Bombing of Dutch Harbor
Kakuta's carrier aircraft attack Dutch Harbor as the Aleutian diversion opens alongside the Midway operation.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1942 in Japan — Page 2
Explore 93 historical events and records for Japan in 1942.
Historical records for Japan in 1942
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 93 unique records.
93Unique records
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34Named events on this page
23Named people on this page
19Places on this page
June
Siege of Dutch Harbour
Bombards Dutch Harbour in the Aleutians to divert the Japanese from the Midway Islands
Air Strike on Midway
Tomonaga leads the Japanese carrier strike that bombs Midway Island shortly after dawn.
Battle of Midway
Orders a 2nd attack when the Japanes are caught with their decks crowded with planes. Launches the Midway invasion believing there are no US carriers in the central Pacific. By 5:00PM Japan had lost her entire carrier force
Battle of Midway
The Americans retreat & he gives up the battle. All the Japanese carriers are lost at Midway
Counterattack from Hiryu
Yamaguchi directs Hiryu's surviving air group in two counterstrikes that badly damage USS Yorktown.
Invasion of Midway
Launches the Midway invasion believing there are no US carriers in the central Pacific
Loss of Akagi
Aoki commands Akagi when American dive bombers fatally damage the carrier during the Battle of Midway.
Loss of Hiryu
Kaku commands Hiryu when American dive bombers fatally damage the last operational Japanese carrier at Midway.
Loss of Soryu
Yanagimoto commands Soryu when American dive bombers mortally damage the carrier during the Battle of Midway.
Cancellation of Midway Invasion
Yamamoto abandons the Midway invasion after the destruction of Nagumo's four fleet carriers.
Death of Tamon Yamaguchi
Yamaguchi remains aboard the crippled Hiryu and dies when the carrier is abandoned and scuttled.
Death of Tomeo Kaku
Kaku remains aboard Hiryu with Yamaguchi and dies after the carrier is abandoned.
Capture of Kiska
Occuppies the Island of Kiska in the Aleutian Islands
Capture of Attu
Occuppies the Island of Attu in the Aleutian Islands
July
Landing at Buna
Horii's South Seas Detachment lands near Buna to begin the Japanese overland advance toward Port Moresby.
August
Response to Guadalcanal Landings
Mikawa assembles a cruiser force at Rabaul to attack Allied ships supporting the Guadalcanal landings.
Battle of Savo Island
Mikawa's cruiser force surprises the Allied screening force and wins a major night victory off Savo Island.
Landing on Guadalcanal
Ichiki lands the first echelon of his detachment east of the American perimeter on Guadalcanal.
Battle of the Tenaru
Ichiki attacks the American perimeter near the Tenaru and is killed as his detachment is destroyed.
Battle of Solomons
Leads his ships as the vanguard group at the carrier battles of the eastern Solomons
Kokoda Track Offensive
Horii directs the Japanese advance over the Owen Stanley Range toward Port Moresby.
September
Battle of Edson's Ridge
Kawaguchi directs a major night assault against the American positions protecting Henderson Field.
Battle of Guadalcanal
Begins to build up ground forces at Guadalcanal, reaches 20,000
Battle of Guadalcanal
Sent to support the defence of Guadalcanal
October
Battle of Cape Esperance
Goto leads a Japanese cruiser force into the Battle of Cape Esperance and is mortally wounded.
Battle of Yenangyaung
The Japanese capture the Yenangyaung oilfields & Magwe
October Offensive on Henderson Field
Maruyama's division begins a difficult jungle assault against the southern defenses of Henderson Field.
Battle of Santa Cruz
Leads his ships as the vanguard group at the carrier battles of Santa Cruz
November
Battle of Midway
Abes "Tokyo Express" is stopped at Ironbottom Sound & Abe is removed from command
Battle of Midway
Leads the bomardment at Midway & Wake Island
Loss of Hiei
Abe withdraws after Hiei is crippled in the night battle and later lost to repeated American air attacks.
Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
Abe leads a battleship bombardment force into a confused night action against American cruisers and destroyers.
Guadalcanal Reinforcement Convoy
Tanaka escorts fast transports carrying reinforcements toward Guadalcanal during the naval battle for the island.
Second Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
Kondo leads a renewed Japanese bombardment force that is defeated by American battleships near Guadalcanal.
Death of Tomitaro Horii
Horii dies while attempting to cross the flooded Kumusi River during the Japanese retreat in New Guinea.
Commander of Eighteenth Army
Appointed Commander of the 8th Army in New Guinea
Commander of Eighteenth Army
Appointed Commander of the 8th Army in New Guinea
Battle of Tassafaronga
Tanaka's destroyers launch an effective torpedo counterattack during the Battle of Tassafaronga.
Other events (month unknown)
Battle of Midway
Fights at the Battle of Midway
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.