1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

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EGYPT—Enemy opposition to 13 Corps, Br
Eighth Army, as it continues battle to close gap in
mine field is unabated.
6 September
NEW GUINEA—Aus 18th Brig continues to clear
enemy from Milne Bay against light, scattered resistance.
In Owen Stanley Range 2/14th and 2/16th
Bns of 21st Brig, Aus 7th Div, fall back to Efogi Spur,
beyond The Gap, where 2/27th Bn of same brig is
already established.
EGYPT—13 Corps, Br Eighth Army, continues
offensive, making slow progress southward against
firm opposition.
USSR—Germans announce capture of
Novorossisk, leading port on E coast of Black Sea.
Fierce fighting continues around Stalingrad.
7 September
NEW GUINEA—Organized resistance in Milne Bay
sector ceases; stragglers are eventually mopped up
by Australians. Decisive defeat of Japanese removes
threat to Port Moresby from Milne Bay area, but
enemy drive along trail over Owen Stanley Range
toward Port Moresby is still unchecked.
EGYPT—Gen Montgomery halts battle of ‘Alam
el Halfa before original positions have been restored,
leaving enemy in possession of 4–5 mile stretch of
desert on S flank. Lull ensues in ground action during
which Br Eighth Army prepares intensively for
offensive. Deceptive measures are taken on a comprehensive
scale to conceal plans from enemy.
USSR—Soviet forces continue stubborn resistance
to Army Group B in Stalingrad area and to Army
Group A in vicinity of Novorossisk.
8 September
GUADALCANAL—Prov bn composed of depleted
1st Raider and 1st Para Bns moves E from Lunga Pt
by sea to destroy enemy force at Tasimboko, near
Taivu Pt. Debarking E of Tasimboko, the bn moves
W, clashing with outposts of strong enemy force that
has landed recently near Taivu Pt. Japanese holding
force is driven from Tasimboko. Raiders sustain 8
casualties and kill 27 Japanese. Henderson-based
aircraft support raiders. Japanese in Taivu Pt area
constitute main body of new assault force, smaller
group of which is in vicinity of Kokumbona.
NEW GUINEA—Gen Horii, with 5 reinf bns in
assault, attacks 21st Brig of Aus 7th Div on Efogi
Spur, forcing 2/27th Bn off trail and encircling
2/14th and 2/16th Bns.
[ 6–12 SEPTEMBER 1942 ]
9 September
U.S.—Japanese plane, launched from submarine
off coast, drops incendiary bomb on mountain slope
near Brookings, Oregon, causing small forest fire.
This is sole bombing by plane of continental U.S.
during the war.
NEW GUINEA—25th Brig of Aus 7th Div is rushed
toward Owen Stanley Range front. 16th Brig of Aus
6th Div is ordered to Port Moresby.
MADAGASCAR—Br forces of East Africa Command
renew offensive in order to insure safety of
certain military objectives and gain air and sea control
of Mozambique Channel. 29th Independent Inf
Brig makes surprise landing, night 9–10, on W coast
in vicinity of Majunga and seizes Majunga virtually
unopposed. After being passed through by E African
22d Brig Gp, which starts toward Tananarive,
29th begins re-embarking for another landing. As
diversion for Majunga landing, small landings are
made on Nosy Be I., off NW coast, and at
Morondava, on W coast; forces on N part of island
move southward along W and E coasts.
GERMANY—RAF BC, during heavy attack on
Duesseldorf, night 10–11, drops first 2-ton incendiary
bomb.
11 September
ALEUTIAN IS.—Completion of runway on Adak
permits stepped up air offensive against Kiska, some
250 miles distant.
GUADALCANAL—From 29 August to date, about
6,000 Japanese have arrived, landing mostly at night
from DD’s and destroyer-transports.
NEW GUINEA—Gen MacArthur submits to Gen
Blarney a plan for accelerating operations. While
Australians, upon receiving reinforcements, are to
attack to drive enemy back along Port Moresby–
Kokoda trail, an RCT of U.S. 32d Div is to execute
wide flanking movement to E to get behind Japanese
at Wairopi and thus hasten their expulsion from
New Guinea. Aus 2/14th and 2/16th Bns break
through enemy forces and fall back to Nauro; then
yield Nauro under pressure and take up positions
on ridge N of Ioribaiwa, where 2/1st Pioneer Bn
and 3d Bn of 14th Brig are established.
12 September
NEW HEBRIDES—7th Marines and elements of 5th
Defense Bn arrive at Espiritu Santo. Adm Turner,
after conferring with Gen Vandegrift on
Guadalcanal, recommends to Adm Ghormley that
7th Marines be used to strengthen Lunga defenses.
GUADALCANAL—Prov raider-parachute bn conducts
reconnaissance in force along ridge, later