June 7, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

MONDAY, 7 JUNE 1943

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) P-38s and P-40s, along with Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) P-40's and Navy and Marine fighters, intercept a large force of fighter-escorted dive bombers on a mission against Allied shipping off Guadalcanal. Fighters from the newly-opened Banika Island bases initiate the interception. A running fight develops and extends down to Guadalcanal. More than 20 Japanese aircraft are downed; 9 Allied fighters are lost but all the pilots are recovered. Some of the Zeros were performing glide bombing attacks.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-17's and B-24's attack Wewak, Lae, Madang, and Kesup hitting town areas and airfields, and strafe sampans on the Sepik River.

RAAF: Beaufighter "Time Gentlemen Please / Pandemonium" A19-27 pilot S/Ldr William T. M. Boulton force lands at 5 Mile Drome (Ward) near Port Moresby.

IJN: Japanese submarine I-24 sends her last message, reporting many U.S. ships in the area.