July 3, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SATURDAY, 3 JULY 1943

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) Six B-24s bomb Main Camp on Kiska and take photos of Segula.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) B-25s hit the oft-bombed bridge at Myitnge, Burma, knocking the south end of the span into the river.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) B-25s bomb the airfield and AA positions at Munda.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-24s bomb airfields in the Rabaul area and hit Kendari Airfield. Koepang is attacked by two B-25s. A lone B-17 bombs Cape Gloucester Airfield.

U.S. Army: On New Georgia, the "Southern Landing Group" under the command of Brigadier General Leonard F. Wing of Gen Hester's Munda-Bairoko Occupation Force lands 1st Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment, 43rd Infantry Division at Zanana Beach on New Georgia without opposition. A small defense perimeter of the 1st Battalion is gradually strengthened during next few days. Wickham Anchorage is captured and will become a staging point for landing craft.

USMC: M3 Stuart light tanks and the 9th Defense Battalion, 10th Defense Battalion and 11th Defense Battalion land as reinforcements at Zanana Beach on New Georgia.