October 3, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology
SATURDAY, 3 OCTOBER 1942
AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 6 B-24s, 4 P-38s,
and 8 P-39s bomb and strafe 7 vessels in and around Kiska Harbor hitting
a beached cargo vessel and the camp; the fighters down 6 float fighters attempting
interception. Japanese aircraft bomb Adak Airfield but inflicts no damage. The
77th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 28th Composite Group, moves from Elmendorf Field to Adak Airfield (the squadron continues to operate from Umnak with B-25s and B-26s until Dec 42).
INDIA AIR TASK FORCE (IATF): The IATF is activated at Dinjan to support
Chinese resistance along the Salween River by hitting supply lines in
Burma; the new task force, commanded by Colonel Caleb V. Haynes, includes all
AAF combat units in India, all based at Karachi 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy),
51st Fighter Group and 341st Bombardment Group (Medium).
SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Joint Chiefs of Staff): Headquarters (HQ), 347th Fighter Group and 339th Fighter Squadron (339th FS) "Sunsetters" are activated on New Caledonia with P-38s, P-39s,
and P-400s (a detachment of the 339th Fighter Squadron begins operating from Guadalcanal); the
67th Fighter Squadron, 68th Fighter Squadron and 70th Fighter Squadron are transferred to 347th Fighter Group; the 67th Fighter Squadron is on New Caledonia with P-39s and P-400s operating
from Guadalcanal; the 68th Fighter Squadron is at Tongatabu with P-39s and P-40s;
and the 70th Fighter Squadron is based in Fiji with P-39s.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): A-20s bomb and strafe Efogi and Myola Lake, P-40s strafe Efogi on the Kokoda Trail, B-25's hit a bridge
at Wairopi, and a lone B-17 bombs a camp on the Kumusi River.
A group of leaders including Field Marshal Sir Thomas A. Blamey, General Douglas MacArthur, General Herring and Major General George C. Kenney plus Minister for the Army Mr. F. M. Forde visit the Australian Army at Owers' Corner at the start of the Kokoda Trail.
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