Today in the History of the Pacific Theater

Sept 9, 1940
-Navy awards contracts for 210 new construction ships including 12 aircraft carriers and 7 battleships.
-Aircraft carrier Yorktown (CV-5) and submarine Shark (SS-174) are damaged in collision, Hawaiian Operating Area.
-Secretary of the Navy Knox breaks his flag in carrier Enterprise (CV-6) to observe operations; Enterprise is being used as fleet flagship for a trial period by Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (Admiral J.O. Richardson). Knox will fly in to Pearl Harbor in the Enterprise Air Group Commander's SBC to emphasize the rapid pace of modern naval operations.

Sept 9, 1941
-Naval Coastal Frontier Forces are formed.

Sept 9, 1942
-Small reconnaissance seaplane from Japanese submarine I-25 drops incendiary bombs on forest near Mount Emily, ten miles northeast of Brookings, Oregon, in an attempt to ignite forest fires. It is the first time a Japanese aircraft has bombed the continental United States during World War II. The bombing is reported by a forest ranger.
-Japanese submarine I-30 reaches Penang, Malaya, having successfully run the Allied blockade of Lorient, France. The I-30 carries one Japanese engineer as a passenger. Her cargo includes blueprints of the Würzburg air defense ground radar and one complete set, five German G7a aerial torpedoes and three G7e electric torpedoes, five Torpedovorhalterechner (torpedo data computers), 240 Bolde sonar countermeasure rounds, rocket and glider bombs, antitank guns, Zeiss anti-aircraft artillery director (fire control system), 200 20-mm AA guns, industrial diamonds valued at one million yen and fifty top secret "T-Enigma" coding machines.
-District patrol craft YP-346 is sunk by Japanese light cruiser Sendai and three destroyers off Guadalcanal.

Sept 9, 1943
-Four high-speed transports bombard Lae, New Guinea.
-Submarine Grayling (SS-209) is sunk, possibly rammed by Japanese transport Hokuan Maru in the South China Sea west of Luzon.
-Submarine Harder (SS-257) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Koyo Maru aprrox 15 miles south-southwest of Chosi Japan.
-Submarine Permit (SS-178) damages Japanese cargo vessel Tateyama Maru approx 200 miles northwest of Majuro in the Marshall Islands.
-Submarine Pompano (SS-181) damages Japanese army cargo ship Nanking Maru just off the shore of Kuiji, Japan.

Sept 9, 1944
-TF 38 (Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher) begins strikes against Japanese shipping, facilities, and airfields on Mindanao; carrier-based planes sink transport Kuniyama Maru in Sulu Sea and transports Kurenai Maru and Mihara Maru and cargo ship Taiyu Maru in Mindanao Sea. Light cruisers Birmingham (CL-62) and Santa Fe (CL-60) and four destroyers detached from TG 58.3 (Rear Admiral Laurance T. DuBose), covered by planes from small carrier Langley (CVL-27) demolish coastal convoy consisting of predominantly small ships and craft proceeding down the west coast of Mindanao.
-Submarine Bang (SS-385) sinks Japanessoue transport Tokiwasan Maru and merchant cargo ship Sh_ryu Maru south of Japan.
-Submarine Queenfish (SS-393) sinks Japanese transport Toy_ka Maru and merchant passenger/cargo ship Manshu Maru and damages torpedo boat Manazuru northwest of Babuyan, Luzon.
-Submarine Seal (SS-183) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Shonan Maru in Sea of Okhotsk, north of Etorofu, Kurils.
-Japanese auxiliary submarine chasers Cha 8 and Cha 9 are sunk by mines (laid on 6-8 July by British submarine HMS Porpoise) off Sumatra.
-Japanese merchant cargo ship Tsinan Maru is sunk by mine off Woosung, China.

 

Sept 10, 1944
-TF 38 air strikes against Japanese shipping, facilities and airfields on Mindanao continue. During these operations, TF 38 planes sink Japanese merchant cargo ship No.7 Unyo Maru off Mindanao.
Submarine Sunfish (SS-281) sinks Japanese merchant tanker Chihaya Maru east of Quelpart Island.
-Other Japanese casualties include army tanker Bukun Maru sunk by mine (laid by British submarine HMS Porpoise on 8 July 1944) in Strait of Malacca; and merchant tanker No.2 Hoei Maru sunk by mine off Woosung, China.

 

4 September 1943 – A PB4Y from VB-103 shoots down 1 Ju 88 off the south coast of England.

5 September 1942 – A VP-23 PBY shoots down an H6K 200 miles northeast of Malaita, Solomons.
5 September 1944 – A VB-116 PB4Y shoots down a DC2 25 miles northwest of Iwo Jima.

6 September 1943 – A VF-33 F6F is credited with 1 A6M near Margusai Island, south of Fauro Island.

7 September – Nothing to report.

8 September 1943 – F6Fs from VF-6 down a 1 H8K 80 miles north of Rongorongo in the Gilberts.

9 September 1943 – A VF-33 F6F downs 1 A6M over Kahili. A VB-104 PB4Y snaps up a G4M 200 miles north of Tatau.
9 September 1944 – F6Fs from squadrons noted in action across the island of Mindanao in the Philippines – VF-8 credited with 1 D4Y; VF-15 with 2 D3A, 1 Ki-46, and 2 Ki-57; and VF-21 with 1 Ki-45 and 1 P1Y.

10 September 1944 – Still operating over Mindanao – F6Fs from VF-15 are credited with 1 J1N and 2 Ki-46; VF-18 with 1 Ki-46; and VF-19 with 1 D3A. Far, far to the north, a VB-135 PV shoots down a B5N near Shimishu, Paramushiro.

11 September 1943 – A VF-33 F6F shoots down a Ki-61 near Fauro Island.

Best I can do on USN losses is a monthly total of losses to AA fire, enemy aircraft, and operational accidents in the course of combat operations.

For example, for last month, USN aircraft losses to AA fire, enemy aircraft, and operational were:

August 1942: 6 - 24 - 6
August 1943: 7 - 3 - 1
August 1944: 37 - 4 - 5
August 1945: 42 - 5 - 20

Oh, nothing really struck my fancy, so I'll remain a man of mystery

Regards,

Rich

 

OK mystery man, thanks for looking on the US losses. The reason I asked was I remember reading toward the end of the war they had a small group of Japanese veteren pilots who were put in the latest fighter, don't recall which one and shot down a bunch of Hellcats in air to air combat. The American pilots were really surprised.

 

Sept 11, 1942
-Submarine Saury (SS-189) sinks Japanese aircraft transport Kanto Maru approximately 30 miles off the west coast of the Celebes, in central Makassar Strait.
-On board submarine Seadragon (SS-194), en route to her war patrol station in the South China Sea, Pharmacist's Mate First Class Wheeler B. Lipes performs successful appendectomy on Seaman First Class Darrell D. Rector, USNR. Captain James Fife, Commander, Submarine Squadron 2, later writes that he "hoped that his [Lipes's] success will not encourage others to take unnecssary risks..." in such cases in the future.
-USAAF B-17s and RAAF Hudsons sink Japanese destroyer Yayoi about 15 miles east of Normanby Island, D'Entrecasteaux Islands.

Sept 11, 1943
-Japanese minesweeper W.16 is sunk by Allied aircraft south of Makassar, Celebes.
-Submarine Harder (SS-257) sinks Japanese transport Yoko Maru south of Mikura Island.
-Submarine Narwhal (SS-167) sinks Japanese transport Hokusho Maru (hit earlier by dud torpedoes) five miles northwest of Nauru Island.
-Submarine Spearfish (SS-190) damages Japanese army transport Tsuyama Maru.

Sept 11, 1944
-Second Quebec Conference (OCTAGON) between President Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Churchill and the Combined Chiefs of Staff commences in Quebec, Canada. The agenda principally concerns the role the Royal Navy will play in the Pacific War.
-Destroyer Ellet (DD-398) bombards supply dumps on Aguijan Island, Marianas.
-Submarine Albacore (SS-218) sinks Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 165 off Kyushu.
-Submarine Finback (SS-230) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Hassho Maru and merchant cargo ship No.2 Hak_n Maru north of Chichi Jima.
-Submarine Pargo (SS-264) sinks Japanese auxiliary netlayer Hinoki Maru in Java Sea.
-USAAF B-24 aircraft bomb Iwo Jima, damaging Japanese cargo vessel No.8 Saiwai Maru; difficulties encountered in attempting to tow the damaged craft result in her being scuttled.
-Japanese cargo ship No.1 Horai Maru is sunk by aircraft two miles off Palau.

Sept 11, 1945
-Operation MAGIC CARPET begins in the Pacific Theater. During the ensuing two years ships of every type will be fitted with extra bunks in order to bring troops back to the United States following the end of hostilities.
-11 September to 31 December 1945 --
Between the signing of the capitulation documents on board the battleship Missouri (BB-63) and the end of the year, Japanese garrisons on the Asiatic mainland and on by-passed islands scattered throughout the western Pacific surrender. Occupation of Japan progresses and the administrative organization of the U.S. naval forces in the area is adjusted where necessary to enable the Navy to carry out occupation and demilitarization duties. Naval combat strength shrinks as demobilization procedures are set in motion. On 10 October 1945 Headquarters of the Commander in Chief U.S. Fleet (Fleet Admiral Ernest J. King) is disestablished.

 

Sept 12, 1943
-Tank landing ships LST-455 is damaged by dive bomber, eastern New Guinea area.
-Tug Navajo (AT-64), towing gasoline barge YOG-42, is sunk by Japanese submarine I-39, 150 miles east of Espiritu Santo.
-Submarine Permit (SS-178) damages Japanese aircraft transport Fujikawa Maru.

Sept 12, 1944
-TF 38 (Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher) (TG 38.1, TG 38.2, and TG 38.3) begins operations against Japanese shipping and airfields in the Visayas. Planes from all three carrier groups pound enemy installations on Cebu and shipping offshore, sinking gunboat Kiso Maru, auxiliary submarine chasers Mogami Maru and No.12 Kyo Maru, auxiliary netlayer Korei Maru, auxiliary minesweeper No.18 Choun Maru, guardboats No.97 Banshu Maru and No.4 Fukuju Maru, transports Bugen Maru, Nichiei Maru, Shiramine Maru, Oakita Maru, and Rakuto Maru, army cargo ships Keian Maru and Genkai Maru, merchant tanker Ayazono Maru, merchant cargo ships Toyo Maru, No.2 Shintai Maru, No.5 Shintai Maru, and No.8 Shintai Maru; and salvage ship Miho Maru. TF 38 planes also damage minesweeper No.21 Choun Maru off Cebu. Between Biliran and Cebu, TF 38 planes sink auxiliary minesweeper Takao Maru and auxiliary submarine chaser Nan-Ho Maru; in Bohol Strait, carrier aircraft sink motor torpedo boat Gyoraitei No.483.
-Ensign Thomas C. Tillar, USNR, a pilot from Hornet, in TG 38.1, is rescued by Filipinos after his F6F ditches off Apit Island, off the southwestern coast of Leyte. Before Tillar is recovered by SOC from heavy cruiser Wichita (CA-45), he learns from his rescuers that the size of the Japanese garrison on Leyte is negligible. That fact, when combined with the lack of aerial opposition encountered and the few airfields that exist on Leyte and Samar, prompts Admiral Halsey (Commander Third Fleet) to recommend that the planned attack on Yap be abandoned and that the date of the landings on Leyte be advanced from 20 December to 20 October 1944.
-Light minelayer Preble (DM-20) explodes acoustic mines in the shoals between Angaur and Peleliu; she and sistership Montgomery (DM-17) sweep most of the navigable waters by the end of the day.
-Destroyer Marshall (DD-676) captures boat with 44 survivors of Japanese light cruiser Natori.
-High speed transport Noa (APD-24) is sunk in collision with destroyer Fullam (DD-474) off Palau, Carolines; Fullam is damaged; oilers Millicoma (AO-73) and Schuykill (AO-76) are damaged in collision off the Palaus.
-Submarine Growler (SS-215) sinks Japanese destroyer Shikinami 240 miles south of Hong Kong, and escort vessel Hirado 250 miles east of Hainan Island.
-Submarine Pampanito (SS-383) sinks merchant passenger/cargo ship Kachidoki Maru (ex-U.S. passenger liner President Harrison) and tanker Zuiho Maru in the South China Sea approx 275 southeast of Haikou.
-Submarine Pipefish (SS-388) sinks Japanese auxiliary vessel No.7 Hakutetsu Maru off Shiono Misaki, Japan.
-Submarine Redfin (SS-272) carries out unsuccessful attack on Japanese cargo vessel Tosho Maru; counterattack by submarine chaser Ch 53 is likewise unsuccessful approx 10 miles east-northeast of Bulukumba, Indonesia.
-Submarine Sealion (SS-315) sinks Japanese transport Nankai Maru and merchant passenger/cargo ship Rakuyo Maru in South China Sea, east of Hainan Island; Sealion crew is unaware that the latter carries Allied POWs.
-Japanese tanker No.2 Eiyo Maru, damaged by Paddle (SS-263) on 7 September, is sunk by aircraft approx 50 miles southwest of Dipolog P.I.

 

I have some fairly detailed information on carrier operations in the July - August 1945 time period. I vaguely recall the story you describe, but have never bothered to ferret out any corresponding loss data on the USN side. If you can come up with a date and location, I'll see what the US strike activity looked like.

Rich

Rich

 

12 September 1942 – VF-5 F4Fs account for 1 A6M and 4 B5N near Guadalcanal.
12 September 1944 – In a series of raids on Japanese airfields across the central Philippines from the islands of Leyte to Negros – F6Fs in air-to-air combat from squadrons noted: VF-2 credited with 13 A6M, 1 J1N, and 1 unidentified; VF-14 with 3 A6M, 1 Ki-27, 2 Ki-43, and 2 Ki-45; VF-15 with 21 A6M, 2 J2M, 1 Ki-43, 2 Ki-44, and 1 Ki-46; VF-19 with 9 A6M, 1 Ki-43, 3 Ki-44 and 1 Ki45; VF-21 with 2 A6M, 1 B6N, and 1 Ki-43; VF(N)-41 with 1 G4M and 1 Ki-46; and VF(N)-78 with 1 P1Y. SB2C’s in air-to-air action in the same raids accounted for, from VB-14, 6 Ki-43 and 4 Ki-45; and from VB-19, 1 A6M.

Rich

 

I found this from the book Zero, by Masatake Okumiya and Jiro Horikoshi.
The Japanese Navy's 343rd Air Corp equipped mostly with the Shiden fighter and commanded by Captain Minoru Genda engaged carrier fighters on March 18 and 19, 1945, that were attacking Kure Naval Base. Land, sea, and air claims were made by the Japanese for 119 US aircraft, with most being shot down by Genda's men and aircraft.
They were stationed at Matsuyama air base in Shikoku. ( page 283 of the paperback book)
http://www.aero-web.org/museums/az/cfm/343-35.htm
The book said they were not sure of the 119 aircraft shot down as to which were shot down by air, sea or ground forces.

 

Sept 13, 1939
-U.S. freighter Sea Arrow is launched at Oakland, California, the first major ocean-going vessel of that type completed on the west coast since World War I. The ship is later acquired by the Navy on 8 July 1940 and converted to the seaplane tender Tangier (AV-8).

Sept 13, 1943
-Submarine Permit (SS-178) damages Japanese fleet tanker Shiretoko approx 300 miles northwest of Tarawa.
-Submarine Snook (SS-279) sinks Japanese army transport Yamato Maru in the East China Sea approx 200 miles southwest of Shanghai, and although escorting destroyer Shiokaze claims her destruction, Snook emerges from the encounter to fight again.

Sept 13, 1944
-TG 38.2 (Rear Admiral Gerald F. Bogan) continues operations against Cebu, supported by TG 38.1 (Vice Admiral John S. McCain) and TG 38.3 (Rear Admiral Frederick C. Sherman), as well as against Japanese targets in the area of Negros, Cebu, and Legaspi. Navy carrier-based planes sink submarine chaser Ch 55 three miles northeast of Cebu. Late that afternoon, TG 38.1 is detached to provide support for the landings at Morotai.
-High speed minesweeper Perry (DMS-17) is sunk by mine, 750 yards off the southeast coast of Angaur, southern Palaus.
-Submarine Sunfish damages Japanese army cargo ship Gyoku Maru approx 90 west-southwest of Mokp'o South Korea and sinks army cargo ship Etajima Maru approx 20 further north.
-USAAF A-20s sink merchant cargo ship Akitsushima Maru off southeastern Ceram.
-Japanese landing ship T.153 damaged (probably by USAAF aircraft) off Iwo Jima.

 

Sept 14, 1942
-USAAF B-17s damage Japanese heavy cruiser Myoko as she is en route from Truk, Carolines, to carry out support operations off Guadalcanal,
USAAF planes (13 B-24s and 1 B-17 take part in the raid) sink Japanese ammunition ship Nojima Maru off Kiska, Aleutians; USAAF P-39s damage submarines RO 63 and RO 64 also in the area.

Sept 14, 1944
-TG 38.2 (Rear Admiral Gerald F. Bogan) attacks Japanese shipping and installations on and around Panay and Negros, supported by TG 38.3 (Rear Admiral Frederick C. Sherman); during these operations, Navy carrier-based planes damage motor torpedo boat Gyoraitei No.482 north of Cebu. TG 38.1 (Vice Admiral John S. McCain), en route to support Morotai landings, carries out strikes on Japanese installations on Mindanao; during the course of these operations, SB2Cs (VB 2) sink fast transport T.5 in Davao Gulf.
-Destroyers Farenholt (DD-491), McCalla (DD-488), and Grayson (DD-435), detached from TG 38.1, bombard suspected Japanese radar installation on Cape San Augustin, at mouth of Davao Gulf.
-Submarine Pargo (SS-264) lays mines near Natuna Island, South China Sea.
-Japanese escort destroyer Yashiro is damaged by mine off Formosa.

 

Sept 15, 1942
-TF 18 (Rear Admiral Leigh Noyes), covering reinforcement convoy from Espiritu Santo to Guadalcanal, is attacked by Japanese submarine I-19, which torpedoes carrier Wasp (CV-7). Irreparably damaged, consumed by gasoline fires, Wasp is scuttled by destroyer Lansdowne (DD-486). I-19, in the same spread of torpedoes, also damages battleship North Carolina (BB-55) and destroyer O'Brien (DD-415).
-Japanese battleships bombard Guadalcanal.
-Japanese destroyer Fumizuki is damaged by grounding in Formosa Strait.

Sept 15, 1943
-Fleet Air Wing 17 (Commodore Thomas S. Combs) is established in Brisbane, Australia, for operations in southwestern Pacific area.
-Destroyer Saufley (DD-465) and PBY (VP 23) sinks Japanese submarine RO-101 100 miles east of San Cristobal, Solomons.
-Submarine Haddock (SS-231) sinks Japanese collier Sansei Maru north of Truk.

Sept 15, 1944
-1st Marine Division (Reinforced) (Major General William H. Rupertus, USMC) lands on Peleliu, Palaus, in Operation STALEMATE II. Landing is preceded by several days of intensive carrier-based aircraft bombing and ship gunfire bombardment (TG 32.5, Rear Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorf).
-TF 77 (Rear Admiral Daniel E. Barbey) lands Army 41st Infantry (Reinforced) (Major General John C. Persons,USA) on Morotai Island, N.E.I., in Operation TRADE WIND; supported by two heavy cruisers, three light cruisers and ten destroyers (TG 77.2) (Rear Admiral Russell S. Berkey) and aircraft from six escort carriers (TG 77.1) (Rear Admiral Thomas L. Sprague), screened by eight destroyer escorts. Airfield facilities built on Morotai will be used in operations to support operations against Japanese positions in the Philippines.
-Submarine Guavina (SS-362) sinks Japanese fast transport T.3 off Pagubas, southern Mindanao.
-Submarines Pampanito (SS-383) and Sealion (SS-315) rescue 73 British and 54 Australian POWs who survived loss of Rakuyo Maru when she was sunk by Sealion on 12 September, about 300 miles west of Cape Bojeador, Luzon. There had been some 1,300 men on board Rakuyo Maru when she was attacked.
-Submarine Stingray (SS-186) lands men and stores on Majoe Island, Molucca Sea.
-USAAF B-24s sink small Makassar-bound Japanese cargo vessels Kirishima Maru and No.6 Keinan Maru off Mongole Island.
-RAAF Beaufighters and USAAF A-20s bomb Japanese shipping off southeast coast of Ceram, sinking fishing vessels No.3 Hoyu Maru and No.4 Bonan Maru.
-U.S. aircraft sink Japanese guardboats Kaiko Maru and No.1 Kaza Maru, Marshalls.

 

Sept 16, 1940
-President Roosevelt signs Selective Training and Service Act, thus establishing the first peacetime draft in the history of the United States.

Sept 16, 1942
-Japanese overland assault on Port Moresby, New Guinea, "grinds to a halt" at Ioribaiwa.
-Japanese forces evacuate Attu, Aleutians.

Sept 16, 1943
-Japanese gunboat Seikai Maru is sunk by mine (laid by submarine Silversidess on 4 June) off Kavieng.
-Submarine Gudgeon (SS-212) engages Japanese minelayer Fumi Maru in an inconclusive surface gunnery action off Rota Island, Marianas.
-PBY sinks small Japanese cargo vessel Taira Maru en route to Hansa Bay.

Sept 16, 1944
-Second Quebec Conference (OCTAGON) attended by President Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Churchill ends. Combined Chiefs of Staff approve Admiral Halsey's recommendation to advance the invasion of Leyte from 20 December to 20 October.
-Marine Air Wings, Pacific is redesignated Aircraft, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific (Major General Francis P. Mulcahy, USMC) with headquarters at Ewa, Oahu.
-Motor torpedo boat operations begin from Morotai, N.E.I., to maintain patrols, break up the movement of Japanese troops in barges, and prevent seaborne counterattacks from Halmahera. Two Morotai-based boats, PT-489 and PT-363 transit 60 miles of mined waters and then run an 11-mile gauntlet of coast defense batteries to rescue downed F6F pilot from escort carrier Santee (CVE-29) in Wasile Bay, Halmahera; under fire for two and a half hours, both boats receive superficial shrapnel damage in the successful operation that snatches the aviator out of danger. Lieutenant Arthur M. Preston (Commander, MTBRon 33), commanding the operation, will receive the Medal of Honor.
-Destroyer Wadleigh (DD-689) is damaged by mine off eastern entrance to Kossol Passage, Palau.
-U.S. submarines operate against Japanese shipping south of Formosa: Picuda (SS-382) sinks army cargo ship Tokushima Maru in Bashi Channel; Redfish (SS-395) sinks fleet tanker No.2 Ogura Maru.
-Submarine Sea Devil (SS-400) sinks Japanese submarine I-364 off Yokosuka, Japan.
-Submarine Shad (SS-235) attacks, unsuccessfully, Japanese cargo ship Hakozaki Maru. Other Japanese losses include army cargo ship Imaharu Maru sunk by aircraft; and cargo vessel Imaji Maru sunk by mine.

 

Sept 17, 1943
-Motor torpedo boat PT-136, damaged by grounding, eastern New Guinea area is scuttled.

Sept 17, 1944
-TG 32.1 (Rear Admiral William H. P. Blandy) lands Army 81st Infantry (less 323d Infantry and reinforced by miscellaneous units) on Angaur, Palaus, supported by carrier-based aircraft and naval gunfire. Airfield facilities on Angaur will be used to support operations against the Philippines.
-Submarine Barb (SS-220) sinks Japanese escort carrier Un'yo and tanker Asuza Maru, 220 nautical miles southeast of Hong Kong. Barb and Queenfish (SS-393) pick up an additional 32 British and Australian POWs, survivors of the sunken Rakuyo Maru.
-Motor torpedo boat PT-371 is damaged by grounding, N.E.I.
-USAAF P-40s sink Japanese fishing vessel Hoyo Maru and damage No.5 Kyoei Maru off eastern Ceram.
-Japanese merchant cargo ship Shinai Maru is sunk by mine off east coast of Celebes.

 

Sept 18, 1939
-President Roosevelt authorizes Coast Guard to enlist 2,000 additional men and to build two training stations.

Sept 18, 1942
-7th Marine Regiment reinforces marines on Guadalcanal.

Sept 18, 1943
-TF 15 (Rear Admiral Charles A. Pownall) aircraft attack Tarawa, Makin, and Abemama, Gilberts, to decrease Japanese pressure on the Ellice Islands and provide operational training. During the attack on Tarawa, TBFs, SBDs, and F6Fs from carrier Lexington (CV-16), and small carriers Princeton (CVL 23) and Belleau Wood (CVL 24) sink Japanese motor torpedo boats Gyoraitei and Gyoraitei No. 3.
-Submarine S-42 (SS-153) damages Japanese gunboat Chowa Maru.
-Submarine Scamp (SS-277) attacks Japanese convoy north of New Guinea, sinking army cargo ship Kansai Maru, but although damaged by depth charges (perhaps dropped by submarine chasers Ch 38 and/or Ch 16, known to be among the escorts) remains on patrol.
-Submarine Spearfish (SS-190) damages Japanese torpedo boat Sagi (premature explosion of two torpedoes).
-Submarine Trigger (SS-237) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Yowa Maru.

Sept 18, 1944
-Destroyer Case (DD-370) and submarine Sealion (SS-315) rendezvous some 700 miles west of Saipan to transfer medical officer and medical supplies to treat POWs rescued by the submarine on 15 September.
-Submarine Flasher (SS-249) sinks Japanese auxiliary gunboat Saigon Maru off Manila Bay.
-Submarine Pipefish (SS-388) damages Japanese army transport Rokko Maru off coast of Honshu.
-Submarine Thresher (SS-200) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Gyoku Maru in Yellow Sea.
-British submarine HMS Tradewind sinks Japanese army cargo ship Junyo Maru off Sumatra.
-USAAF B-25s damage Japanese auxiliary minesweeper Wa.5, salvage tug Futagami, and coastal/harbor minesweeper Ma 3 at Enderby Island, Carolines.

 

Sept 19, 1939
-VP 21 (PBYs), assigned to the Asiatic Fleet to provide aerial reconnaissance capability to safeguard the neutrality of the Philippines, departs Pearl Harbor for Manila, P.I. The squadron will fly via Midway, Wake, and Guam. Seaplane tender (destroyer) Childs (AVD-1) will provide support at Wake, the least developed place on the movement westward.

Sept 19, 1940
-Battleship Oklahoma (BB-37) collides with U.S. tug Goliath, Puget Sound, Washington.

Sept 19, 1942
-Submarine Amberjack (SS-219) sinks Japanese transport Shirogane Maru at northern entrance of Bougainville Strait.

Sept 19, 1943
-Submarine Harder (SS-257) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Kachiyama Maru.
-Submarine Scamp (SS-277) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Kansai Maru.

Sept 19, 1944
-Infantry landing craft (gunboat) LCI(G)-459 is sunk by mine off west side of Peleliu reef.
-Motor torpedo boat PT-371, damaged by grounding off northwest coast of Halmahera is sunk by demolition charges.
-Submarine Bang (SS-385) attacks Japanese shipping off east coast of Formosa, sinking tanker No.2 Toosei Maru and damaging Coast Defense Vessel No.30.
-Submarine Redfin (SS-395) sinks Japanese fishing vessel Nanko Maru.
-Submarine Scabbardfish (SS-397) damages Japanese submarine tender Jingei, 80 miles northwest of Okinawa.
-Submarine Shad (SS-235) sinks coast defense ship Ioshima (ex-Chinese cruiser Ning Hai) 85 miles off Hachij_ Jima.
-Saipan-based USAAF B-24s pound Japanes shipping off Chicchi Jima, damaging landing ship T.153 and small cargo vessel Tsukiura Maru.

 

Sept 20, 1942
-Naval Operating Base, Auckland, New Zealand, is established.

Sept 20, 1943
-Covered lighter YF-579 sinks off San Francisco, California.
-Submarine Haddock (SS-231) damages Japanese fleet tanker Notoro east of the Palaus; auxiliary submarine chaser Takunan Maru conducts fruitless search for Haddock.
-Submarine S-28 (SS-133) sinks Japanese gunboat Katsura Maru 165 miles southwest of Paramushiro, Kuriles.
-Repair ship Hayase is sunk by Chinese aircraft, Ch'iu-Chiang, Yangtze River, China.

Sept 20, 1944
-USAAF B-24 aircraft attack Japanese shipping off Formosa, damaging cargo vessels Asaka Maru, Gokoku Maru, and Shinsho Maru.

 

Sept 21, 1939
-President Roosevelt asks for repeal of arms embargo provision of Neutrality Act of 1937.

Sept 21, 1942
-Submarine Grouper (SS-214) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Tone Maru in China Sea, east of Shanghai.
-Submarine Trout (SS-202) sinks Japanese auxiliary netlayer Koei Maru south of Truk.

Sept 21, 1943
-Submarine Haddock (SS-231) torpedoes Japanese collier Shinyubari Maru west-northwest of Truk.
-Submarine Trigger (SS-237) sinks Japanese fleet oilers Shiriya and Shoyo Maru and merchant cargo ship Argun Maru, and damages fleet oiler No.1 Ozura Maru north of Keelung, Formosa.
-Submarine Wahoo (SS-238) sinks Japanese merchantfishing vessel Hokusei Maru.
-USAAF B-24 aircraft sink Japanese transport Takashima Maru southeast of the Admiralties.
-In the Indian Ocean the U.S. freighter Cornelia P. Spencer is torpedoed by German submarine U-188; when the U-boat surfaces to finish off the merchantman, however, the Armed Guard gunfire proves so accurate that the U-boat submerges and torpedoes the ship again (the explosion kills two merchant sailors). Cornelia P. Spencer is then abandoned. Torpedoed a third time she sinks soon thereafter. The survivors (39 merchant sailors and the 27-man Armed Guard) are divided amongst four lifeboats.

Sept 21, 1944
-TF 38 (Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher) begins strikes on Japanese shipping in Manila and Subic Bays, Clark and Nichols Fields near Manila, and the Cavite Navy Yard. At Manila, planes from TG 38.1, TG 38.2, and TG 38.3 sink destroyer Satsuki, fleet tanker Kyokuto Maru, oilers Sunosaki and Okikawa Maru, tanker No.2 Horai Maru, army cargo ships Norway Maru, Yozan Maru, China Maru and Tsukubusan Maru, merchant tanker Niyo Maru, cargo ships Hioki Maru, Risshun Maru, Rozan Maru, Nansei Maru, Yamabuki Maru, Toyofuko Maru, Wakashiro Maru, Eikyu Maru, and Fukuei Maru, cargo ships Amahi Maru, Soerabaja Maru and Yamakaze Maru. Navy carrier-based aircraft also sink Coast Defense Vessel No.5, passenger-cargo ship Hofuku Maru, tanker No.1 Ogura Maru, army cargo ships Surakaruta Maru and Yuki Maru, merchant tanker Shichiyo Maru and cargo vessel Nansei Maru north of Masinloc; destroyer Hibiki is damaged by strafing and by collision while attempting to save No.1 Ogura Maru. Planes also damage army cargo vessels Yuki Maru, Tsukubasan Maru, and tankers Horai Maru and No.1 Ogura Maru.
-Japanese army cargo ships Nansei Maru and Soerakarta Maru are sunk by aircraft.
-Submarine Haddo (SS-255), while lifeguarding for TF 38, sinks Japanese surveying ship Katsuriki 80 miles southwest of Manila.
-Off north coast of Luzon, Picuda (SS-382) sinks Japanese transport Awaji Maru; and Redfish (SS-395) sinks transport Mizuho Maru.
-Submarine Searaven (SS-196) sinks Kurils-bound Japanesearmy transport Rizan Maru.
-Submarine Shad (SS-235) sinks Japanese auxiliary minesweeper No.2 Fumi Maru east of Shinto.
-TU 33.13.1 (Captain Robley W. Clark), consisting initially of light minelayers Montgomery (DM-17) (flagship) and Preble (DM-20), four minesweepers and seven motor minesweepers (YMS), begins minesweeping operations in Ulithi lagoon. These operations will continue daily until 13 October, after which operations will be conducted on the 17th, 27th and 28th.

[ 22. September 2005, 11:05 PM: Message edited by: Bill Murray ]

 

Sept 22, 1940
-Vichy France signs pact at Hanoi ceding airfields and agreeing to admit Japanese troops into northern Indochina.

Sept 22, 1942
-Submarine Amberjack (SS-219), en route to patrol the waters off Kieta, Bougainville, is damaged when she runs aground on an uncharted coral head off Oema Island. She remains on patrol.
-In the Indian Ocean, the U.S. freighter Paul Luckenbach is torpedoed and sunk by Japanese submarine I-29 approximately 800 miles from the coast of India; although the four lifeboats containing the entire 44-man complement and 17-man Armed Guard become separated during the 16-to-21 day voyages, all hands will eventually reach safety.

Sept 22, 1943
-TF 76 (Rear Admiral Daniel E. Barbey) puts 20th Australian Brigade ashore at Finschhafen, New Guinea.
-Coastal transport APc-35, irreparably damaged by grounding en route to Renard Sound, New Georgia, is beached and abandoned.
-Gunboat Charleston (PG-51) is damaged when accidentally rammed by U.S. merchant ship Sam Jackson, Kuluk Bay, Adak, Alaska.
-Submarine Harder (SS-257) sinks Japanese merchant tanker Daishin Maru and cargo ship Kowa Maru.
-Submarine Hoe (SS-258) attacks Japanese fleet tanker Gen'yo Maru.
-Submarine Snook (SS-279) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Katsurahama Maru, and damages merchant cargo ship Hakutetsu Maru approx 40 west of Pyongyang, Korea.
-Submarine Trigger (SS-237) damages Japanese army cargo ship Gyoku Maru.
-In the Indian Ocean, the British destroyer HMS Relentless rescues 34 survivors from two boats from U.S. Liberty ship Cornelia P. Spencer, torpedoed by German submarine U-188 the day before. Freighter Sandown Castle rescues 16 men from a third boat.

Sept 22, 1944
-Aircraft from TF 38 continue to wreak havoc on Japanese shipping in the Philippines: off Cebu, Navy carrier- based planes sink gunboat Onoshi Maru and auxiliary submarine chaser No.16 Yusen Maru, and auxiliary submarine chaser No.7 Shonan Maru off western tip of Luzon. Off San Fernando, Luzon, U.S. Navy carrier planes sink fishery protection gunboat No.1 Suzuya Maru, merchant cargo ship Eishin Maru and merchant tankers No.9 Hammei Maru, No.7 Takasago Maru and No.24 Nanshin Maru; they also damage auxiliary submarine chaser No.2 Suzuya Maru and army cargo ships Taishin Maru (which is run aground to prevent loss) and Ceram Maru.
-Rescue tug ATR-1 is stranded on submerged wreck [WHERE].
-Submarine Lapon (SS-260) damages merchant cargo ship Jungen Go approx 60 miles northwest of Subic Bay, Philippines.
-Submarine Narwhal (SS-167) lands men and supplies on southwest coast of Mindanao.
-Submarine Pargo (SS-264) attacks, unsuccessfully, Japanese cargo vessel Manshu Maru approx 50 miles southwest of Brooks Point, Philippines; counterattack by destroyer Shiokaze is likewise unsuccessful.

 

Sept 23, 1943
-Submarine Trout (SS-202) sinks Japanese transport Ryotoku Maru and merchant cargo ship Yamashiro Maru northwest of the Marianas and eludes counterattacks of the escort, auxiliary minesweeper Keinan Maru.
-Submarine Tuna (SS-203) attacks Japanese cargo vessel Shinwa Maru.

Sept 23, 1944
-TG 33.19 (Rear Admiral William H.P. Blandy) lands 323d Army Regimental Combat Team (81st Division on undefended Ulithi Atoll, Carolines. Ulithi will supplant Eniwetok as the Pacific Fleet's foremost advanced base in the Pacific theater.
-Battleship West Virginia (BB-48) reaches Pearl Harbor and rejoins the Pacific Fleet, marking the completion of the program of salvage and reconstruction of the ships damaged at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941.
-Submarine Apogon (SS-308) sinks Japanese guardboat No.6 Choyo Maru east of Honshu.
-Submarine Escolar (SS-294) departs Midway for first war patrol.
-German submarine U-859 is sunk by British submarine HMS Trenchant off Penang, Malaya.
-Navy land based aircraft sink Japanese auxiliary vessel Toshu Maru off Wowoni, Celebes.
-PBY sinks cargo ship Heiho Maru in Celebes Sea.
-Japanese gunboat Nankai and transport Hokkai Maru are damaged by mines (laid by submarine Bowfin on 29 January) off Balikpapan, Borneo.
-Japanese army cargo ship Kurogane Maru is damaged by aircraft, Manila.