March 23, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

MONDAY, 23 MARCH 1942

IJN: Nineteen G3M2 Nells from the 1st Kokutai bomb Port Moresby and 7-Mile Drome escorted by three A6M2 Zeros that dive down to strafe 7-Mile Drome and damaged by anti-aircraft fire is A6M2 pilot Lt. Kyoichi Yoshi'i (KIA) that crashed onto Morris Hill.

IJA: Japanese Army 18th Division land at Port Blair in the Andaman Islands and occupy the city without resistance.

U.S. Navy: USS Gato (SS-212) is damaged when accidentally bombed by nonrigid airship (blimp) TC 13 off the entrance to San Francisco Bay.

USMC: The Secretary of Navy designated the new Marine Corps Training Area at Santa Margarita Ranch as Camp Joseph H. Pendleton.