70 Years Ago Today: Friday, July 2, 1943 London: Air Marshal Leigh–Mallory establishes his air staff at Norfolk House. Alaska Theater: 11th Air Force sends three bombers and four P-38s on four different reconnaissance missions over Kiska and Segula Islands, while 17 B-24s and 16 B-25s attack Kiska Island in five waves, two of them radar-guided, targeting Gertrude Cove, the harbor and buildings in the Main Camp area. Meanwhile, two B-25s, on a submarine attack, hit the Kiska seaplane ramp after losing their initial target and two P-40s cover troops which make an unopposed landing on Rat Island. European Theater: During the night, three RAF Mosquitos attack Cologne, while two other Mosquitos attack Duisburg. Meanwhile, 32 aircraft lay mines in the Frisians and off Brittany ports. Eastern Mediterranean: Desert Air Task Force B-24s, from the 9th Air Force, bomb airfields at Lecce, Grottaglie and San Pancrazio Salentino, Italy, while B-25s hit the airfield and surrounding area at Sciacca, Sicily, and P-40s, escorting bombers to Sciacca, shoot down a fighter and damage another, losing two P-40s and their pilots. Western Mediterranean: Northwest African Air Force B-25s, from, the 12th Air Force, hit Castelvetrano, while other aircraft attack two vessels off the western coast of Italy and fly patrols, reconnaissance, and convoy protection. During the night, RAF Wellingtons attack Olbia, Sardinia, and Trapani, Sicily. South Pacific Area: 13th Air Force B-25s and US Navy F4Us bomb and strafe a small vessel in the anchorage at Bairoko, New Georgia. Southwest Pacific Theater: 5th Air Force B-25s pound defenses in the Kela Point area and a trail near Logui while a lone B-24 bombs the Salamaua area. The Allied invasion force (the MacKechnie Force) holds firm a beachhead on Nassau Bay, and makes contact with Australian forces to the north. Meanwhile, B-17s and B-24s again attack airfields at Rabaul on New Britain Island. The 43rd Division is ordered to capture the Munda airfield and work is begun on an airfield at Woodlark Island.. During the night Japanese warships shell Rendova.
Posted on: Tue, 02 Jul 2013 16:31:17 +0000
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