July 3, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

FRIDAY, 3 JULY 1942

IJN: Mitsubishi completes A6M3 Zero 3032 the 32nd Model 32 manufactured.

ALASKA (11th AF): Seven B-24s and two B-17s bomb Kiska and Near, encountering neither fighter opposition nor AA; results are not observed.

WESTERN DEFENSE COMMAND: 46th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 41st Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from NAS Alameda to Hammer Field with A-29s and B-18s and continues flying ASW patrols.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) (10th AF): In China, 10th AF aircraft bomb and strafe Nanchang Airfield, the probable base of the preceding night's raiders on Hengyang; several parked aircraft are destroyed; during the night Japanese aircraft again strike at Hengyang and once more fail to hit the airfield.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th AF): B-17s attack the barracks area at Koepang, and Lae Airfield. An A-24 bombs Tulagi [sic, likely a location with similar sounding name in New Guinea]. Crashed is B-26B "Liberty Bell" 41-17584 (two killed, two survived).