European Theatre of Operations
Eisenhower assumes command of the US Armys European Theatre of Operations (ETOUSA)
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1942 in United States of America — Page 2
Explore 163 historical events and records for United States of America in 1942.
Historical records for United States of America in 1942
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 163 unique records.
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8Places on this page
June
Agreement on Attack German forces in North Africa (Operation
Churchill and Roosevelt meet and agree to attack German forces in North Africa (Operation Torch) before launching invasion of Continental Europe, Torch serves to stall Bolero troop build-up in UK
Operation Torch
Churchill and Roosevelt meet and agree to attack German forces in North Africa (Operation Torch) before launching invasion of Continental Europe, Torch serves to stall Bolero troop build-up in UK
Commander of US forces in Europe
Appoints Eisenhower as the Commander of the US forces in Europe
Commander of US forces in Europe
Appoints Eisenhower as the Commander of the US forces in Europe
July
Promotion to Lieutenant General
Promoted to temporary Lieutenant General while commanding American forces in the European theatre.
Irradiated Uranium Shipment
The first shipment of irradiated uranium, about 300 pounds, arrives at the Metallurgical Laboratory for plutonium research.
Manhattan Project
Robert Oppenheimer convenes a summer conference at the University of California, Berkeley to discuss the design of a fission bomb, Edward Teller brings up the possibility of a hydrogen bomb as a major point of discussion
Manhattan Project
Robert Oppenheimer convenes a summer conference at the University of California, Berkeley to discuss the design of a fission bomb, Edward Teller brings up the possibility of a hydrogen bomb as a major point of discussion
August
Charter
Declares the Allied war aims of world peace, freedom & self-determination
Birth of Isaac Lee Hayes
Birth of Isaac Lee Hayes, Jr
Pure Plutonium Isolation
Seaborg isolates pure plutonium using a separation method suitable for development on an industrial scale.
Atomic Project Status Report
Conant's status report, relayed through Vannevar Bush to the Secretary of War, reports encouraging results from Oppenheimer's bomb-design group.
Operation Sledgehammer
The Dieppe raid is defeated, concerns about Operation Sledgehammer are confirmed
September
Electromagnetic Pilot Plant Recommendation
The S-1 Executive Committee recommends a Tennessee pilot plant based on Lawrence's electromagnetic isotope-separation work.
Manhattan Project
At a meeting of the S-1 Executive Committee, it is decided that a centralized laboratory should be established to study fast neutrons, code-named "Project Y"
Project Y
At a meeting of the S-1 Executive Committee, it is decided that a centralized laboratory should be established to study fast neutrons, code-named "Project Y"
Project Y
At a meeting of the S-1 Executive Committee, it is decided that a centralized laboratory should be established to study fast neutrons, code-named "Project Y"
Manhattan Engineering District
Colonel Leslie Groves is assigned command of the Manhattan Engineering District
Manhattan Project
Takes command of the Manhattan Project.
Manhattan Project
Colonel Leslie Groves is assigned command of the Manhattan Engineering District
Belgian Congo Uranium Purchase
Groves purchases about 1,250 tons of high-grade Belgian Congo uranium ore stored on Staten Island.
Promotion to Brigadier General
Groves is promoted to brigadier general shortly after taking command of the Manhattan Engineer District.
Manhattan Project
Groves purchases 52,000 acres (210 km) of land in Tennessee for "Site X", which will become the Oak Ridge, Tennessee laboratory and production site
Site X
Groves purchases 52,000 acres (210 km) of land in Tennessee for "Site X", which will become the Oak Ridge, Tennessee laboratory and production site
Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project is given permission to use the highest wartime priority rating by the War Production Board
War Production Board
The Manhattan Project is given permission to use the highest wartime priority rating by the War Production Board
October
Met Lab Engineering Deadline
During a visit to the Metallurgical Laboratory, Groves orders long-delayed engineering decisions for plutonium production to be settled within five days.
Manhattan Project
Leslie Richard Groves appoints Robert Oppenheimer to coordinate the scientific research of the project at the "Site Y" laboratory
Manhattan Project
Leslie Richard Groves appoints Robert Oppenheimer to coordinate the scientific research of the project at the "Site Y" laboratory
Site Y
Leslie Richard Groves appoints Robert Oppenheimer to coordinate the scientific research of the project at the "Site Y" laboratory
Site Y
Leslie Richard Groves appoints Robert Oppenheimer to coordinate the scientific research of the project at the "Site Y" laboratory
Revenue Act of 1942
The Act greatly expands the number of Americans subject to federal income tax.
Birth of John Michael Crichton
Birth of John Michael Crichton
British Information Exchange Restriction
Conant recommends sharply restricting atomic information exchange with Britain; Bush forwards the recommendation to Roosevelt.
Centrifuge Separation Abandoned
The centrifuge method for uranium isotope separation is abandoned after persistent technical difficulties.
DuPont Plutonium Assignment
Groves places DuPont in charge of engineering and construction for the plutonium-production project.
Los Alamos Laboratory
Is selected to direct bomb-design work at Los Alamos.
November
Plutonium Neutron Impurity Warning
Seaborg warns that plutonium's alpha activity can make light-element impurities a serious unwanted neutron source.
Operation Torch
1st day of Operation Torch
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.