United States
Tag
(524)1942
January
February
- 01
- The Marshalls–Gilberts raidsOn 1 February 1942 aircraft from Enterprise and Yorktown struck Japanese bases in the Marshall and Gilbert Islands, the first US offensive of the war.
- The end of civilian car productionIn February 1942 American factories stopped making passenger cars for civilians. Detroit began building tanks, bombers, jeeps and engines.
March
April
- 01
- The Bucket BrigadeFrom 1 April 1942 ships off the US east coast sailed only by day, from anchorage to anchorage. Dönitz then moved his U-boats further south.
- The Pacific War CouncilOn 1 April 1942 the Pacific War Council met at the White House. Roosevelt heard out the allies fighting Japan there, but decisions were taken elsewhere.
- 09
- Key eventThe fall of BataanOn 9 April 1942 General Edward King surrendered the forces on Bataan against orders. Some 75,000 men went into captivity; only Corregidor still held out.
- The Bataan Death MarchAfter Bataan fell on 9 April 1942 the Japanese drove some 76,000 prisoners north on foot to Camp O'Donnell. Thousands of men died on the way.
May
- 06
- The fall of CorregidorOn 6 May 1942, after a Japanese landing, Wainwright surrendered Corregidor. Homma forced him to extend it to all US and Filipino forces in the islands.
- Stilwell's walk out of BurmaOn 6 May 1942 General Joseph Stilwell abandoned his vehicles and led 114 people on foot from Burma to India. Two weeks later all reached Imphal alive.
June
- 03
- The attack on Dutch HarborOn 3 and 4 June 1942 aircraft from Ryūjō and Jun'yō bombed Dutch Harbor in the Aleutians, opening the Aleutian campaign alongside Midway.
- The Battle of Midway beginsOn 3 June 1942 a Catalina sighted Japanese transports heading for Midway. B-17s hit no ship, and Nagumo's carriers were still hidden in the fog.
- 07
- The Japanese on Attu and KiskaOn 6–7 June 1942 the Japanese took Kiska and Attu unopposed. Attu's Aleuts were deported to Japan, and the US removed Aleuts from other islands.
- The end of the Battle of MidwayOn 5–7 June 1942 Yamamoto called off the Midway attack, US planes sank the cruiser Mikuma, and a Japanese submarine finished off Yorktown, which sank on 7 June.
- 18
- The Manhattan Project beginsOn 18 June 1942 Colonel James C. Marshall was ordered to organise the military side of the American atomic programme. So the Manhattan Project was born.
- Churchill in WashingtonOn 18 June 1942 Churchill flew to Washington for talks with Roosevelt. Before leaving he named Anthony Eden to the King as his successor.
July
August
- 08
- The execution of the Operation Pastorius saboteursOn 8 August 1942 six German saboteurs from Operation Pastorius, condemned by a military commission, were executed in the electric chair in Washington.
- The Battle of Savo IslandOn the night of 8/9 August 1942 Mikawa's cruisers surprised the Allied screen of the Guadalcanal landing off Savo and sank four heavy cruisers.
- 17
- The first B-17 raid on RouenOn 17 August 1942 twelve American B-17s of the 97th Bombardment Group bombed a rail junction near Rouen by day. All returned to England.
- The Makin Island raidOn 17 August 1942 Carlson’s Marines, landed from two submarines, struck the Japanese garrison on Makin. The withdrawal was a drama; nine men were left behind.
September
- 15
- Americans in Port MoresbyOn 15 September 1942 the first company of the US 32nd Division flew into Port Moresby. Two regiments followed – one by air, the other by sea.
- The sinking of USS WaspOn 15 September 1942 the Japanese submarine I-19 torpedoed the carrier Wasp, covering a convoy to Guadalcanal. 193 men died and the blazing ship was scuttled.
October
November
- 08
- Key eventThe landings in North AfricaOn 8 November 1942 more than 70,000 American and British troops landed in Morocco and Algeria. The Vichy French resisted at Casablanca and Oran.
- The Algiers putschOn the night of 7/8 November 1942 some 400 underground volunteers seized Algiers for several hours and detained General Juin and Admiral Darlan.
December
- 02
- The Battle of TebourbaOn 1–4 December 1942 the German 10th Panzer Division counter-attacked at Tebourba and drove the Allies back from Tunis. The Axis took the initiative in Tunisia.
- Key eventThe first controlled chain reactionOn 2 December 1942, beneath the stands of Stagg Field in Chicago, Enrico Fermi's team started up Chicago Pile-1 – the first nuclear reactor.
- 15
- The fall of Gona and BunaOn 9 December 1942 the Australians took Gona, and on 14 December the Americans took Buna village. The Japanese fought on at Buna Station and Sanananda.
- The fighting for Mount AustenIn mid-December 1942 the Americans attacked Mount Austen on Guadalcanal. The 132nd Infantry stalled before the Japanese stronghold of the Gifu.