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 →

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 →