June 13, 1944
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

TUESDAY, 13 JUNE 1944

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): During the night of 12/13 Jun 6 B-24s dispatched to fly an offensive sweep and provide air cover for a naval task force abort the missions due to weather.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): A few P-51s hit Mogaung, Burma. In India, 39 B-25s fly ammunition to the Imphal area; HQ 12th Bombardment Group (Medium) and 81st, 83d and 434th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium) move from Tezgaon to Pandaveswar (group and 83d) and Madhaiganj (81st and 434th) with B-25s; and 35th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, AAF, India-Burma Sector, arrives at Guskhara from the US with F-5s.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, eighteen B-25s and 56 fighter-bombers pound the marshalling yard at Wuchang; about 70 other B-25s and fighter-bombers attack a variety of other targets in the Tungting Lake region, including many river vessels, Pailochi Airfield, troop positions NE of Changsha, warehouse and factory area at Shasi and numerous general targets of opportunity; 12 fighter-bombers hit Japanese HQ and barracks at Loyang; four B-24s over the South China Sea claim one cargo vessel sunk; 4 P-40s pound Japanese positions at Watien and Kaitou; and 491st Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 341st Bombardment Group (Medium), based at Yangkai, sends a detachment to operate from Kweilin and Liuchow with B-25s.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): During the night of 12/13 June B-24s from Eniwetok hit Truk and Ponape is followed by a daylight attack by Makin based B-25s against Nauru and Ponape.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC, Thirteenth Air Force): 9 P-38s and 23 P-39s hit Ralum and AA positions to the south; 24 B-25s bomb Tobera AA guns and Tobera; 15 B-24s, in two waves, bomb Praed Point; and six B-24s bomb Tobera. 31 P-39s and 12 USN aircraft attack supply dumps at Buka and Tapsadawato, Bougainville, bomb approach to the Abia River bridge, and hit a garden area at Tabago all on Bougainville.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, Fifth Air Force): 100+ A-20s and a few B-25s and P-39s attack miscellaneous targets in the Wewak area; P-39s hit the area around Hollandia and P-47s bomb a bridge over the Orai River and fuel dumps near Sarmi; and A-20s blast enemy positions north of Borokoe. B-24s bomb Liang Airfield on Ambon. B-24s from Los Negros bomb Dublon and Woleai and Satawan. Lost is B-24D "Uncle Sam" 42-23856 (MIA). C-47A "Polly" 42-23856 suffers a mid-air collison with C-47A 42-92028 over Dumpu but both survived.

RAAF: Lost is P-40N A29-410 (survived).

USN: Carrier aircraft from USS Lexington (CV-16) including TBM Avengers from VT-16 strike Aslito Airfield on Saipan. Lost is TBM-1C Avenger 25288 pilot Commander Robert H. Isely (MIA).