December 5, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SATURDAY, 5 DECEMBER 1942

(Eleventh Air Force) Seven B-24s and nine B-26s escorted by 16 P-38s take off upon a Navy PBY report of a surface force southeast of Amchitka. At the interception point, the area is searched without results. The PBY pilot later report he saw "clouds." Reconnaissance missions over Attu, Agattu, Semichi, Amchitka and Kiska turns up nothing.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Army Forces in South Pacific Area) The following Seventh Air Force units are transferred to the Army Forces in South Pacific Area: 5th Bombardment Group with its 23d, 31st, 72d and 394th Bombardment Squadrons with B-17s. The 394th is enroute from Hawaii to Fiji; all others are on Espiritu Santo with the 72d Bomb Squadron operating from Guadalcanal. 11th Bombardment Groups with its 26th Bombardment Squadron, 42d Bombardment Squadron, 98th Bombardment Squadron and 431st Bombardment Squadron with B-17s. The 26th Bombardment Squadron is on Efate while the 42d Bombardment Squadron and 98th Bombardment Squadron are on Espiritu Santo. The 431st is on Viti Levu on Fiji. 12th Fighter Squadron, 15th Fighter Group with P-39s and the 44th Fighter Squadron, 318th Fighter Group with P-40s both on Efate.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) A-20s and B-25s pound the Buna area. Lost is B-25C "The Happy Legend" 41-12907. Allied ground forces again fail to take the village, but some elements push to within 50 yards of Buna, some break through to the sea, and others invest the west bank of Entrance Creek; Buna is thus completely isolated. B-24s bomb Kavieng Airfield. Force landed is B-25C "Per Diem" 41-12911.

Australian Army: Five Bren Gun Carriers with infantry support launched an attack against Japanese positions on Cape Endaiadere, but were repulsed and all five vehicles were knocked out. Within a half hour, all five were knocked out by the Japanese.