Eighty Years Ago: Asia Pacific, Oct 22 – 28, 1942

Oct 22, 1942: Australian forces land on Goodenough Island off New Guinea, clashing with Japanese troops already there Oct 23, 1942: Major James Roosevelt, son of President Franklin Roosevelt, is … Continue Reading →

Eighty Years Ago: Asia Pacific, Oct 15 – 21, 1942

Oct 15, 1942: Admiral Bill Halsey, soon to be named South Pacific Area commander, begins familiarization trip of the region Oct 16, 1942: US seaplane tender MacFarland is severely damaged … Continue Reading →

Eighty Years Ago: Asia Pacific, Oct 8 – 14, 1942

Oct 8, 1942: General Claire Chennault writes letter to President Roosevelt, calling for more resources to defeat Japanese air power in China as a preliminary to attack on Japan Oct … Continue Reading →

Eighty Years Ago: Asia Pacific, Oct 1 – 7, 1942

Oct 1, 1942: The Bell P-59 Airacomet, the first US jet plane, gets airborne Oct 2, 1942: US Marines occupy Western Pacific atoll of Funafuti Oct 3, 1942: India Air … Continue Reading →

Eighty Years Ago: Asia Pacific, Sep 24 – 30, 1942

Sep 24, 1942: US Army engineers meet at Contact Creek, British Columbia, as they complete first section of the Alaska Highway, a crucial logistical feat towards dominance of the Northern … Continue Reading →

Eighty Years Ago: Asia Pacific, Sep 17 – 23, 1942

Sep 17, 1942: US General Joseph Stilwell presents plan for China Air Task Force, whose main job will be to act as ferry route from India Sep 18, 1942: Elements … Continue Reading →

Eighty Years Ago: Asia Pacific, Sep 10 – 16, 1942

Sep 10, 1942: Japan inaugurates the Bukit Batok War Memorial in Singapore to commemorate its soldiers killed in the battle for the city (see photo above) Sep 11, 1942: Subhas … Continue Reading →

Eighty Years Ago: Asia Pacific, Sep 3 – 9, 1942

Sep 3, 1942: Brigadier General Roy Geiger assumes command of Cactus Air Force on Guadalcanal Sep 4, 1942: Australian troops push east along Milne Bay Sep 5, 1942: Prisoners at … Continue Reading →

Eighty Years Ago: Asia Pacific, Aug 27 – Sep 2, 1942

Aug 27, 1942: Japan decides to move its garrison on the Aleutian island of Attu to the island of Kiska nearby Aug 28, 1942: Milne Force, in southeastern New Guinea, … Continue Reading →

Eighty Years Ago: Asia Pacific, Aug 20 – 26, 1942

Aug 20, 1942: First planes arrive on Henderson Field, Guadalcanal Aug 21, 1942: Battle of Alligator Creek, Guadalcanal, leaves hundreds of Japanese soldiers dead Aug 22, 1942: Major General Cyril … Continue Reading →