July 15 - July 26, 1942: IJNAF planes from
Guadalcanal
range across the South Pacific, disrupting supply lines from Australia
to America.
In Europe, Allied air power builds up for heavier attacks on Sicily,
Istres (South of France)
Luftwaffe units of the newly created Fliegerfuhrer Mittelmeer began to
deploy. They are tasked with naval interdiction in Western Mediterranean and
comprise the KG-30 (32 Ju-88), the I/StG 5 (28 Ju-87) and the IV/KG 100 (21
Do-217). The I/StG 5 planes are intended to be later deployed from Ajaccio-Campo
del Oro aifield (Corsica) and to operate in company of Italian Re-2001 fighters.
An attempt to boost this force with the I/KG40 had to be shelved when, of
the first 6 He-117A3 leaving Bordeaux Merignac to Istres, one crashed at
take-off, killing the crew, two others had to precipitately return with one
engine in fire, a fourth had to land at Toulouse-Blagnac with "serious engine
troubles", and a fifth overshot the Istres runway after a massive hydraulic
failure preventing the use of landing flaps (plane destroyed, but the crew
survived the crash). The 28 surviving He-117 A3 are to be sent back to Germany
for overhaul and are described by KG40 officers as "absolutely unfit for
any missions."
Peloponnesus:
Major Allied two-wave raid against the Athens marshalling yard. The Aegean
Air force loses 11 planes (3 bombers and 8 fighters) but claim the destruction
of 9 Axis fighters (actually 6).
Noumea (New Caledonia)
At dawn this day 18 G4M1 from Tenaru airfield (Guadalcanal) conduct an
attack on Noumea’s airfield at La Tontouta. They achieve complete surprise
by approaching from the NE, shielding themselves from radar by use of the
mountain range. The approach was successful. At the time, the airfield at
La Tontouta was congested by the following aircraft:
3 scouts, 38 P-39 (P-400 variants with no oxygen systems), 6 RNZAF Hudsons,
27 B-17, 10 B-26, 18 F4F-3P (103 total)
There were 22 PBY in the harbour area (of which 3 French). These were
not attacked.
The attack was a disaster for the Allies. Of the 103 aircraft crowding
the airfield, no fewer than 45 were destroyed or damaged beyond repair,
testament to the crowded nature of the airfield. The huge B-17’s lined up
wingtip to wingtip took the brunt of the attack. Allied losses were:
19 B-17
4 B-26
3 Hudson
9 F4F
9 P-39
The G4M1 escaped unscathed. While 12 P-39 (P-400) rose to chase them,
the G4M1 force clawed for altitude. The P-39 were a variant known as the
P-400, and were not fitted with oxygen systems. They were unable to get up
to the IJNAF bombers. The USAF base commander was removed from his post for
this debacle.
This attack also raised a major row inside the French command structure
and R.Adm. Thierry D'Argenlieu was highly criticized both by the Marine Nationale
chief of staff (Adm. Lemonnier) and by the Armée de l'Air head of
tactical department (Gen. Valin) for not having effectively improved New
Caledonia AA defences. D'Argenlieu responded to these critics pointing to
the fact he was left without actual authority over USAAF units and commanding
officers deployed in New Caledonia and he was lacking assets to build on
his own an effective defence system. General Valin was to come to Noumea
by late July for an inspection. The French Court of Inquiry cleared R.Adm
d'Argenlieu but pointed to the lack of effective coordination between French,
US and Commonwealth forces at the tactical level, this preventing war experience
accumulated by French and Commonwealth forces to be disseminated into US
units.
JULY 16th
French North Africa:
Air operations against Axis positions in Sicily and Sardinia go on unabated.
No less than 603 combat missions are delivered on various tactical targets
this day with 11 Allied planes lost in action (of which 6 to AA fire) and
7 Italian planes lost in the air of which 2 fall under guns of a young Canadian
pilot P.O. George "Screwball" Beurling.(and 11 destroyed on the ground).
This day saw the first operation in MTO of the Bristol Beaumont-I light day
bomber when planes of the 235th Bomber wing (n°24 and 55 SQN) attacked
Trapani airfield in company with SAAF Baltimore of the 3rd Wing.
New Zealand
Second echelon of 1st US Marine Division (1st and 11th marines), which
have reached New Zealand on the 13th began training near Auckland in preparation
for "Watchover".
JULY 17th
Manston (GB)
N°609 SQN Tornadoes begin a pattern of low-level "free-hunting" and
bombing missions over northern France and Belgium under Sqn. Leader Roland
Beamont leadership.
Ajaccio (Corsica)
Italian 2nd Gruppo (150°, 152° and 358° Squadriglie) under
command of Lt.Col. Quarantotti arrive at Campo del Oro airfield with 18 Re-2001
"Falco-II". These planes are tasked with long range escort of I/StG 5 Ju-87,
which are to arrive soon after in Corsica.
Guadalcanal:
8 B-17 from Fiji attacked Tenaru. The IJNAF had been expecting a counter-stroke,
and their radar operators had been watching for it. So had their air patrols.
This raid was detected when it was 120 miles out, giving ample time to scramble
the fighters and get most of the bombers off the ground. Those that were
not serviceable were dispersed. The IJNAF fighter force included some notable
IJNAF pilots, including the ace Saburo Sakai. He had fought B-17s in the
NEI and had briefed the pilots on tactics against these formidable opponents.
The B-17 force was met 20 miles out with 26 A6M2 and 12 A6M2-N, the latter
capable of only one attack, as they lacked the speed to re-engage. The IJNAF
fighters attacked from above and ahead, where only the dorsal turret and
hand-held nose gun could bear. The fighters fired for the centre of target,
which included the cockpit area, and their results were good. The A6M2 attacked
first and shot down two of the big bombers. The six survivors closed up,
then the A6M2 closed in for their attacks. They conducted a pass, then circled
around, climbed ahead and attacked again. Three of the bombers fell, then
the formation broke up, jettisoned their bombs, and tried to dive away. Sakai
himself brought down one more before the IJNAF fighters turned back. One
A6M2-N and two A6M2 were lost, but two pilots were recovered, along with
19 USAF PoW. These were flown to Rabaul as IJN prisoners.
With this attack, the total of available B-17 in the region fell to just
10, all but two of which were damaged. The failure of this raid attracted
much criticism by RAAF and AdA officers of USAAF procedures and tactics.
The Japanese radar had been detected a week ago both by Aeronavale PBY-5 and
RAAF bomber crews. An 8 plane formation was too small to provide effective
defence if unescorted. Following this raid the RAAF area commanding officer
requested assistance from GB based specialised units to counter Japanese radars,
which seemed very closely patterned on German ones.
JULY18th
Ulm (Germany)
By the end of the morning at Lepheim airfield chosen for its very long
runway Messerschmitt's test pilot Fritz Wendel takes into the air the Me 262V3
(code PC + UC), the first Me 262 prototype powered only by jet engines (Jumo
004 V9 and V10 prototypes). Take-off has been protracted as the plane, using
a tail wheel, displayed very poor stick control at the rotation point. However,
once in the air performance was startling and Wendel reached 720 km/h at
3500m.
Sidi Bel Abes (North Africa)
On this day, and apparently without the press, at the Foreign Legion main
depot a small closed ceremony commemorating the beginning 6 years earlier
of the Spanish Civil War is held with men and officers of the 11th Foreign
Legion Half-Brigade "Teruel" commanded by Col "Pablo" (actually former Spanish
Republican General Alberto Bayo) , the 14th Foreign Legion Half-Brigade
"Ebro" commanded by Col "Moreno" (former Spanish Republican Col. Menendez),
and officers from various other FL units manned by Republican veterans.
Present at the ceremony were the head of the Spanish Republican Government
in exile Mr. Negrin, the French commanding staff of the Foreign Legion, and
Mr. Jules Moch, representing the French Government.
JULY 19th:
London:
Meeting between British MI-5 and MI-6 representatives and French officers
of 2ème Bureau (Military Intelligence) in preparation for operation
"Mincemeat". French officers are able to tell their British counterpart
that they have found a suitable corpse (a young Frenc NCO who died from
Pneumonia).
Ajaccio Campo del Oro:
Arrival late in the day of I/StG 5 Ju-87.
North Africa:
New day of continuous Allied raids over Sicily. Italian logistics infrastructure
at Messina, Catanea and Syracusa are targeted by a combination of 567 Allied
planes. The raid on Messina is hotly contested by a mixed Regia Aeronautica
formation of 12 Bf-109F and 16 Macchi MC-202. This is the first occasion
for the newly introduced Mustang-II to prove its worth in anger. During the
fight (where 2 Bristol Beaumont-I and 1 Baltimore have been lost as well
as 2 SAAF P40F for 3 Bf-109F and 2 Macchi) the Macchi formation was jumped
by French GC II/5th and III/5th Mustang-II, claiming 2 more MC-202 destroyed
and 2 probables at no loss for themselves.
Guadalcanal:
French submarine Le Tonnant, now operating from Brisbane, is diverted
from her normal patrol to bombard the Tenaru Airfield. The boat surfaces
at 2304 and begins to shell the airfield area with her 100mm gun for 15
minutes till forced down by a Japanese patrol boat. Le Tonnant escapes a
not well organized submarine hunt and the shelling is ineffective but for
disrupting some Japanese crews sleep.
Noumea:
Two fast French freighters deliver to Noumea planes asked for by first
V.Adm Musellier and then R.Adm d'Argenlieu. This includes 24 Hawk-87 (P-40E)
from AdA reserves to be flown by the Aeronavale AC20 flotilla (manned partly
with instructors and pilots from the disbanded AC1) and 20 DB-73 M1/2 (the
M2 variant being armed with 4 x 20mm guns) of the AB8 naval strike and long-range
fighter flotilla.
JULY 20th:
Zeebrugge:
First encounter between JG 26 FW-190A3 and RAF Tornado (n° 174 and
609 SQN). 3 FW-190 are destroyed to the cost of 2 Tornadoes.
Oran-Maison Blanche
RAF 244th Wing (n°145, 601, 73, 92 SQN) begins to re-equip on Spitfire
Vb/c in preparation for the oncoming operation "Torch".
Benghazi:
The 1st Greek infantry division and the 1st Greek Armoured Brigade (both
units closely patterned on the British Army model and using British or Canadian-built
equipment like Valentine tanks) begin their transfer to the Peloponesus.
The very same day RAF n° 250 and 112 squadrons (Aegean Air Force)
begin to collect their Spitfire Vb/c. Two other squadrons (n° 33 &
213) are already flying on Spifire V from Naxos.
Greece:
This day Luftwaffe captain Jochen Marseille (the youngest Luftwaffe captain)
is back to the 3/JG27 from Germany after a four weeks leave and having collected
his Iron Cross "swords".
JULY 21st:
Croydon
D.H. 91 n°11 (Second series) of n°271 Transport Squadron leaves
GB to Cairo via Casablanca and Benghazi loaded with 500kg of electronic
equipments and two radio-detection/radio-jamming specialists. The wooden
built liner is one of the 10 long-range communication planes hurriedly procured
early July 1940 to maintain constant communications between Great-Britain
and French held North-Africa.
North Africa:
Another day of raids over Sicily with 513 combat missions flown. The Regia
Aeronautica does not react and the 4 Allied planes lost are victims either
of AA defence (3) or of mechanical breakdown (1).
This operation sees the first offensive missions of Belgian 41st Wing
P-40E (GC I/41st and II/41st) on Belgium National day.
Sydney
In one of the more daring and longer ranged attacks of the war, six G4M1,
each overloaded with fuel and with an air gunner removed and only 600kg
of bombs each to save weight, took off from Tenaru airfield. While two suffered
problems and had to turn back, the remaining four set out on a remarkable
sortie. They were to fly to the ragged extremity of their range to attack
Sydney. They were successful in this, reaching Sydney as planned just after
dawn. They were detected, but as they were approaching from the north were
regarded as normal traffic. The four machines conducted a letter perfect
attack on two targets, two bombed Cockatoo Dockyard and two the Garden Island
naval base.
Both targets were hit, two large workshops burned out at Garden Island,
and the power station was badly damaged. The fuel tank cut into the living
rock behind the power station was fired, burning for two days before it
was put out. The damage on Cockatoo was worse, as the island was so small.
The northern bomb stick damaged the plate shop, pipe cleaning and furnace
shops, destroyed the coppersmith’s shop and blew a large hole in the cruiser
wharf. The southern stick was equally damaging. One 100kg bomb hit HMAS
Hobart in the Sutherland dock, exploding in her forward superstructure and
causing a severe fire which burned it and the forward boiler rooms out. Other
bombs destroyed the paint and timber stores, damaged the boatshed and the
naval equipment store. Very large fires broke out in these areas, taking
many hours to control.
There was only a single flight of fighters up that morning, but they
were Boomerangs, and only one of the pilots had any real experience. He
sighted the bombers and he alone recognised them. Scarcely believing his
luck, he was able to get one pass and in doing so brought down one of the
G4M1 just after it dropped it bombs. His aircraft was damaged by return
fire, but landed safely at Bankstown. The G4M1 caught fire and crashed in
to the suburb on Manly, destroying a number of buildings. Remarkably, four
of the crew baled out and were captured. The remaining aircraft made it
back to Tenaru with only minutes of fuel remaining.
Meanwhile, 12 G4M1 in groups of four took off to hunt Allied shipping.
They were not successful on 21 July, but obtained valuable information about
Allied movements.
JULY 22nd:
Folkestone:
A mixed Luftwaffe formation of Jabo Bf-109F and escorting FW-190 (JG2)
is bounced by 8 Tornadoes of 609 Sqn. 2 Bf-109F and 2 FW-190 are destroyed
for the cost of 1 Tornado shot down and another damaged.
This fight helped to raise RAF confidence in its new "heavy" fighter,
frequently called the "ugly beast" by comparison to the Spitfire. At low
level the Tornado is proving to be as good and probably better than the dreaded
Fw-190.
Rabat-Salé (Morocco)
GC I/7th and II/7th fighter squadrons begin their re-equipment on Mustang-II.
Peenemünde:
First test of the A-4 missile ends in a failure. The missile explodes
11 sec. after launch.
Peloponnesus
Major Aegean Air Force raid against the Larissa marshalling yard. On the
112 planes taking part of the raid 8 are destroyed (to the cost of 3 German
fighters) of which 4 by 3/JG 27 "yellow 14" flown by Jochen Marseille.
Cairo:
Arrival late in the day at Cairo-West of D.H. 91 n°11. The precious
load is taken by road to Alexandria where "Golden Horn" (RAF X8273) one
of the the two Short "G" class flying-boats previously operating from Port-Blair
is waiting. The large and long-ranged flying-boat is to carry equipment
and the two operators to Sydney via Aden, Chagos Islands and Fremantle.
The plane is also to carry three high-ranking French officers including
Gen. Martial Valin, bound to Nouméa to hold a Court of inquiry after
the disastrous Japanese raid.
South Pacific
G4M1 from Tenaru are again off to hunt Allied ships. One group located
the unescorted USN transport Hercules (ex-Exporter, 6736 GRT) and sank her
100nm from Fiji. A second group located a US convoy 120m east of Tana. The
convoy contained the US hospital ship Solace, the troop transport AP-54 Hermitage
(ex-Conte Biancamano, 23,255 GRT) and two merchant ships. It was escorted
by four DMS and a French armed merchant cruiser. The four G4M1 attacked
the Hermitage and hit her with three torpedoes, AA fire was light and although
two G4M1 were damaged (one was damaged beyond repair on landing when it
ground-looped after the port undercarriage collapsed), none was shot down.
Hermitage was en route Noumea with 2800 US Army troops aboard. Just over
half of these were lost as the ship sank in 16 minutes. Fortunately, the
presence of Solace permitted such wounded as were recovered to be quickly
treated.
The loss of this important ship demonstrated that the Tenaru airfield
posed an extremely dangerous threat to Allied supply lines to Australia.
Guadalcanal:
That night, a B-17 conducted a night raid on Tenaru. Bombs did fall within
the perimeter, but nothing significant was hit.
JULY 23rd:
New York
Departure of the second Lend-lease convoy bound to Russia. The 21 freighters
are carrying mostly industrial equipments, fertilizers and rolling stock.
Ajaccio-Campo del Oro
At 0015 the Campo del Oro airfield is the subject of a 15 min. heavy mortar
shelling, destroying 2 Re-2001 and 3 Ju-87. The combined group of Corsican
underground fighters and French special forces moves then quickly out in
the mountains to avoid the forthcoming Italian "Search and Destroy" operation.
North Africa:
Another day of raids on logistic targets in Sicily. Only the raid against
Palermo is intercepted, by RA Macchi-202 and Re-2001. Allied fighters lose
2 planes against 5 of the Italians, whose fighters have been once again
"jumped" by GC II/5th and III/5th Mustang-II. No bomber is hit by Italian
fighters but one Beaumont-I is shot down by very active Italian Flak.
Moscow:
Arrival to Moscow of Col. Corniglion-Molinier and Cdt. Mirlesse sent by
the AdA staff to investigate the possibility of sending a substantial force
(expected as One Fighter wing and one Bomber wing) to operate from Russia.
Both officers are also to discuss the possibility for Allied bombers attacking
Ploesti to land in South-Eastern Ukraine and then strike back at their target
on the return leg.
South Pacific
Eight G4M1 in two groups set out for the waters off Fiji, not approaching
the islands themselves closer than 150nm. The British tanker San Adolfo
(Eagle Oil tanker Co.,7365GRT) is sunk by them.
A lone G4M1 sank the local trader Proserpine (850 GRT) off the New Hebrides.
Guadalcanal:
That night, six RAAF Manchesters made a night raid on Tenaru. The attack
achieved little, but did disrupt activity for a time.
Noumea:
After frantic efforts, planes of both AC20 and AB8 are considered operational.
If AC20 P-40E are intended to protect Noumea harbour and nearby airfields,
AB8 planes are intended to patrol sea lanes now under attack by IJN Guadalcanal
based bombers.
JULY 24th
Biggin Hill
The French 1st Fighter Wing (EC-1) begins to deploy from Biggin-Hill,
to operate under RAF 11th Group (A.V.M. Leigh-Mallory) command.
Brisbane
Eight G4M1 made the long flight to Brisbane, which they bombed that night.
Damage was scattered and light, no important targets were hit, although
15 civilians were killed.
South pacific
During the day, a group of four G4M1 hunting ships located and sank the
USN transport AP-17 Harry Lee (ex-Exorchorda, 9359 GRT), located unescorted
deep to SE off Fiji. Bombs were used in this case.
Guadalcanal
A USAF B-17, two RAAF Whitleys and four RAAF Manchesters conduct night
attacks on Tenaru. These were staged throughout the night to disrupt Japanese
sleep patterns and activities. This attack bombed the wrong areas, as the
Japanese had set up some lights and two fires near Lasi Point, east of Lunga
Point.
JULY 25th
Peloponnesus:
Aegean air Force planes maintain their pressure on Axis logistic lines
in Greece during the day flying 371 bombing and escort missions. Nine planes
are lost but 4 Axis fighters destroyed.
Brisbane
In night attacks, two G4M1 bombed Brisbane, again causing no significant
damage. Six bombed Noumea, again causing little damage. One anti-ship group
conducted a sortie, but located no worthwhile targets.
Sydney:
Arrival just before dusk of flying boat "Golden Horn" (RAF X8273) and
her precious load.
Guadalcanal
Four RAAF Whitley and three Manchesters attacked Tenaru during the night,
causing minor damage.
JULY 26th
Benghazi:
After several training flights, including mock-attack by AdA fighters,
98th BG commanding officer, Col. Kane, proposes to other US and French officers
of the B-24 force assembling for Opertaion Blowlamp a significant change
of the attack formation.
After discussing with Aegean Air Force officers Luftwaffe patterns of
attack, he proposes to replace the USAAF then standard 6 planes formation
with a 24 planes formation made of two groups of 12 planes flying in line
but separated by a 500ft altitude gap. Each 12 planes group are to have a
520ft long frontage. This would allow for a better defending fire concentration.
Kane proposes then that the two US Bombing group could provide for 48 planes
and the French bombing wing with a similar number. The 96 planes would then
turn into a four 24 planes box formation each separated by 0.75 miles and
staggered in altitude, the first box the lower, the last the higher. This
would enable P-38 escort fighters to better protect the whole formation.
Brisbane:
That night, four G4M1 bombed Brisbane, hitting the centre of the city
quite hard. While few casualties were caused, fires caused by a ruptured
gas main and fanned by wind caused four blocks in the city CBD to be burned
out.
Off New Caledonia:
Two hunting groups were sent out, armed with bombs due to a need to husband
stocks of aerial torpedoes. One of these groups located a small group of
USN warships 200nm east of New Caledonia. These were the USS Brazos (an old
USN tanker moving bulk petrol) escorted by the light minelayers Sicard and
Pruitt (converted four pipers). The G4M1 sighted the formation just after
dawn; they circled it and attacks from up-sun. The attack was successful,
two bombs struck Brazos, which erupted in a pillar of flame, and Pruitt
was hit by one bomb, but three more burst very close in the water. She stopped,
having lost all power and with her engine room ablaze. Both Brazos and Pruitt
had to be abandoned, sinking later that day. Losses were very light. The
USN formation had fought back very well, badly damaging two G4M1. Both of
these attempted to make it back to Tenaru, but failed to do so. Both had
to ditch, however, both crews were rescued by H6K flying boats.
Not so lucky were the crews of two other G4M1 surprised by a two AB8
DB-73M2 flight on their way back to Tenaru and quickly shot down. The Mitsubichi
bomber structure was quickly torn out by concentrated 20mm fire and both planes
crashed before their crew cold evacuate. The two French crews learning about
the attack had decided to patrol the Japanese bomber return path to Guadalcanal
ad caught two stragglers.
This raised to six the number of G4M1 lost from Tenaru.
By this time the number of available targets was thinning out. Allied
shipping was being routed so that it did not pass within 1,300nm of Tenaru
unless this was impossible to avoid. Shipping bound for places within this
arc were ordered to place the destination on a bearing with Guadalcanal, and
to approach directly to minimise exposure to G4M1 attack. French AB8 DB-73M1/2
are operating mostly as long-range fighters to protect shipping entering
the area.
However, the IJN had a very good picture of allied movements, and knew
that Noumea was choked with shipping (some 80 vessels were awaiting their
chance to unload at the small port). They also had a good idea of Allied
military dispositions throughout the area.