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

FRIDAY, 3 JULY 1942

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

China: Ki-27 from 54th Sentai and 10th I F Chutai fly a mission over Hengyang.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) (10th AF): Five B-25s from 11th BS that took off at about 09:00 from Hengyang led by Major Basye into doubtful weather to attack Nanchang Airfield. They climbed up over the overcast and as they approached their target one and a half hour later, it looked like they would be unable to find their target because of near-solid overcast. When they hit the river, which flows along the west side of their target, a large hole revealed the airdrome clearly. They dove clown to an altitude of about 2,500 feet and released their bombs over the large hangers and ramps. Heavy anti-aircraft fire of large calibre began to close in on their line of flight prompting Major Basye to manoeuvre violently and climb back up over the overcast. As the bombers levelled off at the above course, Lieutenant Crouch came out over the command frequency, ”I see red spots and they are right over us!” One came from below and was halted in his attack by Staff Sergeant Adam R. Williams as he got too close and Williams got him as he tried to pull away.

Two hours and a half after take-off, they were back at the base. Besides the one confirmed which Williams got in the air, the raid destroyed six confirmed and several probables on the ground. Taking part in this raid was also P-40s from the 3rd AVG Squadron, which engaged the attacking Japanese fighters. Wingman Harry Bolster (P-40E #111) claimed one Ki-27 over Nanchang at 10:00 while Wingman James Raines (#116) claimed a second over Nanchang airfield/Kweilin at 10:30. They also claimed 2 destroyed and 1 destroyed on the ground. Harry Bolster, in making good his promise to go down and strafe if the bombers did a good job, got his oil cooler punctured by small calibre anti-aircraft and only managed to get to friendly lines before being forced to bail out; he claimed, however, one Ki-27 destroyed on the ground at Nanchang at 10:30. Japanese fighters intercepted the raid over Nanchang, including Ki-27s from the 54th Sentai. The 54th Sentai took part in combats over Hengyang and Nanchang on 22 June, 3 and 4 July, claiming three P- 40s destroyed and two probables while losing five aircraft (three pilots killed) in these raids. The 10th I F Chutai also took part in these combats claiming a number of victories (at least six were claimed on 3 July and 5 August). No American aircraft seems to have been lost during this attack. On 11 November, one of the B-25 crews (Pilot 1st Lieutenant Charles D. Jantzen, Co-pilot 2nd Lieutenant Lloyd surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/sino-japanese-1942.htm 23/46 1/17/26, 5:20 PM Håkans Aviation page – Sino-Japanese Air War 1942 N. Kindall, Jr., Navigator 2nd Lieutenant Vincent J. Scally, Bombardier 2nd Lieutenant Robert E. Davis, Engineer Sergeant John Bayley, Radio operator Sergeant Patrick Boudreaux) was decorated with the Silver Star for their part in this mission. The citation states: “On July 3, 1942, the above crew participated in a raid against an enemy held Nan Chang Airfield in China. Because of unfavourable weather, it was necessary to attack at low altitude to insure the success of the mission, and although opposed by anti-aircraft fire and harassed by six enemy fighters, the attack was pressed home, resulting in the certain destruction of six airplanes on the ground and serious damage to runways and enemy ground installations. Such gallantry in action when opposed by both ground fire and enemy fighters is characteristic of the finest traditions of the Army Air Forces."

During the night Japanese aircraft Ki-27 from 54th Sentai and 10th I F Chutai again strike Hengyang and once more failed to hit Hengyang Airfield. The 11th BS reported that it was three Japanese bombers and they arrived an hour earlier than the previous night. Again, they made a wide circle of the field and again the bombs went to the right of the mark. The 11th BS then moved back to Kweilin.

U.S. Army: General Marshall authorizes creation of a mobile air force for SWPA and another for POA. Preparations for offensive in the Pacific continue at a rapid pace.

ALASKA (11th AF): Seven B-24s and two B-17s bomb Kiska and Near Islands, 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 anti-submarine patrols.

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).