September 24, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

THURSDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER 1942

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Three B-24s bomb Kiska Main Camp, storage dumps, and dock areas, starting several fires.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Joint Chiefs of Staff): The 72d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy), arrives at Espiritu Santo from Hawaii with B-17s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): B-17s bomb shipping at Rabaul. P-40s and A-20s hit Mubo while B-17s bomb wrecked vessel [Ayutosen Maru] at Gona; P-40s hit Kokoda Airfield and targets along the Kokoda-Wairopi trail, including a bridge at Wairopi.

USMC: John Basilone defends Bloody Ridge on Guadalcanal and later becomes the first Marine to earn the Medal of Honor.

Three B-17s bomb Shortland Seaplane Base. Returning lost is B-17E Flying Fortress 41-9206 ditched with the crew rescued and lost is B-17E "Bessie The Jap Basher" 41-2420 crew POW/MIA ditched Domo Cove on Guadalcanal.