July 9, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

THURSDAY, 9 JULY 1942

China: Flight Leader Peter Wright of the 2nd AVG Squadron claimed a reconaissance bomber 100-200 kilometers northeast of Hengyang. This was likely the AVG’s last combat claim.

AMERICAN ALASKA (11th AF): Five B-24s fly photo and weather missions to Kiska but return with their bombs due to bad weather over the target.

IJN: Mitsubishi at Nagoya No. 3 Works completes G4M1 Betty 1365.

Australian Army: 7th Brig commander and advance elements of the brig leave Townsville, Australia, for Milne Bay, New Guinea.

U.S. Navy: Submarine Sailfish (SS-192) damages Japanese army cargo ship Aobasan Maru, 11°31'N, 109°21'E.

Submarine Thresher (SS-200) sinks Japanese torpedo recovery vessel Shinsho Maru at entrance to Kwajalein Atoll, Marshalls, 08°43'N, 167°33'E. Thresher is damaged by bombs and depth charges and is briefly hooked by a grapnel trailed by the searching Japanese, but remains on patrol.