Air Operations, Bismarcks

During the night, 10 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack the Lakunai and Rapopo airfields att Rabaul.

Air Operations, Europe

• 12 Lancasters lay mines in the Frisians and there are 25 OTU sorties with no losses.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• V Bomber Command B-25s attack Kela Point and Logui.
• 6 3rd Light Bomb Group A-20s strafe targets around Lae and support Australian Army troops near Nassau Bay.

Air Operations, Solomons

• VMSB-132 and VB-11 SBDs attack Viru, New Georgia, in support of US Marine Corps Raiders.
• VF-27 and VF-28 F4Fs down 4 of 12 D3A 'Val' dive-bombers and 1 of 18 A6M Zeros that attack Allied shipping off Rendova between 1015 and 1100 hours. P-40s of the 18th Fighter Group’s 44th Fighter Squadron down 9 'Vals' and 7 Zeros between Munda and Rendova between 1020 and 1140 hours.

Axis Diplomacy

Marshal Antonescu comes to visit Mussolini to suggest that Italy, Rumania and Hungary should leave the war together. This would clearly be a sensible policy for Mussolini to attempt but he is afraid to give any lead and in meetings with Hitler over the next few weeks he is too frightened to speak out.

Eastern Front

Troop dispositions at the begining of July 1943.[MORE]

Hundreds of thousands of more young Germans were now being drafted into the war and sent east.

Young Germans Being Drafted and Sent East

German Troops on the Eastern Front, June-July 1943

New Guinea

The Marines from Segi Point capture Viru. Allied troops reinforce their positions along the southern branch of the Bitoi River in Nassau bay, where US troops are landed.

Pacific

The Japanese submarine RO-101 is sunk by the US destroyer Radford (DD-446) in the Solomon Islands area.

Solomons

The troops landed on Rendova consolidate their bridgehead, and those on New Georgia their bridgehead in the port of Viru.