Air Operations, CBI

3 11th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s from Hengyang attack the Tienho airfield at Canton.

Air Operations, Aleutians

A 28th Composite Bomb Group B-17 crashes at Fort Glenn Field, Umnak, after reconnoitering Kiska.

Air Operations, Europe

10 Lancasters are sent to bomb Essen, but, using Gee through thick clouds, only 3 planes drop their bombs. Another plane attacks a ship in the East Scheldt River. There are no losses.

Air Operations, Solomons

A B-17 from the 5th Air Force's 19th Heavy Bomb Group, with 2 USMC observers aboard, reconnoiters and photographs Gavutu, Guadalcanal and Tulagi Islands, which are to be invaded by USMC ground forces in early August.

Eastern Front

Russian forces are routed along a broad front in the south. Continuing their advance southwards on a broad front, the Germans take Voroshilovgrad, a mining and industrial center in the Donetz basin. To the southeast, they reach the Don River at the Tsimlyansky height.

With yet another change of mind, Hitler orders Army Group B to resume the advance upon Stalingrad. The 6th Army, already involved in fighting the Stalingrad Front in the Don Elbow, can not comply with this directive as it lacks the resources to push into the river bend. Voroshilovgrad falls to the 1st Panzer Army after heavy fighting, while the 4th Panzer Army reaches the Don near Tsimlyansk.

Germany, Home Front

The first flight of the Me-262 V3 prototype jet fighter takes place at Leipheim, near Ulm.

July 18, 1942: World's First Operational Jet Fighter Takes Wing

First Jet Fighter

Germany, Strategy

Having dismissed Bock on the 15th for supposed lack of vigor in pursuing objectives, Hitler again changes priorities. Army Group B will now resume the advance on Stalingrad.

North Africa

Both Maj-Gen Herbert Lumsden and Brig Raymond Briggs are wounded in a Luftwaffe attack. Command of the 1st Armored Div goes to now Maj-Gen Alec Gatehouse; he arrives at the front on the evening of the 20th, is wounded about 0900 on the 22nd and has his place taken by Brig Arthur E. Fisher - a big factor in no coordination from the British armor.

United States, Planning

Rear-Adm Richmond Kelly Turner reports to Adm Ghormley as commander of the amphibious force for Operation WATCHTOWER. Ghormley has overall command of the operation, but Maj-Gen Alexander A. Vandegrift, Commander of the 1st Marine Division, is under Turner's command. Adm Fletcher, although designated the joint expeditionary force commander, is in practice the naval force commander, largely providing air support to the marines.