June 23, 1944
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

FRIDAY, 23 JUNE 1944

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Two B-25s fly a negative shipping sweep.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, twelve B-24s fly gasoline to Kamaing while 29 B-25s make an ammunition run to Imphal; about 80 A-36s, P-51s and P-40s attack Mogaung, Myitkyina, Taungni and a bridge at Namkwi.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, twenty B-24s bomb docks at Hankow; in the Tungting Lake area 70+ B-25s and fighter-bombers attack a wide variety of river shipping at several locations, bomb a runway at Hengyang Airfield, strafe cavalry troops in the area, and hit the towns and villages of Chuchou, Ikiawan, Chuting, Chwanchishih, and Siangtan; 30 B-25s and fighter-bombers hit various targets of opportunity along the Yellow River.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s from Eniwetok strike Truk. B-25s from Engebi pound Ponape. During the evening, B-24s from Kwajalein also attack Ponape. P-47s of the 73rd Fighter Squadron, 318th Fighter Group, are launched off USS Manila Bay (CVE-61) and land on Saipan.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: The Wewak area is again pounded throughout the day by A-20s, P-39s, P-47s and RAAF aircraft; a few A-20s and A-26s on a barge search bomb offshore islands near Manokwari; this marks the SWPA debut of the A-26; P-47s on sweeps strafe areas east of Maffin; and 8th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Group, moves from Hollandia to Biak with P-38s. B-24s hit the airfield at Yap and Woleai. B-24s on armed reconnaissance bomb Dublon and Koror. B-24s bomb Tobera Airfield and B-25s along with other Allied aircraft, hit AA positions S and SW of Rapopo. Lost is P-38H 42-66828 (MIA).

USN: Carrier aircraft strike Pagan. Lost are F6F Hellcat 42135 (MIA) and F6F Hellcat 42117 (rescued).