July 31, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

FRIDAY, 31 JULY 1942

China: The attacks continued on Hengyang. At 6:30am, P-40s from the 75th Squadron and 16th Squadron scrambled and claimed six and two probables. From 16th FS, 2nd Lieutenant Dallas Clinger claimed one and one probable over Hengyang, Captain Edmund Gloss claimed an Army Zero over Hengyang and 1st Lieutenant John Lombard claimed a Zero near Leiyang. From 75th FS, Major John ‘Gil’ Bright claimed one and one probable Zero over Hengyang, 1st Lieutenant Henry Elias claimed a fighter over Hengyang and 2nd Lieutenant Mack Mitchell claimed a Zero in the Hengyang area. The 75th FS returned at 8:30pm. At 09:09, Colonel Robert Scott attacked enemy aircraft eight miles from Leiyang and claimed a Type 97 bomber and a Zero destroyed. The 24th Sentai again took part in the attacks claiming six shot down, but three Ki-43s were lost killing pilots Sergeant Major Togo Tatsumi (NCO77), Corporal Tomoshige Yoshida (Sho-7) and Corporal Kunitoshi Samejima (Sho-7).

POA: Amphibious Force, South Pacific Force (ComPhibForSoPac) Task Force 62 (TF 62) under Admiral Richmond K. Turner covered by Admiral Noyes Air Support Force departs Fiji bound for the Solomon Islands. B-17s from Task Force 63 (TF 63) under Admoral McCain from New Hebrides begin seven days of bombing missions against Guadalcanal and Tulagi in preparation for invasion.

U.S. Army: General Douglas MacArthur angry over the fact General Jonathan M. Wainwright surrendered the Philippines. As a result, he wires General George Marshall his opposition to the Medal of Honor being bestowed on Wainwright.

USAAF: Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) is B-24D Liberator 41-23752.

ALASKA (11th AF): A B-24 and an LB-30 fly weather and photo reconnaissance; weather cancels a combat mission to Kiska.

U.S. Navy: Submarine USS Grunion (SS-216) torpedoes Japanese transport Kashima Maru off Kiska, but is sunk by gunfire from her quarry, 10 miles north of Segula Island.

PBYs attempt to bomb Japanese bases in Tulagi-Gavutu area is aborted because of bad weather.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, 7th AF): A single B-17 from Midway performs a photographic reconnaissance over Wake and is Intercepted by six fighters; in the ensuing fight her gunners claim four shot down.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Joint Chiefs of Staff): Nine B-17s led by Colonel LaVerne G. Saunders from 11th Bombardment Group (11th BG) on Efate took off on a bombing mission against Lunga Point Airfield and the surrounding area including Kukum Beach on Guadalcanal. From this date until August 7, 1942, the 11th Bombardment Group conducts 56 strike and 22 search sorties in support of the invasion of Tulagi and Guadalcanal.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th AF): B-17s bomb Gona and bomb a nearby transport [Ayutosen Maru] which had been previously damaged.

Australian Army: Additional elements (Co A of Aus 39th Bn) of Maroubra Force reach Deniki.