SATURDAY, 10 JULY 1943
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) The Eleventh Air Force attacks the Japanese Home
Islands for the first time as eight B-25's raid the southern part of Shimushu and northern Paramushiru, in dead reckoning runs when
solid cloud cover prevents a maximum altitude attack. No AA fire is encountered
and no enemy aircraft are sighted. The B-25's stage through Attu Airfield on
returning to Adak Airfield. Six B-24's, originally slated to accompany the B-25's
to Paramushiru and five other B-25's are on short notice dispatched to
attack a convoy off Attu instead. They claim two medium freighters sunk in deck-level
strikes.
CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) Nine B-24's bomb the dock area at Haiphong.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-25's
pound Salamaua, Logui, and the SE bank of the Francisco River as Allied ground
forces effect junction at Buigap Creek cutting communications between Salamaua and Mubo; a single B-24 bombs Kela village. B-24's bomb Boela and Babo lost is B-24D "Esmeralda II" 42-40507. Also lost is P-38G 43-2271 (MIA).
USN: Seabees report a 3,300' runway at Segi Airfield on Segi Point is available for limited
operations; this provides an emergency landing field only 40 miles from
Japanese facilities at Munda.
SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) Before dawn, B-25s from the 42nd BG, 69th BS took off from Carney Field (Bomber 2) on a low altitude search for shipping search for enemy shipping reported in the Kula Gulf off New Georgia. Shortly after take off, B-25C 42-53433 hit a tree that bent the propeller on the right engine and tore off the left tail assembly including the horizontal and vertical stabilizer. Damaged, the B-25 crashed into the sea with one survivor and four MIA. The rest of the formation proceeded to the target area and strafed a beached destroyer Nagatsuki at Surumuni Cove on Kolombangara and strafed Buri village.
U.S. Army: Maj Gen Oscar W. Griswold, Commanding General (CG) of XIV Corps, is ordered to New Georgia. Momentum of 43d Div's westward drive towards Munda slows, particularly on right, where 169th Inf is brought to a halt at junction of Munda Trail with trail leading towards Laiana. Jungle terrain makes close air support increasingly difficult as attack progresses and is also slowing road construction.
B-24s from the 307th BG bomb Kahili Airfield. Returning, lost is B-24D "Alley Cat" 42-40646 (KIA).
F-5A Lightning piloted by 1st Lt Lt. Eugene R. Brown took off on a photo reconassiance mission over Kahili, Ballale and Shortland. Over the target area intercepted by two Zeros from the 582 Kokutai that shot out his left engine, but he managed to dive to 500' and escape landing safely.
USMC: The 1st Raider Battalion (reinforced) of attacking from Triri clears most of the Enogai area but are now totally dependent upon airdrops for food and water.
USN: USS Halibut (SS-232) damages Japanese transport (ex-armed merchant cruiser) Aikoku Maru, 10°27'N, 150°50'E.
USS Pompano (SS-181) damages Japanese oiler Kyokuyo Maru, 33°34'N, 136°07'N.
USS Steelhead (SS-280) damages Japanese escort carrier Un'yo, 10°00'N, 150°48'E.
Anglo-Iranian oil company tugs tow damaged freighter Alcoa Prospector, torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-27 on 5 July 1943, into Bandar Abbas, Iran. Although there are no casualties inflicted by I- 27's attack, one merchant seaman dies of pneumonia.
U.S. freighter Alice F. Palmer, bound for Durban, is torpedoed by German submarine U-177 at 26°30'S, 44°10'E, and abandoned by the 43 merchant seamen and the 25-man Armed Guard. After the Germans question the survivors, U-177 hastens the freighter's sinking by shelling her before she clears the area (see 13, 25, 26 and 30 July 1943).
References
Comairsols Daily ISUM July 11, 1943 "A P-38 [sic F-5A] out on a photo mission was attacked at 30,000 feet yesterday morning by 2 Zeros. The port motor was shot out, and the cowling and propeller of the starboard engine was hit. Dropping to 500 feet the P-38 managed to shake off the Zeros over Vella Lavella and returned to base."
Argus-Leader "Martin Man Awarded Air Medal in Pacific" November 13, 1943 page 5
Argus-Leader "Martin Man Wins Army Air Medal - Eugene R. Brown Flies disabled ship in Solomon Mission" November 15, 1943 page 10
Kodochosho, 582 Kōkūtai, July 10, 1943
"Two A6M Zeros from 582 Kokutai took off from Buin and contacted a P-38 at 07:45 Tokyo time."
The Crusaders A History of the 42nd Bombardment Group (M) page 38
