August 17, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

MONDAY, 17 AUGUST 1942

CBI (CATF): The 16th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group from Kunming to Chungking with P-40s; 75th Fighter Squadron, 23d Fighter Group from Hengyang to Chanyi with P-40s. The 75th FS, 23rd FG was at Kweilin en route to its new base at Chanyi when a Japanese intruder was reported by the warning net. Two P-40s and two P-43s (combat debut) scrambled. The P-40s were unable to intercept but both P-43s made contact. Lieutenant Phillip B. O’Connell got within range only to have his guns jam and then his radio to fail. Lieutenant Burrell Barnum then followed the speedy Japanese aircraft in a lengthy chase involving climbs, dives and straight runs until close to Canton. Barnum fired from long range but never got close enough to inflict serious damage. Barnum reported the ”I-45” to be equal in speed to the P-43 at 20,000ft. Barnum most likely encountered a Mitsubishi Ki-46 from the independent 18th I F Chutai, which had three aircraft based at Canton.

ALASKA (11th AF): A B-24 flies photo reconnaissance over Buldir, Kiska and Amchitka despite heavy rain.

USMC: The "Makin Raid" begins at 3:30am when submarines USS Argonaut (SM-1) and USS Nautilus (SS-168) surfaced and deploy rubber rafts with outboard engines to lands roughly 200 U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) 2nd Raider Battalion led by Lt. Col XXX including Company A and Company B on Makin Island to destroy installations, disrupt the Japanese and divert reinforcements to Guadalcanal. This was the first U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) operation launched from submarines. The submarines deck guns support the Marines ashore. The Makin Raid kills 83 Japanese and destroys installations, ships and two flying boats including H8K2 Emily (Makin Lagoon). Afterwards, the Japanese to bolster defenses in the region.

SWPA (5th AF): Japanese air raid against 7-Mile Drome destroys parked planes including: B-26 "The Avenger" 40-1399, B-26 "Shamrock" 40-1437, B-26 "Wabash Cannonball" 40-1499, C-56B Lodestar 42-68353, C-56B Lodestar VH-CAI and DC-5 VH-CXA. Damaged is DC-3 41-1941. A single B-17 bombs Kavieng.

IJN: Japanese air raid against Port Moresby twenty-five G4M1 Bettys including nine from 4th Kōkūtai (4th Air Group) plus sixteen from Misawa Kokutai (Misawa Air Group) escorted by A6M2 Zeros from Tainan Kokutai (Tainan Air Group) strike 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby and bombs damage the runway and destroy parked aircraft. Lost is A6M2 pilot Tokushige (MIA).

U.S. Navy: Admiral Ghormley shifts responsibility for establishing line of communications to Guadalcanal from TF 63 to Adm Turner's TF 62. Henderson Field becomes operational. U.S. air raids against Japanese targets in the Gilbert Islands.

Submarine USS Gudgeon (SS-211) damages Japanese oilers Shinkoku Maru and Nichiei Maru northwest of Truk, 07°43'N, 151°13'W.