July 6, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

MONDAY, 6 JULY 1942

China: B-25s of the 11th BS (Medium) attacked the waterfront at Canton, marking their initial action against coastal facilities of Japanese-held Chinese ports. The 2nd AVG Squadron took part in this raid between 11:40-14:00. They were in combat with reported I-97 fighters 50 miles north-west of Canton and Flight Leader John Petach claimed one destroyed and one probable while Squadron Leader David Hill claimed one destroyed.

Gen Stilwell issues letter of instructions setting up command structure of a theater in CBI, with "Headquarters, American Army Forces, China, Burma, and India" at Chungking and branch office at New Delhi. A few days later another branch office is established at Kunming. China Air Task Force (CATF) is activated.

ALASKA (11th AF): Four B-24s and one LB-30 fly bombing and weather missions over Kiska, the results are not observed.

CHINA AIR TASK FORCE (CATF): B-25s bomb the waterfront at Canton marking their initial action against coastal facilities of Japanese held Chinese ports.

5th AF: Lost is P-400 Airacobra AP377 pilot 2nd Lt. Howard C. Welker (KIA) damaged over Buna, bails out but his parachute failed to open and died on impact. His body was recovered by Reverened James Benson and buried at Gona Mission.

USN: Completed is SS Matthew P. Deady and the same day assigned to American-Hawaiian Steamship Company under a General Agency Agreement (GAA) for the U.S. Navy (USN) as a cargo vessel.

USMC: Marine Corps Air Station, El Centro, California, was organized.