1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

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17 July
SWPA—Movement order for Operation
PROVIDENCE, occupation of Buna area, New Guinea,
is issued. Serial One is to leave Port Moresby on 31
July. D Day is to be 10–12 August.
U.K.—Gen Marshall, Adm King, and Harry
Hopkins arrive in England to urge that SLEDGE-
HAMMER be undertaken in 1942.
18 July
USSR—Continuing southward on broad front,
Germans take Voroshilovgrad, coal and coke center
of Donets basin, and to SE reach the Don at
Tsimlyansk.
19 July
SWPA—From Rabaul, Japanese invasion force
of about 1,800 men sails for Buna, New Guinea.
Lugger arrives at Buna with supplies and MG’s of
Co B, Aus 39th Bn.
CBI—Gen Stilwell submits to Chiang Kai-shek
a plan, dated 18th, calling for Allied co-operation
in regaining Burma as a necessary preliminary to
getting aid to China.
20 July
PACIFIC—USAFIA, largely a supply organization,
is discontinued, and U.S. Army Services of Supply,
Southwest Pacific Area (USASOS SWPA) is established
under command of Gen Richard Marshall.
GHQ SWPA moves forward in Australia from
Melbourne to Brisbane to be nearer scene of offensive.
Maj Gen Alexander A. Vandegrift, CG 1st Mar
Div, issues tactical orders for invasion of Solomons.
CBI—Dr. Lauchlin Currie arrives in China to
discuss U.S.-Chinese relations with Stilwell and the
Chinese.
21 July
PACIFIC—Solomons Expeditionary Force (TF 61)
is ordered to rendezvous SE of Fiji Is. on 26 July.
Allied planes sight and attack enemy convoy approaching
New Guinea, despite poor visibility, which
prevents Japanese naval planes at Lae, however, from
supporting enemy. After naval gunfire bombardment
of Buna, Japanese begin landing near Gona, night
21–22, forestalling Allied Operation PROVIDENCE,
which was to have secured the same general area.
Japanese naval forces at Salamaua provide diversion
by raiding Mubo and Komiatum, and enemy submarines
become increasingly active.
EGYPT—Br Eighth Army opens attack against
center of enemy’s line late in day, employing infantry
to clear mine fields for passage of armor.
[ 17–25 JULY 1942 ]
22 July
PACIFIC—98th Sq of 11th Heavy Bombardment
Gp lands in New Caledonia. Solomons Amphibious
Force, with 1st Mar Div embarked, sails from
Wellington, New Zealand. 3d Defense Bn, final reinforcing
unit, begins voyage from Pearl Harbor to
join 1st Mar Div.
NEW GUINEA—Allied planes continue to attack
enemy shipping off N coast, setting fire to a transport.
Upon landing, Japanese Navy units move to
Buna and Army forces to Giruwa. Advance force
pushes inland at once from Giruwa to reconnoiter
trail to Port Moresby and reaches Soputa area. Gen
MacArthur orders Gen Morris, commander of New
Guinea Force, to reinforce Kokoda as quickly as
possible.
EGYPT—Br Eighth Army continues attack, gaining
some ground but failing to break through enemy
line. 23d Armd Brig, which has recently arrived
from England, passes through gaps made by
infantry in mine fields but is unable to gain ground
and loses many tanks. NZ 6th Brig and bn of Ind
161st Brig are virtually destroyed by enemy counterattacks.
USSR—German Army Group A opens all-out
assault against Rostov.
U.K.—British refuse U.S. proposal to launch
Operation SLEDGEHAMMER.
23 July
NEW CALEDONIA—42d Sq of 11th Heavy Bombardment
Gp arrives.
NEW GUINEA—Continuing along Kokoda Trail,
Japanese clash with Aus Maroubra Force near Awala,
forcing Australians back toward Wairopi.
24 July
FIJI Is.—431st Sq of 11th Heavy Bombardment
Gp arrives.
NEW GUINEA—Lt Col William T. Owen, CO
Aus 39th Bn, flies to Kokoda, which is in imminent
danger. Outnumbered Maroubra Force, fighting
delaying action as it falls back toward Kokoda,
crosses Kumusi R and destroys Wairopi bridge
across it.
USSR—Rostov falls to German Army Group A.
25 July
U.S.—Combined Chiefs of Staff agree upon
command setup for TORCH, as GYMNAST is renamed.
POA—Adm McCain issues orders for Solomons
offensive to TF 63. 26th Sq of 11th Heavy Bombardment
Gp arrives at Efate, New Hebrides.