December 10, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

THURSDAY, 10 DECEMBER 1942

(Eleventh Air Force) B-24A Liberator 40-2367 that crash landed at yesterday is sighted on the west end of Atka, with the fuselage broken off rear of the wings. The crew, later brought back, is unharmed except for light injuries to Lieutenant General William Lynd, a visiting Inspector General. An uneventful reconnaissance covers Attu, Kiska and Semichi. Four B-26s and six P-38s abort a bomb run to Kiska due to weather.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Army Forces in South Pacific Area) Eleven B-17s escorted by eight P-38s of the 339th Fighter Squadron (339th FS) attack ships in Faisi Harbor; one tanker is hit; six Zekes are claimed destroyed, five by P-38s and one by a B-17. B-17E "Miss Fit" 41-2433 on a photo reconnaissance mission over Kahili Airfield is intercepted by a A6M Zero and co-pilot Captain Carlyle Coleman was hit in the eye and killed instantly.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) The detachment of the 33rd Troop Carrier Squadron, 374th Troop Carrier Group with C-47s operating from Cairns Airfield returns to their base at Brisbane before moving to New Guinea.