August 25, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

TUESDAY, 25 AUGUST 1942

ALASKA (11th AF): A photo reconnaissance mission is flown over Kiska, Attu and Adak, then turns back because of mechanical failure.

USN: During the Battle of the Eastern Solomons U.S. carrier planes are unable to locate enemy fleet units, but U.S. Marine and Army land based bombers attack Japanese transport force continuing toward Guadalcanal and cause them to delay landings and retire northward. At 8:35am, the Japanese convoy is hit by dive bombers from USS Enterprise (CV-6) 125 miles away damaging Kinryu Maru north of Guadalcanal, 07°47'N, 160°13'E.. Meanwhile, B-17s from Espiritu Santo score a bomb hit that sinks Mutsuki and cause minor damage to destroyer Uzuki. By noon, the remaining force withdraws northward.

Lost is PBY-5 Catalina 04469 pilot Lt. Stanley O. Raithel (MIA) on a flight bound for Alaska.

Submarine Growler (SS-215) sinks Japanese gunboat Sen-Yo Maru 20 miles south of Takao, Formosa, 22°33'N, 120°10'E, and survives several ensuing depth-chargings.

Submarine Seawolf (SS-197) sinks Japanese cargo ship Showa Maru off northeast coast of Borneo, 03°55'N, 118°59'E.

SWPA (5th AF): Japanese amphibious forces bound for Milne Bay from Buna is stranded on Goodenough when P-40E Kittyhawks from Milne Bay destroy their beached barges. P-40s also attack a convoy proceeding from New Ireland toward Milne Bay but are hampered by bad weather and fail to halt landings at three points east of Rabi during the night of 25/26 Aug. 3rd BG B-25 attempt to bomb Japanese shipping at Milne Bay, but fail to locate them due to bad weather. Lost is B-25C "Boomerang" 41-12499 pilot Captain James L. Orr (MIA). Also, P-400s hit the Buna Airfield and destroy on the ground four A6M3 Zeros and a G6M1 Betty. They also hit AA positions at Buna.

IJN: Japanese amphibious force from Buna bound for Milne Bay. Aircraft from Australia and Milne Bay attack enemy convoy proceeding from New Ireland toward Milne Bay but are hampered by weather conditions and fail to stop it. During the night, after shelling beaches, Japanese begin landing at three points east of Rabi, their intended landing site, and advance westward.

Australian Army: Elements of Aus 61st Militia Bn stationed at K. B. Mission, east of Rabi and in path of Japanese advance, engage the Japanese who retire at dawn of August 26, 1942 back to their landing point. Other elements of 61st Bn are moving from Ahioma to head of Milne Bay at Gili Gili by sea and lose 1 of 2 ketches loaded with troops.