June 2, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

TUESDAY, 2 JUNE 1942

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, 7th Air Force): Six of sixteen B-17s that have been on detached service at Midway return to Oahu.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): B-17s bomb the dock and military camp area at Rabaul. 39th Fighter Squadron, 35th Fighter Group, moves from Woodstock to 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby with P-39s; first mission is today. 40th Fighter Squadron, 35th Fighter Group, moves from Antil Plains to 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby with P-39s

Australia: Prime Minister John Curtin bouyed by the arrival of American forces challenges the Japanese, saying "I defy the enemy to land large forces in Australia".

USAAF: B-26 Marauders from the 70th Bombardment Squadron took off from Hamilton Field on a ferry flight to Hickam Field to join the Hawaiian Defense Command. Each bomber has two 250 gallon auxiliary fuel tanks installed in the bomb bay and reduced crews. The formation was divided into three flights: A, B and C. "A Flight" (Flight A): B-26B " Miss Cookie Lee" 41-17562 pilot Sharp, B-26B "Gallopin' Ghost" 41-17574 pilot Cressy, B-26B "Irene" 41-17564 pilot Morrison and B-26B 41-17576 pilot Larson. "B Flight" (Flight B): B-26B "Queenie" 41-17586 pilot Eddy, B-26B 41-17575 pilot Boden, B-26B 41-17590 pilot Martin and B-26B "Liberty Bell" 41-17584 pilot Durbin. "C Flight" (Flight C) : B-26B "Dixie Belle" 41-17558 pilot Callaham, B-26B 41-17550 pilot Griffith, B-26B 41-17569 pilot Miller and B-26B 41-175547 pilot Smith. All bombers landed safely although some diverted to Hilo Airfield and did not reach Hickam Field until June 4-5, too late to participate in the Battle of Midway but were on standby.

IJN: Japanese submarine I-24 takes up position roughly 35 miles southeast of Norah Head north of Sydney to recover her midget submarine, but it fails to return and is presumed lost. While recharging her batteries on the surface, spots Australian coastal steamer Age and fires a torpedo that misses and fires four rounds from her 140mm deck gun that also miss. I-24 sees the vessel disappear and claims it as sunk but in fact it was undamaged. Ninety minutes later roughly 27 miles off Sydney, fires two torpedoes at Australian merchant Iron Chieftain en route from Newcastle to Whyalla with a cargo of coke and shipyard materials. One torpedo hits her port side amidships. Her heavy load drags her to the bottom in about five minutes.