June 2, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

WEDNESDAY, 2 JUNE 1943

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) In China, 5 B-25s escorted by 10 P-40s bomb Pailochi Airfield. 18 P-40s strafe troop barges and launches at Itu and 6 long columns of troops east of Changyang.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) Two B-24s on armed reconnaissance attack gun positions, cargo boats, and shipping at Numa Numa and Tinputs.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-17s and B-24s bomb Wewak Airfield, Boram Airfield, Dagua Airfield, and But Airfield. Isolated shipping strikes result in little damage to vessels and barges. Lost is P-38 Lightning pilot Yeager bailed out near near Big Embi Lake and later rescued.

JAAF: Ki-48 Lilys from 208th Hiko Sentai (208th Flying Regiment) escorted by Ki-43 Oscars from 24th Hiko Sentai (24th Flying Regiment) strike Bulldog Airfield and Bulldog. Three of fifteen bombs hit the runway. Strafing severly damages a parked C-47. Injured were two Europeans and three natives. Ki-48 Lily pilot Lt. Ezaki failed to return.

NEIAF: Lost on an attack against Japanese shipping is B-25C Mitchell N5-150 (KIA).

USN: Lost on a search mission is SBD-4 Dauntless 10697 pilot MSgt Howard Harvey Hicks (KIA) gunner Cpl James M. Lasseigne (rescued).

USS Tambor (SS-198) sinks Japanese transport/cargo ship Eika Maru (ex-Portuguese Wing Wah) in South China Sea, 20°29'N, 107°57'E.