On This Day

US bombing of Bougainville, Solomon Islands

The Solomon Islands campaign was a major campaign of the Pacific War during World War II.

The Solomon Islands campaign was a major campaign of the Pacific War during World War II. The campaign began with the Japanese seizure of several areas in the British Solomon Islands and Bougainville, in the Territory of New Guinea, during the first six months of 1942. Japanese troops subsequently began the construction of several naval and air bases in the area.

Historical Significance

The Solomon Islands campaign was a major campaign of the Pacific War during World War II.

Events Before

  1. World War II: Representatives of 26 nations at war with the Axis powers sign the Declaration of the United Nations, pled

    World War II: Representatives of 26 nations at war with the Axis powers sign the Declaration of the United Nations, pledging to make no separate peace deals

  2. The US and 25 other countries sign the Declaration by United Nations against the Axis

    The Declaration by United Nations was the main treaty that formalized the Allies of World War II and was signed by 47 national governments between 1942 and 1945.

  3. Nazi officials hold the notorious Wannsee Conference in Berlin to coordinate the "Final Solution", the extermination of

    Nazi officials hold the notorious Wannsee Conference in Berlin to coordinate the "Final Solution", the extermination of Europe's Jews

  4. Novelist Anthony Burgess (25) weds Llewela Jones

    Novelist Anthony Burgess (25) weds Llewela Jones

  5. Glenn Miller and his Orchestra are awarded the first-ever gold record for selling 1 million copies of "Chattanooga Choo

    Glenn Miller and his Orchestra are awarded the first-ever gold record for selling 1 million copies of "Chattanooga Choo Choo"

Events After

  1. D-Day: The Normandy Landings

    Allied forces launch the largest amphibious invasion in history on the beaches of Normandy, France, marking the beginning of the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi occupation.

  2. Omar al-Bashir is born

    Omar al-Bashir is born

  3. Army defeats Navy 10-7 in football "Arab Bowl," Oran, North Africa

    Army defeats Navy 10-7 in football "Arab Bowl," Oran, North Africa

  4. Siege of Leningrad lifted by the Soviets after 880 days and more than 2 million Russians killed

    Siege of Leningrad lifted by the Soviets after 880 days and more than 2 million Russians killed

  5. Battle of Eniwetok: US forces take Enewetak Atoll at the cost of 37 Americans killed or missing and 94 wounded; Japanese

    Battle of Eniwetok: US forces take Enewetak Atoll at the cost of 37 Americans killed or missing and 94 wounded; Japanese losses are 800 dead and 23 prisoners

More from the 1940s

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on October 18, 1943?
The Solomon Islands campaign was a major campaign of the Pacific War during World War II. The campaign began with the Japanese seizure of several areas in the British Solomon Islands and Bougainville, in the Territory of New Guinea, during the first six months of 1942. Japanese troops subsequently began the construction of several naval and air bases in the area.
Why is US bombing of Bougainville, Solomon Islands significant?
The Solomon Islands campaign was a major campaign of the Pacific War during World War II.

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