1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

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its final stage. On N front, German Army Group
North eliminates last of Soviet pocket W of Volkhov.
1 July
PACIFIC—TULSA II, a modified version of TULSA
I, is drawn up as planning for offensive continues.
2d Marines, reinf, 2d Mar Div, sails from California
in 5 ships escorted by carrier Wasp.
MADAGASCAR—Lt Gen Sir William Platt, CinC
East African Command, takes responsibility for occupied
portion of Madagascar.
EGYPT—Enemy forces make their deepest penetration
into Egypt with capture of fortified position
of Deir el Shein, S of the El ‘Alamein fortress.
Ind 18th Brig Gp, which has recently arrived from
Iraq, is overrun in this action.
USSR—German Army Group South completes
reduction of Sevastopol fortress in the Crimea and,
to the N, continues toward the Don.
2 July
U.S.—Joint Chiefs of Staff issue directive prescribing
occupation of New Britain-New Ireland-
New Guinea area. Offensive is to be conducted
in 3 phases, during which the following are to be
secured and occupied: (1) lower Solomons (Santa
Cruz Is., Tulagi, and adjacent positions) (Task
One); (2) rest of Solomons and NE coast of New
Guinea (Task Two); (3) Rabaul, New Britain, and
adjacent positions in New Guinea-New Ireland
area (Task Three). Target date is set as 1 August
but subsequently postponed to 7 August. Navy is
to command first phase and Army the second and
third. Boundary between SWPA and S Pacific is
to be altered to place lower Solomons within S
Pacific zone.
Austalia—AUs 7th Brig is directed to move to
Milne Bay, New Guinea.
CBI—Chiang Kai-shek names Gen Stilwell CinC
of Chinese Army in India, but Stilwell’s power over
the troops is restricted.
MAYOTTE I.—Br and E African troops land on
island, at N end of Mozambique Channel, and secure
it for seaplane base.
EGYPT—Br Eighth Army wrests initiative from
Rommel as 13 Corps, on S flank, counterattacks
northward in rear of enemy. With close air support,
13 Corps maintains pressure on enemy throughout
month, gaining some ground and easing pressure
against N and central sectors. Enemy makes repeated
efforts to break through but is unable to do so; gradually
extends positions S and E of 13 Corps to Qattara
Depression.
[ 1–8 JULY 1942 ]
3 July
U.S.—Gen Marshall authorizes creation of a
mobile air force for SWPA and another for POA.
Preparations for offensive in the Pacific continue at
a rapid pace.
4 July
CBI—AVG is inducted into Tenth Air Force as
its contract with China terminates.
EGYPT—30 Corps, Br Eighth Army, is strengthened
by arrival of Aus 9th Div, which is concentrating
in vicinity of El ‘Alamein fortress. 13 Corps continues
to attack on S flank, making slow progress.
WESTERN EUROPE—U.S. air operations against
Europe are initiated. 6 U.S. aircraft manned by U.S.
crews participate in RAF attack on airdromes in
Holland.
5 July
USSR—Organized Soviet resistance in the
Crimea ends. To N, German 4th Pz Army has reached
the Don at Voronezh, where Red Army is resisting
strongly. Army Group Center is improving positions
N of Smolensk in local actions.
6 July
CBI—Gen Stilwell issues letter of instructions
setting up command structure of a theater in CBI,
with “Headquarters, American Army Forces, China,
Burma, and India” at Chungking and branch office
at New Delhi. A few days later another branch office
is established at Kunming. China Air Task Force
(CATF) is activated.
USSR—Voronezh falls to German Army Group
South after it has been evacuated by Red Army forces.
7 July
POA—Carrier Saratoga, followed by carrier Enterprise,
each with supporting ships, sails from Pearl
Harbor for S Pacific. Elements of the Enterprise support
force leave main force at sea and proceed to
New Caledonia to embark 1st Raider Bn.
AUSTALIA—Adm Ghormley arrives in Australia and
confers with Gen MacArthur on coming offensive.
NEW GUINEA—Co B, Aus 39th Bn, leaves Port
Moresby for Kokoda, traveling on foot along tortuous
trail over Owen Stanley Range.
USSR—German 6th Army effects junction with
4th Pz Army NE of Valuiki.
8 July
PACIFIC—Gen MacArthur and Adm Ghormley
recommend that offensive be postponed until SW