20 Jul 1942
  • USS S-28 received orders to patrol the area surrounding Sirius Point, Aleutian Islands. ww2dbase [Main Article | CPC]
  • The US submarine Scorpion was launched, sponsored by Ms. Elizabeth T. Monagle. ww2dbase [Main Article | CPC]
  • US Marines sailed from New Zealand for exercises at Fiji. ww2dbase [CPC]
  • Wilhelm Keitel entertained with the idea of branding Soviet prisoners of war/slave laborers on the buttocks similar to how one would treat cattle. ww2dbase [Main Article | CPC]
  • US 1st Marine Division issued the Operation Watchtower plans for the invasion of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. ww2dbase [Main Article | CPC]
  • Japanese submarine I-11 sank Greek ship G. S. Livanos 75 miles south of Sydney, Australia. ww2dbase [CPC]
Alaska
  • 3 B-17 bombers of US 11th Air Force attacked Kiska, Aleutian Islands. At Adak Island, seaplane tender USS Gillis was attacked by Japanese H6K flying boats, received one hit, but sustained no damage as the bomb failed to explode. Finally, on Unalaska Island, the US Navy established Naval Air Facility Dutch Harbor and Naval Operating Base Dutch Harbor. ww2dbase [CPC]
Australia
  • Douglas MacArthur departed Melbourne, Australia. ww2dbase [Main Article | CPC]
Australian New Guinea Australian Papua
  • 24 Japanese G4M bombers and 15 A6M fighters attacked Port Moresby, Papua on the island of New Guinea. Meanwhile, at Rabaul, New Britain, 5th Sasebo Special Naval Landing Force of the Japanese Navy and Yokoyama Detachment of the Japanese 17th Army departed on three transports. ww2dbase [Main Article | CPC]
Canada
  • German submarine U-132 damaged transport Frederika Lensen of Allied convoy QS-19 off Anticosti Island in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence in Canada at 1839 hours; 4 were killed, 36 survived. Frederika Lensen would be beached to prevent sinking although she would ultimately be declared a total loss due to extensive damage. ww2dbase [Main Article | CPC]
Gibraltar
  • HMS Eagle departed Gibraltar with 31 Spitfire fighters and 4 Swordfish torpedo bombers for Malta in Operation Insect. ww2dbase [Main Article | CPC]
Indian Ocean
  • German armed merchant cruiser Thor sank British ship Indus 1,950 miles west of Australia; 22 were killed, 49 survived. ww2dbase [Main Article | Event | CPC]
Italy
  • Benito Mussolini arrived in Rome, Italy. ww2dbase [Main Article | CPC]
New Zealand
  • Suzanne Walker became the first enlisted member of the Women's Royal New Zealand Naval Service. ww2dbase [CPC]
Russia
  • Soviet troops retook the German bridgehead at Voronezh, Russia. ww2dbase [Main Article | TH]
  • Nikolai Kamanin received orders to travel to Moscow, Russia to take command of the newly formed 292nd Ground Attack Air Division. ww2dbase [Main Article | CPC]
United States
  • The keel of US submarine Ray was laid down by the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, United States. ww2dbase [Main Article | CPC]
  • US submarines Scamp was launched. ww2dbase [Main Article | CPC]
  • USS R-1 arrived at New London, Connecticut, United States. ww2dbase [Main Article | CPC]
  • The US Army officially activated the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment at Camp Toccoa, Georgia, United States. ww2dbase [CPC]
  • The first members of the US Women's Army Auxiliary Corps began training at Fort Des Moines, Iowa, United States. ww2dbase [CPC]
  • The keel of US destroyer escort Moore was laid down. ww2dbase [CPC]
  • The keel of US destroyer Prichett was laid down. ww2dbase [CPC]
  • US minesweeper Chickadee was launched. ww2dbase [CPC]
  • Destroyer USS Chevalier was commissioned into service. ww2dbase [CPC]
Photo(s) dated 20 Jul 1942
Captured A6M Zero fighter Willys MB Jeep in the service of Australian 2/48th infantry battalion in EgyptLaunching ceremony of Scamp (left) and Scorpion (right), Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine, United States, 20 Jul 1942; note Snook on far right

Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis




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PTRD-41 anti-tank rifle and crew, date unknown




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"No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. You win the war by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country!"

George Patton, 31 May 1944