August 18, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

TUESDAY, 18 AUGUST 1942

ALASKA (11th AF): A B-24 takes oblique photos of Amchitka and Tanaga; Heavy fog over Kiska and Attu precludes armed reconnaissance.

CBI 10th AF: Major General Clayton L. Bissell becomes Commanding General 10th Air Force (10th AF) relieving Brigadier General Earl L. Naiden who now devotes full time to command of India-China Ferry Command under the 10th Air Force (10th AF).

CATF: 76th Fighter Squadron, 23d Fighter Group, moves from Kweilin to Kunming with P-40s.

SWPA (5th AF): For a second consecutive day a single B-17 attacks Kavieng Airfield with bombs falling in the dispersal area.

IJN: After dark, destroyers Arashi, Hagikaze, Tanikaze and Hamakaze and Kagero arrive Taivu Point on eastern Guadalcanal and unload 917 soldiers of the first echeon of Japanese Army, 28th Infantry Regiment "Ichiki Force" under the command of Colonel Kiyonao Ichiki and land without opposition at Taivu Point. By August 19, 1942 at 1:00am the landing was completed.

IJA: General Tomitarō Horii arrives at Buna.

USMC: By midnight, Carlson's Raiders "Makin Raid" evacuate Makin Island in the face of Japanese air attacks and reinforcements. The Marines were evacuated and forced to leave behind their dead, which were later buried by the islanders and Japanese in a mass grave.

On Guadalcanal repaired Lunga Point Airfield renamed Henderson Field is ready for flight operations.