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 task of consolidating the shore positions now held by U. S. Marines in the Solomon Islands is progressing satisfactorily”

Aug 15, 1942: US government learns from Swiss diplomats that eight crew members of the Doolittle Raid are held prisoners by Tokyo police

Aug 16, 1942: Marine engineers complete work on airstrip on Guadalcanal, soon known as Henderson Airfield

Aug 17, 1942: Marine raiders under command of Lieutenant Colonel Evans Carlson kick off two-day-long attack on Japanese-held Makin Island

Aug 18, 1942: Clayton Bissell, above left next to China’s First Lady Song Meiling, is named commanding officer of US Tenth Air Force operating in China, Burma and India

Aug 19, 1942: Elements of the Australian 7th Division arrive in Port Moresby, New Guinea, to help stop Japanese advance

Categories: War

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