Eighty Years Ago: Asia Pacific, Aug 13 – 19, 1942

Aug 13, 1942: Japan’s Imperial General Headquarters orders 17th Army at Rabaul to take charge of ground operations on Guadalcanal Aug 14, 1942: US Navy Department issues statement saying “the … Continue Reading →

Eighty Years Ago: Asia Pacific, Aug 6 – 12, 1942

Aug 6, 1942: American B-25 bombers attack Japanese positions in Guangzhou, southern China Aug 7, 1942: US Marines land on Guadalcanal Aug 8, 1942: Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi calls … Continue Reading →

Eighty Years Ago: Asia Pacific, July 30 – Aug 5, 1942

July 30, 1942: WAVES, the US Navy’s Women’s Reserve, is established July 31, 1942: Guadalcanal invasion forces leaves Fiji Aug 1, 1942: Chinese leader Chiang Kai-shek approves plan to invade … Continue Reading →

Eighty Years Ago: Asia Pacific, July 23 – 29, 1942

July 23, 1942: Japanese troops move up Kokoda trail and clash with Australian forces July 24, 1942: Lieutenant Colonel William T. Owen, commander of Australian Army’s 39th Battalion, flies to … Continue Reading →

Eighty Years Ago: Asia Pacific, July 16 – 22, 1942

July 16, 1942: US Vice Admiral Frank Fletcher is put in command of Task Force 61, charged with commencing Allied offensive in the Solomons July 17, 1942: Allied commanders issue … Continue Reading →

Eighty Years Ago: Asia Pacific, July 9 – 15, 1942

July 9, 1942: US submarine USS Thresher narrowly escapes being sunk near Kwajalein atoll July 10, 1942: US Joint Chiefs of Staff approve South Pacific plan of attack, targeting Guadalcanal … Continue Reading →

Eighty Years Ago: Asia Pacific, July 2 – 8, 1942

July 2, 1942: US General Joseph Stilwell is named commander-in-chief of Chinese forces in India July 3, 1942: Australian 7th Brigade is moved from North Africa to Milne Bay, shifting … Continue Reading →

Eighty Years Ago: Asia Pacific, June 25 – July 1, 1942

June 25, 1942: US military introduces sulfanilamide, an antibacterial drug which is used in powdered form on the battlefield and will reduce infection rates significantly for the remainder of the … Continue Reading →

Eighty Years Ago: Asia Pacific, June 18 – 24, 1942

June 18, 1942: Japanese transport ship Nissan Maru is burning off island of Kiska, Aleutians, after American air raid June 19, 1942: US Admiral Robert Ghormley takes command of South … Continue Reading →

China’s Missing Guns

In 1936, when Sino-German ties were still friendly, the Chinese government signed a contract with the Berlin-based company HAPRO for the delivery of eight 150mm coastal defense guns. As the … Continue Reading →