No.
117 September
3, 1942
Far East.
1. U. S. submarines have reported the following results of operations against the enemy in Far Eastern waters:
(a) One Japanese light, cruiser sunk.
(b) Two small freighters sunk.
(c) One medium-sized tanker sunk.
(d) One small steamer sunk.
(e) Two large tankers damaged.
(f) One medium-sized cargo ship damaged and probably sunk.
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2. The above actions are not related to the recent operations in the Solomon Islands and have not been announced in any previous Navy Department communiqué.
No. 118 September 3, 1942
The following communiqué is based on reports received up to 6 p. m. (e. w. t.)
South Pacific.
1. Several new attempts have been made by the Japanese to land and establish small detachments of troops on various islands in the southeastern Solomon group. U. S. land-based aircraft, operating from our Guadalcanal base have attacked the ships engaged in these landing operations. Several hits have been reported but the extent of damage inflicted is not known. The parties which have succeeded in landing are being sought out and engaged by U. S. Marines.
2. During the morning of September 2 (east longitude date) an Army Flying Fortress on patrol off the north coast of Santa Isabel Island bombed and damaged an enemy tanker or seaplane tender, leaving it burning.
3. At about this same time 18 Japanese bombers, escorted by fighters, attacked our installations at Guadalcanal. Three enemy bombers and 4 fighters were shot down by our defending aircraft while antiaircraft batteries shot down an additional fighter. Damage to our positions was minor.
4. In spite of the periodic attacks by enemy aircraft our positions in the Guadalcanal-Tulagi area are steadily being reinforced and strengthened.
No. 119 September 5, 1942
South Pacific.
1. The U. S. destroyer Blue and the small auxiliary transport Colhoun have been sunk during the past 2 weeks in the South Pacific as a result of enemy action.
2. There were few casualties and the next of kin of those lost will be notified as soon as reports are received.
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No. 120. September 7, 1942
South Pacific.
1. Shortly after noon on September 5 (east longitude date) 26 Japanese bombers, escorted by 20 "Zero" fighters, attacked our positions at Guadalcanal and inflicted minor damage. Our fighters intercepted the attack and shot down 2 enemy bombers and 1 fighter.
No. 121 September 7, 1942
South Pacific (all dates given are east longitude).
1. Since the capture by U. S. forces of the Guadalcanal-Tulagi area of the Solomon Islands on August 7, supplies and reinforcements have been landed and the development of our shore positions and airfields on Guadalcanal has been steadily pressed.
2. These operations have been opposed by enemy aircraft and submarines and have not been accomplished without some cost. The U. S. destroyer Blue and the small transport Colhoun, whose sinkings were announced in communiqué No. 119, were lost as a result of operations necessary to the supply of our shore bases in the Guadalcanal-Tulagi area.
3. Land-based bombers, supported by fighters, have attacked our positions on numerous occasions, but in no instance has the damage to shore installations been serious. Our Grumman "Wildcats" and "Avengers" at Guadalcanal airfield have intercepted these attacks and have exacted a heavy toll of enemy planes. Enemy submarines have also been active in this area and on several occasions have ineffectually shelled our positions at night.
4. Our air patrols have sighted and attacked several small enemy detachments attempting landings on Guadalcanal and nearby islands. On September 3 our Grumman fighters and Douglas "Dauntless" dive-bombers attacked a landing party near San Jorge Island about 65 miles northwest of the airfield at Guadalcanal. Loaded landing barges were strafed causing heavy loss of life. Many of the small enemy vessels engaged in this operation were sunk.
5. On September 5 the air patrol sighted another landing party near the western end of Guadalcanal. Our air patrol and Curtiss Army pursuit planes, sank three of the landing boats, damaged several others and killed a large number of the troops in these boats.
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6. It is believed that these landings have been attempted in order to reinforce isolated Japanese patrols which withdrew to the mountains and jungles in the uninhabited regions of the island when our forces occupied the defended positions. Our Marine forces are continuing their efforts to search out and dispose of these scattered enemy units.
No. 122 September 9, 1942
South Pacific (all dates given are cast longitude).
1. On September 5 a Navy patrol plane shot down a large Japanese four-engined flying boat northeast of the Solomons.
2. On September 6 our aircraft bombed and strafed enemy shore installations at Gizo Island in the New Georgia group of the Solomons. No resistance was encountered.
3. Marines on Guadalcanal continue to seek out and attack Japanese detachments. These are made up of Japanese soldiers that fled to the jungles during our initial landing, on August 7, possibly reinforced by small numbers of troops landed from time to time under cover of darkness.
CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 9, SEPTEMBER 15, 1942
This afternoon our Army Air Forces in Alaska delivered a most successful attack on enemy shipping and shore installations at Kiska.
Enemy ships and planes in the harbor received direct bomb hits and repeated strafing. At least two naval vessels were sunk. Five enemy fighting planes were shot down in flames and one 4‑engine patrol plane was burned on the water.
Installations and storage dumps around the harbor were repeatedly bombed and strafed, resulting in large fires and explosions.
Enemy personnel casualties are estimated at around 500 whereas we lost two pilots as a result of two P‑38's colliding in midair.
No. 123 September 12, 1942
South Pacific (all dates given are east longitude).
1. The Japanese are continuing their determined efforts to dislodge American forces from the Guadalcanal-Tulagi area of the Solomon Islands.
2. Enemy air raids against our positions in this area continue. On September 9, 26 enemy bombers escorted by Zero fighters attacked our installations at Guadalcanal. U. S. aircraft shot down 5 bombers and 4 fighters. On September 10, 27 enemy bombers attacked Guadalcanal and 4 of the Japanese planes were shot down. On September 11, 26 enemy bombers with fighters were shot down by U. S. planes.
3. Enemy destroyers have shelled our positions at night but no damage has resulted.
4. On September 11 our Douglas "Dauntless" dive bombers attacked enemy installations on Gizo Island in the New Georgia group. A small enemy surface craft was sunk and considerable damage was done to buildings and installations.
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5. U. S. Marines, assisted by dive bombers and fighters, continue to seek out and engage enemy troop units in the interior of Guadalcanal. The enemy has reinforced and supplied these units by means of small craft which approach the shore under cover of darkness. Despite opposition to these landings, it has not been possible to prevent them entirely.
No. 124 September 15, 1942
South Pacific (all dates given are east longitude).
Based on reports received up to 6 p. m. (e. w. t.).
1. Japanese attempts to recapture U. S. positions on Guadalcanal Island have been intensified. Heavy fighting has been in progress since the night of September 12-13 between our Marines and reinforced enemy troops on the island. Details of the fighting are lacking, but reports received to date indicate that the Marines are maintaining their positions.
2. During the past few days the Japanese have increased the intensity of their bombing attacks by aircraft and the bombardment by surface vessels. Some attempts by the enemy to land small detachments of troops at night have been successful.
3. On September 11 Army "Flying Fortresses" shot down four "Zero" fighters in the vicinity of Guadalcanal and strafed shore installations on the island of Gizo. On September 12 Army bombers shot down two enemy seaplanes.
4. During the night of September 12-13 our positions on Guadalcanal were shelled by enemy surface craft. One of these vessels was reported to have been hit by our shore batteries. Contacts with enemy patrols were made during this same night and heavy fighting continued during the following day and night.
5. On September 13 two flights of about 28 enemy bombers each, escorted by "Zero" fighters, attacked the airfield at Guadalcanal. Navy and Marine Corps Grumman "Wildcat" fighters shot down 4 bombers and 4 fighters. This same day Army bombers attacked seaplanes on the water at Rekata Bay on the northwest shore of Santa Isabel Island. One enemy plane was destroyed and a second was damaged.
6. During the night of September 13-14 our positions at Guadalcanal were shelled by enemy surface craft and our troops engaged in heavy fighting with enemy troops, who made an unsuccessful attempt to capture the airfield.
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7. On September 14 an enemy flight of 28 bombers, escorted by fighters, attacked Guadalcanal shortly after noon. Navy and Marine fighters shot down 1 bomber and 5 fighters.
No. 125 September 16, 1942
1. The U. S. S. Yorktown (aircraft carrier) was sunk on June 7, 1942, as the result of enemy action during and subsequent to the Battle of Midway. The Navy Department, having good reason to believe that the loss of the Yorktown was not known to the enemy, withheld this pending developments which were vital to the operations announcement which have been in progress in the South Pacific since early August.
2. The Yorktown was put out of action by enemy aircraft attacks with bombs and torpedoes on the afternoon of June 4, as described in Navy Department Communiqué No. 97, of July 14. She was seriously damaged and heavily listed as the result of these attacks, and the crew was forced to abandon ship in view of the imminent danger of her capsizing. Tugs and other salvage vessels were sent to her assistance. A salvage party was placed aboard and she was taken in tow. Progress was slow, but it appeared that she might be saved.
3. By the morning of June 6 the salvage party had been able to reduce the list and the prospects of saving the ship appeared brighter. The U. S. S. Hammann (destroyer) was placed alongside to assist. Shortly after noon on June 6, an enemy submarine scored two torpedo hits amidships on the Yorktown and two torpedo hits on the Hammann alongside. The Hammann sank shortly thereafter, and the condition of the Yorktown became critical. The enemy submarine was attacked by destroyers throughout the day. Results of these attacks indicated that the submarine was certainly damaged and possibly sunk.
4. During the early morning of June 7, the Yorktown capsized and sank as the result of the cumulative damage from aircraft bombs and torpedoes on the 4th, and submarine torpedoes on the 6th.
5. Casualties in the Yorktown were few and were included in the total personnel losses in the Battle of Midway (92 officers and 215 enlisted men) which have been previously reported. The next of kin of those lost have been notified. The Yorktown and the Hammann were the only U. S. ships lost in the Battle of Midway.
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No. 126 September 16, 1942
South Pacific (all dates given are east longitude). Based on reports received up to 5:30 p. m. e. w. t.
1. The intensity of the fighting on Guadalcanal Island has decreased and the Marines are still holding their positions. Marine patrols continue active.
2. On September 15 two heavy Army bombers (Boeing "Flying Fortresses") attacked shore installations at Rekata Bay on the northwest coast of Santa Isabel Island. Fires were observed as a result of this bombing.
3. On September 16 Navy and Marine Corps dive bombers (Douglas "Devastators") and Navy torpedo planes (Grumman "Avengers") attacked Japanese cruisers and destroyers south of Choiseul Island. One Cruiser was damaged by a torpedo and a second by bombs.
No. 127 September 16, 1942
North Pacific.
1. On September 4, two long-range Army pursuit planes (Lockheed "Lightnings") accompanied by one Army heavy bomber (Consolidated "Liberator") made a strafing attack on enemy ships, aircraft and shore installations at Kiska Harbor, in the western Aleutian Islands. A four-engined flying boat is believed to have been destroyed on the water and many casualties both aboard ships and ashore were reported.
2. On September 14, a large group of Army heavy bombers (Consolidated "Liberators") accompanied by Army pursuit planes (Bell "Airocobras" and Lockheed "Lightnings") bombed and strafed the same objectives from low altitude. The enemy attempted to repel this attack with planes and weak antiaircraft resistance. The attack resulted in the following damage to the enemy:
(a) Two mine sweepers were sunk.
(b) Three large cargo ships were damaged by bombs.
(c) Three submarines and several small craft were damaged by
bombs and machine-gun fire.
(d) Storehouses and supply dumps in the camp area were set fire by
repeated attacks.
(e) Four "Zero" fighters and one small plane were shot down.
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(f) One large patrol plane was destroyed on the water.
(g) An estimated 500 troops were either killed or wounded.
3. No U. S. aircraft were lost as a result of enemy action.
No. 128. September 17, 1942
Far East.
1. U. S. submarines have reported the following results of operations against the enemy in Far Eastern waters:
(a) Two large freighters sunk.
(b) One medium-sized freighter sunk.
(c) One small patrol boat sunk.
(d) One large tanker damaged and left afire.
(e) One large freighter damaged.
(f) One large transport damaged.
(g) One medium-sized cargo ship damaged.
2. These actions have not been announced in any previous Navy Department communiqué, and are not related to operations in the Solomon Islands.
No. 129. September 19, 1942
South Pacific (all dates given are east longitude).
1. Since the unsuccessful attempt of the Japanese to recapture the airfield at Guadalcanal during the night of September 13-14, there has been a lull in the land-fighting on the island. These hostilities have been confined to minor patrol activity, sniping, and occasional skirmishes between small enemy units and U. S. Marines. Supplies and reinforcements have reached our forces.
2. On September 14 Army "Flying Fortresses" attacked a force of enemy ships to the northeastward of Tulagi. This force included battleships and cruisers. Heavy antiaircraft fire was encountered but possible hits on two battleships were reported. When last seen, this force was retiring to the north.
3. On September 15, 16, and 17 Army long-range bombers strafed and bombed Rekata Bay and on September 16 and 17 bombed ships and shore installations at Gizo Island. Results of these attacks were undetermined although fires were observed after the attack on Rekata Bay on the 15th.
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No. 130. September 22, 1942
South Pacific (all dates given are east longitude).
1. On September 19 Army heavy bombers (Boeing Flying Fortresses) bombed Gizo Island and bombed and strafed shore installations at Rekata Bay.
2. On September 20 Navy and Marine Corps Douglas dive bombers attacked and damaged a Japanese cruiser northwest of Guadalcanal and bombed shore installations at Rekata Bay.
3. Patrol activity on Guadalcanal was minor during September 18 and September 19, but increased somewhat on September 20. Our positions remain intact.
No. 131. September 24, 1942
South Pacific.
1. The U. S. S. Jarvis (destroyer), which was damaged as a result of enemy air attacks off Guadalcanal, must be presumed lost at sea en route from Tulagi to a southern repair base. The Jarvis has been overdue for several weeks and intensive search by ships and aircraft has failed to locate her or reveal any trace of her personnel. It is assumed that she was sunk by enemy submarines or aircraft.
2. The U. S. S. Little (small auxiliary transport) has been sunk by the enemy in recent operations in the Solomon Islands area. Approximately half of the personnel of the Little were saved.
3. The next of kin of those lost have been notified.
No. 132. September 25, 1942
South Pacific (all dates given are cast longitude).
1. On September 21 Army heavy bombers (Boeing Flying Fortresses) bombed and strafed Gizo Island in the New Georgia Group of the Solomon Islands and attacked enemy installations at Rekata Bay on the northern coast of Santa Isabel Island.
2. On September 23 Army bombers again attacked Rekata Bay. Docks and buildings were damaged and one small float plane was shot down.
3. On September 24 Army bombers attacked a force of enemy transports near Shortland Island, in the western Solomons. This attack was opposed by about 20 Japanese fighters. Three hits were scored on the transports and 1 enemy fighter was shot down.
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4. Marine patrols on Guadalcanal have been active in attacking scattered enemy units. These operations have been supported by Navy and Marine Corps Douglas dive bombers which have bombed and strafed enemy-held villages and other points of resistance.
No. 133. September 28, 1942
North Pacific.
1. On September 24 a small force of heavy Army bombers attacked enemy installations on the island of Kiska. Results were not observed.
2. On September 25 a strong force of Army bombers and pursuit planes, accompanied by planes of the Royal Canadian Air Force, attacked shore installations and ships at Kiska. Two submarines were strafed, 6 seaplane fighters were destroyed on the water and a seventh was shot down. Bomb hits started fires on 1 of the 2 transports (or cargo ships) which were found in the harbor and the damaged ship was last seen listed and beached. It was estimated that 150 Japanese were killed or wounded.
No. 134. September 28, 1942
South Pacific (all dates given are east longitude).
1. U. S. Marines on Guadalcanal and Florida Islands in the Solomon Archipelago are continuing active patrol operations against Japanese ground forces. Navy and Marine Corps dive bombers have supported our ground forces in both search and attack. Several small enemy detachments have been engaged and destroyed and our positions have been expanded somewhat.
2. During the period September 25th to September 28th, inclusive, Army, Navy and Marine Corps flyers destroyed 42 enemy aircraft and damaged 3 others without combat loss of any U. S. planes.
3. On September 25th heavy Army bombers attacked Rekata Bay, Tonolei Harbor, and Japanese ships southeast of Buka Passage. At Rekata Bay an enemy seaplane was damaged on the water and several small-gun emplacements were strafed. At Tonolei Harbor one bomb hit was scored on an enemy cruiser and three seaplanes were shot down. A Japanese seaplane tender was damaged by one bomb hit in the action southeast of Buka Passage.
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4. On September 26th heavy Army bombers in force attacked enemy ships near Shortland Island. One cruiser was hit and left burning and a large transport (or cargo ship) was heavily bombed and also set afire. This ship probably sank. Six enemy seaplanes were shot down and a seventh was damaged.
5. On September 27th 18 enemy bombers escorted by 13 fighters attacked our positions at Guadalcanal. Intercepting Navy and Marine Corps fighters shot down 4 bombers and 5 fighters.
6. On September 28th 25 enemy bombers escorted by 18 "Zero" fighters attacked our Guadalcanal installations. Navy and Marine Corps fighters again intercepted and forced the attacking bombers to jettison their bombs into the sea. Twenty-three enemy bombers and 1 fighter were destroyed.
No. 135 September 30, 1942
South Pacific (all dates given are east longitude).
1. At about noon on August 8th a Japanese torpedo plane crashed into and set afire the U. S. S. George F. Elliott (naval transport, formerly the S. S. City of Los Angeles) during the torpedo attack announced in paragraph 9 of Navy Department Communiqué No. 115. Burning gasoline started fires which could not be extinguished and the Elliott was abandoned and destroyed. There were few casualties and the next of kin of those lost have been notified.
2. The U. S. S. Gregory (small auxiliary transport) was recently sunk by enemy gunfire off Guadalcanal. Most of her personnel were saved and the next of kin of those lost have been notified.