October 9, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

FRIDAY, 9 OCTOBER 1942

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 7 B-17s and 10 B-24s escorted by 6 P-38s and 4 P-39s bomb Kiska six times. Targets include shipping in Gertrude Cove, small cargo vessels in Kiska Harbor, installations at North Head, a hangar, Main Camp area (hit severalt imes), and various shore facilities.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): During the night, B-17s bomb Rabaul dropping bombs and incendiary clusters that cause large fires. Fourteen B-25s hit Lae Airfield; and HQ 49th Fighter Group moves from Batchelor to Port Moresby.

IJA: The Japanese 17th Army Headquarters lands at Tassafaronga on Guadalancal.

U.S. Army: A convoy with USS McCawley (AP-10), USS Zeilin (AP-9) and eight high speed transports under Rear Admiral Richmond K. Turner departs Nouméa bound for Guadalcanal with the 164th Infantry Regiment embarked.

U.S. Navy: Submarine Drum (SS-228) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Yawatasan Maru, 33°27'N, 136°01'E.

USMC: On Guadalancal, the Whaling Group and 7th Marines cross the Matanikau River and with artillery and assistance of 11th Marines, drive north to coastal area; retire eastward across the mouth of the Matanikau River, covered by 5th Marines, concluding a three day action during which Japanese lose nearly 700 men with 65 marines killed and 125 wounded. The rear echelon of the 2d Marines, 2d Marine Division, arrives.

Twenty F4F Wildcats from Marine Fighter Squadron 121 (VMF-121) launch from USS Copahee (CVE-12) on a 3.2 hour ferry flight to Henderson Field on Guadalcanal.

Lost is R4D-1 01981 pilot Major Walter F. Kimball (KIA) crashed into Ousassio Hill near Nouméa.