June 29, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

TUESDAY, 29 JUNE 1943

CBI BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) The 89th Fighter Squadron, 80th Fighter Group arrives at Karachi from the US with P-40's.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-25's bomb and strafe strong points along the Bitoi River and A-20's pound a supply dump on the south side of Nassau Bay in preparation for allied amphibious landings which are to begin during the night of 29/30 June. A lone B-24 bombs building area west of Parsee Point near Salamaua; and other B-24's bomb Nabire.

U.S. Army: U.S. assault forces are steaming into the central Solomon Islands for Operation Toenails. Other forces approach the Trobriand Islands and another landing force is bound for Nassau Bay on the north coast of New Guinea.

USN: Naval Auxiliary Air Facility Shemya is established on Shemya Island.

USS Gurnard (SS-254) unsuccessfully attacks Japanese convoy, 07°34'N, 134°26'E.

Mikage Maru No. 8 is sunk in collision with Nikko Maru 30 miles west of Iwanni, northern coast of Hokkaido, 45°04'N, 142°03'E.

USN: In the early afternoon, Task Force 68 (TF 68) "Merrill's Marauders" under the command of Rear Admiral Aaron S. Merrill departs with Task Unit 36.2.1 (TU 36.2.1) four cruisers USS Montpelier (CL-57) with Rear Admiral Aaron S. Merrill aboard, USS Cleveland (CL-55), USS Columbia (CL-56), USS Denver (CL-58) and five destroyers USS Pringle (DD-477), USS Waller (DD-466), USS Renshaw (DD-499), USS Saufley (DD-465) and USS Philip (DD-498) plus Task Unit 36.2.2 (TU 36.2.2) light minelayers USS Preble (DM-20), USS Gamble (DM-15), and USS Breese (DM-18) head up "The Slot" at 26 knots on a night bombardment and minelaying mission in the Shortland Islands and will contact a bombardment and minelaying on June 30, 1943 in the early morning hours.