July 14, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

TUESDAY, 14 JULY 1942

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th AF): During an early morning take off from Horn Island Airfield two bombers crash B-17E 41-2655 (survived) and B-17E 41-2636 (survived).

U.S. Army: Maj Gen Millard F. Harmon assumes commander of U.S. Army Forces in South Pacific Area (COMGENSOPAC).

U.S. Navy: In preparation for invasion of the Solomons, ships from Task Force 44 (TF 44) leave Brisbane bound for New Zealand, where all except 1 CA, which becomes part of Air Support Force, are assigned to Solomons Amphibious Force. TF 42 (submarines) is to interdict enemy shipping in Rabaul area. Admiral Ghormley alerts 7th Marines, 1st Mar Div, on Samoa to be prepared to depart for the Solomons on four day notice.

Unarmed U.S. freighter Arcata, steaming from Bethel, Alaska, to Seattle, Washington, is shelled and sunk by Japanese submarine I-7 at 53°35'N, 157°40'W. Seven of the 29-man crew perish; three Navy and one civilian passenger survive the attack. I-7 machineguns the life rafts; one sailor suffers mortal wounds. Destroyer Kane (DD-235) rescues 11 of Arcata's survivors; fishing boat Yukon picks up 14.

USMC: The Marine Corps Air Station, Edenton, North Carolina, was designated Marine Corps Glider Base, under the 5th Naval District.