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



Saturday, 1 August, 1942

In New Guinea, B-17s attack installations at Gona and shipping 75 mi (121 km) East of Salamaua in Huon Gulf. HQ 43d Bombardment Group (Heavy) moves from Sydney to Torrens Creek, Australia.

Sunday, 2 August, 1942

In New Guinea, 1 B-17 flies an unsuccessful strike against a cargo vessel 5 mi (8 km) South of Salamaua while another bombs Gona. 64th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 43d Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Daly Waters to Fenton Field, Australia with B-17s; first mission is 13 August.

Monday, 3 August, 1942

P-400's strafe Oivi and Kokoda, New Guinea. 63d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 43d Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Charleveill to Torrens Creek, Australia with B-17s; first mission is 14 August.

Tuesday, 4 August, 1942

Major General George Kenney assumes command of the Allied Air Forces, succeeding Lt. General George Brett.

Friday, 7 August, 1942

13 B-17s of the 19th Bombardment Group (Heavy), led by Lieutenant Colonel Richard H Carmichael hit Vunakanau Airfield, New Britain Island, Bismarck Archipelago, in coordination with US Marine Corps (USMC) landings on Guadalcanal Island. B-26s attack Lae, New Guinea, and a B-17 and a B-25 each attack a submarine in the Gulf of Papua. HQ 38th Bombardment Group (Medium) and 405th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) move from Eagle Farms and Ballarat respectively to Breddan Field, Australia with B-25s; first mission is 17 September.

Saturday, 8 August, 1942

In New Guinea, P-400s dive-bomb Kokoda and Yodda; B-17s, B-25s and B-26s bomb runways and targets of opportunity at Lae and Salamaua.

Sunday, 9 August, 1942

B-17s bomb shipping and airfields at Rabaul, New Britain Island and Gasmata Island off the South coast of New Britain Island while B-26s hit the harbor area at Salamaua, New Guinea.

Wednesday, 12 August, 1942

B-17s bomb shipping at Rabaul, New Britain Island, scoring damaging hits on 3 vessels. 71st Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 38th Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from Batchelor Field to Breddan Field, Australia with B-25s; first mission is 15 September.

Thursday, 13 August, 1942

A Japanese convoy, headed toward Basabua near Gona, New Guinea, with 3,000 construction troops, is attacked first by B-17s 76 mi (122 km) NE of Gona, followed by B-26s 20-25 mi (32-40 km) N of Gona and another B-17 attack as the convoy approaches landing position. In New Guinea, Japanese ground forces attack at Deniki, driving Allied forces back about 5 mi (8 km) and firmly securing the Buna-Kokoda trail.

Friday, 14 August, 1942

B-17s attack shipping off Gona, New Guinea.

Saturday, 15 August, 1942

65th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 43d Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Williamstown to Torrens Creek, Australia with B-17s; first mission is 12 November.

Monday, 17 August, 1942

A single B-17 bombs Kavieng, New Ireland Island, Bismarck Archipelago.

Tuesday, 18 August, 1942

For a second consecutive day a single B-17 attacks Kavieng, New Ireland Island; bombs fall in the airfield dispersal area.

Wednesday, 19 August, 1942

B-17s bomb shipping on Faisi Island, Shortland Islands, Solomon Islands.

Thursday, 20 August, 1942

63d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 43d Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Torrens Creek to Mareeba, Australia with B-17s.

Saturday, 22 August, 1942

B-17s bomb airfields at Lae, New Guinea and Rabaul, New Britain Island.

Sunday, 23 August, 1942

A lone B-17 bombs Buka Island, Solomon Islands.

Monday, 24 August, 1942

B-17s hit Gasmata Island and airfields at Rabaul, New Britain Island. Japanese amphibious forces leave Buna, New Guinea in barges and New Ireland Island in transports, heading for Milne Bay, New Guinea; the barges are detected by an Australian coastwatcher during the afternoon.

Tuesday, 25 August, 1942

In New Guinea, Japanese amphibious forces bound for Milne Bay from Buna are stranded on Goodenough Island when P-40s from Milne Bay destroy all of their beached barges. P-40s also attack a convoy proceeding from New Ireland Island toward Milne Bay but are hampered by bad weather and fail to halt landings at 3 points East of Rabi during the night of 25/26 Aug. P-400s hit the airfield and AA positions at Buna.

Wednesday, 26 August, 1942

In New Guinea, P-40s, B-25s, B-26s and B-17s plus Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Hudsons, pound Japanese forces in Milne Bay; a large transport is damaged and most of the supplies on the beachheads E of Rabi are destroyed; P-400s strafe Buna Airfield.

Thursday, 27 August, 1942

In New Guinea, B-26s and P-400s bomb Buna Airfield while P-40s strafe the beachhead and fuel dumps at Milne Bay. 403d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 43d Bombardment Group (Heavy),moves from Laverton to Torrens Creek, Australia with B-17s; first mission is in October.

Friday, 28 August, 1942

B-26s pound forces at Milne Bay, New Guinea.

Saturday, 29 August, 1942

In New Guinea, B-26s and P-400s hit the airfield at Buna; B-17s pound the airfield at Rabaul, New Britain Island, and P-40s hit facilities in the Milne Bay area as enemy ground forces continue their drive over the Owen Stanley Range toward Port Moresby.

Sunday, 30 August, 1942

B-17s attack shipping in Saint George's Channel between New Ireland and New Britain Islands.

Monday, 31 August, 1942

In New Guinea, B-26s and A-20s bomb the airfield at Lae; B-17s bomb an ammunition dump at Buna; P-400s strafe positions at Wairopi; and P-40s bomb landing barges and strafe gun positions in Milne Bay area where Australian ground forces now take the offensive.