USAAF CHRONOLOGY

1942

1/1/42 International Declaration of United Nations is signed. Each signatory pledges not to make a separate peace and to employ its full resources against members of and adherents to Tripartite Pact with which it is at war.

1/2/42 Phil Is Japanese occupy Manila and Cavite naval base.

1/2/42 Alaska Def Cmd The 77th Bomb Sq joins the 28th Comp Gp and the 11th Pur Sq joins the Prov IC, Alaska. Alaskan air strength is now 2 Pur and 3 bomb sqs.

1/3/42 International Roosevelt and Churchill announce creation of unified cmd in SW Pacific, with Gen Wavell as supreme cmdr of American, British, Dutch, and Australian (ABDA) forces in that area.

1/4/42 FEAF Ftrs from Bataan attempt interception of bombing raid on Corregidor. The ftrs, failing to intercept until the enemy airplanes are over the tgt, have little effect on the raid. Several ftrs depart from Mindanao following the mission.

1/5/42 FEAF B-17's from Malang stage through Samarinda during 4/5 Jan and attack shipping in Davao Bay.

USFIA, which controls FEAF, is redesignated USAFIA, and Gen Brett assumes cmd.

1/8/42 UK Gen Chaney designated CG USAFBI; continues as Chief SPOBS.

1/9/42 FEAF B-17's, flying out of Kendari, strike shipping in Davao Bay.

1/10/42 FEAF Ftr units complete movement (begun 24 Dec 41) from various bases on Luzon to Bataan Peninsula.

1/11/42 FEAF B-17's, out of Malang, attack landing forces on island of Tarakan.

1/13/42 International American and British CoSs formally adopt agreement to begin movement of American air forces to UK as soon as possible in order to intensify attack on Germany.

1/14/42 International ARCADIA conference ends. Major discussions include creation of CCS to direct US-British war effort, and employment of main military efforts against Germany while containing the Japanese offensive.

Conference ended with the creation of the ABDA (American British Dutch Australian) command under the command of Sir Archibald Wavell. His mission was to hold the Malay Barrier while the United States held open lines of communication to Australia and New Zealand.

1/14/42 AAF Col Claude E Duncan leaves Washington for Britain to prepare for arrival of Shadow Staff of BC.

1/14/42 FEAF HQ moves from Darwin to Java.

1/15/42 FEAF B-17's, flying out of Palembang, attack Sungei Patani A/F.

1/15/42 Alaska Def Cmd The Alaskan Air Force is activated at Elmendorf Field. Cmdr is Lt Col Everett S Davis.

1/16/42 Hawaiian AF First significant deployment of aircraft from Hawaiian AF begins with movement of 6 B-17's, commanded by Lt Col Walter C Sweeney, to Palmyra for duty with TG 8.9.

1/17/42 FEAF B-17's from Malang, staging through Kendari, hit Langoan A/F and ships in Menado Bay.

1/17/42 Hawaiian AF Aircraft unsuccessfully attack submarines in Hawaiian area. B-17's of TG 8.9 proceed from Palmyra to Canton I.

1/18/42 US First increment (1,400 men) of US forces to be sent to UK sails for N Ireland.

1/18/42 Hawaiian AF Another unsuccessful attack on enemy submarines in Hawaiian area. B-17's of TG 8.9 conduct antisubmarine search from Canton I.

1/19/42 FEAF B-17's, flying out of Malang, attack shipping at Jolo.

1/19/42 Hawaiian AF B-17's of TG 8.9 fly antisubmarine mission from Canton I.

1/20/42 FEAF Gen Brett, CG USAFIA, halts ferrying of aircraft from India to NEI. AAF has been sending HBs to Java by way of Africa and India, but the Japanese are able to inflict prohibitive losses on AAF aircraft on the last stops of the route by interception from newly acquired A/Fs near Java.

1/21/42 Hawaiian AF B-17's of TG 8.9 fly from Canton I to Nandi.

1/22/42 FEAF From this date through 3 Feb, B-17's launch at least 15 missions out of Malang against shipping moving through Makassar Strait. 4 missions abort due to bad weather, 6 end with negative results, and the remaining 5 suffer heavy losses but sink 4 ships.

1/23/42 Hawaiian AF B-17's of TG 8.9 return from Nandi to Canton I.

1/23/42 ZI Flying Tiger Cmd is established and given jurisdiction over the Southeast Gulf Coast and West Coast Flying Tiger Centers which had been established on 8 Jul 40.

1/24/42 US Special Court of Inquiry on Pearl Harbor, headed by Supreme Court Justice Owen J Roberts, places main responsibility for the 7 Dec 41 disaster on Adm Kimmel and Gen Short, accusing them of neglecting to heed attack warning, failing to confer with each other, and taking only minimum precautions.

1/25/42 FEAF The first AAF pur sq (17th Pur Sq), (Prov) under Maj Charles A Sprague, arrives in Java with 13 P- 40's flown from Australia.

1/25/42 Hawaiian AF B-17's of TG 8.9 fly from Canton I to Nandi.

1/26/42 AAF Gen Arnold recommends to Army CoS that AAFIB be composed of a HQ and 3 cmds-bomber, interceptor, and base.

1/26/42 USAFBI First increment of US troops arrives in N Ireland.

1/26/42 FEAF Ftrs from Bataan bomb and strafe Nichols and Nielson Fields on Luzon during 26/27 Jan, inflicting considerable damage on aircraft and fuel storage.

1/27/42 Hawaiian AF B-17's of TG 8.9 return to Canton I.

1/28/42 Eighth AF Activated at Savannah AB, Col Asa N Duncan commanding. Originally designated as the air element of GYMNAST.

1/28/42 FEAF B-17's from Malang and Palembang attack A/Fs at Kendari and Kuala Lumpur.

1/28/42 Hawaiian AF B-17's of TG 8.9 fly unsuccessful antisubmarine mission from Canton I.

1/29/42 FEAF B-17's, striking out of Palembang, hit Kuantan A/F scoring numerous hits on runways and hangars.

1/29/42 Hawaiian AF VII BC is activated. B-17's of TG 8.9 fly from Canton I to Palmyra.

1/30/42 Hawaiian AF B-17's of TG 8.9 return to Hawaii, having completed a mission (began on 16 Jan 42) which afforded a pioneer look at the problem of air operations over vast Pacific areas, especially the problems of navigation and the servicing of aircraft.

1/31/92 AAF Gen Eaker is designated CG, Bmr Cmd, USAFBI and ordered to proceed to UK.

2/1/42 Eighth AF VIII BC is activated at Langley Field and VIII IC at Selfridge Field.

2/1/42 FEAF P-40's from Bataan bomb and strafe landing barges off Quinauan Point during 1/2 Feb. These strikes, in conjunction with naval and field arty fire, cause considerable damage and casualties but fail to prevent the landings which take place S of the point, although the attempt to reinforce troops already on the point is thwarted.

2/2/42 Hawaiian AF VII IC is activated in Hawaii, with Gen Davidson as cmdr. Gen Hale cmds VII BC.

2/3/42 FEAF Bad weather from now until 18 Feb, along with effective interception by ftrs, thwarts attempts of HBs in Java to deliver damaging blows on shipping and A/Fs in NEI. B-17's strikes from Singosari against shipping at Balikpapan (8 Feb) and an A/F at Kendari (9 Feb) are repulsed by ftr attacks. B-17's on a shipping strike claim hits on a carrier near Sinjai.

2/5/42 AAF Far East, Caribbean, Hawaiian, and Alaskan AFs are redesignated Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, and Eleventh AFs, respectively.

2/6/42 CCS WD announces creation of US-British CCS in Washington.

2/9/42 Seventh AF 12 B-17's are detached and released to CINCPAC for assignment to TF 11 for operations in S Pacific.

2/9/42 Fifth AF Between this day and 18 Feb, HBs fly at least 14 missions, but they result in claims of only 3 hits on shipping.

2/12/42 AAF Gen Arnold indicate that 16 HB gps, 3 Pur gps, and 8 photorcn sqs will be sent to UK during 1942.

2/12/42 Tenth AF Activated at Patterson Field.

2/12/42 Eighth AF Gen Duncan, CG, requests that his force, inadequate for its intended mission under GYMNAST, be strengthened by several bomb and pur gps. This move, if carried out, would require diversion of units originally intended for other task forces.

2/14/42 Seventh AF A B-17 flies photo rcn of Wake I.

2/15/42 SE Asia Japanese forces on Malay Peninsula capture Singapore.

2/15/42 UK Lt Col Townsend Griffiss, aide to Gen Chaney, is killed when the aircraft on which he is a passenger is mistakenly shot down by RAF Polish fliers. He is first US airman to die in line of duty in Europe since the US entered World War II. Eighth AF base at Bushy Park is later named Camp Griffiss in his honor.

2/17/42 Tenth AF Col Harry A Halverson becomes CO.

2/17/42 Eleventh AF Colonel Lionel H Dunlap arrives from ZI and becomes CO of the Eleventh.

2/19/42 Fifth AF Operating out of Malang, Madioen, and Jogjakarta, A-24's, with P-40 escort, and B-17's attack vessel landing troops on Bali. The attacks, carried out during the afternoon of 19 Feb and throughout the morning of 20 Feb, cause considerable damage to vessels but fail to halt the landings. P-40's shoot down or turn back several bmrs weeping W over Java. Japanese airplane attack Darwin, bombing vessels loaded with troops destined for defense of Koepang on Timor I. 10 P-40's sent to Darwin to escort the convoy are almost entirely wiped out by the attack.

2/19/42 Seventh AF VII AFBC is activated.

2/20/42 AAFIB Gen Eaker arrives in UK with 6 staff officers.

2/21/42 Fifth AF Gen Brett, Dep CG ABDACOM, informs WD of his decision to evacuate Fifth AF and other US troops from Java. Fifth AF bmrs at Java bases fly about 20 strikes, usually in 2-and 3-aircraft elements, against shipping in Java Sea and against tgts on Bali from this date through 1 Mar. 11 strikes are complete failures; the remainder, although causing some damage to vessels and A/F facilities, fail to deter the invasion of Java.

2/23/42 Eighth AF HQ VIII BC established in UK Gen Eaker assumes cmd.

2/23/42 Fifth AF B-17's fly first mission against Rabaul. Operating out of Townsville, the force suffers mechanical trouble and runs into bad weather. Only 1 HB manages to bomb the tgt. Gen Brereton, CG, departs for India after issuing order terminating HQ Fifth AF. Until 3 Sep 42, units of Fifth AF will be initially under control of ABDACOM and then Allied AF (SWPA).

2/23/42 ZI Japanese submarine I-17 fires 13 rounds of 5 1/2-in shells from range of 2,500 yds at oil refinery N of Santa Barbara. Pur and bmr aircraft sent to the area are unable to destroy the sub.

2/24/42 Fifth AF HB units begin evacuating Java.

2/24/42 ZI Reports of unidentified air planes approaching Los Angeles from the ocean during 24/25 Feb result in 'Battle of Los Angeles' in which some 1,400 rounds of 3-in AA ammo is fired against various 'targets.' Later the Army will conclude that the 'battle' had been touched off by 1 to 5 unidentified aircraft, but the Navy will maintain there was no reason for the firing.

2/25/42 AAF AWPD recommends removal of GYMNAST from list of current projects. This proposal, if adopted, would leave Eighth AF uncommitted to any operation.

2/25/42 USAFBI Gen Chaney instructs Gen Eaker and staff to VIII BC to proceed to HQ, RAF BC for study of bombing operations, and to make rcn of certain A/Fs and submit plans for reception and assignment of AAF units.

2/27/42 Fifth AF Battle of Java Sea. Allied air and naval units try to stop convoy of some 80 ships approaching Java from NE. All available B-17's, A-24's, P-40's and LB-30's are put into the air but achieve only insignificant results. An Allied naval force, 5 cruisers and 11 destroyers, under Adm Doorman, Royal Netherlands Navy, meets the enemy near Surabaya and is decisively defeated, losing 5 ships. Most of Fifth AF ground echelon in Java is evacuated by sea. The Sea Witch delivers 27 crated P-40's to Tjilatjap, Java, but these will be destroyed to prevent their falling into Japanese hands. 32 P-40's aboard the USS Langley, which sailed from Australia for India on 23 Feb, are lost when the Langley is sunk by aircraft 100 mi S of Tjilatjap. The pilots are rescued by other vessels in the convoy, but the enemy sinks these ships with the exception of a destroyer, which delivers 2 of the pilots to Perth. The Langley, America's first aircraft carrier, was sunk.

3/1/42 Fifth AF Last HB mission flown from Java.

3/2/42 Fifth AF 5 B-17's and 3 LB-30's (the last airplane taking off just before midnight) evacuate the last 260 men from Jogjakarta, the last A/F on Java in Allied hands. Ground forces are within 20 mi at this time.

Bataan-based P-40's attack shipping in Subic Bay. The pilots claim considerable damage to the ships, but 4 of the few P-40's remaining on Bataan are lost.

3/3/42 US CCS take under consideration recommendation to continue SUPERGYMNAST as an 'academic study' only. Thus the proposed N African venture ceases to affect Eighth AF until it is revived later as TORCH.

3/3/42 Fifth AF Japanese airplanes attack A/F and harbor at Broome, Australia at 1000, shortly after arrival of 8 Hbs evacuating men from Java. The Japanese destroy 2 B-17's, 2 B-24's, 12 seaplanes, and 2 Hudsons, and kill at least 45 Dutch civilians and 20 US airmen.

3/4/42 Seventh AF A lone Japanese aircraft attempts to attack Honolulu but drops its bombs short of the city. Overcast conditions prevent successful pursuit by Seventh AF airplanes.

3/5/42 Tenth AF Gen Brereton who arrived in India from NEI on 25 Feb, formally takes cmd of Tenth AF, which at this time has 8 tac aircraft (B-17's).

3/5/42 ZI Civil Air Patrol begins flying patrols off the E coast. XII IC (later redesignated XII FC) is activated at Drew Field.

3/8/42 Tenth AF HQ Tenth AF begins moving from Patterson Field to India. Between this date and 13 Mar, the 8 B-17's in India transport 474 troops and 29 tons of supplies from India to Magwe and on the return flights evacuate 423 civilians.

3/8/42 Eleventh AF Col William O Butler assumes cmd of the Eleventh with HQ at Ft Richardson.

3/9/42 AAF Military reorganization, implementing Executive Order of 28 Feb, becomes effective. The Air Corps and the US Army Air Force Combat Cmd, which previously had made up the AAF under Gen Arnold as Chief, are discontinued, and the AAF is reorganized with Arnold as CG. Army Ground Forces under Gen McNair and Services of Supply (later Army Serv Forces) under Gen Sommervell are also organized.

All are under control of Gen Marshall, CoS. In the Navy, Adm King, CinC US Fleet, assumes additional responsibilities as he succeeds Adm Stark as Chief of Naval Operations.

3/9/42 SE Asia Japanese forces complete capture of Rangoon, dealing China a great blow by cutting off supplies from Burma Road.

3/12/42 Tenth AF 10 P-40's arrive in Karachi by ship from Australia.

3/12/42 ZI XII BC is activated at MacDill Field.

3/15/42 SOPAC 67th Ftr Sq, the first AAF tac unit in the theater, arrives on New Caledonia.

3/15/42 Eleventh AF XI FC is activated at Elmendorf Field cmdr is Col Norman D Sillin. Its operational components are the 11th and the 18th Pur Sqs.

3/16/42 Fifth AF 3 B-17's of 435th Rcn Sq, 19th Bomb Gp begin evacuating Gen MacArthur, his family, and his staff from Del Monte to Australia.

3/17/42 SWPA Gen MacArthur arrives in Australia to assume cmd of United Nations forces in SWPA. He actually assumed cmd on 18 Apr.

3/20/42 AAF 'Plan for Initiation of US Army Bombardment Operations in the British Isles' further elaborates previous AAF plans outlining intention of launching strategic bombardment from UK against facilities supporting German national, economic, and industrial structure.

3/20/42 AAFIB Report submitted by Gen Eaker in compliance with Gen Chaney's instructions of 25 Feb indicates completion of studies of RAF BC operations and of A/Fs, trg, tac doctrine, equipment, and methods of conducting air offensive in cooperation with RAF. Report also indicates much dependence upon British for the present but emphasizes the apparent compatibility of the tac doctrines of the US (daylight precision bombing) and RAF (night area bombing), and implies the principle of coordinating these attacks to complement each other.

3/25/42 Eighth AF Maj Cecil P Lessig becomes first Eighth AF pilot to fly a mission over France in World War II. Flying a Spitfire with RAF 64 Sq, Lessig participates in a 36-aircraft ftr sweep that is recalled when 50 ftrs challenge them.

3/26/42 Fifth AF 3 B-17's of 435th Rcn Sq, 19th Bomb Gp, evacuate Philippine Pres Quezon and his family to Australia.

3/28/42 ZI Units of I BC engaged in antisub operations are placed under operational control of Cmdr, Eastern Sea Frontier.

3/31/42 AAF Gen Spaatz suggests that the now 'task-less Eighth' be made nucleus for AAFIB.

4/1/42 ZI AC Proving Ground becomes Proving Ground Cmd, with main base at Eglin Field.

4/2/42 Tenth AF Gen Brereton, CG, leads 3 HBs on raid on shipping in Andaman Is during 2/3 Apr. The HBs claim hits on a cruiser and a transport. 2 HBs are damaged by AA and ftrs, but all return to base. Earlier in the evening, a mission scheduled against Rangoon area is aborted when 1 HB crashes on takeoff and the other has mechanical trouble.

4/3/42 Tenth AF 6 HBs from Asansol bomb warehouses and docks at Rangoon, starting 3 large fires. 1 B-17 fails to return.

4/6/42 Tenth AF 10 DC-3's of Pan American Airways begin hauling 30,000 gals of fuel and 500 gals of lubricants from Calcutta to the airstrip at Asansol, completing the mission on the following day. This fuel, subsequently transferred via Dinjan to China, is for use by Lt Col James H Doolittle's Tokyo raiders, already at sea aboard the carrier Hornet.

4/7/42 US WD officially states that Eighth AF will be established in UK as intermediate cmd between USAFBI and the AF cmds. Gen Marshall notifies Gen Chaney of this decision.

4/7/42 Fifth AF During 6/7 Apr the Japanese break the Philippine II Corps front on Bataan, thus necessitating immediate removal of all remaining ftrs to Mindanao, where for the next 3 days they will fly rcn, cover HBs (sent to Mindanao from Australia) operating against concentrations at Legaspi, Cebu, Iloilo, and Davao, and carry out a strafing attack against aircraft at Davao. After the HBs return to Australia on 12 Apr, the ftrs will continue to fly rcn until Japanese forces envelop the troops on Mindanao on 1 May.

4/8/42 International Harry Hopkins and Gen Marshall arrive in London for talks with British serv and supply chiefs concerning integration of US and British manpower and war production for action in Europe. Gen Marshall urges an offensive in the west to relieve pressure upon Russia, and promises a constant flow of US troops, including many air units, to UK.

4/8/42 Ninth AF VA Spt Cmd (activated 1 Sep 41) is redesignated Ninth AF. HQ is at New Orleans AAB.

4/9/42 Eighth AF HQ echelon is located at Bolling Field to prepare Eighth AF for move overseas.

4/9/42 Phil Is Japanese capture Bataan after 3 months. US-Philippine forces surrender unconditionally. Japanese arty emplaced on Bataan opens fire on Corregidor in conjunction with air attacks.

4/12/42 AAF Gen Arnold sends air plans for BOLERO to Gen Marshall in London. Plan calls for establishment of Eighth AF in UK.

4/12/42 Fifth AF Australia-based B-25's, staging through Mindanao, hit harbor and shipping at Cebu while B-17's carry out single-bmr strikes from Mindanao against Cebu harbor and Nichols Field.

4/13/42 Fifth AF Australia-based B-25's hit tgts in the Phil Is for second consecutive day. Staging through Valencia the B-25's take off just after midnight during 12/13 Apr and bomb Cebu shipping and installations at Davao. Later in the day the MBs again attack Davao, bombing the dock area.

4/13/42 SOPAC Adm Ghormley is assigned as COMSOPAC. He is to cmd all Allied base and local def forces (land, sea, and air) in the South Pacific islands, with the exception of NZ land defenses.

4/14/42 International British Government and CoSs accept Gen Marshall's BOLERO plan for Allied build-up in UK for attack on Germany.

4/15/42 Eighth AF HQ of VIII BC established in Wycombe Abbey, in High Wycombe by Gen Eaker.

4/16/42 Tenth AF HBs take off from Dum A/F near Calcutta to bomb Rangoon. 6 B-17's, guided by flares, bomb the tgt.

Numerous searchlights make it impossible to estimate the bombing results.

4/18/42 FEAF Doolittle raid on Japan. 16 B-25's launched from carrier Hornet carry out first AAF attack on Japanese mainland. 15 of the B-25's bomb in Japan, the principal tgts being Tokyo, Kobe, Yokohoma, and Nagoya. Since the bmrs had to be launched earlier than scheduled they are unable to reach planned bases in China and have to be crash-landed or abandoned, 15 in China and the other in the USSR.

4/18/42 Fifth AF Fifth AF units come under control of Allied AF (SWPA) which is created in Australia to control AAF, RAAF and Dutch elements. General MacArthur assumed command of allied forces in the Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA). All Fifth Air Force assets came under the control of SWPA.

4/20/42 Fifth AF Gen Brett assumes cmd of Allied AF, which has units based in N and E Australia, with advanced facilities in the Port Moresby area.

4/22/42 Tenth AF Aircraft begin to evacuate military and civilian personnel and supplies from Burma to India. By 15 Jun the Tenth has evacuated 4,499 passengers and 1,733,026 lbs of freight.

4/22/42 SOPAC A joint United States New Zealand Naval Command was ordered established under Admiral Robert L.

Ghormley. It was to operate separately but in close liaison with General Douglas MacArthur and Admiral Herbert F. Leary.

4/27/42 Eighth AF ADVONs of HQ, Eighth AF and of bmr, ftr and base cmds, along with 15th Bomb Sq, 2d Air Depot Gp, and a weather dets totaling about 1,800 men, sail from Boston for UK.

4/27/42 Fifth AF In Australia, US Army Air Services, under Gen Rush B. Lincoln, took over responsibility as an administrative, supply, maintenance, and engineering command under Allied Air Forces, SWPA.

4/27/42 Eighth AF VIII GASC is activated at Bolling Field.

4/29/42 Tenth AF Rangoon is again hit by a flight of HBs which pound dock area.

4/30/42 Burma Japanese capture Lashio and begin move to drive Chinese back along Burma Road toward China and drive US and British forces back toward India.

4/30/42 Fifth AF P-39's flying out of Port Moresby strafe airplanes and fuel dumps at Lae and Salamaua.

4/30/42 ZI ATC is established.

5/1/42 Tenth AF X ASC is activated under cmd of Gen Adler, who arrived in India on 26 Apr.

5/1/42 Eighth AF Gen Spaatz is designated Eighth AF cmdr.

5/4/42 Fifth AF B-26's bomb Vunakanau A/F at Rabaul. P-39's and B-17's hit A/F at Lae.

5/4/42 SOPAC Battle of the Coral Sea begins with US carrier-based air attack on Tulagi.

5/5/42 Eighth AF Gen Spaatz assumes cmd at Bolling Field.

5/5/42 Tenth AF On a raid against Mingaladon A/F during 4/5 May, 4 B-17's bomb a hangar and parked aircraft. The crews claim 40 airplanes destroyed but searchlights make accurate observation impossible.

5/6/42 Phil Is Corregidor surrenders. All US organized resistance to Japanese in Phil Is ends.

5/6/42 Tenth AF Mingaladon A/F is hit for second consecutive night. 3 B-17's score direct hits on fuel dump at the field.

5/6/42 Fifth AF B-17's unsuccessfully attack shipping in Bougainville area.

5/7/42 Fifth AF Battle of the Coral Sea, which began on 4 May, approaches its climax as Allied naval forces intercept Japanese naval forces near Misima I. Navy divebmrs sink the carrier Shoho. Allied forces lose an oiler and a destroyer. Allied AF bmrs join the battle but their effect is limited. Several bmrs attack Allied vessels by mistake.

5/8/42 Fifth AF Main action of Battle of the Coral Sea occurs as Allied and Japanese carrier forces clash. Allied bmrs join Navy airplanes in attacking enemy's main spt force which has swept around S of San Cristobal.

The carrier Shokaku is severely damaged by aircraft from carriers Lexington and Yorktown. The Lexington is damaged so severely that it later is sunk by US naval fire. The Yorktown also suffers damage from aircraft. Both sides lose heavily in aircraft, US losses totaling 66 and the Japanese considerably more. The Allies turn back the sea assault against Port Moresby, a key base in New Guinea and of great importance to the security of Australia. The battle is the first major naval engagement in history in which the opposing warships do not exchange a shot. The Coral Sea battle marks the end of the period in which the Allied forces in SWPA are only on the defensive and paves the way for offensive operations. The rcn work of the AAF proves of greater importance than its bombardment operations, which have no real effects on the battle. Lack of Navy-AAF coordination is apparent from the Coral Sea action, and this eventually leads to better interservice communication.

5/9/42 Tenth AF During 8/9 May, 6 B-docks at Rangoon.

5/9/42 Fifth AF 8 B-26's and a single B-17 attack shipping and seaplanes at Deboyne I.

5/10/42 Fifth AF B-25's bomb seaplane base at Deboyne I.

5/11/42 Eighth AF The transport Andes 17's bomb Mingaladon and attack the docks in UK, carrying about 1,800 personnel for various Eighth AF units. This is first large shipment of AAF troops to UK.

5/11/42 Fifth AF B-17's attack shipping at Kessa in N Solomons while B-26's hit seaplane base at Deboyne I.

5/12/42 Eighth AF 39 officers and 348 enlisted men of HQ and the bmr, ftr, and serv cmds arrive at High Wycombe, UK, where VIII IC sets up HQ.

5/12/42 Tenth AF HBs fly their first mission in direct def of air cargo line to China when 4 B-17's from Dum Dum A/F heavily damage runways and set fire to several parked aircraft at Myitkyina. Myitkyina, which fell to the Japanese on 8 May, poses serious ftr threat to Allied base at Dinjan.

5/13/42 Eighth AF Flying personnel of 15th Bomb Sq, the first US bomb unit sent to UK, arrive at Newport, UK, without aircraft.

5/13/42 Fifth AF B-17's and B-26's hit shipping and A/F at Rabaul.

5/14/42 Eighth AF Gen Eaker designated cmdr of Det HQ Eighth AF in addition to his duties as CG VIII BC. Gen Hunter assumes cmd of VIII IC.

5/14/42 Tenth AF HBs pound Myitkyina for second time, scoring direct hits on runways and several buildings.

5/14/42 Fifth AF B-17's, B-26's, and B-25's attack Rabaul and Lae.

5/15/42 AAF Interceptor and pur organizations of AAF are redesignated 'fighter'.

5/16/42 Tenth AF HQ completes its move from US to New Delhi. HBs again strike A/F at Myitkyina, pounding runways and buildings. Subsequent rcn indicates that the runways are unusable.

5/16/42 Fifth AF B-25's, B-26's and B-17's hit A/F and storehouses at Lae and seaplane base at Deboyne I.

5/17/42 Eighth AF Det, Eighth AF, with help of III BC staff, issues a directive defining its mission, which is the organization, trg and supplying of units of ADVONs of Eighth AF to prepare for immediate operations upon arrival of tac elements of the Eighth. 50 US intelligence officers arrive in UK for trg by RAF BC.

5/18/42 International US and Panama sign agreement concerning use of Panama def areas by US forces.

5/18/42 Fifth AF B-17's bomb shipping in Koepang Bay.

5/18/42 Seventh AF Seventh AF is placed on alert in anticipation of a possible attack on Midway. For next 10 days the old B-18's on hand For are used on search to supplement the B-17's. VII BC receives influx of B-17's during this period, and the 72d Bomb Sq is converted from B-18's to B-17's.

5/19/42 Eighth AF Det, HQ Eighth AF, under Gen Eaker, assumes control of all AAF organizations in British Isles.

5/20/42 Fifth AF B-17's attack A/F and AA guns at Koepang on Timor I.

5/20/42 SOPAC Adm McCain, aboard USS Tangier at Noumea, assumes cmd as COMAIRSOPAC.

5/21/42 Fifth AF B-26's bomb aircraft at Lae.

5/22/42 Fifth AF B-17's pound A/F and shipping at Rabaul while B-26's hit A/F at Lae and attack shipping in the harbor.

5/23/42 Eighth AF Agreement is reached on plan to transfer repair depot at Burtonwood to US forces following period of joint control to begin at end of Jun. Burtonwood later becomes greatest AAF depot overseas.

5/23/42 Fifth AF B-25's strike A/F and buildings at Lae.

5/24/42 Eighth AF VIII AFBC, under overall logistical control of SOS, is given primary responsibility for all supply and maintenance peculiar to AAF, thus leaving much logistical autonomy to AAFIB.

5/24/42 Fifth AF B-26's attack Lae A/F but heavy AA and at least 15 intercepting Zeros prevent accurate bombing.

Several of the MBs are shot down or badly damaged and forced to crash-land.

5/24/42 ZI Deployment of air units from eastern US is begun as a result of threat of a naval attack on the W coast. 12th Bomb Gp begins movement from La to Calif.

5/25/42 Tenth AF 4 B-17's bomb Rangoon during 24/25 May.

5/25/42 Fifth AF B-17's bomb Vunakanau A/F at Rabaul.

5/26/42 International Gen Arnold, Adm Towers, and ACM Portal attend Anglo-American air conference in London. Topics of discussion include allocation of aircraft and establishment of US air forces in UK. Meeting begins at 10 Downing Street with Churchill.

5/26/42 ZI Gulf TF, I BC is established and placed under operational control of Cmdr, Gulf Sea Frontier, for antisub operations in Gulf of Mexico.

5/27/42 Fifth AF B-17's bomb base at Rabaul.

5/27/42 ZI 54th Ftr Gp begins deployment from La to strengthen def of W coast.

5/28/42 Fifth AF B-26's attack A/F at Lae.

5/28/42 Eleventh AF A B-17 flies the first armed rcn mission from the secretly constructed A/F at Umnak over the Aleutian Chain, but finds no sign of the enemy. XI FC elements are now deployed at Umnak (P-40's, P-38's), Cold Bay (P-40's), Kodiak (P-39's), and Ft Richardson (P-38's, RCAF Kittyhawks).

5/28/42 ZI 2 ftr sqs (58th and 59th) of 33d Ftr Gp begin deployment from E coast for def of W coast. Some HB units in W are redeployed for better def against Japanese Navy.

5/29/42 International Molotov, who has been in London since 20 May for talks with Churchill, flies to Washington for conference with Roosevelt and US JCS. These talks, which end 2 Jun, deal mainly with the signing of a 20- yr Anglo-Soviet treaty for collaboration, shipments of material to USSR, and a second front in 1942.

5/29/42 Tenth AF 4 HBs hit Myitkyina A/F in high-altitude strike. No activity is seen.

5/30/42 International During conferences with ACM Portal, Gen Arnold presents 'Programme of Arrival of US Army Air Forces in the United Kingdom' providing for 66 combat gps, exclusive of obs sqs, by Mar 43.

5/30/42 Tenth AF Myitkyina is again hit by HBs. Again no activity is observed and the attacks are discontinued.

5/30/42 Seventh AF Seventh AF begins flying B-17's from Oahu to Midway in face of expected attack on that island.

5/31/42 Fifth AF B-17's attack Lae and Salamaua.

5/31/42 Seventh AF B-17's on DS at Midway begin search operations.

5/31/42 Eleventh AF 54th Ftr Sq (P-38's) arrives at Elmendorf.

6/1/42 Tenth AF 5 HBs attack Rangoon dock and harbor area, claiming 1 tanker sunk and another left listing.

6/1/42 Fifth AF B-17's attack Lae, Salamaua, and Rabaul.

6/1/42 ZI Fear of attack on W coast causes suspension of movement of aircraft and crews from US to UK.

6/2/42 Fifth AF B-17's bomb dock and military camp area at Rabaul.

6/2/42 Seventh AF 6 of 16 B-17's that have been on DS at Midway return to Oahu.

6/2/42 ZI Aircraft and crews of 97th Bomb Gp, then in New England for movement to UK, are ordered to W coast as defensive measure again attack on US.

6/3/42 Tenth AF A flight of 6 B-25's of 11th Bomb Sq earmarked for CATF, take off from Dinjan for China. They bomb Lashio en route to Kunming, but afterward 3 crash into an overcast-hidden mountain at 10,000 ft and another is abandoned when it runs out of fuel near Chan-i. The remaining 2 B-25's reach Kunming, 1 with its radio operator killed by a ftr.

6/3/42 Fifth AF B-17's hit wharf, warehouse area, and military camp at Rabaul.

6/3/42 Seventh AF Preliminary action begins in Battle of Midway. 9 B-17's, flying out of Midway, attack 5 large warships 570 mi off Midway, claiming 5 hits and several near misses. 7 other B-17's leave Oahu and fly to Midway.

6/3/42 Eleventh AF Japanese carrierbased bmrs and ftrs bomb and strafe Ft Mears and Dutch Harbor in several waves inflicting little damage and killing 52 US personnel. P-40's from Cold Bay trying to intercept them arrive 10 min after the last attack wave departs. Other P-40's at Umnak are notified too late due to communication failure. 9 P-40's and 6 B-26's fly patrol but cannot find the fleet-180 mi S of Dutch Harbor-but 2 of the P-40's engage 4 carrier-based aircraft, shoot down one and damage another.

6/4/42 AAF Schedule, with tables of composition and strength, indicating total of 3,649 airplanes, is set up for AAF in UK.

6/4/42 Tenth AF 2 HBs bomb Rangoon, but are attacked by 10 ftrs. 1 HB is shot down and the other badly damaged.

This raid ends 2 months of harassing strikes against Rangoon; soon all HBs are grounded by monsoon.

6/4/42 Seventh AF Battle of Midway. 4 B-26's, in conjunction with Navy torpedo bmrs, attack carrier; 2 of the MBs are shot down. In further morning action 14 B-17's attack a TF approaching Midway at a distance of 145 mi; they claim several hits on carriers and 2 Zeros shot down. In late afternoon 2 B-17's attack carrier force at 31-40N 179-10W, claiming hits on a battleship and a carrier and 3 airplanes shot down. 4 other B-17's claim a hit on heavy cruiser 185 mi from Midway. 6 B-17's, en route to Midway from Hawaii, bomb ships 170 mi from Midway, claiming hits on a burning carrier, the Hiryu, hit earlier in the battle, and a destroyer, which is claimed sunk.

6/4/42 Eleventh AF A carrier-borne force strikes again as 11 bmrs, 10 ftrs, and 8 torpedo bmrs attack Dutch Harbor in several waves. 2 P-40's intercept 4 bmrs just before noon over Umnak Pass and shoot down 3. During the afternoon P-40's intercept 9 ftrs. A dogfight claims one enemy aircraft and one P-40, the Eleventh's first combat casualty. AA fire claims another Japanese bmr. During the afternoon 2 B-17's and 5 B-26's attack the carrier force, and 3 more B-26's strike the cruiser Takao. No hits are scored. 1 B-24 and 1 B-25 fail to return.

6/5/42 Eighth AF VIII AFBC, activated in US on 28 Jan 42, is redesignated VIII AFSC. Col Harold A McGinnis assumes cmd.

6/5/42 Fifth AF B-17's hit wharves, warehouse, and coal jetty at Rabaul.

6/5/42 Seventh AF Battle of Midway continues with Japanese fleet retiring westward. In the morning 8 B-17's hit force 130 mi from Midway, claiming hits on 2 large warships. During afternoon 6 B-17's claim hits on heavy cruiser 300 mi from Midway. The last strike by Seventh AF aircraft in the Battle of Midway is by 5 B- 17's which bomb a heavy cruiser 425 mi from Midway. 1 B-17 is shot down and another lost due to fuel shortage. The battle ends with Midway's installations heavily damaged by bombs but still in US hands and with landing strips still intact. During the fighting (3-5 Jun) Seventh AF aircraft carried out 16 B-17 attacks (55 sorties) and 1 torpedo attack by 4 B-26's, claiming 22 hits on ships and 10 ftrs shot down. 2 B-17's and 2 B-26's were lost. One of the decisive battles of naval history, Midway will cost Japan the initiative and will be a turning point in the Pacific war.

6/5/42 Eleventh AF 18 B-26's, 10 B-17's and 2 LB-30's search and attack sorties are flown against the carrier force, the B- 26's splitting into 3 missions, the B-17's into 2. No contact is made. The B-17's using radar bomb tgts which look like ships, but later turn out to be the Pribilof Is. The 54th Ftr Sq begins moving into Umnak.

6/5/42 ZI Aircraft and pilots of 1st Pur Sq, then at Dow Field for movement to UK, fly to Morris Field, en route to W coast for def against attack.

6/6/42 Seventh AF B-17's maintain search out of Midway. 6 of the HBs mistakenly attack US submarine, which later reports no damage. More B-17's arrive on Midway from Oahu.

6/6/42 Eleventh AF Various bmr search-attack missions are flown in an attempt to contact the fleet reported near Seguam I. No contact is made due to weather. 8 P-38's en route from Cold Bay to Umnak mistakenly attack a USSR freighter. Japanese begin to land on Kiska.

6/6/42 ZI Aircraft and pilots of 1st Pur Gp at Morris Field return to Dow Field, following defeat of Japanese fleet in Battle of Midway.

6/7/42 Seventh AF Gen Tinker, CG, is lost during 6/7 Jun while leading flight of LB-30's from Midway for predawn attack on Wake I.

6/7/42 Eleventh AF Japanese troops invade Attu. More troops are put ashore on Kiska. An enemy airplane is sighted over Cold Bay but cannot be intercepted.

6/8/42 ETOUSA ETO established by presidential directive. Gen Chaney is designated cmdr of all US forces of ETOUSA.

6/8/42 Eleventh AF 1 LB-30 flies armed patrol over Kiska and Umnak and discovers Japanese naval units in Kiska Harbor.

6/9/42 Eighth AF Second contingent of personnel for HQ Eighth AF and subordinate cmds, including main body of VIII AFSC, arrives in UK.

6/9/42 Fifth AF B-17's, B-25's, and B-26's attack Lae and Salamaua.

6/9/42 Seventh AF Gen Davidson, CG VII FC, also becomes CG Seventh AF following loss of Gen Tinker (see 7 Jun 42).

6/9/42 Eleventh AF Patrols are flown but encounter no aircraft.

6/10/42 Eighth AF Main part of ground echelon, including ground echelons of 97th Bomb, 1st and 31st Ftr, 60th Transp, and 5th Air Depot Gps, and serv units arrive in UK aboard Queen Elizabeth.

6/10/42 Fifth AF B-17's bomb aircraft and buildings at Rabaul.

6/10/42 Eleventh AF Local patrol is flown at Umnak.

6/11/42 Eleventh AF The Eleventh strikes at Kiska for the first time. 5 B-24's and 5 B-17's from Cold Bay load bombs at Umnak and hit Kiska harbor installations and shipping tgts. Low-altitude runs score near misses on 2 cruisers and a destroyer. AA downs a B-24. The other B-24's are pursued by 4 ftrs back to Umnak where US ftrs drive them off. Navy airplanes discover Japanese landing at Attu.

6/11/42 ZI Aircraft and crews of 97th Bomb Gp, deployed temporarily to W coast, are ordered back to New England for movement to UK.

6/12/42 Eighth AF Another contingent of personnel for HQ and subordinate cmds arrive in UK.

6/12/42 HALPRO 13 B-24's of det under cmd of Col Harry A Halverson en route from US to China take off during 11/12 Jun from Fayid to bomb oilfields at Ploesti. Only 12 attack at dawn. 4 of the 13 land at base in Iraq which was designated for recovery of the flight, 3 land at other Iraq fields, 2 land in Syria, and 4 are interned in Turkey. Though damage to tgt is negligible, the raid is significant because it is the first AAF combat mission in EAME Theater in World War II, and the first strike at a tgt which later will be famous.

6/12/42 Fifth AF B-17's bomb building area and Vunakanau and Lakunai A/Fs at Rabaul.

6/12/42 Eleventh AF 6 B-17's and 1 B-24 bomb shipping in Kiska Harbor. A cruiser is heavily damaged and one destroyer is seen burning.

6/13/42 Fifth AF B-17's hit A/F at Rabaul.

6/13/42 Eleventh AF An LB-30 flies weather mission and for the third straight day Kiska Harbor shipping is bombed by 5 B- 17's and 3 B-24's. 2 HBs turn back. The others bomb partially cloud-obscured tgts. No effect observed.

6/14/42 AAF Aircraft program for AAF in UK is revised downward from 3,649 to 3,266, and date of anticipated final strength is advanced 1 month to 1 Apr 43.

6/14/42 Eleventh AF 4 B-17's and 3 B-24's bomb shipping in Kiska Harbor from an altitude of 700 ft, lowest altitude yet. 2 cruisers are hit and one scout seaplane is downed. 2 B-17's are heavily damaged but return to base.

Japanese bomb Nazan Bay, Atka.

6/15/42 Eighth AF Gen Spaatz, CG, arrives in UK. VIII BC takes significant step toward development of organization for control of combat operations by establishing 1st Bomb Wg, Prov, at Brampton Grange.

6/15/42 HALPRO 7 B-24's, along with 2 RAF B-24's and RAF torpedo-carrying Beauforts, attack Italian fleet E of Malta.

The B-24's bomb and damage a battleship and a cruiser, while the Beauforts sink a cruiser.

6/15/42 Eleventh AF A bombing mission to Kiska by 3 B-17's and 2 B-24's is aborted due to weather.

6/16/42 Fifth AF B-26's, B-25's, and B-17's pound Lae and Salamaua, hitting runways and buildings and starting several fires.

6/17/42 HALPRO The det is ordered to vicinity of Cairo to report to Gen Russell L Maxwell, designated CG USAFIME.

6/17/42 Seventh AF P-40's of 73d Ftr S aboard the Saratoga are flown off the carrier at Midway to replace Navy airplanes lost in the Battle of Midway. The P-40's begin dawn and dusk patrols which continue until the P-40's are relieved on 23 Jun 43.

6/17/42 Eleventh AF A Kiska Harbor bombing mission is canceled due to weather as is patrolling mission by HBs.

6/18/42 International Churchill arrives in Washington for series of conferences (until 25 Jun) with Roosevelt. Subjects discussed include war production, shipping, help for China, diversion of Germany from Eastern Front, and atomic research.

6/18/42 Eighth AF HQ opens in London with Gen Spaatz commanding. Air Ministry publishes tentative list of 87 A/Fs to be made ready for Eighth AF.

6/18/42 Eleventh AF 1 LB-30, 3 B-17's and 4 B-24's make a precision high-altitude attack on Kiska Harbor. A transport is left burning and sinking, another is mauled, and 2 scout planes are possibly shot down. 1 B-24 crashes at sea; part of its crew is saved.

6/19/42 USAFIME Gen Maxwell, formerly head of US Military North African Mission, assumes cmd of USAFIME.

6/19/42 Fifth AF B-17's pound shipping and Vunakanau A/F at Rabaul.

6/19/42 Eleventh AF B-24's taking off to bomb Kiska abort due to fog. 1 of them and 2 of its crew are lost when forced to land in the water. A B-17 is dispatched to attack a reported submarine but makes no contact.

6/20/42 US Gen Chaney, CG ETOUSA, is recalled from UK and will be replaced by Gen Eisenhower.

6/20/42 Eighth AF Gen Marshall's letter of instruction to Gen Eisenhower reveals plan to integrate all US air units in UK into Eighth AF. Broad objective of AAF in ETO is to attain 'air supremacy over Western Continental Europe' in preparation for future invasion of the Continent.

6/20/42 Fifth AF B-17's bomb runway at Lae.

6/20/42 Seventh AF Gen Hale becomes CG Seventh AF, and Col Albert Hegenberger becomes temporary CO VII RC.

6/20/42 Eleventh AF 1 LB-30, 1 B-17 and 7 B-24's take off on a search and bombing mission over Kiska. 3 aircraft abort mission due to weather, 3 bomb through overcast with unobserved results, and 3 others search in vain for B-24 lost on the preceding day.

6/21/42 International Arnold-Portal-Towers agreement is signed. It deals with US air commitments and provides for strong air force for BOLERO.

6/21/42 HALPRO 9 B-24's bomb Bengasi harbor after RAF Wellingtons light the tgt with flares and incendiaries.

6/21/42 Eleventh AF WD authorizes XI AFSC-hitherto Prov Serv Cmd- which is activated at Elmendorf. It is charged with maintaining and supplying all of the Eleventh's bases. Weather cancels all missions except an armed weather sortie over Kiska. Ftrs fly local patrols.

6/22/42 Eleventh AF A B-17 weather rcn aircraft flies over Kiska. Ftrs fly AP patrols. Bombing mission is canceled due to weather.

6/23/42 Eighth AF Gen Spaatz is informed that Operation ROUNDUP for invasion of European continent has been put off until Spring 43. This postponement is due to decision to mount Operation TORCH, which will necessitate diversion of large numbers of aircraft earlier slated for Eighth AF in UK.

6/23/42 Eleventh AF Weather cancels bombing mission. A B-17 flies rcn mission over Kiska. A P-40 on defensive patrol crashes at Elmendorf.

6/24/42 ETOUSA Gen Eisenhower arrives in UK.

6/24/42 HALPRO B-24's bomb Bengasi harbor during 23/24 Jun.

6/24/42 Fifth AF B-17's hit Vunakanau A/F. Bomb loads include several bundles of incendiaries which cause intense fires.

6/24/42 Eleventh AF Weather cancels bombing. 1 B-17 flies weather rcn over Kiska. Ftrs patrol A/Fs.

6/25/42 US Arnold-Portal-Towers agreement concerning air forces for BOLERO is approved by JCS.

6/25/42 Eighth AF HQ is established at Bushy Park, a London suburb.

6/25/42 Fifth AF B-25's bomb Salamaua.

6/25/42 Seventh AF Gen Lynd becomes CG VII BC.

6/25/42 Eleventh AF A field order bases the 404th Bomb Sq at Fairbanks, to operate out of Nome, to which 1 sq of the 54th Ftr Gp is also sent. Another sq of the 54th (P-39's) is sent to Ft Richardson. 2 B-17's, 4 B-24's and 1 LB-30 fly bombing and weather missions over Kiska, bombing N side of the harbor.

6/26/42 Eighth AF Air echelons of 31st Ftr Gp are established at Atcham and High Ercall by this date. These are first combat personnel of VIII FC to reach UK. HALPRO 24's fly a diversion for RAF Albacore attack on 2 merchant vessels at Tobruk.

6/26/42 Tenth AF Gen Naiden becomes CG Tenth AF, succeeding Gen Brereton who departs for ME with Gen Adler, CG X ASC, and several other key subordinates. Aircraft and crews of 9th Bomb Sq follow. This move leaves the Tenth AF almost a skeleton.

6/26/42 Seventh AF 3 LB-30's bomb installations on Wake I. The raid takes place during 26/27 Jun and is staged through Midway.

6/26/42 Eleventh AF 5 B-24's drop incendiaries and fire bombs on Kiska Harbor installations.

6/27/42 HALPRO B-24's bomb harbor at Tobruk during 26/27 Jun in effort to disrupt movement of supplies.

6/27/42 Fifth AF B-26's bomb Lae and Salamaua.

6/28/42 ETOUSA Gen Eisenhower assumes cmd of ETOUSA, succeeding Gen Chaney.

6/28/42 USAMEAF Gen Brereton arrives at Cairo where USAFIME issues orders placing him in cmd of USAMEAF, which is activated immediately. USAMEAF is comprised of Halverson Det (HALPRO), Brereton' det (9th Bomb Sq and other personnel which Brereton brought from India), and Air Section of US Military North African Mission. Also activated is ASC, USAMEAF, under Gen Adler. B-24's of HALPRO bomb harbor and shipping at Tobruk.

6/28/42 Eleventh AF A B-17 weather aircraft flies over Kiska. Solid weather front cancels bombing. On this and the following day US adv rcn parties land on Adak from submarines.

6/29/42 N Africa Rommel's Afrika Korps takes Matruh.

6/29/42 Eighth AF Capt Charles C Kegelman (CO 15th Bomb Sq), flying on mission with 12 RAF Bostons against Hazebrouck M/Y, becomes first member of Eighth AF to drop bombs on enemy-occupied Europe. First pilot fatality of Eighth AF in ETO is suffered when 1st Lt Alfred W Giacomini of 31st Ftr Gp crashes a Spitfire while landing at Atcham.

6/29/42 Tenth AF Col Robert C Oliver assumes cmd of X ASC.

6/29/42 Fifth AF B-17's hit A/Fs at Rabaul and Lae during 28/29 Jun.

6/30/42 Eighth AF Joint Anglo-American control of Burtonwood air depot begins with view toward subsequent exclusive control by AAF. VIII AFSC is designated US agent at Burtonwood.

6/30/42 USAMEAF B-24's bomb Tobruk harbor during 29/30 Jun; first US combat casualties in ME are recorded as 1 B- 24 is lost. Gen Brereton moves his det from Egypt to Palestine, as Rommel advances toward the Suez Canal.

6/30/42 Fifth AF B-17's attack Dili, Koepang and Kendari; B-25's and B-26's hit Lae in New Guinea.

6/30/42 Eleventh AF A B-17 flies weather rcn over Kiska.

7/1/42 Eighth AF The first B-17 (assigned to 97th Bomb Gp) of the BOLERO ail movement via N Atlantic route lands at Prestwick.

7/1/42 Middle East British forces check Axis adv at El Alamein.

7/1/42 USAMEAF B-24's bomb harbor at Tobruk during 1/2 Jul.

7/1/42 Tenth AF First combat mission of CATF takes place before the formal activation (4 Jul) of the unit. 4 B-25's from Hengyang, escorted by P-40's, bomb docks at Hankow. Bad weather handicaps the bombardiers, and the effects of the raid are inconsequential.

7/1/42 Fifth AF B-26's bomb Salamaua. Other MB and HB strikes abort due to bad weather.

7/1/42 Eleventh AF The XI Prov BC comprising the 28th Comp Gp and its assigned sqs is activated. Col William O Eareckson in cmd. A B-17 flies weather rcn over Kiska and lands early due to weather.

7/2/42 International CCS approve of Arnold-Portal-Towers agreement.

7/2/42 USAMEAF B-17's and B-24's bomb Tobruk harbor during 2/3 Jul.

7/2/42 Tenth AF CATF B-25's and P-40's hit Hankow dock area for second consecutive day. This raid, more successful than the first, causes considerable damage. The Japanese retaliate during the night by attacking Hengyang but fail to hit the A/F.

7/2/42 Eleventh AF 7 B-24's and 1 B-17 fly photo and bombing missions to Attu-which appears deserted-and to Kiska and Agattu. Near misses are scored on a transport and a destroyer at Agattu.

7/3/42 USAMEAF B-24's attack Tobruk harbor during daylight hrs and B-17's bomb supplies at Tobruk during 3/4 Jul.

7/3/42 Tenth AF CATF airplanes bomb and strafe A/F at Nanchang, the probable base of the preceding night's raiders on Hengyang. Several parked aircraft are destroyed. During the night Japanese airplanes again strike at Hengyang and once more fail to hit A/F.

7/3/42 Fifth AF B-17's attack barracks area at Koepang and AF at Lae. 1 A-24 bombs Tulagi.

7/3/42 Eleventh AF 7 B-24's and 2 B-17's bomb Kiska and Near Is, encountering neither ftr opposition nor AA. Results not observed.

7/4/42 Eighth AF First AAF air operation over W Europe. 15th Bomb Sq, flying 6 American-built Bostons belonging to RAF, join RAF low-level attack on 4 A/Fs in the Netherlands. Aircraft flown by Capt Charles C Kegelman, sq CO, is severely damaged, but Kegelman succeeds in bringing it back to base at Swanton Morley. VIII AF Comp Cmd is activated in US. Second B-17 arrives in UK via N Atlantic ferry route.

7/4/42 USAMEAF B-24's attack convoy in Mediterranean during 4/5 Jul, setting 1 tanker aflame.

7/4/42 Tenth AF CATF is activated under cmd of Gen Chennault. This new cmd is successor to Chennault's AVG, which had attained 300 confirmed victories over Japanese airplanes at a cost of less than 50 aircraft and only 9 pilots. Only 5 pilots and a few ground personnel of AVG choose to join the AAF, although 20 other pilots agree to stay until replacements arrive in Kunming. Combat elements of CATF are 23d Ftr Gp, 16th Ftr Sq, and 11th Bomb Sq. Col Robert L Scott is to cmd the ftrs and Col Caleb V Haynes the bmrs. In air action in China, 5 B-25's, with ftr escort, heavily damage buildings, runways, and parked aircraft at Tien Ho A/F. P-40's over Kweilin intercept a formation of FBs, claiming 13 destroyed.

The Japanese fail to bomb tgt.

7/4/42 Fifth AF B-17's, B-26's, and B-25's bomb A/Fs at Lae and Salamaua.

7/4/42 ZI ATC, which was established on 30 Apr 42, is redesignated I TCC and made responsible for trg and preparing units and personnel for TC (airborne) operations. Ferrying Cmd, which was established on 29 May 41, is redesignated ATC and made responsible for air transport and ferrying operations.

7/5/42 USAMEAF B-24's bomb harbor and ships at Bengasi during 4/5 Jul.

7/5/42 Fifth AF B-17's and B-26's attack Lae and Salamaua.

7/5/42 Eleventh AF A B-17 flies a weather mission.

7/6/42 Eighth AF RAF invites Eighth to share membership in important RAF operational committees dealing with tgts, operational research, interception, and bmr operations. VIII AFSC sets up HQ at Bushy Park with Gen Frank as CG. 6 B-17's arrive in UK via N Atlantic ferry route.

7/6/42 Tenth AF CATF B-25's bomb waterfront at Canton, marking their initial action against coastal facilities of Japanese-held Chinese ports.

7/6/42 Eleventh AF 4 B-24's and 1 LB-30 fly bombing and weather missions to Kiska. Results are not observed.

7/6/42 Sixth AF German sub, U-153, is damaged in attack by aircraft of 59th Bomb Sq off Panama, 12-50N 72-21W.

The sub is sunk a week later by US destroyer Landsdowne.

7/7/42 SOPAC Gen Millard F Harmon is designated COMGENSOPAC.

7/7/42 Eleventh AF 1 B-17 and 7 B-24's fly weather, bombing and photo missions to Kiska, Attu, and Agattu. All bombs are returned to base due to weather. 1 seaplane is shot down.

7/7/42 ZI An A-29 of 396th Bomb Sq sinks German sub, U-701, off NC 34-50N 74-55W. This is first sub sunk by AAF aircraft during World War II.

7/8/42 USAMEAF B-24's bomb harbor and shipping at Bengasi during 8/9 Jul, while B-17's hit harbor at Tobruk.

7/8/42 Tenth AF A single B-25 piloted by Col Caleb V Haynes, bombs Japanese HQ at Tengchung near Burma border.

Bad weather, pilot fatigue, and maintenance halt major operations for several days.

7/8/42 Eleventh AF 404th Bomb Sq arrives in the Alaskan Theater with B-24's-originally destined for N Africa. 1 B-24 flies 2 photo missions over S shore of Kiska and over Little Kiska. Bombing mission canceled due to weather.

7/9/42 Eighth AF 7 P-38's arrive in UK via N Atlantic route, this being the first time single-seater AAF aircraft have flown this route.

7/9/42 USAMEAF 6 B-24's dispatched against shipping are attacked by ftrs; 1 B-24 is lost and the others return to base without bombing tgts.

7/9/42 Eleventh AF 5 B-24's fly photo, weather, and bombing missions to Kiska but return with the bombs due to weather.

7/10/42 AAF AAF planners for BOLERO build-up estimate 137 AAF gps in UK by 31 Dec 43.

7/10/42 USAMEAF 57th Ftr Gp, en route from US, is assigned to USAMEAF.

7/10/42 Seventh AF Ground echelon of 11th Bomb Gp leaves Hawaii for S Pacific aboard USS Argonne.

7/10/42 Eleventh AF 1 B-24 aborts a rcn mission to Kiska due to weather.

7/11/42 Eighth AF First formal decoration ceremony held in Eighth AF takes place when Gen Spaatz pins DSC on Maj Charles C Kegelman for extraordinary gallantry and heroism during the raid of 4 Jul.

7/11/42 USAMEAF B-24's attack harbor and shipping at Bengasi during 11/12 Jul.

7/11/42 Eleventh AF 4 B-24's taking off for weather, bombing and photo mission to Kiska are attacked by seaplane ftrs. No losses. A cruiser is bombed with unobserved results.

7/12/42 Eighth AF 6 Bostons flown by US crews attack Abbeville/Drucat A/F.

7/12/42 Eleventh AF 3 B-24's dispatched on weather, photo, and bombing missions to Kiska abort due to weather.

7/13/42 USAMEAF During 13/14 Jul, B-17's bomb Tobruk harbor, and B-24's hit ships and harbor at Bengasi. Heavy AA fire accounts for loss of I B-24.

7/15/42 USAMEAF B-24's strike harbor and ships at Bengasi during 15/16 Jul.

7/15/42 Tenth AF India-China Ferrying Cmd is activated to replace Assam-Burma-China Cmd.

7/15/42 Eleventh AF 3 B-24's on a bombing mission to Kiska turn back due to weather.

7/16/42 Tenth AF 4 B-25's from Kweilin, with P-40 escort, bomb storage area at Hankow, starting a fire that is later reported to have burned 3 days. The MBs land at Hengyang during return flight to refuel, but are attacked by Japanese airplanes and have to take off immediately. Amidst the confusion a P-40 pilot mistakes a B-25 for a Japanese aircraft and shoots it down, the first bmr lost since CATF began operations in China. The crew is saved.

7/16/42 Fifth AF 1 B-17 bombs Salamaua.

7/16/42 Seventh AF B-17's of 11th Bomb Gp begin leaving Hickam Field for S Pacific.

7/17/42 USAMEAF Halverson Det is redesignated Hal Bomb Sq. B-24's bomb Bengasi harbor. B-17's hit Tobruk.

7/17/42 Fifth AF B-17's bomb harbor at Rabaul.

7/17/42 Eleventh AF 3 B-17's and 7 B-24's fly weather, bombing and photo missions. Shipping is bombed- North and South Heads of Kiska are photographed. Ftrs down 1 B-17.

7/18/42 International Hopkins, Gen Marshall, Adm King, Churchill, and British COS begin conference in London on proposed invasion of N Africa (TORCH) .

7/18/42 Tenth AF 3 B-25's from Kweilin bomb Tien Ho A/F.

7/18/42 Eleventh AF A B-17 flying weather and photo rcn over Kiska crashes on Umnak I.

7/19/42 USAMEAF B-24's hit Bengasi while B-17's attack Tobruk in continuing effort to disrupt movement of supplies.

7/19/42 Tenth AF In response to a Chinese request, 2 B-25's strike in pt of Chinese ground forces at Linchwan, a Japanese-held city under siege for some time. The Chinese CO later reports that the raid broke the stalemate and the city was entered the next day.

7/19/42 Eleventh AF Search missions are flown over Attu and Agattu.

7/20/42 USAMEAF Hal Bomb Sq and 9th Bomb Sq (19 B-24's and 9 B-17's) are organized as 1st Prov Gp under Col Harry A Halverson's cmd at Lydda.

7/20/42 Tenth AF 3 B-25's bomb docks and warehouses at Chinkiang on the Yangtze R. 4 escorting P-40's strafe junks on the river. This is last CATF bombing raid of Jul.

7/20/42 Eleventh AF Gen Butler moves adv HQ to Umnak. 3 B-17's bomb Kiska (especially barracks) with incendiaries and demolition charges. 4 P-38's try to intercept 4 ftrs reported by Navy aircraft. No contact made.

7/21/42 US Roosevelt calls Adm Leahy, Ambassador to France and former Chief of Naval Operations, to serve as CoS to CinC of US Army and Navy.

7/21/42 Eighth AF Gen Eisenhower assigns to Eighth AF the mission of carrying out, in collaboration with RAF, the degree of air ops with the view of attaining air domination over W France by 1 Apr 43.

7/21/42 Fifth AF B-26's attack convoy off Salamaua as invasion force heads for Buna, where it begins landings during 21/22 Jul. This move by the enemy forestalls Allied ops which were to have secured the same general area.

7/21/42 SOPAC Initial sq of B-17's of 11th Bomb Gp arrives at Plaines des Gaiacs from Hawaii.

7/21/42 Eleventh AF 4 B-24's fly search and bomb missions over Kiska but make no contact because of weather.

7/22/42 USAMEAF B-24's bomb Suda Bay claiming hits on 2 vessel. B-17's hit Tobruk.

7/22/42 Fifth AF P-40's and P-39's hit shipping and landing barges at Gona as Japanese forces continue to land in NE New Guinea with ultimate aim of pushing across the Owen Stanley Range to the Allied base at Port Moresby.

7/22/42 Eleventh AF Of 8 B-24's and 2 B-17's dispatched to Kiska only 8 reach tgt and due to fog drop only 7 bombs with unobserved results. 1 B-24 missing on return flight.

7/23/42 USAMEAF 98th Bomb Gp is assigned to USAMEAF.

7/23/42 Fifth AF B-17's, B-26's, A-24's, and ftrs pound shipping, landing barges, storage dumps, AA positions, and troop concentrations at Buna and Gona as the enemy pushes inland along Kokoda trail. Ftrs also hit harbor at Salamaua.

7/23/42 SOPAC 11th Bomb Gp B-17's in New Caledonia begin photo rcn of Guadalcanal-Tulagi-Gavutu area.

7/23/42 Seventh AF 3 B-17's, staging through Canton I, carry out photo rcn of Makin.

7/24/42 US JCS issue statement that HB and MB gps will be shifted from BOLERO assignments to Africa for TORCH. BOLERO resources are further depleted by decision to send 15 combat gps to Pacific theater.

7/24/42 USAMEAF During 23/24 Jul, B-17's attack Tobruk harbor. B-24's hit harbor at Bengasi. A B-24 crashes on return to base, killing 1 crew member.

7/24/42 Fifth AF B-26's, A-24's, and ftrs continue to pound AA positions and enemy troops at Gona as Japanese continue to push inland toward Kokoda.

7/25/42 USAMEAF Reinforcements begin arriving from US as air echelon of 344th Sq of 98th Bomb Gp reaches Palestine.

7/25/42 Fifth AF B-25's, and P-39's pound barges and concentrations at Gona and troops on the Gona and Kokoda trails. Japanese forces push to Oivi, within 6 mi of Kokoda.

7/25/42 SOPAC Daily search missions over S Solomons are begun from New Caledonia.

7/26/42 Eighth AF Lt Col Albert P Clark, Executive Officer of 31st Ftr Gp, is shot down while flying an RAF ftr on a sweep over France, thus becoming the first Eighth AF ftr pilot to be shot down in ETO. He survives and is taken prisoner by the Germans.

7/26/42 USAMEAF During 25/26 Jul, B-17's and B-24's bomb harbor at Tobruk.

7/26/42 Fifth AF A B-25 strike against Gasmata is repulsed by ftr interception. B-26's attack destroyer o Gona but fail to score hits. Australian troops flown into Kokoda fail to halt Japanese adv and Kokoda is evacuated.

7/27/42 Eighth AF HQ VIII BC issues order establishing 1st Bomb Wg at Brampton Grange (replacing 1st Bomb Wg, Prov, established there on 15 Jun) and 2d Bomb Wg at Old Catton. 1st Wg is commanded by Col Claude E Duncan, 2d Wg by Col Newton Longfellow. US aircraft of 97th Bomb Gp and 1st Ftr Gp land at Prestwick, thus completing first series of flights in BOLERO, air movement across N Atlantic ferry route. 97th Bomb Gp becomes first US HB gp complete with air and ground echelons in UK. Gen Eaker and officers of RAF FC agree to use Spitfire IX's as high ftr cover for B-17's of VIII BC until VIII FC is ready for escort duty. This also will provide test of Spitfire IX's against FW-190's at high altitude.

7/27/42 Fifth AF B-26's and A-24's hit Gona and tgts along Buna trail.

7/27/42 SOPAC Gen Millard Harmon arrives at Noumea to assume cmd of USAFISPA with responsibility for trg all army (air and ground) personnel. Air units in the theater are under operational control of COMAIRSOPAC.

7/28/42 USSR Soviet High Command admits Rostov's fall to the Germans.

7/28/42 USAMEAF B-17's hit Tobruk during 27/28 Jul, while B-24's attack convoy in Mediterranean, claiming hits on 2 merchant ships.

7/28/42 Eighth AF HQ VIII FC opens at Bushey Hall following move from temporary HQ at High Wycombe. Gen Hunter, designated CG VIII FC on 14 May in US, assumes cmd in England. Gen Candee, CG VIII GASC, announces staff assignments and begins organization of his cmd in UK.

7/28/42 Fifth AF 1 B-26 bombs installations at Gona. Gen Kenney, cmdr-designate of Allied AF, arrives in Australia.

7/28/42 Eleventh AF Air coverage survey for Army ground operations to Adak and Tanaga Is is flown. Weather cancels bombing mission to Kiska.

7/29/42 Fifth AF A-24's, with P-39 escort, and RAAF aircraft attack shipping off Gona, partially frustrating Japanese attempts to land more troops and supplies. Japanese recapture Kokoda, which they temporarily lost the previous day.

7/29/42 Eleventh AF 4 B-24's and 5 B-17's bomb vessels and installations in Kiska Harbor area with unobserved results due to clouds.

7/30/42 USAMEAF During 30/31 Jul, B-24's bomb convoy in Pylos Bay claiming hits on 2 merchant ships. B-17's hit Tobruk harbor.

7/30/42 Tenth AF The Japanese send about 120 airplanes against the base at Hengyang from which CATF is harassing the Yangtze Valley. The attacks last about 36 hrs. Fierce opposition by US P-40's prevents major damage to the base. 17 Japanese aircraft are shot down, 4 of them at night. 3 P-40's are lost.

7/30/42 Fifth AF B-17's attack shipping in Solomon Sea E of Huon Gulf and S of New Britain.

7/30/42 SOPAC B-17's of 11th Bomb Gp begin arriving at Espiritu Santo where they are to constitute a rcn and strike force over Guadalcanal-Tulagi-Gavutu area in preparation for amphibious assault by US Marines on Guadalcanal on 7 Aug.

7/30/42 Eleventh AF 1 LB-30, 3 B-17's and 3 B-24's fly photo rcn and bombing missions to Tanaga and Kiska. Missions are unsuccessful due to weather.

7/31/42 UK Units of Prov TCC are organized in UK.

7/31/42 USAMEAF The complete air echelon of 57th Ftr Gp, commanded by Col Frank H Mears, has arrived in Palestine by this date; 12th Bomb Gp commanded by Col Charles G Goodrich, is now arriving in Palestine.

Thus USAMEAF has P-40's and B-25's to add to its B-24's and B-17's.

7/31/42 Fifth AF B-17's hit Gona and a nearby transport which had been previously damaged, and bomb Kukum Beach and Lunga landing strip on N coast of Guadalcanal as US invasion forces leave Fiji Is for the Solomons.

7/31/42 SOPAC Col LaVerne G Saunders leads 9 B-17's of his 11th Bomb Gp from Efate on strike against Guadalcanal, bombing landing strip and area about Lunga Pt. From this date until 7 Aug, the 11th Gp flies 56 strike and 22 search sorties in spt of the invasion of Guadalcanal.

7/31/42 Seventh AF 1 B-17, from Midway, flies photo rcn of Wake. The HB is intercepted by 6 ftrs. In the ensuing fight US gunners claim 4 ftrs destroyed.

7/31/42 Eleventh AF 1 B-24 and 1 LB-30 fly weather and photo rcn. Weather cancels combat mission to Kiska.

8/1/42 Eighth AF Gen Eaker describes the mission of VIII BC as the destruction of carefully chosen strategic tgts in Europe.

8/1/42 USAMEAF During 1/2 Aug, B-24's hit convoy in Mediterranean, scoring 3 direct hits on a large merchant ship which last aircraft reports sinking. 1 B-24 is lost in crash-landing at base.

8/1/42 Fifth AF B-17's attack installations at Gona and shipping 75 mi E of Salamaua in Huon Gulf.

8/1/42 Eleventh AF Weather and photo rcn is flown by 1 B-24 and 1 LB-30 over Korovin Bay and North Cape.

8/2/42 Fifth AF 1 B-17 flies unsuccessful strike against cargo vessel 5 mi S of Salamaua while another bombs Gona.

8/3/42 Fifth AF P-40's strafe Oivi and Kokoda.

8/3/42 Eleventh AF 3 B-17's, 2 B-24's, and 1 LB-30 fly bombing and photo rcn mission to Tanaga and Kanaga and also bomb Kiska. 4 of the aircraft have mechanical trouble but all return.

8/4/42 USAMEAF B-24's strike convoy in Mediterranean during 4/5 Aug, claiming hits on 2 merchant ships.

8/4/42 Tenth AF P-40's sweep Japanese HQ at Linchwan and bomb HQ buildings and barracks and strafe transports.

8/4/42 Eleventh AF 1 LB-30 flies a photo mission and 2 B-17's and 3 B-24's covered by 8 P-38's escort Navy tenders to Nazan Bay. 2 4-engine seaplane bmrs and a possible third are downed near Atka by 2 of the P-38's, in their first aerial combat in any theater. Weather cancels bombing mission to Kiska.

8/5/42 Eighth AF VIII FC dispatches its first mission-11 aircraft of 31st Ftr Gp on a practice run over France.

8/5/42 USAMEAF Gen Brereton, in his first strategic estimate of the Middle Eastern war, indicates that the 3 major objectives for the Allied AFs are to assist in the destruction of Rommel's Afrika Korps by spt to ground troops, secure sea and air comm on and over the Mediterranean, and carry out a sustained air offensive against Italy and against oil installations at Ploesti and in the Caucasus, if the latter should fall under Axis control.

8/5/42 Tenth AF Japanese aircraft again attack US A/F at Kweilin. Notified well in adv by the Chinese warning net (previously set up under Gen Chennault while he was head of AVG), P-40's meet the Japanese over the tgt, shooting down 2, and another is downed by ground fire.

8/6/42 USAMEAF B-24's hit harbor at Tobruk.

8/6/42 Tenth AF B-25's bomb Tien Ho A/F, causing heavy damage to the runways and destroying several parked airplanes.

8/6/42 Fifth AF B-25's and B-26's pound A/Fs at Lae and Salamaua.

8/6/42 Eleventh AF 3 B-24's, 2 B-17's, and 10 P-38s. provide air coverage for Navy tenders to Nazan Bay. Photo rcn is flown over Attu.

8/7/42 USAMEAF Col Harry A Halverson relinquishes cmd of Hal Bomb Sq, to be succeeded by Lt Col George F McGuire.

8/7/42 Fifth AF 13 B-17's of 19th Bomb Gp, led by Lt Col Richard H Carmichael, hit Vunakanau A/F in coordination with Marine landings on Guadalcanal. B-26's attack Lae, and a B-17 and a B-25 each attack a submarine in Gulf of Papua.

8/7/42 SOPAC First Marine Div invades Guadalcanal.

8/7/42 Eleventh AF 3 B-24's dispatched to bomb Kiska return with their bombs due to solid overcast. 4 more B-24's also depart for Kiska. 1 turns back with mechanical trouble, the others abort mission over tgt due to undercast.

1 B-24, 4 P-38's and an LB-30 fly 2 air coverage missions at Nazan Bay for Navy tenders.

8/8/42 Tenth AF B-25's hit Canton area, bombing Tien Ho A/F and other tgts in the vicinity and claiming 2 interceptors shot down.

8/8/42 Fifth AF P-400's dive-bomb Kokoda and Yodda. B-17's, B-25's and B-26's bomb runways and T/Os at Lae and Salamaua.

8/8/42 SOPAC From this date through 23 Aug, B-17's fly search mission covering the lower Solomons in order to detect any attempt to make surprise attack on the forces consolidating the Guadalcanal beachhead.

8/8/42 Eleventh AF 1 LB-30, 3 B-24's, and 8 P-38's on photo and bombing missions over Kiska cannot attack but Navy Catalinas also operating over and off Kiska hit freighters and transport, claiming 1 transport sinking, and score many hits on North Head and Main Camp.

8/9/42 Tenth AF P-40's of the 23d Gp continue to spt Chinese ground forces by harassing the Japanese at Linchwan.

4 B-25's and 3 P-40's from Kweilin-Hengyang area, staging through Nanning, bomb docks and warehouses at Haiphong, causing considerable damage and claiming a freighter sunk in the harbor; this is first CATF raid over Indochina.

8/9/42 Fifth AF B-17's bomb shipping and A/Fs at Rabaul and Gasmata while B-26's hit harbor area at Salamaua.

8/9/42 Eleventh AF 6 bmrs fly armed rcn over Kiska and Attu and hit Kiska.

8/10/42 Tenth AF B-25's bomb Hankow. Afterwards the P-40 escorts, led by Col Robert L Scott, strike ammo dumps and military warehouses at Sienning, causing heavy destruction of material which the Japanese have accumulated to use against Hengyang and other US bases in C China.

8/10/42 Eleventh AF 5 B-17's and 3 B-24's bomb Kiska tgts. Ftrs and AA down 1 B-24. Only its pilot is saved.

8/11/42 Eighth AF Referring to TORCH, Gen Spaatz informs Gen Arnold that, in his opinion, UK remains the only base from which air supremacy over Germany can be established.

8/11/42 Tenth AF P-40's hit A/Fs at Yoyang and Nanchang from which the enemy has been attacking Hengyang.

8/11/42 Eleventh AF 1 B-24 flies photo rcn over W Semichi Is and N Attu coast.

8/12/42 International Churchill and British COS, along with Harriman of US, arrive in Moscow for conference with Stalin.

Stalin is told about plan for TORCH. Talks, which end on 16 Aug, also include discussion of Second Front in Europe.

8/12/42 Eighth AF 31st Ftr Gp at Westhampnett is declared fully operational and ready for combat operations under RAF control until it gains enough experience to be able to fight as a group. This is first US ftr unit in UK to reach this operational status.

8/12/42 Fifth AF B-17's bomb shipping at Rabaul, scoring damaging hits on 3 vessels.

8/12/42 Eleventh AF 1 B-24 flies photo rcn over Amlia and Atka.

8/13/42 Fifth AF Convoy, headed toward Basabua near Gona, with 3,000 construction troops, is attacked first by B-17's 76 mi NE of Gona, followed by B-26's 20-25 mi N of Gona, and another B-17 attack as the convoy approaches landing position. Japanese ground forces attack at Deniki, driving Allied forces back about 5 mi and firmly securing Buna-Kokoda trail.

8/13/42 Eleventh AF 1 B-24 flies photo rcn over Kiska.

8/14/42 Iceland 2d Lt Joseph D Shaffer (33d Ftr Sq) and 2d Lt Elza E Shahan (27th Ftr Sq) jointly shoot down FW- 200 off coast of Iceland. This is first aerial victory of AAF in ETO.

8/15/42 USAMEAF B-24's bomb Tobruk harbor during 14/15 Aug.

8/15/42 Fifth AF B-17's attack shipping off Gona.

8/15/42 Eleventh AF A B-24 trying to fly photo rcn over Tanaga and Adak aborts over Kiska due to weather.

8/15/42 ZI AAF Foreign Serv Concentration Cmd is redesignated I Concentration Cmd.

8/16/42 USAMEAF Personnel strength is greatly increased and supply and maintenance prospects are much improved by arrival of ground echelons of 57th Ftr, 12th and 98th Bomb, and 323d Serv Gps.

8/16/42 Eleventh AF A B-24 aborts photo rcn flight over Adak because of mechanical failure.

8/17/42 Eighth AF 12 B-17's of 97th Bomb Gp, escorted by Spitfires, launch first AAF HB attack from UK against W Europe. Tgt is Rouen-Sotteville M/Y. Sgt Kent R West shoots down German ftr, thus becoming the first Eighth AF gunner to receive credit for a combat kill. VIII GASC opens its HQ at Membury.

8/17/42 USAMEAF HQ USAMEAF announces designation of Gen Strickland as CG IX FC. B-25's of 81st Bomb Sq hit stores, depot and tank repair shops at Matruh. This marks debut of the MPs of the 12th Bomb Gp in ME.

8/17/42 Fifth AF A single B-17 bomb's Kavieng.

8/17/42 Eleventh AF 1 B-24 flies photo rcn over Buldir, Kiska and Amchitka Is despite heavy rain.

8/18/42 Middle East Gen Alexander assumes cmd of British imperial forces in ME.

8/18/42 Tenth AF Gen Bissell becomes CG Tenth AF, relieving Gen Naiden who now devotes full time to cmd of India- China Ferry Cmd.

8/18/42 Fifth AF For second consecutive day a single B-17 attacks Kavieng bombs fall in A/F dispersal area.

8/18/42 Eleventh AF A B-24 takes oblique of Amchitka and Tanaga. Heavy fog over Kiska and Attu preclude armed rcn.

8/19/42 Eighth AF 22 B-17's drop 34 tons of bombs on Abbeville/Drucat A/F causing extensive damage. This mission is flown to occupy enemy ftrs 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 Ftr Sq, 31st Ftr Gp, flying a Spitfire in spt of the amphibious raid on Dieppe, shoots down a German ftr. this being the first aerial victory won by an Eighth AF ftr pilot flying from the UK.

8/19/42 Fifth AF B-17's bomb shipping at Faisi on Shortland I.

8/19/42 Eleventh AF Mechanical failure prevents a B-24 from flying rcn over Tanaga.

8/20/42 Eighth AF Principle of coordinated day and night bombing receive its first formal definition in 'Joint British/American Directive on Day Bomber Operations involving Fighter Cooperation.' Emphasis is placed on achieving continuity in bombing offensive from UK. 11 HBs attack Longeau M/Y at Amiens, a vital point in the traffic flow between France and Germany.

8/20/42 Eleventh AF 1 B-24 flies photo rcn over Kiska. Patrol is flown over Shumagin I.

8/20/42 ZI Twelfth AF is activated at Bolling Field.

8/21/42 Eighth AF At Gen Arnold's request, Gen Eisenhower gives Gen Spaatz additional duties as Air Officer for ETOUSA and head of the air section of its staff, thus assuring active participation by Eighth AF in theater planning. 12 airplanes are dispatched to bomb shipyards at Rotterdam, but mission is aborted due to attack by 25 Me-109's and FW-190's. Lack of proper coordination with Spitfire escort is major factor in failure of mission.

8/21/42 USAMEAF B-24's from 2 sqs hit convoy SW of Crete, claiming 2 ships probably sunk. Ftrs attack straggling B-24 and force it to crash-land at sea.

8/21/42 Eleventh AF 1 B-24 trying to fly rcn over Kiska aborts due to weather.

8/22/42 USAMEAF B-25's hit tank and motor repair shop and storage dumps at Matruh. A B-25 is mistakenly shot down by an RAF Beaufighter.

8/22/42 Fifth AF B-17's bomb A/Fs at Lae and Rabaul.

8/22/42 SOPAC First AAF airplanes, 5 P-400's of 67th Ftr Sq, arrive at Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, joining Marine aircraft which arrived earlier. These P-400's, which operate under control of Marine Aircraft Wing One, prove no match for Japanese Zeros or bmrs at high altitudes.

8/22/42 Eleventh AF Photo rcn mission over Kiska is aborted due to overcast.

8/22/42 Sixth AF German sub, U-654, is sunk o Panama, 12-00N 79-56W, by aircraft of 45th Bomb Sq.

8/22/42 ZI XII AFSC is activated at MacDill Field, under Maj John L Cheesebrough.

8/23/42 Fifth AF A lone B-17 bombs Buka I.

8/23/42 Eleventh AF Fog cancels photo mission.

8/24/42 Eighth AF 12 HBs hit the shipyard of Ateliers et Chantiers Maritime de la Seine at Le Trait. Gen Spaatz reports RAF attitude towards US daylight precision bombing seems to be changing from one of skepticism to one of tentative approval.

8/24/42 USAMEAF B-24's attack Tobruk harbor.

8/24/42 Fifth AF B-17's hit town of Gasmata and A/Fs at Rabaul. Japanese amphibious forces leave Buna in barges and New Ireland in transports, heading for Milne Bay. Barges are detected by Australian coast-watcher during the afternoon.

8/24/42 SOPAC In the Battle of the Eastern Solomons, 7 B-17's and USN dive and torpedo-bmrs from the Enterprise and Saratoga attack a TF covering a transport formation heading for Guadalcanal; Navy airplanes sink the carrier Ryujo. During the night 4 warships shell the airstrip on Guadalcanal.

8/24/42 Eleventh AF 404th Bomb Sq begins to operate from Umnak. Photo rcn sortie is canceled due to overcast.

8/24/42 ZI XII FC is assigned to Twelfth AF.

8/25/42 Eighth AF Units of Prov TCC, organized in UK on 31 Jul pending arrival of VIII TCC, are transferred to VIII GASC after plans to organize VIII TCC have been abandoned.

8/25/42 USAMEAF B-25's bomb shipping and landing grounds. B-24's attack Corinth Canal.

8/25/42 Fifth AF Amphibious forces bound for Milne Bay from Buna are stranded on Goodenough I when P-40's from Milne Bay destroy all of their beached barges. P-40's also attack a convoy proceeding from New Ireland toward Milne Bay but are hampered by bad weather and fail to halt landings at 3 points E of Rabi during 25/26 Aug. P-400's hit A/F and AA positions at Buna.

8/25/42 SOPAC The invasion force sailing toward Guadalcanal (see 24 Aug) is hit hard by Marine dive bmrs 125 mi from the island at 0835. B-17's from Espiritu Santo sink the destroyer Mutsuki as it is attempting to sink the damaged transport Kinyru Maru. By noon the force is heading N in retreat. The enemy has lost about 90 aircraft in the battle.

8/25/42 Eleventh AF Photo rcn airplane flies over Kiska, Attu, and Adak, then turns back because of mechanical failure.

8/26/42 USSR Russians make 7 counterattacks NWof Stalingrad.

8/26/42 Tenth AF B-25's, which have moved temporarily from C China to Yunnani, bomb Lashio, an important rail center, highway junction, and air base. Covering P-40's strafe numerous T/Os and shoot down at least 2 ftrs.

8/26/42 Fifth AF P-40's, B-25's, B-26's, and B-17's, plus RAAF Hudsons, pound forces in Milne Bay. A large transport is damaged and most of the supplies on the beachheads E of Rabi are destroyed. P-400's strafe A/F at Buna.

8/26/42 Eleventh AF Photo mission aborted over Atka due to weather.

8/27/42 Eighth AF 7 HBs attack Wilton shipyards on outskirts of Rotterdam. These yards, the most modern in the Netherlands, are fully employed by the Germans for servicing vessels. 92d Bomb Gp completes nonstop flight of the last of its 4 sqs from Newfoundland to UK without a loss. A CCRC, the first in Eighth AF, is established at Bovingdon.

8/27/42 USAMEAF B-24's bomb a convoy, hitting 1 merchant ship which is reported sinking.

8/27/42 Fifth AF B-26's and P-400's bomb A/F at Buna while P-40's strafe beachhead and fuel dumps at Milne Bay.

8/27/42 Eleventh AF 4 B-17's, 6 B-24's, and 2 P-38's fly weather, rcn and patrol missions over Kiska and Atka. Enemy begins to transfer Attu garrison to Kiska, which is completed on 16 Sep 42.

8/28/42 Eighth AF 11 B-17's bomb airplane factory of Avions Potez at Meaulte, an important repair depot for German ftrs.

8/28/42 USAMEAF 2 B-24 sqs bomb docks, shipping, and jetties in Tobruk harbor.

8/28/42 Tenth AF 8 B-25's hit barracks and ammo dumps at Hoang Su Phi and a fuel dump at Phu Lo. This is the largest force of MBs used by CATF to date, and the first MB mission flown without escort.

8/28/42 Fifth AF B-26's pound forces at Milne Bay.

8/28/42 Eleventh AF Of 3 B-17's bombing Kiska, 1 fails to return. All available B-24's and 2 flts of P-38's fly naval cover at Nazan Bay. An attack mission to Attu is canceled due to weather.

8/28/42 ZI Lt Col Harold L Neely takes cmd of Twelfth AF.

8/29/42 Eighth AF 12 B-17's attack Courtrai/Wevelghem A/F, an FW-190 base.

8/29/42 USAMEAF B-24's fail to locate shipping near Crete and return without bombing. B-25's bomb landing ground during 29/30 Aug.

8/29/42 Tenth AF B-25's pound Lashio, scoring numerous hits on the airport and starting 3 large fires in warehouse area SE of the city.

8/29/42 Fifth AF B-26's and P-400's hit A/F at Buna; B-17's pound A/F at Rabaul, and P-40's hit facilities in Milne Ray area as enemy ground forces continue drive over the Owen Stanley Range toward Port Moresby.

8/29/42 Eleventh AF A Navy Catalina reports force of 3 cruisers and 4 destroyed s NW of Umnak. Thereupon all aircraft of the Eleventh go on attack alert. Surface force then identifies itself as friendly.

8/30/42 USAMEAF B-24's bomb docks and jetties in Tobruk Harbor.

8/30/42 Tenth AF Myitkyina, northernmost Japanese supply depot and A/F in Burma, from which ftrs could hit Dinjan (terminus of Assam-Burma Ferry), is bombed for first time by 8 China-based B-25's.

8/30/42 Fifth AF B-17's attack shipping in Saint George Channel.

8/30/42 Eleventh AF US troops occupy Kuluk Bay, amidst a terrific storm and start building a runway. 5 B-24's photograph Kiska but do not bomb due to overcast, and then fly patrol and photo rcn over Amchitka and Tanaga.

P-38's fly patrol between Great Sitkin and Little Tanaga.

8/31/42 Twelfth AF XII BC is assigned to Twelfth AF with HQ at High Wycombe.

8/31/42 USAMEAF B-25's attack aircraft on a landing ground, and B-24's raid harbor at Tobruk. P-40's of 66th Ftr Sq, 57th Gp, escort RAF bmrs during raid on Maryut. B-25's, in conjunction with RAF Bostons, attack troop concentrations and military vehicles as battle of Alam-el-Halfa begins along the El Alamein line.

8/31/42 Tenth AF MBs from China bomb Myitkyina for second consecutive day.

8/31/42 Fifth AF B-26's and A-20's bomb AF at Lae; B-17's bomb ammunition dump at Buna; P-400's strafe positions at Wairopi; and P-40's bomb landing barges and strafe gun positions in Milne Bay area where Australian ground forces now take the offensive.

8/31/42 Eleventh AF Of 2 B-24's flying weather, rcn and patrol missions over Tanaga, 1 returns due to weather.

9/1/42 USAMEAF B-24's attack harbor at Candia, Crete, scoring several direct hits on 1 vessel and hitting 2 others. 2 sqs of 57th Ftr Gp fly escort missions and sweeps with AF. B-25's, in conjunction with RAF Lbs, hit trucks and tanks in battle area of Alam-el-Halfa.

9/1/42 Fifth AF P-40's hit Japanese HQ at Wagga Wagga on Milne Bay while P-400's strafe Kokoda and Kokoda Pass in the Owen Stanley Range. Australian ground forces continue slow retreat over the range but make progress in Milne Bay offensive.

9/1/42 Eleventh AF US forces complete occupation of Adak.

9/2/42 Twelfth AF Col Claude E Duncan becomes CO XII BC.

9/2/42 USAMEAF B-24's hit docks and jetties at Tobruk harbor. B-25's bomb aircraft and landing ground and, with RAF, attack troops and vehicles in battle area around Alam-el-Halfa ridge. P-40's fly escort and sweep missions over battle area in conjunction with RAF.

9/2/42 Tenth AF P-40's hit barges and junks carrying rice in the Poyang Bake region, strafe HQ and runways at Nanchang A/F, attack railroad stations and warehouses at Hua Yuan, and sink a launch, damage 4 junks, and wreck a train on Wuchang Peninsula.

9/2/42 Fifth AF P-400's bomb and strafe forces in Kokoda and Alola areas as Japanese continue to push toward Port Moresby.

9/2/42 SOPAC The mission of the 67th Ftr Sq P-400's on Guadalcanal is shifted from air def to close spt for Marine ground forces and attacks on shipping, tasks for which they are better suited.

9/2/42 Eleventh AF 6 bmrs and 12 P-38's fly cover and photo rcn over Nazan and Kuluk Bays, and Amchitka and Semisopochnoi Is.

9/3/42 USAMEAF B-24's attack convoy at sea. B-25's hit troop concentrations, vehicles, and A/F installations in battle area of Alam-el-Halfa and behind enemy lines. P-40's, mostly operating with RAF, escort bmrs and engage ftrs in combat, claiming at least 1 shot down.

9/3/42 Tenth AF 1 B-25 dumps bombs and pamphlets on Hanoi in first US raid against that city. Munitions, supplies, and several parked aircraft are destroyed or damaged. 9 interceptors pursue the MB for about 30 mi but fail to make contact. For the next 3 weeks, bad weather and inaccurate Chinese weather forecasts severely limit bmr operations.

9/3/42 Fifth AF Gen Kenney assumes cmd of Fifth AF in Brisbane, where the Fifth's HQ is remanned. Gen Kenney retains cmd of Allied AF. P-400's bomb and strafe Kokoda Pass area, hitting A/F at Kokoda and in the vicinity of Alola, Isurava, and Missima. B-25's and A-20's pound Mubo-Busama-Salamaua area. A B- 17 strafes seaplanes at Faisi I.

9/3/42 Eleventh AF The 21st Bomb Gp arrives at Umnak. Of 6 bmrs and 5 P-38's off to bomb Kiska and flying air cover over Kuluk Bay, 5 bmrs and 3 ftrs 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 ftrs which reach the tgt area return from the 1,260 mi round trip with only 40 gals of fuel.

9/4/42 USAMEAF B-24's, in conjunction with RAF and RN, attack convoy at sea. 2 merchant ships are reported sunk and 1 left burning. B-25's and RAF Bostons, repelling counterattacks during Alam-el-Halfa battle, hit troop concentrations and vehicles, while P-40's, operating with RAF, escort bmrs and engage in combat over battle area, claiming 1 ftr destroyed.

9/4/42 Fifth AF P-40's bomb and strafe forces in Milne Bay area at Goroni, Wagga Wagga, Ahioma, and N of Lilihoa.

Australian ground forces pushing E along Milne Bay reach Goroni; Japanese begin evacuation of the area.

9/4/42 Eleventh AF 2 bmrs and 1 P-38 bomb and patrol Nazan and Kuluk Bays, but bombing of Kiska is canceled due to weather.

9/5/42 Eighth AF Because of Gen Spaatz's convincing protests, Gen Eisenhower changes his mind concerning his recent orders to suspend Eighth AF operations from UK in order to devote total air effort to spt of Twelfth AF an the forth coming African campaign. Gen Eisenhower informs Gen Marshall that he considers air operations in UK and in Africa mutually complementary. 31 B-17's bomb the locomotive depot at Rouen-Sotteville M/Y. This is largest force of Eighth AF HBs to attack to date. Almost 1/5 of the HE bombs burst within the M/Y.

9/5/42 USAMEAF B-24's strike shipping and dock area in Candia Bay. P-40's escort RAF bmrs over battle area SE of Alam-el-Halfa ridge near Rayil Dayr Ar Depression as enemy offensive falters and is pushed back.

9/5/42 Fifth AF Gen Walker becomes CG V BC. P-400's strafe Kokoda, Kaile, Isurava, Alola, Buna, Sanananda, and Buna-Kokoda trail. A/F at Buna is strafed and bombed by P-400's and A-20's. As Japanese withdraw from Milne Bay area, Australian ground forces capture Wagga Wagga supply dump.

9/5/42 Eleventh AF 3 B-24's abort bombing of Kiska due to overcast.

9/6/42 USSR Germans announce capture of Novorossisk, key Soviet port on Black Sea since fall of Sevastopol.

9/6/42 Eighth AF 30 B-17's strike Avions Potez aircraft plant at Meaulte, while a smaller force bombs 2 A/Fs near Saint- Omer. 12 DB-7's attack Abbeville/Drucat A/F. 2 B-17's are shot down over Meaulte by ftrs, marking VIII BC's first loss of aircraft in combat.

9/6/42 USAMEAF P-40's fly offensive sweep over battle area near Rayil Dayr Ar Depression, claiming 3 Ju-87's shot down. P-40's also escort RAF bmrs and fly 2 interceptor missions.

9/6/42 Fifth AF P-400's, A-20's, and B-17's strafe and bomb positions, troops, and shipping at Myola, Mubo, Kokoda, Myola Lake, Eora Creek, and Milne Bay. Australian ground forces continue to clear enemy from Milne Bay area while Australian troops in the Owen Stanley Range fall back to vicinity of Efogi Spur beyond Gap Mountain here defensive positions already established.

9/6/42 Eleventh AF A B-24 flying patrol and armed rcn over Tanaga sinks a mine layer and strafes a tender as well as nearby tents and buildings.

9/7/42 Eighth AF 7 B-17's of 29 dispatched, ineffectively raid the Wilton shipyards at Rotterdam in bad weather. 2 HBs seek T/Os in vicinity of Utrecht. Heavy ftr opposition is successfully repulsed with bmr crews claiming 12 destroyed.

9/7/42 USAMEAF B-24's bomb convoys at sea, hit other shipping, and attack Maleme A/F and Suda Bay.

9/7/42 Fifth AF A-20's and P-400's .strafe and bomb positions at Myola Lake and Efogi in Owen Stanley Range. P- 40's and RAAF Hudsons, Beauforts, and Beaufighters attack cruiser and destroyer 17 mi ENE of Cape Karitahua. Organized Japanese resistance in Milne Bay sector ends.

9/7/42 Eleventh AF 3 B-24's patrol and bomb Kiska Harbor and camp area and also patrol Tanaga. They are attacked by 3 sea ftrs of which at least I is downed.

9/8/42 Eighth AF 'Joint British American Directive on Day Bomber Operations Involving Fighter Cooperation' is issued.

Worked out between Gen Spaatz and the RAF, it consigns night bombing to the RAF and day bombing to the Eighth AF. Purpose is to achieve continuity in the bombing offensive and secure RAF ftr spt for US bmrs. Gen Spatz orders all tac operations to give way to activity in spt of TORCH. Processing of units of newly created Twelfth AF destined for N Africa takes priority over combat operations for the present.

9/8/42 USAMEAF B-24's attack shipping and harbor at Suda Bay.

9/8/42 Fifth AF P-400's bomb and strafe Efogi area where Australian forces are hard pressed by the Japanese. B-17's and RAAF Hudsons attack cruisers and a destroyer N of the D'Entrecasteaux Is.

9/8/42 Eleventh AF 1 B-24 and 1 B-26 fly photo rcn over Agattu, Attu, and Kiska.

9/9/42 US Japanese airplane, launched from sub off coast, drops incendiary bomb on mountain slope near Brookings, causing small forest fire. This comprises total bombing of continental US by enemy aircraft during World War II.

9/9/42 AAF Gen Arnold submits to the CoS a plan (AWPD-42) estimating size of air force necessary to attain air ascendancy over the enemy and outlining suggestions for use of these forces in the several theaters.

This plan, which by 17 Nov has been approved by WD and the President, includes buildup of depleted Eighth AF in UK and contains the seeds of the CBO.

9/9/42 USAMEAF B-24's attack Tobruk harbor and shipping.

9/9/42 Fifth AF P-40's strafe Galaiwa Bay area on Goodenough I. A-20's, in spt of encircled Australian ground forces, strafe and bomb troops in Efogi Spur area.

9/9/42 Eleventh AF 1 B-26 patrols Tanaga and Adak.

9/10/42 Eleventh AF Weather, photo rcn, and patrol missions are flown during morning over Tanaga, Nazan Bay, Adak, and Amchitka. Poor weather is encountered at Kiska, Attu, and Agattu.

9/11/42 USAMEAF P-40's fly uneventful sweep with RAF during lull after Battle of Alam-el-Halfa.

9/11/42 Fifth AF A-20's and B-26's hit Efogi and Menari in the Owen Stanley Range and A/F at Buna. B-17's, along with RAAF Hudsons, attack 2 destroyers 20 mi E of Normanby I. A B-17 scores a direct hit on stern of the destroyer Yayoi, which later sinks.

9/11/42 SOPAC Island combat control gps are authorized for New Caledonia and Fiji. These units, under immediate control of COMGENSOP AC, are to take over local operational direction of ftr aircraft and all other units in the island combat team.

9/11/42 Eleventh AF 343d Ftr Gp, constituted on 3 Sep, is activated on this day and immediately begins to operate. It is composed of the 11th, 18th, 54th, and, ax of 10 Oct, 344th Ftr Sqs. A weather, photo, and patrol aircraft draw AA fire over Chichagof Harbor and also covers Tanaga, Amchitka, and Semichi.

9/12/42 Eighth AF HQ VIII AF Comp Cmd arrives in N Ireland and is temporarily stationed at Long Kesh. HQ 3d Bomb Wg arrives in UK and is established at Elveden Hall. HQ 4th Bomb Wg is established at High Wycombe but soon loses its personnel to XII BC and is not manned again until Jan 43. 4th Ftr Gp is activated in UK to be manned by US pilots who formerly flew with RAF Eagle Sqs.

9/12/42 Twelfth AF HQ of Twelfth AF, XII FC and XII AFSC arrive in UK.

9/12/42 USAMEAF P-40's fly 3 uneventful scramble missions along front-lines.

9/12/42 Fifth AF P-400's, B-26's, A-20's, and B-17's bomb A/F and strafe barges at Buna. P-40's strafe Gadaibai on Goodenough I. A B-17 strafes vessel in Bismarck Sea S of Kavieng.

9/12/42 Eleventh AF A weather and patrol rcn aircraft finds overcast at Kiska but takes photos over Tanaga, Kanaga, and Attu. The runway at Adak is completed.

9/13/42 USAMEAF During 13/14 Sep, B-24's attack Tobruk and shipping in Bengasi harbor while B-25's hit landing grounds SE of Matruh.

9/13/42 Fifth AF B-26's pound A/F at Lae. B-17's unsuccessfully attack cruiser SE of Rabaul. P-40's strafe buildings on Goodenough I.

9/13/42 Eleventh AF 14 B-24's of the 21st and 404th Bomb Sqs move up to Adak. I LB-30 and 2 P-38's fly photo rcn, antisub coverage and strafing mission over Kiska lakes and harbor. A tender in harbor is slightly damaged, 1 float ftr is downed. A P-38 is hit by AA fire and ftrs damage the LB-30.

9/14/42 Twelfth AF HQ of Twelfth AF, XII FC, XII AFSC, and XII BC are attached to corresponding units of Eighth AF in UK. The Eighth subsequently handles the buildup of the Twelfth by assigning a large number of its own units to the new AF (appropriately dubbed JUNIOR) and supervises its trg. The first increment of tac and serv units includes 2 HB gps, 3 MB gps, 1 LB gp, 4 ftr gps, 3 TC gps, and several engineer, signal, and serv units of varying sizes.

9/14/42 USAMEAF B-24's attack shipping at Suda Bay, setting 1 vessel afire, while other HBs hit Tobruk P-40's fly sweep with RAF over front-lines.

9/14/42 Fifth AF A single A-20 bombs ground forces and installations at Myola.

9/14/42 Eleventh AF In the first combined heavy mission over Kiska 13 B-24's, 1 B-17, 14 P-38's, and 14 P-39's fly low-altitude and photo runs. The P-39's shell 3 subs 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-38's are lost, colliding head-on while after a ftr.

9/15/42 USAMEAF 57th Gp is first ftr gp to arrive in Egypt from Palestine. A lone B-24 drops 1 bomb on tanker in Suda Bay. B-24's bomb behind enemy lines while P-40's, along with RAF, fly escort and carry out scramble missions over area W of El Alamein.

9/15/42 Fifth AF MBs hit Buna and Sanananda and attack camps at Efogi and Myola. B-17's bomb harbor and A/F at Rabaul. First US inf troops, elements of 32d Div, arrive at Port Moresby.

9/15/42 Eleventh AF 1 B-17 and 1 B-24 fly armed rcn over Kiska, and at Amchitka blast buildings in Constantine Harbor area. Ftrs strafe Kiska Camp area and down 4 intercepting aircraft.

9/16/42 Eighth AF VIII AFSC selects Honington and Watton as sites for BC adv depots. Site for FC awaits final settlement of question of location and mission of FC.

9/16/42 USAMEAF Gen Brereton is officially assigned to the ME as a result of pressure from Gen Bissell, new CG Tenth AF, for clarification of status of Brereton and other key staff officers and combat crews who had gone from India to ME in Jun and Jul 42.

9/16/42 Fifth AF B-17's bomb wharf and A/F at Rabaul and A/F at Gasmata. A lone B-17 attacks landing barges in Sanananda area while a single A-20 bombs and strafes positions at Nauro and Menari in Efogi area.

Japanese ground offensive toward Port Moresby comes to a halt at Ioribaiwa. Australians are entrenched on Imita Range where they are preparing a counteroffensive.

9/16/42 Eleventh AF Enemy completes transfer of Attu garrison to Kiska, begun on 27 Aug. 1 B-17 and 1 B-24 fly photo and rcn runs over Adak.

9/17/42 USAMEAF During 16/17 Sep, B-24's bomb Bengasi harbor. During the day, tgts for B-24's are in Greece: shipping in Pylos Bay and shipping and piers near Sphakia, and in Khalones and Pylos I. P-40's make offensive sweep with RAF over front lines.

9/17/42 Fifth AF B-17's, carrying out single-bmr attacks, bomb A/Fs at Rabaul and Lae, and hit a beached cargo vessel at Salamaua. P-400's, P-40's, and P-39's strafe and bomb landing barges at Buna and Sanananda Pt.

Japanese ground forces, halted within sight of Port Moresby, are unable to attack without reinforcements and supplies, neither of which is available.

9/17/42 Twelfth AF XII GASC is activated at Birmingham, Ala. The only Twelfth AF cmd to be completely organized in US, it eventually will proceed directly to N Africa as part of WTF.

9/18/42 Eighth AF VIII GASC is redesignated VIII A Spt Cmd.

9/18/42 Twelfth AF 12 British units- signal, observer, radar, and air warning-are attached to XII FC in UK. Col Rosenham R Beam becomes CO XII GASC.

9/18/42 Fifth AF 1 B-17 bombs Salamaua while a B-25 strafes pack trains on Kokoda trail in Andemba-Wairopi-Kokoda area.

9/19/42 USAMEAF B-24's bomb Pylos Bay area, Pylos I and Khalones during 19/20 Sep.

9/19/42 Tenth AF B-25's strike Lungling. The raid is ineffective due to bad weather but results in discovery of much Japanese activity which further rcn reveals as part of heavy movement of enemy and supplies along Burma Road toward Salween front.

9/19/42 Fifth AF A-20's and B-26's strafe and bomb A/F at Lae. B-17's attack cargo vessels near Umboi (Rooke) I.

Whaling vessel is strafed by ftrs off Goodenough I.

9/20/42 Fifth AF In Owen Stanley Range, A-20's bomb and strafe troops and installations at Sangara, Arehe, and along the Popondetta-Andemba road, and P-40's strafe A/F at Kokoda, bridges on trail near Wairopi, and troops at Myola, Efogi, and Kagi.

9/20/42 SOPAC Adm Fitch becomes COMAIRSOPAC.

9/21/42 Fifth AF P-40's bomb and strafe bridges and T/Os along Buna-Kokoda trail.

9/21/42 Eleventh AF The 21st Bomb Sq begins to operate from Adak. Bmrs fly rcn over Kiska and bomb and fire Constantine Harbor installations at Amchitka.

9/22/42 Twelfth AF Gen Cannon takes cmd of XII GASC.

9/22/42 USAMEAF B-24's bomb shipping in Bengasi harbor. Direct hits are made on 1 large vessel while a smaller vessel and other tgts receive lesser hits.

9/22/42 Fifth AF A-20's bomb and strafe occupied areas at Menari, Efogi, Nauro, Yodda, and Kokoda. P-40's strafe AA positions, huts, and barges at Buna and Salamaua and bomb and strafe Wairopi bridge, strafe buildings at Yodda, A/F at Buna, and AA positions and other tgts along Buna-Kokoda trail. 1 B-25 bombs N end of Buna A/F and coastal end of Sanananda track. B-17's bomb A/F and shipping at Rabaul.

9/22/42 Eleventh AF 9 B-24's, 2 B-17's, and 1 LB-30, accompanied by 15 P-39's and 20 P-40's, abort Kiska bombing mission due to weather. Photo rcn suggests that Chichagof Harbor is abandoned.

9/23/42 Twelfth AF Gen Doolittle assumes cmd of Twelfth AF in Great Britain.

9/23/42 Fifth AF P-40's, P-39's, P-400's, and B-17's hit tanks, buildings, and A/F at Buna, Wairopi bridge and T/Os on Buna-Kokoda trail, and Taupota Mission near Goodenough Bay.

9/23/42 SOPAC 72d Bomb Sq (B-17's) of 5th Bomb Gp joins 11th Bomb Gp on Espiritu Santo.

9/23/42 Seventh AF Movement of 72d Bomb Sq to SOPAC, plus subsequent movement of other sqs of 5th Bomb Gp to SOPAC, makes it difficult for some time to maintain the minimum force of 35 HBs considered necessary for def of the Hawaiian Is. This situation is relieved by 90th Bomb Gp, which stops in Hawaii while en route to SWPA, and by 307th Bomb Gp, which is assigned to Seventh AF for a time.

9/23/42 Eleventh AF Weather causes mission abort to Kiska. Photo rcn over Attu confirms abandonment by enemy. A Navy PBY escorted by 2 P-38's lands off Amchitka with a scouting party which determines that the island is unsuited as an A/F. The P-38's also bomb a radio shack and sink a submarine at Amchitka.

9/24/42 Twelfth AF XII GASC is redesignated XII A Spt Cmd.

9/24/42 Fifth AF B-17's bomb shipping at Rabaul. P-40's and A-20's hit Mubo while B-17's bomb wrecked vessel at Gona. P-40's hit A/F at Kokoda and tgts along Kokoda-Wairopi trail, including bridge at Wairopi.

9/24/42 Eleventh AF 3 B-24's bomb Main Camp, storage dumps, and dock areas, starting several fires.

9/25/42 USAMEAF B-24's fail to locate shipping convoy S of Crete and return without bombing. Other B-24's bomb Bengasi.

9/25/42 Tenth AF 4 B-25's, with escort of 10 P-40's, attack Hanoi. The strike force is intercepted by 10 ftrs but the MBs place several bombs on the runway at Gia Lam A/F. The P-40's claim at least 9 ftrs shot down. CATF bmrs fly 11 missions during remainder of Sep and early Oct to spt Chinese ground forces attempting to hold the Japanese on W bank of the Salween.

9/25/42 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.

9/25/42 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 tgts 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.

9/26/42 Eighth AF Approximately 75 HBs are dispatched to attack Cherbourg, Maupertus and Morlaix/Poryeau A/Fs and to execute diversionary sweeps. All bmrs return without bombing their tgts due to adverse weather.

9/26/42 USAMEAF B-24's of 3 sqs sent on shipping strikes fail to locate tgts.

9/26/42 Tenth AF 4 B-25's devastate village of Luchiangpa in SW China.

9/26/42 Fifth AF A-20's bomb and strafe forces N of Ioribaiwa and along Efogi-Menari trail in spt of Australian counteroffensive in Papua. A B-17, along with RAAF airplanes, bombs A/F at Buna. B-17's strike shipping and A F at Rabaul.

9/26/42 Eleventh AF 1 destroyer and 1 freighter are bombed at 53-30N 174-20E. 2 near misses are scored on the freighter.

9/27/42 Twelfth AF Following a series of cmd changes between 16 and 27 Sep, Col Thomas W Blackburn becomes CO XII FC. WD assigns to XII A Spt Cmd the units which are to constitute its force for the invasion of N Africa, a ftr wg (2 gps), a bomb wg (1 LB gp and 1 obs gp), and 10 signal, serv, and engineer units of various sizes.

9/27/42 USAMEAF B-24's are dispatched to attack an 8,000-ton vessel at Bengasi. No bombs hit tgt but several straddle a jetty in the harbor.

9/27/42 Tenth AF 4 B-25's over SW China blast Mengshih, claiming about 30 trucks and 400 troops destroyed. The MBs also bomb Tengchung, leaving it aflame. 3 flights of P-40's strafe T/Os along Burma Road, claiming 15 trucks destroyed and 5 barracks groups damaged.

9/27/42 Fifth AF A-20's continue to pound forces N of Ioribaiwa in area between Kagi and Efogi and in Myola and Menari areas. Japanese abandon Ioribaiwa Ridge and are in full retreat under heavy pressure from Australian ground forces.

9/27/42 Eleventh AF Shore and harbor areas of Kiska are bombed: 8 B-24's and 1 B-17, escorted by 1 P-38, 13 P-39's and 4 P-40's take off first, and are followed by 6 unescorted B-24's. Weather turns back 13 of the ftrs. An LB-30 flies photo-weather rcn over Attu, Buldir, the Semichis, Agattu, and Amchitka.

9/28/42 Fifth AF P-40's and P-400's bomb and strafe Wairopi bridge, village of Kagi, Myola Lake area, and T/Os along Buna-Kokoda trail. 1 B-17 bombs A/F at Lae. Main body of 126th Inf, US 32d Div, arrives at Port Moresby and is assigned to New Guinea Force to join Australian adv on Wairopi.

9/28/42 Eleventh AF 2 bombing missions are flown to Kiska and Attu by 7 B-24's, 1 B-17, and 1 LB-30, escorted by 17 ftrs.

Installations on Kiska and a freighter nearby are bombed. 1 of the B-24's and the LB-30 bomb village and Chichagof Harbor on Attu and on returning silence AA guns on a freighter. 5 float-planes are shot down, and 1 submarine is sunk. 1 P-39 is shot down.

9/29/42 Eighth AF US pilots who had been members of 3 RAF Eagle Sqs are taken over by VIII FC and organized into 4th Ftr Gp.

9/29/42 USAMEAF B-24's hit harbor installations at Suda Bay. P-40's fly offensive sweep over battle area, and carry out interception mission against Stukas over front-line near 11 Alamein.

9/29/42 Fifth AF B-17's bomb AA positions at Buna and A/F at Salamaua. A single A-20 bombs Menari area.

9/29/42 Eleventh AF Morning armed rcn mission is flown by an LB-30 over Semichis and Attu. It strafes a ship at Attu. 3 B- 24's bomb and strafe sea transport, scoring no hits.

9/30/42 Twelfth AF Gen Dunton assumes cmd of XII AFSC.

9/30/42 Fifth AF B-17's, A-20's, and P-40's pound occupied areas at Menari, Myola Lake, Kagi, and Efogi and bridge at Wairopi.

9/30/42 Eleventh AF Of 9 B-24's off to bomb Kiska and Attu, 2 turn back. The others blast Attu Camp area, and at Kiska Harbor score at least 1 direct hit and near misses on a ship. 8 ftrs intercept over Kiska and Little Kiska but inflict no losses.

10/1/42 USAMEAF B-24's bomb shipping in Pylos Bay, claiming 2 direct hits and several near misses on a large vessel.

Other B-24's dispatched to bomb convoy at sea fail to find tgt.

10/1/42 Fifth AF B-17's and P-400's pound forces and comm in Owen Stanley Range, hitting Menari, Kagi; Myola Lake, Kokoda area, Wairopi bridge, and Buna-Wairopi trail.

10/1/42 Eleventh AF A Japanese rcn airplane over Adak establishes US occupation on the island. 7 B-24's on a searchattack and photo rcn mission over Kiska hit hangars and ramps, starting several fires. 4 ftrs appear and are engaged. 1 probable victory is claimed. 2 other B-24's take off, after Navy Catalinas contact transport, but cannot locate it.

10/2/42 Eighth AF Avions Potez aircraft factory at Meaulte is bombed by 30 B-17's. A small group attacks Saint- Omer/Longuenesse A/F. Some 400 ftr escorts provide cover which is frequently penetrated by German ftrs. The B-17's show remarkable defensive strength.

10/2/42 Fifth AF In Owen Stanley Range, A-20's bomb and strafe Japanese campsites around Myola and hit several trails in the area, while P-400's strafe bridges at Sirorata and Wairopi and village NE of Wairopi. B- 17's bomb shipping and A/F at Rabaul.

10/2/42 Sixth AF German sub, U-512, is sunk off French Guiana, 06-50N, 52-25W, by aircraft of 99th Bomb Sq.

10/2/42 Eleventh AF 11 B-24's and 6 P-39's bomb 2 cargo ships at Kiska Harbor (no hits observed) drop demolition charges throughout Main Camp area, and hit hangar S of seaplane ramp. 4 float-planes and 1 biplane are shot down. Enemy aircraft bomb Adak A/F without inflicting damage.

10/3/42 USAMEAF B-24's attack shipping in Pylos Bay during 3/4 Oct. The HBs claim 2 ftrs shot down.

10/3/42 Tenth AF IATF is activated at Dinjan to spt Chinese resistance along Salween R by hitting supply lines in C and S Burma. The new task force, cmd by Col Caleb V Haynes, includes all AAF combat units in India- the 7th and 341st Bomb and 51st Ftr Gps.

10/3/42 Fifth AF A-20's bomb and strafe Efogi and Myola Lake, P-40's strafe Efogi-Buna trail, B-25's hit bridge at Wairopi, and a lone B-17 bombs camp on Kumusi R.

10/3/42 Eleventh AF 6 B-24's, 4 P-38's, and 8 P-39's bomb and strafe 7 vessels in and around Kiska Harbor hitting a beached cargo vessel and the camp. The ftrs down 6 float ftrs attempting interception. Enemy bombs Adak A/F but inflicts no damage.

10/4/42 Fifth AF P-40's strafe forces and occupied areas at Myola Lake, Kokoda, Wairopi, Yodda, and Buna. US rcn party from 126th Inf, 32d Div reaches Jauri, completing rcn of Kapa Kapa-Jauri trail, which is found to be difficult but practicable for use as a route in contemplated offensive against Buna-Gona area.

10/4/42 Eleventh AF 3 B-24's abort weather, bombing and photo missions over Kiska due to weather and instead attack a cargo vessel. Ship's rudder is probably damaged. 1 B-24 is damaged.

10/5/42 Fifth AF B-25's attack convoy off Buna; A-20's hit AA positions at Sanananda Pt and bomb village of Sanananda; B-17's bomb A/Fs at Buna and also hit Rabaul A/Fs.

10/5/42 Eleventh AF 6 B-24's, 3 P-38's and 3 P-39's abort a bombing, weather, and photo mission over Kiska due to weather.

10/6/42 USAMEAF B-24's hit Bengasi harbor, scoring large number of near misses but no direct hits. 1 HB bombs Bardia during return flight. AA is heavy and accurate and ftrs attack 6 HBs over tgt. 2 B-24's are lost.

10/6/42 Fifth AF Fifth AF aircraft complete movement of reinforced Australian 18th Brig to Wanigela on peninsula between Dyke Acland and Collingwood Bays on E coast of Papua. This is part of move aimed at capture of Buna-Gona area.

10/6/42 Eleventh AF 8 B-24's, 1 B-17, 10 P-39's, and 8 P-38's fly bombing and weather missions over Kiska. A large transport is bombed in the harbor which is left sinking. Hits are scored on a corvette and on a large freighter at Gertrude Cove and on a hangar in Main Camp. The radio station is damaged. A float ftr is strafed and set afire, and 6 Zeros are hit on the water.

10/7/42 USAMEAF B-24's score 7 direct hits on a tanker and 8 on fuel installations at Suda Bay. 66 P-40's escort bmrs over battle area W of El Alamein.

10/7/42 Eleventh AF 3 B-24's taking off to bomb Kiska and patrol Near Is abort mission due to mechanical failure and instead fly rcn over Agattu, Attu, and Semichi Is with negative results.

10/8/42 USSR German High Cmd abandons attempt to storm Stalingrad; announces plans to take city by arty siege.

10/8/42 Eighth AF In letter to Gen Stratemeyer, Gen 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.

10/8/42 USAMEAF B-24's of 343d and 344th Sqs, 98th Bomb Gp, fail to reach tgt at Bengasi because of bad weather.

Hal Bomb Sq manages to attack shipping at Bengasi.

10/8/42 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.

10/8/42 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.

10/9/42 Eighth AF B-24's join air assault in first US mission in which more than 100 bmrs are dispatched from UK. The principal tgts 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 tgts attacked (by 10 HBs) are Courtrai/Wevelghem and Saint-Omer A/Fs and the city of Roubaix.

10/9/42 USAMEAF 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.

10/9/42 Fifth AF 14 B-25's hit A/F at Lae. 30 B-17's pound numerous tgts at Rabaul.

10/9/42 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. Tgts 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.

10/10/42 USAMEAF B-24's bomb shipping and dock area at Bengasi, while B-25's hit landing grounds.

10/10/42 Fifth AF B-17's pound Rabaul and nearby Lakunai A/F. A-20's hit tgt along Buna-Kokoda trail and, with P- 400's, strike villages in area of Asisi and Sanananda.

10/10/42 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.

10/11/42 USAMEAF B-24's attack convoy in the Mediterranean, hitting 1 vessel and claiming 1 ftr shot down.

10/11/42 SOPAC B-17's sight TF 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.

10/11/42 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 tgts and Main Camp.

10/12/42 Eighth AF VIII FC is made responsible for preparation and movement of air echelons of Twelfth AF from UK to N Africa.

10/12/42 USAMEAF BC 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.

10/12/42 Fifth AF A-20's hit village of Isivita and tgts on trail near Wairopi. B-25's bomb Buna, Wairopi bridge, and tgts along Buna-Kokoda trail.

10/12/42 SOPAC 5 B-17's bomb installations at Buka.

10/12/42 Eleventh AF 2 B-24's abort bombing of Kiska due to overcast and instead fly shipping search W of Attu.

10/13/42 USAMEAF P-40's fly ftr sweep, patrol, and interception missions W of El Alamein. Ftrs claim 2 Me-109's destroyed and 1 damaged.

10/13/42 Fifth AF B-17's again pound Rabaul, concentrating on Vunakanau and Lakunai A/Fs. A B-17 bombs Buna.

10/13/42 SOPAC 6 B-17's bomb Buka and Tonolai. Japanese aircraft from Rabaul pound Henderson Field during the day and hit troops of the American Div disembarking at Lunga Pt. Arty 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.

10/13/42 Eleventh AF A search mission is not completed due to weather.

10/14/42 USAMEAF 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, rcn and interception missions between El Alamein and Burg el Arab.

10/14/42 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.

10/14/42 SOPAC B-17's which have been temporarily operating out of Henderson Field are evacuated. Field is again pounded by arty and naval bombardment, and by afternoon is out of operation. Aviation fuel supply is low.

10/14/42 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.

10/15/42 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 tgts in Owen Stanley Range and in area around bridge at Wairopi. A single B-17 attacks shipping near Treasury Is.

10/15/42 SOPAC Aviation fuel arrives at Henderson Field from Espiritu Santo by aircraft and ship.

10/15/42 Eleventh AF 3 B-26's bomb and 1 B-24 flies photo rcn 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.

10/15/42 ZI AAF Antisub Cmd is activated to take over antisub operations of I BC, which is inactivated.

10/16/42 USAMEAF 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.

10/16/42 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 R; B-25's also bomb Mubo-Salamaua trail. B-17's bomb A/F at Rabaul and attack tgts in the Solomons, including A/F at Buin, and shipping off Moila Pt and Shortland Is.

10/16/42 SOPAC Seabees on Guadalcanal patch up Henderson Field runways enough for use by ftrs. Marine ftrs 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 arty and to land troops.

10/16/42 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 hot down.

10/17/42 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 rcn finds no trace of 2 destroyers, confirming their sinking on 16 Oct.

10/18/42 Fifth AF B-25's hit Wairopi bridge in Owen Stanley Range, village of Mubo, and dock and occupied area on Pilelo I. B-17's attack shipping and aircraft in Faisi area, schooners and buildings at Lorengau on Manus, Kahili A/F, and shipping off Kahili, Pupukuna Pt, and Buin. Fifth AF completes air movement of most of 128th Inf, 32d Div, to Wanigela.

10/18/42 SOPAC Adm Halsey succeeds Adm Ghormley as COMSOPAC.

10/18/42 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 rcn over Attu, Segula, Little Sitkin, and Gareloi.

10/19/42 Eighth AF HQ VIII A Spt Cmd moves from Membury to Sunninghill Park, Berkshire.

10/19/42 USAMEAF 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.

10/19/42 Eleventh AF A B-17 flies weather rcn and bomb runs over Attu, Semichis, Kiska, and Amchitka. 6 B-24's dispatched to bomb Kiska abort mission due to weather.

10/20/42 Eighth AF Gen 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 tgts for these missions and with German aircraft factories and depots in France as second priority.

10/20/42 USAMEAF Air action is intensified with aim of attaining strong air superiority preceding Gen Montgomery's El Alamein offensive. B-17's and B-24's sent to attack shipping at Tobruk fail to locate tgt 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.

10/20/42 SOPAC Adm Halsey sends 147th Inf to Guadalcanal and also institutes construction of another bmr strip to be located at Koli Pt, 12 mi SE of Henderson Field.

10/20/42 Eleventh AF 6 B-24's take off for Kiska but return due to weather. Rcn is flown to 70 mi E of Attu. A negative search is made for a missing C-53.

10/21/42 Eighth AF VIII BC flies its first mission against submarine bases. 15 B-17's hit U-boat pens at Lorient-Keroman.

8 HBs strike at Cherbourg/Maupertus A/F. 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 bmrs are shot down.

10/21/42 USAMEAF B-24's dispatched against shipping at Bengasi fail to locate tgt because of bad weather. During return flight, several HBs bomb tent areas along coast and also hit landing grounds. B-25's, cooperating with RAF, bomb landing ground and tent area.

10/21/42 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 tgt area. This marks the first use of HBs in China and the first AAF strike N of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers.

10/21/42 Fifth AF B-25's hit Luscan Harbor on S coast of New Britain.

10/21/42 Eleventh AF Weather rcn aircraft returns twice due to fog.

10/22/42 Twelfth AF First echelon of HQ begins move from UK to N Africa.

10/22/42 USAMEAF 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 Gen Brereton as CG and Gen Adler attached with adv HQ of ASC. CoS of DATF is Gen Strickland. B-25's bomb dispersed aircraft. P-40's escort bmrs, attack tent areas and motor transport along coastal road near El Hammam, fly rcn and ftr sweeps W of El Daba, and bomb arty positions. P-40's claim 2 ftrs destroyed. B-17's sent to hit Candia abort because of weather.

10/22/42 SOPAC Henderson Field is out of operation again as result of enemy action.

10/22/42 Eleventh AF Weather rcn aircraft reports submarine at 52-08N 177-21W. Navy airplane later makes contact and drops depth bomb. Result unknown.

10/23/42 USAMEAF B-17's and B-24's sent to attack Candia and Bengasi turn back short of tgt due to bad weather. El Alamein offensive by British Eighth Army begins at 2140 with arty 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.

10/23/42 Fifth AF A-20's bomb and strafe Deniki and Deniki-Kokoda trail. B-17's thoroughly pound shipping at Rabaul.

10/23/42 SOPAC Henderson Field is again made operational by Seabees, and Marine and AAF ftrs begin to inflict heavy losses on naval aircraft. Japanese ground forces assault def lines around the A/Fs but are thrown back.

10/23/42 Eleventh AF Armed rcn by 7 bmrs, 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.

10/24/42 USAMEAF B-25's spt British Eighth Army Offensive W of El Alamein between Mediterranean Sea and Qattara Depression as 30 Corps, with 4 divs in assault, secures 2 corridors through enemy mine-fields on British N flank, while 13 Corps on S flank breaks through mine-fields N of Himeimat and establishes small bridgehead. The MBs hit troop concentrations, tent areas, gun emplacements, and vehicles. P- 40's, working with RAF and SAAF, escort MBs and LBs and hit motor transports and tanks.

10/24/42 Fifth AF B-25's hit Lae A/F. Organized Japanese resistance on Goodenough I ceases.

10/24/42 SOPAC Marine and AAF ftrs at Henderson Field continue to inflict damaging losses upon Japanese naval air force. Japanese ground forces, attacking aggressively, are again repulsed by defenses around Henderson area.

10/24/42 Eleventh AF 3 B-17's hit Kiska submarine base. Results not observed. Weather rcn flight is made over Attu.

10/25/42 USAMEAF Battle of El Alamein continues as Gen Montgomery decides to make main effort on N flank of 30 Corps. Australian 9th Div drives N toward coastal road to Rahman. B-25's disperse motor transport and other tgts in spt of ground forces. P-40's on escort attack vehicles and other tgts. Ftrs claim several airplanes destroyed in combat. HBs sent to bomb Bengasi harbor and a convoy at sea fail to reach tgts as bad weather prevails.

10/25/42 Tenth AF Japanese aircraft attack A/Fs connected with the India-China air transport route, heavily bombing Dinjan and Chabua fields and scoring hits also at Mohanbari and Sookerating. 10 US airplanes are destroyed and 17 badly damaged; 9 Japanese aircraft are downed. 12 B-25's and 7 P-40's of CATF, led by Col Merian C Cooper, hit Kowloon Docks at Hong Kong. 21 airplanes intercept. 1 B-25 and 1 P-40 are shot down. This marks the first loss of a CATF B-25 in combat. The Japanese interceptors are virtually annihilated. During 25/26 Oct 6 B-25's, on first CATF night strike, continue pounding Hong Kong, bombing North Pt power plant which provides electricity for the shipyards. 3 other B-25's bomb the secondary tgt, Canton warehouse area, causing several large explosions and fires.

10/25/42 Fifth AF B-17's bomb shipping at Rabaul. A-20's bomb and strafe Isurava-Kokoda trail, W bank of Kumusi R, and area N of Asisi as Australian ground forces push toward Kokoda in the Owen Stanley Range.

10/25/42 SOPAC Japanese ground assaults on def lines around Henderson Field are again thrown back. Marine and AAF ftrs continue to inflict telling losses on Japanese Navy aircraft. During the afternoon, a B-17 on sea-search mission sights powerful TF NW of Santa Cruz Is, heading for Guadalcanal.

10/25/42 Eleventh AF Alert only a weather permits.

10/26/42 USAMEAF Momentum of British drive decreases in El Alamein battle. 30 Corps takes Kidney Ridge, and Gen Montgomery decides to regroup for a break-out assault. Allied aircraft continue strong spt to ground forces and disperse enemy concentrations preparing for attack. B-25's hit transport, troop concentrations, and tanks. P-40's fly sweeps over El Daba area and attack motor transport and other tgts.

Enemy air action increases and considerable aerial combat ensues. US ftrs claim 4 airplanes shot down. More than 30 B-17's and B-24's attack shipping off coast of Libya.

10/26/42 Tenth AF Japanese again hit A/Fs in Assam connected with India-China transport route, concentrating on Sookerating. A freight depot, containing food and medical supplies for China, is destroyed but no US airplanes are lost. Due to lack of warning, no ftrs intercept the attacking force. CATF MBs move to W China to carry out neutralization of Lashio, whether the Japanese have aircraft they are using against the Dinjan area. P-40's continue to hit Hong Kong-Canton area, using dive-bombing tactics for first time in the area.

10/26/42 Fifth AF B-25's hit Salamaua and A/F at Lae. A-20's, escorted by P-40's, bomb and strafe trails in Missima- Kaile-Deniki area.

10/26/42 SOPAC Carrier aircraft from the Hornet a Enterprise fight fierce air action with TF in Rattle of Santa Cruz Is. B- 17's also attack the TF but report no hits. With 3 of his carriers hit and almost 100 airplanes lost, VAD Nagumo retires toward Truk. Hornet is severely damaged a is sunk the following day by Japanese aircraft and destroyer with bombs and torpedoes.

10/27/42 Eighth AF Last 2 sqs of 14th Ftr Gp leave UK for Twelfth AF in N Africa. This completes transfer of VIII FC's fighting units to XII FC and leaves VIII FC with only 1 ftr gp (4th) operational.

10/27/42 USAMEAF B-25's, with ftr escorts, bomb Matruh and attack motor transports, tanks, and other ground tgts.

Enemy reinforcements brought up from the S, counterattack Kidney Ridge and are repulsed. British Eighth Army continues regrouping for assault.

10/27/42 Tenth AF B-25's of CATF bomb A F at Lashio.

10/27/42 Fifth AF A-20's hit trails in SE Papua around Alola, Isurava, and Abuari. P-39's escort RAAF Hudsons in strike against small craft at Ferguson I in D'Entrecasteaux group.

10/27/42 Eleventh AF 6 B-24's flying attack on Kiska submarine base turn back due to weather. Weather airplane flies rcn over Gareloi, Segula, Kiska, and Attu.

10/28/42 USAMEAF B-17's, dispatched to attack convoy at sea, fail to locate tgt but attack cruisers in Pylos Bay. B-25's attack tanks, motor transports, and landing grounds. P-40's fly MB and LB escort, bomb and strafe landing grounds and other tgts, and engage aircraft in combat, mostly in area between El Alamein and El Daba. Ftrs claim 3 Me-109's destroyed. Attacks by US and RAF aircraft cause enemy to abandon plan for counterattack on Kidney Ridge.

10/28/42 Fifth AF B-17's pound shipping in harbor at Rabaul, while B-25's bomb Gasmata A/F.

10/28/42 Eleventh AF 6 B-24's turn back from an attempted attack on Kiska sub base because of adverse weather. A B-17 bombs Attu with unobserved results and flies weather rcn over Kiska, Amchitka, and Tanaga.

10/29/42 US A 1943 production objective of 107,000 airplanes is given top priority by Roosevelt in his instructions to Donald M Nelson, Chairman of War Production Board.

10/29/42 USAMEAF B-24's and B-17's strike Maleme A/F. B-25's bomb landing grounds, motor transports, and tanks. P- 40's fly escort, then bomb and strafe road E of El Daba, and attack troop concentration and vehicles.

In view of strong German reinforcements on his N flank near coast, Gen Montgomery alters breakout plan. Instead of pushing W along coast, he decides to shift point of adv S in order to attack against Italian troops.

10/29/42 Fifth AF A-20's hit Isurava-Deniki and Abuari-Kaile trails. B-17's attack shipping in Bougainville Strait between Buin and Faisi.

10/29/42 Eleventh AF Japanese reoccupy Attu. Special rcn flown with Gen Buckner, covers Tanaga, Amchitka and Kiska.

10/30/42 USAMEAF B-24's bomb Maleme A/F. 1 HB bombs main jetty in Suda Bay. B-25's attack landing grounds at Fuka- Bagush and El Daba. P-40's fly escort. British Eighth Army sends 9th Australian Div N to the sea and then E, trapping large force in pocket, as Allied aircraft provide excellent spt. Enemy tanks breaking through from W, however, enable most of the surrounded force to escape.

10/30/42 Fifth AF B-17's bomb harbor and shipping at Buin.

10/30/42 Eleventh AF 1 B-24 twice flies rcn over Kiska and Agattu. No bombing mission as all bmrs are on alert for possible navy tgts.

10/31/42 Eighth AF Gen Spaatz informs Gen Arnold that operations against sub pens may prove too costly for results obtained. Believing the pens impervious to normal high-altitude bombing, Spaatz plans to operate as low as 4,000 ft and accept higher casualty rates.

10/31/42 USAMEAF B-25's hit landing ground. The MBs claim 1 ftr shot down while P-40's flying escort claim 3. B-24's sent to bomb Maleme dispersal area fail to locate tgt because of overcast. 376th Bomb Gp is activated at Lydda, replacing the 1st Prov Gp. CO is Col George F McGuire, who had commanded 1st Prov Gp. The 376th is intended to become part of an Anglo-American air force to be sent to the Caucasus to aid the USSR, but the plan falls through and the 376th remains in the ME.

10/31/42 Fifth AF A-20's bomb and strafe Nauro and area to N. B-25's strafe supply trucks SE of Gona. B-17's bomb shipping at Rabaul and in Buin-Faisi-Tonolai area.

10/31/42 Eleventh AF Weather and rcn flight over Attu and Kiska. Over Kiska, weather airplane draws AA fire from Little Kiska. No other missions as all combat aircraft are alerted for possible navy tgt.

11/1/42 USAMEAF B-24's strike A/F and dispersal areas at Maleme. P-40's escort bmrs and hit ground tgts in battle area.

An air depot, 2 serv gps, and 1 MP co are assigned to USAMEAF.

11/1/42 Fifth AF B-25's bomb A/F and dump area at Lae. B-17's strike shipping in Buin-Faisi-Tonolai area. Kahili AF on Bougainville is also attacked.

11/2/42 Eighth AF CG VIII A Spt Cmd states that the effort expended and personnel lost in organizing Twelfth AF and preparing for its move from UK to N Africa has severely retarded organization of his HQ and staff.

11/2/42 USAMEAF British Eighth Army opens assault (SUPERCHARGE) W of Tell el-Eisa, with 2d NZ Div in lead. B-25's bomb track extending S from Rahman as British 9th Armd Brig establishes bridgeheads across the track. Other B-25's attack tanks and other tgs in spt of the assault. P-40's fly escort and strafing missions in battle area. B-17's bomb shipping and jetties in Tobruk harbor.

11/2/42 Fifth AF B-26's bomb Dili. B-17's attack shipping NE of Buna while B-25's strike at convoy S of New Britain. In Owen Stanley Range, Australian ground forces seize Kokoda with its A/F after long days of fighting.

This will greatly facilitate supply and reinforcement of troops in this area as they push over the mountains toward Buna-Gona area.

11/3/42 USAMEAF B-25's bomb tanks, motor transports, landing ground, ammo dumps, mainly in Rahman Track area and on road between Fuka and El Daba, and also hit town of Fuka and Ghazal station. P-40's fly several escort and FR missions, attacking round tgts in spt of British Eighth Army. Allied aircraft fly more than 400 sorties against troops retreating along coastal road. During 3/4 Nov, British and Indian troops outflank and break enemy tank screen in sector S of Tell el Aqqaqir.

11/3/42 Fifth AF B-26's bomb Dili. B-17's bomb A/F and wharf at Lae, and attack ship S of Gasmata.

11/4/42 USAMEAF 9 B-24's bomb Bengasi harbor, hitting 3 ships and claiming 1 enemy ftr shot down. B-25's and P-40's attack motor transports and troops retreating W from El Alamein battleline with British in pursuit. 10 Corps armor clashes with rear-guard S of Ghazal. Gen Andrews replaces Gen Maxwell as CG USAFIME.

11/4/42 Fifth AF B-17's and B-25's bomb town and harbor of Salamaua; A-20's hit troop concentrations at Oivi, where Australian attack meets firm resistance; and B-26's bomb Aileu. Transports fly most of the remainder of 128th Inf, 32d Div, to Wanigela.

11/4/42 Eleventh AF Bad weather at Umnak and Dutch Harbor and flooded field at Adak preclude missions. New Adak runway permits an air alert.

11/5/42 USAMEAF Gen Montgomery announces victory of British Eighth Army in Egypt. 10 Corps, pushing rapidly W, overcomes rearguard action near Fuka. As FM Rommel retreats W from El Alamein, P-40's bomb tgts on Fuka road and patrol Sidi Hanaish area. B-25's also bomb motor transports.

11/5/42 Tenth AF IATF HRs carry out raid on Rangoon.

11/5/42 Fifth AF B-25's unsuccessfully attack schooner near Arawe.

11/5/42 Eleventh AF Weather rcn is flown over Kiska and Little Kiska.

11/6/42 USAMEAF B-24's hit harbors of Tobruk and Bengasi, scoring hits on 2 vessels. Heavy rains delay British pursuit of retreating enemy in Matruh area.

11/6/42 Fifth AF A single B-25 attacks destroyer off S tip of New Ireland. No hits are scored. Gen MacArthur arrives in Port Moresby, where AD VON of GHQ opens to direct operation.

11/6/42 Eleventh AF Weather airplane is forced back near Kiska.

11/7/42 Eighth AF 34 HBs attack U-boat pens at Brest.

11/7/42 Twelfth AF Air movement of Twelfth AF from UK to N Africa begins. Other elements of Twelfth moving from UK and US are aboard Allied ships approaching Algerian and Moroccan coasts.

11/7/42 USAMEAF 376th Bomb Gp begins move from Palestine to Egypt.

11/7/42 Fifth AF A-20's bomb and strafe forces at Kakandeta in Owen Stanley Range. B-25's attack shipping at Maklo I and seaplanes at Lasonga I.

11/7/42 Eleventh AF 6 B-24's and 2 B-26's attack submarine base in Kiska Harbor, lightly damaging float ftrs and a seaplane beached by storm. A B-17 flies rcn over A/F W of Holtz Bay, and bombs submarine base and a previously-damaged freighter in Gertrude Cove.

11/8/42 Eighth AF 41 HBs bomb the Abbeville/Drucat A/F and the Atelier d'Hellemmes locomotive works at Lille.

11/8/42 Twelfth AF Invasion of N Africa (TORCH) begins. C-47's of 60th TC Gp attempting to land troops at La Senia A/F find the French unexpectedly hostile and have several aircraft shot down by ftrs and AA; several other C-47's are damaged when trying to land on a dry lakebed of Sebkra d'Oran. Spitfires of 31st Ftr Gp, flying from Gibraltar into Tafaraoui A/F during afternoon of D-Day claim 3 hostile French ftrs destroyed.

11/8/42 Fifth AF A-20's hit forces in Oivi area in Owen Stanley Range as Australian ground forces push over mts toward Gona-Buna area. Fifth AF transports fly final elements of 128th Inf, 32d Div, from Port Moresby to Wanigela. B-25's bomb radio station and A/F at Gasmata.

11/8/42 Eleventh AF Intermittent air alert. Weather airplane returns due to icing.

11/9/42 Eighth AF Gen Spaatz, in memo to Gen Eisenhower, agrees that any increase in air commitments to N Africa must necessarily be made at expense of US forces in UK as US forces in other theaters are considered irreducible. VIII BC attacks U-boat base at Saint-Nazaire from reduced altitude. 12 B-24's at 17,500 to 18,300 ft suffer little AA damage, but 31 B-17's at 7,500 to 10,000 ft lose 3 of their number and have 22 damaged by AA fire. This ends experiment with low-level attacks of HBs against submarine bases.

11/9/42 Twelfth AF Spitfires of 31st Ftr Gp attack and halt an armored column moving N toward Tafaraoui, and also attack arty and AA batteries SE of Tafaraoui and along coastal road. At 1605, Gen Doolittle arrive in Algeria from Gibraltar by B-17, escorted by 12 Spitfires from 52d Ftr Gp.

11/9/42 Tenth AF IATF HBs raid Rangoon.

11/9/42 Fifth AF A-20's hit troops at Oivi in spt of Australian offensive in Owen Stanley Range. B-26's bomb Buna while B-25's score hit on merchant vessel off S tip of New Ireland and attack schooner off Salamaua. Airlift of elements of 126th Inf, US 32d Div, from Port Moresby to forward areas begins. First elements are flown to Abel's Field and moved overland to Pongani.

11/9/42 Eleventh AF 2 B-26's and 4 P-38's bomb a cargo ship in Gertrude Cove. No hits. 2 P-38's then strafe Kiska Harbor area. 1 B-17 and 4 P-38's attack Holtz Bay and Attu A/F, destroying 8 float Zeros. 1 B-17 flies weather rcn over Attu, Kiska, and Segula.

11/10/42 Twelfth AF US Spitfires escort convoy, fly rcn, and attack tanks and other vehicles in Oran area. 72 P-40's of 33d Ftr Gp, catapulted from US carrier Chenango land in Port Lyautey area. French Adm Darlan broadcasts orders for French forces in N Africa to cease resistance against Allies.

11/10/42 USAMEAF B-24's hit Bengasi harbor. B-17's hit Candia harbor.

11/10/42 Fifth AF B-26's bomb AA positions and supply dumps along Sanananda-Soputa trail. A-20's hit positions at Soputa a Australian ground forces push Japanese from Oivi toward mouth of the Kumusi.

11/10/42 Eleventh AF Rcn is flown over Attu, Semichi, Segula, Alaid, and Kiska islands. 5 B-24's and 1 B-17 bomb Kiska, but they cannot bomb Kiska submarine base and return with some bombs. 2 P-38's and 1 OA-10 fly local air coverage.

11/11/42 Europe German troops enter part of France previously unoccupied by Axis forces.

11/11/42 Twelfth AF Ftrs fly rcn over Oran-Tafaraoui area and escort C-47's carrying paratroops from Gibraltar to Algiers.

All French resistance against Allies in NW Africa ceases in the early morning.

11/11/42 USAMEAF B-24's hit shipping N of Bengasi, claiming 4 direct hits and several near misses on 1 vessel. P-40's fly sweep over Gambut area, claiming 3 Stukas destroyed. British Eighth Army drives last of enemy from Egypt and crosses into Libya, taking Bardia without opposition.

11/11/42 Tenth AF 9 P-40's hit Shinghbwiyang, causing heavy damage.

11/11/42 Fifth AF A-20's bomb and strafe tgts in Wairopi area. B-17's attack shipping off S coast of Bougainville. HQ, 126th Inf, US 32d Div, is flown from Port Moresby to Pongani. Col Paul B Wurtsmith becomes CO V FC.

11/11/42 SOPAC Search aircraft from Guadalcanal report at least 61 Japanese ships in Buin-Tonolai area. Other ships are massed at Rabaul.

11/11/42 Eleventh AF 3 B-26's, 3 B-17's, and 3 B-24's are over Kiska. The B-26's make unsuccessful runs on ship in Gertrude Cove. The B-17's and B-24's find submarine base closed by weather. Weather aircraft fly over Attu and Amchitka.

11/12/42 Twelfth AF Ftrs fly patrols over wide area around Oran and escort C-47's which drop US paratroops at Duzerville A/F SE of Bone. Duzerville A/F is bombed by Axis aircraft luring 12/13 Nov.

11/12/42 Ninth AF USAMEAF is dissolved and replaced by Ninth AF, commanded by Gen Brereton. Major components are: IX BC (Gen Timberlake), IX FC (Col John C Kilborn), and IX ASC (Gen Adler). 79th Ftr gp begins arriving in Egypt from US.

11/12/42 Fifth AF B-17's bomb shipping at Tonolai harbor. 3d Bn of 126th Inf, US 32d Div, is airlifted from Port Moresby to Pongani. The troops immediately start overland toward Natunga. 2d Bn, flown in earlier, reaches Bofu.

11/12/42 SOPAC 11 transports carrying 13,500 troops and supported by a force of cruisers and 2 battleships (Kirishima and Hiei) leave Shortland Is area and head for Guadalcanal. During the afternoon the rcn value and defensive capability of the B-17 are ably demonstrated when a single HB sights a carrier 350 mi off Guadalcanal and maintains contact for 2 hrs before returning to base with claims of 6 Zeros shot down. Naval Battle of Guadalcanal (12-15 Nov) opens as Japanese aircraft attack transports unloading troops in Lunga Roads. First 12 P-38's of 339th Ftr Sq, as well as Marine and Navy airplanes, are moved from Tontouta and Espiritu Santo to Henderson Field to bolster defenses of Guadalcanal.

11/12/42 Eleventh AF Bmrs are on alert at Umnak and Adak to attack any reported naval tgts. Intermittent ftr patrols fly over Adak.

11/12/42 ZI AAF School of Applied Tactics is established at Orlando AAB.

11/13/42 Eighth AF HQ VIII AF Comp Cmd moves from temporary station at Long Kesh to Kirkassock House, N Ireland.

11/13/42 Ninth AF 98th Bomb Gp arrives in Egypt from Palestine. Tobruk falls to 10 Corps, British Eighth Army.

11/13/42 Twelfth AF C-47's, with P-38 escort, fly AA guns and aviation gasoline to Duzerville A/F. US Spitfires patrol Oran- Tafaraoui area.

11/13/42 Fifth AF B-17's bomb shipping off Tonolai-Komaleai Pt and A/F at Kahili. A B-17 strafes a schooner in Lorengau harbor on Manus I.

11/13/42 SOPAC Air strength at Guadalcanal is raised by arrival of 3 B-26's of 69th and 70th Bomb Sqs from New Hebrides as naval battle of Guadalcanal continues. Japanese cruisers and destroyers bombard Henderson Field during 13/14 Nov, and destroy one of the new P-38's.

11/13/42 Eleventh AF Rcn over Attu and Agattu reveals 5 landing barges in Chichagof harbor.

11/14/42 Eighth AF 24 HBs strike U-boat works at Saint-Nazaire.

11/14/42 Twelfth AF US Spitfires fly routine patrols in Oran-Tafaraoui area and escort C-53's carrying paratroops from Gibraltar to Algiers.

11/14/42 Ninth AF 79th Ftr Gp and HQ 19th Bomb Wg, now arriving from US, are assigned to Ninth AF. 6 B-17's are dispatched to attack harbor at Bengasi, but only 1 locates tgt and drops its bombs.

11/14/42 Fifth AF 1 B-25 bombs and strafes track N of Soputa. Fifth AF airplanes drop bridging equipment at Wairopi on Kokoda trail where the Australian 25th Brig is crossing on improvised bridge. US and Australian forces are consolidating at Natunga and in Oro Bay-Embogu-Embi areas. 2 B-17's attack transport in the Solomons.

11/14/42 SOPAC Airplanes from the US carrier Enterprise are joined by land-based Marine and AAF aircraft in driving off the force that bombarded Henderson Field the previous night. In view of the pressing need for aircraft in SOPAC, Adm Nimitz (CINCPOA) is given more freedom to deploy his air weapons. He receives authority to distribute as he sees fit all available air units assigned to S and C Pacific provided he move units rather than individual airplanes and crews.

11/14/42 Eleventh AF 1 B-24 flies armed rcn over Kiska and Attu and bombs Holtz Bay and Chichagof with negative results.

Bmrs at Adak and Umnak are alerted for shipping tgts.

11/15/42 Twelfth AF C-47's fly airborne operation from Algiers to Youks-les-Bains. Escort is provided at intervals by RAF Spitfires and Hurricanes. British First Army ground forces reach Tunisia at Taberka. 15th Bomb Sq flying DB-7's from UK, arrives at Oran.

11/15/42 Ninth AF B-24's from 2 gps are sent to bomb Tripoli, but unfavorable weather prevents them from reaching tgt. l gp bombs a motor convoy, as well as A/F and crowded roads in Bengasi area. P-40's fly sweeps and FB missions against retreating enemy W of Martuba. Martuba A/Fs are captured by British 10 Corps and soon occupied by 57th Ftr Gp.

11/15/42 Fifth AF A-20's strafe tgts near Gona while B-25's and B-26's pound AA positions at Buna and Soputa as USAustralian ground forces prepare to move against Buna-Gona beachhead. B-17's hit shipping at Rabaul.

11/15/42 SOPAC Adm Lee's force of 2 battleships and 3 destroyers meets and turns back a larger Japanese force sinking the battleship Kirishima and a destroyer while losing a destroyer. This ends the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal (12-15 Nov) which involved sqs of the 11th Bomb Gp, as well as the 69th, 70th, and 72d Bomb Sqs, and the 39th and 339th Ftr Sqs.

11/16/42 Twelfth AF As British First Army continues into Tunisia, Twelfth AF C-47's drop British paratroops at Souk el Arba.

6 B-17's, of the 97th Bomb Gp based at Algiers, raid Sidi Ahmed A/F at Bizerte. Thus the 97th which flew first US HB mission from the UK (on 17 Aug), becomes the first Twelfth AF bomb gp to fly a combat mission in Africa.

11/16/42 Ninth AF P-40's patrol over Germiston area.

11/16/42 Fifth AF B-26's, B-25's, and A-20's pound areas around Buna, Gona, Soputa, Sanananda, and Giruwa, hitting AA positions, buildings, barges, and troop concentrations as US 32d and Australian 7th Divs move forward against Buna-Gona beachhead.

11/16/42 Eleventh AF Weather rcn flight is flown over Kiska and Attu. Demolition charges are dropped on Holtz Bay, AA guns, and on Attu village. Results not observed.

11/17/42 Eighth AF 35 HBs pound U-boat pens at Saint-Nazaire with 102 tons of bombs.

11/17/42 Twelfth AF Air action is limited to routine patrols in Tafaraoui area.

11/17/42 Ninth AF P-40's patrol over Tobruk and Derna road.

11/17/42 Fifth AF B-26's hit Gona Mission as US 32d and Australian 7th Divs continue to move toward Buna-Gona beachhead. B-25's bomb A/Fs at Lae and Gasmata. A lone B-24 bombs wharf area at Rabaul.

11/17/42 Eleventh AF Weather rcn aircraft is forced back by weather W of Kiska. Bmrs are on alert to attack surface vessels.

11/18/42 Eighth AF VIII BC conducts missions against 3 U-boat bases. 19 HBs attack at La Pallice, 13 at Lorient- Keroman, and 19 at Saint-Nazaire.

11/18/42 Twelfth AF P-38's of 14th Ftr Gp arrive from UK for HB escort duty. Several are damaged in enemy air raid on Maison Blanche A/F.

11/18/42 Ninth AF B-17's bomb M/Y and docks at Bengasi.

11/18/42 Fifth AF B-25's bomb A/Fs at Lae and Salamaua. B-17's attack warships 50 mi SW of Gasmata, 17 mi N of Buna, and between Gona and Cape Ward Hunt. B-26's bomb and strafe area between Cape Endaiadere and Buna.

11/18/42 Eleventh AF Armed rcn is flown over Kiska and Attu. No bombs are dropped.

11/19/42 Eighth AF Submarine yards at Vegesack, Bremen, and Kiel are added to day bombardment program as top priority objectives.

11/19/42 Twelfth AF B-17's, escorted by P-38's, bomb El Aouina A/F.

11/19/42 Eleventh AF Rcn aircraft over Attu and Agattu sights 2 unidentified float monoplanes E of Buldir I.

11/20/42 Twelfth AF During 20/21 Nov, enemy airplanes bomb harbor and Maison Blanche A/F at Algiers, destroying several aircraft at the field.

11/20/42 Ninth AF P-40's patrol over battle area near Bengasi, as that city falls to British 10 Corps.

11/20/42 Tenth AF 8 HBs bomb M/Y at Mandalay as IATF B-24's, commanded by Col Conrad F Necrason, intensify their campaign against Burma and Thailand.

11/20/42 Eleventh AF Rcn aircraft over Kiska draws heavy AA from Gertrude Cove.

11/21/42 Twelfth AF P-38's of 1st Gp arrive at Nouvion to replace 14th Gp in escorting B-17's. B-17's hit El Aouina A/F.

During 21/22 Nov enemy airplanes again hit Algiers, damaging several aircraft and destroying a B-17.

11/21/42 Ninth AF B-24's flying out of Gambut bomb Tripoli harbor, scoring direct hit on warehouse. RAF HBs follow US raids with staggered attacks during 21/22 Nov. P-40's patrol battle area S of Bengasi.

11/21/42 Fifth AF A-20's and B-25's pound A/F, AA positions, and bridge at Buna and hit village of Sanananda in spt of Allied ground forces. Australian-US force is advancing from Soputa toward Sanananda. US forces driving on Buna are halted by strong bunker positions at The Triangle here trails to Buna mission and Buna village meet.

11/21/42 Eleventh AF Rcn is flown over Kiska, Attu, and Agattu islands.

11/22/42 USSR Soviet Army opens offensive at Stalingrad.

11/22/42 Eighth AF 11 HBs attack Lorient-Keroma 17 U-boat base.

11/22/42 Twelfth AF US HBs based at Algiers move back to Tafaraoui because of enemy bombing raids on Maison Blanche A/F. P-38's of 14th Gp move into Youks-les-Bains A/F.

11/22/42 Ninth AF P-40's patrol over Derna area.

11/22/42 Tenth AF 6 HBs inflict heavy damage on railroad center at Mandalay.

11/22/42 Fifth AF A-20's pound trails around Sanananda while B-26's hit Buna area. B-17's and B-25's hit A/F at Lae and barges between Lae and Salamaua, and attack warships 68 mi SW of Arawe and elsewhere in the Solomon Sea.

11/22/42 SOPAC The critical lack of aircraft repair and maintenance facilities is alleviated somewhat by the arrival of the 13th Air Depot and the 6th and 29th Serv Gps. The units are based on New Caledonia and Espiritu Santo.

11/22/42 Eleventh AF 1 B-24 flies rcn over Kiska, Attu, and Agattu. Bmrs and ftrs are alerted for 23 Nov mission to find and destroy a reported 5-vessel convoy.

11/23/42 Eighth AF 36 HBs hit Saint-Nazaire submarine base for the fifth time in 2 weeks. Cumulative effect of operation on the base is large though the sub shelter shows little permanent damage. HB crews report change in ftr tactics from rear to head-on attack as they learn that the B-17 and B-24 are weak in forward firepower.

Sir Pound, First Lord of the Admiralty, writes to Gen Eaker praising the effects of US bmr attacks on disorganizing the servicing schedule of the German U-boat bases on the French W coast.

11/23/42 Twelfth AF Main HQ Twelfth AF is moved from Gibraltar to Algiers. B-17's, with P-38 escort, sent to bomb A/F at Elmas abort due to bad weather.

11/23/42 Tenth AF 9 B-25's and 7 P-40's of CATF feint at Hong Kong, then fly to Gulf of Tonkin and sink a freighter and damage 2 others near Haiphong. 6 B-25's and 17 P-40's pound Tien Ho A/F claiming more than 40 aircraft destroyed on the field. These strikes follow 3 weeks of missions in spt of Chinese forces along the Siang-Chiang R.

11/23/42 Fifth AF A-20's and B-26's pound Sanananda Pt E as Australian forces begin assault on Gona and US forces approach Sanananda.

11/23/42 Eleventh AF Rcn is flown over Kiska, Attu, Agattu, and Amchitka.

11/24/42 Twelfth AF B-17's, with P-38 escort, are dispatched against Bizerte harbor but must abort because of bad weather.

Ftrs patrol Oran-Nouvion Tafaraoui area, fly sea patrol off Oran, and destroy several aircraft and attack ground tgts in vicinity of Gabes.

11/24/42 Ninth AF P-40's patrol over Bengasi and Derna areas.

11/24/42 Fifth AF A-20's, B-25's, B-26's, B-17's, P-40's, P-39's, and P-400's hit Sanananda Pt, Buna area, Sanananda- Soputa trail S of Sanananda, and area between Cape Killerton and Sanananda Pt as Allied forces launch ground assault on The Triangle. The attack is repelled by fierce resistance. B-17's also bomb 2 destroyers and a light cruiser off New Guinea between Lae and Finschhafen.

11/24/42 SOPAC Search airplanes over Buin area report large number of destroyers and cargo vessels in the harbor.

By this date elements of American Div have pushed along N coast of Guadalcanal to a position S of Pt Cruz where they wait until a general offensive can be prepared following the arrival of reinforcements.

Throughout these operations P-39's have continually hit ground positions and troops all along the coast, flying as many as 11 strikes on some days.

11/24/42 Eleventh AF 1 B-24 flies rcn over Kiska. Weather precludes westward continuation of rcn. A scheduled mission of 8 B-24's and 4 B-26's to Kiska is called off due to icing conditions.

11/25/42 Twelfth AF Spitfires and P-38's fly widespread rcn missions over coastal Algeria.

11/25/42 Ninth AF Air echelon of 316th TC Gp (except for 1 sq which arrives 10 days later) arrives in Egypt, and begins operations almost immediately. This does much to relieve the transport situation in the Eastern Desert.

P-40's escort minesweepers in vicinity of Bengasi harbor. RAF raids Tripoli harbor during 25/26 Nov.

11/25/42 Tenth AF B-25's and P-40's cripple 3 freighters on Pearl R near Canton.

11/25/42 Fifth AF P-38's hit A/F at Lae. A lone B-25 scores hit on cruiser off Tami I.

11/25/42 Eleventh AF Rcn is flown over Kiska, Attu and the Semichis.

11/26/42 Ninth AF B-24's fly 3 missions against Tripoli, scoring direct hits on 2 vessels. 1 HB bombs ship at Homs harbor.

P-40's patrol over Bengasi and Derna area.

11/26/42 Fifth AF US and Australian ground forces carry out limited attacks on Buna front, making little progress. In an effort to break Japanese air superiority over Buna, Fifth AF P-40's, A-20's, and B-25's pound A/F and AA positions in the area B-26's strike Salamaua area.

11/26/42 Eleventh AF A B-24 reconnoitering Holtz Bay harbor spots shipping tgts which are subsequently hit by 4 B-26's escorted by 4 P-38's. 1 large vessel is claimed afire and sinking. Rcn is flown over Rat I, Kiska shipping, Agattu, Semichi and N coast of Attu. 2 P-38's and 1 B-26 sustain minor damage.

11/27/42 France Adm de Laborde orders French fleet at Toulon scuttled to prevent it from falling into German hands.

11/27/42 Ninth AF B-17's bomb Portolago Bay, hitting 2 vessels.

11/27/42 Tenth AF 10 B-25's and more than 20 P-40's, the largest CATF effort in China to date, hit shipping and harbor installations at Hong Kong, firing warehouses and claiming 2 freighters and numerous barges sunk. A large force of ftrs intercept during the return trip but are driven of by the escort. The P-40's and B-25's claim several airplanes shot down.

11/27/42 Fifth AF B-26's pound Buna area, hitting buildings, A/F, and other tgts, as Allied ground forces prepare to renew attacks in the Buna-Gona area.

11/27/42 Eleventh AF Photo rcn covers Kiska, Amchitka and Attu. Ship attacked in Holtz Bay on previous day is observed lower in water and still burning.

11/28/42 Twelfth AF 35 B-17's of the 97th Gp and newly-arrived 301st Gp bomb Bizerte A/F and dock area. Because of mud, no P-38 escort is provided. 2 HBs are lost to ftr attacks. B-26's of newly-arrived 319th Gp bomb oil tanks, warehouses, and rail yards at Sfax, marking debut of Twelfth AF Mns in NW Africa.

11/28/42 Fifth AF B-26's bomb A/Fs at Lae and Buna. Elements of 126th Inf, US 32d l)iv arrive on Sanananda front from Wairopi.

11/28/42 Eleventh AF A B-24 photographs beached freighter at Holtz Bay drawing no AA fire during 10 runs over Bay, and flies rcn over Kiska.

11/29/42 Twelfth AF British First Army, after taking Tebourba on 27 Nov, is stalled It Djedeida. In an effort to rejuvenate the drive on Tunis, elements of British 1st Parachute Brig are dropped at Depienne by Twelfth AF C-47's, but the objective of capturing Oudna A/F and threatening Tunis (10 mi to the N) fails because of overwhelming def of the A/F. Over 300 casualties are suffered by the paratroops. P-38's and DB-7's attack Gabes A/F while other US ftrs operate with RAF out of Bone, furnishing air cover for ground units in battle area.

11/29/42 Ninth AF B-24's bomb Tripoli harbor at dusk, hitting docks, warehouses, 2 vessels, and silencing an AA battery.

11/29/42 Tenth AF B-25's bomb Hongay and Campho on Indochina coast.

11/29/42 Fifth AF B-17's, P-40's, and A-20's pound Gona area while B-25's and a single A-20 bomb A/F at Lae. B-17's intercept force of 4 troop-carrying destroyers proceeding through Vitiaz Strait without air cover. The HBs damage 2 vessels and cause the others to turn back, thus preventing reinforcement of Gona with fresh troops from Rabaul.

11/29/42 Eleventh AF A B-24 over Holtz Bay reports vessel bombed and damaged on 26 Nov as still sinking. 1 B-26 flies uneventful rcn over S shore of Kiska.

11/30/42 Eighth AF In a meeting at the Air Ministry a joint decision is made on allocation of responsibility, with RAF to provide aerial def of sectors in which US A/Fs are located while VIII FC operates principally as escort for bmr strikes against Continent.

11/30/42 Twelfth AF B-17's bomb N quay at Bizerte; B-26's hit A/F and rail road at Gabes; DB-7's attack bridge and railway station at Djedeida. P-38's escort all 3 missions. Other P-38's strafe Gabes A/F, fly rcn, and shoot down an Me-109 in aerial battle near Tunis. Elements of British First Army remain hard pressed at Djedeida.

11/30/42 Tenth AF IATF HBs attack shipping at Port Blair in the Andaman Is, claiming damage to one vessel by near misses. This strike begins a series of raids on this water approach to Burma.

11/30/42 Fifth AF B-25's and B-26's pound A/F, AA positions, and defenses in Buna area. 3 attempts by Allied ground forces to take Buna fail. US forces establish a block behind enemy forces on Soputa-Sanananda trail but frontal and flanking assaults make little head-way.

11/30/42 SOPAC Battle of Tassafaronga. USN turns back Japanese effort to land troops in Tassafaronga area of Guadalcanal during 30 Nov/1 Dec.

11/30/42 Eleventh AF Fog prevents rcn over Kiska, while a B-24 on rcn is turned back at Buldir.

12/1/42 Eighth AF Gen Eaker replaces Gen Spaatz as CG. Spaatz flies to Algeria to serve as air adviser to Gen Eisenhower, Theater Cmdr.

12/1/42 Twelfth AF DB-7's and later B-17's bomb El Aouina A F, with P-38's escorting both forces. P-38's on sweep over Djedeida area attack tanks NW of town. Enemy counterattack is launched toward Tebourba, inflicting heavy tank losses on BLADE Force, which, along with part of US 1st Armd Div, was prepared to attack Tunis on 2 Dec.

12/1/42 Fifth AF B-26's, A-20's, P-400's, and B-25's pound Buna area, but ground forces fail in another attempt to capture the village. Australian 21st Brig, however, turns back from Giruwa 3 large loads of reinforcements destined for Gona, then attacks and takes Gona, forcing enemy back to Gona Mission for final stand.

12/1/42 Eleventh AF B-24 flies rcn over Semichis and Attu. Other flights prevented by weather.

12/2/42 Eighth AF Gen Longfellow replaces Gen Eaker as CG VIII BC.

12/2/42 Twelfth AF B-26's bomb El Aouina A/F following DB-7 raid on same tgt; B-17's hit Sidi Ahmed A/F and Bizerte harbor; and B-25's attack AA guns near Gabes A/F. P-38's provide escort and fly rcn missions and sweeps, claiming 8 aircraft and 1 tank destroyed. British First Army withstands another counterattack on Tebourba.

12/2/42 Fifth AF B-17's, B-25's, A-20's, and P-400's attack 4 destroyers off Buna and Gona, and A/F and positions in Buna area and between Watutu Pt and Cape Killerton. As the result of the strike against shipping, the destroyers, originally bound for Gona with 800 reinforcements, land the troops near mouth of the Kumusi R 12 mi to the N. After bombardment of Gona, Allied ground forces attack in strength but are again halted short of the village.

12/2/42 Eleventh AF A B-24 finds Semi chi negative in detailed rcn, and Attu unchanged. B-26 rcn finds Kiska closed by fog.

12/3/42 Twelfth AF B-17's hit docks and shipping at Bizerte harbor. 2 of the escorting P-38's are shot down by Me 109's.

DB-7's, with P-38's as escort, bomb El Aouina A/F. Spitfires and P-38's fly patrols and photo rcn over wide areas of NW Africa, and carry out ftr sweeps during which several ground tgts, including Gabes A/F, are attacked. British First Army withdraws from Tebourba as German forces, through continuous attacks, occupy the city during 3/4 Dec.

12/3/42 Fifth AF A-20's, P-400's, and B-25's bomb and strafe Sanananda Pt and Buna areas and attack small torpedo boat in Dyke Acland Bay. A lone B-17 attacks sub 75 mi SE of Rabaul. During 3/4 Dec, B-17's bomb A/Fs at Lae and Salamaua. US roadblock on Soputa-Sanananda trail remains precarious as Japanese maintain attacks from all sides and hold on reinforcements.

12/3/42 Eleventh AF 2 bmrs and several ftrs fly rcn over Semichis, Kiska and Attu. Constant air alert in Adak.

12/4/42 Twelfth AF B-17's bomb shipping and docks at Bizerte. B-26's, with ftr escort, attack the same tgt a half hour later. P-38's, F-4's, and a B-17 fly rcn, while P- 38's attack vehicles and troop concentrations, mainly in Gabes and Sfax areas.

12/4/42 Ninth AF B-24's, in first attack bv US bmrs on Italy, hit Italian fleet and docks at Naples. Hits are scored on numerous harbor installations, a railroad yard, and 3 or 4 ships, including a battleship.

12/4/42 Eleventh AF 7 B-24's and 9 B-26's escorted by 16 P-38's take off upon a PBY rpt of surface force SE of Amchitka.

At interception point, area is searched without result. PBY pilot later reports he saw 'clouds.' Rcn is flown over Attu, Agattu, Semichi, Kiska, and Amchitka.

12/5/42 Twelfth AF Gen Spaatz is announced as Acting Dep CinC for Air, Allied Force in NW Africa. B-17's bomb docks and shipping at Tunis. B-25's hit Sidi Ahmed A/F; DB-7's follow shortly with raid on same tgt while another small force of the LBs hit Faid. Each raid is escorted by P-38's. P-38's fly rcn over wide areas of Tunisia, a B-17 photographs Sousse-Sfax-Gabes region, a Mosquito covers A/Fs and harbors in W Sicily, and an F-4 flies photo rcn over S Sardinia.

12/5/42 Fifth AF A-20's and B-25's pound Buna area. Allied ground forces again fails to take the village, but some elements push to within 50 yards of Buna, some break through to the sea, and others invest W bank of Entrance Creek. Buna is thus completely isolated. B-24's bomb Kavieng A/F.

12/5/42 SOPAC Gen Marshall informs COMGENSOPAC that AAF units in SOPAC are designated Thirteenth AF. This is first official step toward creation of the new AF.

12/5/42 Seventh AF 5th and 11th Bomb Gps are formally transferred to SOPAC, along with 12th and 44th Ftr Sqs and an ordnance and a chemical co.

12/5/42 Eleventh AF Negative rcn covers Attu, Agattu, the Semichis, Amchitka and Kiska.

12/5/42 ZI I Concentration Cmd is disbanded, its functions being taken over by the 4 domestic AFs and ATC.

12/6/42 Eighth AF 36 HBs attack Atelier d'Hellemmes locomotive works at Lille while a smaller group of aircraft bomb Abbeville/Drucat A/F.

12/6/42 Twelfth AF DB-7's, with ftr escort, bomb bridge over Medjerda R at El Bathan. P-38's and F-4's fly patrols and rcn missions over parts of Algeria and Tunisia. In ground fighting, German attack penetrates positions of US 1st Armd Div (with British First Army) on El Guettar Mountains.

12/6/42 Ninth AF B-24's sent to attack shipping at Tobruk fail to locate tgt due to bad weather, but a few aircraft manage to bomb Misurata and 2 enemy AFs. P-40's fly top cover for AF airplanes attacking Marble Arch.

12/6/42 Fifth AF B-17's bomb Lakunai A/F and town of Rabaul. B-25's bomb A/F at Lae.

12/6/42 SOPAC P-39's, strafing Munda discover trucks, steam rollers, and other construction equipment, and evidence of 2 airstrips under construction. B-17's will bomb Munda 21 times in Dec and continue to hit it in Jan 43, as the Japanese continue to work at building the strips despite the constant air strikes.

12/6/42 Eleventh AF Rcn is flown over Attu, Agattu, Amchitka, Kiska and the Semichis.

12/7/42 Twelfth AF B-17's, escorted by P-38's, attack docks and shipping at Bizerte. Escorted DB-7's attack tanks in Tebourba-El Bathan area where elements of British First Army continue to be hard pressed. Other DB- 7's sent to bomb at La Hencha and Sousse abort because of bad weather. P-38's and P-40's fly numerous rcn missions over Sousse-Sfax-Gabes area and patrols over Oran. B-17's and F-4's fly photo rcn over Sousse-Sfax-Gabes and Tunis-Bizerte areas. 3 sqs of B-24's of 93d Bomb Gp arrive in Africa from Eighth AF in UK. Ground fighting subsides as enemy attacks in Tebourba area decrease in intensity.

12/7/42 Fifth AF B-25's pound area around Buna as ground forces attack the village and clear trench at S edge. B-17's attack wrecked vessel off Gona and a tanker off Gasmata. B-25's hit A/F at Lae.

12/7/42 Eleventh AF Rcn mission over Semichis and Attu is flown. Rcn of Kiska is aborted due to weather.

12/8/42 Eighth AF VIII BC study of air attacks on sub pens indicates that available US bombs are incapable of penetrating roofs of the pens from any bombing level low enough to maintain accuracy.

12/8/42 Twelfth AF Ftrs of 31st and 52d Gps patrol in Oran-La Senia-Tafaraoui area. Weather prevents operations of all bmr and ftr units in E Algeria. British First Army obtains permission to withdraw from areas W of Tebourba and E of Medjez el Bab to more favorable positions slightly to the W from which to prepare for move on Tunis.

12/8/42 Ninth AF P-40's fly FB missions in battle area E of El Agheila.

12/8/42 Fifth AF A-20's and B-25's pound AA positions at Buna and area around Buna Mission and Cape Endaiadere as ground forces attack bunker positions on S edge of Buna. P-38's hit wrecked vessel off Gona. B- 24's bomb Gasmata A/F. 6 destroyers carrying troops to reinforce Buna-Gona beachhead are bombed by B-17's and a lone B-24 and turn back to Rabaul.

12/8/42 Eleventh AF Attempted bombing mission of Attu and Kiska by 6 B-24's and 6 B-26's, escorted by 8 P-38's, is forced back by weather. Uneventful rcn is flown by a B-24 and a B-26 over Attu, Agattu, Amchitka, Kiska, and the Semichis.

12/9/42 Eighth AF Special report on first 1,100 bmrs dispatched by VIII BC, 17 Aug to 23 Nov justifies high-level daylight precision bombing.

12/9/42 Twelfth AF Heavy rains stop most air operations in E Algeria and Tunisia. A few P-38's fly rcn S of Gafsa, and P- 40's fly intercept mission over Youks-les-Bains, damaging 1 airplane.

12/9/42 Ninth AF P-40's fly ftr sweep over El Agheila region.

12/9/42 Fifth AF B-26's pound Buna area as ground forces prepare for final assault on the village. P-40's hit area along Sanananda-Soputa trail. In nearby Gona, following air and arty bombardment, Australian forces overcome resistance, taking the village in hand-to-hand combat.

12/9/42 SOPAC Cmd at Guadalcanal passes from Gen Vandegrift, CG First Marine Div, to Gen Patch, CG American Div. The battle-weary First Marine Div gradually withdraws from Guadalcanal during Dec.

12/9/42 Eleventh AF The daily weather aircraft cannot return to base due a sudden snow squall and crash-lands at Atka I.

Attempted bombing mission to Kiska Harbor by 3 B-26's and 6 P-38's is forced back by weather.

12/10/42 Twelfth AF Due to heavy rains and waterlogging of A/Fs, aerial activity in Algeria-Tunisia area practically ceases.

Allied troops repulse another armd and inf attack on Medjez el Bab. During 10/11 Dec, elements of British 78th Div and US 1st Armd Div begin withdrawal to Bedja area to refit. 1st Armd Div sustains heavy loss of equipment as it withdraws.

12/10/42 Eleventh AF The weather aircraft which crashlanded at Atka on the previous day is sighted on the W end of the island, its fuselage broken off aft of the wings. Crew, later brought back, is unharmed except for light injuries of Gen Lynd, visiting IG. Uneventful rcn covers Attu, Kiska and the Semichis. 4 B-26's and 6 P-38's abort a bomb run to Kiska due to weather.

12/11/42 Twelfth AF Twelfth AF creates 5 area cmds covering NW Africa from W coast of Morocco to E coast of Tunisia.

From W to E these are: Moroccan Comp Wg (Col Rosenham R Beam); W Algerian Comp Wg (Col Lawrence P Hickey); C Algerian Comp Wg (Col Paul L Williams); XII BC (Col Charles T Phillips); and XII FC (Gen Blackburn). Gen Cannon becomes overall cmdr of the 2 wgs in Algeria. B-25's with ftr escort, attack rail bridge at La Hencha. P-38's fly sea patrol off N coast and over Gulf of Tunis and rcn over Sousse region. Spitfires sweep over Medjez el Bab, and Bone.

12/11/42 Ninth AF B-24's bomb harbor and surrounding areas at Naples with good results. P-40's fly several FB mission and sweeps over battle area in preparation for ground assault on El Agheila which Gen Montgomery schedules for 14 Dec.

12/11/42 Tenth AF HBs of IATF attack shipping at Port Blair, with negative results.

12/11/42 Fifth AF B-26's bomb A/F and T/O in Buna area. B-25's and B-26's hit A/F at Lae.

12/11/42 Eleventh AF Uneventful rcn cover Attu, Agattu, Amchitka, Kiska, and the Semichis. 3 B-26's and 4 P-38's rebomb and strafe previously bombed cargo vessel in Kiska Harbor, scoring 2 more direct hits. The P-38's also strafe and bomb Kiska Harbor submarine base and seaplane hangars, camp area, and nearby gun emplacements.

12/12/42 Eighth AF 17 HBs bomb Rouen-Sotteville M/Y. Bad weather prevents large attack planned for air installations at Romilly-sur-Seine.

12/12/42 Twelfth AF B-17's, with P-38 escort, bomb rail facilities and harbor area at Tunis. B-26's on mission to bomb at Sousse or La Hencha abort due to very bad weather. P-38's and P-40's fly widespread rcn operations.

12/12/42 Ninth AF P-40's fly sweeps and attack ground forces in El Agheila and Brega area. RAF Liberators, under IX BC operational control, attack dock area at Naples.

12/12/42 Fifth AF A-20's strafe barges off Sanananda Pt while B-17's bomb A/Fs at Lae and Salamaua.

12/12/42 SOPAC US HBs begin series of daily attacks on Japanese A/Fs nearing completion at Munda.

12/12/42 Eleventh AF Attempted photo rcn over Kiska by a B-24 and 2 P-38's returns without result due to weather. Another rcn B-24 is turned back by a weather front W of Buldir I.

12/13/42 Twelfth AF 15 B-17's of 97th Gp hit harbor and docks at Tunis. 10 B-17's of 301st Gp bomb harbor and docks at Bizerte and are shortly followed by 19 B-24's of Eighth AF's 93d Gp attacking same tgt. B-25's hit harbor area at Sousse while B-26's blast bridge N of Sfax. P-38's escort both MB raids. P-38's, P-40's, and Spitfires fly rcn and patrols over much of NW Africa. P-38's attack several tgts including vehicles N of Gabes and a schooner off Cape Dimasse. C-47's fly 17 transport missions between various points in NW Africa.

12/13/42 Ninth AF Aircraft of WDAF, including more than 100 US P-40's, fly strafing and bombing missions against ground forces which begin withdrawing from El Agheila during early morning. British 51st Inf Div penetrates E defenses of the town.

12/13/42 Fifth AF Convoy of 5 destroyers is detected off Madang, as it attempts to bring in reinforcements for beachhead in Buna area. B-17's and B-24's attack as it moves S but fail to deter its progress. A-20's bomb and strafe Cape Killerton area while B-17's bomb Salamaua area. B-26's hit A/F at Gasmata.

12/13/42 Eleventh AF Largely negative rcn is flown over Attu, Agattu, Kiska, Amchitka, and the Semichis by 2 B-24's and 2 P-38's.

12/14/42 Eighth AF IG report states that drain of stocks from Eighth AF for purpose of equipping Twelfth AF is hindering greatly the trg and combat program of Eighth AF gps.

12/14/42 Twelfth AF B-24's bomb harbor and shipping at Bizerte while B-17's hit similar tgts at Tunis. DB-7's make 2 attacks on M/Y at Sfax. P-38's and P-40's fly escort. P-38's attack vessels off N Tunisian coast, road between Tunis and Bizerte, train near Kerker, trucks near Chaaba, and El Djem, and train near La Hencha. P-40's fly sweeps; F-4's carry out photo rcn over areas of Tunisia; C-47's fly 19 transport mission between various points in NW Africa.

12/14/42 Ninth AF P-40's continue to pound retreating forces E of El Agheila As British 7th Armd and 51st Inf Div push W, 2d NZ Div pushes SW and rounds enemy's right flank, then heads NW towards coast to cut off retreat.

12/14/42 Fifth AF Troop-carrying destroyers, attacked by Fifth AF aircraft on 13 Dec, reach mouth of Mambare R and unload without being detected. However, Fifth AF MBs, LBs and ftrs, along with RAAF airplanes, subsequently deliver damaging blows against these troops and their supplies and also hit forces along Kumusi R, in Cape Endaiadere area, and along the Mambare R. The destroyers are attacked off Cape Ward Hunt by MRs and HBs. A/Fs at Lae and Gasmata are also bombed.

12/15/42 Twelfth AF B-26's attack El Aouina A/F while B-17's bomb harbor area. Other B-17's hit harbor at Bizerte. F-4's fly several photo rcn missions over coastal Tunisia covering area from Bizerte to Gabes, ftrs fly routine patrols, and C-47's carry out numerous courier and transport missions in NW Africa.

12/15/42 Ninth AF B-24's, opening Ninth AF offensive against Tunisian ports, hit railroad yard, repair shop, and roundhouse at Sfax. RAF B-24's, operationally controlled by IX BC, hit Naples harbor during 15/16 Dec. B- 25's and P-40's strike at retreating troops and vehicles between El Agheila and Merduma, as 2d NZ Div drives to coast in Merduma area to obstruct the retreating forces.

12/15/42 Fifth AF A-20's hit forces along Mambare R while a B-24 bombs wrecked ship at Gona.

12/16/42 Twelfth AF DB-7's bomb rail junction E of Mateur and hit town area of Massicault and nearby vehicle dispersal area. P-38's attack ships off N coast of Tunisia scoring hit on 1 vessel. Other P-38's fly rcn missions, exchanging ineffective fire with enemy airplanes. C-47's continue transport and courier missions in NW Africa. Col Carlyle H Ridenour takes over as CO XII BC.

12/16/42 Ninth AF P-40's fly FB missions and sweeps over battle area as enemy, breaking into small dets, manage; to withdraw from El Agheila positions after hard fighting and heavy losses. B-25's hit concentrations and transport tgts.

12/16/42 Fifth AF A-20's and B-26's bomb forces in Buna area and at mouth of Kumusi R, and strafe barge and lagoon shoreline S of the Kumusi's mouth. B-24's attack wreck off Gona, cargo vessel in Bismarck Sea, and a destroyed, 2 cargo ships, and 2 tankers in Solomon Sea, SE of Cape Orford.

12/17/42 N Africa Adm Darlan announces French Fleet units at Alexandria, Dakar, and N African ports are joining Allied forces.

12/17/42 Twelfth AF 36 B-17's hit harbors and dock; at Tunis and Bizerte, claiming damage to both tgts and destruction of 1 vessel and 3 aircraft at Tunis. DB-7's and A-20's hit military installations N and W of Gabes A/F and landing ground near Sidi Tabet. B-25's and B-26's on shipping raid in Gulf of Tunis fail to sight vessels.

P-38's and Spitfires escort all the bomb missions. P-38's on sea mission off N Tunisia engage German aircraft in combat, claiming 1 destroyed. Other P-38's and F-4's fly rcn over Tunisia.

12/17/42 Tenth AF CATF planes pound Lashio.

12/17/42 Fifth AF B-26's bomb Buna mission while US ground forces make fruitless attacks on The Triangle now dubbed 'Bloody Triangle.'" 12/17/42 SOPAC US 132d Inf opens preliminaries for offensive on Guadalcanal with attack on positions in Mount Austen area which overlooks Henderson Field. The enemy offers bitter resistance. AAF aircraft, especially P-39's, and Marine SBD's, provide spt and continue to do so as the offensive progresses, cutting off Japanese forces from coastal supply points, hitting reinforcements moving through the jungle, and destroying ammo dumps.

12/17/42 Eleventh AF A rcn sortie is flown over Attu, Agattu, Kiska, Amchitka, and the Semichis. 2 attacks by 5 B-24's, 2 B- 25's, and 4 B-26's-the second attack escorted by 8 P-38's-take off for Kiska. Only the first mission, 4 B-24's, gets through and hits submarine base area, marine railway, buildings, and communication facilities. Second mission aborts due to weather. P-38's and B-24's also fly offshore patrol between Vega Pt and Little Kiska.

12/18/42 Twelfth AF B-17's, with P-38 escort, hit Bizerte harbor and shipping offshore. Direct hit scored on 1 vessel Attacks by ftrs result in loss of 1 HB and 4 ftrs. 3 enemy ftrs are destroyed and others damaged. B-26's and P-38 escorts attack M/Y at Sousse, hitting station, roundhouse, and other buildings, tracks, and a train. Heavy AA accounts for 2 MBs. DB-7's, with ftr escort, hit landing ground and dispersal area near Mateur and attack railroad yards in the town. P-38's and P-40's fly rcn missions and sweeps over Tunisia and attack ground tgts, including a train N of Sfax and trucks near Sainte-Marie-du-Zit. C-47's continue transport missions in NW Africa.

12/18/42 Ninth AF 93d Bomb Gp, Eighth AF, is attached to IX BC for operations. P-40's fly rcn and patrol as British Eighth Army's lead div, 2d NZ, clashes with enemy rear guards at Nofilia. B-17's hit shipping and harbor installations at Sousse. RAF B-24's, under IX BC, follow with raid on same tgt during 18/19 Dec.

12/18/42 Fifth AF A-20's hit positions at Kurenada in Cape Endaiadere area where Allied ground forces launch concerted assault. B-17's attack convoy in Astrolabe Bay off Madang, while B-24's bomb Alexishafen area. B- 24's bomb A/F at Lae and attack the convoy off Madang and a transport NW of Lorengau.

12/18/42 Eleventh AF A B-24 flies rcn over Kiska, Attu, Agattu, and Semichis.

12/19/42 Twelfth AF Rain curtails operations. A-20's and DB-7's, with ftr escort, hit M/Y at Sfax. Ftrs fly routine patrol in Oran area.

12/19/42 Fifth AF A-20's and B-25's hit Buna Mission area in which Australian forces again attacking The Triangle are halted by fierce crossfire. B-24's and B-17's attack warships, transports, and cargo vessels off Madang in Astrolabe Bay and NNW of Finschhafen off coast of Huon Peninsula. B-25's bomb A/F at Lae.

12/19/42 Eleventh AF 2 B-24's fly rcn and patrol over Amchitka and Kiska. 4 escorting P-38's turn back due to weather and mechanical difficulties.

12/19/42 Eighth AF 72 HBs attack air de pot at Romilly-sur-Seine in effective raid. 6 bmrs are lost to ftrs.

12/20/42 Twelfth AF Operations are severely curtailed as result of heavy rains. C-47's maintain transport and courier service.

Ftrs fly rcn and scramble missions.

12/20/42 Ninth AF B-24's sent to attack Sousse harbor, abort because of 2 weather; 3 bomb wrecked vessel N of Sfax.

12/20/42 Tenth AF CATF bmrs hit Lashio. Japanese airplanes bomb Calcutta and vicinity, hitting docks, shipping, and A/Fs in the area.

12/20/42 Fifth AF A-20's and B-25's pound Giropa Pt and area around Buna Mission near which are located strong bunker positions. After preparatory bombardment Australian forces again assault the positions, attacking twice under cover of smoke, but are beaten back. A decision is made to bypass The Triangle.

12/20/42 Eleventh AF 4 B-26's, 5 B-24's, 4 B-25's, and 9 P-38's make a coordinated bombing, strafing, and incendiary attack on Kiska Harbor installations and vicinity, especially on the submarine base and near the marine railway and gun emplacements. A direct hit is scored on a probable ammo dump. P-38's also strafe previously damaged cargo ship off Trout Lagoon. 1 B-24 and 2 P-38's fly photo and rcn patrol over Attu, Agattu, Semichis, and Amchitka.

12/21/42 Twelfth AF Weather prevents B-17's from bombing Sfax or secondary tgt, Gabes. P-38's on scramble over Youksles- Bains down 2 Ju 88's. P-40's destroy a tank and several cars and trucks with trailers in Kairouan area. F-4's fly 3 photo rcn missions over area between Bizerte and Gabes while C-47's continue transport and courier missions.

12/21/42 Ninth AF B-24's of 93d Bomb Gp abort mission against Sousse harbor due to weather. 6 RAF Liberators, under IX BC control, attack the harbor; results are not observed. Light forces of British Eighth Army overtake enemy rearguard at Sirte and are halted temporarily.

12/21/42 Fifth AF B-17's attack vessels in Finschhafen harbor while B-24's carry out single-bmr strikes on cargo ship N of Finschhafen and barges at mouth of the Mambare R and off Cape Ward Hunt.

12/21/42 Eleventh AF 1 B-24 flies uneventful rcn over Amchitka, Kiska, Semichis, and Attu. A B-24 and 2 P-38's abort photo mission due to weather.

12/22/42 Twelfth AF Solid overcast prevents B-17's from bombing Bizerte or alternate tgts of Sousse and Sfax. P-40's shoot up train in Kairouan and destroy trucks on Sfax-Faid road. F-4's continue rcn between Bizerte and Gabes-Medenine area. C-47's continue courier missions. British 5 Corps of First Army renews drive on Tunis. 2d Coldstream Gds attack Djebel el Ahmera (Longstop Hill) NE of Medjez el Bab.

12/22/42 Ninth AF B-24's of 93d Gp and RAF Liberators are dispatched against harbor at Sousse. Only 2 HBs reach tgt.

Others are forced to return because of weather, but a few manage to bomb Monastir and railroads at Mahdia.

12/22/42 Tenth AF CATF aircraft bomb Lashio.

12/22/42 Fifth AF B-25's pound Maimba mission and village near Buna when ground forces continue to resist stubbornly.

B-17's hit ship in harbor at Arawe while a single 3-24 attacks a transport off Gasmata.

12/22/42 Ninth AF 26 B-24's staging 42 through Midway from Hawaii bomb Wake I during 22/23 Dec.

12/22/42 Eleventh AF All missions including a B-24 weather run canceled due to weather.

12/23/42 AAF Committee of Operations Analysts, in process of formulating a basis for tgt selection, presents an interim report stating principle of concentration of bombardment against a few essential industries or services.

12/23/42 Twelfth AF Total cloud cover causes B-17's, escorted by P-38's, to abort bombing mission against Tunis and Bizerte A/Fs. Spitfires fly routine patrol over Oran-Tafaraoui area. C-47's fly courier missions. Elements of US 1st Div, after relieving 2d Coldstream Gds on Djebel el Ahmera, are forced to withdraw by German counterattack.

12/23/42 Ninth AF 324th Ftr Gp arrives in Egypt to join Ninth AF.

12/23/42 Fifth AF A-20's strafe troops near Gona and at Woiba Is. B-25's bomb Cape Gloucester A/F, and at tack ship at Pilelo I. B-24's carry out single-bmr attacks on transport WSW of Cape Orford, a vessel NW of Lorengau, a cargo ship at Arawe, and the Cape Gloucester A/F.

12/24/42 Eighth AF First P-47's arrive in ETO. However, because of VHF radios and engine difficulties, the P-47's are not sent into combat until Apr 43.

12/24/42 N Africa Adm Darlan is assassinated in Algiers. Gen Giraud becomes acting French ruler of African colonies.

12/24/42 Twelfth AF Weather restricts operations to routine C-47 courier lights, Spitfire patrols in Oran-Tafaraoui area, and an attack by 4 P-40's on bridge N of Gabes. During conference with Gen Eisenhower, Gen Sir Anderson, CG British First Army, decides to cease attack Oil Tunis until after rainy season. British forces retake positions on Djebel el Ahmera.

12/24/42 Ninth AF B-24's sent to bomb Tunis abort because of weather. B-24's attack harbor at Naples during 23/24 Dec; 1 bombs Taranto.

12/24/42 Fifth AF A-20's strafe troops near Kel and along N Amboga R and trail. B-17's and B-24's hit shipping and A/F at Gasmata. Other B-24's, operating singly, bomb Lae, a schooner in Vitiaz Strait, and the harbor at Arawe.

12/24/42 SOPAC 3 P-39's and USMC F-4F's and SBD's carry out their most devastating raid on Munda, claiming 24 ftrs destroyed on the ground and in the air. None of the attacking ftrs are lost.

12/24/42 Eleventh AF The rcn aircraft over Kiska finds shipping there unchanged. Weather cancels other missions.

12/25/42 Twelfth AF P-40's bomb troop concentration at Sfax. P-38's sent to bomb convoy off N Tunisia fail to sight ships.

Germans retake Djebel el Ahmera.

12/25/42 Fifth AF A B-17 attacks sub in Wide Bay off New Britain; 1 B-24 attack runways at Cape Gloucester and another bombs Lae.

12/25/42 Eleventh AF A-24 takes photos of Kiska and Attu and unsuccessfully bombs 6 barges between Gertrude Cove and Kiska Harbor. The B-24 then sights 8 float Zeros. 3 unsuccessfully attempt to attack the HB.

12/26/42 Twelfth AF B-17's, with ftr escort, hit harbor and shipping at Bizerte; heavy AA and ftr attacks account for 2 HBs and 2 P-38's, P-38's claim 2 FW-190's destroyed. Other B-17's, with P-40 escort, bomb harbor and shipping at Sfax; HBs claim 3 vessels sunk. P-38's on rcn attack locomotives and motor vehicles S of Tunis and W of Sousse. P-40's strafe barges off Sousse, destroying 1 of them, and strafe ground tgts during rcn over Kairouan-Sousse-Kasserine area. Spitfires patrol Oran area. C-47's continue transport runs. During 26/27 Dec transports drop det of US paratroops at bridge N of El Djem.

12/26/42 Ninth AF B-24's are dispatched against Tunis harbor during 26/27 Dec; hit primary tgt while 2 others bomb Sousse and Sfax.

12/26/42 Tenth AF 12 IATF B-24's bomb railroad station, dock area, arsenal, and power plant at Bangkok. CATF B-25's hit Lashio.

12/26/42 Fifth AF HBs carry out single bmr attacks against Cape Gloucester, Finschhafen, and Madang, and attack shipping off New Britain. Japanese aircraft from Rabaul attack Doboduru but are driven off by Fifth AF ftrs.

12/26/42 SOPAC Gen Mulcahy, USMC, arrives on Guadalcanal with Second Marine Aircraft Wg and assumes operational control of all aircraft on the island, including those of the AAF.

12/26/42 Eleventh AF 6 B-24's and 9 P-38's attack Holtz Bay but do not find the 8 float Zeros seen there the previous day.

The P-38's strafe Attu installations at minimum altitude. The B-24's bomb Sarana Bay. AA fire downs one P-38 and damages another. Later 6 B-25's and 4 P-38's over Kiska and Gertrude Cove abort due to low ceiling. An OA-10 flies rcn over NE Kiska.

12/27/42 Twelfth AF B-17's, escorted by P-38's, bomb shipping and dock facilities at Sousse, damaging docks and warehouses and claiming direct hits on 4 vessels. P-38's and P-40's fly several rcn missions over Tunisia while Spitfires patrol Oran and Bone areas. C-47 transport flights continue. British First Army repels attack in Medjez el Bab area.

12/27/42 Fifth AF B-17's pound shipping at Rabaul while B-26's hit tgts in Gona area. A single B-24 hits runway at Finschhafen.

12/27/42 Eleventh AF 2 B-24's flying rcn over Kiska and Amchitka abort in bad weather.

12/28/42 Twelfth AF B-17's bomb dock and harbor installations at Sousse. P-38's provide escort. P-38's and P-40's on patrol and rcn missions claim 4 airplanes downed in combat and several vehicles destroyed at various points in Tunisia. C-47's, some escorted by Spitfires, continue courier and ferry missions. F-4's fly rcn over Tunis, Sousse and Sfax areas, and Spitfires patrol Oran and Bone areas.

12/28/42 Ninth AF During 27/28 Dec and during day, B-24's, including RAF Liberators under IX BC control, bomb harbor at Sousse, hitting vessels and dock installations. British Army patrols reach point E of Buerat, overlooking Wadi el Chebir, without opposition.

12/28/42 Tenth AF CATF B-25's, with ftr spt, hit Magwe.

12/28/42 Fifth AF B-24's bomb Rabaul, Gasmata and Lae.

12/28/42 Eleventh AF Icing conditions and low visibility prevent all flying.

12/29/42 Twelfth AF B-17's attack Sousse docks and harbor; P-38's provide escort. DB-7's and A-20's hit bridges at La Hencha; escorting P-40's strafe flatcars and locomotive at Sainte-Juliette. P-38's attack tank depot SE of Pont-du-Fahs; DB-7's and A-20's follow with attack on same tgt. P-38's and P-40's fly rcn missions and patrols over wide areas of Algeria and Tunisia. C-47's continue transport missions throughout NW Africa.

12/29/42 Ninth AF B-24's sent to bomb Tunis harbor during 29/30 Dec find tgt obscured by clouds and attack Sousse instead.

12/29/42 Tenth AF 12 B-24's attack shipping in Rangoon vicinity.

12/29/42 Fifth AF A-20's strafe forces and occupied areas at Lokanu and along W bank of Amboga R. B-24's carry out single-bmr attacks on A/Fs at Lae and Gasmata.

12/29/42 Eleventh AF B-24 flies negative rcn over Rat I and Amchitka. Scheduled Kiska attack and Amchitka rcn missions are canceled by bad weather.

12/30/42 Eighth AF 40 HBs hit submarine base at Lorient, which now shows cumulative effect of repeated bombardment.

12/30/42 Twelfth AF B-17's, with P-38 escort, attack docks and M/Y at Sfax. B-25's escorted by P-38's, follow with attack on same M/Y. DB-7's hit troop concentration near Gabes, this attack being followed by A-20 raid on the A/F. During afternoon more DB-7's hit Gabes, concentrating on the A/F. P-40's and P-38's furnish escort for the raids on Gabes. A-20's hit fuel dump at El Aouinet; on return flight, escorting P-40's strafe near El Guettar. P-38's fly 2 rcn missions to Tripoli, 1 flight destroying several trucks on return trip. P-40's and F-4's fly uneventful rcn missions.

12/30/42 Fifth AF B-17's bomb shipping at Rabaul. A-20's strafe forces in Duvira Creek area while B-24's carry out single- bmr attacks on A/F at Lae, Madang Village, and troops and vehicles at Wewak. A B-17 strafes a schooner in Jacquinot Bay.

12/30/42 Eleventh AF B-25's and 14 P-38's approach Kiska Harbor at minimum altitude for a bombing and strafing attack. 2 ships and 3 submarines, newly arrived, are covered by Zeros. 4 of them engage the approaching P- 38's in a dogfight. 2 P-38's are shot down and 4 Zeros are scored as probable. The B-25's meanwhile attack the ships with unobserved results. One B-25 is shot down off Little Kiska. A PBY picks up survivors, but fails to return. Kiska Harbor is then attacked once more by 5 B-24's, 4 B-25's, and 4 B- 26's. They claim 2 hits on both vessels observing explosions on the smaller ship. A B-24 photographs Amchitka. Weather rcn of Near Is is canceled due to weather. Aerial rcn observes for first time Japanese use of smoke screen at Kiska Harbor.

12/31/42 Ninth AF B-24's, including RAF Liberators, bomb shipping and dock area at Sfax with good results.

12/31/42 Twelfth AF LBs, with ftr escort, make 2 attacks on Sousse, bombing railroad yards and docks. Escorted B-17's hit harbor at Sfax while B-26's, with ftr protection, hit A/F area at Gabes and shipping and rail bridges in Bizerte-Tunis area. P-38's and P-40's, flying rcn, destroy several vehicles. Other ftrs fly routine patrols and escort C-47's on transport missions.

12/31/42 Tenth AF P-40's on armed rcn hit railroad T/Os from Naba to Pinbaw. A-20's strafe forces in Sanananda and Giruwa area and along Amboga R. B-26's pound forces on N shore of Markham R near its mouth, while A-20's strafe parked aircraft at Lae. B-24's operating singly, bomb A/F at Gasmata and attack shipping in Wide Bay and Saint George Channel.

12/31/42 SOPAC B-26's of 69th Bomb Sq arrive on Guadalcanal.

12/31/42 Eleventh AF 6 B-24's, covered by 9 P-38's, attack Kiska Harbor, hitting 2 cargo vessels. 1 of 6 intercepting ftrs is probably shot down. 1 B-25 searching for a Navy aircraft missing since the previous day also flies rcn over Semisopochnoi, Segula, Little Sitkin, Gareloi, and Amchitka.