Today in World War II History—Aug. 7, 1942

US First Division Marines storm ashore across Guadalcanal’s beaches on D-Day, 7 August 1942, from attack transport USS Barnett and attack cargo ship USS Fomalhaut (US National Archives)

75 Years Ago—Aug. 7, 1942: US Marines land on Guadalcanal in the Solomons; the first US offensive of the war.

Lt. Gen. William Gott, new commander of the British Eighth Army, is killed in a plane crash in Egypt.

US Western Defense Command announces completion of detention of 119,000 Japanese-Americans.

Japanese facilities on fire, Tanambogo Island, east of Tulagi, Solomon Islands, 7 Aug 1942 (US National Archives)