July 4, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SUNDAY, 4 JULY 1943

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) B-24's attack the Shweli, Burma road bridge but fail to cause appreciable damage.

(Thirteenth Air Force) B-17s bomb Bairoko on New Georgia.

U.S. Army: Co B, 103d Inf, arrives at Viru Harbor and relieves marines of 4th Raider Bn. On New Georgia, 1st Bn of 172d Inf and Co A of 169th virtually unopposed move from Zanana westward towards Barike River westward towards Munda.

JAAF: Sixteen Ki-21 Sallys from 14th Sentai (misidentified as Bettys), escorted by Oscars and Zeros strike the American beachhead on northern Rendova Island hoping to repeat their successful mission on July 2, 1942. This time, the formation encounters heavy anti-aircraft fire and defending U.S. fighters with five bombers lost and claims three U.S. fighters shot down. This is the last major day light raid against New Georgia.

USMC: A 52-man detail from the 9th Defense Battalion special weapons group arrives on Zanana Beach on New Georgia and emplaces four 40mm Bofors for anti-aircraft defense. During the Japanese air raid, 9th Defense Battalion claims 12 of 16 bombers that broke through the ring of Allied fighters.

During the night, warships escort transports carrying Northern Landing Group (Lt Col Harry B. Liversedge, USMC) of Gen Hester's Munda-Bairoko Occupation Force proceed toward Rice Anchorage. During the night 4-5, accompanying warships bombard Vila and Bairoko Harbor and intercept Japanese destroyers from the Shortlands bringing reinforcements to Kolombangara. In the ensuing action, USS Strong is lost to enemy torpedo, but Japanese effort to land troops is blocked.

USN: Scuttled is PT-153 off Munda.