Air Operations, Aleutians

Guided by a radar-equipped Patrol Wing 4 PV, 7 28th Composite Bomb Group B-24s, 6 B-25s, and 6 343rd Fighter Group P-40s attack Kiska despite bad weather.

Air Operations, CBI

• 234d Fighter Group P-40s strafe troop barges near Peiyang and attack boats and barges near Yoyang.

Air Operations, Europe

• 12 aircraft lay mines in the Frisians and there are 5 OTU sorties to Vichy-controlled areas of France. There are no losses.

Second-line support duties were often in the hands of WAAFs. Here a number get to grips with a Halifax engine.

WAAFs Working on Halifax Engine

Soviet Ace Pokryshkin

Photo was originally published in the central VVS newspaper “Stalin's Falcons” on June 5, 1943. Pokryshkin won his 30th victory on May 14 and the 31st victory on May 29. He was promoted to Major in June 1943. Unfortunately (again) neither serial number nor board number is visible.– The first six victory stars on top line seems to be fully painted, outlined white or yellow, the rest seems to be only white stencils sprayed or painted over mask. Red star without darker circle background and without white outline is visible on the left upper wing, in place of the original USAF marking White star in blue circle, so blue repainted by green, common at that time, is apparent. Look at coincidence with this photo. Six apparent blotches are visible exactly where one would expect six red-white or yellow outlined victory stars. White stencils style stars are not so apparent, but some blotches still visible.

NASAF B-17s attack the harbor at La Spezia.

NASAF B-25s and P-38s attack gun emplacements and other positions.

Air Operations, Mediterranean

1st Fighter Group P-38s down 2 Bf-109s near Cape St. Elia.

Air Operations, New Guinea

The 345th Medium Bomb Group, in B-25s, arrives at Port Moresby from the United States for service with the V Bomber Command.

Air Operations, Sardinia

• NASAF B-26s attack Porto Ponte Romano.
• P-38s attack Capoterra and Monserrato Airdromes.

Air Operations, Sicily

IX Bomber Command B-24s attack the harbor at Catania.

Air Operations, Solomons

• 32 AirSols fighters mount a sweep of the Kahili–Buin area five minutes before 12 AirSols TBFs and 15 SBDs, escorted by 21 USMC F4Us, attack Japanese Navy ships off Buin. This is the first attack conducted by AirSols light bombers in the northern Solomon Islands. 2 TBFs and 2 SBDs are lost.
• During several engagements through the morning and noon hours, 18th Fighter Group P-40s down 2 A6M Zeros over the Kahili airfield on Bougainville. 2 US Navy F4Fs down 1 A6M Zero over the Shortland Islands at noon. VMF-112 F4Us down 3 A6M Zeros and 3 float biplanes near the Shortland Islands at about 1030 hours. VMF-124 F4Us down 2 A6M Zeros and 2 float biplanes over the Shortlands and southern Bougainville at 1220 hours.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-513 sinks 4 ships off the coast of Brazil.
• Aircraft (VC-9) from the US escort carrier Bogue (CVE-9) sink the German submarine U-217 in the mid-Atlantic area.

U-217

Britain, Home Front

Churchill arrives back in London from North Africa which he had visited after the Washington Conference.

Japan, Home Front

There is a state funeral for Adm Yamamoto in Tokyo. He is mourned by tens of thousands of Japanese civilians. Germany honors him with the award of the Knight's Cross with Oakleaves and Swords.