October 16, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

FRIDAY, 16 OCTOBER 1942

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): After attacks by PBY Catalinas fail, a forrmation of one B-17, six B-26s esorted by four P-38s bomb Kiska and low level and claim two destroyers: Oboro is hit by a bomb dropped by B-26 pilot Capt Russell I. Maurer who scored a direct bomb hit that explodes munitions aboard and causes an explosion that sank the destroyer about 20 miles northeast of Sirius Point, Kiska at Lat 52°17'N, Long 178°08'E. Hatsuharu is heavily damaged. Lost is B-26 Marauder 40-1478 pilot 2nd Lt Jack Pebworth (MIA). Bombs hit but fail to explode on Nozama Maru beached at Trout Lagoon.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Joint Chiefs of Staff): U.S. Navy Naval Construction Battalion "Seabees" on Guadalcanal repair the Henderson Field runways enough for use by fighter planes. US MarineCorps (USMC) fighters and AAF P-400s and P-39s continue to strike the Japanese reinforcements that landed between Kokumbona to Doma only 8 miles away. Meanwhile, the Japanese continue to bombard Henderson Field with artillery and air raids.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): A-20s and B-25s hit the village of Pawaia, the Kokoda Trail area, and villages on the Mambare River and at the mouth of the Mambare River. B-25s also bomb the Mubo-Salamaua trail. B-17s bomb the airfield at Rabaul and attack Buin Airfield, and shipping off Moila Point and the Shortland Islands. Lost is C-47 "Maxine" 41-18585 (KIA) droping cargo on the Kokoda Trail.

IJN: Overnight, damaged Azumasan Maru sinks. 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) shell Henderson Field on Guadalcanal.

USN: Task Force 17 (TF 17) carrier planes from USS Hornet (CV-8) under Rear Admiral George D. Murray strikes Japanese troops on Guadalcanal, and seaplane base at Rekata Bay and the Buin-Tonolei-Faisi area.

During the afternoon, nine D3A Vals from 31st Kōkūtai dive bomb a "tanker" in fact USS McFarland (AVD-14) off Lunga Point on Guadalcanal. One is shot down by a Grumman, two are lost over the target and a third is lost returning D3A1 Val 3122 (MIA). The first seven Vals failed to score any bomb hits. The eight Val hit a gasoline barge being towed alongside the starboard quarter. Although the flaming barge was cut loose, the ninth Vals scored at least one bomb hit on the stern knocking out her rudder and steering at Lat 09°24'S Long 160°02'E. The crew claimed one dive bomber shot down. During the attack, eleven crew were lost including five KIA, six MIA and 12 critically wounded. For this action, McFarland earned the first ever U.S. Navy Presidential Unit Citation.

USS Thresher (SS-200) mines the approaches to Bangkok in the first mine field laid by a U.S. Navy submarine in World War II.

References
The Herald "Troops Land Under Heavy Naval Cover: Battleship Damaged: U.S. Planes Hit Ships" October 16, 1942 page 1