| January |
|
| 2nd |
Allies take Buna in New Guinea |
| 22nd |
Allies defeat Japanese at Sanananda on
New Guinea |
|
|
| February |
|
| 1st |
Japanese begin evacuation of Guadalcanal |
| 8th |
British-Indian forces begin guerrilla
operations against Japanese in Burma |
| 9th |
Japanese resistance on Guadalcanal ends |
|
|
| March |
|
| 2nd – 4th |
U.S. victory over Japanese in the Battle
of Bismarck Sea |
|
|
| April |
|
| 18th |
.S. code breakers pinpoint the location
of Japanese Admiral Yamamoto flying in a Japanese bomber near
Bougainville in the Solomon Islands. Eighteen P-38 fighters then locate
and shoot down Yamamoto |
| 21st |
President Roosevelt announces the
Japanese have executed several airmen from the Doolittle Raid |
| 22nd |
Japan announces captured Allied pilots
will be given "one way tickets to hell” |
|
|
| May |
|
| 10th |
U.S. troops invade Attu in the Aleutian
Islands |
| 14th |
A Japanese submarine sinks the Australian
hospital ship CENTAUR resulting in 299 dead |
| 31st |
Japanese end their occupation of the
Aleutian Islands as the U.S. completes the capture of Attu |
|
|
| June |
|
| 1st |
U.S. begins submarine warfare against
Japanese shipping |
| 21st |
Allies advance to New Georgia, Solomon
Islands |
|
|
| July |
|
| 8th |
B-24 Liberators flying from Midway bomb
Japanese on Wake Island |
|
|
| August |
|
| 1st – 2nd |
A group of 15 U.S. PT-boats attempt to
block Japanese convoys south of Kolombangra Island in the Solomon
Islands. PT-109, commanded by Lt. John F. Kennedy, is rammed and sunk
by the Japanese Cruiser AMAGIRI, killing two and badly injuring others.
The crew survives as Kennedy aids one badly injured man by towing him
to a nearby atoll |
| 6th – 7th |
Battle of Vella Gulf in the Solomon
Islands |
| 25th |
Allies complete the occupation of New
Georgia |
|
|
| September |
|
| 4th |
Allies recapture Lae-Salamaua, New Guinea |
|
|
| October |
|
| 7th |
Japanese execute approximately 100
American POWs on Wake Island |
| 26th |
Emperor Hirohito states his country's
situation is now "truly grave” |
|
|
| November |
|
| 1st |
U.S. Marines invade Bougainville in the
Solomon Islands |
| 2nd |
Battle of Empress Augusta Bay |
| 20th |
U.S. troops invade Makin and Tarawa in
the Gilbert Islands |
| 23rd |
Japanese end resistance on Makin and
Tarawa |
|
|
| December |
|
| 15th |
U.S. troops land on the Arawe Peninsula
of New Britain in the Solomon Islands |
| 26th |
Full Allied assault on New Britain as 1st
Division Marines invade Cape Gloucester |
