1942 23 January Japan invades New Britain, New Ireland, Solomons; seizes Rabaul.
8 March Japanese invade New Guinea (Lae, Salamaua, Finschhafen).
4-8 May Battle of the Coral Sea.
3-6 June Battle of Midway.
28 July Japanese start overland drive on Port Moresby from Buna-Sanananda area.
7 August 1st Marine Division lands in Tulagi area and on Guadalcanal; first American land offensive undertaken in the war against Japan.
5 September Japanese invasion attempt wiped out at Milne Bay.
13-15 November Battle of Guadalcanal; final Japanese attempt to engage in naval action in the Southern Solomons ends in disaster for the Japanese Navy.
9 December Relief of 1st Marine Division begun at Guadalcanal; division transferred operationally from SoPac to SWPA.
194312 January 1st Marine Division arrives at Melbourne, Australia.
23 January Australian-U.S. counter-drive recaptures Buna-Sanananda area.
7-8 February Japanese naval feint enables Japan to deceive U.S. Fleet and facilitate the final evacuation of forces from Guadalcanal.
1-4 March Battle of the Bismarck Sea.
29 March Joint Chiefs of Staff issue CARTWHEEL directive.
21 June Central Solomons campaign opened with landings by Marines and Army troops at Segi Point, New Georgia.
30 June Woodlark and Tobriand Islands occupied by 12th Defense Bn and Army elements.
8 July Major General W. H. Rupertus relieves Major General A. A. Vandegrift as Commanding General, 1st Marine Division.
15 August U.S.-New Zealand forces land at Vella-Lavella.
31 August 1st Marine Division alerted for movement from Melbourne to advanced staging area.
19 September 1st Marine Division combat teams begin departure from Melbourne.
24 September Bradbeer scout patrol to Cape Gloucester.
2 October Capture of Finschhafen by Allied forces completes recapture of Lae area.
1 November IMAC opens Bougainville campaign with landing at Cape Torokina.
5 November First carrier-based air strike at Rabaul.
25 November Kavieng, New Ireland, bombed by carrier-based planes.
30 November Lieutenant General Walter Krueger issues Field Order No. 5 for Arawe and Cape Gloucester operations.
15 December Amendment 1 to Field Order No. 5 issued, setting up final organization of the the BACKHANDER Task Force; 112th Cavalry RCT lands at Arawe.
26 December 1st Marine Division lands on Cape Gloucester at Silimati Point and Tauali.
30 December Cape Gloucester airdrome declared secure.
19441 January Brigadier General L. C. Shepherd, Jr., issues first ADC attack order for the drive toward Hill 660.
11 January Marines take Aogiri Ridge and General Shepherd orders it named "Walt's Ridge."
16 January Hill 660 taken by 3d Bn, 7th Marines.
31 January Marine patrols locate General Matsuda's abandoned headquarters at Nakarop or "Egaroppu."
16 February Army patrol from Arawe meets elements of the Gilnit Group on the Itni River, thus securing all western New Britain.
21 February 3d Bn, 5th Marines lands at Karai-ai.
25 February 2d Bn, 5th Marines lands at Iboki.
29 February 1st Cavalry Division lands in the Admiralties.
6 March Combat Team A (5th Marines, reinforced) lands at Volupai Plantation for Talasea operation.
9 March Talasea declared secure.
18 March Patrols reach Numundo Plantation.
20 March 4th Marines seize Emirau.
22 April Army lands at Hollandia.
28 April 1st Marine Division relieved at Cape Gloucester; command of BACKHANDER Task Force passes to Commanding General, 40th Infantry Division.
27 November 40th Infantry Division relieved on New Britain by the Australian 5th Division.
19456 September Japanese surrender Rabaul to the Australians.
Transcribed and formatted for HTML by Jerry Holden for the HyperWar Foundation