August 9, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SUNDAY, 9 AUGUST 1942

ALASKA (11th AF): Six bombers fly armed reconnaissance over Kiska and Attu and bomb Kiska.

CBI (CATF): In China, P-40s of the 23d Fighter Group continue to support Chinese ground forces by harassing the Japanese at Linchwan; four B-25s and three P-40s from the Kweilin-Hengyang area, staging through Nanning, bomb docks and warehouses at Haiphong, causing considerable damage and claiming a freighter sunk in Haiphong Harbor; this is the first CATF raid over French Indochina.

SWPA (5th AF): B-17s bomb shipping and Lakunai Airfield and Gasmata. Lost are B-17E 41-2643 (MIA) and B-17E 41-2452 (crew rescued). B-26s hit the harbor area at Salamaua.

USN: During the Battle of Savo Island sunk is USS Vincennes (CA-44), USS Quincy (CA-39), USS Astoria (CA-34) and heavily damaged and later scuttled is HMAS Canberra (D33). Afterwards, the carrier force covering Guadalcanal withdraws from direct support but remained in the area to give overall support to the campaign.