MR 203(2) Sec. 17 War Department Operational Summaries - June 1943

DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-8-72 SECRET MR 203 (2) Sec. 17 - "WAR DEPARTMENT OPERATIONAL SUMMARY" June, 1943. 77p. MR 203 (2) Sec. 17 - "WAR DEPARTMENT OPERATIONAL SUMMARY" (June, 1943) SECRET WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 568 0700 June 30 to 0700 July 1, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE SECRE DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-8-72 WESTERN HEMISPHERE The Army Ground Forces report that the 81st Infantry Division has departed from the Tennessee Maneuver Area for desert training at Camp Young, California. EUROPEAN THEATER 1. Unidentified aircraft were reported over Iceland on 29 June. 2. A force of 84 B-17's dropped 190 tons of high explosives on an aircraft engine factory at Le Mans, France, during the evening of 29 June, with fairly good results. No fighter opposition was en- countered. 148 B-17's dispatched the same evening to attack other targets in France found a heavy overcast and returned rather than risk bombing the civilian population; the withdrawal was protected by 126 P-47's. Four (probably nine) intercepting enemy fighters were shot down. All our aircraft returned safely from these missions. 3. Our participation in the heavy aerial offensive against northwestern Europe for the period 21 - 27 June cost us 39 B-17's and five P-47's, all losses reported being the result of combat. During that same week the RAF lost 182 aircraft from all causes. Allied air- men shot down 184, probably 242, Axis planes in these operations, American crews bagging 138, probably 180, of this total. NORTH AFRICAN THEATER Forty-five British bombers raided Messina on the night of 28-29 115 120 128 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 20 20 15 15 PHILIPPINE IS. IO 10 no 5 5 BORNEO o o NABIRE RABAUL NEW GUINEA 5 5 SALANAUR Nassau SOLOMON IS. Bay VILA aru Harbor Y RENDOVA 10 10 A SCALE IS o 100 100 400 400 soe MILES IS 115 180 125 130 135 140 145 180 155 160 165 24-30680 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 June, dropping more than 99 tons of demolition and fragmentation bombs on the railroad yards there. Two of the Allied planes failed to return. Axis aircraft were active over the Mediterranean, the airfield and harbor area at Pantelleria having been bombed by more than 20 enemy planes on 28 June and two waves totaling 40 enemy bombers raiding Bone on 29 June. Only slight damage was caused at the Allied bases and five Axis aircraft were shot down. Bombers of the US 9th Air Force dropped more than ten tons of explosives and incendiaries on Reggio di Calabria airdrome on 29 June; results could not be accurately observed. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER On 29 June minor bombing attacks were made by our B-24's on Nabire, Vunakanau airdrome (Rabaul), and Salamaua. On 30 June our forces occupied the Nassau Bay area, some ten miles south of the enemy stronghold at Salamaua, supported by local air action and heavy attacks on enemy airdromes at Rabaul. PACIFIC THEATER On 30 June our forces successfully effected landings on Rendova Island and at the nearby Viru Harbor, at the south end of New Georgia Island. Vila was bombarded; a mine-field was laid in enemy waters without detection. Thirty-five of a force of 75 Japanese were killed. Supporting the surface operations, 61 of our aircraft dropped over 26 tons of bombs on Munda, while others damaged two 100-foot DECLASSIFIES OSD Letter, 5-3-72 enemy motor sampans. A total of 110 enemy airplanes attacked our surface forces off Rendova Island; at least 65 were destroyed for a loss of 17 of our airplanes. The combat-loaded transport "Macauley" ID was sunk by aerial torpedos but no US casualties resulted. These operations, closely coordinated with those in the Southwest Pacific Area, are under the strategic direction of the Commander-in- Chief, Southwest Pacific Area. WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 567 0700 June 29 to 0700 June 30, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 6 10 12 14 16 18 46 46 44 44 LEGHORN s 42 42 OLBIA FERTILIA 40 40 MILIS DECIMOMANNU 38 ASAN GIOVANNI 38 { 50 100 200 36 SCALE IN MILES 36 10 12 14 16 18 24-35213 SECRET DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter. 5-3-72 WESTERN HEMISPHERE 11th Air Force pilots flew eight missions against Kiska on 28 June, dropping more than thirty-five tons of explosives on in- stallations there. All planes returned safely. EUROPEAN THEATER Orders have been issued for the movement to the European Theater of the 99th Infantry Battalion (Separate) which was acti- vated from Norwegian nationals. This unit has been trained primarily for mountain operations. NORTH AFRICAN THEATER On the night of 27-28 June, 63 British bombers dropped over 120 tons of bombs on San Giovanni with good results. The next day 109 B-17's attacked Leghorn with almost three tons of bombs per airplane. Other raids were made on Fertilia, Olbia, Milis, and Decimomannu in Sardinia by escorted medium bombers. Normal fighter opposition was encountered by these missions. In all of these operations 11 (probably 15) enemy airplanes were destroyed for an Allied loss of two airplanes. SECRET DECLASSIFIES ASD 5-3-72 ASIATIC THEATER On 28 June, medium bombers of the 10th Air Force attacked Pyinmana (150 miles south of Mandalay) scoring hits on buildings and railroad yards, and starting a large oil fire. Other B-25's attacked the Sagaing railroad yards (near Mandalay) with unobserved results. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER Rapopo airdrome near Rabaul was attacked by a lone B-24 on the. night of 27-28 June. The following morning another heavy bomber raided Cape Gloucester airdrome. Nine enemy bombers, escorted by nine fighters, raided the Darwin area that day, causing slight damage and no casualties. Intercepting Spitfires shot down two (probably six) enemy planes; one Spitfire is missing. PACIFIC THEATER On 28 June, 62 US bombers and fighters, attacking Rekata, dropped 20 tons of bombs on antiaircraft installations. Sixty other bombers and fighters released 21 tons of bombs over antiair- craft positions, dumps and bivouac areas at Munda, starting several fires. All planes returned from these missions. SECURIT THE WHITE HOUSE COPY FOR 0700 June 28 to 0700 June 29, 1943 995 *ON DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY WAR DEPARTMENT SIRUS PT. VUCAN PT. KISKA ISLAND o 2 3 4 5 MILES WITCHCRAFT PT. SREDNIE PT. REYNARD COVE MAIN CAMP AREA SALMON LAGOON NORTH ND. TROUT LAGOON KISKA HBR SOUTH NO.) LITTLE KISKA 15. M. TANDAK IS. GERTRUDE GOVE TWIN RKS. CAPE sty VEGA BAY STEPHEN o 200 400 MILES PRIBILOF 's IS. USY ATTU I. & UNIMAK L. UNALASKA I. VEGA PT. KISKA SEGULA ATKA L TANAGA I, UNNAK I, BASE MAP NO. 1356 BRANCH OF RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS, oss - MAY 1943 (PREE) REPRODUCED IN REPRODUCTION SECTION, oss 8 10 12 14 16 18 46 46 44 44 5 42 42 NAPIES POTENZA TORRE ANNUNZIATA 40 40 38 38 MARSAIA NAZARA DEL VALLO CAPE BON 0 50 100 200 36 SCALE IN MILES 36 10 12 14 16 18 24-35213 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 WESTERN HEMISPHERE The heavy bombings of Kiska, reported yesterday, continued into 28 June (Greenwich time), 22 heavy and medium bombers dropping more than 28 tons of bombs in the main camp, North Head, and Gertrude Cove areas during the early hours of the day. A number of enemy personnel were reported to be ashore and at work near the northwestern corner of Segula Island. EUROPEAN THEATER On the afternoon of 28 June, 195 B-17's delivered the tenth attack by the USAAF on the submarine base at St. Nazaire, where they dropped 290 tons of heavy bombs with good results. Intense anti- aircraft fire was encountered over the target. Eight of our B-17's were lost, but 17 (probably 22) enemy fighters were shot down. Fifty other B-17's successfully bombed the important German airdrome at Beaumont le Roger with 103 tons of 300-pound bombs in an attack timed to catch enemy fighters on the field after the St. Nazaire action. Opposition to this mission was consequently weak, as was the anti- aircraft fire; there were no losses or claims reported. NORTH AFRICAN THEATER British bombers attacked the railroad yards at Naples on the night of 26-27 June as well as alternate targets at Torre Annunziata, Potenza, Marsala, and Mazara del Vallo. The Allied loss for the 90 55 100 105 110 30 . CHUNGKING salween 30 25 25 Hanoi SEDAW 4. 8 20 Wo YINGYAN MEINTILA 20 050 # .D) MOULMEIN RANGORM 15 TRANBYUZAYAT DIAMOND I 15 BANGKOK ANDAMAN ISLANDS Port Blair 10 10 Scale o 100 200 300 400 500 Miles 90 95 100 105 24-30187 DECLASSIFIED 08D Letter, 5-8-72 evening's operation was two bombers. Four British Beaufighters, intercepting attacks by 19 fighter-bombers on an Allied convoy east of Cape Bon, shot down four of the enemy planes. MIDDLE EAST-CENTRAL AFRICAN THEATER Bombers of our 9th Air Force, operating over Greece on 27 June, dropped 52 tons of bombs on airfield installations at Eleusis, and 61 tons on the Kalamaki airfield, both near Athens. Seven (probably 15) enemy planes were destroyed in aerial combat and five were left ablaze on the ground. ASIATIC THEATER In addition to the missions on 26 June, reported yesterday, bombers of the 10th Air Force also attacked the cantonment at Meiktila, and caused considerable damage to buildings in the saw-mill area at Moulmein and to radio installations on Diamond Island. The next day our medium and heavy bombers destroyed a cotton mill at Myingyan, scored numerous hits on railroad switches at Sedaw and again pounded the railroad yards, supply installations, warehouses, tracks and buildings at Thanbyuzayat. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER Allied B-25's attacked enemy installations at Salamaua and in the Rami and Markham Valleys on 27 June. Six Australian A-20's 11 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 ISO 155 160 165 20 20 15 IS PHILIPPINE IS. 10 10 5 5 BORNEO o o RAMU BOEROE NEW GUINEA 5 I. VALLEY 5 MARKHAM VALLEY KAHILI SALAMANA SOLOMON IS. UBO BALLALE REKATA BAY TANIMBAR MUNDA IS. 10 10 n SCALE IS e 100 100 400 400 800 MAD IS 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 180 155 160 165 24-30680 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-8-72 harassed enemy ground troops in the Mubo area, while to the west five B-24's bombed enemy-held towns in the Tanimbars and on Boeroe. PACIFIC THEATER On 27 and 28 June our aircraft in the Solomons area continued their harassing missions against enemy troops at Kahili, Ballale, Munda, and Rekata Bay; results were unobserved. WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 565 0700 June 27 to 0700 June 28, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE B 10 12 14 16 18 46 46 44 44 0 42 42 BARI 40 40 a 38 MESS INA 38 0 50 100 200 36 SCALE IN MILES 36 0 10 12 14 16 18 24-35213 DECLASSIFIER OSD Letter, 5-3-78 WESTERN HEMISPHERE Three days of favorable weather, from 25 through 27 June, enabled the 11th Air Force to resume large-scale operations in the Aleutian area. During that period 18 missions, in the course of which more than 125 tons of bombs were dropped, were flown against Kiska. In- stallations at Gertrude Cove, North Head and Little Kiska were re- peatedly attacked with observed effect, our bombers concentrating against antiaircraft positions. No fighter opposition was encountered and no losses were sustained by our aircraft. EUROPEAN THEATER The three groups of P-47's providing the cover for our heavy bomber operations over Western Europe on 26 June destroyed three, probably six, enemy planes for a loss of five of their number. NORTH AFRICAN THEATER RAF bombers of the 9th Air Force raided Messina, Sicily, the night of 25-26 June, dropping more than 22 tons of bombs on the city. Effective results were reported. Meanwhile, British Wellington bombers of the Northwest African Strategic Air Force showered 40 tons of explosives and incendiaries on the oil refinery at Bari, Italy, causing many fires and explosions. 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 20 20 15 15 PHILIPPINE IS. 10 10 5 8 BORNEO 0 o RABAUL NEW GUINEA 5 5 BALLALE IS LAE SOLOMON IS. POPORANG IS X VIIA BILLI MUNDA 10 10 PENFOET d TIMOR IS B SCALE o 100 100 400 600 soo MILES 15 IS 115 180 125 130 135 140 145 180 155 160 165 24-30680 90 95 100 105 110 30 CHUNGKING salween so 25 25 KANBALU IGON Hanoi, 0. 0 20 us 0 20 000 RANGOON 15 THANBYUZAYAT PAGODA PT. IS BANGKOK ANDAMAN ISLANDS Port Blair 10 10 Scale o 100 200 300 400 500 Miles o o 90 95 100 105 24-30187 DECLASSIFIES OBD Letter, 5-3-72 ASIATIC THEATER Medium bombers of our 10th Air Force attacked railroad in- stallations at Kanbalu and Zigon in central Burma, on 26 June, scoring hits on locomotives, tracks and buildings. Our B-24's inflicted heavy damage on the railroad yards, rolling stock and warehouses at Thanbyuzayat and machine-gunned an airfield at Pagoda Point. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER Twenty B-25's and one B-24 bombed and machine-gunned the runway, hangar, and barracks area at Lae, on 26 June. Photographs taken after the attack indicate that the runway there was rendered un- serviceable. Our heavy bombers attacked the Vunakanau airdrome at Rabaul; results were mostly unobserved and two B-17's are listed as missing. Australian Hudson bombers concentrated on Dilli and Dutch B-25's pounded the Penfoei airdrome on Timor; large fires were started by both attacks. PACIFIC THEATER B-24's of the 13th Air Force attacked Ballale and Poporang with fragmentation clusters on 26 June. Four P-38's intercepted 30 Japanese Zeros on the same day, destroying nine (probably ten) of the enemy aircraft. DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 Two US missions also bombed enemy airfields at Vila and Minda, silencing all but one of the antiaircraft positions at the latter field. All of our aircraft returned from these missions. WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 564 0700 June 26 to 0700 June 27, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE DECLASSIFIES ann Letter, 5-3-72 WESTERN HEMISPHERE The 1000th Lend-Lease airplane to be flown over the Alaskan- Siberian Air Ferry Route, an A-20G (Douglas, twin-engined, medium- altitude, horizontal light bomber) departed from Ladd Field at 2257 z on 24 June for Nome and the Russian front. Also noteworthy is the fact that 263 planes have been delivered to the Russians thus far this month, the highest total for any such period to date. EUROPEAN THEATER US B-17's again swarmed over the continent on 26 June, 247 of them being dispatched to attack targets in enemy-occupied territory that day. While weather over the main objectives precluded visual observation, good bombing results were obtained by a diversionary attack in which 42 of our Flying Fortresses attacked the Tricqueville airdrome, near Le Havre, dropping more than 93 tons of high explosive bombs. This mission met with strong enemy fighter opposition. With only incomplete reports as yet submitted by our returning crews, 17 (probably 25) enemy planes were claimed as destroyed; five of our bombers are missing. Three groups of P-47's provided covering support = for the operation. NORTH AFRICAN THEATER 1. Olbia, Sardinia, was the target of 24 tons of bombs dropped by 19 British bombers on the night of 24-25 June. Railroad yards, 90 55 100 105 110 30 CHUNGKING salween 30 25 25 Hanoi MONYWA 0. :0 20 MANDALAY Wo 20 000 1 YWATAUNG RANGOON 15 THANBYUZAYAT DIAMOND IS 15 BANGKOK ANDAMAN S ISLANDS Port Blair 10 10 Scale o 100 200 300 400 500 Miles 90 95 100 105 24-30187 DECLASSIFIED OBD Letter, 5-3-72 docks, and the town area were hit and fires and explosions resulted. The next day, Messina, Sicily, was again subjected to a heavy air attack by 126 Flying Fortresses which dropped over 318 tons of bombs with good coverage of the target area. Eighteen (probably 25) of some 94 intercepting enemy planes were shot down by our bombers. We lost three B-17's; 42 others sustained battle damage. 2. For the week ending 18 June, US aircraft in the North African Theater destroyed 52 (probably 62) enemy aircraft; our combat and operational losses for the period totaled 13 airplanes, ten of which are listed as missing. RAF victories for that week totaled seven enemy planes. Not included in the above figures are six enemy air- craft destroyed on the ground by Allied airmen. ASIATIC THEATER Sixteen medium bombers of the 10th Air Force flew several successful attack missions against enemy communication centers in central Burma on 26 June; two river boats at Mandalay, railroad installations at Ywataung and the town area of Monywa were hit. In concurrent operations over southern Burma, one B-24 scored a direct hit on enemy barracks and near misses on a train in the Thanbyuzayat area; another heavy bomber hit buildings on Diamond Island. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER Seven B-25's bombed and heavily machine-gunned enemy occupied EASTERN NEW GUINEA - SOLOMON ISLANDS AREA LT AUTHORIZED GROUP ADMIRALITY 6 AUDAU MANUS LAVONGAI BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO NEW IRELAND MADANG BUKA IS NEW BOYTAIN BOUGANVELLE SOLOMON CHOISELL ISLANDS KAHILI SANTA ISABEL LPHICA VIIA GANONGGA IS NEW GEORGIA MUNDA MALAITA NEW FLORGA GUNEA RUSSELL IS Fort Monthy GUADALCANAL LOUISIADE ARCHIPELAGO SAN CRISTOBAL RENNEL 154 -54 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 villages southeast of Madang on 25 June. PACIFIC THEATER Allied planes filled the South Pacific sky on 25 June with seven B-24's attacking Buka and 13 B-24's bombing Kahili. Eighty- one bombers and escorting fighters dropped 36 tons of bombs on enemy installations in the Munda area, thirty-eight more bombed and machine- gunned a village on Ganongga Island, and 26 others attacked the air- field at Vila. One B-25 was lost in these operations. WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 563 0700 June 25 to 0700 June 26, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter. 5-3-72 WESTERN HEMISPHERE Six heavy and eleven medium bombers dropped more than 24 tons of bombs on enemy installations on Kiska, during June 24. A heavy overcast prevented observation of the results. EUROPEAN THEATER 1. On 24 June an unidentified airplane was plotted approximately 90 miles southeast of Hofn, Iceland. 2. On 24 June a total of 128 P-47's made three sweeps over Flanders and Holland during which one enemy fighter plane was des- troyed without loss to our force. Departing from England early on the morning of 25 June, 272 Flying Fortresses found an unexpected cloud cover over their objective and resorted to attacking targets of opportunity in northwest Germany. Some 350 tons of bombs were dropped and 39 (probably 73) hostile planes were shot down during the mission. Eighteen of our bombers have failed to return. A fighter sweep over Holland in which 121 P-47's participated was uneventful. 3. During the week ending 20 June, the enemy lost 31 (probably 39) aircraft in operations in the European Theater. In the same period, Allied aircraft losses from all causes totaled three American and 66 British. 8 10 12 14 16 16 46 46 44 44 42 42 GOLFO ARANCI OLBIA CHILIVANI 40 40 CAPOTERRA a 1 SULF OF CAGLIARI CAPE SPARTIVENTO 38 38 CATANIA { 50 100 200 36 SCALE IN MILES 36 10 12 14 16 18 24-35213 DECLASSIFIED 080 Letter, 5-3-72 NORTH AFRICAN THEATER 1. On the night of 23-24 June, British Wellington bombers dropped heavy demolition and incondiary bombs on the railroad yards and industrial areas at Catania. On 24 June, our Air Forces in North Africa wrought havoe on Axis airfields from Sardinia to Greece. While pursuit planes of General Spaats' command machine-gunned grounded enemy aircraft at Capoterra and set fire to two enemy vessels in the Gulf of Cagliari and near Cape Spartivento, his medium bombers escorted by P-38's successfully attacked the railroad junction at Chilivani, the Vena- fiorita airdrone at Olbia and merchant vessels at Golfo Aranci. Enemy fighter reaction to these attacks was sharp; eight of our fighters and one medium bomber were lost. This cost the enemy 21 (probably 30) of his airplanes. Meanwhile 49 of General Broreton's B-24's attacked the Sedes airdrome at Salonia, covering the field, hangars, dispersal areas, and administration buildings with bursts from 134 tons of bombs; all of these airplanes returned. 2. Two of our tank landing ships were torpedoed 45 miles east of Algiers on 24 June; one was beached and the other towed to a nearby port. 3. General Spaats expresses the opinion that both the B-25 and B-26 medium bombers are excellent airplanes. The former has the 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 ISO 155 160 165 20 20 15 15 PHILIPPINE IS. 10 10 5 5 BORNEO o o NEW GUINEA 5 5 RBOV SALAMAUA SOLOMON IS. TANIMBAR IS TROBRIAND IS PSO WOODLARK IS 10 RUSSE IS 10 A SCALE IS o 100 soo 400 400 800 MILES 15 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 180 155 160 165 24-30680 DECLASSIFIED OBD Letter, 5-3-72 advantage of ability to operate from smaller fields and has a slightly greater range. The B-26 is faster and has the advantages of a some- what greater bomb capacity and, as presently armed, greater defensive power. Operational losses for both types have been less than 1.5 per cent per sortie; both have shot down about four enemy planes for each one lost to enemy aircraft attack. ASIATIC THEATER On 24 June four B-24's dropped six tons of bombs on the Mandalay railroad yards with unobserved results. Medium bombers made success- ful attacks on railroad tracks and rolling stock in central Burma. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER 1. Advance detachments of our troops arrived on Woodlark and the Trobriand Islands on 22 and 23 June respectively. 11 2. On 24 June, seventeen B-25's demolished two villages in the Salamaua area. Four Australian airplanes bombed and machine-gunned enemy troops near Mubo. Six other Australian planes destroyed two enemy light bombers on a new strip in the Tanimbar Islands. PACIFIC THEATER On the morning of 25 June about 16 bombs were dropped by enemy aircraft on the Russell Islands. Some damage was caused to our oil stores. WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 562 0700 June 24 to 0700 June 25, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE RESLASSIFIED "1 68L 5-3-72 WESTERN HEMISPHERE 1. Seven more Japanese were killed on Attu in patrol actions on 23 June. 2. Responding to a proposal by the Brazilian Government that a potential expeditionary force of about three divisions be trained with United States assistance, the War Department has invited certain Brazilian officers to attend service schools in the United States. These would be the key officers of one such division and the force headquarters; two major generals and ten other senior officers are to attend the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, twelve officers are to attend the Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia, and our Medical, Military Police, Quartermaster, Chemical Warfare, Ordnance, Signal Corps, Adjutant General, Tank Destroyer, and Engineer Schools are each to receive two Brazilian majors or captains. These officers are expected to arrive during the latter part of July; their instruction will last approximately ten weeks. EUROPEAN THEATER 1. An unidentified airplane was observed off the southeast coast of Iceland on 23 June. 2. According to later reports on the 8th Air Force operations DECLASSIFIED \-3-72 for 22 June, the plant attacked at Huls supplied Axis Europe with 18 per cent of all its currently available rubber; it was the second largest rubber-producing factory in the Reich. The carbide plant, producing acetylene used in the manufacture of rubber, was badly damaged. At Antwerp both the Ford and General Motors plant received hits. Of some 250 fighters encountered by our missions 51 (probably 83) were destroyed, seven being shot down by our fighters who sustained no loss. Our bomber losses were 14 B-17's to enemy fighters, five to antiaircraft fire, and one to unknown causes. Aerial bombing, and enemy fighters equipped with heavy-caliber cannon, were reported. NORTH AFRICAN THEATER On the night of 22-23 June, 30 British bombers attacked the town and mined the harbor of Olbia, Sardinia. Twelve bombers of our 9th Air Force attacked the airdrome at Comiso, Sicily, the next day, dropping over thirty tons of explosives and incendiary bombs in the hangar, workshop and dispersal areas. Several fires were started. WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 561 0700 June 23 to 0700 June 24, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 181:6-12 sol 001 se 06 o PUM 00€ OOR 005 OOZ 001 o Scale or 01, Port Blair ISLANDS ANDAMAN BANGKOK gi SI NOODNYH [ di 02 1 IZVHL NVIONIXM on oz 0. o a Hanoi VMANON 52 25 or MOOMIDS CHUNGKING 00 011 501 001 SG 06 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 EUROPEAN THEATER Participating in the coordinated action against Axis industrial targets on 22 June, but not included in yesterday's report, were 13 B-25's which, in a diversionary mission, attacked the Wilton Ship- building Yards at Rotterdam. Furnished high cover protection by British Spitfires, which probably destroyed one enemy plane, our air- craft dropped 21 tons of bombs on enemy targets. NORTH AFRICAN THEATER Following the powerful American daylight attacks of 21 June, 25 British Wellington bombers dropped 53 tons of demolitions and 600,000 leaflets on Salerno during the ensuing night. The railroad yards in the city were well covered by bomb bursts and many fires were started. ASIATIC THEATER B-24's of the 10th Air Force attacked railroad yards at Monywa on 22 June, hitting the station, tracks and a warehouse. The same day the roundhouse at Thazi was bombed by B-25's which also attacked Myingyan, destroying buildings and the roadbed in the vicinity. 11 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 20 20 IS 15 PHILIPPINE IS. 10 10 no 5 5 BORNEO o o MAKASSAR NEW GUINEA BUKA 5 5 TABERFARE MUBO SOLOMON IS. GANONGGA 10 10 A SCALE 15 e 100 soo 400 400 800 MILES IS 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 180 155 160 165 24-30680 CO DECLASSIFIED USD Letter, 5-3-72 SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER On 21 and 23 June the Japanese made strong attacks on Allied forward elements in the Mubo area; both attacks were thrown back, the enemy suffering over 100 casualties on 21 June and 64 casualties on 23 June. Our losses were negligible. Allied aircraft bombed and machine-gunned enemy installations in the Mubo area on 22 June. Three of our B-24's and nine Australian fighters attacked the seaplane base at Taberfane in the Aroe Islands; one enemy float plane was destroyed. The next day US heavy bombers in a surprise daylight raid struck at the major enemy base at Makassar, dropping more than 38 tons of incendiaries and high explosives, in- cluding one-ton bombs. Heavy damage was caused with numerous hits reported on the wharves and in the town itself; fires were started visible for 70 miles. Direct bomb hits were scored on an enemy cruiser and on a cargo vessel in the harbor. A lone enemy fighter attempting to intercept our bombers was destroyed. Heavy antiaircraft fire was encountered and one of our planes failed to return. Our bombers, in executing this attack, flew 2,000 miles. PACIFIC THEATER On 22 June eight of our B-25's participated in a joint air mission against a village on Ganongga dropping six one-ton bombs and machine- gunning the area. One of our medium bombers failed to return. WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 560 0700 June 22 to 0700 June 23, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 1 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 GENERAL The War Department has directed all senior commanders to submit semi-monthly progress reports covering all battle casualties and serious non-battle casualties hospitalized outside the United States. Serious adverse changes of condition, and recoveries and improvements in cases previously listed as serious, will also be reported. WESTERN HEMISPHERE 1. By 22 June our fighter strip on Shemya Island had been com- pleted; aircraft are awaiting favorable weather to fly to the new field. An Army patrol which landed on Agattu found no evidence of Jap occupation. 2. The 14th Infantry Regiment, a non-divisional unit, has arrived at Camp Carson, Colorado, from overseas duty in Panama under the plan for the reduction of the garrison strength of the Caribbean. EUROPEAN THEATER 1. Two hostile multi-motored airplanes were reported over Iceland on 21 June. 2. Coordinated blows were struck at Axis industrial targets on 22 June by aircraft of the 8th Air Force. In the main attack by 169 "flying fortresses" escorted by eleven B-40's, Huls, the 6 10 12 14 16 18 T 46 46 44 44 8 o 42 CANCELLO NAPLES SALERNO BATTIPAGLIA 40 40 o SAN GIOVANNI 38 MESSINA 38 2 REGGIO DI CALABRIA 0 { 50 100 200 36 SCALE IN MILES 0 36 I 10 12 14 16 18 24-35213 -SECRET DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 synthetic rubber center, was the target. (B-40's are "flying fortres- ses" heavily armed to enable them to afford additional protection for the other B-17's which they can accompany throughout the mission). Here 427 tons of bombs were dropped with observed effect. Strong enemy attempts to intercept our mission cost him 40 (probably 68) fighter planes. Sixteen of the fortresses failed to return. A diversionary attack of 38 B-17's from groups on their first offensive missions was flown against the General Motors plant at Antwerp; novice bombardiers placed 98 tons of bombs ac- curately in the target area. During the attack and withdrawal, in which our bombers were covered by 135 P-47's, there was strong reaction by enemy fighters. Our bombers shot down four, probably eight, of these and P-47's accounted for seven more; four B-17's failed to return. Twenty-one other B-17's flew a third, but un- eventful, sweep, over the Frisian Islands. NORTH AFRICAN THEATER On the night of 20-21 June, British bombers showered 40 tons of bombs on the city and railroad yards at Naples effecting evident destruction. During the following day our own heavy and medium bombers renewed the powerful attacks against the same targets; they also covered the air depot at Cancello with heavy bombs, as well as the yards at Salerno where a railroad trestle among other objectives was hit, and the Battipaglia yards where effect was 90 100 110 120 40 30 SHIHSHOW 30 NANHSTEN- TUNGTING LAKE 4 20 o 100 200 300 400 500 SCALE IN MILES 20 100 110 120 24-35?14 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 also observed. 162 of our bombers participated in these daylight operations in which a total of 294 tons of heavy bombs was dropped. In the day's operations three (probably seven) enemy aircraft were destroyed for a loss of one British bomber and one B-17. On 21 June also, B-24's and 9 Halifax bombers of the 9th Air Force hammered the ferry terminal, moles, and railroad yards at Messina, among the targets hit being two ferries, one of which capsized. They also attacked the railroad yards at Reggio di Calabria and San Giovanni; hits were observed on the former target but haze prevented observation on the latter. 168 tons of bombs and high explosives were used on these missions. Our aircraft shot down 20 (probably 26) enemy aircraft and reported no losses. ASIATIC THEATER On 21 June airplanes of our 14th Air Force, in support of Chinese ground operations, bombed Nanhsien scoring direct hits and leaving the entire target covered with smoke. Other planes started numerous fires in the city and camp area at Shihshow (north of Tungting Lake). MIDDLE EAST-CENTRAL AFRICAN THEATER Brigadier General Shepler W. Fitzgerald is being relieved from 11 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 20 20 15 15 PHILIPPINE IS. 10 10 5 5 BORNEO o o E NEW GUINEA 5 5 LAB SALAMAUA SOLOMON IS. THE ANOROBE 10 10 PENPOET KOEPANG I SCALE 15 o 100 100 400 600 800 MILES 18 115 180 125 130 155 140 145 180 155 160 165 24-30680 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 command of US Army Forces in Central Africa and of the Africa- Middle East Wing of the Air Transport Command. Brigadier General Percy L. Sadler remains in temporary command of the theater. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER Allied aircraft were active over northeast New Guinea on 21 June, bombing and machine-gunning airdromes and other enemy in- stallations near Mubo, Lae, and Salamaua. In an engagement be- tween 14 P-38's and 30 enemy fighters, 14 (probably 23) of the latter were shot down without Allied loss. In the northwestern area, 16 Allied airplanes bombed Penfoei airdrome and Koepang, starting large fires at both places. On the previous afternoon, Japanese forward elements made an unsuccessful attack on Allied forward elements in the Mubo area. Enemy air attacks were made on Allied troops there and at Morobe; only slight damage was reported. : WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 559 0700 June 21 to 0700 June 22, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE LIPARI IS. SAN GIOVANNI TRAPANI MILO PALERMO MESSIN EGADI IS. BORIZZO MARBAL CASTELVETRANO ATANIA BIZERTE PORTO EMPEDOOL AUGUSTA LIGATA SIRACUSA IDNIS SKELISIA PANTELLERIA POZZALLO HAMMAMET MALTA SOUSSE NORTHEASTERN TUNISIA AND SICILY BASE MAP NO. 2357 (FREE) BRANCH OF RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS 055 10 MAY 1943 REPRODUCED IN REPRODUCTION SECTION 055 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 NORTH AFRICAN THEATER British Wellington bombers, which had effectively attacked Marsala, Porto Empedocle, San Giovanni, and the ferry terminus, in- dustrial and port areas at Messina on the night of 19-20 June, were followed in daylight attacks on 20 June by US B-26's and P-38's which swarmed over the enemy airfields in western Sicily. Revetment areas, barracks and the railroad station at the Castelvetrano airdrome were hit by 38 tons of demolition and fragmentation bombs. Twenty-four tons of missiles were dropped on the Bo Rizzo airfield, the entire target area being well covered with bomb bursts. The Trapani-Milo airdrome was also heavily attacked, many hits being scored on buildings and parked aircraft. Our attacks encountered determined enemy fighter resistance and 16 (probably 18) of some 60 enemy planes engaging our bombers and fighters were destroyed; one P-38 was shot down and three are listed as missing. Shortly after midnight 20-21 June, Bizerte was raided by more than 30 enemy planes; details of this attack are as yet not avail- able. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER In addition to the operations reported yesterday for 20 June, Allied bombers also started fires at Kaimana, Finschhafen and Lae, and attacked barges along the Huon Peninsula. One force of seven 115 120 128 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 20 20 is IS PHILIPPINE IS. 10 10 w 5 5 BORNEO o o IMANA RABAUL NEW GUINEA 5 5 KIETA LAR FINSCHHAFEN KAHILI MAYI SOLOMON IS. HUON PENINSULA 10 10 g SCALE 15 o 100 100 400 600 soo MILES 15 115 180 125 130 135 140 145 180 155 160 165 24-30680 SECRET DECLASSIFIED @SD Letter, 5-3-72 Japanese bombers and one of 17 fighters attacked the airdrome at Wau without causing damage. PACIFIC THEATER Kieta and Kahili were bombed by four B-24's flying offensive reconnaissance missions on 21 June. Results were unobserved. 00 00 I WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 558 0700 June 20 to 0700 June 21, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 EUROPEAN THEATER A hostile multi-motored airplane was observed off the north coast of Iceland on 19 June. NORTH AFRICAN THEATER British bombers dropped 24 tons of bombs in the port area of Syracuse on the night of 18-19 June, and also severely damaged an enemy merchant vessel off the north coast of Sardinia. On 19 June one of a formation of ten enemy bombers attempting to attack an east- bound Allied convoy off the Algerian coast was shot down; no damage to the convoy was reported. Forty-three B-24's of our 9th Air Force dropped 121 tons of incendiary and demolition bombs on harbor and railroad installations at Reggio di Calabria. One (probably five) enemy planes were shot down. Hits were reported in the target areas although weather prevented accurate observation of results. ASIATIC THEATER Four B-24's of the 10th Air Force dropped 24 quarter-ton bombs on the Yamethin railroad yards, 100 miles south of Mandalay, 18 June, destroying rolling stock, damaging the tracks and demolishing what was apparently an oil tank. 115 120 128 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 20 20 IS 15 PHILIPPINE IS. 10 10 na 5 5 BORNEO o o RABAUL NEW GUINEA 5 5 0 BENA BENA FINSCHHAFEN SOLOMON IS. 10 10 DARWIN A SCALE 15 e 100 100 400 600 800 MILES 15 115 180 125 130 135 140 145 180 155 160 165 24-30680 DECLASSIFIED 08D Letter, 5-3-72 SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER On 19 June, in addition to the attack made by 16 heavy bombers on the Rabaul airfields as reported yesterday, other Allied air- craft successfully bombed Finschhafen and villages to the north, and attacked enemy barges along the northeast coast of New Guinea. On 20 June our heavy bombers returned to the attack on Vunakanau, Rapopo, and Keravat airdromes at Rabaul where before dawn they dropped 31 tons of explosives and incendiaries, starting many fires which indicated heavy destruction to parked aircraft. All our airplanes returned. On 20 June, also, Allied fighters successfully intercepted a Japanese force of 48 airplanes attacking Darwin. Minor damage only was caused on the ground and 16 enemy bombers and six fighters were destroyed or damaged; two of our airplanes are missing. WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 557 0700 June 19 to 0700 June 20, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 8 10 12 14 16 18 46 46 44 4 44 42 42 GOLFO ARANCI OLBIA 40 40 a 38 MESSINA MILO 38 BIZERTE COMISO PANTELLERIA o 50 100 200 36 SCALE IN MILES 36 10 12 14 16 18 24-35213 GEORET DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 EUROPEAN THEATER An unidentified airplane was sighted over Iceland on 18 June. NORTH AFRICAN THEATER 1. US B-17's successfully attacked the ferry terminus, power station, and railroad yards at Messina on 18 June. Our P-38's, flying fighter-bomber missions, hit the enemy airfield at Milo. British bombers operating under our 9th Air Force dropped 28 tons of bombs with observed effect on Comiso airdrome. Our medium bombers, escorted by P-38's, set fire to three enemy ships at Olbia and damaged docks and railway yards at Golfo Aranci in Sardinia. P-40's also flew fighter-bomber missions against enemy communication facilities in southern Sardinia. Our bomber attacks encountered considerable determined fighter opposition; 39 enemy planes were destroyed in combat while eight of our aircraft are missing. Enemy bombers were unsuccessful in a raid on Bizerte during the early morning of 18 June, their bombs landing in the harbor and causing no damage or casualties. 2. Brigadier General Auby C. Strickland assumed command, on 17 June, of the Pantelleria garrison which consists of British ground troops (chiefly antiaircraft) and the US 33d Fighter Group. 90 95 100 105 110 30 . CHUNGKING salween 30 25 25 Hanoi 0. 8. 20 Wo MYINGYAN YENANGYAUNG 20 000 :D) OD, RANGOON If 18 BANGKOK ANDAMAN ISLANDS Port Blair 10 10 Scale o 100 200 300 400 500 Miles 90 95 100 105 24-37187 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter. 5-3-72 ASIATIC THEATER Nine medium bombers of the 10th Air Force set fire to oil tanks and damaged installations at Yenangyaung on 18 June, and eight others demolished buildings and warehouses at Myingyan. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER General MacArthur reports that on 18 June Japanese forces were holding two villages 25 miles north of Bena Bena. A total of eight enemy aircraft again made ineffective attacks on Allied installations in the Buna area. While Australian dive-bombers and fighter planes attacked the Laha airdrome at Ambon and enemy-held villages in Selaru Island, other Allied planes bombed and machine-gunned enemy-held positions in the Mubo area. An enemy float-type plane was shot down by an Australian reconnaissance aircraft 100 miles northwest of the Wessel Islands. The communique reports that US heavy bombers, again attacking Vunakanau airdrome at Rabaul before dawn on 19 June, dropped 33 tons of high explosives, fragmentation and incendiary bombs on the runway and dispersal areas. Numerous fires were started, including a fuel dump and grounded aircraft; destruction and damage to the latter is believed to be heavy. All of our airplanes returned. 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 ISS 160 165 20 20 IS IS PHILIPPINE IS. IO 10 5 5 BORNEO o o NAURU RABAUL 5 AMBON NEW GUINEA 5 BENA BENA BALLAIE MUBO KAHILI SOLOMON IS. WILSON STR TULAGI BUNA SELARU IS. VILA 10 WESSEL IS 10 GUADALCANAL ₫ SCALE IS o 100 100 400 600 soo MILES 15 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 180 155 160 165 24-30680 SECRET 888 better, 5-8-78 PACIFIC THEATER The total of enemy fighters and bombers destroyed in the mass Japanese attack on Guadalcanal on 16 June has been raised from 77 to 94, ships in the harbor now claiming 16 and antiaircraft installa- tions claiming one. Enemy planes dropped bombs harmlessly in the water off Tulagi on the night of 17 June. Our bombers were active over Japanese bases in the Solomons on 19 June, nine B-24's dropping fragmentation clusters on Kahili, causing fires and explosions visible for 20 miles. Six other B-24's dropped 24 quarter-ton bombs on Japanese installations on Nauru, and our medium bombers attacked Vila, started fires at Ballale and machine- gunned enemy barges in the Wilson Straits, leaving one burning fiercely. WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 556 0700 June 18 to 0700 June 19, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE LIPARI IS. PALERMO MERSANA EGADI IS. MARSALA CATANIA BIZERTE PORTO EMPEDOOLE AUGUSTA LIGATA SIRACUSA BISCARI TONIS SKELIBIA PANTELLERIA COMISO POZZALLO HAMMAMET MALTA SOUSSE NORTHEASTERN TUNISIA AND SICILY BASE MAP NO. 2357 (FREE) BRANCH OF RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS oss 10 MAY 1943 REPRODUCED IN REPRODUCTION SECTION 055 DECLASSIFIES OSD Letter, 5-3-72 WESTERN HEMISPHERE The War Department has approved a construction program for the expansion of the Alaskan Wing, Air Transport Command, in order to cope with increased air activity along the Northwest Ferry Route. It is contemplated that by the end of this year a maximum of 382 Russian Lend-Lease planes per month will be ferried over the route plus replacements for our 11th Air Force; on the route also 72 twin- engined transports will be in continuous use. General DeWitt has been directed to accomplish with high priority this construction which involves new air bases from Edmonton to Nome. NORTH AFRICAN THEATER 1. Axis bombers, in light raids on Philippeville and Djidjelli on 17 June, caused some damage at the latter place. Two of the attacking planes were destroyed by British fighters and two others by antiaircraft fire. 2. Bombers of General Brereton's 9th Air Force, operating over Sicily on 17 June, dropped more than 77 tons of demolitions on the airfield at Biscari and 68 tons on the Comiso airdrome. Many hits were obtained on both targets and the areas were well covered by bomb bursts. 115 120 128 130 135 140 145 150 ISS 160 165 20 20 15 15 PHILIPPINE IS. 10 5 5 5 BORNEO o o SORGNG BOLX 5 NEW GUINEADARG ROOKE IS 5 LANGGOER BENA BENA F INSCHHAFTN KIETA SOLOMON IS. HUON PEN. GIZO TI & IS. PORT MORESBY 10 10 GUADALCANAL ₫ SCALE IS o 100 100 400 ase 800 MILES IS 4 115 180 125 130 135 140 145 180 155 160 165 24-30680 I DECLASSIFIED 88D Letter, 5-3-78 ASIATIC THEATER 1. On 16 June seven B-24's of the 10th Air Force dropped ten tons of bombs on the enemy barracks at Lashio, causing considerable damage. 2. The War Department directed General Stilwell to reinforce the 14th Air Force with a mixed fighter squadron, composed of one flight of P-38's and two flights of P-40's, as soon as practicable after the arrival in his theater of the 25 P-38's which are being diverted to him from the North African Theater. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER General MacArthur reports for 17 June that eighteen escorted enemy bombers again attacked villages in the Bena Bena area, and four Jap bombers attacked Port Moresby, causing no damage but prob- ably losing one of their number. Allied aircraft started large fires in the oil-field port of Boela as well as the Langgoer air- drome. Ten B-25's machine-gunned Madang town and airdrome, while other Allied aircraft raided Cape Gloucester, Finschhafen, Rooke Island, the adjacent Huon Peninsula where they destroyed eight barges, and Sorong. SECRET DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter. 5-3-72 PACIFIC THEATER In our successful interception mission over Guadalcanal on 16 June during which 77 enemy fighters and bombers were destroyed, 36 US Army fighters accounted for 24 enemy pursuit planes and 15 bombers. New Zealand pilots in US pursuit craft destroyed five enemy fighter planes and our Navy and Marine pilots contributed the remainder of the total. Only 74 Allied planes actually met the enemy force of some 120 bombers and fighters. A Navy cargo vessel and a tank-landing ship were damaged. Reports indicate that our bombings have forced the Japanese to evacuate Kieta; Gizo Island and nearby Makuti are free of Japanese. "SECRET WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 555 0700 June 17 to 0700 June 18, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE 90 95 100 105 110 30 . CHUNGKING salween 30 25 25 Hanoi . MANDALAY :0 20 Wo THAZI $ 20 0000 RANGOON 15 THANBYUZAYAT 8 18 BANGKOK ANDAMAN $ ISLANDS Port Blair 10 0 10 Scale o 100 200 300 400 500 Miles 90 05 100 105 24-37187 SECRET DECLASSIFIES OSD Letter. 5-3-78 EUROPEAN THEATER An enemy four-motored bomber hit an Icelandic fishing trawler off the north coast of the island on 16 June. An unidentified air- plane was sighted over Iceland the same day. NORTH AFRICAN THEATER 1. British Wellington bombers attacked the docks at Naples on the night of 16-17 June. No details have been received. 2. General Spaatz reports that, for the week ending 11 June, our aircraft destroyed 98 (probably 113) enemy planes for a loss from all causes of 17. For this same period the Royal Air Force bagged six enemy aircraft, losing two of its own planes. ASIATIC THEATER } B-24's, operating in Burma on 15 June, scored hits on the enemy railroad yards at Thanbyuzayat. The next day our medium and heavy bombers struck at the railroads and shipping at Mandalay; buildings and rolling stock were hit and seven ships appear to have been de- stroyed. Other medium bombers scored hits on Japanese warehouses and barracks at Thazi. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER On 16 June single Allied planes bombed the Cape Gloucester 115 120 128 130 135 140 145 150 ISS 160 165 20 20 15 15 PHILIPPINE IS. 10 10 5 5 BORNEO o o CAPE GLOUCESTER NEW GUINEA 5 5 MADANG BENA BENA TAE Huon SOLOMON IS. MURO BALLALE Gulf BUNA Y 10 10 GUADALCANAL KOEPANG 52 SCALE 15 o 100 100 400 600 soo MILES 15 $ 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 180 155 160 168 24-30680 SECRET DECLASSIFIES OBD Letter, 5-3-72 airfield and a fast enemy power boat in Huon Gulf. Allied dive- bombers and fighter aircraft bombed and machine-gunned enemy-held territory northwest of Lae and north of Mubo, and six Dutch B-25's started fires at Koepang. Enemy air forces again made attacks on our installations in the Buna area and on friendly villages in the Bena Bena area south of Madang. PACIFIC THEATER 1. Japanese aircraft ineffectively raided Guadalcanal the night of 15 June. 2. Eight B-24's attacked Ballale with fragmentation clusters on the night of 16 June; results were not observed. I WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 554 0700 June 16 to 0700 June 17, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE D LIPARI IS. BOCCADIFALCO MILO PALERMO MESSINA EGADI IS. BORIZZON MARBAL CASTELVETRANO ATANIA BIZERTE SCIACCA PORTO EMPEDOOLI AUGUSTA LIGATE SIRACUSA IDNIS EXELISIA PANTELLERIA POZZALLO HAMMAMET MALTA SOUSSE NORTHEASTERN TUNISIA AND SICILY BASE MAP NO. 2357 (FREE) BRANCH OF RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS 055 10 MAY 1943 REPRODUCED IN REPRODUCTION SECTION 055 SECRET DECLASSIFIES 08D Letter, 5-3-78 EUROPEAN THEATER During the week ending 13 June, US aircraft based in the UK destroyed 133 (probably 160) enemy aircraft for a loss, from all causes, of 34 US bombers and four fighter planes. These casualties were sustained, for the most part, during the 11 June attack on Wilhelmshaven and the 13 June mission against Bremen and Kiel. The British, in this same period, destroyed 27 (probably 34) enemy aircraft for a loss of 103 of their own planes. NORTH AFRICAN THEATER 1. On the night of 14-15 June, British bombers raided the Sciacca, Milo, and Boccadifalco airdromes in Sicily. During the next day our own heavy, medium and fighter bombers concentrated their attacks on these targets as well.as on Borizzo and Castelvetrano airdromes. Two hundred and ninety-two sorties were reported in which 325 tons of explosives, including twenty thousand 20-pound fragmentation bombs, were dropped with devastating effect. East of Marsala our P-38's set fire to two radio stations. Eighteen (probably 19) enemy airplanes were shot down for a loss of seven American medium bombers and fighters. - SECRET DECLASSIFIED 08D Letter, 5-3-72 2. Most of the enemy parachutists who were dropped at points along the North African coast during the night of 13-14 June have been rounded up. 3. Eighty-three enemy airplanes were abandoned on Pantelleria; only two of them were even in fair condition. General Eisenhower estimates that one of the chief reasons for the enemy surrender of the island was the continuous bombardment which paralyzed the normal means of existence; actual casualties from the air attacks were negligible as the entire population had taken cover. MIDDLE EAST-CENTRAL AFRICAN THEATER The War Department has approved General Connolly's plan whereby, with the personnel and equipment now available or scheduled to arrive by November, his installations in the Persian Gulf area will be able to land and forward each month 200,000 tons of Russian lend- lease cargo which will include 6,000 trucks; provided 9,000 Russian trucks are received monthly, the capacity will be 220,000 tons. This plan assumes that the cargo will be delivered to the Russians in the general vicinity of Teheran and Kazvin and that there will be no de- lay on the part of the Russians in clearing the cargo and returning the railroad cars. CECREE SECRET DECLASSIFIED ORD Leter. 5-3-72 ASIATIC THEATER 1. Bombers of the 10th Air Force concentrated against enemy com- munications in Burma on 15 June. Two attack missions of our medium bombers against the Myitnge bridge (south of Mandalay) damaged the structure and approaches; these bombers also destroyed some buildings in Monywa. Another B-25 mission sank one river boat and damaged another near Bhamo. The radio station on Diamond Island, near Rangoon, was again bombed and machine-gunned by a B-24. 2. In China, on 15 June, ten medium bombers of the 14th Air Force escorted by twelve fighters dropped demolition bombs on Japanese supplies in the Tungting Lake area. Excellent results were reported. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER Nineteen US heavy bombers in four missions returned to the attack on the enemy airdromes near Rabaul on 15 June; large fires and explosions were observed. While other Allied aircraft attacked enemy-occupied villages near Lae and installations near Cape Gloucester, eight of our B-24's scored hits on the administration buildings, anti- aircraft positions, and parked aircraft at Kendari in the Celebes. Nine enemy aircraft made an attack in the Buna area but caused little damage; on the previous day a force of 27 Japanese bombers and 30 fighters caused some damage to supplies of our troops seventy miles south of Madang. SECRET SECRET DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 PACIFIC THEATER On 16 June, in the most successful of our interception missions in the South Pacific area, 104 American fighter planes destroyed 32 Japanese dive bombers and 45 Zero fighters out of an approximate force of 60 bombers and 60 fighters. We lost six fighter planes. WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 553 0700 June 15 to 0700 June 16, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE SUNGIZE ISHANG IOPANC YOUR KUNGAN River NAMESTAN X NANCHANG SECRET DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 EUROPEAN THEATER The final total of enemy fighter aircraft destroyed in combat during the 11 June attack by our 8th Air Force on installations at Wilhelmshaven and other industrial targets in northern Germany is listed as 85 (probably 105) instead of 54 (probably 79) as first reported. We lost eight B-17's on this occasion. NORTH AFRICAN THEATER On the night of June 13-14 about 100 enemy parachutists were dropped at various points along the Libyan coast, while others were reported from the vicinity of Oran; apparently the enemy landed these groups with orders to attack Allied airfields. That night also, British Wellingtons dropped 68 tons of bombs on Messina ferry terminal railroad yards and docks, good results be- ing observed. On 14 June Bone was raided by some 25 enemy airplanes, of which four were destroyed. No damage was reported. A naval landing party from a British destroyer found Lampione Island deserted. ASIATIC THEATER 1. Eight P-40's of General Chennault's 14th Air Force inter- cepted 18 Japanese bombers and 20 fighter planes near Nanchang, on 115 120 128 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 20 20 15 15 PHILIPPINE IS. 10 10 5 5 BORNEO o o BABQ VITIAZ STR. KAIMANA RABAUL NEW GUINEA 5 5 KAHILI- SOLOMON IS. SHORTLAND IS. GODENOUGH IS. 10 10 KOKUMBONA GUADALOANAL IS. B SCALE IS o 100 100 400 600 800 MILES IS 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 180 155 160 165 24-30680 SECRET DECLASSIFIES USD Latter, 5-3-72 14 June. Our pursuit pilots destroyed seven (probably nine) enemy fighters without loss. 2. Chinese troops recaptured Kungan on 14 June; their line now extends from Sungtze to Mopanchow, Kungan and Nanhsien. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER Two enemy planes ineffectively attacked Allied installations on Goodenough Island on the evening of 13 June. On 14 June minor Allied air operations were carried out against the Lakunai airfield at Rabaul, on a possible radio station in the Vitiaz Strait area and on Kaimana and Babo. PACIFIC THEATER 1. On 13 June the Japanese dropped three bombs in the Kokumbona (Guadalcanal) area; on 15 June three more enemy bombers dropped five bombs in the same region. On 15 June eleven American heavy bombers attacked the enemy supply and bivouac areas at Kahili with more than 24 tons of demolition bombs and dropped nine 500-pound bombs on the Shortland Islands. Results of these attacks were un- observed. 2. The War Department plans to increase the number of divisions in the Hawaiian Islands from three to four. The additional division SECRET DECLASSIFIES OSD Letter, 5-3-72 will not form part of the normal garrison but will be retained on a training basis, receiving jungle, commando, and amphibious training. As the schedule may require, divisions will be moved from the Hawaiian Islands to the South or Southwest Pacific Areas. The first division to be moved to Hawaii under this plan will be the 6th (Major General Franklin C. Sibert) which will sail in August. WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 552 0700 June 14 to 0700 June 15, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE DECLASSIFIED CSD Letter, 5-3-72 WESTERN HEMISPHERE On 13 June the fighter strip on Shemya was approximately half completed. EUROPEAN THEATER An unidentified airplane was reported over Iceland on 13 June. NORTH AFRICAN THEATER Two enemy aircraft bombed Bizerte on the night of 12-13 June but no damage or casualties resulted. On 13 June, American and British bombers attacked the Catania and Gerbini airdromes (Sicily) with 87 and 60 tons of bombs, respective- ly. Destruction of grounded aircraft and of airdrome installations was noted at each place. Lampione, west of Lampedusa, appeared to be deserted but the weather was not suitable for a landing. Between four and five thousand prisoners have been taken on Lampedusa. ASIATIC THEATER 1. On 13 June eleven escorted medium bombers of the 14th Air Force scored hits on hangars at the Nanchang airdrome (200 miles east of Lake Tungting). No antiaircraft fire or enemy fighter opposition was encountered. SECRE SECRET DECLASSIFIED USD Letter, 5-3-72 2. B-25's of the 10th Air Force destroyed several buildings at Nyaungbinwun, approximately 25 miles west of Mandalay, 13 June, and also damaged two railway bridges in central Burma. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER On 13 June aerial photographs disclosed 46 enemy vessels in Rabaul, including 31 merchant ships totalling 128,000 tons, and 250 enemy bomber and fighter aircraft on the nearby airfields. Twenty- four US heavy bombers in four missions again attacked these airfields, starting large fires, and probably destroyed a bomb dump. Four of our heavy bombers were destroyed or listed as missing. A B-24, on offen- sive reconnaissance, probably sank a medium-sized enemy freighter-trans- port in Humboldt Bay. Other Allied planes bombed and machine-gunned trails in the Salamaua area and also six large barges off Finschhafen; fires were started at Dilli and Koepang. A Japanese air raid on Port Moresby was ineffective. PACIFIC THEATER On 13 June twenty-three of our heavy bombers dropped 192 tons of demolition bombs on the enemy airfield at Kahili. The next day our B-25's showered 100-pound bombs on the airfield and antiaircraft in- stallations at Vila. All our airplanes returned safely. SECRET WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 551 0700 June 13 to 0700 June 14, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE SECRET DECLASSIFIES OSD Letter, 5-3-72 WESTERN HEMISPHERE The cumulative total to 10 June of our casualties on Attu were: Killed 512, wounded 1,140. EUROPEAN THEATER 1. An unidentified airplane was reported over Iceland 12 June. 2. On the morning of 13 June, 176 B-17's of our 8th Air Force penetrated northwestern Germany, dropping some 440 tons of bombs on shipyards at Bremen and Kiel and on various targets of opportunity. Fairly good results were reported by returning crews, despite clouds and effective smoke screens. Very heavy fighter opposition and anti- aircraft fire were encountered; according to preliminary estimates our bombers destroyed 50 (probably 65) out of a force of 225 to 250 enemy planes. Twenty-six B-17's failed to return. These operations were preceded and accompanied by intense fighter activity over the continent. On 12 June, 143 of our P-47's in a high-altitude sweep over Flanders shot down one enemy fighter; on 13 June one force of 95 P-47's destroyed three enemy planes while operating over the same area, and another force of 44 accounted for two (probably four) more. Three of our fighters were lost. LIPARI IS. BOCCADIFALCO MILO PALERMO MERSIN EGADI IS. MARSALA CASTELVETRANO ATANIA BIZERTE PORTO EMPEDOOL UGUSTA LIGATA SIRACUSA TONIS MELIBIA PANTELLERIA POZZALLO HAMMANET MALTA SOUSSE - LINOSA NORTHEASTERN TUNISIA AND SICILY BASE MAP NO. 2357 (FREE) BRANCH OF RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS 055 10 MAY 1943 REPRODUCED IN REPRODUCTION SECTION oss Yangtze ICHANG SUNGEZIO LANOCHI Tungting Lake SAGAING MANDAIAY MYTTNGE CANTON THANBYUZAYAT 150, Mi. South SECR DECLASSIFIES OSD Letter, 5-3-72 NORTH AFRICAN THEATER 1. Besides bombing Lampedusa on 12 June as reported yesterday, US aircraft also attacked airfields on Sicily, effective results being observed. Thirty-five escorted flying fortresses dropped 48 tons of small fragmentation bombs on the Castelvetrano airdrome, thirty-nine other escorted fortresses hit the Boccadifalco airdrome with 55 tons, and 24 escorted B-26's put 28 tons into the Milo airdrome at Trapani. 2. The total Italian garrison of all forces at Pantelleria is now estimated at 11,135. Only a platoon of Germans is believed to be present. ASIATIC THEATER 1. Our 10th Air Force bombers continued their attacks on enemy installations in Burma 12 June. Eight B-25's scored possible hits on the Myitnge Bridge and destroyed one approach. Three river boats were sunk at Sagaing by nine other B-25's and the nearby railroad siding also received punishment from US 300-pound bomb hits. Still other B-25's struck at shore installations near Mandalay. Six heavy bombers, dropping quarter-ton bombs, damaged the supply dump, ware- houses and railroad tracks at Thanbyuzayat. 2. During May the 10th Air Force destroyed 13 (probably 24) Japanese aircraft for a loss, from all causes, of ten US planes. SECRET 115 120 128 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 20 20 is 15 PHILIPPINE IS. 10 10 5 5 BORNEO o o KAIM NA NABIRE 5 NEW GUINEA BUKA IS. 5 LANGGOER KAHILI SOLOMON IS. BUNA g 10 10 GUADALCANAL IS. g SCALE 15 o 100 100 400 600 soo MILES IS 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 180 155 160 16.5 24-30680 DECLASSIFIES CED 5-8-72 3. Chinese forces reoccupied Yangchi on 11 June and Sungtze on 12 June; the Japanese force in the Sungtze area has crossed to the north bank of the Yangtze River. The Chinese have not maintained contact with the Japanese in the Ichang area. 4. On 12 June two P-40's of the 14th Air Force while reconnoiter- ing the Canton area were attacked by eight enemy fighters of which one, probably four, were destroyed in the ensuing action. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER General MacArthur reports for 12 June that three enemy aircraft attacked the Buna area; the damage was not reported. Three of our B-24's damaged the runway and buildings at Nabire as well as a 2,000-ton merchant vessel near Kaimana. Two B-24's and seven RAAF Beaufighters attacked enemy air installations at Langgoer, destroying one (probably two) enemy planes in the air and six on the ground. PACIFIC THEATER 1. Two Japanese bombers attacked two US B-24's west of Buka on 11 June; one of the Japanese planes was shot down. On 13 June, ten heavy bombers dropped more than 61/2 tons of bombs on Kahili, with un- observed results. 2. The War Department has informed Generals MacArthur, Harmon, and Richardson of its plan to give jungle training in Hawaii to all major ground combat units designated for subsequent movement to the South and Southwest Pacific Areas. WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 550 0700 June 12 to 0700 June 13, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE SECRET DECLASSIFIES 08D Letter. 5-3-72 WESTERN HEMISPHERE In spite of adverse weather on 11 June, four attack missions were flown against enemy positions on Kiska. A large number of parachute fragmentation bombs and 25 tons of high explosives were dropped; many hits were observed among hostile gun positions. One additional mission has been reported for 10 June, bringing the total attacks against Kiska to five for that day; included in these missions was a flight of six P-40's piloted by Canadians. EUROPEAN THEATER A twin-motored, hostile airplane was observed in the Reykjavik area on 11 June. Later that day an unidentified airplane was plotted north of Iceland. NORTH AFRICAN THEATER On the night of 10-11 June, some fifty enemy bombers raided Sousse but dropped their bombs clear of the harbor. On the afternoon of 11 June, four British cruisers and six destroyers, carrying a British infantry company, proceeded from Pantelleria and com- menced their bombardment of Lampedusa. Coastal batteries which replied were silenced. Heavy air bombing of the island began an hour after the surrender of Pantelleria and continued until 1945 on 12 June, when the second-in-command at Lampedusa surrendered. No contact SECRET 115. 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 20 20 is 15 PHILIPPINE IS. 10 10 5 5 BORNEO o o A BABO CAPE ADUCESTER VUNAKANAU NEW GUINEA 5 5 KA IMANA D SALAMAUA SOLOMON IS. DILLI 10 KOEPANG 10 RUSSELL IS. PENFOEI g SCALE 15 o 100 seo 400 400 800 MILES 15 29 115 120 125 130 135 140 148 150 155 160 165 24-30680 SECRET DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 has yet been made with the Governor. On the morning of 13 June a destroyer found white flags flying at the nearby island of Linosa and evacuated 140 naval and military prisoners. 2,800 prisoners have already been embarked from Pantelleria and an estimated 12,000 more await evacuation. ASIATIC THEATER On 11 June four B-24's of the 10th Air Force attacked enemy radio installations on Diamond Island (south of Rangoon), destroying a building. Medium bombers heavily damaged railroad yards at Thazi and Ywataung. Fourteen P-40's carried out harassing missions in northern Burma, burning a barracks and causing destruction at several places. The next day eight fighter aircraft of the 14th Air Force made harassing attacks in the Lungling area. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER General MacArthur reports that on 11 June twelve of his B-24's in a series of five missions returned to the attack of Vunakanau airfield near Rabaul; fires and other destruction were observed. One of our bombers is missing. Cape Gloucester was again hit by an Australian bomber while twenty Allied bombers harassed the enemy in the Salamaua area. In the northwestern area, four RAAF airplanes SECTIF I DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 caused some large fires at Babo and Kaimana. Fifteen of our own B-24's hit a power house at Koepang and left the town a mass of flames; they shot down three (probably four) of the ten enemy fighters which attempted to intercept them. Three Dutch B-25's bombed the Penfoei airdrome and Dilli. PACIFIC THEATER Over the Russell Islands our aircraft again intercepted between 40 and 50 Zeros on the morning of 12 June; in the ensuing fight 25 (probably 33) of the enemy fighters were shot down at a cost to us of only six planes and two pilots. SECRET WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 549 0700 June 11 to 0700 June 12, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE SECRET DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 WESTERN HEMISPHERE On 10 June our patrols killed 66 more Japanese on Attu and took another prisoner. Our fighter planes are now operating from the Alexai strip. In four missions by aircraft based on Amchitka over 30 tons of bombs were dropped on Kiska and Little Kiska, scoring hits on barges, antiaircraft positions and other enemy installations. EUROPEAN THEATER 1. Several unidentified aircraft were sighted over Iceland on 10 June. One of these attacked a British fishing trawler off Grimsey Island (north of Iceland). 2. On 11 June, 219 B-17's of the 8th Air Force blasted the naval installations at Wilhelmshaven and other industrial targets in northern Germany with 542 tons of bombs. Fifty-four (probably 79) enemy fighters were destroyed; our loss was eight B-17's. Two hundred and eighty of our P-47's flew patrols over the Low Countries. NORTH AFRICAN THEATER 1. During 10 June American airplanes of all types in nearly 700 sorties overwhelmed the island of Pantelleria in a. continuous bombard- ment which smothered the target with 1300 tons of high explosives. In air combat eleven (probably 14) enemy airplanes were destroyed yangtze Rive ICHANG ITU CHIRKIARG SUNGTZE Tungting Lake SECRET DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 during the day's operations for an Allied loss of four. 2. On the night of 10-11 June, the force designated to capture Pantelleria, including the British 1st Infantry Division, embarked at Sousse. By 1137, local time, the landing was taking place under cover of heavy air attacks. Meanwhile signals of surrender were being displayed. A little opposition was encountered, but at 1244 the air bombardment was stopped upon receipt of the enemy's surrender message. About 500 prisoners, including nine officers, were captured; the enemy commander has not been found. A preliminary estimate indicates that there are 21,000 persons on the island. The town was without food or water for three days. ASIATIC THEATER 1. On 11 June, two enemy attacks were made on our airfield at Hengyang; these did no damage and cost the Japanese one (probably five) airplanes. Offensive reconnaissances were flown over Hanoi, Haiphong and elsewhere by 19 of our P-40's, which shot down one other enemy airplane and heavily damaged ground targets. 2. On 10 June three B-25's of the 10th Air Force dropped 15 quarter-ton bombs on Monywa (central Burma), starting large fires. 3. The Chinese recaptured Chihkiang on 10 June; the Japanese are reported to be withdrawing to Sungtze. SECRET DECLASSIFIES OND Letter. 5-3-72 SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER In addition to the air operations on 10 June reported yesterday, one of our B-24's damaged a 4,000-ton enemy vessel off the coast of northwest New Guinea. PACIFIC THEATER Seven "flying fortresses" bombed Kahili on 10 June with observed effect; one of our bombers failed to return. SECRET } WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 548 0700 June 10 to 0700 June 11, 1943 COPY FOR } THE WHITE HOUSE DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-8-72 WESTERN HEMISPHERE 1. Our troops on Attu killed 19 Japanese, including one officer, and captured five prisoners on 9 June. 2. At midnight 9-10 June the headquarters of the Amphibious Training Center at Camp Gordon Johnston, Carrabelle, Florida, was disbanded. Shore-to-shore amphibious training of Army units, which had been conducted by the Army at that post, has now become a re- sponsibility of the Navy. EUROPEAN THEATER Unidentified aircraft were reported over Iceland on 9 June. NORTH AFRICAN THEATER 1. In addition to the attacks on Pantelleria on 8 June reported yesterday, RAAF aircraft dropped some 20 tons of bombs on Messina ferry terminal and shipping. In the evening Bougie was raided by two or three enemy aircraft which caused some damage in the dock area. On 9 June 237 Allied aircraft of all types dropped 540 tons of bombs on the defenses of Pantelleria. Aircraft of the 9th Air Force also attacked Gerbini, Sicily, with 41 tons of bombs. In the operations on 8 and 9 June, 11 (probably 14) enemy aircraft were de- stroyed for a loss of two Allied airplanes. SECRET 115 120 128 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 20 20 15 15 PHILIPPINE IS. 10 10 no 5 5 D BORNEO o o NABIRE RABAUL UNEA I. NEW GUINEA BOUGAINVILLE I. 5 5 KAHILI SOLOMON IS. BALLALE MALAITA VILA 10 10 MUNDA n SCALE 15 o 100 100 400 ... 800 MILES is 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 180 155 160 165 24-30680 SECRET DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 2. Pantelleria surrendered to a landing force this morning. 3. General Spaatz reports that during the week ending 4 June, US air units based in North Africa destroyed 17 (probably 26) enemy aircraft for a loss of ten US airplanes from all causes. RAF units destroyed one (probably two) enemy aircraft without loss. ASIATIC THEATER General Chennault reports that in the 8 June bombing of Haiphong a large enemy transport was severely damaged. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER General MacArthur reports for 9 June that single US heavy bombers scored hits on buildings at Nabire airdrome and others in the same region, and bombed Unea Island. Airphotos revealed an increase in the number of enemy aircraft parked in the Rabaul area. The communique states that before dawn on 10 June our heavy units in a three-hour attack dropped nearly 40 tons of high explosive, frag- mentation and incendiary bombs on the three enemy airdromes near Rabaul. Apparently some ammunition dumps exploded and a large amount of other destruction was effected, including the burning of perhaps 19 airplanes. All of our aircraft returned. SECRET DEGLASSIFIED OBD Letter, 5-3-72 PACIFIC THEATER On 9 June, nine US heavy bombers attacked the Munda, Kahili, and Ballale areas. Two other B-24's machine-gunned an enemy freighter off Bougainville, leaving it listing. On 10 June, B-24's escorted by fighter planes bombed the revetment and bivouac area at Vila, with unobserved results. Our fighters de- stroyed three of the four enemy bombers which they intercepted over Malaita Island. THE WHITE HOUSE COPY FOR ETI6T 'OT oun? 0020 of 6 sunf 0020 No. 547 DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY HVM DECLASSIFIED OBD Letter, 5-3-72 WESTERN HEMISPHERE 1. Reports from our various reconnaissance agencies indicate that Japanese reaction to our capture of Attu may be expected in the form of increased submarine and air activities in the western Aleutians. On June 6 and 7, several hostile aircraft were observed between Paramishiro and Attu but no attacks were reported. On June 8, six more Japanese including one officer were killed in the Chichagof area. A transport plane carrying ground crews of a fighter unit made the first landing on the Alexai fighter strip on June 8; weather delayed the forward movement of our fighter aircraft to Attu. 2. The Army Ground Forces report the formation of a combat team consisting of the 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment, the 601st and 602d Field Artillery Battalions (pack), and medical, engineer, quartermaster, and signal units. This combat team has been ordered to Fort Ord, California, for early movement to the Aleutian area where it is to receive some six weeks' training under local conditions. EUROPEAN THEATER An unidentified multi-motored aircraft was sighted over Iceland on June 8. NORTH AFRICAN THEATER 1. Maintaining the bombardment of Pantelleria during June 8, DECLASSIFIES CED Letter, 5-3-72 375 Allied airplanes, including 103 B-17's, dropped nearly 600 tons of heavy bombs and 100,000 leaflets on the defenses of the island. In other missions during the day our P-38's over Sardinia blew up a barracks building at Segariu and bombed parked aircraft at the Villacidro airdrome nearby. In the day's operations at least one enemy plane was destroyed for the loss of two Allied airplanes. 2. The War Department informed General Eisenhower of the notice which has been given to the Swiss Government to the effect that, recognizing Switzerland as the protecting power in this country for German and Italian interests, our Government considers German and Italian prisoners of war, in American custody both in North Africa and after their transfer to the US, to be under Swiss protection. Inasmuch as local authorities in North Africa recognize Spain as the protecting power for these two Axis countries, the Swiss Government's activities in North Africa (so far as the US Government is concerned) should be restricted to matters directly concerning Axis prisoners held by American authorities. Similar instructions have been sent to our Ambassador in Madrid and to Mr. Murphy. MIDDLE EAST-CENTRAL AFRICAN THEATER A transport airplane from Karachi is being routed through Cairo to pick up General Hurley, who is reported 111 there, and return him to the United States. 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 ISS 160 165 20 20 15 15 PHILIPPINE IS. 10 10 5 5 BORNEO o o +1180 KAVIENG KAIMANA NEW GUINEA 5 5 SALAMAUA SOLOMON IS. DILLI WAINGAPOR 10 KOEPANG 10 52 SCALE IS 0 100 100 400 600 soo MILES 15 115 180 125 130 135 140 145 180 155 160 165 24-30680 DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 ASIATIC THEATER 1. Warning having been received of the expected arrival at Haiphong of a convoy including fifteen freighters, seven B-24's of the 14th Air Force attempted to attack it on June 8. Weather, how- ever, obscured the target and the bombers therefore dropped their 14 tons of explosives on an enemy airfield and warehouses at Hanoi. Six escorted B-25's struck at Hon-Gai, scoring direct hits on a transformer station, the main repair shed, two locomotives, and storage areas filled with great quantities of boxes. Four P-40's dive-bombed and machine-gunned enemy positions at Taitong, 100 miles east of Myitkyina. 2. The Chinese report the recapture of Itu on June 8 and further attempts to reduce the Japanese bridgehead south of the Yangtze. The enemy, however, has made counterattacks and shows no intention of withdrawing further, apparently intending to maintain his position as a means of protecting his river traffic. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER General MacArthur reports for June 8 that three B-24's attacked shipping in Waingapoe Harbor, damaging a 5,000-ton freighter. Four Dutch B-25's attacked Koepang and the area southeast of Dilli. Other Allied airplanes bombed the runway and enemy stores at Babo and buildings at Kaimana. Six RAAF Beaufighters machine-gunned some Japanese buildings and tents in the Salamaua area. A B-24 bombed a convoy of seven freighters southwest of Kavieng with unreported results. WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 546 0700 June 8 to 0700 June 9, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE } SOUTH ATLANTIC SUB-AREA DECLASSIFIEB OSD Letter, 5-3-72 WESTERN HEMISPHERE 1. A reconnaissance of Alaid Island, the westernmost of the Semichis, on June 6 revealed no evidence of Japanese occupation. On June 7 the last known remnants of the enemy on Attu were disposed of when 11 Japanese, equipped with a portable radio, destroyed themselves with grenades rather than surrender. 2. The War Department has notified the appropriate commanders concerning the joint directive recently issued by the Chief of Naval Operations and the Acting Chief of Staff of the Army whereby the South Atlantic Sub Area is defined. By this directive command of Army forces assigned to the Commanding General, South Atlantic, for anti-submarine operations and other operations over the seás, in the South Atlantic Sub Area, excepting the South Atlantic Wing, Air Transport Command, is vested in the Commander, South Atlantic Force, acting under the direc- tive of the Commander-in-Chief, US Atlantic Fleet. In an emergency, this officer will assume command of the Army Air Forces of the South Atlantic Wing, Air Transport Command, if needed for combat operations. EUROPEAN THEATER Several unidentified aircraft were sighted off the coasts of Iceland on June 7. SECRET DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 NORTH AFRICAN THEATER On June 7 some four hundred aircraft of the North African Air Force kept Pantelleria under a continuous bombardment in which a total of 380 tons of bombs were dropped on the town and the defenses with marked effect. The enemy air force reacted slightly. We lost a P-38 and an A-36. The next day a force of cruisers and destroyers again bombarded the island drawing answering fire but suffering no damage or casualties. ASIATIC THEATER 1. On June 7, seven P-40's of the 10th Air Force flew an offen- sive harassing mission in northern Burma. 2. An additional report from the Chinese Air Force for June 6 states that three medium bombers escorted by 21 fighters attacked an enemy-held point ten miles southwest of Itu; one fighter was shot down. On June 7 the Japanese retook Chihkiang (southeast of Ichang) thus materially strengthening their bridgehead south of the Yangtze. 3. General Stilwell arrived at New Delhi on June 7. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER General MacArthur reports for June 7 that single US heavy bombers DECLASSIFIES OSD Letter, 5-3-72 made attacks in the Wewak, Madang, and Lae areas. Six Allied airplanes bombed and machine-gunned enemy supplies and personnel near Lae. PACIFIC THEATER Eighteen of our fighter planes thoroughly machine-gunned enemy stores on Choiseul Island on June 8. Our losses in air combat on June 7 west of Russell Island were 11 fighter planes instead of nine as reported yesterday. We destroyed 19 out of a force of 40 to 50 Zeros in this action. THE WHITE HOUSE COPY FOR 0700 June 7 to 0700 June 8, 1943 No. 545 DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY INSURANCED uvm GEORGI DECLASSIFIED 0SD Letter, 5-3-72 EUROPEAN THEATER Two hostile aircraft were observed over Iceland on June 6. NORTH AFRICAN THEATER 1. The June 5 air attacks on Pantelleria reported yesterday were preceded by a bombardment by British cruisers which took enemy batteries under fire. During June 6 the attacks on the island were maintained in an incessant hammering by light, medium and fighter- bombers. In addition, nine (probably ten) enemy airplanes were destroyed for a loss of one Allied dive-bomber. On June 6 also the 9th Air Force dropped 69 tons of bombs on San Giovanni and Reggio di Calabria and put another 84 tons into the railroad yards, naval barracks and oil tanks at Messina. On these missions eight (probably 11) enemy fighters were shot down with no loss on our part. 2. General Spaatz reports that the star on our aircraft has been frequently mistaken for the German cross or swastika, probably because all the markings on Axis aircraft in his theater are composed of straight lines. He suggests that the star be inclosed in a circular band so that all Allied aircraft will then bear a general resemblance although the pattern within the circle may differ. The North African Air Force has already placed a yellow circular band around the star on its airplanes. SECRET 0 LIANGSHAND TANGYANG Yangtze ICHANG ENSHIH River CHUNGKING CHINKIANG PAILUCHI, YOCHOW TUNGTING LAKE OBSPET DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 ASIATIC THEATER 1. On June 5, eleven P-40's of the 14th Air Force machine- gunned Japanese troop columns near Chihkiang and set fire to a barge and a boat northwest of Yochow. On June 6, five of our P-40's machine-gunned an enemy motor pool and barracks at Tangyang; two of these fighters were lost. On other offensive missions along the Yangtze, twenty-one P-40's des- troyed two locomotives, crippled a 150-foot boat and damaged enemy installations. Some Chinese fighters intercepted a Japanese raid near the Chinese airfield at Enshih and shot down a medium bomber. Other enemy bombers followed a returning Chinese fighter mission and caught them on the ground at Liangshan; they destroyed 11 Chinese airplanes as well as one American P-40. On the chance that these Japanese aircraft had come from Pailuchi, seven of our own medium bombers and twelve fighters heavily attacked the latter airdrome, but saw no enemy airplanes. 2. On June 6, six B-25's of the 10th Air Force attacked the Mandalay railroad yards with thirty 500-pound bombs, all of which hit in the target area. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER Operations report for June 6. Twenty enemy aircraft bombed and machine-gunned Wau, causing slight damage. Four of our heavy bombers SECRET SECRET DECLASSIFIED 0SD Letter, 5-3-72 successfully bombed Koepang (Timor) and the adjacent airdrome, shooting down three of the eight enemy fighters attempting inter- ception. PACIFIC THEATER On June 7, our fighter planes, intercepting between 40 and 50 Japanese Zeros west of Russell Island, destroyed 19 of them. Our CHECK losses were nine fighters, but five of the pilots were recovered. ] WAR DEPARTMENT - I DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 544 0700 June 6 to 0700 June 7, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE - I SARDINIA S. TERES MADDALENA TERRANOVA CASTEL SARD PORTO TORRE ALGHER BOSA TORTOLI MONSERRATO S.PIETRO CAGLIARI CAPOTERRA PORTO PONTE ROMANO 5. ANTIOCO § 10 20 30 40 MILES BASE MAP NO. 2368 (FREE) BRANCH OF RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS, OSS 15 MAY 1943 REPRODUCED IN REPRODUCTION SECTION. oss DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 WESTERN HEMISPHERE On June 5, our heavy bonber aircraft attacked Kiska through a solid overcast, locating their target by radar. NORTH AFRICAN THEATER 1. Further reports on the June 5 attack on LA Spezia state that a number of direct hits were scored on the three battleships there, and on the oil and storage depot, the submarine pens, the naval wire- less station, at least one motor vessel, and possibly & cruiser. Our medium bombers and fighters attacked Pantelleria with 89 tons of bombs, meeting considerable enemy fighter opposition. Eighteen B-26's, escorted by P-40's, dropped 24 tons of ex- plosives on Porto Ponte Romano (Sardinia), scoring a hit on & 500-foot motor vessel and on a fuel dump. Twenty-six P-38's heavily damaged the hangars and workshops at Monserrato airdrone with 12 tons of ex- plosives; twenty-four other P-38's attacked Capoterra airdrome with thousand pound bombs. In the day's operations six (probably seven) energy aircraft were destroyed for a loss of one B-25, two P-38's and a British fighter. 2, General Eisenhower reports that in compliance with a request made by the British authorities arrangements have been completed for SECRE DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 the British to take to the United Kingdom up to 28,000 Italian prisoners from among either those registered with the International Red Cross and retained by the British, or those who are still in custody but not regis- tered. Likewise, as the French High Command has notified Germany and Italy through the medium of Spain of its assumption of the obligations of the Geneva Convention, the transfer of 20,000 unregistered prisoners to the French is being accomplished. ASIATIC THEATER 1. The Chinese recccupied Ansiang (50 miles west of Yochow) on June 4. It is not expected that the Chinese will attempt to cross the Yangtze River after clearing the Japanese from the bridgeheads at Ichang and Itu. 2. On June 5, medium bonbers of our 10th Air Force dropped 27 tons of bomba on targets in central Burma, scoring hits, on the water filtra- tion plant and buildings at Chauk (100 miles southwest of Mandalay) and. hitting barracks, warehouse facilities and railroad tracks in the Monywa area. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER General MacArthur reports for June 5 that air activity in the northeastern area was restricted by weather; an RAAF Catalina on night reconnaissance bombed a submarine 60 miles off Lae. Other Catalinas attacked Langgoer (Kai Islands), Laha airdrome (Ambon) and Dobo (New Guinea), where & small vessel was hit. SECRET SECRET DECLASSIFIEB 08D Letter, 5-3-72 PACIFIC THEATER Eight P-40's and ten P-38's machine-gunned Kakasa Village, Choiseul Island, on June 6. I SECRET WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 543 0700 June 5 to 0700 June 6, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE ATTU ISLAND o 2 3 4 5 7 10 MILES RED MEAD STELLAR COVE CHICHASOF NBR. HOLTZ BAY SARANA BAT ETIENNE BAY ABRAHAM BAY MASSAGRE BAY ALEXAI PT. TEMMAC BAY WE ATTU NIZKI I. o 50 100 200 SHEMYA I. MILES (STATUTE) AGATTU KISHA :s UNALASKA SEMISOPOCHNOI TANAGA UMMAK KANABA ATKA 8 a AMOHITKA 200P AMLIA o OBLIUSA ADAK BASE MAP NO-2358 BRANCH OF RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS, CSS 7 MAY 1943 (FREE) REPRODUCED IN THE REPRODUCTION SECTION, oss DECLASSIFIES GSD Letter, 5-3-72 WESTERN HEMISPHERE 1. The air attacks on Kiska continued on June 4 in spite of unfavorable weather, 20 tons of bombs being dropped in five missions. Hits were observed on enemy installations on the island and on Little Kiska. An abandoned enemy observation post was found on Nizki Island. 2. The fighter strip on Alexai Point, Attu, will be ready for use on June 7. The fighter strip on Shemya Island will be ready about June 21. 3. The War Department notified General DeWitt that the Camdian government has informed the Secretary of Mar that it will provide the equivalent of a regimental combat team for participation in the Aleutian offensive. Pending the completion of the plans for its em- ployment, this combat team will be concentrated on the Pacific Coast. General DeWitt was directed to arrange with General Pearkes, commanding the Canadian Pacific Command, for a conference at San Francisco to dis- cuss details. EUROPEAN THEATER An enemy airplane machine-gunned the cantonment at Budareyri, Iceland, on June 4, causing no casualties. NORTH AFRICAN THEATER On_June 4 Italy was again subjected to concentrated hammering by Allied aircraft. American and British bombers of the 9th Air Force SECRET LA SPEZIA D GROTTAGDIE CANTANZARO REGGIO DI CALABRIA 08 ILO SYRACUSE PANTELLERIA DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-3-72 dropped 105 tons of high explosives on the Grottaglie airdrome, covering the hangars and administrative buildings with hits and leaving them in flames; five (probably seven) enemy aircraft were destroyed with no Allied losses. Heavy, medium and fighter bombers of the 12th Air Force as well as British Wellingtons blasted Pantelleria with 199 tons of bombs; among the damage were some direct hits on enemy guns. Other attacks were made on Milo airdrome, where hangars were destroyed, Catanzaro, Reggio, and Syracuse. In the day's operations we lost two P-38's. Eight to 12 enemy aircraft in an attempted raid on Algiers lost two of their number and caused but slight civilian damage. On June 5, 115 B-17's attacked three Italian battleships in the harbor at La Spezia with 256 one-ton general-purpose and armor-piercing bombs, scoring numerous hits. All of our airplanes returned. ASIATIC THEATER On June 4, nine B-25's of the 10th Air Force damaged oil tanks and buildings at Chauk (100 miles southwest of Mandalay) and factory buildings in a nearby town. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER General MacArthur reports for June 4 that ten US heavy bombers, in four missions bombed airdromes in the vicinity of Wewak, starting large fires. Five RAAF airplanes raided the seaplane base at Taberfane 115 120 128 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 20 20 is 15 PHILIPPINE IS. 10 10 5 5 BORNEO o o BABOS WEWAK KAUKENAU, TIMIKA 5 NEW GUINEA 5 BOUGAINVILLE I. TABERFANE KAHIL. SOLOMON IS. LAUTEM 10 10 KOEPANG A SCALE 15 0 100 100 400 600 800 MILES IS 115 180 125 130 135 140 145 180 155 160 165 24-30680 CECRET DECLASSIFIES 03D Letter, 5-3-72 (Aroe Islands) probably destroying several float-planes. Koepang, Lautem, Kaukenau and Timika were harassed in smaller scale raids. Four RAAF Catalinas attacked Babo airdrome with observed effect on the night of June 3. PACIFIC THEATER On June 5 a force of 83 Army and Navy airplanes attacked enemy shipping in the Bougainville area, hitting and probably sinking an 1 enemy destroyer, and setting fire to a corvette and a cargo ship. Fifteen intercepting enemy planes were shot down; one P-40 is missing. Four heavy bombers attacked airdromes in the Kahili area but results were unobserved. WAR DEPARTMENT DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY No. 542 0700 June 4 to 0700 June 5, 1943 COPY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE DECLASSIFIES OSD Letter, 5-3-72 WESTERN HEMISPHERE 1. The Army Ground Forces issued orders for the movement of the 29th Infantry Regiment from Fort Jackson, South Carolina, to the Boston Port of Embarkation for further movement to Iceland. Until recently, this regiment had been stationed since 1921 at the Infantry School as a demonstration unit. It is being moved under a policy of rotating school troops. 2. Our casualties on Attu as of June 2 are: killed 398, wounded 1,138, missing 36, known captured none. NORTH AFRICAN THEATER During June 3, Allied air units concentrated their activities on Pantelleria, dropping 110 tons of explosives on the defenses with observed effect. ASIATIC THEATER 1. On June 2, two B-24's of the 10th Air Force attacked radio installations on Diamond Island (near Rangoon), damaging several buildings. 2. The Chinese force opposing the Japanese thrust in the Lake Tungting region of central China recaptured Chihkiang and reoccupied Nanhsien on June 3. To the northwest, the enemy now has been cleared S DECLASSIFIED OSD Letter, 5-8-72 from the south bank of the Yangtze except for small bridgeheads at Itu and Ichang. 3. General Chennault arrived at Kunming on June 4. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER 1. General MacArthur reports for June 3 that three B-24's, attacking Babo (Western New Quinea), scored hits in the enemy's supply area and then machine-gunned Dobo and buildings elsewhere in the Aroe Islands; one enemy fighter was destroyed. Two B-24's attacked shipping in Lautem harbor (Timor), with unobserved results, shooting down another intercepting enemy fighter. 2. General De Witt reports receipt of a broadcast from Manila in English to the effect that Lieutenant Colonel Arthur K. Noble, American commander of the Northern Luzon guerillas, was captured on C760 June 3 following a relentless search by the Japanese garrison. V Captured also were Lieutenant Colonel Martin Moses and two other staff officers. The Japanese announced that the guerillas, now 72591 deprived of their leaders, will have to disband. PACIFIC THEATER General Harmon reports that in the June 3 raid on Bougainville Island mentioned yesterday, the settlements at Numa Numa and Tinputs were gutted and two freighters sunk. T PUBLICATION AND MICROFILM COPYING RESTRICTIONS Reel duplication of the whole or of any part of this film is prohibited. In lieu of transcripts, however, enlarged photocopies of selected items contained on these reels may be made in order to facilitate research.