December 8, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1942

(Eleventh Air Force) An attempted bombing mission of Attu and Kiska by six B-24s and six B-26s, escorted by eight P-38s, is forced back by weather. An uneventful reconnaissance is flown by a B-24 and a B-26 over Attu, Agattu, Amchitka, Kiska and Semichi.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) A-20s and B-25s pound AA positions at Buna and the area around Buna Mission and Cape Endaiadere as ground forces attack bunker positions on the southern end of Buna. P-38s hit a wrecked vessel [Ayutosen Maru] off Gona. B-24s bomb Gasmata Airfield. Six destroyers transporting troops to reinforce the Buna-Gona beachhead are bombed by four B-17s from 63rd BS and seven B-17s from 6th BS bomb warships in St. George's Channel north of Rabaul. A lone B-24 and turn back from Rabaul.

IJN: Laid down is Katsuragi the third and final Unryū class aircraft carrier Kure Naval Arsenal at Kure.

U.S. Army: On Guadalcanal, 132nd Infantry Regiment (-) arrive on Guadalcanal.