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

MONDAY, 17 AUGUST 1942

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

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.

USN: U.S. air raids against Japanese targets in the Gilbert Islands.

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 land U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) 2nd Raider Battalion including Company A and Company B. This was the first U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) operation launched from submarines and land on Makin Island to destroy installations, disrupt the enemy and divert reinforcements to Guadalcanal. After killing 83 Japanese and destroying installations, ships and two flying boats including H8K2 Emily (Makin Lagoon).

SWPA (5th AF): Japanese bomb 7-Mile Drome and destroys several parked aircraft including: B-26 "The Avenger" 40-1399, B-26 "Shamrock" 40-1437, B-26 "Wabash Cannonball" 40-1499, C-56B 42-68353, C-56B VH-CAI and DC-5 VH-CXA. Damaged is C-49 Dakota 44-83228. A single B-17 bombs Kavieng.

IJN: Japanese air raid against Port Moresby twenty-five G4M1 Betty bombers including nine from the 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).