June 17, 1944
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SATURDAY, 17 JUNE 1944

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Twelve B-25s fly three air missions for a Naval Task Force on withdrawal, following the shelling of Kurabu Cape installations on Paramushiru.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): 8 A-36s attack forces at Mogaung, Burma. 25 B-25s fly ammunition to the Imphal area; and the 492d and 493d Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy), move from Madhaiganj and Pandaveswar respectively to Tezgaon with B-24s.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, B-25s and fighter-bombers attack large troop concentrations at Shanglishih and Fenglinpu, bomb the town of Lanchi and nearby villages, attack 4 villages in the Chuchou area, hit troop barges at Changsha, damage several supply boats at Yiyang, and bomb military installations at Ichang.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s flying from Kwajalein bomb Ponape. B-25s from Makin hit Nauru.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: B-24s bomb targets on Eten and Dublon. Lost is B-24J 44-40566 (MIA). B-24s hit Lakunai Airfield while A-20s, B-25s and fighters attack numerous targets between Rapopo and Tobera. A-20s and B-25s and fighters hit shipping in Sorong Harbor and airstrips in the Babo area; in the Wewak area, A-20s, B-25s and fighters continue to pound barges and villages; HQ 8th Fighter Group and 36th Fighter Squadron move from Nadzab to Owi with P-38s; and in the Solomon Islands, 390th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 42d Bombardment Group (Medium), based in the Renard Field begins operating from Stirling with B-25s. Lost are B-24D "Dropsnoot" 42-41246 (crew rescued, 4 missing), A-20G 43-9395 (MIA) destroyed landing is F7A "The Wango Wango Bird"42-64048 (destroyed landing).