July 1, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

WEDNESDAY, 1 JULY 1942

ALASKA (11th AF): The XI Bomber Command (Provisional) comprising the 28th Composite Group and its assigned squadrons is activated, Colonel William O. Eareckson in command. A B-17 flies weather reconnaissance over Kiska and returns early due to bad weather.

WESTERN US DEFENSE (4th AF): 4th Bombardment Squadron, 7th Bombardment Squadron, 18th Bombardment Squadron and 391st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 34th Bombardment Group (Heavy) move from Davis-Monthan Field to Geiger Field and continue flying ASW patrols with B-24s.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) (10th AF): Four B-25s from Hengyang escorted by P-40s bomb docks at Hankow, bad weather handicaps the bombardiers, and the effects of the raid are inconsequential.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th AF): B-26's bomb Salamaua. Other medium and heavy bomber strikes abort due to bad weather. B-17E 41-9014 crashed killing three of the crew returning from a mission against Kendari Airfield.

USN: USS Sturgeon (SS-187) fires a spread of four torpedoes with two hitting and sinking Montevideo Maru about 65 miles west of Cape Bojeador on Luzon in the Philippines. The Montevideo Maru was not marked to indicate it was transporting 1,053 Allied prisoners who all perish as the ship sinks.