June 9, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

TUESDAY, 9 JUNE 1942

ALASKA (11th Air Force): Patrols are flown but encounter no aircraft.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, 7th Air Force): Brigadier General Howard C Davidson, Commanding General VII Fighter Command, also becomes Commanding General 7th Air Force.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): After midnight shortly after take off from Whenuapai Airfield crashed is B-17E "Texas Tornado" 41-2667 (KIA). B-17s, B-25s, and B-26s attack Lae and Salamaua. Shot down is A6M2 Zero pilot Yoshino (MIA). Lost are B-26 "The Virginian" 40-1508 (MIA) and P-400 piloted by Wahl (survived). On the return to base, B-26 "Southern Cross" 40-1363 force lands at 7-Mile Drome, its crew safe and is later repaired. Future U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson was a passenger aboard B-26 40-1588 that aborted the mission he was awarded the Silver Star for his role on this mission. Slightly damaged is B-25C 41-12449.