July 20, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

MONDAY, 20 JULY 1942

USA: Admiral William D. Leahy reports to U.S. President Roosevelt as Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy.

China: Three B-25s of the 11th BS (Medium) bombed and warehouses at Chinkiang on the Yangtze River. Four escorting P-40s strafed junks on the river. This was the last China Air Task Force (CATF) bombing missin in July 1942. Detachments of 11th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy), operating from Kweilin, Hengyang and Nanning with B-25s return to base at Kunming. Dr. Lauchlin Currie arrives in China to discuss U.S.-Chinese relations with Stilwell and the Chinese.

ALASKA (11th AF): Brigadier General William O. Butler moves advance headquarters to Umnak. Three B-17s bomb Kiska including the barracks area with incendiaries and demolition bombs. 4 P-38s try to intercept 4 fighters reported by US Navy (USN) aircraft but no contact is made.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th AF): 33d Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 22d Bombardment Group (Medium) from Antil Plains to Woodstock with B-26s; 80th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group from Petrie to Port Moresby with P-39s and P-400s (first mission is July 22, 1942). Lost is P-39D Airacobra 41-6783 pilot 2nd Lt Frank E. Angier (survived).

U.S. Army: USAFIA, largely a supply organization, is discontinued, and U.S. Army Services of Supply, Southwest Pacific Area (USASOS SWPA) is established under command of Gen Richard Marshall. GHQ SWPA moves from Melbourne to Brisbane to be nearer scene of offensive.

U.S. Navy Naval Operating Base and Naval Air Facility, Dutch Harbor, Alaska, are established.

RAAF: Hudson A16-179 is destroyed during a Japanese air raid against 3 Mile Drome (Kila Kila).

USMC: Maj Gen Alexander A. Vandegrift, CG 1st Mar Div, issues tactical orders for invasion of Solomons.