Air Operations, Aleutians

6 28th Composite Group B-25s attack Kiska.

Air Operations, Europe

• Cologne is the target of 608 aircraft - 267 Lancaters, 169 Halifaxes, 85 Wellingtons, 75 Stirlings and 12 Mosquitos.
• The weather forecast for the target area is not promising, probably covered in cloud. The Pathfinders have to prepare for all possibilities. They do find the target area covered in cloud and use the less reliable skymarking system. 6 of the 7 Oboe Mosquitos that reach the target deploy their markers although late. Despite this, the Main Force delivers its most powerful blow in the Battle of the Ruhr. Berlin describes this raid as 'a terror raid'. This raid completes 6 months of intense bombing activity. Great damage has been done to the German urban landscape, but the armaments industry has not suffered as much as might have been expected. Ammunition and aircraft production remain remarkably high.
• 10 Halifaxes, 8 Lancasters, 5 Stirlings and 2 Wellingtons are lost.

• 4 Mosquitos are sent to Hamburg and 6 Stirlings lay mines in the Gironde River without a loss.

Air Operations, Gilberts

In its first combat mission since returning to VII Bomber Command control in March and transitioning from B-17s to B-24s, only 2 of 18 11th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s that were to have been sent from their base at Funafuti Airdrome against Tarawa Atoll actually attack the target. 2 B-24s are withheld due to engine problems, 2 crash on takeoff, 8t are grounded because the runway is blocked by the crashed aircraft, 2 abort, and 2 fail to locate Tarawa.

Air Operations, Mediterranean

Allied bombers maintain their intensive raids as Leghorn and Messina are heavily bombed. The US 12th Air Force bombs Livorno.

Air Operations, Pacific

The Japanese bomb Darwin.

Air raid observers watching for Japanese planes over the coastal areas of northern Australia.

Air Raid Observers

New Guinea

After having been landed without opposition near Lambeti, the Marines begin the march across the jungle towards the port of Viru. Kiriwina and Woodlark are occupied by further US forces who start work immediately on airfield construction.

Commissioning ceremonies of MTB Squadron 23 at Higgins Industrial Canal Plant, New Orleans, June 28, 1943.

MTB Squadron 23 Being Commissioned