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

FRIDAY, 25 SEPTEMBER 1942

ALASKA (11th Air Force): 9 B-24s, 1 B-17, and 1 B-24 photo airplane, escorted by 11 P-39s and 17 P-40s, fly the first of 2 missions to Kiska; Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Kittyhawks participate in this first combined Canadian-American mission of the 11th Air Force; later two B-24s and a B-17, escorted by fifteen P-39s, pound a radar installations at Little Kiska and bomb Kiska causing explosions and fires at the Main Camp area; other targets include shipping, stores, and tents; the P-39s also strafe 2 submarines; 2 float planes are downed; 5 to 8 biplanes are probably destroyed on the water; 1 large transport vessel is hit and lists badly; and 150 personnel are believed killed.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) (Tenth Air Force): Four B-25s, escorted by ten P-40s, attack Hanoi, the strike force is intercepted by 10 fighters but the B-25s place several bombs on the runway at Gia Lam Airfield; the P-40s claim at least 9 fighters shot down. In China, CATF bombers fly 11 missions during the remainder of Sep and early Oct to support Chinese ground forces attempting to hold the Japanese on the W bank of the Salween River.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): P-40s again bomb the bridge at Wairopi, scoring a direct hit on the NE end, which is demolished; Australian ground forces open a counteroffensive, attacking strongly toward Ioribaiwa to drive the enemy back along Kokoda Trail; and the 8th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Group moves from Darwin to Port Moresby with P-40s.

RAAF - Lost is Buffalo A51-5 (KIA) near Derby.