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

[syscom3]

ALASKA (11th AF): 1 B-17 and 7 B-24s fly weather, bombing and photo missions to Kiska, Attu and Agattu ; all bombs are returned to base due to weather; 1 seaplane is shot down.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Joint Chiefs of Staff): Major General Millard F Harmon, USAAF, is designated Commanding General of US Army Forces in the South Pacific (COMGENSOPAC).

USA - An agreement was reached between the Army and Navy, which provided that the Army would deliver to the Navy a specified number of B-24 Liberators, B-25 Mitchells, and B-34 Venturas to meet the Navy's requirement for long range landplanes. Also, the Navy would relinquish its production cognizance of the Boeing Renton plant to the Army for expanded B-29 production and limit its orders for PBY's to avoid interference with B-24 production.

PACIFIC: Vice Admiral Robert L. Ghormley, South Pacific Area commander, arrives in Australia to discuss the upcoming operations in the Solomon Islands with General Douglas A. MacArthur, the Commanding General Southwest Pacific Area.

USA: Second Lieutenant Richard Bong loops the loop around the central span of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California, while flying a P-38 Lightning. He then flies up Market Street at low altitude causing a local woman's laundry to be blown off the clothes line. Bong is ordered to report to Major General George C. Kenney, Commanding General 4th Air Force, and Kenney orders him to re-wash the woman's laundry as punishment. Kenney goes on to command the Fifth Air Force, and later Far East Air Forces, in the Southwest Pacific Area. Bong is later assigned to the Fifth Air Force and becomes the U.S.'s top fighter ace of all time with 40 Japanese aircraft shot down.

 

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ALASKA (11th AF): 404th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 44th Bombardment Group arrives in the Alaskan Theater with B-24s, originally destined for N Africa; first mission is 18 Jul. In the Aleutian , 1 B-24 flies 2 photo missions over the S shore of Kiska and over Little Kiska ; the bombing mission is cancelled due to weather.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) (10th AF): A single B-25 piloted by Colonel Caleb V Haynes, bombs Japanese HQ at Tengchung, China near the Burma border. Bad weather, pilot fatigue, and maintenance halt major operations for several days.

 

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AMERICAN ALASKA (11th AF): 5 B-24s fly photo, weather, and bombing missions to Kiska but return with the bombs due to weather.

 

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ALASKA (11th AF): 1 B-24 aborts a reconnaissance mission to Kiska due to weather.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, 7th AF): Ground echelon of the 11th BG leaves Hawaii for the S Pacific aboard USS Argonne.

SOLOMONS: In the Solomon Islands, USN PBY-5 Catalinas of Patrol Squadron Fourteen based at Noumea, New Caledonia, attempt to bomb Japanese installations on Tulagi and Gavutu Islands but bad weather causes the mission to be aborted.
The U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff change the date of Operation WATCHTOWER, the invasion of Guadalcanal and Tulagi, from 1 to 7 August.

ALASKA: the crew of a VP-41 PBY-5A Catalina spots a crashed "Zeke" fighter (Mitsubishi A6M2 Navy Type 0 Carrier Fighter Model 21), while flying low over the tundra of Akutan Island near their base at NAF Dutch Harbor. The pilot of the fighter had engine problems and attempted to land on what he had assumed was a grass field, not realizing that it was actually a swamp. The "Zero" had nosed over immediately on landing, breaking the pilot's neck. The aircraft had lain there undiscovered since the Japanese attack on Dutch Harbor in early June.
The pilot of the PBY later leads a recovery party to the site to retrieve the aircraft. The "Zero" was disassembled and then sent under great secrecy to NAS San Diego, California, where it was reassembled and test flown. It was the first example of the "Zero" to fall in to Allied hands and proved to be one of the more fortuitous finds of the war.

 

[syscom3]

ALASKA (11th AF): 4 B-24s taking off for weather, bombing and photo missions to Kiska are attack by seaplane fighters; no losses. A cruiser is bombed with unobserved results.

 

[syscom3]

ALASKA: A USN salvage party is transported to Akutan Island to begin salvaging the "Zeke" fighter discovered there on 10 July.

In the Aleutians, three 11th Air Force B-24 Liberators dispatched on weather, photo and bombing missions to Kiska Island abort due to weather.

 

[Graeme]

NEW GUINEA: An Australian force reached Kokoda. The small unit trekked five days over a difficult trail over the Owen Stanley Range from Port Moresby. Intent on denying the Japanese any further gains in New Guinea, and determined to prevent them from occupying the northern coastal town of Buna; the plan being made for this was given the code name Operation Providence. At the same time, American troops began their preparations for the liberation of the Solomon Islands.

INDOCHINA: Vichy French officials in Indochina ceded a disputed border region of Cambodia to Thailand.

 

[syscom3]

Thanks Graeme.

Please keep posting.

 

[Graeme]

CHINA: Japanese marines capture Juian.

WASHINGTON: Roosevelt has today approved the formation of a central intelligence agency for America. Called the Office of Strategic Services, it has grown out of an organisation called the Office of the Coordinator of Information and is headed by "Wild Bill" Donovan, a millionaire lawyer from Wall Street. Donovan, a forceful "can do" man, has close ties with Britain's Special Operations Executive (SOE) and has carried out missions for Mr Churchill.

 

[syscom3]

SOLOMONS: In the Solomon Islands, PBY-5 Catalinas of USN Patrol Squadron Seventy One (VP-71) attempt a daylight bombing of Japanese installations on Tulagi and Gavutu Islands. Bad weather forces cancellation of the mission.

PACIFIC: Major General George C. Kenney, Commanding General 4th Air Force in the western U.S., is ordered to Australia to replace Lieutenant General George H. Brett as Commanding General, Allied Air Forces, Southwest Pacific Area.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th AF): Lost off Horn Island is B-17E 41-2636.

 

[Graeme]

UNITED STATES: The U.S. broke off diplomatic relations with Finland.

JAPAN: Tojo said Japan had received reassurances of Russian neutrality from the Soviet Union.

 

[syscom3]

CBI: The first supplys from India reach China by flying over the "Hump"

ALASKA (11th AF): 3 B-24s on a bombing mission to Kiska turn back due to weather.

WESTERN DEFENSE COMMAND (4th AF): 392d Bombardment Squadron, 30th BG (Heavy), moves from Hammer Field to March Field, California and continues flying ASW patrols with LB-30s.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) (10th AF): India-China Ferrying Command is activated to replace the Assam-Burma-China Command.

 

[syscom3]

SOLOMONS: In New Zealand, Vice Admiral Robert L. Ghormley, USN, issues Operation Plan 1-42 identifying the command structure for the upcoming operations in the Solomon Islands. Vice Admiral Frank J. Fletcher commands the Solomons Expeditionary Force; Rear Admiral Leigh Noyes command the Air Support Force consisting of three carrier air groups; Rear Admiral Richmond K. Turner commands the Amphibious Force; and Rear Admiral John S. McCain will command the land-based Allied air units as Commander, Air Solomons.

CHINA AIR TASK FORCE (CATF): In China, 4 B-25s from Kweilin, with P-40 escort, bomb a storage area at Hankow, starting a fire that is later reported to have burned 3 days. The B-25s land at Hengyang during the return flight to refuel, but are attacked by Japanese aircraft and have to take off immediately. Amidst the confusion a P-40 pilot mistakes a B-25 for a Japanese aircraft and shoots it down, the first bomber lost since the CATF began operations in China; the crew is saved.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, 7th AF): B-17s of the 11th Bombardment Group begin leaving Hickam Field, Hawaii for the S Pacific.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th AF): 1 B-17 bombs Salamaua. Lost on a landing at Horn Island is B-17E 41-2421.

 

[syscom3]

ALASKA (11th AF): 3 B-17s and 7 B-24s fly weather, bombing and photo missions; shipping is bombed and North and South Heads of Kiska are photographed; fighters down 1 B-17.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th AF): B-17s bomb Simpson Harbor .

 

[syscom3]

SOLOMONS: In the Solomon Islands, a Fifth Air Force B-17 with two USMC observers aboard flies a reconnaissance and photographic mission over Gavutu, Guadalcanal and Tulagi Islands in preparation for the U.S. invasion next month.

ALASKA (11th AF): A B-17 flying weather and photo reconnaissance over Kiska crashes on Umnak, Aleutians.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) (10th AF): CHINA AIR TASK FORCE (CATF): In China, 3 B-25's from Kweilin bomb Tien Ho Airfield.

USN - Amphibious Force, South Pacific Area, is established under command of RAdm Turner

 

[syscom3]

ALASKA (11th AF): Search missions are flown over Attu and Agattu . EASTERN DEFENSE COMMAND (1st AF): 39th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 13th Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from Westover Field, Massachusetts to Dover AAB, Delaware with B-25s to continue flying ASW patrols.

The USN's Task Force 8 sorties from Kodiak, Alaska, to bombard Kiska Island in the Aleutians.

USN - The seaplane tender Casco established an advanced base in Nazan Bay, Atka, to support seaplane operations against Kiska, which included antishipping search, bombing of enemy positions, and cover for surface force bombardments.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) (10th AF):CHINA AIR TASK FORCE (CATF): In response to a Chinese request, 2 B-25s strike in support of Chinese ground forces at Linchwan, a Japanese held city undersiege for some time. The Chinese commanding officer later reports that the raid broke the stalemate and the city was entered the next day.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, 7th AF): 26th Bombardment Squadron, 11th BG (Heavy), departs Wheeler Field, Hawaii for the S Pacific with B-17s.

TF44, under Admiral Victor A.C. Crutchley, RN, arrives in Wellington. TF 44, nicknamed "MacArthur's Navy", is assigned to assist with Operation Watchtower, the US invasion of the southern Solomon Islands.
Amplifying the Above:
TF44 was actually the Australian Cruiser Squadron, just given an American name. I believe its first engagement in the Pacific was at the Battle of the Coral Sea, where it fought off attacks by Japanese carrier aircraft and by some US B17s! The squadron's composition changed somewhat during the war, but usually consisted of two Australian heavy cruisers and one or more US cruisers (heavy or light). As I recall, USS Houston and USS Chicago served with it at different times. The squadron was commanded by a Rear-Admiral of the Royal Navy, usually Australian-born. For example, Rear-Adm Jack Crace (who commanded the squadron at the Coral Sea) was born in Australia but joined the Royal Navy. The Australian naval college only started taking students in 1913, consequently it was difficult to find flag officers of the Royal Australian Navy with the requisite experience. Victor Crutchley was one of the few officers to hold this command who was not born in Australia.
As an aside, by the end of the war, the two senior posts of Chief of the Australian Naval Staff and commander Australian Cruiser Squadron were held by Flag Officers of the RAN.

ATLANTIC: The aircraft carrier USS Ranger, part of Task Force 22, launches 72 USAAF P-40s off the coast of Africa. The aircraft, destined for the Tenth Air Force in India, land at Accra, Gold Coast.

SOLOMONS: A B-17 Flying Fortress sights a Japanese convoy leaving Rabaul, New Britain Island, Bismarck Archipelago, and heading for northern New Guinea.

 

[syscom3]

They have had no help from the New Zealand weather or the Dock Unions. hehehehehhehe.

PTO: The US 1st Marine Division issues its plan for Operation Watchtower. The Marines are just about finished the massive task of singlehandedly unloading and reloading their ships for the invasion of the southern Solomon Islands. They have had no help from the New Zealand weather or the Dock Unions.

USA: In the U.S., Admiral William D. Leahy, USN (Retired), is named Chief of Staff to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Interesting note: William "Wild Bill" Donovan, soon to head the OSS, was FDR's first choice for Chief of Staff.
The first members of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAACS) began training at Fort Des Moines, 5 miles (8 km) south of Des Moines, Iowa.

ALASKA: In the Aleutians, the IJN flies its last offensive air strike when 3 "Mavis" flying boats attack the seaplane tender (destroyer) USS Gillis at Adak. A dud bomb lands 10 feet from the ship and the rest of the bombs dropped miss their target.

ALASKA (11th AF): Brigadier General William O Butler moves advance HQ to Umnak . 3 B-17s bomb Kiska (especially the barracks) with incendiaries and demolition charges. 4 P-38s try to intercept 4 fighters reported by US Navy (USN) aircraft but no contact is made.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) (10th AF): CHINA AIR TASK FORCE (CATF): 3 B-25s bomb docks and warehouses at Chinkiang, China on the Yangtze River; 4 escorting P-40s strafe junks on the river. This is the last CATF bombing raid of Jul. In China, detachments of 11th Bombardment Squadron, 7th BG (Heavy), operating from Kweilin, Hengyang and Nanning with B-25s return to base at Kunming.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th AF): Unit moves in Australia: 33d Bombardment Squadron, 22d BG (Medium), from Antil Plains to Woodstock with B-26s; 80th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group, from Petric to Port Moresby, New Guinea with P-39s and P-400s (first mission is 22 Jul).

 

[syscom3]

ALASKA (11th AF): 4 B-24s fly search and bomb missions over Kiska but make no contact because of weather.

ZONE OF INTERIOR: President Franklin D Roosevelt calls Admiral William D Leahy, Ambassador to France and former Chief of Naval Operations, to serve as Chief of Staff to the Commanders-in-Chief of the US Army and Navy.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Joint Chiefs of Staff): Air echelon of 98th Bombardment Squadron, 11th BG (Heavy), begins operating from Plaines des Gaiacs and Espiritu Santo with B-17s (first mission is 31 Jul); the ground echelon is enroute from Hawaii.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th AF): B-26s attack a convoy off Salamaua as an invasion force heads for Buna, where it begins landings during the night of 21/22 Jul. This move by the enemy forestalls Allied operations which were to have secured the same general area.

NEW GUINEA - Units from General Horii's 18th Japanese Army land at Gona on New Guinea.Japanese troops land at Buna and Gona. This is the "RI" Operation. The IJN lands 2,000 troops at Gona, New Guinea; these troops are tasked with crossing the Owen Stanley Mountains and capturing Port Moresby.

Admiral Mikawa, CO of the IJN 8th Fleet at Rabaul, requests additional destroyers from Tokyo. He will again make this request on the 23rd adding a prediction that the Americans will land on Gaudalcanal before the airfield becomes operational

 

[syscom3]

ALASKA (11th AF): Of 8 B-24s and 2 B-17s dispatched to Kiska , only 8 reach the target and due to fog drop only 7 bombs with unobserved results; 1 B-24 is missing on the return flight.

NG: Maj-Gen Horii's South Seas Detachment begin the trek along the Kokoda Trail from Buna, New Guinea. This trail leads over the Owen Stanley Mountains (11,000 feet) towards Port Moresby. Due to the loss in the Naval Battle of the Coral Sea, the Japanese have arrived at this overland route to capture Port Moresby.
B-17's mount 3 attacks and B-25's, B-26's, P-39 and P-400 Airacobras and RAAF P-40s mount 5 attacks against IJN shipping and landing barges off Buna. The aircraft damage a destroyer and sink an army transport.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th AF): (5th AF) 16 P-39 from the 80th FS, 39th FS, 40thFS, 41st FS were sent to shoot up the Japanese unloading barges 8 P-39's stayed up top in case some Zeros showed from Lae and 8 went down to shoot up the barges. 39th FS pilot Bob Faurot put his P-39 down so low that his would nearly hit the water. 80th FS pilot Pinky Hunter made his pass and his aircraft was hit by AA fire he opened the door on his P-39 and bailed out, his door blew off his aircraft and almost hit Danny Roberts 'P-39 Hunter' body was never found but his rings were found on a dead Japanese soldier on the Kakoda Trail months later. Japanese forces continue to land in NE New Guinea with the ultimate aim of pushing across the Owen Stanley Range to the Allied base at Port Moresby. HQ 35th Fighter Group moves from Sydney, Australia to Port Moresby. Sunk is Ayutosen Maru.

NZ: Ships bearing the 1st Marine Division sail from Wellington, NZ for the Koro island rehearsal, prior to the landings in the southern Solomon Islands now set for August 7.

RAAF - Lost on a mission over Buna is Hudson A16-201.

 

[syscom3]

NG: Advance elements of Maj-Gen Horii's South Seas Detachment advancing up the Kokoda Track towards Port Morsby make contact with elements of the Australian rear guard.

USA: US Secretary of State Cordell Hull urges the formation of an international peace-keeping organization by the United Nations (Allies) after the war.

SOLOMONS: USMC photographers of Marine Observation Squadron VMO-251 using USN cameras and flying in USAAF B-17Es based in the New Hebrides, fly their first preinvasion photographic reconnaissance mission over Gavutu, Guadalcanal and Tulagi. The B-17s are intercepted by "Rufe" floatplanes but there are no losses on either side.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) (10th AF): 22d Bombardment Squadron, 7th BG (Heavy), arrives at Karachi, India from the US with B-25s; first mission is 14 Dec.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, 7th AF): 3 B-17s, staging through Canton carry out photo reconnaissance of Makin.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Joint Chiefs of Staff): 11th BG B-17's on New Caledonia begin photo reconnaissance of the Guadalcanal-Tulagi-Gavutu area.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th AF): B-17s, 22nd BG B-26s, A-24s and fighters pound shipping, landing barges, storage dumps, AA positions, and troop concentrations at Buna and Gona as the enemy pushes inland along the Kokoda trail; fighters also hit the harbor at Salamaua. Lost is P-39D "Papuan Panic" 41-38353. 93d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 19th Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Longreach to Mareeba with B-17s, B-24s and LB-30s.