June 25, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

THURSDAY, 25 JUNE 1942

USA: U.S President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill conclude a conference in Washington D.C. and reach a decision to combine efforts to develop an atomic bomb.

ALASKA (11th Air Force): Two B-17s, four B-24s and a single LB-30 fly bombing and weather missions over Kiska, including bombing the northern side of Kiska Harbor.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, 7th Air Force): Brigadier General William E. Lynd becomes Commanding General VII Bomber Command.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): B-25s bomb Salamaua. Lost on a take off accident at 12 Mile Drome is P-39 pilot Rose.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, 7th Air Force): P-40E Warhawks from the 73rd Fighter Squadron (73rd FS) launch from USS Saratoga (CV-3) then land at Midway Airfield. The P-40s begin dawn and dusk patrols until relieved on June 23, 1943.

U.S. Navy: Admiral Ernest J. King, CominCh, directed CinCPac and ComSoPac to prepare for an offense against the lower Solomon Islands. Santa Cruz Island, Tulagi, and adjacent areas were to be seized and occupied by Marines under CinCPac; U.S. Army troops from Australia would form the permanent occupation garrison. D-Day is tentatively scheduled for August 1, 1942.

USS Saratoga (CV-3) ferries 25 USAAF P-40s from 73rd Fighter Squadron to Midway to provide fighter defense, after the heavy losses suffered by VMF-221 during the Battle of Midway. Saratoga also launches 18 SBDs as replacement aircraft for Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 241 (VMSB-241).

Submarine Nautilus (SS-168) torpedoes and sinks Japanese destroyer Yamakaze southeast of Yokosuka, Japan, 34°34'N, 140°26'E.

Submarine Grouper (SS-214) damages Japanese oiler No.3 Tonan Maru, 28°46'N, 136°36'E.

PBYs (VP 71) bomb Japanese base at Tulagi; Rear Admiral John S. McCain (Commander, Aircraft, South Pacific Force) is present in one of the flying boats to observe operations.

USMC: Eighteen SBDs launched from USS Saratoga (CV-3) then land at Midway Airfield as replacement aircraft for Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 241 (VMSB-241).

Australian Army: Gen Basil M. Morris forms new unit, the "Maroubra Force" to hold the Kokoda Trail over Owen Stanley Range. Maroubra Force consists of Aus 39th Bn, less one co, of Aus 30th Brig and a Papuan bn of 300. Meanwhile, the Allied garrison arrives at Milne Bay.