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 Home > History > The 5th Air Force in WWII > September 1942



Tuesday, 1 September, 1942

In New Guinea, P-40s hit a Japanese HQ at Wagga Wagga on Milne Bay while P-400s strafe Kokoda and Kokoda Pass in the Owen Stanley Range; Australian ground forces continue a slow retreat over the range but make progress in Milne Bay offensive; and the 89th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 3d Bombardment Group (Light), moves from Charters Towers, Australia to Port Moresby with A-20s.

Wednesday, 2 September, 1942

In New Guinea, P-400s bomb and strafe forces in the Kokoda and Alola areas as the Japanese continue to push toward Port Moresby.

Thursday, 3 September, 1942

Lieutenant General George C. Kenney assumes command of the Fifth Air Force in Brisbane, Australia, where the Fifth's HQ is remanned; General Kenney retains command of the Allied Air Force.   In New Guinea, P-400s bomb and strafe the Kokoda Pass area, hitting the airfield at Kokoda and in the vicinity of Alola, Isurava, and Missima; B-25s and A-20s pound the Mubo-Busama-Salamaua area. A B-17 strafes seaplanes at Faisi Island in the Shortland Islands.

Friday, 4 September, 1942

In New Guinea, P-40s bomb and strafe forces in the Milne Bay area at Goroni, Wagga Wagga, Ahioma, and North of Lilihoa; Australian ground forces pushing East along Milne Bay reach Goroni; the Japanese begin evacuation of the area.

Saturday, 5 September, 1942

Brigadier General Kenneth N. Walker becomes Commanding General V Bomber Command as the command is remanned at Townsville, Australia. In New Guinea, P-400s strafe Kokoda, Kaile, Isurava, Alola, Buna, Sanananda, and Buna-Kokoda trail; the airfield at Buna is strafed and bombed by P-400s and A-20s; as the Japanese withdraw from the Milne Bay area, Australian ground forces capture the Wagga Wagga supply dump.

Sunday, 6 September, 1942

In New Guinea, P-400s, A-20s, and B-17s strafe and bomb positions, troops, and shipping at Myola, Mubo, Kokoda, Myola Lake, Eora Creek, and Milne Bay; Australian ground forces continue to clear the enemy from the Milne Bay area while Australian troops in the Owen Stanley Range fall back to the vicinity of the Efogi Spur beyond Gap Mountain, where defensive positions are already established.

Monday, 7 September, 1942

In New Guinea, A-20s and P-400s strafe and bomb positions at Myola Lake and Efogi in the Owen Stanley Range; P-40s and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Hudsons, Beauforts, and Beaufighters attack a cruiser and destroyer 17 miles (27 km) East-Northeast of Cape Karitahua; organized Japanese resistance in the Milne Bay sector ends.

Tuesday, 8 September, 1942

In New Guinea, P-400s bomb and strafe the Efogi area where Australian forces are hard pressed by the Japanese. B-17s and RAAF Hudsons attack cruisers and a destroyer N of the D'Entrecasteaux Islands.

Wednesday, 9 September, 1942

P-40s strafe the Galaiwa Bay area on Goodenough Island, D'Entrecasteaux Islands. In New Guinea, A-20s, in support of encircled Australian ground forces, strafe and bomb troops in the Efogi Spur area; and the 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, V Bomber Command, moves from Townsville, Australia to Port Moresby with F-4s.

Friday, 11 September, 1942

In New Guinea, A-20s and B-26s hit Efogi and Menari in the Owen Stanley Range and Buna Airfield; B-17s, along with RAAF Hudsons, attack 2 destroyers 20 miles (32 km) East of Normanby Island; a B-17 scores a direct hit on the stern of the destroyer Yayoi, which later sinks

Saturday, 12 September, 1942

P-400s, B-26s, A-20s, and B-17s bomb the airfield and strafe barges at Buna, New Guinea. P-40s strafe Gadaibai on Goodenough Island. A B-17 strafes a vessel in Bismarck Sea S of Kavieng, New Ireland Island, Bismarck Archipelago.

Sunday, 13 September, 1942

B-26s pound the airfield at Lae, New Guinea. B-17s unsuccessfully attack a cruiser Southeast of Rabaul, New Britain Island, Bismarck Archipelago. P-40s strafe buildings on Goodenough Island.

Monday, 14 September, 1942

In New Guinea, a single A-20 bombs ground forces and installations at Myola; and HQ 43d Bombardment Group (Heavy) moves from Torrens Creek, Australia to Port Moresby.

Tuesday, 15 September, 1942

In New Guiana, medium bombers hit Buna and Sanananda and attack camps at Efogi and Myola; and the first US infantry troops, elements of the 32d Infantry Division, arrive at Port Moresby. B-17s bomb the harbor and airfield at Rabaul, New Britain Island. The 19th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 22d Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from Woodstock to Iron Range, Australia with B-26s.

Wednesday, 16 September, 1942

B-17s bomb the wharf and airfield at Rabaul, New Britain Island and airfield on Gasmata Island off the South coast of New Britain Island. In New Guinea, a lone B-17 attacks landing barges in the Sanananda area while a single A-20 bombs and strafes positions at Nauro and Menari in the Efogi area; the Japanese ground offensive toward Port Moresby comes to a halt at Ioribaiwa; Australians are entrenched on Imita Range where they are preparing a counteroffensive.

Thursday, 17 September, 1942

B-17s, carrying out single-bomber attacks, bomb airfields at Rabaul, New Britain Island; B-17s also hit Lae, and hit a beached cargo vessel at Salamaua; P-400s, P-40s, and P-39s strafe and bomb landing barges at Buna and Sanananda Point; Japanese ground forces, halted within sight of Port Moresby, are unable to attack without reinforcements and supplies, neither of which is available.

Friday, 18 September, 1942

In New Guinea, 1 B-17 bombs Salamaua while a B-25 strafes pack trains on the Kokoda trail in the Andemba-Wairopi-Kokoda area; and HQ 8th Fighter Group and the 35th and 36th Fighter Squadrons move from Townsville, Australia to Milne Bay with P-39s and P-400s.

Saturday, 19 September, 1942

In New Guinea, A-20s and B-26s strafe and bomb the airfield at Lae; and the 7th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Group, moves from Batchelor, Australia to Port Moresby with P-40s. B-17s attack cargo vessels near Umboi (Rooke) Island between New Guinea and New Britain Island. A whaling vessel is strafed by fighters off Goodenough Island.

Sunday, 20 September, 1942

In Owen Stanley Range of New Guinea, A-20s bomb and strafe troops and installations at Sangara, Arehe, and along the Popondetta-Andemba road, and P-40s strafe the airfield at Kokoda, bridges on the trail near Wairopi, and troops at Myola, Efogi, and Kagi.

Monday, 21 September, 1942

In New Guinea, P-40s bomb and strafe bridges and targets of opportunity along Buna-Kokoda trail.

Tuesday, 22 September, 1942

In New Guinea, A-20s bomb and strafe occupied areas at Menari, Efogi, Nauro, Yodda, and Kokoda; P-40s strafe AA positions, huts, and barges at Buna and Salamaua and bomb and strafe Wairopi bridge, strafe buildings at Yodda, the airfield at Buna, and AA positions and other targets along the Buna-Kokoda trail; 1 B-25 bombs the North end of Buna Airfield and the coastal end of Sanananda track. B-17s bomb the airfield and shipping at Rabaul, New Britain Island.

Wednesday, 23 September, 1942

In New Guinea, P-40s, P-39s, P-400s, and B-17s hit tanks, buildings, and airfield at Buna, Wairopi bridge and targets of opportunity on the Buna-Kokoda trail, and Tau-Pota Mission near Goodenough Bay.

Thursday, 24 September, 1942

B-17s bomb shipping at Rabaul, New Britain Island. In New Guinea, P-40s and A-20s hit Mubo while B-17s bomb wrecked vessel at Gona; P-40s hit the airfield at Kokoda and targets along the Kokoda-Wairopi trail, including a bridge at Wairopi.

Friday, 25 September, 1942

In New Guinea, P-40s again bomb the bridge at Wairopi, scoring a direct hit on the Northeast end, which is demolished; Australian ground forces open a counteroffensive, attacking strongly toward Ioribaiwa to drive the enemy back along the Port Moresby-Kokoda trail; and the 8th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Group, moves from Darwin, Australia to Port Moresby with P-40s.

Saturday, 26 September, 1942

In New Guinea, A-20s bomb and strafe forces North of Ioribaiwa and along the Efogi-Menari trail in support of the Australian counteroffensive in Papua; and a B-17, along with RAAF aircraft, bomb Buna Airfield. B-17s strike shipping and airfield at Rabaul, New Britain Island.

Sunday, 27 September, 1942

In New Guinea, A-20s continue to pound forces North of Ioribaiwa in the area between Kagi and Efogi and in the Myola and Menari areas; the Japanese abandon Ioribaiwa Ridge and are in full retreat under heavy pressure from Australian ground forces.

Monday, 28 September, 1942

In New Guinea, P-40s and P-400s bomb and strafe Wairopi bridge, the village of Kagi, Myola Lake area, and targets of opportunity along the Buna-Kokoda trail; 1 B-17 bombs Lae Airfield; the main body of the US 126th Infantry Regiment, 32d Infantry Division, arrives at Port Moresby and is assigned to the New Guinea Force to join the Australian advance on Wairopi.

Tuesday, 29 September, 1942

In New Guinea, B-17s bomb AA positions at Buna and Salamaua Airfield; a single A-20 bombs the Menari area. HQ 22d Bombardment Group (Medium) and 33d Bombardment Squadron (Medium) move from Woodstock to Iron Range, Australia with B-26s.

Wednesday, 30 September, 1942

In New Guinea, B-17s, A-20s, and P-40s pound occupied areas at Menari, Myola Lake, Kagi, and Efogi and a bridge at Wairopi. HQ 38th Bombardment Group (Medium) and the 405th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) moves from Breddan Field to Townsville, Australia with B-25s.