July 2, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

FRIDAY, 2 JULY 1943

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) Three bombers and four P-38's fly four reconnaissance missions over Kiska and Segula. 17 B-24's and 16 B-25's then attack Kiska in 5 missions, 2 of them radar-guided. Fires are started at several of the targets, which include Gertrude Cove, Kiska Harbor, and buildings in the Main Camp area. Intense AA fire damages three aircraft. 2 B-25's on a submarine attack hit the Kiska seaplane ramp after making no contact with the target. Two P-40's cover troops which make an unopposed landing on Rat.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-25s pound defenses in the Kela Point area and a trail near Logui while a lone B-24 bombs the Salamaua area. The Allied invasion force, "MacKechnie Force" holds firm a beachhead on Nassau Bay, and makes contact with Australian Army to the north. B-17's and B-24's again attack airfields at Rabaul.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) B-25s from 42nd BG escorted by USMC F4Us from VMF-213 bomb and strafe sinking Kashi Maru in Bauroko Harbor. Lost is F-5 Lightning 42-12983 piot 2nd Lt. Fred H. Baird (MIA).

USMC: At 7:00am eight F4Us from VMF-213 fly a morning "Rendova Patrol" over Rendova Island. Lost due to engine trouble is F4U Corsair 02384 pilot 2nd Lt. Milton N. Vedder (rescued by crash boat). Bad weather prevented the squadron from flying other patrols. At 2:30pm, three F4U Corsairs from VMF-213 piloted by 1st Lt. Boag, 1st Lt. DeFabio and 1st Lt. Thomas took off to escort four B-25 Mitchells from 42nd BG on a strike against a Japanese transport reported to be along the New Georgia shore and strafe and bomb Kashi Maru.

USN: PT-153 ran aground off Munda.

USMC: Lost F4U Corsair 02384 pilot 2nd Lt. Milton N. Vedder (survived).

USN: PT-156, PT-157, and PT-161 engage the Japanese force attacking Rendova, but inflict no damage.

IJN: Japanese light cruiser Yubari and nine destroyers bombard the beachhead on northern Rendova.

JAAF: Eighteen Ki-21 Sallys from 14th Sentai took off from Rapopo Airfield under the command of Sentai leader Major Misao Endo on a bombing mission against the U.S. beachheads east of Munda and northern Rendova and achieve unusually accurate bombing results and return without loss. Over the target, misidentified as Bettys by the U.S. forces.