Air Operations, Europe
BOMBER COMMAND- 11 Bostons are sent to bomb the Fécamp harbor but turn back because of weather.
- Emden is the target of a large raid, the first to this city since November 1941. 233 aircraft are dispatched including 124 Wellingtons, 40 Stirlings, 27 Halifaxes, 20 Lancasters, 15 Hampdens and 7 Manchesters. Good bombing results are reported by the crews and this is later confirmed by photographic evidence. Reports from Emden indicate the 300 houses are destroyed and 200 seriously damaged. 17 people are killed and 49 injured. There is also some damage in the docks area. 3 Manchester, 3 Wellingtons, 2 Stirlings and 1 Halifax are lost on the raid.
- In minor operations, 6 Blenheim Intruders attack airfield without a loss.
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]Air Operations, Mediterranean
During the night Messina is hit by British aircraft causing severe damage.
[ | ]Air Operations, North Africa
Hurricane 'tank-busters' are used in Libya for the first time.
[ | ]Aleutians
The Japanese successfully land a small force on Kiska Island.
Japanese Land on Kiska |
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| ]Atlantic
The disguised raider Stier sinks the Panamanian tanker Stanvac Calcutta(10,200t).
[ | ]Battle of Midway
At first Yamamoto thinks of closing in to try and fight a surface action, but abandons the idea and retreats on this day. Aircraft from the US carriers Enterprise (CV-6) and Hornet (CV-8) attack the Japanese force retiring from Midway. The heavy cruiser Mikuma is sunk in this attack. The American force loses the destroyer Hammann (DD-412) to a submarine torpedo. After recovering aircraft, the US force changes course eastward to refuel and breaks contact with the enemy.
US Dive Bombers Attacking the Mikuma |
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| US Navy Douglas SBD-3 "Dauntless" dive bombers from scouting squadron VS-8 from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-8) approaching the burning Japanese heavy cruiser Mikuma to make the third set of attacks on her, during the Battle of Midway, 6 June 1942. Mikuma had been hit earlier by strikes from Hornet and USS Enterprise (CV-6), leaving her dead in the water and fatally damaged. Note bombs hung beneath the SBDs. |
The Mikuma Shortly Before Sinking |
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| ]Britain, Home Front
An undetected German bomb, probably dropped in May, 1941, explodes near Elephant and Castle in London. 20 people are killed and 59 injured.
Mysterious Explosion Destroys Homes |
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| ]Indian Ocean
The US freighter Melvin H. Baker (4990t) is torpedoed by the Japanese submarine I-10 about 45 miles east of Mozambique. The British steamship Twickenham rescues all 48 men who were on the ship.
[ | ]Malta
Axis bombers pound the island's military installations with both sides reporting heavy losses in the air.
[ | ]North Africa
The 9th and 10th Indian Brigades are attacked from all sides throughout the day. Attempts by the 2nd Armored Brigade to interfere are held off by the 21st Panzer Div. By nightfall it is over. 3,000 men are captured and 133 guns are lost.
The 15th Panzer Div is sent to Bir Hacheim to aid the Trieste and the 90th Light Divs, which have been unable to make any progress against a Free French Brigade under Gen Marie-Pierre Koenig and a battalion of Palestine Jews. Only 45 of the 1,000 Jews will survive the fighting over the next month. German and Italian troops concentrate on the area called Knightsbridge, and threaten Tobruk.
[ | ]Pacific
The US freighter George Cylmer (7176t), disabled by a broken main shaft and drifting, is torpedoed by the German motor torpedo boat Esan, launched from the auxiliary cruiser Michel with the loss of one of her crew. The ship is abandoned.
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