June 16, 1944
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

FRIDAY, 16 JUNE 1944

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): 28 A-36s, P-51s and P-40s hit Myitkyina and targets of opportunity in N Burma. In India, 11th Combat Cargo Squadron, 3d Combat Cargo Group, based at Dinjan, sends a detachment to operate from Sookerating (attached to 443d Troop Carrier Group) with C-47s.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): Air echelon of 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Fourteenth Air Force (attached to 23d Fighter Group), based at Chengkung, begins operating from Kweilin.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-25s based on Makin hit Ponape.

SOUTH PACIFIC AREA (SOPAC): Major General Ralph J Mitchell, USMC, becomes Commander Air North Solomons (COMAIRNORSOLS).

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Bombers and fighters hit widespread targets in the SWPA and in SOPAC. Personnel areas and barges along the coast in the Wewak and Hansa Bay areas are hit throughout the day; airfields and shipping at Efman and Samate and at Babo and Sorong are attacked. A-20s from 3rd BG strike Kokas, afterwards A-20G "Big Nig II" is written off. Lost is B-25D "Hell's Belles" 41-30019 (MIA). Dublon and Yap are hit by B-24s. B-24s hit Vunakanau Airfield; B-24s, B-25s, A-20s and fighters attack a large variety of targets of opportunity on Gazelle from Tobera Airfield to Rabaul. Crashed is L-5 42-98072 (survived).

RAAF: Lost is Beafighter A19-120 (KIA) a mission against Muschu Island.

USMC: Lost is SBD 36913 (MIA).