June 28, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SUNDAY, 28 JUNE 1942

Middle East: U.S. Army Middle East Air Force is established in Middle East under command of Lt Gen Lewis H. Brereton. It consists of Halverson Detachment (HALPRO) with nine B-17's.

ALASKA (11th Air Force): A B-17 weather aircraft flies over Kiska. A solid weather front cancels bombing. On this and the following day submarines land the U.S. advanced reconnaissance parties on Adak.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (10th Air Force): 11th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy), based at Kunming, sends a detachment to operate from Dinjan with B-25s.

USN: USS Nautilus (SS-168) is damaged by depth charges off central Honshu, 34°34'N, 140°13'E.

Submarine Stingray (SS-186), attacking Japanese convoy, torpedoes and sinks gunboat Saikyo Maru about 190 miles north of Yap, Carolines, 12°41'N, 136°22'E; cargo ship Meiten Maru fires at Stingray's periscope without effect.

PBYs from VP-14 bomb Japanese base at Tulagi.

Australian Army: Four platoons of Australian commandos land and attack Japanese position at Salamaua. They killing about 100 enemy troops, bringing back three trucks and a portable bridge. Allied morale is boosted, but the attack fails to gain any significant ground from the Japanese.