September 19, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SATURDAY, 19 SEPTEMBER 1942

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) (Tenth Air Force): In China, B-25s from of the 11th BS strike Lungling. The raid was ineffective due to bad weather but resulted in the discovery of much Japanese activity which further reconnaissance revealed as part of a heavy movement of enemy and supplies along the Burma Road toward the Salween front.

U.S. Navy: Commander Patrol Wing 1 (PatWing-1) departs Kaneohe bound for the South Pacific to direct the operations of patrol squadrons already in the area. Headquarters were first established at Noumea and subsequently at Espiritu Santo, Guadalcanal, and Munda.

Submarine Amberjack (SS-219) sinks Japanese transport Shirogane Maru at northern entrance of Bougainville Strait, 06°33'S, 156°05'E.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): A-20s and B-26s strafe and bomb Lae Airfield; and the 7th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Group moves from Batchelor to 14 Mile Drome with P-40s. B-17s attack cargo vessels near Umboi Island (Rooke) between New Guinea and New Britain. A whaling vessel is strafed by fighters off Goodenough.

USMC: Gen Vandegrift establishes continuous defense lines, divides Lunga area into 10 sectors.

Marine Corps Air Station, Eagle Mountain Lake commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Harold R. Lee, was organized at Fort Worth, Texas, to function as a glider training base.