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06/01/42
Tenth AF
5 HBs attack Rangoon dock and harbor area, claiming 1 tanker sunk and
another left listing.
06/01/42
Fifth AF
B-17's attack Lae, Salamaua, and Rabaul.
06/01/42
ZI
Fear of attack on W coast causes suspension of movement of aircraft
and crews from US to UK.
06/02/42
Fifth AF
B-17's bomb dock and military camp area at Rabaul.
06/02/42
Seventh AF
6 of 16 B-17's that have been on DS at Midway return to Oahu.
06/02/42
ZI
Aircraft and crews of 97th Bomb Gp, then in New England for movement
to UK, are ordered to W coast as defensive measure again attack on
US.
06/03/42
Tenth AF
A flight of 6 B-25's of 11th Bomb Sq earmarked for CATF, take off
from Dinjan for China. They bomb Lashio en route to Kunming, but
afterward 3 crash into an overcast-hidden mountain at 10,000 ft and
another is abandoned when it runs out of fuel near Chan-i. The
remaining 2 B-25's reach Kunming, 1 with its radio operator killed by
a ftr.
06/03/42
Fifth AF
B-17's hit wharf, warehouse area, and military camp at Rabaul.
06/03/42
Seventh AF
Preliminary action begins in Battle of Midway. 9 B-17's, flying out
of Midway, attack 5 large warships 570 mi off Midway, claiming 5 hits
and several near misses. 7 other B-17's leave Oahu and fly to Midway.
06/03/42
Eleventh AF
Japanese carrierbased bmrs and ftrs bomb and strafe Ft Mears and
Dutch Harbor in several waves inflicting little damage and killing 52
US personnel. P-40's from Cold Bay trying to intercept them arrive 10
min after the last attack wave departs. Other P-40's at Umnak are
notified too late due to communication failure. 9 P-40's and 6 B-26's
fly patrol but cannot find the fleet--180 mi S of Dutch Harbor--but 2
of the P-40's engage 4 carrier-based aircraft, shoot down one and
damage another.
06/04/42
AAF
Schedule, with tables of composition and strength, indicating total
of 3,649 airplanes, is set up for AAF in UK.
06/04/42
Tenth AF
2 HBs bomb Rangoon, but are attacked by 10 ftrs. 1 HB is shot down
and the other badly damaged. This raid ends 2 months of harassing
strikes against Rangoon; soon all HBs are grounded by monsoon.
06/04/42
Seventh AF
Battle of Midway. 4 B-26's, in conjunction with Navy torpedo bmrs,
attack carrier; 2 of the MBs are shot down. In further morning action
14 B-17's attack a TF approaching Midway at a distance of 145 mi;
they claim several hits on carriers and 2 Zeros shot down. In late
afternoon 2 B-17's attack carrier force at 31-40N 179-10W, claiming
hits on a battleship and a carrier and 3 airplanes shot down. 4 other
B-17's claim a hit on heavy cruiser 185 mi from Midway. 6 B-17's, en
route to Midway from Hawaii, bomb ships 170 mi from Midway, claiming
hits on a burning carrier, the Hiryu, hit earlier in the battle, and
a destroyer, which is claimed sunk.
06/04/42
Eleventh AF
A carrier-borne force strikes again as 11 bmrs, 10 ftrs, and 8
torpedo bmrs attack Dutch Harbor in several waves. 2 P-40's intercept
4 bmrs just before noon over Umnak Pass and shoot down 3. During the
afternoon P-40's intercept 9 ftrs. A dogfight claims one enemy
aircraft and one P-40, the Eleventh's first combat casualty. AA fire
claims another Japanese bmr. During the afternoon 2 B-17's and 5
B-26's attack the carrier force, and 3 more B-26's strike the cruiser
Takao. No hits are scored. 1 B-24 and 1 B-25 fail to return.
06/05/42
Eighth AF
VIII AFBC, activated in US on 28 Jan 42, is redesignated VIII AFSC.
Col Harold A McGinnis assumes cmd."
06/05/42
Fifth AF
B-17's hit wharves, warehouse, and coal jetty at Rabaul.
06/05/42
Seventh AF
Battle of Midway continues with Japanese fleet retiring westward. In
the morning 8 B-17's hit force 130 mi from Midway, claiming hits on 2
large warships. During afternoon 6 B-17's claim hits on heavy cruiser
300 mi from Midway. The last strike by Seventh AF aircraft in the
Battle of Midway is by 5 B-17's which bomb a heavy cruiser 425 mi
from Midway. 1 B-17 is shot down and another lost due to fuel
shortage. The battle ends with Midway's installations heavily damaged
by bombs but still in US hands and with landing strips still intact.
During the fighting (3-5 Jun) Seventh AF aircraft carried out 16 B-17
attacks (55 sorties) and 1 torpedo attack by 4 B-26's, claiming 22
hits on ships and 10 ftrs shot down. 2 B-17's and 2 B-26's were lost.
One of the decisive battles of naval history, Midway will cost Japan
the initiative and will be a turning point in the Pacific war.
06/05/42
Eleventh AF
18 B-26's, 10 B-17's and 2 LB-30's search and attack sorties are
flown against the carrier force, the B-26's splitting into 3
missions, the B-17's into 2. No contact is made. The B-17's using
radar bomb tgts which look like ships, but later turn out to be the
Pribilof Is. The 54th Ftr Sq begins moving into Umnak.
06/05/42
ZI
Aircraft and pilots of 1st Pur Sq, then at Dow Field for movement to
UK, fly to Morris Field, en route to W coast for def against attack.
06/06/42
Seventh AF
B-17's maintain search out of Midway. 6 of the HBs mistakenly attack
US submarine, which later reports no damage. More B-17's arrive on
Midway from Oahu.
06/06/42
Eleventh AF
Various bmr searchattack missions are flown in an attempt to contact
the fleet reported near Seguam I. No contact is made due to weather.
8 P-38's en route from Cold Bay to Umnak mistakenly attack a USSR
freighter. Japanese begin to land on Kiska.
06/06/42
ZI
Aircraft and pilots of 1st Pur Gp at Morris Field return to Dow
Field, following defeat of Japanese fleet in Battle of Midway.
06/07/42
Seventh AF
Gen Tinker, CG, is lost during 6/7 Jun while leading flight of
LB-30's from Midway for predawn attack on Wake I.
06/07/42
Eleventh AF
Japanese troops invade Attu. More troops are put ashore on Kiska. An
enemy airplane is sighted over Cold Bay but cannot be intercepted.
06/08/42
ETOUSA
ETO established by presidential directive. Gen Chaney is designated
cmdr of all US forces of ETOUSA."
06/08/42
Eleventh AF
1 LB-30 flies armed patrol over Kiska and Umnak and discovers
Japanese naval units in Kiska Harbor."
06/09/42
Eighth AF
Second contingent of personnel for HQ Eighth AF and subordinate cmds,
including main body of VIII AFSC, arrives in UK.
06/09/42
Fifth AF
B-17's, B-25's, and B-26's attack Lae and Salamaua.
06/09/42
Seventh AF
Gen Davidson, CG VII FC, also becomes CG Seventh AF following loss of
Gen Tinker (see 7 Jun 42)."
06/09/42
Eleventh AF
Patrols are flown but encounter no aircraft.
06/10/42
Eighth AF
Main part of ground echelon, including ground echelons of 97th Bomb,
1st and 31st Ftr, 60th Transp, and 5th Air Depot Gps, and serv units
arrive in UK aboard Queen Elizabeth.
06/10/42
Fifth AF
B-17's bomb aircraft and buildings at Rabaul.
06/10/42
Eleventh AF
Local patrol is flown at Umnak."
06/11/42
Eleventh AF
The Eleventh strikes at Kiska for the first time. 5 B-24's and 5
B-17's from Cold Bay load bombs at Umnak and hit Kiska harbor
installations and shipping tgts. Low-altitude runs score near misses
on 2 cruisers and a destroyer. AA downs a B-24. The other B-24's are
pursued by 4 ftrs back to Umnak where US ftrs drive them off. Navy
airplanes discover Japanese landing at Attu.
06/11/42
ZI
Aircraft and crews of 97th Bomb Gp, deployed temporarily to W coast,
are ordered back to New England for movement to UK.
06/12/42
Eighth AF
Another contingent of personnel for HQ and subordinate cmds arrive in
UK.
06/12/42
HALPRO
13 B-24's of det under cmd of Col Harry A Halverson en route from US
to China take off during 11/12 Jun from Fayid to bomb oilfields at
Ploesti. Only 12 attack at dawn. 4 of the 13 land at base in Iraq
which was designated for recovery of the flight, 3 land at other Iraq
fields, 2 land in Syria, and 4 are interned in Turkey. Though damage
to tgt is negligible, the raid is significant because it is the first
AAF combat mission in EAME Theater in World War II, and the first
strike at a tgt which later will be famous.
06/12/42
Fifth AF
B-17's bomb building area and Vunakanau and Lakunai A/Fs at Rabaul.
06/12/42
Eleventh AF
6 B-17's and 1 B-24 bomb shipping in Kiska Harbor. A cruiser is
heavily damaged and one destroyer is seen burning.
06/13/42
Fifth AF
B-17's hit A/F at Rabaul.
06/13/42
Eleventh AF
An LB-30 flies weather mission and for the third straight day Kiska
Harbor shipping is bombed by 5 B-17's and 3 B-24's. 2 HBs turn back.
The others bomb partially cloud-obscured tgts. No effect observed.
06/14/42
AAF
Aircraft program for AAF in UK is revised downward from 3,649 to
3,266, and date of anticipated final strength is advanced 1 month to
1 Apr 43.
06/14/42
Eleventh AF
4 B-17's and 3 B-24's bomb shipping in Kiska Harbor from an altitude
of 700 ft, lowest altitude yet. 2 cruisers are hit and one scout
seaplane is downed. 2 B-17's are heavily damaged but return to base.
Japanese bomb Nazan Bay, Atka.
06/15/42
Eighth AF
Gen Spaatz, CG, arrives in UK. VIII BC takes significant step toward
development of organization for control of combat operations by
establishing 1st Bomb Wg, Prov, at Brampton Grange.
06/15/42
HALPRO
7 B-24's, along with 2 RAF B-24's and RAF torpedo-carrying Beauforts,
attack Italian fleet E of Malta. The B-24's bomb and damage a
battleship and a cruiser, while the Beauforts sink a cruiser.
06/15/42
Eleventh AF
A bombing mission to Kiska by 3 B-17's and 2 B-24's is aborted due to
weather.
06/16/42
Fifth AF
B-26's, B-25's, and B-17's pound Lae and Salamaua, hitting runways
and buildings and starting several fires.
06/17/42
HALPRO
The det is ordered to vicinity of Cairo to report to Gen Russell L
Maxwell, designated CG USAFIME.
06/17/42
Seventh AF
P-40's of 73d Ftr S aboard the Saratoga are flown off the carrier at
Midway to replace Navy airplanes lost in the Battle of Midway. The
P-40's begin dawn and dusk patrols which continue until the P-40's
are relieved on 23 Jun 43.
06/17/42
Eleventh AF
A Kiska Harbor bombing mission is canceled due to weather as is
patrolling mission by HBs.
06/18/42
International
Churchill arrives in Washington for series of conferences (until 25
Jun) with Roosevelt. Subjects discussed include war production,
shipping, help for China, diversion of Germany from Eastern Front,
and atomic research.
06/18/42
Eighth AF
HQ opens in London with Gen Spaatz commanding. Air Ministry publishes
tentative list of 87 A/Fs to be made ready for Eighth AF.
06/18/42
Eleventh AF
1 LB-30, 3 B-17's and 4 B-24's 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.
06/19/42
USAFIME
Gen Maxwell, formerly head of US Military North African Mission,
assumes cmd of USAFIME.
06/19/42
Fifth AF
B-17's pound shipping and Vunakanau A/F at Rabaul.
06/19/42
Eleventh AF
B-24's taking off to bomb Kiska abort due to fog. 1 of them and 2 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.
06/20/42
US
Gen Chaney, CG ETOUSA, is recalled from UK and will be replaced by
Gen Eisenhower.
06/20/42
Eighth AF
Gen Marshall's letter of instruction to Gen Eisenhower reveals plan
to integrate all US air units in UK into Eighth AF. Broad objective
of AAF in ETO is to attain 'air supremacy over Western Continental
Europe' in preparation for future invasion of the Continent.
06/20/42
Fifth AF
B-17's bomb runway at Lae.
06/20/42
Seventh AF
Gen Hale becomes CG Seventh AF, and Col Albert Hegenberger becomes
temporary CO VII RC.
06/20/42
Eleventh AF
1 LB-30, 1 B-17 and 7 B-24's take off on a search and bombing mission
over Kiska. 3 aircraft abort mission due to weather, 3 bomb through
overcast with unobserved results, and 3 others search in vain for
B-24 lost on the preceding day.
06/21/42
International
Arnold-Portal-Towers agreement is signed. It deals with US air
commitments and provides for strong air force for BOLERO.
06/21/42
HALPRO
9 B-24's bomb Bengasi harbor after RAF Wellingtons light the tgt with
flares and incendiaries.
06/21/42
Eleventh AF
WD authorizes XI AFSC--hitherto Prov Serv Cmd-- which is activated at
Elmendorf. It is charged with maintaining and supplying all of the
Eleventh's bases. Weather cancels all missions except an armed
weather sortie over Kiska. Ftrs fly local patrols.
06/22/42
Eleventh AF
A B-17 weather rcn aircraft flies over Kiska. Ftrs fly AP patrols.
Bombing mission is canceled due to weather.
06/23/42
Eighth AF
Gen Spaatz is informed that Operation ROUNDUP for invasion of
European continent has been put off until Spring 43. This
post-ponement is due to decision to mount Operation TORCH, which will
necessitate diversion of large numbers of aircraft earlier slated for
Eighth AF in UK.
06/23/42
Eleventh AF
Weather cancels bombing mission. A B-17 flies rcn mission over Kiska.
A P-40 on defensive patrol crashes at Elmendorf.
06/24/42
ETOUSA
Gen Eisenhower arrives in UK.
06/24/42
HALPRO
B-24's bomb Bengasi harbor during 23/24 Jun.
06/24/42
Fifth AF
B-17's hit Vunakanau A/F. Bomb loads include several bundles of
incendiaries which cause intense fires."
06/24/42
Eleventh AF
Weather cancels bombing. 1 B-17 flies weather rcn over Kiska. Ftrs
patrol A/Fs.
06/25/42
US
Arnold-Portal-Towers agreement concerning air forces for BOLERO is
approved by JCS.
06/25/42
Eighth AF
HQ is established at Bushy Park, a London suburb.
06/25/42
Fifth AF
B-25's bomb Salamaua.
06/25/42
Seventh AF
Gen Lynd becomes CG VII BC.
06/25/42
Eleventh AF
A field order bases the 404th Bomb Sq at Fairbanks, to operate out of
Nome, to which 1 sq of the 54th Ftr Gp is also sent. Another sq of
the 54th (P-39's) is sent to Ft Richardson. 2 B-17's, 4 B-24's and 1
LB-30 fly bombing and weather missions over Kiska, bombing N side of
the harbor.
06/26/42
Eighth AF
Air echelons of 31st Ftr Gp are established at Atcham and High Ercall
by this date. These are first combat personnel of VIII FC to reach
UK. HALPRO 24's fly a diversion for RAF Albacore attack on 2 merchant
vessels at Tobruk.
06/26/42
Tenth AF
Gen Naiden becomes CG Tenth AF, succeeding Gen Brereton who departs
for ME with Gen Adler, CG X ASC, and several other key subordinates.
Aircraft and crews of 9th Bomb Sq follow. This move leaves the Tenth
AF almost a skeleton.
06/26/42
Seventh AF
3 LB-30's bomb installations on Wake I. The raid takes place during
26/27 Jun and is staged through Midway.
06/26/42
Eleventh AF
5 B-24's drop incendiaries and fire bombs on Kiska Harbor
installations.
06/27/42
HALPRO
B-24's bomb harbor at Tobruk during 26/27 Jun in effort to disrupt
movement of supplies.
06/27/42
Fifth AF
B-26's bomb Lae and Salamaua.
06/28/42
ETOUSA
Gen Eisenhower assumes cmd of ETOUSA, succeeding Gen Chaney.
06/28/42
USAMEAF
Gen Brereton arrives at Cairo where USAFIME issues orders placing him
in cmd of USAMEAF, which is activated immediately. USAMEAF is
comprised of Halverson Det (HALPRO), Brereton' det (9th Bomb Sq and
other personnel which Brereton brought from India), and Air Section
of US Military North African Mission. Also activated is ASC, USAMEAF,
under Gen Adler. B-24's of HALPRO bomb harbor and shipping at Tobruk.
06/28/42
Eleventh AF
A B-17 weather aircraft flies over Kiska. Solid weather front cancels
bombing. On this and the following day US adv rcn parties land on
Adak from submarines.
06/29/42
N Africa
Rommel's Afrika Korps takes Matruh."
06/29/42
Eighth AF
Capt Charles C Kegelman (CO 15th Bomb Sq), flying on mission with 12
RAF Bostons against Hazebrouck M/Y, becomes first member of Eighth AF
to drop bombs on enemy-occupied Europe. First pilot fatality of
Eighth AF in ETO is suffered when 1st Lt Alfred W Giacomini of 31st
Ftr Gp crashes a Spitfire while landing at Atcham.
06/29/42
Tenth AF
Col Robert C Oliver assumes cmd of X ASC.
06/29/42
Fifth AF
B-17's hit A/Fs at Rabaul and Lae during 28/29 Jun.
06/30/42
Eighth AF
Joint Anglo-American control of Burtonwood air depot begins with view
toward subsequent exclusive control by AAF. VIII AFSC is designated
US agent at Burtonwood.
06/30/42
USAMEAF
B-24's bomb Tobruk harbor during 29/30 Jun; first US combat
casualties in ME are recorded as 1 B-24 is lost. Gen Brereton moves
his det from Egypt to Palestine, as Rommel advances toward the Suez
Canal.
06/30/42
Fifth AF
B-17's attack Dili, Koepang and Kendari; B-25's and B-26's hit Lae in
New Guinea.
06/30/42
Eleventh AF
A B-17 flies weather rcn over Kiska.
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