July 3, 1944
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

MONDAY, 3 JULY 1944

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): 20+ fighter-bombers support ground forces in the Myitkyina area, which also is covered by a ten plane combat patrol.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 4 B-24s bomb Yoyang railroad yards in the Tungting Lake area; B-25s and P-40s pound river shipping, bridges, gun sites, compounds, and villages at several locations, including Leiyang, Ssutang, Yungfengshih, and Tsungyang; B-25s drop ammunition to Chinese ground forces at Hengyang. In French Indochina, P-40s damage a bridge at Phu Lang Thuong and hit nearby targets of opportunity.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): P-47s continue to hit troops remaining on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. B-24s staging through Eniwetok bomb Truk. Sunk is Patrol Boat 34 (PB-34).

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: P-38s and B-25s hit personnel and supply areas south of Kamiri and support invading ground forces as they push eastward along the north coast of Noemfoor. Efman, Manokwari, and Biak  are attacked by B-24s, A-20s, and fighters; the Wewak coastal area continues under sustained air attack as Allied aircraft pound targets including forces at Brandi Plantation and supplies and a bridge near But; Larat is also bombed; and the 70th Troop Carrier Squadron, 433d Troop Carrier Group moves from Nadzab to Hollandia with C-47s. B-24s hit airstrips, AA positions, and targets of opportunity in the Yap, at Woleai and at Peleliu; Saumlakki on Tanimbar is also bombed. Lost is P-39Q 42-19999 (MIA).

U.S. Army: 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment (503rd PIR) make a paratrooper jump and landed unopposed at Kamiri Airfield and occupy Kamiri village.

U.S. Navy: USS Albacore (SS-218) sinks Japanese steamer Taimei Maru, en route from Yap to Palau, 08°10'N, 136°18'E.

USS Sturgeon (SS-187), in attack on Japanese convoy, sinks Japanese army transport Tairin Maru north of the Nansei Shoto, 28°58'N, 129°51'E.

USS Tinosa (SS-283) attacks Japanese convoy in the East China Sea, and sinks merchant passenger/cargo ship Kamo Maru and tanker Konzan Maru west of Kyushu, 32°25'N, 128°46'E.

USMC: SBDs from VMSB-235 dive bomb anti-aircraft positions west of Tobera Airfield. Lost is SBD 54383 pilot 2nd Lt. Edward Julius Becker (MIA). Afterwards, TBF Avengers bomb the runway at Tobera Airfield.