June 19, 1944
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

MONDAY, 19 JUNE 1944

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Two B-24s fly armored photo reconnaissance over Paramushiru and bomb the Suribachi area with unobserved results.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): 30 B-25s complete an ammunition run to Imphal. 33 A-36s, P-51s, and P-40s strike Myitkyina, Mogaung and Pinbaw, Burma.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, about 150 fighter-bombers and 8 B-25s again pound a variety of targets throughout the Tungting Lake area; targets include much shipping from Siangyin to Chuchou, and at various points along the Siang-Chiang River, villages and compounds between Yiyang and Changsha, and boats and river area at Anking; 18 P-40s damage 2 bridges and destroy about 20 fuel trucks at Yuncheng; on the Salween front 15 P-40s hit trucks and military installations; and 4 B-25s bomb Kengluang bridge.

USN: During the Battle of the Philippine Sea (Great Marianas Turkey Shoot) the most decisive defensive air battle of the Pacific War, Americans destroyed 243 Japanese shipborne aircraft plus 58 planes from Guam. American losses were 14 Hellcats, a Dauntless, and minor damage to four ships. In air combat F6F-3 Hellcat pilot Commander David P. McCampbell claimed seven aerial victories. First, he claimed five D4Y Judys then landed and later that day claimed two Zeros over Guam.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): B-24s staging through Eniwetok bomb Truk. B-24s from Kwajalein and B-25s out of Makin pound Ponape.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: 100+ A-20s and fighter-bombers maintain strikes along the coast around Wewak, hitting supply and bivouac areas, roads, personnel, and a coastal gun position; A-20s hit airfields at Manokwari Airfield, Noemfoor and Moemi Airfield. Lost are A-20G "Good TIme Charlie" 42-86727 (MIA) and A-20G 43-21414 (pilot rescued, gunner MIA). Lost on weather reconnaissannce is B-24J 42-73185 (MIA). B-25s hit forces in the Cape Orford region of New Britain. B-24s bomb Dublon and Eten.

IJN: During the Battle of the Philippine Sea, Shōkaku was hit by three (or possibly four) torpedoes and quickly sinks from a spread of six fired by USS Cavalla (SS-244).