June 12, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

FRIDAY, 12 JUNE 1942

China: Thirteen Ki-27 from 54th Sentai and 84th I F Chutai strike Kweilin claiming five destroyed and four probables for the loss of three fighters. The 3rd chutai from 54th Sentai engaged P-40s over Kweilin claiming three and two probables. The pilots killed were Second Lieutenant Jiro Ieiri (Sho-1) and Sergeant Major Misao Yamada (Sho-4) of the 84th I F Chutai and Sergeant Kunihiro Nakano (NCOR) of the 54th Sentai. They were intercepted by AVG P-40s from 1st Squadron that claim 9 and 4 probables.

ALASKA (11th Air Force): 6 B-17s and 1 B-24 bomb shipping in Kiska Harbor off Kiska. A cruiser is heavily damaged and destroyer Hibiki is seen burning. B-24D 41-1090 pilot George Rogers crashed on take off. 42d Fighter Squadron, 54th Fighter Group based at Harding Field begins operating from Kodiak with P-39s.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): B-17s bomb the building area at Vunakanau Airfield and Lakunai Airfield.

U.S. Army: GHQ authorizes construction of airfields at Milne Bay at the southeastern tip of New Guinea.

U.S. Navy: USS Plunger (SS-179) is damaged when an emergency identification flare explodes as she makes signal to friendly aircraft; she suffers no serious injuries and remains on patrol.

USS Swordfish (SS-193) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Burma Maru northwest of Pulo Wai, in the Gulf of Siam, 10°08'N, 102°34'E.