Today in
World War II History

Uganda Battery of Kings African Rifles in action against the Vichy-held positions near Ambositra, Madagascar, September 1942 (Imperial War Museum: K 8588)

80 Years Ago—Sept. 9, 1942: Mount Emily Episode: Japanese seaplane launched from submarine I-25 drops incendiary bombs in Brookings, OR, the first aerial bombardment ever of the United States.

British land at Majunga in western Madagascar to subdue remaining Vichy French forces.

Recruiting posters for the US Army Air Forces and for the Royal Air Force Bomber Command, WWII

80 Years Ago—Sept. 8, 1942: Joint British-American directive is issued consigning night bombing of Nazi-occupied Europe to the RAF and daylight bombing to the US Eighth Air Force.

Australian troops passing abandoned Japanese tanks at Milne Bay, New Guinea, September 1942 (US Army Center of Military History)

80 Years Ago—Sept. 7, 1942: In Egypt, Battle of Alam Halfa Ridge ends when Germans under Rommel are forced back almost to their original positions and Montgomery pauses to prepare for the offensive.

Australians give Japanese their first land defeat of WWII, as organized resistance ends at Milne Bay, New Guinea.

Australian troops of D Company, 39th Battalion after battle of Isurava in Owen Stanleys, September 1942 (Australian War Memorial: 013288)

80 Years Ago—Sept. 6, 1942: In the Owen Stanley Mountains on New Guinea, Australians fall back to the Efogi Spur.

Jungled ridges at the gap in the Owen Stanley Mountains, New Guinea, November 1943 (US Army Center of Military History)

80 Years Ago—Sept. 5, 1942: Japanese reach Owen Stanley Gap in drive toward Port Moresby, New Guinea.

RAF raid to Bremen, Germany, destroys Kunsthalle Bremen and the original painting Washington Crossing the Delaware by German-American artist Emanuel Leutze (two later versions remain in the US).

New song in Top Ten: “I’ve Got a Gal in Kalamazoo.”

Washington Crossing the Delaware by Emanuel Leutze (public domain via Metropolitan Museum of Art: 97.34)

US Army rank insignia for technician third class, WWII

80 Years Ago—Sept. 4, 1942: US Marines scout Savo Island off Guadalcanal, find it free of Japanese soldiers, and secure it.

US Army adds “T” to chevrons for technician third, fourth, and fifth class.

Movie premiere of Orchestra Wives, starring Glenn Miller and his orchestra.

Patch of the US Fifth Air Force, WWII

80 Years Ago—Sept. 3, 1942: US Fifth Air Force is reactivated (formerly Far East Air Force), under Lt. Gen. George Kenney in Brisbane, Australia, for US forces in Australia and New Guinea.

First US cargo flight to Guadalcanal—R4D cargo plane brings Brig. Gen. Roy Geiger then evacuates wounded.

German bomb exploding near HMS Ashanti, HMS Wheatland, and HMS Eskimo, escorting Allied convoy PQ-18, Sep 1942 (Imperial War Museum: A 12022)

80 Years Ago—Sept. 2, 1942: Allied convoy PQ-18 departs Scotland for USSR, the first Arctic convoy with an escort carrier, HMS Avenger, and the first since the PQ-17 disaster; 13/40 ships will be lost.

Japanese-American children playing with scale model of their home at Tule Lake Relocation Center, Newell, CA, 11 Sep 1942 (US National Archives)

80 Years Ago—Sept. 1, 1942: In Egypt, British lure German tanks into soft sand between Alam Halfa and Ruweisat Ridges and then attacks.

In Egypt, Luftwaffe fighter pilot Hans Marseille shoots down 16 RAF fighters in 3 missions.

Federal judge in California upholds detention of Japanese-Americans.

German Army Group A reaches the Black Sea in the Caucasus and takes port of Anapa.

Australian troops at Milne Bay, New Guinea, shortly after the unsuccessful Japanese invasion attempt, 1 Oct 1942 (Australian War Memorial: 013335)

80 Years Ago—Aug. 31, 1942: Australians launch offensive against the Japanese at Milne Bay, New Guinea.

A general strike breaks out in Luxembourg as the Germans conscript men ages 20-24.

Canada requires unemployed men and women to take war work.