November 15, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SUNDAY, 15 NOVEMBER 1942

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): The 21st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 30th Bombardment Group (under control of the 28th Composite Group), ceases operating from Adak and returns to base on Umnak with B-24s. The 406th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 41st Bombardment Group (Medium) (attached to 28th Composite Group), arrives at Elmendorf Field from the US with A-29s and B-18s (the squadron has been operating from Alaska since June 42).

SOUTH PACIFIC: The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal concludes with support from squadrons of the 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 69th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 70th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 72d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 339th Fighter Squadron (339th FS) and elements from 39th Fighter Squadron.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): A-20s strafe targets near Gona while B-25s and B-26s pound AA positions at Buna and Soputa as US and Australian ground forces prepare to move against the Buna-Gona beachhead. B-17s hit shipping at Rabaul. Force landing on the return is B-24D-1 "The Condor" 41-23718. Other B-24s bomb the Buin-Fasai area. Lost are B-24D "Lady Beverly" 41-23760. Also force landed is B-17E "Spawn of Hell" 41-2662, later repaired. Also lost is B-26B "Dixie Belle" 41-17558 pilot Captain Walter L. Callaham (MIA). The 435th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 19th Bombardment Group (Heavy), begins a movement from Townsville to the U.S. (the squadron will re-equip with B-29s and return to the Pacific in Aug 1945).

USN: After midnight, the second phase of the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal Task Force 64 (TF 64) under the command of Rear Admiral Willis A Lee battleships USS Washington (BB-56) and USS South Dakota (BB-57) and destroyers engage and turns back a larger Japanese force, sinking the Battleship Kirishima and a destroyer Ayanami. This ends concludes the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal.

IJN: The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal results in the loss of battleship Kirishima and a destroyer Ayanami. Meanwhile, the remaining second assault convoy four Japanese transports Kinugawa Maru, Hirokawa Maru, Yamazuki Maru, Yamaura Maru beach on Guadalcanal.

USMC: Lost is R4D-1 Dakota 01648.