July 27, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

MONDAY, 27 JULY 1942

USA: Army-Navy Petroleum Board is established.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Joint Chiefs of Staff): Major General Millard F. Harmon arrives at Noumea to assume command of US Army Forces in South Pacific Area (USAFISPA) with responsibility for training all Army (air and ground) personnel. Air units in the theater are under operational control of Commander Aircraft South Pacific Forces (COMAIRSOPAC).

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th AF): B-26s and A-24s hit Gona and targets along the Buna trail, suffer no losses, but cause no damage. B-26 damage Japanese transport Kotoku Maru off Buna. 35th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group moves from Woodstock to Garbutt with P-39s and P-400s. Nine B-17s bomb Buna: B-17E 41-2435, B-17E 41-2460, B-17E 41-2536, B-17E 41-2650, B-17E 41-2657, B-17E "Frank Buck" 41-2659, B-17E 41-2662, B-17E 41-2668 and B-17E 41-9011.

U.S. Navy: Task Force 61 (TF 61) sails to Koro in Fiji to rehearse for invasion of Solomons.

TF 8 approaches Kiska to bombard Japanese positions but limited surface visibility results in the operation being postponed. During the retirement, however, high speed minesweeper USS Lamberton (DMS-2) accidentally rams high speed minesweeper USS Chandler (DMS-9). While investigating that collision, destroyer USS Monaghan (DD-354) and high speed minesweeper USS Lamberton (DMS-12) collide; both of those ships suffer damage as well.

Light cruiser USS Boise (CL-47) departs Pearl Harbor to proceed via Midway, toward Japan to emit enough radio traffic to create the impression of an approaching American task force, as well as to locate and destroy small patrol vessels operating off Honshu.

Submarine Spearfish (SS-190) damages Japanese submarine depot ship Rio de Janeiro Maru 95 miles east of Cam Ranh Bay, French Indochina, 11°28'N, 110°52'E.

Dutch submarine O-23 damages Japanese coaster No.2 Shofuku Maru south of Penang, Malaya, 05°07'N, 98°50'E.

Australian Army: During night 26-27 Oivi force having broken through enemy joins elements of Maroubra Force at Deniki. New Guinea Force, upon learning of evacuation of Kokoda, recalls two air transports bound for Kokoda with reinforcements and supplies.