July 26, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SUNDAY, 26 JULY 1942

POA: Gen Harmon takes tactical command of all U.S. Army forces in S Pacific and establishes provisional CP at Suva, Fiji Is. Solomons Expeditionary Force (TF 61), except for party bringing 3d Defense Bn across the Pacific, assembles SE of Fiji.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th AF): A B-25 strike against Gasmata is repulsed by fighter interception over Buna area. Two B-25 were shot down: and B-25C "Arora" 41-12792 pilot Captain Frank P. Bender (survived, KIA) and B-25C 41-12470 pilot 1st Lt. Ralph L. Schmidt (MIA). B-26s attack a destroyer off Gona but fail to score hits; Australian troops flown into Kokoda fail to halt the Japanese advance and Kokoda is evacuated. 39th Fighter Squadron, 35th Fighter Group, moves from Port Moresby to Townsville with P-39s.

U.S. Navy: Destroyer Worden (DD-352) and oiler Platte (AO-24) rescue survivors of Dutch motorship Tjinegara, which had been sunk by Japanese submarine I-169 about 75 miles southeast of Nouméa, New Caledonia, 23°10'S, 165°00'E, on 25 July.

Australian Army: New Guinea Force flies 30 men from Co D, Aus 39th Bn, to Kokoda; 15 of these are sent forward to Oivi. After Japanese surround Oivi position, small defense force at Kokoda (platoon of Co B and 15 men of Co D) abandons it for prepared positions at Deniki.