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 HQ lands at Tassafaronga on Guadalancal.
USMC: Marines defend the western perimeter on Matanikau River on Guadalancal. Lost is R4D-1 01981 pilot Major Walter F. Kimball (KIA) crashed into Ousassio Hill near Nouméa. 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
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