Daily Event for July 20


On the night on July 19-20 1943 the Japanese were making a troop run to Kolombangara Island to reinforce the garrison on the island. Two of the destroyers covering the run were the Yugure and the Kiyonami. US Marine aircraft bombed and strafed the Yugure until they scored a direct hit with a 2,000 lb. bomb ripping the destroyer to pieces.

The Kiyonami responded to the lost destroyer picking up survivors when the Marines came back. Soon the Kiyonami joined the Yugure on the bottom, taking all 468 men from both ships with her.

© 2006 Michael W. Pocock
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