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| Back to The Beginning |
| Back to July 1942 |
JOURNAL of DONALD ANDERSON, USN
August, 1942
| Below is the journal my father kept during the years of 1941/42. I found it in his effects after his death in April of 1998, along with a series of photos that he took during that time period. I am publishing this account on the Web because it is a wonderful way to get to know the man who was my father, and the hundreds of men like him who manned the ships known as Four Stackers. Words in black type are transcribed directly from the journal. Where I deem it useful and appropriate I will include background data in other colors, and photos from his collection. |  |
August 1, 1942 Saturday
Today my 2nd class rating goes into effect - $115 a month. Are enroute to Christobal.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:The United States today designated a Naval Base in the Galapagos Islands
The United States established the Naval Station on Taboga Island, in the Panama Canal Zone today
The United States Naval Auxiliary Air Facility and United States Motor Torpedo Boat Base, Salinas, Ecuador, were established.
German submarine sunk:
- U-166, by Coast Guard aircraft, Gulf of Mexico, 28 d. 31' N. 90 d. 45' W.
August 2, 1942 Sunday
Enroute to Christobal. Had good contact on sub. Goff and Cole dropped charges while we circled convoy in spread formation.
August 3, 1942 Monday
Arrived in Christobal this AM and tied up to 6D. Fueled ship (Duty). Got orders in PM to get underway beacuse of air raid, but orders were belayed and liberty granted.
August 4, 1942 Tuesday
In Christobal. Went ashore today.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:United States naval vessel sunk:
- Destroyer TUCKER (DD-374), in United State minefield, Segond Channel, Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides
August 5, 1942 Wednesday
Went out with convoy of 22 ships and 7 escort vessels. Enroute to Guantanamo.
August 6, 1942 Thursday
Enroute to Gtmo Bay.
August 7, 1942 Friday
Enroute to Gtmo Bay with convoy.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Today US Marines landed on Florida, Tulagi, Gavutu, Tanambogo, and Guadalcanal, in the Solomon Islands, in the first American land offensive of the war. Under cover of naval surface and air forces under Vice Admiral F. J. Fletcher, the 1st Marine Division under Major General Vandegrift was put ashore by Amphibious Force, South Pacific commanded by Rear Admiral Turner. The landings were supported by carrier and shore-based aircraft headed by Rear Admiral L. Noyes and Rear Admiral J. S. McCain.
A US Naval cruiser and destroyer force under command of Rear Admiral W. W. Smith bombarded Kiska, Aleutian Islands.
United States naval vessel damaged:
- Destroyer MUGFORD (DD-389), by dive bomber, Solomon Islands area, 09 d. 00' S., 160 d. 00' E.
August 8, 1942 Saturday
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:US Marines won control of Tulagi, Gavutu, and Tanambogo, in the Solomon Islands today.
An unfinished enemy air strip on Guadalcanal was captured and renamed Henderson Field.
A German submarine laid mines off the mouth of St. Johns River, east of Jacksonville, Florida.
United States naval vessel sunk:
- Transport GEORGE F. ELLIOTT (AP-13), damaged by suicide bombers, Solomon Islands area, and sunk by United States forces, 09 d. 10' S., 160, 10' E.
United States naval vessels damaged:
- Destroyer JARVIS (DD-393), by aircraft torpedo, Solomon Islands area, 09 d. 10' S., 160 d. 01 E.
August 9, 1942 Sunday
Enroute to Gtmo Bay with convoy
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:The Battle of Savo Island commenced this morning in the darkness as a Japanese force of 7 cruisers and 1 destroyer approached west of Savo Island, in the Solomons, undetected. The enemy sank 4 Allied cruisers and damaged 1 other cruiser and 2 destroyers by torpedo and gunfire before retiring.
Allied ships departed Guadalcanal area today.
Japanese vessels temporarily control waters around Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands.
United States naval vessels sunk:
- Heavy cruisers ASTORIA (CA-34), QUINCY (CA-39), and VINCENNES (CA-44), by naval gunfire, Battle of Savo Island.
- [Fourth cruiser sunk was the Australian ship CANBERRA.]
- Destroyer JARVIS (DD-393), by aircraft attack, Solomon Islands, 09 d. 42' S., 158 d. 59' E.
United States naval vessels damaged:
- Heavy cruiser CHICAGO (CA-29), by destroyer torpedo;
- destroyers RALPH TALBOT (DD-390) and PATTERSON (DD-392), by naval gunfire, Battle of Savo Island.
August 10, 1942 Monday
Going to Kingston, Jamaica to pick up convoy after arriving at Gtmo this AM
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Japanese naval vessel sunk:
- Heavy cruiser KAKO, by submarine S-44, near Kavieng, New Ireland.
August 11, 1942 Tuesday
Enroute to Gtmo from Jamiaca with convoy.
August 12, 1942 Wednesday
Arrived in Gtmo from Kingston - Got underway with another convoy at 1300. Were relieved after joining with another convoy.
August 13, 1942 Thursday
Enroute to Christobal. Got message that convoy was attacked last night afer we were relieved. Headed back at 25 knots to pick up survivors but didn't reach them.
August 14, 1942 Friday
Enroute to Christobal. Heard that the CHURCHHILL, English Destroyer I45, who relieved us, cannot be contacted, possibly sunk.
EDITOR'S NOTE:Churchhill, one of the 'Famous Fifty' four-stack destroyers given to the British earlier in the war, was indeed NOT lost. She would go on to be loaned to the Russians, and sunk by a German U-Boat in the North Sea in 1945
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Lt. General Dwight D. Eisenhower, USA, Commanding General, European Theater of Operations, was appointed Commander in Chief of Allied Expeditionary Forces today
Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham, RN, was appointed Allied Naval Commander today.
United States naval vessel lost:
- Submarine S-39, damaged by striking submerged reef, off Rossel Island, Louisade Archipelago, and abandoned 16 August 1942.
August 15, 1942 Saturday
Arrived in Coco Solo, unloaded fish and then went to Mount Hope for upkeep. Had mid-watch tonight.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:US Navy Patrol Wing 11 was commissioned today at San Juan, Puerto Rico, for operations in the Caribbean Sea Frontier.
US Naval Air Station, Whidbey Island, Washington, was established today.
The United States established the Naval Auxiliary Air Facility, Jamaica, British West Indies.
August 16, 1942 Sunday
In Mount Hope yard for upkeep. Went ashore on liberty today.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Battleship ALABAMA (BB-60) was commissioned today at Portsmouth, Virginia.
United States naval vessel sunk:
- Submarine GRUNION (SS-216), Pacific Ocean area, reported as presumed lost.
August 17, 1942 Monday
In Mount Hope. Had duty today.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Second Raider Battalion, also known as "Carlson's Raiders", Marine Corps, today was transported by submarines NAUTILUS (SS-168) and ARGONAUT (APS-1), and raided Makin Island in the Gilbert Islands; Nautilus gunfire supports Marines ashore.
August 18, 1942 Tuesday
Mt. Hope. Went ashore today.
August 19, 1942 Wednesday
In Mt. Hope.
August 20, 1942 Thursday
Went ashore this evening. In Mt. Hope.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Aircraft escort vessel LONG ISLAND (AVG-1) today delivered 31 Marine Corps aircraft to Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, in the Solomon Islands.
German submarine sunk:
- U-464, by naval land-based aircraft (VP-73), North Atlantic Area, 61 d. 25 ' N., 14 d. 40' W.
August 21, 1942 Friday
In Mount Hope for upkeep. Had duty today. 12-4 watch.
August 22, 1942 Saturday
In Mount Hope.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Brazil today declared war on Germany and Italy.
United States naval vessels sunk:
- Destroyer BLUE (DD-387), damaged by torpedo from surface craft, Solomon Islands area, and scuttled by United States forces 23 August 1942, 09 d. 17' E., 160 d. 02' E.
- Destroyer INGRAHAM (DD-444), by collision with oiler CHEMUNG (A0-30), off Nova Scotia, 42 d. 34' N., 60 d. 05' W.
United States naval vessels damaged:
- Destroyer BUCK (DD-420), by collision with merchant vessel, off Nova Scotia, 42 d. 34' N., 60 d. 05' W.
- Oiler CHEMUNG (A0-30), by collision with destroyer INGRAHAM (DD-444) off Nova Scotia, 42 d. 34' N., 60 d. 05' W.
German submarine sunk:
- U-654, by Army aircraft, north of Panama, 12 d. 00' N., 79 d. 56' W.
August 23, 1942 Sunday
In Mount Hope for upkeep and repairs. Went ashore today.
August 24, 1942 Monday
Mt. Hope. - Duty but no watch.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Battle of the Eastern Solomons began today and will continue into the tomorrow. Naval carrier-based aircraft under Vice Admiral F. J. Fletcher, supported by Marine and Army aircraft turned back a major Japanese attempt to recapture Guadalcanal and Tulagi, in the Solomon Islands.
United States naval vessel damaged:
- Carrier ENTERPRISE (CV-6), by dive bomber, Battle of the Eastern Solomons, 08 d. 38 S., 163 d. 30 ' E.
Japanese naval vessel sunk:
- Carrier RYUJO, by carrier-based aircraft, Battle of the Eastern Solomons, 06 d. 10' S., 160 d. 50' E.
August 25, 1942 Tuesday
In Mt. Hope. Used diving outfit today to pull plug in overboard discharge.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Japanese now occupy Nauru, Gilbert Islands, and Goodenough Island, off southeast coast of New Guinea.
Japanese naval vessel sunk:
- Destroyer MUZUKI, by Army aircraft, Battle of Eastern Solomons, off Santa Isabel, Solomon Islands.
August 26, 1942 Wednesday
In Mt. Hope for upkeep.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:The Japanese landed troops at Milne Bay, New Guinea; US Army aircraft attacked beaches and transports.
The Japanese now occupy Ocean Island.
August 27, 1942 Thursday
In Mt. Hope for upkeep.
August 28, 1942 Friday
In Mt. Hope for upkeep. Went ashore tonight.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:US Marine Corps dive bombers sank one Japanese destroyer and damaged two others. They also prevented enemy reinforcements from landing on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands.
Japanese naval vessels sunk:
- Submarine I-123, by light minelayer GAMBLE (DM-15), Solomon Islands area, near Guadalcanal.
- Destroyer ASAGIRI, by Marine land-based aircraft, off Santa Isabel, Solomon Islands.
German submarine sunk:
- U-94, by naval land-based aircraft (VP-92) and HMCS OAKVILLE; Caribbean area, 17 d. 40' N., 74 d. 30' W.
August 29, 1942 Saturday
In Mt. Hope for upkeep. Went to dentist's at N.A.S. - Payday today. Went on liberty tonight.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:United States naval vessel damaged:
- Transport WILLIAM WARD BURROWS (AP-6), by grounding, Solomons Islands area, 09 d. 07' S., 160 d. 10' E.
August 30, 1942 Sunday
In Mt. Hope. Had duty today. Wrote letters this P.M. Worked all morning.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:United States Naval and Army forces today occupied Adak, Aleutian Islands, for an air and naval base.
United States naval vessel sunk:
- High speed transport COLHOUN (APD-2), by horizontal bomber, Solomon Islands area, 09 d. 24' S., 160 d. 01' E.
August 31, 1942 Monday
In Mt. Hope for upkeep. Went ashore today.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:United States naval vessel damaged:
- Carrier SARATOGA (CV-3), by submarine torpedo, 260 miles southeast of Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, 10 d. 34' S., 164 d. 18' E.
Japanese submarine sunk:
- RO-61, by destroyer REID (DD-369) and naval land-based aircraft (vp-43), Aleutian Islands area, 52 d. 36' N., 173 d. 57 ' W.
This page, and all contents, are Copyright (C) 2000 by Kenn Anderson,Sr., Scranton, PA. (USA)