Today in the History of the Pacific Theater

Aug 16, 1941
-Heavy cruisers Northampton (CA-26) and Salt Lake City (CA-25) arrive at Rabaul, New Britain, British New Guinea, for a goodwill visit.

Aug 16, 1942
-Submarine S-39 (SS-144), irreparably damaged by striking reef off Rossel Island, on 14 August, is abandoned.
-Airship L-8 (ZP-32) is damaged upon return from patrol off California coast, landing at Dale City, California. The airship, however is unmanned; the fate of its two-man crew remains a mystery.

Aug 16, 1944
-Submarine Croaker (SS-246) sinks Japanese auxiliary minesweeper Taito Maru west of Korea.

Aug 16, 1945
-Destroyer Healy (DD-672) makes sonar contact with underwater object about 100 miles east of Iwo Jima and carries out depth charge attack.
Submarine Piper (SS-409) is attacked in Japan Sea by unknown assailant.

 

Aug 17, 1941
-President Roosevelt and Secretary of State Hull confer with Japanese Ambassador Nomura and state conditions for resuming conversations or arranging a Pacific conference.

Aug 17, 1942
-Companies "A" and "B," 2d Marine Raider Battalion (Lieutenant Colonel Evans F. Carlson, USMC), transported in submarines Nautilus (SS-168) and Argonaut (SS-166), raid Makin Island in the Gilberts; Nautilus's gunfire supports marines ashore. The relative ease with which the assault is carried out, however, inspires the Japanese to bolster defenses in the region.
-Submarine Gudgeon (SS-211) damages Japanese oilers Shinkoku Maru and Nichiei Maru northwest of Truk.

Aug 17, 1943
-Destroyers Waller (DD-466) and Philip (DD-498) are damaged by collision off Barakoma, Solomons while defending convoy against Japanese air attack.
-USAAF B-24s damage Japanese cargo vessel Amagisan Maru off Balikpapan.

Aug 17, 1944
-Submarine Croaker (SS-246) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Yamatero Maru off west coast of Korea.
-RAAF aircraft sink Japanese cargo vessel No.2 Jun Maru off south coast of Miscol Island.
-Japanese river gunboat Hira is damaged by aircraft at Kiukiang, China.

Aug 17, 1945
-General Prince Higashikuni becomes Prime Minister of Japan and forms a new cabinet.
-Japanese Coast Defense Vessel No.46 is sunk by mine off Mokpo, Korea.

 

Aug 18, 1942
-Japanese destroyers Kagero, Hakigaze, Maikaze, Urakaze, Isokaze and Hamikaze begin landing 916 troops of the Imperial Army's Ichiki Detachment on Guadalcanal.

Aug 18, 1943
-Task group composed of four destroyers (Captain Thomas J. Ryan) attacks Japanese convoy north of Vella Lavella, Solomons; destroyers Nicholas (DD-449), Chevalier (DD-451), O'Bannon (DD-450), and Taylor (DD-468) sink auxiliary submarine chasers Cha 5 and Cha 12.
-In the first step toward acquiring airfields in the Ellice Islands to support projected operations in the Marshalls and Gilberts, an advanced survey party moves onto Nanomea atoll.
-Tank landing ships LST-396 is sunk by explosion (believed to have been caused accidentally by own ship's force), en route to Barakoma, Solomons.
-Destroyer Abner Read (DD-526) is damaged by mine off Conquer Point, Kiska Island, Aleutians.
-Submarine Plunger (SS-179) damages Japanese merchant cargo ship Okuni Maru.

Aug 18, 1944
-Submarine Hardhead (SS-365) sinks Japanese light cruiser Natori about 200 miles east of Samar, P.I.; accompanying fast transport T.3 continues on for Palau. Destroyers Uranami and Kiyoshimo rescue most of Natori's survivors.
-U.S. submarines Rasher (SS-269) and Redfish (SS-395) encounter Japanese convoy HI 71 off west coast of Luzon. Rasher sinks escort carrier Taiyo, transport Teia Maru, cargo ship Eishin Maru, oiler Teiyo Maru southwest of Cape Bojeador and damages transport Noshiro Maru southwest of Cape Bojeador; Redfish damages merchant tanker Eiyo Maru west of Luzon Strait.
-Submarine Ray (SS-271) sinks Japanese merchant tanker Nansei Maru off southern tip of Palawan.
-Dutch submarine Zwaardvisch sinks Japanese vessel Kim Hup Soen in Strait of Malacca. (Zwaardvisch is one of 2 British T class submarines transferred to the Dutch navy for use during the war).
-Japanese destroyer Samidare is damaged when she runs aground on Velasco Reef, north of Palau, Carolines.

 

16 August – Nothing to report.

17 August – Nothing to report.

18 August – Nothing to report.

19 August – Nothing to report for the Pacific Theater. On 19 August 1944, however, over southern France in support of Operation Dragoon, F6Fs from VF-74 are credited with 1 Ju 88 and 1 Do 217 and from VOF-1 with 2 He 111. On the 21st, VOF-1 will score again with 3 Ju 52.

 

Good post for the poor navy fighter pilots of the Atlantic. No body remembers them.
One more post and you will get a new metal and can pick an avatar. I for one like reading your posts, most of these guys just focus on Europe!

 

Interesting...I know that the US was only really using escort carriers in the Atlantic by this stage of the war so I looked up some info and turns out that VF-74 was assigned to the USS Kassan Bay (CVE-69) during this time. The reason for the research however was an apparently misguided notion of mine that all the US CVE's of the time were crewed by composite squadrons. It seems that all my readings on the Pacific theater showed this to be the case. So thanks for the report as it led to correcting a misguided notion of mine. to RLeonard... to my misguided notions.
PS...I'm away from my books and notes for the weekend so I will catch up on the 19-21 August on Sunday evening.

 

Bill,

To add to the 18 August 1945, maybe.?

2 Consolidated B-32 Dominators from 386th Bomb. Squadron were bounced by 14 Japanese fighters on a recce mission over Tokyo. At least 2 Japanes Fighters, maybe 4, were destroyed.
One B-32 crewman was killed and 2 wounded. Both aircraft returned to Okinawa

 

Aug 19, 1941
-Wake Detachment, 1st Defense Battalion, Fleet Marine Force (Major Lewis A. Hohn, USMC), arrives at Wake Island in cargo ship Regulus (AK-14) to begin work on defense installations.

Aug 19, 1942
-USAAF B-17s, flying from Espiritu Santo, bomb Japanese destroyers Kagero, Hagikaze and Maikaze off Guadalcanal, damaging Hagikaze off Tulagi.
-Small reconnaissance seaplane from Japanese submarine I-29 reconnoiters the Seychelles.

Aug 19, 1943
-Destroyer Warrington (DD-383) is damaged when she strikes a shoal 4 miles north of Lunga Point, Guadalcanal.
-OS2N (VS 57) sinks Japanese submarine I-17 approx 75 south of Nnoumea.
-Submarine Finback (SS-230) sinks Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 109 (ex-Dutch patrol vessel Kawi) off east coast of Celebes.

Aug 19, 1944
-U.S. submarine attacks on Japanese convoy HI 71, begun the previous day, continue off the west coast of Luzon as Bluefish (SS-222) sinks fast fleet tanker/seaplane carrier Hayasui, 80 nautical miles northwest of Cape Bolinao and damages hospital ship Awa Maru approx 75 miles southwest of Laoag City, Philippines.
-Submarine Redfin (SS-272) lays mines off Sarawak, Borneo.
-Submarine Spadefish (SS-411) sinks Japanese landing craft depot repair ship Tamatsu Maru west of Luzon.

Aug 19, 1945
-Formation of fleet Marine and bluejacket landing forces from officers and men afloat begins; these men are transferred, at sea, to transports for the impending occupation of Yokosuka under Commander, TF 31. Japanese delegates arrive in Manila to receive surrender instructions.
-Japanese escort vessel Oki is damaged by mine off Pusan, Korea.

 

Aug 20, 1942
-First USMC planes arrive at Henderson Field: aircraft escort vessel Long Island (AVG-1) ferries 19 F4Fs (VMF 223) and 12 SBDs (VMSB 232) to Guadalcanal. Although Japanese flying boat from the Shortlands sights Long Island, screened by light cruiser Helena (CL-50) and destroyers Aylwin (DD-355) and Dale (DD-353), the U.S. ships prove to be out of range of enemy land-based air and retire from the area without incident.
-Small seaplane tender Mackinac (AVP-13) is damaged when mistakenly bombed by SBDs (VS 71) from carrier Wasp (CV-7) off Ndeni Island.

Aug 20, 1943
-Destroyer Pringle (DD-477) is damaged by Japanese strafing and near-miss of bombs while transiting Gizo Strait, Solomons; tank landing ships LST-354 is damaged by near-misses of bombs, off Barakoma.
-Submarine Gar (SS-206) sinks Japanese transport Seizan Maru in the Makassar Straits.
-Submarine Pompano (SS-181) departs Midway on her seventh war patrol. She is never heard from again. The Japanese knew that she was in her area, however, for two ships fell to her torpedoes during September: AKAMA MARU, a 5,600 ton cargo carrier, on the 3rd, and TAIKO MARU, a 2,958 ton cargo carrier on the 25th. The enemy made no anti-submarine attacks during this period in POMPANO’s area, so enemy mines probably destroyed the veteran. POMPANO was struck from the Navy List 12 January 1944.
-Submarine Plunger (SS-179) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Seitai Maru off the southwest coast of Hokkaido.
-Submarine Wahoo (SS-238) sinks Japanese merchant sampan No.1 Inari Maru approx 150 miles northwest of Abashiri Japan.
-Dutch submarine O-24 sinks Japanese gunboat Chosa Maru south of Penang, Malaya.

Aug 20, 1944
-RAAF aircraft damage small Japanese cargo vessel Kairyu Maru, Menado Bay.
-RAAF Beaufighters sink small Japanese cargo vessel No.3 Yamada Maru off north coast of Ceram.
-USAAF B-24s (14th Air Force) sink Japanese army tanker Chuko Maru near Hong Kong.

Aug 20, 1945
-TF 31 (Rear Admiral Oscar C. Badger) is formed to assume responsibility for the occupation of Yokosuka naval base.
-Navy patrol planes reconnoiter Indochina and south China coasts; Japanese fighters attempt to intercept them.

 

Aug 21, 1942
-Submarine Cuttlefish (SS-171) damages Japanese ammunition ship Nichiro Maru approx 30 miles southwest of Kagoshima Bay Japan.
-Submarine Tambor (SS-198) sinks Japanese collier No.6 Shinsei Maru off Ponape Island.
-Motor vessel Lakatoi, commissioned at Nouméa, New Caledonia, on 15 August and manned by a crew made up of survivors of the sunken transport George F. Elliott (AP-13) sinks in storm approx 160 north of New Caledonia.

Aug 21, 1943
-Motor torpedo boats PT-181 and PT-183, operating from Rendova, are damaged by strafing of Japanese floatplane, northwest of Turovilu Island.

Aug 21, 1944
-Off Mindoro, submarines Guitarro (SS-363), Haddo (SS-255), Harder (SS-257) and Ray (SS-271) carry out series of attacks on Japanese convoy: Guitarro sinks merchant cargo ship Uga Maru; Haddo sinks merchant cargo ships Kinryu Maru and Norfolk Maru and damages merchant tanker Taiei Maru; and Ray sinks Japanese merchant tanker Taketoyo Maru.
-Submarine Muskallunge (SS-262) attacks Japanese Manila-to-Singapore convoy, sinking Japanese army transport Durban Maru off Cam Ranh Bay, French Indochina.
-PB4Ys damage Japanese guardboat No.10 Sumiyoshi Maru and small cargo vessel Shinyama Maru northwest of Marcus Island.
-PB4Ys damage Japanese cargo vessel Tateishi Maru in Davao harbor.
-RAAF Beaufighters and Kittyhawks attack Japanese shipping off Kaimana.
-Japanese army cargo ship Tokuhei Maru is sunk, probably by USAAF aircraft, Tayeh, Yangtze River.

Aug 21, 1945
-Two Chinese junks (Lieutenant Livingston Swentzel Jr., USNR) manned by 7 Americans and 20 Chinese guerrillas are attacked by Japanese junk (with a crew of 83 men) while enroute from Haimen to Shanghai, China. In a 45-minute action, the Chinese craft, directed by Lieutenant Swentzel, engage the enemy with bazookas, machine guns, and grenades. Upon boarding the Japanese craft, the Allied force finds 45 dead and 35 wounded; the victory has been achieved at the cost of four Chinese killed, and one American and five Chinese wounded. For his heroism above and beyond the call of duty, Lieutenant Swentzel is awarded the Navy Cross in what proves to be the last surface action of World War II.
-Japanese escort vessel Miyake is damaged by mine near Moji, Japan.
-Tenth Army security patrols on Okinawa by this point have captured 69 Japanese and killed 218 since the island is declared secure.
-Asiatic Wing, Naval Air Transport Service, is established at Oakland California.

 

Aug 22, 1940
-James V. Forrestal, former Administrative Assistant to the President and Wall Street broker, becomes first Undersecretary of the Navy. His office will become the most important coordinating agency for procurement and materiel in the Navy Department.

Aug 22, 1942
-First USAAF planes (five P-400s from the 67th Fighter Squadron) arrive at Henderson Field, Guadalcanal.
-Destroyer Blue (DD-387) is torpedoed by Japanese destroyer Kawakaze off Guadalcanal.
-Submarine Haddock (SS-231) torpedoes and sinks Japanese transport Tatsuho Maru off China coast, near Foochow.

Aug 22, 1943
-Marines (2d Airdrome Battalion) begin occupation of Nukufetau Atoll, Ellice Islands, as efforts proceed to acquire airfields to support the projected operations in the Marshalls and Gilberts.
-Submarine Pike (SS-173) damages Japanese army cargo ship Toun Maru.
-Submarine Plunger (SS-179) sinks Japanese merchant fishery mother ship Ryokai Maru approx 15 miles southwest of Shimamaki Japan.
-Submarine Swordfish (SS-193) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Nishiyama Maru off Palau.
-Submarine Tullibee (SS-284) sinks Japanese transport Kaisho Maru approx 250 miles southeast of Guam and survives depth-charge attack by the destroyer Ikazuchi.

Aug 22, 1944
-Submarine Bowfin (SS-287) attacks Japanese convoy, sinking army cargo ship Tsushima Maru in the Nansei Shoto.
-Submarines Haddo (SS-255) and Harder (SS-257) encounter three Japanese escort vessels off the mouth of Manila Bay. Haddo sinks Sado 35 miles west of Manila; Harder sinks Matsuwa and Hiburi about 50 miles west-southwest of Manila. Loss of the trio of escorts in one day prompts the Chief of Staff, 1st Surface Escort Unit, to lament candidly: "Escort vessels, whose prime duty it is to attack and sink enemy submarines, have themselves been being sunk by enemy subs. This year alone a total of 13 have been sunk and three badly damaged. In addition, the Kusagaki, Matsuwa, Sado and Hiburi have been sunk one after the other just recently." The situation mirrors the plight of Japanese antisubmarine operations.
-Submarine Pintado (SS-387) attacks Japanese convoy, sinking merchant tanker No.2 Tonan Maru 200 nautical miles southeast of Shanghai.
-Submarine Spadefish (SS-411) attacks Japanese convoy, damaging tanker No.2 Hakko Maru in Luzon Strait; the tanker takes refuge in Passeleng Bay. Subsequent efforts to salvage her prove unavailing as the tanker will break up in heavy swells on 18 September.
-Submarine Tang (SS-306) sinks Japanese army cargo ship No.2 Nansatsu Maru off Mikizaki.
-British submarine HMS Statesman sinks Japanese army cargo ship No.5 Sugi Maru (ex-Panamanian Gran) off Port Blair; escorting torpedo boat Kari and submarine chaser Ch.9 carry out unsuccessful counterattacks.
-Japanese merchant cargo ship Kanzaki Maru is sunk by aircraft off east coast of Korea.

Aug 22, 1945
-Captain Harold B. Grow, Atoll Commander, Majuro, accepts surrender of Mille Atoll, Marshalls (the first Japanese garrison to capitulate in the Pacific) on board destroyer escort Levy (DE-162).
-Navy Petroleum Reserve 4 Expedition, formed around cargo ship Spica (AK-16) and U.S. freighters Jonathan Harrington and Enos A. Mills, discharges remainder of tonnage at Point Barrow.
-Japanese antiaircraft batteries near Hong Kong fire upon navy patrol planes over China Coast.
-Japanese destroyer Asagao is damaged by mine in Shimonoseki Straits.

 

Aug 23, 1942
-Japanese light cruiser Yubari, accompanied by four destroyers and supporting ships, shells Nauru Island, Gilberts, in preparation for landings there.
-Destroyer Blue (DD-387), damaged on 22 August, is scuttled by her crew approx 15 miles southeast of Savo Island.
-Submarine Skipjack damages Japanese oiler Hayatomo southwest of Ambon, N.E.I.
-PBY (VP 23) attacks (in daylight!) Japanese heavy cruiser Furutaka, Solomons.

Aug 23, 1943
-Coastal minesweeper Crow (AMc-20) is sunk by erratic running friendly aircraft torpedo, Puget Sound, Washington.
-Submarine Grayling (SS-209) delivers supplies to Filipino guerrilla forces on Panay.
-Submarine Paddle (SS-263) sinks Italian merchant passenger/cargo ship Ada off Hamamatsu, Japan.
-Japanese transport Heito Maru is sunk by Allied aircraft east of Car Nicobar.

Aug 23, 1944
-Destroyer Cassin (DD-372), destroyer escort Cabana (DE-260), and infantry landing craft (gunboat) LCI(G)-346 and LCI(G)-438 bombard Japanese installations and positions on Aguijan Island, Marianas; ships repeat bombardment (LCI(G)-348 replaces LCI(G)-438 on 24 and 25 August) daily until 26 August.
-Battleships Tennessee (BB-43) and California (BB-44) en route from Eniwetok to Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, collide; damage to California will prevent her from participating in upcoming Palau operations.
-Submarine Haddo (SS-255) torpedoes Japanese destroyer Asakaze as the enemy warship is escorting tanker Niyo Maru, 20 miles southwest of Cape Bolinao, Luzon, P.I. Asakaze sinks near Dasol Bay after attempts at salvage fail.
-Submarine Tang (SS-306) attacks Japanese convoy off Honshu, sinking cargo ship Tsukushi Maru off Hamamatsu.
-USAAF B-24s sink Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser No.5 Shonan Maru northwest of Chichi Jima.

Aug 23, 1945
-Planes from TG 38.4 (Rear Admiral Arthur W. Radford) search for Japanese shipping between Hachijo Jima and the Bonins. Such movement would have been contrary to surrender instructions, but the searching aircraft report no violations.

 

Aug 24, 1942
-Battle of the Eastern Solomons occurs as TF 61 (Vice Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher), supported by USMC and USAAF planes from Henderson Field, turns back major Japanese attempt to recapture Guadalcanal and Tulagi. Carrier Enterprise (CV-6) is damaged by dive bomber approx 55 miles southeast of Stewart Island and destroyer Grayson (DD-435) is damaged by strafing and near-miss, but SBDs and TBFs (VB 3, VS 3, VT 8) from Saratoga (CV-3) sink carrier Ryujo approx 200 miles northeast of Santa Isabel Island and damage seaplane carrier Chitose. SBD (VMSB 232) damages light cruiser Jintsu north of Malaita Island, Solomons.
-Submarine Saury (SS-189) torpedoes Japanese army transport Otowasan Maru west of Luzon.
-Submarine Guardfish (SS-217) torpedoes and sinks Japanese merchant passenger-cargo ship Seikai Maru off entrance to Sendai harbor, on northeast coast of Honshu.
-Japanese transport Cuba Maru, stranded south of Sakhalin Island, Kurils, sinks.

Aug 24, 1943
-QUADRANT Conference ends. President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill agree to intensify the war against Japan without relaxing the effort against Germany in Europe, and to intensify the war against Italy. Additionally, steps will be taken to include the Russians to a greater degree in the western Allies and to recognize General Charles DeGaulle's French Committee of National Liberation as representative of the Free French.
-New Georgia, Solomons, campaign ends as U.S. Army troops occupy Bairoko Harbor.
-Motor torpedo boats PT-175, PT-176, and PT-164, operating from Rendova, are damaged by Japanese floatplanes, Gizo Strait.
-Submarine Whale (SS-239) damages Japanese fleet tanker San Diego Maru approx 110 miles east of Kagoshima Bay, Japan.
-Small reconnaissance seaplane from Japanese submarine I-25 reconnoiters Espiritu Santo.

Aug 24, 1944
-Submarine chaser SC-1009 is damaged by grounding off Kahului, Maui, T.H.
-Submarine Harder (SS-257) is sunk by Japanese Coast Defense Vessel No. 22 off west coast of Luzon.
-Submarine Ronquil (SS-396) attacks Japanese convoy, sinking army cargo ship No.3 Yoshida Maru off Keelung, Formosa, and merchant cargo ship Fukurei Maru off Sankaku Island.
-Submarine Sailfish (SS-192) attacks Japanese convoy in Luzon Strait, sinking transport Toan Maru.
-Submarine Seal (SS-183) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Tosei Maru off southeast coast of Hokkaido.
-British carrier force attacks Padang, Sumatra, sinking Japanese merchant cargo ship Shiretoko Maru off the harbor and damaging Senko Maru and Chisho Maru.
-Japanese casualties include minelayer Itsukushima is damaged by aircraft off Menado, N.E.I.
-Japanese auxiliary vessel Senko Maru is damaged by aircraft north of Boetoeng harbor.
-Japanese army cargo ship No.21 Kongo Maru is sunk by aircraft, Philippine location unspecified.

Aug 24, 1945
-U.S. freighters Jonathan Harrington and Enos A. Mills, of the Navy Petroleum Reserve 4 Expedition, are damaged by ice floes off Point Barrow, Alaska.

 

Aug 25, 1942
-USAAF B-17s sink Japanese destroyer Mutsuki off Santa Isabel, Solomons, as she stands by the sinking transport Kinryu Maru, damaged by planes from Enterprise (CV-6) north of Guadalcanal.
-USMC SBDs (VMSB 232) from Henderson Field damage light cruiser Jintsu and destroyer Uzuki off Guadalcanal.
-Submarine Growler (SS-215) sinks Japanese gunboat Sen-Yo Maru 20 miles south of Takao, Formosa and survives several ensuing depth-chargings.
-Submarine Seawolf (SS-197) sinks Japanese cargo ship Showa Maru off northeast coast of Borneo.
-Japanese occupy Nauru, Gilberts, and Goodenough Island, off southeast coast of New Guinea.

Aug 25, 1943
-Rear Admiral Marc A. Mitscher is relieved as Commander Aircraft, Solomons, by Major General Nathan F. Twining, USA.
-TG 34.4, covered by four destroyers, sows mines off Wilson Cove, western Kolombongara; light minelayers Montgomery (DM-17) and Preble (DM-20) are damaged in collision as they retire from the area approx 6 miles north of Savo Island.
-Destroyer Patterson (DD-392) sinks Japanese submarine RO-35, 170 miles southeast of San Cristobal Island, Solomons.
-USAAF B-24 damages Japanese vessel Mito Maru 60 miles west-northwest of Mussau Island.

Aug 25, 1944
-Submarine Picuda (SS-382), in attack on Japanese convoy at the western entrance to the Babuyan Channel, sinks destroyer Yunagi and merchant tanker Kotoku Maru 20 miles north-northeast of Cape Bojeador, P.I.; later, submarine Redfish (SS-395) comes upon the convoy attacked earlier by Picuda and damages army cargo ship Batopaha Maru north-northeast of Cape Bojeador; Manshu Maru tows the crippled Batopaha Maru to Bangui Bay where she is beached.
-Submarine Tang (SS-306) sinks Japanese merchant tanker No.8 Nanko Maru off Honshu.
-General stores issue ship Talita (AKS-8) is attacked by accident by U.S. merchant tanker Amatilla en route from Eniwetok to Espiritu Santo.

Aug 25, 1945
-Aircraft from carrier task groups begin daily flights over Japan to patrol airfields, shipping movements, and to locate and supply prisoner of war camps; operation continues until 2 September.
-TG 95.4 (Captain Henry J. Armstrong, Jr.) returns to Buckner Bay having completed its mine clearance work in the East China Sea and destroyed 578 mines during eleven days of sweeping.
-Carrier Wasp (CV-18) and destroyer Chauncey (DD-667) are damaged by typhoon.
-Chief of Naval Operations accords Navy Petroleum Reserve 4 Expedition a "well done" for accomplishing its mission "in an expeditious and seamanlike manner in spite of fog and ice."

 

Aug 26, 1941
-Ship Warrants Act is invoked by Executive Order, empowering President to direct Maritime Commission to establish cargo handling, ship repair, and maintenance priorities for merchant ships.

Aug 26, 1942
-Japanese land at Milne Bay, New Guinea; USAAF B-17s, B-25s, B-26s, P-40s, along with RAAF Hudsons, attack beaches and transports while Australian troops attack the invaders.
-SBDs (VS 71) from carrier Wasp (CV-7) damage Japanese submarine I-17, Solomons area.
-Japanese occupy Ocean Island.
-Submarine Haddock (SS-231) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Teishun Maru off China coast, about 100 miles north-northwest of Keelung, Formosa.
-Seaplane tender (destroyer) Williamson (AVD-2) is damaged by explosion of bombs jarred loose from PBY being towed by the ship.

Aug 26, 1943
-Submarine Tunny (SS-282) attacks Japanese convoy consisting of transport Amagisan Maru and oiler (ex-seaplane carrier) Tsurumi, escorted by submarine chaser Ch 4, off Palaus; Tunny's attack is unsuccessful but Ch 4 damages the submarine and forces her to terminate her patrol.
-USAAF B-24s bomb Japanese destroyers attempting to reach Buin, 45 miles from Buka, damaging Hamakaze and forcing her to put into Rabaul for repairs.

Aug 26, 1944
-Submarine chaser PC(S)-1404 transports a marine reconnaissance party to Aguijan Island; after recovering the leathernecks, she bombards the island.
-Light cruiser Boise (CL-47) is damaged when rammed accidentally by harbor tug Heroine, Sydney, Australia.
-Submarine tender Pelias (AS-14) is damaged by grounding in San Francisco Bay.
-Submarine Batfish (SS-310) causes further damage to grounded destroyer Samidare on Velasco Reef, Palau. Submariners observe Japanese blowing up the remainder of the wreckage.
-Submarine S-18 (SS-123) is damaged when accidentally rammed by medium landing craft LSM-135, Naval Repair Base, San Diego, California.

[ 28. August 2005, 09:02 AM: Message edited by: Bill Murray ]

 

Aug 27, 1940
-President Roosevelt signs joint resolution authorizing him to call Army Reserve components and National Guard into federal service for one year.
-Legislation is enacted authorizing the appointment of naval aviators of the Navy and Marine Corps reserve to the line of the regular Navy and Marine Corps, in order to augment the Naval Academy as a source of regular aviators.

Aug 27, 1941
-Japan protests shipment of U.S. goods to Vladivostok, Soviet Far East, through Japanese waters.

Aug 27, 1943
-Marines (2d Airdrome Battalion) and Seabees (16th Construction Battalion) complete occupation of Nukufetau, Ellice Islands. Army troops (RCT 172 of 43d Infantry Division) are landed on Arundel Island, Solomons.
-Tank landing craft LCT-319 sinks after running aground, Kiska, Aleutians.
-Submarine Drum (SS-228) damages Japanese transport Yamagiri Maru approx 150 miles northwest of Kaeving.
-Submarine Grayling (SS-209) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Meizan Maru approx 50 miles south of Subic Bay, P.I.
-Submarine Pollock (SS-180) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Taifuku Maru approx 35 miles east of Hyuga Japan, although minesweeper W.17 arrives on the scene in time to open fire on Pollock, the submarine escapes.
-Submarine Snapper (SS-185) inflicts further damage on the previously damaged Japanese transport Tokai Maru, Apra Harbor, Guam.
-USAAF B-17s and B-24s, escorted by P-38s, bomb Japanese installations in the Hansa Bay area, damaging small cargo vessel No.8 Manryu Maru.
-USAAF B-24s bomb Japanese shipping off western tip of New Hanover, damaging army cargo ship No.18 Shinsei Maru.
-USAAF B-25s bomb Japanese shipping and installations at Choiseul, damaging fishing vessel Kokusei Maru.
-In the Indian Ocean, the last group of survivors from U.S. freighter Robert Bacon, torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-178 on 14 July 1943 off Mozambique Light, reaches safety after 44 days at sea. Only one survivor perishes from exposure.

Aug 27, 1944
-Submarine Guitarro (SS-363) attacks Japanese convoy bound for Coron Bay, sinking merchant tanker No.25 Nanshin Maru, damaging No.3 Nanshin Maru, and forcing tanker No.25 Nanshin Maru aground at Busuanga, P.I.
-Submarine Stingray (SS-186) lands men and supplies on northwest shore of Luzon.
-PVs sink Japanese vessel Tensho Maru between Odomari and Onnekotan Island, Kurils.
-High speed minesweeper Boggs (DMS-3) and submarine chaser PC-783 are damaged in collision, San Diego, California.

Aug 27, 1945
-Third Fleet (Admiral William F. Halsey Jr.) stands into Sagami Wan, the outer bay to Tokyo, Japan.
-Japanese submarine I-14 surrenders to destroyers Murray (DD-576) and Dashiell (DD-659) east of northern Honshu. Prize crew from destroyer escort Bangust (DE-739) boards I-14 about 450 miles east of Nojima Zaki.
-Japanese submarine I-400 surrenders to destroyers Blue (DD-744) and Mansfield (DD-728) east of northern Honshu; destroyer escort Weaver (DE-741) places boarding party on board I-400.
-PB4Y (FAW 18) lands at Atsugi Airdrome, 14 miles from,Tokyo, because of mechanical difficulties. No Japanese approach the plane, which returns to Iwo Jima the same day.

 

Aug 28, 1941
-Supply, Priorities, and Allocations Board is established.

Aug 28, 1942
-USMC and Navy SBDs (VMSB 232, VS 5) bomb and sink Japanese destroyer Asagiri off Santa Isabel, Solomons, and damage destroyers Shirakumo, Yugiri, and Amagiri, preventing reinforcements (elements of the Kawaguchi Detachment) from landing on Guadalcanal.
-Light minelayer Gamble (DM-15) sinks Japanese submarine I-123 near Guadalcanal.

Aug 28, 1943
-Marines (7th Defense battalion) occupy Nanumea, Ellice Islands.
-Submarine Tarpon (SS-175) damages Japanese stores ship Shinsei Maru approx 120 southeast of Nagoya, Japan.
-Navy PBY aircraft attacks Japanese minelayer Hoko off Buka; although the Catalina crew claims damage, the enemy auxiliary escapes unscathed.
-USAAF B-25 and P-38 aircraft bomb Japanese installations in Hansa Bay region, sinking fishing vessels Owaru Maru and Seio Maru.

Aug 28, 1944
-USAAF B-25s sink auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 77 at south entrance of Paramushiro straits, Kurils.

Aug 28, 1945
-USAAF technicians land at Atsugi Airdrome, near Tokyo; these are the first American troops to land in Japan.
-Administrative and operational control of the Seventh Fleet (Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid) passes from Commander in Chief, Southwest Pacific Area (General of the Army Douglas MacArthur) to Commander in Chief Pacific Fleet (Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz).

 

Aug 29, 1942
-Transport William Ward Burrows (AP-6) is damaged when she runs aground on Sylvia Reef off Tulagi, Solomons.
-Australian destroyer HMAS Arunta sinks Japanese submarine RO-33 ten miles southeast of Port Moresby, New Guinea.

Aug 29, 1944
-Destroyer escort Conklin (DE-439) accidentally fires upon U.S. freighter Dominican Victory because of unfamiliarity with recognition signals north of the Marshalls.
-Infantry landing craft LCI-566 is damaged by grounding, south of Oahu.
-Submarine Jack (SS-259) sinks Japanese minesweeper W.28 and army cargo ship Mexico Maru northwest of Menado, Celebes.
-PBY sinks Japanese auxiliary sailing vessel Toyokuni Maru at entrance to Ambon Bay.
-Japanese merchant cargo ship Koryu Maru is sunk by aircraft, Kiukiang, China.
-Japanese tanker Kaiko Maru is damaged by mine in Strait of Malacca.

Aug 29, 1945
-Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Commander-in-Chief Pacific Fleet, arrives in Tokyo Bay on board PB2Y, and breaks his flag in battleship South Dakota (BB-57).
-Submarine Segundo (SS-398) encounters Japanese submarine I-401 off northeast coast of Honshu, and "after considerable negotiation," places prize crew on board.
-TG 30.6 (Commodore Rodger W. Simpson) arrives in Tokyo Bay to undertake emergency evacuation of Allied POWs in waterfront areas. Guided by TBMs from small carrier Cowpens (CVL-25) and taken to the scene by LCVPs from high speed transport Gosselin (APD-126), Commodore Simpson carries out his orders. The appearance of the LCVPs off the camp at Omori (the first liberated) triggers "an indescribable scene of jubilation and emotion" by the former captives, some of whom swim out to the approaching landing craft.
-Japanese garrisons on Halmahera and Morotai surrender.

 

O my God! I've just printed this topic for the lecture and it's 297 pages long!

 

General, try doing a lecture on the Mexican Air Force in the Phillipines using the P-47. Perhaps if you look around some of the vets are still around and living in your area and would guest lecture.