Comic Title: Action Comics #48
Publisher: DC (Detective Comics, Inc.)
Address: 480 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: May 1942
Approx. On Sale Date: March 18, 1942 Copyright Date March 14, 1942
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1942
Until 1958 DC did not report actual on sale dates to the copyright office
The publication dates listed in LoC records are NOT release dates.

Frequency: Monthly
Cover Price: $0.10
Page Count: 64
Editor: Fredric Whitney Ellsworth

Title: (Suddenly at War)
Pages: 6

Feature(s):
Congo Bill (of Earth-1)

Writer/Artist: Fred Ray

Feature Character(s)

• Congo Bill (last appearance in Action Comics #47; next appearance in Action Comics #49)

Villain(s)

• Various Japanese soldiers (no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Lieutenant Barlow (an RAF pilot; dies in this story; no further appearances)
• Captain Reilly and a group of marines (no further appearances)

Comments:
This story was not originally titled.

Synopsis:
Congo Bill rescues an RAF pilot from a jungle in the East Indies. When the pair return to the civilized area on the island, they discover that the Japanese have declared war and taken over. Bill and Lieutenant Barlow are briefly captured. They manage to escape into the jungle, but soon become separated.

Before daylight, Bill discovers a native fishing boat and uses it to reach the marine base on Webb Island. He alerts the commander there about the impending Japanese attack. Bill then helps defend the island from assault, but the marines lose their radio in the battle.

While waiting for another attack, Bill spots a plane. Barlow has stolen it and reached Webb Island. The pair then plan a counterattack. Bill plans to sneak aboard a Japanese destroyer to use the radio. Barlow will provide cover by attacking a Japanese carrier from the air. The plan works and Bill is able to call in reinforcements. However, to ensure his bombs would strike their target, Barlow guided his plane directly into the carrier and died in the explosion.