August 20, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

THURSDAY, 20 AUGUST 1942

ALASKA (11th AF): A B-24 flies photo reconnaissance over Kiska; a patrol is flown over Shumagin.

WDC (4th AF): 25th Observation Squadron, 71st Observation Group, stops flying ASW patrols from Salinas AAB.

SWPA (5th AF): 63d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 43d Bombardment Group (Heavy) moves from Torrens Creek to Mareeba with B-17s. Lost is LB-30 Liberator AL-818 pilot Captain Frederick "Fred" C. Eaton, Jr. force lands at No 1. Strip (Gurney).

Guadalcanal: Henderson Field becomes operational after repairs and the first fighter planes arrive. By this date, there are 10,000 American versus 3,600 Japanese on Guadalcanal.

Advanced supply depots are established at Nouméa and Espiritu Santo.

Although Japanese flying boat from Shortlands spot USS Long Island (CVE-1) screened by light cruiser USS Helena (CL-50) and destroyers USS Aylwin (DD-355) and USS Dale (DD-353), the warships are out of range of land-based aircraft and retire from the area without incident.

USN: Small seaplane tender Mackinac (AVP-13) is damaged when mistakenly bombed by SBDs (VS 71) from USS Wasp (CV-7) off Ndeni.

USMC: The first Marine aircraft from the advance echelon of 1st Marine Air Wing (1st MAW), Marine Air Group 23 (MAG-23) arrive at Henderson Field. USS Long Island (CVE-1) launches 19 F4F Wildcats from Marine Fighter Squadron 223 (VMF-223) and 12 SBD-3 Dauntless from Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 232 (VMSB-232) land at Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. Within a week, they are joined by AAF fighters plus SBD dive bombers from USS Enterprise (CV-6) and later by other elements as the campaign progressed. Until Guadalcanal is secure (February 9, 1943), these forces flew interceptor patrols, offensive missions against shipping, and close air support for the Marines and later for the U.S. Army soldiers that relieving them on October 13, 1942. During the Guadalcanal campaign, Marine air units carrying the major air support burden and claimed 427 enemy planes during the campaign. Supply and evacuation between Guadalcanal and Espiritu Santo is begun by MAG 25.

On Guadalcanal, in the evening, 1st Mar Div units along Ilu River exchange fire with enemy advancing from the east.

Japanese order amphibious assault on Milne Bay by about 1,500 men from Kavieng, New Ireland, and Buna.