July 4, 1944
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

TUESDAY, 4 JULY 1944

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, 30+ P-40s continue support of ground forces near Myitkyina; 20+ P-47s and P-51s fly an offensive sweep over the Lashio area, patrol the Mogaung area, and bomb targets of opportunity at Taungni, Nampadaung, and Mogaung; 4 B-25s hit bridges and railroad tracks in the Hopin and Naba areas.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 38 B-25s and 74 fighter-bombers pound targets throughout the Tungting Lake-Yangtze River region and in the Yellow River and Canton areas; river shipping is hit hard, particularly along the Siang-Chiang River; troop concentrations, road traffic, and general targets of opportunity are hit at many locations; towns bombed include Shasi, Lukou, Yungfengshih, Liling, Siangtan,and Yuhsien; Hengyang Airfield is bombed and supplies are dropped to Chinese troops in the area; airfields and warehouses in the Canton area are bombed and targets of opportunity at Linfen, Wenhsi, and Puchou in the Yellow River region are strafed.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA (POA, Seventh Air Force): P-47s from Saipan fly fighter-bomber missions against forces on Saipan, Tinian, Aguijan and Rota. B-24s staging through Eniwetok pound Truk.

USN: Carrier planes strike Iwo Jima. Over the target, F6F Hellcats from USS Wasp (CV-18) are intercepted by A6M5 Zeros from 301 Kokutai (301 Air Group). Lost is F6F 43041 pilot Nisi (MIA), F6F 41879 pilot Dougherty (MIA),  F6F 40259 piloted by Hancock (MIA), F6F 40317 pilot Loomis (MIA) and Lt(jg) Wilson (rescued). VB-1 Helldivers attack Chichi Jima. Lost is SBC2 01169 piloted by Hintz (MIA/POW).

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA [SWPA, Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: At Nadzab Airfield, parked in a revetment, A-20G "Pistol Packin Mama" 43-9391 explodes when a battery spark started a fire in the bomb bay causing an explosion that damaged ten other parked A-20s including A-20G 43-21627. A-20s continue support of Allied ground forces pushing E and SE from the Kamiri Airfield area and taking Kamiri and Kornasoren Airfield; P-47s strafe targets of opportunity on Biak while B-24s bomb Efman Airfield; other aircraft bomb and strafe troops east of Maffin Bay; personnel areas at But and Dagua and barges at Wewak Point are also attacked; and 388th Bombardment Squadron, 312th Bombardment Group, moves from Nadzab to Hollandia with A-20s. B-24s hit shipping and airfields Ambon-Ceram area. B-24s bomb Yap and hit Woleai Airfield and Sorol and Peleliu Airfield.

RAAF: Crashed is Boston A28-18 at Kiriwina Airfield and written off.