Air Operations, Bismarcks

5th Air Force B-17s attack Rabaul and Gasmata, New Britain.

Air Operations, Europe

• 226 aircraft to Frankfurt: 104 Wellingtons; 61 Lancasters; 53 Stirlings; 8 Halifaxes
• Second Pathfinder-led raid, again difficulty locating target area in cloudy conditions; most bombs fall in open country north and west of the city; reports from the ground say 17 large and 53 small fires started; 5 people killed, 95 injured; outlying villages of Schwalbach and Eschborn heavily bombed
• 3 Lancaster assigned specific targets in Bingen, Mayen and Bad Kreuznach on the approach route of main bombing force; Bad Kreuznach believed to be headquarters of German Western Army; a 4,000lb pound damages 225 houses in Bingen; the 3 planes return safely
• 6 Lancasters, 5 Wellingtons, 4 Stirlings and 1 Halifax lost on main raid

• 6 Wellingtons lay mines in the Frisians
• No losses

Air Operations, Libya

USAMEAF B-24s attack the harbor at Tobruk.

Air Operations, New Guinea

A 5th Air Force B-17 locates a Japanese Navy invasion convoy bound for Milne Bay. 5th Air Force B-17s based at Mareeba Airfield, Australia are unable to attack because of bad weather. An RAAF Hudson bomber and 23 RAAF P-40s based at Milne Bay sink 1 ship and damage others.

Air Operations, North Africa

A stripped-down Spitfire destroys a Ju-86R high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft over the Suez Canal.

Air Operations, Solomons

VMF-223 F4Fs challenge an unreported strike force composed of 6 B5N 'Kate' bombers and 15 A6M Zeros from the Japanese carrier Ryujo. Although the Marine pilots claim 20 victories, 4 'Kates' and 3 Zeros are shot down, one of the latter of which is shot down by a pair of 67th Figher Squadron P-400s. The Japanese claim major ground damage, their efforts are largely fruitless.

Battle of the Eastern Solomons

In an effort to reinforce units on Guadalcanal a Japanese force is intercepted by US Task Force 61, commanded by Vice-Adm Jack Fletcher. In the morning American scout planes sight Ryujo and a strike is dispatched. While it is on its way Shokaku and Zuikaku are also sighted and Fletcher tries to redirect his attack. Only a few of his planes receive this message and most carry on to sink Ryujo. Shortly after this strikes from Nagumo's carriers find the Enterprise (CV-6) and although she is damaged, aircraft can still be landed on.

At the end of the day both carrier groups retire without attempting to achieve a decisive result. The Japanese lose 90 aircraft against 20 by the Americans. The Japanese lose the carrier Ryujo which was hit by bombs and torpedoes, the light cruiser Jintsu, 1 destroyer and 1 troop transport with the loss of many lives. On the American side the battleship North Carolina (BB-55) is damaged and the carrier Enterprise (CV-6) receives damage from dive-bombers. The Japanese failed in their mission, but, more importantly, the battle again demonstrated to Tokyo that Guadalcanal can not be easily defended.[MORE]

USS Enterprise (center left), maneuvering radically under aerial attack and afire on 24 August 1942. Anti-aircraft shell bursts directed at the attacking Japanese dive bombers are visible above the carrier.

US Carrier Enterprise Under Air Attack

Japanese attack on the USS Enterprise, afternoon of 24 August 1942. Third Japanese bomb hit on the flight deck of the Enterprise.

Bomb Hit on Flight Deck of Enterprise

Eastern Front

In the siege of Leningrad, the Red Army attempts to raise the siege by Operation SINYAVINO. Troops of the Volkhov Front push west to the outskirts of Sinyavino, but are unable to link up with Leningrad Front forces attempting to extend the Neva bridgeheads.

The Luftwaffe appears over Stalingrad again, bombing the city and reducing its buildings to rubble. Fires rage out of control along the western bank of the Volga as oil tanks in the northern industrial suburbs burn. Whole stretches of the river seem to be on fire as burning oil flows into the water, blanketing the city with a pall of choking, black smoke. In the southern suburbs, Tsaritsyn and Dar Gova are largely destroyed, the majority of their wooden buildings burning to the ground.

The 3rd and 60th Motorized Divisions of the XIV Panzer Corps, struggle to hold of Soviet attacks along the Don-Volga land bridge while launching attacks with the 16th Panzer into the northern suburbs of Stalingrad, With the infantry of the 6th Army pounding the 62nd Army west of the city, Lopatin requests permission to pull his army back to the middle defense line. Eremenko is planning to counterattack around Vertyachi.

The advance of the 4th Panzer Army again bogs down at Tundutovo, Hoth's panzers suffering further heavy losses.

Germany, Home Front

Hitler appoints Otto Thierack as Minister of Justice with powers to set aside any or all written law.

Guadalcanal

Henderson Field is subjected to almost daily air attacks and Lunga perimeter is bombarded from the sea at frequent intervals. Marine fighters intercept enemy aircraft over Henderson Field and shoot down 21 for the loss of 3. 11 dive bombers from the Enterprise (CV-6) land and will remain for 3 months.

New Guinea

Gen Horii gives orders for a general offensive. Two amphibious forces, from Buna and from New Ireland, sail for Milne Bay. Japanese assault troops from Buna land on Goodenough Island in preparation for a later move into Milne Bay.

Pacific

• The US submarine Saury (SS-189) torpedoes Japanese army transport Otowasan Maru west of Luzon.
• The US submarine Guardfish (SS-217) torpedoes and sinks the Japanese merchant passenger-cargo ship Seikai Maru (3109t) off the entrance to Sendai harbor, on the northeast coast of Honshu.