This day in the war in the Pacific 65 years ago.

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Note to all:

I will be on vacation till the end of the month.

I will update this thread when I get back.

 

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SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) 30+ B-24's and B-17's pound Kahili Airfield. In the Buin, Bougainville-Faisi area, 7 B-24's join 70+ US Navy dive bombers and 100+ USAAF, Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), US Navy, and US Marine Corps fighters in an attack on shipping. Allied airplanes claim 40+ aircraft destroyed or damaged; 7 vessels, including a destroyer, are sunk.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) A single B-24 bombs forces at MacDonald's Junction, New Guinea. Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) airplanes hit positions to the SW.

 

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BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) The 71st Liaison Squadron, Tenth Air Force, transfers from Ondal, India to Ramgarh, India and begins training with L-4's and L-5's.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: (USN) Five PB4Ys that took off from Guadalcanal on a predawn attack on Kahilli. Two from VB-102 and three from VB-101 dropped cluster bombs from 12,000' over Kahilli. On the return leg, two from VB-102 were jumped by a J1N1 Irving night fighter, likely from 251st Kokutai (from Ballale?). One fighter was seen to crash and burn. PB4Y-1 31952 was observed to going down. Lost on Espiritu Santo is TBF 6240
(Thirteenth Air Force) 7 B-24's and 70+ US Navy and Marine Corps airplanes, escorted by 100+ USAAF and Allied fighters, attack shipping off Buin. The B-24's claim hits on 2 cargo vessels, and the dive bombers claim serious damage of 3 destroyers, a patrol ship, an oiler, a merchant ship, and the 2 cargo vessels. In the air battle, Allied aircraft claim 40+ Zekes and at least 4 float planes shot down; 5 Allied airplanes are lost. Sunk is Hatsuyuki.
AMPLIFYING THE ABOVE:
In the Northern Solomons during the morning, seven USAAF B-24s, 36 USMC and USN SBD Devastators and 35 USN TBF's escorted by 114 Allied fighter (RNZAF P-40s, USAAF P-38's and USMC F4U's) attack Japanese shipping at Buin, Bougainville. The Allies sink a destroyer and damage three other vessels. There is heavy fighter opposition and 49 Japanese aircraft are shot down; the Allies lose one F4U, two P-38s, an SBD and a TBF.
The 75th Bombardment Squadron, 42d BG , which has been operating from New Caledonia Island with B-25's, returns to it's base on Guadalcanal Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) During the night of 17/l8 Jul, B-25's bomb Lautem on Timor while B-24's bomb Adaoet Island in the Moluccas Islands. In New Guinea during the day, B-25's pound the airfield, Army HQ and defensive positions, and the general area in and around Salamaua as Allied forces from the Nassau Bay-Mubo area begin a drive on Salamaua; the drive is a secondary effort designed to divert enemy attention from a subsequent Allied campaign to secure the Markham River Valley and Huon Peninsula and thus gain control of Vitiaz Strait and Dampier Strait.

NG: Units of the Australian 3rd and US 41st Divisions move toward Salamaua, New Guinea.

 

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ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutian Islands, 2 B-24's and 6 B-25's bomb Gertrude Cove and Main Camp on Kiska Island. 6 B-24's bomb shipping targets between Paramushiru Island and Shimushu Island in the Kurile Islands and completed runway at Murakami Bay on Paramushiru Island, which is also photographed. They observe fires among buildings S and E of this runway. Some of the observed aircraft take to the air and vainly pursue the attackers.

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force) 6 B-24's, flying out of Funafuti Island in the Ellice Islands, bomb Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll in the Gilbert Islands. Japanese bombers raiding Canton Island in the Phoenix Islands are forced to jettison their bombs at sea because of intense AA and fighter defense.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) 7 B-24's bomb shipping at Haiphong and Hongay, French Indochina.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) 21 B-24's, 20+ P-40's and P-38's, and 140+ US Navy and Marine Corps dive bombers and fighters thoroughly blast the Kahili area; 15 B-24's concentrate on the airfield; many AA positions are attacked, as are revetments and runways. Hits are claimed on 2 destroyers, and a light craft is sunk. The Allied airplanes claim 21 fighters shot down; 9 US US Navy aircraft are lost. A B-25 off New Georgia Island strafes a motor launch.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) During the night of 18/19 Jul, B-24's bomb the harbor area at Makassar on Celebes Island. In New Guinea, several B-25's, a B-24, and an A-20 bomb and strafe Lokanu, Boisi, Tambu Peninsula, Dot Island, Salamaua, and Komiatum as US forces secure the S headland of Tambu Bay for a supply base. Other B-25's attack barges and shipping off New Britain Island in the Bismarck Archipelago sinking a small cargo vessel off Cape Kwoi.

USMC - F4U piloted by Winnia is lost in a dogfight over Kahilli.

 

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ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) The 633d, 634th and 635th Bombardment Squadrons (Dive), 407th Bombardment Group (Dive), based at Drew Field, Tampa, Florida begin operating from Amchitka with A-24s. The squadron will fly combat missions 4-13 Aug.

ANTISUBMARINE WARFARE (AAF Antisubmarine Command) The 14th Antisubmarine Squadron (Heavy), 25th Antisubmarine Wing, based at Camp Edward Army Air Field, Falmouth, Massachusetts, begins operating from Langley Field, Hampton, Virginia with B-24's.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) B-25's damage the approaches to the Shweli, Burma road bridge.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) 4 B-24's attack cement works at Haiphong, French Indochina.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) B-17's bomb Kahili Airfield. B-17's and B-25's hit the airfield on Ballale. B-25's in support of ground forces hit positions in the Bairoko battle area where enemy resistance is fierce.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, a B-25 bombs a bridge over the mouth of the Francisco River; a B-17 hits Finschhafen Airfield; and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Bostons attack a gun position at Komiatum and a military camp at Erskine Creek.

 

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BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) B-24's attack Mandalay, Burma. The 491st Bombardment Squadron, 341st BG, based at Chakulia, India sends a detachment of ground personnel to Gaya, India.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) In China, 4 P-40's bomb a warehouse area at Tengchung; 6 others strafe river traffic and railroad targets of opportunity at Sinti, Changanyi, Tingszekiao, Kaiyu, and near Puchi.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) 18 B-24's bomb airfields at Kahili and on Ballale. Fighters strafe barges in Pakoi Bay, New Georgia Island.
In the Solomons during the night of 19/20 July, USN PBY Catalinas and eight USMC TBF Avengers attack an IJN surface force between Vella Lavella and Choiseul Islands sinking a destroyer and damaging a heavy cruiser and a destroyer. During the day, USAAF B-25 Mitchells sink another destroyer.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea US ground forces begin the struggle for the heights commanding Tambu Bay and Dot Inlet; A-20's and B-25's pound Madang Airfield and area, the Komiatum, Logui, areas along the Gum River and S of the Gogol River, the Gori River bridge area, and Bogadjim. On Timor Island, B-25's bomb Lautem, Dili, and Cape Chater Airfield. A single B-24 bombs Arawe on New Britain Island. Lost is B-24D "Virgin III" 42-40327.

 

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ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutian Islands, 9 B-24's bomb Kiska Island targets, including the runway, North Head, and Main Camp area where fires are observed. Poor weather cancels other scheduled missions.
In the Aleutians, two USN destroyers bombard Japanese positions in the Gertrude Cove area of Kiska Island.
The IJN agains dispatches a force consisting of 3 light cruisers, 10 destroyers, a escort vessel and a tanker to evacuate the Japanese forces on Kiska. Due to fuel shortages, this must be the last attempt.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) A series of sorties in support of ground forces, 22 B-25's, 50+ USAAF and US Navy fighters, and 170+ US Navy dive bombers blast positions in the Bairoko area; 135 tons of bombs are dropped.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) 50+ B-25's again thoroughly pound the Madang area; other B-25's hit the junction of the Gori and Ioworo Rivers and the village of Bogadjim; and B-26's bomb barges and jetties W of Voco Point. Single B-24's bomb Finschhafen Airfield, and Rabaul. Lost is P-38H 42-66517. The 66th Troop Carrier Squadron, Fifth Air Force, arrives at Port Moresby, New Guinea from the US with C-47's. The squadron will begin aerial transportation in the theater on 27 Jul.

 

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ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutian Islands, 26 B-25's, 17 B-24's, 13 P-40's, and 20 P-38's hit North Head, Main Camp, and the submarine base at Kiska Island, as well as coastal defenses and AA guns at both Kiska and Little Kiska Islands, starting numerous fires. Intense and heavy AA fire downs one B-25 (crew saved) and damages 18 aircraft of which another B-25 crashes at base. 1 B-25 photographs the S and W Kiska Island shores. 1 B-24 flies radar reconnaissance over Kiska Island. The 77th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 28th Composite Group, based on Adak Island begins operating from Attu Airfield with B-25's.
Two battleships and fours cruisers are the heavy ships in the US bombardment of Kiska in the Aleutians.
AMPLIFYING THE ABOVE:
In the Aleutians, the USN's Task Groups 16.1 and 16.2, under Rear Admiral Robert C. Griffin, bombard Kiska Island. TG 16.1, composed of the heavy cruisers USS Louisville, USS San Francisco and USS Wichita, the light cruiser USS Santa Fe and fivedestroyers, fires 1,719 rounds for 21 minutes at the Main Camp and Little Kiska Island. TG 16.2, composed of the battleships USS Mississippi and USS New Mexico, the heavy cruiser USS Portland and four destroyers, fires 1,084 rounds for 18 minutes on North and South Head, Sunrise Hill and the Submarine Base. The Japanese return fire but it is ineffective. IJN submarines are reported but they turn out to be two porpoises and three whales.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) 20+ B-17's and B-24's, 40+ US Navy dive bombers, and 100+ Allied fighter aircraft attack shipping in the area off Buin. Sunk is Nisshin, a seaplane carrier, and damaging hits are claimed on several other vessels.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, 50+ B-24's, B-25's, and B-26's blast troops, AA guns, defensive positions, and targets of opportunity in the battle zones at Komiatum, on Komiatum Ridge, at Kela Mountain, at Salamaua, and along trails near Komiatum and Salamaua. B-24's bomb an oil refinery, docks, and railroad yards at Soerabaja, Java. B-25's hit targets of opportunity on Selaroe Island in the Moloccas Islands.

 

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SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) B-25's and P-40's, and USN SBDs, pound the Rekata Bay area. The 67th Fighter Squadron, 347th Fighter Group, transfers with P-39's to Woodlark. Lost is SBD Daunttless 10348 ditching into Rendova Harbor, both crew rescued.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-25's, B-26's, B-24's, and B-17's again pound targets in coastal NE New Guinea, hitting Malolo, Asini, Busama, Voco Point, and Salamaua, blasting barges from Hanisch Harbor to Wald Bay and Cape Busching, and thoroughly bomb Bogadjim.

PACIFIC: In the U.S., the Joint Chiefs of Staff direct Admiral Chester W. Nimitz to seize Nauru Island in the central Pacific.

 

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ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutian Islands, 62 P-40's fly 9 missions to Kiska Island [2 of them with Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) pilots] bombing the runway and scoring many hits. An AA battery takes a direct hit and explodes. AA guns are strafed on North Head and Little Kiska Island. Intense AA fire downs 1 P-40.

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force) 8 B-24's from Midway attack Wake, bombing oil storage, barracks, and a gun emplacement. 20-30 Zekes attack the formation; 9 fighters are claimed destroyed; 1 B-24 is lost in a collision with a falling Japanese fighter.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) 48 fighters join US Navy and Marine dive bombers in support of ground forces in the Bairoko area. Later in the day gun positions at Bibolo Hill near Munda are hit, along with other targets.

RNZAF - Lost on a patrol from New Georgia to Bougainville is Hudson NZ2021.

CENTRAL SOLOMONS: Admiral Ainsworth leads a US naval taskforce into the Kula Gulf to bombard a Japanese airfield site on Kolombangara north of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. Cruisers Honolulu, St. Louis, Nashville,
Helena and destroyers Nicholas, DeHaven, Radford and O'Bannon are involved.
AMPLIFYING THE ABOVE
Later in the day, aircraft of Carrier Air Group Six in the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga, Douglas SBD's of Bombing Squadron Six, Grumman F4F's of Fighting Squadron Six and Grumman TBF Avengers of Torpedo Squadron Six, bomb the same objectives.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-25's bomb Lautem, Fuiloro, Koepang, and Tenau on Timor Island, the airfield and surrounding areas at Lae, New Guinea, and attack barges in the Wapelik and Cape Busching area of New Britain Island and villages on the Itni River on New Britain.

(RAAF) 31 Squadron Beaufighters attack Taberfane Seaplane Base. Lost is Beaufighter A19-118.

 

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ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutian Islands, 40 P-40's fly 7 attack missions [2 by Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) pilots] against Kiska Island, bombing and strafing North Head AA batteries, the runway, Main Camp, and Little Kiska Island. HQ 343d Fighter Group transfers from Adak Island to Amchitka Island. The 406th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 41st Bombardment Group (Medium), based at Elmendorf Field, Anchorage, Territory of Alaska begins operating from Adak Island with B-25's.
In the Aleutians, the USN's Task Group 16.21, consisting of battleships and cruisers, fights the "Battle of the Pips" off Kiska Island. Radar on the ships detected seven pips and believing them to be a Japanese force resupplying Kiska, all ships, except the light cruiser USS Santa Fe open fire. (USS Santa Fe had the most modern radar and saw nothing and she did not fire on the "targets.") A total of 518 14-inch rounds and 487 8-inch rounds are fired at the
"Japanese ships." Nobody has ever determined what caused the seven pips on the ships's radar.
The Japanese task group sent to evacuate the garrison from Kiska is actually 500 miles (805 km) southwest of Kiska refueling before dashing in to rescue the garrison. Because of the expenditure of fuel and ammunition fighting the "pips," the USN's TG 16.21 retires to refuel and rearm leaving the door open to the Japanese.

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force) The 72d Fighter Squadron, 318th Fighter Group, transfers from Wheeler Field, Oahu to Hilo Field, Hawaii, Territory of Hawaii with P-39's.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) 9 B-25's, escorted by 17 P-40's and P-38's, bomb Hankow Airfield, China.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) Lieutenant General Nathan F Twining, USAAF, becomes Commander Air Solomons (COMAIRSOLS). Fighter Command and Bomber Command, Solomons, are taken over by Brigadier General Dean C Strother USAAF, and Colonel William A Matheny, USAAF, respectively; Strother retains his position as Commanding General XIII Fighter Command.

The Japanese try to hit US forces on Rendova Island but Allied fighters shoot down several Zekes (8 claimed) and force the enemy bombers to drop their bombs indiscriminately. The final push on the Japanese base at Munda opens with a bombardment by 7 destroyers and the heaviest air attack in the South Pacific (SOPAC) Theater to date; 170+ B-24's, B-25's, B-17's, TBF's, and SBD's, covered by 70+ fighters, pound the target thoroughly, dropping more than 145 tons of bombs in little more than a half hour; later in the afternoon 10 more B-24's, with fighter cover, bomb Bibolo Hill, and SBD's and TBF's dive-bomb gun positions; and later in the day, gun positions NE of Kindu Village are hit.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) Single B-24's attack a large transport vessel WNW of Buka Passage in the Solomon Islands and bomb Lingat and Adaoet Islands in the Moluccas Islands, and the area near Finschhafen.

NEW GEORGIA: Units of the 25th Division are added to the 43th and 37th Divisions on New Georgia in the Solomon Islands. The 43d and 37th Infantry Divisions open the ground assault against the firmly entrenched enemy.

 

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ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutian Islands, 3 bombers and 5 fighters fly 5 armored reconnaissance missions to Kiska Island. 32 B-24's, 38 P-4O's, and 24 P-38's fly 13 attack raids, bombing and scoring hits on numerous Kiska Island and Little Kiska Island targets, including North Head, Main Camp, the runway, Gertrude Cove, AA batteries, and on a suspected submarine in Kiska Island harbor. A submarine is sighted near Rat Island. AA fire claims 1 P-40 (pilot rescued), and damages 3 others. 1 B-25 and 15 P-38's fly 2 air cover missions to Kiska Island for the US Navy. Over 104 tons of bombs are dropped on Kiska Island this day, highest one-day bomb load so far dropped by the Eleventh Air Force.

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force) The last mission against Wake from Midway is flown. 8 B-24's bomb targets including oil storage area. 20+ fighters (including an aircraft identified as a possible Fw 190) intercept the formation. The B-24's claim 11 of the fighters shot down.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) 5 B-25's, escorted by 12 fighters, bomb Hankow Airfield, China. An estimated 30-50 fighters intercept the force; the B-25's and fighters claim 14 airplanes shot down and 17 probably destroyed; 1 P-40 is lost.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) B-24's, P-38's, P-40's, and Navy aircraft hit a bivouac area and the runway at Kahili. B-25's, P-40's, and US Navy fighters over S Kolombangara Island hit the E shore of Webster Cove and bivouac area and buildings on Simbo Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea 40+ B-24's and B-17's bomb Salamaua, Malolo Mission, Komiatum, Komiatum Ridge, and Lae Airfield. The 65th Troop Carrier Squadron, Fifth Air Force, arrives at Port Moresby, New Guinea from the US with C-47's. The squadron flies it's first mission upon arrival.

 

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ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutian Islands, 12 bombers and 20 fighters take off on 5 attack missions to Kiska Island. Several of the fighters jettison bombs. The other aircraft hit Main Camp, North Head and Little Kiska Island. The 21st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 30th Bombardment Group transfers from Umnak Island to Shemya. The air echelon is operating from Amchitka.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) 10 B-24's attack shipping in the Samah Bay area of Hainan Island, claiming severe damage to 2 vessels; 25-30 fighters intercept the B-24's. 13 fighters are claimed shot down; no B-24's are lost. 6 B-25's, supported by 14 fighters, attack targets of opportunity on Stonecutter's Island, in the Hong Kong area after failing to locate a reported freighter in the area.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) Brigadier General Ray L Owens becomes Commanding General, Thirteenth Air Force. B-17's bomb airfields at Kahili and Ballale. 8 P-38's and 70+ US Navy and Marine Corps aircraft again attack the Munda area, hitting positions on Bibolo Hill and targets at Gurasai, Munda Point, and Munda Airfield. The 371st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 307th Bombardment Group based on Espitu Santo in the Hebrides Islands begins operating with B-24's from Funafuti Island in the Ellice Islands.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) 35 B-25's and 18 B-24's pound the Salamaua area in one of the largest single-strike attacks of Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA). Airfield and supply storage at Salamaua, the town of Kela and nearby hilltop positions, and defensive positions between the road and beach at Logui are hit; 5 other B-25's hit barges between Pommern Bay and Finschhafen, and the concentration and supply area at Voco Point; a lone B-24 on armored reconnaissance bombs targets of opportunity on Mundua and Unea. Lost is L-4 Grasshopper 43-1137 near Berry Drome (12-MIle). Lost on a practice bombing mission is B-25D 41-30496.

 

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ALASKA: The Japanese finish evacuating their remaining troops from Kiska in the Aleutians.

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force) The 333d Fighter Squadron, 318th FG, transfers from Hilo, Hawaii to Bellows Field, Oahu, Territory of Hawaii with P-39's.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) 6 B-25's, with escort of 9 P-40's, bomb Taikoo Docks at Hong Kong.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) In the Solomon Islands, B-25's and US Navy aircraft hit gun positions and other targets at Webster Cove on New Georgia Island.
US attacks on New Georgia in the Solomon Islands continue. They are principally toward Horseshoe Hill.

NEW GUINIEA: There is an Australian division operating in central New Guinea against Lae and Salamaua. This division includes US infantry and artillery.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) On New Britain Island in the Bismarck Archipelago, B-25's attack barges and fuel dump between Cape Raoult and Rein Bay and hit the airfield at Cape Gloucester and 2 destroyers offshore; single B-24's bomb Unea and unsuccessfully attack shipping in Saint George Channel. B-24's bomb Manokwari and Larat and Boela. On Timor Island, B-25's hit the town of Lautem and the airfield at Cape Chater.

 

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ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutian Islands, 1 B-17 scouts Kiska Island and bombs the Main Camp area.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 2 flights of B-25's blast the previously bombed Mu River bridge between Ywataung and Monywa. The bridge is hit heavily with 1 span left submerged in the river.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) 18 B-24's, with fighter escort, bomb shipping and dockyard installations at Hong Kong. Kowloon and Taikoo Docks and the old Royal Navy yards are hit. 4 P-40's attack a Japanese force of 23 bombers and 30 fighters attacking Hengyang, China; 1 Japanese fighter is downed.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, B-17's, B-24's, and B-25's bomb Kela Point and village, and Salamaua town and peninsula area. On New Britain Island in the Bismarck Archipelago, B-25's, B-26's, and a B-24 attack Army HQ, barges, and villages in the Natamo vicinity, shipping off Cape Gloucester, Borgen Bay, along the coast from Ring Ring Plantation to Roebuck Point and barges off Cape Dampier, New Guinea. P-40's strafe targets of opportunity.

 

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CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) 15 P-40's over the Hengyang, China area make contact with 39 Japanese fighters and 24 bombers. In the ensuing battle, 3 bombers and 2 fighters are downed; 2 P-40's are lost.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) 9 B-24's, with an escort of 16 P-38's and P-40's and 40+ US Navy F4U's, pound the airfield on Ballale.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, B-24's bomb Salamaua and Kela; B-25's hit barges off Huon Peninsula and villages in the Finschhafen area; and A-20's destroy several barges at Hanisch Harbor and Langemak Bay. Single B-24's bomb Cape Gloucester and Unea.

ALASKA: In the Aleutian Islands, the US destroyers USS Farragut and USS Hull bombard the Gertrude Cove and main camp areas of Kiska Island. The action is futile; all of the Japanese troops have been evacuated.

 

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CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force) The 78th Fighter Squadron, 15th FG, transfers from Barking Sands, Oahu to Haleiwa Field, Oahu, Territory of Hawaii with P-40's.

PACIFIC: In the Pacific, USN submarines sink a Japanese army cargo ship and an aircraft transport. They also land supplies and equipment on Panay Island, Philippine Islands, and a survey party on the west coast of Bougainville Island, Solomon Islands.
In the South Pacific, the RN's aircraft carrier HMS Victorious is detached from the U.S. Third Fleet and ordered back to duty with the RN.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) 9 B-24's mine the Rangoon River in Burma during the night of 31 Jul/1 Aug.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) HQ 402d Bombardment Group (Medium) is disbanded at Kunming, China. This group, which had been activated in China on 19 May 43, never had any squadrons assigned nor was it fully manned.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) On New Georgia Island in the Solomon Islands, 17 Thirteenth Air Force P-40s and P-39 Airacobras join 90+ USMC and USN aircraft in pounding guns and defensive positions on Bibolo Hill as Allied ground forces close in on airfield at Munda. In a separate mission, B-17s, B-25 Mitchells, P-40s, and USN aircraft attack the Vila Airfield on Kolombangara Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, B-25's hit the Finschhafen area and barges at Hanisch Harbor and Mange. B-25's and A-20's blast several barges in the Cape Gloucester area. B-24's bomb Waingapoe on Sumba Island in the Sunda Islands. HQ 375th Troop Carrier Group transfers from Brisbane to Port Moresby.

 

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ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In the Aleutian Islands, 7 B-24's bomb the Main Camp area on Kiska Island through the overcast.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): 8 B-25's hit the E approach of the road bridge at Shweli, Burma, damaging cable anchorages and pylons but leaving the bridge usable.
Tokyo announces that Burma is now and independent nation. Ba Maw signs a secret treaty with Japan and declares war on the US.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): P-40's and US Navy aircraft again hit Munda bombing AA positions, ammunition dumps, and other targets. 21 B-24's, 16 P-38's, and P-40's, and 30+ US Navy airplanes pound Kahili Airfield; other P-40's and 80+ Navy aircraft hit shipping in nearby waters. The 64th Troop Carrier Squadron, 403d Troop Carrier Group, arrives at Tontouta, New Caledonia Island from the US with C-47's and begins flying missions on 7 Aug 43.
On Bougainville, 21 Thirteenth Air Force B-24s, 16 P-38 Lightnings, and P-40s, and 30+ USN aircraft attack Kahili Airfield while other P-40s and 80+ USN aircraft hit shipping in nearby waters.
The 371st Bombardment Squadron, 307th BG (Heavy) ceases operating from Funafuti Island in the Ellice Islands with B-24's and returns to it's base on Espiritu Santo Island, New Hebrides Islands for R&R.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): A lone B-24 bombs the airfield at Lae, New Guinea.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: In the Solomons, a Japanese destroyer rams and sinks Motor Torpedo Boat 109 (PT-109). Two crewmen are killed but 11 survive including the captain, Lieutenant John F. Kennedy, USNR. The 11 men are finally rescued by a PT boat on the evening of 7 August.

USA: In the U.S., ground is broken for the construction of the first uranium enriching plant at Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The facility is built at a cost of US$280 million (US$2.745 billion in year 2000 dollars) and is completed in the summer of 1944.
In New York City, race-related rioting erupts in Harlem, resulting in several deaths.

 

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ALASKA: US naval forces again bombard Kiska in the Aleutians, unaware that the Japanese have evacuated.
AMPLIFYING THE ABOVE:
In the Aleutians, the USN's Task Groups 16.6 and 16.17 commence a preinvasion bombardment of Kiska Island. TG 16.6 under Rear Admiral Wilder D. Baker consists of the heavy cruisers USS Indianapolis and USS Salt Lake City; the light cruisers USS Detroit, USS Raleigh, USS Richmond and 5 destroyers. TG 16.17 under Rear Admiral Howard F. Kingman consists of the battleships USS Idaho and USS Tennessee and 4 destroyers. TG 16.6 bombards Gertrude Cove, the Main Camp, western Little Kiska Island and south Head with 1,261 rounds of 8-inch, 6-inch and 5-inch shells. TG 16.17 bombards North Head and the submarine base with 1,051 rounds of ammunition including 120 rounds of 14-inch shells. Unknown to the Americans, the Japanese have already evacuated the island.
In the air, the USAAF's Eleventh Air Force dispatches 8 B-24 Liberators, 9 B-25 Mitchells, and 8 P-38 Lightnings to attack Kiska in 2 waves, bombing and strafing North Head, and coast guns on Little Kiska Island, scoring several hits.

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In the Aleutian Islands, 8 B-24's, 9 B-25's, and 8 P-38's hit Kiska in 2 waves, bombing and strafing North Head, and coast guns on Little Kiska Island, scoring several hits. 1 or 2 enemy aircraft over Attu cannot be intercepted due to weather.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): B-25's, B-17's, P-40's, and US Navy fighters pound the shores of Bairoko Harbor; and B-24's, B-25's, P-40's and Navy F4U's hit a supply area on the W side of Webster Cove.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): B-17's bomb supply dumps on the shores of Hansa Bay and targets of opportunity along the Francisco River; A-20's hit Buiambun and B-25's pound barges from Lae to Bogadjim, from Lae to Kepler Point lost is B-25D 41-30221, and from the Bubui River to Lepsius Point; and B-24's bomb Lae harbor, Salamaua, and the W shore of Voco Point.

NEW GEORGIA: US forces on New Georgia have advanced to the airfield. The Japanese have decided not to reinforce. There concentration is now on Kolombangara Island.
In the Solomon Islands at approximately 0215 hours local, Motor Torpedo Boats 109, 162 and 169 are due east of Gizo Island heading south at low speed. The IJN destroyer HIJMS Amagiri is sighted travelling northward at high speed on a collision course; the ship is approximately 700 yards (0.4 miles/ 640 meters) away. PT-162 attempts to fire its torpedoes but they do not fire and the PT boat turns southwest to avoid a collision after getting within 100 yards (91.4 meters) of the destroyer. The destroyer then rams PT-109 followed by an explosion and a large flame which died down a little, but continued to burn for 10 or 15 minutes; two crewman are killed but 11 survive including the captain, Lieutenant (jg) John F. Kennedy, USNR. PT-169 stopped just before the warship hit PT-109, turned toward it and fired two torpedoes when abeam at 150 yards (137 meters) range. The destroyer straddled PT-169 with shell fire, just after it collided with PT-109, and then circled left toward Gizo Island at increased speed and disappeared. The 11 survivors of PT-109 are finally rescued by a PT boat on the night of 6/7 August.