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08/01/42
Eighth AF
Gen Eaker describes the mission of VIII BC as the destruction of
carefully chosen strategic tgts in Europe.
08/01/42
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.
08/01/42
Fifth AF
B-17's attack installations at Gona and shipping 75 mi E of Salamaua
in Huon Gulf.
08/01/42
Eleventh AF
Weather and photo rcn is flown by 1 B-24 and 1 LB-30 over Korovin Bay
and North Cape.
08/02/42
Fifth AF
1 B-17 flies unsuccessful strike against cargo vessel 5 mi S of
Salamaua while another bombs Gona."
08/03/42
Fifth AF
P-40's strafe Oivi and Kokoda.
08/03/42
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."
08/04/42
USAMEAF
B-24's strike convoy in Mediterranean during 4/5 Aug, claiming hits
on 2 merchant ships.
08/04/42
Tenth AF
P-40's sweep Japanese HQ at Linchwan and bomb HQ buildings and
barracks and strafe transports.
08/04/42
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.
08/05/42
Eighth AF
VIII FC dispatches its first mission--11 aircraft of 31st Ftr Gp on a
practice run over France."
08/05/42
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.
08/05/42
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.
08/06/42
USAMEAF
B-24's hit harbor at Tobruk.
08/06/42
Tenth AF
B-25's bomb Tien Ho A/F, causing heavy damage to the runways and
destroying several parked airplanes."
08/06/42
Fifth AF
B-25's and B-26's pound A/Fs at Lae and Salamaua.
08/06/42
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.
08/07/42
USAMEAF
Col Harry A Halverson relinquishes cmd of Hal Bomb Sq, to be
succeeded by Lt Col George F McGuire.
08/07/42
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.
08/07/42
SOPAC
First Marine Div invades Guadalcanal."
08/07/42
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."
08/08/42
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.
08/08/42
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."
08/08/42
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.
08/08/42
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.
08/09/42
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.
08/09/42
Fifth AF
B-17's bomb shipping and A/Fs at Rabaul and Gasmata while B-26's hit
harbor area at Salamaua.
08/09/42
Eleventh AF
6 bmrs fly armed rcn over Kiska and Attu and hit Kiska.
08/10/42
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.
08/10/42
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.
08/11/42
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.
08/11/42
Tenth AF
P-40's hit A/Fs at Yoyang and Nanchang from which the enemy has been
attacking Hengyang.
08/11/42
Eleventh AF
1 B-24 flies photo rcn over W Semichi Is and N Attu coast.
08/12/42
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.
08/12/42
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.
08/12/42
Fifth AF
B-17's bomb shipping at Rabaul, scoring damaging hits on 3 vessels.
08/12/42
Eleventh AF
1 B-24 flies photo rcn over Amlia and Atka.
08/13/42
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.
08/13/42
Eleventh AF
1 B-24 flies photo rcn over Kiska.
08/14/42
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.
08/15/42
USAMEAF
B-24's bomb Tobruk harbor during 14/15 Aug.
08/15/42
Fifth AF
B-17's attack shipping off Gona."
08/15/42
Eleventh AF
A B-24 trying to fly photo rcn over Tanaga and Adak aborts over Kiska
due to weather.
08/15/42
ZI
AAF Foreign Serv Concentration Cmd is redesignated I Concentration
Cmd.
08/16/42
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.
08/16/42
Eleventh AF
A B-24 aborts photo rcn flight over Adak because of mechanical
failure.
08/17/42
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.
08/17/42
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 ofthe MPs of the 12th Bomb Gp in ME.
08/17/42
Fifth AF
A single B-17 bomb's Kavieng.
08/17/42
Eleventh AF
1 B-24 flies photo rcn over Buldir, Kiska and Amchitka Is despite
heavy rain.
08/18/42
Middle East
Gen Alexander assumes cmd of British imperial forces in ME.
08/18/42
Tenth AF
Gen Bissell becomes CG Tenth AF, relieving Gen Naiden who now devotes
full time to cmd of India-China Ferry Cmd.
08/18/42
Fifth AF
For second consecutive day a single B-17 attacks Kavieng bombs fall
in A/F dispersal area.
08/18/42
Eleventh AF
A B-24 takes oblique of Amchitka and Tanaga. Heavy fog over Kiska and
Attu preclude armed rcn.
08/19/42
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.
08/19/42
Fifth AF
B-17's bomb shipping at Faisi on Shortland I.
08/19/42
Eleventh AF
Mechanical failure prevents a B-24 from flying rcn over Tanaga.
08/20/42
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 ow between France
and Germany.
08/20/42
Eleventh AF
1 B-24 flies photo rcn over Kiska. Patrol is flown over Shumagin I.
08/20/42
ZI
Twelfth AF is activated at Bolling Field."
08/21/42
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.
08/21/42
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 crashland at sea.
08/21/42
Eleventh AF
1 B-24 trying to fly rcn over Kiska aborts due to weather.
08/22/42
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.
08/22/42
Fifth AF
B-17's bomb A/Fs at Lae and Rabaul."
08/22/42
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.
08/22/42
Eleventh AF
Photo rcn mission over Kiska is aborted due to overcast.
08/22/42
Sixth AF
German sub, U-654, is sunk o Panama, 12-00N 79-56W, by aircraft of
45th Bomb Sq.
08/22/42
ZI
XII AFSC is activated at MacDill Field, under Maj John L
Cheesebrough.
08/23/42
Fifth AF
A lone B-17 bombs Buka I.
08/23/42
Eleventh AF
Fog cancels photo mission.
08/24/42
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.
08/24/42
USAMEAF
B-24's attack Tobruk harbor.
08/24/42
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 coastwatcher during
the afternoon.
08/24/42
SOPAC
In the Battle of the Eastern Solomons, 7 B-17's and USN dive and
torpedobmrs 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.
08/24/42
Eleventh AF
404th Bomb Sq begins to operate from Umnak. Photo rcn sortie is
canceled due to overcast.
08/24/42
ZI
XII FC is assigned to Twelfth AF.
08/25/42
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.
08/25/42
USAMEAF
B-25's bomb shipping and landing grounds. B-24's attack Corinth
Canal.
08/25/42
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.
08/25/42
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.
08/25/42
Eleventh AF
Photo rcn airplane flies over Kiska, Attu, and Adak, then turns back
because of mechanical failure.
08/26/42
USSR
Russians make 7 counterattacks NWof Stalingrad.
08/26/42
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.
08/26/42
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.
08/26/42
Eleventh AF
Photo mission aborted over Atka due to weather.
08/27/42
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.
08/27/42
USAMEAF
B-24's bomb a convoy, hitting 1 merchant ship which is reported
sinking.
08/27/42
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.
08/27/42
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.
08/28/42
Eighth AF
11 B-17's bomb airplane factory of Avions Potez at Meaulte, an
important repair depot for German ftrs."
08/28/42
USAMEAF
2 B-24 sqs bomb docks, shipping, and jetties in Tobruk harbor.
08/28/42
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.
08/28/42
Fifth AF
B-26's pound forces at Milne Bay."
08/28/42
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."
08/28/42
ZI
Lt Col Harold L Neely takes cmd of Twelfth AF.
08/29/42
Eighth AF
12 B-17's attack Courtrai/Wevelghem A/F, an FW-190 base.
08/29/42
USAMEAF
B-24's fail to locate shipping near Crete and return without bombing.
B-25's bomb landing ground during 29/30 Aug.
08/29/42
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.
08/29/42
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.
08/29/42
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.
08/30/42
USAMEAF
B-24's bomb docks and jetties in Tobruk Harbor.
08/30/42
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.
08/30/42
Fifth AF
B-17's attack shipping in Saint George Channel.
08/30/42
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.
08/31/42
Twelfth AF
XII BC is assigned to Twelfth AF with HQ at High Wycombe.
08/31/42
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.
08/31/42
Tenth AF
MBs from China bomb Myitkyina for second consecutive day.
08/31/42
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.
08/31/42
Eleventh AF
Of 2 B-24's flying weather, rcn and patrol missions over Tanaga, 1 returns due to weather.
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