August 22, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SATURDAY, 22 AUGUST 1942

ALASKA (11th AF): A photo reconnaissance mission over Kiska is aborted due to overcast.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, 7th Air Force): The first U.S. Army Air Force aircraft, five P-400s of the 67th Fighter Squadron, 58th Fighter Group, based on New Caledonia arrive at Henderson Field, joining U. S, Marine Corps (USMC) aircraft which arrived earlier. These P-400s operate under control of Marine Aircraft Wing One (MAW-1) but will prove to be no match for Japanese Zeros or high altitude bombers and will instead be used for ground attack and low level sweeps.

SWPA (5th AF): B-17s bomb Lae Airfield and Lakunai Airfield.

Buna: A total of 11,430 Japanese personnel are at Buna.

IJN: A6M3 Zeros from the Tainan Kokutai (Tainan Air Group) led by Lt. Jôji Yamashita fly seven sorties over Rabi (Milne Bay) and seven cover sorties over friendly positions at Basabua. A6M3 Zeros of the 2nd Kokutai led by Lt. Yoshiô Kurakane made seven sorties over Rabi (Milne Bay) and five sorties over Basabua.

USMC: The Marines defeat the attacking Japanese during the Battle of the Tenaru (Ilu River/Alligator Creek), the first major battle of the Guadalcanal campaign.

USN: USS Blue (DD-387) is damaged by a torpedo from Japanese destroyer Kawakaze while patrolling Iron Bottom Sound. The explosion damaging her engines, shafts and steering and killed nine and wounded twenty-one. Afterwards, several unsuccessful attempts were made to tow the damaged destroyer to Tulagi.