August 18, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

TUESDAY, 18 AUGUST 1942

ALASKA (11th AF): A B-24 takes oblique photos of Amchitka and Tanaga; Heavy fog over Kiska and Attu precludes armed reconnaissance.

CBI 10th AF: Major General Clayton L. Bissell becomes Commanding General 10th Air Force, relieving Brigadier General Earl L. Naiden who now devotes full time to command of India-China Ferry Command under the 10th Air Force.

USMC: At 3:30am Carlson's Raiders "Makin Raid" aboard rubber rafts and land on Makin to divert Japanese reinforcements to Guadalcanal. After killing 83 Japanese and destroying installations, ships and flying boats, the Marines were evacuated and forced to leave behind their dead, which were later buried by the islanders and Japanese in a mass grave.

CATF: 76th Fighter Squadron, 23d Fighter Group, moves from Kweilin to Kunming with P-40s.

SWPA (5th AF): For a second consecutive day a single B-17 attacks Kavieng Airfield with bombs falling in the dispersal area.

Japanese Army: General Tomitarō Horii arrives at Buna.

USMC: By midnight, the "Makin Raid" on Makin Island ends with the Marines withdrawing on their rubber boats back to the submarines. The raid killed the Japanese garrison of about 85 men.