http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1942/sep42/f17sep42.htm
Military to control atomic research in US
Thursday, September 17, 1942 www.onwar.com
General Leslie Groves [photo at link]
From Washington... All atomic research is place under military control. General Groves is appointed head of the program. He has deep fears about security and a dislike of the British which leads to a policy of reluctant sharing of information concerning atomic weapon development with the British Allies.
On Madagascar... The Vichy French governor of the island rejects the armistice proposed by the invading British.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/frame.htm
September 17th, 1942
UNITED KINGDOM: Minesweeper HMS Inverell commissioned.
Destroyer HMS Holcombe commissioned.
Trawler HMS Cailiff commissioned and loaned to RCN. (Dave Shirlaw)
GERMANY: U-305 and U-640 commissioned. (Dave Shirlaw)
NORWAY: The premier, Vidkun Quisling, reintroduces the death penalty.
U.S.S.R.: British Prime Minister Winston Churchill meets with Soviet Premier Josef Stalin in Moscow as the German Army rams into Stalingrad. (Jack McKillop)
Stalingrad: Lt. Andrei Khoyzyanov and a platoon of Soviet marines dressed in striped shirts and navy hats, reinforce the troops holding the huge grain elevator just south of the Tsaritsa Gorge. (Russell Folsom)
MEDITERRANEAN SEA: During the night of 16/17 September, US Army, Middle East Air Force B-24 Liberators bomb Bengasi, Libya harbour; during the day, targets for B-24s are in GREECE: shipping in Pylos Bay and shipping and piers near Sphakia, and in Khalones and Pylos Island. P-40s make an offensive sweep with the RAF over the front lines. (Jack McKillop)
Submarine HMS Talisman sailed from Gibraltar on 10 September, and last reported on 15 September. She is lost in the Mediterranean South of Sicily. There are no survivors or any Axis claims for her loss. It is likely that she was mined in the Sicilian Channel on or around 16/17. (Alex Gordon)(108)
MADAGASCAR: The Vichy Governor-General rejects the proposed armistice terms from the British.
Instead the Governor General of Madagascar announced that he was sending plenipotentiaries to the British commander asking for an armistice and the opening of negotiations. (Dave Shirlaw)
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC: In New Guinea, Japanese ground forces, halted within sight of Port Moresby, are unable to attack without reinforcements and supplies, neither of which are available; US 5th Air Force B-17s hit Lae, and hit a beached cargo vessel at Salamaua; P-39and P-400 Airacobras and P-40s strafe and bomb landing barges at Buna and Sanananda Point.
Australian forces withdraw to Imita Ridge. (Jack McKillop)
On New Britain Island, US 5th Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses, carrying out single-bomber attacks, bomb airfields at Rabaul. (Jack McKillop)
CANADA: Canadian warship attacks German U-Boat in the St. Lawrence before the submarine flees. (Dave Shirlaw)
U.S.A.: Army General Leslie Groves is appointed to control all atomic research in the US. Due to overstated concern for security and simple chauvinism, he is strongly opposed to sharing any information with the British.
Roosevelt begins a 15-day, 8,500 mile nationwide inspection of war industries.
Atomic weapons research is put under military control; Colonel Leslie Groves is appointed to manage the programme.
Minesweeper USS Notable laid down.
Destroyer USS Owen laid down.
Submarine USS Hoe launched.
Destroyer USS Ammen launched. (Dave Shirlaw)
During WW II, the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) produced numerous documents, most commonly known are the Intelligence Bulletins. The Military Intelligence Special Series continues with “German Military Training” (William L. Howard)
SOUTH ATLANTIC: As a result of the USAAF B-24 attack on German and Italian submarines rescuing survivors of the torpedoed British transport Lanconia, Admiral Karl Doenitz, Commander-in-Chief of the German Navy, orders his U-boats not to pick up survivors of ships they sink. Meanwhile, the Vichy French ships Gloire, Dumont D’Urville and Annamite rescue 1,041 survivors of the sinking. (Jack McKillop)
U-109 sank SS Peterton.
U-515 sank SS Mae. (Dave Shirlaw)