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

FRIDAY, 25 SEPTEMBER 1942

British Army: E Africa 22d Brig establishes contact with 29th Independent Brig, giving British control of central part of Madagascar.

China: In the afternoon four B-25s from 11th BS with an escort of ten P-40s, attacked Hanoi. The strike force was intercepted by ten Japanese fighters at 15:15 but the B-25s placed several bombs on the runway at Gia Lam Airfield. The P-40E from 76th FSs claimed at least nine fighters shot down (reported as ”I-45 fighters”) and two damaged over the airfield. These were claimed by Colonel Robert Scott (23rd FG) who claims one destroyed and one damaged, 2nd Lieutenant Patrick Daniels, one destroyed, 1st Lieutenant Howard Krippner, one destroyed, P-40E 41-36519/#108 2nd Lieutenant Mortimer Marks, one destroyed, Major Edward Rector, one destroyed 6 miles east of the airfield and a second over the airfield) and 1st Lieutenant Lemuel Zavitz, one damaged. It is possible that it was during this raid that B-25 Mitchell pilot 1st Lieutenant Robert B. Klemann with radio-gunner Sergeant William LaPlant was credited with one ’Zero’ probably destroyed. 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.

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 two submarines and damage Japanese submarine RO-67 off Kiska; 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.

Japanese land on Beru in the Gilbert Islands.

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.

South Pacific: Two B-17s from 11th BG bomb Japanese light cruiser Yura off Shortland causing slight damage.

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

U.S. Navy: Submarine Sargo (SS-188) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Teibo Maru (ex-Danish Nordbo) off coast of French Indochina, 180 miles east of Saigon, 10°31'N, 109°31'E.

Japanese submarine I-5 is damaged by gunfire off Guadalcanal.

USMC: In the afternoon U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt arrives at Camp Pendleton by car with his sons John and James and their wives to inspect the new camp. He watches a U.S. flag raising ceremony with Mary Fay Pendleton, the widow of Major General Pendleton watches a U.S. flag raising ceremony, visits the Santa Margarita Ranch home and is presented a lariat (lasso) from ranch hand "Pancho" Brown.

On Guadalcanal, 2d Bn of 5th Marines joins 1st Bn, 7th Marines, on the northwest slope of Mount Austen to continue attack against enemy in Matanikau-Kokumbona area. 2 cos of 1st Bn, 7th Marines, return to Lunga perimeter. Patrol of 1st Bn, 1st Marines, reconnoiters Koli Pt without incident.

Australian Army: 25th Brig, Aus 7th Div, opens counteroffensive to drive enemy back along Port Moresby-Kokoda trail, attacking strongly for Ioribaiwa.