July 17, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

FRIDAY, 17 JULY 1942

ALASKA (11th AF): Three B-17s and seven B-24s fly weather, bombing and photo missions; shipping is bombed and North and South Heads of Kiska are photographed. A6M2-N Rufes shoot down B-17E 41-9126 (MIA).

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th AF): B-17s bomb Simpson Harbor. Meanwhile, B-17E 41-2639 with two U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) officers aboard flies a reconnaissance flight over Tulagi and Guadalcanal.

U.S. Army: Movement order for Operation PROVIDENCE, the planned occupation of Buna area, New Guinea, is issued. Serial One is to leave Port Moresby on July 31, 1942 but will be preempted by the Japanese landing. D-Day is scheduled to be August 10-12, 1942.