This Day In The War, In The Pacific

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1942
ALASKA: The crew of a USN PBY-5A Catalina of Patrol Squadron based at Dutch Harbor, Unalaska Island, Aleutian Islands, spots four transports and two destroyers in Kiska Harbor; flying to Attu Island, they spot the Japanese forces. This is the first indication that the Japanese have occupied these two islands.
(11th Air Force): 1 LB-30 flies armed patrol over Kiska and Umnak s and discovers Japanese naval units in Kiska Harbor.

USA: The Soviet Ambassador to the U.S., Maxim M. Litvinov, informs Harry Hopkins, President Roosevelt's assistant, that the Soviet Government has agreed to a Lend-Lease air corridor being established between the Territory of Alaska and Siberia.

CANADA: The Royal Canadian Air Force's No. 111 (Fighter) Squadron, equipped with Curtiss Kittyhawk Mk. Is, arrives at Elmendorf Field, Anchorage, Territory of Alaska, as part of the RCAF reinforcements to the USAAF.

1943
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) A C-47 is the first USAAF airplane to land on Attu, landing fighters crews at Alexai Point. All other flying is cancelled due to weather.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) In French Indochina, 7 B-24's and 6 B-25's, with P-40 escorts, are dispatched to bomb shipping and dock installations at Haiphong. Bad weather prevents striking the primary targets; alternates, including Hongay shipping, rail yard, and power facilities, Gia Lam Airfield, and warehouses E of Hanoi are bombed. P-40's bomb and strafe Japanese HQ at Tatung, China barracks E of Lamaing, Burma on the Salween River, and a camp N of Lungling, China.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) B-24's on armed reconnaissance bomb Kahili Airfield and Ballale.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-25's bomb Koepang and hit the area SE of Dili. B-24's unsuccessfully attack shipping at Waingapoe, in the Sunda Islands and off Wewak.

1944
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): B-24s mine the Bangkok and Mergui, Burma areas. B-25s maintain the ammunition supply to Imphal, India. In Burma, 9 B-25s pound the Imphal, India-Tiddim road and a few A-36s and P-51s hit the enemy in the Mogaung area.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 19 P-40s bomb docks, warehouses and military installations at Ichang and Shasi and strafe 2 cavalry units at Nanying; 4 P-51s attack railroad traffic in the Singtai-Chengting area.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): During the night of 7/8 Jun, B-24s from Eniwetok bomb Truk and Ponape. B-25s from Makin follow up during the day with a strike against Nauru Island. In Hawaii, 72d Fighter Squadron, 318th Fighter Group, moves from Haleiwa Field to Mokuleia Field with P-38s; 78th Fighter Squadron, 15th Fighter Group, moves from Mokuleia Field to Bellows Field with P-47s.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 24 B-25s bomb a supply area at Ratawul, New Britain Island. On Bougainville Island, 32 P-39s bomb Tsirogei and a supply area N of Buka, Buka Island and 6 P-38s hit Monoitu Mission.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): B-25s, P-38s, B-24s and A-20s battle enemy fighters over Manokwari and Efman-Schouten area, bomb a small freighter off Manokwari and hit gun emplacements and occupied areas at Kamiri, at Namber, and near Sorido; P-40s hit supply areas and villages in the vicinity of Sarmi; and A-20s again hit Wewak area. Thirteenth Air Task Force B-24s from the Admiralty Islands hit Truk Atoll.

(IJN) - Destroyer Harusame is sunk 30 miles off Manokwari

1945

 

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1942
NG: Lieutenant Commander Lyndon B. Johnson, USNR, on a congressional inspection tour of the Southwest Pacific, boards a B-26 Marauder, msn 1353, USAAC s/n 40-1488, flown by 1st Lt. W.H. Greer as pilot and RAAF Sergeant Pilot G.A. McMullin as co-pilot. The aircraft was named "Heckling Hare." This a/c was part of the USAAF's 19th Bombardment Squadron, 22d BG based at Townsville, Australia, to participate in an attack on Japanese airfields in New Guinea. The aircraft takes off but engine trouble forces the pilot to return to base without having seen combat.
Eleven B-26 Marauder's of the 22nd BG departed Townsville, Queensland, Australia, at 1330 hours local on 8 June 1942 and arrived at Seven Mile Aerodrome, Port Moresby, New Guinea, by 1746 hours local. They then raided Lae, New Guinea, on 9 June 1942. This mission was called "TOW 9" in the official records. Lieutenant Commander Lyndon Baines Johnson, USNR, the future 36th President of the United States, went on this raid as an observer. Lyndon Johnson travelled from Townsville to Port Moresby by B-17 on the morning of the raid. The raid was delayed by an hour waiting for the VIP's that were to accompany them on the raid. The VIP's were Congressman Lyndon Baines Johnson (USNR), General Marquat, Col. G. Anderson (Gen Staff), Lt. Col. Dwight Divine II and Lt. Col. Francis R. Stevens. Lyndon Johnson was initially assigned to Lt. Bench's aircraft, "The Virginian," USAAC 40-1508. But he apparently left the aircraft to retrieve his camera and on return he found that Lt. Col. Francis R. Stevens had taken his place on "The Virginian." Lyndon Johnson then changed aircraft from "The Virginian" to Arkie Greer's "Heckling Hare" just before he took off on the mission. The crew of "Heckling Hare" apparently also knew their aircraft as "Arkansas Traveller." This was fortuitous for Lyndon Johnson, as Bench's aircraft, "The Virginian," was boxed in so low by "Shamrock," Thunderbird" and "Boomerang" as they departed the target, that "The Virginian" flew into the water off Salamaua killing Willis Bench and all of his crew.
After the mission, Lyndon Johnson returned to Australia in General Brett's Boeing B-17D Flying Fortress, USAAC 40-3097 "Swoose" flown by Captain Frank Kurtz. They almost ran out of fuel when they became lost heading for Cloncurry, Queensland. They landed in the bush on Carisbrooke Station near Winton. This B-17, "Swoose", then flew back to USA with General Brett. The aircraft is owned by the National Air and Space Museum in Washington.
Nine days after the raid, Lyndon Johnson was awarded an Amy Silver Star medal, the nation's 3rd highest medal for valor, by General MacArthur's chief of Staff, Major-General R.K. Sutherland for his participation in the above bombing raid. He often wore this medal during his term as President of the United States. He refused to discuss the details of how we won the medal.
His citation read:- "For gallantry in action in the vicinity of Port Moresby and Salamaua, New Guinea on June 9, 1942. While on a mission of obtaining information in the Southwest Pacific area, Lieutenant Commander Johnson, in order to obtain personal knowledge of combat conditions, volunteered as an observer on a hazardous aerial combat mission over hostile positions in New Guinea. As our planes neared the target area they were intercepted by eight hostile fighters. When, at this time, the plane in which Lieutenant Commander Johnson was an observer, developed mechanical trouble and was forced to turn back alone, presenting a favorable target to the enemy fighters, he evidenced marked coolness in spite of the hazards involved. His gallant action enabled him to obtain and return with valuable information. " Lyndon Johnson's diary records the following regarding this mission:- "After we were off the field with Prell and Greer leading, Greer's generator went out: crew begged him to go on. For the next thirty minutes we flew on one generator."
After President Roosevelt ordered all members of Congress in the Armed Forces to return to their legislative duties, Johnson was released from active duty under honorable conditions on 16 June 1942. In 1949 he was promoted to Commander in the Naval Reserves to date from 1 June 1948. During his time in service, Johnson was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. After he became President following the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Johnson's resignation from the United States Naval Reserve was accepted by the Secretary of the Navy effective 18 January 1964.

PI: The Japanese declare that the Philippine Islands are secured.

MADAGASGAR: HMS Ramillies leaves Diego Suarez today, bound for Durban for structural repairs. Her escort on the journey was by the light Cruiser HMS Emerald, three destroyers and a tug. There was much apprehension about the journey due to the extensive damage she had taken, from the Japanese midget submarine attack, and worry about the gaping hole in her side. She arrives at Durban late today having been escorted for the latter part of her journey by HMS Jasmine and HMS Fritillary.
She will leave for Cape Town and the UK on the 6th August 1942 arriving back at Plymouth on the 8th September for further repairs at the Devonport Dockyard. She will be out of service for nearly a year.

ALASKA (11th Air Force): Patrols are flown but encounter no aircraft.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, 7th Air Force): Brigadier General Howard C Davidson, Commanding General VII Fighter Command, also becomes Commanding General 7th Air Force.

1943
CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) 6 P-4O's damage a railroad bridge at Puchi, China and strafe nearby railroad yards.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) In the Solomon Islands, B-24's on reconnaissance attack a small vessel WNW of Cape Henpan. B-17's, P-40's, and P-38's' pound the airfields at Munda and Vila.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, 2 B-24's bomb the town area of Manokwari and Nabire Airfield. A lone B-17 bombs Unea Island in the Bismarck Archipelago.

1944

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 5 B-25s carry out a strike on the Imphal, India-Tiddim road while 20+ others continue to supply ammunition to the Imphal area; 40+ A-36s, P-51s, and P-40s hit Myitkyina, Mogaung and Kadu.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, P-40s, P-51s and B-25s fly 200+ sorties against numerous targets throughout the Tungting Lake area; river shipping of all description is pounded, several troop concentrations are attacked, airfields at Hankow and Wuchang are bombed, and the towns of Ichang, Siangyin, Yuankiang and Kiaotow are hit; and 4 B-24 and fighter- bomber sorties over the S China Sea result in claims of 3 sea going vessels, a tug and a barge sunk.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): During the night of 8/9 Jun B-24s from Eniwetok bomb Truk.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain Island, 32 B-25s, 20 P-39s and 5 P-38s pound supplies and gun positions in the Rataaul- Talili Bay area; 5 other B-25s attack a pier at New Massava Plantation and railroad to Mandres Saw Mill. On Buka Island, P-39s hit the town of Buka, a supply area to the N of the airfield, and Arigua Plantation.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): B-24s bomb Peleliu Airfield, lost is B-24J 42-100180. A-20s bomb shipping in Manokwari harbor; B-24s, A-20s, B-25s and P-39s, along with RAAF planes, drop about 140 tons of bombs on various targets in the Wewak area; and 39th Fighter Squadron, 35th Fighter Group, moves from Gusap to Nadzab with P-47s. B-24s of Thirteenth Air Task Force bomb Alet Airfield and targets of opportunity in Truk Atoll.

From the Cincpac Press Office: CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 438:
Truk Atoll was bombed by Seventh Army Air Force Liberators on the night of June 7-8 (West Longitude Date). Airfields were the principal tar-gets. Antiaircraft fire was meager and inaccurate.
Ponape Island was attacked by Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force on the evening of June 6 and at night on June 8. Airfields, plantation areas, and Ponape Town were bombed. Antiaircraft fire was meager.
Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two bombed Pakin and Nauru Islands on June 6. Antiaircraft batteries were hit at Pakin Island.
Enemy positions in the Marshalls were bombed and strafed by Dauntless dive bombers and Corsair fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing and Navy Hellcat fighters on June 6 and 7. Runways, coastal gun emplacements, and antiaircraft batteries were principal targets. A Corsair fighter was downed near Mille Atoll on June 7 and its pilot rescued by a destroyer.

1945

 

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1942
ALASKA: Completely ignoring the debacle at Midway, Radio Tokyo announces the "great victory" of the occupation of Attu and Kiska Islands in the Aleutian Islands.
Local patrol is flown at Umnak .
Patrol planes of Pat Wing 4 discovered the presence of the enemy on Kiska and Attu--the first news of Japanese landings that had taken place on the 7th.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): B-17s bomb aircraft and buildings at Rabaul. HQ 38th BG (Medium) moves from Amberley to Eagle Farms.

1943
AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutian Islands, 7 B-24's, 8 B-25's, 12 P-40's, and 2 F-5A's fly weather reconnaissance, attack, and photo missions to Kiska Island and Little Kiska Island. Targets include gun batteries, runway, North Head and Main Camp.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) In China, 9 P-40's on armed reconnaissance strafe 10 barges and a gunboat at Chienli; 1 barge is set aflame. 10 P-40's intercept about 25 airplanes over Hengyang; 1 enemy bomber is shot down.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) In the Solomon Islands, P-38's and Navy fighters claim 4 aircraft downed off the N tip of Malaita Island. B-17's and B-24's pound the airfield at Kahili twice during the day.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) More than 20 B-17's and B-24's pound airfields in the Rabaul, New Britain Island area. A single B-24 bombs the town of Sorong and shipping at Kokas.

1944
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 23 B-24s bomb targets at Chauk, Lonywa and Yenangyaung while 29 others supply ammunition to the Imphal, India area; 50 A-36s, P-51s and P-40s blast targets at Myitkyina, Mogaung and Tapo. 315th Troop Carrier Squadron, 443d Troop Carrier Group, moves from Sylhet to Sookerating, India with C-47s.
British carriers Illustrious and Atheling raid Sabong.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 23 P-40s and P-51s hit railroad traffic and tracks at Linfen and Loning and a tank concentration at Lingpao; 6 P-40s hit a bridge at Tasa; B-25s, P-40s, P-51s and P-38s carry out 150+ sorties against numerous targets throughout the Tungting Lake area; numerous rivercraft are destroyed or damaged, Kukang and other villages WE of Changsha are bombed, Hankow-Wuchang Airfield revetments and buildings are pounded, the Changshowkai area is blasted and several river landings and storage installations in the lake area are attacked; 3 B-24s on a S China Sea sweep claim 1 small cargo ship sunk; and 75th Fighter Squadron, 23d Fighter Group, moves from Hengyang to Lingling with P-51s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s, staging through Eniwetok, bomb Truk Atoll and Ponape Island during the night of 9/10 Jun. B-25s from Makin hit Nauru Island during the day.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain Island, 8 P-38s skip-bomb supply tunnels at Keravia Bay while 4 others strafe nearby AA positions; AA guns S of Rapopo are attacked by 12 B-25s, 20 P-39s, and 20+ US Navy (USN) dive bombers; other B-25s bomb Ratawul. 31 P-39s and 20+ USN aircraft hit Chinatown at Buka on Buka Island and a supply area NE of the airstrip, a barge at Sohano, and on Bougainville Island, trucks near Tsirogei and a ford near Monoitu.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, A-20s hit the airfield at Babo, destroying grounded aircraft, a fuel dump, several buildings, and a gun position; A-20s, B-25s, and RAAF aircraft hit the Wewak area with 100+ tons of bombs; Lost is A-20G 43-21299, A-20G 43-9475 and A-20G-20 42-86621. HQ 312th Bombardment Group and 387th and 389th Bombardment Squadrons move from Gusap to Hollandia (Group and 389th) and Nadzab (387th) with A-20s; air echelon of 17th Reconnaissance Squadron (Bombardment), 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group, that has been operating from Wakde with B-25s since 25 May, returns to base at Finschhafen.

MARIANA ISLANDS: As Task Force 58 approaches the Mariana Islands prior to the invasion of Saipan on 15 June, PB4Y-1 Liberators of Bombing Squadron VB-108 and VB-109 based at NAB Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands, fly ahead of the task force to intercept and destroy any patrolling Japanese aircraft. These sweeps continue tomorrow and an aircraft from each squadron shoots down a Japanese patrol plane some distance from the fleet. These four-engine planes are used because they are a common sighting and will not arouse Japanese suspicions.

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 439:
Truk Atoll was bombed by Seventh Army Air Force Liberators on June 8 (West Longitude Date). No opposition was encountered.
Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two bombed Nauru Island on June 7 and 8 and Ocean Island on June 7. Barracks and gun emplacements were hit. Antiaircraft fire ranged from moderate to intense. Seventh Army Air Force Mitchells bombed Nauru Island on June 8, hitting coastal defense guns and antiaircraft emplacements. Antiaircraft fire was intense.
A single search plane of Fleet Air Wing Two bombed gun positions at Puluwat Island on June 9.
Mitchell bombers of the Seventh Army Air Force attacked Ponape Island on June 7. Hangars near the seaplane base and shops were hit. Meager antiaircraft fire was encountered. On June 8 a single Seventh Army Air Force Liberator bombed Ponape.
Dauntless dive bombers and Corsair fighters of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing, Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two, and Navy Hellcat fighters bombed and strafed remaining enemy positions in the Marshalls on June 7 and 8. Piers and antiaircraft batteries were bombed. At one objective a large explosion was caused near an antiaircraft emplacement.
On June 8 two Corsair fighters were downed by antiaircraft fire near Maloelap. One of the pilots was rescued by a destroyer. A Dauntless dive bomber was shot down near Mille the same day and its pilot rescued by a destroyer.

1945

 

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1942
PACIFIC: USS Wasp, with battleship North Carolina and escorting destroyers pass through the Panama Canal on their way to the Pacific.

PACIFIC: The USN aircraft carrier USS Saratoga, in Task Force 11, rendezvoused with Task Force 16, consisting of the aircraft carriers USS Enterprise and USS Hornet, yesterday to transfer aircraft to replace the planes lost in the Battle of Midway. However, the weather was poor and the transfer could not take place until today. The losses suffered by the Torpedo Squadrons were especially heavy so the Saratoga Air Group transfers TBD Devastators of VT-5 to the Enterprise Air Group, TBF Avengers of VT-8 to the Hornet Air Group and SBD Dauntlesses to both air groups.

ALASKA: The 11th Air Force and the USN's Patrol Wing Four strike at Kiska Island in the Aleutian Islands for the first time. Five B-24's and five B-17's from Cold Bay load bombs at Umnak Island and along with PBY Catalinas, attack Kiska harbor installations and shipping targets. Low-altitude runs score near misses on two cruisers and a destroyer. AA downs a B-24; the other B-24s are pursued by four fighters back to Unmak where US fighters drive them off.
Aircraft discover Japanese landing at Attu . PBY Catalinas, operating from the seaplane tender Gillis in Nazan Bay, Atka , hit ships and enemy positions on Kiska in an intense 48-hour attack which exhausted the gasoline and bomb supply aboard the Gillis but was not successful in driving the Japanese from the .

USA: Aircraft and crews of the 97th Bombardment Group deployed temporarily to the W coast, are ordered back to New England for movement to the UK.

1943
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutian Islands, 7 B-24's, 8 B-25's, 10 P-40's, 4 P-38's, and 2 F-5A's fly weather, photo, reconnaissance, and attack missions to Kiska Island. Main targets are Gertrude Cove and Main Camp, South Head, North Head, runway, and offshore barges. Fighter bombing and strafing, and subsequent bomber runs over emplacements, are effectively coordinated. CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) Eight P-40's hit a camp on the Salween River, trucks at Mangshih, and warehouses at Tungling, China.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-24's again bomb the airfield at Rabaul and hit targets of opportunity at Gasmata and along the shore of Keravia Bay. In New Guinea, B-25's pound areas along Huon Gulf coast, hitting Kela Point, Salamaua and the bridge at Nuk Nuk. P-40's strafe a submarine off Cape Nelson. In Timor, Koepang is thoroughly blasted by B-24's while Penfoei and Dili airfields are hit by light B-25 attacks. The 432d Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Group transfers with P-38's from Charters Towers, Australia to Amberley Field, Townsville, Australia. Lost is B-24D "Care Less" 42-40500.

1944
SUNDAY, 11 JUNE 1944

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): 55 A-36s, P-51s and P-40s attack targets at Myitkyina, Mogaung, Indawgyi Lake and Padaung, Burma. In India, 30 B-25s continue flying ammunition to the Imphal area; 9th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Pandaveswar to Kurmitola with B-24s; and detachment of 530th Fighter Squadron, 311th Fighter Group, operating from Kurmitola with P-40s, returns to base at Dinjan.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China's Tungting Lake area 80+ P-40s, P-51s, and P-38s pound the towns of Lanchi and Anking, hit a cavalry compound at Kintsing, attack Japanese HQ, positions, and river traffic N of Changsha, destroy or damage several boats, barges, and sampans at Changsha, and strafe numerous targets of opportunity throughout the entire region; in the Yellow River area, 27 B-25s and P-40s pound barracks, fortifications, tank concentration, several armored vehicles, and cavalry forces at Iching and Lingpao; 3 B-25s on a sea sweep in the S China Sea claim a 600-ft (183 m) freighter sunk.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Eniwetok hit Truk during the night of 11/12 Jun. B-25s follow with a raid against Ponape during the morning.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 130+ B-25s, P-38s P-39s and USN dive bombers pound AA positions S and SW of Rapopo. On Bougainville Island, P-39s fly 44 sorties against occupied areas at Komai, Kakaura, and Quaga, AA guns at Kangu Hill, and plantations at Arigua and Tsirogei.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, B-24s bomb Sorido Airfield and surrounding areas as US carrier forces attack Saipan, Tinian and Guam Islands in the Marianas Islands; B-25s, A-20s, and P-47s continue to saturate the Wewak-Hansa Bay coastline with bombs; 388th Bombardment Squadron, 312th Bombardment Group, moves from Gusap to Nadzab with A-20s. Thirteenth Air Task Force B-24s bomb Dublon Island in Truk Atoll and Peleliu Airfield.

MARIANA ISLANDS: US TF 58 with 9 fleet carriers and 6 light carriers, strike Saipan and Tinian in the Marianias. Admiral Willis Lee with TF 58.7 commands 7 battleships closes the island for a naval bombardment. Admiral Spruance in overall command flies his flag from the cruiser USS Indianapolis.
Amplifying the above:
In preparation for the invasion of Saipan Island on 15 June, the USN's Task Force 58 dispatches 208 F6F Hellcats and eight TBM Avenger and SB2C Helldivers to fly fighter sweeps over Guam, Saipan, Pagan, Rota and Tinian Islands in the Mariana Islands at 1430 hours local. (The TBMs and SB2Cs are command aircraft to lead the fighters to the target and return to the ships.) The Japanese are completely surprised and the fighters quickly gain air superiority by destroying 100-150 Japanese aircraft on the ground at a cost of eleven F6Fs and eight pilots.

1945

 

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1942
ALASKA: The USAAF's 11th Air Force dispatches six B-17 Flying Fortresses and a B-24 Liberator to bomb shipping in the harbor at Kiska Island in the Aleutian Islands. A near miss damages a Japanese destroyer.

CHINA: In China, the American Volunteer Group's 1st Squadron shoots down four Ki-27 "Nate's" and five unidentified twin-engine aircraft over Kweilin at 0605 hours local.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): B-17s bomb the building area and Vunakanau and Lakunai.

1943
AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) A detachment of the 344th Fighter Squadron, 343d Fighter Group based at Ft Glenn, Alaska begins operating from Attu Airfield with P-40's

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) USAAF fighters, along with Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), US Navy, and US Marine Corps fighters, claim over 30 aircraft shot down during the interception of an enemy strike on Guadalcanal Island, Solomon Islands. 8 Allied fighters are lost, including four F4Fs, one F4U and one RNZAF P-40 (pilot KIA). Two B-24s on reconnaissance over Buka shoot down a G4M1 Betty.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-24's hit runways at Nabire and Kaimana; a lone B-25 bombs and strafes barges S of Langemak Bay. Dick Bong gets his 11th kill when he downs an Oscar.

1944
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): 30+ B-25s continue to supply troops at Imphal, India with ammunition. 16 P-40s hit Mogaung and targets of opportunity in N Burma.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 50 P-40s, P-51s and B-25s hit troop concentrations in the Yellow River area at Lingpao and S of Loyang; in the Tungting Lake area about 100 P-40s and P-51s attack numerous supply boats and other river and lake traffic, and hit dock areas and warehouses at Lanchi, Yuankiang and at scattered points; also hit are villages and troops in the Changsha and Kuanchuang areas; 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Fourteenth Air Force, moves from Gushkara, India to Chengkung with P-51s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): Eniwetok Atoll-based B-24s hit Truk Atoll during the night of 11/12 Jun and again during the day.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 6 B-24s bomb runways at Tobera and Rapopo; 22 P-39s and 10 P-38s join 20+ USN aircraft in attacks on supply dumps near Ralum; and 20 B-25s pound Malapau village. 44 P-39s hit the airfield on Buka Island and on Bougainville Island, Tsirogei plantation, barges and pier S of Kleine Island and the occupied area W of Komai.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): Fierce ground fighting continues on Biak Island while Japanese aircraft attack Allied ground forces and shipping offshore; P-47s battle attacking aircraft, shooting down several; P-47s and A-20s hit troop concentrations, communications and various other targets in the Wewak and Hansa Bay areas; 82d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group, moves from Saidor to Biak with P-39s; and 386th Bombardment Squadron, 312th Bombardment Group, moves from Gusap to Nadzab with A-20s. Thirteenth Air Task Force B-24s bomb Dublon Island, Truk Atoll and the airfield on Peleliu Airfield.

MARIANA ISLANDS: US TF 58 continues to attack Tinian, Saipan and Guam. The Japanese naval forces sail from Tawi Tawi and Batavia, and are sighted. The Japanese intend to fight their "Decisive Battle". The land element of their plan has been destroyed by the US carrier attacks.
Amplifying the above:
In the Mariana Islands, eight IJN Betty attack bombers based on Truk Atoll, attack the USN's Task Force 58 between 0315 and 0415 hours but cause no damage. Beginning at dawn, carrier aircraft attack Japanese installations on Saipan, Tinian, Guam, Rota and Pagan Islands. Aircraft of Task Group 58.1 tasked with attacking Guam shoot down 22 Japanese aircraft over Guam and Rota beginning at 0620 hours local while aircraft of Task Group 58.4 attack a Japanese convoy northwest of Saipan sinking thirteen ships and damaging seven others.

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 441, Carrier aircraft again struck Guam, Rota, Tinian, and Saipan on- June 11 (West Longitude Date).
Truk Atoll was attacked by Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force at night on June 9 and 10. Airfields at Param, Eten, Dublon and Moen Islands were principal targets. Several fires were started.
Ponape Island was bombed by Seventh Army Air Force Liberators on the night of June 9. Ponape Town and gun positions were hit.
Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two bombed Ocean Island during daylight on June 9, encountering moderate antiaircraft fire. Two of the planes continued to Nauru Island to strafe small craft there.
On June 10 Mitchells of the Seventh Army Air Force bombed Nauru, and started fires visible twenty miles. Heavy antiaircraft fire downed one Mitchell bomber. A Catalina search plane of Fleet Air Wing Two rescued the crew. Enemy Positions in the Marshalls were bombed and strafed on June 9, during the night of June 9-10, and on June 10. Corsair fighters and Dauntless dive bombers of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing, Catalina search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two and Navy Hellcat fighters participated in these attacks. Coastal defense guns and antiaircraft batteries were hit.

1945

 

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1942
ALASKA: In the Aleutians, despite bad weather, the USAAF's 11th Air Force and the USN's Patrol Wing Four dispatch an LB-30 Liberator to fly a weather mission, and for the third straight day, shipping in the harbor at Kiska Island is bombed by five B-17 Flying Fortresses, three
B-24 Liberators and PBY Catalinas.

USA: Long Range Navigation (LORAN) equipment is given its first airborne test by the USN. The receiver is mounted in the nonrigid airship K-2 and, in a flight from NAS Lakehurst, New Jersey, accurately determines position when the airship was over various identifiable objects. The test culminated with the first LORAN homing from a distance 50 to 75 miles (80.5 to 120.7 km) offshore during which the LORAN operator gave instructions to the airship's pilot which brought them over the shoreline near Lakehurst on a course that caused the pilot to remark, "We weren't just heading for the hanger. We were headed for the middle of the hanger." The success of these tests lead to immediate action to obtain operational LORAN equipment.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): B-17s hit the Lakunai Airfield.

US ARMY - First issue of "Yank" is published

1943
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 9 B-25's attack the Meza railway bridge on the Mandalay- Myitkyina line, causing minor damage.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) In China, 11 B-25's supported by 14 P-40's, bomb hangars and the depot area at Nanchang Airfield.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) B-24's and B-17's again bomb Kahili Airfield. The 371st and 372d Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 307th Bombardment Group transfers from Kahuku and Hickam Field, Territory of Hawaii respectively to Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Islands with B-24's.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-17's and B-24's bomb airfields in the Rabaul area and at Gasmata. Lost to J1N1 night fighter is B-17F "Georgia Peach" 41-24454. B-25's hit Dili and Koepang and bomb and strafe barges off the Huon Peninsula, at Jacob Island, off Cape Gerhards, and S of Cape Cretin, New Guinea. Single B-24's bomb Lahang Airfield and attack a freighter in Humboldt Bay, both in New Guinea.

1944
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): During the night of 12/13 Jun 6 B-24s dispatched to fly an offensive sweep and provide air cover for a naval task force abort the missions due to weather.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): A few P-51s hit Mogaung, Burma. In India, 39 B-25s fly ammunition to the Imphal area; HQ 12th Bombardment Group (Medium) and 81st, 83d and 434th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium) move from Tezgaon to Pandaveswar (group and 83d) and Madhaiganj Airfield (81st and 434th) with B-25s; and 35th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, AAF, India-Burma Sector, arrives at Guskhara from the US with F-5s.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 18 B-25s and 56 fighter-bombers pound the marshalling yard at Wuchang; about 70 other B-25s and fighter- bombers attack a variety of other targets in the Tungting Lake region, including many river vessels, the airfield at Pailochi, troop positions NE of Changsha, warehouse and factory area at Shasi and numerous general targets of opportunity; 12 fighter-bombers hit Japanese HQ and barracks at Loyang; 4 B-24s over the S China Sea claim 1 cargo vessel sunk; 4 P-40s pound Japanese positions at Watien and Kaitou; and 491st Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 341st Bombardment Group (Medium), based at Yangkai, sends a detachment to operate from Kweilin and Liuchow with B-25s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): An attack during the night of 12/13 Jun by B-24s from Eniwetok against Truk and Ponape is followed by a daylight attack by Makin Island-based B-25s against Nauru and Ponape Islands.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain Island, 9 P-38s and 23 P-39s hit Ralum and AA positions to the S; 24 B-25s bomb Tobera AA guns and airfield; 15 others, in 2 waves, bomb Praed Point; and 6 B-24s also bomb Tobera. 31 P-39s and 12 USN aircraft attack supply dumps at Buka on Buka Island and Tapsadawato, Bougainville Island, bomb approach to the Abia River bridge, and hit a garden area at Tabago all on Bougainville Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 100+ A-20s and a few B-25s and P-39s attack miscellaneous targets in the Wewak area; P-39s hit the area around Hollandia and P-47s bomb a bridge over the Orai River and fuel dumps near Sarmi; and A-20s blast enemy positions N of Borokoe. B-24s bomb the Liang Airstrip on Ambon. B-24s from Los Negros bomb Dublon and Woleai and Satawan.

MARIANA ISLANDS: In the Mariana Islands, the battleships and destroyers of Task Group 58.7 conduct almost a day-long bombardment of Japanese installations on Saipan and Tinian. Carrier-based aircraft from fleet and jeep carriers again attack targets on Guam, Saipan and Tinian. During the strikes, the commanding officer of Torpedo Squadron Ten in USS Enterprise is shot down. After parachuting from the aircraft, he lands in the sea off Red Beach Three and notes that the Japanese have marked the length of the reef with red and white pennants, indicating presited artillery ranges. He reports this after he is rescued and this intelligence gem is forwarded to the amphibious forces.
During the night of 12/13 June, 20 F6F Hellcats, guided by two radar-equipped F6F night fighters, attack an IJN convoy 132 miles sw of Guam. The F6F pilots are inexperienced in attacking moving targets at sea at night and only damages one fast transport.

BORNEO: The IJN's First Mobile Fleet sails from the Tawi Tawi anchorage in the Sulu Archipelago with the intention of challenging the USN in the Mariana Islands. The departure is seen and reported by a U.S. submarine.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUE NO. 47, Supplementing Pacific Ocean Areas
communique Number 46, the following information is now available concerning operations of Pacific Fleet Forces against enemy installations at Guam, Saipan, Tinian, and Rota Islands in the Marianas. These objectives were attacked by carrier aircraft on June 10 and 11 (West Longitude Dates). On June 10 our fighter planes swept the objectives in force and destroyed 124 enemy aircraft. A large majority of these were destroyed in the sir. Our losses were 11 Hellcat fighters and eight pilots.
On June 11 our attacks were continued, resulting in the destruction of 16 enemy aircraft, two small cargo ships at Saipan, and a small oiler north-west of Saipan.
A formation of enemy ships apparently attempting to escape from Saipan was brought under attack on June 11. One large oiler, one destroyer, three corvettes, one large cargo ship, one medium cargo ship, and three small cargo ships were sunk; five medium cargo ships and five escort vessels were damaged. A second formation of enemy ships several hundred miles away was attacked and heavily damaged by our aircraft on June 12. These were: three destroyers, one destroyer escort, and two cargo ships.
In the operations on June 11 our losses were four aircraft and seven flight personnel.
On the night of June 10 several enemy planes approached our force, but failed to drive home an attack, and one of them was shot down by antiaircraft fire.
CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 442, Truk Atoll was bombed by Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force be-fore dawn on June 12 (West Longitude Date). Thirty-eight tons of bombs were dropped on airfields and the seaplane base. Three enemy fighters Inter-cepted our force, and damaged one Liberator. Antiaircraft fire was meager. All of our planes returned.
Ventura search planes of Group One, Fleet Air Wing Two, bombed Nauru and Ocean Islands on June 11. Gun positions and barracks were attacked. Moderate antiaircraft fire was encountered.
Ponape Island was bombed by Seventh Army Air Force Mitchells on June 11, meeting light antiaircraft fire.
In the Marshalls Navy and Marine fighters and dive bombers attacked Maloelap and Wotje Atolls on June 11.

1945

 

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1942
PACIFIC: The first echelon of the U.S. 1st Marine Division arrives at Wellington, New Zealand.

ALASKA: In the Aleutians, the USAAF's 11th Air Force dispatches four B-17 Fortresses and three B-24 Liberators to bomb shipping in the harbor of Kiska Island from an altitude of 700-feet (213.4 m), the lowest altitude yet.
The crews claim two cruisers are hit and one scout seaplane is shot down; two B-17s are heavily damaged but return to base.
A USN PBY Catalina bombs Japanese ships sailing SW of Kiska just missing the light cruiser HIJMS Tama.
The Japanese light cruiser HIJMS Abukuma and four destroyers arrive at Amchitka Island from Attu Island to reconnoiter and search for suitable airfield sites but none are found. The force is spotted by a B-17 and is shadowed. Japanese bombers attack targets in the Nazan Bay area of Atka Island.

1943
CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force) One B-24 from Funafuti Atoll, Ellice Islands bombs the runways at Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) Eight P-40's intercept about 8 bombers and 20 fighters 25 mi (40 km) SW of Nanchang, China. The P-40's claim 7 fighters shot down.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) 18 B-25's, escorted by F4U's, hit Vila Airfield. 11 B-17's and B-24's bomb Kahili Airfield and hit nearby Shortland.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) A single B-24 bombs Lakunai Airfield. Lost on a ferry flight is B-17C 'Pamela / Miss E.M.F." 40-2072 with 40 KIA, 1 survivor.

IJN - Shot down over Guadalcanal is G4M1 1570.

1944
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 4 B-24s fly extensive photo reconnaissance over the C and N Kurile Islands; they are attacked by about 20 fighters of which 3 are damaged.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): A few P-40s hit the Mogaung, Burma area. In India, 21 B-25s continue ammunition supply to the Imphal vicinity; and 436th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Majhaiganj to Tezgaon with B-24s.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 43 P-40s attack river shipping,troops and villages in the Tungting Lake area, at or near Lanchi, Changsha, Chulianchiao and Linyang.

MARIANA'S: US 5th Fleet battleships bombard the Marianias Islands in the Pacific.
Amplifying the above:
The bombardment groups, Task Groups 52.17 and 52.18, begin bombardment of Japanese positions on Saipan and Tinian in preparation for the invasion of Saipan. Enemy shore batteries return fire and damage two battleships, a heavy and light cruiser, and two destroyers.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): On New Britain Island, 80+ B-25s, P-38s, P-39s and USN aircraft hit supply areas and underground storages along the N shore of Gazelle Peninsula from Vulcan Crater to Vunapope; Ralum, Keravia Bay and Vunapope stores are the hardest hit. P-39s fly 27 sorties along the E shoreline of Bougainville Island from Bonis to Kieta, hitting Monoitu, Bonis and a pier at Kieta Mission.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, A-20s, B-25s and P-39s hit the Wewak area; B-24s bomb Kamiri Airfield; A-20s hit the airfield at Babo, the Orai River bridge, and fuel dumps and other targets near the river's mouth. B-24s bomb the seaplane base at Halong, Celebes Islands. Lost on a recon mission is B-24J 42-73197.

JAPAN: The Submarine USS Golet, is sunk by ASW forces off Northern Honshu All hands are lost.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUE' NO. 48, Attacks directed against enemy positions in the Southern Marianas con-tinued on June 13 (West Longitude Date). Battleships, cruisers, and destroyers of the Pacific Fleet bombarded Tinian and Saipan Islands on June 12. Large fires were started at Tanapag Harbor, and in the towns of Garapan and Charan Kanoa. Our ships suffered no damage. Further air attacks were coordinated with the Naval shelling of Tinian and Saipan.
Pagan island was attacked by carrier aircraft on June 12. Enemy In-stallations were well worked over and three enemy aircraft were destroyed and one probably destroyed.
In operations on June 11 our forces have reported the following additional losses: Three fighter planes, one dive bomber, and four flight personnel. More than 60 survivors of an enemy ship bombed and sunk northwest of Saipan on June 11 have been rescued and made prisoners of war.
On June 12 and 13 ships and aircraft of the Pacific Fleet attacked enemy installations in the Kuriles. A fleet task force bombarded Matsuwa Island and aircraft bombed Shimushu and Paramushiru Islands with airfields as their principal targets.
CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 443, The Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet, has received a preliminary re-port from Rear Admiral J. F. Shafroth, U. S. Navy, president of a board of inquiry convened to investigate an explosion and fire which occurred on May 21, 1944, among a group of landing craft moored in Pearl Harbor. The following casualties were caused by the explosion of ammunition being unloaded and the subsequent fire: Dead; Army 8, Navy 9, Marine Corps 10. Missing; Army 53, Navy 21, Coast Guard 26. Injured; Army 56, Navy 143, Coast Guard 3, Marine Corps 159, civilian 19. This accident was originally announced in Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas Press Release Number 414.
CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 444, On June 11 an explosion occurred near a magazine maintained by the Naval Ammunition Depot on Oahu Island. Several torpedo warheads being transferred from a truck to a platform were detonated in the explosion. Some damage was caused in the magazine area and minor damage was done to power lines and railroad tracks. Three men were killed and seven are missing as a result of the accident. The names of casualties are being withheld pending notification
to the next of kin. A court of inquiry of which Rear Admiral T. S. Wilkinson, U. S. Navy, is senior member, has been convened to investigate the accident.
CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 445, Liberator bombers of the Seventh Army Air Force and Liberator search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two, Group One, bombed Truk Atoll during daylight on June 12 (West Longitude Date). Airfields were hit and several fires started. Approximately 15 enemy fighters attempted to attack our force. One
of their planes was shot down, two probably shot down, and four damaged. Two additional fighters were probably destroyed on the ground. All of our planes returned.
Ponape Island was bombed by Seventh Army Air Force Liberators on June 12. Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two, Group One, attacked Ocean and Nauru Islands on June 12. Barracks and antiaircraft positions were hit.
Enemy positions in the Marshalls were attacked by Ventura and Catalina search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two, Corsair fighters and Dauntless dive bombers of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing, and Navy Hellcat fighters on June 12 and during the night of June 12-13.

1945

 

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1942
ALASKA: In the Aleutians, a bombing mission to Kiska Island by three B-17 Flying Fortresses and two B-24 Liberators of the USAAF's 11th Air Force is aborted due to weather.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): 63d Bombardment Squadron, 43d BG, moves from Sydney to Charleville with B-17s.

1943
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) B-25's score 2 direct hits on the bridge at Myitnge, Burma.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) Ten B-25's, escorted by 12 P-40's, support Chinese ground forces by bombing positions at Owchihkow, China.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) B-24's bomb the airfield on Ballale.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-24's bomb airfields at Rabaul on New Britain Island in predawn strikes and hit Kendari Airfield, Celebes in the evening. In New Guinea, a single B-25 attacks a power boat in Hanisch Harbor and strafes a beach near Finschhafen.

1944
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 2 B-24s fly armed photo reconnaissance over Shimushiru Island.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): 27 A-36s, P-51s, and P-40s pound Mogaung and Myitkyina, Burma. In India, 30 B-25s fly ammunition to the Imphal area; and 82d Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 12th Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from Tezgaon to Pandaveswar with B-25s.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 24 P-40s hit Japanese cavalry forces at Chuchou and several supply boats on the Siang-Chiang River; 10 P-40s destroy or damage several tanks, trucks, and train cars between Loyang and Shanhsien; 24 B-24s bomb the warehouse area at Canton, causing heavy damage.

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Twentieth Air Force): B-29's bomb take off from China to raid the steel works at Yawata, on Kyushu Island, Japan. With the exception of the Eleventh Air Force's raids on the Kurile Islands, this is the first air attack against Japan since the Doolittle's raid in Apr 42. 47 B-29s operating out of Chengtu, Chian, bomb the primary target, the Imperial Iron and Steel Works at Yawata, Japan. The Twentieth's first combat loss during a bombing mission results when Japanese fighters destroy a B-29 down with engine trouble at Neihsiang Airfield, China.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): HQ 494th Bombardment Group and 864th, 865th, 866th and 867th Bombardment Squadrons arrive at Barking Sands, Territory of Hawaii from the US with B-24s.

MARIANA'S Parts of TF 58 raid the Bonin Islands, taking a break from operations against the Marianias Islands.
Amplifying the above:
Carrier-based aircraft of the USN's Task Groups 58.1 and 58.4 attack Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands and Chichi Jima and Haha Jima in the Bonin Islands during the afternoon. The attacks are an attempt to block the only viable route for the Japanese to reinforce the Mariana islands with land-based aircraft. The main targets are airfields, fuel supplies and barracks. U.S. losses are two TBM Avengers, two SB2C Helldivers and three F6F Hellcats; all of the crews of the seven aircraft are lost.
The 2nd and 4th Marine Divisions under General HM Smith land on Saipan in Operation Forager. Admiral RK Turner is in a familiar command of landing vessels and support ships.
The defending Japanese are commanded by General Saito and the 43rd Division and Admiral Nagumo.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): Commander Air Solomons (COMAIRSOLS) is dissolved, to be replaced by a new command, Commander Air North Solomons (COMAIRNORSOLS). HQ Thirteenth Air Force moves from Guadalcanal to Los Negros Island, from which the B-24s have been operating since Apr as the Thirteenth Air Task Force. Major General St Clair Streett becomes Commanding General Thirteenth Air Force, which becomes part of Far East Air Force (FEAF) (see below). The B-25s and fighters, together with other COMAIRSOLS aircraft, continue to maintain the neutralization of Rabaul and the pounding of the Bougainville-Buka Islands area through Jul and into Aug 44. Lost is TBF Avenger 24390.

BIAK, NEI: A Japanese counterattack on Biak Island, New Guinea fails.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: FEAF is formed with jurisdiction over the Fifth and Thirteenth Air Forces. General George C Kenney becomes Commanding General FEAF, with HQ in Brisbane, Australia; HQ Fifth Air Force moves from Brisbane to Nadzab, New Guinea and Lieutenant General Ennis C Whitehead becomes Commanding General Fifth Air Force. FEAF B-24s, B-25s, A-20s and fighters attack barges in the Manokwari area and a village in the Wakde area. Also bombed are airfields on Timor Island, Lesser Sunda Islands, and Truk Atoll. Thirteenth Air Force aircraft still in the Solomon area hit Tobera Airfield and forces on Bougainville Island.

CAROLINE ISLANDS: Truk Atoll: British Task Group 111.2, RADM E.J.P. Brind, consisting of aircraft carrier IMPLACABLE, escort carrier RULER, light cruiser SWIFTSURE, NEWFOUNDLAND, HMCS UGANDA and HMNZS ACHILLES, and destroyers TERMAGENT, TROUBRIDGE, TENACIOUS, TERPSICHORE and TEASER, commences air strikes on Truk just after 1100. Prior to that, the four light cruisers and destroyers TEASER, TENACIOUS and TROUBRIDGE shell Truk. They continues attacks against Truk Atoll in the Caroline Islands begun yesterday.

USN - Lost on a practice dive-bombing mission on Oahu is F6F Hellcat 41525.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUE NO. 49, Operations for the seizure of Saipan Island in the Mariana Group have been initiated by strong Pacific Ocean Areas forces.
Assault troops have effected landings on Saipan Island, following intensive preparatory bombardment of Saipan, Tinian, Pagan, Guam and Rota Islands by carrier-based aircraft and by a portion of the battleships, cruisers and destroyers of the Pacific Fleet.
Landings are being continued against strong opposition under cover of supporting bombardment by our air and surface forces. Initial reports indicate that our casualties are moderate.
CINCPAC COMMUNIQUE NO. 50, Assault troops have secured beachheads on Saipan Island and are advancing inland against artillery, mortar, and machine gun fire. Virtually all heavy coastal and antiaircraft batteries on the island were knocked out by Naval gunfire and bombing. Our troops have captured Agingan Point. In the town of Charan Kanoa, brisk fighting is continuing.
The enemy has attempted several counterattacks with tanks. These attacks have been broken up by our troops with the support of ships and aircraft.
In general, fighting is heavy but good progress is being made against well organized defenses.

1945

 

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1942
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): FEAF was planning a joint strike against Lae and Salamaua similar to the operation of June 9. The morning schedule was interrupted by a fighter sweep of A6M2 Zeros of the Tainan Kokutai over the Port Moresby area. 32 P-39 and P-400 Airacobra of the 39th and 40th Fighter Squadron were scrambled. They were hit hard and four were shot down and two heavily damaged. Tainan piliots claim 17 shot down and 2 probables and lost no aircraft damaged or shot down. Lost is P-39F 41-7204, P-39F 41-7136, P-39F 41-7222 and P-39 piloted by Lynch. Three of the pilots shot down returned while one went MIA.

In the afternoon, 22nd BG B-26s and 19th BG B-17s hit Lae and 3rd BG B-25s hit Salamaua hitting runways and buildings and starting several fires. They meet their Airacobra escort on the return flight, shot down is P-39 piloted by Magre.

1943
SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) Search aircraft report nearly 250 Japanese airplanes at Rabaul on New Britain Island in the Bismarck Archipelago and other airfields jammed with aircraft. In air action in the Solomon Islands, about 120 Japanese aircraft converging on Allied vessels off Tulagi and Guadalcanal Islands in the Solomon Islands are met by more than 100 Allied fighters (USAAF, Royal New Zealand Air Force, US Navy and US Marine Corps). The skies over Savo and Tulagi, and Cape Esperance and Koli Point on Guadalcanal Island are filled with dogfights and flak from ship and ground guns. The battle results in the largest single-day Allied aerial victory of the Solomon Islands campaign; 79 airplanes are claimed shot down by Allied fighters, and AA claims 17 more; 6 Allied fighters are lost. The Japanese succeed in damaging 3 ships (2 of which have to be beached) and cause considerable destruction on Guadalcanal. Lost is B-24D 42-40250.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-25's bomb Koepang and Oeikoesi on Timor and, along with A-20's, hit barges and shore targets at several points along the coasts of NE New Guinea and New Britain Island in the Bismarck Archipelago. On a single bomber photo recon over Buka and Bougainville is B-17E "Lucy" 41-2666 two crew members earned the medal of honor.

1944
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): 28 A-36s, P-51s and P-40s hit Myitkyina and targets of opportunity in N Burma. In India, 11th Combat Cargo Squadron, 3d Combat Cargo Group, based at Dinjan, sends a detachment to operate from Sookerating (attached to 443d Troop Carrier Group) with C-47s.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, air echelon of 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Fourteenth Air Force (attached to 23d Fighter Group), based at Chengkung, begins operating from Kweilin.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s, based on Makin hit Ponape Island.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC): Major General Ralph J Mitchell, USMC, becomes Commander Air North Solomons (COMAIRNORSOLS).

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Bombers and fighters hit widespread targets in the SWPA and in SOPAC. Personnel areas and barges along the coast in the Wewak and Hansa Bay areas are hit throughout the day; airfields and shipping at Efman and Samate and at Babo and Sorong are attacked. Lost is B-25D "Hell's Belles" 41-30019. Dublon Island in Truk Atoll and Yap are hit by B-24s. B-24s hit Vunakanau Airfield; B-24s, B-25s, A-20s and fighters attack a large variety of targets of opportunity on Gazelle from Tobera Airfield to Rabaul.

MARIANA'S: US Fifth Fleet battleships under the command of Admiral Ainsworth shell Guam. Marines advance on Saipan taking Chaan Karoa and Point Afetna. This links the 2nd and 4th Marine Divisions.
In response to the sighting of the IJN's First Mobile Fleet sailing from the Philippines towards the Mariana Islands by a U.S. submarine, Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, commander Fifth Fleet, orders that the antiaircraft screens around USN carriers be augmented by drawing additional cruisers and destroyers from fire-support and shore-bombardment groups. The entire burden of ground-support missions and on-call air-support is shifted from the fast carriers of Task Force 58 to the escort aircraft carriers of the Fifth Fleet.
Carrier-based aircraft of Task Groups 58.2 and 58.3 attempt to neutralize all of the airfields on Guam and Tinian. The airmen maintain that big guns should also be used against these targets but their suggestions are ignored.
A TBM Avenger from an escort aircraft carrier drops heavy weapons to a USMC infantry battalion on Saipan but the aircraft is too low and many weapons are damaged or destroyed.

PTO: Carrier-based aircraft from the USN's Task Groups 58.1 and 58.4 again mount attacks on Iwo Jima, in the Volcano Islands, and Chichi Jima and Haha Jima, in the Bonin Islands, during the afternoon. Targets include airfields, fuel supplies and barracks. Two F6F Hellcats and their pilots are lost. After the attacks, both task groups retire to the Mariana Islands.

RAAF: Lost on a mission against Muschu Island is Beafighter A19-120. In Australia on a training flight, Beafighter A19-36 collided with another aircraft over Evans Head

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUE NO. 51, Chichi Jima, and Haha Jima in the Bonin Islands and Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands were attacked by carrier aircraft on June 14 (West Longitude Date). Thirty-three enemy fighters which attempted to intercept our forces at Chichi Jima were shot down. Four multi-engined seaplanes were damaged at Chichi Jima. At Iwo Jima two airborne enemy aircraft were probably destroyed and 14 were destroyed on the ground.
One medium cargo ship was sunk by bombing at Chichi Jima, and four small cargo ships and six small craft were damaged. A medium transport, discovered underway near the Bonins, was heavily damaged by aircraft and later sunk by one of our destroyers. One hundred and twelve survivors were rescued and made prisoners of war.
Ground installations, including barracks, airfields, and fuel tanks were bombed by our aircraft.
Our losses were four aircraft and five flight personnel.
CINCPAC COMMUNIQUE NO. 52, United States assault troops are engaged in bitter fighting against defend-ing forces on Saipan Island.
On June 14 (West Longitude Date) and during the night of June 14-15 our troops were withdrawn a short distance toward the beach in some sectors in the face of intense mortar and artillery fire. Positions were consolidated and during the night our Naval forces carried out a heavy bombardment of enemy strong points.
On the morning of June 15 enemy resistance in the strongly held sector north of Charan Kanoa was broken. At midday a majorelement of our forces commenced an attack which advanced our line nearly one half mile in the southern sector of the island. Lesser advances were made in other sectors.
Our assumption that Saipan Island would be strongly held because of its strategic location in the Japanese defensive system hasbeen proven correct. Preliminary estimates indicate there are upwards of two divisions of enemy troops defending Saipan.

1945

 

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1942
PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, 7th Air Force): P-40s of 73d Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group, aboard the aircraft carrier. USS Saratoga are flown off the carrier at Midway to replace USN aircraft lost in the Battle of Midway. The P-40s begin dawn and dusk patrols which continue until the P-40s are relieved on 23 Jun 43.

ALASKA: In the Aleutians, a Kiska Harbor bombing mission by the USAAF's 11th Air Force is cancelled due to weather as is a patrolling mission by heavy bombers.

YANK, the weekly magazine for the U.S. armed services, begins publication.

1943
CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force) During the night of 17/18 Jun, 4 B-24's take off from Funafuti Atoll, Ellice Islands at 2-hour intervals to bomb Tarawa Atoll in the Gilbert Islands. One aborts and another fails to find the target. The 2 heavy bombers bombing the target hit runways, silence an AA battery, and blow up an ammunition dump. The raid is a diversion in support of the first night photo-reconnaissance mission by the VII Bomber Command, during which 3 B-24's photograph Mille Atoll and nearby waters in the Marshall Islands.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) P-40's strafe a warehouse and train S of Chiuchiang and a train N of Nanchang, both in China. Road traffic E of Hanoi, French Indochina is also attacked.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-25's administer a thorough pounding to the Madang and Salamaua areas. B-24's bomb Sorong and Boela. A single B-24 bombs the airfield at Cape Gloucester on New Britain Island and, during the night of 17/18 Jun, a B-25 attacks power launches nearby, sinking 1 and badly damaging 2 more. The 433d Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Group transfers with P-38's from Charters Towers, Australia to Amberley Field, Townsville, Australia.

1944
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 12 B-25s fly 3 air missions for a Naval Task Force on withdrawal, following the shelling of Kurabu Cape installations on Paramushiru Island, Kurile Islands.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): 8 A-36s attack forces at Mogaung, Burma. In India, 25 B-25s fly ammunition to the Imphal area; and the 492d and 493d Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy), move from Madhaiganj and Pandaveswar respectively to Tezgaon with B-24s.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, B-25s and fighter-bombers attack large troop concentrations at Shanglishih and Fenglinpu, bomb the town of Lanchi and nearby villages, attack 4 villages in the Chuchou area, hit troop barges at Changsha, damage several supply boats at Yiyang, and bomb military installations at Ichang.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s, flying from Kwajalein bomb Ponape Island. B-25s from Makin hit Nauru Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s again bomb Truk Atoll, hitting targets on Eten and Dublon. B-24s hit Lakunai Airfield while A-20s, B-25s and fighters attack numerous targets between Rapopo and Tobera. A-20s and B-25s and fighters hit shipping in Sorong harbor and airstrips in the Babo area; in the Wewak area, A-20s, B-25s and fighters continue to pound barges and villages; HQ 8th Fighter Group and 36th Fighter Squadron move from Nadzab to Owi with P-38s; and in the Solomon Islands, 390th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 42d Bombardment Group (Medium), based in the Renard Field begins operating from Stirling with B-25s. Lost are B-24D "Dropsnoot" 42-41246, A-20G 43-9395.

MARIANA'S: The 165th Infantry Regiment and three Field Artillery Battalions of the 27th Infantry Division landed on Saipan on 16 June. The 165th (the old New York Fighting 69th Regiment of Civil War fame), was tasked with sweeping the southern shore of Saipan and taking Aslito Airfield. Today, the 165th mounted three attacks and reached the edge of the airfield by dusk while the 105th Infantry Regiment and the 27th Infantry Division headquarters came ashore.
IJN aircraft mount several attacks against U.S. shipping in the
Marianas:
At about 1750 hours local, five "Kate," Carrier Torpedo Bombers, and one night fighter, a Nakajima J1N1-S Navy Type 2 Gekko, Allied Code Name "Irving," from Truk attack landing craft east of Saipan. One infantry landing craft is sunk while three "Kates" are shot down by AA fire.
Between 1850 and 1912 hours local, 17 Kugisho D4Y "Judy," Navy Carrier Bombers, 31 Zero fighters and two Kugisho P1Y "Frances," Navy Bombers based on Yap, attack Task Force 52 escort aircraft carriers The carriers scramble 46 FM Wildcats but give them the wrong vector taking them out of the action. AA fire from the ships down several D4Ys and both P1Ys. The escort aircraft carrier
USS Fanshaw Bay is struck by a bomb that penetrates the after elevator and explodes in midair above the hanger deck, killing 14 and wounding 23. Fire breaks out and the fire main is ruptured, flooding several compartments aft. In just under an hour, the damage was brought under control, but the ship is listing 3 degrees to port and settles 6-feet by the stern. After controlling the fires, the ship sets sail for Pearl Harbor and battle damage repairs.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUE' NO. 53, United States Marines supported by elements of an Army Infantry division have improved their positions on Saipan Island, and are driving forward toward Aslito airdrome. Harassment of our beachheads by enemy mortar fire has been considerably reduced.
On the night of June 14 (West Longitude Date) enemy torpedo planes launched an attack against our carrier force, but were repulsed without damage to our ships. Our heavy surface units bombarded Guam Island on June 15.
Liberators of the Eleventh Army Air Force bombed Matsuwa, Paramushiru and Shimushiru on June 14. Five enemy aircraft were airborne near Matsuwa but only one attempted to attack our force, and did no damage.
Fourteen enemy fighters appeared over Paramushiru and several made attacks causing damage to one of our planes. One enemy fighter was probably shot down and an enemy medium bomber was damaged. Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Four also bombed Paramushiru and Shimushu on June 14.
Fifteen enemy fighters attacked our force, causing minor damage to
several of our aircraft. Shimushiru was again attacked by Eleventh
Army Air Force Liberators on June 15.
Army, Navy and Marine aircraft of Central Pacific Air Forces bombed objectives in the Marshall Islands and Eastern Caroline Islands on June 13 and 15 (West Longitude Date.)
CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÆ' NO. 54, JUNE 17, 1944 United States Marines and Army troops advancing east across the southern portion of Saipan Island, made gains averaging 1500 yards during the night of June 15-16 and on June 16 (West Longitude Date). The area now held by our forces extends from a point just south of Garapan for a distance of approximately five and one half miles to Agingan and extends inland two miles at the point of deepest penetration. Our forces have captured Hinashisu due east of Lake Susupe.
Our positions were under sustained enemy fire during the night of June 15-16, and before dawn on June 16 the enemy launched a determined counterattack. This attack, which was broken up, cost the enemy heavily in lives and destroyed more than 25 enemy tanks.
Early in the morning of June 16 our troops launched the offensive which resulted in general advances. Some of our forward echelons penetrated the Naval air base at Aslito Airdrome but were later withdrawn under severe enemy fire.
During the action on June 16 our aircraft bombed and strafed enemy positions, and during the night of June 15-16 enemy strong points were shelled by our ships.
On June 15 one of our destroyer transports encountered five enemy coastal cargo ships and sank them. Twenty-nine survivors were rescued and made prisoners of war.
CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 448, As the South Pacific has become relatively quiet, Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr., U. S. Navy, has been relieved of command of the South Pacific Area and the South Pacific Force. He will henceforth command the Third Fleet which will operate in the Pacific Ocean in the same way that the Fifth Fleet is operating under command of Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, USN

1945

 

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1942
ALASKA (11th Air Force): 1 LB-30, 3 B-17s and 4 B-24s make a precision high-altitude attack on Kiska Harbor. A transport is left burning and sinking, another is mauled, and 2 scout planes are possibly shot down. 1 B-24 crashes at sea; part of its crew is saved.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): Air echelon of 69th Bombardment Squadron, 38th BG (Medium), leaves Hickam Field, Territory of Hawaii with B-26s and proceeds to New Caledonia to join the ground echelon; the squadron will fly sea-search missions until Dec 42.

1943
CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force) The 58th Bombardment Squadron (Dive), Seventh Air Force begins a movement from Wheeler Field to Canton with A-24s.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) B-24's bomb Kahili Airfield while B-25's hit Ballale and strafe barges in Wilson Strait.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-25's bomb and strafe power launches off Cape Gloucester, New Britain Island and Finschhafen, New Guinea, sinking 1 and damaging 2 near the Cape. A single B-17 bombs Unea Island, Bismarck Archipelago while an A-20 on armed reconnaissance during the night of 18/19 Jun bombs and strafes Salamaua, New Guinea and nearby coastal areas.

INDIA: General Auchinleck becomes Commander in Chief in India and General Wavell is the next Viceroy of India. These "promotions" are designed to move them to positions where Churchill feels safe. The other side of the appointments: Churchill had these fellows appointed less to "feel safe" than to use
their talents where they could, in his estimation, be best used. Churchill failed to appreciate Wavell's many qualities as an operational commander and had written the Great Auk off as an administratively
capable but operationally incapapble commander. In Churchill's view, both generals were also smeared with a propensity for ill-luck.

AUSTRALIA: Australian Prime Minister John Curtin announces that Australia is no longer in danger of invasion.

1944
SUNDAY, 18 JUNE 1944

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): 16 A-36s, P-51s, and P-40s hit Myitkyina and Mogaung, Burma.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, B-25s and P-40s bomb Yoyang and hit shipping and boats in the Siang-Chiang River delta area; P-40s and P-51s attack about 100 supply boats in the lower Tungting Lake area, strafe cavalry forces between Siangyin and Changsha, and hit a village just E of Changsha.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s from Makin pound Nauru Island. B-24s stage through Eniwetok to bomb Truk.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In New Guinea, A-20s, B-25s, and fighters, along with RAAF aircraft, continue to pound supplies and occupied areas along the coast in the Wewak area; and 80th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group, moves from Nadzab to Owi, Schouten Islands with P-38s. B-24s hit targets in Truk Atoll. A variety of fighter and bomber aircraft unload 18 tons of bombs on numerous targets around Rabaul, New Britain Island. Fighters continue sweeps against targets of opportunity along coastal areas of Bougainville Island.

USN: Lost in a refueling accident is PT-107 and PT-63. Both were destroyed by an accidental gasoline fire in Hamburg Bay, Emirau Island [New Ireland Islands].

1945

 

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1942
PACIFIC: Vice Admiral Robert L. Ghormley, USN, assumes command of the South Pacific Area with headquarters at Auckland, New Zealand.

MIDWAY: The seaplane tender (destroyer) USS Ballard rescues 35 Japanese survivors of the aircraft carrier HIJMS Hiryu that had been scuttled on 5 June during the Battle of Midway; one of the survivors dies shortly after being rescued. The 35 were members of the engineering department who were presumed dead when the ship was scuttled; they had been sighted in the water by a PBY Catalina.

ALASKA: In the Aleutians, the U.S. submarine USS S-27, commanded by Herbert L. Jukes, is lying off Kiska charging batteries in a heavy fog and is carried about 5 miles from her estimated position. At midnight, she gets underway and soon after 0043 hours local, breakers are sighted about 25 yards forward of the bow, and the ship
grounds on rocks off St. Makarius Point. Waves bumped her violently against the rocks, rolling her 10 to 15 degrees on each side. By 0330 hours, the pounding has increased and plans were made to move the greater part of the crew off the boat onto land. Six radio reports are sent but only one is received at Dutch Harbor and this one lacks a position. Men, provisions, clothing, guns, and medical supplies are transferred safely. The last men leave the boat at 1550 hours.
B-24's of the USAAF's 11th Air Force taking off to bomb Kiska Island abort due to fog. One of them and two of its crew are lost when forced to land in the water. A B-17 is dispatched to attack a reported submarine but makes no contact.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): B-17s pound shipping and Vunakanau Airfield.

1943
CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force) During the night of 18/19 Jun, 2 B-24's fly photo reconnaissance of Jaluit Atoll in the Marshall Islands from Funafuti Atoll in the Ellice Islands.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) During the night of 18/19 Jun, B-24's bomb Nauru Island in the Gilbert Islands.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-17's and B-24's thoroughly pound Vunakanau Airfield. A-20's hit barges in Hanisch Harbor and a trail near the village of Tamigudu, both in New Guinea. Single B-24's bomb Finschhafen, New Guinea area and the airstrip at Rapopo.

PTO: In the Pacific, three U.S. submarines sink two Japanese army cargo ships, a freighter, a coastal minesweeper and a gunboat and damage another gunboat.

1944
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 2 B-24s fly armored photo reconnaissance over Paramushiru Island and bomb the Suribachi area with unobserved results.

INDIAN OCEAN: HMS Illustrious raids Port Blair in the Nicobars in the Indian Ocean.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): 30 B-25s complete an ammunition run to Imphal, India. 33 A-36s, P-51s, and P-40s strike Myitkyina, Mogaung and Pinbaw, Burma.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, about 150 fighter-bombers and 8 B-25s again pound a variety of targets throughout the Tungting Lake area; targets include much shipping from Siangyin to Chuchou, and at various points along the Siang-Chiang River, villages and compounds between Yiyang and Changsha, and boats and river area at Anking; 18 P-40s damage 2 bridges and destroy about 20 fuel trucks at Yuncheng; on the Salween front 15 P-40s hit trucks and military installations; and 4 B-25s bomb Kengluang bridge.

JAPAN - The fall of Saipan costs Japanese leader Hidecki Tojo his position as chief of general staff and most of his cabinet their jobs.

USN - During the "Great Marianas Turkey Shoot", the most de- cisive defensive air battle of all time, Americans destroyed 243 Japanese shipborne aircraft plus 58 planes from Guam. American losses were 14 Hellcats, a Dauntless, and minor damage to four ships.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s, staging through Eniwetok, strike Truk Atoll. B-24s from Kwajalein and B-25s out of Makin pound Ponape Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: 100+ A-20s and fighter-bombers maintain strikes along the coast around Wewak, hitting supply and bivouac areas, roads, personnel, and a coastal gun position; A-20s hit airfields at Manokwari, Noemfoor and Moemi. Lost on weather reconnaissance is B-24J 42-73185. B-25s hit forces in the Cape Orford region of New Britain Island. B-24s bomb Dublon and Eten Island in Truk Atoll.

SAIPAN: Lieutenant General Holland M. Smith, USMC, Commanding General, V Amphibious Corps, reorients his corps to attack in two different directions. The 2d and 4th Marine Divisions and the Army's 106th Infantry Regiment of the 27th Infantry Division will advance north; the other two regiments of the 27th Infantry Division, the 105th and 165th, will mop-up the Nafutan Peninsula.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUE NO. 56, Our assault troops on Saipan Island have captured Aslito Airdrome and have driven eastward across the island to Magicienne Bay, where we hold the western shore. Two pockets of enemy resistance remain east of Lake Susupe. The enemy continues to counterattack, but all attacks have been suc-cessfully repulsed. Seabees are at work on the airstrips at Aslito Airdrome.
On June 18 (West Longitude Date) our carrier task force providing cover and support for our amphibious force was subjected to a severe aerial attack which continued for several hours.
The attack was successfully repulsed by our carrier aircraft and antiair-craft fire. Information presently available indicates that only one of our surface units was damaged, and this damage was minor.
It is believed a portion of the enemy planes were carrier-based, and used nearby shore bases as shuttle points. However the effectiveness of this pro-cedure was sharply limited by our systematic bombing and strafing of the air-fields at Guam and Rota.
It is estimated that more than 300 enemy aircraft were destroyed by our forces during this engagement. No estimate is yet available of our own air-craft losses.

1945

 

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1942
ALASKA (11th Air Force): 1 LB-30, 1 B-17 and 7 B-24s take off on a search and bombing mission over Kiska . 3 aircraft abort the mission due to weather, 3 bomb through an overcast with unobserved results, and 3 others search in vain for a B-24 lost on the preceding day. 56th and 57th Fighter Squadrons, 54th Fighter Group, based at Harding Field, Baton Rouge, Louisiana begin operating from Nome and Elmendorf Field, Anchorage, Alaska respectively with P-39s.

The crew of the U.S. submarine USS S-27 (SS-132) that sank yesterday off Amchitka Island, Aleutian Islands, reaches a deserted village on the island and sets up camp.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, 7th Air Force): Major General Willis H Hale becomes Commanding General 7th Air Force, and Colonel Albert Hegenberger becomes temporary commanding officer of the VII Bomber Command.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): B-17s bomb the runway at Lae.

NG: US 6th Army HQ is established at Milne Bay, New Guinea by General Krueger.
NG: The 17th Australian Brigade successfully repels a Japanese attack in the area of Mubo, New Guinea.

CANADA: The Japanese submarine HIJMS I-26 surfaces and shells Estevan Point, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.

1943
CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force) During the night of 19/20 Jun, 3 B-24's from Funafuti Atoll in the Ellice Islands fly photo reconnaissance of Jaluit Atoll in the Marshall Islands.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) P-40's join Marine and Navy airplanes in a strike against Vila Airfield. Hits are scored on the runway and dump area. B-24's blast the airfield and other targets at Kahili, and also bomb Kieta.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-24's bomb airstrip at Rapopo, and airfields at Keravat, and also hit Rabaul town area. A-20's pound the airfield at Lae, New Guinea. 2 B-25's and an A-20 hit Finschhafen and barges and shoreline targets along the coast of New Britain.

1944
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 5 B-24s fly fuel to Kamaing; 2 B-25s hit a bridge at Banchaung; and 8 A-36s and 3 P-40s attack targets at Myitkyina. In India, 13 B-25s supply ammunition to Imphal; 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, based at Kisselbari, ceases operating from Dinjan with P-40s; and 315th Troop Carrier Squadron, 443d Troop Carrier Group, moves from Sookerating to Moran with C-47s.

In the China-Burma- India Theater, the unified Eastern Air Command (EAC), which has operational control of RAF and USAAF units in the CBI, is reorganized into six components:
1. EAC Strategic Air Force consisting of RAF and USAAF heavy bombers.
2. Third Tactical Air Force consisting of RAF and USAAF medium bombers.
3. Photographic Reconnaissance Force consisting of RAF and USAAF photo recon units.
4. Tenth Air Force consisting of USAAF fighter and troop carrier units and a combat cargo squadron.
5. RAF 239 Wing
6. Air Task Force consisting of the USAAF's 1st Air Commando Group and
3d Combat Cargo Group.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In the Yangtze River-Tungting Lake area of China, about 120 B-25s and fighter-bombers again attack a wide variety of targets, pound river shipping at numerous points, hit villages and supply lines in the Pinkiang area, and bomb the towns of Changsha, Pingsiang and Ikiawan; in the Salween River area 24 B-25s pound Lungling and 16 P-40s hit troops and positions at Tengchung and Chenanso; in the Yellow River area 8 P-40s pound railroad yards and strafe about 75 trucks, destroying20+ of them; 3 B-24s over the S China Sea attack shipping, claiming a 5,000-ton commercial ship sunk; and a detachment of 26th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group, moves from Liangshan to Kweilin with P-40s (squadron is based at Kunming).

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s from Makin strike Ponape Island. Kwajalein based B-24s bomb Truk Atoll. HQ 318th Fighter Group and 19th Fighter Squadron move from Bellow Field, Territory of Hawaii to Saipan Island with P-47s [the aircraft are launched from the deck of the USS Natoma Bay (CVE-62)].

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: A-20s, P-39s, and RAAF aircraft, pound areas along the coast in the general area of Wewak and B-24s bomb Kamiri Airfield; and 82d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group, moves from Biak to Owi (squadron is operating from Saidor with P-39s). B-24s attack Woleai and Dublon in Truk Atoll. B-25s, P-38s and other Allied aircraft, including some of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, blast AA positions S and SW of Rapopo. Lost is F4U Corsair NZ5274.

PHILLIPINE SEA: The Japanese Fleet withdraws after yesterdays action against TF 58 off the Marianias Islands. They intend to refuel so they can continue their plan with the aircraft launched yesterday. They believe these planes have landed on bases in the islands. They are unaware of the actual losses.
Late in the afternoon, planes from TF 58 are attacking. The carrier Hiyo is sunk, a battleship and a cruiser are damaged. The returning US strike plans reach their carriers in darkness. Admiral Mischner orders the flight decks illuminated to assist their return. Although 72 planes are lost in addition to the 20 in combat; only 16 pilots and 33 aircrew are not rescued.
Adding to the above:
During the night of 19/20 June, the USN's Task Groups 58.1, 58.2 and 58.3 sailed westward to attack the Japanese First Mobile Fleet which has about 100 operation aircraft. The Americans launch carrier-based search planes at dawn in addition to PBM Mariners based at Saipan and PB4Y-1 Liberators based on Los Negros Island. The Japanese are finally located at 1540 hours by a Torpedo Squadron Ten (VT-10) TBM Avenger in USS Enterprise (CV-6) but the radio message from the aircraft is garbled. It isn't until 1605 hours that the position of the Japanese ships is pinpointed and at 1621 hours the carriers turned into the wind and launch 216 aircraft in just 11 minutes. The air strike consists of 84 F6F Hellcat fighters, 54 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers (VT-24 aircraft are the only ones carrying torpedoes; the rest have
bombs), and 51 SB2C Helldiver and 26 SBD Dauntless dive bombers.
The Japanese ships are located at 1830 hours, 30 minutes prior to dusk. Due to their losses, only 35 fighters (Mitsubishi A6M Navy Type 0 Carrier Fighters, Allied Code Name "Zeke") are airborne. The first ships sighted by the Americans are two oilers and two of them are attacked and so badly damaged that they were later scuttled. The aircraft carrier HIJMS Hiyo is attacked by four TBM Avengers of VT-24 in the light aircraft carrier USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24) and the ship is hit by at least one torpedo and later sinks. U.S. dive bombers then attack the aircraft carriers HIJMS Zuikaku and HIJMS Junyo and the light aircraft carriers HIJMS Chiyoda and HIJMS Ryuho and the battleship HIJMS Haruna; all five ships are damaged. U.S. losses are ten SB2Cs, six F6Fs and four TBMs.
By nightfall, the Japanese had lost three aircraft carriers and of the 430 aircraft available prior to the battle, only 35 are still operational. The Americans also have problems; their aircraft are 275-300 miles (443-483 km) from their carriers and they will be low on fuel when they arrive. The first aircraft return to their ships at 2045 hours on an exceptionally dark night. Admiral Mitscher, who always showed an unusual concern for his flyers, makes an unusual decision. He orders that all ships in the fleet turn on their lights and destroyers are to fire star shells during the two hours it takes to recover the aircraft. Despite these efforts, 35 SB2Cs, 28 TBMs and 17 F6Fs are forced to ditch at sea; all but 16 pilots and 33 aircrew are rescued.
At 2046 hours, the Japanese fleet is ordered to withdraw from the Philippine Sea the ships of Task Force 58 continue westward during the night of 20/21 June still hunting for the remaining Japanese ships.

PHILLIPINE ISLANDS: A USN submarine in the Pacific sinks an army cargo ship. The submarine USS Narwhal lands four U.S. enlisted men and supplies on Panay Island in the Philippines and then evacuates 13 men and one woman.

usa: "Attack! Battle of New Britain," a 59-minute documentary depicting the attack by Allied forces on the Japanese strong-holds on New Britain Island, is released in the U.S. The film is narrated by Leo Genn and Burgess Meredith.

SAIPAN: The US 27th Division begins clearing the south end of Saipan while the 2nd and 4th Marine Divisions continue their advance north.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUE NO. 526, 1. The submarine, USS Grayback, is overdue from patrol and must be presumed to be lost. 2. The next of kin of casualties of the Grayback have been so notified.
CINCPAC COMMUNIQUE NO. 57, United States Marines and Army infantrymen are continuing to advance on Saipan Island closely supported by aircraft bombing by Army and Marine artillery and Naval gunfire against severe enemy artillery fire. Our troops now hold the entire southern portion of the island from the southern out-skirts of Garapan across to the center of the western shore of Magicienne Bay. Several strong pockets of enemy resistance within this area are being heavily attacked by our forces.
During June 19 (West Longitude Date) the airfields on Tinian Island were bombed by our aircraft and shelled by our surface units.
CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 450, Truk Atoll was bombed by Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force on June 18 (West Longitude Date). Airfields on Moen Island were principal targets. No fighter interference was encountered and antiaircraft fire was meager.
A single Seventh Army Air Force Liberator bombed Ponape on June 18.
Nauru Island was attacked on June 18 by Seventh Army Air Force Mitchell bombers which shelled and bombed antiaircraft emplacements and buildings. Antiaircraft fire was intense but inaccurate.
Enemy positions in the Marshalls were attacked during the day and night of June 18 by Catalina search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two, Corsair fighters and Dauntless dive bombers of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing, and Navy Hellcat fighters. Antiaircraft fire did sufficient damage to a Dauntless dive bomber to force it down on the water before reaching its base. The crew was rescued by a Catalina search plane of Group One, Fleet Air Wing Two.

1945

 

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1942
ALASKA (11th Air Force): The War Department authorizes the XI Air Force Services Command, hitherto the Provisional Service Command, which is activated at Elmendorf Field, Anchorage. It is charged with maintaining and supplying all of the 11th's bases. Weather cancels all missions except an armed weather sortie over Kiska. Fighters fly local patrols.

USA: The Japanese submarine HIJMS shells Fort Stevens, Oregon, USA. A U.S. submarine sinks a Japanese gunboat in the Solomon Islands.

MIDWAY: A USN PBY-5A of Patrol Squadron Twenty Four, based on Midway Island, rescues the two man crew of a Torpedo Squadron Six TBD Devastator 360 miles N of Midway Island. The two were from the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise and had ditched their plane on 4 June during the Battle of Midway. These are the last survivors of the battle to be recovered.

1943
ALASKA: A fighter strip is completed at Shemya in the Aleutian Islands. All missions are cancelled due to weather for tenth straight day.

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force) One B-24 carries out armed photo reconnaissance over Nonouti Island, Beru Island, and Nukunau Island in the Gilbert Islands.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) In China, 7 B-25's, with escort of 8 P-40's, bomb the village of Shihshow. 8 other B-25's, supported by 9 P-40's, are dispatched to attack the Japanese-held village of Hwajung but mistakenly bomb the friendly village of Nanhsien, killing over 50 Chinese. The 11th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 341st Bombardment Group (Medium) transfers with B-25's from Kunming, China to Kweilin, China. The squadron has detachments operating from Hengyang, Suichwan, Nanning and Lingling between Jun 43 and Jun 44.

USN - F4U piloted by Smith ditched off Midway.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In a predawn strike B-25's bomb Koepang on Timor Island. A-20's bomb and strafe airfields at Lae and Lahang while B-25's blast the airfield and general area at Salamaua. A single B-24 bombs MacDonald's Junction, New Guinea and strafes targets of opportunity along the coast S of Buka. Lost is B-25C "Geronimo" 41-12980.

NEW GEORGIA: The US 4th Marine Raider Btn lands at Segi Point on the southern end of New Georgia, British Solomon Islands.

1944
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): 34 B-25s maintain an ammunition run to Imphal, India. In Burma, 61 A-36s, P-51s, and P-40s pound Myitkyina and Mogaung; 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, based at Kisselbari, India begins operating from Tingkawk Sakan with P-40s.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 11 fighter-bombers hit river shipping, barracks, and cavalry forces at Siangtan and Hengshan, China.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s based on Kwajalein, bomb Truk Atoll. 6th Night Fighter Squadron, VII Fighter Command, based at John Rodgers Airport, Territory of Hawaii sends a detachment with P-61s to Saipan Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In New Guinea, P-39s and RAAF aircraft hit dumps and bivouacs at Suain and attack other targets in the Wewak area; A-20s attack various targets of opportunity in the Paniai Lakes area while B-25s hit villages on the coast of Netherlands New Guinea E of Maffin Bay; B-24s bomb Kamiri Airfield and other targets on Noemfoor and attack shipping in the Palau Islands and on Dublon Island in Truk Atoll.

PHILLIPINE SEA: The USN's Task Groups 58.1, 58.2 and 58.3 continues searching for the remaining ships of the IJN's First Mobile Fleet. At 2030 hours local, the task groups begin retiring towards Saipan.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUE NO. 58, In the afternoon of June 19 (West Longitude Date) carrier-based reconnaissance planes of the Fifth Fleet sighted a Japanese fleet, which included carriers and battleships, approximately midway between the Mariana Islands and Luzon. Aircraft of our fast carrier task force were immediately ordered to attack and made contact with the enemy fleet before dusk. Enemy losses and our own losses have not yet been assessed. Additional details will be made known as they become available.
In the ground fighting on Saipan Island, our assault troops made advances in a northly direction along the western shore of Magicienne Bay and made progress against an enemy strong point at Nafutan Point. Severe fighting continues.
CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 452, Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Four bombed Shimushu in the Kuriles before dawn on June 17 (West Longitude Date). Fires were started near the airfield. No opposition was encountered. Paramushiru Island was bombed by Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Four and Liberators of the Eleventh Army Air Force before dawn on June 19. Antiaircraft fire was meager and no attempt was made, to intercept our force.
Truk Atoll was attacked by Seventh Army Air Force Liberators during daylight on June 19. Intense antiaircraft fire was encountered but there was no fighter opposition. Ponape Island was bombed by Seventh Army Air Force Liberators and Mitchells on June 19.
Mille, Maloelap and Wotje Atolls were bombed on June 19 by Corsair fighters and Dauntless dive bombers of the Fourth

1945

 

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1942
ALASKA (11th Air Force): A B-17 weather reconnaissance aircraft flies over Kiska . Fighters fly air base patrols. A bombing mission is cancelled due to weather.

USA: A Japanese submarine shells the military depot at Fort Stevens, Oregon. Damage from the first attack on a U.S. mainland is trivial.

1943
AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutian Islands, a P-40 sights a submarine 5 mi (8 km) E of Zeto Point. A B-24 then searches the area but makes no contact.

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force) 3 B-24's from Canton Island in the Phoenix Islands fly photo reconnaissance of Beru Island, Nukunau Island, Tabiteuea Island, Onotoa Island, Tarawa Atoll, and Arorae Island in the Gilbert Islands. 1 of the heavy bombers strafes Arorae.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) Heavy bombers join B-25's in pounding the Ywataung, Burma marshalling yard. Monywa, Burma is also thoroughly bombed.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-24's bomb the Taberfane, New Guinea area.

USMC - Ditched into the lagoon at Midway is F4U Corsair 02326.

1944
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 6 B-24s fly fuel to Kamaing while 40 B-25s supply Imphal, India with ammunition; 40 A-36s, P-51s and P-40s hit Mogaung and Myitkyina while 10 others hit targets at Hopin, Namma and Sahmaw.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 18 P-40s destroy 20+ trucks between Hsuchang and Lohochai; 4 P-40s damage a troop steamer in Tungting Lake; 13 B-24s bomb Bakli harbor, Hainan Island, damaging dock facilities and claiming 1 freighter sunk.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s, staging through Eniwetok from Kwajalein hit Truk Atoll; 1 bombs Ponape Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-25s, A-20s, and P-47s hit shipping at Efman and airfields and targets of opportunity on Noemfoor, attack Manokwari and hit villages in the Sarmi area; attacks by A-20s and fighters, along with RAAF aircraft, on the wide coastal area around Wewak continue; and HQ 317th Troop Carrier Group moves from Finschhafen to Hollandia. B-24s bomb Yap; Sorol Atoll, Caroline Islands; and Woleai. On New Britain, B-25s join the Allied aircraft in pounding Nordup and Ralum.

USA: US President Roosevelt signs the "GI Bill". This will give a range of various benefits to returning veterans. Education and home loans are among the benefits included.

BIAK, NEW GUINEA: The fighting for the island of Biak, New Guinea is essentially finished after the US attacks today.

SAIPAN: The 2nd Marines take Mount Tipo Pale and move on to Mount Tapotchau on Saipan. The 4th Marines are fighting east on the Kagman Peninsula.

BURMA: The siege of Imphal is raised as advance units of the British 2nd Indian Division link with the British 5th Indian Division at mile 107 of the Imphal-Kohima road.
Amplifying the siege of Impal
The siege of Imphal is raised as advance units of the British 2nd Indian
Division link with the British 5th Indian Division at mile 107 of the Imphal-Kohima road. The Japanese Fifteenth Army which invaded India in Operation U-Go has failed. Of the 100,000 Japanese who marched from Burma, 30,502 are dead and 23,003 wounded, at a total loss to the Allies of 2,700 killed and 10,000 wounded.
Imphal was under siege for three months. General Renya Mutaguchi sent three divisions of the Fifteenth Army against the Allies: the 33rd drove north from Tiddim, and the 15th and 31st attacked the Allied bases at Imphal and Kohima from the east. Against this the Allies mustered four Indian divisions under Lt-Gen Geoffrey Scoones. The 17th and 20th held the Imphal perimeter, and the 5th and 23rd hunted out the overstretched Japanese on the Imphal plain, hammering them against Imphal's anvil.
Allied control of the Imphal plain and the skies above it was backed by secure communications. Imphal has been supplied by air since April. Mutaguchi, however, refused to admit defeat at Imphal or Kohima, ignoring the realities of the field. Lt-Gen Kotoku Sato withdrew his 31st Division from Kohima on 3 June with no prospect of supply, it ran out of ammunition and food rations; he had refused Mutaguchi's demand to regroup and attack Imphal without even finding food. Sato's withdrawal freed two more Allied divisions for Imphal.
Mutaguchi has been ordering the 15th Division to mount ever more ambitious operations, simultaneously stripping its commander Lt-Gen Masafumi Yamauchi, of manpower until today he commands a mere battalion and a half. No wonder Yamauchi has spent much of his time writing despairing haiku poetry. The fighting has been close and bloody, with the besieging Japanese crawling over their dead to reach the trenches surrounding Imphal.
Outside, the battle swayed to and fro, the highest casualties on both sides suffered on the Ukhrul road and the Shenam Saddle. Conditions are appalling: heavy rain, mist and thick jungle have made transport and observations difficult. The Imphal to Kohima road itself is a single track overlooked by high ridges from which the Japanese launched a series of deadly attacks and stubborn defences.
The turning-point in the battle came on 17 June, when the Japanese abandoned Mao Songsan ridge, the first time that they had given up a position without a fight in the entire campaign.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUE NO. 59, 1. During the attack by enemy carrier-type aircraft on our ships on June 18 (West Longitude Date), 353 enemy aircraft were shot down of which 335 were destroyed by our carrier aircraft and 18 by our own antiaircraft fire. This is a revision of the estimate contained in communiquŽ No. 56.
Two of our carriers and one of our battleships received superficial dam-age. We lost 21 aircraft in combat.
2. The following information is now available concerning the attack of our carrier aircraft upon units of the Japanese fleet in the late afternoon of June 19 (West Longitude Date).
The enemy forces attacked consisted of: Four or more battleships, five or six carriers, five fleet tankers, and attached cruisers and destroyers.
On the basis of information presently available, our planes inflicted the following damage
One carrier, believed to be the Zuikaku, received three 1,000-pound bomb hits.
One Hayataka Class carrier was sunk.
One Hayataka Class carrier was severely damaged and left burning furiously.
One light carrier of the Zuiho or Taiho Class received at least one bomb hit.
One Kongo Class battleship was damaged.
One cruiser was damaged.
Three destroyers were damaged, one of which is believed to have sunk.
Three tankers were sunk.
Two tankers were severely damaged and left burning.
Fifteen to 20 defending aircraft were shot down.
Our losses were 49 aircraft, including many which landed in the water at night and from which an as yet undetermined number of pilots and aircrewmen have been rescued. Search for others is continuing.
3. The engagement was broken off by the Japanese fleet which fled during the night toward the channel between Formosa and Luzon.
The Pacific Fleet units in these two actions were commanded by Admiral R. A: Spruance. The carrier task force was under the immediate tactical command of Vice Admiral M. A. Mitscher.
CINCPAC COMMUNIQUE NO. 60, Our troops on Saipan Island have made further advances of more than a mile along the shoreline of Magicienne Bay to the town of Laulau and have advanced about a mile up Mount Tapotchau. The pocket of enemy resistance tat Nafutan Point has been reduced by one half, and our forces have gained the heights of Mount Nafutan on the east coast. Heavy pressure is being maintained night and day against enemy troop concentrations and defense works by our aircraft, Army and Marine artillery, and Naval gunfire.
At night on June 20 (West Longitude Date) several enemy aircraft dropped bombs near our transports and along shore but did no damage. Sporadic fire has been directed against our ships by shore batteries but the enemy emplacements have been quickly knocked out.
JUNE 22, 1944 STATEMENT BY SECRETARY OF THE NAVY JAMES FORRESTAL
"Under the circumstances our Fleet did a magnificent job, but the Navy is not going to be satisfied until the Japanese Fleet is wiped out.
"The Japanese were extremely cautious and never came very far to the eastward so that the bulk of our forces could engage them. As a result, we were able to send home but one air attack at very long range from our carriers just before dark.
"Some of the Japanese vessels which were damaged may be able to make port and eventually return to the fight. This is especially true of the war-ships, only one of which is reported as definitely sunk."

1945

 

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1942
ALASKA (11th Air Force): Weather cancels a bombing mission. A B-17 flies a reconnaissance mission over Kiska . A P-40 on defensive patrol crashes at Elmendorf Field, Anchorage.

1943
SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) B-25's and Navy fighters and dive bombers hit Buki village on Buki Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) 17 B-24's bomb shipping, dock area, factory and residential areas of Makassar, Celebes Island. 2 light cruisers are damaged and many buildings along Juliana Quay and in the town area are damaged or demolished. A single B-24 on armed reconnaissance bombs the airfield at Lae, New Guinea. HQ 348th Fighter Group and it's 340th, 341st and 342d Fighter Squadrons arrive at Port Moresby, New Guinea from the US with P-47's.

1944
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 2 B-25s fly a negative shipping sweep.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 12 B-24s fly gasoline to Kamaing while 29 B-25s make an ammunition run to Imphal, India; about 80 A-36s, P-51s and P-40s attack Mogaung, Myitkyina, Taungni and a bridge at Namkwi.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 20 B-24s bomb docks at Hankow; in the Tungting Lake area 70+ B-25s and fighter-bombers attack a wide variety of river shipping at several locations, bomb a runway at Hengyang, strafe cavalry troops in the area, and hit the towns and villages of Chuchou, Ikiawan, Chuting, Chwanchishih, and Siangtan; 30 B-25s and fighter-bombers hit various targets of opportunity along the Yellow River.

USN - Carrier aircraft strike Pagan. Lost are F6F Hellcat 42135 and F6F Hellcat 42117.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): Eniwetok based B-24s strike Truk Atoll. B-25s from Engebi pound Ponape. During the evening, B-24s from Kwajalein also attack Ponape. P-47s of the 73d Fighter Squadron, 318th Fighter Group, are launched off the USS Manila Bay (CVE-61) and land on Saipan Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: The Wewak area is again pounded throughout the day by A-20s, P-39s, P-47s and RAAF aircraft; a few A-20s and A-26s on a barge search bomb offshore islands near Manokwari; this marks the SWPA debut of the A-26; P-47s on sweeps strafe areas E of Maffin; and 8th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Group, moves from Hollandia to Biak Island with P-38s. B-24s hit the airfield at Yap and Woleai. B-24s on armed reconnaissance bomb Dublon Island, Truk Atoll and Koror and Peleliu. B-24s bomb Tobera Airfield and B-25s along with other Allied aircraft, hit AA positions S and SW of Rapopo. Lost is P-38H 42-66828.

1945

 

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1942
ALASKA (11th Air Force): Weather cancels bombing. 1 B-17 flies a weather reconnaissance over Kiska . Fighters patrol airfields.
Three USN PBY Catalinas rescue the remaining survivors of the sinking of the U.S. submarine USS S-27 (SS-132) from Amchitka Island, Aleutian Islands.

USA: 43d and 52d Bombardment Squadrons, 29th BG (Heavy), cease flying ASW patrols and move from MacDill Field, Tampa, Florida to Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho with B-17s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): B-17s hit Vunakanau Airfield on New Britain. Bomb loads include several bundles of incendiaries which cause intense fires.

THAILAND: Ban Pong: Work begins today on the first phase of an ambitious plan by Japan to improve its lines of supply by extending the Singapore- to- Bangkok railway 294 miles north through the jungle to Rangoon.
It proposes to build the line using the vast pool of Allied PoW labour now at its disposal. 600 British PoWs led by Major R. S. Sykes arrived here yesterday from Singapore after a four-day rail journey to begin building the Thai base camp. The first 34 miles of line are on the flat, but at Tha Makham, where the line crosses the fast-flowing Kawe Noi, the PoWs will have to build a 240-yard long wooden trestle bridge.

1943
ALASKA (11th Air Force): Weather cancels bombing. 1 B-17 flies a weather reconnaissance over Kiska . Fighters patrol airfields. ZONE OF INTERIOR: 43d and 52d Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 29th Bombardment Group (Heavy), cease flying ASW patrols and move from MacDill Field, Tampa, Florida to Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho with B-17s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): B-17s hit Vunakanau Airfield on New Britain. Bomb loads include several bundles of incendiaries which cause intense fires.


1944
ALASKA (11th Air Force): Weather cancels bombing. 1 B-17 flies a weather reconnaissance over Kiska . Fighters patrol airfields.
Three USN PBY Catalinas rescue the remaining survivors of the sinking of the U.S. submarine USS S-27 (SS-132) from Amchitka Island, Aleutian Islands.

USA: 43d and 52d Bombardment Squadrons, 29th BG (Heavy), cease flying ASW patrols and move from MacDill Field, Tampa, Florida to Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho with B-17s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): B-17s hit Vunakanau Airfield on New Britain. Bomb loads include several bundles of incendiaries which cause intense fires.

THAILAND: Ban Pong: Work begins today on the first phase of an ambitious plan by Japan to improve its lines of supply by extending the Singapore- to- Bangkok railway 294 miles north through the jungle to Rangoon.
It proposes to build the line using the vast pool of Allied PoW labour now at its disposal. 600 British PoWs led by Major R. S. Sykes arrived here yesterday from Singapore after a four-day rail journey to begin building the Thai base camp. The first 34 miles of line are on the flat, but at Tha Makham, where the line crosses the fast-flowing Kawe Noi, the PoWs will have to build a 240-yard long wooden trestle bridge.

1945

 

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1942
ALASKA (11th Air Force): 2 B-17s, 4 B-24s and 1 LB-30 fly bombing and weather missions over Kiska, bombing the N side of the harbor.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, 7th Air Force): Brigadier General William E Lynd becomes Commanding General VII Bomber Command.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): B-25s bomb Salamaua. Lost on a take offf accidnet at 12 Mile Drome is P-39 piloted by Rose.

USA: Washington - President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill conclude conference in Washington; decision reached for combined efforts to develop atomic bomb.

GUADALCANAL: PBY-5 Catalinas of USN Patrol Squadron Seventy One (VP-71) based at Noumea, New Caledonia, bomb Japanese installations on Tulagi Island in the Solomon Islands.

1943
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutian Islands, 2 photo and weather reconnaissance missions by 2 B-24's and 6 attack missions by 25 B-25's, 12 B-24's, and 2 P-38's hit Kiska Island. Targets include gun revetments at Gertrude Cove and AA batteries. The 344th Fighter Squadron, 343d Fighter Group transfers with P-40's from Ft Glenn to Shemya. The squadron also has detachments operating from Amchitka and Attu Airfield.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) In the Solomon Islands during the night of 24/25 Jun, B-24's attack the Kahili area and hit the airfield on Buka Island. During the following day B-25's, escorted by P-40's, hit the runway at Vila Airfield.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-25's bomb and strafe several occupied villages in the Sepu, New Guinea area.

1944
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 3 B-24s at dawn bomb the area N of the airfield at Kurabu Cape on Paramushiru Island; later 2 B-25s fly a negative shipping search.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 11 B-24s fly gasoline to Kamaing while 35 B-25s supply Imphal, India with ammunition; 60+ A-36s, P-51s, P-40s, and P-38s attack the Myitkyina, Mogaung, Mawlaik-Kin area, Pinbaw, and Hopin.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 60+ P-40s and P-38s bomb the towns of Siangsiang and Yuankiang, attack cavalry forces in the Hengyang area, and damage a pontoon bridge between Tungcheng and Pingkiang; 4 B-25s and a few P-40s knock out a bridge N of Chenghsien.

MARIANA'S: The 27th Division has completed clearing the southern part of the island of Saipan. It is now ordered to join the 2nd and 4th Marine Divisions in the fierce fighting in the northern part of the island. Elements of the 27th remain under Corps control.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): P-47s, based on Saipan, strafe the remnants of the enemy forces on the island and also hit forces left on Tinian Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In New Guinea, Fifth Air Force and RAAF aircraft continue to blast stores, personnel areas, roads, and bridges in the general area of Wewak; B-25s, A-26s, and A-20s hit enemy positions in caves E of Mokmer Airfield, attack shipping in the Babo area (on MacCluer Gulf), and bomb Kamiri and Kornasoren Airfield. B-24s, B-25s and fighters, along with other Allied aircraft, hit Tobera Airfield, AA guns at Vunapope, and buildings at Nordup.

PTO: US carriers Hornet, Yorktown, Bataan and Belleau Wood send strikes against the Bonins, Chichi and Iwo Jima.
Amplifying the above: Carrier-based aircraft of the USN's Task Group 58.1, the aircraft carriers USS Hornet and USS Yorktown and light aircraft carriers USS Bataan and USS Belleau Wood, attack Japanese airfields, fuel supplies and barracks on Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands. Over 140 IJN aircraft rise to challenge the attackers but USN F6F
Hellcat pilots claim 116 enemy aircraft destroyed; ship AA fire downs others. After sunset, TG 58.1 retires towards Eniwetok Atoll.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUE NO. 62,
1. Carrier aircraft of the fast carrier task force swept Iwo Jima in the Bonin Islands on June 23 (West Longitude Date). Sixty or more enemy aircraft of a force which attempted to intercept our fighters were shot down. Twelve of the enemy planes found our carriers and all of these were shot down by our combat air patrols. We lost four fighters. There was no damage to our surface ships.
2. Pagan Island in the northern Marianas was attacked by carrier aircraft on June 22. The following damage was inflicted on the enemy;
Four small cargo ships and one sampan, sunk. Two small cargo ships and 12 sampans, damaged. Four enemy aircraft destroyed and two probably destroyed on the ground.
A flight consisting of one twin-engine bomber and five Zero fighters Intercepted some distance from our carrier force was shot down. A wharf and fuel dumps at Pagan were destroyed and buildings and runways were damaged. We lost one Hellcat fighter and one pilot.
3. United States Marines and Army troops are pushing ahead on Saipan Island and have made new gains along the northern shore of Magicienne Bay. Booby traps and land mines are being extensively employed by the enemy. Two enemy aircraft detected in the Saipan area were shot down by carrier aircraft of the fighter screen on June 21. Coastal guns on Tinian Island have intermittently shelled our ships at anchor of Saipan, but have done little damage. On June 23 the airfields on Tinian Island were heavily bombed and shelled.
4. The airstrip and buildings at Rota Island were attacked by carrier aircraft on June 22. A medium cargo ship at Rota was sunk by an aerial torpedo. Our planes received no damage.
5. Shimushu Island in the Kuriles was attacked by Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Four before dawn on June 23. In the Central Pacific, Army, Navy, and Marine aircraft continued neutralization raids on June 23 against enemy positions in the Marshall and Caroline Islands.

1945

 

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1942
CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (10th Air Force): Brigadier General Earl L Naiden becomes Commanding General 10th Air Force, succeeding Major General Lewis H Brereton who departs for the Middle East with Brigadier General Elmer E Adler, Commanding General X Air Service Command, and several other key subordinates. The aircraft and crews of the 9th Bombardment Squadron follow. This move leaves the 10th Air Force almost a skeleton.

ALASKA: In the Aleutians, five 11th Air Force B-24's drop incendiaries and fire bombs on Kiska Harbor installations.

PACIFIC: In the Pacific on the night of 26/27 June, three 7th Air Force LB-30 Liberators bomb installations on Wake Island. The raid is staged through Midway Island.

USA: The first Grumman XF6F-1 Hellcat prototype, BuNo 02981, makes its first flight at Bethpage, Long Island, New York.

1943
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutian Islands, 16 bombers and 28 fighters fly 7 attack, weather reconnaissance and photo missions to Kiska and Little Kiska Islands, starting fires. Intense machinegun fire damages 4 P-38's.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) During the night of 25/26 Jun, B-24's pound the airfield on Ballale and bomb the Poporang-Buin-Faisi area. P-38's strafe the Rekata Bay area.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) During the predawn and early morning hours, B-24's and B-17's bomb the airfield and harbor at Rabaul and the town of Lae. Lost to J1N1 night fighter over Rabaul are: B-17E "Naughty But Nice" 41-2430 and B-17F "Taxpayers Pride" 41-24448.

During the midday, B-25's hit the airfield at Lae and the town of Salamaua. In the early evening B-25's bomb Penfoei, Timor Island.

1944
JAPAN - KURILES: In the Kurile Islands, cruisers and destroyers of the USN's Task Force 94 bombards Kurabu Zaki on Paramushiru Island for 13 minutes, firing over 1,000 rounds of 5-inch shells into aircraft revetments, assorted buildings and the runways. Postwar documents reveal that eight aircraft were destroyed, seven heavily damaged and 16 damaged by the bombardment. TF 94 is covered by 12 Eleventh Air Force B-25's in three flights.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): 30+ B-25s fly ammunition to Imphal, India. 80+ A-36s, P-51s, and P-40s pound Myitkyina; 7 other fighter-bombers hit Waingmaw, Loilaw, and Pyindaw.

CHINA: Japanese forces smash Chinese Tenth Army defences to capture Hengyang airfield from the US.
BURMA: Subadar Netrabahadur Thapa (b.1916), 5th Gurkha Rifles, led the defence of a hill post. With many of his men casualties, he fought with grenades and kukri until he was killed. (Victoria Cross)
Naik Agansing Rai (b.1920), 5th Gurkha Rifles, led his men in capturing two machine-gun nests and alone, wiped out a bunker. The Japanese fled, allowing another position to fall.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 14 B-24s blast Hankow, causing heavy damage and fires; 180+ B-25s and fighter-bombers attack river shipping and several villages in the Tungting Lake area; the towns of Yuankiang, Sinshih, Siangtan, Liling, and Hengshan are bombed, as is the warehouse area at Yuhsien; numerous troop and truck concentrations and other targets of opportunity throughout the entire region are attacked; in the Salween area 14 B-25s and 36 P-40s knock out a bridge at Tingka, damage another near
Mangshih, bomb military installations at Tengchung, strafe Japanese positions at Lungling, and hit targets of opportunity between Lungling and Tengchung; the Japanese bomb Lingling Airfield, damaging the runway and destroying a P-51; and the flight of the 21st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, Fourteenth Air Force, operating from Suichwan with F-5s returns to base at Kunming.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): Saipan Island-based P-47s continue to hit enemy forces remaining on Saipan and Tinian Islands while P-61s carry out night patrols over Saipan. B-25s from Makin pound Ponape Island and Nauru Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s bomb targets on Yap and Sorol Atoll; others on armed reconnaissance bomb airstrips at Woleai and Peleliu Airfield. AAF and other Allied aircraft hit airfields, AA positions, and other targets in the Rabaul and Cape Orford areas. The Wewak area is hit throughout the day by Fifth Air Force B-24s and P-39s, along with USN and RAAF aircraft; P-38s, P-47s, A-20s, A-26s, B-24s, and B-25s attack airfields, shipping, villages, town areas, roads, and numerous other targets at Efman, Noemfoor, Japen, and Biak, at Manokwari and Ransiki, and near Sarmi; 9th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Group, moves from Hollandia to Biak Island with P-38s; and 419th Night Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group, based on Guadalcanal sends a detachment to operate from Nadzab with P-61s.

MARIANA'S: US naval forces force a small Japanese reinforcement convoy to turn away from Saipan and return to the Home Islands.
Amplifying The Above: Two infantry landing craft (gunboat) [LCI(G)] repel an attack by Japanese barges, come firing torpedoes, off Saipan. Both LCI(G)s are damaged.

1945

 

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1942
CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS (10th Air Force): 16th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group, moves from Karachi, India to Kunming, China with P-40s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): 22nd BG B-26s bomb Lae and Salamaua.

PACIFIC: US forces bomb Japanese air bases on Wake Island.

1943
CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) THEATER OF OPERATIONS (10th Air Force): 16th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group, moves from Karachi, India to Kunming, China with P-40s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): 22nd BG B-26s bomb Lae and Salamaua.

ALASKA: On Kiska Island in the Aluetian Islands, eight 11th Air Force B-24s make a radar run but return with their bombs due to weather. Later, 5 B-24s and 7 B-25s bomb the Main Camp area and vicinity north of Salmon Lagoon. Fourteen B-25s bomb Gertrude Cove, camp areas, and North Head, while seven others abort due to weather. Two P-40s fly reconnaissance over Segula Island but overcast prevents observations. Three USN PV-1s also bomb Gertrude Cove.
The Japanese issue an order for Phase II of the KE Operation, the evacuation of Kiska. The evacuation is to be accomplished in one mission by cruisers and destroyers screened by submarines.

NEW GEORGIA: In preparation for Operation TOENAILS, the invasion of New Georgia Island in the Solomon Islands on 30 June, the USN's Task Force 36 arrives in the area. TF 36 consists of two aircraft carriers, USS Saratoga and HMS Victorious. Carrier Air Group Three is in USS Saratoga however, VF-5 is
transferred to HMS Victorious while the RN's No. 832 Squadron is transferred to USS Saratoga. This exchange put four squadrons of Wildcat fighters on the RN ship. US Marines leapfrog up the coast via a short sea lift before beginning an overland advance against Viru Harbor, New Georgia in the Solomon Islands. These Marines landed on New Georgia on June 21.

1944
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): 8 B-24s fly gasoline to Kamaing, Burma while 52 B-25s continue an ammunition run to Imphal, India.

BURMA: Mogaung: The Chindit 77th Special Force Brigade under Brigadier Mike Calvert, supported by two battalions of the Chinese 114th Regiment, has taken Mogaung. The Japanese 18th Division, fighting Lt-Gen Joseph Stilwell's Chinese troops and the remnants of "Merrill's Marauders" at Myitkyina, is now isolated. (Andy Etherington)
The Gurkha, Lancashire Fusilier, Staffordshire and Liverpool men have been fighting for Mogaung for a month. Casualties of battle wounds and ill-health have been so high that for today's assault across the key railway bridge Calvert had only 230 Gurkhas, 110 Fusiliers and men of the King's Regiment (Liverpool), and 180 Staffordshire men from battalions once 800 strong.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In the Tungting Lake area of China, 160 B-25s and fighter-bombers hit troop concentrations, supplies, and river and road traffic between Changsha and Hengyang, bomb artillery concentrations at Sinsiang, attack waterfront and docks at Hengshan, pound villages near Chuchou, and attack numerous targets of opportunity throughout the lake region; 4 B-25s over the Formosa Strait claim 2 cargo vessels sunk and others damaged.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): P-47s continue strafing and rocket attacks on Tinian, Saipan, and Rota Islands, Marianas Islands, while P-61s carry out defensive night patrols. B-24s, staging through Eniwetok pound Truk Atoll. During the night a single B-24 bombs Ponape Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: In New Guinea, Fifth Air Force and RAAF light bombers and fighter-bombers continue to attack the Wewak area, hitting troop concentrations, villages, ammunition dumps, and warehouses; B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, A-26s, P-40s and P-47s hit airfields, gun positions, and various other targets in or near Babo, Manokwari, Biak and Noemfoor, Ransiki, Waren, and Moemi; movements of units assigned to 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group: air echelon of 17th Reconnaissance Squadron (Bombardment) from Finschhafen, to Biak with B-25s; and 82d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron ceases operating from Saidor and returns to Owi with P-39s. B-24s bomb Yap and Sorol Atoll; others on a photo reconnaissance flight bomb Woleai and Ifalik Atolls, Caroline Islands. Fighters and bombers join other Allied aircraft from the Solomon in bombing AA positions at Ralum and other targets in the Rabaul area. 419th Night Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group, based on Guadalcanal, sends a detachment to Los Negros with P-61s.

1945