CBI (10th Air Force): HQ 7th Bombardment Group moves from Dum-Dum to
Karachi, India.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): P-40s strafe the Galaiwa Bay
area on Goodenough. In New Guinea, A-20s, in
support of encircled Australian ground forces, strafe and bomb troops in the
Efogi Spur area; and the 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, V Bomber
Command, moves from Townsville,
Australia to Port Moresby 14
Mile Drome with F-4s.
THURSDAY, 10 SEPTEMBER 1942
ALASKA (11th Air Force): Weather, photo reconnaissance, and patrol missions
are flown during the morning over Nazan Bay, Tanaga, Adak and Amchitka ;
poor weather is encountered at Kiska, Attu, and AgAttu ; a detachment
of the 42d Fighter Squadron, 54th Fighter Group arrives at Adak with
P-39s (the squadron is based at Harding Field, Louisiana).
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): Lost is A-24 41-15771.
FRIDAY, 11 SEPTEMBER 1942
ALASKA (11th Air Force): A weather, photo, and patrol aircraft draws AA fire
over Chichagof Harbor, Attu and also covers Tanaga, Amchitka, and Semichi. HQ 343d Fighter Group is actived at Elmendorf Field.
SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Joint Chiefs of Staff): combat control groups
are authorized for New Caledonia and Fiji; these units, under immediate
control of the Commanding General of US Army Forces in the South Pacific (COMGENSOPAC),
are to take over local operational direction of fighter aircraft and all other
units in the combat team. Lost after an escort mission against Guadalcanal is A6M2 piloted by Murakami.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): A-20s and B-26s
hit Efogi and Menari in the Owen Stanley Range and Buna Airfield; B-17s, along
with RAAF Hudsons, attack 2 destroyers 20 miles (32 km) E of Normanby ;
a B-17 scores a direct hit on the stern of the destroyer Yayoi, which later
sinks.
SATURDAY, 12 SEPTEMBER 1942
ALASKA (11th Air Force): In the Aleutian , a weather and patrol reconnaissance
aircraft finds overcast at Kiska but takes photos over Tanaga, Kanaga,
and Attu . The runway at Adak is completed.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): P-400s, B-26s, A-20s, and B-17s
bomb the airfield and strafe barges at Buna. Lost is B-17E 41-2663. P-40s strafe Gadaibai on Goodenough.
A B-17 strafes a vessel in Bismarck Sea south of Kavieng.
Guadalcanal - Battle of Bloody Ridge begins on Guadalcanal. Japanese attacks
last three days and result in 600 dead Japanese and 83 dead Americans. Afterwards,
Henderson Field remains in American hands. By this date there are 11,000 American,
6,000 Japanese troops on the island.
SUNDAY, 13 SEPTEMBER 1942
ALASKA (11th Air Force): 14 B-24s of the 21st and 404th Bombardment Squadrons
move up to Adak . 1 LB-30 and 2 P-38s fly a photo reconnaissance, antisubmarine
coverage and strafing mission over Kiska lakes and harbor; a tender in the harbor is slightly damaged, 1 float fighter
is downed; a P-38 is hit by AA fire and fighters damage the LB-30.
GUADALCANAL - Marines repulse second major Japanese ground attack at Guadalcanal in the Battle of Bloody Ridge
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): B-26s pound the airfield at Lae. B-17s unsuccessfully attack a cruiser SE of Rabaul. P-40s strafe buildings on Goodenough.
MONDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 1942
ALASKA (11th Air Force): In the first combined heavy mission over Kiska 13 B-24s, 1 B-17, 14 P-38s, and 14 P-39s fly low-altitude and photo runs; the
P-39s shell 3 submarines in the harbor; the other aircraft bomb and strafe many
installations including AA guns and the submarine base; a single aircraft also
strafes Segula ; enemy losses are 5 float planes shot down and 1 flying
boat destroyed on the water; 2 mine sweepers sunk and another vessel slightly
damaged; while a large cargo vessel and several small barges and vessels sustain
hits; 2 P-38s are lost, colliding head-on while after a fighter.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): A single A-20
bombs ground forces and installations at Myola; and HQ 43d Bombardment Group
moves from Torrens Creek, Australia to Port Moresby. B-17F "Hoomalimali" 41-24391 explodes on takeoff from Mareeba Airfield.
TUESDAY, 15 SEPTEMBER 1942
ALASKA (11th Air Force): 1 B-17 and 1 B-24 fly armed reconnaissance over Kiska , and at Amchitka blast buildings in the Constantine Harbor area;
fighters strafe Kiska Camp area and down 4 intercepting aircraft.
CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) (10th Air Force): HQ 341st Bombardment Group (Medium)
and the 490th and 491st Bombardment Squadrons (Medium) are activated at Karachi,
India with B-25s; also assigned are the 11th and 22d Bombardment Squadrons (Medium)
at Kunming, China and Karachi respectively with B-25s.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): Medium bombers
hit Buna and Sanananda and attack
camps at Efogi and Myola; and the first US infantry troops, elements of the
32nd Infantry Division, arrive at Port
Moresby. B-17s bomb Simpson Harbor and airfield at Rabaul. Force landed is B-17E "Frank Buck" 41-2659, but it is later repaired and returns to service. The 19th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 22d Bombardment Group
(Medium), moves from Woodstock to Iron Range with B-26s.
Guadalcanal - While
escorting a troop convoy to Guadalcanal, USS Wasp torpedoed & sunk, North Carolina torpedoed and damaged.
WEDNESDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER 1942
ALASKA (11th Air Force): The Japanese completes transfer of the Attu garrison to Kiska begun on 27 Aug; 1 B-17 and 1 B-24 fly photo and reconnaissance
runs over Adak.
CARIBBEAN (6th Air Force): HQ 40th Bombardment Group
moves from Howard Field to Albrook Field, Canal Zone. The 22d Fighter
Squadron, 36th Fighter Group, based at Vega Baja, Puerto Rico with P-39s and
P-40s sends a detachment to operate from Zandery Field, Surinam; other detachments
are operating from Waller Field, Trinidad, Aruba, and Curacao.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): B-17s bomb the wharf at Rabaul and Lakunai Airfield
and
airfield on Gasmata. A lone B-17 attacks
landing barges in the Sanananda area while a single A-20 bombs and strafes
positions at Nauro and Menari in the Efogi area; the Japanese ground offensive
toward Port Moresby comes to a halt at Ioribaiwa; Australians are entrenched on Imita Range where
they are preparing a counteroffensive.
THURSDAY, 17 SEPTEMBER 1942
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): B-17s, carrying out single
bomber attacks, bomb airfields at Rabaul.
Rear Admiral Ugaki recalled September 16/17, 1942 night air raid:
"The noise of gunfire and small arms was terrible. Anyway it was a night of little sleep. Now, I can see the effectiveness of night raids." He also noted the Japanese anti-aircraft fire was ineffective, 'Outragiously uncontrolled and unskilled'. At his suggestion, officers and crews from battleships Yamato and Mutsu were sent to Rabaul to train gunners.
Four B-17s take off from Townsville on a night bombing attack against Rabaul. Lost due to weather is B-17E 41-2650. B-17s hit Lae, and hit a beached cargo vessel at Salamaua;
P-400s, P-40s, and P-39s strafe and bomb landing barges at Buna and Sanananda. Japanese ground forces, halted within sight of Port
Moresby, at Ioribaiwa, 32 miles from the city, are unable to attack without
reinforcements and supplies, neither of which is available. Force landed is P-38F 42-12650
FRIDAY, 18 SEPTEMBER 1942
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 1 B-17 bombs Salamaua while a B-25 strafes
pack trains on the Kokoda trail
in the Andemba- Wairopi-Kokoda area; and HQ 8th Fighter Group and the 35th and 36th Fighter Squadrons move
from Ross River, Australia
to Milne Bay with P-39s and
P-400s.
GUADALCANAL - 7th Marines arrive on Guadalcanal
SATURDAY, 19 SEPTEMBER 1942
CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) (Tenth Air Force): In
China, B-25s strike Lungling; the raid is ineffective due to bad weather but
results in the discovery of much Japanese activity which further reconnaissance
reveals as part of a heavy movement of enemy and supplies along the Burma Road
toward the Salween front.
USN - Commander Patrol Wing 1 departed Kaneohe, Hawaii, for the South Pacific
to direct the operations of patrol squadrons already in the area. Headquarters
were first established at Noumea, New Caledonia, and subsequently at Espiritu
Santo, Guadalcanal, and Munda.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): A-20s and B-26s
strafe and bomb the airfield at Lae; and the 7th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter
Group, moves from Batchelor to Port
Moresby with P-40s. B-17s attack
cargo vessels near Umboi (Rooke) between New Guinea and New Britain.
A whaling vessel is strafed by fighters off Goodenough.
SUNDAY, 20 SEPTEMBER 1942
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In Owen Stanley Range of New
Guinea, A-20s bomb and strafe troops and installations at Sangara, Arehe, and
along the Popondetta-Andemba road, and P-40s strafe the airfield at Kokoda bridges on the trail near Wairopi, and troops at Myola, Efogi, and Kagi.
MONDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER 1942
USA - First flight of the Boeing XB 29 bomber prototype.
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Bombers fly reconnaissance over Kiska and
bomb and fire Constantine Harbor installations at Amchitka ; and the 21st
Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 30th Bombardment Group (operating under
control of the 28th Composite Group), based on Umnak begins operating
from Adak with B-24s.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force):
P-40s bomb and strafe bridges and targets of opportunity along Buna-Kokoda trail.
TUESDAY, 22 SEPTEMBER 1942
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 9 B-24s, 2 B-17s, and 1 LB-30, accompanied by
15 P-39s and 20 P-40s, abort a Kiska bombing mission due to weather;
photo reconnaissance suggests that Chichagof Harbor, Attu is abandoned.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): A-20s bomb and
strafe occupied areas at Menari, Efogi, Nauro, Yodda, and Kokoda; P-40s strafe
AA positions, huts, and barges at Buna and Salamaua and bomb and strafe Wairopi bridge, strafe buildings at Yodda, the airfield at Buna, and AA positions and
other targets along the Buna-Kokoda trail; 1 B-25 bombs the N end of Buna Airfield and the coastal end of Sanananda
track. B-17s bomb the airfield and shipping
at Rabaul, New Britain .
WEDNESDAY, 23 SEPTEMBER 1942
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Weather causes a mission abort to Kiska;
photo reconnaissance over Attu confirms it's abandonment by the enemy;
a US Navy (USN) PBY escorted by 2 P-38s lands off Amchitka with a scouting
party which determines that the is unsuited as an airfield; the P-38s
also bomb a radio shack and sink a submarine at Amchitka .
PACIFIC OCEAN AREA The movement of the 72d Bombardment
Squadron to the SOPAC on 18 Sep, plus subsequent movement of other squadrons
of the 5th Bombardment Group to the SOPAC, makes it difficult for some
time to maintain the minimum force of 35 heavy bombers considered necessary
for the defense of the Hawaiian ; this situation is relieved by 90th
Bombardment Group (Heavy), which stops in Hawaii while enroute to the SWPA,
and by the 307th Bombardment Group (Heavy), which is assigned to the Seventh
Air Force for a time.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): P-40s, P-39s,
P-400s, and B-17s hit tanks, buildings, and airfield at Buna, Wairopi bridge and targets of opportunity on the Buna-Kokoda trail,
and Tau-Pota Mission near Goodenough Bay.
RAAF: Lost attacking Buna is Beaufighter A19-1.
THURSDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER 1942
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): On Kiska,
3 B-24s bomb Main Camp, storage dumps, and dock areas, starting several fires.
SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Joint Chiefs of Staff): The 72d Bombardment Squadron
(Heavy), 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy), arrives at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides
from Hawaii with B-17s.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): B-17s bomb shipping at Rabaul. P-40s and A-20s hit Mubo while B-17s bomb wrecked
vessel at Gona; P-40s hit the airfield at Kokoda and targets along the Kokoda-Wairopi trail, including a bridge at Wairopi.
Guadalcanal - Marine John Basilone becomes the first Marine awarded the medal
of honor for his defense of bloody ridge, on Guadalcanal.
3 B-17s bomb Shortland Island Seaplane base. Lost are: B-17E 41-9206 and B-17E "Bessie The Jap Basher" 41-2420.
FRIDAY, 25 SEPTEMBER 1942
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 9 B-24s, 1 B-17, and 1 B-24 photo airplane, escorted
by 11 P-39s and 17 P-40s, fly the first of 2 missions to Kiska ; Royal
Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Kittyhawks participate in this first combined Canadian-American
mission of the Eleventh Air Force; later 2 B-24s and a B-17, escorted by 15
P-39s, 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-39s also strafe 2 submarines;
2 float planes are downed; 5 to 8 biplanes are probably destroyed on the water;
1 large transport vessel is hit and lists badly; and 150 personnel are believed
killed.
CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) (Tenth Air Force): 4 B-25s, with an escort of 10 P-40s, attack Hanoi, the strike force is intercepted by 10 fighters but the B-25s place
several bombs on the runway at Gia Lam Airfield; the P-40s claim at least 9
fighters shot down. In China, CATF bombers fly 11 missions during the remainder
of Sep and early Oct to support Chinese ground forces attempting to hold the
Japanese on the W bank of the Salween River.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): P-40s again
bomb the bridge at Wairopi, scoring a direct hit on the NE end, which is demolished;
Australian ground forces open a counteroffensive, attacking strongly toward
Ioribaiwa to drive the enemy back along the Port Moresby- Kokoda trail; and
the 8th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Group, moves from Darwin to Port Moresby with P-40s.
RAAF - Lost near Derby is F2A A51-5.
SATURDAY, 26 SEPTEMBER 1942
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 1 destroyer and 1 freighter are bombed N of Atka
at 53-30N 174-20E; 2 near misses are scored on the freighter.
CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) (Tenth Air Force): 4 B-25s devastate the village of
Luchiangpa in SW China. EUROPEAN (ETO) Eighth Air Force: Mission 12: 75 B-17s
and 36 P-38s are dispatched to attack Cherbourg/Maupertus and Morlaix/Porjeau
Airfields, France; 16 execute diversionary missions but the remainder are recalled
due to adverse weather.
Guadalcanal - Fighting on Matanikau.
Kokoda Trail - Japanese thrown back from Ioribaiwa
SUNDAY, 27 SEPTEMBER 1942
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Shore and harbor areas of Kiska are bombed: 8
B-24s and 1 B-17, escorted by 1 P-38, 13 P-39s and 4 P-40s take off first, and
are followed by 6 unescorted B-24s; weather turns back 13 of the fighters; an
LB-30 flies photo-weather reconnaissance over Attu,
Buldir, the Semichi, Ag, Attu,
and Amchitka .
CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) (Tenth Air Force): 4 B-25s over SW China blast Mengshih, claiming about 30 trucks
and 400 troops destroyed; The B-25s also bomb Tengchung, leaving it aflame;
3 flights of P-40s strafe targets of opportunity along the Burma Road, claiming
15 trucks destroyed and 5 barracks groups damaged.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): A-20s continue
to pound forces N of Ioribaiwa in the area between Kagi and Efogi and in the
Myola and Menari areas; the Japanese abandon Ioribaiwa Ridge and are in full
retreat under heavy pressure from Australian ground forces.
MONDAY, 28 SEPTEMBER 1942
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 2 bombing missions are flown to Kiska and Attu by 7 B-24s, 1 B-17, and 1 LB-30, escorted by 17 fighters; installations
on Kiska and a freighter nearby are bombed; 1 of the B-24s and the LB-30
bomb the village and Chichagof Harbor on Attu and on returning silence
AA guns on a freighter; 5 floatplanes are shot down, and RO-65 Submarine;
1 P-39 is shot down.
PACIFIC OCEAN AREA The 394th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 5th Bombardment
Group (Heavy), moves from Hickam Field to Bellows Field with B-17s.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): P-40s and P-400s
bomb and strafe Wairopi bridge, the village of Kagi, Myola Lake area, and targets
of opportunity along the Buna-Kokoda trail; 1 B-17 bombs Lae Airfield; the main body of the US 126th Infantry Regiment,
32d Infantry Division, arrives at Port
Moresby and is assigned to the New Guinea Force to join the Australian advance
on Wairopi.
TUESDAY, 29 SEPTEMBER 1942
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): A morning armed reconnaissance mission is flown
by an LB-30 over Semichi and Attu;
it strafes a ship at Attu; 3
B-24s bomb and strafe sea transport, scoring no hits.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): B-17s bomb AA
positions at Buna and Salamaua Airfield; a single A-20 bombs the Menari area. HQ 22d Bombardment Group (Medium)
and 33d Bombardment Squadron (Medium) move from Woodstock to Iron Range, Australia
with B-26s.
WEDNESDAY, 30 SEPTEMBER 1942
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Of 9 B-24s off to bomb Kiska and Attu , 2 turn back; the others blast the Attu Camp area, and at Kiska Harbor score at least 1 direct hit and near misses on
a ship; 8 fighters intercept over Kiska and Little Kiska but inflict no losses;
the detachment of the 57th Fighter Squadron, 54th Fighter Group operating from Elmendorf Field moves to Kodiak with P-39s (the squadron is based at Harding Field, Louisiana).
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): B-17s, A-20s,
and P-40s pound occupied areas at Menari, Myola Lake, Kagi, and Efogi and a
bridge at Wairopi. HQ 38th Bombardment Group (Medium) and the 405th Bombardment
Squadron (Medium) moves from Breddan Field to Townsville with B-25s.
