Today in World War II History—August 20, 1942
Saturday, August 20, 2022 by Sarah Sundin

US Marine Corps (and maybe Navy) Grumman F4F-4 Wildcats at Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, 14 April 1943 (US Navy photo 80-G-41099)

Patch of the US Twelfth Air Force, WWII
80 Years Ago—Aug. 20, 1942: “Cactus Air Force” arrives at Henderson Field on Guadalcanal: 31 US Marine F4F-4s and SBD-3s.
US Twelfth Air Force is activated at Bolling Field, DC, under Lt. Col. Roger Browne, designated to go to North Africa.
Dim-out regulations are issued on the US West Coast.