June 30, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

WEDNESDAY, 30 JUNE 1943

JAAF: Japanese aircraft bomb Fenton Airfield and destroy three B-24 Liberators including B-24D "Contrary Mary" 41-23764 and CW-22 Falcon. Spitfires intercept the formation.

RAAF: Spitfires from No. 452 Squadron took off to interecept the incoming Japanese air raid. Lost is Spitfire A58-2 (survived).

U.S. Army (South West Pacific Area): The Sixth Army, operating as ALAMObegins combat operations in the South West Pacific Area. An invasion force including 3 PT Boats, 29 LCVP landing craft, 1 LCV and two captured Japanese barges under the 2nd Engineer Special Brigade lands the U.S. Army, 41st Infantry Division (41st ID), 162nd Infantry Regiment (162nd IR) "MacKechnie Force" lands at Nassau Bay without opposition and established a beachhead but 18 landing craft were wrecked by pounding surf. Ashore, the soldiers push north towards the Bitoi River and south towards Tabali Creek. Overnight, troops make contact with enemy forces in the Cape Dinga area south of Nassau Bay. Meanwhile, the 158th Regimental Combat Team (158th RCT) and the 46th Engineer Combat Company, reinforced, land unopposed on Kiriwini Island and Woodlark Island where airfields will be established. Force.

Australian Army: Begins the assault on Bobdubi Ridge and maintain pressure on the enemy in the Mubo area.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-25s bomb Bobdubi Ridge in support of the assault and hit forces at Logui and Salamaua. Other B-25s bomb Cape Chater Airfield. Meanwhile, 43rd BG B-24's and B-17's bomb an airfield at Rabaul. Lost is B-17F "Pluto" 41-24543 pilot 1st Lt Harold S. Barnett (MIA) shot down by J1N1 Irving night fighter pilot Shigetoshi Kudo. One bomber scores a hit on a cargo vessel off Cape Gloucester. The 57th Troop Carrier Squadron, 375th Troop Carrier Group arrives at Port Moresby from the US with C-47's.

U.S. Army: Operation Cartwheel, converging drives towards Rabaul by forces in the South Pacific (SOPAC) and South West Pacific Area (SWPA) opens with amphibious operations against the central Solomon Islands, Trobriand Islands and Nassau Bay on the north coast of New Guinea.

The Sixth Army operating as "Alamo Force" main body conducts their first operation landing at Kiriwina and Woodlark without opposition to build airfields.

MacKechnie Force (Col MacKechnie, commander of 162d Inf, 41st Div), consisting now of 1st Bn, 162d Inf, and supporting U.S. and Aus forces, begins unopposed landing at Nassau Bay shortly after midnight 29-30, aided by lights of Aus forces ashore. Final wave, Co B, does not land until later. MacKechnie Force pushes N toward Bitoi R and S toward Tabali R, soon meeting enemy opposition. Papuan Inf Bn (PIB) scouts blocking enemy movement in Cape Dinga area, S of Nassau Bay, force enemy back toward American positions. Aus 3d Div's 15th Brig opens attack on Bobdubi Ridge, and 17th Brig maintains pressure against enemy positions in Mubo salient. All operations are commanded by New Guinea Force (Gen Herring, commander, pending arrival of Gen Blarney).

Operation Toenails: The New Georgia campaign begins with amphibious landings by the "Western Landing Force" that lands U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy personnel on northern Rendova while other landings take place elsewhere in the New Georgia area.

U.S. Army (South Pacific): At 7:00am, the "Western Landing Force" including the 43rd Infantry Division, 172nd Infantry Regiment lands on the northern tip of Rendova. Due to bad weather, two companies of the 172nd Infantry land in the wrong location.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) USAAF and other Allied fighters cover the U.S. landings northern Rendova. B-25's and US Navy dive bombers bomb Munda Airfield. Lost on a morning armed reconnaissance mission is B-24D Liberator 42-40254 piliot 2nd Lt. Nathaniel G. J. Guiberson (MIA). In the morning, B-24s from 307th BG armed with 500 pound bombs with half fused instantaneous and half with delay fused to explode 6, 12 and 36 hours to neutralize the airfield in conjunction with the New Georgia landings attempted to bomb Kahili Airfield but abort due to bad weather. The mission is rescheduled for July 1, 1943 and again aborted then completed on July 6, 1943. (Reference: Consolidated Mission Report 307th Bomb Group, 13th Air Force).

USN: Naval vessels and craft on hand (all types) 18,493. Personnel: Navy 1,741,750; Marine Corps 310,994; Coast Guard 154,976. Total Personnel: 2,207,720.

At 1:54am, 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) conduct a bombardment and minelaying operation in the Shortland Islands. Due to heavy rain and poor visibility, visual observation was impossible and radar was used to direct the bombardment. This was the deepest penetration by Allied warships into enemy held territory to date. The minelayers lay 336 mines off Shortland Harbor then the force withdraws to Tulagi Harbor.

USMC: Worldwide, the active duty strength of the Marine Corps was 308,523 including 21,384 officers and 287,139 enlisted.

The Viru Occupation Unit lands at Nono on New Georgia to join the 4th Raider Battalion in an attack on Viru Harbor.

Vangunu: Companies N and Q, of the 4th Raider Battalion land unopposed near Oloana Bay followed by the 2d Battalion 103d Infantry Regiment, USA, and supporting units. The Raiders and Company F, 103d Regiment, moving toward Wickham Anchorage, overran their objective.

USN: In the early morning hours, Task Force 68 (TF 68) "Merrill's Marauders" under the command of Rear Admiral Aaron S. Merrill as Task Group 36.2 (TG 36.2), 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) conduct a night bombardment and minelaying of Ballale, Poporang and Shortlands.

At 3:00am, Task Unit 31.1.1 (TU 31.1.1) Onaiavisi Occupation Unit including USS Talbot (APD-7) and USS Zane (DMS-14) enters Onaiavisi Channel and lands troops at Sasavele Island (Dume) and Baraulu Island. At 2:57am, USS Zane (DMS-14) ran aground off Sasavele Island but was able to unload and managed to twist free but at 5:30am ran aground again and sustained damage and was later unsuccessfully towed by USS Talbot (APD-7) then freed by USS Rail (AT-139) and towed to safety. Companies A and B, 169th Infantry, USA, secured the islands guarding the entrance to Roviana Lagoon and Zanana Beach on the shore line of New Georgia.

At 7:00am, the "Western Landing Force" of Task Force 31.1 (TF-31.1) enters Rendova Harbor and lands U.S. forces on northern Rendova. For the first time in the Pacific War, Landing Ship Tank (LST) are used in the amphibious landing. The 24th Naval Construction Battalion (24th NCB) "Seabees" and U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) 9th Marine Defense Battalion plus elements of the U.S. Army 172d Infantry Regiment and 103d Infantry Regiment land on northern Rendova against light resistance. Marines secure Kokorana Island and clear an area for a 90mm anti-aircraft gun battery.

With the invasion force was underway, twelve P. T. Boats from Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 9 (MTBS-9) under the command of Lt. Commander Kelly enters Rendova Harbor with orders to establish a temporary PT Boat base. They will operate as directed by Commander Naval Base Rendova. During the day, the boats searched for a suitable location and were refueled using fuel drums lightered out by Landing Craft Mechanized (LCM).

From dawn to dusk, Marine fighter planes from VMF-121, VMF-122, VMF-213, and VMF-221 fly Combat Air Patrols (CAP) "Rendova Patrols" over Rendova in the early morning, morning and early afternoon including sixteen F4F Wildcats from VF-21 plus F4U Corsairs from VMF-121 and VMF-213 and intercept Japanese air raids.

The U.S. lost fourteen fighters with ten pilots rescued including:
VF-21 losses (3 planes lost, 1 pilot rescued): F4F Wildcat pilot Henry (MIA): F4F Wildcat 11862 pilot Lt(jg) Thomas A. Ruth (MIA) and F4F Wildcat 03441 piloted by Thrash (rescued).
VMF-121 losses (3 planes lost, 1 pilot rescued): F4U Corsair 02453 pilot Lt. Foxworth (MIA), F4U Corsair 02628 pilot Captain Gordon (MIA) and F4U Corsair 02580 pilot Captain Baron (survived).
VMF-213 losses (2 planes lost, 1 pilot rescued): F4U 02518 pilot Major Gregory J. Weissenberger (rescued) and F4U 02598 pilot Lt Milton E. Peck (MIA).

In the early afternoon, flagship USS McCawley (APA-4) was hit by an aerial torpedo amidships and the damaged vessel was taken under tow and later that night mistakenly sunk by torpedoes from PT boats.

That evening, the PT Boats conducted their first mission from Rendova Harbor patrolling north of Rendova Island to the Roviana Lagoon to screen landing craft. Also to patrol east and west of Mbalumbalu Island in Blanche Channel to intercept Japanese forces expected to attempt to reinforce Viru Harbor and were advise no friendly vessels would be operating in the area. This patrol detected a large transport on radar and the first section of six PT Boats made a torpedo attack claiming multiple hits that caused it to sink. In fact, they sank USS McCawley (APA-4).

IJN: In the early morning, G4M1 Betty piloted by PO Rokuro Saito from 705 Kokutai spots a U.S. force of transports, destroyers and landing craft 10 miles south of Rendova and reports them and afterwards is shot down by F4F Wildcats from VF-21. Immediately, a series of air raids are planned to attack what is correctly perceived to be a significant amphibious operation against the central Solomon Islands.

The first air raid was in the morning against Rendova was by fifteen A6M Zeros from 582 Kokutai plus twelve A6M Zeros from 204 Kokutai led by CPO Hideo Watanabe with twelve of the attacking Zeros armed with bombs and reached the area after 50 minutes and were intercepted by U.S. fighters and were unable to bomb the force and dog fights unfolded. Japanese claims: 582 Kokutai claimed ten shot down and two probables. 204 Kokutai claimed fourteen shot down and four probables (other sources report 30 fighters and 1 bomber shot down with 8 uncertain plus 1 cruiser and 2 destroyers sunk). Japanese losses: none (other sources list 3 Zeros failed to return). 582 Ku lost (unclear if first or third air raid) PO1c Nobutaka Yanami, PO2c Takamichi Sasamoto.

The second air raid was in the early afternoon against Rendova, twenty-six G4M1 Bettys armed with torpedoes (seventeen from 702 Kokutai led by Lt Cdr Genzo Nakamura and nine G4M1 Bettys from 705 Kokutai) escorted by twenty-four A6M Zeros from 251 Kokutai spotted the U.S. transports in Blanche Channel. The Japanese were intercepted by U.S. fighters from the "Rendova Patrol" including F4F Wildcats and F4U Corsairs and targeted by anti-aircraft fire from the ships that decimated the formation. Only about ten Bettys managed to release their torpedoes that resulted in only a single hit damaged USS McCawley (APA-4) amidships, although two more torpedoes passed nearby.

Claims: The Japanese claimed 1 destroyer and 4 transports set afire (only USS McCawley (APA-4) was damaged). The escorting Zeros claimed eight U.S. fighters shot down and one probable.

Losses: In total, 19 Bettys and 17 crews were lost (other sources claim 17 lost). 702 Ku lost thirteen including G4M1 Betty Tail 2-343 crashed on Rendova. Only three 702 Ku Bettys landed safely and a fourth ditched with the crew rescued. Escorting A6M Zeros from 251 Ku lost eight (other sources list ten) including Lt Ichiro Mukai (Hikotai Leader), Lt(jg) Takeyoshi Ohno, Lt(jg) Mitsuteru Hashimoto, PO2c Hiroshi Iwano, PO2c Nobuo Konishi, PO2c Uichiro Ando, PO2c Kazu Fukui, PO2c Shun-ichi Hiromori.

The third air raid was in the early evening against Rendova, ten D3A Val dive bombers escorted by twenty-four A6M Zeros from 582 Kokutai and 204 Kokutai led by Lt(jg) Usaburo Suzuki. Over the target, intercepted by U.S. fighters. The Japanese Zeros made no claims and suffered no losses.

The fourth air raid was in the evening by thirteen F1M Petes from 938 Kokutai and lost seven (US claimed 18 float planes shot down).

As a result of these air raids, the Japanese 1st Base Air Force lost of quarter of their air strength and were unable to stop the U.S. landings in the area and forced Admiral Jinichi Kusaka to request reinforcements from Saipan.

Meanwhile, twelve SBDs from VMSB-132 led by Captain J. H. Stock plus eighteen TBFs with fighter escort strike Vila Airfield on Kolombangara. Lost is SBD Dauntless 10822 pilot 1st Lt. Robert H. McArdle (MIA), SBD-3 Dauntless 4550 pilot 1st Lt. G. B. Herlihy (survived) and SBD-5 Dauntless 10814 pilot Captain J. H. Stock (survived), SBD-4 Dauntless 06966 pilot 1st Lt. McGuckin (survived), SBD-3 Dauntless 06636 pilot 1st Lt S. K. Otterson, SBD Dauntless 06951 pilot 1st Lt. R. D. Bachtel (survived).

USN: In Operation Toenails, Third Fleet Amphibious Force under the command of Rear Admiral Richmond K. Turner supported by land-based aircraft (Vice Admiral Aubrey W. Fitch) lands Marines and Army troops on Rendova and other islands in the New Georgia area, Solomons. Destroyer Gwin (DD-433) is damaged off Munda by a Japanese shore battery.

USS Hulbert (AVD-6) is damaged when it ran aground off Alexai Point inside Massacre Bay off Attu.

Indian Ocean: Last survivors of U.S. freighter Henry Knox, torpedoed and sunk by Japanese submarine I-37 on 19 June 1943, reaches the Maldives. From Henry Knox's complement, 13 of 42-man merchant sailors perish, as do 13 of the 25-man Armed Guard.

Launched is is SS Leonidas Merritt as a Maritime Commission Emergency Cargo Ship (EC2-S-C1) Liberty Ship.

References
Record of Events, Fighter Command, Guadalcanal, February 1, 1943 to July, 25, 1943 (HQ MAG 12, 1st MAW) 25 July 1943 pages 4-5
(Page 4) "June 30th marked the actual start of the New Georgia offensive. A 32 plane fighter patrol was maintained from dawn to dusk over Rendova.
The first air activity on this day occurred on the morning when a fighter sweep of 30-40 Zeros were reported approaching Rendova [actually the first encounter was with a search Betty and involved VF-21's first 16 plane patrol]. 28 additional fighters were scrambled immediately upon receipt of this information, thereby making a fighter patrol of 60 planes. The planes then on patrol shot down 16 Zeros in this phase of the days actions. [VF-21 had 16 F4Fs in this action]. The second enemy air attack took place in the early afternoon when an estimated 30 twin engine bombers [G4M1 Bettys] with fighter escort attempted a torpedo attack on our shipping in the vicinity of Rendova. This attack was turned back by the patrolling fighters with no torpedo hits being registered on the shipping. [sic, a torpedo damaged USS McCawley (APA-4)].
(Page 5) "Later in the afternoon a dive bombing attack (Handwritten in margin: The McCawley was hit by a torpedo plane) was launched against the same shipping targets. Hits on transport and a DD were their only success against shipping for the day.
The last attack of the day, June 30th was made by an undetermined number of float planes, 18 of which were shot down.
The result of the actions of June 30th were 101 planes shot down for the loss of 14 of our planes with all but five pilots recovered."
Japanese Monographs No. 122 "Outlines of Southeast Area Naval Air Operations Part III (November 1942-June 1943)"
Consolidated Mission Report 307th Bomb Group, 13th Air Force
"This [B-24 307th BG bombing] mission was originally planned for June 30th, for the specific purpose of neutralizing Kahili Airdrome in aid of offensive instituted that day against Jap positions in the New Georgia Islands. This accounts for the delayed fuse bombs, used for the first time by our planes in this theatre."
Mitsubishi Type 1 Rikko 'Betty' Units of WWII (2001) by Osamu Tagaya page 74
(Page 74) "Confronting a new enemy landing [at Rendova], the air command felt compelled to strike back at the earliest opportunity by whatever means possible. Once again, the rikko crews were ordered out on a daylight torpedo mission, and it is a tribute to their stoic bravery that the attack was pressed home - 17 Type 1s of 702 Ku and nine from 705 were led by the 702 Ku Hikotaicho, Lt Cdr Genzo Nakamura. Precious minutes lost in the search for the ships, which were eventually found in Blanche Channel, between Rendova and New Georgia, brought a swarm of F4Us and F4Fs.
Three rikko from 702, including Nakamura, managed to return, whilst a fourth aircraft ditched and the crew were saved. Thirteen others never came back. 705 counted four missing and one crash-landed. In all, 19 out of 26 aircraft, and 17 crews, were lost. About ten rikko fought their way through the fighters and flat to launch torpedoes, but their only score was a single torpedo hit against the transport USS McCawley, flagship of their old nemesis Kelly Turner."
New Georgia The Second Battle For the Solomons (2016) by Ronnie Day page 95-96, 304 (footnote 24)
Japanese Naval Air Force Fighter Units and Their Aces, 1932-1945 (2011) by Ikuhiko Hata, Yasuho Izawa and Christopher Shores pages 57 (June 30, 1943), 393 (pilots lost June 30, 1943)
At Close Quarters PT Boats in the United States Navy (1962) pages 114-116 (June 30, 1943)
ATIS "Air Operations" Doc No 60677 - June 30, 1943
"30 [June 1943] - A land medium bomber on patrol sighted 6 transports, 8 destroyers, 100 amphibious boats, 10 miles south of Rendova.
(Air Raid 1) 27 fighters attacked Rendova and encountered 40 enemy fighters / claims: 30 fighters, 1 bomber shot down (8 uncertain) 1 cruiser and 2 destroyers sunk / 3 fighters failed to return.
(Air Raid 2) 26 land medium bombers [G4M1 Bettys] and 24 fighters attacked Rendova and encountered 60 to 80 enemy fighters / 18 planes shot down / 17 land medium bombers and 10 fighters failed to return
(Air Raid 3) 8 bomber [D3A Vals] and 21 fighters attacked Rendova / 1 destroyer and 1 transport set afire / 1 bomber made a forced landing"