July 5, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SUNDAY, 5 JULY 1942

ALASKA (11th AF): A B-17 flies a weather mission.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th AF): B-17s and 22nd BG B-26's attack Lae and Salamaua. Headquarters Squadron (HQ Squadron), 22d Bombardment Group (Medium) moves from Townsville to Woodstock. Force landed is B-17E 41-2417 roughly 15 miles northeast of the Mitchell River Mission on Cape York.

USN: A team finds A6M2 Zero 4593 upside down and damaged but was deemed to be repairable. The drop tank was found nearby, indicating it was not released prior to the crash.