8 Oct 1942 | World War II Database

8 Oct 1942

Trawler Anticosti was commissioned into service. ww2dbase [Anticosti | CPC]
A Nazi radio announcement stated that from mid-day (German time) officers and men captured at Dieppe, France had been manacled as a retaliation for the alleged tying of prisoners during a small-scale raid on Sark on 3 October 1942. The British War Office replied that German prisoners brought back from Dieppe had not had their hands tied and had been treaty humanely. It was further threatened that unless the Germans immediately unshackle their captives, then German prisoners of war in Canada would be put into chains from noon 10 October 1942. ww2dbase [Attack on Dieppe | AC]
USS Nicholas escorting a transport ship arrived at Nouméa, New Caledonia. ww2dbase [Nicholas | DS]

Atlantic Ocean

Leonardo da Vinci sighted an aircraft in the Atlantic Ocean at 1630 hours and submerged for cover. ww2dbase [Leonardo da Vinci | CPC]

Australian New Guinea

Troops of the Japanese 81st Naval Garrison executed Allied prisoners of war airman Harl Pease, airman Chester Czechowski, airman Harold Massie, coast watcher Cecil John Trevelyan Mason, coast watcher Arthur King, and coast watcher Ray Woodroffe at Rabaul, New Britain. They were executed by either rifle fire or bayonet. A Japanese Army doctor was seen dissecting at least one of the six men after the execution. ww2dbase [Rabaul, New Britain | CPC]
36 US B-17 Flying Fortress bombers moved from Mareeba airfield in Queensland, Australia to Port Moresby, Australian Papua. Before the end of the day, they took off for Rabaul, New Britain for an attack early on the next day. 4 Australian PBY Catalina aircraft dropped bombs on Rabaul to start fires for the B-17 bombers that would arrive in a few hours. ww2dbase [Rabaul, New Britain | CPC]
Vice Admiral Jinichi Kusaka arrived at Rabaul, New Britain. ww2dbase [Jinichi Kusaka | Rabaul, New Britain | CPC]

Germany

Hans-Erich Voß was named the commanding officer of German cruiser Prinz Eugen. ww2dbase [Prinz Eugen | CPC]

Pacific Ocean

United States

Glenn Miller reported for military service at Omaha, Nebraska, United States. He was assigned to the Seventh Service Command as a captain in the Army Specialist Corps. ww2dbase [Glenn Miller | Omaha, Nebraska | CPC]
USS Honolulu was floated out of drydock #3 at Mare Island and returned to the repair piers. ww2dbase [Mare Island Navy Yard | Honolulu | Vallejo, California | DS]